Household appliance comprising a camera arranged on a support part by a snap-fit connection, as well as mounting method

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing designs for household cooling appliances with cameras face challenges in securely fastening the camera to a support part using a snap-fit connection, which can lead to instability and visibility of transitions, potentially accumulating dirt.

Innovation Solution

A household appliance design featuring a camera with a camera housing that surrounds a mounting socket with snap-fit elements, where the snap-fit connection is internally positioned within the camera housing, providing a mechanically stable and protected connection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the camera housing surrounds the mounting socket with externally positioned snap-fit connection, then the mounting process is simplified, but the connection stability decreases and transitions become visible on the outside

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting processVSAvoidconnection stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing the snap-fit connection internally within the camera housing rather than externally. The mounting socket protrudes through the wall, and the camera housing surrounds it, with snap-fit elements positioned inside the camera housing. This inversion achieves both stable connection and hidden transitions simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Productivity

If the snap-fit connection is positioned externally, then the assembly process is easier, but dirt accumulation occurs on visible transitions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly processVSAvoiddirt accumulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent positions the snap-fit connection internally within the camera housing, inverting the conventional external arrangement. This internal positioning eliminates visible transitions where dirt could accumulate, while the protruding mounting socket through the wall maintains ease of assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Reliability

If the mounting socket is completely received in the camera housing interior, then the snap-fit connection is protected and movement tolerances are reduced, but the mounting process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection protectionVSAvoidmounting structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the mounting structure into distinct components: the mounting socket that protrudes through the wall, and the camera housing that receives it. This segmentation allows the socket to be independently positioned and connected, simplifying the overall mounting process while achieving complete reception and protection of the snap-fit connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4560234A1Household appliance comprising a camera arranged on a support part by a snap-fit connection, as well as mounting method
Publication Date: 2025.05.28 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP4560234A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4560234A1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP4560234A1 patent drawingFigure 2b~2c

AI summary

An aspect of the invention relates to a household appliance (1), comprising a housing (1b), in which at least one receiving space (1c) for food is configured, with a door (1e), which is movably arranged on the housing (1b), and comprising a camera (3), wherein the camera (3) comprises a camera housing (4, 5, 6), and comprising a support part (7), which comprises a mounting socket (8), which is connected to the camera housing (4, 5, 6) by a snap-fit connection (20, 21), characterized in that the mounting socket (8) on an outer side (10a, 15a) comprises at least one snap-fit element (11, 12) and the camera housing (4, 5, 6) on an inner side (16a, 18a) comprises a counter-snap element (17, 19), wherein in the mounted state the mounting socket (8) is received in the camera housing (4, 5, 6) and the snap-fit element (11, 12) for creating the snap-fit connection (20, 21) is snap-fitted with the counter-snap element (17, 19). One aspect also relates to a method.