Case for a household appliance comprising a support for storing a flat accessory

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing household food preparation appliances with pivoting storage supports for flat accessories lack adequate support, leading to risks of accessories falling out during handling or getting jammed.

Innovation Solution

A housing design with a pivotally mounted storage support that occupies two working positions, ensuring the accessory is supported by a bottom zone that remains lower than the opening when transitioning from open to closed positions, preventing falling and jamming, and allowing for easy extraction and visualization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the storage support is made extractable and pivotable to improve accessibility, then ease of operation is improved, but the risk of accessories falling out increases due to lack of support during movement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility of storage supportVSAvoidrisk of accessory falling out
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The bottom support zone is pre-positioned lower than the opening in the housing design, creating a gravitational well that prevents accessories from falling out before any movement occurs. This preliminary structural arrangement ensures that even when the storage support is extracted or pivoted, accessories remain securely contained.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The bottom support zone acts as an intermediary element between the accessory and the housing, providing continuous support during transitions. This intermediate support structure mediates the movement between the storage support and housing, preventing direct contact that could cause accessories to fall.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the housing orientation changes relative to vertical when storage support moves from open to closed position to improve accessibility, then ease of operation is improved, but the risk of accessory jamming in the housing increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility during position changeVSAvoidrisk of accessory jamming
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The housing opening is pre-oriented at an angle rather than vertically, and the bottom support zone is positioned lower than the opening. This preliminary angular arrangement ensures that during the transition from open to closed position, accessories naturally follow the angled path without jamming, as the gravitational component along the angled surface facilitates smooth movement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The housing and storage support are designed with angular orientation rather than vertical alignment, introducing a dimensional change in the arrangement. This angular configuration transforms the movement path from a vertical trajectory to an angled one, allowing accessories to transition smoothly during position changes without jamming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the storage support is designed to occupy two working positions to improve versatility, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to pivotal mounting requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of working positionsVSAvoidpivotal mounting mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage support is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a storage container and as a pivotable component that provides mechanical support through its pivotal connection. This universal design allows the same structure to fulfill multiple functions: storing accessories, enabling position changes, and providing structural support during transitions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The pivotal mounting mechanism merges the storage support with the housing structure, combining what could be separate components into an integrated assembly. This merging reduces overall device complexity by eliminating separate mounting mechanisms while still achieving the desired two-position functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP1797804B1Case for a household appliance comprising a support for storing a flat accessory
Publication Date: 2017.11.01 SEB SA
  • EP1797804B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1797804B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP1797804B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Electrical household appliance housing for food preparation comprising a storage support (20) comprising a housing (40) provided to receive a flat accessory (32, 33, 34) stored on the edge, the housing (40) having a bottom support (41) and an opening (42) provided for the introduction of the flat accessory (32, 33, 34), the storage support (20) being capable of occupying a closed position and an open position, the housing (1) being capable of occupying a working position in which the storage support (20) is not necessarily accessible, and a storage position, in which the storage support (20) is accessible. According to the invention, the orientation of the housing (40) changes with respect to the vertical when the storage support (20) is moved from the open position when the housing (1) occupies the storage position to the closed position when the box (1) occupies the working position.