Home appliance device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing home appliance chillers lack versatility and durability, with complex maintenance and repair processes due to fixed components, and insufficient humidity control mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A home appliance chiller device with a detachable insert and separate fixing unit, incorporating a manual actuator for humidity adjustment and an illumination unit, featuring a receptacle that accommodates these components and allows for easy assembly and disassembly, utilizing deformable latching elements for secure attachment to a frame.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If components are fixed detachably using separate fixing units, then versatility and ease of repair are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveversatilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The device is divided into modular components (insert, container, fixing units) that can be independently assembled and disassembled. The insert forms a separate module that can be detached from the inner liner, allowing flexible configuration and easy replacement of individual components without affecting the entire device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The separate fixing units are designed to accommodate multiple types of inserts and configurations. The fixing units can be used with different insert shapes and sizes, and the modular design allows the same basic structure to serve multiple functions (storage, humidity control, illumination) depending on how components are assembled.

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

2Ease of operation

If manual actuator and illumination unit are integrated into receptacle, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The manual actuator for humidity control and the illumination unit are integrated into the receptacle structure. This consolidation allows users to access and operate both functions (humidity adjustment and lighting) from a single integrated interface, improving ease of operation while reducing the number of separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If insert protects substructures, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The insert acts as a protective barrier that shields sensitive substructures (electronic components, actuators, illumination units) from potential damage by incoming objects. This protective function is built into the insert design from the beginning, preventing damage before it occurs and enhancing device reliability without requiring additional protective mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentEP3286509B1Home appliance device
Publication Date: 2019.06.12 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3286509B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3286509B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3286509B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

For the purpose of improving versatility, a home appliance device, in particular a home appliance chiller device, is proposed, comprising: an inner liner (10a) defining a storage space (12a); an insert (82a; 82b) insertable into the storage space (12a), the insert having an accommodation recess (84a); and at least one separate fixing unit (88a; 88d) having a fixing element (92a) configured for detachably fixing the insert (82a; 82b) to the inner liner (10a), wherein the fixing unit (88a, 88d) is at least mostly arranged inside the accommodation recess (84a).