Compact Pivoting Lock Hook Design for Appliance Door Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door locks for electrical appliances, such as dishwashers, are bulky, difficult to install, and require complex structures, making them inconvenient to use and costly to manufacture, while also lacking the ability to be easily unlocked from the inside and providing insufficient pulling force.
Innovation Solution
A compact door lock design featuring a housing with a pivotally mounted lock hook, a reciprocating locking slider, and a slider locking device that allows for easy operation and increased pulling force without damaging the lock hook, utilizing elastic members and oblique surfaces to distribute forces effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional door lock structure is used, then the door lock can provide sufficient locking force and reliability, but the volume and size of the door lock become large
Solution Approach 1:
The lock hook is pivotally mounted within the housing, allowing it to rotate and engage with the door hook. The locking slider moves within the housing to lock or release the lock hook. This nested arrangement places multiple functional components within each other's spaces, achieving compact volume while maintaining sufficient locking force through the sequential engagement of these nested elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock hook is designed to pivot dynamically between locked and unlocked positions rather than being a static component. The locking slider also moves dynamically along its guide to engage or disengage the lock hook. This dynamic design allows the same components to serve multiple functions (locking, unlocking, force transmission) without requiring additional space, thus reducing overall door lock volume while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If a traditional door lock structure is used, then the door lock can provide sufficient locking reliability, but the installation and arrangement become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The door lock is divided into distinct functional modules: the housing, the lock hook with pivotal movement, the locking slider with guide, and the elastic member. Each module has a specific function and can be independently manufactured and assembled. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing process and makes installation easier, as components can be pre-assembled and tested before final installation, while maintaining overall locking reliability through the coordinated function of these segmented parts.
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple door hook structure is used, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the door hook cannot withstand large pulling forces
Solution Approach 1:
The locking slider acts as an intermediary between the door hook and the lock hook. When the door is closed, the locking slider engages with the lock hook to transmit and distribute the pulling forces. The elastic member serves as another intermediary that absorbs shock and distributes forces evenly across the locking mechanism. This allows a simple, low-cost door hook structure to withstand large pulling forces through the force-distributing action of these intermediary components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple force-transmission functions into the single locking slider component. The locking slider simultaneously engages the lock hook, transmits pulling forces, and works with the elastic member to distribute stresses. This merging of functions into a single component allows the door hook itself to remain simple and inexpensive while the combined system handles large pulling forces effectively.
4Reliability
If a complex locking mechanism is used, then the door lock can be securely locked during operation, but the door lock volume increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking slider serves multiple functions: it locks the lock hook in the engaged position, it can be moved to release the lock hook for opening, it transmits forces between the door hook and lock hook, and it works with the elastic member to provide feedback on locking status. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components for each function, achieving secure door locking with minimal volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock hook pivots in one dimension (rotational movement) while the locking slider moves in a perpendicular dimension along its guide. This use of different spatial dimensions for different locking actions allows the mechanism to achieve secure multi-stage locking without requiring additional space in any single dimension, thus maintaining compact overall volume while ensuring door security during operation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables a door lock that is compact, easy to install, provides a simple pulling/pushing operation for opening and closing, can be unlocked from the inside, and withstands larger pulling forces without damaging the lock mechanism, while maintaining a compact size and reducing the stress on locking members.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member for biasing the locking slider to move away from the locking slider locked position
Implementation Method 2
a lock hook mounted in the housing, the lock hook pivotally moves to and away from a lock hook locked position
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a lock device, comprising a housing including a lock hook mounted in the housing, the lock hook pivotally moves to and away from a lock hook locked position; a locking slider for locking the lock hook, the locking slider having a locking slider first end which abuts against an axial surface of the lock hook, the locking slider is reciprocatingly slideable in a first direction parallel to the lock hook pivoting plane following pivoting of the lock hook to move to or away from a locking slider locked position; a slider locking device for locking the locking slider, the slider locking device is reciprocating slideable in a second direction following the reciprocatingly sliding of the locking slider in the first direction, the second direction crosses the lock hook pivoting plane. The present invention further relates to an apparatus mounted with said lock device.