Cooking Appliance Control Board Assembly Using Selector-Body Support

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooking appliances require complex and costly assembly processes for securing the control board, involving purpose-designed brackets and cables, which complicates the manufacturing and increases costs.

Innovation Solution

The control board is directly supported by selector bodies mounted on the appliance's frame, eliminating the need for additional brackets and cables, with snap-action engagement and threaded fixation for secure assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the control board is secured using purpose-designed brackets and cables, then the control board is firmly fixed and electrically connected, but the assembly process becomes complex and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefirm fixation of control boardVSAvoidassembly process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the mechanical support function and electrical connection function into a single integrated structure. The control board is directly mounted on the front of the stationary structure, eliminating the need for separate brackets and cables. This merging of functions simplifies the assembly process while maintaining reliable fixation and electrical connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and eliminates the intermediate components (brackets and cables) from the assembly system. By directly securing the control board to the stationary structure, the design removes unnecessary intermediate elements, reducing assembly complexity and manufacturing costs while preserving the essential functions of fixation and electrical connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If purpose-designed brackets and cables are used for control board assembly, then secure fixation and connection are achieved, but manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure connection of control boardVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the support and electrical connection functions into a direct mounting arrangement. The control board is secured directly to the stationary structure without requiring separate brackets and cables, thereby reducing the number of components that need to be manufactured and assembled, which directly lowers manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The stationary structure serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical support for the control board and establishes electrical connections. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for specialized brackets and cables, reducing component variety and manufacturing complexity, thereby lowering overall manufacturing costs.

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

3Reliability

If additional brackets and cables are used for control board assembly, then secure mounting is achieved, but the number of assembly operations increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure mounting of control boardVSAvoidassembly efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the intermediate components (brackets and cables) from the assembly process. By directly mounting the control board to the stationary structure, the number of assembly operations is reduced, eliminating the need to separately install brackets and connect cables, thereby improving assembly efficiency and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the mounting and electrical connection operations into a single integrated step. The control board is directly secured to the stationary structure, merging what would otherwise be separate assembly operations into one simple action, thus reducing the total number of assembly steps and improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2930435B1Household cooking appliance
Publication Date: 2017.09.27 WHIRLPOOL EMEA SPA
  • EP2930435B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2930435B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2930435B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A household cooking appliance has a load-bearing structure with a front (7), associated to which is a door for closing a cooking chamber, above the door the front (7) of the structure having a control panel (4) that includes at least two manual-control members associated to two corresponding selectors (13), for selection of respective operating conditions of the appliance. The selectors (13) each have a selector body (14) that is secured at a first end at an inner side of the front (7) of the structure, and each manual-control member can be operated at an outer side of the front (7) of the structure (2). Each selector (13) has an actuation part (15), which passes through a corresponding opening (16) of the front (7) of the structure. The appliance (1) has a control system (10, 30), which comprises a control board (10) to which the selectors (13) are electrically connected, the control board (10) including a circuit support (11) having associated thereto a plurality of electrical and/or electronic components (12). The selector bodies (14) are secured to the circuit support (11) at their second ends, in positions spaced apart from each other, with the selector bodies (14) that support the circuit support (11) in a position spaced apart from the inner side of the front (7) of the structure (2).