Cooking Appliance Door Lock Structure for Child-Resistant Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing kitchen appliances lack effective safety measures to prevent accidental opening of the door body assembly, especially by children, which can lead to scalding due to hot food after cooking.
Innovation Solution
A lock structure comprising a fixing member and a locking assembly with a mount, locking member, and elastic members that require the user to pull the locking member to open the door body assembly, enhancing the unlocking difficulty and preventing accidental openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a key-type lock structure or snap-type lock structure is used to limit the opening and closing of the door body assembly, then the door can be locked, but the structure can be easily opened by mistake and is not safe
Solution Approach 1:
The locking member is designed to dynamically change position between locked and unlocked states based on the door's position. When the door closes, the locking member automatically engages with the fixing member; when the door opens, the locking member is pulled back by the elastic member to disengage. This dynamic behavior ensures the lock is engaged only when needed (door closed) and releases automatically when the door opens, preventing accidental opening while maintaining ease of legitimate operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member pre-loads the locking member in a position that prevents accidental engagement. The elastic force continuously pushes the locking member toward the engaged position, but the locking member can only actually engage when the door closing motion provides sufficient force to overcome the elastic preload. This preliminary anti-action ensures that casual or accidental door movements cannot trigger locking, while intentional closing can.
2Ease of operation
If no lock structure is used, then the door can be opened easily, but the user is at risk of scalding from hot food after cooking
Solution Approach 1:
The lock structure provides preliminary protection by automatically engaging the locking member when the door closes after cooking. This preliminary locking action occurs before the user can accidentally open the door, creating a safety barrier that prevents premature access to hot food. The user must intentionally open the door against the elastic force to disengage the lock, ensuring a deliberate safety check before accessing the cooking chamber.
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 lock structure effectively prevents accidental opening of the door body assembly, improving user safety by requiring intentional action to open it and reducing the risk of scalding, especially for children.
Implementation Method 1
The first elastic member abuts against a second side of the locking member and the mount. The first elastic member is used for keeping the locking member locked to the fixing member
Data Source
AI summary
A lock structure and a cooking appliance are provided. The locking structure a fixing member and a locking assembly. The locking assembly has a mount, a driving member, a first elastic member and a locking member. At least a portion of the driving member is provided within the mount. A first end of the first elastic member is connected to the driving member. The locking member is connected to a second end of the first elastic member. The locking member is capable of moving relative to the mount under the driving of the driving member and the first elastic member, and is locked to or separated from the fixing member.