Cooking Hob Cable Routing With Integrated Fixing Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooktop devices, particularly induction cooktops, face challenges in stabilizing and safely routing cables due to manufacturing tolerances and handling issues, leading to potential cable movement and pull-out during transport or operation.
Innovation Solution
A cooktop device design featuring a guide unit with at least one partially free-standing fixing element that secures the cable along a guide path within the housing unit, using a combination of obliquely aligned and movable fixing elements to prevent cable movement, and a guide channel with channel walls that define the path, ensuring stable fixation and optimal routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a guide unit with fixing elements is used to secure the cable, then cable stability and routing safety are improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components and assembly steps
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing element is merged with the guide unit as a single integrated component. The fixing element protrudes directly from the guide unit's channel wall, eliminating the need for separate cable securing components. This integration maintains cable stability while reducing overall device complexity by combining multiple functions into one structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide unit serves multiple functions: it guides the cable along a specific path, positions the cable within the housing unit, and secures the cable through the protruding fixing element. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated components, thereby improving cable stability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Reliability
If a free-standing fixing element protruding from the guide unit is used, then cable fixation effectiveness is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases due to more complex component geometry
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing element is formed as an integrated part of the guide unit rather than as a separate component. This merging of functions allows the complex geometric shape required for effective cable fixation to be produced in a single manufacturing process, eliminating the need for additional assembly steps and reducing overall manufacturing complexity despite the sophisticated geometry required.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention is based on a hob device (10a-b) with at least one housing unit (12a-b) and with at least one guide unit (14a-b), which defines at least one guide section (16a-b) and is provided for this purpose, in at least one to guide at least one cable (18a-b) within the housing unit (12a-b) along the guide path (16a-b) in the assembled state. In order to provide a generic device with improved properties in terms of advantageous operating properties, it is proposed that the guide unit (14a-b) has at least one at least partially free-standing fixing element (20a-b), which is intended to fix the cable (18a-b) in at least to fix at least partially a cable longitudinal direction (22a-b).