Cooktop Touch Control Mounting for Precise Assembly Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hob devices face challenges in assembly precision and manufacturing costs due to imprecise alignment of components, leading to production issues and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A hob device design featuring a carrier unit and engagement element formed in one piece, with the engagement element operatively connected to the carrier unit and partially extending through the housing component, allowing for precise alignment and stable assembly, while using a force element to generate a force parallel to the hob plate for exact positioning of the touch control unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If separate carrier unit and engagement element are used, then assembly flexibility is improved, but alignment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the carrier unit and engagement element into a single integrated component. The engagement element is formed as one piece with the carrier unit, eliminating the need for separate assembly of these two parts. This integration ensures precise alignment between the engagement element and the recess in the housing unit, while the entire integrated component can still be easily installed as a single unit.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The carrier unit and engagement element are combined into a single integrated component, reducing the total number of parts. This simplifies the assembly process by eliminating the need to separately position and secure the engagement element to the carrier unit, while the integrated design maintains the functional adaptability of the support unit system.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated component serves multiple functions simultaneously: the carrier unit provides support and mounting capabilities, while the integrated engagement element provides the connection interface with the housing unit. This multi-functionality in a single component reduces overall system complexity while maintaining versatility.
3Ease of manufacture
If imprecise alignment of components is accepted, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but production reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the engagement element with the carrier unit, the patent eliminates alignment issues between separate components. The single-piece construction ensures consistent positioning and reliable engagement with the housing unit recess, improving production reliability without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity or cost.
Data Source
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AI summary
To provide a generic device with improved properties regarding a precise and/or positionally accurate arrangement of components, a cooktop device (10), in particular an induction cooktop device, is proposed, comprising a cooktop plate (12), a housing unit (14) which, in an assembled state, forms an outer housing together with the cooktop plate (12) and which has at least one housing component (16) and at least one side component (18) which is provided to be connected to the at least one housing component (16) and to the cooktop plate (12), and at least one support unit (20) which, in the assembled state, is attached to the housing unit (14) and is provided in an installation position for holding at least one touch control unit (22), wherein the at least one housing component (16) and the at least one side component (18) are jointly provided toto fix at least one support unit (20) at least in a direction (24) parallel to a main extension plane of the cooktop (12).