Decorative-panel attaching structure for air conditioner, and indoor equipment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing decorative panel mount structures for air-conditioning apparatuses are complex, costly, and inefficient due to a large number of parts, leading to complications during assembly and increased risk of dropped screws during mounting operations, which necessitate frequent ladder use.
Innovation Solution
A two-part decorative panel mount structure comprising a decorative panel mount screw and fitting with a screw engagement hole and claws to securely hold the screw, reducing the number of parts and preventing screw drop-off, allowing for a simplified and cost-effective mounting process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional mount structure with multiple parts (temporarily hanging fitting, connection plate, nut, etc.) is used to prevent screw removal, then the screw can be secured to the decorative panel, but the structure becomes complicated and costs increase due to the large number of parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the temporarily hanging fitting, connection plate, and screw retention functions into a single integrated decorative panel mount fitting. This fitting includes a body portion with a through hole for the screw, and claw portions that engage with the decorative panel to prevent screw removal, thereby eliminating the need for separate nuts and multiple components while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The decorative panel mount fitting performs multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as the temporarily hanging fitting for suspension, the connection plate for screw attachment, and the retention mechanism for preventing screw removal. This multi-functional design reduces the overall part count while achieving the same reliability goals.
2Reliability
If a conventional mount structure with multiple parts is used, then the screw can be secured, but the assembly workability is compromised due to the large number of parts requiring assembly
Solution Approach 1:
By merging multiple components into a single decorative panel mount fitting, the assembly process is simplified from assembling multiple parts (fitting, plate, nut, screw) to installing just the screw through the integrated fitting, significantly improving ease of manufacture and assembly workability.
3Quantity of substance
If the decorative panel mount screw is separately packed from the decorative panel and air-conditioning apparatus main body, then shipping is easier, but the screw may be lost at the site and the decorative panel may not be appropriately mounted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates the decorative panel mount fitting into the decorative panel during manufacturing, performing the attachment action in advance. This ensures the fitting is always present and properly positioned during installation, eliminating the risk of loss or forgetting to include the fitting, while still allowing separate shipping of the screw.
4Ease of operation
If an operator needs to hold the screw during mounting operation at high place, then the screw can be positioned correctly, but the operator may inadvertently drop the screw and needs to climb up and down stepladder
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated fitting design allows the screw to self-position and self-retain through the fitting's structure. The claw portions automatically engage with the decorative panel to hold the screw in place during installation, eliminating the need for the operator to manually hold or balance the screw, thereby preventing drops and reducing the need to repeatedly access the stepladder.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
A mount unit 8 for mounting a decorative panel 2 on an underside of an air-conditioning apparatus main body 1 includes a decorative panel mount fitting 10 having a screw engagement hole 13a that communicates with the screw insertion hole 21 of the decorative panel 2 and a claw that is fitted into the claw engagement hole 22 formed on each side of the screw insertion hole 21 of the decorative panel 2 and a decorative panel mount screw 9, and is configured to be held by the decorative panel 2 without being dropped off when the claw 14 is fitted into the claw engagement hole 22 and the decorative panel mount screw 9 is engaged with the screw engagement hole 13a with a head being oriented downward, and the decorative panel 2 is mounted on the air-conditioning apparatus main body 1 when the decorative panel mount screw 9 held on the decorative panel 2 is screwed into the screw fastening hole 7a of the air-conditioning apparatus main body 1 via the screw insertion hole 21.