Detachable Holder for Washing Machine Heating Element Assembly

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing household appliances for laundry care face challenges in securely and efficiently holding heating elements, which affects their functionality and ease of assembly/disassembly.

Innovation Solution

A holder with a base base and a retaining clip provides a detachable and stable mechanism for holding the heating element, allowing for improved support and easy assembly/disassembly through a mechanical connection, enabling precise positioning and secure fixation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a detachable connection is used to hold the heating element, then ease of assembly and disassembly is improved, but holding stability and precision are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of assembly and disassemblyVSAvoidholding stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The holder is divided into two separate components: a base that remains attached to the appliance and a retaining clip that can be detached. This segmentation allows the base to provide stable mounting while the retaining clip enables easy attachment and detachment of the heating element, resolving the contradiction between stability and ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining clip is designed with elastic properties, allowing it to dynamically adjust during attachment and detachment. The elastic deformation of the clip provides a simple yet reliable mechanism for securing the heating element while maintaining ease of operation, as the elastic force automatically ensures proper engagement without requiring complex fastening mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If a bulky and heavy bracket is used to support the heating element, then holding stability is improved, but device weight and space consumption are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveholding stabilityVSAvoidbracket weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the holder into a base and a retaining clip, each component can be optimized for its specific function. The base can be lightweight since it only needs to provide mounting structure, while the retaining clip uses elastic deformation to provide the necessary holding force, eliminating the need for a heavy, bulky bracket.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining clip is designed as a thin, elastic component that uses flexibility to provide secure holding. This flexible design replaces the need for thick, heavy rigid structures, significantly reducing the overall weight and space consumption of the mounting system while maintaining holding stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Device complexity

If a simple mounting structure is used, then device complexity is reduced, but positioning precision is worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting structure complexityVSAvoidpositioning precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The segmentation into base and retaining clip allows the simple base to provide overall positioning while the retaining clip, through its elastic deformation and specific geometry, provides precise positioning of the heating element. This division enables achieving positioning precision without complicating the overall mounting structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The retaining clip utilizes changes in elastic parameters (deformation, force) to achieve precise positioning. By carefully designing the elastic properties and geometry of the clip, precise positioning of the heating element is achieved through simple elastic deformation rather than complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4261338A1Household appliance for the care of laundry items, comprising a specific releasable support for supporting a heating element
Publication Date: 2023.10.18 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP4261338A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4261338A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4261338A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

One aspect of the invention relates to a household appliance (1) for the care of laundry items, comprising a housing (2), a washing drum (4), and a tub (3), wherein the washing drum (4) is received in the tub (3), and the washing drum (4) and the tub (3) are arranged in the housing (2), and comprising at least one heating element (6) for heating a liquid in the tub (3), wherein the heating element (6) is held by a holder (7) which is arranged on the tub (3) by a detachable connection (13, 14, 19 to 24), wherein the holder (7) has a base (9) which is held in a receptacle (8) of the tub (3) by a detachable connection (13, 14, 19 to 24), and the holder (7) has a retaining clip (10) with which the heating element (6) is held, wherein the retaining clip (6) is attached to the base base (9) is arranged and is firmly connected to the base base (9).