Apparatus for treating laundry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laundry treating devices face issues with the weakened joining force between the handle panel and the detergent box due to the curved design, leading to potential separation and breakage of the handle panel when external forces are applied.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a preventing part with a fastening and fixing portion, including projection hooks and ribs, to securely attach the handle panel to the detergent box, ensuring a strong and stable connection even under external forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the handle panel is designed with a curved shape to match the door circumference, then the aesthetic appearance and user access are improved, but the joining force between the handle panel and detergent box is weakened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser access to handle panelVSAvoidjoining force between handle panel and detergent box
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The handle panel is divided into multiple sections: a curved outer portion matching the door circumference and an inner rectangular portion for structural strength. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function - the curved outer portion provides aesthetic appearance and user access, while the inner rectangular portion maintains joining force with the detergent box.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the door diameter is increased to facilitate user access to control panels, then user convenience is improved, but the distance between the detergent box and front panel increases causing handle panel instability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser access to control panelVSAvoidhandle panel stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The handle panel employs an asymmetric design where the outer circumference is curved to match the large door diameter for user access, while the inner structure maintains a rectangular configuration for stability. This asymmetric approach allows the handle panel to adapt to the large door diameter while preserving structural integrity and preventing spacing issues.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

3Ease of manufacture

If the handle panel is joined to the detergent box with a simple structure, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but the handle panel may break when external force is applied

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehandle panel assemblyVSAvoidhandle panel durability under external force
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The handle panel combines multiple structural features into a single integrated component: the curved outer portion for aesthetics, the inner rectangular portion for structural strength, and built-in joining structures that merge the handle panel with the detergent box. This merging approach provides robust durability under external force while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3372726B1Apparatus for treating laundry
Publication Date: 2020.12.02 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3372726B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3372726B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3372726B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a laundry treating apparatus (100). The present invention includes a cabinet (10) including a front panel (11) having an opening (15) formed in a front side, a door (30) seated on the front panel (11), the door (30) having a diameter greater than that of the opening (15) so as to open/close the opening (15), a control panel (13) provided to a top part of the front panel (11), the control panel (13) having a seating recess for having a top part of the door (30) seated thereon and a draw hole (131) provided to a lateral side of the seating recess, a detergent box (40) provided in the draw hole (131) drawably to provide a space for receiving detergent therein, a handle panel (42) joined to a front side of the detergent box (40), the handle panel (42) having one side configured as an avoidant surface (423) corresponding to a shape of an outer circumference of the seating recess, and a preventing part (60) configured to prevent the avoidant surface (423) from being spaced apart from the front side of the detergent box (40).