Detergent Drawer Panel Structure for Better Grip and Aesthetics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional washing machines lack an aesthetically pleasing and user-friendly design for the detergent container and drawer assembly, which affects the emotional quality and ease of use.

Innovation Solution

A washing machine design featuring a detergent container with a drawer panel having a frame part of predetermined thickness, a handle defined within the frame part, and a depression surface that is gradually inclined, allowing for improved user access and attachment/detachment of the detergent container, with guide rails on the housing to facilitate smooth operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If a conventional drawer assembly structure is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the aesthetic appearance and emotional quality of the detergent container are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaesthetic appearanceVSAvoiddrawer assembly structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drawer panel is segmented into a frame part with predetermined thickness and a handle defined within it, creating distinct functional and aesthetic zones that enhance the overall appearance while maintaining structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The frame part is given a predetermined thickness in the vertical dimension, transforming a flat panel into a three-dimensional structure that provides both aesthetic depth and structural strength without complicating the manufacturing process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the handle is defined within the frame part with depression surface, then user access and ease of operation are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser access to handleVSAvoiddrawer panel fabrication

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The depression surface is pre-formed as an integral part of the frame part during the molding process, creating the handle structure in advance before final assembly, which simplifies the overall manufacturing workflow despite the increased geometric complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The handle is merged with the frame part as a single integrated component, where the depression surface is formed directly from the frame material, eliminating the need for separate handle parts and reducing assembly steps

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If the detergent container is attached to housing with guide rails, then the attachment and detachment operation is smooth and clutter-free, but the device structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment and detachmentVSAvoidhousing and container structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guide rails are extracted as separate, standardized components that can be independently manufactured and installed on the housing, allowing the detergent container to be attached and detached smoothly without integrating the guiding function into the main container structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS8733133B2Washing machine and drawer assembly thereof

Publication Date: 2014.05.27 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Disclosed herein are a washing machine, which has an improved structure to increase the aesthetic appearance and emotional quality of a detergent container, and a drawer assembly of the washing machine. The washing machine includes a washing machine main body, a detergent container connected to the washing machine main body, a drawer panel provided on the detergent container and including a frame part having a predetermined thickness, and a handle defined within the frame part of the drawer panel.