Dishwasher Wall Bracket With Aperture Protrusions for Scratch-Free Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for mounting structures to the walls inside a dishwasher's wash tub are burdensome, time-consuming, and prone to causing scratches, which can lead to corrosion and a negative impact on the product's impression, while also requiring additional space for screws.

Innovation Solution

A bracket with multiple protrusions that extend through apertures in the wall to attach structures securely, allowing for easy mounting from outside the wash tub without screws, reducing the risk of scratches and enabling even heavier structures to be attached with a watertight seal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If screws are used to mount structures to walls inside the wash tub, then the mounting is secure, but the process is time-consuming and causes scratches on the walls

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting securityVSAvoidmounting time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the harmful element (screws) from the mounting process and replaces it with protrusions that extend through apertures. The protrusions are integrated into the bracket structure, eliminating the need for separate screw fastening operations while maintaining secure attachment through the aperture penetration method.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket structure merges the mounting function with the structural support function. The protrusions are integrated directly into the bracket body, combining the fastening mechanism with the support element itself, thereby eliminating separate mounting components and reducing assembly steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If screws are used to mount structures to walls inside the wash tub, then the mounting is secure, but the process is burdensome and leads to scratches on the walls

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting securityVSAvoidwall scratches

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the harmful screws from the mounting process and replaces them with integrated protrusions. This extraction eliminates the scratching problem caused by screw installation while maintaining secure mounting through the aperture penetration method, thereby removing the harmful factor without sacrificing reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusions act as intermediaries between the bracket and the wall apertures. Instead of using screws that contact and scratch the wall surface, the protrusions extend through the apertures to provide secure attachment without direct contact with the wall surface, thus mediating the connection in a scratch-free manner.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If screws of certain length are used for mounting, then the mounting functions properly, but additional space is required inside the wash tub

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting functionVSAvoidspace requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket structure merges the fastening function with the support structure itself. The protrusions are integral to the bracket body, eliminating the need for separate screw components and their associated space requirements. This merging reduces the overall volume needed for mounting while maintaining proper mounting function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using external screws that extend into the wash tub space, the invention inverts the approach by having the bracket protrusions extend outward through the wall apertures. This inversion places the fastening elements outside the wash tub volume, thereby reducing the space requirement inside the wash tub while maintaining mounting functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Reliability

If multiple brackets are used to attach heavy structures, then the attachment is secure, but the complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment securityVSAvoidbracket quantity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple bracket functions into a single integrated structure. The bracket with multiple protrusions can attach to multiple wall apertures simultaneously, providing secure attachment for heavy structures without requiring multiple separate brackets. This merging reduces device complexity and component quantity while maintaining attachment security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket is designed with multi-functionality, where a single bracket structure with multiple protrusions can perform the attachment function at multiple locations. This universal design allows one bracket to replace what would traditionally require multiple brackets, thereby reducing complexity and cost while maintaining secure attachment capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11071439B2Bracket, dishwasher and method of attaching a structure to a wall of a dishwasher

Publication Date: 2021.07.27 ELECTROLUX APPLIANCES

AI summary

A bracket is provided that may be configured to attach a structure to a wall inside a wash tub of a dishwasher. The bracket may be arranged to be attached to the structure and may include a first protrusion and at least a second protrusion arranged to attach the bracket and the attached structure to the wall by extending through a respective aperture in the wall. A dishwasher and a method of attaching a structure to a wall inside a wash tub for a dishwasher may also be provided.