Dishwasher Cover Device for Automatic Access Aperture Safety
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwashers pose safety risks due to the potential for users, including children, to accidentally insert their fingers into access apertures while adjusting decorative front panels, leading to injuries.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher equipped with a cover device that automatically moves from an open position to a closed position, covering the access aperture, using a sliding mechanism and guiding members to ensure the cover device is always in the closed position during operation, thereby preventing accidental finger insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an access aperture is provided on the door to allow user access to the adjusting member, then the ease of operation is improved, but the safety is worsened due to risk of finger insertion and injury
Solution Approach 1:
The cover device is automatically positioned to cover the access aperture before the door is opened or during door movement. This preliminary covering action prevents the harmful effect (finger insertion) from occurring in the first place, while still allowing user access when needed through the transparent cover or by opening the door.
Solution Approach 2:
A transparent cover device is introduced as an intermediary element between the user and the access aperture. This cover allows visual inspection and limited access while physically blocking direct finger insertion into the hazardous area where fingers could be pinched by the sliding member.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a cap is provided to cover the access aperture, then the safety is improved, but the ease of operation is worsened and reliability is reduced due to user forgetfulness
Solution Approach 1:
The cover device is integrated into the door assembly and automatically moves with door movement, eliminating the need for user intervention to cover or uncover it. The system serves itself by linking the cover's position to the door's position, ensuring safety without relying on user memory or action.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover device is automatically positioned to cover the access aperture before the door is opened or during door movement. This preliminary covering action prevents the harmful effect (finger insertion) from occurring in the first place, while still allowing user access when needed through the transparent cover or by opening the door.
3Shape
If the decorative front panel is made longer to project below the door, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the sliding mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding member serves multiple functions: it allows the decorative front panel to slide relative to the door for aesthetic positioning, and simultaneously drives the cover device to move between covered and uncovered positions. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity despite the added aesthetic feature.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover device is mechanically coupled to the existing sliding member that controls the decorative panel's position. By combining the cover actuation function with the existing sliding mechanism, the patent avoids adding a separate complex actuation system, thus minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
The dishwasher comprises: a frame (110; 310; 510) defining a treatment chamber (115; 315; 515) for items to be washed; a door assembly comprising a door (125; 325; 525) movable between closed and open positions for selectively accessing the treatment chamber, the door comprising an access aperture (1401,1402; 3401,3402; 540) for allowing a user to access an adjusting member (135; 335; 535) actuatable to adjust a position of a decorative front panel (130; 330; 530) with respect to the door, a sliding member (180; 580) configured to slide along a sliding axis (L) during door movement, the sliding member being coupleable to the decorative front panel such that, when coupled to the decorative front panel, a sliding of the sliding member during door movement causes the decorative front panel to slide with respect to the door along the sliding axis, a cover device (190; 390; 390'; 590) mounted or mountable on the door assembly and configured to take, when mounted on the door assembly, a first operative position in which the cover device leaves the access aperture of the door uncovered and a second operative position in which the cover device covers at least partially the access aperture of the door, the cover device being configured to mechanically cooperate with the sliding member so as to automatically move from the first operative position to the second operative position in response to the sliding of the sliding member.