Dishwasher Door Latch Layout for Thin-Door Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door locking devices for electric household appliances, such as dishwashers, are cumbersome, complex, and unsuitable for appliances with thin doors, limiting their manufacturing and increasing the bulk within the appliance, which restricts inner space and maintenance access.
Innovation Solution
A self-repositioning door locking device with a supporting frame, a latch, and elastic means that allows the latch to rotate between locked and unlocked positions, with the most complex parts positioned on the appliance's casing rather than the door, enabling thinner door designs and improved sealing without increasing resistance during closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the latch is positioned in the locked position with the door open, then the door locking function is maintained, but the door cannot be closed without manual repositioning of the latch
Solution Approach 1:
The latch is designed to automatically reposition itself during door closure. The cam mechanism interacts with the cam surface on the latch body, causing the latch to rotate from the locked position to the unlocked position as the door closes, eliminating the need for manual user intervention to rearman the device
2Reliability
If the supporting frame and complex mechanisms are mounted on the door, then the door locking function is achieved, but the door thickness increases reducing inner space
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of mounting the supporting frame and complex mechanisms on the door, the invention inverts the arrangement by mounting these components on the appliance casing. The latch remains on the door but interacts with simplified receiving means on the casing, thereby reducing door thickness and increasing inner space
3Reliability
If the latch and receiving means are designed for secure engagement, then locking reliability is improved, but the device complexity and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the complex supporting frame and mechanism components from the door assembly and relocates them to the appliance casing. The door-side components are simplified to primarily the latch and its mounting bracket, while the receiving means on the casing provides the secure engagement feature, thereby reducing overall device complexity and bulk
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the manufacture of appliances with thinner doors, increasing inner space and facilitating maintenance by relocating the most complex parts to the casing, while ensuring reliable operation and improved sealing without user intervention for repositioning.
Implementation Method 1
first elastic means for rotating the latch between a first steady position in which, in use, the tooth of the latch engages the receiving means
Implementation Method 2
The opposite pins of the latch pass through the first guides and also slidingly engage, simultaneously to the first guides, second guides directly obtained on the supporting frame
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A door locking device (1) including a supporting frame (6), a latch (7) rotationally carried about a first axis (A) by the supporting frame, receiving means (8) for a locking tooth (9) of the latch and first elastic means (10) for rotating the latch between a first steady position in which, in use, with the door being closed, the tooth (9) of the latch engages the receiving means (8), and a second steady position, in which the tooth (9) does not engage the receiving means (8); the supporting frame (6) is shaped to be fixed, in use, to one side of an access opening (5) of the electric household appliance, integral with a casing (3) of the latter; and the receiving means (8) consist of at least one seat (8) carried, in use, by an edge (11) of the door facing, in use, said side of the access opening provided with the supporting frame; moreover, the first axis (A) is transversally movable with respect to itself, relatively to said supporting frame (6).