Dishwasher Door Strip Latching Assembly to Reduce Installation Damage
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of dishwasher door strips is complicated and prone to damage due to the need to hold and screw the strips with one hand while operating the screwing tool, often resulting in slipping and scratching.
Innovation Solution
The lateral strips can be locked onto the door body using engagement means, such as spring-loaded latching hooks, allowing for easier assembly and eliminating the need for manual holding, which also prevents longitudinal movement and can omit one or more screw connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lateral strips are screwed to the door body with two screws, then the strips are securely fixed, but the assembly process becomes complicated and time-consuming requiring manual holding and operation of screwing tool simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral strip is designed with self-latching capability where the strip itself performs the fixation function. The strip engages with latching hooks on the door body and secures itself through its own elastic deformation, eliminating the need for manual holding and screwing operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual screwing mechanism is replaced with an elastic-mechanical latching system. The elastic strip deforms to engage with the latching hooks, substituting the complex manual screwing operation with a simple elastic engagement mechanism that automatically secures the strip.
2Reliability
If lateral strips are screwed to the door body, then the strips are securely fixed, but the assembly time and effort increase considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The strip performs self-fixation by engaging with the latching hooks through its elastic deformation. This self-service mechanism eliminates the time-consuming manual screwing process while maintaining secure fixation, significantly improving assembly productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The latching hooks are pre-positioned on the door body, and the strip is designed with pre-formed engagement features. When the strip is installed, the preliminary positioning of these features enables rapid self-latching without requiring time-consuming alignment or screwing operations.
3Manufacturing precision
If lateral strips are held manually during assembly, then the strips can be positioned correctly, but the risk of slipping and scratching the strips increases
Solution Approach 1:
The strip self-positions by engaging with the latching hooks through elastic deformation. This self-positioning mechanism eliminates manual handling during the critical fixation phase, preventing slipping and scratching while ensuring correct positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic properties of the strip provide beforehand cushioning during installation. The elasticity allows the strip to flex during engagement and then spring into its final positioned state, preventing the slipping that occurs with manual holding while ensuring accurate positioning.
4Reliability
If multiple screw connections are used to fix lateral strips, then the fixation is secure, but the number of parts and assembly steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lateral strip serves as both the component to be fixed and the fixing mechanism itself. Through elastic deformation, the strip engages with the latching hooks and secures itself, eliminating the need for separate screws and reducing the number of parts while maintaining secure fixation.
Solution Approach 2:
The function of the lateral strip is merged with the function of the fixing element. The strip itself performs both the decorative/protective function and the fixation function through its elastic engagement with the latching hooks, consolidating multiple components into one.
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
This simplifies the assembly process, reduces the risk of strip damage, and saves time and material by allowing assembly without manual holding and potentially reducing the number of screw connections required.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spring-loaded latching hook is provided for the latching mount on the door body
Data Source
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AI summary
A dishwasher (1), in particular a household dishwasher, with a wash container (2) for receiving items to be washed, such as dishes, glasses, cutlery or the like, and with at least one movable door (3) for opening or closing the wash container (2), wherein the door (3) has a door body (14) which, in the closed state, has an inner side (15) facing the wash container (2) and an outer side (16) oriented in a substantially opposite direction and between these, lateral intermediate areas (17) several centimeters wide, which are at least partially covered by strips (18), is designed such that the lateral strips (18) can be locked or are locked onto the door body (14) completely or partially.