Integrated Door Bearing Unit for Compact Appliance Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing domestic appliances lack a compact design that efficiently integrates storage and functional components, leading to space inefficiencies and complex assembly processes.
Innovation Solution
A domestic appliance device with a storage unit featuring a bearing means, guide means, and drive means, where functional surfaces perform multiple functions, allowing for a compact design, flexible load transfer, and convenient operation, with a bearing unit designed as a single piece for simplicity and high functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If multiple separate components are used for storage, bearing, guiding, and driving functions, then each component can be optimized independently, but the overall device complexity increases and space efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines storage means, bearing means, guide means, and drive means into a single integrated storage unit. The bearing unit serves as both a storage container and a functional component that provides bearing, guiding, and driving capabilities simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage unit is designed as a multi-functional component where the bearing unit performs multiple roles: it stores items, provides bearing support for the door unit, guides the door unit's movement, and transmits driving forces. This universal design reduces overall device complexity while maintaining manufacturing optimizability.
2Volume of moving object
If a compact design is implemented by integrating multiple functions into one storage unit, then space efficiency improves, but manufacturing and assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
While the storage unit is integrated, it is designed with detachable components including a door unit that can be removed. The bearing unit, storage container, and door unit are segmented in a way that allows modular assembly and disassembly, simplifying manufacturing and maintenance despite the compact integrated design.
3Device complexity
If the bearing unit is designed as a single piece, then construction simplicity improves and component count decreases, but flexibility for load transfer and maintenance accessibility worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing unit is designed as a single integrated piece that can be detached as a complete module. This segmentation at the module level maintains construction simplicity while enabling easy replacement and maintenance of the entire bearing unit without disassembling internal components, balancing simplicity with maintainability.
4Device complexity
If functional surfaces perform multiple functions in different states, then component count decreases and design becomes more compact, but the requirements for functional surface precision and versatility increase
Solution Approach 1:
The functional surfaces of the bearing unit are designed to perform multiple functions: the bearing surface supports the door unit, the guide surface directs movement, and the drive surface transmits forces. These surfaces are engineered with precise geometric features that enable multi-functionality while maintaining manufacturability through standardized machining processes.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a household appliance device with at least one bearing unit (68), which has at least one first functional element designed as a bearing means (86) and which is intended to support a door unit (64). To achieve a compact design, it is proposed that the bearing unit (68) has at least one second functional element (88).