Home Appliance Door Latch for One-Handed Push Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional home appliances with door mechanisms require both hands to open or close, posing difficulties when only one hand is available, and lack safety features to prevent accidental door opening during operation.
Innovation Solution
A home appliance design featuring a latch and coupling system that allows door operation by pushing or pulling with one hand, and includes a safety mechanism to prevent door opening during appliance operation, utilizing a latch insertion hole, engaging part, and pressurizing projections to facilitate one-handed operation and ensure safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional handle mechanism is provided on the door, then the door can be opened/closed by holding the handle with both hands, but it becomes difficult to operate when only one hand is available
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the conventional handle from the door and extracts its function into a separate pushing member provided on the cabinet body. This allows the door to be opened by simply pushing the front surface of the door with one hand, eliminating the need to grip a handle with both hands.
Solution Approach 2:
The pushing member acts as an intermediary element between the user's hand and the door opening mechanism. When the user pushes the front surface of the door, the force is transmitted through the pushing member to the operating part, which then actuates the latch and coupling part to open the door.
2Ease of operation
If the door can be easily opened by pushing, then one-handed operation is enabled, but the door may accidentally open during appliance operation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention incorporates a safety projection and safety recess mechanism that must be actively disengaged before the door can open. During appliance operation, the safety projection remains engaged with the safety recess, preventing accidental door opening. The user must intentionally push the operating part to disengage the safety mechanism first, then the door can be opened.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety mechanism provides preliminary anti-action by pre-engaging the safety projection with the safety recess to counteract any forces that might accidentally open the door. This preventive measure is in place before any door opening attempt occurs, ensuring that accidental openings are blocked while still allowing intentional opening through the operating part.
3Ease of operation
If a simple push-to-open mechanism is used, then one-handed operation is achieved, but the locking reliability may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The door closing and locking function is divided into two distinct mechanisms: the latch that engages with the cabinet body, and the coupling part that provides additional securing. Both must be simultaneously engaged for the door to be fully locked, providing enhanced reliability while maintaining simple push-to-open operation through the operating part.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the latch and coupling part into a unified locking system that works together. The operating part simultaneously actuates both the latch and coupling part, ensuring that both locking elements are engaged when the door is closed, thereby providing strong locking reliability despite the simplicity of the opening mechanism.
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 one-handed operation of the door and incorporates a safety feature to prevent accidental opening, enhancing usability and safety in various scenarios.
Implementation Method 1
an engaging part torsion spring provided at the engaging part to provide an elastic force so as to enable the latch insertion portion to rotate in a direction getting close to the latch insertion hole
Implementation Method 2
a first spring providing a restoration force to enable the operating part to be restored into a state before being pressurized by the first pressurizing projection
Implementation Method 3
a second spring providing a restoration force to enable the operating part to be restored into a state before being pressurized by the third pressurizing projection
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Disclosed is a home appliance. The present invention includes a cabinet having a storage space formed inside and an entrance communicating with the storage space, a door rotatably coupled with the cabinet to open/close the entrance, a latch provided at one of the door and the cabinet, and a coupling part provided at the other one of the door and the cabinet, the coupling part including a housing including a latch insertion hole which the latch inserted therein, an engaging part including an engaging part body rotatably provided within the housing, a latch insertion portion having an end of the latch inserted therein by extending from one end of the engaging part body, and a pressurizing portion having a first pressurizing projection and a third pressurizing projection by extending the other end of the engaging part body, an engaging part torsion spring provided at the engaging part to provide an elastic force so as to enable the latch insertion portion to rotate in a direction getting close to the latch insertion hole, an operating part configured to move in a direction getting distant from the latch insertion hole by being pressurized by the first pressurizing projection and rotate in a direction vertical to a direction pressurized by the third pressurizing projection, a first spring providing a restoration force to enable the operating part to be restored into a state before being pressurized by the first pressurizing projection, and a second spring providing a restoration force to enable the operating part to be restored into a state before being pressurized by the third pressurizing projection.