Cooking Appliance Door Link Cover for Compact Vertical Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooking appliances with pivoting doors face challenges in compact space usage due to large pivoting radii and exposure of internal components when the door opens or closes, particularly when moving upward and downward.
Innovation Solution
A cooking appliance design featuring a door moving unit with link members that allow the door to pivot upward and downward, coupled with a cover unit that shields internal components using elastic members and cover plates to prevent exposure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the door is hinge-coupled with the body to pivot, then the door can open and close the cooking compartment, but the pivoting radius becomes large making it difficult to use in small spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the door movement from horizontal pivoting to vertical movement along the front surface of the body. The link member guides the door to move upward and downward in front of the cooking compartment, eliminating the need for a large horizontal pivoting radius while maintaining door opening and closing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The link member acts as an intermediary mechanism between the door and the body. It connects the door to the body and enables vertical movement, replacing the traditional hinge mechanism and allowing compact door operation without large pivoting radius.
2Area of stationary object
If the door is moved upward and downward to open and close the cooking compartment, then the moving radius is reduced, but the internal components become exposed
Solution Approach 1:
The cover unit serves as an intermediary element that moves together with the door during vertical movement. It shields the link member and internal components throughout the door's upward and downward motion, preventing exposure while maintaining the compact vertical movement mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover unit acts as a protective shell that follows the door's movement trajectory. It dynamically covers the link moving portion and internal components during operation, preventing exposure without restricting the door's vertical movement range.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a cover unit is added to shield internal components, then exposure is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cover unit is merged with the door assembly and moves together with the door during vertical movement. This integration eliminates the need for separate actuation mechanisms, reducing overall complexity while maintaining protective functionality throughout the door's motion range.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover unit automatically shields the internal components through its connection to the door movement mechanism. As the door moves vertically, the cover unit follows and provides continuous protection without requiring additional control systems or actuation, achieving self-service protection.
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 design reduces the door's pivoting radius, enabling efficient use in small spaces and prevents internal components from being exposed during operation, while allowing easy opening and closing of the cooking compartment.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic member which transfers an elastic force to allow the cover plate to move toward the link moving portion
Data Source
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AI summary
A cooking appliance including a body includes a cooking compartment and an electrical component compartment formed therein, a door link-coupled with the body to open and/or close the cooking compartment, a door moving unit including a link member which connects the door with the body to allow the door to pivot upward and downward in front of the cooking compartment, and a cover unit which prevents the electrical component compartment in the body from being exposed by a movement of the link member. Here, the body includes a link moving portion formed on a front side to allow the link member to move into or out of the body, and the cover unit is configured to shield the link moving portion when the door is opened.