Appliance Door Lock Mechanism for Low-Force Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional locks for home appliances require equal force to close and open the door, leading to excessive force needed to close the door during operation, which can prevent proper sealing and increase user effort.
Innovation Solution
A lock design with a holder and fastening unit that allows for easier coupling and separation, utilizing an actuation unit and elastic members to reduce the force required to close the door, while maintaining sealing integrity and preventing dislocation, and incorporating a sensing unit to determine door closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lock is designed to provide sufficient fastening force to prevent door separation during operation, then the door can be securely sealed, but excessive force is required by the user to close the door
Solution Approach 1:
The lock system is divided into two independent functional units: a fastening unit (with fastening protrusion and fastening groove) for securing the door during operation, and a coupling unit (with coupling protrusion and coupling groove) for door closing/opening operations. This segmentation allows each unit to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between strong fastening and easy operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock mechanism uses elastic members (springs) to provide dynamic, state-dependent forces. During door closing, the elastic member provides assistance force to reduce user effort. During operation, the fastening unit engages to provide strong securing force. The mechanism automatically transitions between these states based on door position and pressure conditions.
2Ease of operation
If the holder and fastening unit are designed for easy coupling, then the door can be easily closed, but the fastening unit may become dislocated
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling protrusion and coupling groove are designed with asymmetric, complementary shapes that allow easy insertion in the correct orientation but prevent dislocation. The fastening protrusion and fastening groove similarly use asymmetric geometry to ensure secure engagement while guiding proper alignment during the coupling process.
Solution Approach 2:
The holder acts as an intermediary component that mediates between the door and the fastening/coupling units. It provides guidance and alignment during the coupling process, ensuring that the fastening unit engages properly with the holder without becoming dislocated, while still allowing easy coupling operation.
3Reliability
If the fastening unit is designed to engage strongly with the holder, then the door remains securely closed, but the door cannot be opened when needed
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism uses elastic members to provide dynamic, state-dependent forces. During door closing, the elastic member provides assistance force to reduce user effort. During operation, the fastening unit engages to provide strong securing force. The mechanism automatically transitions between these states based on door position and pressure conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock system is divided into two independent functional units: a fastening unit (with fastening protrusion and fastening groove) for securing the door during operation, and a coupling unit (with coupling protrusion and coupling groove) for door closing/opening operations. This segmentation allows each unit to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between strong fastening and easy operation.
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
Reduces the force needed to close the door, enhances sealing efficiency, and prevents dislocation of the fastening unit, allowing for easier operation and user-friendly closure detection.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic member for providing force necessary to move the fastening unit away from the introduction port when the fastening unit is separated from the first stopper
Implementation Method 2
an actuation unit lock for fixing the actuation unit to the housing when not in contact with the door and releasing coupling between the actuation unit and the housing when in contact with the door
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A lock and a home appliance having the same are disclosed. The lock includes a holder (H) provided at one selected from between the cabinet and the door, a housing (6) provided at the other selected from between the cabinet and the door, a first stopper (611) provided at the housing (6), a fastening unit (7) separably coupled to the first stopper (611) so as to be coupled to the holder (H) when separated from the first stopper, an actuation unit (9) configured to reciprocate in the housing (6), the actuation unit being configured to be moved away from the introduction port in the state of contacting the holder (H) when the door is moved so as to close the introduction port, the actuation unit (9) being configured to separate the fastening unit (7) from the first stopper (611) while being moved away from the introduction port, a first elastic member (77) for providing force necessary to move the fastening unit away from the introduction port when the fastening unit is separated from the first stopper, a second elastic member (981, 983) for providing force necessary to move the actuation unit (9) toward the introduction port, and an actuation unit lock (L) for fixing the actuation unit (9) to the housing (6) when not in contact with the door and releasing coupling between the actuation unit and the housing when in contact with the door.