Home appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Home appliances with opaque doors face challenges in energy efficiency due to air leakage when opened, and existing viewing windows may compromise aesthetics during door panel replacement.
Innovation Solution
A door panel coupling system using fitting and fastening protrusions that restrict movement, allowing easy and stable installation while maintaining aesthetics, by fitting into the door frame and using a slidable fastening structure to prevent deformation and damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a door panel is made opaque to maintain aesthetics, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the ability to check the object inside without opening the door deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The door glass changes its optical properties from transparent to opaque based on external light conditions. When external light is strong, the door glass becomes opaque to maintain aesthetic appearance. When external light is weak, it becomes transparent to allow viewing of the object inside without opening the door.
2Loss of information
If the door is opened to check the object inside, then the visibility of the object is improved, but energy loss due to air leakage worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The door glass dynamically changes transparency based on ambient light conditions, allowing users to view the object inside the home appliance without opening the door, thereby preventing energy loss from air leakage while maintaining visibility when needed.
3Loss of information
If a viewing window is mounted on the door to enable checking the object inside, then the visibility of the object is improved, but the aesthetic appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The door glass serves multiple functions: it acts as both an aesthetic opaque panel and a transparent viewing window depending on light conditions, eliminating the need for a separate dedicated viewing window that would compromise aesthetics.
Solution Approach 2:
The door glass automatically adjusts its transparency based on external light conditions, providing viewing capability when needed while maintaining aesthetic appearance when viewing is not required, thus eliminating the need for a permanent viewing window opening.
4Stability of the object's composition
If a complex fastening structure is used to securely attach the door panel, then the coupling stability is improved, but the ease of installation and removal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening structure is divided into separate fitting protrusions and fitting grooves that can be independently assembled. The door panel is first attached to the door frame through fitting protrusions, then further secured through fastening protrusions, allowing staged installation that is both simple and stable.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using complex fastening mechanisms that require tools and complicated procedures, the invention uses simple protrusion-groove fitting structures that rely on geometric interlocking rather than mechanical fasteners, enabling tool-free assembly and disassembly while maintaining stability.
5Ease of operation
If the door panel structure is exposed during installation, then the ease of installation is improved, but the aesthetic appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The fitting protrusions and fastening protrusions are designed to be concealed within the door panel and door frame structure after assembly. The fastening components are nested within the overall door assembly, making the installation structure invisible from the exterior while preserving aesthetic appearance.
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
A home appliance having a novel structure door (100) is disclosed. A door panel (150, 250) of the door (100) coupled to a door frame ( 110) to define an outer appearance of the door (100) is coupled to the door frame (110) via a fitting protrusion (170, 180, 185, 270, 370, 470, 470a) . Forward and backward movement of the panel body (160) is restricted in a state in which a position of the fitting protrusion (170, 180, 185, 270, 370, 470, 470a) fitted with the door frame (110) has been changed in a vertical direction.