Household Appliance Door Panel Mounting Without Edge Tear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for attaching a decorative panel to household appliances risk damaging the panel due to screws being placed close to the edges, especially when the appliance is not built-in, leading to potential material tear under mechanical stress.
Innovation Solution
The decorative panel is secured to the outer skin of the door using a form-fitting attachment with adjustable angle pieces and bridges, allowing for secure positioning and easy disassembly without damage, and featuring elongated holes and beads for enhanced rigidity and adjustment capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the decorative panel is fastened using conventional angle pieces with screws placed close to the edges, then the panel can be securely attached to the appliance, but the material of the decorative panel risks tearing under mechanical stress
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary fastening system consisting of angle pieces with legs that engage with recesses and protrusions in the decorative panel and appliance body, respectively. This intermediary mechanism distributes mechanical stress away from the panel edges, preventing material tear while maintaining secure attachment. The screw connections are positioned on the angle piece legs rather than directly on the panel, acting as a stress-distributing intermediary.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening system is segmented into distinct functional components: angle pieces with two legs, recesses in the decorative panel, and protrusions in the appliance body. This segmentation allows the fastening function to be distributed across multiple elements, with the angle piece serving as a stress-distributing element that prevents concentrated loads on the panel material.
2Area of stationary object
If the decorative panel is made larger to cover the entire furniture niche, then the alignment with furniture doors is improved, but the risk of damage during screw fastening increases
Solution Approach 1:
The angle piece serves as a mediator that decouples the fastening operation from the decorative panel edges. Even when the panel is large and extends close to the appliance edges, the angle piece's leg structure ensures that screws are positioned away from vulnerable panel areas, protecting the expanded panel surface from damage.
3Area of stationary object
If the decorative panel is designed to protrude beyond the appliance body for built-in installation, then the furniture niche coverage is improved, but the structural integrity under mechanical stress is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The angle piece acts as a structural intermediary that reinforces the connection between the protruding decorative panel and the appliance body. The two-leg design with distributed fastening points provides additional structural support to panels that extend beyond the appliance boundaries, maintaining integrity despite the extended configuration.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 2~4
AI summary
A door for a household appliance comprises a plate (2) on the side of the appliance and an outer decorative plate (7), the plates being secured to each other leaving a gap (32) between them. At least one slot (15) parallel to the plates (2, 7) is formed in the gap (32), on the decorative plate (7), and the plates (2, 7) are joined together by an angle (16) with a first branch (17) that enters the gap (15) and a second branch (18) secured to one flank (4) of the plate (2) on the side of the appliance.