Home appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Home appliances with opaque doors face challenges in energy efficiency due to air leakage when the door is 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 quick installation while preventing damage and maintaining aesthetics, by using a slidable fastening structure that fits into the door frame without requiring pivoting, thus minimizing exposure of installation components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a door panel is coupled to the door frame using a slidable fastening structure with fitting and fastening protrusions, then the ease of installation and stability of coupling are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening structure employs a slidable mechanism where the door panel moves from a loading position to a locked position. The fitting protrusion slides along the door frame and engages with the fastening protrusion, transforming a static connection into a dynamic assembly process that guides the panel into proper alignment and secures it automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The slidable fastening structure is designed to be self-aligning and self-securing. As the door panel is inserted, the fitting protrusion automatically engages with the fastening protrusion through sliding motion, eliminating the need for separate alignment or fastening operations. The structure serves itself by converting insertion motion into secure coupling.
2Shape
If the door panel is made opaque to maintain aesthetics, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the ability to observe the object inside the receiving space deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The door is divided into distinct functional segments: the door frame structure, the opaque door panel for aesthetics, and separate fastening mechanisms. This segmentation allows the panel to remain opaque while the fastening structure provides the necessary functionality without compromising appearance, as the coupling mechanism is positioned at the boundary between panel and frame.
3Loss of information
If the door panel is made transparent or includes a viewing window to observe the object inside, then the visibility of the object inside is improved, but the aesthetic appearance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The viewing function is extracted from the door panel itself and placed in the door frame structure or as a separate component. This allows the main door panel to remain opaque and aesthetically pleasing, while the extracted viewing element provides observation capability without compromising the overall aesthetic design of the door assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A home appliance includes a body having an inner space defined therein and a door configured to open and close the inner space. The door includes a door frame located in front of the body and a door panel located in front of the door frame. The door panel includes a panel body located in front of the door frame to cover the door frame, a fitting protrusion fitted with the door frame to couple the panel body to the door frame, the fitting protrusion being displaced upwardly or downwardly relative to the door frame to prevent the panel body from moving forwardly or rearwardly relative to the door frame, and a fastening protrusion coupled to the door frame to prevent the panel body from moving upwardly or downwardly relative to the door frame, the fastening protrusion being located below the fitting protrusion.