Appliance Door Securing Member for Residue-Free Transport Locking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Household appliances, particularly those with pull-top-open doors, face damage during transport due to unsecured doors that can open from shocks, leading to aesthetic and functional impairments.

Innovation Solution

A securing member with two extremities, one attached to the door and the other to the housing, using protrusions and adhesive parts to securely fasten the door during transport without leaving traces, ensuring the door remains closed and preventing damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If regular adhesive tape is used to secure the door during transport, then the door is secured, but adhesive residue and aesthetic defects remain after removal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor securing reliabilityVSAvoidaesthetic quality after removal
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful adhesive function is extracted and separated from the securing function. The adhesive part is removed from the housing before transport, leaving only the non-adhesive securing member attached to the door. This eliminates adhesive residue on the housing while maintaining door securing capability through the remaining non-adhesive portion.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The securing member acts as an intermediary element between the door and housing. It provides the securing function without requiring permanent adhesive attachment to the housing, using instead a removable adhesive part that can be detached before transport, thus mediating between the need for secure attachment and the need for clean removal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If the door is left unsecured during transport, then aesthetic defects are avoided, but the door may open and cause damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic qualityVSAvoiddoor damage risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive part is designed as a disposable, temporary element used only during transport. It provides the necessary securing function for the transport phase but is intended to be removed and discarded before the appliance enters service, avoiding any long-term aesthetic impact while providing adequate protection during the critical transport period.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Reliability

If a securing member with adhesive is permanently attached to the housing, then the door is securely fastened, but removal leaves adhesive residue

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor fastening securityVSAvoidadhesive residue
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The securing member is segmented into two distinct functional parts: a non-adhesive portion that remains attached to the door for structural securing, and a removable adhesive part that provides temporary attachment to the housing during transport. This segmentation allows the adhesive to be removed without leaving residue on the housing while the non-adhesive portion continues to secure the door.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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

The solution provides a secure and efficient method for transporting household appliances, preventing door damage and maintaining the appliance's aesthetic appearance by ensuring the securing member does not leave adhesive residue after removal.

Implementation Method 1

The second extremity comprises an adhesive part for attachment to the housing

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3243950B1Household appliance and method for manufacturing a household appliance
Publication Date: 2018.12.19 ELECTROLUX APPLIANCES
  • EP3243950B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3243950B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3243950B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Household appliance (2), comprising a housing (6) in which an operating chamber is arranged, whereby an opening (28) is provided in said housing (6) for accessing said operating chamber, and whereby a door (24) is provided which is adapted to open or close said opening (28), whereby a securing member (70) with an elongated shape is provided which comprises a first extremity (76) and a second extremity (78), whereby said first extremity (76) is fixed or fixable to said door (24) on a fixing side and whereby said second extremity (78) is fixed or fixable to said housing (6).