Double-Door Home Appliance Locking Device to Prevent Dual Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Home appliances with double doors often experience inconvenience due to the auxiliary door being open unnecessarily when the main door is open, leading to inefficiencies in space usage and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A locking device with a dual opening preventing member that maintains the second door coupled to the first door when the operating lever is pressed, preventing the second door from being opened when the first door is open, ensuring efficient space management and user convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the auxiliary door is made independently operable from the main door, then the availability and efficiency of the accommodation space is improved, but the auxiliary door may be open unnecessarily when the main door is open, causing user inconvenience
Solution Approach 1:
The dual opening preventing member proactively prevents the harmful action of the auxiliary door opening when the main door is open. By providing a mechanical interlocking mechanism that automatically engages when the main door opens, the system anticipates and blocks the unwanted simultaneous opening before it occurs, thereby maintaining user convenience while preserving the versatility benefits
2Reliability
If a locking device is added to control door operations, then the dual opening problem is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device operates automatically through mechanical interlocking between the dual opening preventing member and the door structure. The system self-regulates door operation without requiring external control mechanisms, electronic components, or manual intervention, thereby achieving reliable door control while minimizing added complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The dual opening preventing member is integrated into the existing door structure, combining the locking function with the door's structural components. This merging approach avoids adding separate, independent locking mechanisms and reduces overall device complexity while maintaining reliable door control
Data Source
AI summary
A home appliance is provided. The home appliance includes a main body having an accommodation space, a first door rotatably coupled to the main body to open and close the accommodation space and having an opening, a second door rotatably coupled to the first door to open and close the opening, and a locking device configured to fix or separate the first door to or from the main body or fix or separate the second door to or from the first door. The locking device includes a main ring unit, an operating lever configured to separate the second door from the first door by pressure, and a dual opening preventing member configured to maintain a fixed state of the second door with respect to the first door when the operating lever is pressed in a state in which the first door is open.