Elastic-Actuated Home Appliance Lock for Easier Door Closing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional locks for home appliances require equal force to fix and separate the door from the cabinet, leading to excessive force needed to close the introduction port during operation, which can prevent proper sealing and user convenience.
Innovation Solution
A lock design with a holder and fastening unit that allows for easier coupling and decoupling, using elastic members and an actuation unit to reduce the force required to close the introduction port, while preventing dislocation and providing a sensing mechanism for door closure confirmation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the lock is designed to provide sufficient fastening force to prevent door separation during appliance operation, then the door cannot be opened during operation (improving safety), but excessive force is required by the user to close the introduction port (worsening ease of operation)
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism is divided into two independent functional units: a fastening unit (with fastening protrusion and fastening groove) for securing the door during operation, and a coupling unit (with coupling protrusion and coupling groove) for enabling user operation. This segmentation allows each unit to be optimized independently - the fastening unit provides strong retention while the coupling unit enables easy user coupling and decoupling actions
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic member is pre-loaded in a compressed state between the holder and the fastening unit, storing elastic potential energy before operation. When the user closes the door, this pre-stored energy automatically pushes the fastening protrusion into the fastening groove, securing the door without requiring the user to apply excessive force. The preliminary energizing of the elastic member resolves the contradiction by providing strong fastening force automatically rather than requiring it from the user
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 lock reduces the force needed to close the introduction port, prevents dislocation of the fastening unit, and generates a sound signal for user confirmation, ensuring proper sealing and user convenience during appliance operation.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic member for providing necessary force to move the fastening unit away from the introduction port when the fastening unit is separated from the first stopper
Implementation Method 2
a second elastic member for providing necessary force to move the actuation unit toward the introduction port
Data Source
AI summary
A lock and a home appliance having the same are disclosed. The lock includes a holder provided at one selected from between the cabinet and the door, a housing provided at the other selected from between the cabinet and the door, a first stopper provided at the housing, a fastening unit separably coupled to the first stopper so as to be coupled to the holder when separated from the first stopper, an actuation unit configured to reciprocate in the housing, the actuation unit being configured to be moved away from the introduction port in the state of contacting the holder when the door is moved so as to close the introduction port, the actuation unit being configured to separate the fastening unit from the first stopper while being moved away from the introduction port, a first elastic member for providing force necessary to move the fastening unit away from the introduction port when the fastening unit is separated from the first stopper, a second elastic member for providing force necessary to move the actuation unit toward the introduction port, and an actuation unit lock for fixing the actuation unit to the housing when not in contact with the door and releasing coupling between the actuation unit and the housing when in contact with the door.