Elastic Hob Mounting for Flat, Concealed Cover Plate Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing gas hob production methods face challenges in ensuring the correct flatness and stability of metal cover plates due to varying raw material recovery behaviors, leading to time-consuming manual alignment and screwing processes, which are costly and prone to deformation.
Innovation Solution
A hob design featuring an elastic holding element with a pocket-like receptacle that allows for easy assembly and secure fixation of the upper support element to the lower support element without visible fasteners, using spring-elastic material to ensure reliable flat positioning and prevent deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual alignment and screwing of metal cover plate to lower shell is used, then correct flatness and deformation prevention is achieved, but production time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting element is designed to automatically align and secure the metal cover plate without requiring manual positioning or multiple fastening operations. The elastic arms with mounting areas self-adjust to accommodate variations in raw material recovery behavior while ensuring correct flatness, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual alignment and screwing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting element uses elastic material that can deform within certain parameter ranges to accommodate variations in metal cover plate flatness. The elastic arms can flex and adapt to different positions, allowing the system to handle parameter variations in raw material recovery while maintaining proper alignment and secure fixation without manual intervention.
2Stability of the object's composition
If multiple screws are used to fasten metal cover plate to lower shell, then deformation is prevented, but assembly complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting element combines multiple functions into a single integrated component: the elastic arms provide both the securing force and the alignment function, while the mounting areas on the arms simultaneously engage with the lower shell and hold the metal cover plate in position. This replaces multiple separate screws and alignment operations with one unified mounting element.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic arms automatically adjust and secure the metal cover plate without requiring additional fastening components. The elastic deformation of the arms provides both the mounting force and the positioning accuracy, eliminating the need for multiple screws and complex assembly procedures while maintaining stable fixation.
3Reliability
If visible fasteners are used to secure upper support element, then reliable fixation is achieved, but cleaning accessibility and aesthetic appearance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting areas of the elastic arms are positioned within recesses or pockets on the lower shell, nesting the fastening mechanism within the hob structure. This conceals the fixation points from view while maintaining secure attachment, allowing the cooking surface to remain smooth and accessible for cleaning without visible screws or fasteners protruding into the cleaning path.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic arms act as intermediaries that provide secure fixation while remaining hidden from the cleaning path. The mounting areas engage with the lower shell in a concealed manner, transferring the fixation force through the structure without requiring visible external fasteners, thus maintaining both reliability and cleaning accessibility.
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
Enables quick and cost-effective assembly of gas hobs with reduced manual intervention, prevents deformation, and simplifies maintenance by allowing easy removal of the upper support element without visible fasteners, improving production efficiency and cleaning accessibility.
Implementation Method 1
The mounting element 10 is formed from elastic material at least in some areas. The holding element is formed from elastic material at least in some areas.
Implementation Method 2
using spring-elastic material to ensure reliable flat positioning and prevent deformation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Around a hob (100) having - an upper support element (40) in which at least one hotplate is arranged, - a lower support element (50) and - at least one mounting element (10) for releasably fixing the upper support element (40) to the lower support element (50) and a method for producing such a hob (100) in such a way that the hob (100) can be assembled easily and without manual readjustment, with the upper support element (40) being reliably protected against warping and that If the mounting element (10) is to be arranged in a concealed manner in the hob (100), it is proposed that the mounting element (10) be made of elastic material at least in some areas and have at least one elastically movable mounting area (12) which - for fixing the upper support element (40 ) can be arranged on the lower support element (50) in a pocket-like receptacle (42) of the upper support element (40), and - for releasing the upper support element nts (40) can be moved out of the pocket-like receptacle (42) by the lower support element (50).