Encasing for household appliances

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing encasings for household appliances face difficulties in quick and efficient assembly due to the use of multiple screws, which complicates maintenance, repair, and recycling, and previous solutions like insertion tongues are prone to bending in harsh environments.

Innovation Solution

The encasing features wall elements with lugs and receiving portions that form a bayonet coupling, allowing for efficient and quick connection without screws, where lugs with two free edges or a single corner edge engage with corresponding cut-outs in the wall or frame, facilitating easy assembly and manufacturing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple screws are used to attach wall elements, then the connection strength and reliability are improved, but the assembly time and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the need for multiple screws by implementing a bayonet coupling system where lugs with free edges directly engage with receiving portions on adjacent wall elements, reducing the number of fastening components and assembly steps while maintaining connection reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the traditional screw-thread mechanical fastening system with a bayonet coupling system based on direct engagement of lugs and receiving portions, simplifying the mechanical connection mechanism and reducing assembly complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If multiple screws and pre-cut threads are used, then the connection reliability is improved, but the manufacturing complexity and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the need for pre-cut threads and multiple screw holes by using lugs with free edges that engage directly with receiving portions, simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing the number of machining operations required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the connection parameter from threaded screw holes requiring precise machining to simple lug profiles with free edges that can be formed through less complex manufacturing processes such as bending or stamping

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If insertion tongues are used for screwless assembly, then the assembly complexity is reduced, but the structural reliability decreases due to bending in rough environments

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly complexityVSAvoidstructural reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the connection system into lugs with free edges and corresponding receiving portions, creating a modular bayonet coupling system that provides both ease of assembly and structural reliability through proper geometric design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses curved or angled free edges on the lugs that engage with receiving portions at optimized angles, providing mechanical advantage and resistance against bending forces in rough environments while maintaining simple assembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

4Strength

If every screw requires pre-cut threads and additional retention elements, then the connection strength is improved, but the quantity of components and manufacturing steps increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the functions of multiple screws, pre-cut threads, and retention elements into a single integrated bayonet coupling system where lugs with free edges directly engage with receiving portions, reducing the total number of components while maintaining connection strength

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2772693B1Encasing for household appliances
Publication Date: 2017.05.10 ELECTROLUX APPLIANCES
  • EP2772693B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2772693B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2772693B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to an encasing for household appliances, especially household cooking appliances or household laundry washing and/or drying appliances or household dish washing appliances, - comprising wall elements (10, 20) connectable at corresponding connection points to each other and/or to a frame, - wherein at least some of the connection points are implemented by one or more corresponding lugs (100) and receiving portions (200) for receiving a corresponding lug (100) at or in the wall elements (10, 20) and/or frame, - wherein at least one, preferably each, lug (100) has at most two free edges (112, 113) and/or a single free corner edge (125), whereas at all other sides of the lug a continuous transition to the wall element or frame is formed, - wherein the free edge(s) (112, 113) and/or the single free corner edge (125) of the or each lug (100) at least partially engage or engages with the corresponding receiving portion (200) and - wherein the least one, preferably each, lug (100) protrudes from a first plane (P1) of the wall element (10) or frame.