Flush Door Lock with Pressure Device for Handle-Free Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door lock technologies for household appliances with flush doors or doors without handles intervene, making it difficult to open them, especially when using pull-open door lock mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A door lock device with a holding element and a pressure device, where the pressure device is coupled to a locking device to push it from a locked to an open position, allowing the door to be opened mechanically or electrically, utilizing a motor drive and a rotary latch mechanism with switching contacts for communication with the appliance's control unit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pull-open door lock mechanisms are used for flush doors or doors without handles, then the door can be securely locked, but the door cannot be opened
Solution Approach 1:
The door lock device is divided into functionally independent modules: a locking device for securing the door and a pressure device for opening the door. This segmentation allows each module to perform its specific function optimally - the locking device provides reliable locking while the pressure device enables door opening without requiring traditional handles or intervention openings.
Solution Approach 2:
The pressure device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the user's opening action and the locking device. Instead of directly manipulating the locking mechanism, the user activates the pressure device which then applies force to push the locking device into the open position, enabling indirect but effective door opening.
2Ease of operation
If additional electromechanical components are added to enable door opening, then the door can be opened, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure device is designed with multi-functionality to reduce overall system complexity. It serves multiple purposes: applying pressure to open the door, actuating switching contacts for position detection, and potentially integrating with motorized drive devices for automated operation. This universal design eliminates the need for separate components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the pressure application mechanism with the position detection system by integrating switching contacts directly into the pressure device structure. This merging of functions reduces the total number of components and simplifies the overall door lock device architecture while maintaining both opening capability and position feedback.
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 easy opening of flush doors or doors without handles, eliminating the need for additional electromechanical components and complex assembly, providing a cost-effective, modular solution that adapts to existing standard door locks.
Implementation Method 1
The pressure device is configured to exert pressure on the locking device in order to push the locking device from the locking position into the open position to open the door
Implementation Method 2
the door lock device has a motorized drive device designed to move the pressure device to exert pressure on the locking device
Implementation Method 3
The rack can be moved linearly away from the locking device by driving the gear in one direction and linearly toward the locking device by driving the gear in the opposite direction
Implementation Method 4
The pressure device has a movable rack, which, in a contact position, is designed to mechanically exert pressure on the locking device
Implementation Method 5
The locking device can comprise a rotary latch with a pressure surface for absorbing the pressure of the pressure device
Data Source
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AI summary
The approach presented here concerns a door locking device (105) for a household appliance with a door and a retaining element. The door locking device (105) has a locking device (110) and a pressure device (115). The locking device (110) is designed to couple with the retaining element of the door, wherein the retaining element is locked to the locking device (110) in a locking position (200) and is released from the locking device (110) in an open position. The pressure device (115) is designed to exert pressure on the locking device (110) to push it from the locking position (200) to the open position, thus opening the door.