Food Container Coupling Device with Limiting Web for Precise Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food storage containers with movable front walls face challenges in user-friendly actuation due to inaccurate finger placement on actuation surfaces, leading to inefficient decoupling and potential loosening of the coupling state.
Innovation Solution
A coupling device with a resilient pressing element and a limiting web that provides a raised actuation surface, aiding in precise finger positioning and force application, ensuring correct actuation and preventing slipping, while maintaining the coupling state through resilient preload.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a flat actuating surface is used without additional features, then the structure is simple, but finger placement accuracy is poor leading to imprecise actuation
Solution Approach 1:
The actuating surface is enhanced with a raised limiting web that creates a specific geometric feature (positioning stop) at the location where finger contact is needed. This local structural modification provides tactile feedback and guides finger placement without changing the overall simplicity of the coupling device.
Solution Approach 2:
The limiting web acts as an intermediary element between the flat actuating surface and the user's finger. It translates the simple flat surface into a more informative interface by creating a positioning stop that the finger naturally contacts, improving actuation precision without requiring complex mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If the actuating surface is pressed without a positioning feature, then operation is quick, but force application is not linear leading to inadequate decoupling
Solution Approach 1:
The limiting web creates a localized contact region on the actuating surface where force should be applied. This local structural feature ensures that the user's finger naturally contacts the correct spot, providing both tactile guidance and precise force application in one element.
3Reliability
If only a flat actuating surface is provided, then the design is simple, but the coupling state may loosen due to imprecise actuation
Solution Approach 1:
The limiting web is a localized structural feature that provides positioning functionality without requiring a complete redesign of the coupling element. It adds reliability to the coupling state by ensuring precise actuation while maintaining overall design simplicity.
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
Enhances user-friendly operation by facilitating accurate and linear force application, preventing unintended decoupling and maintaining the coupling state, thus improving cleanability and operational simplicity.
Implementation Method 1
The coupling element (18) has an outwardly oriented and exposed actuating surface (19) for contact actuation with an actuating element. The coupling element has a limiting web (21) protruding in raised form from the actuating surface (19).
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
Food receiving container (6) with a container tray (7) having a bottom wall (8) and side walls (10, 11), with a front wall (13) movably arranged on the container tray (7), and with a coupling device (14) by which the front wall (13) and the container tray (7) are coupled to each other and by which the closed end position of the front wall (13) is held on the container tray (7), wherein the coupling device (14) has an actuable coupling element (18) which, in the coupled state, engages in a coupling receptacle (20) of the coupling device (14), wherein the coupling element (18) has an outwardly oriented and freely accessible actuating surface (19) for contact actuation with an actuating element, wherein the coupling element (18) has a limiting web (21) projecting upwards from the actuating surface (18), through which a positioning aid stop for the actuating element is formed on the The operating area (19) is formed.One aspect also concerns a household refrigeration appliance (1).