Household appliance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Household laundry appliances, such as washing machines and dryers, face challenges in protecting electronic user interface components from harmful conditions like steam, water, and contaminants, which can damage these components and reduce their functionality.
Innovation Solution
A household appliance design featuring a receptacle for electronic components with a sealing gasket that creates a protected space, using a gasket with an elastic lip to ensure a tight and durable seal between the receptacle and a transparent cover element, preventing water and steam ingress while allowing user interaction with the interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electronic components are arranged behind the inlay on the front panel, then the user interface is accessible and has an attractive look, but the components are exposed to harmful conditions like steam, water, and contaminants
Solution Approach 1:
The front panel assembly is segmented into distinct functional zones: a sealed receptacle for electronic components, a gasket layer for protection, and a transparent inlay for user interaction. This segmentation isolates sensitive electronics from harmful environmental factors while maintaining interface accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
A transparent inlay acts as an intermediary barrier between the user and the electronic components. It allows tactile and visual interaction with buttons and displays while physically separating the electronics from steam, water, and contaminants in the washing environment.
2Reliability
If a sealing element is provided to seal the space around the aperture, then protection against water and steam ingress is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible gasket made of elastomeric material is used to seal the receptacle. This thin, compliant film conforms to the receptacle contours and provides effective sealing against water and steam ingress while adding minimal structural complexity to the assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing system employs composite construction combining the receptacle structure with an integrated gasket layer. This composite approach achieves reliable sealing protection while streamlining the overall device architecture rather than adding separate complex sealing mechanisms.
3Shape
If the inlay is made transparent with intermediate decoration, then the appliance has an attractive look and feel, but the protection of electronic components is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The inlay is designed with differentiated local properties: transparent regions allow visual access to electronic displays and indicators for aesthetic appeal, while the overall structure functions as an protective barrier. The decoration elements are integrated into the transparent material without compromising its protective function.
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
This design effectively protects electronic components from harmful conditions, enhancing their longevity and functionality by creating a sealed environment that prevents damage from steam and water, while maintaining an attractive and accessible user interface.
Implementation Method 1
a gasket with an elastic lip to ensure a tight and durable seal
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Household appliance (2), comprising a frontal panel (48) with a front side (62) facing the outside of said appliance (2) in an assembled state and a rear side (64) opposite to said front side (62) facing the interior of said appliance (2) in an assembled state and with an aperture (58), said appliance further comprising a cover element (60) covering said aperture (58) on said front side (62), and a receptacle (78) arranged on said rear side (64) behind said aperture (58), whereby said receptacle (78) comprises a sealing element (86) which in an assembled state is in contact with said covering element (60), thereby providing a sealed space between said cover element (60) and said sealing element (86).