Front Panel Sealing for Laundry Appliance User Interfaces

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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 sealed space is created using a receptacle and a sealing element, preferably a gasket, to protect electronic components, ensuring a reliable and durable seal against steam and water, with the gasket being co-molded to the receptacle and featuring an elastic lip for a secure fit, and the cover element being partially transparent to allow user interface visibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electronic components are arranged inside the appliance for protection, then reliability is improved, but harmful factors from internal conditions can still damage the components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliability of electronic componentsVSAvoiddamage from steam, water, and contaminants

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The front panel is segmented into multiple functional layers: a cover element for user interaction, a receptacle for housing electronic components, and a sealing element to create a protective barrier. This segmentation isolates electronic components from harmful internal conditions while maintaining user interface functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A sealing element acts as an intermediary between the cover element and the receptacle, creating a sealed space that protects electronic components from steam, water, and contaminants while allowing the components to remain accessible and functional.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If a sealed space is created to protect electronic components, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of electronic componentsVSAvoidcomplexity of sealing structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing element is co-molded with the receptacle, merging two components into a single integrated piece. This reduces assembly steps and overall device complexity while maintaining the sealed space necessary for protecting electronic components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The sealing element functions as a flexible gasket that creates an effective seal between the cover element and receptacle. This flexible sealing approach is simpler than rigid sealing mechanisms and accommodates manufacturing tolerances and thermal expansion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of operation

If the cover element is made transparent for visibility, then ease of operation is improved, but protection against harmful factors is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisibility of user interfaceVSAvoidexposure to steam and water

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The sealing element serves as an intermediary that allows the cover element to remain transparent for user interface visibility while simultaneously preventing steam, water, and contaminants from reaching the electronic components in the receptacle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The cover element has different optical properties in different areas - it is transparent in regions where user interface visibility is needed and can be opaque or have different protective properties in other regions. The sealing element provides localized protection at the interface between the cover and receptacle.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 solution effectively prolongs the lifetime and maintains the functionality of electronic components by preventing damage from internal conditions, while maintaining an attractive appearance and user accessibility.

Implementation Method 1

the receptacle comprises a sealing element which in an assembled state is in contact with the covering element, thereby providing a sealed space between the cover element and the sealing element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSealing:

Implementation Method 2

the gasket being co-molded to the receptacle and featuring an elastic lip for a secure fit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS9988755B2Household appliance

Publication Date: 2018.06.05 ELECTROLUX APPLIANCES

AI summary

A household appliance (2) has a frontal panel (48) with a front side (62) facing the outside of the appliance (2) in an assembled state and a rear side (64) opposite to the front side (62) facing the interior of the appliance (2) in an assembled state and with an aperture (58). The appliance further has a cover element (60) covering the aperture (58) on the front side (62), and a receptacle (78) arranged on the rear side (64) behind the aperture (58). The receptacle (78) has a sealing element (86) which in an assembled state is in contact with the covering element (60), thereby providing a sealed space between the cover element (60) and the sealing element (86).