Glass Cover Assembly With Concealed Hardware Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional appliance doors and covers expose metallic hardware elements, compromising their appearance and functionality, as these elements are not effectively concealed within the glass panel.
Innovation Solution
A glass panel with metallic hardware elements bonded to its inner surface, encapsulated by a perimeter frame or opaque layer, ensuring the hardware is not visible from the outside, enhancing the aesthetic appeal and maintaining functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If metallic hardware elements are fastened to the glass panel from the outside, then the attachment is secure and reliable, but the hardware elements are exposed on the outer surface compromising appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional attachment approach by bonding hardware elements to the inner surface of the glass panel instead of the outer surface. This inversion allows the hardware to remain securely attached while being concealed from external view, thus maintaining both attachment reliability and aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the hardware elements from the external dimension (outer surface) to the internal dimension (inner surface) of the glass panel. This dimensional transition conceals the hardware while preserving its functional attachment, resolving the conflict between visibility and security.
2Shape
If hardware elements are bonded to the inner surface of the glass panel, then the appearance is enhanced by concealing hardware, but the bonding process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hardware elements from the visible outer surface and relocates them to the concealed inner surface. This extraction simplifies the external appearance while the bonding process, though moved internally, follows standard adhesive procedures without significantly increasing overall process complexity.
3Shape
If an opaque layer is applied around the perimeter region, then hardware elements are concealed effectively, but the transparency of the glass panel is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the opaque layer locally only at the perimeter regions where hardware elements are bonded, rather than making the entire glass panel opaque. This localized application conceals the hardware effectively while preserving the transparency and light transmission of the main glass surface.
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
The solution provides a transparent glass cover assembly with concealed hardware, enhancing the appearance and functionality by preventing exposure of bonded elements, while maintaining structural integrity and usability.
Implementation Method 1
At least one metallic hardware element or metallic attachment element is bonded to the inner surface of the glass panel via a layer of cured adhesive
Data Source
AI summary
A cover assembly for an appliance includes a glass panel, at least one attachment element and a perimeter frame. The glass panel has a perimeter edge extending between an inner surface and an outer surface and along a periphery of the glass panel. The attachment element is configured for engaging a corresponding structure of the appliance when the cover assembly is disposed at the appliance. The perimeter frame encompasses at least the perimeter edge of the glass panel, with no portion of the outer surface of the glass panel encompassed by the perimeter frame such that the outer surface of the glass panel is generally co-planar with an outer surface of the perimeter frame along the periphery of the glass panel. At least one of (i) the attachment element is bonded at the inner surface of the glass panel and (ii) the perimeter frame comprises the attachment element.