Handle Panel Assembly with Sliding Buckle for Blind Installation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing clothing handling devices, such as washing machines and drying machines, face challenges in the assembly of handle panels and decorative sheets, requiring complex adjustments and auxiliary means like gluing, which increases costs and complexity.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a handle panel and decorative sheet with assembly holes featuring guide portions and buckles, allowing for sliding and blind installation, along with reinforcing ribs and lateral clamping portions, enabling secure assembly without additional adhesives and reducing operational complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional fastening methods (screws, clips, or gluing) are used to assemble the handle panel and decorative sheet, then the assembly is reliable, but the assembly process becomes complex and requires auxiliary means

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly reliabilityVSAvoidassembly process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The assembly hole is segmented into three functional portions: a receiving portion for initial insertion, a matching portion for final positioning, and an oblique guide portion for facilitating the transition between them. This segmentation allows the buckle to be inserted and locked in place through a simple sliding motion without requiring complex fastening mechanisms or auxiliary materials like glue.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The oblique guide portion automatically guides the buckle during insertion, enabling self-alignment and self-locking of the handle panel and decorative sheet. The geometric design of the guide portion ensures that the buckle naturally transitions from the receiving portion to the matching portion, eliminating the need for external alignment tools or complex assembly procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If traditional fastening methods are used, then the assembly is secure, but additional adhesives and auxiliary means are required, increasing cost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly securityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the need for auxiliary fastening materials such as screws, clips, or adhesives. The assembly hole and buckle design provides all necessary fastening functions through the geometric relationship between the receiving portion, matching portion, and oblique guide portion, reducing manufacturing costs by removing the need for additional components and materials.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The receiving portion, matching portion, and oblique guide portion are merged into a single integrated assembly hole structure. This consolidation provides multiple functions (insertion, guidance, and locking) in one feature, eliminating the need for separate fastening components and reducing overall assembly complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If precise alignment is required during assembly, then the positioning is accurate, but the assembly process becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning accuracyVSAvoidassembly speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The oblique guide portion performs preliminary alignment action during the insertion process itself. As the buckle slides along the oblique guide portion, it is automatically positioned and aligned with the matching portion before final engagement. This preliminary alignment occurs naturally during insertion, eliminating the need for separate alignment steps and maintaining high assembly speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces complex mechanical alignment systems (such as adjustment mechanisms or alignment tools) with a geometric guidance system. The oblique guide portion uses its angled geometry to automatically guide and align the buckle during insertion, achieving precise positioning through the inherent geometry of the components rather than through active mechanical adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4060112B1Closing handling device
Publication Date: 2024.06.12 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP4060112B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4060112B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4060112B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A clothing handling device (10) includes: a main body portion (12), adapted to handle clothing; a door (14), adapted to open and close the main body portion (12); and a handle component (16), including a handle panel (18) disposed on the main body portion (12) and a decorative sheet (20) disposed on the handle panel (18). The handle panel (18) includes a handle surface (22) opposite to the decorative sheet (20), one of the handle panel (18) and the decorative sheet (20) includes an assembly hole (24), the assembly hole (24) includes a first guide portion (26), a guide direction (X) of the first guide portion (26) is parallel to the handle surface (22), and the other one of the handle panel (18) and the decorative sheet (20) includes a buckle (28) matching the assembly hole (24). An embodiment of the present invention may facilitate sliding and blind installation of the handle panel (18), the decorative sheet (20), and the like.