Handle for a door of a domestic appliance with specific light guidance, and door and domestic appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing handle designs for household appliances face limitations in light source and light guide positioning, leading to restricted light distribution, potential damage to light guides, and high light losses due to complex structures.
Innovation Solution
A handle design featuring a separate light source and light-guiding element, where the light source is integrated within the handle and the light-guiding element is positioned between the front strip and handle bracket, allowing for precise and intense light radiation through a transparent front strip, which also serves as a cover and radiation element, enabling extensive and uniform light images while maintaining structural stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the light source and light guide are arranged in the handle itself, then the light can be radiated extensively from the handle with high precision and intensity, but the positioning is restricted by the individual molding of the handle brackets and the light guide becomes accessible from the front which may lead to damage
Solution Approach 1:
The light-guiding element is nested between the front strip and the handle bracket, with the front strip serving as a protective cover that encloses the light-guiding element. This nesting arrangement protects the light guide from damage while maintaining its light-radiating function through the transparent front strip.
2Device complexity
If a light source is arranged in the door and light is radiated into the handle for distribution, then the handle structure is simplified, but the structure becomes complex and light guidance is complicated leading to high light losses
Solution Approach 1:
The light source is extracted from the door and integrated directly into the handle, specifically positioned to work with the light-guiding element. This extraction eliminates the complex light guidance path through the door and handle interface, reducing light losses and simplifying the overall system while maintaining structural integrity.
3Manufacturing precision
If the front strip is made transparent to allow light radiation, then light images can be radiated with high precision and definition, but the structural stability and protection of internal components is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The front strip is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a transparent window for high-precision light image radiation, provides structural support and stability to the handle assembly, and serves as a protective cover for the light-guiding element. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction between transparency and structural integrity.
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 achieves a compact, protected, and flexible light-intensive image generation with high precision and intensity, improving the visual appearance and stability of the handle while minimizing light losses and potential damage to the light guide.
Implementation Method 1
a light-guiding element which is separate from the light source and with which light from the light source can be radiated from the front strip in a defined manner
Data Source
AI summary
A handle for a door of a household appliance includes an elongated front strip configured as a plate having at least one region which is transparent. A handle bracket is connected to the front strip for positioning the handle on the door. Arranged in the handle is a light source which includes a light-guiding element with which light from the light source can radiate from the front strip. The front strip covers a front side of the light-guiding element, with light radiated from the light-guiding element radiating at least through a light-permeable material region of the front strip.