Door and clothes treating apparatus having the same

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing production methods for door handles of clothes treating apparatuses involve separate production and assembly, leading to increased material costs and reduced productivity due to additional processing steps.

Innovation Solution

The door handle is formed integrally with the door, featuring a cover frame and cover panel with protrusion and recessed portions to create a hand-receiving space, supported by ribs and hooks for structural integrity and assembly, eliminating the need for separate production and assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the door handle is produced as a separate part to be assembled to the door, then the door handle can be independently manufactured and replaced, but material costs increase and productivity decreases due to additional assembly processes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor handle manufacturing flexibilityVSAvoiddoor assembly productivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the door handle with the door body by forming the handle as an integrated protrusion from the door's cover panel, eliminating the need for separate manufacturing and assembly processes. This integration directly resolves the productivity issue while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through molding techniques.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The door's cover panel is designed to serve multiple functions: it forms the door's external appearance, provides structural support, and creates the hand-receiving space for operation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for a separate handle component while maintaining ease of manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If the door handle is produced as a separate part to be assembled to the door, then the door handle can be independently manufactured, but material costs increase due to production of additional parts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor handle manufacturing independenceVSAvoidmaterial cost
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The door handle is merged with the door body as an integrated structure, reducing the total quantity of parts and materials required. The handle is formed as a protrusion from the existing door cover panel, eliminating redundant material usage and reducing overall material costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The door cover panel is designed to simultaneously provide the door's external appearance and form the functional handle structure, reducing the need for additional materials that would be required for a separate handle component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of manufacture

If the door handle is produced as a separate part to be assembled to the door, then the door handle can be independently manufactured, but additional assembly processes are required which deteriorate productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor handle manufacturing flexibilityVSAvoiddoor assembly process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The door handle is merged with the door body as an integrated structure formed during the door's manufacturing process, eliminating separate assembly steps. This reduces device complexity in the assembly process while maintaining manufacturing flexibility through molding design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The door cover panel is designed to simultaneously provide the door's external appearance and form the functional handle structure, eliminating the need for separate assembly processes and reducing overall process complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2821541B1Door and clothes treating apparatus having the same
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2821541B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2821541B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2821541B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A door (100) having an improved structure in which the door (100) is formed integrally with a door handle (160), and a clothes treating apparatus having the same. The clothes treating apparatus includes a main body (10), a laundry insertion opening (16) formed on a front surface of the main body (10), and a door (100) to open and close the laundry insertion opening (10). The door (100) includes a holder member (110) rotatably coupled to the front surface of the main body (10), a transparent member (120) passing through and coupled to the holder member (110), and a cover member (130) covering a front surface of the holder member (110) to define an external appearance of the door (100). The cover member (130) includes a cover frame (140) provided in a shape corresponding to the holder member (110), a cover panel (150) coupled to a front surface of the cover frame (140), and a door handle (160) including a protrusion portion (146) and a recessed portion (158).