Integrated Mounting Aid for Flexible Appliance Installation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing number of mounting aids required for household appliances, such as dishwashers, complicates the supply chain and installation processes, necessitating a reduction in the number of individual parts provided with the appliance.
Innovation Solution
A freestanding household appliance mounting aid designed with at least two functional parts that are separable at a single separation point, such as a detachable snap connection or intended break point, allowing for simplified assembly and reduced part count, with the option to integrate additional functional parts like hose holders, anti-tip parts, and attachment brackets into a unified, one-piece plastic injection-molded design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple separate mounting aids are provided for different functions, then each function can be fulfilled reliably, but the number of individual parts increases and supply chain complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate mounting aids (hose holder, anti-tip part, attachment bracket) into a single integrated mounting aid made of uniform material in one piece. This merging reduces the number of individual parts from multiple separate components to one unified component, thereby reducing supply chain complexity while maintaining all necessary mounting functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The single mounting aid is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it includes a hose holder element for positioning hoses, an anti-tip part for preventing appliance tipping, and attachment brackets for securing the appliance. This multi-functional design allows one component to replace several separate mounting aids, reducing part count while ensuring reliable fulfillment of all mounting requirements.
2Reliability
If multiple separate mounting aids are provided for different functions, then each function can be fulfilled reliably, but manufacturing and assembly processes become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functional elements (hose holder, anti-tip part, attachment bracket) into a single mounting aid made of uniform material. This allows the entire assembly to be manufactured in one piece using a single injection molding process, eliminating the need to manufacture and subsequently assemble multiple separate components, thereby simplifying manufacturing processes.
3Ease of manufacture
If functional parts are integrated into one piece, then manufacturing is simplified, but flexibility in installation positions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces separation points (intended break lines or detachable snap connections) within the integrated mounting aid that allow functional parts to be separated from one another during installation. This segmentation enables the functional parts to be positioned at different locations according to specific installation requirements, maintaining installation flexibility while preserving the manufacturing simplicity of a one-piece design.
Data Source
AI summary
A household appliance including a mounting aid that has at least two functional parts that are separated from one another by at least one separation point.