Interlocking Door Frame Assembly for Flush Alignment Without Adhesives
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional oven door assemblies require complex assembly fixtures and costly adhesives to securely mount glass window panes, leading to lengthy installation times and manufacturing variances that complicate achieving a flush appearance.
Innovation Solution
The interlocking door frame assembly features a first frame member with an alignment recess and a second frame member with a locking protrusion, where a mechanical fastener engages the locking protrusion into the recess, allowing for simplified assembly and alignment of frame members with a flush joint, eliminating the need for complex fixtures and adhesives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional adhesive methods and complex fixtures are used to mount glass window panes, then the glass can be securely held in place, but the assembly process becomes costly and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the adhesive substance from the assembly process by replacing it with a mechanical interlocking system. The groove and protrusion design allows frame members to be joined without any adhesive, directly resolving the contradiction by removing the time-consuming adhesive application and curing process while maintaining secure mounting through mechanical engagement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the chemical bonding mechanism (adhesive) with a mechanical interlocking system consisting of grooves and protrusions. This substitution eliminates the need for complex fixtures and adhesive application equipment, significantly reducing assembly time and cost while ensuring reliable mechanical attachment of frame members
2Reliability
If complex assembly fixtures and adhesives are used, then glass window panes can be securely mounted, but the process becomes costly and requires many components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the alignment and attachment functions into a single integrated mechanical interlocking system. The groove and protrusion design combines positioning and securing functions that previously required separate fixtures and adhesives, reducing the total number of components while maintaining secure mounting
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes complex assembly fixtures and adhesive substances from the system, replacing them with a simple mechanical interlocking design. This elimination of unnecessary components directly reduces device complexity while maintaining the reliability of glass window pane mounting
3Reliability
If traditional assembly methods are used, then glass can be held in place, but achieving a flush appearance while accounting for manufacturing variances is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dimensional parameters built into the groove and protrusion geometry that automatically compensate for manufacturing variances. The design includes clearance and tolerance provisions that allow the assembly to achieve a flush appearance despite variations in manufacturing, eliminating the need for complex adjustment mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
A door assembly for providing selective access to a chamber of an appliance includes a plurality of frame members that are joined quickly and easily using a plurality of interlocking joints. Specifically, a first frame member defines an alignment recess that is defined at least in part by a front locating surface and is configured for receiving a locking protrusion defined on a second frame member. A mechanical fastener urges the second frame member toward the first frame member such that a front seating face of the locking protrusion engages the front locating surface, thereby aligning a front and/or side of the second frame member such that it is flush with the first frame member.