Laundry Door Hook Fastening to Reduce Assembly Cost and Defects
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing laundry treating apparatuses face challenges in efficiently fastening the outer and inner frames without increasing costs and reducing the occurrence of defective parts due to misaligned fastening holes, which leads to rework and material waste.
Innovation Solution
A hook fastening structure is implemented between the outer and inner frames, utilizing hooks with wedge-shaped protrusions and an elastic groove to achieve interference fit without the need for drilling holes, along with adhesive grooves and overflow grooves to reinforce the frames and enhance coupling force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the number of fastening holes and screws is increased to support the heavy front glass, then the fastening force between outer frame and inner frame is improved, but the manufacturing cost and working time are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple fastening functions into a single hook structure. The hook integrates the fastening force provision, alignment guidance, and structural reinforcement into one component, eliminating the need for multiple separate screws and fastening holes, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining fastening strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The hook structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides fastening force to support the front glass, guides alignment between outer and inner frames during assembly, and reinforces the structural integrity of the door frame. This multi-functionality reduces the number of components needed and simplifies the manufacturing process.
2Strength
If the number of fastening holes and screws is increased to support the heavy front glass, then the fastening force between outer frame and inner frame is improved, but the working time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The hook structure consolidates multiple fastening operations into a single assembly action. Instead of drilling multiple holes and installing multiple screws sequentially, the hook is inserted into a single receptacle that automatically engages with the inner frame, dramatically reducing assembly time while maintaining adequate fastening force.
Solution Approach 2:
The hook is pre-formed with a specific geometry that includes engagement features and alignment guides. This preliminary preparation allows the hook to self-align and self-engage with the inner frame during assembly, eliminating the need for precise hole alignment and manual adjustment during the assembly process.
3Ease of manufacture
If fastening holes are used between outer frame and inner frame, then fastening is achieved, but misalignment causes defective parts and material waste
Solution Approach 1:
The hook and receptacle are designed with asymmetric geometries that provide built-in alignment guidance. The hook has a specific shape with engagement surfaces that must match corresponding surfaces in the receptacle, allowing only one correct orientation and position. This asymmetric design prevents misalignment errors and eliminates defective parts caused by improper fitting.
Solution Approach 2:
The hook structure incorporates self-aligning features such as tapered engagement surfaces and complementary geometric shapes that automatically guide the hook into the correct position within the receptacle during assembly. This self-service alignment mechanism eliminates the need for precise pre-drilling and manual alignment, preventing defective parts caused by misalignment.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus may include a main body having a front panel having a laundry inlet port and configured to receive laundry loaded through the laundry inlet port, and a door rotatably coupled to the front panel to open and close the laundry inlet port. The door may include an outer frame provided with an opening and facing an outside of the main body; a front glass coupled to a front surface of the outer frame to cover the opening; and an inner frame coupled to a rear surface of the outer frame and facing an inside of the main body. The outer frame may include an adhesive groove provided on a front surface of the outer frame to receive an adhesive for bonding the front glass to the outer frame; a reinforcing portion provided on a rear surface of the outer frame in correspondence to the adhesive groove to reinforce a rigidity of the outer frame; and a first hook that protrudes from an outer circumference of the outer frame toward an outer circumference of the inner frame. The inner frame may include a second hook that protrudes from an outer circumference of the inner frame toward the outer frame to fasten the outer frame and the inner frame to each other by an interference fit between the first hook and the second hook, thereby enhancing a fastening force between the outer frame and the inner frame.