Laundry treating apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treating apparatuses face challenges with the door's locking mechanism, where the first and second frames push each other during assembly, making the process difficult, and the locking portion can detach during external shocks or vibrations, affecting the door's stability and design unity.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating apparatus with a locking portion that uses elasticity to couple or decouple the door from the opening, secured by a single frame, employing a latch with a spring mechanism and a fixing portion to prevent external forces and maintain stability, and using adhesive for coupling the frames without fastening members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the locking portion is supported by both the first frame and the second frame to transmit restoring force, then the locking mechanism can function properly, but the first and second frames push each other during assembly making the process difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The locking portion is extracted from the second frame and supported only by the first frame. This removes the source of mutual pushing force between frames during assembly, while the locking portion still functions properly through the spring mechanism supported by the first frame alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The support function for the locking portion is segmented to be provided solely by the first frame rather than shared between both frames. This segmentation eliminates the interaction force between frames during assembly while maintaining the locking mechanism's reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the locking portion is deformable and rotatable to couple or decouple the door, then the door can be easily opened and closed, but the locking portion may separate from the door during external shocks
Solution Approach 1:
The locking portion is preliminarily secured to the first frame through proper positioning and support structures before the door is subjected to external shocks. This preliminary securing prevents separation during external shocks while maintaining the deformability and rotatability needed for easy door operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking portion is pre-positioned and pre-supported by the first frame assembly structure before the door undergoes external shock conditions. This preliminary action ensures the locking portion remains attached during shocks while preserving its operational deformability.
3Shape
If the first and second frames are coupled using adhesive only for design unity, then the external design is unified and beautiful, but the coupling may not be strong enough under external forces
Solution Approach 1:
The locking portion's support function is extracted from the second frame, eliminating the need for strong mechanical coupling between frames. This allows the frames to be coupled using adhesive only, achieving both design unity and sufficient coupling strength for the application.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical fastening system between frames is replaced with an adhesive bonding system. By removing the locking portion's support dependency on the second frame, the design enables adhesive-only coupling that achieves both aesthetic unity and adequate structural strength.
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
The solution prevents unnecessary external forces during assembly, maintains the door's profile, and ensures the locking portion remains secure even under vibrations or shocks, enhancing assembly efficiency and durability.
Implementation Method 1
the locking portion uses elasticity to couple or decouple the door from the opening
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
There is disclosed a laundry treating apparatus (1) comprising a cabinet (1) having an opening (13); a laundry accommodating portion (20) mounted in the cabinet (1) and comprising an opening (13) aperture which is communicable with the opening (13); a door (7, 8) rotatably coupled to the cabinet (1) and provided to open and close the opening (13); a locking portion (1000, 1300) detachably coupled to the door (7, 8); and a coupling portion (17) provided in the cabinet (1) to be repeatedly coupled to or decoupled from the locking portion (1000, 1300) whenever an external force is applied to the door (7, 8), wherein the door (7, 8) comprises a first frame (810, 820) provided to open and close the opening (13); and a second frame (810, 820) coupled to one surface of the first frame (810, 820), and the locking portion (1000, 1300) is provided in the first frame (810, 820) and prevented from contacting with the second frame (810, 820).