Laundry treating apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treating apparatuses face difficulties in assembling the door frames due to the generation of unnecessary external forces and potential separation of the locking portion during transportation, which affects 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 using adhesive, featuring a latch with a spring mechanism and a fixing portion to prevent external forces from affecting the assembly and maintain the door's profile, even under vibrations or shocks.
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 portion can return to its original position, but the first and second frames push each other generating unnecessary external forces that complicate the assembly process
Solution Approach 1:
The locking portion is extracted from the dual-frame support structure and repositioned to be supported by only the first frame. This eliminates the second frame from the locking mechanism, removing the source of conflicting forces between frames and simplifying the assembly process while maintaining the locking portion's return function through the spring mechanism alone.
2Shape
If the first and second frames are coupled using adhesive to improve design unity, then the external appearance is enhanced, but the locking portion may separate from the door during transportation due to lack of mechanical fastening
Solution Approach 1:
The locking portion is preliminarily positioned and secured to the first frame using adhesive before the door assembly is completed. This preliminary bonding action ensures the locking portion remains firmly attached to the first frame during subsequent handling and transportation, preventing separation while maintaining the clean adhesive-coupled appearance of the door frames.
3Ease of operation
If the locking portion is made deformable by a preset degree to enable easy coupling and decoupling, then user operation is simplified, but the locking portion requires a flexible member such as a spring that complicates the structure
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism and locking portion are merged into a single integrated component rather than separate parts. The locking portion itself incorporates the elastic deformation capability and spring function, eliminating the need for a separate flexible member while maintaining the ability to deform by a preset degree for easy coupling and decoupling operations.
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 allows for easier assembly, maintains the door's profile and locking portion position, and enhances the durability and design unity by eliminating the need for fastening members and preventing separation during external forces or shocks.
Implementation Method 1
The locking portion may be repeatedly in an opening or closing state where the door is able to open or close the opening, whenever an external force is applied thereto. The locking portion is able to be deformable by a preset degree or rotatable a preset angle whenever the external force is applied thereto
Implementation Method 2
the first frame and the second frame may be coupled to each other by using an adhesive to improve the unity of the external design and beauty
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed a laundry treating apparatus comprising a cabinet having an opening; a laundry accommodating portion mounted in the cabinet and comprising an opening aperture which is communicable with the opening; a door rotatably coupled to the cabinet and provided to open and close the opening; a locking portion detachably coupled to the door; and a coupling portion provided in the cabinet to be repeatedly coupled to or decoupled from the locking portion whenever an external force is applied to the door, wherein the door comprises a first frame provided to open and close the opening; and a second frame coupled to one surface of the first frame, and the locking portion is provided in the first frame and prevented from contacting with the second frame.