Laundry Door Assembly With Cover Ring for Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treatment devices, such as washing machines and dryers, face challenges in minimizing noise and vibrations due to relative movements between the door cover and the frame or cover ring, which affect the aesthetic appeal and user safety.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a blocking element, such as an elastic protrusion or tooth-like element, between the door cover and the frame or cover ring to minimize relative movements and provide a stable connection, which can be integrated into the existing door assembly without increasing complexity, using materials like plastic for the frames and cover ring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the door cover is separated from the frame by a gap to form air spacing for thermal insulation, then thermal insulation is improved, but structural stability and aesthetic appearance deteriorate due to visible joints and connecting elements
Solution Approach 1:
A cover ring is introduced as an intermediary element between the door cover and the frame. This cover ring serves multiple functions: it provides thermal insulation by maintaining air spacing, hides the joints and connecting elements (screws) from view, and improves the aesthetic appearance by providing a smooth, continuous surface. The cover ring acts as a mediator that resolves the conflict between thermal insulation requirements and aesthetic appearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover ring is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: thermal insulation, aesthetic enhancement, and structural support. By making the cover ring a multi-functional element, the design achieves thermal insulation without compromising aesthetic appearance, as the same component that provides air spacing also hides the joints and provides structural stability.
2Strength
If screws are used to permanently assemble the door assembly through holes in the frame, then structural strength is improved, but device complexity and aesthetic appearance worsen due to visible holes and connecting elements
Solution Approach 1:
The cover ring serves as an intermediary that conceals the screws and holes from view. The screws remain functional for structural assembly, but the cover ring provides a smooth outer surface that hides the connecting elements, thereby maintaining structural strength while improving aesthetic appearance and reducing perceived complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The aesthetic function of hiding connecting elements is extracted and assigned to a separate component (the cover ring). This allows the structural assembly function (screws through holes) to remain simple and effective, while the aesthetic requirement is satisfied by the additional cover ring that masks the visible holes and screws.
3Device complexity
If the door cover is directly fixed to the frame without a cover ring, then device complexity is reduced, but thermal insulation and aesthetic appearance deteriorate due to direct contact and visible joints
Solution Approach 1:
The cover ring is introduced as an intermediary element between the door cover and the frame. This intermediary component provides thermal insulation by maintaining air spacing, hides the joints and connecting elements, and improves the aesthetic appearance. The cover ring mediates between the structural requirements and the thermal/aesthetic requirements without significantly increasing assembly complexity.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the door assembly components are tightly connected to minimize gaps, then structural stability is improved, but thermal insulation and ease of manufacture worsen due to reduced air spacing and tighter tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The cover ring acts as an intermediary that provides structural stability while maintaining manufacturing ease. It connects to both the door cover and the frame, providing a stable structure, while its design allows for standard manufacturing processes and assembly methods without requiring tight tolerances between the door cover and frame.
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 blocking element enhances the stability and noise reduction of the door assembly, minimizing vibrations and noise while maintaining a smooth, aesthetically pleasing design, and can be easily assembled and manufactured.
Implementation Method 1
at least a blocking element located on said door cover and/or on said door frame and/or on said cover ring in order to minimize relative movements of said door cover with respect to said frame and/or said cover ring
Implementation Method 2
said blocking element includes an elastic protrusion formed in the proximity of所述outer edge apt to block or minimize movements of所述door cover with respect to所述cover ring and/or to所述frame
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a laundry treatment device (1) comprising: a casing (2) containing a treatment chamber (3) for receiving a load to be treated, said casing including an aperture (2a) for accessing the treatment chamber (3), and a door assembly (3a) associated to the casing (2) and capable of opening and closing said aperture (2a). The door assembly comprises a door frame (4,5) having a door opening (4a,5a) defining an inner edge (14,15); a cover ring (7) having a ring opening (17), the cover ring being attached to the door frame (4,5) so that the ring opening substantially corresponds to the door opening in an assembled configuration; a door cover (8) covering the door opening (4a,5a) and the ring opening (17), the door cover having an outer edge, wherein a portion of said door cover outer edge is interposed between a peripheral portion of the frame around the inner edge of the door opening and a peripheral portion of the ring cover around the inner edge of the ring opening. Moreover, the door assembly (3a) further comprises at least a blocking element located on the door cover and/or on the frame and/or on the cover ring to minimize relative movements of said door cover (8) with respect to said frame (4,5) and/or said cover ring (7).