Laundry treating apparatus with control panel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laundry treating apparatuses face challenges in maximizing interior space utilization, providing easy access to information, and ensuring convenient operation, particularly in terms of control panel design and fabrication flexibility.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a control panel with a sloped front side facing upward, a projected forward shape, and a deco surrounding the control panel and window, along with a door outer frame that projects outward, enhancing fabrication freedom and interior space utilization while minimizing the distance between the control panel and the user's line of sight.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the control panel is arranged flat on the cabinet, then the interior space is maximized, but the visibility and ease of operation deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterior spaceVSAvoidvisibility and ease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The control panel body is designed to project forward from the front plate, transitioning from a flat 2D arrangement to a 3D protruding structure. This dimensional change allows the control panel to be positioned closer to the user's line of sight while maintaining compact interior space, as the projection utilizes the depth dimension rather than increasing width or height.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the control panel body is projected forward from the front plate, then the visibility and ease of operation are improved, but the interior space utilization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisibility and ease of operationVSAvoidinterior space
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control panel body projects forward from the front plate in the depth direction, utilizing the third dimension to improve visibility without increasing the width or height that would encroach on interior space. This strategic use of the depth dimension resolves the contradiction between operational ease and space utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of operation

If the front side of the control panel body is sloped to face upward, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Only the front side surface of the control panel body is sloped, while the rear side and other surfaces maintain standard geometry. This localized application of the slope reduces manufacturing complexity compared to sloping the entire panel, as only one specific surface requires angled fabrication while other surfaces can be produced using conventional methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Adaptability or versatility

If the door outer frame is projected outward, then the fabrication freedom is enhanced, but the overall device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefabrication freedomVSAvoidoverall device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The door assembly is segmented into the door body and a separate outer frame that projects outward. This segmentation allows the outer frame to be designed and fabricated independently with greater freedom, while the overall door structure remains modular and manageable, preventing excessive complexity in the complete assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2811061B1Laundry treating apparatus with control panel
Publication Date: 2019.08.07 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2811061B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2811061B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2811061B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a laundry treating apparatus (1) including a cabinet (10) having a laundry opening (110) formed therein, a door (20) mounted to the cabinet (10) for opening/closing the laundry opening (110), and a control panel (30) arranged at the cabinet (10), wherein the control panel (30) includes a control panel body (310) projected forward from a front plate (105), and a front side of the control panel body (310) is sloped to face upward, thereby permitting to enhance utilization of the inside space of the cabinet (10), the user to notice information on the control panel displays easily, and to operate the control panel (30) easily.