Low-Profile Lighting Unit Assembly With Longitudinal Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting devices for large electrical appliances, particularly refrigeration units, have a high overall height, making assembly difficult and cumbersome, especially in confined spaces.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device design featuring a lower part that accommodates the light source and an upper part that can be attached using positive-locking elements, allowing for longitudinal displacement in the connecting plane, enabling easy and efficient assembly without the need for tall conventional locking elements, and providing a secure yet removable attachment mechanism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional locking elements aligned transversely to the parting plane are used, then secure attachment is achieved, but the overall height becomes large
Solution Approach 1:
The locking elements are reoriented from a transverse alignment (perpendicular to the parting plane) to a longitudinal alignment (parallel to the parting plane). This dimensional change allows the upper part to attach to the lower part with a flat profile, eliminating the need for tall conventional locking elements while maintaining secure attachment through the same interlocking mechanism.
2Reliability
If tall locking elements and ramps are used for secure attachment, then reliability is improved, but assembly becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the orientation of the locking elements from transverse to longitudinal alignment with the parting plane, the assembly process becomes simpler. The flat profile eliminates the need for complex ramp mechanisms and tall locking elements, allowing for easier manual assembly in confined spaces while maintaining the same secure attachment reliability.
3Length of stationary object
If a flat profile is used to optimize space, then the overall height is reduced, but secure attachment becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The locking elements are configured to extend longitudinally along the parting plane rather than transversely perpendicular to it. This allows the upper part to maintain a flat profile optimized for space while the longitudinal locking elements provide secure attachment through interengagement, resolving the contradiction between flatness and attachment security.
Solution Approach 2:
The orientation parameter of the locking elements is changed from transverse to longitudinal alignment with the parting plane. This parameter change enables the system to achieve both a flat overall height and secure attachment simultaneously, as the locking mechanism operates in the longitudinal direction rather than requiring vertical clearance.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a lighting unit for a large electrical device, such as, in particular, an interior lighting unit for a refrigerating device, comprising a base part (10), which receives the luminous element, and a top part (20), which can be attached to the base part (10). According to the invention, a plurality of corresponding positive engagement elements are arranged on the top part (20) and on the base part (10) and are used to fasten the top part (20) to the base part (10), wherein said positive engagement elements can be caused to engage relative to the base part (10) by a longitudinal movement (2) of the top part (20) in the connection plane.