Lint filter latch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lint filter housings have simple latching mechanisms that are prone to breaking during normal opening and closing, leading to potential damage and maintenance issues in laundry treatment appliances.
Innovation Solution
A lint filter design featuring a clamshell-style frame with a handle and latches that pivotally connect via a living hinge, incorporating protrusions within a handle groove to securely latch the filter in place, enhancing robustness and reducing part failure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a simple latching mechanism is used in conventional lint filter housings, then the device complexity is reduced and ease of manufacture is improved, but the reliability deteriorates as the latches are easily broken during normal opening and closing
Solution Approach 1:
The latching mechanism is divided into multiple independent latches (first latch and second latch) distributed at different locations on the handle. This segmentation allows each latch to bear only a portion of the operational stress, preventing any single point of failure and improving overall reliability without significantly increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The latching mechanism incorporates a living hinge that allows dynamic movement and flexibility during opening and closing operations. This dynamic design enables the latches to flex and adapt to operational forces, reducing stress concentration and preventing brittle failure while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Strength
If a robust latching mechanism with multiple latches and protrusions is implemented, then the reliability and strength are improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple latches are integrated into a single handle assembly, and the protrusions are incorporated directly into the housing structure. This merging of functions allows the complex latching system to be manufactured as integrated components rather than separate parts, improving strength while maintaining reasonable manufacturing ease through consolidation.
3Ease of operation
If the housing is designed to be opened and closed frequently for cleaning, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to increased wear and potential damage to simple latches
Solution Approach 1:
The latching mechanism is pre-designed with multiple latches and reinforcing protrusions to anticipate and withstand repeated opening and closing operations. This preliminary reinforcement ensures that the mechanism is prepared for frequent use from the outset, maintaining both ease of operation and reliability over extended service periods.
Data Source
AI summary
A lint filter includes a first housing and a second housing pivotally connected to the first housing, the first housing including a first latch having a first hook and a second latch having a second hook, the second housing defining a handle groove and including a first protrusion and a second protrusion, the first latch corresponding to the first protrusion and the second latch corresponding to the second protrusion such that when the lint filter is in a closed position, the first latch is latched to the first protrusion and the second latch is latched to the second protrusion.