Lock structure and cooking appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing kitchen appliances lack effective safety mechanisms to prevent accidental opening of the door by users, especially children, after cooking, which can lead to scalding due to hot food and increased risk of accidents.
Innovation Solution
A lock structure comprising a fixing member and a locking assembly with a bearing member, mount, driving member, and elastic members that require a specific action to open the door, ensuring the locking member moves relative to the mount under the driving member and elastic connection, preventing accidental opening and enhancing user safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a key-type lock structure is used to restrain the door body assembly, then the door can be locked to prevent accidental opening, but the user may falsely trigger the lock and be unable to close it, resulting in the door body assembly being impossible to close
Solution Approach 1:
The lock structure is divided into separate functional components: a locking member for engagement, a driving member for actuation, and an elastic member for automatic resetting. This segmentation allows the locking function to be independent from the door closing action, enabling the door to be closed even when the lock is engaged, while still providing reliable locking when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking member is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be pushed by the elastic member and driven by the driving member. This dynamic design enables the locking member to automatically reset to its initial position after locking, providing both reliable locking engagement and the ability to be released and reset without manual intervention.
2Ease of operation
If no lock structure is used, then the door can be easily opened and closed, but users especially children may accidentally open the door after cooking, leading to scalding from hot food
Solution Approach 1:
The lock structure provides preliminary protection by automatically engaging the locking member to prevent door opening after cooking. The elastic member is pre-loaded to provide automatic locking engagement, creating a preliminary barrier against accidental door opening and the associated scalding hazard before any user action occurs.
3Reliability
If the locking member is rigidly connected to the driving member, then the locking action is direct and reliable, but the locking member cannot move flexibly to ensure restraint connection when the door is closed accidentally
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic member acts as an intermediary between the driving member and the locking member, providing both connection and flexibility. This intermediary component allows the locking member to move independently to ensure engagement with the fixing member while still being driven by the driving member, resolving the contradiction between direct reliable action and flexible adaptive movement.
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 lock structure effectively prevents accidental opening of the kitchen appliance door, improving safety by requiring intentional action to open it and ensuring the locking mechanism remains engaged even if the user mistakenly tries to close it while the door is open, thus reducing the risk of scalding and enhancing user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a first elastic member, a first end of the first elastic member being linked to the driving member
Data Source
AI summary
A lock structure and a cooking appliance are provided. The lock structure has a fixing member and a locking assembly. The locking assembly has a bearing member, a mount connected to the bearing member, a driving member, a first elastic member and a locking member. The bearing member is detachably connected to a surface. At least a portion of the driving member is provided within the mount. A first end of the first elastic member is connected to the driving member. The locking member is connected to a second end of the first elastic member. The locking member is capable of moving relative to the mount under the driving of the driving member and the first elastic member, and is locked to or separated from the fixing member.