Membrane Panel Attachment with Protrusions to Prevent Air Bubbles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing home appliances face issues with air bubbles and foreign substances, such as water, infiltrating the back side of membrane panels during attachment, leading to poor appearance and potential malfunctions.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a base with protrusions or recesses in the adhering portion of the appliance, which are designed to prevent air bubbles from forming and foreign substances from entering, ensuring a secure and bubble-free attachment of the membrane panel without the need for special tools.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a membrane panel is attached to a flat base surface, then the attachment process is simple, but air bubbles remain on the back side of the membrane panel

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment process simplicityVSAvoidbubble-free attachment quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The base surface is designed with localized protrusions at specific positions rather than a uniformly flat surface. These protrusions create localized air release channels that allow air bubbles to escape during attachment, while the rest of the surface maintains flatness for proper adhesive contact. This local modification resolves the contradiction by enabling bubble-free attachment without complicating the overall attachment process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Device complexity

If the membrane panel is attached without protrusions or recesses, then the structure is simple, but foreign substances such as water infiltrate from the outside

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadhering portion structureVSAvoidwater infiltration

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The adhering portion is segmented into multiple functional zones: protrusions that create sealed cavities, flat surfaces for adhesive bonding, and recesses that form barrier structures. This segmentation prevents water infiltration by creating a multi-layered defense system while maintaining relatively simple individual components. The segmented structure achieves protection without excessive complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If protrusions are added to prevent air bubbles, then attachment quality improves, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebubble-free attachment qualityVSAvoidbase manufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The protrusions and recesses are integrated into the base as a single molded structure rather than separate components. This merging allows both features to be manufactured simultaneously in one injection molding or pressing operation, eliminating the need for separate assembly steps. The combined structure achieves high attachment quality while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through process integration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10739012B2Home appliance

Publication Date: 2020.08.11 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A home appliance includes a control panel for operating the home appliance. The control panel may include a membrane panel and a base to which the membrane panel is attached. When the membrane panel is attached to the base, a plurality of protrusions or a plurality of recesses may be formed in an adhering portion of the base so that no air bubbles remain between the membrane panel and the base.