Modular Panel Connection Unit for Toolless Home Appliance Assembly
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home appliance devices face inefficiencies in assembly and disassembly, cooling performance, and design, particularly in the connection and stability of panels covering machine compartments, which hinders improved functionality and versatility.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a connection unit with elongate elements and fin mounting elements that allow for toolless assembly and disassembly, improved air redirection, and enhanced stability through reinforcement profiles and guiding elements, enabling efficient connection of panel modules and improved design flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional connection methods are used for panels, then assembly requires tools and time, but the connection unit enables toolless assembly and disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The panel connection system is segmented into modular components: panel modules with connection elements, fin mounting elements, and interlocking features. This segmentation allows individual modules to be assembled and disassembled independently using the connection unit, enabling toolless assembly while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection unit acts as an intermediary mechanism between panel modules and fin mounting elements. It includes guiding elements that align components and interlocking features that secure them together without requiring external tools, thus facilitating easy assembly and disassembly.
2Stability of the object's composition
If panels are made stable and secure, then design flexibility is reduced, but the connection unit allows mirror-inversion and reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The connection unit incorporates dynamic features such as movable guiding elements and reversible interlocking mechanisms. These allow panel modules to be reconfigured, mirrored, or inverted while maintaining stable connections during operation, thus providing both stability and design flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection unit is designed with universal features that allow the same panel modules to be used in multiple configurations and orientations. The guiding elements and interlocking mechanisms work regardless of the panel's orientation, enabling mirror-inversion and reconfiguration while maintaining structural stability.
3Ease of manufacture
If connection elements are exposed for assembly, then assembly is simple, but aesthetics are compromised, but the connection unit covers screws efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The connection unit merges the functional connection elements (screws, fasteners) with aesthetic panel components. The fin mounting elements and panel modules are designed to visually integrate the connection hardware, so that assembly simplicity is maintained while the aesthetic appearance is preserved through integrated design.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
For the purpose of improving efficiency, a home appliance device, in particular a home chiller appliance device, is proposed, comprising: at least one panel (10) for at least partly covering an opening (14) of a machine compartment (16); and a connection unit for connecting the panel (10); the panel comprising at least one panel module (200a, 200b, 200c, 200d) which has at least one fin, at least one first fin mounting element and at least one second fin mounting element for mounting the at least one fin, the connection unit comprising at least one connection element for connecting the at least one panel module, and wherein the connection element is movable with respect to the first fin mounting element and the second fin mounting element in a lengthwise direction of the panel (10) in at least one pre-assembled state of the panel (10).