Movable Salt Container Locking for Easier Washing Machine Refilling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulty in accessing and adding salt to the salt container within washing machines, as it is often located inside the body, making it hard to reach and fill.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine design featuring a locking element that allows users to easily access the salt container by moving it in conjunction with the dispenser, with positions that enable either independent access to the dispenser or both the dispenser and salt container, using a pusher, latch, connector, and flexible member to facilitate easy salt addition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the salt container is placed inside the washing machine body, then it occupies less space and maintains a compact structure, but it becomes difficult for users to access and add salt
Solution Approach 1:
The salt container is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be easily removed from the washing machine body by users. The container can be pulled out along a guiding direction through the interaction of the pushing portion and receiving portion structures, enabling convenient salt refilling while maintaining compact storage when installed.
2Ease of operation
If the salt container is made easily accessible, then users can conveniently add salt, but the container may be accidentally removed or misplaced
Solution Approach 1:
The design incorporates preliminary anti-action through the interaction between the pushing portion and receiving portion. The receiving portion includes positioning protrusions that engage with corresponding features on the salt container, preventing accidental removal while allowing intentional extraction when users need to refill salt.
Solution Approach 2:
The salt container system is segmented into separate functional components: the container body, the pushing portion for extraction, and the receiving portion with positioning features. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each component for both easy removal and secure installation.
3Reliability
If a locking mechanism is added to control access, then accidental removal is prevented, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The locking and unlocking function is achieved through self-service mechanism where the pushing portion automatically interacts with the receiving portion. When the container is pulled, the pushing portion engages with the receiving portion's positioning protrusions to guide removal without requiring additional locks or complex fastening systems.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
The present invention relates to a washing machine (1) comprising a body (2), a panel (3) situated on the body (2), a dispenser (4) disposed on the panel (3) and wherein cleaning agents like detergent and softener are placed and a salt container (5) that provides the softening of the water.