Oven Cavity Protection Box Assembly Without Screws or Welding

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for attaching a protection box to the bottom heating element in an oven cavity are laborious and require screws or welding, making the process inefficient.

Innovation Solution

The protection box is designed with angled appendices that engage with a T-shaped element at the cavity flange and lug elements that connect to the rear or bottom wall, allowing for simple assembly without screws or welding, using a metal sheet as thin as 0.4 mm, and incorporating resilient deformable elements for additional fastening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the protection box is attached using screws or welding, then the attachment is secure and reliable, but the assembly process becomes laborious and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoidassembly efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The attachment system is segmented into discrete mechanical elements: angled appendices at the front portion and lug elements at the rear portion. These segmented components can be independently formed and assembled, allowing the protection box to be attached through simple insertion and engagement rather than complex fastening operations. This segmentation maintains secure attachment while dramatically simplifying the assembly process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The angled appendices and lug elements are designed to self-align and self-engage with corresponding features on the oven cavity. The resilient deformable appendix automatically deforms during insertion and snaps into place, while the lug elements engage with slots without requiring additional fastening steps. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for screws or welding, maintaining reliability while improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Weight of moving object

If the protection box is made from thinner metal sheet, then material cost and weight are reduced, but the structural strength and attachment security are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection box weightVSAvoidstructural strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniformly thickening the entire protection box, the design applies local quality by concentrating material and structural features at critical locations. The angled appendices and lug elements are formed with localized reinforcement and optimized geometry to provide high strength-to-weight ratio. The resilient deformable appendix uses localized elasticity to provide secure engagement. This allows the use of thinner metal sheet overall while maintaining structural strength where it is most needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The protection box utilizes composite construction by combining thin metal sheet with formed structural features (angled appendices, lug elements, resilient deformable appendix). These formed features act as structural reinforcements, creating a composite structure that achieves the strength of thicker material while maintaining the weight benefits of thinner sheet. The combination of base metal and formed geometric features creates a lightweight yet strong attachment system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If the protection box is designed with complex fastening mechanisms, then attachment security is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment securityVSAvoidassembly mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple attachment functions are merged into simple geometric features. The angled appendices simultaneously provide structural support, positioning, and attachment engagement. The lug elements combine positioning and fastening functions in a single component feature. The resilient deformable appendix merges elastic deformation, positioning, and locking functions. This merging of functions reduces device complexity while maintaining attachment security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment mechanism is designed to be self-servicing, where the geometric features of the angled appendices and lug elements automatically align and engage with corresponding features on the oven cavity. The resilient deformable appendix self-adjusts during insertion and self-locks into place. This self-service design eliminates the need for complex alignment procedures or additional fastening steps, reducing device complexity while ensuring secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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

This solution enables a quick and efficient assembly of the protection box, eliminating the need for screws or welding and allowing for the use of thinner metal sheets while ensuring secure attachment, preventing the protection box from moving backwards.

Implementation Method 1

at least one resilient deformable appendix is formed at the front portion of the protection box, wherein said resilient deformable element is inserted in or insertable into the cavity flange

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2390585B1An oven cavity for a cooking oven
Publication Date: 2019.01.09 ELECTROLUX HOME PROD CORP NV
  • EP2390585B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2390585B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2390585B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an oven cavity oven cavity (10) for a cooking oven. The oven cavity (10) includes at least one bottom heating element arranged or arrangable below a bottom wall (22) of the oven cavity (10), a protection box (12) for the bottom heating element attached or attachable at the bottom wall (22) of the oven cavity (10), and a cavity flange (14) enclosing at least partially a front opening of the oven cavity (10). A front portion of the protection box (12) is inserted in or insertable into the cavity flange (14). A rear portion of the protection box (12) comprises at least one fastening element (26) connected or connectable to a rear wall (18) and/or a bottom wall (22) of the oven cavity (10).