Oven Drawer Snap-Fastening for Tilt-Triggered Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing baking ovens with locking mechanisms to prevent unintentional removal of inserts often feel annoying to users, as they require manual guidance to remain horizontal and allow easy removal when pulled out horizontally.
Innovation Solution
A latching mechanism is implemented where a first latching element is attached to the upper guide and a second latching element to the insert, engaging only when the insert is pulled out with tilting, ensuring the mechanism works when pulled with one hand but not when manually kept horizontal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a locking mechanism with latching elements is provided to prevent unintentional removal of the insert, then safety against hot food spilling is improved, but the device becomes more complex and potentially annoying to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The latching mechanism is designed to engage only in specific local conditions - when the insert is pulled out with tilting (accidental removal), the latching elements engage to prevent complete removal. When the insert is pulled out horizontally (intended removal), the latching elements do not engage, allowing easy removal. This localized engagement based on orientation resolves the contradiction by providing safety only where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of designing a locking mechanism that locks in all positions and requires manual unlocking, the invention inverts the logic: the mechanism locks only when tilting occurs (undesired state) and remains unlocked during normal horizontal removal (desired state). This inversion eliminates the need for complex user interaction while maintaining safety.
2Reliability
If a latching mechanism is provided to prevent accidental removal, then safety is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to manual guidance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The latching mechanism is self-activating based on the orientation of the insert during removal. It automatically engages when tilting occurs (accidental removal) and automatically disengages when pulled horizontally (intended removal). No user intervention or manual guidance is required, making the system both safe and easy to operate.
Solution Approach 2:
The latching mechanism responds to changes in the orientation parameter of the insert. When the tilt angle exceeds a certain threshold (indicating accidental removal), the latching elements engage. When the insert is kept horizontal (intended removal), the latching elements remain disengaged. This parameter-based activation resolves the contradiction between safety and ease of operation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the upper guide means forms a stop surface with an upwardly set-back section to limit tilting, then control over insert tilting is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upwardly set-back section is integrated directly into the upper guide means wire, combining the guiding function and the tilting limitation function in a single structural element. The wire itself forms both the guide and the stop surface, eliminating the need for separate components and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining effective tilting control.
Data Source
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AI summary
The oven has plug-in modules (10, 11) e.g. grills, inserted into a cooking chamber (1). The modules engage between lateral lower and upper guiding units (7, 8) such that a tilting process of the modules is limited while puling out the modules by attachment of the modules on the upper guiding unit. Latching elements (14, 15) are arranged on the upper guiding unit and plug-in modules, respectively. The latching elements engage with each other when the modules are pulled out under the tilting process and do not engage with each other when the modules are pulled out without the tilting process. The plug-in modules are selected from baking trays, backing dishes and grills.