Oven Hinge Wire Cover for Concealed Water Tank Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooking appliances with steam ovens have exposed hinge structures and wires, which compromise the aesthetic appeal and pose safety risks due to exposed high-voltage wires, and existing solutions either complicate the structure or fail to fully conceal the wires when the door is opened.
Innovation Solution
A cooking appliance design where the panel unit covers the water tank entrance and is moved to open or close it, using a hinge structure integrated with the door to maintain a clean, aesthetically pleasing appearance while ensuring safety by keeping wires concealed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the controller is moved to open the water tank entrance, then the water tank can be accessed, but the hinge structure and wire become exposed compromising aesthetics and safety
Solution Approach 1:
The wire is nested inside the hinge structure, with the hinge body serving as a protective cover that conceals the wire during door rotation. This nesting arrangement eliminates the need for separate wire management components while maintaining wire protection throughout the door's movement range.
2Ease of operation
If the wire is exposed to supply power and signal to the controller, then the controller can function, but safety risks arise due to exposed high-voltage wire
Solution Approach 1:
The wire is nested inside the hinge structure, with the hinge body serving as a protective cover that conceals the wire during door rotation. This nesting arrangement eliminates the need for separate wire management components while maintaining wire protection throughout the door's movement range.
3Reliability
If a wire guide is fixed to the door to prevent interference, then wire-hinge interference is reduced, but portions of the wire remain exposed between the door and main body
Solution Approach 1:
The wire guide function is merged with the hinge structure itself, eliminating the need for a separate wire guide component. The hinge body is designed to inherently guide and protect the wire during door rotation, achieving complete wire coverage while simplifying the overall structure.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a wire cover unit with sliding member is added to protect the wire, then wire protection is improved, but the structure becomes more complicated with additional hinges and parts
Solution Approach 1:
The wire guide function is merged with the hinge structure itself, eliminating the need for a separate wire guide component. The hinge body is designed to inherently guide and protect the wire during door rotation, achieving complete wire coverage while simplifying the overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge structure serves multiple functions: it enables door rotation, guides the wire during movement, and protects the wire from exposure and damage. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate wire management components while maintaining comprehensive wire protection.
Data Source
AI summary
A cooking appliance may include a casing having a cavity and an upper space, a door that opens and closes the cavity. A panel may be disposed at a front of the casing with a height different from a height of the door. A hinge may connect the casing and the panel to each other while located therebetween. A wire cover may cover a wire harness that extends from the panel into the upper space. The wire cover may be coupled to the hinge to protrude from and retract into the upper space together with the hinge. As described above, the wire harness may be covered with the wire cover, so that outward exposure of the wire harness is prevented.