Cooking Appliance Panel Coupling for Stable Front Panel Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of cooking appliance front panels to the body is complex, leading to increased costs and instability, as existing methods require additional pieces and result in vertical movement of the panel, causing assembly difficulties and visual faults.
Innovation Solution
A coupling element comprising a connection piece and a support piece, where the connection piece has a channel and an engagement tab that engages with the flange, and the support piece fills the gap between the flange and panel, preventing vertical movement by using an engagement opening and protrusion, and is produced in a one-piece manner to reduce production and assembly costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a tab engages to an engagement tip on the flange for connecting the front panel to the body, then the panel connection is achieved, but the panel is not fixed and lifts upwardly causing assembly difficulties and requiring additional pieces
Solution Approach 1:
A coupling element is introduced as an intermediary component between the panel and the flange. This coupling element includes an engagement protrusion that engages with the engagement opening in the engagement tab, preventing upward movement of the panel while maintaining the connection functionality. The intermediary component resolves the contradiction by providing both connection and stabilization without requiring additional separate pieces.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling element merges multiple functions into a single component: it provides the engagement mechanism (protrusion and opening), acts as a stabilizer (preventing upward movement), and serves as the connection interface between panel and flange. This consolidation eliminates the need for additional separate stabilization pieces, reducing assembly complexity while ensuring panel stability.
2Reliability
If additional pieces are placed on the housing to realize the connection, then the panel connection is achieved, but the number of assembly process steps increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element combines multiple previously separate components into a single integrated piece. It incorporates the engagement mechanism, stabilization features, and connection interface all in one component that attaches to the flange. This merging reduces the number of assembly steps from multiple separate operations to a single attachment operation, thereby reducing both complexity and cost while maintaining connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling element is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously provides connection, stabilization, and positioning functions. This universal component replaces what would otherwise require multiple specialized pieces, each performing a single function. The multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed and simplifies the assembly process while ensuring reliable panel connection.
3Ease of manufacture
If the front panel is not fixed, then assembly is simpler, but the panel lifts upwardly causing visual faults and assembly difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element acts as a mediator that provides controlled fixation between the panel and flange. It allows the panel to be positioned and connected easily while simultaneously preventing unwanted upward movement through the engagement protrusion-opening mechanism. This intermediary component maintains manufacturing precision without complicating the assembly process.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling element is designed to self-align and self-lock during assembly. The engagement protrusion automatically engages with the engagement opening when the panel is positioned, providing automatic stabilization without requiring complex adjustment procedures. This self-service mechanism ensures precise panel positioning while keeping the assembly process simple and intuitive.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a home appliance (1) comprising a body (10), at least one flange (20) provided on said body (10), a connection piece (50) for providing the connection between the flange (20) and at least one panel (30), and having at least one connection channel (56) wherein the flange (20) is partially placed and an upper channel (52) wherein at least one engagement tab (34) of the panel (30) is placed, and a support piece (60) which at least partially fills the gap provided between the flange (20) and a front wall (31) of the panel (30), characterized by comprising an engagement opening (39) provided at the engagement tab (34), and an engagement protrusion (57) provided at the upper channel (52) of the connection piece (50) in a manner corresponding to the engagement opening (39).