Panel Component Hidden Cut-Out for Appliance Aesthetics
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing panel components in household appliances, such as washing machines and clothes dryers, face challenges in optimizing the arrangement of pull grooves to balance aesthetics, mold realizability, design space, and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A panel component design featuring a body with a mounting surface and a panel connected to it, where a cut-out forming a pull groove includes a hidden portion on the mounting surface, partially covered by the panel, to reduce exposure of the rear assembly structure and optimize space utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the cut-out for the pull groove is arranged on the body without panel coverage, then the mold realizability and manufacturing simplicity are improved, but the aesthetic appearance and integrality of the panel component deteriorate due to exposure of the rear assembly structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the problematic visible portion of the cut-out and relocates it to the mounting surface where it can be covered by the panel. The cut-out is divided into a visible portion on the panel side and a hidden portion on the mounting surface, allowing the panel to conceal the rear assembly structure while maintaining manufacturing feasibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the contradiction by transitioning the cut-out from a purely functional feature to a multi-dimensional solution that spans both the panel assembly dimension and the mounting surface dimension. This allows the same cut-out structure to serve both aesthetic concealment and manufacturing requirements.
2Ease of operation
If the cut-out is made larger to provide access to the pull groove, then the ease of operation is improved, but the space occupied on the body increases, reducing the design space
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cut-out into two distinct portions: a visible portion that provides user access to the pull groove, and a hidden portion on the mounting surface that is covered by the panel. This segmentation allows the functional access area to be optimized independently from the space-consumption area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality requirements to different portions of the cut-out. The visible portion is optimized for user interaction with adequate size and accessibility, while the hidden portion is minimized and strategically positioned on the mounting surface where it does not consume valuable design space.
3Ease of operation
If the cut-out is positioned to provide adequate access to the pull groove, then the ease of operation is improved, but the integrality of the panel component deteriorates due to exposure of the rear assembly structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the hidden portion of the cut-out and relocates it to the mounting surface, separating the functional access requirement from the aesthetic appearance requirement. This allows the visible portion to maintain adequate size for user access while the hidden portion on the mounting surface remains concealed by the panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The panel acts as an intermediary element that mediates between the functional cut-out and the aesthetic appearance. By positioning the hidden portion of the cut-out on the mounting surface, the panel can cover it and conceal the rear assembly structure, thereby maintaining integrality while preserving operational access.
Data Source
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AI summary
A panel component and a household appliance are provided. The panel component is applied to the household appliance, and includes: a body (1), having a mounting surface (11); a panel (2), connected to the mounting surface. The body (1) is provided with a cut-out (13) for forming a pull groove, the cut-out includes a hidden portion located on the mounting surface (11), and at least part of the hidden portion is covered by the panel (2). Through the foregoing solution, a possibility of exposure of a rear assembly structure arranged on the body through the cut-out can be reduced, thereby improving integrality of the panel component.