Protrusion Bracket for Scratch-Free Dishwasher Structure Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for mounting structures to the walls inside a dishwasher's wash tub are time-consuming, burdensome, and prone to causing scratches, which can lead to corrosion and affect the product's quality and impression, as they require screws to be inserted from within the tub and do not efficiently handle heavy or torque-demanding structures.
Innovation Solution
A bracket with a coherent polymeric material design featuring first and second protrusions that extend through apertures in the wall to attach structures securely, forming a watertight seal and allowing for external fastening, thus eliminating the need for internal screwing and reducing the risk of scratches.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If screws are used to mount structures to walls inside the wash tub, then the mounting can be performed from within the wash tub, but it is time-consuming, burdensome, and easily leads to scratches in the walls
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting operation is inverted by performing the fastening from outside the wash tub instead of from inside. The protrusions extend through the wall thickness, allowing fastening elements to be applied externally, which eliminates the need for assemblers to work inside the narrow wash tub space and significantly reduces mounting time and complexity
2Strength
If screws are used to mount structures to walls inside the wash tub, then the structure can be attached securely, but it easily leads to scratches in the walls which may reduce the lifespan of the wash tub
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusions act as intermediaries between the bracket and the wall. These protrusions extend through the wall thickness and provide a protective interface that distributes mounting forces without directly contacting and scratching the wall surface, thus maintaining both secure attachment and wall integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The bracket is formed from a coherent piece of polymeric material that provides flexibility and compliance. This polymeric construction allows the bracket to adapt to the wall surface without creating concentrated stress points that would cause scratches, while still providing sufficient mounting strength
3Strength
If screws are used to mount structures to walls inside the wash tub, then the structure can be attached, but it requires certain length and space which is not always available
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting solution transitions from a two-dimensional surface mounting approach to a three-dimensional through-wall approach. The protrusions extend through the wall thickness, utilizing the third dimension (depth) to achieve secure attachment without requiring long screws that would protrude into the wash tub space
4Ease of manufacture
If a coherent piece of polymeric material is used for the bracket, then manufacturing costs can be reduced and production simplified, but the bracket must still provide sufficient strength for heavy structures
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket utilizes a coherent piece of polymeric material that provides an optimal balance between manufacturing efficiency and structural strength. The polymeric construction allows for cost-effective production through methods like injection molding, while the material properties and structural design (multiple protrusions) ensure sufficient strength for heavy structures
Data Source
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AI summary
A bracket (1) is provided configured to attach a structure (3) to a wall (4) inside a wash tub (5) of a dishwasher (7). The bracket (1) is arranged to be attached to the structure (3) and comprises a first protrusion (9.1) and at least a second protrusion (9.2)arranged to attach the bracket (1), and the attached structure (3), to the wall (4) by extending through a respective aperture (11.1, 11.2) in the wall (4). The present disclosure also relates to a dishwasher (7) and a method (100) of attaching a structure (3) to a wall (4) inside a wash tub (5) for a dishwasher (7).