Household appliance comprising a closing element for covering a maintenance opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliances with maintenance openings lack easy and quick operation for covering and uncovering, often requiring multiple movements and complex mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A closure element with laterally pushable locking slides and a rotary lock allows for single-movement locking and unlocking, featuring a rotary lock mounted in the middle, elastic spring rings for preload, and reinforcing ribs for stability, enabling efficient and secure closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If multiple movements are required to open/close the cover, then the locking mechanism is secure, but the operation becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple locking slides (at least two slides moving in different directions) into a single integrated closure element that is actuated by one rotational movement. This merging of multiple locking actions into a single operational motion resolves the contradiction by achieving secure multi-directional locking without requiring multiple separate movements from the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure element employs dynamic locking slides that move in different directions (e.g., one slide moves laterally while another moves vertically) in response to a single rotational input. This dynamic multi-directional movement system allows the cover to be securely locked along multiple paths simultaneously through one simple rotational action, improving operation speed while maintaining security.
2Reliability
If a simple locking mechanism is used, then the operation is quick, but the security and reliability of the lock is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into multiple independent locking slides that operate in different directions and planes. Each slide provides an independent locking action, and collectively they create a multi-faceted secure lock. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high reliability through multiple locking points while maintaining operational simplicity because all slides are actuated by a single rotational movement of the closure element.
3Ease of operation
If the rotary lock is mounted off-center, then the locking mechanism may be more compact, but the accessibility and ease of actuation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent strategically positions the rotary lock at a specific location on the closure element that optimizes both accessibility and compactness. The asymmetric placement allows the handle to be positioned for easy user access while the overall closure element maintains a compact form factor. The locking slides are arranged to radiate from this central actuation point, enabling efficient space utilization without compromising operational ease.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables quick and secure operation of the closure element with a single rotary movement, enhancing accessibility and reducing complexity while maintaining stability and protection from foreign bodies.
Implementation Method 1
the first locking slide and the second locking slide are connected to an elastic spring ring
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a household appliance (100) comprising a closing element (101) for covering a maintenance opening (103), characterized in that the closing element (101) comprises at least one laterally extractable locking slide (105) for locking the closing element (101) in the maintenance opening (103) as well as a twistable closure (107) for actuating the locking slide (105).