Rotatable Adjustment Shim for Embedded Cooking Appliance Gap Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Embedded cooking appliances often face installation issues due to mismatched sizes between the appliance and the cupboard, leading to difficulties in opening the door or excessive movement, caused by gaps that are either too large or too small between the appliance and the cupboard.
Innovation Solution
An adjustment shim is introduced, comprising a connecting plate fixed to the appliance or cupboard, with an adjustable plate that can rotate and change thickness by stacking or folding, allowing precise adjustment of the gap between the appliance and the cupboard, ensuring proper alignment and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the distance between the box body and the inner wall of the cupboard is increased, then the box body can move freely, but the door body cannot be opened smoothly
Solution Approach 1:
The spacer assembly incorporates an adjustable plate that can rotate between a first position (providing first distance height) and a second position (providing second distance height). This dynamic adjustment mechanism allows the distance to be changed based on installation requirements, resolving the contradiction between needing sufficient distance for door operation and avoiding excessive movement space.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the distance parameter by providing two different distance heights through the adjustable plate's rotation. The first distance height ensures smooth door opening, while the second distance height prevents excessive movement. This parameter change allows the same assembly to satisfy different installation conditions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the distance between the box body and the inner wall of the cupboard is decreased, then the box body is stable, but the door body cannot be opened smoothly
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable plate's ability to rotate between two positions provides dynamic control over the distance. When installed in the first position, it maintains stability while preserving enough clearance for door operation. This dynamic feature resolves the contradiction between stability and operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The spacer assembly is segmented into a connecting plate and an adjustable plate, allowing independent optimization of stability (through the connecting plate's fixed attachment) and door operation (through the adjustable plate's position-dependent distance provision).
3Ease of manufacture
If a fixed spacer is used between the cooking appliance and the cupboard, then the installation is simple, but it cannot adapt to different cupboard sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable plate's rotation capability transforms a potentially complex multi-size spacer system into a single assembly that adapts to different cupboard sizes through position adjustment. This maintains installation simplicity while achieving versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The single spacer assembly with adjustable plate serves multiple functions: it provides different distance heights for different cupboard sizes, maintains stability, and ensures proper door operation. This universal design eliminates the need for multiple fixed spacers of different sizes.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides an adjustment shim and an embedded cooking appliance assembly. The adjustment shim is arranged between a lateral wall of a box body of an embedded cooking appliance and a lateral wall of a cupboard and is configured to adjust the distance between the lateral wall of the box body and the lateral wall of the cupboard, The adjustment shim includes: a connecting plate fixed on the box body or the cupboard and an adjusting plate connected to the connecting plate and being capable of rotating with respect to the connecting plate and pressing against the connecting plate. The adjustment shim of the present disclosure increases or decreases the gap between the lateral wall of the box body of the cooking appliance and the lateral wall of the cupboard by adjusting the number of the adjusting plates pressing against the connecting plate, thereby achieving the adjustment of the distance there between, guaranteeing the good cooperation between the embedded cooking appliance and the cupboard. Thus, the situation of use inconvenience of a user due to the too large or too small distance therebetween is avoided, and the comfort during the use of the product is guaranteed.