Self-Locking Housing Assembly Without Extra Fasteners
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connection techniques for household appliance housings are complex, material-intensive, costly, and space-consuming, making them difficult to assemble and requiring additional fixing elements.
Innovation Solution
A self-locking connection mechanism using projections and recesses on housing elements that snap together without additional fixing elements, allowing for a simple, quick, and reliable assembly, and can be made foam-tight for applications requiring foaming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional connection techniques (screws, rivets, welding) are used to connect housing elements, then the connection is reliable and strong, but the assembly process becomes complex, time-consuming, and requires additional fixing elements
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting elements are designed to perform both the joining function and the locking function through their own structural features (protrusions and recesses with locking edges) without requiring external fixing elements like screws or rivets. The connection mechanism serves itself by using the geometry of the connecting elements to automatically lock when assembled.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the connecting element and the locking mechanism into a single integrated structure. The protrusion and recess are designed as unified components where the locking edges are integral parts of the connection geometry, eliminating the need for separate fixing elements and simplifying the overall assembly.
2Strength
If additional fixing elements (screws, rivets) are used to connect housing elements, then the connection strength is sufficient, but the material consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the additional fixing elements (screws, rivets, clips) from the connection system. By designing the housing elements with integrated connecting features that provide both connection and locking functions, the solution removes the need for separate fastening components, thereby reducing material consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting elements are designed with localized structural features (protrusions with locking edges, recesses with corresponding geometry) that concentrate the connection and locking functions in specific areas of the housing elements. This local optimization provides sufficient connection strength without requiring materials throughout the entire housing structure.
3Reliability
If conventional connection methods are used for housing elements, then the connection is secure, but the assembly space required and production time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The housing elements are segmented into modular components with standardized connecting features (protrusions and recesses). This segmentation allows for pre-fabrication and independent preparation of components, which can then be quickly assembled together through simple insertion and locking actions, significantly improving assembly speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting elements are pre-designed and pre-formed with their locking features integrated into the housing elements during manufacturing. This preliminary preparation of the connection geometry eliminates the need for on-site assembly operations like drilling, screwing, or riveting, allowing for rapid final assembly.
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
Enables easy and reliable assembly of household appliance housings with reduced material and space requirements, improved handling, and flexibility in production, while maintaining structural integrity and foam-tightness.
Implementation Method 1
The connecting elements are designed in such a way that the connection in the connecting area is designed to be self-locking and without additional fixing elements
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a household appliance with a device housing which has one or more housing elements (10, 10', 20, 20') and which has at least one connection region (30) in which two sections of the housing element or elements (10, 10' '20,20') are connected to one another, wherein the or at least one of the housing elements (10,10',20,20') has one or more connecting elements which are designed such that the connection in the connection area (30) is self-locking and is designed without additional fixing elements.text