Single-Side Retention Mount for Variable-Thickness Appliance Walls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing retention devices for home appliances lack a cost-effective and efficient solution for securely mounting components like shelves, racks, or drawers to varying thicknesses of mounting surfaces within a single appliance, often requiring customized solutions and compromising on stability and insulation sealing.
Innovation Solution
A retention device comprising a backing nut and a core piece with a threaded central bore and flanges, allowing for single-sided installation and adjustable threading to accommodate different mounting surface thicknesses, while the core piece's rib and flange design ensures secure engagement with the wall and prevents withdrawal, and the backing nut's lip and fingers enhance stability and insulation sealing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing retention devices are used for mounting components to varying thicknesses of mounting surfaces, then mounting stability is compromised, but using customized solutions increases device complexity and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The retention device incorporates a threaded core piece that can be adjusted to different depths within the mounting surface, allowing the same device to accommodate varying thicknesses. The thread engagement depth can be modified to maintain secure mounting stability across different surface thicknesses without requiring customized devices for each thickness variation.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention device is designed with a universal mounting mechanism that can adapt to multiple mounting surface thicknesses within a single appliance. The combination of the core piece with threaded adjustment and the backing nut creates a multi-functional system that eliminates the need for separate customized retention devices for each thickness variation.
2Reliability
If existing retention devices are used for securing components, then insulation sealing is compromised, but adding separate gaskets or O-rings increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The retention device integrates insulation sealing functionality directly into the core piece and backing nut structure. The flanges and lips of these components are designed to work together with foam insulation material, eliminating the need for separate gaskets or O-rings. The sealing function is merged with the mounting function in a single integrated device.
Solution Approach 2:
Foam insulation material serves as an intermediary between the retention device components (core piece and backing nut) and the mounting surface. The foam material fills gaps and provides sealing while the retention device structure is designed to accommodate and work with this intermediary material, achieving both mounting stability and insulation sealing.
3Productivity
If traditional mounting methods are used, then installation time increases, but single-sided installation requires precise threading and flange alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The retention device is segmented into two main components: the core piece with integrated threading and flanges, and the backing nut. This segmentation allows the core piece to be inserted and aligned on one side of the mounting surface, while the backing nut is secured on the same side. The segmentation enables single-sided installation by distributing the alignment and securing functions to appropriate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The core piece is designed with pre-formed threads and flanges that are prepared during manufacturing. The threading is pre-cut and the flanges are pre-positioned, allowing the core piece to be quickly inserted into the mounting surface without requiring complex alignment during installation. The preliminary preparation of these features reduces installation time and simplifies the single-sided mounting process.
Data Source
AI summary
A retention device for supporting a component relative to a wall of a home appliance is provided. The retention device includes a backing nut and a core piece that can be installed from a single side of the wall. The backing nut defines a central bore and includes a threaded surface. The core piece includes a body having a threaded portion configured to mate with the threaded surface of the backing nut and at least one flange projecting outwardly from a body of the core piece. The core piece is configured to be inserted into an aperture in the wall and rotated to engage the at least one flange with the wall.