Sliding Appliance Mounting Bracket for Service Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mounting systems for stacked domestic appliances fail to efficiently transfer the weight of upper appliances with varying widths to the structural members of lower appliances, and they complicate access to service areas, often requiring removal of the entire combination unit for maintenance, which is cumbersome and risky due to the heavy weight.
Innovation Solution
A universal support structure with a sliding connection mechanism that allows the upper appliance to slide relative to the lower appliance, using a universal mounting bracket and support bracket to transfer weight to the perimeter of the lower appliance, enabling access to service areas without removing the combination unit from the cabinet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the upper appliance is rigidly fixed to the lower appliance, then the weight transfer is stable, but service access to the lower appliance is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system employs a dynamic sliding connection instead of a rigid fixed connection. The upper appliance can slide horizontally on the lower appliance, allowing service personnel to access the rear service area of the lower appliance while the weight transfer function remains intact through the sliding mounting brackets
2Ease of operation
If the entire combination unit is removed from the cabinet for service, then complete access is achieved, but the risk of damage and operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system allows the upper appliance to be independently slid and separated from the lower appliance's service area without removing the entire combination unit. This segmentation enables service personnel to access only the necessary portion (lower appliance rear service area) while leaving the upper appliance in place, reducing operational complexity and risk
3Ease of manufacture
If a universal support structure is used for varying widths, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the weight transfer complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system uses universal mounting brackets with adjustable positioning mechanisms that can accommodate upper appliances of varying widths. The brackets can be positioned at different horizontal locations on the lower appliance, providing a universal solution for different appliance configurations while maintaining straightforward weight transfer to the lower appliance's support structure
Data Source
AI summary
A modular, multi-piece, domestic appliance combination unit includes a lower appliance; an upper appliance; a universal connector bracket attached to the upper appliance; a support bracket attached to the lower appliance, the support bracket having a plurality of attachment locations that are positioned relative to each other in the horizontal direction; a slide mechanism having an upper slide member fixed to the universal connector bracket, and a lower slide member fixed to the support bracket and slidably attached to the upper slide member. The upper appliance moves relative to the lower appliance in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction when the upper slide member moves relative to the lower slide member, and the support bracket is attachable to the lower slide member at different ones of the plurality of attachment locations such that the lower slide member is positionable at different locations along the horizontal direction.