Household appliance with adjustable pedestal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adjustable pedestals for household appliances tend to become unstable when unscrewed beyond a certain length, limiting height adjustment range and requiring short threaded rods or reduced internal space, which can compromise appliance design and stability.
Innovation Solution
A snap nut made of resilient material with a threaded bore and slot design that can be snapped onto the threaded rod, providing lateral locking and preventing swiveling or tilting, allowing for longer adjustment range without compromising stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the threaded rod is unscrewed out of the base beyond a certain length to increase height adjustment range, then the height adaptability is improved, but the pedestal becomes unstable and swivels or tilts
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is segmented into two functional parts: the threaded rod for height adjustment and the snap nut for stabilization. This segmentation allows the rod to be extended for height adjustment while the separate snap nut provides independent stabilization, resolving the contradiction between adjustability and stability
Solution Approach 2:
The snap nut acts as an intermediary element between the threaded rod and the pedestal structure. It mediates the connection by providing lateral locking that prevents swiveling and tilting, enabling the rod to extend beyond the base without compromising stability
2Stability of the object's composition
If short threaded rods are used to maintain stability, then the pedestal stability is improved, but the height adjustment range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static connection (rod fixed in base) to a dynamic locking mechanism. The snap nut can be engaged or disengaged from the threaded rod, allowing the system to adapt between different height configurations while maintaining stability in each position, thus enabling longer adjustment range without sacrificing stability
3Adaptability or versatility
If longer threaded rods are used to extend height adjustment range, then the height adaptability is improved, but the internal space required increases reducing appliance volume
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring the threaded rod to be completely unscrewed for maximum extension, the snap nut allows partial extension to be locked in place. This partial action principle enables the rod to be extended only as much as needed for each application, reducing the total internal space required while maintaining full height adjustment capability
4Adaptability or versatility
If the threaded rod is completely unscrewed to achieve maximum height adjustment, then the height adaptability is improved, but the pedestal becomes extremely unstable and requires lifting the appliance to reinstall
Solution Approach 1:
The snap nut is preliminarily positioned on the threaded rod before the rod is fully extended. This preliminary action allows the rod to be screwed out to the desired length and then locked in place, preventing the need to lift the heavy appliance for reinstallation and making the adjustment process easier and more controlled
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 snap nut ensures stable mounting and extended adjustment range by locking the threaded rod, eliminating the need for complete unscrewing and allowing easy installation without tools, enhancing usability and appliance design flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
A snap nut 50 made of a resilient material is provided having a threaded bore 60 with a diameter and a thread fitting to the threaded rod so that the snap nut can be screwed along the longitudinal extension of the threaded rod. The snap nut comprises a slot 70 having a width (B) that is less than the diameter of the bore (60) and which defines the lateral opening of the bore (60) wherein the width of the slot (70) and the resiliency of the material allows the snap nut to be snapped from the side onto the threaded rod
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a household appliance with at least one pedestal comprising a threaded rod which can be screwed into a corresponding threaded hole in a base of the household appliance in a longitudinal direction in order to reach a desired effective height of the pedestal. According to the invention a snap nut made of a resilient material is provided having a threaded bore with a diameter and a thread fitting to the threaded rod so that the snap nut can be screwed along the longitudinal extension of the threaded rod, the snap nut further comprising a slot having a width that is less than the diameter of the bore and which defines a lateral opening of the bore wherein the width of the slot and the resiliency of the material allows the snap nut to be snapped from the side onto the threaded rod.