Spring-Loaded Touch Control Mounting for Play-Free Appliance Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliance devices face challenges in achieving a firm and play-free mounting of touch control elements on user interface elements, which affects the ease of operation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a spring unit that generates a spring force to press the operator interface unit against the user interface element, combined with a carrier unit featuring a grid-shaped base body and lateral fastening for stable and space-efficient mounting, and a locking mechanism for secure electrical line management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a spring unit is used to press the operator interface unit against the user interface element, then the touch control element achieves firm and play-free mounting, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring unit is integrated into the carrier unit as a unified structure, where the spring element is positioned within the carrier unit's base body. This merging approach ensures the touch control element is firmly pressed against the user interface element while avoiding the need for separate mounting mechanisms, thus maintaining mounting stability without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
2Device complexity
If the spring element is arranged on the underside of the carrier unit, then the construction is simplified, but the space requirement below the user interface element increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring element is arranged horizontally within the carrier unit's base body rather than extending vertically below the user interface element. This dimensional repositioning allows the spring to function effectively while minimizing the vertical space requirement below the user interface element, thus simplifying construction without significantly increasing the occupied volume.
3Reliability
If the fastening unit projects laterally beyond the base body, then the carrier unit can be firmly fastened to the body, but the space requirement for the carrier unit increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening function is segmented from the main base body, with the fastening unit projecting laterally as a distinct component. This segmentation allows the fastening unit to extend only where necessary for secure attachment to the body, providing firm fastening stability while minimizing the overall footprint of the carrier unit by concentrating the lateral projection only at the fastening locations.
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
Ensures a firm, play-free, and easy-to-operate touch control element mounting, providing stable storage and secure energy supply while minimizing space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
the spring unit, which is intended to generate a spring force that presses the operator interface unit against the user interface element... the spring unit is at least partially elastically deformable and generates a restoring force due to an elastic deformation
Implementation Method 2
the spring unit comprises at least one spring element designed as a torsion spring
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The device has a carrier unit (10a) for holding a touch control element (20a) of an operator interface unit (18a) at a user interface element (22a) i.e. hotplate fields. A spring unit (26a) produces spring force to press the operator interface unit at the user interface element. The spring unit comprises a spring element (28a) i.e. torsion spring. The spring element is arranged at an opposite side of the carrier unit at the user interface element. A fixing unit positively fastens the carrier unit at a body and comprises an attaching unit, which includes a slot.