Support Box Assembly for Precise Appliance Interface Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing household appliance interfaces, such as touch screens on hobs, face challenges in precise and stable placement, making it difficult to accurately position control and display means relative to the appliance surface, and complicating maintenance or replacement.

Innovation Solution

An assembly comprising a support box with a receiving element and a support element, featuring fixing means and a lock mechanism, allows independent placement and secure locking of the control and display means to the appliance surface, ensuring precise positioning and easy removal for maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the control and display means are fixed directly to the appliance surface, then the placement is simple, but the positioning precision and stability are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepositioning precisionVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support box is divided into a receiving element (for control and display means) and a support element (for appliance surface mounting), allowing independent optimization of each component's function and improving overall positioning precision without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support box acts as an intermediary component between the appliance surface and the control and display means, providing a dedicated mounting structure that ensures precise and stable positioning while simplifying the overall assembly process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the control and display means are firmly integrated with the appliance, then the stability is high, but the ease of maintenance and replacement is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveplacement stabilityVSAvoidmaintenance ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The separation of the receiving element (holding control and display means) from the support element (fixed to appliance) allows the control interface to be independently removed for maintenance while the support structure remains firmly integrated with the appliance, maintaining stability during operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The fixing means are designed to provide firm attachment during normal operation (stable placement) but can be easily released when needed (maintenance mode), allowing the system to transition between stable operation and easy maintenance states

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If the control and display means are positioned close to the surface for reliable finger detection, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the risk of damage from heat or splashes increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefinger detection accuracyVSAvoidexposure to heat and splashes
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The support box serves as a protective intermediary between the control and display means and the harsh appliance environment (heat, splashes), allowing the interface to be positioned close to the surface for accurate touch detection while the support structure absorbs environmental stress

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3091290B1Supporting box for control and display means for a household appliance
Publication Date: 2019.01.09 GRP BRANDT
  • EP3091290B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3091290B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3091290B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4c

AI summary

An assembly includes a support box (200) and control and display means for a household appliance. The support box comprises a receiving element (10) of the control and display means (1), and a support element (13), the receiving element (10) and the support element (20) comprising fixing means intended for fixing the reception element and the support element (20) to each other, the reception element (10) comprising holding means shaped to hold the control means and display (1), and the support element (20) comprising fixing means shaped to fix the support housing to a surface of a household appliance.