Household Appliance Support Foot Locking with Beveled Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliance support feet made of elastomeric material often detach unintentionally from their housing, especially when the device is moved, and require forceful mounting, which complicates assembly and production.
Innovation Solution
A housing design featuring support feet with an annular lateral face retained by a locking device with beveled faces, allowing for easy positioning and secure engagement with the housing body, and optionally a central passage for increased bearing surface and simplified installation, using locking members that can be evenly spaced and assembled via bayonet locking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If support feet are mounted using a simple annular rib structure, then the assembly is simple to produce, but the support feet can be unintentionally removed and require forceful mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is segmented into multiple locking members (at least two) distributed around the annular lateral face of the support foot, rather than using a single continuous annular rib. This segmentation allows each locking member to independently engage with the support foot, providing secure retention while maintaining ease of manufacture through modular construction
Solution Approach 2:
The locking members feature asymmetric geometry with a bevelled face on one side and a retaining face on the other. The bevelled face allows the locking member to be inserted easily in one direction, while the retaining face prevents removal in the opposite direction, creating a one-way locking mechanism that secures the support foot without requiring forceful mounting
2Reliability
If support feet are retained by a locking device with bevelled faces, then the support feet are securely retained without unintentional detachment, but the assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device merges multiple functions into a single integrated component: the bevelled face provides guiding and positioning during assembly, the retaining face provides secure retention, and the overall structure integrates with the housing body. This merging reduces the number of separate parts needed while achieving reliable support foot retention
Solution Approach 2:
The bevelled face of the locking member enables self-aligning and self-positioning during assembly. When the support foot is inserted, the bevelled face automatically guides the locking member into the correct position and orientation, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures or additional positioning mechanisms
3Area of stationary object
If support feet have an annular geometry with central passage, then the bearing surface is increased for the same volume, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The annular geometry of the support foot serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the bearing surface for supporting the appliance, creates a central passage for cable routing or structural purposes, and defines the mounting interface for the locking members. This multi-functionality maximizes the utility of the support foot structure without requiring additional components that would increase manufacturing precision requirements
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 design ensures support feet are securely retained within the housing body without unintentional detachment, simplifies assembly and production, and allows for flexible positioning of the appliance on various surfaces while maintaining stability and vibration damping.
Implementation Method 1
the locking device comprises at least one locking member having a bevelled face extended by a retaining face engaging with the annular lateral face of the support foot or with the housing body to retain the face annular side of the supporting foot
Implementation Method 2
These support feet are generally made of elastomeric material and make it possible to dampen the vibrations of the apparatus
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a housing (1') of an electric household appliance comprising a housing body (2') and at least one support foot (3') assembled with the housing body (2'), said support foot (3') having an annular side surface (4') held by a locking device (5') rigidly connected to the housing body (2'). According to the invention, the locking device (5') comprises at least one locking member (6') having a bevelled surface (7; 7') extended by a retaining face (8') engaging with the annular side surface of the support foot or with the housing body (2') so as to hold the annular side surface (4') of the support foot (3').