Telescopic Rail Locking Unit for Removable Appliance Support Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household and commercial appliances with telescopic rail systems face issues with unintentional movement and safety concerns when the carrying device is removed, particularly at elevated temperatures or when rotated, leading to potential injuries or object damage.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a locking unit with at least two rotatably arranged locking elements, which are indirectly assigned to different rails of the rail system, ensuring the rail system remains blocked regardless of the carrying device's orientation, and an elongated hole for the locking element to move between fixed and rotational positions, preventing unintentional extension.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the carrying device is removed from the housing, then the rail system can be cleaned outside the appliance, but the rails may move relative to each other unintentionally
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element is automatically activated in advance when the carrying device is removed, blocking the rails before any unintentional movement can occur. This preliminary locking action ensures stability is maintained from the moment the carrying device is detached, preventing the worsening feature while allowing the improving feature (cleanability) to be realized.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element utilizes the weight force of the carrying device itself to automatically engage or disengage the locking mechanism. When the carrying device is removed, gravity causes the locking element to rotate and block the rails automatically without external intervention, ensuring the rail system self-secures to prevent unintentional movement.
2Reliability
If a locking element is used to block the rail system when the carrying device is removed, then unintentional movement is prevented, but the locking element must be automatically actuated
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element is designed to be self-actuating through gravity. The carrying device's weight automatically drives the locking element into the blocking position when removed, and the same weight force releases it when reinstalled. This eliminates the need for motors, sensors, or complex control systems, achieving reliable automatic actuation with minimal device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element uses the weight of the carrying device as a counterbalancing force. The gravitational force acting on the carrying device is converted into the actuating force that moves the locking element between blocked and free states, simplifying the actuation mechanism by using the existing weight rather than adding separate actuation systems.
3Device complexity
If the locking element is automatically actuated by the weight force of the carrying device, then the locking mechanism is simple, but it only works in the usage orientation and not in reverse orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The locking element is designed to rotate about an axis that is perpendicular to the direction of gravity. This dimensional orientation of the rotation axis allows the locking element to respond to weight force in any orientation of the support device, whether upright or inverted, enabling the simple gravity-based mechanism to work in multiple orientations without increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking element has an asymmetric geometry with a specific rotation axis orientation that allows it to engage the blocking position regardless of which way gravity pulls. The asymmetric design of the locking element's engagement surfaces ensures that the weight force always drives it into the correct blocking configuration, making the simple mechanism adaptable to both usage and reverse orientations.
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
This configuration ensures the rail system is securely locked in both usage and reverse orientations, enhancing operational safety by preventing unintentional removal and extension, even when the appliance is tilted or rotated, thus safeguarding users and preventing damage.
Implementation Method 1
the locking element can be moved from its release towards a blocking position solely due to the weight force acting on it
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present application relates to a household appliance (2) or commercial appliance for cleaning, storing or cooking objects, comprising a housing (6) formed by walls (4) by means of which an interior space (8) is spatially enclosed, and at least one support device (30, 130, 230, 330, 430) removable from the interior space (8), wherein the support device (30, 130, 230, 330, 430) comprises at least one rail system (34, 134, 234, 334, 434) with at least two interconnected rails (36, 136, 236, 336, 436 and 38, 138, 238, 338, 438) movable relative to each other, and at least one support element (32, 132, 232, 332, 432), wherein the rail system (34, 134, 234, 334, 434) when the support device (30, 130, 230, 330, 430) is mounted on the housing (6) in such a force-transmitting manner in an installed state that the support element (32, 132, 232, 332, 432) is movable relative to the housing (6) by extending the rail system (34, 134, 234, 334, 434),wherein a locking unit (100, 200, 300, 400) arranged on the support device (30, 130, 230, 330, 430), which comprises at least one locking element (110, 150, 204, 300, 402), is transferable between a locked state and a free state, wherein the locking unit (100, 200, 300, 400) is in its removed state when the support device (30, 130, 230, 330, 430) is physically separated from the housing (6), and in its locked state when the locking element (110, 150, 204, 300, 402) is in its unlocked state 402) by forming a positive locking mechanism, blocking the extension of the rail system (34, 134, 234, 334, 434), and wherein the locking unit (100, 200, 300, 400) is in its free state when the support device (5) is in its installed state, in which state the locking element (110, 150, 204, 300, 402) prevents the extension of the rail system (34, 134, 234, 334,434). In order to provide a household or commercial appliance whose operational safety is improved compared to the prior art, the invention proposes at least one locking unit (100, 200, 300, 400) arranged on the support device (30, 130, 230, 330, 430), which, when the support device (30, 130, 230, 330, 430) is in its removed state, assumes the locked state in both a usage orientation and in a reverse orientation rotated by 180° relative to the usage orientation.