Thin-Wall Appliance Backing Part for Stable, Low-Torque Joints

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing household appliance door handles require high tightening torques for stable attachment, leading to potential wall deformation and marking issues due to screwing torque, necessitating the use of aids like silicone spray to reduce friction.

Innovation Solution

A household appliance design featuring a separately formed backing part with a thin-walled area and a threaded hole for screw connection, allowing for improved stability and reduced screwing torque without aids, achieved through pre-punching and embossing processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If high tightening torques are used to securely fasten the handle, then the stability of the screw connection is improved, but the wall may be deformed or marked

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of screw connectionVSAvoidwall deformation and marking
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A recess is created in the wall at the screw location before the screw is fastened. This preliminary action provides a pre-prepared receiving space for the screw head, allowing the screw to be secured without applying excessive torque to the wall surface, thus preventing deformation and marking while ensuring stable fastening

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The wall structure is modified locally at the screw location by creating a recess, while the rest of the wall maintains its original thickness and properties. This localized modification allows the screw head to be recessed without affecting the overall wall integrity, enabling secure fastening without wall deformation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of operation

If aids like silicone spray are used to reduce friction, then the screwing-in torque is reduced, but the production process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescrewing-in torqueVSAvoidproduction process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The recess is pre-formed in the wall during the manufacturing process, eliminating the need for lubrication aids like silicone spray during assembly. This preliminary structural preparation reduces friction and screwing-in torque naturally through the geometry of the recess, simplifying the production process by removing the need for additional lubrication steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The need for lubrication aids is extracted and eliminated from the production process. The recess design inherently reduces friction and screwing resistance, making external lubrication aids unnecessary and thereby simplifying the overall production process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If the wall thickness is reduced to facilitate screwing, then the screwing process is easier, but the stability of the wall is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescrewing easeVSAvoidwall stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The wall thickness is reduced only locally at the screw location by creating a recess, while the rest of the wall maintains its full thickness and structural integrity. This localized thinning facilitates easy screw insertion and head recessing without compromising the overall stability and strength of the wall

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3112783B1Household appliance with reduced wall thickness in a screwed joint area and method for producing a household appliance
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3112783B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3112783B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a household appliance (1) with a wall (8) and a backing part (14) formed separately from the wall (8), the backing part (14) being formed with a thin-walled area (9), the thin-walled area (9) facing a the thickness (d1) of the backing part (14) outside the thin-walled area (9) has a reduced wall thickness (d2), and a hole (10) with a thread (11) for screwing in a screw (12) to produce a screw connection between the wall ( 8) and the backing part (14) is formed in the thin wall area (9). The invention also relates to a method for producing a household appliance (1).