Integrally formed thread lock retention feature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry appliances lack an efficient and secure method to integrate and retain electrical components, such as capacitors, within the appliance substrate, leading to potential instability and increased risk of electrical shock or short circuits.
Innovation Solution
A thread-lock receiver system is integrally formed within the appliance substrate, featuring retaining flanges coupled via living hinges that outwardly bias and engage a threaded stud upon rotation, providing a secure and stable attachment mechanism for electrical components without internal recesses or lifters in the molding process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional molding processes with internal recesses and lifters are used to attach electrical components, then the attachment mechanism can be formed, but the device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the attachment mechanism directly into the substrate by integrally forming retaining flanges with thread protrusions as part of the substrate structure itself, eliminating the need for separate attachment components and complex molding processes with internal recesses and lifters
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of forming internal recesses in the substrate to receive electrical components, the patent inverts the approach by creating external retaining flanges with thread protrusions that engage with threaded studs on the electrical components, simplifying the molding process to a basic two-piece mold without lifters
2Reliability
If electrical components are loosely retained in the substrate, then assembly is simple, but reliability and safety decrease due to potential instability and electrical shock risk
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining flanges are segmented with living hinges that allow independent movement and biasing, enabling the flanges to flex outward during assembly and then lock securely when the electrical component is inserted and rotated into place
Solution Approach 2:
The living hinges provide dynamic movement to the retaining flanges, allowing them to transition from a relaxed outward-biased state during assembly to a locked engaged state during operation, ensuring secure retention while maintaining assembly simplicity
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 thread-lock receiver system securely attaches electrical components during manufacturing, transport, and use, while simplifying the molding process by eliminating the need for lifters, thus enhancing safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The retaining flange is coupled to the basement housing via a living hinge. At least one retaining flange is outwardly biased away from a body of the capacitor when the capacitor is placed in an inserted position.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A laundry appliance (18) includes a basement housing (20) comprising a capacitor receiver (10). A capacitor (16) is disposed within the capacitor receiver (10) to define a secured position (24). The capacitor receiver (10) includes at least one retaining flange (26) that is coupled to the basement housing (20) via a living hinge (28). At least one retaining flange (26) is outwardly biased away from a body (32) of the capacitor (16) when the capacitor (16) is placed in an inserted position (34). At least one retaining flange (26) includes a thread-engaging surface (36) that operates to the secured position (24) upon rotation of the capacitor (16) in the inserted position (34).