Toilet Panel Magnetic Attachment with Mechanical Interlock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flush toilets with magnetic attachments for panel members face issues where excessive load during cleaning can cause the panel to fall off, leading to potential damage and instability.
Innovation Solution
The flush toilet design incorporates a panel member with a protruding part that is attracted and held by magnetic force to a reception part on the toilet body, featuring a protrusion part that extends upward and overlaps with the protruding part in a rear view, preventing the panel from falling off during cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If magnetic force is used to attach the panel member to the toilet body, then the panel member can be easily attached and held, but the panel member may fall off when the applied load exceeds the magnetic holding force
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system is divided into multiple independent magnetic holding parts distributed at different positions on the panel member. Each holding part provides localized magnetic attraction to the toilet body, creating multiple attachment points that collectively enhance both ease of attachment and resistance to detachment under load.
Solution Approach 2:
The panel member is designed with protruding parts that extend in the front-back direction, adding a dimensional element to the attachment system. These protruding parts engage with corresponding recesses on the toilet body, creating a mechanical interlock that works in conjunction with the magnetic force to prevent detachment during cleaning operations.
2Ease of operation
If the panel member is made detachable using magnetic force, then cleaning access is improved, but the panel member becomes vulnerable to falling off during maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The protruding parts on the panel member are designed to engage with recesses on the toilet body before cleaning operations begin. This pre-established mechanical connection acts as a safety buffer that prevents accidental detachment and damage during subsequent cleaning activities, even if magnetic force alone would be insufficient.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment system combines two different attachment mechanisms: magnetic attraction and mechanical interlocking via protruding parts. This composite approach leverages the advantages of both methods - the ease of magnetic attachment and the security of mechanical engagement - to create a system that is both accessible for cleaning and secure against damage.
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 effectively prevents the panel member from falling off, ensuring secure attachment and preventing damage, even under loads applied during cleaning, by using magnetic forces and strategic protrusion and reception part positioning.
Implementation Method 1
a holding part that causes the toilet body and the panel member to attract and hold to each other by using magnetic force
Data Source
AI summary
A flush toilet includes: a toilet body; a function unit arranged in a rear part of the toilet body; a panel member covering a side surface of the function unit and including a protruding part protruding toward the toilet body; and a holding part causing the toilet body and the panel member to hold to each other by magnetic force. The toilet body includes: a reception part arranged under the protruding part and receiving the protruding part in a state where the panel member is attached to the toilet body; and a protrusion part extending upward from the reception part. When the panel member is attached to the toilet body, the protrusion part is in a position where at least a part of the protrusion part is overlapped with the protruding part in a rear view when the toilet body is viewed from behind.