Twisted Door Latch Design for Enhanced Strength and Easy Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door latches for household appliances lack refined latching efficiency and easy assembly capabilities, necessitating a solution that enhances mechanical strength and simplifies attachment and detachment processes.
Innovation Solution
A door latch with a twisted configuration of 90 degrees between the fixing and latching portions, made from a flexible sheet-type elastic body, featuring a hook-shaped latching element and a U-section for enhanced stability and elasticity, allowing for secure engagement and easy mounting/detaching using screws or other detachable techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a traditional straight or simple bent latch structure is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the mechanical strength and latching efficiency are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The latch bar is twisted by 90 degrees along its longitudinal axis, transforming a planar structure into a three-dimensional twisted configuration. This dimensional change increases the moment of inertia and distributes stress more effectively, thereby enhancing mechanical strength and latching efficiency without adding separate structural components
Solution Approach 2:
The latch bar incorporates curved and twisted geometries instead of straight lines, creating a spiral or helical configuration. This curvature increases the structural rigidity and load-bearing capacity while maintaining a compact, integrated form that does not significantly increase manufacturing complexity
2Reliability
If a rigid latch structure is used, then the latching efficiency is high, but the resilience and ability to absorb deformation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The latch bar's geometry is optimized by varying its cross-sectional dimensions, wall thickness, and twist angle along its length. These parameter changes create zones of different stiffness, allowing the latch to maintain high latching efficiency at the engagement point while having more flexible sections that can absorb deformation and stress
3Strength
If the latch structure is optimized for strength, then the latching efficiency is refined, but the ease of assembly is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The latch bar is designed as a one-piece integrated component where the fixing portion, twisted section, and latching portion are formed as a single continuous structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate parts and complex assembly operations, allowing the optimized strong structure to be installed simply by attaching the entire unit as one component
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 twisted configuration enhances mechanical strength and latching efficiency, reduces overstretching, and simplifies assembly, ensuring secure and efficient latching while allowing for easy attachment and detachment, thus addressing the limitations of existing latches.
Implementation Method 1
the base body being made as a one-piece part bent sheet-type elastic body... if a pushing force acting essentially perpendicular to the overall length-wise direction and perpendicular un upper surface of the latching element is applied to the latching portion, the latching portion is elastically deflected
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention is in particular directed to a door latch (2) for latching a front door (4) of a household appliance (1). The door latch (2) comprises a fixing portion (6) and a latching portion (7). The fixing portion (6) and latching portion (7) are twisted by about 90 degrees.