U-Shaped Appliance Door Latch for Reliable Low-Complexity Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing door locks for household appliances are complex in construction and manufacturing, making them difficult to produce and maintain while providing unreliable functionality, particularly in ensuring safe and easy access to the appliance's interior.
Innovation Solution
A simplified door lock design featuring a U-shaped latch with guiding pins and a spring device, where the latch moves in a plane parallel to the insertion direction, providing a reliable grip and stable arrest point for secure locking and easy operation, reducing the need for multiple striker devices and simplifying the manufacturing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing door lock designs are used, then locking functionality is provided, but construction complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The door lock is divided into distinct functional components: a latch assembly with guiding pins for controlled movement, a separate spring device for biasing, and a clamp mechanism for engagement. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies manufacturing while maintaining reliable locking functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts and eliminates unnecessary components from traditional door lock designs. By using a simplified latch mechanism with guiding pins instead of complex striker devices, the patent removes redundant parts while preserving the essential locking function, thereby reducing construction complexity.
2Reliability
If existing door lock designs are used, then locking is provided, but manufacturing ease deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The door lock components are designed as separate, modular units that can be manufactured independently using standard manufacturing processes. The latch, guiding pins, spring device, and clamp can be produced separately and assembled, significantly improving manufacturing ease while ensuring reliable locking through precise component design.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the latch movement path by constraining it to a plane parallel to the insertion direction. This parameter change simplifies the manufacturing tolerances and assembly requirements compared to three-dimensional movement paths, thereby improving ease of manufacture while maintaining functional reliability.
3Ease of operation
If access to appliance interior is easily allowed, then ease of operation improves, but security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism provides dynamic control over door access, allowing easy opening when unlocked while maintaining secure locking when engaged. The guided movement ensures that the latch either fully engages or fully disengages, eliminating intermediate states that could compromise security, thereby achieving both ease of operation and security.
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 solution results in a door lock that is easier to manufacture, more durable, and provides reliable functionality with a stable open position, enhancing safety and ease of use by allowing easy access to the appliance's interior while maintaining security.
Implementation Method 1
a spring device being attached between the frame and the latch and biasing the latch in the insertion direction
Data Source
AI summary
An appliance door lock includes a frame at a housing and a U-shaped latch for a clamp at a door, locking along an insertion direction. The latch, moving in a lock plane along insertion direction, includes a first guiding pin and linear first guide section parallel to insertion direction with a stop for the first guiding pin at a distal end along insertion direction, and a second guiding pin and second guide section curved >90° parallel to the lock plane and outwardly from insertion direction. A spring between frame and latch biases the latch in insertion direction. The latch includes a first tab gripping the clamp and second tab pushed by the clamp, by movement along insertion direction. The second guide section provides an arrest point for the second guiding pin at a petal end along insertion direction. A household laundry care or drying appliance includes the door lock.