CN115897157A

CN115897157A - Washing machine's lock shock attenuation module and washing machine

Info

Publication number: CN115897157A
Application number: CN202111161664.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 王硕; 孙广彬; 王学东; 黄展; 姜燕妮
Original assignee: Qingdao Haier Washing Electric Appliance Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd
Current assignee: Qingdao Haier Washing Electric Appliance Co Ltd; Haier Smart Home Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-09-30
Filing date: 2021-09-30
Publication date: 2023-04-04

Abstract

The invention discloses a door lock damping module of a washing machine and the washing machine, wherein the door lock damping module comprises a limiting bracket, a limiting plate and a damping plate, wherein the limiting bracket is provided with a lock hole; the lock rod can extend into the lock hole or retract from the lock hole; and the damping piece is arranged on the inner peripheral wall of the lock hole and used for relieving the vibration between the lock rod and the limiting bracket. According to the invention, after the lock rod is inserted into the limiting hole on the limiting bracket, as the damping part is arranged on the inner peripheral wall of the lock hole, when the washing machine generates vibration in washing operation, the vibration of the lock rod can be attached to the damping part, so that the vibration between the lock rod and the lock hole of the limiting bracket can be slowed down, the generation of noise is avoided, the lock rod is prevented from damaging the lock hole of the limiting bracket, and the structure is simple, the cost is low, and the damping effect is good.

Description

Washing machine's lock shock attenuation module and washing machine

Technical Field

The invention belongs to the field of washing machines, and particularly relates to a door lock damping module of a washing machine and the washing machine.

Background

In the prior art, for a user who is more suitable for the pulsator washing machine, the user is limited by the top-opening mode of the pulsator washing machine, the space above the pulsator washing machine cannot be utilized, or the two washing machines cannot be stacked up and down to save space, and in addition, the top-opening mode of the pulsator washing machine also has certain height requirements on the placement space.

In order to save space of the washing machine, the drawer pulsator washing machine is designed, the pulsator washing unit is arranged in one drawer, and the drawer is fixed in a box body of the washing machine through a sliding rail. When the drawer is pulled out from the box body, the clothes can be taken and put, and after the drawer is pushed into the box body, the pulsator washing unit can execute washing operation.

Before the washing operation of the washing machine, in order to prevent the washing unit from being separated from the frame due to the vibration of the washing machine, locking structures such as mutually matched lock bars, lock holes and the like are required to be arranged between the drawer and the box body. When the locking lever inserts in the lockhole, nevertheless because locking lever and lockhole all belong to rigid structure, the two collides each other because washing machine vibrations, leads to having the noise to produce, damages locking structure such as lockhole, locking lever easily, leads to the drawer to deviate from the box, influences user experience.

The present invention has been made in view of this situation.

Disclosure of Invention

The technical problem to be solved by the invention is to overcome the defects of the prior art, and the invention aims to provide a door lock damping module of a washing machine, which can buffer the collision between a lock rod and the inner peripheral wall of a lock hole of a limiting bracket, avoid the generation of noise and prevent the lock rod from damaging the lock hole.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine.

In order to solve the technical problems, the invention adopts the technical scheme that: there is provided a door lock shock-absorbing module of a washing machine, comprising,

the limiting bracket is provided with a locking hole;

the lock rod can extend into the lock hole or retract from the lock hole;

and the damping piece is arranged on the inner peripheral wall of the lock hole and used for relieving the vibration between the lock rod and the limiting bracket.

According to the invention, after the lock rod of the washing machine is inserted into the limiting hole on the limiting bracket, the movement of the drawer in the push-pull direction is limited, the drawer cannot be pulled out, and the drawer of the washing machine cannot be accidentally pulled out in the operation process, so that the washing machine is damaged or a user is accidentally injured; simultaneously after the locking lever inserts spacing hole on the spacing support, because be equipped with the damper on the lockhole internal perisporium, when washing machine washing operation produced vibrations, the locking lever vibrations can laminate with the damper, can slow down the vibrations between the lockhole of locking lever and spacing support, avoids producing the noise, prevents that the lockhole of locking lever destruction spacing support, simple structure, with low costs, shock attenuation are effectual.

Furthermore, the limiting bracket comprises a limiting block, and a lock hole is formed in one side wall of the limiting block;

the shock-absorbing piece is convexly arranged on the inner peripheral wall of the lock hole and can be arranged opposite to the outer peripheral wall of the lock rod.

Furthermore, an assembly hole is formed in the side wall, adjacent to the side wall with the lock hole, of the limiting block, and the assembly hole is communicated with the inner peripheral wall of the lock hole;

the shock-absorbing piece is installed in the assembly hole, and one end inwards protrudes from the inner peripheral wall of the lock hole.

Furthermore, the pilot hole sets up the stopper is close to on the lateral wall of lockhole, the pilot hole is the reducing hole, the internal diameter of pilot hole reduces from the outside to the inside of lockhole.

Furthermore, the lock hole penetrates from one side wall of the limiting block to the other side wall of the limiting block;

the lockhole is located be equipped with annular arch on the opposite side of stopper, outwards bulge in another lateral wall of stopper.

Furthermore, the damping piece is a damping pad and comprises a first section and a second section which are sequentially connected along the axial direction of the assembly hole, and the outer diameter of the first section is larger than that of the second section;

the first section abuts against the assembly hole, and the second section is arranged to protrude inwards from the inner peripheral wall of the lock hole.

Furthermore, the limiting block is also provided with a mounting seat which is positioned on one side of the lock hole and extends from one side wall of the limiting block to the other side wall opposite to the side wall;

the mounting seat is provided with a mounting hole which is arranged along the axial direction of the lock hole and penetrates through the limiting block and is used for mounting the limiting bracket on the washing machine;

preferably, the limiting block is provided with a cavity, and the cavity is arranged on the other side wall of the limiting block and located between the mounting seat and the edge of the other side wall of the limiting block.

The invention also provides a washing machine which is provided with any door lock damping module.

The drawer is pushed into the box body or pulled out of the box body through the opening;

furthermore, the lock rod is arranged on the drawer and stretches out and draws back inside and outside along the direction perpendicular to the push-pull direction of the drawer, and the limiting support is arranged on the box body on one side of the push-pull direction of the drawer.

Furthermore, a frame is arranged in the box body, and comprises a left front vertical beam and a right front vertical beam which respectively form a left side frame and a right side frame of the opening;

the limiting bracket is arranged on the opposite side of the left front vertical beam and/or the right front vertical beam of the frame;

the opposite sides of the left front vertical beam and/or the right front vertical beam are provided with mounting openings and convex mounting bases, and the mounting bases are positioned on one sides of the mounting openings;

and flanges bent towards opposite sides are arranged on the opening edges of the mounting opening and the adjacent side of the mounting base.

After the technical scheme is adopted, compared with the prior art, the invention has the following beneficial effects.

(1) According to the invention, after the lock rod of the washing machine is inserted into the limiting hole on the limiting bracket, the movement of the drawer in the push-pull direction is limited, the drawer cannot be pulled out, and the drawer of the washing machine cannot be accidentally pulled out in the operation process, so that the washing machine is damaged or a user is accidentally injured; simultaneously after the locking lever inserts spacing hole on the spacing support, because be equipped with the damper on the lockhole internal perisporium, when washing machine washing operation produced vibrations, the locking lever vibrations can laminate with the damper, can slow down the vibrations between the lockhole of locking lever and spacing support, avoids producing the noise, prevents that the lockhole of locking lever destruction spacing support, simple structure, with low costs, shock attenuation are effectual.

(2) According to the invention, the side wall of the limiting block is provided with the assembling hole communicated with the lock hole, so that the damping piece can be arranged in the assembling hole, one end of the damping piece protrudes out of the inner peripheral wall of the lock hole, the damping effect between the lock hole and the lock rod can be realized, the damping piece can be prevented from moving in the lock hole, and the damping piece can be conveniently arranged and fixed in the lock hole.

The following describes embodiments of the present invention in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the invention without limiting the invention to the right. It is obvious that the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments and that for a person skilled in the art, other drawings can also be derived from them without inventive effort. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a washing machine of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the washing machine cabinet of FIG. 1 according to the present invention at A;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a washing machine frame according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the lock lever is retracted from the locking hole according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where a lock lever of the present invention is inserted into a lock hole;

fig. 6 is a schematic view of a spacing bracket of the present invention.

In the figure: 1. a limiting bracket; 11. a limiting block; 12. a lock hole; 13. an assembly hole; 131. a first bore section; 132. a second bore section; 14. a mounting seat; 15. mounting holes; 16. a concave cavity; 17. an annular projection; 18. reinforcing ribs; 2. a shock absorbing member; 21. a first stage; 22. a second section; 3. a box body; 31. an opening; 32. a frame; 321. a left front vertical beam; 322. a right front upright beam; 323. mounting a base; 324. an installation port; 325. flanging; 4. a drawer; 41. a locking bar.

It should be noted that the drawings and the description are not intended to limit the scope of the inventive concept in any way, but to illustrate it by a person skilled in the art with reference to specific embodiments.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention, and the following embodiments are used for illustrating the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate orientations or positional relationships based on the orientations or positional relationships shown in the drawings, and are only for convenience of description and simplicity of description, but do not indicate or imply that the device or element being referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and thus, should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" are to be construed broadly, e.g., as meaning either a fixed connection, a removable connection, or an integral connection; can be mechanically or electrically connected; may be directly connected or indirectly connected through an intermediate. The specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood in specific cases to those skilled in the art.

As shown in fig. 1 to 6, the door lock damping module of a washing machine according to the present invention includes a limit bracket 1, a locking lever 41 and a damping member 2.

The limiting bracket 1 is used for being installed on the washing machine. The limit bracket 1 is provided with a lock hole 12 for limiting a lock rod 41 of the washing machine. The lock rod 41 can extend into the lock hole 12 or retract from the lock hole 12, and is used for locking the limiting bracket 1. The shock absorbing part 2 is arranged on the inner peripheral wall of the lock hole 12 and used for reducing the shock between the lock rod 41 and the limiting bracket 1.

The door lock damping module may be used for a drawer-4 type laundry treating apparatus.

In the invention, after the lock rod 41 of the washing machine is inserted into the limiting hole on the limiting bracket 1, the movement of the drawer 4 in the push-pull direction is limited, the drawer 4 can not be pulled out, and the drawer 4 of the washing machine can be ensured not to be accidentally pulled out in the running process, so that the washing machine is damaged or a user is accidentally injured; meanwhile, after the lock rod 41 is inserted into the limiting hole in the limiting support 1, since the damping piece 2 is arranged on the inner peripheral wall of the lock hole 12, when the washing operation of the washing machine generates vibration, the vibration of the lock rod 41 can be attached to the damping piece 2, so that the vibration between the lock rod 41 and the lock hole 12 of the limiting support 1 can be reduced, the noise is avoided, and the lock rod 41 is prevented from damaging the lock hole 12 of the limiting support 1.

The limiting bracket 1 comprises a limiting block 11, and a locking hole 12 is formed in one side wall of the limiting block 11. The shock absorbing part 2 is convexly arranged on the inner peripheral wall of the lock hole 12 and can be arranged opposite to the outer peripheral wall of the lock rod 41, and the lock rod 41 is not influenced to extend into the lock hole 12 or extend out of the lock hole 12.

In the invention, the limiting bracket 1 is designed into the limiting block 11, so that the limiting bracket 1 can be conveniently installed. The damper 2 is provided to protrude from the inner peripheral wall of the lock hole 12, and can further damp vibrations between the peripheral wall of the lock lever 41 and the inner peripheral wall of the lock hole 12.

Preferably, the damper 2 slightly protrudes from the inner peripheral wall of the locking hole 12.

As shown in fig. 3 to 5, an assembly hole 13 is provided on a side wall of the stopper 11 adjacent to a side wall having the locking hole 12, and the assembly hole 13 is communicated with an inner peripheral wall of the locking hole 12. The damper 2 is installed in the fitting hole 13 with one end thereof being disposed to protrude inward from the inner circumferential wall of the locking hole 12.

According to the invention, the assembly hole 13 communicated with the lock hole 12 is formed in the side wall of the limiting block 11, so that the damping piece 2 can be installed in the assembly hole 13, one end of the damping piece 2 protrudes out of the inner peripheral wall of the lock hole 12, the damping effect between the lock hole 12 and the lock rod 41 can be realized, the damping piece 2 can be prevented from moving in the lock hole 12, and the damping piece 2 can be conveniently installed and fixed in the lock hole 12.

Preferably, the axis of the fitting hole 13 is perpendicular to the axis of the locking hole 12.

Further, the assembly hole 13 is disposed on a side wall of the limiting block 11 close to the locking hole 12, the assembly hole 13 is a diameter-variable hole, and an inner diameter of the assembly hole 13 decreases from an outside to an inside of the locking hole 12.

Preferably, the assembly hole 13 includes a first hole section 131 and a second hole section 132 extending from outside to inside along the axis.

The first bore section 131 has a larger bore diameter than the second bore section 132. The first hole section 131 and the second hole section 132 are through holes.

More preferably, the cross section of the fitting hole 13 is rectangular or rounded rectangular. The section of the lock hole 12 is circular.

Further, the lock hole 12 penetrates from one side wall of the stopper 11 to the other side wall of the stopper 11. The lock hole 12 is located on the other side of the limiting block 11 and is provided with an annular protrusion 17 protruding outwards from the other side wall of the limiting block 11.

According to the invention, one side wall of the limiting block 11 is communicated with the other side wall of the limiting block 11 through the locking hole 12, and the annular bulge 17 is arranged on the other side of the locking hole 12, which is positioned on the limiting block 11, so that the limiting bracket 1 can be conveniently fixed by utilizing the annular bulge 17, and the stability of the installation position of the locking hole 12 is improved.

The damping piece 2 is a damping pad and comprises a first section 21 and a second section 22 which are sequentially connected along the axial direction of the assembly hole 13. The first section 21 has an outer diameter greater than the outer diameter of the second section 22. The first section 21 abuts against the assembly hole 13, and the second section 22 protrudes inward from the inner peripheral wall of the lock hole 12. The first section 21 protrudes outwards from the side wall of the limiting block 11.

The shape of shock pad with the shape phase-match of pilot hole 13, the shock pad is the reducing post.

The first section 21 of the cushion is mounted in the first bore section 131. The first section 21 and the second section 22 are rectangular solids having diameters that do not pass through.

One end of the first segment 21 is connected to one end of the second segment 22. One end of the first segment 21 abuts against the joint of the first hole segment 131 and the second hole segment 132, and the other end protrudes out of the sidewall of the limiting block 11. The second section 22 of the shock absorbing pad is installed in the second hole section 132, and the other end of the second section 22 protrudes from the inner peripheral wall of the locking hole 12.

As shown in fig. 6, the limiting block 11 further has a mounting seat 14 thereon. The mounting seat 14 is located at one side of the locking hole 12 and extends from one side wall of the limiting block 11 to the other side wall opposite to the other side wall. The mounting seat 14 is provided with a mounting hole 15, and the mounting hole 15 penetrates through the limiting block 11 along the axial direction of the lock hole 12 and is used for mounting the limiting bracket 1 on the washing machine.

According to the invention, the mounting seat 14 is arranged on the limiting bracket 1, so that the limiting bracket 1 can be mounted on the washing machine to play a role in fixing, and the limiting bracket 1 is prevented from being shaken off by the vibration of the washing machine. Meanwhile, the annular protrusion 17 is arranged on the back side of the limiting block 11, so that the limiting block and the mounting seat 14 can play a role in fixing the limiting support 1, and the mounting stability of the limiting support 1 is improved.

The mounting seat 14 is located a recessed groove that is formed in a side wall of the limiting block 11, and the mounting hole 15 is arranged at the bottom of the groove. The spacing bracket 1 is mounted on the washing machine by screws through the mounting holes 15. The screw head of the screw is positioned in the groove.

Preferably, a cavity 16 is formed in the limiting block 11, and is disposed on the other side wall of the limiting block 11 and located between the mounting seat 14 and the edge of the other side wall of the limiting block 11.

The assembly holes 13 and the mounting seats 14 are respectively and correspondingly arranged on two opposite sides of the lock hole 12.

The cavity 16 is provided with a reinforcing rib 18.

As shown in fig. 1 to 5, the present invention also provides a washing machine having any one of the door lock damping modules described above. Preferably, the washing machine is a drawer 4 type washing machine.

The washing machine includes a drawer 4 and a cabinet 3. An opening 31 is formed in one side wall of the box 3, and the drawer 4 is pushed into the box 3 or pulled out of the box 3 through the opening 31. The limit bracket 1 can be arranged on a box body 3 of the washing machine, and the lock rod 41 can be telescopically arranged on a drawer 4 which can be pushed and pulled by the washing machine. The limit bracket 1 may be arranged on a drawer 4 of the washing machine, and the lock rod 41 may be arranged on the box 3 of the washing machine in a retractable manner. The extension direction of the lock rod 41 is perpendicular to the push-pull direction of the drawer 4.

Preferably, the locking rod 41 is disposed on the drawer 4, and extends inward and outward in a direction perpendicular to the pushing and pulling direction of the drawer 4, that is, extends to the left and/or right of the drawer 4. The limiting bracket 1 is arranged on the box body 3 on one side of the push-pull direction of the drawer 4.

A washing unit is provided in the drawer 4 for washing laundry. The locking lever 41 has sufficient rigidity to withstand vibration and shearing force generated when the drawer 4 washing machine operates. The drawer 4 includes a front panel and a decorative panel. The decorative plate is arranged on the front side of the front panel. The front panel is used to close off the opening 31. The lock rod 41 can penetrate through the side wall of the drawer 4 at the rear side of the front panel and extend into the lock hole 12 on the inner frame 32 of the opening 31.

According to the washing machine, the door lock damping module is arranged, so that the vibration generated when the washing unit of the washing machine runs can be prevented, the lock rod 41 on the drawer 4 is separated from the box body 3 or the lock rod 41 collides to damage the lock hole 12, and the lock rod 41 collides with the lock hole 12 to generate noise.

A frame 32 is provided in the case 3. The frame 32 includes a left front upright beam 321 and a right front upright beam 322, and the left front upright beam 321 and the right front upright beam 322 extend from bottom to top, respectively.

The left front upright beam 321 and the right front upright beam 322 respectively correspond to a left side frame and a right side frame of the opening 31. The spacing bracket 1 is disposed on opposite sides of the left front upright beam 321 and/or the right front upright beam 322 of the frame 32.

The shock pad is abutted between the frame 32 and the assembly hole 13, and can reduce the collision between the limiting bracket 1 and the frame 32.

Further, a mounting opening 324 and a protruding mounting base 323 are arranged on opposite sides of the left front upright beam 321 and/or the right front upright beam 322, and the mounting base 323 is located on one side of the mounting opening 324. The edge of the mounting opening 324 adjacent to the mounting base 323 is provided with a flange 325 bent to the opposite side.

The mounting base 14 is fixed to a mounting base 323 on the frame 32. The mounting base 323 is located in the cavity 16 of the spacing bracket 1. One end of the annular protrusion 17 is mounted in the mounting opening 324 of the frame 32, and the flange 325 abuts against a side wall of the annular protrusion 17 close to the mounting seat 14. One end of the annular protrusion 17 protrudes slightly outward to be flush with the mounting opening 324, or the mounting opening 324.

The left front upright beam 321 and the right front upright beam 322 are both upright beams with U-shaped cross sections. The openings 31 of the U-shaped cross sections of the left front vertical beam 321 and the right front vertical beam 322 are arranged in a left-right opposite mode. The limiting bracket 1 is arranged in the U shape of the left front upright beam 321 and/or the right front upright beam 322.

In particular, the U-shaped section vertical beam comprises a first plate, a second plate and a third plate. The first plate and the second plate are arranged in a front-back opposite mode, and the third plate is connected between one ends of the first plate and the second plate. The front side wall is the front side wall of the first plate, and the rear side wall is the rear side wall of the second plate.

The mounting base 323 and the mounting opening 324 are provided on a third plate inside the frame 32. The shock-absorbing pad abuts between the first plate and the fitting hole 13.

Preferably, two sides of the limiting block 11 are respectively abutted against the inner sides of the first plate and the second plate. The thickness of the stopper 11 in the axial direction of the lock hole 12 does not exceed the width of the first plate.

The extending end of the lock rod 41 is provided with a cutting angle transition, and the cutting angle of one side of the lock rod 41 close to the assembly hole 13 is smaller than the cutting angle of one side of the lock rod 41 far away from the assembly hole 13.

Preferably, the front end of the case 3 is a through opening 31. The box body 3 further comprises a box wall located outside the frame 32 and connected to the frame 32.

The above embodiments are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and not intended to limit the present invention in any way, and although the present invention has been disclosed by the preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and those skilled in the art can make various changes and modifications to the equivalent embodiments by using the technical contents disclosed above without departing from the technical scope of the present invention, and the embodiments in the above embodiments can be further combined or replaced, but any simple modification, equivalent change and modification made to the above embodiments according to the technical spirit of the present invention still fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A washing machine's lock shock attenuation module which characterized in that: comprises the steps of (a) preparing a substrate,

the limiting bracket is provided with a locking hole;

the lock rod can extend into the lock hole or retract from the lock hole;

2. The door lock damping module of a washing machine according to claim 1, wherein:

the limiting bracket comprises a limiting block, and a locking hole is formed in one side wall of the limiting block;

the shock-absorbing part is arranged on the inner peripheral wall of the lock hole in a protruding mode and can be arranged opposite to the outer peripheral wall of the lock rod.

3. The door lock damping module of a washing machine according to claim 2, wherein:

the side wall of the limiting block, which is adjacent to the side wall with the lock hole, is provided with an assembly hole, and the assembly hole is communicated with the inner peripheral wall of the lock hole;

the shock-absorbing piece is installed in the assembly hole, and one end inwards protrudes out of the inner peripheral wall of the lock hole.

4. A door lock damping module of a washing machine according to claim 3, wherein: the pilot hole sets up the stopper is close to on the lateral wall of lockhole, the pilot hole is the reducing hole, the internal diameter of pilot hole from outside to the inside of lockhole reduces.

5. The door lock damping module of a washing machine according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein:

the lock hole penetrates from one side wall of the limiting block to the other side wall of the limiting block;

the lock hole is positioned on the other side of the limiting block and is provided with an annular bulge which protrudes outwards from the other side wall of the limiting block.

6. The door lock damping module of a washing machine according to any one of claims 3 to 4, wherein:

the shock absorption piece is a shock absorption pad and comprises a first section and a second section which are sequentially connected along the axial direction of the assembly hole, and the outer diameter of the first section is larger than that of the second section;

7. The door lock damping module of a washing machine according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein:

the limiting block is also provided with a mounting seat which is positioned on one side of the lock hole and extends from one side wall of the limiting block to the other side wall opposite to the side wall;

8. A washing machine characterized by: having a door lock damping module according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A washing machine as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that: comprises a drawer and a drawer, wherein the drawer is provided with a drawer,

the lock rod is arranged on the drawer and stretches out and draws back inside and outside along the direction vertical to the push-pull direction of the drawer, and the limiting support is arranged on the box body on one side of the push-pull direction of the drawer.

10. A washing machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein: a frame is arranged in the box body and comprises a left front vertical beam and a right front vertical beam which respectively form a left side frame and a right side frame of the opening;

and a flanging bent towards the opposite side is arranged on the opening edge of one side of the mounting opening adjacent to the mounting base.