A refrigerator appliance

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing back bar refrigerators face challenges with energy consumption due to always-on lighting and lack of thermal insulation in transparent doors, while solid doors compromise visual access to contents.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerator appliance with a solid or transparent door featuring a projection surface angled inwardly, where a light source projects light onto the surface to provide illumination and visual information, such as content details, without increasing energy consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a transparent window is used in the door, then visual access to contents is improved, but thermal insulation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual access to contentsVSAvoidthermal insulation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The door is segmented into multiple zones: transparent window zones for visual access and solid door zones for thermal insulation. This allows different parts of the door to serve different functions - the transparent portions provide viewing capability while the solid portions maintain thermal performance, resolving the contradiction between visibility and insulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the door have different properties - transparent areas where visual access is needed and opaque insulating areas where thermal performance is prioritized. This local differentiation allows the door to optimize both visual access and thermal insulation simultaneously in different locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of energy

If a solid door is used, then thermal insulation is improved, but visual access to contents deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal insulationVSAvoidvisual access to contents

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The door is segmented into multiple zones: transparent window zones for visual access and solid door zones for thermal insulation. This allows different parts of the door to serve different functions - the transparent portions provide viewing capability while the solid portions maintain thermal performance, resolving the contradiction between visibility and insulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the door have different properties - transparent areas where visual access is needed and opaque insulating areas where thermal performance is prioritized. This local differentiation allows the door to optimize both visual access and thermal insulation simultaneously in different locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of information

If a light source is always on inside the refrigerator, then visualisation of contents is improved, but energy consumption deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisualisation of contentsVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The light source operates periodically rather than continuously - it is activated only when the door is opened or when visualisation is required, and turned off when not needed. This periodic operation maintains the ability to visualise contents when necessary while dramatically reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The light source is extracted from the interior of the refrigerator and positioned externally on the door. This allows the light to illuminate contents through the transparent window without the heat-generating bulb being inside the cooled space, reducing the thermal load and energy required for cooling.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 achieves efficient energy use by dissipating heat generated by the light source outside the cabinet, while providing visual access to contents through projected information, enhancing both operational efficiency and consumer experience.

Implementation Method 1

a light source arranged to project light onto the projection surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Implementation Method 2

the door comprises a transparent window, for example, a glass window. Advantageously, the light source may illuminate the contents of the appliance through the transparent window so that any heat generated by the light source is dissipated outside of the cabinet

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight transmission: Refraction

Implementation Method 3

the door is solid. Advantageously, a solid door provides good thermal insulation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP4495518A1A refrigerator appliance

Publication Date: 2025.01.22 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC

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AI summary

The present invention provides a refrigerator appliance (100, 300) comprising a cuboid frame (108, 312), a cabinet (101, 301) and a door (102, 302), wherein the door comprises a projection surface (104, 304) that is angled inwardly with respect to the cuboid frame, and wherein the refrigerator further comprises a light source (306) arranged to project light onto the projection surface.