A refrigerator comprising a door shelf separator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional refrigerator door shelves require multiple adjustments or dead volumes when accommodating items of varying sizes, leading to instability and potential falling of containers during placement or door operation.

Innovation Solution

A door shelf with a telescopic design comprising a fixed and movable section, equipped with a separator that divides the shelf volume into adjustable partitions, allowing the width or length to be changed by sliding the front part relative to the rear part, ensuring flexible storage capacity and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed shelf is used, then the structure is simple, but the storage capacity cannot be adjusted for items of different sizes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacity adjustmentVSAvoidshelf structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shelf is designed with a movable section that can slide relative to a fixed section, allowing the shelf length to be dynamically adjusted. The separator also has a movable front part that can slide on the rear part to adjust the partition position. This dynamic structure enables the shelf to adapt to different storage needs while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If separators are added to prevent items from tumbling, then item stability is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveitem stabilityVSAvoidshelf structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The separator is divided into a rear part and a front part, where the rear part is attached to the fixed section and the front part can slide on the rear part. This segmentation allows the separator to adjust its position and length independently, providing stable partitions for items while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure that integrates with the telescopic shelf mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If the shelf length is increased to accommodate tall containers, then storage flexibility is improved, but the risk of items falling increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage flexibilityVSAvoiditem stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

As the shelf length is extended to accommodate taller containers, the separator's front part can slide on the rear part to adjust the partition position accordingly. This dynamic adjustment ensures that the separator remains effective at preventing items from tumbling or rolling, even when the shelf configuration changes, thus maintaining item stability while providing storage flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3548818B1A refrigerator comprising a door shelf separator

Publication Date: 2021.09.01 ARCELIK AS

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AI summary

The present invention relates a refrigerator comprising a body; at least one door (1) providing access into the body; a door shelf (2) having a fixed section (3) adjacent to the inner lining of the door (1) and a movable section (4) that is telescopically attached to the fixed section (3) and that by is moved on the fixed section (3) by the user or by means of an adjustment mechanism (11) in a horizontal direction that is perpendicular or parallel to the inner lining of the door (1) such that the width (W) or the length (L) of the door shelf (2) can be changed, and a separator (7) that divides the inner volume of the door shelf (2) wherein the items are loaded into two partitions (B1, B2).