Appliance storage bin with an over-molded glass panel
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage components in refrigerators, typically made of plastic, lack a desirable appearance and are difficult to construct as spill-proof components using materials other than plastic, which are often expensive.
Innovation Solution
A storage bin design featuring a single piece of molded plastic with an insert-molded glass panel forming the front wall, creating a spill-proof interior volume while providing a high-end cosmetic appearance, where the glass panel is positioned within the molded plastic to prevent liquid from penetrating or flowing out.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If storage components are constructed of materials other than plastic (e.g., glass), then a desirable high-end appearance is achieved, but construction becomes prohibitively expensive and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The storage bin combines glass and plastic materials into a composite structure. The glass front panel is insert-molded within a plastic body, creating a unified component that leverages the aesthetic advantages of glass while maintaining the manufacturing ease and spill-proof properties of plastic. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by achieving high-end appearance without the prohibitive cost and difficulty of constructing entire storage components from non-plastic materials.
2Shape
If a glass panel is used for the front wall, then a pleasant high-end cosmetic appearance is provided, but liquid flow paths may be created that compromise spill-proof functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The glass front panel is nested within the plastic body through insert-molding. The plastic material surrounds and encapsulates the glass panel, creating a sealed interface that prevents liquid from penetrating through the joint between glass and plastic. This nesting structure allows the glass panel to provide aesthetic value while the plastic enclosure maintains the spill-proof barrier, resolving the contradiction between appearance and reliability.
3Reliability
If traditional plastic storage bins are used, then spill-proof functionality is achieved, but a utilitarian appearance without desirable aesthetics is the result
Solution Approach 1:
The storage bin applies different material qualities to different regions: the front panel uses glass for aesthetic purposes while the body uses plastic for functional spill-proof properties. This local differentiation allows each material to excel at its intended function - glass provides high-end cosmetic appearance where visibility and aesthetics matter, while plastic provides reliable spill-proof containment for the structural body. The insert-molding process integrates these different quality regions into a unified 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 design achieves a spill-proof and aesthetically pleasing storage bin that retains liquids effectively, offering a cost-effective solution without the need for expensive materials, while maintaining a pleasant appearance.
Implementation Method 1
The glass front panel is insert-molded within the single piece of molded plastic to form a front wall
Data Source
AI summary
A storage bin for an appliance includes a single piece of molded plastic and a glass front panel. The single piece of molded plastic forms one or more of a bottom wall, a rear wall, and a pair of side walls. The glass front panel is insert-molded within the single piece of molded plastic to form a front wall. The front wall, the bottom wall, the rear wall, and the pair of side walls collectively define an interior storage volume. The bottom wall is imperforate. A method for constructing a storage bin is also provided.