Articulated Freezer Drawer With Lift-Up Basket Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Bottom mount freezer refrigerators lack improved ergonomics and storage options, making it difficult for consumers to access freezer compartments efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a pair of fixed and movable slides with a support mechanism that includes guide plates and links to pivotally connect the food storage basket to the compartment door, allowing it to rotate upward when the door is opened, along with a latching mechanism to restrict rotation until the basket is clear, enhancing user access and storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional insulated door is used in bottom mount freezer refrigerators, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the ergonomics and storage options are poor, making it difficult for consumers to access freezer compartments efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by transforming the static conventional door into a dynamic articulated system. The door is divided into multiple segments (front wall, side walls, rear wall) that can move independently through sliding and pivoting mechanisms. This allows the door to transition from a closed flat configuration to an open configuration where the basket rotates upward, improving accessibility while managing complexity through functional decomposition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the conventional door into separate functional components: the front wall with basket, side walls with slides, and rear wall. This segmentation allows each component to perform specific functions (storage, sliding, pivoting) independently, enabling the complex articulated motion while maintaining manufacturability of individual parts.
2Ease of operation
If the food storage basket is mounted to move with the compartment door, then the basket is easily accessed when the door is opened, but the basket requires additional support mechanisms increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by combining the basket support function with the door structure itself. The links are integrated into the door assembly, and the guide plates are attached to the sliding mechanism. This merging eliminates the need for separate external support structures, reducing overall device complexity while achieving the desired basket accessibility and upward rotation functionality.
3Ease of operation
If the basket is allowed to rotate upward freely when the door is opened, then ergonomic access is improved, but uncontrolled rotation may cause operational safety issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback through the latching mechanism that responds to the door opening state. When the door is closed or partially open, the latch engages to restrict basket rotation. When the door is fully opened, the latch releases, allowing the basket to rotate upward to the ergonomic position. This feedback-based control ensures safe operation while maintaining ergonomic benefits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the latching mechanism as an intermediary between the door opening action and the basket rotation. The latch acts as a mediator that controls the transmission of motion, preventing premature rotation while allowing it at the appropriate moment. This intermediary ensures operational safety without compromising the ergonomic access improvement.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates generally to an articulating drawer for a bottom mount freezer refrigerator. The drawer can be slideably mounted in the freezer compartment on slides that can include pivots to pivotally mount a drawer front on the slides. A support mechanism can mount a food storage basket for movement with the drawer front and movable slides and can move the food storage basket upward when the door is moved to the open position. The support mechanism can include a pair of guide plates connected to the slides having a guide surface arranged to be engaged by a food storage basket guide surface follower and a pair of links each connected to the drawer front at one end and having a first link pivot at a distal end arranged to pivotally connect to a food storage basket pivot.