Assisting handle and refrigerator having same
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator handles compromise the appearance and integrity of refrigerators by requiring narrower door bodies or perforations, leading to issues like cold leakage and frosting, and fail to enhance user comfort due to inadequate force distribution during door opening.
Innovation Solution
An assist handle with a resistance structure that moves along with the push rod, providing rotation resistance to ease door opening and reduce noise upon return, while maintaining the refrigerator's appearance and preventing cold leakage through a sealed guide groove system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the assist handle is mounted on a side surface of a lateral edge of the door body, then the door body can be opened with less force, but the door body needs to be narrower than the width of the cabinet, which affects the appearance of the refrigerator
Solution Approach 1:
The assist handle is mounted on the front surface of the door body rather than the lateral edge, changing the spatial dimension of installation. This allows the door body to maintain its full width for aesthetic purposes while still providing the assist handle functionality through a different mounting location that projects forward from the door surface.
2Ease of operation
If the handle is mounted on the front of the door body, then the door body can be opened with less force, but the door body needs to be perforated, which causes problems such as leakage of cold and frosting
Solution Approach 1:
A bellows structure is used to cover the guide groove and push rod assembly, creating a flexible seal that prevents cold air leakage and frosting. The bellows expands and contracts to accommodate the movement of the push rod while maintaining the seal, eliminating the need for perforations that would compromise thermal insulation.
3Ease of operation
If a traditional assist handle is used, then the door body can be opened with less force, but the handle bar returns with noise and lacks door-opening comfort enhancement
Solution Approach 1:
A resistance structure is installed in the guide groove to provide damping force during the return movement of the push rod. This resistance structure, combined with the bellows, cushions the return motion of the handle bar, reducing impact noise and providing a more comfortable door-opening experience by controlling the speed and force of the handle bar's movement.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention provides an assist handle and a refrigerator, the assist handle comprises: a handle bar disposed on the front side of the door body; a rotation shaft pivoted to the handle bar; a guide groove disposed in the door body and running through the door body; a push rod running through the guide groove, a distal end of the push rod being close to a cabinet of the refrigerator, and a proximal end of the push rod being close to a front end of the handle bar; and a resistance structure disposed on a side of the push rod and comprising a first tooth-like structure and a second tooth-like structure that mesh with each other, the first tooth-like structure being engaged with the push rod; wherein the handle bar rotates about the rotation shaft, the front end of the handle bar pushes against the proximal end of the push rod, the push rod slides in the guide groove, the distal end of the push rod pushes against the cabinet of the refrigerator, and the push rod drives the first tooth-like structure to move relative to the second tooth-like structure. The movement of the first tooth-like structure relative to the second tooth-like structure is used to form a rotation resistance, enhance the door-opening comfort, and reduce the noise caused by the return of the handle bar.