Bottle Rack Ballast Structure for Space-Saving Fridge Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigeration appliance shelves are not well-suited for storing bottles of different sizes as they either allow bottles to roll or require specific brackets, limiting their versatility and causing noise and potential scratches, while existing solutions either restrict the use for other types of goods or are not adaptable to various bottle sizes.
Innovation Solution
A bottle rack with a support structure featuring a plate with concavities and a narrow side, where a ballast body is integrated to concentrate mass near the narrow side, allowing it to be placed flat on a refrigeration appliance shelf or upright against a wall when not in use, maintaining minimal space and preserving usability for other goods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a flat glass plate is used as a refrigerated goods carrier, then the device can be simple and easy to manufacture, but bottles cannot be stored safely as they roll away and produce noise
Solution Approach 1:
The flat glass plate is segmented by adding raised edges that create separate storage zones. These edges divide the continuous flat surface into compartments that can individually secure bottles, preventing them from rolling across the entire plate while maintaining the overall simplicity of the carrier design.
Solution Approach 2:
The raised edges are strategically positioned at specific locations on the plate to create localized containment zones. This local modification provides the necessary bottle stabilization only where needed, while the rest of the plate remains flat and simple for manufacturing.
2Reliability
If brackets are added to hold bottles horizontally, then bottle storage stability is improved, but the device complexity increases and adaptability to different bottle sizes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The raised edges are designed with flexible positioning capabilities, allowing them to be adjusted to different heights and locations. This dynamic configuration enables the same carrier structure to adapt to various bottle diameters and lengths, providing stable storage for different bottle sizes without requiring multiple specialized carriers.
3Reliability
If channels are added to the refrigerated goods carrier for bottle storage, then bottle storage safety is improved, but the usability for other types of refrigerated goods is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The raised edges are designed to serve multiple functions: they create containment zones for bottles, can be adjusted or reconfigured for different product types, and maintain the overall flat surface needed for other refrigerated goods. This multi-functional design allows the same carrier to safely store bottles while remaining versatile for other uses.
4Reliability
If a bottle rack is placed flat on a shelf for use, then bottle storage is enabled, but space is occupied that could be used for other goods when the rack is not in use
Solution Approach 1:
The bottle rack is designed to be removable and can be positioned in two distinct orientations: flat on the shelf for bottle storage, or upright against the wall when not in use. This dimensional flexibility allows the rack to occupy minimal space during non-use periods while providing full bottle storage capability when needed.
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
Enables safe storage of bottles of various sizes without impairing the appliance's usability for other refrigerated goods, minimizing space usage and ensuring quick retrieval when needed, while preventing noise and scratches.
Implementation Method 1
a concentration of mass adjacent to the narrow side, i.e. a distance between the center of gravity of the bottle rack and the narrow side that is smaller than would be expected based on the outer shape of the bottle rack
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
A bottle storage element for a refrigeration appliance, especially a domestic refrigeration appliance, comprises at least one plate (7) with opposite main surfaces, at least one (8) of which has a concave portion (11), and with at least one narrow end (9) connecting the main surfaces on which narrow end the mass of the bottle rack (2) is concentrated.