Cantilever Refrigerator Shelf Assembly Without Cross-Bars
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adjustable shelves in refrigerators with cross-bars consume valuable storage space, are visually unappealing, and increase the appliance's cost, as the cross-bars remain extended even when the movable plate is retracted, limiting storage size.
Innovation Solution
A shelf assembly design that eliminates the need for cross-bars by using cantilevered guides on the fixed shelf to support the movable shelf, allowing it to slide between extended and retracted positions without additional support structures, thus optimizing storage space and aesthetics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If cross-bars are used to support movable shelves, then structural stability is improved, but storage space is reduced and visual appeal deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes cross-bars from the shelf support structure entirely. Instead of using separate cross-bar components to support movable shelves, the design integrates support functionality into the guide structure itself, eliminating the harmful cross-bar elements that consumed storage space and degraded visual appearance while maintaining structural stability through the cantilevered guide design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the support function and guiding function into a single integrated guide structure. The guide structure performs multiple functions: it guides the movable shelf along its path and simultaneously provides structural support, eliminating the need for separate cross-bars and reducing overall structural complexity while improving storage space utilization.
2Stability of the object's composition
If cross-bars are used to support movable shelves, then structural stability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates cross-bars from the assembly, removing the need to manufacture, source, and install separate cross-bar components. This reduction in part count directly lowers manufacturing costs while the integrated guide structure maintains structural stability through its cantilevered design that supports movable shelves without additional cross-bar elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide structure is designed to perform multiple functions: guiding the movable shelf, supporting its weight, and providing structural stability. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated cross-bar components, reducing the total number of parts and associated manufacturing costs while maintaining all necessary structural functions.
3Reliability
If brackets extend beyond the fixed plate to support movable plates, then support reliability is improved, but storage space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a bracket design that extends horizontally beyond the fixed plate to a cantilevered guide structure that achieves support through vertical integration and moment resistance. The guide structure extends vertically and uses its structural configuration to provide support reliability without horizontal overhang, thereby maximizing storage space while maintaining support capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent removes the extended bracket structures that protruded beyond the fixed plate. Instead, the guide structure provides support through its integrated cantilevered design, eliminating the need for brackets to extend past the fixed plate and thereby freeing up valuable storage space in front of the shelves while maintaining support reliability through the guide's structural configuration.
Data Source
AI summary
Shelf assemblies, methods for assembling shelf assemblies, and refrigerator appliances are provided. A shelf assembly includes a fixed shelf, the fixed shelf including a pair of guides that each extend along a lateral direction. The shelf assembly further includes a movable shelf slidably mounted to the fixed shelf, the movable shelf including a pair of guides that each extend along the lateral direction. In an extended position, the pair of guides of the movable shelf cantilever from the pair of guides of the fixed shelf.