Conductive Shelf Brackets for Under-Shelf Refrigerator Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerator shelves often lack adequate illumination, as existing lighting solutions are mounted high and do not effectively illuminate the areas beneath the shelves, making it difficult for users to see items stored on these shelves.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of shelf brackets that conduct electricity to refrigerator shelves, allowing for the integration of lighting units beneath the shelves, which are powered by electrically conductive materials and coatings applied to specific areas of the brackets and rails, ensuring efficient electricity transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If lighting is mounted high in the refrigerator to provide general illumination, then the overall illumination coverage is improved, but the illumination intensity beneath the shelves deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is segmented into multiple independent lighting units, each mounted on individual shelf brackets at different locations within the refrigerator. This segmentation allows each lighting unit to illuminate its specific local area beneath the shelves, collectively providing comprehensive illumination coverage throughout the refrigerator space.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting units are positioned in a new spatial dimension by mounting them on shelf brackets that extend into the refrigerator compartment, placing the light sources closer to the shelves and directly above the areas needing illumination. This dimensional repositioning enables effective lighting beneath the shelves while maintaining overall illumination coverage.
2Reliability
If electrically conductive materials are applied to shelf brackets to conduct electricity, then the electricity conduction capability is improved, but the corrosion resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Electrically conductive materials are applied selectively only to specific contact areas on the shelf brackets where electrical connection is required, rather than coating the entire bracket. This localized application maintains electricity conduction capability at the contact points while preserving the corrosion resistance of the remaining bracket surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The shelf brackets utilize composite material construction, combining a base material (such as plastic or metal) with applied electrically conductive coatings or materials at specific interfaces. This composite approach enables the bracket to simultaneously achieve electrical conduction where needed and maintain corrosion resistance in other areas.
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
This solution provides improved illumination beneath the shelves, enhancing visibility and usability by ensuring that the areas beneath the shelves are adequately lit, addressing the inadequacies of prior-art lighting configurations.
Implementation Method 1
an end configured to engage a support rail, the end having a first area to conduct electricity from the support rail to the shelf bracket, an arm extending from the end to support the shelf, the arm comprising a second area to conduct electricity from the shelf bracket to the shelf
Data Source
AI summary
Shelf brackets to conduct electricity to refrigerator shelves are disclosed. An example shelf bracket includes an end configured to engage a support rail, the end having a first area to conduct electricity from the support rail to the shelf bracket, an arm extending from the end to support the shelf, the arm comprising a second area to conduct electricity from the shelf bracket to the shelf, a non-electrically conductive coating applied to substantially all of the shelf bracket except in the first and second areas, a first electrically conductive material applied to at least a portion of the first area, and a second electrically conductive material applied to at least a portion of the second area, wherein the shelf bracket is formed from a third electrically conductive material, the third electrically conductive material to conduct electricity between the first and second areas.