Door assembly and storage cabinet

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage cabinet door handles protrude, affecting the appearance and functionality, and existing solutions fail to maintain door flatness and convenience.

Innovation Solution

A door assembly with a handle groove, a driving assembly, and a cover plate assembly that switches between exposing and shielding the groove based on detecting signals, ensuring the door remains flat and easy to open and close.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a handle protruding outward is provided on the door body, then the door is easy to open, but the appearance of the door body is affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease to open doorVSAvoidappearance of door body
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The handle plate is designed to be movable relative to the door body, transitioning between a first position (exposing the handle groove for opening) and a second position (shielding the handle groove for appearance). This dynamic configuration allows the door to switch between functional and aesthetic states, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and appearance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Shape

If a handle plate is provided on the side wall of the door body, then the front of the door body remains simple and flat, but a deboss for manual operation must be reserved on the door body, leading to poor integrity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveflatness of door frontVSAvoidintegrity of door body
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The handle plate integrates multiple functions: it serves as both a protective cover for the handle groove and an operational component for opening the door. By combining these functions into a single integrated structure, the door maintains integrity without requiring separate debosses, while preserving the flat appearance of the door front.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If the cover plate assembly is always in the exposing position, then the handle groove is always accessible, but the door body cannot maintain a flat and concise state

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility of handle grooveVSAvoidflatness and conciseness of door body
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The handle plate operates periodically, switching between exposing and shielding positions based on operational needs. During normal closed states, it remains in the shielding position to maintain appearance. When opening is required, it transitions to the exposing position, then returns to shielding position after use, creating a periodic cycle that balances accessibility and aesthetics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentEP4137659B1Door assembly and storage cabinet
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 HEFEI MIDEA REFRIGERATOR CO LTD
  • EP4137659B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4137659B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4137659B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present application relates to the technical field of storage, and provides a door assembly and a storage cabinet. The door assembly comprises a door body in which a handle groove is formed; a driving assembly; a support hinged to the door body, a cover plate assembly being mounted on the support; and a first detection member, the first detection member being used for generating a first detection signal. The driving assembly is suitable for driving, on the basis of the first detection signal, the support to switch between a pressing state and a reset state. In the pressing state, the cover plate assembly avoids the handle groove; and in the reset state, the cover plate assembly shields the handle groove. The door assembly does not need to be provided with a handle on the door body, and likewise does not need to be provided with a handle plate on the surface of the door body, and the flatness of the front surface of the door body can be ensured. When the first detection member generates, on the basis of the action of the door body, the first detection signal for controlling the driving assembly, the driving assembly can, on the basis of the first detection signal, drive the cover plate assembly to switch between the reset state and the pressing state, thereby ensuring the flatness of the door body and the convenience of opening and closing the door body