Refrigerator Door Ice Maker Mounting for Space-Saving Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators with automatic ice making and crushing functions waste internal space and require the door to be opened to access ice cubes, making operation inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design with a mounting bracket on the door inner surface that integrates the ice making assembly closer to the door, reducing internal space usage and featuring a wiring groove for electrical components, allowing direct ice access without opening the door through an ice outlet passage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If ice making components are installed inside the refrigerator compartment, then ice making function is achieved, but refrigerator internal space is wasted
Solution Approach 1:
The ice making assembly is extracted from the refrigerator compartment and installed on the refrigerator door instead. The mounting bracket is fixed on the door inner surface, positioning the ice making components outside the main storage space, thereby recovering internal volume while maintaining the ice making capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice making function is relocated from the three-dimensional internal space to the two-dimensional door surface. By utilizing the door as a mounting platform, the system transforms the spatial arrangement, moving the ice making assembly to a different dimensional plane that does not encroach on storage volume.
2Adaptability or versatility
If ice cubes are stored in the refrigerator, then ice making function is completed, but door must be opened to access ice which is inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The ice outlet passage extracts the ice delivery function from the internal storage location and connects it directly to the door exterior. This allows ice to be dispensed outside the refrigerator compartment, enabling users to access ice without opening the door, thus improving operational convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice outlet passage acts as an intermediary channel between the ice making assembly and the external environment. It transports ice cubes from the enclosed making chamber to the outside world, facilitating direct access while maintaining the sealed refrigerator compartment.
3Volume of stationary object
If ice making assembly is moved closer to door, then space usage is optimized, but wiring management becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket is designed with multi-functionality: it not only secures the ice making assembly to the door but also incorporates integrated wiring channels and electrical component mounting areas. This consolidation handles both mechanical support and electrical routing in a single structure, managing complexity rather than increasing it.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting bracket merges the support structure, wiring pathway, and electrical component housing into a unified assembly. By combining these previously separate functions into one integrated element, the design simplifies the overall system architecture and reduces the number of discrete components that would otherwise complicate wiring management.
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
The design optimizes space usage within the refrigerator and enhances operational convenience by allowing ice access without opening the door, while maintaining efficient wiring management and stable assembly installation.
Implementation Method 1
an ice making assembly (3) mounted on the door inner surface (11)
Implementation Method 2
a thermal insulation layer (14) covering the outer surface of the door inner liner (11)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a
AI summary
A refrigerator having an ice making function, comprising a refrigerator door (1); an inner surface (11) of the refrigerator door (1) is fixedly provided thereon with a mounting support (2), and the mounting support (2) is configured to mount an ice making assembly (3). The mounting support (2) comprises a first surface (21) that faces the refrigerator door (1) and a second surface (22) that is opposite to the first surface (21); the second surface (22) comprises a mounting area (221) used for mounting the ice making assembly (3) as well as an edge area (222) provided at the periphery of the mounting area (221). A wiring groove (211) is formed at the edge area (222) of the mounting support (2), and the wiring groove (211) is recessed in the direction from the first surface (21) toward the second surface (22); and/or the wiring groove (211) is formed at a position corresponding to the edge of the mounting support (2) on the inner surface (11) of the refrigerator door (1), and the wiring groove (211) is recessed in the direction from the inner surface (11) of the refrigerator door (1) toward an outer surface of the refrigerator door (1). Thus, the ice making assembly (3) is disposed closer to the refrigerator door (1), further reducing the space which the ice making assembly (3) occupies as the interior of the refrigerator.