Door-Mounted Rotating Ice Tray to Free Freezer Space

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional ice trays in refrigerators occupy valuable space within the freezing compartment, reducing its effective utilization.

Innovation Solution

An ice tray is integrated into a rotating casing attached to the freezing compartment door, allowing the ice tray to be positioned parallel to the door in storage and perpendicularly for ice cube extraction, with a drawer for collection and a cover to prevent spillage, enhancing space efficiency and user convenience.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the ice tray is disposed inside the freezing compartment, then the ice making function is provided, but the space of the freezing compartment is not used effectively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice making functionVSAvoideffective space of freezing compartment

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The ice tray is extracted from the freezing compartment and relocated to the door. The door serves as the new mounting location, allowing the ice making function to be provided while freeing up the freezing compartment space for other uses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The door is given an additional function by mounting the ice tray on it. The door not only provides access to the freezing compartment but also serves as the mounting structure for the ice making unit, utilizing otherwise underused space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If the casing is rotated to the second position for ice cube extraction, then easy access to ice cubes is provided, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to ice cubesVSAvoidrotating casing structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The casing is designed to be rotatable rather than fixed. It can rotate between a first position (parallel to the door) for storage and a second position (perpendicular to the door) for ice cube extraction. This dynamic design allows easy access to ice cubes while maintaining a compact structure when not in use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the arm is twisted to extract ice cubes, then ice cubes fall out easily, but the mechanism requires precise alignment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice cube extractionVSAvoidalignment of arm and ice tray

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The arm is designed to twist in a rotating motion to extract ice cubes. This twisting action creates a mechanical vibration or shaking effect that causes the ice cubes to loosen and fall out of the tray cells, providing easy extraction without requiring precise alignment adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Data Source

PatentEP2724093B1A cooling device comprising an ice tray disposed on the door

Publication Date: 2019.04.10 ARCELIK AS

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AI summary

The present invention relates to a cooling device (1) comprising a freezing compartment (2) wherein the foodstuffs desired to be frozen are placed and a door (3) that provides access into the freezing compartment (2). In the cooling device (1) of the cooling device, the ice tray (4) wherein ice cubes are produced is disposed on the door (3).