Refrigerator Door Rack Catch With Visible Plug-In Latch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household refrigeration appliance door racks often require reliable latching mechanisms that can be easily detached for cleaning but risk being forgotten during reassembly, leading to potential instability and incorrect installation.
Innovation Solution
The latching devices are designed as separate components with visible plug-in means that attach to mating connectors on the door rack, ensuring visibility and correct installation, featuring a spring mechanism to prevent unintentional release and a transparent design for enhanced visibility and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the latching device is designed as a separate component that can be detached for cleaning, then the ease of cleaning is improved, but the risk of accidental disassembly or forgotten reassembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements visual feedback through transparent or translucent sections in the door rack that allow users to see whether the latching device is properly attached. This feedback mechanism reduces the risk of forgotten reassembly by making the attachment state visible, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of cleaning (detachable design) and reliability (preventing accidental disassembly).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses transparent or translucent materials with potential color coding to provide visual information about the latching device's attachment state. This optical indication system helps users verify proper installation and prevents accidental disassembly, addressing the reliability concern while maintaining the detachable design for cleaning purposes.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If the latching device is made visible through transparent sections, then the ease of detecting installation status is improved, but the aesthetic appearance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs transparent or translucent sections that can incorporate color coding or optical indicators to convey installation status information. This approach maintains aesthetic appearance by using visually appealing transparent materials while simultaneously improving the detectability of the latching device's attachment state.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies transparency or translucency only to specific local sections of the door rack where visual detection is needed, rather than making the entire structure transparent. This localized application maintains the overall aesthetic appearance while providing the necessary visual feedback for installation status.
3Reliability
If the plug-in means are made visible, then the reliability of correct assembly is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses transparent or translucent materials for the plug-in means and surrounding door rack sections, allowing visual verification of assembly without adding mechanical complexity. This optical indication method improves assembly reliability while maintaining simple device structure, avoiding the need for additional sensors or complex monitoring systems.
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 solution ensures secure attachment of the door rack, facilitates easy cleaning, and provides visual confirmation of correct installation, reducing the risk of accidental disassembly and enhancing the appliance's functionality and aesthetics.
Implementation Method 1
featuring a spring mechanism to prevent unintentional release
Implementation Method 2
a first wall (41) of the receiving pocket (28) is formed transparently... the plug-in means (26, 27) are visible in a position of the door rack (4) held between the pillars (2, 3) of the door (1)
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a refrigerator, in particular a household refrigerator, comprising a door (1) having a door interior comprising a catch (6) acting together with a corresponding mating catch (18) of at least one catch device (16, 17) for holding a door rack (4) between two opposing rails on the door (1), said device being fastened as a separate component on a mating plug means (30) of the door rack (4) by means of a plug means (26, 27). The plug means (26, 27) is visibly connected to the mating plug means (30) in a position of the door rack (4) held between the rails of the door (1).