Refrigerator Door Shelf Latching for One-Handed Height Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator door designs require two-handed operation to adjust the height of storage containers, making it cumbersome to place large items, as users need to release and reposition the containers manually, often necessitating the removal of items from their hands.
Innovation Solution
A refrigeration device with a door rack system that allows single-handed upward adjustment without releasing the locking mechanism, featuring a downward protruding actuating means for unlocking and a locking arrangement that prevents downward movement, enabling stepless height adjustment and flexible storage options for tall objects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional latching mechanisms are used with symmetric locking positions, then the door rack can be securely locked in place, but both hands are required to actuate the release mechanism for height adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by providing different locking positions at different heights on the door rack, with the first locking position located at a lower height than the second locking position. This asymmetric arrangement allows the door rack to be locked in different positions without requiring symmetric actuation of release mechanisms, enabling one-handed operation while maintaining secure locking.
2Ease of operation
If the door rack allows free upward movement without locking, then single-handed adjustment is enabled, but downward movement cannot be prevented without additional locking mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies inversion by reversing the conventional approach: instead of requiring locking release for upward movement (as in traditional designs), the door rack is designed to move upward freely without locking, while downward movement is controlled through the asymmetric locking positions. This inverted logic enables single-handed upward adjustment while maintaining reliability for downward movement control.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple locking positions are provided at different heights, then flexible storage for tall objects is enabled, but the latching mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the door rack into segments with different locking positions at different heights (first locking position at lower height, second locking position at higher height). Each segment can be independently locked in its respective position, providing flexible storage for various object heights while keeping the latching mechanism structure relatively simple through modular segmentation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a refrigeration apparatus comprising a body (2) bounding an internal space, a door (6) with latching means (11) disposed at the inside thereof facing the internal space, a door shelf (10) comprising opposing latching means (12), a latching means arrangement (13) in a configuration corresponding to the latching means (11) and the opposing latching means (12) for stepped height adjustment of the door shelf (10) in a plurality of latched positions, and an unlocking means (19) for releasing a current latched position of the door shelf (10). In order to create a refrigeration apparatus (1) with a door shelf (10) capable of being placed at a higher position using one hand, it is proposed that the latching means arrangement (13) be designed for upward adjustment of the door shelf (10) when the unlocking means (19) is not actuated. The invention further relates to a latching means arrangement (13) comprising fastening sections (20, 21, 40a, 40b, 40c) for subsequent attachment of the latching means arrangement (13) to a door (6) and/or a door shelf (10) of the refrigeration apparatus (1) and use thereof.