Refrigerator Door Storage Sleeve for Stable Moisture-Sealed Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator door designs face challenges in manufacturing complexity and stability when attaching storage devices, particularly with moisture-sensitive insulation and limited wall projections, requiring strong inner walls and precise recesses for support.
Innovation Solution
A sleeve system is inserted into openings in the inner wall, sealed by a retaining clip, distributing the storage device's weight over a larger area, and protected from moisture, using a bayonet anchor for easy assembly and secure fixation within the insulating foam, allowing for a simpler manufacturing process and stable anchoring without additional fasteners.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the storage device is hung directly from the inner wall using hooks, then the attachment is simple, but the weight is concentrated on a small contact area causing stress and potential damage to the inner wall
Solution Approach 1:
A sleeve is introduced as an intermediary component between the storage device hook and the inner wall opening. The sleeve distributes the concentrated load from the hook over a larger surface area of the inner wall, reducing stress concentration while maintaining the simplicity of hook-based attachment. The sleeve acts as a load-distributing mediator that protects the inner wall structure.
2Ease of operation
If openings are created in the inner wall for storage device attachment, then the storage device can be suspended, but the moisture-sensitive insulating filling is exposed to moisture ingress
Solution Approach 1:
A moisture-proof film or coating is applied to the inner surface of the sleeve to create a protective barrier against moisture ingress. This flexible protective layer seals the opening while allowing the sleeve to fulfill its structural function of supporting the storage device and distributing load.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve serves as an intermediary protective element that seals the opening in the inner wall, preventing direct exposure of the moisture-sensitive insulating filling to the humid environment inside the refrigerator while still allowing the storage device to be suspended from the opening.
3Strength
If support rails are attached to the inner wall to hold storage devices, then the storage device has sufficient load-bearing capacity, but the construction and assembly process becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The complex support rail structure is extracted and replaced by a simpler sleeve system. The sleeve is inserted directly into pre-formed openings in the inner wall, eliminating the need for separate support rail components and their complex attachment procedures, while still providing adequate load-bearing capacity through the distributed contact area.
Solution Approach 2:
The sleeve serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the storage device, distributes load over a larger area, seals the opening to protect insulation from moisture, and simplifies the overall assembly process. This multi-functionality replaces the need for separate support rails and sealing components.
4Manufacturing precision
If recesses are prefabricated in the insulation material for inserts, then the inserts fit precisely, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
Openings are pre-formed in the inner wall during the door manufacturing process, but the sleeves are not pre-assembled into precise recesses in the insulation. Instead, the sleeves are inserted into these pre-formed openings as a separate step, maintaining precision where needed (opening location) while simplifying the overall manufacturing process by avoiding complex pre-fabrication of insulation recesses.
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
This solution simplifies the production and enhances the stability of the storage device attachment, protecting the insulation from moisture and ensuring secure anchoring without disrupting the door's design or requiring additional support elements, suitable for various storage device shapes and sizes.
Implementation Method 1
If the insulating material is foam expanded inside the door, it can firmly enclose the sleeve, which on the one hand achieves a permanent fixation of the sleeve and on the other hand also introduces part of the weight of the storage device on the sleeve into the foam and relieves the inner wall
Implementation Method 2
a sleeve inserted into the opening closes the opening... the sleeve can seal the opening in the inner wall and protect the insulating filling from moisture
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 6A~6C
AI summary
A door for a refrigeration device has a moisture-resistant inner wall (6) which covers a moisture-sensitive insulation that fills (14) said door (3). A storage unit (7) is detachably suspended from an opening (12, 12') in the inner wall (6) and a sleeve (15) that is pushed into the opening (12, 12') seals the latter. A retaining bracket (11) of the storage unit (7) is supported against an inner surface of the sleeve (15).