Refrigerator Door Tray Rail for Fine Height Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household refrigeration appliances face challenges in achieving fine height adjustments of door racks when loaded, as existing solutions are difficult to maneuver and require complex assembly, leading to potential food instability and increased manufacturing costs.
Innovation Solution
The integration of multiple holders and a vertically running guide element into the door pillar of the refrigerator door allows for easy height adjustment of door racks, ensuring stability and simplicity in production while minimizing leverage and assembly needs, with the guide and holder elements forming a cost-effective, one-piece design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If rack-like rails with multiple holding positions are used for fine height adjustment, then height adjustment precision is improved, but device complexity increases and manufacturing costs rise
Solution Approach 1:
The guide element and holder are merged into a single integrated component that is formed as one piece with the door pillar. This integration provides multiple holding positions for fine height adjustment while simplifying the overall structure and reducing manufacturing complexity compared to separate rail and mounting bracket systems
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated guide element and holder serves multiple functions: it provides vertical guidance for the door rack, offers multiple holding positions for height adjustment, and integrates directly with the door pillar structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components, reducing device complexity while maintaining adjustment precision
2Ease of operation
If door racks are made detachable for easy removal, then ease of operation is improved, but stability of the stored goods deteriorates when loaded
Solution Approach 1:
The door rack features a dynamic latching system where the latching element can be easily released by pressing a push button, allowing quick removal when empty. When loaded, the weight of the goods provides additional stabilization, and the guide element prevents lateral movement, maintaining stability throughout the detachable operation cycle
3Ease of manufacture
If height adjustment mechanism is integrated into the door pillar, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but the door pillar structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide element and holder are merged into a single integrated component that is formed as one piece with the door pillar using injection molding or similar processes. This integration eliminates the need for separate mounting brackets and fasteners, reducing assembly steps and manufacturing costs despite the increased complexity of the molded door pillar structure
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The invention relates to a household refrigerating appliance, comprising a door tray (5) fixed to the inner side of the door (1) of the refrigerating appliance in a height-adjustable manner. At least one rail (2) of the refrigerating appliance door (1) comprises both a plurality of holding elements (4) for holding a detachable catch element (8) of the door tray (5) at different heights, and at least one vertically extending guiding element (3) in which the door tray (1) engages.