Refrigerator Drawer Cover Coupling for Quick, Quiet Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigeration appliances with pull-out drawers and movable covers face challenges in providing quick access while maintaining climatic conditions, as lightweight covers compromise mechanical robustness and aesthetics, and pivoting mechanisms can be impaired by stored goods or appliance parts, leading to restricted accessibility and noise issues.
Innovation Solution
A coupling mechanism that only engages partially along the drawer's path allows the movable cover to be quickly cleared aside without reaching the maximum extended position, using a wheel and toothed racks or friction surfaces for non-positive contact, enabling linear displacement movements to facilitate easier access and reduce interference with the drawer's operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the flap is made lightweight to minimize opening force, then force requirement is reduced, but mechanical robustness and aesthetics are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
A coupling mechanism acts as an intermediary between the drawer and cover, using a wheel-rack system to provide mechanical advantage. This allows the use of heavier, more robust cover materials while minimizing the force required by the user through the leveraging effect of the coupling mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If the coupling mechanism is effective along the entire drawer path to the maximum extended position, then complete accessibility is achieved, but the drawer must be moved fully which increases effort and time
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is designed to be effective only over a partial path - specifically from the closed position to an intermediate opening position - rather than the entire drawer travel. This partial action is sufficient to clear the cover from the drawer front, providing quick access without requiring full drawer extension.
3Ease of operation
If the pivoting flap is used to clear the drawer front, then accessibility is improved, but noise occurs when the flap closes
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical pivoting and impacting motion is replaced with a controlled pushing motion along the drawer's longitudinal axis. The cover is pushed back smoothly by the coupling mechanism rather than pivoting down and impacting, eliminating the noise-generating impact while maintaining the cover-clearing function.
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 enhances accessibility by allowing the cover to be hidden when the drawer is pulled out, reducing the force required for access and minimizing noise, while maintaining mechanical robustness and aesthetic quality, and prevents collisions with stored goods or appliance parts, providing a barrier-free path for the drawer.
Implementation Method 1
the coupling mechanism preferably comprises a wheel and contours on the pull-out box and on the movable cover which are in non-positive contact with the wheel, in particular a toothed wheel, in which case the contours of the pull-out box and the cover which are in non-positive contact with the wheel are preferably toothed racks
Implementation Method 2
a friction wheel can also be in non-positive contact with friction surfaces of the pull-out drawer and the cover
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a refrigeration appliance, especially a domestic refrigeration appliance, comprising a drawer and a mobile cover which covers at least part of the drawer when the latter is pushed in. A coupling mechanism is effective between the drawer and the cover to displace the mobile cover in a direction opposite a movement of the drawer.