Dual-Door Refrigerator Door Cover for Selective Cold Storage Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household cooling appliances with dual-door designs face challenges in optimizing storage space efficiency and accessibility while maintaining temperature integrity, often requiring complex mechanisms and multiple components.
Innovation Solution
A dual-door system where the outer door is pivotably arranged in front of the inner door, with a troughlike wall body and a separate cover that is stationary coupled to the inner door, allowing for a reduced number of components and enhanced functionality, including independent storage conditions and user-friendly access without compromising cooling energy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a dual-door system is implemented to improve storage space efficiency and accessibility, then storage functionality is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door device is segmented into an inner door and an outer door that can operate independently. The inner door provides access to the storage space while the outer door provides access to the compartment, allowing selective access to different storage zones without requiring the entire door assembly to be opened.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer door is arranged in front of the inner door in a nested configuration. The outer door can cover the inner door when both are closed, creating a compact dual-door system where one door is effectively nested within the spatial envelope of the other.
2Ease of operation
If the outer door is made transparent to improve visibility and accessibility, then user convenience is enhanced, but temperature integrity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The outer door incorporates transparent portions only in specific locations where visibility is needed, rather than making the entire door transparent. This allows users to view contents through designated transparent sections while the remaining opaque portions maintain thermal insulation integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner door acts as an intermediary barrier between the transparent outer door and the cooled compartment. When the outer door is opened for viewing or access, the inner door remains closed to maintain the thermal seal, preventing direct exposure of the compartment to ambient air.
3Ease of operation
If the inner door is made accessible from the front to improve ease of operation, then accessibility is enhanced, but temperature control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The door system is divided into two independently operable doors. The inner door can be opened from the front to access the storage space, while the outer door remains closed to maintain the thermal boundary with the compartment, allowing selective access without compromising overall temperature control.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer door serves as a thermal intermediary that can be opened for viewing or minor access while the inner door remains closed to protect the storage space temperature. Conversely, when accessing the storage space, the inner door is opened while the outer door stays closed, maintaining the external thermal seal.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a household cooling appliance (1)comprising a housing (2), in which at least one compartment(3) for food items is formed, and comprising a door device (5)by which the compartment (3) is openable or closable, the door device (5) comprising an inner door (9) and an outer door (10), wherein the outer door (10) is arranged in front of the inner door (9) in a closed state of the doors and wherein the inner door (9) comprises a storage space (11) for food items and an access opening (17) for the storage space (11), wherein the access opening (17) is openable or closable by the outer door (10), wherein the inner door (9) comprises a cover (25) stationary coupled to the inner door (9), wherein the cover (25) covers the storage space(11) on a side facing away from the access opening (17).