Horizontal Flipper Mullion Structure for Sealed Door Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing kitchen appliances with false mullion structures face challenges in efficiently managing the movement of operable panels and maintaining a sealed contact surface while allowing for easy access and additional storage space.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an operable lateral mullion that pivots between a contact position and a tucked position, allowing the mullion panel to move freely without disturbing adjacent panels, and utilizing mullion guides to facilitate this movement and maintain a sealed contact surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a false mullion structure is used to define a contact surface, then the seal engagement is improved, but the accessibility to interior compartments deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseal engagementVSAvoidaccessibility to interior compartments

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The false mullion is designed as a movable structure that can transition between extended and retracted positions. When the door panel is open, the false mullion retracts to allow access to interior compartments. When the door panel is closed, the false mullion extends to define the contact surface and engage with the seal, ensuring reliability while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the mullion panel is made operable between open and closed positions, then the accessibility is improved, but the seal engagement with vertically adjacent panels deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidseal engagement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mullion structure is segmented into a false mullion portion and a true mullion portion. The false mullion is operable and can be positioned independently to engage with the seal when the door panel is closed, while the true mullion remains stationary. This segmentation allows the mullion panel to be operable for accessibility while maintaining reliable seal engagement with vertically adjacent panels.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If additional storage space is provided behind the false mullion, then the versatility is improved, but the device complexity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage spaceVSAvoidmullion structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The false mullion is positioned within the plane of the contact surface, creating a nested configuration where the false mullion is embedded in the cabinet structure. This nesting provides additional storage space behind the false mullion while minimizing the increase in device complexity, as the false mullion integrates with the existing cabinet and door panel structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS9939191B2Horizontal flipper mullion incorporated within a false mullion of an appliance

Publication Date: 2018.04.10 WHIRLPOOL CORP

AI summary

An appliance includes a cabinet having outer walls that define a portion of a contact surface. Operable panels are engaged with the cabinet and operate between closed and open positions. A lateral mullion is pivotally attached to a mullion panel of the plurality of operable panels and is operable between contact and tucked positions. When the mullion panel is in the closed position, an outer surface of the lateral mullion is in the vertically pointed contact position and defines a portion of the contact surface to receive a seal of the mullion panel and selectively receive a seal of a vertically adjacent panel. Movement of the mullion panel to the open position rotates the lateral mullion about a horizontal axis to define the tucked position such that the mullion panel can move to the open position free of operation of the vertically adjacent panel.