Food storage container with specific ventilation device with preassembly unit, and domestic refrigerator and method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food storage containers for household refrigeration appliances have ventilation devices with flaps that require significant space and are difficult to assemble, prone to damage during installation, and lack design flexibility.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation device for food storage containers comprising a pivotable flap, a separate support rail, and an actuating element, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly, with snap connections and a pulse generator element for smooth operation, enabling a compact and modular design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a flat flap design is used with pivot axis within the lid, then the ventilation device can be integrated into the lid structure, but the flap requires significant upward space when open and may collide with other components
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the pivot axis orientation from horizontal (within the lid) to vertical (at the front edge of the lid). This dimensional change allows the flap to swing forward instead of upward, eliminating the need for significant upward space and preventing collisions with other components while maintaining integration into the lid structure.
2Device complexity
If the flap is pivotally mounted directly to the support body, then the structure can be simplified, but the flap is prone to damage during installation and lacks design flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the support body into a lid portion and a tray portion that are separable. The flap is pivotally mounted to the lid portion, which can be detached from the tray portion. This segmentation protects the flap from damage during installation by allowing the lid portion to be assembled separately and then attached to the tray portion, while maintaining structural simplification.
3Ease of operation
If recesses are formed in the lid for mounting flaps, then the flaps can be pivotally mounted, but the lid structure becomes more complex and requires additional manufacturing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the lid portion a universal component that can be detached and attached to different tray portions. The pivotally mounted flap is integrated into the lid portion, which serves multiple functions: providing structural support, enabling flap operation, and allowing easy assembly/disassembly. This multi-functionality reduces manufacturing complexity compared to forming recesses directly in the lid, as the lid portion can be manufactured separately as a standardized component.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
One aspect of the invention relates to a food storage container (8) for a household refrigeration appliance (1), comprising a tray (10) for receiving the food, a separate lid (9) which can be placed on the tray (10) to close the tray (10), and a ventilation device (12) with which an exchange of air between the environment and the interior (13) of the food storage container (8) can be carried out, wherein the ventilation device (12) has a pivotable flap (14) which, in an open position, exposes a ventilation opening (21) and, in the closed position, closes the ventilation opening (21), wherein the ventilation device (12) has a support body (15) on which a separate assembly (39) of the ventilation device (12) is mounted, which has the flap (14), a support rail (40) for the flap (14) and an actuating element (41) for actuating the flap (14).One aspect also concerns a household refrigeration appliance (1) and one aspect concerns a process.