Chest Freezer Cover Structure for Low-Force Sliding Access
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing chest freezers have cover designs that are not user-friendly, requiring high displacement forces and complex mechanisms for opening and closing, which can hinder accessibility and visibility of stored goods.
Innovation Solution
A chest freezer with a convexly curved front partial cover that can be easily pushed over a stationary rear cover, featuring guide pins and a driver device for simplified operation, allowing for easy opening and closing with minimal force and providing a clear view of the refrigerated space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional flat cover designs are used, then manufacturing is simple, but opening forces are high and operation is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The front partial cover is designed with convex curvature instead of a flat surface. This curvature allows the cover to be pushed open more easily by distributing the opening force across a larger area, reducing the peak force required at any single point while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The cover unit is divided into multiple partial covers (front, middle, rear) that can be independently positioned and opened. This segmentation allows each section to be optimized for its specific function and reduces the overall force required to open the entire cover unit
2Illumination intensity
If the front edge of the housing opening is lowered for better visibility, then viewing is improved, but the cover becomes harder to seal
Solution Approach 1:
The convex curvature of the front partial cover allows it to conform to the lowered front edge of the housing opening while maintaining proper sealing contact. The curved surface adapts to the geometry created by the lowered edge, ensuring both visibility and sealing reliability
3Ease of operation
If multiple partial covers are used for better accessibility, then access is improved, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The cover unit is segmented into front, middle, and rear partial covers that can be independently positioned. This allows users to open only the portion needed for access, improving ergonomics and reducing the complexity of the overall opening mechanism by allowing incremental access
Solution Approach 2:
The partial covers are designed to nest within each other when opened, with the front cover providing access to the middle cover, which in turn provides access to the rear cover. This nested arrangement maximizes accessibility while minimizing the space required for the cover mechanism
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
AI summary
The invention relates to a freezer cabinet in which foods are stored frozen for sale in a shop, with a freezer space surrounded by solid housing walls at the front, at the rear, at the sides and at the bottom, which freezer space, at its upper end, is accessible via a housing opening from a user-side front edge, which opening, in the closed state, is covered by a cover unit (2) with a cover part (10), adjoining the user-side edge and movable in a forwards/backwards direction, and a stationary rear cover part (40) located away from the user-side edge. An advantageous embodiment is one in which, in order to open it, the front cover part (20) arranged in front of the rear cover part (40) in the closed state and/or a central cover part (30) can be pushed at least partially over the rear cover part (40) (Fig. 1A).