Freezer Rack Dividers for Side-by-Side Frozen Item Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Storing flexible-packaged frozen items in a freezer can be cumbersome due to stacking difficulties, making it hard to access items at the bottom, and there is a need for an efficient way to store items next to each other without stacking.
Innovation Solution
A configurable freezer rack with selectively moveable dividers that attach to a base platform with ribs, forming channels to create customizable slots for item storage, allowing for efficient placement and easy access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If frozen items are stacked for storage, then storage space is utilized, but item removal becomes difficult when desired items are at or near the bottom
Solution Approach 1:
The storage space is segmented into multiple slots by dividers, allowing items to be stored side-by-side in organized sections rather than stacked. This segmentation enables easy access to any item without moving others, resolving the contradiction between storage capacity and item accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from vertical stacking (one dimension) to horizontal arrangement with dividers (another dimension). By utilizing the horizontal plane with configurable dividers, items can be stored side-by-side while maintaining easy access, effectively adding a dimensional approach to storage organization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If dividers are made movable and configurable, then storage flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dividers are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing users to reconfigure storage slots dynamically based on item size and storage needs. This dynamic capability provides adaptability while maintaining relatively simple construction through the use of basic connector mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The dividers serve multiple functions: they create slot boundaries, can be repositioned to accommodate different item sizes, and can be removed entirely for maximum flexibility. This multi-functionality achieves high adaptability without requiring complex specialized mechanisms for each function.
3Ease of operation
If items are stored next to one another without stacking, then item accessibility is improved, but storage space utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the storage space into configurable slots using dividers, the system enables side-by-side item placement while maximizing space utilization. The segmentation allows efficient use of horizontal space without requiring vertical stacking, thus improving accessibility while maintaining storage capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage rack suitable for a freezer includes a base platform having a plurality of ribs defining a corresponding plurality of channels. One or more dividers may be removably seated within a selected channel. The dividers include a divider platform having a pair of downwardly extending arms terminating in inward hooks which engage the base platform.