Household refrigerating appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household refrigeration appliances often lack ergonomic design, making it difficult for users to access and operate controls without bending, and they have limited storage capacity for sensitive food items.
Innovation Solution
The design includes a second refrigeration compartment positioned above the operating unit, with an inclined surface that forms an operating space, allowing for unobstructed access to the control area and providing additional storage space by optimizing the layout and orientation of the operating surface relative to the main extension plane of the refrigeration compartment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the operating unit is arranged above the first refrigeration compartment with a parallel control surface, then the appliance structure is simple, but the operating area is difficult to access without bending and the control elements are hard to view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second refrigeration compartment arranged vertically above the operating unit, creating a three-dimensional operating space. The inclined surface at 15-35 degrees transforms the flat parallel arrangement into a sloped configuration, allowing users to access control elements ergonomically without bending, while maintaining structural integration
2Ease of operation
If a second refrigeration compartment is added above the operating unit to create an operating space, then ergonomics and storage capacity are improved, but the appliance becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The second refrigeration compartment serves dual purposes: it creates the inclined operating space for ergonomic control access and simultaneously provides additional storage capacity for sensitive food items. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the added structural complexity beneficial for both operation and storage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the operating space creation with the storage function by integrating the second refrigeration compartment into the same structural space that houses the inclined surface. This combination allows the aperture to serve both as a control interface and as storage volume, reducing overall device complexity
3Ease of operation
If the control surface is aligned parallel to the floor surface, then manufacturing is simple, but the operating area is not clearly visible and accessible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation parameter of the control surface from parallel (0 degrees) to inclined (15-35 degrees) relative to the main extension plane. This parameter modification improves visibility and accessibility of control elements while remaining within manufacturable angle ranges for standard appliance production
4Ease of operation
If the operating unit is positioned to allow unobstructed view of controls, then ease of operation improves, but storage capacity for sensitive food items is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By arranging the second refrigeration compartment vertically above the operating unit rather than extending horizontally, the patent creates vertical storage space that does not interfere with the inclined operating surface. This dimensional reorganization allows unobstructed control access while preserving storage volume for sensitive food items
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention is based on a domestic refrigeration appliance device (10a-b) with at least one first refrigeration compartment (12a-b) and with at least one operating unit (14a-b) which is arranged in an installed position above the first refrigeration compartment (12a-b) and which has at least one operating element (16a-b) which is arranged in a front area of the operating unit (14a-b). In order to provide a generic device with improved properties in terms of ease of use, it is proposed that the household refrigeration appliance device (10a-b) has at least one second refrigeration compartment (18a-b), which is arranged in an installed position above the operating unit (14a-b) and which together with the operating unit (14a-b) defines at least one operating space (20a-b), within which a touch area (22a-b) of the operating element (16ab) is at least essentially arranged.