Refrigerator Ice Container Coupling to Prevent Door-Mount Wear

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing ice storage containers in refrigerators are not stably coupled to the inner wall of the freezing chamber door, leading to movement and potential abrasion and breakdown of components.

Innovation Solution

The ice storage container is attached and detached from a mounting space on the inner wall of the freezing chamber door using elastic lever units and coupling units, which include a rotary shaft, push part, hook part, and elastic coupling grooves, to maintain locking and restrict movement in the horizontal direction, with additional lock recesses to prevent forward movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the ice storage container is attached to the inner wall of the freezing chamber door, then the ice storage container can be easily accessed and utilized, but it moves and causes abrasion and breakdown of components

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAccessibility of ice storage containerVSAvoidStability of ice storage container

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling mechanism is divided into multiple independent coupling units distributed at different locations on the ice storage container. Each coupling unit includes coupling protrusions and coupling grooves that work together to provide stable attachment while maintaining ease of access to the ice storage container.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple coupling units are combined on a single ice storage container to achieve both stability and accessibility. The coupling units work in unison to firmly attach the container to the door while allowing the container to remain easily accessible for ice retrieval.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If the ice storage container is firmly coupled to the mounting space, then movement is restricted and component durability is improved, but attachment and detachment becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveStability of ice storage containerVSAvoidEase of attachment and detachment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling units incorporate elastic members that provide dynamic coupling. The elastic members allow the coupling mechanism to flex during attachment and detachment operations, making these operations easier while maintaining firm coupling during normal use. The elasticity enables the coupling to accommodate minor misalignments and facilitates smooth engagement and disengagement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic members act as intermediaries between the rigid coupling protrusions and grooves. They mediate the interaction between the ice storage container and the mounting space, providing both firm coupling when engaged and ease of operation during attachment and detachment by absorbing mechanical stress and facilitating movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If elastic members are added to the coupling units, then ease of attachment and detachment is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveEase of attachment and detachmentVSAvoidComplexity of coupling mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Elastic members in the form of flexible elements are integrated into the coupling units. These flexible elements provide the necessary elasticity for easy attachment and detachment while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure. The elastic members are designed as straightforward components that do not significantly increase the complexity of the coupling mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration allows for easy attachment and detachment of the ice storage container while minimizing movement and enhancing the fixing force, thereby preventing abrasion and breakdown of components.

Implementation Method 1

elastic coupling units to maintain coupling of the ice storage container to the mounting space by elastic deformation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a guide groove to guide an approach direction of the guide rib when the ice storage container is coupled to the mounting space

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical guidance: Geometry

Data Source

PatentUS9383129B2Refrigerator and ice storage container therefor

Publication Date: 2016.07.05 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A refrigerator includes an ice storage container coupled to a mounting space of an inner wall of a freezing chamber door, and the ice storage container is attachable to and detachable from the mounting space by elastic lever units to maintain and release locking of the ice storage container with the mounting space, and elastic coupling units to maintain coupling of the ice storage container to the mounting space by elastic deformation and restrict movement of the ice storage container in the horizontal direction of the mounting space when the ice storage container is mounted on the mounting space, thereby preventing abrasion and breakdown of components due to user's ease in the assembly of the ice storage container and increase in the fixing force of the ice storage container.