Ice Cube Container Side Handle Near the Center of Gravity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ice cube containers require considerable strength and effort to remove due to the handle's location away from the center of gravity, making it difficult to handle and serve ice cubes efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The removal handle is arranged on one of the long side wall sections of the ice cube container, moving it closer to the center of gravity, allowing for easier handling and serving of ice cubes by allowing the user to grasp it at various positions along its length, which can extend along most or all of the side wall section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the handle is arranged on the front short end wall section like a drawer, then the ice cube container can be easily pulled out, but the handle is far from the center of gravity requiring considerable strength to hold
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is moved from the front end wall to the long side wall, changing its spatial position from a location far from the center of gravity to one that is closer. This dimensional repositioning allows the handle to be located at a point where less force is required to hold the container, specifically on the long side wall where the distance to the center of gravity is reduced.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle is positioned at a specific location on the long side wall that optimizes its distance from the center of gravity. This local optimization ensures that the handle is placed where it provides the best mechanical advantage for holding the container, reducing the effort required while maintaining ease of removal.
2Device complexity
If the handle is positioned far from the center of gravity, then the container structure is simple, but the user requires considerable strength and effort to hold
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is repositioned from the front end wall to the long side wall, changing its spatial coordinates. This dimensional change moves the handle closer to the center of gravity without adding structural complexity, as it simply involves relocating the existing handle rather than adding new structural elements.
3Force
If the handle is moved closer to the center of gravity on the long side wall, then less strength is required to hold, but the handle position changes from conventional drawer-like removal
Solution Approach 1:
The handle is positioned on the long side wall rather than the front end wall, creating a new spatial arrangement that maintains ease of removal while reducing the force required to hold the container. The handle's new location on the side wall allows for effective grasping and removal without compromising operational convenience.
Data Source
AI summary
An ice cube container of an ice maker for household purposes includes a bottom, front and rear wall sections arranged on opposite ends of the bottom, and two sidewall sections interconnecting the end wall sections. The front and rear wall sections have each a length which is shorter than a length of the side wall sections. Arranged on one of the sidewall sections is a removal handle to allow easy removal of ice cubes. The ice cube container is removably received in a receptacle of a freezer compartment drawer of a refrigeration appliance in only one way in which the removal handle of the ice cube container faces the center of the freezer compartment drawer when the ice cube container is inserted in the receptacle.