Magnetic Crisper Box Sealing for Fridge Humidity Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current household fridge crisper boxes lack a cost-effective mechanism to maintain a controlled humidity level, leading to moisture loss and increased energy consumption, which shortens the freshness of stored vegetables and increases the risk of bacterial growth.
Innovation Solution
A gasketed crisper box system with magnetized gaskets and metal profiles on the shelf and crisper box edges, ensuring a tight seal when closed, maintains humidity levels and reduces energy usage by preventing moisture from entering the fridge's interior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a gasketed crisper box with magnetized gaskets is used, then humidity control and food freshness are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by incorporating magnetic properties into the gasket material. The gasket contains magnetic particles that generate attractive force to the metal profile, creating a reliable seal without complex mechanical structures. This changes the physical parameter of the gasket from purely elastic to magnetically active, achieving reliable humidity control through a simple design modification.
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket is constructed as a composite material combining elastic sealing material with magnetic particles. This composite structure provides both the sealing function through elasticity and the sealing force through magnetism, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity by integrating multiple functions into a single component.
2Reliability
If vacuumed containers with vacuum pumps are used, then moisture control is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the active vacuum pumping mechanism and replaces it with a passive gasketed sealing system. By removing the vacuum pump and using a simple gasket with metal profile engagement, the system achieves moisture control without continuous energy input, resolving the contradiction between reliability and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The gasketed crisper box operates on a self-service principle where the magnetic gasket automatically maintains the seal and humidity control without requiring external energy input or active control systems. The system self-regulates moisture retention through the passive sealing mechanism, eliminating the need for energy-consuming vacuum pumps.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If a gasketed crisper box is used, then food storage duration is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the gasket material parameter by incorporating magnetic particles, which are inexpensive additives that can be mixed into standard sealing compounds. This parameter change achieves extended food storage duration through improved sealing without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity or cost, as the magnetic particles are readily available and easy to incorporate.
Solution Approach 2:
The gasket with metal profile represents a simple, inexpensive sealing solution that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed. Rather than using complex expensive vacuum systems, the patent employs a simple gasket structure that achieves the desired functionality at low cost, making it economically viable for consumer refrigerators.
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
The solution effectively extends the freshness of stored vegetables, reduces energy consumption, and minimizes bacterial growth by maintaining a consistent humidity and temperature environment within the crisper box, while also reducing frost formation around the evaporator.
Implementation Method 1
a magnet positioned inside said gasket that pulls the metal profile towards itself when said shelf is closed onto the crisper box
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a crisper box embodiment used in household type fridges (100), comprising a crisper box (10), a shelf (20), at least one metal profile (21) which positioned at the edge of the lower surface of said shelf (20) and which comes into contact with a gasket (11) when the shelf (20) is closed onto the crisper box(10), at least one gasket (11) positioned on top of at least one side wall (13) of said crisper box (10) and a magnet (12) positioned inside said gasket (11) capable of pulling the metal profile (21) towards itself when the shelf (20) is closed onto the crisper box (10).