Multi-material basket for refrigerator or freezer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerator and freezer storage baskets face challenges in being aesthetically designed, functional, easily cleanable, providing proper airflow, and maintaining robust strength while minimizing material usage, as they often suffer from issues like poor airflow, difficulty in cleaning, and food particles falling through.

Innovation Solution

The storage basket is formed as an integral unit from a combination of materials such as wire members, sheet metal, and glass or plastic components, featuring an imperforate bottom and perforated sides to prevent particle fall-through while allowing airflow and easy cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If wire-formed baskets are used, then airflow is improved, but food particles and liquids fall through the bottom

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveairflowVSAvoidfood particles falling through

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The basket is divided into two distinct portions: a wire-formed second portion with perforations for airflow, and an imperforate first portion (bottom) to prevent particle fall-through. This segmentation allows each portion to fulfill its specific function optimally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The basket combines different materials and structures - wire formation for the sides (providing airflow) and solid material for the bottom (preventing particle passage). This composite approach resolves the contradiction between airflow and particle containment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-generated harmful factors

If solid bottom baskets are used, then food particles are prevented from falling through, but airflow is inhibited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood particles containmentVSAvoidairflow

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Illumination intensity

If wire baskets are used, then visibility is improved, but cleaning difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovevisibilityVSAvoidcleaning ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The basket is divided into two portions where the imperforate first portion provides a smooth, non-porous surface that is easy to clean, while the wire-formed second portion maintains visibility. This segmentation separates the cleaning function from the visibility function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the basket have different properties: the bottom (first portion) has a smooth, non-porous surface optimized for cleaning, while the sides (second portion) have wire formation optimized for visibility. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Ease of manufacture

If single-material baskets are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but functional performance is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidfunctional performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS10281198B2Multi-material basket for refrigerator or freezer

Publication Date: 2019.05.07 SSW ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES LLC

AI summary

A storage basket used for storing and displaying food products and packages in a refrigerator or freezer unit may include a single-material first portion including a bottom wall and an upright wall that extends away from the bottom wall. The bottom wall and the upright wall are imperforate, thereby creating a solid barrier to transfer and fall-through of materials contained in the storage basket. The storage basket may also include a single-material second portion coupled to and extending from the upright wall, and the second portion may include a plurality of perforations. The plurality of perforations may permit airflow around and about the materials contained in the storage basket.