Pull-out device for a household refrigeration device, with food storage units arranged on different levels which can be decoupled by means of a handle element, as well as a household refrigeration device
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing pull-out devices for household refrigerators with multiple food storage levels have complex coupling mechanisms, making decoupling and recoupling prone to errors and difficult to operate safely.
Innovation Solution
A pull-out device with a handle element that allows easy and secure decoupling of food storage units by pivoting, featuring a handle strip that extends over the width of the storage unit, providing intuitive operation and additional functions like accessibility and safety during manual movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a complex coupling device is used to connect multiple food storage units, then the storage units can be coupled together in the pull-out direction, but the decoupling process becomes error-prone and difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the decoupling function from the complex coupling device by introducing a separate handle element. This handle element, when actuated, releases the coupling between food storage units through a simple pivoting motion, separating the coupling mechanism from the decoupling operation and making the process error-proof and easy to perform.
Solution Approach 2:
The handle element serves as an intermediary component between the user and the coupling device. By pivoting the handle element, the user indirectly actuates the release mechanism that decouples the food storage units, providing an intuitive and reliable interface that eliminates direct manipulation of complex coupling parts.
2Volume of moving object
If food storage units are coupled together to extend in the pull-out direction, then the storage capacity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the pull-out device into separate food storage units that can be independently coupled together. Each unit maintains its own structure and can be selectively attached or detached, allowing the storage capacity to be increased by adding units without requiring a completely complex integrated mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling device and handle element serve multiple functions: they enable both the coupling and decoupling of food storage units, provide structural support, and offer a user-friendly interface. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, thereby managing device complexity while maintaining storage flexibility.
3Ease of operation
If a handle element is added to enable easy decoupling, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The handle element is merged with the coupling device structure, such that the handle serves both as a user interface for decoupling and as part of the mechanical coupling mechanism. This integration ensures that the handle element performs multiple functions without requiring completely separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a pull-out device (13) for a household refrigerator (1), which is designed for storing food on different levels, and which has a first food storage unit (14) on a first level, which is slidably mounted in a pull-out direction (z), and which has a second food storage unit (15) which is arranged on a second level different from the first level, wherein the pull-out device (13) has a coupling device (26) with which the food storage units (14, 15) can be coupled in their movements and, in the movement-coupled state, can be pulled out together in the pull-out direction (z), wherein the pull-out device (13) has a handle element (30) on one of the food storage units (14, 15) and the handle element (30) is coupled to the coupling device (26).wherein, depending on a release movement of the handle element (30), the movement-coupled state of the food storage units (14, 15) can be released.