Pull-Out Refrigerator Shelf on Drawer Rails for Rear Item Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators face difficulties in retrieving items from the rear portion of shelves, especially as the size of storage compartments increases and more items are accommodated, making it challenging to access stored articles efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a shelf system where the shelves are mounted on drawers with guide rails and rollers, allowing for smooth pull-out and retraction, while maintaining the closure of storage spaces within the drawers, and includes reinforcing supports and a fall prevention mechanism to prevent items from falling or deforming under load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the size of storage compartments is increased to accommodate more items, then the storage capacity is improved, but the accessibility to items in the rear portion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to be pulled out to access items in the rear portion. The guide rails enable smooth linear movement of the shelf along the X-axis, transforming the static storage structure into a dynamic one that adapts to user needs while maintaining increased storage capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Guide rails serve as an intermediary mechanism between the shelf and the refrigerator body. These rails facilitate the movement of the shelf while providing structural support and defining the movement path, enabling easy access to rear items without compromising the increased storage capacity.
2Ease of operation
If the shelf is made movable to improve accessibility, then the ease of operation is improved, but the structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rails act as intermediary structures that provide both movement capability and structural support. They constrain the shelf to move only along the intended path (X-axis), preventing unwanted movements that would compromise stability, while still enabling easy access to items.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rails are positioned at specific locations (both sides of the shelf) to provide localized support and guidance. This distributed support structure maintains overall structural stability while allowing the necessary movement for accessibility.
3Ease of operation
If guide rails are installed to enable shelf movement, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rails serve as simple intermediary components that provide movement guidance without requiring complex mechanisms. The rails and sliders create a straightforward rail-guided movement system that is easier to implement than wheeled or motorized solutions, balancing ease of operation with acceptable structural complexity.
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 design enables easy access to stored items by allowing shelves to be pulled out smoothly, maintaining the closure of drawers, and preventing items from falling or deforming, thus improving storage efficiency and usability.
Implementation Method 1
guide rails and rollers, allowing for smooth pull-out and retraction
Implementation Method 2
reinforcing supports and a fall prevention mechanism to prevent items from falling or deforming under load
Implementation Method 3
fall prevention mechanism to prevent items from falling or deforming under load
Data Source
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AI summary
A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include a main body having at least one storage chamber, a drawer mount installed in the at least one storage chamber that guides at least one drawer provided therein so as to be inserted into and pulled out of the at least one storage chamber, a cover configured to cover an upper opening of the at least one drawer and including guide grooves formed at left and right edges of the cover and guide rails mounted in the guide grooves and formed of metal, a shelf supported by the cover so as to be slidable on the cover by the guide rails, and a pair of supports provided at both sides of a lower surface of the shelf.