Container for refrigerated products with separate front

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerated goods containers for household refrigeration appliances face challenges in simple and secure assembly of the front wall, with current methods often requiring complex fastening mechanisms and additional components.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerated goods container design featuring a one-piece body with support ribs and retaining projections allows for easy assembly and secure attachment of a separate, preferably transparent, front wall, utilizing a handle element to prevent accidental removal and eliminate the need for additional fastening measures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If complex fastening mechanisms are used to secure the front wall, then attachment reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoidfastening mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The front wall is separated from the container body, with the front wall made as a separate component that can be independently manufactured and attached. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized separately while simplifying the overall assembly process through standardized connection elements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Connection elements serve as intermediaries between the front wall and container body, providing a simple yet reliable attachment mechanism. These intermediaries absorb the complexity of the connection, allowing the front wall and body to remain simple components while achieving secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If additional fastening components are added to prevent accidental removal, then attachment reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccidental removal preventionVSAvoidfastening components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The retention function is merged into the existing connection elements rather than adding separate fastening components. The connection elements serve dual purposes: attaching the front wall to the body and preventing accidental removal, thereby simplifying the overall structure while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection elements are designed to automatically provide retention functionality without requiring additional active components. The geometric design of the connection elements themselves creates the retention effect, eliminating the need for separate locking mechanisms or fastening components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If multiple retaining projections and support ribs are used, then attachment reliability is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment reliabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The retention system is segmented into discrete retaining projections and support ribs that can be independently formed during molding. This segmentation allows each feature to be created using standard molding techniques without requiring complex multi-step manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The geometric parameters of the retaining projections and support ribs are optimized to provide sufficient attachment reliability while remaining compatible with standard molding capabilities. By carefully selecting dimensions and configurations, the design achieves reliable attachment without introducing manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Ease of manufacture

If the front wall is made as a separate component, then ease of manufacture is improved, but assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing easeVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The front wall is segmented as a separate component that can be manufactured independently using optimized molding processes. This segmentation enables specialized manufacturing techniques for the front wall while the connection elements provide standardized interfaces that simplify the assembly process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Connection elements serve as intermediaries that bridge the separate front wall and container body, providing standardized interfaces that simplify assembly. These intermediaries absorb the assembly complexity, allowing the front wall to be manufactured separately while maintaining simple assembly procedures through consistent connection geometries.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3244149B1Container for refrigerated products with separate front
Publication Date: 2019.10.23 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3244149B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3244149B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3a
  • EP3244149B1 patent drawingFigure 3b~4b

AI summary

The invention relates to a refrigerated goods container (200; 600) for a refrigerating appliance with a base wall (214; 614), two side walls (206, 606; 208, 608), a rear wall (204; 604) which has a refrigerated goods container body (202; 602) form, and a separate front wall (210; 610) which is formed by a flat element, the front wall (210; 610) having an inside and an outside (AS) which form opposing main surfaces, characterized in that the refrigerated goods container body (202; 602) has a plurality of support ribs (220, 222, 224; 620, 622, 624), and at least one first retaining projection (216; 616), which the front wall (210; 610) on the refrigerated goods container body (202; 602) in a position of use, and that the support ribs (220, 222, 224; 620, 622, 624) and the at least one first retaining projection (216, 616) bear against different major surfaces. In addition, the invention relates to a household refrigeration appliance with such a refrigerated goods container and a method for mounting a front wall on a refrigerated goods container body.