Refrigeration device with a beverage container tray

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigeration devices lack a simplified and versatile beverage container shelf design that efficiently accommodates containers of different sizes and orientations without requiring separate fastening devices, leading to complexity in handling and storage.

Innovation Solution

A beverage container shelf with a curved surface section featuring bulges and indentations forms receptacles, allowing for different orientations and capacities, and an attachment device that connects the upper and lower parts in multiple positions, eliminating the need for a separate fastening device and enhancing flexibility and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a beverage container shelf has separate fastening devices to connect upper and lower parts, then the shelf can be assembled in different configurations, but the handling and assembly process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration varietyVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fastening devices are integrated into the upper part structure itself, merging the fastening function with the shelf component. This eliminates separate fastening devices and simplifies assembly while maintaining the ability to connect upper and lower parts in different configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The upper part is designed with multiple attachment positions that can connect to different positions on the lower part, allowing a single component to serve multiple assembly configurations. This universal attachment design enables versatility without requiring multiple specialized fastening devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If a beverage container shelf has a flat base body, then the manufacturing is simple, but the storage capacity for different container orientations is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidcontainer orientation flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The base body is designed with curved attachment surfaces instead of flat surfaces. These curved surfaces allow the upper part to rotate and attach at multiple angles to the lower part, enabling storage of containers in different orientations while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through a single curved surface design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment mechanism allows for dynamic positioning of the upper part relative to the lower part. The curved surfaces enable the shelf to be assembled in different configurations and orientations, providing adaptability for various container storage needs while keeping the base body structure simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If the support surface area of the shelf is increased, then the stability of the shelf is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshelf stabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shelf is divided into separate upper and lower parts, each with their own support surfaces. The lower part has a large support surface area for stability on the compartment floor, while the upper part can be independently attached. This segmentation allows each part to be optimized for its specific function without overall structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The attachment mechanism utilizes rotational freedom around a vertical axis, adding a dimensional aspect to the connection. This allows the upper part to be positioned in different orientations while maintaining stable support through the curved attachment surfaces, achieving stability without increased structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP2784418B1Refrigeration device with a beverage container tray
Publication Date: 2022.01.12 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2784418B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2784418B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2784418B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The device has upper and lower cooling compartments, where a shelf and a beverage container tray (200) are arranged in the respective compartments. The tray has retainers (208, 210a-210c) for accommodating beverage containers. The retainers are formed by a curved surface section (212) of a base body (202) of one of the containers, where the base body has bulges (214) and curvatures (216). The bulges form the retainers, and the curvatures form utility space portions (218) for supporting the tray on the shelf, where an upper part of the tray is made from plastic.