Refrigeration Door Handle with Angular Base for Pivot Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigeration appliance doors face challenges in precisely guiding the pivoting movement of the door handle due to the limited depth and mechanical strength of the door leaf, leading to issues like loosening of the pivot mechanism and aesthetically disturbing protrusions, which affect the functionality and perceived quality.
Innovation Solution
A door design featuring a foot piece with an angular shape and a non-rotatably connected shaft, utilizing a bearing formed by two half-shells and a coupling mechanism with gear wheel sectors to transmit the pivoting movement, allowing for precise guidance and adjustable assembly configurations to prevent snaking and enhance stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sleeve is used to engage the pivot axis in the door leaf, then the handle can be pivotably mounted, but the sleeve loosens progressively due to the low mechanical strength of the foam and limited depth of the door leaf
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a single-point pivot (sleeve) to a distributed pivot system using an angular base with two legs. The first leg embeds in the door leaf while the second leg extends forward, creating a longer guidance path in the depth direction. This dimensional extension suppresses snaking movements and prevents loosening by distributing the pivot stresses across a larger volume of the base structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The base is designed as a composite structure combining a foam-filled hollow body (for insulation and shock absorption) with a rigid angular framework (for mechanical strength and pivot stability). This composite construction allows the base to be firmly attached to the door leaf while providing a stable pivot axis that resists loosening forces.
2Ease of manufacture
If a flange with annular groove is used to articulate the handle, then attachment to the door leaf is easier, but swaying about the vertical axis is not sufficiently suppressed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extends the pivot guidance in the depthwise direction by having the second leg of the angular base extend in front of the door leaf. This creates a longer effective pivot radius that suppresses swaying and snaking movements about the vertical axis, while the angular configuration maintains ease of attachment to the door leaf.
3Ease of operation
If a foot piece protrudes laterally beyond the flank, then the handle can be mounted, but it is perceived as aesthetically disturbing
Solution Approach 1:
The angular base is designed to be substantially received within the contour of the door leaf, with the first leg embedding in the door leaf and the second leg extending forward within the available space. This nesting approach allows the pivot mechanism to be mounted without creating disturbing lateral protrusions, maintaining a clean aesthetic appearance.
4Ease of operation
If the pivot axis is defined by a pin engaging a sleeve, then the handle can rotate, but the orientation of the pivot axis varies depending on the direction of actuating force
Solution Approach 1:
The angular base with its two legs creates a constrained pivot path that guides the handle rotation along a precise arc. The first leg embedded in the door leaf and the second leg extending forward work together to define a stable pivot axis orientation that remains consistent regardless of the direction of actuating force, eliminating the variability problem of the sleeve design.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
AI summary
The door for a refrigeration device comprises a door leaf (1) and a door handle (8). Said door handle comprises a base (9), designed to be fastened to a lateral flank (6) of the door leaf (1), a handle base (10), which can be swiveled in relation to the base (9) about an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the lateral flank (6), and a movable tappet coupled to the swiveling motion. The base (9) projects beyond a front face (5) of the door leaf (1) and maintains the axis in front of the front face (5) of the door leaf (1).