Refrigerator Door Basket Hinge and Locking Access Mechanism
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators face challenges in efficiently utilizing storage space due to interference between basket assemblies and the need for users to manually pivot heavy baskets, which can lead to finger injury and difficulty in accessing items.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring pivotably mounted basket assemblies with multi-articulated hinges and locking/release devices that allow baskets to be selectively coupled or separated from doors, enabling independent pivoting and easy access without applying load to the door, and incorporating a concave part for secure basket positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the basket assembly is pivotably mounted at the inside wall of the storage compartment, then no load is applied to the door, but the device complexity increases due to the additional hinge mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The basket assembly is separated from the door structure and independently pivotably mounted on the inside wall of the storage compartment. This segmentation allows the basket to have its own support mechanism (hinge on cabinet wall) rather than relying on the door for support, thereby eliminating load on the door while maintaining pivot functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge mechanism acts as an intermediary element mounted on the cabinet wall rather than the door. This intermediary support structure transfers the load-bearing function from the door to the cabinet wall, allowing the basket to pivot independently without applying force to the door.
2Ease of operation
If the basket assembly is selectively coupled to the door, then easy access to items is enabled, but the device complexity increases due to the locking and release mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to be activated automatically or through simple user action (e.g., pushing the basket against the door engages the lock). The release mechanism provides easy one-handed operation from inside the refrigerator, allowing users to access items without complex manual operations. The system serves itself by using the natural movement of the basket to engage/disengage the locking mechanism.
3Productivity
If the basket assembly can be pivoted independently from the door, then storage space utilization is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the additional pivot mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The basket assembly is segmented from the door structure and given independent pivot capability through a hinge mounted on the cabinet wall. This allows the basket to move independently within the storage compartment, improving space utilization by allowing access to items at the back without moving the entire door-basket assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The basket assembly transitions from a static position fixed to the door to a dynamic position with independent pivot capability. The hinge mechanism enables the basket to rotate freely within a certain range, adapting to different access needs and improving storage space utilization throughout the compartment.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator is discussed. The refrigerator includes a cabinet that includes a storage compartment. The refrigerator further includes a first door hinged on a first edge of the cabinet and configured to open and close a first portion of the storage compartment. The refrigerator further includes a first basket assembly supported by a first hinge mounted at a first inner wall of the storage compartment. The refrigerator further includes a first locking device configured to selectively couple the first basket assembly to the first door. The refrigerator further includes a first release device configured to release the first locking device and accessible from a first inner surface of the door and a first outer surface of the door.