Domestic refrigeration appliance with an actuator for a container lid

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Solution Overview

Problem

In household refrigeration appliances, especially no-frost models, foods requiring moisture to maintain nutritional value and structure dry out due to dehumidified air, necessitating separate containers for different humidity levels, but existing systems lack easy and complete control over humidity and air circulation.

Innovation Solution

A household refrigeration appliance with a heat-insulating inner container and a manually controllable refrigerated goods container lid, where a slide actuating means converts linear movement into lifting motion for opening and closing, featuring visual representations to indicate open or closed positions, allowing for direct and cost-effective coupling with minimal complexity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a manual actuating means with a slide is used to control the container lid, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The slide automatically provides visual feedback through the visual representation that changes with slide position, eliminating the need for separate indicators or complex control systems. The system serves itself by using the actuating mechanism's position to directly indicate the lid state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The slide serves multiple functions: it acts as the manual actuating means to move the container lid and simultaneously provides visual indication of the lid position through the visual representation. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.

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

2Ease of operation

If visual representations are added to indicate lid position, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The visual representation is merged with the slide structure itself, where the slide forms part of the visual indication system. This integration means the same component provides both mechanical actuation and visual feedback, avoiding additional separate indicator mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The slide automatically provides visual feedback through the visual representation that changes with slide position, eliminating the need for separate indicators or complex control systems. The system serves itself by using the actuating mechanism's position to directly indicate the lid state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the refrigerated goods container is kept separate to maintain humidity, then the food quality is improved, but the ease of operation worsens due to reduced accessibility

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefood qualityVSAvoidease of operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The refrigerated goods container is segmented as a separate removable unit within the refrigerator, allowing it to be isolated for humidity control while still being easily accessible. The container can be pulled out independently from the main refrigerator body.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The container lid provides dynamic control over the opening, allowing selective access to the refrigerated goods. The lid can be opened to varying degrees or completely removed, providing flexible accessibility while maintaining the sealed environment when closed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables easy, complete, and controllable opening of the refrigerated goods container, maintaining humidity levels and preventing food dryness, while providing a clear and intuitive operation through visual cues.

Implementation Method 1

a storage device, which is designed to convert a linear movement of the container lid executed by a manual actuating means in a depth direction into a lifting movement of the container lid for opening and closing the opening of the refrigerated goods container

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical movement conversion: Mechanical Advantage

Data Source

PatentEP2923165B1Domestic refrigeration appliance with an actuator for a container lid
Publication Date: 2017.05.03 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2923165B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2923165B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2923165B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a domestic refrigeration appliance (1) having a heat-insulating inner container (3) which is designed to delimit at least one storage space for refrigerated goods, a refrigerated goods container (8) mounted in the inner container (3), which goods container has an opening accessible from the top, and a container lid (9) which is mounted in the inner container (3) by means a mounting device (11) coupled to a manual actuator (12), wherein the manual actuator (12) has a slide (13) which is designed to display a first visual representation (14) in a first slide position and a second visual representation (15) in a second slide position in which the first visual representation (14) is covered.