Refrigerator Door Bin with Planar Base to Maximize Storage Volume
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerator door bins are difficult to access and transport, often leading to items falling when the door is opened or closed due to their design, which includes solid bases that can be mistaken as shelves and occupy valuable space.
Innovation Solution
A door bin system that can be pulled out through a secondary auxiliary door, featuring a planar main base portion with upwardly extending walls and a downwardly extending lip to engage with the refrigerator door frame, preventing movement during door operation, and a removable bottom surface cover for easy access and cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the door bin uses a solid base with upright projections to engage with the door frame, then the bin is securely fixed in place, but the mating indentations take up valuable storage space and make cleaning more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the upright projections and mating indentations from the door bin structure. Instead of having the bin engage through protrusions and recesses, the bin uses a simple planar base that rests on the door frame surface, eliminating the space-consuming engagement features while maintaining secure fixation through friction and the rim structure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the door bin is fixed to the door with a solid base, then the bin remains stable during door operation, but when removed for transport, the solid base appears as a shelf and items can fall when the door opens or closes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the door bin into separable components: the bin body and the removable bottom surface cover. This segmentation allows the bin to be easily disassembled for cleaning and transport, and the cover can be removed to prevent items from falling when the bin is moved or when the door operates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dynamic engagement system where the bin can be easily inserted and removed from the door frame without tools. The bin transitions from a fixed position during normal operation to a removable state for transport, with the engagement mechanism providing stability when installed and ease of removal when needed.
3Device complexity
If the door bin is accessible only through the main door, then the structure is simple, but users must open the main door to access frequently used items, reducing convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the door structure into two functional parts: the main door for primary access and an auxiliary door for quick access to the door bin. This segmentation allows users to access frequently used items in the door bin without opening the main door, improving convenience while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
4Reliability
If the door bin walls include indentations or recesses to mate with appliance components, then the bin is securely positioned, but the interior volume is reduced and cleaning becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes indentations, recesses, and protrusions from the door bin walls. The bin uses a smooth, planar construction that engages with the door frame through a simple rim and base structure, maximizing the interior volume and eliminating difficult-to-clean recesses while maintaining reliable positioning through the simplified engagement mechanism.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A refrigeration appliance (10) door bin (16) assembly that includes: a refrigeration appliance (10) door bin (16) having a substantially planar main base portion (56), at least one upwardly extending wall (54) that is free of an indentation, apertures or recesses extending upward from the main base portion (56) and a downwardly extending perimeter lip portion (82) where the main base portion (56) and the downwardly extending lip portion (82) define a downwardly facing door bin frame engagement space (62), the door bin engagement space (62) engages a door bin frame (18) of a refrigerator (10) spaced within the door (14) of a refrigerator (10) such that the downwardly extending lip portion (82) surrounds an exterior portion (64) of the door bin frame (18) and prevents substantial movement of the door bin (16) when the door bin (16) is engaged with the door bin frame (18) caused by a refrigeration appliance door (14) opening force or a refrigeration appliance door (14) closing force; and a refrigeration appliance door bin bottom surface cover (60).