Refrigerator storage system

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerator designs lack efficient mechanisms for securing and stabilizing containers within the door bins, leading to potential spillage and instability during door opening and closing.

Innovation Solution

A bin system with a receptacle, rails, and an adapter plate that secures secondary containers using grooves and protrusions, ensuring containers remain stable and prevent spillage by engaging with the rails and adapter orifices, and a secondary container with a seal to prevent contents from spilling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If containers are placed in door bins during door opening and closing, then storage functionality is provided, but container stability is poor leading to spillage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer stabilityVSAvoidspillage prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The door bin is segmented into multiple functional zones: an upper receptacle for primary containers and a lower space with rails for secondary containers. This segmentation allows different stabilization mechanisms to operate in different zones, with the adapter plate providing stability for primary containers and the rail-groove mechanism providing stability for secondary containers during door movement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The adapter plate acts as an intermediary component that secures primary containers to the receptacle through engagement with container features. The adapter plate transfers and distributes mechanical forces from the container to the receptacle structure, preventing container movement and spillage during door opening and closing operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple container sizes are stored in the bin, then storage versatility is improved, but container fit and stability become problematic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontainer size accommodationVSAvoidcontainer position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The adapter plate is designed with universal engagement features that can accommodate multiple container sizes and types. The plate includes multiple orifices and engagement mechanisms that can adapt to different container configurations, allowing the same adapter plate structure to securely hold various container dimensions while maintaining position stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The adapter plate employs local quality variations through differently sized orifices and engagement features positioned at specific locations. This allows the plate to provide customized fit and stability for containers of varying sizes, with each local region of the plate optimized for specific container types while maintaining overall versatility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12429277B2Refrigerator storage system

Publication Date: 2025.09.30 WHIRLPOOL CORP

AI summary

A refrigerator bin system includes a receptacle, at least one rail, and a secondary container. The receptacle has a top side defining a plurality of orifices of varying sizes configured to receive primary containers of varying sizes. The at least one rail is disposed below receptacle. The secondary container is configured to engage the at least one rail for securing and removing the secondary container onto and from the receptacle.