Refrigerator Door Dispenser Assembly Without Adhesive Bonding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerator door designs with integrated dispensers face issues such as contamination, precision requirements in manufacturing, and degradation of adhesives or foaming agents over time, leading to potential leaks and reduced user convenience.

Innovation Solution

A three-stage assembly door design featuring an upper door member, a lower door member, and a dispenser housing, all made from the same stainless material, with coupling members and a dispenser housing that includes an actuator pad for dispensing water or ice without opening the door, enhancing aesthetics and reducing contamination risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a dispenser housing is inserted into the outer door case using adhesives or foaming agents, then the dispenser can be integrated into the door, but the adhesives or foaming agents degrade over time leading to potential leaks and reduced reliability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of integrationVSAvoidreliability of connection

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the chemical bonding system (adhesives or foaming agents) with a mechanical fastening system using clamps. The clamps apply continuous mechanical pressure to secure the dispenser housing to the outer door case, eliminating the degradation issues associated with chemical bonds over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the bonding mechanism from chemical (adhesives) to mechanical (clamps with adjustable pressure). The clamps can be tightened to provide optimal securing force and maintain consistent pressure over time, unlike adhesives that degrade chemically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the outer door case is made as a single integrated piece with precise punching for the dispenser, then manufacturing precision is required, but this increases manufacturing complexity and potential contamination

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprecision of dispenser integrationVSAvoidcomplexity of door structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the door assembly into separate modular components: the outer door case, the dispenser housing, and the clamps. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured independently with standard tolerances, then assembled together, eliminating the need for precise punching of the entire door case as a single piece.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dispenser housing is nested within the outer door case structure, with the clamps providing external fastening. This nested arrangement allows the dispenser to be integrated into the door without requiring precise through-holes or complex integrated molding, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining precision of fit.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of operation

If the dispenser housing is integrated into the outer door case, then user convenience is enhanced by dispensing without opening the door, but contamination risks increase at the connection interface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of dispensingVSAvoidcontamination at connection interface

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the connection interface from the internal structure of the door by using external clamps. This allows the dispenser housing to be securely attached while maintaining a clean, sealed appearance from the front, and enables easy removal or replacement of the dispenser housing without disassembling the entire door structure, reducing contamination risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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

The solution provides a more robust, easy-to-clean, and user-friendly dispenser system that maintains the refrigerator's insulation and aesthetic appeal while eliminating the need for precise punching and reducing contamination risks.

Implementation Method 1

an insulator positioned in a space between the outer door case and the door liner

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentUS9068772B2Door for refrigerator and refrigerator having the same

Publication Date: 2015.06.30 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A door for a refrigerator and a refrigerator having the same are provided. The door includes an upper door member disposed in an upper portion and a lower door member disposed under the upper door member and spaced apart from the upper door member. The door also includes a dispenser housing positioned between the upper door member and the lower door member and inwardly depressed to allow a dispenser having a discharge duct for discharging water and/or ice to be installed therein. The door further includes a coupling member that couples the dispenser housing to the upper door member or the lower door member.