Refrigerator Door Gap Adjusting Device with Rotatable Height Stages

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional refrigerators have complex gap adjusting devices that are difficult to use, making it hard for users to intuitively adjust the door step height, leading to unintentional changes during door operation due to friction or user error, and resulting in poor productivity and assembly workability.

Innovation Solution

A simple gap adjusting device with a detachable adjusting member that includes multiple height stages, allowing for intuitive height adjustment by rotating and mounting on a seating part, with an indicating part for visual confirmation and a fixing mechanism to maintain the adjusted state, ensuring accurate and stable mounting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a conventional gap adjusting device is used, then the door step can be adjusted, but the structure becomes complicated and assembly workability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor step adjustmentVSAvoidgap adjusting device structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gap adjusting device is segmented into two main components: a seating part fixed to the door and an adjusting member that can be detached and remounted. This segmentation allows for simplified assembly and disassembly, improving assembly workability while maintaining the adjustment function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The adjusting member is designed to be rotatable on the seating part, allowing dynamic adjustment of the door step height. The rotating mechanism enables users to change the protrusion height by simply rotating the adjusting member to different angular positions, making the adjustment process simple and intuitive.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If a conventional gap adjusting device is used, then the door step can be adjusted, but productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor step adjustmentVSAvoidassembly workability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the gap adjusting device into a fixed seating part and a detachable adjusting member, the assembly process becomes simpler and faster. The separating design allows for easy installation and maintenance, improving overall productivity without compromising the adjustment functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If a conventional gap adjusting device is used, then the door step can be adjusted, but the adjusted state changes unintentionally during door operation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor step adjustmentVSAvoidadjustment state stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

An indicating part is provided on the adjusting member to visually display the current adjustment state. This feedback mechanism allows users to see the protrusion height setting, preventing unintentional changes and ensuring the adjustment state remains stable and identifiable during door operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

4Ease of operation

If a conventional gap adjusting device is used, then the door step can be adjusted, but it is difficult to check the adjusted height

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedoor step adjustmentVSAvoidadjusted height visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The indicating part utilizes visual indicators (such as color-coded markings or positional indicators) to display the adjustment height. This allows users to easily check and identify the protrusion height setting without complex measurement tools, making the adjusted height visible and intuitive.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentEP3982067A1refrigerator
Publication Date: 2022.04.13 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3982067A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3982067A1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3982067A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to form a storage space, a door configured to open and close the storage space, and a gap adjusting device configured to be provided between the cabinet and the door and to adjust a gap between the cabinet and the door, in which the gap adjusting device includes a seating part formed on the door; and an adjusting member which is detachably mounted on the seating part and is in contact with the cabinet in a state where the door is closed, a plurality of adjusting parts having different heights are formed on the adjusting member, and a gap between the cabinet and the door is adjusted according to a combination of a contact surface between the seating part and the adjusting part selected when the adjusting member is mounted.