Refrigerator door handle

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerator door handles can be difficult to operate and grasp, especially when users need to open the doors with one hand while holding objects, and they may not provide sufficient distance from the door surface for comfortable gripping.

Innovation Solution

A door assembly with a pocket handle that extends along the peripheral edge of the door, featuring a recessed surface and a handle assembly with a mounting portion that supports the handle portion at a spaced distance forward from the door surface, enhancing accessibility and comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a traditional door handle is mounted directly on the door surface, then the structure is simple, but the handle is difficult to grasp and operate when holding objects

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of graspingVSAvoidhandle structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The handle assembly extends in the depth dimension from the door surface, creating a mounting portion that projects forward. This dimensional extension allows the handle to be grasped more easily while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure integrated into the door assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Ease of operation

If the handle is positioned close to the door surface, then the design is sleek, but the handle provides insufficient distance for comfortable gripping

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegripping comfortVSAvoiddoor profile aesthetics

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The handle assembly is nested within a pocket handle recess in the door, with the mounting portion extending forward from the door surface. This nesting approach allows the handle to protrude enough for comfortable gripping while minimizing the overall visual protrusion and maintaining a sleek door profile.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of operation

If a pocket handle with recessed surface is used, then accessibility is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveaccessibilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The pocket handle, mounting portion, and handle assembly are merged into a single integrated structure. The mounting portion is formed as an integral part of the pocket handle, reducing the number of separate components and simplifying manufacturing while maintaining the recessed surface geometry for improved accessibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250052480A1Refrigerator door handle

Publication Date: 2025.02.13 HISENSE USA CORP

AI summary

A refrigerator door has an inner surface that faces rearward toward an interior compartment of the refrigerator and a front, outer surface opposite the inner surface. A peripheral edge surface of the door is disposed between the inner and outer surfaces. A pocket handle extends along at least a portion of the peripheral edge surface of the door, where the pocket handle defines a recessed surface. A handle assembly includes a mounting portion that is attached to the recessed surface of the pocket handle. The mounting portion extends forward and supports a handle portion at a spaced distance forward from the outer surface of the door.