Refrigerator Door Hinge Assembly with Hook Support to Prevent Drooping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional refrigerator door hinge units fail to support the weight of the door, leading to drooping and poor sealing, which results in cool air leakage as the door cannot pivot smoothly due to increased volume and weight.

Innovation Solution

A hinge unit with a hook member and groove structure is integrated into the refrigerator door, providing a pivot axis and supporting the door's weight, preventing drooping and ensuring effective sealing by allowing the door to pivot closely with the main body.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the refrigerator door volume increases to provide larger storage space, then the storage capacity is improved, but the door weight increases causing drooping and poor sealing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefrigerator door volumeVSAvoidrefrigerator door weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge unit incorporates a support structure with a support protrusion and support groove that actively counteracts the door's weight. The support protrusion engages with the support groove to prevent drooping, allowing the door to maintain proper alignment and sealing despite increased weight from larger volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the hinge unit is designed to support the door weight, then drooping is prevented, but the hinge unit structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor alignment stabilityVSAvoidhinge unit structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge unit is segmented into distinct functional components: a hinge pin for rotation, a support protrusion for weight bearing, and a support groove for engagement. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while maintaining overall structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of making the entire hinge unit complex to support weight, the invention inverts the approach by using a simple engagement mechanism where the support protrusion fits into the support groove. This inverted simple-engagement approach provides effective weight support without requiring complex structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Device complexity

If the hinge unit simply provides a pivot axis without support structure, then the hinge unit structure is simple, but the door droops and cannot seal properly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehinge unit structureVSAvoidsealing reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges two functions into the hinge unit: providing a pivot axis for rotation and providing weight support through the support protrusion and groove. This combination ensures that the hinge unit simultaneously enables door movement and maintains proper alignment for sealing, achieving both simplicity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2245400B1Refrigerator with a door hinge assembly

Publication Date: 2020.07.22 LG ELECTRONICS INC

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AI summary

A door hinge assembly for a refrigerator includes a refrigerator door pivotally coupled to a main body of the refrigerator and provided with at least one groove and a hinge unit enabling the refrigerator door to pivot. The hinge unit includes a hinge pin providing a pivot axis of the refrigerator door and a hook member provided at a side of the hinge pin and inserted and hooked in the groove.