Refrigerator Door Insert With Hollow Side Walls and Filler Bodies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for creating customizable door components for refrigeration appliances are costly due to the need for complex injection molds and expensive production of individually shaped parts, limiting design freedom and increasing production costs.
Innovation Solution
The use of transparent, hollow side walls with interchangeable filler bodies that can be easily inserted into cavities, allowing for varying appearances without altering the base plate or side panel design, which are uniformly produced and assembled, providing a cost-effective and aesthetically customizable solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If complex injection molds are used for each individual built-in part to achieve design freedom, then design freedom is improved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly is divided into modular components: a standardized base plate and interchangeable side panels. Each side panel can be produced independently using simpler molds, and different variants can be assembled with the same base plate to create different door configurations, reducing the need for complex dedicated molds for each complete assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The base plate is designed as a universal component that can accommodate multiple different side panel variants. This standardized interface allows the same base plate to work with various side panel designs, reducing the number of unique molds required and lowering overall production costs while maintaining design flexibility.
2Ease of manufacture
If modular approach with separately manufactured components is used to reduce production cost, then production cost is reduced, but design freedom is limited
Solution Approach 1:
While the base plate and connection interfaces are standardized for cost-effective production, the side panels maintain design freedom through varied shapes, sizes, and configurations. This allows customization in critical visual areas while using standardized components for structural elements, achieving a balance between production efficiency and design flexibility.
3Shape
If side panels are produced with complex individual shapes to achieve desired appearance, then appearance customization is improved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly is segmented into a standardized base plate and interchangeable side panels. Each side panel can be produced independently using simpler molds, and different variants can be assembled with the same base plate to create different door configurations, reducing the need for complex dedicated molds for each complete assembly.
4Illumination intensity
If transparent side walls are used to enable visibility of contents, then visibility is improved, but structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The side panels utilize transparent materials (such as acrylic or polycarbonate) that provide both optical clarity for visibility and sufficient mechanical strength for structural integrity. These materials maintain the load-bearing capacity required for door assemblies while enabling users to view contents through the door panels.
Data Source
Figure 1~4
Figure 2~5
Figure 6
AI summary
The invention relates to a door insert for a refrigerator, in particular for a household refrigerator, such as a door shelf or a butter compartment, comprising a floor plate (17) and hollow side walls (6) connected by the floor plate (17). A filler body (3) is inserted in a hollow space (29) of at least one of the transparent, in particular clear glass side walls (6).