Refrigerator Door with Integrated Rack Storage to Prevent Rattling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerators integrated into vehicles suffer from unstable storage systems that rattle and waste space due to separate, deep worktops or poorly attached storage bags.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerator door with an integrated storage system featuring a rack with adjustable horizontal shelves held by a vertical holding system, providing a stable and space-efficient solution that combines storage and door functionality in an integral construction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a separate storage bag is fastened to the outside of the door, then storage function is added, but the storage system becomes unstable and rattles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage functionVSAvoidstability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The storage system is merged with the refrigerator door by integrating the rack directly into the door structure. The vertical holding systems are built into the door, and horizontal shelves are mounted within the door framework, creating a unified stable structure that eliminates rattling while providing storage functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Quantity of substance

If a deep worktop is extracted underneath two doors, then storage capacity is increased, but enormous space within the vehicle is wasted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidspace utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of extending storage depth underneath the doors (vertical dimension), the invention utilizes the door surface area (horizontal dimension) by mounting racks on the outside of the doors. This transforms the storage approach from deep vertical storage to shallow horizontal storage, providing adequate capacity without wasting vehicle interior space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If storage system is integrated into the refrigerator door, then stability and space efficiency are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidconstruction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated storage system is segmented into modular components: vertical holding systems that are built into the door structure, and horizontal shelves that can be separately mounted. This segmentation allows for simplified manufacturing and assembly while achieving the stability benefits of integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3686529B1refrigerator
Publication Date: 2023.03.15 AUDI AG
  • EP3686529B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

A refrigerator door (1) having an inside and an outside (2), wherein, on the outside (2), a storage system is integrated into the refrigerator door (1) at least in sections is described. Furthermore, a refrigerator with such a door, as well as a means of transport comprising this refrigerator is described.