Refrigerator Door Lever-Guide Mechanism for Automatic Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerators do not have an efficient mechanism for automatically opening and closing the door, which can make it difficult for users to access the storage compartment easily.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerator with a door opening and closing system that includes a lever mounted on the door, a guide with first and second contact surfaces, and a door pusher that automatically opens the door by pressing it until the lever is in contact with the second contact surface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a door opening and closing structure is added to enable automatic door operation, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of door operationVSAvoidcomplexity of door structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The door opening and closing structure enables the door to open and close automatically without requiring manual intervention. The lever moves autonomously along the guide's contact surfaces, and the door pusher automatically presses the door open when the lever reaches the second contact surface, allowing the system to serve itself

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The lever acts as an intermediary component that mediates between the door pusher and the door. It translates the linear pressing motion of the door pusher into rotational motion of the door through contact with the guide's first and second contact surfaces, enabling automatic door operation without direct mechanical connection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the door is designed to rotate fully open without stopping, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability may worsen due to potential over-rotation issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of door openingVSAvoidreliability of door rotation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The guide structure provides geometric feedback to control the lever's movement. The first contact surface guides the lever during door opening, and the second contact surface automatically stops the lever when the door reaches the fully open position, preventing over-rotation through positional feedback rather than active control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The guide incorporates curved contact surfaces that guide the lever's motion path. The curvature of the first and second contact surfaces ensures smooth rotational motion of the door while automatically limiting the rotation range to prevent over-opening, combining ease of operation with reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS20250075963A1refrigerator

Publication Date: 2025.03.06 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A refrigerator including a storage compartment; a rotatable door to open and close the storage compartment; a movable lever mounted on the door; a guide, having first and second contact surfaces, to guide movement of the lever while the door is rotated; and a door pusher to press the door to open the storage compartment. While the door is rotated, the lever is moved along in contact with the guide. While the lever is contacting the first contact surface, the lever applies a force to the door in a direction of closing the storage compartment. While the lever is contacting the second contact surface, the lever applies a force to the door in a direction of opening the storage compartment. The door pusher is operable to press the door in the direction of opening the storage compartment until the lever is in contact with the second contact surface.