Home appliance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators require the entire decoration panel to be removed and replaced to change the outer appearance, limiting user flexibility and potentially causing light leakage through the panel assembly.
Innovation Solution
A panel assembly with upper and lower brackets that protrude to support the panel and cover its ends, preventing light leakage by overlapping with the panel edges, allowing for color and brightness adjustments without disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the entire decoration panel is removed and replaced to change the outer appearance, then the outer appearance can be changed, but the operation becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The decoration panel is divided into multiple independently replaceable panels, each with different outer appearances. Users can replace only the desired panel rather than the entire assembly, simplifying the operation while maintaining appearance changeability
Solution Approach 2:
The panel assembly is designed with detachable connections to the door body, enabling dynamic replacement of panels. The brackets and mounting structures allow panels to be easily attached and detached without complex tools or procedures
2Ease of manufacture
If the panel assembly structure is simplified, then the ease of manufacture improves, but light leakage through the panel assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
Brackets are introduced as intermediary components between the panel and door body. These brackets serve dual functions: simplifying the overall assembly structure while providing light-shielding barriers that prevent light leakage through the panel assembly
Solution Approach 2:
Light shielding is implemented locally at critical areas where light leakage occurs (around the panel edges and through the bracket structures) rather than requiring complete coverage. The brackets are strategically positioned to block light paths while maintaining structural simplicity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Provided is a home appliance. The home appliance includes a cabinet having a storage space and a door including a door body configured to open and close the storage space and a panel assembly mounted on the door body. The panel assembly includes a panel which is configured to define a front surface of the door and through which light is transmitted, a lighting device provided behind the panel so that the panel shines with a set color, an upper bracket configured to support the panel from above, and a lower bracket configured to support the panel from below. A bracket protrusion that is in contact with an upper end or a lower end of the panel is disposed on the upper bracket or the lower bracket, and the bracket protrusion protrudes to cover the upper end or the lower end of the panel so as to prevent the light from leaking from the lighting device.