Refrigerator and home appliances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerator door structures face challenges in easily changing the outer appearance, suffer from gaps between the door panel and body, and are prone to deformation due to impacts or insulation material foaming, leading to aesthetic and durability issues.
Innovation Solution
A door panel assembly system with a buffer member and adhesive portion that allows for easy attachment and detachment of the door panel, minimizing gaps and preventing deformation, while using a unified side decor structure to reduce component types and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional panel structure is used to define the outer appearance of the door, then the outer appearance can be established, but it is not easy to attach and detach the glass panel, making it difficult to change the outer appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly is divided into separate components: a door body and a detachable door panel. The door panel can be independently attached to or removed from the door body, allowing easy changes in outer appearance while maintaining structural integrity of the door body.
Solution Approach 2:
The door panel is designed with dynamic attachment and detachment capabilities through adhesive portions and buffer members. This allows the panel to be firmly fixed during use but easily removed when appearance changes are desired, transitioning between stable and flexible states.
2Shape
If a glass panel is mounted on the door body, then the outer appearance is defined, but a gap occurs between the glass panel and door body, deteriorating the completeness of the outer appearance
Solution Approach 1:
A buffer member is introduced as an intermediary element between the door panel and door body. This buffer member fills the gap between the panel and body, improving the completeness of the outer appearance while absorbing dimensional variations and simplifying the overall structure.
3Strength
If the panel is made of metal material, then the panel provides structural strength, but the panel is bent due to impact from insulation filling or external impact, deforming the outer appearance
Solution Approach 1:
A buffer member is provided between the door panel and door body to cushion against impacts from insulation filling or external forces. This buffer member absorbs impact energy before it reaches the panel, preventing deformation while maintaining panel strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The door assembly uses a composite structure combining the door panel (metal or glass for strength and appearance), adhesive portions (for bonding), and buffer members (for impact absorption). This composite approach leverages the advantages of different materials to achieve both strength and impact resistance.
4Adaptability or versatility
If different panel materials and types are used, then design flexibility is improved, but the components constituting the door cannot be shared, increasing costs
Solution Approach 1:
The door body, adhesive portions, and buffer members are designed as universal components that can be used with different types and materials of door panels. This allows the same core components to be shared across various panel configurations, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining design flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes: a door including a door body and a door panel coupled to the door body, and a buffer member disposed at a rear surface of the door panel and provided between the door body and the door panel. The door body defines a first part at a front surface, an adhesive portion is provided at the first part between the door body and the door panel to thereby couple a rear surface of the door panel to the front surface of the door body, and the buffer member contacts a first portion of the adhesive portion and the rear surface of the door panel contacts a second portion of the adhesive portion.