Refrigerator Door Panel Assembly with Concealed Bracket Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator door panel mounting systems face challenges such as deteriorated productivity and inaccurate mounting due to the need for external bracket installation, which also exposes brackets and affects the outer appearance.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator door design featuring a panel assembly with first and second cap decors, insulators, and brackets that allow for easy mounting and detachment of the panel, while maintaining a clean outer appearance by concealing the mounting structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple brackets are mounted on the outside to mount the panel, then the panel can be securely fixed, but productivity deteriorates and accurate mounting position cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The door body is segmented into multiple sections with recessed grooves at predetermined positions, allowing the panel to be divided and mounted in separate sections rather than requiring complete external bracket installation. This segmentation enables easier positioning and fixation while maintaining mounting stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting structure transitions from external side mounting to internal recessed groove mounting. By creating grooves that extend from the front surface to the rear surface of the door body, the panel can be inserted and fixed from the front, eliminating the need for workers to access and install brackets from the sides, thus improving productivity and positioning accuracy.
2Reliability
If multiple brackets are mounted on the outside to mount the panel, then the panel can be securely fixed, but the outer appearance deteriorates due to exposed brackets
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting brackets are extracted from the external visible area and integrated into the recessed grooves of the door body. The brackets are now concealed within the door structure, visible only when the panel is removed, thus maintaining a clean outer appearance while preserving mounting functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting brackets are nested within the recessed grooves of the door body, with the brackets positioned inside the grooves rather than mounted externally. This nesting arrangement allows the brackets to be hidden from external view, maintaining aesthetic appearance while providing secure panel fixation.
3Shape
If recessed grooves are defined in the door body to mount the glass panel, then the panel can be mounted, but it is not easy to accurately couple installation portions to the grooves, deteriorating workability
Solution Approach 1:
The recessed grooves are equipped with localized guide structures and positioning features at specific locations along the groove length. These local quality enhancements provide tactile and visual guidance to workers during panel installation, making it easier to align and couple the installation portions accurately with the grooves.
Solution Approach 2:
The recessed grooves are pre-formed with predetermined positions, dimensions, and orientation during door body manufacturing. This preliminary action ensures that when panels are installed, the coupling portions can be easily aligned and coupled without requiring complex adjustment or positioning procedures during installation.
4Ease of manufacture
If the door is foamed, the groove may be deformed, but deformation affects accurate panel mounting
Solution Approach 1:
The recessed grooves are designed with predetermined dimensions and positions that account for potential foam deformation. The groove geometry and positioning are optimized to maintain functional accuracy even when the door body undergoes foaming, ensuring that panels can still be accurately coupled to the grooves after the foaming process.
Solution Approach 2:
The design parameters of the recessed grooves, such as depth, width, and positioning, are specifically optimized to compensate for deformation that occurs during the door foaming process. By adjusting these parameters beforehand, the grooves maintain sufficient dimensional accuracy for accurate panel mounting despite the foaming-induced changes.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a cabinet and a door. The door includes a door liner, a front plate, a first cap decor coupled to the door liner and the front plate, a second cap decor coupled to the door liner and the front plate at a position facing the first cap decor, an insulator filled into a space defined by coupling of the door liner, the front plate, and the cap decors, and a panel assembly disposed detachably in front of the front plate. The panel assembly includes a panel defining an outer appearance of a front surface of the door, a first bracket protruding from a rear surface of the panel and inserted into the first cap decor, and a second bracket provided on the rear surface of the panel and supported by the second cap decor.