Refrigerator Door Panel Assembly with Dual-Fixer Replaceability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerators do not have a readily replaceable door panel, which can limit user customization and maintenance options.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerator design that includes a door panel with first and second fixers on its rear surface, allowing it to be easily coupled to a cover and a door frame, respectively, enabling simple replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the door panel is made as a single integrated structure with the door frame and cover, then the structural strength and stability are improved, but the replaceability and customization options are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidreplaceability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The door assembly is divided into separate components: door frame, cover, and door panel. The door panel is further segmented into a front surface and a rear surface with distinct fixing mechanisms. This segmentation allows the door panel to be replaced independently while maintaining the overall structural integrity of the door assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The door panel is nested within the door assembly structure, with the front surface forming the outer visible part and the rear surface containing fixing mechanisms that engage with the door frame and cover. This nested arrangement allows the panel to be integrated into the existing door structure while maintaining replaceability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If the door panel uses a simple attachment mechanism for easy replacement, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of the connection may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of replacementVSAvoidconnection reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Two different fixing mechanisms (first fixer on the door frame and second fixer on the cover) are merged to secure the door panel. This combination of multiple fixing points distributed across different components creates a reliable connection that is also relatively easy to disassemble for replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The fixing mechanisms are designed to provide multiple functions: they secure the door panel during normal operation, allow for relatively easy detachment when replacement is needed, and can accommodate different door panel designs. This multi-functionality achieves both ease of replacement and connection reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12281836B2Refrigerator

Publication Date: 2025.04.22 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A refrigerator including: a main body forming a storage compartment and a door provided to open and close the storage compartment, wherein the door includes a door frame, a cover arranged in front of the door frame and including a cover fixer, and a door panel arranged in front of the cover, the door panel including a first fixer and a second fixer on a rear surface of the door panel. When the door panel is coupled to a front side of the cover, the first fixer is coupled to the door frame and the second fixer is coupled to the cover.