Refrigerator Door Panel Assembly with Nested Recessed Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator door panel mounting structures expose coupling portions, leading to productivity issues, inaccurate mounting, and defects in the outer appearance due to deformation from temperature differences and foaming pressure, especially with heavy materials like glass.
Innovation Solution
A panel assembly mounting structure where one end of the panel is supported by an upper or lower cap decor with a restriction member passing through to maintain a rigid and secure attachment, preventing gaps and ensuring easy assembly and disassembly, while keeping the coupling portion hidden.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If brackets are mounted on the outside to attach the panel, then the panel can be securely mounted, but productivity deteriorates and accurate mounting position cannot be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling portion is nested within the recessed groove formed in the door body, allowing the panel to be attached securely without external brackets. The coupling portion fits into the recessed groove like a nested structure, eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The recessed groove is pre-formed in the door body at the correct position and dimensions before panel installation. This preliminary preparation of the mounting structure enables accurate positioning and simplifies the assembly process, as workers only need to insert and secure the panel without complex alignment procedures.
2Reliability
If brackets are mounted on the outside to attach the panel, then the panel can be securely mounted, but the outer appearance deteriorates due to exposed brackets
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling portion is concealed within the recessed groove, creating a nested appearance where the panel seems to be integrated into the door body. This eliminates visible external brackets while maintaining secure attachment, as the coupling structure is hidden within the recessed space.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling portion is extracted from the external surface and relocated to the recessed groove area. This extraction removes the visually problematic external brackets while preserving the functional coupling mechanism, as the coupling now occurs within the recessed space rather than on the external surface.
3Reliability
If multiple grooves and installation portions are used to mount heavy glass panels, then the panels can be securely attached, but assembly and disassembly operations become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling structure is segmented into a fixed recessed groove in the door body and a corresponding coupling portion on the panel. This segmentation allows the heavy panel to be supported by the recessed groove structure while simplifying assembly, as the panel components can be independently prepared and then easily installed by aligning and securing the coupling portions.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the door components disperse or deform due to temperature differences and foaming pressure, then the door structure changes, but the panel cannot be accurately mounted
Solution Approach 1:
The recessed groove is pre-formed in the door body with sufficient dimensional tolerance and structural flexibility to accommodate thermal expansion, contraction, and foaming pressure effects. This beforehand cushioning of potential dimensional changes ensures that the coupling portion can still be accurately mounted even when the door components undergo stress or deformation during operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to define a storage space and a door configured to open and close the storage space. The door includes a door body including a door liner configured to define a rear surface of the door, a front plate disposed to be spaced forward from the door liner, a cap decor which is connected to the door liner and the front plate to define a circumferential surface of the door and in which a recessed handle is defined, and a door body including an insulator filled between the door liner, the front plate, and the cap decor and a panel assembly detachably mounted on a front surface of the door body and configured to define a front surface of the door. The panel assembly includes a panel configured to define an outer appearance of the front surface of the door and an insertion protrusion configured to protrude backward from the panel and inserted into a front surface of the cap decor when the panel is mounted so as to restrict the panel assembly. The insertion protrusion extends from the outside of a recessed space of the handle in a direction crossing the recessed space.