Refrigerator and home appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerator door designs are inflexible, making it difficult to change the design or prevent the edge of the door panel from separating from the door body during assembly.
Innovation Solution
The refrigerator features a door structure with a rotatable panel body, trims, and a fixing member system that allows easy coupling and decoupling of the panel to the door body, using trims with cut-out portions and protrusions to secure the panel and absorb impacts, ensuring the edge remains fixed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the door panel is rigidly fixed to the door body, then the panel stability is improved, but the design flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly is segmented into separate components: door body, door panel, and trim pieces. The trim pieces act as intermediate elements that connect the panel to the door body, allowing the panel to be easily attached or removed without permanently fixing it to the door body structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The trim pieces are pre-configured with specific geometric features (protrusions and recesses) that enable preliminary alignment and positioning of the door panel relative to the door body, facilitating easy assembly and disassembly while maintaining stability during use.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the door panel is easily detachable, then the design flexibility is improved, but the panel stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The trim pieces are nested between the door panel and door body, with the panel fitting within the trim structure which in turn attaches to the door body. This nested arrangement provides stable fixation during operation while allowing easy removal when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The trim pieces serve as intermediary elements between the door panel and door body, providing a stable connection mechanism that allows for easy attachment and detachment while ensuring the panel remains firmly positioned during use.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the trim structure is complex, then the panel stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating a globally complex structure, the patent applies localized geometric features (protrusions and recesses) only at the critical connection points between trim pieces, panel, and door body. This provides stable fixation without requiring overall structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than using complex mechanical fasteners or adhesives to secure the panel, the patent inverts the approach by using simple interlocking geometric shapes that rely on the natural fit and friction between mating surfaces, reducing structural complexity while maintaining stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator including a main body forming a storage compartment, and a door configured to open and close the storage compartment. The door includes a door body rotatably coupled to the main body and including an insulator therein, a panel body positioned in a front of the door body, a first trim disposed at a first edge of the panel body and configured to be coupled to the door body while being rotated with respect to the door body, and a second trim disposed at a second edge opposite to the first edge of the panel body and configured to be coupled to the door body when the first trim is coupled to the door body.