Refrigerator Door Panel Assembly with Rotatable Trim Coupling

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

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 or disassembly.

Innovation Solution

The refrigerator features a door structure with a rotatable panel body, trims, and a fixing member system that allows the door panel to be easily coupled and decoupled from the door body, using trims with cut-out portions and protrusions to secure the panel without sharp edges and absorb impact, and a buffer member to prevent separation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the door panel is fixed rigidly to the door body, then the structural strength is improved, but the ease of manufacture and design flexibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural strengthVSAvoiddesign flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The door panel is divided into multiple segments connected by hinges, allowing the panel to be assembled in parts rather than as a single rigid piece. This segmentation enables easier manufacturing and design flexibility while maintaining structural integrity through the hinge connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The door panel incorporates movable hinges that allow dynamic adjustment and rotation during assembly and operation. This dynamic capability enables the panel to adapt to different assembly conditions and design configurations while maintaining secure attachment to the door body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the door panel edge is secured tightly to the door body, then the reliability is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveedge securityVSAvoidassembly and disassembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge mechanism enables the door panel to be easily attached and detached through rotational movement, providing simple operation during assembly and disassembly while ensuring reliable connection when closed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge acts as an intermediary element between the door panel and door body, providing a mechanism that ensures secure attachment while allowing for easy operation during assembly and disassembly processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If the door panel uses a simple fixed structure, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructure complexityVSAvoidedge security

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The door panel is segmented into multiple sections connected by hinges, creating a structure that remains relatively simple in appearance and operation while internally providing multiple attachment points that enhance reliability and prevent edge separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11333426B2Refrigerator and home appliance

Publication Date: 2022.05.17 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

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.