Refrigerator Door Frame With Seamless Edge for Flexible Panel Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerating storing devices have limited design freedom for their access elements, such as doors and drawers, which restricts aesthetic and functional customization while maintaining manufacturing cost efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The access element for refrigerating storing devices is manufactured using an extrusion profile with interconnected portions that are folded around a sheet metal or glass panel, incorporating a seamless edge formed from polyurethane material, eliminating the need for additional fixtures and allowing for increased design flexibility without raising production costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional sheet metal panels or glass panels are used for access elements, then manufacturing cost is controlled, but design freedom is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The access element is divided into separate functional components: a frame structure and a panel (glass or sheet metal). The frame can be manufactured independently with complex geometries and folded configurations, while the panel remains a simple, cost-effective component. This segmentation allows the frame to provide design freedom without increasing panel manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame structure utilizes three-dimensional folded configurations and spatial arrangements to achieve design freedom. By moving from two-dimensional panel designs to three-dimensional folded frame structures, the invention creates aesthetic and functional customization opportunities without requiring complex panel manufacturing.
2Stability of the object's composition
If additional fixtures are used to assemble access elements, then structural stability is improved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The frame structure is designed to integrate multiple functions into a single component: it provides structural support, aesthetic formatting, and built-in attachment mechanisms for panels. By merging these functions into the frame itself, the invention eliminates the need for separate fixtures while maintaining structural stability and reducing assembly complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The frame structure incorporates self-aligning and self-securing features that enable the panel to be attached without additional fixtures. The folded configurations and geometric design of the frame allow it to automatically position and secure the panel, reducing assembly steps and complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If seamless edges are formed using the extrusion profile folding method, then design freedom and cleaning ease are improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The extrusion profile is pre-designed with predetermined fold lines and geometric features that guide the folding process. By preparing the profile geometry in advance with precise fold line locations and angles, the invention reduces the precision requirements during the actual folding operation, as the profile itself provides the necessary geometric constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes changes in material properties and geometric parameters of the extrusion profile to facilitate folding. By selecting appropriate material characteristics and designing profile cross-sections with specific geometric features, the invention enables precise folding with reduced manufacturing complexity and precision requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
An access element (10, 60) for a refrigerating storing device (1) comprises a panel (11, 61) adapted for forming a surface part of the access element (10, 60), an extrusion profile (12, 62) arranged at least partially around the panel (11, 61) and engaging the panel on at least a circumferential portion (13, 63) thereof, and a seamless edge (15, 65) arranged at least partially on the extrusion profile (12, 62), the seamless edge being formed from plastic material. The seamless edge increases the stiffness and robustness of a front surface for correspondingly formed access members.