Refrigerator Door-in-Door Structure With Shared Rotational Axis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators face limitations in enlarging the size of door storage chambers and have complex coupling structures for auxiliary doors, which restrict access and usability.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a first storage chamber with a second, smaller storage chamber accessible from the outside while the first door remains closed, utilizing a second door that rotates on the same axis as the first door, simplifying the coupling structure and enhancing accessibility without compromising the refrigerator's aesthetic appeal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional auxiliary door coupling structure is used, then the second storage chamber is accessible from the outer side, but the coupling structure becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the first door and second door into a single integrated door assembly, where the second door is positioned on the outer side of the first door and both share a common coupling structure with the cabinet. This eliminates the need for separate coupling mechanisms for each door, simplifying the overall structure while maintaining independent accessibility to both storage chambers.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it couples both the first door and second door to the cabinet, provides rotational support for both doors, and enables independent operation of each door. This multi-functional design reduces the number of separate components needed and simplifies the overall coupling mechanism.
2Device complexity
If the second door rotates on the same axis as the first door, then the coupling structure is simplified, but the door width and rotation space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the second door on the outer side of the first door, utilizing the depth dimension rather than increasing width. This layered arrangement allows both doors to share the same rotational axis while minimizing the horizontal space required, as the second door extends outward from the first door rather than increasing the overall width of the door assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to define an exterior boundary of the refrigerator. The refrigerator also includes a first storage chamber defined by interior walls of the cabinet and configured to store food stuffs. The refrigerator further includes a first door configured to open and close the first storage chamber by rotating about a rotational axis. In addition, the refrigerator includes a second storage chamber that is smaller than the first storage chamber defined at a side of the first door, and that is configured to enable access to food stuffs while the first door remains closed and a second door, located in a predetermined portion of the first door, configured to open and close the second storage chamber by rotating the rotational axis, wherein a rotation direction of the second door is identical to the rotation direction of the first door.