Refrigerator Door Shelf Translation System with Automatic Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator shelf systems require users to remove products and decouple shelves from the door to move them, making the process inconvenient and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A shelf translation system with a movable shelf, guide structure, and anchoring components that allow vertical movement without decoupling from the door, using indentations and locking spans with a resilient appendage for automatic relocking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If shelves are made removable from the refrigerator door to allow movement to other positions, then the adaptability of the shelf system is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates because users must remove products and decouple shelves from the door
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf system is divided into modular components: the shelf body, the anchoring component with locking span, and the guide structure with indentations. This segmentation allows the shelf to remain attached to the door while enabling easy repositioning through simple anchoring component manipulation, eliminating the need to remove products or decouple the entire shelf assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchoring component incorporates a resilient appendage that provides dynamic, spring-loaded engagement with the guide structure. This dynamic mechanism automatically locks the shelf at designated positions and facilitates easy release and repositioning, transforming a static attachment system into a dynamic one that maintains firm holding while allowing controlled movement.
2Stability of the object's composition
If shelves are designed with fixed attachment to the refrigerator door to maintain stability, then the stability of the shelf is improved, but the adaptability deteriorates as shelves cannot be moved to different positions
Solution Approach 1:
The anchoring component with its resilient appendage provides self-locking functionality. When the shelf is moved to a new position, the resilient appendage automatically engages with the next available indentation in the guide structure, securing the shelf without requiring user intervention. This self-service mechanism maintains stability at each position while enabling easy repositioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide structure acts as an intermediary between the anchoring component and the refrigerator door. It provides a series of predefined indentations that guide and constrain the movement of the anchoring component, ensuring stable positioning at discrete locations while allowing movement between positions. This intermediary structure resolves the conflict between fixed stability and movable adaptability.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional shelf movement mechanisms are used requiring decoupling from the door, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the productivity deteriorates due to the time-consuming process of removing and reattaching shelves
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf system is divided into modular components: the shelf body, the anchoring component with locking span, and the guide structure with indentations. This segmentation allows the shelf to remain attached to the door while enabling easy repositioning through simple anchoring component manipulation, eliminating the need to remove products or decouple the entire shelf assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchoring component with its resilient appendage provides self-locking functionality. When the shelf is moved to a new position, the resilient appendage automatically engages with the next available indentation in the guide structure, securing the shelf without requiring user intervention. This self-service mechanism maintains stability at each position while enabling easy repositioning.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables easy, convenient vertical movement of shelves within the refrigerator door without removing products, maintaining a fixed position when locked and allowing vertical displacement when decoupled, with automatic relocking upon force release.
Implementation Method 1
the resilient appendage re-establishes cooperation between at least one locking span of at least one anchoring component and at least one indentation of the guide structure
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator shelf translation system for a refrigerating appliance includes a movable shelf, a guide structure provided with one or more indentations, and a fixed anchoring component associated with the movable shelf and movably associated with the guide structure. The movable shelf is held in a fixed position relative to the guide structure when there is cooperation between at least one locking span of at least one anchoring component and at least one indentation of the guide structure and, on the other hand, the movable shelf may be shifted vertically relative to the guide structure when distancing from all possible locking spans of all possible anchoring components and their respective indentations of the guide structure.