Refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators face design limitations and increased production costs due to the fixed installation of control units on the front surface of doors, restricting aesthetic variations and requiring larger covers that obscure the design.
Innovation Solution
The control unit is installed on a side end of the door, with a smaller installation hole and cover that is hidden from view, using guide and support parts to secure it, allowing for various door designs without increasing material usage or affecting the external appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the control unit is installed on the front surface of the door, then the control unit is securely fixed, but the design of the door is restricted and production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit installation position is moved from the front surface (2D plane) to the side end (different spatial dimension), allowing the front surface to maintain full design freedom while the control unit remains securely installed on the side, resolving the conflict between secure fixation and design variety
2Reliability
If the cover is made large enough to cover the installation part, then the control unit is sufficiently covered, but the production cost of the door is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit installation is extracted from the main front surface area and relocated to the side end, allowing the cover to be minimized to only the necessary size for side coverage, thereby reducing material usage while maintaining adequate coverage protection
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
Disclosed is a refrigerator including a main body (10) provided with a storage chamber (11R); a door (20R) to respectively open and close the storage chamber; a control unit (30) installed the door to select an operation; a reception part (20a) provided in the door (20R) to receive the control unit; and an installation hole provided on a side end of the door to cause the control unit to be inserted into the reception part (20a). The control unit (30) is installed through the side end of the door, which is deviated from a user's line of sight.