Refrigerator

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerators with double hinges for pivotably mounted doors suffer from large gaps and inefficient use of installation space, leading to insulation issues and reduced storage capacity.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerator design featuring a double hinge with narrow joint levers and a support hinge that absorbs more weight, allowing for compact installation and improved insulation, with the support hinge having joint levers with greater vertical extension and enhanced rigidity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a double hinge with conventional joint levers is used to pivotably mount two doors on an appliance body, then the doors can be securely mounted and pivoted, but the gap between the upper door and lower door becomes comparatively large, leading to increased installation space requirements and reduced insulation efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedoor mounting securityVSAvoiddouble hinge volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The joint levers are designed with extended height in the vertical direction rather than extending horizontally. This dimensional change allows the hinge mechanism to achieve the necessary structural strength and door mounting security while reducing the horizontal footprint and gap between doors, thereby improving insulation efficiency without compromising reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the joint levers by increasing their height in the vertical direction. This parameter modification enables the hinge to maintain adequate strength for secure door mounting while minimizing the overall volume and installation space required, resolving the contradiction between reliability and compactness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Strength

If a double hinge with conventional joint lever design is used, then the structure can support door weights, but the vertical extension of the hinge increases installation space requirements and reduces storage space utilization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight bearing capacityVSAvoidhinge vertical extension

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The joint levers are designed with extended height in the vertical direction rather than extending horizontally. This dimensional change allows the hinge mechanism to achieve the necessary structural strength and door mounting security while reducing the horizontal footprint and gap between doors, thereby improving insulation efficiency without compromising reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameters of the joint levers by increasing their height in the vertical direction. This parameter modification enables the hinge to maintain adequate strength for secure door mounting while minimizing the overall volume and installation space required, resolving the contradiction between reliability and compactness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Strength

If joint levers with greater vertical extension are used in the support hinge, then higher weight loads can be absorbed, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveweight load absorptionVSAvoidhinge structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge system is segmented into two distinct types: double hinges for guiding door movement and support hinges for bearing weight loads. This segmentation allows each hinge type to be optimized for its specific function, with support hinges having extended vertical joint levers for strength while double hinges maintain compact design for space efficiency, thereby managing complexity through functional differentiation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The extended vertical joint levers are applied locally only to the support hinge where weight bearing is required, rather than to all hinges in the system. This localized application of enhanced structural properties allows the system to achieve necessary strength while minimizing overall complexity and maintaining compactness in non-critical areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12398945B2Refrigerator

Publication Date: 2025.08.26 HETTICH ONI

AI summary

A refrigerator has an appliance body on which at least two doors arranged one above the other are pivotably mounted. The doors are mounted via a double hinge which is fixed to the appliance body with a mounting plate which is connected via a plurality of movable joint levers to an upper hinge part connected to the upper door and to a lower hinge part connected to the lower door via a plurality of further movable joint levers. The upper door is further pivotably mounted on the appliance body via a support hinge which is fixed to the appliance body by a mounting element that is connected to a plurality of joint levers connected to a further hinge part connected to the upper door. The joint levers of the support hinge have a greater vertical extent in the vertical direction than the joint levers of the double hinge.