refrigerator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerator drawer systems face challenges with stability and safety when elevating baskets, as the entire basket is elevated, leading to potential instability and damage, and the structure can be hazardous for users, especially when handling heavy loads.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerator design where the elevation assembly is integrated within the drawer part, with the elevation member operating to lift the support member within the drawer, allowing for separate components and improved safety, and the elevation mechanism is covered to enhance appearance and reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the entire basket is elevated using elevation rails and an elevation frame, then the basket can be lifted to improve user convenience, but stability is deteriorated and the basket may be damaged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidbasket stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the elevation function into two separate parts: the drawer door is elevated by elevation rails, while the basket remains stationary on the elevated door. This segmentation prevents the entire basket from being lifted, maintaining its stability while still achieving the goal of improving user convenience by bringing the drawer door closer to the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the entire basket is withdrawn to the outside of the refrigerator for elevation, then the basket can be elevated, but the rail structure connecting the door and refrigerator body becomes unstable and durability is deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelevation capabilityVSAvoidrail structure durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the elevation function from the basket and applies it only to the drawer door. The elevation rails are attached to the refrigerator body and work with elevation frames on the door, allowing the door to be elevated independently without requiring the basket to be withdrawn. This maintains the stability of the rail structure while achieving elevation capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If heavy components are concentrated on the door for elevation, then the elevation function can be achieved, but the structure becomes unstable and durability is deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelevation functionVSAvoidstructural durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the elevation system into lightweight components (elevation rails on the refrigerator body and elevation frames on the door) that only need to support the door weight, not the basket weight. This segmentation allows the elevation function to be achieved without concentrating heavy components on the door, preserving structural durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If the elevation structure is exposed on the rear surface of the door and lower side of the basket, then the elevation function is visible, but user safety is compromised when the door is inserted and withdrawn or elevated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelevation visibilityVSAvoiduser safety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention nests the elevation frames within the drawer door structure and the elevation rails within the refrigerator body structure. When the drawer door is closed, the elevation structure is concealed within the door and refrigerator body, eliminating exposed moving parts that could harm users. The elevation function remains visible and operational when the door is open or elevated.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP3546865B1refrigerator
Publication Date: 2021.12.15 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3546865B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3546865B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3546865B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cabinet in which an upper storage space and a lower storage space are defined, a door part opening and closing the lower storage space, a drawer part connected to the door part and inserted and withdrawn together with the door part, a support member which is provided on the drawer part and on which a food is seated, and an elevation assembly provided in the door part to elevate the support member. The elevation assembly includes an elevation member extending from the door part to pass through the drawer part and disposed below the support member to support the support member, and a driving device provided in the door part to provide power for vertical movement of the elevation member.