Refrigerator comprises a drawer

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current refrigerator drawer designs lack a visually appealing light emitting structure that creates a sense of layering and stereoscopic effect, and the installation and replacement of light sources are not simplified.

Innovation Solution

A front panel assembly for the refrigerator drawer featuring a light emitting mechanism with a light guide body, reflector, and light transmitting plate, where the light source is positioned below the inclined plane and reflected to create a visually appealing effect, and a supporting frame ensures stability and easy installation of components.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a light source is directly installed on the front panel, then the installation is simple, but the visual layering and stereoscopic effect cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidvisual layering and stereoscopic effect
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a light guide body as an intermediary component between the light source and the front panel surface. The light guide body receives light from the light source and guides it to the light transmitting plate, creating a diffused, uniform light distribution that produces the desired visual layering and stereoscopic effect while maintaining relatively simple installation procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the light emission from a direct point-source configuration into a distributed surface emission by using the light guide body and light transmitting plate. This dimensional transformation creates a larger effective light emission area, enhancing the visual layering effect and stereoscopic appearance of the drawer front panel

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Shape

If a complex light emitting structure with multiple components is used to achieve visual layering effect, then the stereoscopic effect is improved, but the installation and replacement of light sources becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevisual layering and stereoscopic effectVSAvoidinstallation and replacement of light sources
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the light emitting system into distinct modular segments: the light source module, the light guide body, and the light transmitting plate. This segmentation allows the light source to be independently installed or replaced without requiring disassembly of the entire front panel assembly, thereby simplifying maintenance operations while maintaining the complex visual effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the light source as a separate, removable component from the front panel assembly. The light source can be taken out and replaced independently through a designated access point, while the light guide body and light transmitting plate remain fixed to maintain the visual layering structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Device complexity

If the light source is positioned to emit light directly forward, then the structure is simple, but the light distribution uniformity and visual effect are poor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural simplicityVSAvoidlight distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The light guide body serves as an intermediary that transforms the directional light output from the light source into a distributed, uniform illumination pattern across the light transmitting plate. This intermediary component diffuses the light rays and distributes them evenly, achieving uniform light distribution without requiring a complex multi-source configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

The solution achieves a visually appealing layering and stereoscopic effect while simplifying the installation and replacement of light sources, enhancing the aesthetic and functional aspects of the refrigerator drawer.

Implementation Method 1

light emitted by the light source is transmitted by the light guide body to reach the inclined plane

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight transmission: Light

Implementation Method 2

light emitted by the light source is transmitted by the light guide body to reach the inclined plane to be emitted out from the light transmitting plate after being reflected by the reflector

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP3916327B1Refrigerator comprises a drawer
Publication Date: 2023.02.22 QINDAO HAIER REFRIGERATOR CO LTD
  • EP3916327B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3916327B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3916327B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A front panel assembly (140) of a drawer of a refrigerator, a drawer (115) of a refrigerator and a refrigerator (100). The front panel assembly (140) comprises a front panel body defining an accommodating cavity, and a light emitting mechanism provided in the accommodating cavity and comprising a light source (150), a light guide body (600) and a reflecting member (180), wherein the light guide body (600) is provided below the light source (150) and has a slope (602), the reflecting member (180) is provided obliquely below the slope (602), the front end face of the front panel body is provided with a light transmissive plate (202), and light rays emitted from the light source (150) are transmitted to the slope (602) by means of the light guide body (600), are reflected by the reflecting member (180), and are then emitted out from the light transmissive plate (202). The drawer (115) of the refrigerator comprises a drawer body defining a storage space and the front panel assembly provided in the front of the drawer body. The refrigerator (100) has the drawer (115) of the refrigerator. The front panel assembly (140) of the drawer (115) of the refrigerator is provided with a light emitting assembly, such that visual layering and a stereoscopic effect can be implemented, and the mounting and replacement process of the light source can be simplified.