Refrigerator Drawer With Movable Box for Easier Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerator drawers with fixed heights compromise between accommodating tall and small-format goods, making it difficult to access contents when the drawer is filled, as existing solutions require removing or moving an insert box, which is cumbersome or impractical when space is limited.
Innovation Solution
A movable box within the drawer that can lock into a secondary position outside the drawer, allowing easier access to the contents by exposing an area underneath while preventing the box from moving with the drawer, and featuring a lockable mechanism for secure access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the drawer height is increased to accommodate tall-format goods, then the storage capacity for tall goods is improved, but the number of layers for small-format goods must be increased, reducing accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer interior is segmented into multiple storage zones by introducing a movable box that can be positioned at different depths. This creates separate accessible areas: goods in front of the box remain easily accessible, while goods behind the box are organized in depth layers. The box itself acts as a divider that segments the single drawer into functional zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The box is designed to be movable along the depth direction of the drawer, allowing dynamic reconfiguration of storage space. When the box is pulled forward, it exposes the area underneath for access to items stored at the rear. This dynamic positioning enables users to access different zones depending on what needs to be retrieved, maintaining accessibility regardless of drawer height.
2Productivity
If an insert box is hung in the drawer to improve space utilization for small goods, then storage efficiency is improved, but access to goods underneath becomes difficult when the drawer is full
Solution Approach 1:
The box transforms from a static insert to a dynamic element that can be moved independently of the drawer. By providing mobility along the depth axis, the box can be repositioned to expose underlying areas when needed for access, rather than permanently blocking them. This resolves the contradiction by making the obstruction temporary and controllable.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution adds the depth-direction movement dimension to the box, allowing it to move forward and backward independently. This creates a new degree of freedom: the box can be pulled forward to expose goods underneath, then pushed back to restore the organized storage configuration. The problem is solved by operating in the depth dimension rather than being constrained to vertical placement only.
3Ease of operation
If the box is locked in the second position outside the drawer, then accessibility to drawer contents is improved, but the box does not follow drawer movement
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides two dynamic modes: when the box is in the first position, it moves with the drawer maintaining relative stability; when moved to the second position and locked, it becomes stationary relative to the drawer body while the drawer moves. This dynamic switching between coupled and decoupled states resolves the contradiction between accessibility and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The box can be extracted from the moving drawer system by locking it in the second position. This separation allows the box to remain stationary while the drawer moves, providing a stable reference point and improving accessibility to drawer contents without being carried along with drawer movement.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A refrigerator comprises a body, at least one removable drawer (3) disposed in the body (10) and a moveable box (8) in the drawer (3). In the withdrawn position of the first drawer (3), the box (8) can be moved between a first position in which the box engages the first drawer (3) and a second position in which the box is located at least substantially outside the first drawer (3).