Refrigerator Extractable Storage Design for Deep-Compartment Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulty in extracting and recognizing storage products deeply placed within the storage room of refrigerators, as existing designs do not facilitate easy access or visibility of items stored in the rear or deep compartments.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerator design featuring a third storage component that can be inserted inside the storage room and extracted outside, positioned at an obtuse inclination angle, allowing for easier access and visibility of products, with a frame that includes rotatable and sliding parts to accommodate various storage needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the storage room depth is increased to keep more storage products, then the storage capacity is improved, but the ease of extracting and recognizing storage products deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidease of extracting and recognizing storage products
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The third storage is designed to be movable between an inserted state (inside the storage room) and an extracted state (outside the storage room). When extracted, it positions storage products at an obtuse inclination angle relative to the storage room front surface, making deeply stored items easily accessible and visible without requiring the user to reach deep into the storage room.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The third storage introduces a new spatial dimension by extending outward from the storage room at an obtuse inclination angle. This creates an additional storage layer that projects storage products into a more accessible spatial zone, allowing users to retrieve items without deep penetration into the storage room interior.

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

2Quantity of substance

If storage products are placed deeply in the storage room to maximize space utilization, then the storage density is improved, but the visibility and accessibility of storage products deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage densityVSAvoidvisibility and accessibility of storage products
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The third storage can be dynamically extracted to bring deeply stored products into view and reach. When in the extracted position, storage products that would otherwise be hidden in deep compartments become visible and accessible at an obtuse inclination angle, eliminating the need to dig through front items to reach rear items.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The third storage acts as an intermediary mechanism between the deep storage room interior and the user. By providing a movable platform that extends outward, it mediates the transfer of storage products from deep storage positions to easily accessible positions without requiring the user to directly reach into deep compartments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If a third storage is extracted to the outside of the storage room to improve accessibility, then the ease of extracting storage products is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of extracting storage productsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The third storage employs a movable design that can transition between inserted and extracted positions. This dynamic capability is achieved through a hinge connection and sliding mechanism along guide rails, allowing the storage to pivot and extend outward to an obtuse inclination angle, providing easy access to storage products.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The storage system is segmented into multiple independent components: the first storage (fixed inside storage room), the second storage (fixed on door), and the third storage (movable, can be extracted). This segmentation allows the third storage to be independently operated and extracted without affecting the other storage components, managing complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2653812B1Refrigerator
Publication Date: 2019.08.14 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2653812B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2653812B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2653812B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A refrigerator includes a main body (4) having a storage room (2) formed therein; a cooling device (6) cooling the storage room (2); a first storage (10) disposed inside the storage room (2); a door (20) mounted in the main body (4) so as to open/close the storage room (2); a second storage (30) disposed at the door (20); and a third storage (40) inserted inside the storage room (2) or having at least one portion extracted to the outside of the storage room (2), wherein the third storage (40) is extracted to have an obtuse inclination angle with respect to a front surface of the storage room (2). Accordingly, storage products kept in the storage room (2) can be distributed to the first storage (10) positioned inside the storage room (2), the second storage (30) mounted to the door (20), and the third storage (40) extracted to the outside of the storage room (2), so that a user can easily recognize the storage products kept in the storage room (2).