Refrigerator Fresh-Keeping Container with Front-Wall Outer Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Household refrigeration appliances with separate fresh-keeping containers require multiple actions to access and operate, leading to inconvenient handling and potential loss of ambient moisture when adjusting humidity settings.

Innovation Solution

A fresh-keeping container designed as a drawer with a front wall forming an outer wall of the refrigerator, allowing direct access and independent humidity adjustment using a control unit and actuating mechanism, eliminating the need for a separate door and enhancing ergonomic loading and unloading.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a separate door is used to cover the interior containing the fresh-keeping container, then the interior can be sealed and protected, but access to the fresh-keeping container requires multiple actions and is inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAccess to fresh-keeping containerVSAvoidDoor structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fresh-keeping container is extracted from the interior space and positioned such that its front wall forms the outer wall of the refrigerator. This allows the container to be accessed directly from the front without opening the interior door, eliminating the need for multiple access actions while maintaining the sealing function of the door for the remaining interior space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If the fresh-keeping container is arranged completely inside the interior, then it is protected and sealed, but access and handling become cumbersome requiring door opening and separate container manipulation

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveHandling of fresh-keeping containerVSAvoidLoading and unloading efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The refrigerator is segmented into two functional zones: the fresh-keeping container that protrudes forward for easy access and handling, and the remaining interior space that maintains full sealing when the door is closed. This segmentation allows independent optimization of access convenience and sealing effectiveness for different functional areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If humidity control is implemented in the fresh-keeping container, then food preservation is improved, but moisture loss occurs when adjusting humidity settings

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveFood preservationVSAvoidAmbient moisture
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The fresh-keeping container is pre-positioned in a protruding configuration with its front wall forming the outer wall, allowing humidity adjustments to be made without opening the interior door. This preliminary positioning enables moisture control operations to be performed while the interior remains sealed, preventing unwanted moisture loss during adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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

Facilitates easy and ergonomic access to the fresh-keeping container, prevents loss of ambient moisture during humidity adjustments, and ensures unrestricted accessibility for both lighter and heavier food items, improving user handling and storage flexibility.

Implementation Method 1

a humidification device in the household refrigerator, which generates the moisture and the addition of the moisture into the fresh-keeping container is controlled by a control unit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHumidification: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentEP3168554B1Domestic household refrigeration device comprising a keep-fresh container, the front wall of which is an outer wall of the device
Publication Date: 2023.12.06 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3168554B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3168554B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3168554B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a household refrigeration appliance (1) with an interior (3) for accommodating food, which is delimited by walls of an inner container (14), and with a fresh-keeping container (6) for food, in which one of the interior (3) is different Ambient humidity can be adjusted and the ambient humidity can be set independently of the rest of the interior (3), the fresh food container (6) being movably arranged in a housing (2) of the household refrigeration appliance (1), a front wall (7) of the fresh food container (6) forms an outer wall of the household refrigeration appliance (1).