Refrigerator Door Handle Sealing for UI Module Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerator door designs fail to effectively prevent water vapor and dust from entering the user interface electrical module's compartment, which can reduce the service life of electric parts.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a detachable handle member with a sealing portion between the handle and the boundary walls of a second receiving space, which reduces the entry of foreign substances and maintains proper contact between the user interface module and the front panel, ensuring the module's accessibility and protection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the handle member is detachably installed on the door, then the user interface electrical module is accessible when the handle is removed, but water vapor and dust can enter the first receiving space through the second receiving space

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAccessibility of user interface electrical moduleVSAvoidEntry of water vapor and dust into the first receiving space

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A seal member is introduced as an intermediary element between the handle member and the door body. The seal member includes a sealing portion that contacts both the handle member and the door body, creating a barrier that prevents water vapor and dust from entering the first receiving space through the second receiving space when the handle is detached.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The seal member functions as a flexible sealing film or shell that conforms to the interface between the handle member and the door body. This flexible sealing element effectively blocks the passage of water vapor and dust while allowing the handle to be detachably mounted and removed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

2Reliability

If the seal includes a sealing portion between the handle member and boundary walls, then protection against foreign substances is improved, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveProtection of user interface electrical moduleVSAvoidStructure of the seal and handle assembly

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The seal member is designed with a sealing portion localized at the critical interface between the handle member and the door body boundary walls. This localized sealing approach provides effective protection against foreign substance entry without requiring complex sealing structures throughout the entire handle assembly, thus maintaining simplicity while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS10215473B2Refrigerator

Publication Date: 2019.02.26 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH

AI summary

A refrigerator includes a door having a user interface electrical module, a first receiving space that receives the user interface electrical module, a second receiving space open towards a side of the door, and a handle member detachably received in the second receiving space. The handle member closes the first receiving space, and when the handle member is detached, and the user interface electrical module is accessible through the second receiving space. The door further includes a sealing member having a sealing portion located between the handle member and at least one boundary wall of the second receiving space.