Refrigerator having storage container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators experience increased cold air loss and condensation issues due to frequent door openings, particularly when using auxiliary doors with additional gaskets, which can lead to higher energy consumption and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design that incorporates a storage container selectively attachable to either the door or the refrigerator body, utilizing a connection support device and latch mechanisms to minimize cold air loss while allowing access without opening the main compartment doors, and employs a gasket arrangement to prevent condensation through strategic heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If an auxiliary door with additional gasket is used to reduce cold air loss, then cold air loss is reduced, but condensation increases and energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the storage function from the main refrigerator compartment and places it in a separate storage container that can be mounted on the door. This allows the auxiliary door to be removed or made transparent, eliminating the gasket that causes condensation while maintaining the cold air loss reduction benefit through the container's design.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage function is segmented from the main refrigerator body and placed in a separate container. This segmentation allows the container to be independently mounted on the door without requiring a full auxiliary door with gasket, thus reducing condensation issues while maintaining energy efficiency.
2Use of energy by moving object
If a storage container is selectively mounted on the door to allow access without opening main doors, then energy consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage container is designed with dynamic mounting capabilities, allowing it to be selectively attached to or removed from the door. The connection support device enables easy repositioning between door and body mounting locations, providing operational flexibility without permanent complex installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage container serves multiple functions: it provides storage space, can be mounted on either the door or the body, and allows access to stored items without opening the main refrigerator doors. This multi-functionality reduces energy consumption while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If gasket arrangement with strategic heating is used to prevent condensation, then condensation is prevented, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the need for heated gaskets by extracting the storage function into a separate container that can be mounted on the door without requiring a sealed auxiliary door. This eliminates the source of condensation problems while avoiding the energy cost of heating gaskets.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A refrigerator including a storage container (100) that may be selectively coupled to a refrigerator body or to a door by a storage container support device (200) is provided. The refrigerator may include a refrigerator body having a storage compartment formed therein, a rotatable door (30) to open or close the storage compartment, a gasket (31) provided between the door and the refrigerator body, a storage container that may be selectively coupled to the door or to the refrigerator body, a storage container support device provided at the door, the refrigerator body or the storage container to allow the storage container to be selectively coupled to and supported by the refrigerator body or the door, and a control device (600) provided in the door to selectively control operation of the storage container support device from an exterior of the door.