Refrigerator Hinge Assembly with Integrated Retaining Lever
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator hinge assemblies require a separate fixing lever that can be misplaced during disassembly and assembly, complicating the detachment and reattachment of refrigerator doors.
Innovation Solution
A hinge assembly with a retaining lever integrally coupled to the hinge plate, allowing for selective fixation and disassembly/assembly without the risk of lever misplacement, featuring a fixing member on the refrigerator main body and a hinge plate with a retaining lever that rotates to secure the hinge plate to the main body.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate fixing lever is used to detach and attach the hinge plate, then the door can be detached and reattached, but the fixing lever can be misplaced during disassembly and assembly processes
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining lever is integrally formed with the hinge plate as a single piece, eliminating the risk of misplacement that occurs with separate fixing levers. The integral structure ensures the retaining lever remains attached to the hinge plate throughout disassembly and assembly operations.
2Strength
If a separate fixing lever is used to fix the hinge plate, then the door can be securely attached, but the assembly process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the retaining lever with the hinge plate, the number of separate components is reduced, simplifying the overall assembly structure and reducing the number of steps required for attachment and detachment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining lever is designed to be manipulated directly on the hinge plate without requiring separate tools or additional components, enabling users to perform assembly and disassembly operations independently and efficiently.
3Strength
If a separate fixing lever is used, then the hinge plate can be fixed during door attachment, but the lever must be detached in order to separate the hinge plate from the main body
Solution Approach 1:
The integral structure of the retaining lever and hinge plate eliminates the need to detach the lever separately, allowing the hinge plate to be removed as a complete unit with the retaining lever already attached, streamlining the detachment process.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a hinge assembly that is pivotably supported to a hinge plate for pivotably supporting a door, and which is provided with an integrally coupled retaining lever that selectively fixes the hinge plate, and a refrigerator provided with the hinge assembly. The hinge assembly includes a fixing member, the hinge plate, and the retaining lever. The fixing member projects to an upper surface of a refrigerator main body. The hinge plate is pre-fixed to the refrigerator main body, with a portion of the fixing member inserted in one portion of the hinge plate and a refrigerator door pivotably mounted to another portion of the hinge plate. The retaining lever is pivotably coupled to the hinge plate, to selectively retain the hinge plate through rotating horizontally about the hinge plate.