Hinge assembly and refrigerator comprising the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerator doors with different heights during manufacturing lead to an undesirable exterior appearance and user returns, and existing solutions require additional components and reassembly for height adjustment.
Innovation Solution
A hinge assembly with a bracket, shaft, and support member that allows for height adjustment of the refrigerator door without additional components, using a step adjusting mechanism with coupling parts and grooves to change the support surface height, and a polyoxymethylene (POM) material for the support member to ensure smooth operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a step adjusting ring is added to adjust door height, then door height adjustment is achieved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is designed with an integrated step adjusting mechanism that combines the support function and height adjustment function into a single component. The support member includes a body portion and a step adjusting portion that works together to provide both support and adjustable height functionality, eliminating the need for separate step adjusting rings.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly allows dynamic adjustment of the door height by rotating the support member relative to the bracket. The step adjusting portion can be rotated to different angular positions, each corresponding to a different height level, enabling the door height to be dynamically adjusted without disassembly.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a step adjusting ring is used, then door height can be adjusted, but ease of operation deteriorates due to required disassembly and reassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is designed to be rotatable relative to the bracket, allowing the step adjusting portion to be easily rotated to different angular positions for height adjustment. This dynamic rotation mechanism enables simple operation without requiring disassembly of the door from the hinge.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge assembly includes a fixing groove and fixing protrusion mechanism that allows the support member to be easily fixed at different angular positions. The user can simply rotate the support member to the desired position and it will self-lock into place, eliminating the need for complex assembly or disassembly operations.
3Shape
If manufacturing precision is improved to ensure uniform door heights, then exterior appearance is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of relying on high manufacturing precision to ensure uniform door heights, the invention introduces an adjustable parameter mechanism. The step adjusting portion can be rotated to different angular positions, changing the effective height parameter to compensate for variations in door height, thereby achieving uniform appearance without requiring extremely precise manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies the adjustment mechanism locally at the hinge assembly rather than requiring uniform precision across the entire door manufacturing process. The step adjusting portion provides localized height compensation that addresses the specific issue of door height variation without affecting other aspects of door manufacturing.
Data Source
AI summary
A hinge assembly connecting a door of a refrigerator with a main body of a refrigerator is disclosed. The hinge assembly includes a bracket configured so that a one surface is arranged at a lower part of the door, a shaft located on the bracket and configured to be a rotational shaft of the door, and a support member rotatably arranged inserted to the shaft, and configured to support the door, and a height of a support surface supporting the door is changed according to the support member rotating based on the shaft.