Refrigerator with Integrated Microwave Chamber and Guided Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing household appliances do not efficiently combine the functions of a refrigerator and a microwave oven, lacking a seamless integration that enhances user convenience for tasks like thawing food.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerator design that incorporates a microwave oven with guiding members and a stopper to securely fix the microwave oven within the refrigerator body, allowing for stable operation and easy installation, ensuring the microwave oven is firmly positioned between the refrigerating and freezing chambers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a microwave oven is integrated into a refrigerator, then the functionality and convenience of the appliance is improved, but the structural complexity and difficulty of installation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The microwave oven is divided into separate functional modules (microwave generation system, heating system, control system) that can be independently installed and maintained within the refrigerator structure, reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining full functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The microwave oven is nested within the refrigerator body structure, with the microwave chamber integrated into the existing refrigerator compartments. This nesting approach allows dual functionality without requiring separate standalone appliances, thereby improving versatility while managing structural complexity through space-efficient design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of operation

If a microwave oven is integrated into a refrigerator, then user convenience is improved, but the installation difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidinstallation difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The microwave oven is pre-assembled as a complete functional unit with all necessary components (microwave generator, heating elements, control panel) integrated before installation into the refrigerator. This preliminary assembly simplifies the final installation process while ensuring all functional elements are properly configured for user convenience

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Standardized mounting brackets and connection interfaces are introduced as intermediary components between the microwave oven and refrigerator structure. These intermediaries facilitate easier installation and removal while ensuring proper alignment and secure positioning, thereby reducing installation difficulty without compromising user convenience

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If guiding members and stoppers are added to fix the microwave oven, then the stability of the microwave oven is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidfixing mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The guiding members and stoppers are designed to automatically guide and position the microwave oven during installation without requiring additional adjustment mechanisms or complex alignment procedures. The structure itself provides the positioning function, eliminating the need for separate adjustment devices and thereby maintaining simplicity while ensuring stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2982920B1refrigerator
Publication Date: 2020.05.27 HEFEI MIDEA REFRIGERATOR CO LTD
  • EP2982920B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2982920B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2982920B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Disclosed is a refrigerator (100), comprising a refrigerator body (101) and a microwave oven (4), wherein a refrigerating chamber (1), a freezing chamber (2) and a microwave chamber (3) are arranged in the refrigerator body (101), and the microwave oven (4) is arranged in the microwave chamber (3).