refrigerator
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator lighting devices installed on the side surface face challenges such as obstruction by storage objects, uneven illumination, and structural issues like sagging and distortion due to the weight of the lighting device, requiring a strong coupling structure that minimizes fastening steps and reduces deformation.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a lighting assembly with a male-female coupling structure between bezels, including a light guiding assembly surrounded by bezels fastened via a coupling bracket, which reduces fastening steps and minimizes deformation, provides electrostatic discharge prevention, and enhances structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a surface lighting device is installed at the rear surface of the storage chamber, then the entire region in the storage chamber can be illuminated evenly, but a coupling structure with strong fixing power is required to withstand the self-weight of the lighting device
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling structure is divided into multiple coupling parts distributed at different positions (corners and intermediate positions) of the bezel. Each coupling part independently supports a portion of the lighting device weight, collectively providing strong fixing power while maintaining even illumination across the storage chamber.
2Device complexity
If the coupling structure in the central region is minimized, then the lighting device can be installed, but sagging occurs in the central region
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling structure uses an asymmetric distribution of coupling parts, with corner coupling parts having different configurations from intermediate coupling parts. This asymmetric design provides targeted support at critical locations to prevent sagging while minimizing overall structural complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple bezel parts are assembled using a male-female coupling structure, then the lighting assembly can be formed, but alignment errors and joining position errors may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The male and female coupling parts are pre-formed with precise geometric features during manufacturing. The male coupling part includes a protrusion with specific dimensions and the female coupling part includes a corresponding recess, ensuring accurate alignment and joining position when assembled, thereby eliminating alignment errors.
4Strength
If the bezel parts are fastened together, then the lighting assembly structure is formed, but the fastening structure steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple coupling functions are merged into a single male-female coupling interface. The protrusion and recess structure simultaneously provides alignment, positioning, and mechanical fastening functions, reducing the number of separate fastening steps required to assemble the bezel parts while maintaining strong fitting structure strength.
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator provides, by a plurality of bezels surrounding the periphery of a light guiding assembly and being fastened to one another via a male-female coupling structure, a fitting structure between the bezels, which is capable of minimizing the fastening structure step between the bezels even in a storage chamber with limited space.