Refrigerator Liner Recessed Bracket Assembly for Flush Shelf Mounting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerator liners face challenges in accommodating brackets that consume less volume within the fresh food compartment, form a substantially planar surface, and are attachable before foaming occurs, while also handling maximum static loads and preventing shearing forces on fasteners.

Innovation Solution

The design features recesses in the liner with elongated vertical indentations and apertures for shoulder screws and anchor nuts, allowing brackets to be securely inserted before foaming, forming a planar surface and minimizing volume consumption, with arcuate corners for easy insertion and adhesive anchor nuts for secure attachment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If brackets are mounted to the liner after foam insertion, then the liner maintains a planar surface for easy foam insertion, but securing the brackets becomes difficult and they consume usable volume in the fresh food compartment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplanar surface of linerVSAvoiddifficulty of securing brackets

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket is pre-inserted into the recess formed in the liner before foam insertion. The recess is integrally formed in the liner during liner manufacturing, allowing the bracket to be positioned and secured to the liner in advance, before the foam is inserted between the liner and outer shell.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If brackets are inserted prior to foaming, then brackets are attachable before foaming occurs, but the foam fixture requires special design to mirror the contour of the liner and accommodate brackets protruding into the compartment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachability before foamingVSAvoidfoam fixture design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of manufacture

If brackets extend into the interior of the fresh food compartment, then brackets can be secured to the liner, but they consume usable volume within the compartment

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebracket securing capabilityVSAvoidusable volume of fresh food compartment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket is nested within a recess that is integrally formed in the liner. The recess provides a cavity within the liner thickness, allowing the bracket to be housed inside the liner structure rather than protruding into the fresh food compartment, thus preserving usable volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Ease of operation

If brackets are secured to the liner, then shelves can be attached, but the shearing force on fasteners limits the maximum static load

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshelf attachment capabilityVSAvoidmaximum static load capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2401566B1refrigerator

Publication Date: 2016.11.23 ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS INC

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4

AI summary

Provided is a refrigeration appliance (2) that includes a fresh food compartment (8) and a freezer compartment (4). A refrigerator liner (14) is located within the fresh food compartment. The liner includes one or more recesses for receiving brackets (10). Each bracket may be removably inserted into a recess (12) such that when the bracket is inserted into the recess, the bracket and recess form a substantially planar plane across the liner.