Refrigerator Middle Wall Ice-Making Space to Increase Usable Volume
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Solution Overview
Problem
In refrigerators, the installation of an ice maker and ice bucket in the refrigerating chamber reduces usable space and detracts from aesthetic appeal due to protrusion and exposure.
Innovation Solution
The ice maker and ice bucket are positioned within a middle wall partitioning the refrigerator into upper and lower storage chambers, allowing them to be hidden from view and freeing up space in the upper chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the ice maker and ice bucket are installed in the refrigerating chamber, then the ice-making function is provided, but the usable space of the refrigerating chamber is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The ice maker and ice bucket are extracted from the refrigerating chamber and relocated to the freezing chamber. This separation allows the refrigerating chamber to maintain its full usable space while the ice-making function is preserved in the freezing chamber where space is less critical.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the ice maker and ice bucket are installed in the refrigerating chamber, then the ice-making function is provided, but the aesthetic appeal is deteriorated due to protrusion and exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The ice maker and ice bucket are extracted from the visible refrigerating chamber and placed in the freezing chamber, eliminating their protrusion and exposure. This relocation resolves the aesthetic issue while maintaining the ice-making functionality.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a refrigerator having a first storage chamber, a second storage chamber located below the first storage chamber, an ice maker configured to make ice pieces, an ice bucket configured to store the ice pieces made in the ice maker and a middle wall partitioning inside space of the refrigerator into the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber and including a base portion and a stepped portion located higher than the base portion to form ice-making space, wherein at least one portion of the ice maker and at least one portion of the ice bucket are accommodated in the ice-making space. With this structure, the space for actual use of the first storage chamber can be increased.