Refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional refrigerator dividers are fixed, limiting the efficient use of internal space based on the type of food stored, and do not allow trays or shelves from the fridge room to be used in the freezer room due to narrowing gaps.
Innovation Solution
Movable dividers with pinion gears and guide rails allow for adjustable internal space division, and a gap maintaining bar prevents the gap between dividers from narrowing, enabling trays or shelves to be used across different compartments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed dividers are used to divide the container, then the structure is simple and stable, but the internal space cannot be efficiently adjusted based on food types
Solution Approach 1:
The divider is transformed from a fixed structure to a movable one by incorporating pinion gears that engage with guide rails. This allows the divider to be dynamically repositioned along the guide rails to adjust compartment sizes according to different storage needs, while the pinion gear mechanism provides controlled movement and positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The container's internal space is divided into multiple compartments by the movable divider, which itself is segmented into functional parts (body, pinion gears, engagement features). This segmentation allows independent adjustment of each compartment's size while maintaining overall structural integrity through the modular design.
2Volume of moving object
If the gap between dividers narrows to maximize space utilization, then storage capacity increases, but trays or shelves from the fridge room cannot be placed on the dividers
Solution Approach 1:
The gap between dividers is made dynamically adjustable rather than fixed. The movable divider design allows the gap to be widened when tray support is needed and narrowed when maximum storage capacity is required, providing adaptive response to different operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The pinion gear mechanism acts as an intermediary that mediates between the need for narrow gaps (storage capacity) and the need for wide gaps (tray support). By controlling the divider's position through the pinion gears engaging with guide rails, the system can maintain appropriate gaps for tray support while maximizing storage space when needed.
3Productivity
If movable dividers with pinion gears are used to adjust internal space, then space utilization improves, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The divider incorporates pinion gears that engage with guide rails to enable controlled movement. This dynamic mechanism allows smooth repositioning of the divider to optimize space utilization for different food storage scenarios, transforming a static structure into an adaptable system.
Solution Approach 2:
The pinion gear mechanism is designed to be manually operable, allowing users to directly control the divider's movement without requiring external motors or complex actuation systems. This self-service approach simplifies the overall system while maintaining adjustability functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein is a refrigerator having dividers movable in the left-right direction to efficiently use the internal space of a container and enabling a tray or a shelf used in the fridge room to be used in the freezer room as well by preventing the gap between the dividers from narrowing to a certain distance or less to put the tray on the dividers. A refrigerator includes a main body, a storage compartment formed inside the main body with an open front, a door configured to open and close the open front of the storage compartment, a container contained in the storage compartment to store groceries therein, and a plurality of dividers arranged to be movable inside the container in the left-right direction and dividing the internal space of the container, wherein the divider includes pinion gears configured to guide movement of the divider along guide rails arranged on the front and rear walls of the container, a fixer configured to fix the divider to prevent movement of the divider, and a gap maintaining bar configured to prevent the gap between the dividers from narrowing to a certain distance or less.