refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator designs with moving baskets face issues of insecure manipulation due to exposed levers, interference with food items, and difficulty in applying force for smooth vertical motion, leading to potential damage and instability.
Innovation Solution
A design that incorporates an invisibly exposed lever system, where the moving frame supports the basket and minimizes visual exposure, allowing for stable and smooth vertical motion by using a rail system hidden from view, enabling users to support the basket with one hand and manipulate the lever with the other, or vice versa.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the lever is located in a lower portion of the moving basket and projected downward and forward, then the user can manipulate the lever to move the basket, but the lever is exposed to food items that may collide against it and cause damage
Solution Approach 1:
The lever is nested within the moving basket structure, specifically positioned within the space between the bottom of the basket and the cabinet floor, or within the rear wall structure. This nesting approach allows the lever to be manipulated by the user while being protected from collision with food items, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the lever is located in an inner portion of the opening in radial direction, then the lever can be manipulated, but it is difficult to realize a beautiful exterior design
Solution Approach 1:
The lever is nested within the basket structure or rear wall, making it invisible or minimally visible from the exterior. This allows the lever to remain accessible for manipulation while being hidden from view, thus maintaining a beautiful and unified exterior design.
Solution Approach 2:
The lever is positioned in a specific local area (inner portion of the opening in radial direction) where it can be manipulated but is not visually prominent. This localized positioning allows the lever to function while minimizing its impact on the overall exterior aesthetic.
3Ease of operation
If the user applies force upward while raising both levers to move the moving basket upward, then the basket can be moved, but the user must support the load of the moving basket in a very insecure state
Solution Approach 1:
The lever mechanism is designed to provide mechanical advantage, where the lever arm ratios and pivot points are configured to reduce the force required by the user. The lever system acts as a counterbalance, allowing the user to move the basket with minimal effort while maintaining stable support throughout the motion.
4Ease of operation
If the moving basket is moved downward by using only the load of the moving basket, then the basket can move downward, but the basket might fail to be moved smoothly by interference of foreign substances
Solution Approach 1:
A guide rail or guide structure is introduced as an intermediary element between the moving basket and the cabinet interior. This guide structure ensures smooth downward motion by preventing interference from foreign substances and guiding the basket along a predetermined path, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator including a moving rack or basket which is easy to manufacture and use, the refrigerator comprises a cabinet (10) comprising a storage compartment provided therein; a main door (100) opening and closing the storage compartment and comprising a sub storage compartment (121) provided in a rear portion of the main door (100); a sub door (200) opening and closing a food introduction opening of the sub storage compartment; a moveable basket (300) comprising a basket (320) provided in the sub storage compartment (121); a rail (400) provided in the sub storage compartment (121) and guiding vertical movement of the moveable basket (300); a lever (350) provided to be displaced by a user's manipulation; and a stopper (360) provided to be selectively hooked to the rail (400) by the user's manipulation of the lever (350) and securing a vertical position of the moveable basket (300) with respect to the rail (400), the moveable basket (300) comprising: a moveable frame (310) spaced a distance from a top of the basket (320) and comprising an opening for introducing foods into the basket (320); and a bridge (330) connecting the basket (320) and the moveable frame (310) with each other; a support (380) projected from the bridge (330) toward the rail (400) and supporting the moveable basket (300) with respect to the rail (400); wherein at least predetermined portion of the moveable frame (310) forms the lever (350).