Refrigeration and/or freezer device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators and freezers face issues with dirt accumulation in bellows seals, material diffusion leading to optical and haptic impairments, and limited design options for profile arrangements, which are not visually appealing and difficult to clean.
Innovation Solution
A profile arrangement with a flexible polymeric material-based sealing arrangement and a coating element, bonded in a materially bonded manner, that seals against diffusion and provides a visually appealing, easy-to-clean design, using a combination of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and a metallic-coated multi-layer film for the coating element.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bellows seals are used for tolerance compensation and sealing, then sealing function and tolerance compensation are achieved, but dirt accumulates in expansion folds and becomes difficult to remove
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the sealing function from the visible profile arrangement by introducing a separate sealing element that can be removed independently. The sealing element contains the bellows seal and is detachable from the profile arrangement, allowing it to be removed for cleaning while leaving the visible profile arrangement in place. This resolves the contradiction by separating the sealing function (which needs the bellows) from the visible surface (which needs to be cleanable).
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing arrangement is segmented into multiple independent components: the profile arrangement (visible part), the sealing element (containing bellows seal), and the magnetic seal. These segments can be independently manufactured, assembled, and maintained. The sealing element with expansion folds is separated from the visible profile, allowing the visible part to be easily cleaned while the sealing function is maintained in the separate segment.
2Reliability
If soft-elastic polymeric material is used for sealing arrangement, then sealing flexibility and tolerance compensation are improved, but material diffusion occurs causing optical and haptic impairments
Solution Approach 1:
A coating element is introduced as an intermediary layer between the soft-elastic polymeric sealing arrangement and the external environment. This coating prevents material diffusion from the polymeric seal while allowing the seal to maintain its flexible sealing function. The coating acts as a barrier that blocks harmful additives from migrating to the visible surface, thus preventing optical and haptic impairments.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing arrangement uses composite material structure combining soft-elastic polymeric material for sealing flexibility with a diffusion-resistant coating layer. This composite structure allows the inner polymeric material to provide elastic sealing and tolerance compensation while the outer coating prevents material diffusion and provides durable, cleanable surface properties.
3Reliability
If visible profile arrangement is used to close gap, then gap sealing and magnetic closure are achieved, but design options are limited and appearance is not visually appealing
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system is segmented into functional components (profile arrangement for gap closing, sealing element for sealing, magnetic seal for closure force) and aesthetic components (visible profile with design options). This segmentation allows the functional parts to be optimized for performance while the visible profile can be independently designed for aesthetic appeal with various colors, textures, and designs matching different appliance styles.
4Reliability
If bellows-like magnetic seal with expansion folds is used, then tolerance compensation and magnetic closure are achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sealing functions are merged into a single integrated sealing element: the bellows seal provides both tolerance compensation through expansion folds and magnetic closure through the magnetic seal. This merging reduces the number of separate components needed while maintaining all required functions, thereby reducing overall device complexity despite the sophisticated functionality.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively prevents material diffusion, maintains the sealing function, and offers a visually appealing and durable design that is easy to clean, while providing protection against UV rays and microbial growth.
Implementation Method 1
at least one sealing arrangement (3), which has at least one hollow chamber (30, 31, 32, 33) and is made of a soft-elastic polymeric material with a Shore A hardness according to DIN EN ISO 868 of about 50 to 95, preferably 60 to 90
Implementation Method 2
The sealing head, equipped with magnetic strips, rests against the opening edge of the housing and holds the door in place
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a refrigerator and/or freezer (10), comprising at least one body (11) and at least one closure element (20) closing an opening in the body (11), and at least one closure element (20) in a space between the closure element (20 ) and the body (11) formed gap (19), arranged profile arrangement (1) comprising at least one base (8), at least one fastening arrangement (2), at least one coating element (5), and at least one sealing arrangement (3), which at least has a hollow chamber (30,31,32,33) and is made of a flexible, polymeric material, with a Shore A hardness according to DIN EN ISO 868 of about 50 to 95, preferably 60 to 90, which is characterized in that Coating element (5) is arranged cohesively on the sealing arrangement (3).