Refrigerator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators with a pillar structure for enhancing tight closure of storage chambers can be uncomfortable to use and reduce storage capacity due to the projection of the pillar, which interferes with drawer passages and basket corners, leading to decreased storage efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a rotatable pillar with a driving member that folds or unfolds based on door opening and closing sensors, allowing the pillar to be positioned away from the inner case walls and preventing interference with drawers and baskets, thus maintaining consistent drawer widths and enhancing storage capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pillar is provided in one door to enhance tight closing of the storage chamber, then the tight closing is improved, but the pillar projects downwardly from the top of the inner case causing user discomfort and interfering with drawer passages
Solution Approach 1:
The pillar is designed to be rotatable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically change position between a closed state (protruding to ensure tight closure) and an open state (retracted to avoid interfering with drawer passages and improve user comfort). This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between maintaining reliable tight closing and ensuring ease of operation.
2Reliability
If the pillar is unfolded out of the door to contact with the other door for tight closing, then the tight closing is improved, but the pillar interferes with the passage of drawers installed in the refrigerator
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable pillar can be positioned in different states: protruding when both doors are closed to ensure tight sealing, and retracted when one door is open to clear the drawer passage. This dynamic positioning allows the system to maintain reliable tight closing while preserving adequate drawer passage volume.
3Ease of operation
If the basket corners are made gently curved to avoid contact with the pillar during rotation, then the pillar rotation is facilitated, but the storage capacity of the basket decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of permanently curving the basket corners to facilitate pillar rotation, the pillar itself is made rotatable and can be retracted when not needed. This allows the basket to maintain sharp corners and maximum storage capacity while the dynamic pillar mechanism ensures smooth rotation when closing the door.
4Ease of operation
If the drawer widths are changed to accommodate the unfolded pillar, then the pillar interference is resolved, but the storage efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable pillar can be retracted to a folded position when one door is open, creating sufficient clearance for standard-width drawers without requiring reduced drawer dimensions. This maintains both ease of drawer access and optimal storage efficiency by eliminating the need for compromised drawer sizing.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a refrigerator comprising a cabinet having a storage chamber; an inner case forming the exterior of the storage chamber; a first door pivotally provided to the cabinet and opening and closing one side of the storage chamber; a second door having a pillar rotated so as to come into contact with the first door, pivotally provided to the cabinet, and opening and closing the other side of the storage chamber; and a driving member provided at a lower end of the second door so as to move together with the second door, and operating the pillar so as to fold or unfold the pillar, wherein the pillar has a first catching protrusion and a second catching protrusion, which are selectively caught by the driving member.