Refrigerator Shelf Support With Removable Bottle Bracket Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigerated goods carriers for household refrigeration appliances have pivoting bracket structures that are difficult to remove and store efficiently, as they require emptying the appliance and risk damage, making them operationally unreliable and inflexible.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerated goods carrier with stub axles featuring a protruding element at the distal end to prevent axle escape under load, and adapters with multiple attachment points for different bottle formats, allowing easy adaptation and secure bracket positioning using fixed and elastic hooks, ensuring operational reliability and flexibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the bracket structure is designed to be removable from the refrigerated goods carrier, then the adaptability and storage flexibility are improved, but the device complexity and risk of damage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage flexibilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket structure is divided into separate components: the bracket body, the axle journal, and the retaining element. This segmentation allows the bracket to be easily attached and detached from the refrigerated goods carrier while minimizing the risk of damage during removal and storage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket can be completely removed from the refrigerated goods carrier when not in use, allowing for flexible storage arrangements and adaptation to different storage needs. The extraction feature enables users to store brackets outside the refrigerator or in alternative locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If the stub axle is designed without additional retaining elements, then the manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the reliability of the bracket connection deteriorates under load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidconnection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making the entire axle more complex, a simple retaining element (such as a bent wire or clip) is added locally at the distal end of the stub axle. This local modification prevents the axle from escaping its bearing under load while maintaining the overall simplicity of the manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple attachment points are provided for adapters, then the adaptability to different bottle formats is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebottle format adaptabilityVSAvoidattachment system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adapter system is designed with multiple attachment points on the bar that can accommodate different bottle formats and sizes. The same basic adapter structure can be attached at different locations along the bar, providing universal adaptability without requiring multiple different adapter designs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2454542B1Support for refrigerated products in a refrigeration appliance
Publication Date: 2013.11.27 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2454542B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2454542B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

A support for refrigerated products in a refrigeration appliance, in particular a domestic refrigeration appliance, comprises a plate (1), strips (3) that extend in the direction of the depth of the plate and border lateral edges of the plate, and at least one bow that is pivotably retained below the plate, within bearings (11) arranged on the strips.