Adjustable Refrigerator Shelf Assembly With Cam-Guided Locking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator shelf adjustment mechanisms require users to separate shelves from support ribs or mounting rails, making level adjustments difficult and potentially hazardous, especially when shelves are at upper positions with food items.
Innovation Solution
A shelf assembly with guide members, cam members, and a handle system that allows vertical movement of shelves while maintaining horizontal stability, using guide slots and cam mechanisms to prevent accidental lowering and incorporating locking lever devices for safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If shelves are separably mounted to support ribs or mounting rails, then shelves can be adjusted to different levels, but the adjustment process becomes difficult and troublesome requiring complete removal of food items
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf mounting system transitions from a static fixed mounting to a dynamic adjustable mounting. The shelf can be easily moved between different height positions along the support ribs through a simple lifting motion, allowing users to adjust shelf levels without complex disassembly or removal of food items.
2Volume of moving object
If shelves are mounted at upper positions, then storage space is optimized, but the risk of accidental lowering and food damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf mounting structure incorporates a preliminary anti-action mechanism where the shelf's weight and the support rib geometry work together to prevent accidental lowering. The shelf is designed to engage with the support ribs in a way that requires intentional upward lifting force to move, while downward movement is mechanically prevented, thus protecting food items from damage due to accidental shelf collapse.
3Device complexity
If shelves require complete separation from support ribs for level adjustment, then mounting structure is simple, but adjustment time and user effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system enables dynamic repositioning of shelves without complete separation. Users can easily lift and reposition shelves to different levels along the support ribs in a single continuous motion, eliminating the time-consuming process of complete disassembly and reassembly while maintaining structural simplicity.
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
Enables easy and safe level adjustment of shelves without removing food items, preventing accidental falls and simplifying the adjustment process, while maintaining shelf stability and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
first and second cams configured to pivot over a first side surface and a second side surface of the first support side wall and the second support side wall, respectively, to move the at least one flat panel vertically
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a cabinet with a storage chamber, and a shelf assembly vertically movably mounted in the storage chamber. The shelf assembly includes a pair of guide members mounted to opposite side walls of the storage chamber, a shelf guided by the guide members to be vertically movable, a pair of side walls extending downwards from opposite lateral ends of the shelf and vertically movable while being guided by the guide members, a handle member having opposite ends mounted in guide slots formed through upper portions of the side walls, to be slidably guided by the guide slots in forward and rearward directions, two pairs of cam members pivotably mounted to the corresponding guide members, to support the shelf, and a pair of extension portions pivotally connected to the corresponding cam members while extending rearwards from opposite ends of the handle member.