A refrigerator with height adjustable body shelf
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerators with height-adjustable shelves face difficulties in balanced and easy adjustment, especially when the door cannot be fully opened, and struggle to provide sufficient strength and balanced operation, particularly with glass shelves of wide surfaces.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of recesses on the rear wall and a U-shaped movable locking arm mechanism mounted under the shelf, which allows for easy and balanced height adjustment by pulling a handle to free the locking arm, moving the shelf, and using a spring to fix it into recesses at the desired level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If channels and rails are provided on two opposite walls for shelf height adjustment, then the shelf height can be adjusted, but the adjustment process becomes complex and requires pulling the shelf out and pushing it back in
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the locking function from the shelf edges and relocates it to a dedicated height adjustment mechanism with a U-shaped locking arm mounted at the underside of the shelf. This separates the adjustment operation from the shelf body, allowing users to operate the locking mechanism independently without manipulating the entire shelf.
Solution Approach 2:
The U-shaped locking arm acts as an intermediary between the shelf and the recesses in the rear wall. Instead of directly engaging the shelf with the adjustment channels, the locking arm mediates the connection, providing a simple leveraging point (handle) for users to control the locking and unlocking actions.
2Device complexity
If holes and pins are provided for shelf height adjustment, then the structure is simple, but sufficient strength and balanced operation cannot be provided for glass shelves with wide surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple functions into the U-shaped locking arm: it provides structural support for the shelf, acts as a locking mechanism, and serves as a leveraging tool for user operation. The handle extension combines the locking arm with an operational handle, creating a unified component that addresses both strength and ease of operation requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The spring component performs preliminary action by automatically pushing the locking arm into the recesses to secure the shelf at the desired height. This eliminates the need for users to manually ensure proper engagement, providing both strength and balanced operation automatically once the shelf is positioned.
3Volume of moving object
If the door cannot be fully opened in cooling devices, then space is saved, but the process of pulling the shelf out and pushing it back in becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the adjustment operation from the door space requirement by relocating the locking mechanism to the underside of the shelf with a handle that can be operated from within the limited door opening space. Users can access and operate the handle without needing to fully open the door or maneuver the entire shelf in and out.
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 safe and balanced adjustment of shelf height, increasing the strength of the shelf against loads and maintaining aesthetic appeal by allowing easy and secure positioning without tilting, improving usability.
Implementation Method 1
the locking arm is pushed forward by means of a spring and fitted into the recesses on the rear wall
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a refrigerator (1) comprising a body (2); at least one door (3) providing access into the body (2); a rear wall (4) disposed at the rear side of the fresh food/freezing compartments in the body (2); two opposite side walls (5) disposed at both sides of the fresh food/freezing compartments; at least one shelf (6) that is disposed in the body (2) and whereon the foodstuffs to be cooled/frozen to be placed, and a height adjustment mechanism (9) that enables the level of the shelf (6) in the body (2) to be adjusted.