Domestic refrigeration appliance with a receiving element for a shelf, the receiving element being provided with an OLED light source

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Solution Overview

Problem

Household refrigeration appliances face challenges in providing a multifunctional shelf support system that allows for easy cleaning, efficient insulation, and targeted lighting, while existing designs often result in a jagged interior and uneven surfaces that hinder vacuum insulation placement.

Innovation Solution

A rail-like receiving element with guide areas for shelf support and a planar light emission area on the base plate, integrated into the vertical wall, which serves both as a shelf holder and a localized lighting source, ensuring uniform illumination without additional components and maintaining insulation integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If integrally formed holding devices are used on vertical walls, then shelf support function is achieved, but the interior surface becomes jagged and difficult to clean

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshelf support stabilityVSAvoidcleaning ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The holding device is divided into two separate components: a receiving element with guide areas that attaches to the vertical wall, and a shelf support element that inserts into the receiving element. This segmentation allows the receiving element to have a smooth surface for easy cleaning while providing structured guidance for the shelf support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The guide areas are extracted as separate functional features from the integrally formed holding device and incorporated into the receiving element. This extraction allows the vertical wall interior to maintain a smoother surface while still providing the necessary guidance function through the separate receiving element component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If integrally formed holding devices are used on vertical walls, then shelf support is provided, but vacuum insulation elements cannot be attached flatly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshelf support stabilityVSAvoidinsulation element attachment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the holding device into a receiving element and a shelf support element, the receiving element can be designed with a smoother exterior surface that allows vacuum insulation elements to be attached flatly, while the interior guide areas provide the necessary structural function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The receiving element exhibits local quality differentiation: the exterior surface is smooth for insulation attachment, while the interior contains guide areas for shelf support. This local differentiation of surface quality resolves the contradiction between insulation attachment requirements and shelf support functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Illumination intensity

If separate light emission areas are added to vertical walls, then interior illumination is improved, but production complexity and insulation integrity are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterior lightingVSAvoidproduction complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The light emission area is merged with the receiving element of the holding device. This combination eliminates the need for separate light emission components on the vertical wall, simplifying production while maintaining interior illumination functionality through the integrated receiving element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The receiving element is given multiple functions: it provides structural support through guide areas, maintains smooth surfaces for insulation attachment, and incorporates light emission capability. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate components, reducing production complexity while achieving interior illumination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-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

This configuration provides stable, space-efficient shelf support and targeted lighting, simplifies production, and allows for effective vacuum insulation placement, enhancing the appliance's functionality and usability.

Implementation Method 1

the light source is designed as an OLED film and thus as an organic light-emitting diode film

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOrganic Light-emitting Diode: Organic Light-emitting Diode

Data Source

PatentEP3052880B1Domestic refrigeration appliance with a receiving element for a shelf, the receiving element being provided with an OLED light source
Publication Date: 2021.04.07 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3052880B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP3052880B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7
  • EP3052880B1 patent drawingFigure 8

AI summary

The invention relates to a domestic refrigeration appliance (1) having an interior space (2) which is designed to receive foodstuffs and is bounded by walls (4 to 8) of an interior container (3), wherein holding apparatuses (14) for at least one shelf (12, 13) are formed on vertical walls (4, 5, 6), wherein the holding apparatus (14) has a rail-like receiving element (15), which is arranged in the interior space, for a shelf (12, 13) which has at least one guide region (22, 23; 22', 23') for receiving the shelf (12, 13), wherein the guide region (22, 23; 22', 23') is formed on a base plate (21) of the receiving element (15), and a flat light-emission region (25) is formed on a flat region (24) of the base plate (21), which flat region is adjacent to the guide region (22, 23; 22', 23').