Refrigerator Shelf Withdrawal Mechanism for Easier Rear Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large refrigerators, the interference between shelves or storage boxes mounted in the storage compartment and components on the rear surface of the door makes it difficult for users to access food stored in the rear, requiring excessive force to open the door and complicating cleaning and aesthetics.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a shelf assembly with a slidably movable shelf supported by a shelf supporting arm, a withdrawal device connected to the door that moves the shelf forward when opening, and a connection member system allowing automatic or manual withdrawal, ensuring the load is dispersed and the mechanism is concealed within the cabinet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the storage frame supports all loads of the shelf and storage box to enable automatic withdrawal, then the shelf can move forward when the door opens, but the user must apply great force to open the door
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the load-bearing function into two separate structures: the storage frame (which provides guidance and support) and the shelf supporting arm (which bears the weight of the shelf and storage box). This segmentation allows the door to open easily while still enabling automatic shelf withdrawal through the link mechanism connected to the storage frame.
2Ease of operation
If the frame structure to withdraw the shelves is exposed to the outside, then the automatic withdrawal function can be achieved, but the inside of the refrigerator does not look neat and is difficult to clean
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the link member inside the storage frame, with the link cover enclosing the link member within the cabinet body. This nested arrangement allows the automatic withdrawal mechanism to function internally without exposing mechanical components to the storage compartment, thereby maintaining a neat appearance and facilitating easy cleaning.
3Shape
If the link member is enclosed within the cabinet, then the mechanism is concealed and aesthetics are improved, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The storage frame serves multiple functions: it guides the shelf movement, supports the link member internally, and provides structural reinforcement. The link cover simultaneously encloses the mechanism for aesthetics and protects the link member. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in structural complexity despite the enclosed design.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes: a cabinet including an outer case, an inner case disposed inside the outer case and defining a storage space, and an insulating material filled between the outer case and the inner case; a door pivotably connected to a front surface of the cabinet and selectively opening/closing a storage compartment; a shelf assembly including a shelf supporting arm fixed to a real surface of the inner case and a shelf connected to the shelf supporting arm so as to be slidably movable; and a withdrawal device connected to the door and withdrawing the shelf forward in accordance with pivoting of the door for opening the storage space. Here, the withdrawal device includes: a slide member held in a space between the outer case and the inner case; a link member including a front end portion connected to the door and a rear end portion connected to the slide member; and a connection member connecting the slide member and the shelf.