Refrigeration device having an interior space in which a sliding support is motion-coupled with a storage container
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household refrigeration appliances face challenges in providing user-friendly and safe handling of displaceable containers, particularly when these are heavily loaded, as they can lift off or detach undesirably during movement.
Innovation Solution
A household refrigeration appliance design featuring a carrier with integrated coupling elements that overlap with the container's coupling elements in the depth direction, forming a toothing mechanism to prevent vertical detachment and ensure safe, tilt-free movement, allowing for easy and secure handling of loaded containers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If containers are made displaceable for easy access, then ease of operation is improved, but stability and safety deteriorate as containers may lift off or detach during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling element is integrated into the carrier structure, with the container nesting onto the carrier through the coupling mechanism. The coupling element acts as an inner structure within the carrier that provides the interlocking function, allowing the container to be securely attached while maintaining easy displacement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling elements are arranged to overlap in the depth direction (z-direction) rather than only in vertical or horizontal planes. This three-dimensional overlapping arrangement creates a toothing effect that prevents detachment in multiple directions, adding a depth dimension to the coupling mechanism to enhance stability while preserving mobility.
2Quantity of substance
If containers are heavily loaded with food, then storage capacity is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates as containers become difficult to move and may lift off
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling elements are pre-positioned and pre-configured in the carrier and container structures. Before the container is loaded with food, the coupling mechanism is already in place to provide the necessary mechanical interlocking, ensuring that even when heavily loaded, the container can be securely attached and easily moved without lifting off.
3Reliability
If containers are securely attached to prevent detachment, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates as separation and reassembly becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling mechanism is divided into separate coupling elements on the carrier and container, allowing independent movement and alignment. The carrier has its own coupling elements integrated into its structure, while the container has corresponding coupling elements, enabling simple engagement and disengagement through relative displacement in the depth direction without complex fastening or unfastening operations.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate components are used for carrier and container, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling elements are merged into the structures of the carrier and container respectively, rather than being separate additional components. The carrier-side coupling element is integrated into the carrier body, and the container-side coupling element is integrated into the container base, reducing the total component count while maintaining the ability to separate and reassemble the carrier-container system for flexible configuration changes.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
Domestic refrigeration appliance (1) comprising an interior chamber (4, 5) which is bounded by walls (3a, 3b, 3c) of an interior container (3), and having at least one container (9, 10) for accommodating foodstuffs which is arranged in the interior chamber (4, 5) in a moveable manner, and having a support (11) which is mounted in the interior chamber (3) in a moveable manner, and the container (9, 10) is arranged on the support (11) such that it can be released without being destroyed and is coupled in terms of movement to the carrier (11) for movement purposes, wherein, for the purpose of coupling in terms of movement, the container (9, 10) has at least one coupling element (27, 28), and the support (11) has at least one coupling element (16, 17), and the coupling elements (16, 17, 27, 28) are arranged such that they overlap in the coupled state when viewed in the depth direction of the domestic refrigeration appliance (1) .