Refrigerator Storage Box Assembly with Auto-Closing and Guided Sealing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage box assemblies in refrigerators face issues with airtight sealing due to the drawer cover tilting forward and backward during withdrawal, leading to frictional noise and potential damage, and incomplete closure causing air leakage.

Innovation Solution

The storage box assembly incorporates an auto closing unit with a slanted top surface and lifters that guide the box cover to move upward and downward without tilting, ensuring complete contact and minimizing friction, along with a rail guide system for smooth insertion and withdrawal, and an auto latching mechanism for automatic closure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the drawer cover is separated from the storage box to allow smooth withdrawal, then the ease of operation is improved, but the drawer cover repetitively tilts forward and backward causing frictional noise and potential damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of withdrawalVSAvoidfrictional noise and damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a guide structure consisting of guide grooves and guide protrusions as an intermediary mechanism between the drawer cover and storage box. This guide structure mediates the relative movement, constraining the drawer cover to move linearly along the guidance direction and preventing unwanted tilting motions that cause friction and noise.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the drawer is completely withdrawn, then the ease of operation is improved, but the front drawer protrusion may be damaged or covered with foreign substances

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplete withdrawalVSAvoiddamage and foreign substance contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by providing a guide structure that constrains the movement path of the drawer cover before complete withdrawal occurs. The guide grooves and protrusions prevent the drawer from being pulled out excessively, cushioning against potential damage to the front drawer protrusion and preventing foreign substance contamination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If the drawer cover is seated on the top surface of the drawer to provide sealing, then the airtight function is improved, but the top surface of the drawer may not be in completely close contact with the drawer cover when the drawer is not completely closed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveairtight sealingVSAvoidincomplete closure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The guide structure provides feedback by ensuring proper alignment and contact between the drawer cover and storage box top surface. The geometric constraint of the guide grooves and protrusions gives tactile and positional feedback to the user, indicating when the drawer is properly closed and sealed, even if not completely withdrawn.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3026376B1Storage box assembly and refrigerator including the same

Publication Date: 2018.01.10 LG ELECTRONICS INC

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AI summary

The storage box assembly includes a storage box (21) , a box cover (23) seated on a top surface of the storage box (21), a housing (22) which accommodates the storage box(21), and an auto closing unit (40) which connects a bottom portion of the storage box (21) with the housing (22) to automatically close the storage box (21). Here, top ends of both sides of the storage box (21) and bottom ends of both sides of the box cover (23) slant downward toward the rear to be engaged with one another.