Refrigerator Sub Door Hinge Mounting to Reduce Sagging and Exposure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators with sub doors and hinges mounted on the front surface of the main door suffer from poor outer appearance and potential hinge deformation due to increased weight, leading to sagging issues.
Innovation Solution
A hinge mounting structure with a lower cap decoration that includes a protrusion for hinge placement, a recessed accommodation part, and a support member made of metal to reinforce the hinge, minimizing external exposure and preventing sagging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the hinge is mounted on the front surface of the main door, then the sub door can be supported, but the outer appearance deteriorates due to hinge exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is extracted from the visible front surface area and relocated to the lower cap decoration at the lower end of the main door. This separation removes the visually problematic hinge exposure while preserving the hinge's essential support function for the sub door.
Solution Approach 2:
The lower cap decoration serves as an intermediary structure that provides a mounting location for the hinge. By introducing this intermediate component, the hinge can be supported without being directly exposed on the main door's front surface, thus mediating between functional requirements and aesthetic considerations.
2Quantity of substance
If the weight of the sub door increases, then more storage capacity is available, but the hinge becomes deformed and the sub door sags
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge support structure employs composite construction combining the lower cap decoration (providing structural foundation) with the hinge mounting mechanism (providing rotational support). This composite approach distributes the increased weight load from heavier sub doors more effectively, preventing hinge deformation and sagging while accommodating greater storage capacity.
3Strength
If the size of the hinge increases to support heavier sub door, then the support strength is improved, but the outer appearance worsens due to larger hinge exposure
Solution Approach 1:
By relocating the hinge to the lower cap decoration away from the main door's front surface, the invention allows the hinge size to be increased for greater strength without compromising outer appearance. The extracted location provides sufficient space for a robust hinge while keeping it hidden from view.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator, and includes a cabinet having a storage space; a main door rotatably mounted on the cabinet to open and close the storage space, and having an opening; a sub door disposed in front of the main door and rotatably opening and closing the main door; and a hinge rotatably connected to the sub door, in which the main door includes a door body forming a circumference of the opening and filled with an insulating material; and a lower cap decoration coupled to the door body and forming a portion of a lower surface and a front surface of the main door, and the hinge is mounted on the lower cap decoration.