Refrigerator Sub-Door Hinge and Seal for Cold Air Leakage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Refrigerators with sub-doors suffer from air leakage due to gaps between the main door and sub-door, inadequate pivot angle, and complex latch device structures, which compromise both appearance and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A design featuring a sub-door with a hinge having a bent structure at its intermediate portion, allowing a wider opening angle without interfering with the main door, and a simplified latch device mounted outside the sub-door, utilizing a magnetic gasket for enhanced sealing and a handle groove with a hook member for easy operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the sub-door is smaller than the main door to allow independent access, then ease of operation is improved, but a gap is formed between the edges causing appearance degradation and cold air leakage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent access to auxiliary storageVSAvoidcold air leakage through gap

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful gap between the sub-door and main door into a beneficial feature by providing a hidden storage compartment within the sub-door. The gap that would normally cause appearance degradation and cold air leakage is instead utilized to house additional storage space, turning a structural deficiency into a functional advantage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Device complexity

If the sub-door is embedded in the opening to simplify structure, then device complexity is reduced, but the pivot angle becomes insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting structure simplicityVSAvoidpivot angle range

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a conventional planar hinge arrangement to a three-dimensional configuration by positioning the hinge at the rear surface of the sub-door. This spatial repositioning allows the sub-door to achieve a larger pivot angle while maintaining a simple mounting structure, effectively resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and rotational range.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Ease of manufacture

If the latch device is mounted by passing through the sub-door, then ease of manufacture is improved, but cold air leaks through the mounting portion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelatch device installationVSAvoidcold air leakage at latch mounting

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the latch device mounting location from the sub-door body and relocates it to the rear surface of the sub-door. This separation eliminates the need to pass mounting holes through the sub-door, thereby preventing cold air leakage at the mounting portion while maintaining ease of manufacture through simple surface mounting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Ease of manufacture

If the hinge is positioned at the front of the sub-door for easy mounting, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the opening angle is limited by interference with the main door

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehinge mountingVSAvoidopening angle

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional hinge positioning approach by placing the hinge at the rear surface of the sub-door instead of the front. This reversal of the mounting location eliminates interference with the main door during opening, allowing for a larger opening angle while maintaining ease of manufacture through straightforward rear-surface attachment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

Prevents cold air leakage while maintaining aesthetic appeal by minimizing the visible gap between the main door and sub-door, and simplifies the latch mechanism for easier operation and improved thermal insulation.

Implementation Method 1

a simplified latch device mounted outside the sub-door, utilizing a magnetic gasket for enhanced sealing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic gasket: Magnetism

Data Source

PatentEP2990745B1refrigerator

Publication Date: 2019.03.27 LG ELECTRONICS INC

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AI summary

A refrigerator includes a cabinet (10) having a storage chamber, a main door (100) pivotably mounted to the cabinet (10) while including an opening (170) provided at an inside of the main door (100), and a stepped portion (172) provided around the opening (170), a sub-storage chamber (50) mounted at the inside of the main door (100), a sub-door (200) mounted to the main door (100), to allow a user to have access to the sub-storage chamber (50), the sub-door (200) having opposite side surfaces with front portions protruding forwards of a front surface of the main door (100) while having a greater width than the opening (170) and stepped portion (172) between the front portions of the side surfaces, to cover the stepped portion (172) by the side surfaces, and a hinge (260, 270) pivotably mounted to the main door (100) and coupled to the sub-door (200) while being bent at an intermediate portion thereof, to pivotably support the sub-door (200) with respect to the main door (100).