Refrigerator Sub Door Locking Assembly for Easy Compartment Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators lack an efficient mechanism for user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing door opening and closing systems, particularly in multi-compartment designs, which can compromise energy efficiency and user convenience.
Innovation Solution
A refrigerator design featuring a door opening assembly with a sub door and main door configuration, utilizing a locking member, manipulation member, and connection member to allow selective restriction and easy operation, ensuring independent rotation and easy access while maintaining an elegant exterior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a sub door is added to the main door to create multi-compartment storage, then user convenience and accessibility are improved, but the door structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door system is segmented into a main door and a sub door that can independently open and close. This allows users to access only the specific compartment needed without opening the entire main door, improving convenience while the modular segmentation manages the complexity through standardized components
Solution Approach 2:
The door opening assembly incorporates a dynamic locking mechanism that can selectively restrict the sub door's movement. The locking member can be engaged or disengaged based on operational needs, providing flexible control over the multi-compartment system while maintaining structural integrity
2Loss of energy
If a locking mechanism is implemented to restrict sub door movement, then energy efficiency is improved by maintaining closed compartments, but the operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to be automatically engaged when the sub door is closed, using the door's own closing motion to trigger the lock. This self-service feature maintains thermal efficiency without requiring additional manual locking steps, preserving ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The locking member is pre-positioned to engage with the main door structure as the sub door approaches the closed position. This preliminary action ensures the compartment is sealed before thermal loss can occur, while the user simply needs to complete the closing motion
3Shape
If the manipulation member is positioned on the side surface of the sub door, then aesthetic appearance is improved by maintaining a clean front surface, but the ease of manipulation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The connection member acts as an intermediary mechanism that translates the user's manipulation of the side-positioned manipulation member into the rotational motion of the locking member. This allows the manipulation member to be positioned aesthetically on the side surface while still providing effective control through the intermediary connection mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator includes a cabinet that defines a first storage compartment configured to store food, a main door rotatably mounted on the cabinet and configured to open or close at least a portion of the first storage compartment, an accommodation device accessible through an opening in the main door, a sub door mounted on the main door and configured to open or close the opening, and a door opening assembly that is configured to selectively restrict one side of a back surface of the sub door to a corresponding side of a front surface of the main door to thereby selectively restrict movement of the sub door relative to the main door. The accommodation device defines a second storage compartment within the main door that is separated from the first storage compartment, and the door opening assembly is configured to be manipulated from a side surface of the sub door.