Roller-Supported Refrigerator Tray With Hidden Guide Rail
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigeration appliances have rollers that remain visible inside the device when not in use, detracting from the visual appearance and complicating the storage and retrieval of perishable items.
Innovation Solution
A tray supported on rollers is arranged on the shelf, with a guide rail surrounding the shelf to maintain a clean footprint and prevent rollers from being visible, and includes pull-out and slide-in locks to ensure safe and controlled movement, while the tray can be made of glass or have a glass base for aesthetic appeal and rubber or plastic rollers for reduced noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If rollers are used to enable tray displacement on the shelf, then the operability and ease of operation are improved, but the visual appearance deteriorates due to visible rollers remaining in the interior when the tray is not inserted
Solution Approach 1:
The rollers are extracted from the stationary structure and integrated exclusively with the movable tray. When the tray is removed, the rollers are removed with it, eliminating the visual defect of visible rollers in the interior space while maintaining the smooth rolling motion for tray displacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The rollers are merged with the tray structure itself rather than being separate fixed components. This integration ensures that the rollers move with the tray, providing continuous smooth operation during tray displacement while keeping the interior clean and visually appealing when the tray is absent.
2Ease of operation
If the shelf footprint is occupied by guide elements or guide rails to guide the tray, then the tray movement is guided and controlled, but the storage space is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The guidance function is shifted from the horizontal plane (shelf surface) to the vertical dimension (guide rail extending downward from the shelf edge). This allows the guide rail to provide necessary tray guidance while occupying minimal horizontal space, maximizing the usable storage area on the shelf footprint.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rail acts as an intermediary element that provides guidance without occupying shelf storage space. By positioning the guide rail at the shelf edge and having it interact with the tray's side walls, the system achieves controlled tray movement while keeping the main shelf area fully available for storage.
3Ease of operation
If the tray can be freely displaced on the shelf, then the ease of operation is improved, but safety deteriorates due to risk of tray tipping over or striking the rear wall
Solution Approach 1:
The pull-out lock and slide-in lock are designed to engage automatically at predetermined positions to prevent excessive tray displacement. The pull-out lock stops the tray before it can tip over by extending too far, while the slide-in lock prevents the tray from striking the rear wall, thereby providing preliminary protection against safety hazards before they can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking mechanisms provide feedback control for tray displacement. When the tray reaches the safe displacement limits (maximum pull-out distance or maximum slide-in distance), the locks engage to provide tactile and positional feedback, informing the user that the tray has reached its safe movement boundary and preventing further unsafe displacement.
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
The solution enhances the visual appeal and usability of the appliance by allowing easy removal and placement of items without visible rollers, increasing safety through controlled movement and reducing noise during tray operation.
Implementation Method 1
a tray (200) which is displaceably supported on rollers (300) is arranged on the shelf (104)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a refrigeration device (100) having an interior space (102), in which a compartment bottom (104) is arranged. According to the invention, a tray (200) movably supported on rollers (300) is arranged on the compartment bottom (104). The invention further relates to such a tray (200).