Refrigerator with a connection support device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Refrigerators experience significant cold air loss due to frequent opening and closing of doors, and the use of auxiliary doors with gaskets increases power consumption to prevent condensation, leading to inefficiencies in maintaining a cold environment.
Innovation Solution
A connection support device is introduced that allows a storage container to be selectively supported by the refrigerator door or body, enabling it to rotate with the door while minimizing exposure of the cold compartment, thus reducing air loss and eliminating the need for additional heaters to prevent condensation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If auxiliary doors with gaskets are used to minimize cold air loss, then sealing performance is improved, but power consumption increases due to heaters needed to prevent condensation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the storage container from the main refrigerator body and relocates it to the door, creating a separate auxiliary storage space. This extraction eliminates the need for auxiliary doors with gaskets and heaters, as the storage container itself can be opened independently without affecting the main compartment's sealing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the storage function by creating a separate storage container that can be independently accessed. This segmentation allows users to open only the small storage container door rather than the entire refrigerator door or auxiliary doors, minimizing cold air loss and eliminating the need for condensation prevention heaters on auxiliary doors.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the storage container is fixed to the refrigerator body, then structural stability is improved, but accessibility and space utilization worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic connection system where the storage container can be selectively connected to or disconnected from the refrigerator door. The connection support device allows the storage container to rotate with the door when connected, providing accessibility, while maintaining structural stability when connected. Users can disconnect it when needed for cleaning or reconfiguration.
3Ease of operation
If the storage container rotates with the door, then accessibility is improved, but cold air loss may increase if not properly managed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the opening action by allowing users to open only the small storage container door independently of the main refrigerator door. This segmentation ensures that when the storage container rotates with the door, only a minimal amount of cold air is exposed, significantly reducing cold air loss compared to opening the entire refrigerator door.
4Adaptability or versatility
If connection devices are added to enable selective support, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connection support device serves multiple functions: it supports the storage container, allows rotation with the door, and can be selectively connected or disconnected. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving versatility.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A refrigerator including a storage container (100) that may be selectively coupled to a refrigerator body (10) or to a door (30) by a storage container support device (200) is provided. The refrigerator may include a control device (610) provided in the door to selectively control operation of the storage container support device (200) from an exterior of the door.