Refrigerator with a door opening device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerator door opening mechanisms are aesthetically unappealing and inconvenient for packaging and transportation due to visible handles and protruding door opening devices, and they require significant force to open heavy doors.
Innovation Solution
A door opening device is integrated into the refrigerator door, featuring a pivoting member with a pivoting shaft and a push unit that slides to push the body when activated, allowing for easy opening with reduced force and eliminating the need for a visible handle, with the device mounted in a grip part on the door's surface opposite to the hinge shaft, and a shield covering the mechanism for a sleek appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a conventional door handle and door opening device are provided on the front surface of the door, then the door can be opened, but the appearance is aesthetically unappealing and packaging/transportation is inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The door opening device is extracted from the front surface of the door and relocated to the rear surface. The shield covers the relocated device, making it invisible from the front, thus improving appearance while maintaining door opening functionality through the push rod mechanism that acts on the door body.
Solution Approach 2:
The door opening device components (pivoting member, push rod, shield) are nested within the door structure. The shield is positioned at the front surface while covering the rear-mounted mechanism, creating a nested configuration that hides internal components while maintaining external aesthetics.
2Ease of manufacture
If a door handle is provided on the front surface of the door, then the door can be opened, but it increases material costs and assembly complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The door opening device is merged with the door structure itself, utilizing the door's rear surface and internal space. The pivoting member, push rod, and shield are integrated into the door assembly, eliminating the need for separate front-mounted handle components and reducing overall part count.
Solution Approach 2:
The door structure serves multiple functions: it provides the door barrier function and simultaneously houses the door opening mechanism. The rear surface of the door acts as both a structural element and a mounting surface for the pivoting member and push rod, reducing the need for additional components.
3Force
If a conventional door opening device is provided, then the door can be opened, but significant force is required to open heavy doors
Solution Approach 1:
The door opening force is applied in a different dimensional direction compared to conventional handles. Instead of pulling or pushing at the front surface, the push rod applies force horizontally to the door body from the rear, utilizing the door's thickness dimension to create a more efficient force application point that reduces required opening force.
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 enables easy door opening with minimal force, enhances the refrigerator's appearance by hiding the door opening mechanism, simplifies packaging and transportation, reduces material and assembly costs, and allows for reversible door configurations.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member (140) biased in an initial state in which the push unit (120) is not pressed by the pivoting member (110)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A refrigerator including a door opening device (100) mounted in a grip part defined in any one of an upper surface and lower surface of a door and a side surface of the door opposite to a hinge shaft of the door. The door opening device (100) is covered with a shield provided at a front surface of the door.