Refrigerator with receiving boxes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional refrigerators with stacked receiving boxes face interference issues when trying to open both boxes simultaneously, making it difficult to move food between them.

Innovation Solution

The design includes receiving boxes with downwardly and upwardly inclined slopes on their sidewalls, allowing the cover to pivot and rotate smoothly, preventing interference between stacked boxes and enabling simultaneous opening.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the first receiving box protrudes forward relative to the second receiving box to maximize space utilization, then the interior space utilization is improved, but the cover of the first receiving box interferes with the second receiving box when both are opened simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterior space utilizationVSAvoidsimultaneous opening of receiving boxes
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is designed to pivot between a horizontal closed position and an upwardly-inclined open position, transforming from a static obstacle into a dynamic component that adapts its position based on operational needs, allowing the second receiving box to pass underneath when opened

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The opening operation is segmented into distinct phases: the cover pivots upward to create clearance for the second receiving box, then stabilizes in an inclined position, allowing independent control of the cover's position relative to the receiving boxes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If the cover is coupled to the shelf by hinges to close the protruding portion of the first receiving box, then the covering function is improved, but the cover collides with the second receiving box preventing simultaneous opening

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecover installationVSAvoidsimultaneous opening of receiving boxes
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The hinged cover transforms from a fixed rigid barrier into a dynamic element capable of pivoting upward, creating the necessary clearance for the second receiving box to move underneath when both boxes are opened simultaneously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

When the first receiving box is pulled out, the second receiving box can be nested underneath the pivoted cover, allowing both boxes to be extracted simultaneously without collision, similar to nested dolls moving through each other's space

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentEP2098810B1Refrigerator with receiving boxes
Publication Date: 2020.10.21 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP2098810B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2098810B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2098810B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A refrigerator having an improved receiving box (30) in contact with a cover (50). The refrigerator includes a first receiving box (30), and a cover (50) installed to come into contact with the first receiving box (30) and adapted to be pivotally rotated as the first receiving box (30) is pulled out or pushed in. The first receiving box (30) includes a sidewall having a downwardly-inclined slope with respect to a front of the first receiving box (30). The cover (50) is pivotally rotated downward by movement of the cover (50) on the downwardly-inclined slope (35) when the first receiving box (30) s pulled out and is pivotally rotated upward when the first receiving box (30) is pushed in. With this configuration, the refrigerator has the effect of allowing a user to easily move food stored in a plurality of receiving spaces from one receiving space to another.