Reversible Egg Holder Structure for Tight Door Rack Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing egg trays require a mirror-symmetrical design to fit perfectly in a refrigerator door rack, limiting the use of identical trays together due to the need for different orientations and shapes to accommodate various door rack contours, leading to increased production costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
An egg tray design that allows identical trays to be used side by side without mirror-symmetry, featuring a standing means that maintains the carrier plate at a consistent distance from the floor in both positions, enabling rotation about an axis parallel to the holder plane, and adaptable side walls that can be straight or curved to fit various door rack shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If egg trays are designed with mirror-symmetrical contour to fit door rack, then the egg trays can be used in rotated positions, but the design flexibility and variety of contours are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by designing the egg tray with an asymmetric contour that is specifically adapted to the door rack geometry. The asymmetric design includes a first contour side and a second contour side that are different from each other, allowing the tray to fit precisely in the door rack while maintaining manufacturability through a single mold design.
2Manufacturing precision
If different egg tray contours are used to accommodate curved door walls, then the fit between egg trays and door rack is improved, but the number of different egg tray designs must be increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing different contour characteristics at different locations of the egg tray. The first contour side has a first curvature radius while the second contour side has a second curvature radius, allowing each side to be optimized for its specific function: one side for fitting the curved door wall and the other for adjacent tray placement, all within a single tray design.
3Ease of manufacture
If identical egg trays are used side by side, then production costs are reduced, but the trays cannot accommodate various door rack shapes without rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the egg tray with multiple functions integrated into a single asymmetric design. The tray can be used in its original orientation with the first contour side against the door wall, and also in a rotated orientation where the second contour side interfaces with the door wall, making a single design universally applicable to various door rack configurations.
4Adaptability or versatility
If egg trays are rotated 180° to fit different door rack orientations, then the same tray design can be used, but the standing distance from the floor must be maintained in both positions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by considering the three-dimensional orientation of the egg tray. The asymmetric contour is designed in the horizontal plane while the standing means extend vertically to maintain a constant standing distance from the floor. This allows the tray to be rotated 180° around a vertical axis while maintaining the same standing height, effectively using the vertical dimension to preserve reliability during orientation changes.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an egg holder (1) for a refrigerator, comprising at least one housing for at least one egg and a stand means (11) for setting the holder on a surface. According to the invention an egg holder (1) may be provided without the need to have a mirror symmetrical shape such that two identical egg holders (1) can be tightly placed adjacently in a door shelf (16) wherein the stand means (11) is designed for the optional setting of the holder in a first position and in a second inverted position.