Rotatable Refrigerator Door Storage Rack for Sealing and Accessibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerator door storage racks suffer from poor sealing performance due to assembly gaps, leading to uncontrollable humidity and accessibility issues, especially for users of shorter stature.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable storage rack with a sliding assembly featuring a curved slide rail and pulley system, allowing the drawer to rotate downward for improved accessibility and a latch structure for secure sealing, along with a sub-sliding mechanism for enhanced drawer extension and limiting members for safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional storage rack with cover is used, then full covering is provided, but assembly gaps cause air leakage and uncontrollable humidity
Solution Approach 1:
The storage rack employs a rotatable drawer mechanism that transitions from horizontal to downward rotation, dynamically adjusting the sealing interface position. The curved slide rail guides the drawer through a controlled rotational path, maintaining continuous contact between sealing surfaces throughout the movement cycle, thus preserving sealing performance while enabling accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing mechanism utilizes parameter changes in the drawer's positional state - transitioning from a horizontal extended position to a rotated downward position. The curved slide rail ensures that sealing parameters (contact pressure, interface alignment) are maintained optimally during this transformation, resolving the contradiction between accessibility and sealing.
2Ease of operation
If dry zones are disposed in middle-upper portion of refrigeration door, then classification storage is achieved, but users with ordinary height cannot access articles conveniently
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer dynamically changes its position from a high horizontal location to a lower rotated position during operation. The curved slide rail mechanism enables the drawer to rotate downward along a controlled arc, bringing the storage contents within easy reach of users of ordinary height while maintaining the upper-positioned sealed storage when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The drawer movement transitions from one-dimensional horizontal sliding to two-dimensional rotational motion along a curved path. This dimensional change allows the drawer to access a lower spatial zone during operation while maintaining its upper position when closed, effectively solving the accessibility problem without compromising storage classification.
3Ease of operation
If a rotatable drawer mechanism is added, then accessibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The curved slide rail employs a circular arc geometry that naturally guides the drawer through its rotational movement. This curved path simplifies the mechanical guidance requirements compared to complex multi-stage mechanisms, as the circular arc inherently provides both the horizontal and rotational motion components in a single continuous guide.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved slide rail serves multiple functions simultaneously: it guides the drawer's horizontal movement, controls the rotational descent, maintains sealing contact, and defines the movement trajectory. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanical components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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 provides excellent sealing performance, maintaining controlled humidity and allowing users of varying heights to conveniently access stored items, enhancing user experience and storage efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the sliding assembly comprises a curved slide rail and a first pulley moving along the curved slide rail
Data Source
AI summary
The present invitation provides a rotatable storage rack, including a drawer, a storage rack body for slidingly receiving the drawer, and a sliding assembly disposed between the drawer and the storage rack body; wherein the sliding assembly includes a curved slide rail and a first pulley moving along the curved slide rail, the curved slide rail includes a horizontal section and a bent section, and the bent section is tangent to the horizontal section and arranged at an angle; when the first pulley moves along the horizontal section, the drawer is pulled out when the first pulley moves along the bent section, the drawer rotates downward.