Rotatable Refrigerator Shelf for Variable-Height Food Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators have limited storage capacity due to fixed shelves that cannot accommodate items of varying heights without separating or laying down larger items, leading to inefficient use of space and potential damage to adjustable shelves.
Innovation Solution
A rotatable shelf apparatus with a rotation supporting unit that allows the shelf to adjust vertically and horizontally, using a rotary shaft and shaft hole mechanism to accommodate items of different heights without separating the upper shelf, and a combination supporting unit to stabilize the shelf.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed shelves are provided to correspond to the width of the cooling chamber, then the shelves can be stably supported, but the storage space cannot be efficiently utilized when food items of varying heights need to be accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf is designed to be rotatable about a vertical axis, allowing it to change its orientation from horizontal to vertical. This dynamic transformation enables the shelf to adapt to different storage needs: when horizontal, it provides stable support for standard items; when vertical, it creates additional vertical storage space for tall items, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and stability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces rotation about a vertical axis, adding a rotational dimension to the traditional horizontal shelf. This allows the shelf to transition between different spatial configurations, enabling accommodation of items with varying heights while maintaining stable support through the rotation mechanism
2Adaptability or versatility
If the upper shelf is separated to increase vertical distance between shelves, then larger food items can be accommodated, but the separated shelf cannot be easily kept and can be damaged and/or lost
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of completely separating the shelf, the invention allows it to rotate dynamically between horizontal and vertical positions. The shelf remains connected to the rotation supporting unit, eliminating the problems of loss and damage associated with completely separated shelves while still providing the necessary vertical space for larger items
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable shelf serves multiple functions: it can be positioned horizontally for standard storage, rotated to vertical position for tall items, and remains attached to the supporting unit throughout. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for complete separation while maintaining ease of operation
3Quantity of substance
If conventional fixed shelves are used, then the structure is simple, but the amount of food items that can be accommodated is reduced due to inability to utilize upper space of small food items
Solution Approach 1:
The rotatable shelf mechanism allows dynamic reconfiguration of storage space. By rotating the shelf to vertical position, additional vertical space is created for storing multiple layers of food items, thereby increasing the quantity of stored items without requiring a complex multi-level system
Solution Approach 2:
The rotation capability adds a vertical dimension to the traditionally horizontal shelf, enabling utilization of vertical space for stacking multiple food items. This increases storage capacity without significantly complicating the overall device structure
Data Source
AI summary
A rotatable shelf apparatus and a refrigerator having the same. The refrigerator having the rotatable shelf apparatus includes a main body in which a storage space is formed, a rotatable shelf provided in the storage space to be rotated in a vertical direction, and a rotation supporting unit fixedly provided in the storage space to rotatably support the rotatable shelf. Therefore, it is possible to control the height of the storage space, to reduce the number of times of attaching and detaching the shelf in accordance with the size of accommodated food items, and to effectively utilize the storage space.