Rotating Refrigerator Shelf for Easier Rear-Item Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing refrigeration appliances require users to push aside or remove objects on the front of a shelf to access items further back, making them difficult to access and inefficient in terms of energy usage during loading and unloading.

Innovation Solution

A refrigeration device with a rotatably mounted storage section, such as a centrally supported turntable, that allows easy access to items stored further back without removing front objects, combined with a stationary storage section for conventional placement, and features like a peripheral raised edge and anti-slip surface to prevent objects from sliding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the appliance is kept open for extended periods to access rear objects, then accessibility is improved, but energy efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility of objectsVSAvoidenergy efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable shelf allows all objects to be accessed by simple rotation while the appliance remains closed, eliminating the need to keep the door open for extended periods and thus preventing energy loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If a rotatable storage section is added to improve accessibility, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility of objectsVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shelf is divided into a stationary section and a rotatable section, allowing the rotatable functionality to be added only where needed while maintaining the simplicity of the overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The rotatable shelf section is integrated with the stationary shelf structure, combining both functionalities into a unified design that does not require separate complex mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Quantity of substance

If objects are placed close together on the shelf to maximize storage density, then storage capacity is improved, but accessibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidaccessibility of objects
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rotatable shelf allows objects to be densely packed while maintaining accessibility, as any object can be brought to the front position by rotation without requiring physical movement of other objects.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2373942B1Refrigeration appliance comprising a rotatably mounted storage section
Publication Date: 2012.10.31 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP2373942B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2373942B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The invention relates to a refrigeration appliance, especially a household refrigeration appliance, comprising a cooling chamber in which at least one shelf (10) is arranged. The refrigeration appliance is characterized in that the shelf (10) has a rotatably mounted storage section (30) and a fixed storage section (39).