Adjustable Shelf Electrical Connector With Weight-Activated Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing refrigerator systems face challenges in efficiently powering adjustable shelves with lighting devices, as existing electrical connectors lack a reliable mechanism to ensure consistent power supply and easy installation/removal of shelves.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of electrical connectors with actuators and resilient members that automatically engage and disengage when adjustable shelves are mounted or removed, using levers and pivoting mechanisms to ensure power delivery at different current levels, and a housing system integrated with shelf ladders for secure mounting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing electrical connectors are used to power adjustable shelves, then the structure is simple, but the power supply reliability is poor and installation/removal is inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connector uses a resilient member that can deform elastically to engage and disengage electrical contacts dynamically. When the shelf is installed, the resilient member deforms under the shelf weight to establish reliable electrical connection; when the shelf is removed, it automatically returns to its original position to disconnect. This dynamic mechanism improves power supply reliability without requiring complex manual switching operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The electrical connector is designed to automatically engage and disengage based on the presence or absence of the shelf. The resilient member self-actuates through deformation caused by shelf weight, eliminating the need for separate manual engagement mechanisms. This self-service feature simplifies installation and removal while ensuring reliable power connection during use.
2Ease of operation
If manual engagement mechanisms are used, then the device complexity is low, but the ease of operation is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The actuator mechanism is designed to automatically respond to shelf installation and removal. When the shelf is placed on the mounting bracket, its weight causes the resilient member to deform, which automatically actuates the lever to engage the electrical contact. Conversely, when the shelf is removed, the resilient member returns to its original position, automatically disengaging the contact. This eliminates the need for manual engagement operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member serves as an intermediary between the shelf weight and the electrical contact engagement. It translates the mechanical force from shelf weight into lever movement, which then actuates the electrical contact. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the user's interaction to merely placing or removing the shelf, while the complex actuation sequence occurs automatically through the intermediary component.
3Adaptability or versatility
If fixed electrical connectors are used, then the manufacturing precision requirements are low, but the adaptability to different shelf positions is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connector incorporates a resilient member that can deform to accommodate variations in shelf position and mounting bracket alignment. This dynamic capability allows the electrical contact to maintain reliable engagement across multiple shelf positions without requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances for alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member's deformation capability effectively changes the positional parameters of the electrical contact during engagement. As the shelf is installed at different positions, the resilient member deforms to different extents, adjusting the contact position dynamically to maintain reliable electrical connection despite variations in mounting precision.
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
This solution provides a reliable and efficient power supply to adjustable shelves, facilitating easy installation and removal while ensuring consistent illumination, and allows for different current levels for various lighting needs.
Implementation Method 1
each of the electrical connectors may further include a resilient member that biases the actuator toward the first position, the resilient member being deformable by the weight of the adjustable shelf
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator appliance may include a cabinet having a temperature-controlled compartment defined therein, a shelf ladder disposed in the temperature-controlled compartment and providing a plurality of shelf mounting positions, an electrical connector corresponding to each of the plurality of shelf mounting positions, wherein each of the electrical connectors comprises an actuator movable from a first position to a second position and an electrical contact configured to automatically move from a disengaged position to an engaged position in response to the actuator moving from the first position to the second position, and an adjustable shelf removably mountable in one of the plurality of shelf mounting positions such that the actuator of the corresponding electrical connector is held in the second position by a weight of the adjustable shelf and the electrical contact of the corresponding electrical connector engages the adjustable shelf.