Sliding Storage Box Shelf Structure for Refrigerator Space Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerators face challenges in optimizing storage space utilization and preventing cool air leakage in storage compartments, particularly due to limitations in the design of storage boxes and shelves.
Innovation Solution
The refrigerator features storage boxes with slide protrusions on the outer side-faces and corresponding grooves on the shelves, allowing for sliding movement and improved storage volume, along with cool air covers to prevent air leakage, and inclined portions for easier movement and stoppers for distance control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the storage box is made fixed in the storage compartment, then cool air leakage is prevented, but storage space utilization is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The storage box is designed with slide protrusions that enable it to move dynamically between a retracted position (increasing storage space) and an extended position (improving seal contact). This dynamic positioning allows the system to adapt between maximizing volume and maintaining reliability, resolving the contradiction between storage space utilization and cool air leakage prevention
2Volume of moving object
If the storage box is made slidable to increase storage space, then storage volume is improved, but cool air leakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slidable design with defined retracted and extended positions allows the storage box to dynamically adjust its position. When extended, it maximizes storage space utilization; when retracted, it maintains contact with the seal structure, preventing cool air leakage. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between volume improvement and harmful factor reduction
3Volume of moving object
If the storage box structure is simplified without slide mechanisms, then device complexity is reduced, but storage space utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage box is segmented into functional components: the box body, slide protrusions with inclined portions, and stoppers. This segmentation allows the sliding mechanism to be integrated into the box structure itself rather than requiring separate complex guide mechanisms, thus improving storage space utilization while keeping the overall device complexity manageable
Solution Approach 2:
The inclined portions of the slide protrusions are designed to work with gravity, allowing the storage box to move smoothly between positions using gravitational force rather than requiring additional motors or complex actuation mechanisms. This reduces device complexity while maintaining improved storage space utilization
Data Source
AI summary
A refrigerator having an improved structure of a storage box and a shelf thereof so as to achieve increased space utilization of a storage compartment. The storage box may have slide protrusions respectively formed on both of outer side-faces of the storage box at a lower portion thereof to allow the storage box to be slidably retracted in or extended from the storage compartment. The shelf may have a support structure to support food thereon and slide grooves respectively formed above both sides of the support structure, each groove receiving the corresponding slide protrusion of the storage box. When the storage box is mounted on the shelf, food may be put in the inner space of the storage box, whereas when the storage box is dismounted from the shelf, a food storage space may be present on the support structure of the shelf.