Refrigerator Sub Door Integrated Dispenser Design

Solution Overview

Problem

Refrigerators lack a convenient and integrated dispenser system that minimizes cool air loss and enhances user experience while complicating the manufacturing process with separate dispenser components.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerator design featuring a main door with a storage space and a sub door equipped with a dispenser, where the dispenser is integrally formed with the outer case of the sub door, reducing cool air loss and simplifying manufacturing by using a metal material for a unified appearance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a dispenser is installed on the refrigerator door, then user convenience is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dispenser is integrally formed with the outer case of the sub door through a single forming process, merging two previously separate components (dispenser and door case) into one unified structure. This eliminates the need for separate dispenser components and their associated mounting hardware, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining the water dispensing function on the door.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If the dispenser is separately assembled, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but appearance quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The dispenser and outer case are formed as a single integral structure, eliminating visible seams, joints, or gaps between components. This creates a smooth, continuous surface that enhances the aesthetic appearance of the refrigerator door while the forming process itself provides manufacturing flexibility through a single-step production method.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If the main door is opened for frequent food access, then accessibility is improved, but cool air loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The door system is divided into two functional segments: the main door for occasional access to the refrigerator compartment, and a sub door with integrated dispenser for frequent operations. The sub door can be opened independently to access the storage space or dispense water without opening the main door, thereby segmenting the access functions to minimize unnecessary cool air loss from the main compartment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sub door serves multiple functions: it provides access to the storage space for frequent items and houses the water dispenser. This multi-functionality allows users to perform both storage access and water dispensing operations through a single door structure, reducing the need to open the main door for these frequent operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10830520B2Refrigerator and method of manufacturing the same

Publication Date: 2020.11.10

AI summary

Provided is a refrigerator including a cabinet forming one of a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, a main door opening and closing the refrigerator compartment or the freezer compartment and including a storage space opened forward, a sub door installed on the main door and opening and closing the storage space of the main door, and a dispenser disposed on the sub door and dispensing water.