Telescoping Refrigerator Door Shelf for Adjustable Storage Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional refrigerator door shelves lack adjustment means, leading to unsuitable storage and potential item displacement or falling when the door is opened or closed, as they are not adaptable to varying item volumes.
Innovation Solution
A telescoping shelf with two longitudinally slidable parts, a base and a platform, mounted to a support bar on the refrigerator door, allowing for adjustable storage space by sliding the platform within the base, enhancing flexibility and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional single-piece shelves are used in refrigerator doors, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the shelves cannot be adjusted to suit different storage volumes, causing items to move or fall when the door is opened or closed
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf is divided into multiple independent parts: a base part and one or more sliding platform parts. These segments can move relative to each other along the longitudinal axis, allowing the shelf configuration to be adjusted according to storage needs while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The shelf transitions from a static single-piece structure to a dynamic multi-part structure where the platform can slide along the base. This dynamic capability allows the shelf to adapt to different storage volumes and item arrangements, preventing items from moving or falling when the door is opened or closed.
2Reliability
If conventional fixed shelves are used, then the manufacturing cost is low, but the shelves do not provide safe storage for varying numbers of items
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf is divided into a base part and sliding platform parts that can be manufactured separately using simple processes, then assembled together. This segmentation allows for safe and adjustable storage without significantly increasing manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding platform is designed to nest within the base structure when not in use, and can be easily inserted or removed from the base. This nesting design provides safe storage adjustment while maintaining ease of manufacture and assembly.
3Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable shelves with multiple components are introduced, then storage flexibility is improved, but the assembly and cleaning process becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The shelf is segmented into a base part and sliding platform parts that can be easily assembled and disassembled. The platform slides along the base without requiring complex fastening mechanisms, making assembly simple while enabling shelf space customization.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding platform can be easily extracted from the base structure for separate cleaning, and then reinserted when needed. This extraction capability simplifies the cleaning process despite the multi-component design, maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A fixture in the form of a shelf that can be mounted to a support bar secured to the inner face of a refrigerator door. The shelf is telescopic and has at least two parts, a base and a platform, both being slidable upon each other and slidable along the support bar. The base and the platform have mounting means on the support bar and route-limited fitting and sliding means therebetween. The fixture allows for an increase or reduction in space of the telescoping shelf for better arranged storage of beverage cans or the like, in order to ensure versatility and safety to the arrangement of cited products.