Domestic refrigerator and food storage container with pivotable flap on the tray
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food storage containers in household refrigerators have ventilation flaps that are positioned on the lid, leading to space constraints, visibility issues, and difficulty in operation due to their steep upward projection and rearward positioning.
Innovation Solution
The ventilation flap is pivoted on the shell instead of the lid, allowing for a more forward and exposed position, eliminating the need for a separate actuation unit and enabling easier access and visibility, with a storage device providing mechanical stability and ease of cleaning and replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the flap is mounted on the lid with a vertical pivot axis, then the flap can be positioned on the lid structure, but the flap projects steeply upwards and is positioned far back, requiring sufficient vertical clearance and making it difficult to see and operate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the mounting location from the lid to the tray, and inverts the pivot axis orientation from vertical to horizontal. This inversion allows the flap to project forward instead of upward, eliminating the need for vertical clearance and improving visibility and operability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pivot axis from vertical (z-axis) to horizontal (x-axis or y-axis), effectively rotating the flap's movement plane by 90 degrees. This dimensional change transforms the flap's projection direction from upward to forward, solving the clearance and visibility problems
2Loss of information
If the flap is mounted on the lid, then the ventilation function is provided, but the flap is positioned far back in the depth dimension, restricting visibility and making it difficult for users to discern its position
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the mounting location from lid to tray and changing the pivot orientation, the flap is repositioned from the rear to the front of the container. This makes the flap prominently visible and easily accessible to users, eliminating the visibility and accessibility problems
3Reliability
If the flap is positioned on the lid with upward projection, then the ventilation opening can be closed, but sufficient vertical clearance is required to fully open the flap, and it may collide with other components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the mounting approach by placing the flap on the tray instead of the lid and changing the pivot axis orientation. This causes the flap to project forward horizontally instead of upward vertically, eliminating the need for vertical clearance while maintaining the closure function
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the pivot axis from vertical to horizontal, the flap's movement is redirected from the vertical dimension to the horizontal dimension. This dimensional transformation eliminates conflicts with overhead components while preserving the ventilation control function
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
One aspect of the invention relates to a food storage container (8) for a household refrigerator (1), comprising a tray (10) for receiving the food, a separate lid (9) which can be placed on the tray (10) to close it, and a ventilation device (12) which allows air exchange between the environment and the interior (13) of the food storage container (8), wherein the ventilation device (12) has a pivotable flap (19) which, in an open position, exposes a ventilation opening of the ventilation device (12) and, in the closed position, closes the ventilation opening, wherein the flap (19) is pivotably mounted on the tray (10). Another aspect relates to a household refrigerator (1).