Front-Mounted U-Shaped Slider for Refrigerator Crisper Vent Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing food storage containers for household refrigeration appliances have complex mechanical assemblies on lids for air conditioning device operation, leading to movement restrictions and cramped situations, requiring complex settings and potentially high wear.

Innovation Solution

A food storage container with a U-shaped slider actuating element mounted on a front bar, allowing direct and ergonomic operation, enabling smooth and jam-free displacement for easy air exchange control between the environment and the container, with distinct operating states for different storage conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the air conditioning device is integrated into a separate lid with complex mechanical assemblies, then the air exchange control functionality is achieved, but the operation becomes restricted and cramped requiring complex mechanical components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperation of air conditioning deviceVSAvoidmechanical assemblies on lid

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The air conditioning device is segmented from the lid structure and integrated directly into the food storage container body. The slider actuating element is positioned on the front surface of the container, allowing operation without requiring complex mechanical assemblies on a separate lid. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by simplifying the mechanical structure while maintaining air exchange control functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The slider actuating element serves as an intermediary component that directly controls the air conditioning device's operation. By positioning the slider on the front surface of the container rather than on a separate lid, it provides ergonomic access and simplifies the mechanical connection between the user's action and the air exchange control, eliminating the need for complex intermediate mechanical assemblies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the operating element is coupled to variety of mechanical components for converting movement, then the air conditioning device can be controlled, but wear increases and operation becomes less smooth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesmoothness of operationVSAvoidwear of mechanical components

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The slider actuating element is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow smooth movement along the front surface of the container. The slider's geometry and mounting arrangement enable continuous, jam-free displacement without requiring conversion of movement types through complex mechanical components. This dynamic design reduces wear and improves operational smoothness while maintaining effective control of the air conditioning device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the slider is mounted on the lid requiring movement across width, then the air conditioning device can be adjusted, but movement restrictions and cramped situations occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadjustment of air conditioning deviceVSAvoidmovement freedom of slider

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of mounting the slider on the lid and requiring it to move across the lid's width, the slider is inverted to the front surface of the food storage container. This inversion provides unrestricted movement freedom and ergonomic accessibility, allowing the user to operate the air conditioning device without the movement restrictions and cramped situations that would result from lid-mounted positioning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP4130626B1Food storage container with an air conditioning device with u-shaped slide on a front strip and domestic refrigerator

Publication Date: 2024.10.16 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH

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AI summary

One aspect of the invention relates to a food storage container (8, 8') for a household refrigeration appliance (1), comprising a tray (10) and an air conditioning device (16) with which an air exchange between the environment and the interior of the food storage container (8, 8') can be carried out, and with an attachment (12) that can be placed on top of the tray (10), and with an actuating element (17) for actuating the air conditioning device (16), which is a slide (18), wherein the slide (18) is slidably mounted on a strip (14) arranged at the front in the depth direction (z) of the food storage container (8, 8'), such that in a first sliding position the first operating state of the air conditioning device (16) is set and in a second sliding position a second operating state of the air conditioning device (16) is set, wherein the slide (18) is formed as a U-shaped profile part.which encompasses the bar (14) of the attachment (12), wherein the slider (18) is slidably mounted on the bar (14) over its entire displacement path. The invention also relates to a household refrigeration appliance (1).