refrigerator

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional refrigerators are inconvenient for identifying and retrieving wine bottles due to narrow shelf spacing and lack of illumination, which complicates the storage and retrieval of wine bottles.

Innovation Solution

A refrigerator design featuring extendable shelves with built-in light modules and adjustable support bars to improve visibility and accessibility of wine bottles, allowing for better identification and retrieval by extending the shelf frame forwardly and illuminating bottles below.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the spacing between shelves is reduced to store more wine bottles, then the storage capacity is improved, but the convenience of withdrawing and identifying wine bottles deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidconvenience of withdrawing and identifying wine bottles
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The shelf is designed to be movable along guide rails, transitioning from a static fixed position to a dynamic adjustable position. This allows the shelf to be extended forward when wine bottles need to be accessed, providing sufficient space for hand insertion and bottle withdrawal, while maintaining compact spacing for maximizing storage capacity when not in use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The shelf is extended forward in advance before wine bottles need to be accessed. This preliminary action creates the necessary space for easy withdrawal and identification of bottles, eliminating the need to reach deep into narrow spaces during the actual retrieval operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Quantity of substance

If the shelf spacing is reduced to increase storage capacity, then more wine bottles can be stored, but the ability to identify wine bottles without withdrawing them deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of wine bottles storedVSAvoidvisibility of wine bottle labels
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The shelf's movable design allows it to be extended forward, bringing wine bottles closer to the user's viewing position. This dynamic adjustment enables clear identification of bottle labels and types without requiring physical withdrawal, while maintaining compact storage spacing when the shelf is in its retracted position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the shelf is made extendable to improve accessibility, then wine bottles become easier to retrieve, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccessibility of wine bottlesVSAvoidshelf structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shelf structure is divided into modular components: a shelf bracket fixed to the storage space, guide rails for movement, and the shelf body that slides along the rails. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, simplifying the overall implementation of the extendable mechanism while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Guide rails serve as an intermediary element between the fixed shelf bracket and the movable shelf body. These rails provide a simple mechanical guidance system that enables smooth extension and retraction of the shelf without requiring complex actuators or control mechanisms, thus improving accessibility while minimizing added complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3908795B1refrigerator
Publication Date: 2024.10.23 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3908795B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3908795B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3908795B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure is relates to a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes first storage for defining a first storage space therein, a door for opening and closing the first storage space, and a plurality of shelves installed in the first storage space for placing an object thereon. The shelf includes a frame having a plurality of support bars for loading a plurality of wine bottles thereon, a shelf bracket detachably mounted and fixed in the storage space, and an extending rail for supporting the frame to be able to be extended forwardly of the first storage from the shelf bracket.