Refrigerator Assisted Drawer Opener

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Background and Inspiration This model was designed for the "Within Reach – Design Challenge." A competition that challenged designers to create a tool assisting people with limited hand usage. I personally spent some time with socks on both hands, experiencing firsthand what it's like to not have full hand control. My dad always says, "He never stops eating," and this fact remained true even when my hands were restricted. While wearing the socks, I went into my fridge to grab an apple but found it almost impossible to open the drawers where the apples are stored. My refrigerator has a handle on the underside of its fruit and vegetable bins that I couldn't reach with my restricted hand. My solution was to design these handy tabs that slip onto the lip of the drawer (check out the pictures). I aimed for a low-profile design so they wouldn't obstruct the bin or interfere with other shelves. The tabs should allow easy opening and closing while keeping the fridge closed. Watch this video to see them in action. In addition to making sure these tabs functioned properly, I wanted them to look great. So, I created drawings of an apple for a fruit bin, a carrot for a vegetable bin, and a turkey leg for a meat bin using Adobe Illustrator. I saved the designs as .SVG files and added them to Fusion360. To cater to diverse preferences, I included a blank tab that users can customize with their own designs or leave plain. Modeling Process To create my model, I utilized Autodesk Fusion360 and Adobe Illustrator CS6. Print Settings We used Matter Hackers Silver PLA for this print. It's recommended to use support everywhere to ensure the spaces between the two walls of the tab are stable, and the images inside (like the apple) receive proper support to prevent collapse. While a raft or brim isn't necessary, it doesn't hurt to include one either. Check out this time-lapse video we took of the print for more details.