We are avid RV'ers and frequently go out on long cross-country adventures ever since buying our coach several years ago. But, one particular problem kept plaguing us - the residential refrigerator kept opening while we were driving. When this happened, everything would start dumping out on the floor. In addition to the huge mess this creates, it was also a huge distraction while driving. If the refrigerator spilled at the wrong time, it could lead to a tragic driving accident.
As bad as this problem is when driving a coach, it is an even bigger issue if you have a trailer with residential appliances. When pulling a trailer, you will know if your refrigerator spilled until you arrive at your destination - sometimes days later. In addition to the mess, the entire fridge and freezer contents can be spoiled.
Residential refrigerators are commonly installed in recreational vehicles, and for good reason. They have high capacities, are comparatively inexpensive, and are attractive. But residential appliances were never meant to be used in moving vehicles. Several devices are out there to keep the doors shut, but most require drilling into the refrigerator and are cumbersome to engage/disengage.
Our RV shipped with a bungee cord wrapped around the refrigerator door handles. It usually worked when the fridge was empty but failed miserably once it was loaded with food. In addition to the frequent fridge spills, our young kids had a difficult time with the bungee. Either they would lose control of the bungee trying to open the fridge - and get snapped in the face or would be unable to reconnect the bungee when they were finished. But, even with the bungee, the refrigerator kept opening. We needed to come up with something.
One significant advantage of cross-country driving is having much time to think. The result of this was the original Fridge Fixer prototype. This device worked as intended, but it was not ideal for manufacturing. Over the next year and countless prototypes later, the Fridge Fixer evolved into the family of devices being offered today.