U.S. patent application number 11/166185 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-29 for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Kim, Ik-keun.
Application Number | 20050284159 11/166185 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36642441 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050284159 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim, Ik-keun |
December 29, 2005 |
Refrigerator
Abstract
A refrigerator including a main body forming a refrigerating
compartment; a door being rotated selectively in a first direction
or in a second direction opposite to the first direction to open
the refrigerating compartment; a wire assembly connecting the door
with the main body; and a door cap coupled to the door, the door
cap including a first accommodating section to receive the wire
assembly when the door is rotated in the first direction, and a
second accommodating section being opposite to the first
accommodating section to receive the wire assembly when the door is
rotated in the second direction. With this configuration, a
refrigerator is provided in which an installation position of a
wire assembly is conveniently altered in correspondence to an
opening direction of a door.
Inventors: |
Kim, Ik-keun; (Kwangju-si,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
|
Family ID: |
36642441 |
Appl. No.: |
11/166185 |
Filed: |
June 27, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/126 ; 62/298;
62/441 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2400/04 20130101;
F25D 2323/024 20130101; F25D 2400/361 20130101; F25D 2400/40
20130101; F25D 23/028 20130101; F25D 2323/022 20130101; E05Y
2900/31 20130101; E05D 7/02 20130101; E05D 11/0081 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
062/126 ;
062/298; 062/441 |
International
Class: |
F25B 049/00; F25D
019/00; F25D 011/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 28, 2004 |
KR |
2004-0049146 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A refrigerator comprising: a main body forming a refrigerating
compartment; a door being rotated selectively in a first direction
or in a second direction opposite to the first direction to open
the refrigerating compartment; a wire assembly connecting the door
with the main body; and a door cap coupled to the door, the door
cap comprising a first accommodating section to receive the wire
assembly when the door is rotated in the first direction, and a
second accommodating section being opposite to the first
accommodating section to receive the wire assembly when the door is
rotated in the second direction.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the door cap is
provided with a wire insertion portion formed on a surface thereof
between the first and second accommodating sections, and through
which the wire assembly is inserted in the door cap.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a
first hinge unit connecting the door cap with the main body, the
first hinge unit comprising: a hinge bracket installed selectively
at opposite sides of the main body and connecting the main body
with the door cap; a hinge pin provided in the hinge bracket; first
and second accommodating portions provided in opposite portions of
the door cap and selectively accommodating the hinge pin.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the wire assembly
comprises a sleeve selectively coupled to the first or second
accommodating portion in correspondence to the first or second
direction, and the hinge pin is rotatably accommodated in the
sleeve and formed with a cutting portion to support the wire
assembly.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, further comprising a
display portion provided in the door and connected to the wire
assembly to adjust and display a state of the refrigerating
compartment, wherein the wire assembly passes through the wire
insertion portion and the first accommodating portion of the door
cap and the cutting portion of the hinge pin and connects the
display portion with the main body when the hinge pin is rotatably
inserted in the sleeve accommodated in the first accommodating
portion and allows the door to be rotated in the first direction,
and the wire assembly passes through the wire insertion portion and
the second accommodating portion of the door cap and the cutting
portion of the hinge pin and connects the display portion with the
main body when the hinge pin is rotatably inserted in the sleeve
accommodated in the second accommodating portion and allows the
door to be rotated in the second direction.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, further comprising a
cover covering the second accommodating portion when the hinge pin
is rotatably inserted in the sleeve accommodated in the first
accommodating portion, and covering the first accommodating portion
when the hinge pin is rotatably inserted in the sleeve accommodated
in the second accommodating portion.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 2, further comprising a
first hinge unit connecting the door cap with the main body, the
first hinge unit comprising: a hinge bracket installed selectively
at opposite sides of the main body and connecting the main body
with the door cap; a hinge pin provided in the hinge bracket; first
and second accommodating portions provided in opposite portions of
the door cap and selectively accommodating the hinge pin.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the wire assembly
comprises a sleeve selectively coupled to the first or second
accommodating portion in correspondence to the first and second
direction, and the hinge pin is rotatably accommodated in the
sleeve and formed with a cutting portion to support the wire
assembly.
9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, further comprising a
display portion provided in the door and connected to the wire
assembly to adjust and display a state of the refrigerating
compartment, wherein the wire assembly passes through the wire
insertion portion and the first accommodating portion of the door
cap and the cutting portion of the hinge pin and connects the
display portion with the main body when the hinge pin is rotatably
inserted in the sleeve accommodated in the first accommodating
portion and allows the door to be rotated in the first direction,
and the wire assembly passes through the wire insertion portion and
the second accommodating portion of the door cap and the cutting
portion of the hinge pin and connects the display portion with the
main body when the hinge pin is rotatably inserted in the sleeve
accommodated in the second accommodating portion and allows the
door to be rotated in the second direction.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, further comprising a
cover covering the second accommodating portion when the hinge pin
is rotatably inserted in the sleeve accommodated in the first
accommodating portion, and covering the first accommodating portion
when the hinge pin is rotatably inserted in the sleeve accommodated
in the second accommodating portion.
11. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a
wire cover coupled to the door cap and covering the first and
second accommodating sections.
12. A refrigerator comprising: a main body forming a refrigerating
compartment; a door being rotated selectively in a first direction
or in a second direction opposite to the first direction or in a
second direction opposite to the first direction to open the
refrigerating compartment; a wire assembly connecting the door with
the main body; and a door cap coupled to the door, wherein the door
cap is provided with a wire assembly insertion portion formed on a
surface thereof.
13. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the door cap
comprises a first accommodating section to receive the wire
assembly when the door is rotated in the first direction, and a
second accommodating section being opposite to the first
accommodating section to receive the wire assembly when the door is
rotated in the second direction.
14. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the door cap is
provided with a wire insertion portion formed on a surface thereof
between the first and second accommodating sections, and through
which the wire assembly is inserted in the door cap.
15. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the wire
assembly comprises a sleeve selectively coupled to one of the first
and second accommodating portion in correspondence to the first or
second direction.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 2004-0049146, filed on Jun. 28, 2004, in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a refrigerator and, more
particularly, to a refrigerator, in which an installation position
of a wire assembly is conveniently altered in correspondence to an
opening direction of a door.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, a refrigerator comprises a refrigerator main body
forming a refrigerating compartment, a door opening and closing the
refrigerating compartment, and a hinge unit hingedly connecting the
door with the main body.
[0006] As an example of the refrigerator, there is a refrigerator
disclosed in Korean Utility Model Application No. 1994-028441, in
which a hinge shaft is coupled to the door via a through hole
formed on an hinge plate coupled to the main body, so that a first
door can be opened in a rightward direction.
[0007] In a front of the first door is provided a control panel to
select a freezing state and/or a cooling state of food stored in
the refrigerating compartment, wherein a wire passes through the
main body and the hinge shaft of the hinge unit formed in a top
portion of the first door, thereby connecting the control panel
with a control component (not shown) provided in the main body.
[0008] Generally, the door of the refrigerator is opened in a
rightward direction. However, there is a refrigerator in Korean
Patent Application No. 1994-026610, in which a door can be opened
leftward and rightward, namely, bi-directionally.
[0009] In this refrigerator having a bi-directionally opening door,
the hinge unit should be positioned in a right side and a left side
in correspondence to the rightward opening direction and the
leftward opening direction of the door, respectively.
[0010] Thus, in the refrigerator having a bi-directionally opening
door, the installation position of the hinge unit is altered
according to the opening directions of the door, so that there
arises a problem that it is inconvenient to treat the wire passing
through the hinge unit of the door and connecting the control
component with the control panel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] Illustrative, non-limiting embodiments of the present
invention overcome the above disadvantages and other disadvantages
not described above. Also, the present invention is not required to
overcome the disadvantages described above, and an illustrative,
non-limiting embodiment of the present invention may not overcome
any of the problems described above.
[0012] Therefore, it is an aspect of the present invention to
provide a refrigerator in which an installation position of a wire
assembly is conveniently altered in correspondence to an opening
direction of a door.
[0013] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention
are also achieved by providing a refrigerator comprising a main
body forming a refrigerating compartment; a door being rotated
selectively in a first direction or in a second direction opposite
to the first direction to open the refrigerating compartment; a
wire assembly connecting the door with the main body; and a door
cap coupled to the door, the door cap comprising a first
accommodating section to receive the wire assembly when the door is
rotated in the first direction, and a second accommodating section
being opposite to the first accommodating section to receive the
wire assembly when the door is rotated in the second direction.
[0014] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, the door cap is provided with a wire insertion portion
formed on a surface thereof between the first and second
accommodating sections, and through which the wire assembly is
inserted in the door cap.
[0015] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, the refrigerator further comprises a first hinge unit
connecting the door cap with the main body, the first hinge unit
comprising a hinge bracket installed selectively at opposite sides
of the main body and connecting the main body with the door cap; a
hinge pin provided in the hinge bracket; first and second
accommodating portions provided in opposite portions of the door
cap and selectively accommodating the hinge pin.
[0016] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, the wire assembly comprises a sleeve selectively coupled
to the first or second accommodating portion in correspondence to
the first or second direction, and the hinge pin is rotatably
accommodated in the sleeve and formed with a cutting portion to
support the wire assembly.
[0017] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, the refrigerator further comprises a display portion
provided in the door and connected to the wire assembly to adjust
and display a state of the refrigerating compartment, wherein the
wire assembly passes through the wire insertion portion and the
first accommodating portion of the door cap and the cutting portion
of the hinge pin and connects the display portion with the main
body when the hinge pin is rotatably inserted in the sleeve
accommodated in the first accommodating portion and allows the door
to be rotated in the first direction, and the wire assembly passes
through the wire insertion portion and the second accommodating
portion of the door cap and the cutting portion of the hinge pin
and connects the display portion with the main body when the hinge
pin is rotatably inserted in the sleeve accommodated in the second
accommodating portion and allows the door to be rotated in the
second direction.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from
the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in
conjunction with the accompany drawings of which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator having a
rightward opening door according to a first exemplary embodiment of
the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a hinge bracket
and a hinge cover in the refrigerator of FIG. 1;
[0021] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a door cap region
in the refrigerator of FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the door cap of FIG. 3;
[0023] FIG. 5 is a partial plan view showing an open state of the
door in the refrigerator in FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a refrigerator having a
leftward opening door according to a second exemplary embodiment of
the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a hinge bracket
and a hinge cover in the refrigerator of FIG. 6;
[0026] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a door cap region
in the refrigerator of FIG. 6; and
[0027] FIG. 9 is a partial plan view showing an open state of the
door in the refrigerator in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE, NON-LIMITING
EMBODIMENTS
[0028] Reference will now be made in detail to illustrative,
non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, examples of
which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like
reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The
embodiments are described below in order to explain the present
invention by referring to the figures.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, a refrigerator according to a first
embodiment of the present invention comprises a main body 1 forming
upper and lower refrigerating compartments (not shown), upper and
lower doors 4 and 5 rotatably opening and closing a front opening
of each refrigerating compartment, and a hinge unit supporting each
door 4,5 against the main body 1.
[0030] The hinge unit comprises an upper hinge unit having first
and second hinges respectively supporting an upper portion and a
lower portion of the upper door 4, and a lower hinge unit (not
shown) supporting the lower door 5.
[0031] On a top portion of the main body 1, as shown in FIGS. 2 and
3, right and left second wire assemblies 3a and 3b connected with a
control component (not shown) provided in the main body 1 are
partially exposed; and first and second coupling holes 2a and 2b to
which a first hinge bracket 20 (to be described later) is
selectively coupled are formed.
[0032] The first coupling hole 2a is formed on one side of the top
portion of the main body 1 and is, as shown in FIGS. 2 through 5,
coupled with the first hinge bracket 20 by a screw (not shown),
thereby allowing the upper door 4 to be rightward opened.
[0033] The second coupling hole 2b is formed on the other side of
the top portion of the main body 1 and is, as shown in FIGS. 7
through 9, coupled with the first hinge bracket 20 by a screw (not
shown), thereby allowing the upper door 4 to be leftward opened.
Here, the first hinge bracket 20 is detached from the first
coupling hole 2a and then coupled to the second coupling hole
2b.
[0034] The first hinge unit hingedly connects the upper portion of
the upper door 4 with the top portion of the main body 1. The first
hinge unit comprises the first hinge bracket 20 disposed throughout
the top portion of the main body 1 and a door cap 12 (to be
described later) of the upper door 4; a hinge pin 24 formed in the
first hinge bracket 20; a grommet 26 as a sleeve rotatably
accommodating the hinge pin 24; first and second accommodating
portions 45 and 47 provided at opposite sides of the door cap 12
and to which the grommet 26 is selectively inserted. Further, an
installation region for the first hinge unit is covered with a
first or second cover 27a and 27b disposed oppositely.
[0035] The first hinge bracket 20 comprises a hinge coupling
portion 21 rotatably coupled to an upper portion of the door cap
12, and a fastening portion 22 extending from the hinge coupling
portion 21 and fastened to the top portion of the main body 1.
[0036] The hinge coupling portion 21 is provided with the hinge pin
24 protruding downward from the surface thereof, wherein the hinge
pin 24 is shaped like a hollow cylinder and has a partial cutting
portion 25 to support a first wire assembly 16 (to be described
later).
[0037] Thus, in the case where the hinge pin 24 is rotatably
inserted in the grommet 26 accommodated in the fist accommodating
portion 45, the upper door 4 can be rotated with respect to the
hinge pin 24 in a first direction, i.e., rightward, as shown in
FIG. 5. Oppositely, in the case where the hinge pin 24 is rotatably
inserted in the grommet 26 accommodated in the second accommodating
portion 47, so that the upper door 4 can be rotated with respect to
the hinge pin 24 in a second direction, i.e., leftward, as shown in
FIG. 9.
[0038] The fastening portion 22 steppedly extends from the hinge
coupling portion 21 and is coupled to the first coupling hole 2a or
the second coupling hole 2b of the main body 1 by the screw. Here,
the fastening portion 22 is formed with a through hole 23 via which
the screw is inserted.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 5, in the case of the upper door 4 of the
rightward opening type, the fastening portion 22 is coupled to the
first coupling hole 2a of the main body 1 by the screw (refer to
FIG. 3). Further, as shown in FIG. 9, in the case of the upper door
4 of the leftward opening type, the fastening portion 22 is coupled
to the second coupling hole 2b of the main body 1 by the screw
(refer to FIG. 8).
[0040] The second hinge unit comprises a first hinge shaft 31
provided in a lower right portion of the upper door 4, a second
hinge shaft 32 provided in a lower left portion of the upper door
4, and a second hinge bracket 30 installed the main body 1 under
the upper door 4 and rotatably coupled to the first hinge shaft 31
or the second hinge shaft 32.
[0041] Thus, when the hinge pin 24 is rotatably inserted in the
grommet 26 accommodated in the first accommodating portion 45, the
first hinge shaft 31 of the upper door 4 is coupled to the second
hinge bracket 30 provided in a right portion of the main body 1
under the upper door 4, thereby allowing the upper door 4 to be
rotatable rightward as shown in FIG. 5. Oppositely, when the hinge
pin 24 is rotatably inserted in the grommet 26 accommodated in the
second accommodating portion 47, the second hinge shaft 32 of the
upper door 4 is coupled to the second hinge bracket 30 provided in
a left portion of the main body 1 under the upper door 4, thereby
allowing the upper door 4 to be rotatable leftward as shown in FIG.
9. At this time, the second bracket 30 is detached from the right
portion of the main body 1 under the upper door 4 and then coupled
to the left portion of the main body 1 under the upper door 4.
[0042] Further, the upper door 4 comprises an outer plate 10
forming a font of the refrigerator, an inner plate 11 spaced from
the outer plate 10 to fill a space between the outer plate 10 and
the inner plate 11 with a foaming material, and the door cap 12
coupled to top portions of the outer plate 10 and the inner plate
11.
[0043] Further, in a front of the upper door 4 are provided a
display portion 14 displaying a cooling state and/or a freezing
state, and a control portion 13 provided with a plurality of
buttons 15 for allowing a user to adjust the cooling state and/or
the freezing state.
[0044] In the upper door 4 is embedded the first wire assembly 16
having a first end connected to the display portion 13 and a second
end drawn out from the upper door 4 (refer to FIG. 3). The second
end of the first wire assembly 16 drawn out from the upper door 4
can be connected with the right second wire assembly 3a (refer to
FIG. 5) or with the left second wire assembly 3b (refer to FIG.
9).
[0045] The door cap 12 comprises a door cap main body 40
approximately shaped like a rectangular plate and curved at sides
thereof, and a wire cover 49 coupled to an upper potion of the door
cap main body 40 and covering first and second accommodating
sections 41a and 41b (to be described later).
[0046] The door cap main body 40 is formed with a wire
accommodating portion 41 recessed from a surface thereof and
accommodating the first wire assembly 16 along a lengthwise
direction, and first and second stepped portions 44 and 46 at
opposite ends thereof.
[0047] The wire accommodating portion 41 comprises the first
accommodating section 41a shown in FIG. 4 to accommodate the first
wire assembly 16 connected with the display portion 13 so as to
allow the upper door 4 to be rotatable rightward (refer to FIG. 3);
and the second accommodating section 41b shown in FIG. 4 to
accommodate the first wire assembly 16 connected with the display
portion 13 so as to allow the upper door 4 to be rotatable leftward
(refer to FIG. 8).
[0048] The door cap main body 40 is provided with a wire insertion
portion 43 formed on a bottom thereof between the first and second
accommodating sections 41a and 41b, and through which the first
wire assembly 16 connected with the display portion 13 is inserted
in the door cap main body 40.
[0049] Each of the first and second stepped portions 44 and 46 is
formed to have a stepped shape relative to an upper surface of the
door cap main body 40, and to which the hinge coupling portion 21
of the first hinge bracket 20 is selectively received.
[0050] The first and second stepped portions 44 and 46 are
respectively formed with first and second accommodating portions 45
and 47 penetrated transversely to the lengthwise direction of the
door cap main body 40 and to which the grommet 26 is selectively
coupled.
[0051] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, when the grommet 26 is coupled to
the first accommodating portion 45, the second accommodating
portion 47 is covered with a cover 48. Oppositely, as shown in
FIGS. 8 and 9, when the grommet 26 is coupled to the second
accommodating portion 47, the first accommodating portion 45 is
covered with a cover 48. At this time, the cover 48 is detached
from the second accommodating portion 47 and then covers the firs
accommodating portion 45.
[0052] With this configuration, the installation of the first wire
assembly 16 to allow the upper door 4 to be opened rightward as
shown in FIG. 1 and leftward as shown in FIG. 6 will be described
hereinbelow, respectively.
[0053] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, in the case of the upper door
4 of the rightward opening type, the first wire assembly 16
connects the display portion 13 to the right second wire assembly
3a of the main body 1, passing through the wire insertion portion
43 and the first accommodating section 41a of the door cap 12, and
a cutting portion 25 of the hinge pine 24.
[0054] At this time, the first hinge bracket 20 is coupled to the
fist coupling hole 2a, the hinge pin 24 is rotatably inserted in
the grommet 26 for the first wire assembly 16 accommodated in the
first accommodating portion 45, and the first hinge shaft 31 of the
upper door 4 is rotatably coupled to the second hinge bracket 30.
Further, the second accommodating portion 47 is covered with the
cover 48.
[0055] Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper door 4 can be opened
rightward with respect to the hinge pin 24 and the first hinge
shaft 31 disposed in a right side.
[0056] Meanwhile, the opening direction of the upper door 4 can be
altered from the right opening type to the left opening type, as
follows.
[0057] First, the first hinge bracket 20 is detached from the first
coupling hole 2a and then coupled to the second coupling hole 2b.
Further, the second hinge bracket 30 is detached from the first
hinge shaft 31 and then coupled to the second hinge shaft 32 in the
left region of the main body 1. Then, the first wire assembly 16 is
moved from the first accommodating section 41a to the second
accommodating section 41b. Further, the grommet 26 is moved from
the first accommodating portion 45 to the second accommodating
portion 47.
[0058] As shown in FIGS. 6 through 9, in the case of the upper door
4 of the leftward opening type, the first wire assembly 16 connects
the display portion 13 to the left second wire assembly 3b of the
main body 1, passing through the wire insertion portion 43 and the
second accommodating section 41b of the door cap 12, and the
cutting portion 25 of the hinge pine 24.
[0059] At this time, the first hinge bracket 20 is coupled to the
second coupling hole 2b, the hinge pin 24 is rotatably inserted in
the grommet 26 for the first wire assembly 16 accommodated in the
second accommodating portion 47, and the second hinge shaft 32 of
the upper door 4 is rotatably coupled to the second hinge bracket
30. Further, the second accommodating portion 45 is covered with
the cover 48.
[0060] Thus, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper door 4 can be opened
leftward with respect to the hinge pin 24 and the second hinge
shaft 32 disposed in a left side.
[0061] As described above, the present invention provides a
refrigerator in which an installation position of a wire assembly
is conveniently altered in correspondence to an opening direction
of a door.
[0062] Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present
invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by
those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these
embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the
invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and
their equivalents.
* * * * *