U.S. patent application number 11/204173 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-23 for door-basket structure of refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Seon-Kyu Kim, Sang-Sin Kwak, Hang-Bok Lee.
Application Number | 20060061247 11/204173 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36073239 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060061247 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Hang-Bok ; et
al. |
March 23, 2006 |
Door-basket structure of refrigerator
Abstract
The present invention relates to a door-basket structure of a
refrigerator, which is installed on a rear surface of a
refrigerator door and used as a space for storing foodstuffs. The
door-basket structure of the present invention comprises a basket
body 60 that is installed slidably in a fore and aft direction at a
rear surface of a door 50 and accommodates and stores foodstuffs
therein; a basket cover 62 pivotably installed at an upper portion
of the basket body 60 so as to selectively open and close an upper
face of the basket body 60; and an interlocking means 70 for
allowing the basket cover 62 to be opened and closed in cooperation
with the basket body 60. The cooperation means 70 comprises a rack
portion 72 and a pinion portion 74 formed on the basket body and
the basket cover to have complementary shapes, wherein the rack
portion 72 and the pinion portion 74 are engaged with each other.
The interlocking means 70 forcibly opens the basket cover 62 when
the basket body 60 is drawn out forward (rearward of the door).
According to the present invention, there is an advantage in that
it is easy to accommodate and take out foodstuffs in and from the
door basket.
Inventors: |
Lee; Hang-Bok; (Seongnam-si,
KR) ; Kwak; Sang-Sin; (Seosan-si, KR) ; Kim;
Seon-Kyu; (Seoul, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
LG Electronics Inc.
Seoul
KR
150-721
|
Family ID: |
36073239 |
Appl. No.: |
11/204173 |
Filed: |
August 16, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/404 ;
312/405.1; 312/408 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2400/06 20130101;
F25D 23/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/404 ;
312/405.1; 312/408 |
International
Class: |
A47B 96/04 20060101
A47B096/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 22, 2004 |
KR |
10-2004-0075782 |
Claims
1. A door-basket structure of a refrigerator, comprising: a basket
body installed slidably in a fore and aft direction at a rear
surface of a door, the basket body accommodating and storing
foodstuffs therein; a basket cover pivotably installed at an upper
portion of the basket body so as to selectively open and close the
interior of the basket body; and an interlocking means for allowing
the basket cover to be opened and closed in cooperation with the
basket body.
2. The door-basket structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
interlocking means comprises a rack portion and a pinion portion
formed on the basket body and the basket cover to have
complementary shapes, the rack portion and the pinion portion being
engaged with each other.
3. The door-basket structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
rack portion is formed integrally with an upper end portion of the
basket body, and the pinion portion is formed integrally with a
side surface of the basket cover.
4. The door-basket structure as claimed in any one of claims 1 to
3, wherein the interlocking means forcibly opens the basket cover
when the basket body is drawn out forward.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more
particularly, to a door-basket structure of a refrigerator, which
is installed on a rear surface of a refrigerator door and used as a
space for storing foodstuffs.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Generally, a refrigerator comprises a freezing chamber for
storing an icemaker container and frozen foodstuffs at a
predetermined temperature, and a refrigerating chamber for
accommodating objects to be refrigerated. The refrigerator includes
therein a refrigeration cycle unit operated according to a
refrigeration cycle of compression, condensation, expansion and
evaporation, so that the refrigerator can keep its interiors to be
in a freezing state and a refrigerating state since heat is
absorbed by an evaporator installed in a circulation circuit of the
refrigeration cycle unit.
[0005] A conventional refrigerator generally has a refrigerating
chamber, and a freezing chamber installed above the refrigerating
chamber. However, among large-sized refrigerators with large
capacity, a side-by-side type refrigerator of which a refrigerating
chamber and a freezing chamber are installed at the right and left
sides to store a lot of foodstuffs has been recently
popularized.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a
conventional side-by-side type refrigerator.
[0007] As shown in the figure, the conventional refrigerator
comprises a main body 10 in which a storage space 12 for
accommodating and storing foodstuffs is formed. The storage space
12 generally consists of a freezing chamber for storing foodstuffs
in a frozen state and a refrigerating chamber for storing
foodstuffs in a refrigerated state. That is, the interior of the
main body 10 is divided into right and left sides by a partition
wall 14 vertically formed within the main body 10, so that the
refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber are defined,
respectively.
[0008] Doors 16 are provided at a front face of the storage space
12 so as to selectively open and close the respective interiors of
the storage space 12. A display 18 is formed on a front surface of
one of the doors 16. The display 18 is a portion that displays
conditions of the storage space 12 or allows a user to control the
conditions of the storage space 12.
[0009] Door-baskets 20 for accommodating foodstuffs are provided on
rear surfaces of the doors 16. The plurality of door-baskets 20 are
provided to be vertically spaced apart by predetermined distances
from one another, and foodstuffs are put and stored in the
door-baskets 20. In the meantime, among the door-baskets 20, a
door-basket 20' formed at the uppermost end of the door 16 is
further provided with a basket cover 20'a.
[0010] However, the prior art has the following problems. That is,
since the door-basket 20' formed at the uppermost end of the door
16 is provided with the basket cover 20'a, the basket cover 20'a
should be opened to allow a user to take out foodstuffs
accommodated in the door-basket 20' or to put foodstuffs
therein.
[0011] However, since the basket cover 20'a is installed at the
uppermost end of the door 16, it is difficult for a user to open
such a basket cover 20'a. Furthermore, it is more difficult for a
short user to do so.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Accordingly, the present invention is conceived to solve the
aforementioned problems in the prior art. An object of the present
invention is to provide a door-basket structure of a refrigerator,
wherein a basket cover is automatically opened when a basket body
is drawn out.
[0013] According to an aspect of the present invention for
achieving the object, there is provided a door-basket structure of
a refrigerator, comprising: a basket body that is installed
slidably in a fore and aft direction at a rear surface of a door
and accommodates and stores foodstuffs therein; a basket cover
pivotably installed at an upper portion of the basket body so as to
selectively open and close the interior of the basket body; and an
interlocking means for allowing the basket cover to be opened and
closed in cooperation with the basket body.
[0014] The interlocking means may comprise a rack portion and a
pinion portion formed on the basket body and the basket cover to
have complementary shapes, wherein the rack portion and the pinion
portion are engaged with each other.
[0015] The rack portion may be formed integrally with an upper end
portion of the basket body, and the pinion portion may be formed
integrally with a side surface of the basket cover.
[0016] The interlocking means may forcibly open the basket cover
when the basket body is drawn out forward (rearward of the
door).
[0017] According to the present invention thus constructed, there
is an advantage in that it is easy to take out foodstuffs from the
door-basket or to accommodate foodstuffs therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following
description of a preferred embodiment given in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a conventional
side-by-side type refrigerator;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an inner configuration
of a refrigerator in which a door-basket structure according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention is employed;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a side view showing a configuration of the
door-basket structure of a refrigerator according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0022] FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state where a basket cover
of the door-basket structure according to the preferred embodiment
of the present invention is opened.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0023] Hereinafter, a door-basket structure of a refrigerator
according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will
be described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows the interior of a refrigerator in which the
door-basket structure of a refrigerator according to the preferred
embodiment of the present invention is employed; and FIGS. 3 and 4
show a side face of the door-basket structure of a refrigerator
according to the present invention.
[0025] Referring to the figures, a barrier 42 partitions a storage
space of a refrigerator body 40 into a freezing chamber and a
refrigerating chamber in a side-by-side relationship. In general,
the freezing chamber 43 is positioned on the left side and the
refrigerating chamber 45 is positioned on the right side. In
addition to a case where the freezing and refrigerating chambers 43
and 45 are positioned side by side on the left and right sides,
respectively, as shown in the figure, the freezing and
refrigerating chambers 43 and 45 may be provided on upper and lower
sides.
[0026] In the meantime, an additional vegetable chamber 47 is
provided at a lower portion of the refrigerating chamber 45, and
shelves 48 on which stored goods are seated are installed to the
respective freezing and refrigerating chambers 43 and 45. The
plurality of shelves 48 are installed to be spaced apart by
predetermined distances from one another according to the size of
the storage space, thereby partitioning the storage space to store
a lot of goods therein.
[0027] There are provided doors 50 for covering and selectively
opening and closing the interior of the refrigerator, i.e., the
storage space. The doors 50 of the refrigerator are installed at a
front face of the refrigerator body 40. The doors 50 are divided
into a freezing chamber door 50' for opening and closing the
freezing chamber 43, and a refrigerating chamber door 50'' for
opening and closing the refrigerating chamber 45.
[0028] Door-baskets 52 for storing goods therein are provided on
rear surfaces of the doors 50. That is, the plurality of
door-baskets 52 for accommodating foodstuffs therein are provided
to be vertically spaced apart by predetermined distances from one
another on the rear surfaces of the doors 50.
[0029] The refrigerating chamber door 50'' is equipped with a
home-bar 54 that can easily accommodate goods to be stored therein.
The home-bar 54 is generally provided at an upper portion of the
refrigerator so that a user can take out the goods stored therein
without bending the user's body.
[0030] In the meantime, a door-basket 52' positioned at the
uppermost end of the refrigerating chamber door 50'' comprises a
basket body 60 and a basket cover 62, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
The basket cover 62 is opened and closed in cooperation with the
basket body 60 through an interlocking means 70. That is, the
basket cover 62 is opened when the basket body 60 is drawn out
forward (i.e., rearward of the door).
[0031] More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the basket
body 60 is formed in a hexahedral shape with an open top face, and
slidably installed at the rear surface of the refrigerating chamber
door 50''. That is, guide protrusions 64 are formed on side
surfaces of the basket body 60, and sliding guides 66 in which the
guide protrusions 64 are accommodated are formed in the rear
surface of the refrigerating chamber door 50''. Foodstuffs F such
as milk products are received and stored in the basket body 60.
[0032] A rack portion 72 is formed at an upper end of each of side
surfaces of the basket body 60. In general, a rack is a straight
bar on which teeth are formed. The rack is engaged with a pinion
that is a kind of small-sized gear, thereby transmitting a
rotational motion to a linear motion.
[0033] It is preferred that the rack portion 72 be formed only at
the upper end of the basket body 60. The rack portion 72
constitutes the interlocking means 70 for pivoting the basket cover
62, together with a pinion portion 74 to be described below.
[0034] The basket cover 62 is installed above the basket body 60
and pivots on cover hinges h formed at upper end portions of the
basket cover 62 and then selectively opens and closes the interior
of the basket body 60. The basket cover 62 is preferably formed of
a transparent material so as to easily recognize foodstuffs in the
basket body 60. The pinion portion 74 is formed integrally with
each of side surfaces of the basket cover 62.
[0035] The pinion portion 74 comprises a gear with teeth
corresponding to those of the rack portion 72 of the basket body 60
to be engaged therewith and is formed at a rear end portion of the
bottom of the side surface of the basket cover 62. The pinion
portion 74 is formed in an arc shape at the rear end portion of the
basket cover 62 and engaged with the rack portion 72 of the basket
body 60.
[0036] The pinion portion 74 serves to convert a linear motion of
the rack portion 72 into a rotational motion of the pinion portion
74. Therefore, when the basket body 60 is caused to linearly move
in a fore and aft direction, the basket cover 62 rotates and thus
opens and closes the interior of the basket body 60.
[0037] Next, the operation of the aforementioned door-basket
structure of a refrigerator will be described.
[0038] In the refrigerator constructed as above, foodstuffs are
accommodated and stored in the freezing and refrigerating chambers
43 and 45, and a user puts in or takes out foodstuffs after opening
the door 50.
[0039] In the meantime, the door-baskets 52 are further provided on
the rear surfaces of the doors 50, so that the user can easily
accommodate foodstuffs therein. Particularly, the door-basket 52'
at the uppermost end of the refrigerating chamber door 50'' is
provided with the basket cover 62. The basket cover 62 is opened
through an operation for drawing the basket body 60 forward (i.e.,
rearward of the door).
[0040] More specifically, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, when the user
holds and draws a front end portion of the basket body 60 with
his/her hand in a state where the basket body 60 has been mounted
on the rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door 50'' as shown
in FIG. 3, the basket body 60 is drawn out forward (i.e., rearward
of the door, or to the right side in FIGS. 3 and 4). At this time,
the guide protrusions 64 of the basket body 60 are guided in the
sliding guides 66 and then the basket body 60 moves to the right
side (see FIG. 4).
[0041] When the basket body 60 is drawn out forward, the pinion
portion 74 rotates since the rack portion 72 and the pinion portion
74 are engaged with each other. Since the pinion portion 74 and the
basket cover 62 are formed integrally with each other, the rotation
of the pinion portion 74 causes the basket cover 62 to pivot on the
cover hinges h (counterclockwise in FIGS. 3 and 4).
[0042] After the basket body 60 is completely drawn out, the basket
cover 62 is also fully opened. This state is shown in FIG. 4. If
the basket cover 62 is opened as above, the user can take out the
foodstuffs F stored in the basket body 60 or accommodate the
foodstuffs F therein.
[0043] On the other hand, when the basket body 60 is pushed
rearward (i.e., to the left side in FIGS. 3 and 4), the guide
protrusions 64 moves to the left side while being guided within the
sliding guides 66 (see FIG. 3). Thus, the basket body 60 slides
into the refrigerating chamber door 50''.
[0044] At this time, the pinion portion 74 and the basket cover 62
rotate clockwise (in FIGS. 3 and 4). Therefore, when the basket
body 60 fully enters the refrigerating chamber door 50'', the
basket cover 62 is completely closed as shown in FIG. 3. As
described above, in the present invention, the basket cover 62 is
opened and closed in cooperation with the movement of the basket
body 60.
[0045] According to the door-basket structure of a refrigerator of
the present invention described above, there is provided the
interlocking means comprising the pinion and rack portions, so that
the basket cover pivots in cooperation with the movement of the
basket body. Therefore, since the movement of the basket body
causes the basket cover to be automatically opened and closed,
there is an advantage in that it is easy to accommodate and take
out foodstuffs.
[0046] That is, since the basket cover of the door-basket provided
at a relatively high position is automatically opened and closed
without a user's additional opening or closing operation, there is
an advantage in that convenience in the use of a refrigerator is
improved.
[0047] The scope of the present invention is not limited to the
embodiment described and illustrated above. It will be apparent to
those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can
be made thereto within the scope of the present invention.
[0048] For example, although the interlocking means 70 for pivoting
the basket cover 62 has been illustrated by way of example as
comprising the rack and pinion portions 72 and 74 in the
embodiment, the interlocking means 70 may comprise other elements
rather than the rack and pinion portions 72 and 74.
* * * * *