U.S. patent application number 11/256989 was filed with the patent office on 2006-04-27 for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Kyung Han Jeong, Sang Oh Kim, Seung Hwan Oh.
Application Number | 20060087208 11/256989 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36205584 |
Filed Date | 2006-04-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060087208 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oh; Seung Hwan ; et
al. |
April 27, 2006 |
Refrigerator
Abstract
A refrigerator includes a body having a compartment in the body
and a door for opening and closing the compartment, an electrical
device movable with respect to the body along a first direction, a
conductor electrically connecting the electrical device with the
body, and a winding device for adjusting a length of the conductor
in the first direction when the electrical device moves along the
first direction.
Inventors: |
Oh; Seung Hwan; (Gunpo-si,
KR) ; Jeong; Kyung Han; (Seoul, KR) ; Kim;
Sang Oh; (Seoul, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
LG Electronics Inc.
|
Family ID: |
36205584 |
Appl. No.: |
11/256989 |
Filed: |
October 25, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/402 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/04 20130101;
F25D 2400/40 20130101; F25D 25/022 20130101; F25D 25/005 20130101;
F25D 23/021 20130101; F25D 25/025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/402 |
International
Class: |
A47B 96/04 20060101
A47B096/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 26, 2004 |
KR |
P2004-0085689 |
Nov 15, 2004 |
KR |
P2004-0093111 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator, comprising: a body having a compartment in the
body and a door for opening and closing the compartment; an
electrical device movable with respect to the body along a first
direction; a conductor electrically connecting the electrical
device with the body; and a winding device for adjusting a length
of the conductor in the first direction when the electrical device
moves along the first direction.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first direction is a
horizontal direction.
3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the electrical device is
movable along the first direction when the door moves along the
first direction.
4. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a container
provided in the compartment, wherein the electrical device includes
an elevating device for elevating the container.
5. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: a first rail
secured to the body; and a second rail secured to the door, wherein
the first and the second rails guide a movement of the door along
the first direction.
6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the conductor passes
through the first and the second rails.
7. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the winding device is
located in the rails.
8. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the winding device
includes: a reel secured to one of the first and the second rails,
the conductor being wound on the reel; a rack secured to the other
one of the first and the second rails and arranged along the first
direction; and a pinion engaged with the rack and secured to the
reel.
9. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a conductor
guide extendable and retractable along the first direction when the
electric device moves along the first direction, wherein the
conductor passes through the conductor guide.
10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the winding device is
located in the conductor guide.
11. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the conductor guide
includes: a first and a second guides overlappable with each other
along the first direction.
12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the winding device
includes: a reel secured to any one of the first and the second
guides, the conductor being wound on the reel; a rack secured to
the other one of the first and the second guides and arranged along
the first direction; and a pinion engaged with the rack and secured
to the reel.
13. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the winding device applies
a tension of the conductor in the first direction toward the
compartment.
14. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the winding device
includes a reel, the conductor being unwound or wound on the reel
when the electrical device moves along the first direction to
adjust a length of the conductor in the first direction.
15. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the winding device
includes: a reel around which the conductor is wound; and an
elastic member, the elastic member applying a rotational force on
the reel so that a tension is applied to the conductor in the first
direction toward the compartment to tighten the conductor.
16. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the elastic member
includes a spring which accumulates an elastic energy therein while
the door is open.
17. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the winding device
includes: a reel around which the conductor is wound; and a
mechanism for rotating the reel to wind or unwind the conductor
when the electrical device moves along the first direction.
18. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the mechanism rotates the
reel toward the compartment when the electrical device moves in the
first direction toward the compartment and rotates the reel against
the body when the electrical device moves in the first direction
against the body
19. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the mechanism includes: a
rack arranged along the first direction; and a pinion engaged with
the rack and secured to the reel.
20. The refrigerator of claim 19, wherein the reel extends from a
lateral side of the pinion.
21. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the reel has two slots at
a circumference of the reel and the conductor passes through two
slots to be wound around the circumference of reel when the reel
rotates.
22. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the reel is located at a
middle portion of the conductor when the conductor extends to a
maximum length in the first direction so that the reel winds the
conductor at both sides of the conductor at the same time.
23. A refrigerator comprising: a body having a compartment therein
and a door opening and closing the compartment; an electrical
device movable with respect to the body along a first direction; a
conductor electrically connecting the electrical device with the
body; and a winding device for applying a tension on the conductor
in the first direction toward the compartment.
24. The refrigerator of claim 23, wherein the first direction is a
horizontal direction.
25. A refrigerator comprising: a body having a compartment therein
and a door opening and closing the compartment; an electrical
device movable with respect to the body along a first direction; a
conductor electrically connecting the electrical device with the
body; and means for winding and unwinding the conductor when the
electrical device moves along the first direction.
26. The refrigerator of claim 25, wherein the first direction is a
horizontal direction.
27. The refrigerator of claim 25, wherein the means for winding and
unwinding includes a reel which automatically rotates when the
electrical device moves along the first direction to wind or unwind
the conductor on the reel.
Description
[0001] This Nonprovisional application claims priority under 35
U.S.C. .sctn.119(a) on Patent Application No. 10-2004-0085689 filed
in Korea on Oct. 26, 2004 and Patent Application No.
10-2004-0093111 filed in Korea on Nov. 15, 2004, the entire
contents of which are hereby incorporated 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 mechanism electrically connecting a body of the
refrigerator with an electrical device which is mounted on a door
or a part of the refrigerator movable with respect to the body of
the refrigerator.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] Conventional refrigerators are usually classified into three
types, i.e., a top mount freezer type, a side by side type, and a
bottom mount freezer type. In the top mount freezer type
refrigerator, a freezing compartment is provided on an upper
portion of the refrigerator and a refrigerating compartment is
provided at a lower portion of the refrigerator. In the side by
side type refrigerator, a freezing compartment and a refrigerating
compartment are respectively arranged on a left portion and a right
portion of a refrigerator. In the bottom mount freezer type
refrigerator, a freezing compartment is provided on a lower portion
of the refrigerator and a refrigerating compartment is provided on
an upper portion of the refrigerator.
[0006] Electrical devices, such as a display panel, an ice and a
water dispenser, etc., are usually provided on a door of a
refrigerator. The electrical device is electrically connected with
a body of the refrigerator by a conductor. The conductor supplies
electrical power from a power source provided in the body of the
refrigerator or sends a signal from a controller of the
refrigerator and vice versa. The door and the body of the
refrigerator are usually coupled by a hinge and the conductor is
arranged to pass through the hinge in order to electrically connect
the electrical device on the door and the body of the
refrigerator.
[0007] Meanwhile, it is very uncomfortable for the user to use the
freezing compartment mounted at the lower portion of the
refrigerator when the door is simply open by rotating about the
hinge, because the user has to kneel and bend his or her body and
stretch his/her hands into an inside of the freezing compartment
mounted on the lower portion of the refrigerator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a
refrigerator that substantially obviates one or more problems due
to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a
refrigerator which can elevate a compartment provided at a lower
portion of the refrigerator when the door is open for the user's
convenience and a mechanism for electrically connecting a device
for elevating the compartment with the body.
[0010] The other object of the present invention is to provide a
refrigerator having a mechanism which can electrically connect a
body of the refrigerator with an electrical device mounted on a
door coupled with the body without a hinge or mounted on a part of
the refrigerator movable with respect to the body.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to prevent a
conductor electrically connecting the electrical device with the
body from being damaged by a movement of the door or other parts of
the refrigerator.
[0012] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
invention will be set forth in part in the description which
follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary
skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be
learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other
advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the
structure particularly pointed out in the written description and
claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
[0013] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, in one aspect of the present invention, a
refrigerator includes a body having a compartment in the body and a
door for opening and closing the compartment; an electrical device
movable with respect to the body along a first direction; a
conductor electrically connecting the electrical device with the
body; and a winding device for adjusting a length of the conductor
in the first direction when the electrical device moves along the
first direction.
[0014] The electrical device may be movable forward or backward
with respect to the body along the first direction.
[0015] The refrigerator may further include a container provided in
the compartment, wherein the electrical device may include an
elevating device for elevating the container.
[0016] The refrigerator may further include a first rail secured to
the body, and a second rail secured to the door, wherein the first
and the second rails guide a movement of the door. In this case,
the conductor may be arranged to pass through the first and the
second rails.
[0017] The refrigerator may further include a conductor guide
extendable and retractable along the first direction when the
electric part moves along the first direction, wherein the
conductor may be arranged to pass through the conductor guide. The
conductor guide may include a first and a second guides
overlappable with each other along the first direction.
[0018] The winding device of the refrigerator may apply a tension
of the conductor in the first direction toward the compartment.
[0019] The winding device of the refrigerator may automatically
wind or unwind the conductor when the electrical device moves along
the first direction.
[0020] In one embodiment of the present invention, the winding
device may include a reel around which the conductor is wound, and
an elastic member. The elastic member may apply a rotational force
on the reel so that a tension is applied to the conductor in the
first direction toward the compartment to tighten the conductor.
The elastic member may include a spring which accumulates an
elastic energy therein while the door is open.
[0021] Alternatively, the winding device may include a reel around
which the conductor is wound, and a mechanism for rotating the reel
to wind or unwind the conductor when the electrical device moves
along the first direction. The mechanism may include a rack
arranged along the first direction, and a pinion engaged with the
rack and secured to the reel. The reel may extend from a lateral
side of the pinion. The conductor may be arranged to pass through
the reel to be wound around the reel when the reel rotates. The
reel may be located at a middle portion of the conductor when the
conductor extends to a maximum length in the first direction so
that the reel can wind the conductor at both sides of the conductor
at the same time.
[0022] The winding device may be arranged in the rails. In this
case, the winding device may include a reel, around which the
conductor is wound, secured to any one of the first and the second
rails, a rack secured to the other one of the first and the second
rails and arranged along the first direction, and a pinion engaged
with the rack and secured to the reel.
[0023] Alternatively, the winding device may be arranged in the
conductor guide. In this case, the winding device may include a
reel secured to any one of the first and the second guides, the
reel around which the conductor is wound, a rack secured to the
other one of the first and the second guides and arranged along the
first direction, and a pinion engaged with the rack and secured to
the reel.
[0024] In the other aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator
includes a body having a compartment therein and a door opening and
closing the compartment; an electrical device movable with respect
to the body along a first direction; a conductor electrically
connecting the electrical device with the body; and a winding
device for applying a tension on the conductor in the first
direction toward the compartment.
[0025] In another aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator
includes a body having a compartment therein and a door opening and
closing the compartment; an electrical device movable with respect
to the body along a first direction; a conductor electrically
connecting the electrical device with the body; and means for
winding and unwinding the conductor when the electrical device
moves along the first direction.
[0026] The means for device winding and unwinding the conductor may
include a reel which automatically rotates when the electrical
device moves along the first direction to wind or unwind the
conductor.
[0027] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description of the present
invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide
further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a refrigerator
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of a
lower portion of the refrigerator in accordance with a first
embodiment of the present invention when a door is open;
[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of an elevating device
mounted on the door of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;
[0032] FIG. 4 illustrates diagrams of a winding device according to
a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of the
lower portion of the refrigerator in accordance with the first
embodiment of the present invention when the door is closed;
[0034] FIG. 6 illustrates a partial perspective view of rails shown
in FIG. 2;
[0035] FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of the
lower portion of the refrigerator in accordance with a variation of
the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of the
lower portion of the refrigerator in accordance with a second
embodiment of the present invention when the door is open;
[0037] FIG. 9 illustrates a partial perspective view of a winding
device according to the second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0038] FIG. 10 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of the
lower portion of the refrigerator in accordance with the second
embodiment of the present invention when the door is closed;
and
[0039] FIG. 11 illustrates a schematic cross-sectional view of the
lower portion of the refrigerator in accordance with a variation of
the second embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS
[0040] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to
refer to the same or like parts.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerator according to an
embodiment of the present invention includes a body 10,
compartments provided in the body 10, and doors 12 and 13 for
opening/closing the compartments. The compartments, for example,
include a refrigerating compartment (not shown) provided in an
upper portion of the body 10 and a freezing compartment 11 provided
in a lower portion of the body 10. Alternatively, it is possible
that the refrigerating compartment is located in the lower portion
of the body 10 and the freezing compartment is located in the upper
portion of the body 10. A horizontal partition wall 14 divides an
inside space of the body 10 into the refrigerating compartment and
the freezing compartment 11. A mechanical component chamber 17 for
accommodating a compressor, a condenser, etc. is provided in the
lower portion of the body 10, especially at a rear of the freezing
compartment 11 as shown in FIG. 2.
[0042] A pair of doors 12 is coupled to the body 10 by a hinge. The
doors 12 rotate about the hinge with respect to the body 10 for
opening and closing the refrigerating compartment. The door 13 is
provided at the lower portion of the body 10 for opening and
closing the freezing compartment 11 at the lower portion of the
body 10. The door 13 moves forward and backward with respect to the
body 10 and the door 12 rotates about the hinge. Therefore, no
hinge or pivot is necessary for the door 13 to be coupled with the
body 10.
[0043] A plurality of rails 40 are provided between the body 10 and
the door 13 for smoothly guiding a sliding movement of the door 13
as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The rails 40 are arranged at both sides
of the door 13, and include a first rail 41 secured to the body 10
and a second rail 42 secured to a backside of the door 13.
Alternatively, a bracket 25 firmly secured to the backside of the
door 13 may be provided and the second rail 42 may be secured to
the bracket 25.
[0044] The first rail 41 is able to move with respect to the second
rail 42 by sliding and vice versa. For a smooth sliding of the
first and the second rails 41 and 42, a plurality of balls or
rollers may be provided between the first and the second rails 41
and 42. The first rail 41 may be arranged on the second rail 42 and
vice versa. Alternatively, the first rail 41 may be inserted into
the second rail 42 as shown in FIG. 5 and vice versa. Meanwhile,
the rails 40 may include three or more than three rails connected
to each other.
[0045] At least one container 20 for storing food therein is
provided in the freezing compartment 11 at a lower portion of the
freezing compartment 11 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and at least one
drawer 15 is provided above the container 20 in the freezing
compartment 11 as shown in FIG. 1. The container 20 moves forward
and backward with respect to the body 10 along with a movement of
the door 13 while the drawer 15 is movably independent of the
movement of the door 13. For the user's convenience, the container
20 may be automatically elevated when the door 13 is fully open. In
an embodiment, an elevating device 30 is provided to the
refrigerator as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The elevating device is
secured to a rear surface of the door 13 and the container 20 is
seated on and supported by the elevating device 20.
[0046] FIG. 3 illustrates a mechanism of the elevating device 30 in
detail. The detailed mechanism of the elevating device 30 will be
described referring to FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the elevating
device 30 includes a lifter 31 on which the container 20 is seated,
a pair of elevating rails 32 secured to the door 13 for guiding an
elevating movement of the lifter 31, and a driving unit for
automatically elevating the lifter 31.
[0047] The lifter 31, for example, has an "L" shaped bent form. A
vertical portion of the lifter 31 is coupled with the pair of
elevating rails 32 vertically secured to the backside of the door
13 and a horizontal portion of the lifer 31 supports the container
20 seated thereon. The lifter 31 moves upward and downward along
the elevating rails 32 by the driving unit when the door 13 is
open.
[0048] The driving unit includes at least one arm 37 rotatable with
respect to the door 13, a motor 34, a gear assembly 35 coupled with
a shaft of the motor 34, a driving shaft 36 coupled with the gear
assembly 35 and the arm 37 to rotate the arm 37. In the illustrate
embodiment, there two arms 37 arranged at both sides of a lower
portion of the backside of the door 13. The motor 33 is secured to
the rear of the door 13 and arranged between the two arms 37. The
motor 34 is controlled by a controller (not shown) of the
refrigerator or by a sub controller (not shown) for operating the
motor 34 independent of the controller.
[0049] A roller 37a is provided at an end of the arm 37 to support
a bottom surface of the lifter 31. The roller 37a rolls forward and
backward on the bottom surface of the lifter 31 when the arm 37 is
rotated by the motor 34. A slant projection 31a is provided on the
bottom of the lifter 31 as shown in FIG. 3 and the roller 37a rolls
over the projection 31a when the lifter 31 is fully elevated.
Therefore, it can prevent the lifter 31, when fully elevated, from
falling downward even if the motor 34 stops because the roller 37a
is supported by the projection 31a.
[0050] There are an upper sensor 38a on top of the elevating rail
32 and a lower sensor 38b on bottom of the elevating rail 32. The
upper sensor 38a and the lower sensor 38b detect the lifter 31 at
the top or the bottom of the elevating rail 32, respectively, and
send a signal to the controller. After receiving the signal, the
controller stops the motor 34. Therefore, a movement range of the
lifter 31 is limited and it would prevent the lifter 31 from being
derailed from the elevating rail 32. Alternatively, there may be an
upper limit switch (not shown) on the top of the elevating rail 32
and a lower limit switch (not shown) on the bottom of the elevating
rail 32. The upper limit switch and the lower limit switch can
directly stop the motor 34 by cutting off the power supplied to the
motor 34.
[0051] In an embodiment, the lifter 31 is automatically elevated as
soon as the door 13 is fully open or after the door 13 is fully
open for a predetermined time passes, and the fully lifted lifter
31 automatically moves downward as soon as the door 13 is slightly
pushed to be closed. Alternatively, a control button (not shown)
may be provided on the doors 12 or 13 in order that the user can
control the elevating device 30 by pushing the control button.
[0052] When the control button is pushed or a predetermined time
passes after the door 13 is fully open, the motor 34 starts to
work. Then, the gear assembly 35 runs by the motor 34 to rotate the
driving shaft 36. As the driving shaft 36 is rotated, the arm 37 is
getting rotated and the roller 37a at the end of the arm 37 is
getting raised while rolling on the bottom of the lifter 37.
Therefore, the lifter 31 is also getting raised along with the
container 20 which is seated on the lifter 31. When the lifter 31
is fully lifted, the upper sensor 38a detects the lifter 31 and
sends a signal to the controller. After receiving the signal, the
controller stops the motor 34 and therefore stops an elevating
movement of the lifter 31. At this time, the roller 37a at the end
of the arm 37 is engaged with and supported by one side of the
slant projection 31a. Therefore, the reverse movement of the arm 37
and the downward movement of the lifter 31 along with the container
20 due to the gravity can be effectively prevented.
[0053] Meanwhile, after taking the food out of the container 20 or
putting new food into the container 20, the user pushes the control
button or slightly pushes the door 13 towards the body 10 of the
refrigerator. Then, the motor 34 reversely rotates its shaft.
Therefore, the lifter 31 and the container 20 move downward
together. In case that the lifter 31 and the container 20 fully
come down, the lower sensor 38b and the controller stop a downward
movement of the lifter 31. Then, the user can put the container 20
into the freezing compartment 11 by pushing the door 13 toward the
body 10.
[0054] As mentioned above, the elevating device 30 movable with
respect to the body 10 of the refrigerator along with the door 13
is supplied power from a power source 16 (shown in FIG. 2) in the
body 10 of the refrigerator. Alternatively, it is possible that the
other electrical devices, such as a display panel or a touch panel,
etc., provided on the door 13 may need the electrical power.
Further, it is also possible that another electrical device, such
as a sensor, etc., communicating with the controller to send a
signal, may be provided on the door 13. In these cases, it is
necessary that the electrical devices movable with respect to the
body 10 be connected with at least one of the power source 16 and
the controller in the body 10 by a conductor such as a power cable
or a signal cable.
[0055] An embodiment of the present invention provides a conductor
100 to electrically connect the electrical device movable with
respect to the body 10 with the power source 16 or the controller
in the body 10. The conductor 100 includes at least one of the
power cable and the signal cable. A length of the conductor 100 in
the first direction is adjusted by a winding device when the
electrical device moves along the first direction. In other words,
the winding device according to an embodiment of the present
invention automatically shortens the length of the conductor when
the door 13 is closed and lengthens the length of the conductor
when the door 13 is open. In the illustrated embodiments, the first
direction is the horizontal direction. However, it should be noted
that the present invention can apply to any direction along which
the electrical device or the door moves.
[0056] The winding device adjusts the length of the conductor 100
in the first direction by winding or unwinding the conductor 100
when the electrical device or the door 13 moves along the first
direction. In addition, the winding device applies a tension of the
conductor 100 in the first direction. Thereby, it can significantly
reduce the slack of the conductor 100 and the risk of damage by
other parts of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0057] The present invention presents various embodiments of the
winding device as shown in FIGS. 2, and 4 to 11. As shown in the
drawings, all embodiments of the present invention commonly present
a reel to wind or unwind the conductor 100 when the electrical
device moves along the first direction. However, a mechanism for
automatically rotating the reel when the electrical device or the
door moves along the first direction in each embodiment is
different in every embodiment.
[0058] A winding device 200a in accordance with a first embodiment
of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 2, and 4 to 7 and
a winding device 200b in accordance with a second embodiment of the
present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 11. All embodiments
of the winding device according to the present invention and their
variations will now be described step by step referring to the
above mentioned drawings corresponding to each embodiment.
[0059] Referring to FIGS. 2, and 4 to 7, the winding device 200a
according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes
a reel 210 around which the conductor 100 is wound, and an elastic
member 220 providing the reel 210 with a rotating force by an
elastic force. The reel 210, for example, has a cylindrical shape
and the conductor 100 is wound around an outer circumferential
surface of the cylindrical reel 210 while the reel 210 rotates. The
reel 210, for example, has a space therein, and the elastic member
220 is disposed in the space as shown in FIG. 4. The elastic member
220 may include a wind-up spring which accumulates the elastic
energy therein while being wound or unwound according to the
rotating movement of the reel 210.
[0060] A first end of the elastic member 220 may be connected to
the reel 210 and a second end of the elastic member 220 may be
connected to the body 10 and vice versa. Alternatively, the first
end of the elastic member 220 may be connected to the reel 210 and
the second end of the elastic member 220 may be connected to other
part separated from the reel 220, for example, the rail 40 and vice
versa. In addition, it is possible that a housing (not shown)
encompassing the reel 210 and a part of the conductor 100 wound
around the reel 210 is provided in the refrigerator, and the
elastic member 220 is connected to the reel 210 and the
housing.
[0061] The conductor 100 is wound around the reel 210 in a
plurality of turns when the door 13 is closed because a distance
between the electrical device, i.e., the elevating device 30, and
the power source 16 or the controller in the body 10 is closer as
shown in FIG. 5. In addition, the length of the conductor 100 in
the horizontal direction, except some part which is wound around
the reel 210, is shortened, so as to significantly reduce the slack
of the conductor 100. At this time, the elastic member 220 in the
illustrated embodiment keeps applying a weak elastic force to the
reel 210 to rotate the reel 210 in the counterclockwise direction.
The reel 210, however, is not rotated by the elastic force because
the conductor 100 is fully stretched. Therefore, the elastic member
220 keeps tightening the conductor 100 and applying a tension on
the conductor 100 in the horizontal direction toward the
compartment when the door 13 is closed; thereby the slack of the
conductor 100 is effectively reduced.
[0062] The conductor 100 wound around the reel 210 is getting
unwound when the door is getting open away from the body 10. At
this time, the length of the conductor 100 in the horizontal
direction, except some wound part, is getting lengthened while the
reel 210 rotates in the clockwise direction, and the elastic member
220 accumulates the elastic force therein while the reel 210
rotates in the clockwise direction. When the door 13 is fully open,
the length of the conductor 100 in the horizontal direction is
maximized and the elastic energy and force of the elastic member
220 is also maximized. At this time, since the elastic member 220
keeps applying the elastic force to the reel 210 to rotate the reel
100 in the counterclockwise direction, the conductor 100 is
tightened and the tension thereof is also applied. Therefore, it
can significantly reduce the slack of the conductor 100 although
the conductor 100 is fully lengthened.
[0063] On the contrary, when the door 13 is getting closed, a force
pulling the conductor 100 in the horizontal direction away from the
body is getting removed. Therefore, the reel 210 rotates in the
counterclockwise direction and the conductor 100 is getting wound
around the reel 210 because the elastic member 220 keeps rotating
the reel 210 in the counterclockwise direction with a strong
elastic force. Since the reel 210 rotated by the elastic member 220
tightly pulls the conductor 100 while the door 13 is getting
closed, the conductor 100 is tightened and the tension of the
conductor 100 is applied. Therefore, it can significantly reduce
the slack of the conductor 100 while the door 13 is getting
closed.
[0064] It is all right that the conductor 100 is exposed. However,
to further protect the conductor 100, it is preferred that the
conductor 100 is encompassed by other parts of the refrigerator. In
an embodiment, the conductor 100 is arranged to pass through the
rails 40 guiding the movement of the door 13; thereby the conductor
100 is encompassed and securely protected. More particularly, the
first and the second rails 41 and 42 have a hollow pillar shape,
respectively. The first rail 41 is insertable into the second rail
42 along a longitudinal direction of the second rail 42 and vice
versa. The conductor 100 is arranged to pass through the first and
the second rails 41 and 42 at the same time as shown in FIG. 6.
[0065] Alternatively, it is possible that a conductor guide 50,
independent of the rails 41 and 42, is provided to the refrigerator
according to the first embodiment and the conductor 100 is arranged
to pass through the conductor guide 50, as shown in FIG. 7. The
conductor guide 50 is extendable and retractable along a
longitudinal direction thereof according to the movement of the
electrical device, i.e., the elevating device 30 or the door
13.
[0066] More particularly, the conductor guide 50 includes a first
guide 51 secured to the body 10 of the refrigerator and a second
guide 52 secured to the door 13 directly or secured to a supporter
firmly secured to the door 13. The first guide 51 may be overlapped
with the second guide 52 when the door 13 is closed by being
inserted into the second guide 52 along a longitudinal direction of
the second guide 52 and vice versa. Therefore, the conductor guide
50 is extendable and retractable along a longitudinal direction
thereof by a relative movement of the first and the second guides
51 and 52 according to the movement of the electrical device or the
door 13. These mechanisms are very similar to those of the first
and the second rails 41 and 42; therefore more detailed
descriptions about the structure of the conductor guide 50 will be
omitted.
[0067] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the movement of the door
13 forward and backward with respect to the body 10 in order to
open and close the freezing compartment 11 is smoothly guided by
the first and the second rails 41 and 42, and the conductor 100 is
stably protected by the first and the second guides 51 and 52.
Meanwhile, although it is not shown in the drawings, the conductor
guide 50 may include three or more than three guides connected with
each other.
[0068] Meanwhile, in the first embodiment, the winding device 200a
may be provided in the freezing compartment 11 as shown in FIGS. 2
and 5. Alternatively, the winding device 200a according to the
first embodiment of the present invention may be provided in the
mechanical component chamber 17 as shown in FIG. 7. However, the
present invention is not limited to the above examples. For
examples, the winding device 200a may be provided in the rail 40 or
the conductor guide 50 although those examples are not illustrated
in the drawings.
[0069] As mentioned above, the winding device 200a according to the
first embodiment of the present invention automatically adjusts the
length of the conductor 100 in the horizontal direction, except
some wound part, according to the movement of the electrical device
or the door 13. In addition, the winding device 200a always
tightens the conductor 100 and applies the tension on the conductor
100 regardless of the location of the electrical device or the door
13. Therefore, it can effectively reduce the slack of the conductor
100 and the risk of damage by other part of the refrigerator.
[0070] Meanwhile, referring to FIGS. 8 to 11, the winding device
200b in accordance with the second embodiment of the present
invention includes a reel 260 and a mechanism for rotating the reel
260. The mechanism rotates the reel 260 clockwise or
counterclockwise according to the movement of the electrical device
or the door 13 so that the conductor 100 is wound around or unwound
from an outer circumferential surface of the reel 260 when the
electrical device or the door 13 moves.
[0071] The conductor 100 may be unwound from the reel 260 while the
reel 260 rotates in the clockwise direction by the mechanism in the
illustrated embodiment when the electrical device or the door 13
moves forward with respect to the body 10. On the contrary, the
conductor 100 may be wound around the reel 260 while the reel 260
rotates in the counterclockwise direction by the mechanism when the
electrical device or the door 13 moves backward with respect to the
body 10. The detailed structure of the reel 260 and the mechanism
now will be described referring to the above drawings as
follows.
[0072] The reel 260 has, for example, a hollow cylindrical shape as
shown in FIG. 9 and the conductor 100 is arranged to pass through
the reel 260. An aperture 265 is provided at the reel 260. The
aperture 265 penetrates the cylindrical reel 260 along a
diametrical direction of the reel 260 and the conductor 100 passes
through the aperture 265. The aperture 265 may have a circular
shape (not shown in the drawings) or an elongated slot shape as
shown in FIG. 9. In the illustrated embodiment, the reel 260 has
two slots at the circumference of the reel and the conductor passes
through two slots along the diametrical direction of the reel 260
to be wound around the circumference of reel when the reel
rotates.
[0073] The reel 260 may be located at a middle portion of the
conductor 100 as shown in FIG. 8. In this case, the conductor 100
at its both sides is wound around the reel 260 at the same time
when the reel 260 rotates. Then, the conductor 100 is wound around
the reel 260 in a turn when the reel 260 rotates in a half
turn.
[0074] The mechanism may include a rack 251, and pinion 255 coupled
with the reel 260 and engaged with the rack 251 as shown in FIG. 9.
The rack 251 is arranged along a direction in which the electrical
device and the door 13 move. A plurality of teeth 251a are provided
on one side of the rack 251 along a longitudinal direction of the
rack 251 and the pinion 255 has a plurality of teeth 255a which are
engaged with the teeth 251a as shown in FIG. 9. Therefore, the
pinion 255 rotates when the rack 251 moves along a longitudinal
direction of the rack 251.
[0075] The reel 260 is, for example, extended from a lateral side
of the pinion 255 as shown in FIG. 9 so that the reel 260 and the
pinion 255 rotate together. The pinion 255 and the reel 260 may be
formed as a unitary body. In this case, the pinion 255 and the reel
260 may be manufactured by molding. Alternatively, the pinion 255
and the reel 260 may be formed of two separated units and then are
assembled together. Meanwhile, it is preferred, but not necessary,
that a center of the pinion 255 is arranged at a center of the reel
260.
[0076] The rack 251 may be firmly coupled to the body 100 and the
pinion 255 may be rotatably coupled to the door 13. The pinion 255
is movable with respect to the body 10 along with the door 13,
while the rack 251 is not movable with respect to the body 10. The
rack 251 and the pinion 255 may be arranged at both sides of the
container 20 in order not to interfere with the movement of the
door 13 or an action of the user. On the contrary to the above, the
rack 251 may be coupled to the door 13 and the pinion 255 may be
rotatably coupled to the body 10.
[0077] In operation of the winding device 200b in accordance with
the second embodiment of the present invention, the conductor 100
is wound around the reel 260 in a plurality of turns when the door
13 is closed as shown in FIG. 10. At this time, the distance
between the electrical device, i.e., the elevating device 30 and
the power source 16 or the controller in the body 10 is minimized
and the length of the conductor 100 in the horizontal direction,
except some wound part, is minimized. In addition, since the
conductor 100 is fully wound around the reel 260, the conductor 100
is not slack.
[0078] The pinion 255 is moving forward with respect to the body 10
along with the door 13, when the door 13 is getting open. At this
time, the pinion 255 and the reel 260 are rotating together in the
clockwise direction; thereby the conductor 100 wound around the
reel 260 is getting unwound from the reel 260 and the length of the
conductor 100 in the horizontal direction, except some wound part,
is getting lengthened. When the door 13 is fully open, the
conductor 100 is fully or almost unwound from the reel 260; thereby
the length of the conductor 100 in the horizontal direction is
maximized as shown in FIG. 8. In addition, the slack of the
conductor 100 can be significantly reduced although the door 13 is
fully open because the middle portion of the conductor 100 is wound
around or hung to the reel 260. Preferably, but not necessarily,
the unwound conductor 100 is stretched in a straight line when the
door 13 is fully open not to be slack.
[0079] After taking or putting food from or into the freezing
compartment 11, the door 13 is closed. Then, the pinion 255 moves
backward with respect to the body 10 along with the door 13. At
this time, the pinion 255 and the reel 260 rotate in the
counterclockwise direction. Accordingly, the conductor 100 unwound
from the reel 260 is getting wound around the reel 260 and the
length of the conductor 100 in the horizontal direction, except
some wound part, is getting shortened. When the door 13 is fully
closed, the conductor 100 is wound around the reel 260 in the
plurality of turns; thereby significantly reducing the slack of the
conductor 100.
[0080] Alternatively, in case that the rack 251 is coupled to the
door 13 and the pinion 255 is coupled to the body 10, the rack 251
moves forward and backward with respect to the body 10 according to
the movement of the door 13. In this case, the pinion 255 and the
reel 260 just rotate at a settled position in the body 10 and wind
or unwind the conductor 100.
[0081] Meanwhile, the winding device 200b may be provided in the
rails 41 and 42 in case that the conductor 100 is arranged to pass
through the rails 41 and 42 as mentioned above. In this case, for
example, the rack 251 is arranged in the first rail 41 along a
longitudinal direction of the rail 41 and the pinion 255 is located
in the second rail 42 as shown in FIG. 8. More particularly, the
rack 251 is provided throughout from a first end of the first rail
41 to a second end of the first rail 41 opposite to the first end
and the pinion 255 is coupled at a first end of the second rail 42
in which the first rail 41 is inserted. Alternatively, the rack 251
may be arranged in the second rail 42 and the pinion 255 may be
located in the second end of the first rail 41.
[0082] Alternatively, the winding device 200b may be provided in
the conductor guide 50 independent of the rails 41 and 42 in case
that the conductor guide 50 is provided in the refrigerator and the
conductor 100 is arranged to pass through the conductor guide 50 as
shown in FIG. 11. In this case, the rack 251 may be arranged in the
first guide 51 and the pinion 255 may be provided in the second
guide 52 and vice versa.
[0083] In case that the winding device 200b is provided in the rail
40 or the conductor guide 50, device 200b and the conductor 100 is
safely secured by the rail 40 or the conductor 50. Therefore, the
winding device 200b and the conductor 100 are prevented from being
damaged by other parts of the refrigerator or by the user.
[0084] As mentioned above, the winding device 200b automatically
adjusts the length of the conductor 100 in the horizontal direction
according to the movement of the electrical device or the door 13
by winding or unwinding the conductor 10 when the electrical device
or the door 13 moves. Therefore, it can effectively reduce the
slack of the conductor 100 and the risk of damage by the other
parts of the refrigerator.
[0085] Meanwhile, as described before, the refrigerator according
to the first and second embodiments of the present invention has
the following advantages.
[0086] The refrigerator provides the elevating device which enables
the container in the compartment at the lower portion of the
refrigerator to be elevated when the door is open. Therefore, it is
not necessary that the user kneels down and bends over his or her
body to take food from or put food into the container. Accordingly,
the refrigerator is very easy and convenient to be used.
[0087] In addition to this, the present invention provides the
winding device for automatically adjusting a length of the
conductor in the first direction when the electrical device or the
door moves along the first direction. Therefore, the present
invention enables the conductor to electrically connect the body of
the refrigerator with the electrical device or the door although
the electrical device or the door is movable forward and backward
with respect to the body.
[0088] Further, the winding device applies a tension on the
conductor in the first direction toward the compartment. In
addition, the winding device automatically winds or unwinds the
conductor according to the movement of the electrical device or the
door. Therefore, it can significantly reduce the slack of the
conductor when the door is fully open. Therefore, the conductor is
prevented from being damaged by other parts of the
refrigerator.
[0089] Finally, the conductor and the winding device may be
encompassed by the rails for guiding the movement of the door or by
the conductor guide. Therefore, the conductor and the winding
device are protected with safety, and the user is protected from
receiving an electric shock.
[0090] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention.
Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the
modifications and variations of this invention provided they come
within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *