U.S. patent application number 11/902645 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-25 for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Jeong-Wook Lee, Sang-Chul Ryu.
Application Number | 20080229773 11/902645 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39773356 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080229773 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Jeong-Wook ; et
al. |
September 25, 2008 |
Refrigerator
Abstract
A refrigerator includes: a cabinet which comprises at least one
storage compartment formed with an opening at one side thereof; and
a door unit which opens and closes the opening, the door unit
comprising: a first door which is rotatably attached to the cabinet
and opens and closes a partial area of the opening, a second door
which is rotatably attached to the first door and opens and closes
the remaining area of the opening, and a cool air blocking member
which is disposed across a planar surface of one of the first door
and the second door and a planar surface of the other of the first
door and the second door and prevents cool air from leaking from a
gap between the first door and the second door while the door unit
is closed.
Inventors: |
Lee; Jeong-Wook;
(Gwangsan-gu, KR) ; Ryu; Sang-Chul; (Gwangsan-gu,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STAAS & HALSEY LLP
SUITE 700, 1201 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
39773356 |
Appl. No.: |
11/902645 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/265 ;
312/405 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/026 20130101;
F25D 29/00 20130101; E05Y 2900/31 20130101; F25D 17/04 20130101;
F25D 2400/06 20130101; F25D 2700/02 20130101; F25D 2323/024
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/265 ;
312/405 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/02 20060101
F25D023/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 22, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0028272 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet which comprises at least
one storage compartment formed with an opening at one side thereof;
and a door unit which opens and closes the opening, the door unit
comprising: a first door which is rotatably attached to the cabinet
and opens and closes a partial area of the opening, a second door
which is rotatably attached to the first door and opens and closes
the remaining area of the opening, and a cool air blocking member
which is disposed across a planar surface of one of the first door
and the second door and a planar surface of the other of the first
door and the second door and prevents cool air from leaking from a
gap between the first door and the second door while the door unit
is closed.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising: a
first hinge which attaches the first door to the cabinet to allow
the first door to be rotatable outward with respect to the cabinet;
and a second hinge which attaches the second door to the first door
to allow the second door to be rotatable outward with respect to
the first door.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, further comprising: a
first gasket which is located along an edge of an inside planar
surface of the first door; and a second gasket which is located
along an edge of an inside planar surface of the second door.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the cool air
blocking member has a length corresponding to the opening along a
lengthwise direction of the second hinge and is attached to the
inside planar surface of one of the first door and the second
door.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, further comprising an
extension part that extends from opposite sides of one of the first
gasket and the second gasket in a transverse direction of the
lengthwise direction of the second hinge and prevents leakage of
cool air between the first gasket and the second gasket.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, further comprising a
heating part disposed between the first door and the second
door.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the heating part
comprises: a heater formed on at least one of surfaces of the first
door and the second door, the surfaces facing each other; and a
heater cover to cover the heater.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the second hinge
comprises: a hinge shaft located in one of the first door and the
second door; a hinge shaft accommodating part located on the other
of the first door and the second door and accommodating the hinge
shaft; and a friction member which is disposed between the hinge
shaft and the hinge shaft accommodating part, has a shape of a
cylinder having a cutting part cut along a lengthwise direction of
the hinge shaft, and provides frictional resistance to rotation of
the hinge shaft.
9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the friction
member has elasticity in a direction of a radius thereof.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, further comprising a
stopper to prevent the friction member from being rotated by
rotation of the hinge shaft.
11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the stopper
comprises: a protrusion formed in one of the friction member and
the hinge shaft accommodating part; and a protrusion accommodating
part formed in the other of the friction member and the hinge shaft
accommodating part and accommodating the protrusion.
12. The refrigerator according to claim 2, further comprising a
shock-absorbing member disposed between the first door and the
second door to reduce impact of the second door on the first door
while the second door is open.
13. The refrigerator according to claim 2, further comprising: a
first opening and closing sensor which senses whether the first
door is open or closed; and a second opening and closing sensor
which senses whether the second door is open or closed.
14. The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein the first
opening and closing sensor comprises: a first magnet disposed in
one of the cabinet and the first door; and a first magnetic sensor
disposed in the other of the cabinet and the first door to detect a
magnetic field generated by the first magnet.
15. The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein the second
opening and closing sensor comprises: a second magnet disposed in
one of the first door and the second door or one of the first door
and the cool air blocking member; and a second magnetic sensor
disposed in the other of the first door and the second door or the
first door and the cool air blocking member to detect magnetic
field generated by the second magnet.
16. The refrigerator according to claim 13, further comprising: a
cooling apparatus which generates cool air and distributes the cool
air to the storage compartment; and a controller which controls
operation of the cooling apparatus on a basis of information sensed
by the first opening and closing sensor and the second opening and
closing sensor.
17. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a
first hinge which attaches the first door to the cabinet to allow
the first door to be rotatable outward with respect to the cabinet;
and a second hinge which attaches the second door to the first door
to allow the second door to be rotatable inward with respect to the
first door.
18. The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein the cool air
blocking member is attached to an outside planar surface of one of
the first door and the second door.
19. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet which comprises at least
one storage compartment formed with an opening at one side thereof;
and a reconfigurable folding door unit rotatably attached to the
cabinet, having a first folding portion and a second folding
portion, wherein each folding position opens and closes a section
of the opening, and a cool air blocking member which is disposed
across a planar surface of one of the first folding portion of the
reconfigurable folding door unit and the second folding portion of
the reconfigurable folding door unit and a planar surface of the
other of the first folding portion and the second folding portion
and prevents cool air from leaking from a gap between the first
folding portion and the second folding portion while the
reconfigurable folding door unit is closed.
20. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet which comprises at least
one storage compartment formed with an opening at one side thereof;
and a folding door unit rotatably attached to the cabinet to
foldably open and close the opening in a portion-wise manner; and a
cool air blocking member which is disposed across a horizontal
surface of a first portion of the folding door unit and prevents
cool air from leaking from a gap between the first portion of the
folding door unit and a second portion of the folding door while
the folding door unit is closed.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2007-0028272, filed on Mar. 22, 2007 in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] Apparatuses consistent with the present invention relate to
a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator which
includes a door unit to open and close a storage compartment.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In general, a refrigerator is an apparatus to keep food
stored in a storage compartment fresh for an extended period of
time using cool air exchanged by an evaporator in a freezing
cycle.
[0006] Korean Patent No. 10-0398643 discloses a kim-chi
refrigerator which includes a cabinet forming a storage compartment
which stores food and has an upward opening, and a door unit which
opens and closes the upward opening of the storage compartment.
Here, the door unit includes a first door and a second door which
partially and separately close the upward opening of the storage
compartment.
[0007] In the conventional refrigerator, however, cool air may leak
out of the storage compartment through a gap between the first door
and the second door while the door unit closes the storage
compartment, thereby decreasing cooling efficiency of the
refrigerator.
SUMMARY
[0008] Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to
provide a refrigerator which prevents cool air from flowing out of
a storage compartment when a door unit closes an opening of the
storage compartment.
[0009] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention
can be achieved by providing a refrigerator including: a cabinet
which includes at least one storage compartment formed with an
opening at one side thereof; and a door unit which opens and closes
the opening, the door unit including: a first door which is
rotatably attached to the cabinet and opens and closes a partial
area of the opening, a second door which is rotatably attached to
the first door and opens and closes the remaining area of the
opening, and a cool air blocking member which is disposed across a
planar surface of one of the first door and the second door and a
planar surface of the other of the first door and the second door
and prevents cool air from leaking from a gap between the first
door and the second door while the door unit is closed.
[0010] According to an aspect of the invention, the refrigerator
further includes: a first hinge which attaches the first door to
the cabinet to allow the first door to be rotatable outward with
respect to the cabinet; and a second hinge which attaches the
second door to the first door to allow the second door to be
rotatable outward with respect to the first door.
[0011] According to an aspect of the invention, the refrigerator
further includes: a first gasket which is located along an edge of
an inside planar surface of the first door; and a second gasket
which is located along an edge of an inside planar surface of the
second door.
[0012] According to an aspect of the invention, the cool air
blocking member has a length corresponding to the opening along a
lengthwise direction of the second hinge and is attached to the
Inside planar surface of one of the first door and the second
door.
[0013] According to an aspect of the invention, the refrigerator
further includes an extension part which extends from opposite
sides of one of the first gasket and the second gasket in a
transverse direction of the lengthwise direction of the second
hinge and prevents leakage of cool air between the first gasket and
the second gasket.
[0014] According to an aspect of the invention, the refrigerator
further includes a heating part disposed between the first door and
the second door.
[0015] According to an aspect of the Invention, the heating part
includes: a heater formed on at least one of surfaces of the first
door and the second door, the surfaces facing each other; and a
heater cover to cover the heater.
[0016] According to an aspect of the invention, the second hinge
includes: a hinge shaft located in one of the first door and the
second door; a hinge shaft accommodating part located on the other
of the first door and the second door and accommodating the hinge
shaft; and a friction member which is disposed between the hinge
shaft and the hinge shaft accommodating part, has a shape of a
cylinder having a cutting part cut along a lengthwise direction of
the hinge shaft, and provides frictional resistance to rotation of
the hinge shaft.
[0017] According to an aspect of the invention, the friction member
has elasticity in a direction of a radius thereof.
[0018] According to an aspect of the invention, the refrigerator
further includes a stopper which prevents the friction member from
being rotated by rotation of the hinge shaft.
[0019] According to an aspect of the invention, the stopper
includes: a protrusion formed in one of the friction member and the
hinge shaft accommodating part; and a protrusion accommodating part
formed in the other of the friction member and the hinge shaft
accommodating part and accommodating the protrusion.
[0020] According to an aspect of the invention, the refrigerator
further includes a shock-absorbing member disposed between the
first door and the second door to reduce impact of the second door
while the second door is open.
[0021] According to an aspect of the invention, the refrigerator
further includes: a first opening and closing sensor which senses
whether the first door is open or closed; and a second opening and
closing sensor which senses whether the second door is open or
closed.
[0022] According to an aspect of the invention, the first opening
and closing sensor includes: a first magnet disposed in one of the
cabinet and the first door; and a first magnetic sensor disposed in
the other of the cabinet and the first door to detect a magnetic
field generated by the first magnet.
[0023] According to an aspect of the invention, the second opening
and closing sensor includes: a second magnet disposed in one of the
first door and the second door or one of the second door and the
cool air blocking member; and a second magnetic sensor disposed in
the other of the first door and the second door or one of the
second door and the cool air blocking member to detect the magnetic
field generated by the second magnet.
[0024] According to an aspect of the invention, the refrigerator
further includes: a cooling apparatus which generates cool air and
provides the cool air to the storage compartment; and a controller
which controls operation of the cooling apparatus on the basis of
information sensed by the first opening and closing sensor and the
second opening and closing sensor.
[0025] According to an aspect of the invention, the refrigerator
further includes a first hinge which attaches the first door to the
cabinet to allow the first door to be rotatable outward with
respect to the cabinet; and a second hinge which attaches the
second door to the first door to allow the second door to be
rotatable inward with respect to the first door.
[0026] According to an aspect of the invention, the cool air
blocking member is attached to an outside planar surface of one of
the first door and the second door.
[0027] Additional aspects and/or advantages will be set forth in
part in the description which follows and, in part, will be
apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The above and/or other aspects of the present invention will
become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0029] FIG. 1 is a perspective view to schematically illustrate a
configuration of a refrigerator according to a first exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 2 illustrates an operating state of a second door of
the refrigerator according to the first exemplary embodiment of the
present invention;
[0031] FIG. 3 illustrates a mounting state of a first gasket, a
second gasket and a cool air blocking member of the refrigerator
according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present
invention;
[0032] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view to illustrate
attaching a second hinge of the refrigerator according to the first
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0033] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view to illustrate
attaching a heating part of the refrigerator according to the first
exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 6 illustrates an operating state of a first opening and
closing sensor according to opening and closing of a first door of
the refrigerator in accordance with the first exemplary embodiment
of the present invention;
[0035] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate an operating state of a second
opening and closing sensor according to opening and closing of a
second door of the refrigerator according to the first exemplary
embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the refrigerator according to
the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and
[0037] FIG. 9 is a perspective view to schematically illustrate a
configuration of a refrigerator according to a second exemplary
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0038] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to
like elements throughout. The exemplary embodiments are described
below to explain the present invention by referring to the
figures.
[0039] It is noted that a top open/close type of kim-chi
refrigerator will be mentioned as an example to explain exemplary
embodiments of the present invention, but the present invention may
also be employed for a front open/close type of the
refrigerator.
[0040] A refrigerator 1 according to a first exemplary embodiment
of the present invention will now be described with reference to
FIGS. 1 to 8.
[0041] Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 according to the
first exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a
cabinet 10 which forms an external shape and has at least one
storage compartment 13 with an opening 11 at one side and a door
unit 20 to open and close the opening 11 of the storage compartment
13. In the present exemplary embodiment, the opening 11 of the
storage compartment 13 is open upward.
[0042] The cabinet 10 includes at least one storage compartment 13.
Further, the cabinet 10 accommodates a cooling apparatus 15 (see
FIG. 8) such as a compressor (not shown), a condenser (not shown),
an evaporator (not shown), etc. A configuration and an operation of
the cooling apparatus 15 are known, and thus descriptions thereof
will not be mentioned in the present exemplary embodiment.
[0043] The door unit 20 includes a first door 21a rotatably
attached to the cabinet 10 to open and close one portion of the
opening 11, a second door 21b rotatably attached to the first door
21a to open and close the other portion of the opening 11, and a
cool air blocking member 30 disposed across a planar surface of one
of the first door 21a and the second door 21b, and a planar surface
of the other of the first door 21a and the second door 21b and
prevents cool air from leaking from a gap between the first door
21a and the second door 21b when the door unit 20 is in a closed
state.
[0044] In the present exemplary embodiment, the first door 21a
opens and closes a rear area of the opening 11, and the second door
21b opens and closes a front area thereof. The first door 21a and
the second door 21b have a plate shape, and Include holding parts
23a and 23b, respectively. Meanwhile, a first hinge 25a is located
between the first door 21a and the cabinet 10 to attach the first
door 21a to the cabinet 10 and to be rotatable outward, and a
second hinge 25b is located between the first door 21a and the
second door 21b to attach the second door 21b to the first door 21a
and to be rotatable outward. Thus, the second door 21b may be
rotated to open the front area of the opening 11 for a small size
storage thing to be put in or taken out, thereby reducing leakage
of cool air that escapes when putting in or taking out the storage
item.
[0045] The first hinge 25a supports the first door 21a and is
pivotally rotatable on the cabinet 10. The first hinge 25a is a
hinge used for a top open/close type refrigerator or kim-chi
refrigerator which is generally known, and thus descriptions
thereof will not be explained in the present exemplary
embodiment.
[0046] Referring to FIG. 4, the second hinge 25b is located to
pivotally rotate the second door 21b outward on the first door 21a.
Here, the second hinge 25b may be disposed on an upper part of the
first door 21a and the second door 21b. The second hinge 25b may be
provided as an ordinary hinge. In the present exemplary embodiment,
however, the second hinge 25b includes a friction member 28 to
provide frictional resistance to rotation of the second door
21b.
[0047] The second hinge 25b Includes a hinge shaft 26 located on
one of the first door 21a and the second door 21b, a hinge shaft
accommodating part 27 located on the other of the first door 21a
and the second door 21b and accommodating the hinge shaft 26, and
the friction member 28 which provides frictional resistance to
rotation of the hinge shaft 26. In the present exemplary
embodiment, the hinge shaft 26 is attached to the second door 21b,
and the hinge shaft accommodating part 27 is attached to the first
door 21a.
[0048] The friction member 28 is disposed between the hinge shaft
26 and the hinge shaft accommodating part 27 and has a shape of a
cylinder having a cutting part 28a cut along a lengthwise direction
of the hinge shaft 26. The friction member 28 may be elastic in a
direction of its radius. Thus, the second hinge 25b decreases a
speed where the second door 21b is dropped by its weight, thereby
preventing noise and impact arising from rotation of the second
door 21b. Meanwhile, the second hinge 25b further includes a
stopper 29 to prevent the friction member 28 from being rotated by
the rotation of the hinge shaft 26.
[0049] As shown in the enlargement illustrated in FIG. 4, the
stopper 29 includes a protrusion 29a formed on an inside surface of
the hinge shaft accommodating part 27 and a protrusion
accommodating part 29b formed on the friction member 28 and
accommodating the protrusion 29a. Here, the protrusion 29a projects
from the inside surface of the hinge shaft accommodating part 27
along the lengthwise direction of the hinge shaft 26, and the
protrusion accommodating part 29b projects from the cutting part
28a in the direction of the radius. Alternatively, the protrusion
29a may be formed on the friction member 28, and the protrusion
accommodating part 29b may be formed on the hinge accommodating
part 27.
[0050] As described above, the first door 21a and the second door
21b are arranged to open and close the opening 11 partially and
separately, thereby improving spatial efficiency of the
refrigerator 1 and preventing cool air from leaking
excessively.
[0051] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the cool air blocking member 30
is disposed across the planar surfaces of the first door 21a and
the second door 21b to prevent cool air from leaking between the
first door 21a and the second door 21b in the closed state.
[0052] The cool air blocking member 30 includes a blocking part 31
of a plate shape, and an attachment part 33 to support the blocking
part 31 with respect to the second door 21b. The blocking part 31
is utilized as a plate to block a gap between the first door 21a
and the second door 21b. The attachment part 33 extends from the
blocking part 31 in a surface direction of the blocking part 31. In
the present exemplary embodiment, the attachment part 33 is formed
to extend from opposite sides of the blocking part 31 and includes
a screw attachment hole 35 into which a screw is inserted. Here, a
screw attachment hole (not shown) is formed in an inside planar
surface of the second door 21b at a position corresponding to the
screw attachment hole 35. The cool air blocking member 30 has a
length corresponding to a width of the opening 11 along the
lengthwise direction of the hinge shaft 26 of the second hinge
25b.
[0053] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the refrigerator 1
according to the first exemplary embodiment may further include a
first gasket 40a located along an edge of an inside planar surface
of the first door 21a, and a second gasket 40b located along an
edge of the inside planar surface of the second door 21b. Here, the
cool air blocking member 30 is mounted on the second door 21b
across the second gasket 40b, but may be mounted on the first door
21a. The first gasket 40a and the second gasket 40b are formed on
the edge of the opening 11 to seal a gap between the first door 21a
and the cabinet 10 and a gap between the second door 21b and the
cabinet 10. Accordingly, cool air may not leak through the gap
between the first door 21a and the cabinet 10 and the gap between
the second door 21b and the cabinet 10.
[0054] Meanwhile, an extension part 45 is provided to extend from
one of the first gasket 40a and the second gasket 40b in a
transverse direction of a lengthwise direction of the second hinge
25b so as to prevent leakage of cool air between the first gasket
40a and the second gasket 40b. The extension part 45 is arranged so
that the cool air blocking member 30 extends in a lengthwise
direction in the closed state of the second door 21b. In detail,
the cool air blocking member 30 has a length corresponding to the
opening 11, and thus it does not seal the edge of the opening 11.
Accordingly, the extension part 45 is arranged to improve the seal
of the storage compartment. In the present exemplary embodiment,
the extension part 45 extends from the first gasket 40a, as shown
in FIG. 3.
[0055] Referring to FIG. 5, the refrigerator 1 according to the
first exemplary embodiment may further include a heating part 50
disposed between the first door 21a and the second door 21b. The
heating part 50 includes a heater 51 formed on at least one of
surfaces of the first door 21a and the second door 21b, the
surfaces facing each other, and a heater cover 53 to cover the
heater 51. In the present exemplary embodiment, the heater 51 is
provided as a film heater having a plate shape and disposed on the
front surface of the first door 21a. The heating part 50 is
arranged to prevent dew from being formed in a boundary area of the
first door 21a and the second door 21b.
[0056] The refrigerator 1 according to the first exemplary
embodiment may further include a shock-absorbing member 60 disposed
between the first door 21a and the second door 21b to reduce the
shock of the second door 21b while the second door 21b is opened.
The shock-absorbing member 60 is an elastic material such as
rubber. In the present exemplary embodiment, the shock-absorbing
member 60 is located on an outside surface of the first door 21a,
as shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the shock-absorbing member 60
may be located on an outside surface of the second door 21b.
[0057] Referring to FIGS. 6 to 8, the refrigerator 1 according to
the first exemplary embodiment may further include a first opening
and closing sensor 70a to sense whether the first door 21a is open
or closed, and a second opening and closing sensor 70b to sense
whether the second door 21b is open or closed.
[0058] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the first opening and closing
sensor 70a includes a first magnet 71a disposed in one of the
cabinet 10 and the first door 21a, and a first magnetic sensor 73a
disposed in the other of the cabinet 10 and the first door 21b to
detect a magnetic field generated by the first magnet 71a.
[0059] In the present exemplary embodiment, the first magnet 71a is
mounted in a rear end part of the first door 21a, and the first
magnetic sensor 73a is mounted in an upper rear end part of the
cabinet 10. The first magnet 71a and the first magnetic sensor 73a
are located close to each other in the closed state of the first
door 21a. Accordingly, a controller 80 recognizes that the first
door 21a is closed. Meanwhile, when the first door 21a is rotated,
the first magnet 71a and the first magnetic sensor 73 are located
apart from each other. Accordingly, the controller 80 recognizes
that the first door 21a is open.
[0060] Whereas it was explained that the first magnet 71a and the
first magnetic sensor 73a are located close to each other in the
closed state of the first door 21a, the first magnet 71a and the
first magnetic sensor 73a may be located close to each other in the
opening state of the first door 21a.
[0061] The second opening and closing sensor 70b includes a second
magnet 71b mounted in one of the first door 21a and the second door
21b or one of the first door 21a and the cool air blocking member
30. Also, the second opening closing sensor 70b includes a second
magnetic sensor 73b mounted in the other of the first door 21a and
the second door 21a or one of the first door 21a and the cool air
blocking member 30 to detect magnetic field generated by the second
magnet 71b.
[0062] In the present exemplary embodiment, the second magnet 71b
is mounted in the cool air blocking member 30, and the second
magnetic sensor 73b is mounted in a front end part of the first
door 21a. Here, the second magnet 71b may be mounted in a rear end
part of the second door 21b. As illustrated in FIG. 7A, the second
magnet 71b and the second magnetic sensor 73b are located close to
each other in the closed state of the second door 21b. Accordingly,
the controller 80 recognizes that the second door 21b is closed.
Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, when the second door 21b is
rotated, the second magnet 71b and the second magnetic sensor 73b
are located apart from each other. Accordingly, the controller 80
recognizes that the second door 21b is open.
[0063] Whereas it was explained that the second magnet 71b and the
second magnetic sensor 73b are located close to one another in the
closed state of the second door 21b, the second magnet 71b and the
second magnetic sensor 73b may be located close to each other in
the opening state of the second door 21b.
[0064] The controller 80 of the refrigerator 1 according to the
first exemplary embodiment controls operation of a cooling
apparatus 15 on the basis of information sensed by the first and
second opening and closing sensors 70a and 70b. In detail, the
controller 80 accumulatively calculates how long and how many times
the first door 21a and the second door 21b are open to drive the
cooling apparatus 15.
[0065] Hereinafter, a refrigerator 101 according to a second
exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described
with reference to FIG. 9. It is noted that like reference numerals
refer to like elements in the first and second exemplary
embodiments and descriptions of the like elements will not be
repeated.
[0066] The refrigerator 101 according to the second exemplary
embodiment includes a first hinge 25a to attach a first door 21a to
a cabinet 10 to allow the first door 21a to be rotatable outward,
and a second hinge 125 to attach a second door 21b to the first
door 21a to allow the second door 21b to be rotatable inward. The
first hinge 25a has the same configuration as the configuration in
the first exemplary embodiment, which will not repeatedly
explained.
[0067] The second hinge 125 attaches the first door 21a to the
second door 21b to foldably rotate. In detail, the second hinge 125
allows inner planar surfaces of the first door 21a and the second
door 21b to be close or apart from each other to open or close an
opening 11. The second hinge 125 includes a hinge shaft 126 and a
hinge shaft accommodating part 127. Here, the second hinge 125 may
be located in a lower part of the first and second doors 21a and
21b.
[0068] Meanwhile, in the present exemplary embodiment, a guide
protrusion 140 is formed on the second door 21b projecting from a
lateral side thereof, and a guide rail 145 is located in the
cabinet 10 to guide the guide protrusion 140 in a forward or
backward direction. Accordingly, a user presses the first door 21a
and the second door 21b in the forward or backward direction to
close or open the doors 21a and 21b.
[0069] In the present exemplary embodiment, a cool air blocking
member 130 is located on an outside planar surface of the second
door 21b, but may be located in the first door 21a. In this case,
the cool air blocking member 130 has a length corresponding to a
width of the first door 21a and the second door 21b along a
lengthwise direction of the hinge shaft 126. Thus, cool air may not
leak between the first door 21a and the second door 21b.
[0070] In the present exemplary embodiment, the first door 21a and
the second door 21b move in the forward and backward directions to
be folded or apart from each other, thereby closing and opening the
opening 11 of the cabinet 10. Alternatively, the first door 21a and
the second door 21b may move in right and left directions to be
folded or apart from each other to close and open the opening
11.
[0071] Hereinafter, an operation process of the refrigerator 1
according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present
invention will be explained.
[0072] If the first door 21a and the second door 21b are both
closed, cool air does not leak between the first door 21a and the
second door 21b due to blocking by the cool air blocking member 30.
Further, the first gasket 40a and the second gasket 40b prevent
cool air from leaking between the first door 21a and the cabinet 10
and between the second door 21b and the cabinet 10. Here, the
heating part 50 is provided to heat a boundary area between the
first door 21a and the second door 21b, thereby preventing dew from
being formed.
[0073] Referring to FIG. 2, the user pivotally rotates the second
door 21b outward. The second door 21b is slowly rotated by the
friction member 28 of the second hinge 25b and the dropping speed
of the second door 21b is decreased due to its weight, thereby
reducing operation noise and preventing an accident. Meanwhile, the
shock-absorbing member 60 is located on the outside surface of the
first door to reduce operation noise, to prevent the first door 21a
from colliding with the second door 21b when opening the second
door 21b, and to reduce operation impact. As such, a front area of
the opening 11 is opened by opening the second door 21b only, and
thus cool air does not leak excessively, and spatial efficiency is
improved by decreasing an operating radius of the door unit 20.
[0074] If the first door 21a is pivotally rotated upward while the
second door 21b is open, the entire opening 11 of the storage
compartment 13 is open. Thus, the operating radius of the door unit
20 decreases, thereby improving spatial efficiency.
[0075] As described above, the refrigerator 1 according to the
present invention includes the door unit 20 which has a first door
21a pivotally rotatably attached to the cabinet 10 to open and
close one area of the opening 11, and a second door 21b pivotally
rotatably combined with the first door 21a to open and close the
remaining area of the opening 11. Accordingly, only the second door
21b may be rotated to open the front area of the opening 11 for
storage items to be put in or taken out, thereby reducing cool air
leakage when cool air escapes upon putting in or taking out the
items. Also, the operating radius of the door unit 20 decreases as
compared with the operating radius of a door unit in a conventional
refrigerator, and thus the opening 11 may be entirely open when the
refrigerator 1 is disposed in a low-ceiling space.
[0076] Further, the door unit 20 includes the cool air blocking
member 30 disposed across a planar surface of the first door 21a
and the second door 21b to prevent cool air from leaking from a gap
between the first door 21a and the second door 21b while the door
unit 20 is in closed state, thereby efficiently blocking leakage of
cool air from the boundary area between the first door 21a and the
second door 21b.
[0077] As described above, the present invention provides a
refrigerator which prevents cool air from leaking from a storage
compartment when a door unit closes an opening of the storage
compartment.
[0078] Also the present invention may be described as a
refrigerator comprising: a cabinet which comprises at least one
storage compartment formed with an opening at one side thereof; and
a reconfigurable folding door unit rotatably attached to the
cabinet, having a first folding portion and a second folding
portion, wherein each folding position opens and closes a section
of the opening, and a cool air blocking member which is disposed
across a planar surface of one of the first folding portion of the
reconfigurable folding door unit and the second folding portion of
the reconfigurable folding door unit and a planar surface of the
other of the first folding portion and the second folding portion
and prevents cool air from leaking from a gap between the first
folding portion and the second folding portion while the
reconfigurable folding door unit is closed.
[0079] In addition, the present invention may be described as a
refrigerator comprising: a cabinet which comprises at least one
storage compartment formed with an opening at one side thereof; and
a folding door unit rotatably attached to the cabinet to foldably
open and close the opening in a portion-wise manner; and a cool air
blocking member which is disposed across a horizontal surface of a
first portion of the folding door unit and prevents cool air from
leaking from a gap between the first portion of the folding door
unit and a second portion of the folding door while the folding
door unit is closed.
[0080] 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
exemplary embodiments without departing from the principles and
spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the
appended claims and their equivalents.
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