U.S. patent application number 12/307558 was filed with the patent office on 2009-11-26 for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Sung-Ae Lee, Jin-Woo Park.
Application Number | 20090289536 12/307558 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38895020 |
Filed Date | 2009-11-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090289536 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Park; Jin-Woo ; et
al. |
November 26, 2009 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
The present invention discloses a refrigerator including a
refrigerator main body, a refrigerator door for opening and closing
the refrigerator mainbody, a hinge assembly for connecting the
refrigerator door to the refrigerator main body to be openable and
closable, a hinge cover for covering the hinge assembly, and a
multimedia device positioned inside the hinge cover. This
configuration can improve the spatial efficiency of the
refrigerator. In addition the multimedia device has higher
stability when it is positioned outside the refrigerator than
inside the refrigerator of high humidity.
Inventors: |
Park; Jin-Woo; (Changwon-si,
KR) ; Lee; Sung-Ae; (Busan, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
LG Electronics Inc.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
38895020 |
Appl. No.: |
12/307558 |
Filed: |
July 6, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
July 6, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR07/03301 |
371 Date: |
August 7, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/405 ;
312/237 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05Y 2900/31 20130101;
F25D 2400/40 20130101; F25D 23/028 20130101; F25D 2400/361
20130101; F25D 2323/024 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/405 ;
312/237 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/02 20060101
F25D023/02; A47B 83/00 20060101 A47B083/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 6, 2006 |
KR |
10-2006-0063616 |
Oct 18, 2006 |
KR |
10-2006-0101266 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator main body; a
refrigerator door for opening and closing the refrigerator main
body; a hinge assembly for connecting the refrigerator door to the
refrigerator main body to be openable and closable; a hinge cover
for covering the hinge assembly; and a multimedia device positioned
inside the hinge cover.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the multimedia device is a
speaker connected to a controller, for generating sound.
3. The refrigerator of claim 2, further comprising a speaker hole
formed at the hinge cover, for transferring the sound generated by
the speaker and resonated inside the hinge cover to the
outside.
4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the speaker hole is formed
at at least one of the top face and the front face of the hinge
cover.
5. The refrigerator of claim 2, further comprising a partition wall
formed inside the hinge cover, for partitioning off the space into
a hinge assembly mounting space and a speaker mounting space.
6. The refrigerator of claim 5, further comprising an electric wire
mounting groove formed at the partition wall so that a wire
connected to the speaker can pass therethrough.
7. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the electric wire is fitted
into the electric wire mounting groove from the bottom end of the
partition wall.
8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the multimedia device is a
connector for connecting an external device to the controller of
the refrigerator.
9. The refrigerator of claim 8, further comprising: a connector
fixing portion for fixing the connector inside the hinge cover; an
electric wire fixing segment for fixing an electric wire connected
to the connector; and a through hole formed at at least one face of
the hinge cover so that the external device can pass through the
hinge cover and connect to the connector.
10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the connector fixing
portion comprises a body fixing segment for fixing a body portion
of the connector, a neck fixing segment for fixing a neck portion
of the connector, and an auxiliary supporting segment for
auxiliarily supporting the connector.
11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the body fixing segment
comprises a supporting portion for supporting both side ends of the
body portion of the connector, and a hooking portion closely
adhered to the top face of the connector, for preventing
separation.
12. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the electric wire fixing
segment comprises a circumference supporting portion for supporting
the circumference of the electric wire, and a separation preventing
portion for preventing the separation of the electric wire.
13. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the connector fixing
portion and the electric wire fixing segment are made of an elastic
material.
14. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the front face of the
hinge cover is hidden by the refrigerator door.
15. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the hinge cover extends to
both side ends of the refrigerator main body and the refrigerator
door at the upper portion thereof.
16. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the hinge cover is
partitioned off into a hinge assembly mounting space, a multimedia
device mounting space and a separate space.
17. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the multimedia devices
are a speaker and a connector, and the hinge cover is partitioned
off into a hinge assembly mounting space, a speaker mounting space
and a connector mounting space.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more
particularly, to a refrigerator which includes a hinge assembly for
connecting a refrigerator door to a refrigerator main body to be
openable and closable, and a hinge cover for covering the hinge
assembly.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In general, a refrigerator is an apparatus for storing foods
freshly for an extended period of time. The refrigerator includes a
freezing chamber for freezing foods, a refrigerating chamber for
refrigerating foods, and a freezing cycle for cooling the freezing
chamber and the refrigerating chamber. A built-in controller
controls the operation.
[0003] The refrigerator is the most basic widely-used core element
of a kitchen space. The refrigerator has been gradually increased
in size due to the increase of consumption and the influence of the
western life style.
[0004] Nowadays, the kitchen space is not a simple eating space but
a major living space for eating and conversation of family members.
In addition to the size increase, the refrigerator which is the
core element of the kitchen space needs to be functionally changed
in quantity and quality so that the family members can conveniently
use the refrigerator.
[0005] The multimedia tendency of electronic products has been
accelerated by the rapid development of information and
communication technologies. It is thus expected that an electric
home appliance will perform not one or two Junctions but various
functions associated with functions of a few electric home
appliances.
[0006] For example, a refrigerator for allowing the user to watch
TV, access a webpage and enjoy an internet will be developed by
coupling a computer to a general refrigerator and installing an LCD
to a refrigerator door.
[0007] The LCD provided at the refrigerator door can be configured
to display the states, nutrition information and cooking
information of the stored foods as well as the current temperature
and operation state of the refrigerator.
[0008] As the multimedia function of the refrigerator is improved,
a speaker for outputting sound data takes an important role.
Normally, the speakers are provided at both sides of an LCD monitor
so that the user can enjoy sound with images.
[0009] However, in the conventional refrigerator, as the LCD
monitor and the speaker are provided on the side of the
refrigerator door with a relatively narrow width and thin
thickness, the installation space and the size of the speaker are
relatively restricted. Moreover, as an installation space of an
enclosure for improving tone quality by resonating the sound
generated by the speaker is restricted, it is impossible to provide
sound of high tone quality.
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a conventional
refrigerator, and FIG. 2 illustrates one example of a hinge
assembly of the conventional refrigerator.
[0011] A storage space (not shown) is defined inside a refrigerator
main body 1, and partitioned off into a freezing chamber and a
refrigerating chamber in the left-right direction. The freezing
chamber and the refrigerating chamber are selectively opened and
closed by a freezing chamber door 2 and a refrigerating chamber
door 3 pivotably installed at both sides of the front face of the
refrigerator main body 1, respectively.
[0012] A display portion 4 is provided at the freezing chamber door
2. The display portion 4 provides various image services and
internet services. A home bar 5 is provided at the refrigerating
chamber door 3 so that the user can take out an object stored
inside the refrigerating chamber door 3.
[0013] Hinge assemblies 10 are provided at the upper portion of the
refrigerator main body 1. The hinge assemblies 10 pivotably support
the freezing chamber door 2 and the refrigerating chamber door 3 on
the refrigerator main body 1.
[0014] As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of through slots 21 and 22 are
formed at one side of the front end of the top face 20 of the
refrigerator main body 1. The through slots 21 and 22 have a
predetermined length and width.
[0015] A pair of through holes 23 and 24 and three fastening holes
25, 26 and 27 are formed at one side of the top face 20 to be
adjacent to the through slots 21 and 22. Fastening protrusions 35
and 36 explained later pass through the through holes 23 and 24.
The fastening holes 25, 26 and 27 are formed not to overlap with a
hinge plate 40 explained later,
[0016] Meanwhile, a fastening bracket 30 is provided inside the
refrigerator main body 1. First and second fastening ribs 31 and 33
are provided at the listening bracket 30. The fastening ribs 31 and
33 pass through the through slots 21 and 22, respectively, and
protrude in the upward direction of the top face 20 by a
predetermined height.
[0017] The first fastening rib 31 passes through the through slot
21 relatively adjacent to the front end of the top face 20. A
hooked protrusion 32 is provided at the top end of the first
fastening rib 31. As the top end of the first fastening rib 31
extends to both sides, the hooked protrusion 32 is wholly formed in
a T shape.
[0018] The second fastening rib 33 passes through the through slot
22 relatively adjacent to the rear end of the top face 20. A
seating end 34 is provided at the top end of the second fastening
rib 33. As a part of the top end of the second fastening rib 33 is
cut by a predetermined size, the seating end 34 is wholly formed in
an L shape.
[0019] A pair of fastening protrusions 35 and 36 are provided at
the fastening bracket 30. The fastening protrusions 35 and 36 pass
through the through holes 23 and 24, respectively, and protrude in
the upward direction of the top face 20 by a predetermined height.
Three fastening holes 37, 38 and 39 are formed at the fastening
bracket 30 to correspond to the fastening holes 25, 26 and 27 of
the top face 20, respectively.
[0020] In the meantime, a hinge plate 40 is fastened to the
fastening bracket 30. A pair of through openings 41 and 42 through
which the fastening ribs 31 and 33 passing through the through
holes 21 and 22 pass, respectively, are formed at the hinge plate
40. An insertion slot 43 and an insertion hole 44 into which the
fastening protrusions 35 and 36 passing through the through holes
23 and 24 are inserted, respectively, are formed at the hinge plate
40.
[0021] A hinge pin 47 for pivotably installing the door 2 or 3 for
selectively opening and closing the storage space (not shown) is
provided at one side of the hinge plate 40. The hinge pin 47 is
provided at the front end of the hinge plate 40 to protrude in the
downward direction by a predetermined length.
[0022] In addition, a fixing lever 50 is provided to fix the hinge
plate 40 to the fastening bracket 30. The fixing lever 50 includes
a fixing portion 51 and a supporting portion 55. Both sides of the
fixing portion 51 are closely adhered to the top face of the hinge
plate 40, and the center portion thereof is closely adhered to the
bottom end of the hooked protrusion 32 of the fastening rib 31.
[0023] The fixing portion 51 includes a rotation hole 52 having a
diameter equivalent to the width of the first fastening rib 31, and
a slit 53 having a width equivalent to the thickness of the first
fastening rib 31 and communicating with the rotation hole 52. The
slit 53 serves as an insertion inlet for the first fastening rib
31.
[0024] The supporting portion 55 extends from one side of the
fixing portion 51 which is the opposite side to the slit 53 by a
predetermined length. In a state where the first fastening rib 31
is inserted through the slit 53 and positioned inside the rotation
hole 52, as the fixing lever 50 is rotated, the supporting portion
55 is seated at the seating end 34 of the second fastening rib
33.
[0025] A hinge cover 60 is provided to shield the fastening bracket
30, the hinge plate 40 and the fixing lever 50 from the outside. A
fastening boss 61 is provided at the hinge cover 60, and a
fastening hole 63 is formed at the leading end of the fastening
boss 61.
[0026] The process of installing the hinge assembly at the
conventional refrigerator will now be described.
[0027] The fastening bracket 30 is positioned inside the
refrigerator main body 1 so that the fastening ribs 31 and 33 and
the fastening protrusions 35 and 36 can pass through the through
slots 21 and 22 and the through holes 23 and 24, respectively.
Fastening screws Sa and Sb passing through the fastening holes 25
and 26 of the top lace 20 are fastened to the fastening holes 37
and 38 of the fastening bracket 30, for fixing the fastening
bracket 30.
[0028] In this state, the hinge plate 40 is moved so that the
fastening ribs 31 and 33 passing through the through slots 21 and
22 can pass through the through openings 41 and 42. Here, the
fastening protrusions 35 and 36 passing through the through holes
23 and 24 are inserted into the insertion slot 43 and the insertion
hole 44, respectively.
[0029] Thereafter, the fixing lever 50 is moved so that the first
fastening rib 31 can be inserted through the slit 53 and positioned
inside the rotation hole 52.
[0030] In this state, the fixing lever 50 is rotated at a
predetermined angle so that the supporting portion 51 can be seated
at the seating end 34 of the second fastening rib 33.
[0031] After the fastening bracket 30, the hinge plate 40 and the
fixing lever 50 are installed, the hinge cover 60 shields the
resulting structure. A fastening screw Sc passing through the
fastening hole 63 at one side of the hinge cover 60 and the
fastening hole 27 at the top lace 20 is fastened to the fastening
hole 39 of the fastening bracket 30, to thereby fix the hinge cover
60.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0032] An object of the present invention is to provide a
refrigerator which can improve the spatial efficiency without
deforming the outward appearance thereof, by installing a
multimedia device inside a hinge cover for covering a hinge to
connect a refrigerator door with a refrigerator main body.
[0033] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
refrigerator which can supply sound of high tone quality without
requiring a special enclosure or installation space, by enabling a
hinge cover for covering a hinge to function as an enclosure.
[0034] Yet another object of the present invention is to
electrically connect an external electronic recording medium to a
controller of a refrigerator by a connector provided inside a hinge
cover.
[0035] Yet another object of the present invention is to fix a
connector inside a hinge cover.
Technical Solution
[0036] There is provided a refrigerator, including: a refrigerator
main body; a refrigerator door for opening and closing the
refrigerator main body; a hinge assembly for connecting the
refrigerator door to the refrigerator main body to be openable and
closable; a hinge cover for covering the hinge assembly; and a
multimedia device positioned inside the hinge cover. This
configuration can improve the spatial efficiency of the
refrigerator. In addition, the multimedia device has higher
stability when it is positioned outside the refrigerator than
inside the refrigerator of high humidity.
[0037] In another aspect of the present invention, the multimedia
device is a speaker connected to a controller, for generating
sound. In this configuration, the refrigerator can provide a
multimedia function including sound data.
[0038] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the
refrigerator further includes a speaker hole formed at the hinge
cover, for transferring the sound generated by the speaker and
resonated inside the hinge cover to the outside.
[0039] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the speaker
hole is formed at at least one of the top lace and the front face
of the hinge cover.
[0040] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the
refrigerator further includes a partition wall formed inside the
hinge cover, for partitioning off the space into a hinge assembly
mounting space and a speaker mounting space. In this configuration,
the sound generated by the speaker can be resonated merely in the
speaker mounting space, and thus uniformly transferred to the
outside.
[0041] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the
refrigerator further includes an electric wire mounting groove
formed at the partition wall so that a wire connected to the
speaker can pass therethrough. In this configuration, the electric
wire connected to the speaker can be easily arranged.
[0042] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the electric
wire is fitted into the electric wire mounting groove from the
bottom end of the partition wall.
[0043] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the
multimedia device is a connector for connecting an external device
to the controller of the refrigerator. In this configuration,
external multimedia information, for example, photographs
photographed by the user with a digital camera can be inputted
through the connector and displayed through a display panel
installed at the refrigerator.
[0044] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the
refrigerator further includes; a connector fixing portion for
fixing the connector inside the hinge cover an electric wire fixing
segment for fixing an electric wire connected to the connector and
a through hole formed on at least one face of the hinge cover so
that the external device can pass through the hinge cover and
connect to the connector.
[0045] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the
connector fixing portion includes a body fixing segment for fixing
a body portion of the connector, a neck fixing segment for fixing a
neck portion of the connector, and an auxiliary supporting segment
for auxiliarily supporting the connector.
[0046] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the body
fixing segment includes a supporting portion for supporting both
side ends of the body portion of the connector, and a hooking
portion closely adhered to the top face of the connector, for
preventing separation.
[0047] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the electric
wire fixing segment includes a circumference supporting portion for
supporting the circumference of the electric wire, and a separation
preventing portion for preventing the separation of the electric
wire.
[0048] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the
connector fixing portion and the electric wire fixing segment are
made of an elastic material.
[0049] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the front
face of the hinge cover is hidden by the refrigerator door.
[0050] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the hinge
cover extends to both side ends of the refrigerator main body and
the refrigerator door at the upper portions thereof.
[0051] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the hinge
cover is partitioned off into a hinge assembly mounting space, a
multimedia device mounting space and a separate space.
[0052] In yet another aspect of the present invention, the
multimedia devices are a speaker and a connector, and the hinge
cover is partitioned off into a hinge assembly mounting space, a
speaker mounting space and a connector mounting space.
Advantageous Effects
[0053] In accordance with the present invention, in the sound
device of the refrigerator, the speaker holes are formed at the
hinge covers for hinge-connecting the freezing chamber door and the
refrigerating chamber door to the refrigerator main body, and the
speakers are installed inside the hinge covers. Therefore, the
hinge covers can be used as speaker installation spaces and sound
resonating spaces, to thereby improve the spatial efficiency. A
plurality of speakers can be installed in various spaces, for
uniformly supplying sound of high tone quality.
[0054] A relative connector connected to an electronic recording
medium for storing image information such as family photographs is
connected to the connector provided inside the hinge cover.
Accordingly, the data stored in the electronic recording medium are
transmitted to the controller of the refrigerator by the connector
of the hinge cover, so that the user can display desired image
information on the display portion. That is, the using effect of
the display portion can be improved.
[0055] In addition, the connector and the electric wire provided
inside the hinge cover are fixed to the hinge cover by the
connector fixing portion and the electric wire fixing segment. As a
result, the connector can be fixed inside the hinge cover and
easily connected to the relative connector connected to the
electronic recording medium, to thereby improve the using
convenience.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0056] FIG. 1 illustrates one example of a conventional
refrigerator;
[0057] FIG. 2 illustrates one example of a hinge assembly of the
conventional refrigerator;
[0058] FIG. 3 illustrates a refrigerator in accordance with one
embodiment of the present invention;
[0059] FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively illustrate top and bottom faces
of a hinge cover with a speaker installed therein at the
refrigerator in accordance with the present invention;
[0060] FIGS. 6 and 7 respectively illustrate one example of a hinge
cover with a connector installed therein at the refrigerator in
accordance with the present invention;
[0061] FIG. 8 illustrates a part of a refrigerator in accordance
with another embodiment of the present invention; and
[0062] FIG. 9 illustrates a part of a refrigerator in accordance
with yet another embodiment of the present invention.
MODE FOR THE INVENTION
[0063] A refrigerator in accordance with preferred embodiments of
the present invention will now be described in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0064] FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a refrigerator in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS.
4 and 5 are perspective views illustrating top and bottom faces of
a sound device in accordance with the present invention.
[0065] In the refrigerator according to the present invention,
referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, a freezing chamber door 102 and a
refrigerating chamber door 104 are hinge-connected to a
refrigerator main body 1000 partitioned off into a freezing chamber
and a refrigerating chamber in the left-right direction.
[0066] An ice supply device 106 for supplying ice or cold water and
a display 108 for displaying the operation state of the
refrigerator and controlling the operation of the refrigerator are
provided at the freezing chamber door 102. An LCD monitor 110 for
providing TV or internet services is provided at the refrigerating
chamber door 104.
[0067] A freezing cycle (not shown) including a compressor, a
condenser, a capillary tube or an electronic expansion valve, and
an evaporator is built in one side of the refrigerator main body
1000. A cool air circulation fan (not shown) is built into supply
the cool air heat-exchanged at the evaporator side to the freezing
chamber or the refrigerating chamber. A controller (not shown)
operates the whole components to control the operation of the
refrigerator.
[0068] Particularly, in order to connect the freezing chamber door
102 and the refrigerating chamber door 104, hinge assemblies are
installed at both ends of the top face of the refrigerator main
body 1000. Hinge covers H1 are installed to cover the hinge
assemblies, respectively. Speaker holes 120h are formed at the
hinge covers H1 and speakers 120 are installed inside the hinge
covers H1.
[0069] A partition wall 122 for partitioning off the inside space
of the hinge cover H1 into a hinge assembly mounting space A and a
speaker mounting space B is formed inside the hinge cover H1, so
that the hinge cover H1 efficiently functions as an enclosure for
the sound generated by the speaker 120. The hinge assembly mounting
space A is formed over the top feces of the freezing chamber door
102 or the refrigerating chamber door 104 and the refrigerator main
body 1000, but the speaker mounting space B is formed only on the
top face of the refrigerator main body 1000.
[0070] Preferably, the speaker holes 120h are formed at the top
face of the hinge cover H1 with a relatively large area. If the top
space of the refrigerator is blocked as in a built-in type
refrigerator, the speaker holes 120h can be formed at the front
face of the hinge cover H1.
[0071] In addition, the speaker 120 is connected to the controller
through an electric wire (not shown) so that the operation of the
speaker 120 can be controlled by the controller. A volume level of
the speaker 120 can be controlled by a selection means 130 provided
on the side of the LCD monitor 110.
[0072] Here, as the speaker 120 is installed at the top face of the
refrigerator main body 1000 and the controller is built in the
freezing chamber door 102 or the refrigerating chamber door 104,
the electric wire extended from the speaker 120 to the controller
is laid on a hinge shaft on the side of the freezing chamber door
102 or the refrigerating chamber door 104. To this end, an electric
wire mounting groove 122h is formed at the partition wall 122 so
that the electric wire extending from the speaker 120 can pass
through the partition wall 122. In addition, the electric wire
mounting groove 122h serves to fix and arrange the electric wire
connected to the speaker 120.
[0073] As described above, the speakers 120 built in the hinge
covers H1 are installed at both sides of the top face of the
refrigerator main body 1000. Therefore, the sound generated by the
speakers 120 is resonated inside the hinge covers H1, and uniformly
transferred with high tone quality to the refrigerator installed
space through the speaker holes 120h.
[0074] When the speakers are installed on the side of the LCD
monitor 110 as in the prior art, the speakers 120 can be further
installed on the side of the binge covers H1. In this case, the
speakers can be divided into middle/low tone speakers and high tone
speakers and installed at the upper and lower portions, to thereby
provide sound of high tone quality.
[0075] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a desirable example of the hinge
cover in accordance with the present invention.
[0076] As illustrated in FIG. 6, a hinge cover 70 is formed in an
almost rectangular shape. The hinge cover 70 serves to protect an
outward appearance of a hinge assembly. The frame of the hinge
cover 70 is defined by a cover main body 71 corresponding in shape
to a hinge plate 40. The cover main body 71 is formed in an almost
rectangular shape with one open face. The hinge plate 40 is
positioned in an inside space 73. A fastening boss 75 is provided
at the inside space 73 of the cover main body 71. A fastening screw
(not shown) is fastened to the fastening boss 75, for fixing the
cover main body 71 to a top face of a refrigerator.
[0077] A connector 77 (refer to FIG. 7) is installed in the cover
main body 71. One end of the connector 77 is connected to a
controller (not shown) of a refrigerator main body through an
electric wire 79, and the other end thereof is connected to a
relative connector connected to an external electronic recording
medium installed outside the refrigerator. The controller transmits
the data from the external electronic recording medium to a display
portion, or uses the data to upgrade an inside program. If the data
transferred by the controller are image information, the image
information is displayed through the display portion.
[0078] The connector 77 includes a body portion 77b and a neck
portion 77n. A terminal 77t connected to the external electronic
recording medium is provided at one end of the body portion 77b.
The neck portion 77n is connected to the electric wire 79 with its
width narrowed toward the electric wire 79.
[0079] A connector fixing portion 80 is provided in the inside
space 73 of the cover main body 71. The connector fixing portion 80
serves to fix the connector 77. Body fixing segments 81 are
provided at the seating point of the body portion 77b of the
connector 77 in the inside space 73. The body fixing segments 81
for fixing the body portion 77b of the connector 77 are provided to
correspond to both sides of the body portion 77b, respectively.
[0080] Supporting portions 81s protruding in the upward direction
from the bottom face of the inside space 73 of the cover main body
71 are provided at the body fixing segments 81. The supporting
portions 81s are adhered to both sides of the leading end of the
connector 77, for supporting both sides of the body portion 77b of
the connector 77. Hooking portions 81f protruding toward the
connector 77 in the orthogonal directions to the protruding
directions of the supporting portions 81s are provided at the
leading ends of the supporting portions 81s. When the connector 77
is seated between the body fixing segments 81, the hooking portions
81f fix the connector 77 by compressing the top lace of the
connector 77.
[0081] Neck fixing segments 83 are provided at the seating point of
the neck portion 77n of the connector 77 in the connector fixing
portion 80. The neck fixing segments 83 support the neck portion
77n of the connector 77 to prevent the movement of the connector
77. The neck fixing segments 83 are provided to correspond to both
sides of the neck portion 77n. In order to fix both side faces of
the neck portion 77n of the connector 77, the neck fixing segments
83 correspond in shape to the neck portion 77n. The body fixing
segments 81 are made of an elastic material.
[0082] An auxiliary supporting segment 85 is provided between the
body fixing segments 81 and the neck fixing segments 83. The
auxiliary supporting segment 85 protrudes from the inside space 73
in the upward direction to contact one side face of the connector
77. The auxiliary supporting segment 85 auxiliarily supports the
connector 77 by supporting the one face of the connector 77,
[0083] Electric wire fixing segments 90 are provided at the seating
point of the electric wire 79 in the inside space 73. The electric
wire fixing segments 90 for supporting the electric wire 79 are
provided to correspond to both sides of the electric wire 79.
Circumference supporting portions 91 protruding from the inside
space 73 in the upward direction are provided at the electric wire
fixing segments 90. In order to support the circumference of the
electric wire 79, the middle ends of the circumference supporting
portions 91 are bent to correspond to the curved surface of the
electric wire 79. Accordingly, the width between the circumference
supporting portions 91 is equivalent to the width of the electric
wire 79. Separation preventing portions 93 are formed at the
leading ends of the circumference supporting portions 91. The
separation preventing portions 93 protrude from the leading ends of
the circumference supporting portions 91 toward the electric wire
79.
[0084] That is, the width between the separation preventing
portions 93 is relatively narrower than the width between the
circumference supporting portions 91. Therefore, when the electric
wire 79 is seated between the circumference supporting portions 91,
as the width between the separation preventing portions 93 provided
at the leading ends of the circumference supporting portions 91 is
relatively narrow, the electric wire 79 does not separate from the
electric wire fixing segments 90. The electric wire fixing segments
90 are also made of an elastic material.
[0085] A through hole 100 is formed to pass through the part of the
cover main body 71 in which the leading end of the connector 77 is
positioned. A relative connector passes through the through hole
100 and connects to the connector 77.
[0086] The operation of the hinge cover with the above
configuration according to the present invention will now be
explained in detail.
[0087] The connector 77 is positioned in the inside space 73 of the
cover main body 71. After the body portion 77b of the connector 77
is positioned between the body fixing segments 81, an external
force is applied to the connector 77 toward the inside space 73. As
the body fixing segments 81 are made of an elastic material, the
body portion 77b is elastically coupled between the body fixing
segments 81. Here, the hooking portions 81f of the body fixing
segments 81 are closely adhered to the top face of the connector
77, for fixing the body portion 77b. In addition, the neck portion
77n is seated between the neck fixing segments 83.
[0088] After the connector 77 is seated, the electric wire 79
connected to the connector 77 is positioned between the electric
wire fixing segments 90. An external force is applied to the
electric wire 79 toward the inside space 73. As the electric wire
fixing segments 90 are made of an elastic material, the electric
wire 79 is seated between the circumference supporting portions 91
of the electric wire fixing segments 90, and elastically coupled to
the electric wire fixing segments 90. Since the width between the
separation preventing portions 93 of the electric wire fixing
segments 90 is relatively narrower than the width between the
circumference supporting portions 91, the separation of the
electric wire 79 is prevented.
[0089] After the connector 77 and the electric wire 79 are fixed,
the other components of the hinge assembly are coupled inside the
hinge cover 70. Thereafter, the resulting structure is fixed to the
top lace of the refrigerator main body 1000.
[0090] When the user intends to transmit desired data to the
controller of the refrigerator, the user connects the relative
connector to the connector 77 through the through hole 100 formed
at the hinge cover 70. The controller senses the external
electronic recording medium, so that the data stored in the
external electronic recording medium are transmitted to the
controller. If the data transmitted to the controller are image
information, the image information is transmitted to the display
portion and displayed thereon.
[0091] FIG. 8 illustrates a part of a refrigerator in accordance
with another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9
illustrates a part of a refrigerator in accordance with yet another
embodiment of the present invention.
[0092] In the refrigerator according to another embodiment of the
present invention, as shown in FIG. 8, a freezing chamber door 102
and a refrigerating chamber door 104 are installed at a front face
of a refrigerator main body 1000 to be openable and closable by
hinge assemblies (not shown). The top ends of the front faces of
the freezing chamber door 102 and the refrigerating chamber door
104 are higher than the top end of the refrigerator main body 1000,
so that hinge covers H2 for covering the hinge assemblies are not
shown on the front face side of the refrigerator.
[0093] Any one of a speaker (120 in FIG. 5) and a connector (77 in
FIG. 7) can be installed inside the hinge cover H2. In addition,
the speaker (120 in FIG. 5) and the connector (77 in FIG. 7) can be
installed together inside the hinge cover H2. If the speaker (120
in FIG. 5) is installed inside the hinge cover H2, speaker holes
(120h in FIG. 4) are formed at the hinge cover H2. The detailed
configuration thereof has been described above.
[0094] In the refrigerator according to yet another embodiment of
the present invention, as depicted in FIG. 9, a freezing chamber
door 202 and a refrigerating chamber door 204 are installed at a
front face of a refrigerator main body 1000 to be openable and
closableby hinge assemblies (not shown). One hinge cover H3 for
covering the hinge assemblies is installed to cross the top feces
of the refrigerator main body 1000, the freezing chamber door 202
and the refrigerating chamber door 204 in the lateral
direction.
[0095] In the same manner, any one of a speaker (120 in FIG. 5) and
a connector (77 in FIG. 7) can be installed inside the hinge cover
H3. In addition, the speaker (120 in FIG. 5) and the connector (77
in FIG. 7) can be installed together inside the hinge cover H3. The
detailed configuration thereof has been described above.
[0096] The hinge cover H3 can be partitioned off into each hinge
assembly installation space A and each speaker installation space B
by a partition wall. If only a predetermined enclosure space is
needed according to capacities of the speakers, a separate space C
can be defined between the speaker installation spaces B.
[0097] In this case, the hinge cover H3 can be partitioned off into
A, B and C regions by the partition wall (122 in Fig, 5). The hinge
assembly (not shown) can be installed in A region, the speaker (120
in FIG. 5) can be installed in B region, and the connector (77 in
FIG. 7) can be installed in C region.
* * * * *