U.S. patent application number 12/926670 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-09 for refrigerator having door opening apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Jae Myung Han, Jae Hoon Lim.
Application Number | 20110132024 12/926670 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43821870 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110132024 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lim; Jae Hoon ; et
al. |
June 9, 2011 |
Refrigerator having door opening apparatus
Abstract
A refrigerator with a handle unit allows a user to open a door
with a small force. The refrigerator includes a main body including
upper and lower storage chambers, a pair of rotating first doors to
open and close the upper storage chamber, a second drawer type door
to open and close the lower storage chamber, a handle unit mounted
on the second door to slidably move in forward and backward
directions of the second door, push members moving forward and
backward in a direction of the rear surface of the second door, and
interlocking units provided between the handle unit and the push
members, wherein the interlocking units move the push members in
connection with the forward sliding movement of the handle unit to
separate the second door from the main body.
Inventors: |
Lim; Jae Hoon; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; Han; Jae Myung; (Gwangiu, KR) |
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
43821870 |
Appl. No.: |
12/926670 |
Filed: |
December 2, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/449 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E05B 17/0033 20130101;
F25D 25/025 20130101; F25D 23/028 20130101; F25D 2400/04
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/449 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/02 20060101
F25D023/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 8, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-121434 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator, comprising: a main body including an upper
storage chamber and a lower storage chamber provided under the
upper storage chamber, the upper and lower storage chambers divided
from each other; a pair of rotatable first doors to open and close
the upper storage chamber; a second drawer type door to open and
close the lower storage chamber; a handle unit mounted on the
second door in a horizontal direction to slidably move in forward
and backward directions of the second door; push members moving
forward and backward in a direction of a rear surface of the second
door; and interlocking units provided between the handle unit and
the push members to transmit moving force of the handle unit to the
push members, wherein the interlocking units move the push members
in the direction of the rear surface of the second door in
connection with the forward sliding movement of the handle unit to
pressurize the main body, and separate the second door from the
main body.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the handle unit
includes a grip part gripped by a user, and a pair of sliding
connection parts provided at both ends of the grip part and
connected to the second door to slidably move forward and
backward.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the second door
includes guide parts opened forward at positions corresponding to
the sliding connection parts to guide sliding movement of the
sliding connection parts.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the handle unit
further includes slots to prevent separation of the handle unit
from the second door during the sliding movement of the handle
unit.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the interlocking
units are rotated by the forward sliding movement of the handle
unit, and the push members slidably move backward toward the main
body by the rotation of the interlocking units.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein each of the
interlocking units includes a rotary shaft, a first rotating part
connected to each sliding connection part, and a second rotating
part formed at a position opposite to the first rotating part and
connected to each push member.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein each of the
interlocking units further includes an elastic member to return
each push member and the handle unit to backward movement positions
if external force applied to the handle unit is removed.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the elastic
member includes a coil spring connected to the rotary shaft.
9. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the second door
includes a front panel forming an external appearance of the second
door, and the front panel is provided with openings having four
closed surfaces corresponding to the sliding connection parts.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein a distance from
the rotary shaft to the first rotating part is longer than a
distance from the rotary shaft to the second rotating part.
11. The refrigerator according to claim 6, further comprising base
parts to rotatably fix the interlocking units, wherein each of the
base parts includes a slot to delimit a moving distance of the
second rotating part.
12. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein: the second door
further includes a door cap mounted on the upper surface of the
second door with exposed parts to mount the interlocking units and
covers to close the exposed parts, and regions of the second door
between the sliding connection parts and the covers are exposed by
the front panel.
13. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the handle unit
has a width corresponding to a width of the second door.
14. The refrigerator according to claim 6, further comprising
separation prevention pieces to fix the rotary shaft.
15. A refrigerator, comprising: a main body including storage
chambers; doors to open and close the storage chambers; a handle
unit horizontally mounted on an upper portion of one of the doors
to slidably move in forward and backward directions of the door;
and a pair of push members moving forward and backward toward an
upper edge of the door corresponding to both ends of the handle
unit to separate the door from the main body, wherein the pair of
push members pressurizes an edge of the main body in connection
with forward sliding movement of the handle unit to separate the
door from the main body, and the handle unit is elastically
returned to its initial state.
16. The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein: the storage
chambers include upper and lower storage chambers vertically
divided from each other; and the door with the handle unit mounted
thereon is a drawer-type door to slidably open and close the lower
storage chamber.
17. The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein the handle unit
includes a grip part gripped by a user, and a pair of sliding
connection parts provided at both ends of the grip part and
connected to the door to slidably move forward and backward.
18. The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein: the door
includes a front panel forming an external appearance of the door;
and the front panel is provided with openings having four closed
surfaces corresponding to the sliding connection parts.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2009-0121434, filed on Dec. 8, 2009 in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] Example embodiments relate to a refrigerator with a door
opening apparatus to allow a user to easily open a door of the
refrigerator.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In general, a refrigerator is an apparatus having a separate
cooling unit chamber provided in the rear of a freezing chamber, an
evaporator provided in the cooling unit chamber, and cool air
generated from the evaporator provided by operation of a compressor
which is forcibly supplied to the freezing chamber or a
refrigerating chamber. The cool air in the freezing chamber or the
refrigerating chamber is returned to the cooling unit chamber, to
freeze or refrigerate the corresponding chamber to maintain
freshness of food stored in the corresponding chamber for a long
time.
[0006] When a door of the freezing chamber or the refrigerating
chamber is opened for a designated time and then is closed in order
to put/take articles into/from the freezing chamber or the
refrigerating chamber, humid and warm external air from outside of
the freezing chamber or the refrigerating chamber is rapidly
introduced into the freezing chamber or the refrigerating
chamber.
[0007] The external air introduced into the freezing chamber or the
refrigerating chamber is rapidly cooled due to cool temperature
conditions within the freezing chamber or the refrigerating
chamber, and thus is reduced in volume and temporarily maintains a
pressure a little lower than the external atmospheric pressure
(hereinafter, referred to as "a negative pressure") for a
designated time.
[0008] Therefore, when opening the door the negative pressure is
generated in the freezing chamber or the refrigerating chamber, and
the door may be difficult to open without forcibly removing the
negative pressure.
[0009] Particularly, a French-type refrigerator, may have a
refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber disposed vertically,
may have a pair of hinge-type doors provided on the upper
refrigerating chamber and a drawer-type door may be provided on the
lower freezing chamber which has a larger width than the
refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber and also has a
larger size than a general refrigerator. This may cause greater
difficulty when opening of the freezing chamber due to weight of
the door, magnetic force of a gasket at the edge of the rear
surface of the door, weights of articles stored on racks, and a
pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the lower
freezing chamber.
SUMMARY
[0010] Therefore, it is an aspect of the example embodiments to
provide a refrigerator with a handle unit which allows a user to
open a door with a small force.
[0011] It is another aspect of the example embodiments to provide a
refrigerator having a plurality of push members mounted on a single
handle unit.
[0012] It is another aspect of the example embodiments to provide a
refrigerator with a handle unit having a structure with an
aesthetically pleasing external appearance of connection parts with
a door.
[0013] It is a further aspect of the example embodiments to provide
a refrigerator having a structure where push members move in
connection with forward movement of a handle unit.
[0014] The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing
a refrigerator, including a main body including an upper storage
chamber and a lower storage chamber provided under the upper
storage chamber, the upper and lower storage chambers divided from
each other, a pair of rotatable first doors to open and close the
upper storage chamber, a second drawer type door to open and close
the lower storage chamber, a handle unit mounted on the second door
in a horizontal direction to slidably move in forward and backward
directions of the second door, push members moving forward and
backward in a direction of a rear surface of the second door, and
interlocking units provided between the handle unit and the push
members to transmit moving force of the handle unit to the push
members, wherein the interlocking units move the push members in
the direction of the rear surface of the second door in connection
with the forward sliding movement of the handle unit to pressurize
the main body, and separate the second door from the main body.
[0015] The handle unit may include a grip part gripped by a user,
and a pair of sliding connection parts provided at both ends of the
grip part and connected to the second door to slidably move forward
and backward.
[0016] The second door may include guide parts opened forward at
positions corresponding to the sliding connection parts to guide
sliding movement of the sliding connection parts.
[0017] The handle unit may further include slots to prevent
separation of the handle unit from the second door during the
sliding movement of the handle unit.
[0018] The interlocking units may be rotated by the forward sliding
movement of the handle unit, and the push members may slidably move
backward toward the main body by the rotation of the interlocking
units.
[0019] Each of the interlocking units may include a rotary shaft, a
first rotating part connected to each sliding connection part, and
a second rotating part formed at a position opposite to the first
rotating part and connected to each push member.
[0020] Each of the interlocking units may further include an
elastic member to return each push member and the handle unit to
backward movement positions if external force applied to the handle
unit is removed.
[0021] The elastic member may include a coil spring connected to
the rotary shaft.
[0022] The second door may include a front panel forming an
external appearance of the second door, and the front panel may be
provided with openings having four closed surfaces corresponding to
the sliding connection parts.
[0023] A distance from the rotary shaft to the first rotating part
may be longer than a distance from the rotary shaft to the second
rotating part.
[0024] The refrigerator may further include base parts to rotatably
fix the interlocking units, and each of the base parts may include
a slot to delimit a moving distance of the second rotating
part.
[0025] The second door may further include a door cap mounted on
the upper surface of the second door with exposed parts to mount
the interlocking units and covers to close the exposed parts, and
regions of the second door between the sliding connection parts and
the covers may be exposed by the front panel.
[0026] The handle unit may have a width corresponding to a width of
the second door.
[0027] The refrigerator may further include separation prevention
pieces to fix the rotary shaft.
[0028] The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing
a refrigerator, including a main body including storage chambers,
doors to open and close the storage chambers, a handle unit
horizontally mounted on an upper portion of one of the doors to
slidably move in forward and backward directions of the door, and a
pair of push members moving forward and backward toward an upper
edge of the door corresponding to both ends of the handle unit to
separate the door from the main body, wherein the pair of push
members pressurizes an edge of the main body in connection with
forward sliding movement of the handle unit to separate the door
from the main body, and the handle unit is elastically returned to
its initial state.
[0029] The storage chambers may include upper and lower storage
chambers vertically divided from each other, and the door with the
handle unit mounted thereon may be a drawer-type door to slidably
open and close the lower storage chamber.
[0030] The handle unit may include a grip part gripped by a user,
and a pair of sliding connection parts provided at both ends of the
grip part and connected to the door to slidably move forward and
backward.
[0031] The door may include a front panel forming an external
appearance of the door, and the front panel may be provided with
openings having four closed surfaces corresponding to the sliding
connection parts.
[0032] Additional aspects, features, and/or advantages of
embodiments 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 disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] These and/or other aspects and advantages will become
apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings of which:
[0034] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic
external appearance of a refrigerator in accordance with example
embodiments;
[0035] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a door
and a handle unit of the refrigerator in accordance with example
embodiments;
[0036] FIGS. 3 and 4 are views illustrating an operating state of
the door of the refrigerator in accordance with example
embodiments;
[0037] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a door
and a handle unit of a refrigerator in accordance with example
embodiments; and
[0038] FIGS. 6 and 7 are views illustrating an operating state of
the door of the refrigerator of FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0039] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments,
examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements
throughout.
[0040] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic
external appearance of a refrigerator in accordance with example
embodiments, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
door and a handle unit of the refrigerator in accordance with
example embodiments, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are views illustrating an
operating state of the door of the refrigerator in accordance with
example embodiments.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 1, a refrigerator in accordance with
example embodiments includes a plurality of storage chambers 20,
30, and 40 vertically divided by insulating diaphragms 11 and 12,
and doors 51, 52, 60, and 70 provided on the front surfaces of the
storage chambers 20, 30, and 40 to open and close the respective
storage chambers 20, 30, and 40.
[0042] In the same manner as a general refrigerator, components
comprising a refrigerating cycle, such as a compressor (not shown),
a condenser (not shown), an expansion device (not shown), and an
evaporator (not shown), are provided in the refrigerator in
accordance with example embodiments.
[0043] The storage chambers 20, 30, and 40 may include an upper
storage chamber 20 provided above a first insulating diaphragm 11
through division using the first insulating diaphragm 11, a
variable chamber 30 provided through division using the first
insulating diaphragm 11 and a second insulating diaphragm 12 such
that the temperature in the variable chamber 30 is variable, and a
lower storage chamber 40 provided below the second insulating
diaphragm 12. The upper storage chamber 20 and the lower storage
chamber 40 may be variably used as a freezing chamber and a
refrigerating chamber, as needed by a user.
[0044] The example embodiments describe a French-type refrigerator,
i.e., a kind of a bottom mounted freezer (BMF) refrigerator in
which the lower storage chamber 40 may be a freezing chamber and
the upper storage chamber 20 may be a refrigerating chamber. The
French-type refrigerator may have a relatively larger width to
store wide articles, such as pizza, as compared with a side by side
refrigerator, a general BMF refrigerator, and a top mounted freezer
(TMF) refrigerator.
[0045] Although example embodiments describe a structure of the
refrigerator including three divided storage chambers, the
refrigerator may include only two divided storage chambers, i.e.,
an upper storage chamber and a lower storage chamber.
[0046] Racks 21 to receive food to be stored in a refrigerated
state may be installed in the upper storage chamber 20 and
separated from each other by a designated interval, and receipt
drawers 61 and 71 to receive food may be integrally connected to
doors 60 and 70 of the variable chamber 30 and the lower storage
chamber 40.
[0047] A pair of doors 51 and 52 horizontally rotatable may be
provided in front of the upper storage chamber 20.
[0048] The doors 60 and 70 to open and close the variable chamber
30 and the lower storage chamber 40 may be respectively provided in
front of the variable chamber 30 and the lower storage chamber 40.
Since the doors 60 and 70 may be a drawer type to slidably open and
close the variable chamber 30 and the lower storage chamber 40,
when the doors 60 and 70 are opened, the receipt drawers 61 and 71
formed integrally with the doors 60 and 70 may be taken out.
[0049] Since each of the variable chamber 30 and the lower storage
chamber 40 may have the single door 60 or 70, a strong force may be
required to open the door 60 or 70 of the variable chamber 30 and
the lower storage chamber 40 because of magnetic force of a gasket
75 (with reference to FIG. 3) at the edge of the rear surface of
the door 60 or 70, weights of the door 60 or 70 and the receipt
drawer 61 or 71, weight of food stored in the receipt drawer 61 of
71, and a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the
variable chamber 60 or the lower storage chamber 70.
[0050] In order to solve the above problem, the refrigerator in
accordance with the example embodiments may include a door opening
apparatus to easily open the door 60 or 70 of the variable chamber
30 or the lower storage chamber 40.
[0051] The door opening apparatus may be provided on each of the
variable chamber 30 and the lower storage chamber 40, or may be
provided on any one of the variable chamber 30 and the lower
storage chamber 40 as needed.
[0052] The door opening apparatuses respectively provided on the
variable chamber 30 and the lower storage chamber 40 may have the
same structure. Therefore, only the door opening apparatus provided
on the lower storage chamber 40 will be described hereinafter, and
a description of the door opening apparatus provided on the
variable chamber 30 will be omitted.
[0053] As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the refrigerator in accordance
with the example embodiments may include the second door 70 to open
and close the lower storage chamber 40 in a sliding manner, a
handle unit 80 on the upper portion of the second door 70 in the
horizontal direction movable forward and backward, push members 90
rectilinearly moving in a direction of the rear surface of the
second door 70 in connection with the forward movement of the
handle unit 80, and interlocking units 100 provided between the
handle unit 80 and the push members 90 to transmit moving force of
the handle unit 80 to the push members 90.
[0054] The receipt drawer 71 to receive articles to be stored may
be formed integrally with the rear surface of the second door 70 to
slide according to the forward and backward movement of the second
door 70, and the gasket 75 in which a magnet 75a is received may be
disposed along the edge of the rear surface of the second door 70
to prevent leakage of cool air from the lower storage chamber 40
and to improve hermetic sealing of the lower storage chamber
40.
[0055] Sliding rails 41 to guide smooth sliding of the second door
70 may be provided on both side surfaces of the receipt drawer
71.
[0056] A front panel 72 forming the external appearance of the
second door 70 may be mounted on the front surface of the second
door 70, and a door cap 73 may be mounted on the upper surface of
the second door 70.
[0057] The front panel 72 may provide an aesthetically pleasing
external appearance of the second door 70, and may be made of
tempered glass, resin, and metal. In the example embodiments, the
front panel 72 may be made of a metal plate.
[0058] Receipt parts 73a to mount the respective components of the
door opening apparatus, such as the handle unit 80, the
interlocking units 100, and the push members 90, and guide parts
73b to guide forward and backward sliding of sliding connection
parts 82, which will be described later, may be formed on the door
cap 73.
[0059] The front panel 72 may be provided with openings having a
size corresponding to the guide parts 73b. The sliding connection
parts 82 of the handle unit 80 are received in the guide parts 73b
through the openings, and may be mounted to be slidable forward and
backward.
[0060] The handle unit 80 may be mounted on the upper portion of
the front surface of the second door 70 allowing a user to easily
grip the handle unit 80 to move the second door 70 forward and
backward.
[0061] The handle unit 80 may include a grip part 81 gripped by a
user, a pair of sliding connection parts 82 provided at both ends
of the grip part 81 and connected to the second door 70 to be
slidable forward and backward, and pressure parts 83 connected to
the rear surfaces of the sliding connection parts 82 to transmit
force to the interlocking units 100.
[0062] The handle unit 80 may be substantially parallel and
disposed on the upper edge of the second door 70.
[0063] The grip part 81 may be formed at a width which is
substantially equal to the width of the second door 70 or may be
smaller than the width of the second door 70 by a designated
length, thereby allowing a user to grasp a wide area of the grip
part 81.
[0064] The sliding connection parts 82 may protrude from both ends
of the grip part 81 in a direction of the second door 70, and
connect the handle unit 80 to the second door 70 so that the handle
unit 80 may be slidably moved forward and backward relative to the
second door 70.
[0065] The guide parts 73b opened forward corresponding to the
sliding connection parts 82 may be formed on the second door 70.
The guide parts 73b receive the sliding connection parts 82, and
guide sliding movement of the sliding connection parts 82. In
example embodiments, the guide parts 73b may be formed on the door
cap 73 of the second door 70.
[0066] The pressure parts 83 may move forward and backward
according to the forward and backward sliding movement of the
sliding connection parts 82. Each of the pressure parts 83 may
include a connection plane 83a screw-connected to the sliding
connection part 82, a bent plane 83b bent forward from the
connection plane 83a and extended, and an opening 83c formed on the
bent plane 83b to receive a front end of a first rotating part 103
of the interlocking unit 100, which will be described later.
[0067] The first rotating part 103 may be mounted and inserted into
the pressure part 83. Therefore, when a user grasps the grip part
81 and pulls the handle part 80 forward, the sliding connection
parts 82 slide forward along the guide parts 73b, and the first
rotating parts 103 may be inserted into the openings 83c of the
pressure parts 83 which may be pressurized by movement of the
pressure parts 83, thereby rotating the interlocking units 100.
[0068] Each of the interlocking units 100 may include a rotary
shaft 101. The first rotating part 103 may be extended from one end
of the rotary shaft 101 and connected to the pressure part 83, and
a second rotating part 105 may be extended from the other end of
the rotary shaft 101 opposite to the first rotating part 103 and
connected to the push member 90.
[0069] The first rotating part 103 of the interlocking unit 100 may
be connected to the pressure part 83, and when a user grasps the
grip part 81 and pulls the handle unit 80 forward, the pressure
part 83 may rotate the interlocking unit 100 and cause the push
member 90 connected to the second rotating part 105 to slide
forward in a direction of the lower storage chamber 40.
[0070] The end of the first rotating part 103 may be bent downward
and inserted into the opening 83c of the pressure part 83.
[0071] When the pressure part 83 moves forward, the pressure part
83 and the first rotating part 103 reciprocally slidably contact
each other to rotate the interlocking unit 100 according to forward
and backward movement of the pressure part 83, and the first
rotating part 103 slides relative to the pressure part 83 and is
rotated.
[0072] The interlocking unit 100 further includes an elastic member
107 to return the handle unit 80 to its original position when
external force is removed.
[0073] For example, the elastic member 107 may be provided in the
shape of a coil spring and be connected to the rotary shaft 101, as
shown in FIG. 2.
[0074] One end of the coil spring 107 may be fixed to one end of
the receipt part 73a of the door cap 73, and the other end of the
elastic member 107 may be fixed to the interlocking unit 100. Thus,
the coil spring 107 may provide elastic force to pressurize the
interlocking unit 100 in a direction A.
[0075] Therefore, when a user grasps the grip part 81 and pulls the
handle unit 80 forward, the interlocking units 100 may be rotated
in a direction B by the pressure parts 83 and the elastic member
107 may be elastically compressed. When the user releases the grip
part 81, i.e., when external force applied to the handle unit 80 is
removed, the interlocking units 100 may be rotated in the direction
A by restoring force of the elastic member 107, and the grip part
81 slides backward, thereby returning the handle unit 80 to its
original position.
[0076] A receipt groove (not shown) corresponding to the rotary
shaft 101 may be formed on the receipt part 73a of the door cap 73,
and separation prevention pieces 109 surrounding the rotary shaft
101 to firmly fix the rotary shaft 101 may be connected to the
receipt groove.
[0077] The push members 90 are slidably provided on the upper
surface of the second door 70, and serve to pressurize the edge of
the main body 10, i.e., the front surface of the second insulating
diaphragm 12 to separate the second door 70 from the main body
10.
[0078] An arc-shaped first contact part 91 corresponding to the
second rotating part 105 is formed at one end of the push member
90, and a second contact part 93 to transmit the pressurizing force
of the pressure part 83 to the main body 10 may be formed at the
other end of the push member 90.
[0079] Slots 73c are formed on the upper surface of the second door
70, for example, on the door cap 73, to slidably move the push
members 90.
[0080] The receipt parts 73a exposed to the outside to obtain
working spaces to assemble the handle unit 80, the interlocking
units 100, and the push members 90 with the upper surface of the
second door 70 may be formed on the door cap 73, and covers 110 to
cover assembly portions of the push members 90, the elastic member
107, and the handle unit 80 may be mounted on the door cap 73.
[0081] In the example embodiments, the handle unit 80 only moves
forward and backward and only regions of the front panel 72
corresponding to the sliding connection parts 82 may be opened.
Front surface regions of the second door 70 except for the sliding
connection parts 82 may be covered with one front panel 72.
Therefore, connection portions of the front surface of the door 70
exposed to the user with a different material may be minimized,
thereby improving the aesthetically pleasing external appearance of
the door 70.
[0082] Next, an assembly procedure of the handle unit of the
refrigerator in accordance with example embodiments will be
described.
[0083] The door cap 73 provided with the receipt parts 73a to
receive the respective components may be connected to the front
surface of the second door 70, and the push members 90 connected to
the interlocking units 100 may be mounted on the receipt parts 73a
of the door cap 73. The second contact parts 93 of the push members
90 may protrude from the rear surface of the second door 70 through
the slots 73c.
[0084] Thereafter, the handle unit 80 connected with the pressure
parts 83 may slide and connect to receipt spaces through the guide
parts 73b, and the interlocking units 100 may be rotatably fixed to
the receipt parts 73a using the separation prevention pieces
109.
[0085] Thereafter, the covers 110 may be mounted on the door cap
73, completing installation of the door opening apparatus on the
door 70.
[0086] Next, operation of the refrigerator in accordance with
example embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and
4.
[0087] If the lower storage chamber 40 of the refrigerator in
accordance with example embodiments is opened, when the grip part
81 is moved forward, the sliding connection parts 82 may slide
forward and the pressure parts 83 connected to the sliding
connection parts 82 may pressurize the first rotating parts 103,
thereby rotating the interlocking units 100 in the direction B.
When the interlocking units 100 are rotated in the direction B, the
second rotating parts 105 may pressurize the push members 90, and
the pressurized push members 90 may rectilinearly move and
pressurize the upper edge of the lower storage chamber 40, i.e.,
the front surface of the second insulating diaphragm 12.
[0088] The second door 70 is separated from the main body 10 by a
designated distance because of the above pressurizing force. Then,
pressure equilibrium between the inside and the outside of the
lower storage chamber 40 may be achieved and by weakening
connecting force of the second door 70 with the main body 10
because of magnetic force of the gasket 75, thereby enabling the
second door 70 to be easily slidably opened.
[0089] Therefore, if the second door 70 of the lower storage
chamber 40 having a heavy weight is opened, a user may allow a pair
of the push members 90 to pressurize the main body 10 through
movement only in one direction, i.e., grasping and moving of the
grip part 81 forwards, thereby easily opening the second door 70
with small or minimal movement and force.
[0090] Thereafter, when the user releases the grip part 81 and
external force applied to the handle unit 80 is removed, the
interlocking units 100 may be rotated in the direction A by the
elastic members 107 connected to the interlocking units 100. When
the first rotating parts 103 are rotated by the rotation of the
interlocking units 100, the pressure parts 83 connected to the
first rotating parts 103 may rectilinearly move backward according
to the rotation of the first rotating parts 103. The sliding
connection parts 82 connected to the pressure parts 83 and the grip
part 81 connected to the sliding connection parts 82 may slide
toward the second door 70, and are returned to their initial
state.
[0091] Simultaneously, the push members 90 may slide backward
according to the rotation of the interlocking units 100, and are
returned to their initial state.
[0092] Next, a refrigerator in accordance with example embodiments
will be described.
[0093] Some parts, which are substantially the same as those in the
example embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, are
denoted by the same reference numerals even though they are
depicted in different drawings, and a detailed description thereof
will thus be omitted because it is considered to be
unnecessary.
[0094] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a door
and a handle unit of the refrigerator in accordance with example
embodiments, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are views illustrating an operating
state of the door of the refrigerator in accordance with example
embodiments.
[0095] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the refrigerator in accordance
with example embodiments may include a second door 70 to open and
close a lower storage chamber 40 in a sliding manner, a handle unit
80 disposed on the upper portion of the second door 70 in the
horizontal direction movable forward and backward, push members 190
rectilinearly moving in a direction of the rear surface of the
second door 70 in connection with the forward movement of the
handle unit 80, and interlocking units 200 provided between the
handle unit 80 and the push members 190 to transmit moving force of
the handle unit 80 to the push members 190.
[0096] A door cap 73 may include receipt parts 73a, each receiving
respective components of a door opening apparatus, such as the
handle unit 80, the interlocking unit 200 and the push member 190,
and guide parts 73b to guide forward and backward sliding of
sliding connection parts 82, which will be described later.
[0097] Pressure parts 183 of the handle unit 80 may be
screw-connected to the sliding connection parts 82. Each of the
pressure parts 183 may include a first connection plane 183a
connected to the sliding connection part 82, an extension plane
183b bent perpendicularly from the first connection plane 183a, and
a second connection plane 183c bent perpendicularly forward from
the expansion plane 183b.
[0098] Therefore, the pressure parts 183 may move forward and
backward according to operation of the handle unit 80.
[0099] The interlocking units 200 may serve to transmit moving
force of the pressure parts 183 to the push members 190, and are
provided in the shape of link members.
[0100] The refrigerator in accordance with example embodiments may
further include base parts 120 to fix the interlocking units 200 to
the receipt parts 73a.
[0101] The base parts 120 may be fixed to the receipt parts 73a of
the door cap 73. Each of the base parts 120 may be provided with a
rotary shaft 121 protruding upwardly, and a slot 123 formed at a
position separated from the rotary shaft 121 to delimit a forward
and backward moving distance of the push member 190.
[0102] The interlocking unit 200 may be connected to the rotary
shaft 121 at a middle portion thereof, and one end of the
interlocking unit 200 may be rotatably link-connected to the second
connection plane 183c and the other end of the interlocking unit
200 may be link-connected to the push member 190.
[0103] Further, the interlocking unit 200 may include an elastic
member 207 to return the handle unit 80 to its original position
when external force is removed.
[0104] For example, the elastic member 207 may be provided in the
shape of a coil spring and be connected to the rotary shaft
121.
[0105] One end of the elastic member 207 may be fixed to the base
part 120 and the other end of the elastic member 207 may be fixed
to the interlocking unit 200. The elastic member 207 may provide
elastic force to pressurize the interlocking unit 200 in a
direction C.
[0106] Therefore, when a user grasps the grip part 81 and pulls the
handle unit 80 forward, the interlocking units 200 may be rotated
in a direction D by the pressure parts 183 and the elastic member
207 may be elastically compressed. When the user releases the grip
part 81, i.e., when external force applied to the handle unit 80 is
removed, the interlocking units 200 may be rotated in the direction
C by restoring force of the elastic member 207, and the grip part
81 may slides backward, thereby returning the handle unit 80 to its
original state.
[0107] The push members 190 may be slidably provided on the upper
surface of the second door 70, and serve to pressurize the edge of
the main body 10, i.e., the front surface of the second insulating
diaphragm 12 to separate the second door 70 from the main body
10.
[0108] A first contact part 191 connected with the other end of the
interlocking unit 200 may be formed at one end of the push member
190, and a second contact part 192 to transmit rotating force of
the interlocking unit 200 to the main body 10 may be formed at the
other end of the push member 190.
[0109] Slots 73c may be formed on the upper surface of the second
door 70, for example, on the door cap 73 to slidably move the push
member 190, in the same manner as the example embodiments shown in
FIGS. 1 to 4.
[0110] In the same manner as the example embodiments shown in FIGS.
1 to 4, the handle unit 80 only moves forward and backward, and
only regions of the front panel 72 corresponding to the sliding
connection parts 82 are opened and front surface regions of the
second door 70 except for the sliding connection parts 82 are
covered with one front panel 72. Therefore, connection portions of
the front surface of the door 70 exposed to the user with a
different material may be minimized, thereby improving the
aesthetically pleasing external appearance of the door 70.
[0111] Next, operation of the refrigerator in accordance with
example embodiments will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and
7.
[0112] If the lower storage chamber 40 of the refrigerator in
accordance with example embodiments is opened, when the grip part
81 is moved forward, the sliding connection parts 82 may slide
forward in the guide parts 73b and the pressure parts 183 connected
to the sliding connection parts 82 pull ends of the interlocking
units 200, thereby rotating the interlocking units 200 in the
direction D. When the interlocking units 200 are rotated in the
direction D, the push members 190 connected to the other ends of
the interlocking units 200 may move along the slots 73c and
rectilinearly move toward the upper edge of the lower storage
chamber 40, i.e., the front surface of the second insulating
diaphragm 12, thereby pressurizing the second insulating diaphragm
12.
[0113] The second door 70 may be separated from the main body 10 by
a designated distance because of the above pressurizing force.
Then, pressure equilibrium between the inside and the outside of
the lower storage chamber 40 may be achieved weakening connecting
force of the second door 70 with the main body 10 due to magnetic
force of the gasket 75, thereby enabling the second door 70 to be
easily slidably opened.
[0114] Therefore, if the second door 70 of the lower storage
chamber 40 having a heavy weight is opened, a user may allow a pair
of the push members 190 to pressurize the main body 10 through
movement only in one direction, i.e., grasping and moving of the
grip part 81 forward, in the same manner as example embodiments
shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, thereby easily opening the second door 70
with small or minimal movement and force.
[0115] Thereafter, when the user releases the grip part 81 and
external force applied to the handle unit 80 is removed, the
interlocking units 200 may be rotated in the direction C by the
elastic member 207. When the interlocking units 200 are rotated,
the push members 190 are pulled and returned to their initial
positions, and the pressure parts 183 are pulled in the opposite
direction and the sliding connection parts 82 connected to the
pressure parts 183 and the grip part 81 connected to the sliding
connection parts 82 may slide toward the second door 70, and are
returned to their initial state.
[0116] As is apparent from the above description, a refrigerator in
accordance with example embodiments may cause a handle unit to move
forward move push members backward, thereby reducing malfunction of
a door, and which may be easily opened even when used over a long
period of time.
[0117] Further, the refrigerator in accordance with example
embodiments may include a plurality of push members operated
through only forward movement of the handle unit, thereby allowing
smooth opening and closing of the heavy-weight door with simple
operation and small or minimal force.
[0118] Moreover, in the refrigerator in accordance with example
embodiments, the handle unit only moves forwards and backward, and
only regions of a front panel corresponding to sliding connection
parts may be opened and front surface regions of the door except
for the sliding connection parts may be covered with one front
panel. Therefore, connection portions of the front surface of the
door exposed to the user with a different material are minimized,
thereby improving the aesthetically pleasing external appearance of
the door.
[0119] Although example embodiments have been shown and described,
it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes
may be made in these embodiments without departing from the
principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is
defined in the claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *