U.S. patent application number 13/265556 was filed with the patent office on 2012-02-23 for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Jung Yeon Hwang, Sung-Eun Kim, Su-Won Lee.
Application Number | 20120042684 13/265556 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43085169 |
Filed Date | 2012-02-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120042684 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Su-Won ; et
al. |
February 23, 2012 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
The embodiment relates to a refrigerator. The refrigerator
allows a user to easily draw in and out foods stored in a storage
chamber.
Inventors: |
Lee; Su-Won;
(Gyeongsangnam-do, KR) ; Hwang; Jung Yeon;
(Gyeongsangnam-do, KR) ; Kim; Sung-Eun;
(Gyeongsangnam-do, KR) |
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
43085169 |
Appl. No.: |
13/265556 |
Filed: |
September 3, 2009 |
PCT Filed: |
September 3, 2009 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR2009/004964 |
371 Date: |
October 21, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/465 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 25/027 20130101;
F25D 25/025 20130101; F25D 23/02 20130101; F25D 2323/023
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/465 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/00 20060101
F25D023/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 12, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0041053 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator, comprising: a main body having a storage
chamber; a basket that is selectively positioned in the storage
chamber and slidably provided in the main body in the front and
rear direction; a main door that is connected to the basket and
moves together with the basket; a sub-door that is rotatably
connected to the main door to open and close a part of the storage
chamber; and a receiving member that is joined to the sub-door, and
is drawn out from the storage chamber while moving together with
the sub-door when the sub-door is opened.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the sub-door
horizontally rotates around a vertical central axis.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the storage
chamber is a freezing chamber and the main door is a freezing
chamber door.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein an opening
portion through which the receiving member passes is formed in the
basket and the receiving member is selectively positioned in the
basket through the opening portion.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the receiving
member is positioned outside of the basket in a state where the
sub-door is closed.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a vertical height
of the sub-door is the same as a vertical height of the main door.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The embodiment relates to a refrigerator.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] In general, a refrigerator is an apparatus that stores foods
in a low-temperature state.
[0005] The refrigerator includes a main body having a storage
chamber and a door that is movably connected to the main body to
open and close the storage chamber.
[0006] The storage chamber can be partitioned into, for example, a
refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber. The door includes a
refrigerating chamber door that opens and closes the refrigerating
chamber and a freezing chamber door that opens and closes the
freezing chamber.
[0007] Therefore, a user should open the freezing chamber door or
the refrigerating chamber door so as to draw out foods stored in
the refrigerating chamber or the freezing chamber.
SUMMARY
[0008] It is an object of an embodiment to provide a refrigerator
that allows a user to draw out foods stored in a storage chamber
with small power.
[0009] According to an aspect, a refrigerator includes: a main body
having a storage chamber; a main door that is movably connected to
the main body to open and close the storage chamber; a sub-door
that is rotatably connected to the main door to open and close a
part of the storage chamber; and a receiving member that is joined
to the sub-door, and is drawn out from the storage chamber while
moving together with the sub-door when the sub-door is opened.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to
a first embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a partial exploded perspective view of a
refrigerator according to a first embodiment;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a state where a
sub-door is opened according to a first embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a state where a
sub-door is closed according to a first embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to
a second embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a state where a sub-door is
opened according to a second embodiment; and
[0016] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to
a third embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to
a first embodiment and FIG. 2 is a partial exploded perspective
view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the refrigerator 10 according to
the embodiment includes a main body 100 having a storage chamber
and a door that is movably joined to the main body 100, and opens
and closes the storage chamber.
[0020] The storage chamber includes a refrigerating chamber 200 and
a freezing chamber 300 that is positioned below the refrigerating
chamber 200 and is partitioned from the refrigerating chamber
200.
[0021] The door includes a plurality of refrigerating chamber doors
210 and 220 for opening and closing the refrigerating chamber 200
and a freezing chamber door 320 for opening and closing the
freezing chamber 300.
[0022] The plurality of freezing doors 210 and 220 is rotatably
connected to the main body 100 by a hinge assembly 230.
[0023] The freezing door 320 is slidably connected to the main body
100 by a rail assembly 400 provided in the main body 100.
[0024] A basket 360 for receiving foods is joined onto a rear
surface of the freezing chamber door 320. The basket 360 connected
to the rear surface of the freezing chamber door 320 is connected
to the rail assembly 400. The rail assembly 400 includes a rail
unit 410 of which the length is adjustable in the front and rear
direction of the refrigerator 10 and a joining unit 420 that is
provided on a front surface of the rail unit 410 and joined onto
the rear surface of the freezing chamber door 320.
[0025] Meanwhile, a sub-door 340 that allows a user to draw out
foods stored in the freezing chamber 300 without opening the
freezing chamber door is provided in the freezing chamber door
320.
[0026] Therefore, when the freezing chamber door 320 is opened, all
foods received in the basket 360 are drawn out from the freezing
chamber 300.
[0027] In contrast, when the sub-door 340 is opened, some foods
received in the basket 360 can be drawn out from the freezing
chamber 300.
[0028] Accordingly, in the embodiment, the freezing chamber door
320 itself may be referred to as a main door.
[0029] The sub-door 340 can be rotatably connected to the freezing
chamber door 320 by, for example, the hinge assembly. The hinge
assembly can include a hinge bracket 350 fixed onto the top and the
bottom of the freezing chamber door 340 and a hinge shaft 352
providing a rotation center of the sub-door 340.
[0030] A vertical length of the sub-door 340 can be the same as a
vertical length of the freezing chamber door 320. Accordingly, the
integrity of the sub-door 340 and the freezing chamber door 320 can
be increased.
[0031] In addition, a holder 322 for holding the sub-door 340 is
recessed at a part of the front surface of the freezing chamber
door 320. Therefore, the front and rear direction of the freezing
door 320 can be maintained the same in left and right directions in
a state where the sub-door 340 is joined by the holder 322.
[0032] A main door groove 321 and a sub-door groove 342 for
providing a handle are formed on the top of the freezing chamber
door 320 and the top of the sub-door 340. In contrast, an
additional handle can be joined to each of the freezing chamber
door 320 and the sub-door 340.
[0033] Therefore, when the freezing chamber door 320 is pulled in a
state where the hand is put in the main door groove 321, the
freezing chamber door 320 is opened together with the sub-door 340.
In contrast, when the sub-door 340 is pulled in a state where the
hand is put in the sub-door groove 342, only the sub-door 340 is
opened in a state where the freezing chamber door 320 is
closed.
[0034] Meanwhile, an inner space of the basket 360 can be
partitioned into a plurality of spaces by a partitioning part 362.
For example, the inner space of the basket 360 can be divided into
a left space and a right space by the partitioning part 362.
[0035] In addition, an opening portion 364 for allowing the foods
to be drawn in and out is formed on a front surface of the basket
360.
[0036] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a state where a
sub-door is opened according to a first embodiment and FIG. 4 is a
partial perspective view of a state where a sub-door is closed
according to a first embodiment.
[0037] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a receiving member 370 for
receiving the foods is provided on a rear surface of the sub-door
340. Although not shown, the receiving member 370 can be removably
joined to, for example, the sub-door 340 by a hook scheme.
[0038] Accordingly, the receiving member 370 can rotate with the
sub-door 340.
[0039] In the embodiment, when the sub-door 340 rotates, the
sub-door 340 rotates together with the receiving member 370.
Therefore, the rotation center of the sub-door 340 extends in the
upper and lower direction of the refrigerator in order to prevent
shaking or falling-down of the foods while the receiving member 370
rotates. That is, the sub-door 340 and the receiving member 370
horizontally rotate.
[0040] A sealer 346 for preventing cool air from being leaked can
be provided on the rear surface of the sub-door 340. In addition, a
magnet (not shown) for joining the sub-door 340 and the freezing
chamber door 320 to each other can be provided in the sealer
346.
[0041] In addition, an opening portion 326 providing a space in
which the receiving member 370 can move while the sub-door 340 is
opened and closed is formed in the freezing chamber door 320.
[0042] The receiving member 370 includes a joining unit 371 joined
to the rear surface of the sub-door 340, an extension unit 372
substantially vertically extending from the joining unit 371, one
or more support unit 374 for supporting the foods, and a connection
unit 373 for preventing the foods from being dropped by connecting
the joining unit 371 and the extension unit 372 to each other.
[0043] In addition, in order to prevent interferences of the
receiving member 370, the freezing chamber door 320, and the basket
360 while the sub-door 340 is opened and closed, vertical lengths
and horizontal lengths of the extension unit 372 and the joining
unit 371 are smaller than vertical lengths and horizontal lengths
of the opening portions 326 and 364, respectively.
[0044] Further, in order to prevent interferences of the connection
unit 373, the freezing chamber door 320, and the basket 360 while
the sub-door 340 is opened and closed, the connection unit 373 may
have a round shape.
[0045] Therefore, when viewed from the upper side of the receiving
member 370, the receiving member 370 can have a fanwise shape
having an angel of approximately 90 degrees.
[0046] Of course, the shape of the receiving member 370 described
above is exemplary and as long as the receiving member 370 does not
interfere with the basket and the freezing chamber door in a state
where the receiving member 370 is joined to the sub-door, the shape
of the receiving member is not limited.
[0047] Therefore, referring to FIG. 4, the receiving member 370 is
positioned in the basket 360 by passing through the opening portion
326 of the freezing chamber door 320 and the opening portion 364 of
the basket 360 in a state where the sub-door 340 is closed. For
example, the receiving member may be positioned at a left space of
the basket 360.
[0048] In contrast, referring to FIG. 3, the receiving member 370
positioned in the basket 360 is drawn out from the refrigerating
chamber (or freezing chamber) together with the sub-door 340 by
passing through the opening portions 326 and 364 in a state where
the sub-door 340 is opened.
[0049] For example, frequently used foods, foods for children, etc.
can be received in the receiving member 370. In this case, since
the user can draw out desired foods by opening the sub-door 340
without opening the freezing chamber door 320, user convenience is
improved.
[0050] That is, since power for opening the sub-door 340 is smaller
than power for opening the freezing chamber door 320, the user can
draw out the foods stored in the freezing chamber (or basket) with
small power.
[0051] Further, since the receiving member 370 is joined onto the
rear surface of the sub-door 340, the foods received in the
receiving member 370 may be drawn out from the freezing chamber (or
basket) at the time of opening the sub-door 340. As a result, the
user needs not to draw out the foods by putting his/her hand into
the opening portions 326 and 364.
[0052] Moreover, since the freezing chamber door 320 is positioned
below the refrigerating chamber doors 210 and 220, the height of
the sub-door 340 from the bottom of the refrigerator 10 is
decreased, such that the children can easily open and close the
sub-door 340.
[0053] In the embodiment, the receiving member 370 is positioned in
the basket 360 by passing through the opening portion 364 of the
basket 360 in the state where the sub-door 340 is closed.
[0054] Unlike this, an avoidance space is formed in the basket 360
as large as the shape of the receiving member 370, such that the
receiving member 370 maybe positioned outside of the basket 360 in
the state where the sub-door 340 is closed. Of course, even in this
case, the foods received in the receiving member 370 can be cooled
by the cool air of the freezing chamber 300.
[0055] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to
a second embodiment and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a state
where a sub-door is opened according to a second embodiment .
[0056] Most elements of the embodiment are the same as those of the
first embodiment . However, the embodiment is different from the
first embodiment in the shape and joining scheme of the sub-door.
Therefore, hereinafter, only specific elements of the embodiment
will be described and the same elements as the first embodiment
refer to the descriptions and reference numerals of the first
embodiment.
[0057] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a sub-door 540 of the embodiment
is provided in the freezing chamber door 320 to be horizontally
rotatable. In addition, a vertical length of the sub-door 540 is
smaller than the vertical length of the freezing chamber door
320.
[0058] A hinge shaft 542 is connected to the top and the bottom of
the sub-door 540 so as to horizontally rotate the sub-door 540.
[0059] In addition, a latch hook 544 for joining the sub-door 540
to the freezing chamber door 320 is formed on the rear surface of
the sub-door 540 and a latch slot 546 for joining the latch hook
544 is formed in the freezing chamber door 320.
[0060] Since structures of the latch hook 544 and the latch slot
546 can use the known structures, a detailed description thereof
will be omitted.
[0061] Therefore, when a front surface of the sub-door 540
corresponding to a part where the latch hook 544 is formed is
pressed in a state where the sub-door 540 is closed, the latch hook
544 and the latch slot 546 are disjoined from each other, such that
the sub-door 540 is opened. In contrast, when the sub-door 540 is
closed by rotation, the latch hook 544 and the latch slot 546 are
joined to each other.
[0062] According to the embodiment, since the user presses the
sub-door just once in order to open the sub-door 540, the user
convenience is improved.
[0063] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to
a third embodiment.
[0064] Most elements of the embodiment are the same as those of the
third embodiment. However, the embodiment is different from the
third embodiment in the type of refrigerator.
[0065] Referring to FIG. 7, the refrigerator 60 according to the
embodiment includes a main body 600 that is formed by horizontally
partitioning a freezing chamber (not shown) and a refrigerating
chamber (not shown), and a freezing chamber door 620 and a
refrigerating chamber door 610 for opening and closing the freezing
chamber and the refrigerating chamber, respectively.
[0066] In addition, a sub-door 630 having the same structure and
rotation scheme as the first embodiment or the second embodiment is
provided in the freezing chamber door 620. For example, the
sub-door 630 having the same structure as the second embodiment is
shown in FIG. 7.
[0067] In the embodiment, since the freezing chamber door 620 and
the refrigeration door 610 are horizontally disposed, the sub-door
630 is disposed in the freezing chamber door 620 so that a height
H2 to the center of the sub-door 630 is smaller than a height H1 to
the center of the freezing chamber door 620 in order to allow the
user, particularly, the children to easily open the sub-door
630.
[0068] According to a proposed embodiment, as an additional
sub-door is provided in a freezing chamber door, a user can draw
out desired foods by opening the sub-door without opening the
freezing chamber door, thereby improving user convenience.
[0069] Further, since a receiving member is joined onto a rear
surface of the sub-door, foods received in the receiving member may
be drawn out from the freezing chamber (or basket) at the time of
opening the sub-door. As a result, the user needs not to draw out
the foods by putting his/her hand into an opening portion.
[0070] In addition, since the sub-door horizontally rotates around
a rotation center extending in a horizontal direction of the
refrigerator, it is possible to minimize shaking and falling-down
of the foods while the sub-door and the receiving member
rotate.
* * * * *