U.S. patent application number 13/389644 was filed with the patent office on 2012-06-07 for refrigerator having cooling air leakage preventing member.
Invention is credited to Youngnam Kim.
Application Number | 20120137722 13/389644 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43796386 |
Filed Date | 2012-06-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120137722 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Youngnam |
June 7, 2012 |
REFRIGERATOR HAVING COOLING AIR LEAKAGE PREVENTING MEMBER
Abstract
Disclosed is a refrigerator having a cooling air leakage
preventing member, the refrigerator including refrigerator a
cabinet providing a storage space, a pair of doors disposed at
right and left sides of a front surface of the cabinet and coupled
to the cabinet by hinges, a cooling air leakage preventing member
rotatably mounted to a free end portion of one of the doors and
disposed longitudinal to the door, the cooling air leakage
preventing member having a guide protrusion, and a guide installed
at the cabinet and having a guide groove engaged with the guide
protrusion upon opening or closing the door so as to rotate the
cooling air leakage preventing member.
Inventors: |
Kim; Youngnam; (Changwon,
KR) |
Family ID: |
43796386 |
Appl. No.: |
13/389644 |
Filed: |
September 20, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
September 20, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR10/06505 |
371 Date: |
February 9, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/440 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/028 20130101;
F25D 2323/021 20130101; F25D 23/087 20130101; F25D 23/065
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/440 |
International
Class: |
F25D 11/00 20060101
F25D011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 24, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0090639 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet providing a storage space;
a pair of doors disposed at right and left sides of a front surface
of the cabinet and coupled to the cabinet by hinges; a cooling air
leakage preventing member rotatably mounted to a free end portion
of one of the doors and disposed longitudinal to the door, the
cooling air leakage preventing member having a guide protrusion;
and a guide installed at the cabinet and having a guide groove
engaged with the guide protrusion upon opening or closing the door
so as to rotate the cooling air leakage preventing member, wherein
the cooling air leakage preventing member is rotatable between a
first position for sealing a gap between the pair of doors, and a
second position of being engaged into the guide groove, wherein the
guide further comprises a restricting member for expanding an inlet
of the guide groove responsive to contact with the guide protrusion
when the door is closed in a state where the cooling air leakage
preventing member is at the first position.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the restricting member is
located at a side wall of the inlet side of the guide groove.
3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the restricting member
comprises; a stopper mounted to be movable into the guide; and an
elastic member for applying an elastic force to maintain a
protruded state of the stopper.
4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the stopper configures a
part of a side wall of the inlet side of the guide groove.
5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the stopper is mounted in
the guide to be movable in a longitudinal direction of the
door.
6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein a front surface of the
stopper configures an inclination surface.
7. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the stopper is mounted in
the guide to be rotatable based upon a rotational shaft in parallel
to the longitudinal direction of the door.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a
cooling air leakage preventing member, and particularly, to a
refrigerator having a member for preventing (or minimizing) cooling
air from being leaked between doors of the refrigerator.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In general, a refrigerator includes a cabinet (or main body)
providing a space functioning as a freezing chamber and a
refrigerating chamber, and doors for opening and closing each of
the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber. Here, each
chamber is typically provided with a single door, but for a large
refrigerator used for a specific purpose, two doors may be
installed at one freezing or refrigerating chamber. Such structure
has been employed in home refrigerators in recent time, in which
demands on the large refrigerator increase, as well as the
refrigerator used for the specific purpose.
[0003] With this structure, in order to make two doors smoothly
rotated to be open or closed, a preset gap should be present
between the two doors. However, such gap may cause leakage of
cooling air therethrough, so a member for preventing (or
minimizing) the leakage of the cooling air through the gap is
needed. To this end, a cooling air leakage preventing member is
installed at an end portion of one of the two doors to extend in a
longitudinal direction of the door.
[0004] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a
refrigerator having such cooling air leakage preventing member.
Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerator 100 includes a cabinet (or main
body) 102 having a refrigerating chamber 104 occupying the entire
upper portion thereof, and a pair of doors 110 and 110' coupled to
the cabinet 102 by hinges for opening and closing a front surface
of the refrigerating chamber 104. A gasket 112 is mounted onto an
inner side surface of each door 110 and 110' for close contact
between the cabinet 102 and each door 110 and 110'.
[0005] Also, a cooling air leakage preventing member 120 in a bar
shape extending in a longitudinal direction of the refrigerator is
installed at a free end side of one of the doors 110 and 110'. The
cooling air leakage preventing member 120 has one end rotatably
mounted onto the door 110 via an elastic connection means 122. In
the closed state of the two doors 110 and 110', the cooling air
leakage preventing member 120 comes in contact with the gasket of
another door 110' to prevent (or minimize) the leakage of the
cooling air between the doors 110 and 110'.
[0006] Here, the door is capable of being open only when the
cooling air leakage preventing member 120, as shown in FIG. 1, is
disposed longitudinal to the door. Accordingly, there is provided a
guide 130 mounted to an upper portion of the cabinet 102 for
locating the cooling air leakage preventing member 120 as shown in
FIG. 1 when opening the door, and locating the cooling air leakage
preventing member 120 at a level with the door when closing the
door.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a planar view showing a structure of the guide.
Referring to FIG. 2, the guide 130 includes a stopper 132 and a
guide groove 134. A guide protrusion 124 formed at an upper end
portion of the cooling air leakage preventing member 120 is
inserted in the guide groove 134 to allow rotation of the cooling
air leakage preventing member 120. In detail, When a door is closed
in a state where the cooling air leakage preventing member 120 is
longitudinal to the door, the guide protrusion 124 is inserted into
the guide groove 134 to be guided, thereby allowing the rotation of
the cooling air leakage preventing member 120.
[0008] On the other hand, when the door is open, the guide
protrusion 124 is stopped at the stopper 132 such that the cooling
air leakage preventing member 120 rotates into the state shown in
FIG. 1.
[0009] The employment of the cooling air leakage preventing member
120 can enhance space utility of the refrigerating chamber and
prevent leakage of cooling air. However, this type of cooling air
leakage preventing member is in danger of damages. That is, when
the cooling air leakage preventing member 120 is rotated into a
state parallel to the door 110 by an external force under the open
state of the door 110 (see FIG. 3), upon closing the door, the
guide protrusion 124 may collide with the stopper 132.
Consequently, the door may not be closed properly, and in more
serious cases, the door may be broken.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0010] Therefore, to address the problems of the related art, an
object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator, whose
doors are allowed to be smoothly closed even if a cooling air
leakage preventing member is not in a fixed position.
Solution to Problem
[0011] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with
one aspect of the present invention, as embodied and broadly
described herein, there is provided a refrigerator including a
cabinet providing a storage space, a pair of doors disposed at
right and left sides of a front surface of the cabinet and coupled
to the cabinet by hinges, a cooling air leakage preventing member
rotatably mounted to a free end portion of one of the doors and
disposed longitudinal to the door, the cooling air leakage
preventing member having a guide protrusion, and a guide installed
at the cabinet and having a guide groove engaged with the guide
protrusion upon opening or closing the door so as to rotate the
cooling air leakage preventing member, wherein the cooling air
leakage preventing member is rotatable between a first position for
sealing a gap between the pair of doors, and a second position of
being engaged into the guide groove, wherein the guide further
comprises a restricting member for expanding an inlet of the guide
groove responsive to contact with the guide protrusion when the
door is closed in a state where the cooling air leakage preventing
member is at the first position.
[0012] In the one aspect of the present invention, when the guide
protrusion is bumped into a side wall of the guide, the inlet of
the guide groove is allowed to be extended, thereby preventing (or
minimizing) occurrence of problems, such as damage on the guide
member, improper closing of the door and the like.
[0013] Here, the restricting member may be located at a side wall
of the inlet side of the guide groove. The restricting member may
include a stopper mounted to be movable into the guide, and an
elastic member for applying an elastic force to maintain a
protruded state of the stopper. Here, the stopper may allow the
guide groove to perform its original function with maintaining the
external protruded state thereof when no external force is applied
by the elastic member. When the stopper is bumped against the guide
protrusion, the stopper may be allowed to be moved into the guide
so as to render the guide protrusion inserted into the guide
groove.
[0014] Here, the stopper may configure a part of the side wall of
the inlet side of the guide groove.
[0015] The stopper may be mounted in the guide to be movable in a
longitudinal direction of the door. In this case, a front surface
of the stopper may configure an inclination surface.
[0016] Besides, the stopper may be mounted in the guide to be
rotatable based upon a rotational shaft in parallel to the
longitudinal direction of the door.
Advantageous Effects of Invention
[0017] In accordance with the aspects of the present invention with
the configuration, even when the door is closed in a state where
the cooling air leakage preventing member is not at a fixed
position, the inlet of the guide groove is extended by virtue of
the restricting unit, thereby allowing the guide protrusion to be
smoothly engaged into the guide groove without impact, resulting in
preventing (or minimizing) the door from being closed properly or
the cooling air leakage preventing member from being damaged.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an exemplary embodiment
of a refrigerator having a cooling air leakage preventing
member;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a planar view showing a guide of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a planar view showing a state where a guide
protrusion comes in contact with (or is bumped into) a guide;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an exemplary embodiment
of a refrigerator having a cooling air leakage preventing member in
accordance with the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view showing a guide of
FIG. 4;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an internal structure of
the guide shown in FIG. 5;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing an operational state of
the embodiment shown in FIG. 4;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a planar view showing another embodiment of the
guide; and
[0026] FIG. 9 is a planar view showing an operational state of the
guide shown in FIG. 8.
MODE FOR THE INVENTION
[0027] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will also be apparent
to those skilled in the art that various modifications and
variations can be made in the present invention without departing
from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended
that the present invention cover modifications and variations of
this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended
claims and their equivalents.
[0028] Description will now be given in detail of a refrigerator
having a cooling air leakage preventing member in accordance with
exemplary embodiments according to the present invention, with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0029] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing one exemplary
embodiment of a refrigerator in accordance with the present
invention. Here, for the sake of brief description with reference
to the drawings, the same or equivalent components to those shown
in FIG. 1 will be provided with the same reference numbers, and
description thereof will not be repeated.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 4, two doors 110 and 110' may be installed
at a front surface of a refrigerating chamber 104, and a cooling
air leakage preventing member 120 may be rotatably mounted to the
door 110 present at a left side. FIG. 4 shows that the cooling air
leakage preventing member 120 is disposed perpendicular to the door
110. The position is referred to as a second position for the sake
of explanation. The cooling air leakage preventing member 120 may
alternately be disposed in parallel to the door 110. In this case,
the cooling air leakage preventing member 120 may come closely in
contact with a gasket of the door 110' present at a right side so
as to seal a gap between the two doors 110 and 110', and this
position is referred to as a first position.
[0031] In the meantime, a guide 230 may be installed near an upper
end portion of the refrigerating chamber 104. Here, the guide 230
does not have to be installed only in the refrigerating chamber
104. Alternatively, the guide 230 may be installed in a freezing
chamber or the like when two side-by-side type doors are installed
at one space.
[0032] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the guide 230. As
shown in FIG. 5, a guide groove 234 may be formed at a lower
surface of the guide 230 such that a guide protrusion 124 formed on
the cooling air leakage preventing member 120 is inserted therein.
The guide groove 234 may slantingly extend from a right side of a
front surface of the guide 230 to a left side of a rear surface of
the guide 230, and be provided with an inlet for allowing
engagement with the guide protrusion 124.
[0033] A stopper 232 may be disposed at a left side of the inlet.
The stopper 232 may be installed to be slidable into the guide 230,
and the sliding direction is in parallel to a longitudinal
direction of the door 110. A front surface 232a of the stopper 232
may form an inclination surface. The inlet may be present between
the stopper 232 and a right barrier 236, which define a width of
the inlet.
[0034] FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing an internal structure of
the guide 230. As shown in FIG. 6, a space 238 for accommodation of
the stopper 232 may be formed in the guide 230, and fixing flanges
232b may be formed at a lower surface of the stopper 232. The width
of the space 238 may be the same as or slightly wider than a width
between the fixing flanges 232b, thereby allowing the stopper 232
to be smoothly slidable within the space 238. In addition, a coil
spring 250 may be disposed at a lower surface of the fixing flanges
232b such that the stopper 232 can be kept in a protruded
state.
[0035] In addition, a cover 240 may be secured with the lower
surface of the guide 230 so as to allow insertion of the stopper
232 into the space 238. In some cases, the cover 240 may be
omitted.
[0036] Hereinafter, an operation of the exemplary embodiment will
be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a planar view
showing an operation of closing the door 120 in a state where the
cooling air leakage preventing member 120 is present at the first
position. At the first position, the guide protrusion 124 formed on
the cooling air leakage preventing member 120 comes in contact with
a front surface of the stopper 232. In this state, if the door 110
is further rotated, the guide protrusion 124 pushes the front
surface of the stopper 232 with stronger pressure, and such
pressure makes the stopper 232 slid upwardly.
[0037] Here, the inclination surface of the stopper 232 may serve
to convert the pressure applied from the guide protrusion 124 in
the horizontal direction into pressure applied in a longitudinal
direction. Once the stopper 232 is slid into the guide 230, the
inlet is accordingly extended, whereby the guide protrusion 124 can
be inserted into the guide groove 234. Hence, the cooling air
leakage preventing member 120 can be inserted into the guide groove
234 even at the first position, resulting in preventing (or
minimizing) the door from being closed properly or the cooling air
leakage preventing member 120 from being damaged due to
impacts.
[0038] When the door in the closed state is open, the stopper 232
serves to prevent separation of the guide protrusion 124.
Accordingly, the guide protrusion 124 moves along a rear surface of
the stopper 232 so as to rotate the cooling air leakage preventing
member 120 to the second position.
[0039] Meanwhile, the stopper 232 does not always have to be slid
in the longitudinal direction. Alternatively, the stopper 232 may
be configured to be slidable in parallel to a bottom surface of the
refrigerator. In this case, the stopper 232 may be slid in parallel
at the surface of the guide to extend the inlet.
[0040] Also, the stopper 232 does not always have to perform a
sliding motion. Another embodiment may be considered in which the
stopper 232 rotates to extend the inlet.
[0041] FIG. 8 is a planar view showing another embodiment of the
guide. Referring to FIG. 8, a guide 330 may include a guide groove
334 for guiding the guide protrusion therein. A stopper 332 may be
disposed at one side of an inlet of the guide groove 334. A barrier
336 present at a position facing the stopper 332 may define the
width of the inlet together with the stopper 332.
[0042] The stopper 332 may be rotatably mounted in a horizontal
direction with respect to the guide 330 by virtue of a hinge shaft
340. Here, a stopper 338 for restricting a rotating range of the
stopper 332 may be formed at a front surface of the guide 330. The
stopper 338 may come in contact with the front surface of the
stopper 332 so as to restrict the stopper 332 from being protruded
outside the guide 330. Also, a front end portion 332a of the
stopper 332 may be in a round form, thereby preventing (or
minimizing) the guide protrusion from being caught at the front end
portion 332a during operation.
[0043] FIG. 9 is a planar view showing a rotated state of the
stopper 332 responsive to a contact with the guide protrusion.
Referring to FIG. 9, when the guide protrusion presses the front
surface of the stopper 332, the stopper 332 rotates in a clockwise
direction in FIG. 9 to be inserted into the guide 330. Accordingly,
the width of the inlet is extended, which allows the guide
protrusion to be inserted into the guide groove 334.
[0044] In the meantime, FIG. 9 exemplarily shows, but not limited
to, the configuration that the stopper rotates in parallel to the
surface of the guide. Alternatively, the stopper may rotate in a
direction longitudinal to the surface of the guide. In this case,
the hinge shaft 340 may be located in parallel to the surface of
the guide.
* * * * *