U.S. patent application number 13/676305 was filed with the patent office on 2013-05-16 for refrigerator.
The applicant listed for this patent is Taehoon Choi, Jungyeon Hwang, Seonkyu Kim, Daesung Lee, Moonseok Lee, Woonkyu SEO, Seungjin Yoon. Invention is credited to Taehoon Choi, Jungyeon Hwang, Seonkyu Kim, Daesung Lee, Moonseok Lee, Woonkyu SEO, Seungjin Yoon.
Application Number | 20130119846 13/676305 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47225897 |
Filed Date | 2013-05-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130119846 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SEO; Woonkyu ; et
al. |
May 16, 2013 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include a
basket to enhance utility of a storage space of a door of the
refrigerator. The refrigerator may include a cabinet having a
storage space formed therein, one side of which is open, a door
rotatably coupled to the cabinet to open and close the open side of
the storage space, a mounting frame coupled to an inner surface of
the door, and a basket rotatably coupled to the mounting frame so
as to be rotatable between a closed airtight position and an open
position. A locking device may be provided at the mounting frame to
lock or unlock the basket at the closed airtight position, and a
rotation limiter may limit a maximum rotation angle of the basket
when the basket is opened.
Inventors: |
SEO; Woonkyu; (Changwon-si,
KR) ; Kim; Seonkyu; (Changwon-si, KR) ; Yoon;
Seungjin; (Changwon-si, KR) ; Hwang; Jungyeon;
(Changwon-si, KR) ; Lee; Daesung; (Changwon-si,
KR) ; Lee; Moonseok; (Changwon-si, KR) ; Choi;
Taehoon; (Changwon-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SEO; Woonkyu
Kim; Seonkyu
Yoon; Seungjin
Hwang; Jungyeon
Lee; Daesung
Lee; Moonseok
Choi; Taehoon |
Changwon-si
Changwon-si
Changwon-si
Changwon-si
Changwon-si
Changwon-si
Changwon-si |
|
KR
KR
KR
KR
KR
KR
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
47225897 |
Appl. No.: |
13/676305 |
Filed: |
November 14, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/404 ;
312/405 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/04 20130101;
F25D 23/028 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/404 ;
312/405 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/04 20060101
F25D023/04; F25D 23/02 20060101 F25D023/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 15, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0118862 |
Oct 23, 2012 |
KR |
10-2012-0117830 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet defining a storage space
therein having one open side; a door rotatably coupled to the
cabinet to open and close the open side of the storage space; a
frame coupled to an inner surface of the door; a basket rotatably
coupled to the frame such that the basket is rotatable with respect
to the frame between a closed position and an open position; a
locking device provided at the frame to selectively lock the basket
at the closed position and release the basket for rotation from the
closed position; and a rotation limiter provided between the basket
and the frame and configured to limit a rotation angle of the
basket relative to the frame.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the frame is separably
coupled to the inner surface of the door.
3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the frame comprises: a pair
of sidewalls coupled to the inner surface of the door so as to
extend across a portion of a corresponding pair of sidewalls of the
basket; a bottom wall configured to extend across a portion of a
corresponding bottom wall of the basket; and a top wall configured
to selectively cover an open top of the basket.
4. The refrigerator of claim 3, further comprising: a door shelf
coupled to a top surface of the top wall of the frame; a first
auxiliary basket separably coupled to a top of the door shelf; and
a second auxiliary basket provided at a rear of the first auxiliary
basket, between the first auxiliary basket and the inner surface of
the door.
5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the locking device is
positioned between the door shelf and the top wall of the frame,
and is operably coupled to the basket and the frame.
6. The refrigerator of claim 3, further comprising: a pair of
pivots that protrude from a lower surface of the basket, the pivots
defining an axis of rotation of the basket; and a corresponding
pair of receivers formed at the bottom wall of the frame and
configured to respectively receive the pair of pivots.
7. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the basket comprises: a
first chamber configured to be positioned between the pair of
sidewalls of the frame; and a second chamber positioned adjacent to
the first chamber, and extending outside of frame, wherein a
distance between first portions of the pair of sidewalls of the
basket defining the first chamber is less than a distance between
second portions of the pair of sidewalls of the basket defining the
second chamber.
8. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein each of the pair of
sidewalls of the basket comprises: a first sidewall defining a
corresponding lateral side of the first chamber; a second sidewall
defining a corresponding lateral side of the second chamber; and a
stepped portion connecting the first sidewall and the second
sidewall.
9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the locking device
comprises: a shaft coupled to the top wall of the frame; a detent
that protrudes from each of two opposite ends of the shaft, wherein
each detent is configured to engage a corresponding stepped portion
when the basket is in the closed position; and a button operably
coupled to the shaft, wherein the shaft is configured to rotate in
response to depression of the button.
10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein each detent is selectively
caught by the corresponding stepped portion of the basket so as to
limit rotation of the basket.
11. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the locking device further
comprises an elastic member coupled between the shaft and the frame
and configured to restore an original position of the shaft in
response to removal of a rotation force.
12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the elastic member
comprises at least one leaf spring protruding from an outer
circumferential surface of the shaft, and wherein a distal end
portion of the at least one leaf spring is pressed against an upper
surface of the frame.
13. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a grip coupled
to an upper end of a front surface of the basket.
14. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the top wall of the frame
is curved at a substantially constant radius of curvature with
respect to an axis of rotation of the basket.
15. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the basket comprises a
pair of lateral sidewalls respectively corresponding to the pair of
sidewalls of the frame, and wherein a top edge of each of the pair
of lateral sidewalls of the basket is curved, corresponding to the
top wall of the frame.
16. The refrigerator of claim 14, further comprising: at least one
guide groove extending along the top wall of the frame, in a
direction corresponding to a movement direction of the basket; and
at least one guide piece protruding from an upper end of a back
wall of the basket and configured to be received in the at least
one guide groove.
17. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the at least one guide
groove includes a support portion provided at one end thereof,
wherein the guide piece is supported against the support portion in
a maximum open position of the basket.
18. A refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet; a door rotatably coupled
to the cabinet to open and close an open side of the cabinet; a
door shelf that protrudes from an inner surface of the door; and a
basket coupled to the inner surface of the door, the basket
defining a storage space having an open top, wherein the open top
of the basket is selectively engaged with a bottom surface of the
door shelf to cover the open top of the basket and block the
storage space from an outside of the basket.
19. The refrigerator of claim 18, further comprising interposed
seal positioned between the open top of the basket and the bottom
surface of door shelf, wherein the seal forms a seal between the
basket and the door shelf when the basket is coupled to the bottom
surface of the door shelf.
20. The refrigerator of claim 18, further comprising a grip
provided at an upper end of a front surface of the basket.
21. The refrigerator of claim 20, wherein the grip comprises: a
body having two opposite ends each rotatably coupled to the basket
about a pivot shaft; a grasping portion extending from a first edge
of the body; and a locking portion protruding from a second edge of
the body, opposite the first edge thereof, wherein the locking
portion is selectively received in a locking groove formed in the
bottom surface of the door shelf.
22. The refrigerator of claim 21, wherein the grasping portion
extends in a first direction from the first edge of the body, and
the locking portion extends in a second direction from the second
edge of the body, and wherein the second direction is opposite the
first direction.
23. The refrigerator of claim 21, further comprising a seal
provided in the locking groove, wherein the seal seals a gap
between the locking portion and the locking groove when the locking
portion is received in the locking groove.
24. The refrigerator of claim 23, further comprising an elastic
member coupled to the pivot shaft, wherein the elastic member
maintains coupling between the locking groove and the locking
portion when no external force is applied to the grasping
portion.
25. The refrigerator of claim 18, further comprising a hinge
assembly provided at the inner surface of the door and spaced apart
from the door shelf by a distance corresponding to a height of the
basket, wherein the hinge assembly includes a hinge shaft coupled
to a bottom of the basket.
26. The refrigerator of claim 18, further comprising a pair of side
frames coupled to the inner surface of the door and configured to
come into contact with two opposite sidewalls of the basket,
wherein each of the sidewalls of the basket includes a recessed
portion having a depth corresponding to a thickness of its
respective side frame.
27. The refrigerator of claim 26, further comprising a rotation
stopper configured to limit a rotation range of the basket to
within a predetermined angular range.
28. The refrigerator of claim 26, wherein the rotation stopper
comprises an anti-rotation protrusion that extends downward from
the bottom surface of the door shelf, and that selectively contacts
a rear surface of the basket as the basket rotates with respect to
the pair of side frames.
29. The refrigerator of claim 26, wherein the rotation stopper
comprises a beveled ledge provided at an outer peripheral portion
of hinge assembly that rotatably couples a bottom of the basket to
the inner surface of the door, the beveled ledge having a beveled
upper surface oriented at a predetermined angle such that the
bottom of the basket contacts the beveled upper surface as the
basket rotates to limit the rotation range of the basket.
30. The refrigerator of claim 18, further comprising a plate spaced
apart from an inner bottom surface of the basket by a predetermined
distance, the plate having a plurality of drain holes extending
therethrough.
31. The refrigerator of claim 30, further comprising a pedestal
provided at a lower surface of the plate to maintain a gap between
the inner bottom surface of the basket and the plate.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119
to Korean Application Nos. 10-2011-0118862 filed on Nov. 15, 2011
and 10-2012-0117830 filed on Oct. 23, 2012, whose entire
disclosures are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] This relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a
refrigerator having a basket to enhance utility of a storage space
of a door.
[0004] 2. Background
[0005] A refrigerator may supply cold air, generated by a
refrigeration cycle including a compressor, a condenser, an
expansion valve, and an evaporator, into a storage compartment
defined therein to maintain storage items at a freezing temperature
or at a refrigerating temperature slightly above freezing. A
refrigerator may include a freezing compartment in which items are
kept frozen, and a refrigerating compartment in which items are
kept at a low temperature. Kimchi refrigerator may keep, for
example, food, such as Kimchi, and vegetables, fresh and at an
appropriate temperature.
[0006] At least one door may be rotatably coupled to a main body to
open or close an open front side of the main body. Additionally, a
drawer type door, in which a door is mounted to a front side of a
drawer, may be rearwardly pushed inward or forwardly pulled outward
for access to a corresponding compartment of the refrigerator.
Shelves provided in refrigerating compartment and the freezing
compartment may divide the storage compartment to accommodate
various sizes of storage items and to enhance utility of a storage
space. One or more baskets may be affixed to the refrigerator door
for storage of bottles, jars, tubes and the like having a high use
frequency.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The embodiments will be described in detail with reference
to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to
like elements wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator as embodied and
broadly described herein;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a front view of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1,
with its doors open;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a basket assembly of a door
of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a tilted state of the basket
shown in FIG. 3;
[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a state in which the basket
shown in FIG. 3 and a mounting frame are separated from the
door;
[0013] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the basket
assembly shown in FIGS. 3-6;
[0014] FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of the basket and the
mounting frame shown in FIG. 5, separated from each other;
[0015] FIGS. 8A and 8B are side sectional views illustrating
pivotal rotation of the basket relative to the mounting frame;
[0016] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a porous bottom plate
separated from the basket;
[0017] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a basket assembly mounted
to a door of a refrigerator, in accordance with another embodiment
as broadly described herein;
[0018] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a tilted state of a basket
of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 10;
[0019] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the basket shown
in FIG. 10;
[0020] FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of a grip portion of the basket
shown in FIG. 10;
[0021] FIG. 14 is a side sectional view of the grip portion of the
basket shown in FIGS. 10-13;
[0022] FIG. 15 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a hinge of the
basket shown in FIGS. 10-14;
[0023] FIG. 16 is a plan view of a punching plate of the basket
shown in FIG. 10; and
[0024] FIG. 17 is a plan view of a punching plate of the basket
shown in FIG. 10.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in
detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the
following description, the same or similar elements are denoted by
the same reference numerals. Wherever possible, and detailed
description thereof will not be repeated.
[0026] Features of a refrigerator 10 may be applicable to a top
mount type refrigerator in which a refrigerating compartment 22 is
defined as a lower compartment and a freezing compartment 32 is
defined as an upper compartment above the refrigerating compartment
22, a side by side type refrigerator in which the refrigerating
compartment 22 and the freezing compartment 32 are defined as left
and right compartments, and a bottom freezer type refrigerator in
which the refrigerating compartment 22 is defined as an upper
compartment and the freezing compartment 32 is defined as a lower
compartment below the refrigerating compartment 22. Simply for ease
of discussion and illustration, a bottom freezer type refrigerator
will be described.
[0027] In general, the freezing compartment 32 may be maintained at
below a freezing temperature (i.e. below 0.degree. C.), and the
refrigerating compartment 22 may remain at relatively higher
temperatures than the freezing compartment 32.
[0028] The refrigerator 10 may include a cabinet which internally
defines a storage space and externally defines an appearance of the
refrigerator 10. The cabinet may provide for relatively airtight
installation and protection of mechanical devices accommodated
therein. The cabinet of the refrigerator 10 may include an outer
cabinet 12 which defines the overall external appearance, and an
inner cabinet 14 which internally defines one or more storage
compartments, i.e. the freezing compartment 32 and the
refrigerating compartment 22. A space defined between the outer
cabinet 12 and the inner cabinet 14 may form, for example, a cold
air circulation passage.
[0029] A machine room may be defined in the space between the outer
cabinet 12 and the inner cabinet 14, and a refrigerant cycle device
to generate cold air via circulation of refrigerant may be
installed in the machine room. The refrigerant cycle device may
keep the interior of the refrigerator at low temperatures so as to
maintain freshness of storage items. The refrigerant cycle device
includes, for example, a compressor that compresses refrigerant,
and an evaporator that performs heat exchange between refrigerant
and outside air via phase change from liquid phase refrigerant to
gas phase refrigerant.
[0030] Doors 20 and 30 may open and close the refrigerating
compartment 22 and the freezing compartment 32 respectively. One
end of each door 20 or 30 may be pivotally connected to the cabinet
of the refrigerator 10 by, for example, a hinge. The door 20 may
include a plurality of doors. More specifically, as illustrated in
FIG. 2, doors 20 may be installed on two opposite side edges of the
refrigerator 10 so as to be opened forward.
[0031] A barrier 16 may be interposed between the freezing
compartment 32 and the refrigerating compartment 22 to separate the
freezing compartment 32 and the refrigerating compartment 22. The
barrier 16 may have a predetermined thickness and may be integrally
formed with the inner cabinet 14. The barrier 16 may extend
horizontally such that the refrigerating compartment 22 and the
freezing compartment 32 are divided into upper and lower
compartments by the barrier 16.
[0032] A partition 18 may be installed, for example, at the center
of the freezing compartment 32, or other location as appropriate,
to divide the interior of the freezing compartment 32 into two
spaces. The partition 18 may be a vertical wall to define left and
right freezing compartments 32 separated from each other. As such,
two freezing compartment doors 30 may be provided to open or close
the respective freezing compartments 32.
[0033] The refrigerating compartment 22 shown in FIG. 2 does not
include a center partition like the freezing compartment 32.
However, installation of a similar partition in the refrigerating
compartment 22 is possible.
[0034] The refrigerating compartment door 20 may be equipped with a
variety of storage baskets 50, 60 and 100. The baskets 50, 60 and
100 may have an increased storage capacity corresponding to a
larger refrigerator size and provide easily accessible storage
spaces.
[0035] Hereinafter, a basket assembly according to an exemplary
embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to
7. In this embodiment, simply for ease of discussion and
illustration, the basket assembly is mounted to one of the
refrigerator doors 20. However, such a basket assembly may be
mounted to either/both of the refrigerator doors and/or either/both
of the freezer doors 30, depending on a particular refrigerator
arrangement.
[0036] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the basket 100 may be rotatably
mounted to an inner surface of the refrigerating compartment door
20. The basket 100 may rotate between a closed substantially
airtight position and an open position thereof, and may be mounted
to the refrigerating compartment door 20 by a mounting frame 300,
interposed therebetween, rather than being directly mounted to the
inner surface of the door 20.
[0037] Additionally, baskets 60 and 70 may be provided above the
basket 100. More specifically, in certain embodiments, the basket
70 may be an inner basket fitted in a recessed region of the door
20, and the basket 60 may be an outer basket seated on a door shelf
80 protruding from the door 20.
[0038] The outer basket 60 may be easily separable to facilitate
removal of stored items received in the outer basket 60.
[0039] The inner basket 70 may also be separably installed at the
inner surface of the door 20. However, separation of the inner
basket 70 may be less frequent, such as for washing of the basket
70.
[0040] A grip 110 may be provided at an upper end of a front
surface of the basket 100, and a button 210 to release the basket
100 from a closed position thereof may be provided, for example, at
the door shelf 80 immediately above the grip 110.
[0041] As illustrated in FIG. 4, the basket 100 may be pivotally
rotated to an open position thereof, in response to depression of
the button 210 and pulling the grip 110 to tilt the basket 100.
[0042] As illustrated in the rear perspective view of FIG. 5, the
basket 100 may be rotatably mounted to the mounting frame 300.
Mounting protrusions 315 may be formed at the two opposite
sidewalls of the mounting frame 300 and be configured to be
separably inserted into mounting recesses formed in corresponding
inner lateral surfaces of the door 20.
[0043] Similarly, in the case of the inner basket 70 positioned
above the mounting frame 300, mounting protrusions 75 may be formed
at the two opposite sidewalls of the inner basket 70 and be
configured to be inserted into mounting recesses formed in
corresponding inner lateral surfaces of the door 20. The door shelf
80 may be coupled to and supported by the inner basket 70, and may
be seated on and supported by the door shelf 80.
[0044] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the basket assembly may include
the mounting frame 300 fixed to the door 20, the basket 100
rotatably mounted to the mounting frame 300, and a locking device
200 to lock or unlock a position of the basket 100.
[0045] The mounting frame 300 may include two opposite sidewalls
310 to respectively cover portions of the two opposite sidewalls of
the basket 100, a bottom wall 320 to cover a corresponding bottom
portion of the basket 100, and a top wall 340 to selectively cover
a top opening of the basket 100.
[0046] The sidewalls 310 of the mounting frame 300 may be
configured such that rear portions of the sidewalls of the basket
100 are inserted between the sidewalls 310 when the basket 100 is
in the closed airtight position. The bottom wall 320 of the
mounting frame 300 may be configured to cover a rear portion of the
basket 100 when the basket 100 is in the closed airtight position.
The top wall 340 of the mounting frame 300 may be configured to
close the entire top opening of the basket 100 so as to keep the
basket 100 sealed.
[0047] The basket 100 may have the form of a rectangular box
including a bottom wall, front and rear walls, and two sidewalls.
Each sidewall of the basket 100 may have a centrally stepped shape
such that a front portion and a rear portion thereof have different
widths.
[0048] The basket 100 may internally define a first chamber 120
that is located in front of the mounting frame 300 and a second
chamber 140 that is positioned between the sidewalls 310 of the
mounting frame 300. A width between the sidewalls of the basket 100
defining the second chamber 140 may be less than a width between
the sidewalls of the basket 100 defining the first chamber 120.
That is, first sidewalls 122 may define the first chamber 120 and
second sidewalls 142 may define the second chamber 140, with a
stepped portion 150 formed between the first sidewall 122 and the
second sidewall 142. A distance between the first sidewall 122 and
the second sidewall 142 traversed by the stepped portion 150 may
correspond to a thickness of the respective sidewall of the
mounting frame 300.
[0049] When the basket 100 is in the closed position, the second
chamber 140 is positioned within the mounting frame 300 and comes
into close contact with an indentation in the inner surface of the
door 20 defining a door space. In this case, the first chamber 120
is not introduced into the door space, but is closed and sealed by
the top wall 340 of the mounting frame 300. The stepped portion 150
may be supported by a front end of each sidewall 310 of the
mounting frame 300 when the basket 100 is in the closed position.
Additionally, the stepped portion 150 may also be selectively
coupled to a detent 240 of the locking device 200.
[0050] Meanwhile, the inner basket 70 may include at a lower
surface thereof a plurality of support protrusions 73, which may
come into contact with and be supported by an upper surface of the
mounting frame 300. The door shelf 80 coupled to the inner basket
70 may also be supported by the upper surface of the mounting frame
300. As such, the two baskets 60 and 70 and the door shelf 80 may
not only be supported by the inner lateral surface of the door 20
via the mounting protrusions 75, but also be supported by the
mounting frame 300, which results in provision of a more stable
supporting force.
[0051] As illustrated in FIG. 7, a pair of pivot members 130 may
protrude from a lower surface of the basket 100 and a pair of
receiving members 321 may be formed at the bottom wall 320 of the
mounting frame 300, such that the pivot members 130 are
respectively inserted into the receiving members 321 to couple the
basket 100 to the mounting frame 300. A virtual straight line
passing through the pair of pivot members 130 and the pair of
receiving members 321 defines a pivot axis of the basket 100.
[0052] The bottom wall 320 of the mounting frame 300, at which the
receiving members 321 are formed, may have a somewhat U-shaped
cross section when viewed from the bottom.
[0053] In certain embodiments, positions of the pivot members 130
and the receiving members 321 may be reversed, and these members
may have different shapes from that illustrated in FIG. 7.
[0054] As described above, the locking device 200 may include the
button 210 installed at the door shelf 80. A shaft 230 of the
locking device 200, which is pivotally rotated when the button 210
is pressed, may be installed at the top wall 340 of the mounting
frame 300. To this end, the top wall 340 of the mounting frame 300
may include a plurality of upwardly protruding support plates 370,
such that the shaft 230 is separably received in one end of each of
the upwardly protruding support plates 370.
[0055] More specifically, one end of each of the plurality of
upwardly protruding support plates 370 may include an insertion
recess 372 into which reduced diameter portions 231 of the shaft
230 may be received.
[0056] More than one arm 232 may protrude upward from the shaft
230, and a bar shaped actuator 220 may be coupled to the button 210
so as to push the arm 232.
[0057] The detent 240 may protrude from either/both ends of the
shaft 230 and be engaged with the stepped portion 150 when the
basket 100 is closed. A distal end of the detent 240, as
illustrated in FIG. 7, may penetrate a through-hole 344 formed in
corresponding end portions of the top wall 340 of the mounting
frame 300.
[0058] The detent 240 may be fixed to the shaft 230 so as to be
pivotally rotated along with the shaft 230, and may also be
selectively caught by an upper end of the stepped portion 150. As
such, when the basket 100 is in the closed position, the basket 100
is caught by the detent 240 without a risk of unintentional
rotation thereof so long as the button 210 is not pressed to push
the detent 240 upward. The detent 240 may have a shape suitable to
be smoothly pushed upward by the upper end of the stepped portion
150 as the stepped portion 150 slides during pivotal rotation of
the basket 100 from an open position to a closed position
thereof.
[0059] Pivotal rotation of the shaft 230 is caused as the detent
240 is pushed upward when the user pivotally rotates the basket 100
from the open position to the closed position thereof, or when the
actuator 220 pushes the arm 232 in response to pressure applied to
the button 210. In this case, the shaft 230, the button 210 and the
detent 240 are returned to their original positions as soon as
force applied to rotate the shaft 230 is removed. To this end, the
locking device 200 may also include an elastic member to return the
rotated shaft 230 to an original position thereof.
[0060] FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary elastic member in the form
of a leaf spring 250 that extends from the shaft 230 in a given
direction to come into contact at one end thereof with the upper
surface of the mounting frame 300. The end of the leaf spring 250
may be supported by the upper surface of the mounting frame 300 and
may be elastically deformed when the shaft 230 is pivotally
rotated, thereby causing the shaft 230 to be pivotally rotated in
an opposite direction when force is no longer applied to the shaft
230. Thereby, the detent 240, as illustrated in FIG. 7, is moved to
protrude from the through-hole 344.
[0061] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the top wall 340 of the
mounting frame 300 may be curved at a substantially constant radius
of curvature from the pivot axis. Upper rims of the sidewalls 122
and 142 defining the top opening of the basket 100 may also be
curved to correspond to a curved lower surface of the top wall 340
of the mounting frame 300. As such, the basket 100 may smoothly
slide without interference with the top wall 340 of the mounting
frame 300 during pivotal rotation thereof.
[0062] One or more vertical guide grooves 360 may be formed in the
top wall 340 of the mounting frame 300, and one or more guide
pieces 160 may protrude from an upper end of a back wall of the
basket 100 so as to be respectively inserted into the guide grooves
360. A lower end of the guide groove 360 may be positioned to come
into contact with the guide piece 160 when the basket 100 is in the
closed position, and an upper end of the guide groove 360 may be
positioned to come into contact with the guide piece 160 when the
basket 100 is in a maximum open position.
[0063] In particular, as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, a support
portion 364 having a shape corresponding to that of the guide piece
160 may be formed at the upper end of the guide groove 360 such
that the guide piece 160 is caught and supported by the support
portion 364. When the basket 100 is in the closed position, the
stepped portion 150 may be supported by the front end of the
sidewall 310 of the mounting frame 300, and therefore it may be
unnecessary for the lower end of the guide groove 360 to support
the guide piece 160. However, in certain embodiments, the lower end
of the guide groove 360 may come into contact with the guide piece
160 when the basket 100 is in the closed position as described
above.
[0064] Next, an operating procedure of the basket 100 will be
described with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B.
[0065] First, as shown in FIG. 8A, if the user presses the button
210 with the basket 100 closed against the mounting frame 300, the
detent 240 of the locking device 200 is pushed upward. As the
detent 240 is pushed upward, the stepped portion 150 of the basket
100 is released from the detent 240, and thus the basket 100 is
pivotally rotatable to the open position, as shown in FIG. 8B, if
the user pulls the grip 110 of the basket 100. As the basket 100
rotates to the open position, the guide piece 160 of the basket 100
is moved along the guide groove 360.
[0066] Once the basket 100 rotates to a maximum open position the
guide piece 160 is caught and supported by the support portion 364
formed at the upper end of the guide groove 360, which prevents
further rotation of the basket 100. At the maximum open position
shown in FIG. 8B, the center of gravity of the basket 100 is
located forward of a center vertical axis of the pivot member 130,
and therefore the basket 100 may be kept at the maximum open
position.
[0067] On the contrary, if the user pushes the basket 100 upward,
the center of gravity of the basket 100 is moved. Once the center
of gravity of the basket 100 is located rearward of the center
vertical axis of the pivoting boss 130, the basket 100 is rotated
even if no rotation force is not applied thereto. As such, the
basket 100 may be rotated back to the closed position while pushing
the detent 240 upward, and may be kept at the closed position as
the stepped portion 150 is caught by the detent 240.
[0068] As shown in FIG. 9, a porous plate 180 may be provided on
the bottom of the basket 100. The basket 100 may provide a sealed
space for storing, for example, vegetables and fruits, and may also
be used to store moist or wet food. This storage environment may
cause water and/or condensation to be collected on the bottom of
the basket 100, thus having a negative effect on stored food. To
prevent water discharged from food stored in the basket 100 from
coming into direct contact with the food, the porous plate 180 may
be provided on the bottom surface of the basket 100.
[0069] The porous plate 180 may include a plurality of
through-holes 181 to discharge water downward, and a plurality of
spacers 184 formed at a lower surface thereof to achieve a
predetermined distance between the porous plate 180 and the bottom
surface of the basket 100. Although the spacers 184 in the
embodiment shown in FIG. 9 have the form of bosses, the shape of
the spacers is not limited thereto, and other shapes of spacers,
such as ribs, may be used. The porous plate 180 may also include a
finger hole 182 to facilitate removal of the porous plate 180 from
the basket 100.
[0070] In this arrangement, as a result of the basket being
rotatable so as to be opened away from or closed against the
refrigerator door, a refrigerator as embodied and broadly described
herein may achieve efficient utilization of storage space, fresh
food storage, and easier and more convenient introduction and
removal of storage items.
[0071] Hereinafter, a basket 400 according to another embodiment
will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 10 to 14. FIG.
10 is a perspective view of a closed state of the basket 400, FIG.
11 is a perspective view of an open state of the basket 400, and
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the basket 400.
[0072] As shown in FIGS. 10 to 14, the, basket assembly may include
the basket 400, a grip 460, a door shelf 410, a hinge portion 470,
side frames 490, and a seal 418 all coupled to the door 20. The
basket 400 may provide a storage space capable of storing various
items, such as left over vegetables, for example, that would
otherwise be received in an airtight container when stored in the
refrigerator.
[0073] In particular, the basket 400 may be installed on the door
20 to provide easy user access to frequently used items in small
amounts, and to store left over food items, for example.
[0074] Although a position of the basket 400 provided on the door
20 is not necessarily limited, the basket 400 may be located at a
lower end of the upper door 20, or at an upper end of the lower
door 20, simply in terms of user convenience. For ease of
explanation, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 10-14, the basket 400
is located at the lower end of the upper door 20, but a position of
the basket 400 is not necessarily limited in this regard.
[0075] The door shelf 410 protrudes from the door 20, with the
bottom of the door shelf 410 engaged with a top opening of the
basket 400 to shield a storage space of the basket 400 from the
outside. The additional basket 60 for storage of food may be seated
on the door shelf 410 as previously discussed.
[0076] In summary, the basket 400 may provide a storage space
having a top opening, and the top opening of the basket 400 may be
separably engaged with the bottom of the door shelf 410 to shield
the storage space from the outside.
[0077] Next, a coupling relationship between the door shelf 410 and
the basket 400 will be described in more detail with reference to
FIGS. 13 and 14. FIG. 13 illustrates the top opening of the basket
400 and the door shelf 410, and FIG. 14 illustrates a coupled state
of the basket 400 and the door shelf 410.
[0078] The seal 418 may be interposed between the door shelf 410
and the basket 400 and affixed to a lower surface of the door shelf
410 to fill a gap between the door shelf 410 and the basket 400
when the basket 400 is engaged with the door shelf 410, thereby
providing for airtight closure of the storage space of the basket
400. The seal 418 may be formed of an elastic material that is
typically used in an airtight container, such as urethane or
silicone, for example. As illustrated in FIG. 13, the seal 418
affixed to the lower surface of the door shelf 410 may have a shape
corresponding to the top opening of the basket 400.
[0079] In addition to facilitating the coupling and separating of
the basket 400 to or from the door shelf 410, the grip 460 may also
stably secure the basket 400 and the door shelf 410 coupled to each
other. The grip 460 may be, for example, a bar shaped member as
illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, coupled to an upper end of a front
surface of the basket 400 by, for example, coupling bosses formed
at both ends thereof. The upper end of the front surface of the
basket 400, as illustrated in FIG. 12, may be molded so as to be
partially depressed for insertion of the grip 460.
[0080] As illustrated in FIG. 14, the grip 460 may include a grip
body 465, a grip portion 468, a locking portion 463, and a pivot
shaft 466 penetrating the grip body 465. The grip portion 468 may
be provided at one side of the grip 460 and the locking portion 463
is provided at the other side of the grip 460. Both ends of the
grip body 465 may be hinged, or rotatably coupled, to the basket
400 about the pivot shaft 466.
[0081] The grip portion 468 may extend downward from one end of the
grip body 465, in a direction perpendicular to the pivot shaft 466,
to provide a portion of the grip 460 that the user may grasp and
hold to open the basket 400. The locking portion 463 may be located
at a side of the grip body 465 opposite the grip portion 468 and
may protrude in a direction perpendicular to the pivot shaft 466.
The locking portion 463, as illustrated in FIG. 14, may protrude
upward from the grip body 465 and be fitted into a locking groove
412 formed in the lower surface of the door shelf 410. The locking
groove 412 may be located near a lower end of a front surface of
the door shelf 410 and may have a shape corresponding to the shape
of the locking portion 463.
[0082] If the user grasps the grip portion 468 and applies an
upward force, the grip 460 is rotated about the pivot shaft 466 and
the locking portion 463 provided at the other end of the grip body
465 is separated from the locking groove 412, allowing the basket
400 to be opened.
[0083] The grip 460 may also include an elastic member 467, such as
a spring, provided at one end thereof to maintain a locked
configuration of the grip 460 as illustrated in FIG. 14.
[0084] The sealing member 418 may extend into the space between the
locking portion 463 and the locking groove 412 as illustrated in
FIG. 14, to maintain tight contact between the locking portion 463
and the locking groove 412 when the basket 400 is engaged with the
bottom of the door shelf 410.
[0085] The hinge 470 may be formed at an inner surface of the door
20, at a position downwardly spaced from the door shelf 410. The
hinge 470 may include a hinge shaft 475 for hinge coupling with the
basket 400. The basket 400 may rotate about the hinge shaft 475,
and an upper end of the basket 400 may be engaged with or
disengaged from the bottom of the door shelf 410 via rotation of
the basket 400 (see FIGS. 10 and 11). To provide for rotation of
the basket 400, the hinge shaft 475 may be located at a distal end
of the hinge 470.
[0086] The basket 400 may be separable from the hinge 470. That is,
the basket 400 may be configured to selectively release its hinge
coupling with the hinge 470 so as to be completely separated from
the hinge 470.
[0087] A hinge shaft coupling portion 476 may be formed at a lower
surface of the basket 400 to be coupled to the hinge shaft 475 in
the form of a transverse groove in which more than one shaft
coupling boss is formed, as shown in FIG. 17.
[0088] The hinge 470 illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 12 protrudes from
the door 20 to stably support the basket 400 placed thereon. If the
hinge 470 only slightly protrudes, the hinge 470 would be coupled
to a rear end of the basket 400, which could cause excessive
sagging when the basket 400 is opened. Accordingly, the hinge 470
may protrude by a predetermined length.
[0089] On the contrary, if the hinge 470 excessively protrudes, for
example, if the hinge 470 protrudes as for as the door shelf 410,
the hinge 470 would be coupled to a front region of the basket 400,
which could cause the rear end of the basket 400 to be excessively
lifted during rotation about the hinge shaft 475. In this case,
opening of the basket 400 may be obstructed as the basket 400 is
caught by the door shelf 410. Therefore, the hinge 470 may be
coupled to an intermediate, or middle position of the basket 400 as
illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11.
[0090] That is, a hinge coupling location suitable to prevent
interference between the door shelf 410 and the basket 400 may be
at an approximately middle position of the basket 400. Moreover,
with a configuration in which a height of a rear end of the basket
400 is less than that of a front end of the basket 400, the rear
end of the basket 400 is unlikely to be caught by the door shelf
410 upon opening of the basket 400. In this case, the bottom of the
door shelf 410 may be partially inclined to conform to the shape of
the basket 400, so as to achieve airtight closure of the basket
400.
[0091] The side frames 490 may be provided between the door shelf
410 and the hinge 470 so as to contact both sidewalls of the basket
400. The side frames 490 may facilitate the stable seating of the
basket 400 on the door 20.
[0092] In this case, the basket 400 may be molded such that
portions of the basket 400 corresponding to the side frames 490 are
recessed by a depth equal to the thickness of the side frames 490.
This may eliminate a stepped portion between the side frames 490
and the basket 400, thereby achieving enhanced convenience and a
simplified external appearance.
[0093] A rotation stopper may restrict a rotation range of the
basket 400 about the hinge shaft 475 to prevent items received in
the basket 400 from falling out due to excessive rotation of the
basket 475 about the hinge shaft 475.
[0094] As shown in FIG. 13, the rotation stopper may include an
anti-rotation protrusion 415 formed at a lower surface of the door
shelf 410. When the basket 400 is opened, a rear portion of the
basket 400 may be caught by the anti-rotation protrusion 415, which
prevents further rotation of the basket 400. The shape of the
rotation stopper is not necessarily limited to the illustration of
FIG. 13, and may be changed in number and/or shape. Alternatively,
the anti-rotation protrusion 415 may be elongated in the horizontal
direction, corresponding to the hinge shaft 475.
[0095] In another embodiment, the rotation stopper may include a
beveled ledge 478 that protrudes from the distal end of the hinge
470 and has a beveled upper surface. Referring to FIG. 15, the
basket 400 may be caught by the beveled ledge 478 as rotation of
the basket 400 proceeds, which stops rotation of the basket 400. An
allowable opening angle of the basket 40 may be adjusted based on
an inclination of the beveled ledge 478.
[0096] A punching plate 480 having drain holes 481 perforated
therethrough as illustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17 may also be
provided. The punching plate 480 may be spaced apart from an inner
bottom surface of the basket 400 by a predetermined distance. FIG.
16 is a plan view of the punching plate 480 of the basket 400
according to the second embodiment of the basket assembly, and FIG.
17 is a bottom view of the punching plate 480 of the basket 400
according to the second embodiment of the basket assembly.
[0097] Drain holes 481 may discharge condensation/water generated
by, for example, storage of vegetables. The number and size of the
drain holes 481 are not necessarily limited to the arrangement
shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. The punching plate 480 may also include a
separation hole 482, through which the user may insert, for
example, a finger, to lift and separate the punching plate 480 from
the basket 400.
[0098] To provide for a drainage space between the bottom surface
of the basket 400 and the punching plate 480, a pedestal 484 may be
formed at a lower surface of the punching plate 480. The pedestal
484 includes a plurality of bumps, which may be formed into a grid
as illustrated in FIG. 17, or other arrangement as appropriate.
[0099] As is apparent from the above description, through provision
of a basket capable of hermetically sealing a storage space thereof
using a sealing member and a locking member, a refrigerator as
embodied and broadly described herein may function to keep food
fresh without using an airtight container.
[0100] Further, the basket as embodied and broadly described herein
may be installed on the door, which provides easy user access.
Furthermore, the hinge configuration of the basket may facilitate
easy exposure of an opening of the basket, resulting in convenient
access to items stored therein.
[0101] A basket is provided at a refrigerator door to achieve
convenient storage of food having a need for airtight storage
without an airtight container.
[0102] A refrigerator as embodied and broadly described herein may
include a cabinet having an inner storage space, one side of which
is open, a door pivotally rotatably coupled to the cabinet to open
or close the open side of the storage space, a mounting frame
coupled to an inner surface of the door, a basket mounted to the
mounting frame so as to be pivotally rotatable between a closed
airtight position and an open position, a locking device provided
at the mounting frame to lock or unlock the basket at the closed
airtight position, and a pivoting limiter configured to limit a
maximum pivoting angle of the basket when the basket is opened.
[0103] The mounting frame may be separably coupled to the inner
surface of the door.
[0104] The mounting frame may include a pair of sidewalls
configured to cover a portion of both sidewalls of the basket, a
bottom wall configured to cover a portion of a bottom wall of the
basket, and a top wall configured to selectively cover a top
opening of the basket.
[0105] The refrigerator may further include a pair of pivot members
configured to protrude from a lower surface of the basket, the
pivot members defining a pivot axis of the basket, and a pair of
receiving members formed at the bottom wall of the mounting frame
and configured to receive the pair of pivot members,
respectively.
[0106] The basket may include a first chamber configured to be
introduced between the sidewalls of the mounting frame, and a
second chamber located in front of the mounting frame, and a width
between the sidewalls of the basket defining the second chamber may
be greater than a width between the sidewalls of the basket
defining the first chamber.
[0107] Each sidewall of the basket may include a first sidewall
defining the first chamber, a second sidewall defining the second
chamber, and a stepped portion connected between the first sidewall
and the second sidewall.
[0108] The locking device may include a shaft mounted to the top
wall of the mounting frame, a detent protruding from each of both
ends of the shaft, the detent being configured to be engaged with
the stepped portion when the basket is in the closed airtight
position, and a button configured to pivotally rotate the
shaft.
[0109] The detent may be selectively caught by the stepped portion
of the basket so as to limit pivotal rotation of the basket.
[0110] The locking device may further include an elastic member
configured to return the shaft to an original position thereof if
pivotal rotation force is removed.
[0111] The elastic member may be a leaf spring protruding from one
side of the shaft, and an end of the leaf spring may be pressed
against an upper surface of the mounting frame.
[0112] The basket may include a grip formed at an upper end of a
front surface thereof.
[0113] The top wall of the mounting frame may be curved at a
constant radius of curvature from the pivot axis of the basket.
[0114] A guide groove may be vertically formed in the top wall of
the mounting frame, and a guide piece may protrude from an upper
end of a back wall of the basket and may be configured to be
inserted into the guide groove.
[0115] The guide groove may include a support portion provided at
an upper end thereof to support the guide piece when the basket is
in a maximum open position.
[0116] A refrigerator in accordance with another embodiment as
broadly described herein may include a cabinet having an inner
storage space, one side of which is open, a door having one end
hinged to the cabinet to open or close the open side of the storage
space via pivotal rotation thereof, a door shelf formed at an inner
surface of the door, and a basket having a storage space provided
with a top opening, the top opening being engaged with a
undersurface of the door shelf to block the storage space from the
outside when the basket is coupled to the undersurface of the door
shelf.
[0117] The refrigerator may further include an elastic sealing
member interposed between the top opening of the basket and the
door shelf when the basket is coupled to the undersurface of the
door shelf.
[0118] The basket may include a grip formed at an upper end of a
front surface thereof.
[0119] A locking groove may be formed in the undersurface of the
door shelf, and the grip may include a grip body, both ends of
which are hinged to the basket about a pivot shaft, a grip portion
extending from one side of the grip body in a direction
perpendicular to the pivot shaft, and a locking portion protruding
from the other side of the grip body in a direction perpendicular
to the pivot shaft, the locking portion being inserted into the
locking groove.
[0120] A sealing member may be provided in the locking groove to
realize close contact between the locking portion and the locking
groove when the locking portion is inserted into the locking
groove.
[0121] The pivot shaft may be provided with an elastic member to
maintain coupling between the locking groove and the locking
portion when no force is applied to the grip portion.
[0122] The refrigerator may further include a hinge portion formed
at the inner surface of the door and spaced apart from the door
shelf by a distance corresponding to a height of the basket, the
hinge portion including a hinge shaft hinged to the bottom of the
basket.
[0123] The refrigerator may further include a pair of side frames
configured to come into contact with both sidewalls of the basket,
and the sidewalls of the basket may be molded to be recessed by a
depth corresponding to a thickness of the side frames.
[0124] The refrigerator may further include a rotation stopper
configured to limit a rotation range such that pivotal rotation of
the basket is performed within a predetermined angular range.
[0125] The rotation stopper may include an anti-rotation protrusion
formed at a lower surface of the door shelf.
[0126] The rotation stopper may include a beveled ledge protruding
from a distal end of the hinge portion and having a beveled upper
surface.
[0127] The basket may be separable from the hinge portion as hinge
coupling between the basket and the hinge portion is released.
[0128] The refrigerator may further include a punching plate spaced
apart from an inner bottom surface of the basket by a predetermined
distance, the punching plate having a drain hole perforated
therethrough.
[0129] The refrigerator may further include a pedestal formed at a
lower surface of the punching plate to provide a gap between the
inner bottom surface of the basket and the punching plate.
[0130] Any reference in this specification to "one embodiment," "an
embodiment," "example embodiment," etc., means that a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with
the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the
invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the
specification are not necessarily all referring to the same
embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it
is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the
art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in
connection with other ones of the embodiments.
[0131] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a
number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood
that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by
those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope
of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various
variations and modifications are possible in the component parts
and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within
the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims.
In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts
and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to
those skilled in the art.
* * * * *