U.S. patent application number 13/910508 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-10 for refrigerator with split type shelves.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is Eunjeong KIM, Hyunjung KIM, Yongjoon KIM, Younseok LEE. Invention is credited to Eunjeong KIM, Hyunjung KIM, Yongjoon KIM, Younseok LEE.
Application Number | 20130264932 13/910508 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43569345 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130264932 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KIM; Hyunjung ; et
al. |
October 10, 2013 |
REFRIGERATOR WITH SPLIT TYPE SHELVES
Abstract
A refrigerator with split type shelves comprises: a refrigerator
body having a storage space; doors disposed on a front surface of
the refrigerator body, and configured to open and close the storage
space; first shelves installed at an inner side of the storage
space, and accommodating storage items thereon; and a shelf
assembly disposed between the first shelves and the door, and
installed so as to be movable with respect to the refrigerator body
such that front surfaces of the first shelves are exposed to a
front surface of the refrigerator body.
Inventors: |
KIM; Hyunjung; (Seoul,
KR) ; KIM; Yongjoon; (Seoul, KR) ; KIM;
Eunjeong; (Seoul, KR) ; LEE; Younseok; (Seoul,
KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KIM; Hyunjung
KIM; Yongjoon
KIM; Eunjeong
LEE; Younseok |
Seoul
Seoul
Seoul
Seoul |
|
KR
KR
KR
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
43569345 |
Appl. No.: |
13/910508 |
Filed: |
June 5, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12842073 |
Jul 23, 2010 |
|
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13910508 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
312/404 ;
312/405 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 25/027 20130101;
F25D 2323/024 20130101; F25D 23/028 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/404 ;
312/405 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/02 20060101
F25D023/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 14, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0097890 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator, comprising: a refrigerator body having a storage
space; one or more doors hinge-coupled to the refrigerator body,
and configured to open and close the storage space; one or more
first shelves installed inside the storage space; and one or more
second shelves positioned between at least one of the one or more
doors and one or more of the first shelves; wherein the one or more
second shelves are mounted on a fixing frame; and wherein the
fixing frame is rotatable with respect to the refrigerator body
independently from the one or more doors, such that front surfaces
of the second shelves are exposed to a front surface of the
refrigerator body when at least one of the one or more doors is
open and when the fixing frame is rotated outward from the
refrigerator body, and such that the front surfaces of the second
shelves and the front surfaces of the first shelves are aligned
when at least one of the one or more doors is open and when the
fixing frame is not rotated outward from the refrigerator body
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein one end of the fixing frame
is rotatably installed with respect to the refrigerator body.
3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein a central portion of the
fixing frame is rotatably installed with respect to the
refrigerator body.
4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the fixing frame comprises:
a shelf fixing portion to which the second shelves are fixed; and a
body-fixed portion coupled to the refrigerator body.
5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein a plurality of rails
slidably mounted to the refrigerator body are further included, and
wherein the body-fixed portion of the fixing frame is hinge-coupled
to the rails.
6. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the body-fixed portion is
rotatably coupled to the refrigerator body.
7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the one or more first
shelves and the one or more second shelves are formed to have
complementary shapes.
8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or
more second shelves is formed in the in the shape of a basket.
9. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein an inner side surface of
the door does not protrude toward the storage space.
10. The refrigerator of claim 4, further comprising a link member
having both ends hinge-coupled to the fixing frame and the
refrigerator body, respectively.
11. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the storage space is a
freezing chamber, the refrigerator body has a refrigerating
chamber, the one or more doors are freezing chamber doors
configured to open and close the freezing chamber in a rotatable
manner, and the fixing frame is installed on a front surface of the
freezing chamber, further comprising: one or more refrigerating
chamber doors configured to open and close the refrigerating
chamber in a rotatable manner.
12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein a rear surface of at
least one of the one or more doors freezing chamber doors has a
flat structure having no protrusions and a rear surface of at least
one of the one or more refrigerating chamber doors has a plurality
of door baskets disposed in a vertical direction.
13. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: slidable rails
mounted to the refrigerator body, wherein one end of the fixing
frame is rotatably mounted to the slidable rails.
14. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: a first rail
that includes: a first guide fixed to a bottom side of an uppermost
wall of the refrigerator body; and a first slider slidably coupled
to an inside of the first guide, an end of the first slider being
hinge-coupled to an uppermost surface of the fixing frame at an end
of the fixing frame; and a second rail that includes: a second
guide fixed to a supporting portion protruding from a lower side
wall of the refrigerator body; and a second slider slidably coupled
to an inside of the second guide, an end of the second slider being
hinge-coupled to a lowermost surface of the fixing frame at the end
of the fixing frame.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application of and claims
priority to U.S. application Ser. No. 12/842,073, filed on Jul. 23,
2010, which claims priority to Korean Application No
10-2009-0097890, filed on Oct. 14, 2009, each of the prior
applications is incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a refrigerator with split
type shelves, and particularly, to a refrigerator with split type
shelves capable of effectively utilizing an inner space of the
refrigerator.
[0004] 2. Background of the Invention
[0005] A refrigerator serves to store food items such as meat,
fish, vegetables, fruits, and beverages with a fresh state.
[0006] Generally, the refrigerator comprises a refrigerator body
having storage spaces such as a freezing chamber, a refrigerating
chamber, and a vegetable chamber; a refrigerating cycle device
disposed inside the refrigerator body, and configured to maintain
temperatures of the storage spaces as preset temperatures; and
doors disposed at one side of the refrigerator body, and configured
to open and close the storage spaces.
[0007] In order to effectively utilize a space inside the
refrigerator, a plurality of shelves are mounted to a cooling space
of the refrigerator so as to accommodate storage items thereon.
Recently, being proposed are various techniques for effectively
storing a larger amount of storage items in a limited volume
defined by the refrigerator body. Some techniques for spatial
utilization are to reduce spaces rather than a storage space, e.g.,
the refrigerating cycle device. Other techniques are to more
efficiently store food items in a limited active volume.
[0008] Implementation of the aforementioned shelves corresponds to
the latter case, and is efficient in that a space inside the
refrigerator is divided into a plurality of spaces for enhanced
spatial utilization. However, when the refrigerator is a large
capacity type of refrigerator, a depth of the shelves in back and
forth directions (i.e., a length extending from a front surface of
the refrigerator to a rear surface) is increased. This may cause a
difficulty in accommodating food items in the space of the
refrigerator, or in taking the food items out of the space. These
inconveniences may become severe in case of a refrigerator having a
narrow width in right and left directions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
a refrigerator capable of easily accommodating storage items at an
inner space of the refrigerator, or easily taking the storage items
out of the inner space.
[0010] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with
the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly
described a refrigerator with split type shelves, comprising: a
refrigerator body having a storage space; doors disposed on a front
surface of the refrigerator body, and configured to open and close
the storage space; first shelves installed at an inner side of the
storage space, and accommodating storage items thereon; and a shelf
assembly disposed between the first shelves and the door, and
installed so as to be movable with respect to the refrigerator body
so that front surfaces of the first shelves can be exposed to a
front surface of the refrigerator body.
[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a refrigerator with split type shelves, comprising: a
refrigerator body having a storage space; doors disposed on a front
surface of the refrigerator body, and configured to open and close
the storage space; first shelves installed at an inner side of the
storage space, and accommodating storage items thereon; and a shelf
assembly disposed between the first shelves and the door, and
installed so as to be slidable and rotatable with respect to the
refrigerator body.
[0012] In the present invention, a space inside the refrigerator
may be divided into a plurality of spaces horizontally partitioned
from each other by a plurality of shelves, not by one shelf, and
shelves adjacent to the door may be installed so as to be movable.
This may enhance accessibility to the space inside the
refrigerator. That is, in the present invention, a shelf may be
divided into two or more shelves in back and forth directions of
the refrigerator body, and shelves disposed at the door side may be
movably installed to enhance accessibility to the shelves disposed
inside the refrigerator. Once the shelf assembly is moved to a
front surface of the refrigerator body, front surfaces of the first
shelves disposed inside the refrigerator may be exposed to a front
surface of the refrigerator body. This may allow a user to easily
accommodate food items in the space inside the refrigerator, or to
easily take the food items out of the space.
[0013] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and
advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from
the following detailed description of the present invention when
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principles of the invention.
[0015] In the drawings:
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to
a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state that a door has
been opened according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state that a shelf
assembly has been opened according to a first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0019] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an assembly
structure of the shelf assembly according to a first embodiment of
the present invention;
[0020] FIGS. 5A to 5C are planar views showing the operation of the
refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present
invention;
[0021] FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4, which shows a
refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0022] FIG. 7 is a planar view showing the operation of the
refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0023] FIG. 8 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3, which shows a
refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present
invention; and
[0024] FIGS. 9A and 9B are planar views showing the operation of a
refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] Description will now be given in detail of the present
invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0026] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a refrigerator
according to the present invention will be explained in more detail
with reference to the attached drawings.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to
a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator 100 is a general
double-door type of refrigerator. The refrigerator 100 comprises a
refrigerator body having a storage space therein; and a freezing
chamber side door 104 and a refrigerating chamber side door 106
each hinge-coupled to a front surface of the refrigerator body 102,
and configured to open and close the storage space while being
rotated. Here, the refrigerator of the present invention is not
limited to the double-door type of refrigerator, but may be applied
to any type of refrigerator having doors hinge-coupled to a
refrigerator body and configured to be opened and closed.
[0029] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state that a door has
been opened according to a first embodiment of the present
invention. Referring to FIG. 2, a rear surface of the freezing
chamber side door 104 has a flat structure having no protrusions,
whereas a rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door 106 has a
plurality of door baskets 106a and 106b disposed in a vertical
direction. And, a plurality of shelves 120 are disposed in the
refrigerating chamber so as to divide the refrigerating chamber
into a plurality of spaces in a vertical direction. Furthermore, a
plurality of drawer-type baskets 122 having different sizes are
provided below the shelves 120.
[0030] Since the freezing chamber side door 104 is not provided
with shelves, etc. differently from the conventional art, it needs
smaller force to open or close the door. Furthermore, since the
freezing chamber side door 104 does not have food items, etc.
accommodated therein, the food items are prevented from falling
down while the door 104 is opened and closed. The rear surface of
the freezing chamber side door 104 has a flat structure having no
protrusions. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
More concretely, the rear surface of the freezing chamber side door
104 may be protruding toward an inner side of the refrigerator
body.
[0031] A shelf assembly including a fixing frame and second shelves
is installed on a front surface of the freezing chamber. The fixing
frame 110 has a rectangular shape, and is provided with a plurality
of second shelves 112a, 112b, 112c and 112d detachably mounted
therein in a vertical direction. Each of the second shelves is
provided with walls at the periphery thereof, thereby being
implemented in the form of a basket. Furthermore, since intervals
between the second shelves are set to be different from each other,
items having different heights may be stored on the second
shelves.
[0032] Especially, a pair of supporting rods 114 are installed on
rear upper sides of the two second shelves 112c and 112d disposed
at a lower side. This may prevent items stored on the second
shelves from falling down while the second shelves are moved.
[0033] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state that the shelf
assembly has been opened towards a front surface of the
refrigerator body. Referring to FIG. 3, a plurality of first
shelves 130, 140 and 150 are detachably mounted to an inner wall of
the freezing chamber at an inner side of the shelf assembly.
Supporting walls 132 and 152 are formed on front surfaces of the
upper and lower first shelves 130 and 150, thereby preventing food
items accommodated on the first shelves from being detached from
the first shelves. And, the supporting walls and the first shelves
are formed of transparent materials, thereby allowing a user to
easily check food items accommodated on the first shelves.
[0034] A bottom surface of the first shelf and a bottom surface of
the second shelf are arranged so as to have the same height.
However, the present invention is not limited to this. That is, the
bottom surface of the first shelf and the bottom surface of the
second shelf are arranged so as to have different heights from each
other.
[0035] The shelf assembly is mounted to the refrigerator body so as
to be slidable and rotatable. More concretely, upper and lower
surfaces of the fixing frame 110 of the shelf assembly serve as a
body-fixed portion, and right and left surfaces thereof serve as a
shelf fixing portion for fixing the second shelves. The body-fixed
portion is rotatably mounted to a pair of rails 160 fixedly
installed to the refrigerator body 102.
[0036] One end of the fixing frame 110 of the shelf assembly is
rotatably mounted to the rails 160. However, the present invention
is not limited to this. More concretely, a central portion of the
shelf assembly, or a part between the central portion and an end
portion may be rotatably coupled to the rails 160.
[0037] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing an assembly
structure of the shelf assembly according to a first embodiment of
the present invention.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 4, hinge coupling holes 110a are formed at
upper and lower portions of the fixing frame 110. The hinge
coupling holes 110a are hinge-coupled to end portions of sliders
162 of the rails 160 by bolts 166. The slider 162 of one rail 160
is slidably coupled to inside of a guide 164, and the guide 164 is
fixed to a bottom side of an upper surface of the refrigerator
body. The other rail 160 is fixed to a supporting portion 102a
protruding from a lower side wall of the refrigerator body. Under
these configurations, while the sliders perform a sliding motion in
the guides, the shelf assembly performs a sliding motion in back
and forth directions of the refrigerator body, and is rotated
centering around the hinge coupling holes.
[0039] FIGS. 5A to 5C are planar views showing a movable state of
the shelf assembly.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 5A, the first shelf 130 occupies about 2/3
of a horizontal sectional surface of the freezing chamber, whereas
the second shelf 112a occupies the rest 1/3. FIG. 5A shows a state
that the shelf assembly is arranged between the door and the first
shelf. Under this state, even if the door is opened, the second
shelf disposed in front of the first shelf, and items accommodated
in the second shelf serve as a cool air shielding wall.
Accordingly, cool air loss occurring from an upper space of the
first shelf may be prevented.
[0041] It is preferable to store frequently used items on the
second shelves, whereas it is preferable to store items having a
low usage frequency on the first shelves. In case of a general
usage, the user may accommodate frequently used items in the second
shelves, or take the frequently used items out of the second
shelves by merely opening the door.
[0042] In order to accommodate items into the first shelves or take
the items out of the first shelves, as shown in FIG. 5B, the shelf
assembly is pulled towards a front surface of the door. As a
result, the slider 162 is protruding from the guide 164, and the
shelf assembly is protruding towards a front surface of the
refrigerator body. Under this state, once the right side of the
shelf assembly is pulled out, the shelf assembly is clockwise
rotated as shown in FIG. 5C. At the same time, front surfaces of
the first shelves expose the front surface of the refrigerator
body. Under this state, the user is easily accessible to the first
shelves, thereby easily accommodating items into the first shelves
or taking the items out of the first shelves.
[0043] Furthermore, since the door has no baskets on its rear
surface, the door may have a light weight. This may allow the door
to be easily opened, and may prevent falling down of items inside
the refrigerator due to impacts occurring when the door is opened,
or damages of the refrigerator.
[0044] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a refrigerator
according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The same
reference numerals as those of the first embodiment will be given
to the same parts as those of the first embodiment, and the same
explanations will be omitted.
[0045] The second embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is different from the
first embodiment in that the shelf assembly is rotatably mounted to
the refrigerator body. That is, the fixing frame 110 is
hinge-coupled between a bottom portion of an upper surface of the
refrigerator body and the supporting portion 102a. Accordingly, the
fixing frame 110 does not perform a sliding motion implemented in
the first embodiment. As a result, the refrigerator of the second
embodiment has a simpler configuration than that of the first
embodiment. However, when the second shelves have a deep depth in
back and forth directions of the refrigerator body, corners of the
second shelves being rotated may interfered with inner walls of the
refrigerator body.
[0046] In order to prevent the interference, as shown in FIGS. 6
and 7, portions near vertexes of second shelves 212a, 212b, 212c
and 212d are formed in circular arc shapes. In this case, first
shelves 230, 240 and 250 facing the second shelves are formed to
have complementary shapes to the second shelves. More concretely,
when the first shelves are formed in straight lines, spaces formed
between the first shelves and the second shelves are not
utilizable. Accordingly, the respective first shelves 230, 240 and
250, and one side ends of supporting walls 232 and 252 positioned
at the ends of the first shelves are formed in circular arc
shapes.
[0047] FIG. 8 is a view showing a refrigerator according to a third
embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment is
similar to the second embodiment, but is different from the second
embodiment in that the shelf assembly is coupled to the
refrigerator body. Accordingly, the same reference numerals as
those of the second embodiment will be given to the same parts as
those of the second embodiment, and the same explanations will be
omitted.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 8, the shelf assembly and the refrigerator
body are coupled to each other by a link member 260. More
concretely, the link member 260 has a bar shape extending in a
length direction, and has both ends hinge-coupled to the
refrigerator body and the fixing frame, respectively. That is, the
fixing frame is double hinge-coupled to the refrigerator body. In
the third embodiment, the shelf assembly is protruding towards the
front surface of the refrigerator body by a length of the link
member 260, thereby enhancing accessibility to the first shelved
disposed in the refrigerator.
[0049] FIGS. 9A and 9B are planar views showing a rotation process
of the shelf assembly according to the third embodiment of the
present invention.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 9A, the fixing frame is counterclockwise
rotated at the right end of the link member 260, whereas the fixing
frame is clockwise rotated at the left end of the link member 260.
This may cause the shelf assembly to be opened in a protruding
state towards the front surface of the refrigerator body as shown
in FIG. 5B.
[0051] Under this state, once the shelf assembly is more rotated in
a clockwise direction, the protruding length of the shelf assembly
is increased.
[0052] The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely
exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present
disclosure. The present teachings can be readily applied to other
types of apparatuses. This description is intended to be
illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims. Many
alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to
those skilled in the art. The features, structures, methods, and
other characteristics of the exemplary embodiments described herein
may be combined in various ways to obtain additional and/or
alternative exemplary embodiments.
[0053] As the present features may be embodied in several forms
without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also
be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited
by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless
otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within
its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all
changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of
the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore
intended to be embraced by the appended claims.
* * * * *