U.S. patent application number 15/628038 was filed with the patent office on 2017-10-05 for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Byoung Mok KIM, Seong Woo KIM, Hyun Sang YOO, Woo Yeol YOO.
Application Number | 20170284730 15/628038 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49726664 |
Filed Date | 2017-10-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170284730 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
YOO; Woo Yeol ; et
al. |
October 5, 2017 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
A refrigerator capable of varying the positions of a plurality
of door guards provided at an opening of a refrigerating door, in
which when an outer door configured to open and close the opening
is closed in a state that a door guard is withdrawn, the door guard
comes into contact with the outer door and thus is automatically
inserted.
Inventors: |
YOO; Woo Yeol; (Gwangju,
KR) ; YOO; Hyun Sang; (Gwangju, KR) ; KIM;
Byoung Mok; (Kwangju-City, KR) ; KIM; Seong Woo;
(Anyang-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. |
Suwon-si |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
49726664 |
Appl. No.: |
15/628038 |
Filed: |
June 20, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
15016369 |
Feb 5, 2016 |
9702613 |
|
|
15628038 |
|
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|
14105715 |
Dec 13, 2013 |
9285155 |
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15016369 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/00 20130101;
F25D 23/021 20130101; F25D 25/025 20130101; F25D 23/04 20130101;
E05D 15/04 20130101; F25D 23/025 20130101; A47B 88/467 20170101;
E05F 3/18 20130101; F25D 23/028 20130101; F25D 23/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 25/02 20060101
F25D025/02; F25D 23/02 20060101 F25D023/02; F25D 23/00 20060101
F25D023/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 23, 2013 |
KR |
10-2013-0019523 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising: a body; a storage compartment
provided at an inside of the body so as to be open at a front
surface thereof, and having a refrigerating compartment and a
freezing compartment; an inner door formed with an opening in which
a plurality of door guards are provided, the inner door being
configured to open and close the refrigerating compartment; an
outer door to open and close the opening provided at the inner
door; a guide rail allowing at least one of the plurality of door
guards to be inserted and withdrawn in a sliding manner; a slide
unit connected to the at least one door guard, wherein the slide
unit is capable of sliding along the guide rail such that the at
least one door guard can be inserted or withdrawn; an elastic unit
coupled to the slide unit to transmit a tensile force in a
direction of the at least one door guard being inserted; and an
automatic closing unit coupled to the at least one door guard, and
configured to allow the elastic unit to transmit the tensile force
to the at least one door guard when the outer door is closing,
whereby the closing outer door comes into contact with the at least
one door guard when the at least one door guard is withdrawn.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 15/016,369 filed Feb. 5, 2016, which is a
Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/105,715 filed
Dec. 13, 2013, now patented as U.S. Pat. No. 9,285,155, which
claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No.
10-2013-0019523, filed Feb. 23, 2013 in the Korean Intellectual
Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a
refrigerator.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] In general, a refrigerator represents an apparatus having a
storage compartment, and a cool air supply device to supply the
storage compartment with cool air so as to keep foods fresh.
[0004] The temperature of the storage compartment is maintained in
a predetermined range of temperature required to keep food
fresh.
[0005] The storage compartment is provided so as to be open at a
front surface thereof, and the open front surface may be closed by
a door to maintain the temperature of the storage compartment at a
sufficiently cool temperature.
[0006] The storage compartment is divided into a left side and a
right side by a partition wall, and the storage compartments
divided into the left and right side are open and closed by double
side doors that are rotatably hinged.
[0007] A refrigerating compartment door to open and close a
refrigerating compartment of the storage compartments is formed
with an opening, and the opening of the refrigerating compartment
door is open and closed by an outer door.
[0008] A plurality of door guards provided at the opening are
disposed at fixed positions so as not to be moved, whereby the
efficiency in accommodating food items and the usability are
degraded.
SUMMARY
[0009] Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to
provide a refrigerator capable of varying the positions of a
plurality of door guards provided at an opening of a refrigerating
compartment door.
[0010] In addition, it is another aspect of the present disclosure
to provide a refrigerator, in which, when an outer door configured
to open and close the opening is closed in a state that a door
guard is withdrawn, the door guard comes into contact with the
outer door and thus is automatically inserted.
[0011] Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in
part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious
from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
disclosure.
[0012] In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure,
a refrigerator includes a body, a storage compartment, an inner
door, an outer door, a guide rail, a slide unit, a slid unit, an
elastic unit, and an automatic closing unit. The storage
compartment may be provided at an inside of the body so as to be
open at a front surface thereof, and have a refrigerating
compartment and a freezing compartment. The inner door may be
formed with an opening at which a plurality of door guards are
provided, and may be configured to open and close the refrigerating
compartment. The outer door may be configured to open and close the
opening provided at the inner door. The guide rail may allow at
least one of the plurality of door guards to be inserted and
withdrawn in a sliding manner. The slide unit may be connected to
the at least one door guard so as to be slid along the guide rail
such that the at least one door guard is inserted and withdrawn.
The elastic unit may be coupled to the slide unit to transmit a
tensile force in a direction of the at least one door guard being
inserted. The automatic closing unit may be coupled to the at least
one door guard, and configured to allow the elastic unit to
transmit a tensile force to the at least one door guard when the
outer door is closed and comes into the at least one door guard in
a state in which the at least one door guard is withdrawn.
[0013] The guide rail may include a support part supported by both
side walls of the opening, and a rail part extending from the
support part to guide the at least one door guard.
[0014] The rail part may include a first rail part provided
adjacent to a left side wall of both side walls, and a second rail
part provided adjacent to a right side wall of both side walls, and
a locking part protruding upward may be provided on the second rail
part.
[0015] A case may be coupled to a lower portion of the at least one
door guard, and the slide unit may be coupled to the case to move
along the rail part such that the at least one door guard is
inserted and withdrawn.
[0016] The slide unit may include a first sliding part coupled to a
lower portion of the case to correspond to the first rail part, a
second sliding part coupled to a lower portion of the case to
correspond to the second rail part, first slide rails coupled to
the first rail part and the second rail part, respectively, and
second slid rails coupled to lower portions of the first sliding
part and the second sliding part, respectively, so as to be slid
along the first slide rails.
[0017] The elastic unit may include an elastic member having one
end fixed to the second sliding part to transmit the tensile force
to the at least one door guard, a connection member having a
coupling part, to which other end of the elastic member is coupled,
and configured to move back and force so as to allow the elastic
member to generate the tensile force, and a rotator rotatably
coupled to a first rotation hole formed through the connection
member.
[0018] The rotator may include a first rotating shaft rotatably
coupled to the first rotation hole, a hook part locked with and
released from the locking part provided on the second rail part,
and a protrusion part protruding from the rotator downward.
[0019] The second sliding part may include a fixing part to which
the one end of the elastic member is fixed, an accommodation part
in which the elastic unit is accommodated, and a guide rail to
guide the protrusion part.
[0020] The guide rail may include a straight line path along which
the protrusion part performs a straight linear motion in a front
and back direction, and a locking groove provided at an end portion
of the straight line path so as to allow the protrusion part, while
performing a straight linear motion on the straight line path, to
be locked with the locking groove as the rotator rotates on the
first rotating shaft.
[0021] The rotator may move in the same direction as the at least
one door guard together with the at least one door guard when the
at least one door guard is withdrawn, such that the hook part is
locked with the locking part, and if the at least door guard is
withdrawn in a state in which the hook part is locked with the
locking part, the protrusion part may move in an opposite direction
to the at least one door guard along the straight line path, such
that the tensile force is generated from the elastic member coupled
to the connection member.
[0022] The rotator, if the withdrawing of the at least one door
guard is completed, may rotate on the first rotating shaft
clockwise as the protrusion part having moved along the straight
line path moves along the locking groove, and according to the
rotation of the rotator, the hook part may be released from the
locking part and the protrusion part is locked with the locking
groove, so that the tensile force of the elastic member is
maintained.
[0023] The automatic closing unit may include a first lever
rotatably coupled to the case to come into contact with the outer
door, a second lever rotatably coupled to the case to come into
contact with the rotator, and a link connecting the first lever to
the second lever.
[0024] The case may include a second rotating shaft, a third
rotating shaft, and an opening formed adjacent to the second
rotating shaft, and the first lever may be formed with a second
rotation hole rotatably coupled to the second rotating shaft, and
the second lever may be formed with a third rotation hole rotatably
coupled to the third rotating shaft.
[0025] If the at least one door guard is withdrawn, the rotator may
rotate clockwise to allow the second lever to rotate on the third
rotating shaft clockwise, and as the second lever rotates
clockwise, the first lever connected to the second lever through
the link may rotate on the second rotating counterclockwise such
that a part of the first lever protrudes outside the case through
the opening of the case.
[0026] If the outer door is closed in a state in which the at least
one door guard is withdrawn, the first lever protruding outside the
case may rotate on the second rotating shaft clockwise by the outer
door, and as the first lever rotates clockwise, the second lever
connected to the first lever through the link, while rotating on
the third rotating shaft counterclockwise, pushes the rotator to
rotate on the first rotating shaft counterclockwise, so that the
protrusion part is released from the locking groove and the at
least one door guard is inserted by the tensile force of the
elastic member.
[0027] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
a refrigerator includes a body, a storage compartment, a door, a
guide rail, a slide unit, an elastic unit, and an automatic closing
unit. The storage compartment may be provided at an inside of the
body so as to be open at a front surface thereof, and provided at
an inside thereof with a plurality of storage containers. The door
may be configured to open and close the storage compartment. The
guide rail may allow at least one of the plurality of storage
containers to be inserted and withdrawn in a sliding manner. The
slide unit may be coupled to the at least one storage container so
as to be slid along the guide rail such that the at least one
storage container is inserted and withdrawn. The elastic unit may
be coupled to the slide unit to transmit a tensile force in a
direction of the at least one storage container being inserted. The
automatic closing unit may be coupled to the at least one storage
container, and allow the elastic unit to transmit the tensile force
to the at least one storage container if the door is closed and the
automatic closing unit comes into contact with the door in a state
in which the at least storage container is withdrawn.
[0028] The refrigerator may further include a guide rail allowing
at least one of the plurality of storage containers to be inserted
and withdrawn in a sliding manner, and a slide unit coupled to the
at least one storage container so as to be slid along the guide
rail such that the at least one storage container is inserted and
withdrawn.
[0029] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
a sliding device allowing a plurality of door guards provided at an
opening that is provided at an inner door, which is configured to
open and close a storage compartment, and is open and closed by an
outer door, to be inserted and withdrawn in a sliding manner
includes a guide rail, a case, a slide unit, an elastic unit, and
an automatic closing unit. The guide rail may be supported by both
side walls of the opening so as to allow at least one of the
plurality of door guards to be inserted and withdrawn in a sliding
manner. The case may be coupled to a lower portion of the at least
one door guard. The slide unit may be coupled to the case so as to
be slid along the guide rail such that the at least one door guard
is inserted and withdrawn. The elastic unit may be coupled to the
slide unit to transmit a tensile force in a direction of the at
least one door guard being inserted. The automatic closing unit may
be coupled to the case, and allow the elastic unit to transmit the
tensile force to the at least one door guard if the outer door is
closed and the automatic closing unit may come into contact with
the outer door in a state in which the at least one door guard is
withdrawn, so that the at least one door guard is closed.
[0030] The guide rail may include a support part supported by both
side walls of the opening, and a rail part extending from the
support part toward inside the storage compartment to guide the at
least one door guard.
[0031] The rail part may include a first rail part provided
adjacent to a left side wall of both side walls, and a second rail
part provided adjacent to a right side wall of both side walls, and
a locking part protruding upward may be provided at the second rail
part.
[0032] The elastic unit may include an elastic member having one
end fixed to the sliding unit to transmit the tensile force to the
at least one door guard, a connection member having a coupling
part, to which other end of the elastic member is coupled, and
configured to move back and force so as to allow the elastic member
to generate the tensile, and a rotator rotatably coupled to a first
rotation hole formed through the connection member.
[0033] The rotator may include a first rotating shaft rotatably
coupled to the first rotation hole, a hook part locked with and
released from the locking part provided on the second rail part,
and a protrusion part protruding from the rotator downward.
[0034] The slide unit may include a second sliding part coupled to
the case to correspond to the second rail part, and the second
sliding part may include a fixing part to which the one end of the
elastic member is fixed, an accommodation part in which the elastic
unit is accommodated, and a guide rail to guide the protrusion
part.
[0035] The guide rail may include a straight line path along which
the protrusion part performs a straight linear motion in a front
and back direction, and a locking groove provided at an end portion
of the straight line path so as to allow the protrusion part, while
performing a straight linear motion on the straight line path, to
be locked with the locking groove as the rotator rotates on the
first rotating shaft.
[0036] The automatic closing unit may include a first lever
rotatably coupled to the case to come into contact with the outer
door, a second lever rotatably coupled to the case to come into
contact with the rotator, and a link connecting the first lever to
the second lever.
[0037] The case may include a second rotating shaft, a third
rotating shaft, and an opening formed adjacent to the second
rotating shaft, and the first lever may be formed with a second
rotation hole rotatably coupled to the second rotating shaft, and
the second lever may be formed with a third rotation hole rotatably
coupled to the third rotating shaft.
[0038] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
a sliding device configured to allow a storage container, which is
provided inside a storage compartment, to be inserted and withdraw
in a sliding manner includes a case, a guide rail, a sliding unit,
and an automatic closing unit. The case may be coupled to a lower
portion of the storage container. The guide rail may allow the
storage container to be inserted and withdrawn in a sliding manner.
The sliding unit may be coupled to the case so as to be slide along
the guide rail. The elastic unit may be coupled to the slide unit
so as to transmit a tensile force in a direction of the storage
container being inserted. The automatic closing unit may be coupled
to the case and configured to allow the elastic unit to transmit a
tensile force to the storage container if a door is closed and the
automatic closing unit comes into the door in a state in which the
storage container is withdrawn, so that the storage container is
closed.
[0039] As is apparent from the above, the efficiency in
accommodating stuff and the usability are maximized, the door guard
is prevented from being broken, and the stuff accommodated in the
door guard is safely protected.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0040] These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become
apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings of which:
[0041] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator in
accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0042] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an opening state
of a refrigerating compartment door and an outer door of the
refrigerator in accordance with an embodiment of the present
disclosure;
[0043] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating an open state of
an outer door of the refrigerator in accordance with an embodiment
of the present disclosure;
[0044] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating an open state of a
refrigerating compartment door of the refrigerator in accordance
with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0045] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a door guard being
withdrawn in a state that an outer door of the refrigerator is open
in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0046] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a door
guard and a sliding device of the refrigerator in accordance with
an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0047] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a
sliding device of the refrigerator in accordance with an embodiment
of the present disclosure;
[0048] FIGS. 8 to 10 are drawings illustrating a process of a door
guard being withdrawn in accordance with an embodiment of the
present disclosure; and
[0049] FIGS. 11 and 12 are drawings illustrating a process of a
door guard automatically being inserted when an outer door is
closed in a state that the door guard is withdrawn in accordance
with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0050] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to
like elements throughout.
[0051] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 6, the refrigerator may
include, for example, a body 10, a storage compartment 20 provided
inside the body 10 so as to be open at a front surface thereof, a
door 30 including a refrigerating compartment door 31 having an
opening 31a and configured to open and close the storage
compartment 20, and an outer door 35 to open and close the opening
31a provided at the refrigerating compartment door 31, an upper
hinge 40 and a lower hinge 50 allowing the door 30 to be rotatably
coupled to the body 10, and a sliding device 100 allowing a
plurality of door guards 37 provided at the opening 31a of the
refrigerating compartment door 31, to be inserted and withdrawn in
a sliding manner. In an embodiment, the plurality of door guards 37
may be alternatively embodied as a plurality of storage containers
or a plurality of door bins.
[0052] The body 10 includes an inner case (not shown) forming the
storage compartment 20 and an outer case (not shown) forming the
external appearance, and includes a cool air supply device (not
shown) to supply the storage compartment 20 with cool air.
[0053] The cool air supply device includes a compressor, a
condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, a blower fan, and a
cool air duct, and heat insulation material (not shown), which is
blown into a space between the inner case and the outer case to
prevent cool air of the storage compartment 20 from leaking.
[0054] The body 10 is provided at a lower rear side thereof with a
machine room (not shown) in which the compressor to compress
refrigerant and the condenser to condense the compressed
refrigerant are installed.
[0055] The storage compartment 20 is divided into left and right
sides by a partition wall 11 to form a refrigerating compartment 21
at the right side of the body 10, and a freezing compartment 23 at
the left side of the body 10.
[0056] A plurality of shelves 25 are provided at the refrigerating
compartment 21 to divide the refrigerating compartment 21 into a
plurality of spaces.
[0057] The refrigerating compartment 21 and the freezing
compartment 23 are opened and closed by the refrigerating
compartment door 31 and a freezing compartment door 33,
respectively, which are pivotably coupled to the body 10, and the
upper hinge 40 and the lower hinge 50 are coupled to an upper
portion and a lower portion of the body 10, respectively, such that
the refrigerating compartment door 31 and the freezing compartment
door 33 are rotatably coupled to the body 10.
[0058] The refrigerating compartment door 31 is formed with the
opening 31a, and the plurality of door guards 37 are provided at
opening 31a.
[0059] The plurality of door guards 37 are provided so as to be
alternatively inserted and withdrawn in a sliding manner by the
sliding device 100, and the configuration of the sliding device 100
will be described later. For example, the plurality of door guards
37 may be pulled out or withdrawn away from the refrigerating
compartment 21 and then may be inserted or pushed back into the
refrigerating compartment 21 in a sliding manner by the sliding
device 100, in order to more readily access food items stored using
the door guards 37.
[0060] A refrigerating compartment door grip 31c and a freezing
compartment door grip 33a are provided at the refrigerating
compartment door 31 and the freezing compartment door 33,
respectively. The grips 31c and 33a may be gripped by a user to
open the refrigerating compartment door 31 and the freezing
compartment door 33, respectively.
[0061] The opening 31a provided at the refrigerating compartment
door 31 is open and closed by the outer door 35, and for the sake
of convenience, the refrigerating compartment door 31 may be
referred to as an inner door.
[0062] Separately from the refrigerating compartment door 31 and
the freezing compartment door 33, the outer door 35 is also
provided with an outer door grip 35a that may be gripped by a user
to open the outer door 35.
[0063] Since the opening 31a provided at the inner door 31 has a
size corresponding to the refrigerating compartment 21, the
plurality of door guards 37 provided over the entire area of the
refrigerating compartment 21, rather than a part of the
refrigerating compartment 21, may be accessed or used by opening
the outer door 35.
[0064] The upper hinge 40 and the lower hinge 50 are coupled at the
upper portion and the lower portion of the body 10, respectively,
such that each of the refrigerating compartment door 31 and the
freezing compartment door 33 is rotatably coupled to the body 10,
and each of the upper hinge 40 and the lower hinge 50 may be
coupled to the outer door 35 and the refrigerating compartment door
31, which represents the inner door and on which the outer door 35
is provided.
[0065] Referring to FIGS. 5 to 8, the door guard 37 provided at the
opening 31a in a plurality of units thereof are inserted and
withdrawn in a sliding manner by the sliding device 100.
[0066] Although some of the plurality of door guards 37 are
illustrated as fixed at both side walls 31b of the opening 31a and
others of the plurality of door guards 37 are illustrated as being
slidable by the sliding device 100 in FIGS. 5 to 8, all of the
plurality of door guards 37 may be provided so as to be fixed to
both side walls 31b or all of the plurality of door guards 37 may
be provided so as to be slidable by the sliding device 100, or any
combination of fixed or slidable door guards may be provided.
[0067] In addition, although the door guard 37 fixed to both side
walls 31b of the opening 31a is illustrated to have a shape
different from that of the door guard 37 slid by the sliding device
100, both of the door guards 37 may have the same shape, or the
shapes of the door guards 37 may switched.
[0068] The sliding device 100 includes a guide rail 150 supported
by both side walls 31b of the opening 31a of the inner door 31 to
allow the door guard 37 to be inserted and withdrawn in a sliding
manner, a case 110 coupled to a lower portion of the door guard 37,
a slide unit 120 coupled to the case 110 so as to be slid along the
guide rail 150, an elastic unit 130 to transmit a tensile force in
a direction of the door guard 37 being inserted, and an automatic
closing unit 140 configured to allow the elastic unit 130 to
transmit a tensile force to the door guard 37 such that the door
guard 37 is automatically inserted.
[0069] The guide rail 150 is supported by both side walls 31b of
the opening 31a of the inner door 31 to guide the door guard 37 to
be inserted and withdrawn in a sliding manner.
[0070] The guide rail 150 includes a support part 151 supported by
both side walls 31b of the opening 31a, and a rail part 153
provided to extend from the support part 151 toward an interior of
the refrigerating compartment 21 to guide the door guard 37.
[0071] Although not shown, in order to firmly fix the support part
151, a reinforcing member may be provided at both side walls 31b of
the opening 31a such that the support part 151 is fixed to the
reinforcing member.
[0072] The rail part 153 includes a first rail part 155 provided
adjacent to a left side wall of side walls 31b, and a second rail
part 157 provided adjacent to a right side wall of the side walls
31b.
[0073] The second rail part 157 is provided with a locking part
157a which protrudes upward and with which a hook part 135b of a
rotator 135 of the elastic unit 130 may be locked and released from
being locked. A more detailed description of the locking part 157a
is provided later.
[0074] The case 110 is coupled to the lower portion of the door
guard 37, and includes a second rotating shaft 111 and a third
rotating shaft 113, which are coupled to a second rotation hole
141a and a third rotation hole 143a, respectively, which are formed
at a first lever 141 and a second lever 143 of the automatic
closing unit 140, respectively, and an opening 115 provided
adjacent to the second rotating shaft 111.
[0075] The second rotation hole 141a formed through the first lever
141 is rotatably coupled to the second rotating shaft 111, and the
third rotation hole 143a formed through the second lever 143 is
rotatably coupled to the third rotating shaft 113.
[0076] The opening 115 is provided adjacent to the second rotating
shaft 111 such that the first lever 141 protrudes to the outside
when the door guard 37 is withdrawn or in a state of being
partially withdrawn, and thus when the outer door 35 is closed, the
first lever 141 makes contact with the outer door 35.
[0077] The slide unit 120 includes a first sliding part 121 coupled
to a lower portion of the case 110 to correspond to the first rail
part 155, a second sliding part 122 coupled to a lower portion of
the case 110 to correspond to the second rail part 157, first slide
rails 126 coupled to upper portions of the first rail part 155 and
the second rail part 157, respectively, and second slide rails 127
coupled to lower portions of the first sliding part 121 and the
second sliding part 122, respectively, so as to be slid along the
first slide rail 126.
[0078] The first slide rails 126 are fixedly coupled to the upper
portions of the first rail part 155 and the second rail part 157,
respectively, and allow the second slide rails 127 fixedly coupled
to the lower portions of the first sliding part 121 and the second
sliding part 122, respectively, to be moved therealong such that
the door guard 36 coupled to the case 110 is slidably moved in the
front and back direction.
[0079] The second sliding part 122 includes a fixing part 123 to
which one end of the elastic member 131 of the elastic unit 130 is
fixed, an accommodation part 124 in which the elastic unit 131 is
accommodated, and a guide rail 125 to guide a protrusion part 135c
provided on the rotator 135 of the elastic unit 130.
[0080] The guide rail 125 includes a straight line path 125a along
which the protrusion part 135c provided on the rotator 135 performs
a straight linear motion in a front and back direction, and a
locking groove 125b provided at an end portion of the straight line
path 125a so as to allow the protrusion part 135c, while performing
a straight linear motion on the straight line path 125a, to be
locked with the locking groove 125b as the rotator 135 rotates on a
first rotating shaft 135a.
[0081] The elastic member 131 having the one end fixed to the
fixing part 123 generates a tensile force with the other end moving
in a direction away from the fixing part 123. A more detailed
description thereof will be provided later.
[0082] The elastic unit 130 includes the elastic member 131 having
one end fixed to the second sliding part 122 to generate a tensile
force, a connection member 133 to which the other end of the
elastic member 131 is coupled, and the rotator 135 connected to the
connection member 133 so as to allow the connection member 133 to
move in a front and back direction and configured to move while
being guided by the guide rail 125.
[0083] In an embodiment, the elastic member 131 has one end fixed
to the fixing part 123 of the second sliding part 122 and has the
other end coupled to the connection member 133. As the connection
member 133 moves away from the fixing part 123, the elastic member
131 accumulates a tensile force, and the accumulated tensile force
acts in an insertion direction of the door guard 37 by the
automatic closing unit 140 that operates in contact with the outer
door 35, so that the door guard 37 is automatically closed.
[0084] The connection member 133 includes a coupling part 133a, to
which the other end of the elastic member 131 is coupled, and a
first rotation hole 133b coupled to the rotator 135.
[0085] The rotator 135 includes the first rotating shaft 135a
rotatably coupled to the first rotation hole 133b formed through
the connection member 133, the hook part 135b locked with and
released from the locking part 157a provided on the second rail
part 157, and the protrusion part 135c protruding from a lower side
of the rotator 135.
[0086] The hook part 135b is locked with the locking part 157a
during a process of withdrawing the door guard 37. As the hook part
135b is locked with the locking part 157a, the other end of the
elastic member 131, coupled to the connection member 133, is fixed
and the one end of the elastic member 131 moves together with the
door guard 37 in the direction in which the door guard 37 is being
withdrawn, so that the elastic member 131 generates a tensile
force.
[0087] In order for the elastic member 131 to generate a tensile
force, the protrusion part 135c moves along the straight line path
125a of the guide rail 125, and if the withdrawing of the door
guard 37 is completed, the rotator 135 rotates on the first
rotating shaft 135a clockwise and the protrusion part 135c is
locked with the locking groove 125b, so that the elastic member 131
maintains the tensile force.
[0088] The automatic closing unit 140 includes the first lever 141
rotatably coupled to the case 110 to make contact with the outer
door 35, the second lever 143 rotatably coupled to the case 110 to
make contact with the rotator 135, and a link 145 connecting the
first lever 141 to the second lever 142.
[0089] The automatic closing unit 140 is coupled to a right portion
of the case 110 adjacent to a portion of the inner door 31 at which
the upper hinge 40 and the lower hinge 50 are provided, such that
the automatic closing unit 140 makes contact with the outer door 35
when the outer door 35 is closed.
[0090] The first lever 141 of the door 30 having the upper hinge 40
and the lower hinge 50, which are configured to rotatably couple
the door 30 to the body 10, is formed with the second rotation hole
141a rotatably coupled to the second rotating shaft 111 of the case
110, and the second lever 143 is formed with the third rotation
hole 143a rotatably coupled to the third rotating shaft 113.
[0091] In a state in which the door guard 37 is being pulled out or
withdrawn from the first lever 141 partially protrudes to the
outside through the opening 114 formed through the case 110, and if
the outer door 35 is closed while the door guard 37 is withdrawn,
the first lever 141 protruding to the outside comes into contact
with the outer door 35 before the door guard 37 comes into contact
with the outer door 35.
[0092] Upon contact with the outer door 35, the first lever 141
rotates clockwise, and then is inserted into the case 110, and
according to the rotation of the first lever 141, the second lever
143 connected to the first lever 141 through the link 145 rotates
counterclockwise to operate the elastic unit 130, so that the door
guard 37 is automatically inserted by the tensile force of the
elastic member 131.
[0093] Hereinafter, a process of inserting and withdrawing the door
guard 37 with the sliding device 100 will be described with
reference to FIG. 5 and FIGS. 8 to 12.
[0094] Referring to FIG. 8, in a state in which the door guard 37
is inserted, the first lever 141 of the automatic closing unit 140
is accommodated in the case 110.
[0095] If the inserted door guard 37 is withdrawn as shown in FIG.
9, the case 110 coupled to the door guard 37 also moves together
with the door guard 37 in a direction of the door guard 37 being
withdrawn, and the second sliding part 122 of the sliding unit 120
coupled to the case 110 also moves in the direction of the door
guard 37 being withdrawn.
[0096] If the second sliding part 122 moves in the direction of the
door guard 37 being withdrawn, the elastic unit 130 fixed to the
fixing part 123 of the second sliding part 122 moves together with
the second sliding part 122 in the direction of the door guard 37
being withdrawn.
[0097] If the door guard 37 is partially withdrawn, the hook part
135b provided on the rotator 135 of the elastic unit 130 is locked
with the locking part 157a provided on the second rail part
157.
[0098] As the hook part 135b is locked with the locking part 157a,
the rotator 135, the connection member 133 connected to the rotator
135, and the other end of the elastic member 131 coupled to the
connection member 133 are fixed, and the one end of the elastic
member 131 coupled to the fixing part 123 of the second sliding
part 122 moves together with the second sliding part 122 to
generate a tensile force at the elastic member 131.
[0099] While the one end of the elastic member 131 is moving
together with the second sliding part 122 in the direction of the
door guard 37 being withdrawn, the protrusion part 135c of the
rotator 135 is guided along the guide rail 125 provided on the
second sliding part 122 so as to be moved in a direction opposite
to the direction of the door guard 37, which is being withdrawn,
with respect to the guide rail 125.
[0100] If the withdrawing of the door guard 37 is completed as
shown in FIG. 10, the protrusion part 135c, while being guided
along the straight line path 125a of the guide rail 125, is guided
to the locking groove 125b provided at an end portion of the
straight line path 125a.
[0101] Since the rotator 135 is coupled to the connection member
133 so as to rotate on the first rotating shaft 135a, when the
rotator 135 rotates clockwise, the protrusion part 135c is guided
to the locking groove 125b.
[0102] The protrusion part 135c guided to the locking groove 125b
maintains a locked state with the locking groove 125b to maintain
the tensile force of the elastic member 131, and the rotator 135,
which rotates clockwise, making contact with the second lever 143
pushes the second lever 143 such that the second lever 143 rotates
clockwise on the third rotating shaft 113.
[0103] If the second lever 143 rotates clockwise, the first lever
141 connected to the second lever 143 through the link 145 rotates
counterclockwise on the second rotating shaft 111, so that a part
of the first lever 141 protrudes through the opening 115 formed
through the case 110.
[0104] When the withdrawing of the door guard 37 has been
completed, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 10, a part of the first lever
141 of the automatic closing unit 140 protrudes to the outside
through the opening 115 formed through the case 110.
[0105] When the outer door 35 is closed while the door guard 37 is
withdrawn, as shown in FIG. 11, the first lever 141 making contact
with the outer door 35 rotates on the second rotating shaft 111
clockwise, and the second lever 143 connected to the first lever
141 through the link 145 rotates counterclockwise on the third
rotating shaft 113.
[0106] The second lever 143 rotating counterclockwise pushes the
rotator 135, the protrusion part 135c of which is locked with the
locking groove 125b, and thus the rotator 135 rotates
counterclockwise on the first rotating shaft 135a.
[0107] As the rotator 135 rotates counterclockwise, the protrusion
part 135c locked with the locking groove 125b escapes from the
locking groove 125b and moves along the straight line path
125a.
[0108] As the protrusion part 135c moves along the straight line
path 125a, as shown in FIG. 12, the tensile force maintained by the
elastic member 131 acts in a direction of the door guard 37 being
inserted, and is transmitted to the door guard 37.
[0109] Since the door guard 37 having received the tensile force of
the elastic member 131 is automatically inserted back into the
refrigerating compartment 21 without having to be manually pushed,
as described above, the shortcoming in which the outer door 35
fails to completely close when the outer door 35 is being closed
while the door guard 37 is withdrawn is overcome, and the door
guard 37 is prevented from breaking.
[0110] Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have
been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled
in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without
departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the
scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *