Opening device for refrigerator

Abstract

A side-by-side refrigerator having a door opening device which includes a cabinet and a door to open and close a front surface of the cabinet, the door opening device comprising: a handle which is mounted on a front surface of the door to perform a seesaw motion; and a push kit which is mounted on a side surface of the door to interwork with the handle, wherein a portion on which the handle and the push kit are mounted is formed to be recessed in the door.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

arranged diagonallydisposed diagonally vertically offset relative to each other to prevent interference from being generated between the pushrods 31a and 31b.

FIG. 2 illustrates a transverse cross-sectional view showing the door opening devices according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown FIG. 2, when the doors 14 and 15 close the front surface of the cabinet 10, the free end of the left door 14 meets the intermediate partition wall 11 and the free end of the right door 15 also meets the intermediate partition wall 11. The free ends of the left door 14 and the right door 15 are positioned very close to each other. Since the door opening devices 20a and 20b are respectively installed at the free ends of the left door 14 and the right door 15, the door opening device 20a installed at the free end of the left door 14 may interfere with the right door 15 and the door opening device 20b installed at the free end of the right door 15 may interfere with the left door 14. Since the door opening devices 20a and 20b installed at the free ends of the left door 14 and the right door 15 are symmetric to each other, the door opening device 20b installed at the free end of the right door 15 must be arranged so as not to interfere with the left door 14, as described in detail as an example.

Referring to FIG. 1, the side-by-side refrigerator has the door 15 having a very large size and weight. On the contrary, the door opening device 20b used to open the door 15 is relatively very small. When the user applies a large force or impact to the door opening device 20b to open the door 15, the door opening device 20b may be damaged and it would be necessary to replace and repair the door opening device 20b. Hereinafter, there will be described the door opening device 20b which is simplified for easy replacement and repair.

Further, in the side-by-side refrigerator, the door 15 is disposed on the front surface of the cabinet 10. Since the door 15 is always exposed to the outside, the aesthetic characteristics of an external appearance of the door 15 are important. Particularly, the door opening device 20b used to open the door 15 has a large effect on the aesthetic characteristics of the door 15. As shown in FIG. 2, in the side-by-side refrigerator of this embodiment, the door opening device 20b is installed to be recessed from the outer surface of the door 15 such that the door opening device 20b does not protrude from the front surface of the door 15. Further, the door opening device 20b is covered to maintain a neat external appearance of the door 15.

First, the door opening device 20b is mounted to the door 15 at a mounting location spaced inwardly relative to the outer surface of the door 15 by a predetermined depth. The door opening device 20b includes a push kit 30 and a handle 40. The push kit 30 is mounted inwardly from the side surface of the door 15 by a predetermined depth. The handle 40 is mounted to the door 15 at a mounting location spaced inwardly from the front surface of the door 15 by a predetermined depth. In other words, a portion, on which the push kit 30 and the handle 40 are mounted, is recessedly formed in the door 15.

FIG. 3 illustrates a separated perspective view showing a state before the push kit 30 is installed on the door according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, a first mounting unit 21 is formed on a front surface 17 of the door 15 to be recessed by a predetermined depth to mount the handle 40 (see FIG. 5). A second mounting unit 24 is formed on a side surface 18 of the door 15 to be recessed by a predetermined depth to mount the push kit 30.

The push kit 30 is independently mounted on the side surface 18 of the door 15 separately from the handle 40 (see FIG. 5). The push kit 30 is inserted and coupled to the second mounting unit 24. For example, protrusions 37 are formed at the upper and lower sides of the push kit 30 to be protruded and inserted into the second mounting unit 24, and grooves 25 are formed on the second mounting unit 24 to receive the protrusions 37, thereby easily mounting the push kit 30 on the second mounting unit 24. Accordingly, an operator can easily couple the push kit 30 to the second mounting unit 24 or separate the push kit 30 from the second mounting unit 24.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the push kit 30 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 4, the push kit 30 includes the pushrod 31 formed in a step shape and a rod guide 32 which guides the pushrod 31 to move forward and backward. The rod guide 32 is formed in two separate steps pieces, which pieces are coupled to each other. In a coupling state of the rod guide 32, a guide protrusion 33 protrudingly formed on the rod guide 32 is inserted into a guide groove 34 formed on the pushrod 31. Accordingly, the pushrod 31 can be guided to move forward and backward by the rod guide 32.

Elastic members 35 are disposed between the pushrod 31 and the rod guide 32. For example, compression coil springs are used as the elastic members 35. Wing portions 36 are formed on the opposite side surfaces of the pushrod 31 to support the compression coil springs 35. The compression coil springs 35 are compressed by the wing portions 36 as the pushrod 31 moves forward. The pushrod 31 returns to its original position by a restoration force of the compressed compression coil springs 35. In this process, since the compression coil springs 35 provide a buffering effect, the compression coil springs 35 provide a buffering effect on a reciprocating motion of the pushrod 31. Thus, it is possible to further smoothly operate the door opening device 20b.

As a result, the push kit 30 is formed as one kit by coupling the pushrod 31, the rod guide 32 and the compression coil springs 35. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, the push kit 30 can be coupled to or separated from the door 15 by simply inserting or taking the push kit 30 into or out of the second mounting unit 24.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a reciprocating space 26 is provided in the second mounting unit 24 such that the pushrod 31 can reciprocate. Since the pushrod 31 reciprocates after the push kit 30 is mounted on the second mounting unit 24, it requires a space to allow a reciprocating motion of the pushrod 31.

FIG. 5 illustrates a separated perspective view showing a state before the handle is installed on the door according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 5, when the push kit 30 is coupled to the second mounting unit 24, the handle 40 is mounted on the first mounting unit 21 to communicate with the push kit 30.

The first mounting unit 21 is formed at a portion adjacent to the second mounting unit 24 which is formed to be recessed from the side surface of the door 15. A left leading end 22 and a right leading end 23 of the first mounting unit 21 are formed to have different heights depths. That is, the right leading end 23 is formed on the same plane as the front surface of the door 15, whereas the left leading end 22 is formed to have a lower height depth than that of the right leading end 23 since the handle 40 is mounted on the left leading end 22. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the handle 40 from being protruding too far from the front surface 17 of the door 15 even though the handle 40 is mounted on the door 15.

A support member 46 is coupled to the left leading end 22 of the first mounting unit 21 to support the handle 40 such that the handle 40 can perform a seesaw motion. The support member 46 is vertically installed along the left leading end 22 of the first mounting unit 21. The support member 46 may be formed as a separate member to be coupled with the left leading end 22 or may be formed as a single body with the left leading end 22. The support member 46 and the handle 40 are formed such that they are inserted and coupled to each other. That is, the handle 40 and the support member 46 have a simple coupling structure.

The handle 40 is independently mounted on the front surface of the door 15 separately from the push kit 30, and the handle 40 is hinge-coupled to the support member 46. That is, the handle 40 includes hinge hole portions 44 formed to be protruded in a ring shape and hinge shafts 47 forming a shaft of the support member 46. Since upper ends of the hinge shafts 47 are open, the hinge shafts 47 can be easily inserted to hinge hole portions 44. That is, since the hinge shafts 47 are simply inserted and coupled to the hinge hole portions 44, it is very easy to couple or separate the handle 40 to or from the support member 46.

Torsion springs 42 are installed between the support member 46 and the handle 40. That is, the torsion springs 42 are inserted into the hinge shafts 47 of the support member 46 to support the handle 40. Accordingly, if the operator rotates the handle 40, the torsion springs 42 are compressed, and if the operator releases the handle 40, the handle 40 returns its original position by a restoration force of the torsion springs 42. Since the torsion springs 42 are installed at rotation shafts around which the handle 40 performs a seesaw motion, it is possible to improve an operation feeling of the operator when the operator rotates the handle 40.

Since the hinge hole portions 44 are installed at positions at which the handle 40 can perform a seesaw motion, the handle 40 moves within a small range. That is, since the handle 40 performs a seesaw motion only on the front surface of the door 15, a rotation radius of the handle 40 is limited. Since the handle 40 is not protruded from the side surface 18 of the door 15 even though the handle 40 is rotated, it is possible to prevent the handle 40 from interfering with the other door 14 (see FIG. 2) adjacent to the handle 40.

The push kit 30 is mounted on the side surface 18 of the door 15, and the pushrod 31 is installed to be movable forward and backward. The handle 40 is installed on the front surface 17 of the door 15 such that the handle 40 can interwork with the pushrod 31. A pressing portion 43 is formed on the handle 40 and a contact portion 38 is formed on the pushrod 31 such that the pressing portion 43 is in contact with the contact portion 38.

A cover 50 is installed on the side surface 18 of the door 15 such that a contact state of the pushrod 31 and the handle 40 is not exposed to the user's eyes. The cover 50 serves to cover a portion of the push kit 30 and the handle 40. Further, the pushrod 31 is formed in a step shape, and a portion of the pushrod 31 is installed to protrude from the side surface 18 of the door 15 outside the respective gasket 16. A protruded portion 52 is formed on the cover 50 to cover the pushrod 31 protruded from the side surface 18 of the door 15 towards the small gap between the doors 14 and 15. Accordingly, the cover 50 serves to maintain a neat external appearance of the door 15. As the respective pushrods 31 are vertically offset relative to each other to prevent interference from being generated between the respective pushrods 31, the respective protruded portions 52 are also vertically offset with differing heights relative to each other to prevent interference from being generated between the respective protruded portions 52.

FIG. 6 illustrates a transverse cross-sectional view showing a state where the door opening device according to the present invention is installed on the door.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the push kit 30 and the handle 40 are mounted on the door 15, the pushrod 31 and the handle 40 are maintained in a contact state. Specifically, the contact portion 38 of the push kit 30 and the pressing portion 43 of the handle 40 are only in contact with each other to transfer a driving force and are not coupled to each other. Accordingly, the push kit 30 and the handle 40 are separately formed to be independently attached to and detached from the door.

The contact portion 38 is formed to be inclined. However, the inclination of the contact portion 38 is not necessarily required. That is, even when the contact portion 38 is not inclined, there is no problem in embodying the door opening device 20b. However, it is possible to adjust a distance by which the pushrod 31 moves forward by adjusting an inclination angle of the contact portion 38. Further, a shape of the pressing portion 43 which slides on the contact portion 38 also has an effect on the distance by which the pushrod 31 moves forward. Thus, the distance by which the pushrod 31 should move forward to push the cabinet 10 can be adjusted by varying the inclination of the contact portion 38 and the shape of the pressing portion 43.

Consequently, the structure in which the push kit 30 is simply inserted and coupled to the second mounting unit 24 and the structure in which the handle 40 is simply inserted and coupled to the support member 46 are applied to the embodiment of the present invention. Further, the embodiment of the present invention discloses the structure in which the push kit 30 is independently mounted on the second mounting unit 24 and the structure in which the handle 40 is independently mounted on the support member 46. That is, in case of using the engaging and coupling structure and the independently mounting structure, it is very easy to replace or repair the push kit 30 and the handle 40.

Hereinafter, an operation of the door opening device of the side-by-side refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 7 illustrates a transverse cross-sectional view showing a state in which the door opening device according to the embodiment of the present invention is installed on the right door and operated.

FIG. 6 illustrates an initial state of the door opening device 20b, and FIG. 7 illustrates an operational state of the door opening device 20b.

As shown in FIG. 7, when the user puts a hand into the first mounting unit 21 and then rotates the handle 40, the pressing portion 43 presses the contact portion 38 to move the pushrod 31 forward in cooperation with the handle 40 to press against the intermediate partition wall 11. Resultantly, the pushrod 31 pushes the cabinet 10 and the door 15 is opened by a reaction force, thereby removing a sealing force between the door 15 and the cabinet 10 and also removing a difference between an inner pressure and an outer pressure of the cabinet 10. Thus, the user can easily open the door 15.

Further, the pushrod 31 moves forward to compress the compression coil springs 35 installed between the pushrod 31 and the rod guide 32, and the handle 40 is rotated to compress the torsion springs 42 installed between the handle 40 and the support member 46. The buffering effects of the compression coil springs 35 and the torsion springs 42 improve an operation feeling in operating the door opening device 20b.

As shown in FIG. 6, when the user releases the handle 40, the compressed compression coil springs 35 and the torsion springs 42 are extended. The pushrod 31 returns to its original position by a restoration force of the compression coil springs 35, and the handle 40 returns to its original position by a restoration force of the torsion springs 42.

When the handle 40 returns to an initial position, the pressing portion 43 of the handle 40 is in close contact with a first stopper 51 of the cover 50. That is, the first stopper 51 prevents the handle 40 from being inclined deeply toward the first mounting unit 21 against the restoration force of the compression coil springs 35 and the torsion springs 42. Further, the handle 40 includes a second stopper 45 to prevent the handle 40 from being inclined toward the first mounting unit 21. That is, the second stopper 45 is in contact with a portion of the door 15 in which the first mounting unit 21 is formed, thereby stopping the handle 40 against restoration force of the compression coil springs 35 and the torsion springs 42.

If the first stopper 51 or the second stopper 45 capable of preventing the handle 40 from being excessively inclined is not provided, the handle 40 would be inclined toward the first mounting unit 21. In this case, it is would be inconvenient for the user to hold the handle 40, thereby reducing satisfaction of the product.

Although an embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet having left and right storage compartments partitioned by an intermediate a partition wall; and

left and right doors hingedly coupled to the cabinet to open and or close front surfaces of the left and right storage compartments; and,

wherein:

a gap is formed between the left door and the right doors door, and

wherein each of the left and right doors is provided at a front part thereof with a respective door opening device to assist a user to open each of the left and right doors,

the wherein each door opening device comprises

a handle mounted on a front surface of the respective door to move forward and backward according to user manipulation to open the door, and

a push kit mounted on a recessed side portion of a side surface of the respective door to cooperate with the handle, and

a cover mounted on the door to cover the push kit and to entirely cover the side surface of the door,

the wherein each push kit has includes

a pushrod bent disposed at an outside of a gasket provided at a rear of the respective door so that the pushrod moves forward and backward to act on the intermediate partition wall and cooperates with the handle of the respective door to press against the partition wall, and

a rod guide to guide an operation of the pushrod, and

the wherein each of the left and right doors includes a respective cover,

wherein each cover is mounted on the respective door to cover the push kit of the respective door and to cover a side surface of the respective door, and has a protruded portion protruded to cover the pushrod included in the push kit of the respective door, the protruded portion of the cover of the right door and the protruded portion of the cover of the left door being protruded toward the gap and being located at different heights so that one of the left and right doors does not interfere with the other when opened, and

the pushrod and rod guide are wherein each push kit is independently mounted on the respective door separately from the handle of the respective door, and the handle of the respective door is independently mounted on the respective door separately from the pushrod and the rod guide.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein each of the doors comprises:

a first mounting unit formed to be recessed from the front surface of each of the doors to mount the handle thereon; and

a second mounting unit formed to be recessed from the side surface of each of the doors to mount the push kit thereon.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein each of the push kit kits comprises an elastic member compressed compressible by the respective pushrod.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein each of the elastic member members comprises a compression coil spring.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein each of the handle handles has a pressing portion to press the respective pushrod according to the user manipulation.

6. A door opening device of a refrigerator comprising a cabinet having a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment partitioned from the first storage compartment by a partition wall, two doors and a first door and a second door to open and or close a front surface of the cabinet, wherein there is a gap between the two doors, and each of the two doors having a door opening device first door and the second door when the doors are closed, and

wherein:

the door opening devices are mounted at a front part of each of device is mountable on the doors to assist a user to open the doors, respectively first door,

each of the the door opening device comprises device comprises a handle mounted mountable on a front surface of the first door to move forward and backward according to user manipulation to open the door, and a push kit mounted mountable on a recessed side portion of a side surface of the first door to cooperate with the handle, and a cover mounted on the door to cover the push kit and to cover the side surface of the door,

the push kit has a pushrod bent disposable at an outside of a gasket provided at a rear of the first door so that the pushrod moves forward and backward to act on the cabinet cooperates with the handle of the first door to press against the partition wall and a rod guide to guide an operation of the pushrod,

the pushrod and the rod guide are push kit is independently mounted mountable on the first door separately from the handle, and the handle is independently mounted mountable on the first door separately from the pushrod and the rod guide,

each of the doors the first door comprises a first mounting unit formed to be recessed from the a front surface of the first door to mount the handle thereon and, a second mounting unit formed to be recessed from the a side surface of the first door to mount the push kit thereon, and a first cover mountable on the first door to cover the push kit and to cover the side surface of the first door,

the rod guide is fixed coupled to the side surface of the door, and the pushrod moves forward and backward with respect to the rod guide pushrod,

the push kit comprises an elastic member compressed compressible by the pushrod, and

the first cover has a protruded portion protruded to cover the pushrod, and the protruded portion of the one of the two doors first cover and the a protruded portion of the other of the two doors being a second cover of the second door are protruded toward the gap and being are located at different heights so that one of the left first and right second doors does not interfere with the other when opened.

7. The door opening device according to claim 6, wherein the push kit comprises a protrusion which is inserted insertable into the second mounting unit, and the second mounting unit comprises a groove to receive the protrusion.

8. The door opening device according to claim 6, wherein each of the doors the first door further comprises a support member which supports the handle to enable the a seesaw motion of the handle, and the handle is inserted and coupled to the support member.

9. The door opening device according to claim 8, wherein the handle is hinge-coupled with the support member, the handle includes a hinge hole portion coupled to the support member, and the support member includes a hinge shaft inserted into the hinge hole portion.