Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10054362-B2
Application number	US-201615531009-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2016
Priority date	Jul 30, 2015
Publication date	Aug 21, 2018
Grant date	Aug 21, 2018

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator. A refrigerator according to an aspect includes a cabinet in which a storage compartment is formed; a first refrigerator door which is capable of opening and closing the storage compartment; second refrigerator door which is disposed along with the first refrigerator door in a lateral direction; and a door opening device which is capable of operating in order to open and close at least one of the first refrigerator door and the second refrigerator door, wherein the door opening device includes a motor for generating a driving force; a push rod which operates by receiving the driving force generating from the motor; a gear for transferring the driving force of the motor to the push rod.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A refrigerator, comprising:
a cabinet in which a storage compartment is formed;
a first refrigerator door that is configured to open and close the storage compartment;
a second refrigerator door that is disposed along with the first refrigerator door in a lateral direction; and
a door opening device that is configured to open and close at least one of the first refrigerator door and the second refrigerator door,
wherein the door opening device is provided on the one refrigerator door,
the door opening device includes:
a motor that is configured to generate a driving force;
a push rod that is configured to receive the driving force generated by the motor;
a gear that is configured to transfer the driving force of the motor to the push rod,
wherein the push rod is configured to move from an initial position to a door opening position when the motor opens the one refrigerator door of the first refrigerator door and the second refrigerator door,
wherein the push rod is configured to be in contact with a front surface of the cabinet when moving from the initial position to the door opening position, and
wherein at least a portion of the rear surface of the one refrigerator door is positioned on the front side of the front surface of the other refrigerator door of first refrigerator door and the second refrigerator door when the push rod is moved to the door opening position.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 ,
wherein the door opening device is positioned on the upper side portion of the one refrigerator door.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2 ,
wherein the push rod maintains a state of being in contact with a point of the front surface of the cabinet when moving from the initial position to the door opening position.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the push rod includes a rack gear that is configured to engage with a gear and has a curved shape.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4 ,
wherein the rack gear is formed in an arc shape.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1 ,
wherein the one refrigerator door includes a first side surface and a second side surface facing the first side surface,
wherein the second side surface is a surface which is adjacent to the other refrigerator door of the first refrigerator door and the second refrigerator door,
wherein a virtual line bisects the interval between the first side surface and the second side surface, and
wherein a hinge shaft of the one refrigerator door and the push rod is positioned on the area which corresponds to between the virtual line, which bisects the interval between the first side surface and the second side surface, and the first side surface.

7. The refrigerator according to the claim 6 ,
wherein the push rod is positioned in the area between the virtual line and the hinge shaft.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Chang Jinho
• Park Hyungkyu
• Kim Dongjeong
• Lee Changgeun
• Lee Ayeong
• Lee Jungjae
• Shin Jaehoon

Classifications

• F25D23/02

  Doors; Covers (F25D23/08 takes precedence {locks or fastenings E05B65/0042}) · CPC title

• E05Y2900/31

  for refrigerators · CPC title

• F25D2323/021

  French doors · CPC title

• F25D23/028 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• F25D2323/02

  Details of doors or covers not otherwise covered · CPC title