Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10126041-B2
Application number	US-201615237703-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2016
Priority date	Aug 27, 2014
Publication date	Nov 13, 2018
Grant date	Nov 13, 2018

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage chamber, a main door pivotably mounted to the cabinet while including an opening provided at an inside of the main door, and a stepped portion provided around the opening, a sub-storage chamber mounted at the inside of the main door, a sub-door mounted to the main door, to allow a user to have access to the sub-storage chamber, the sub-door having opposite side surfaces with front portions protruding forwards of a front surface of the main door while having a greater width than the opening and stepped portion between the front portions of the side surfaces, to cover the stepped portion by the side surfaces, and a hinge pivotably mounted to the main door and coupled to the sub-door while being bent at an intermediate portion thereof, to pivotably support the sub-door with respect to the main door.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet having a storage chamber;
a main door coupled to the cabinet via a first upper hinge and a first lower hinge, having a front surface, a rear surface, edge surfaces, and a front opening, and configured to open or close the storage chamber;
a first gasket mounted along a peripheral area of the rear surface of the main door;
a metal member mounted on the front surface of the main door;
a plurality of racks mounted on the main door;
a sub-door coupled to the main door via a second upper hinge and a second lower hinge, having a front surface, a rear surface, and edge surfaces, and configured to rotate in a direction identical to the main door;
a second gasket mounted along a peripheral area of the rear surface of the sub-door, having a magnetic member, and configured to stick to the front surface of the main door due to attraction force with the metal member when the sub-door closes;
a handle groove configured to allow a user to pull the sub-door, the handle groove recessed inward from one of the edge surfaces;
a groove portion provided beside the handle groove and in communication with the handle groove;
an axial groove formed within the handle groove;
a lever member configured to rotate within the handle groove and having a pivot axial protrusion which pivots in the axial groove;
a hook member having a first extension that transfers force from the lever member, and a hook bent from the first extension portion and protruding rearwards from the rear surface of the sub-door, the hook member provided within the groove portion and configured to rotate vertically about an axial protrusion;
an engagement groove provided on a front surface of the main door and configured to accept the hook; and
an elastic member provided within the groove portion and configured to provide an elastic force to the hook member to engage with the engagement groove,
wherein a lever projecting from the lever member is arranged within the groove portion.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the main door has a frame cover defining the front surface, and wherein the metal member is installed in the frame cover.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further including:
a bracket having a groove coupled to the axial protrusion of the hook member and mounted on the groove portion.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the lever is formed on a surface of the lever member, wherein the lever contacts the first extension.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the handle groove has a rectangular shape.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the lever member forms a rectangular shape.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the main door has a cap decoration defining the main door, and wherein the handle groove is formed on the cap decoration.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Park Jisu
• Lee Seungho
• Lee Jaeyoul

Classifications

• F25D23/04

  with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners · CPC title

• F25D2323/023

  Door in door constructions · CPC title

• F25D23/02

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

• E05C19/00

  Other devices specially designed for securing wings, {e.g. with suction cups}(movable draft sealings additionally used for bolting E06B7/18) · CPC title

• F25D2201/00

  Insulation · CPC title