Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10684061-B2
Application number	US-201716098717-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2017
Priority date	May 2, 2016
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an opening unit configured such that, when a second door rotates in order to open a second storing chamber, the second door is separated from a first door. The opening unit comprises: a latch hook provided on the second door so as to be selectively inserted into a latch slot formed on the front surface of the first door; a pressing portion provided on a door handle provided on the front surface of the second door, the pressing portion comprising a guide protrusion having a sloping surface formed on one side thereof; and a link portion having a contact portion formed on one end thereof so as to contact the sloping surface and to move upward/downward along the sloping surface, the other end of the link portion contacting the latch hook. When the pressing portion is pressed, the contact portion moves upward along the sloping surface, and the other end of the link portion pushes the latch hook upward together with the contact portion such that the latch hook is separated from the latch slot.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet in which a first storage compartment is formed;
a first door rotatably connected to a front surface of the cabinet to selectively open or close the first storage compartment and including a latch slot formed in an edge of one side thereof;
a storage device formed on a rear surface of the first door to form a second storage compartment;
a second door rotatably connected to a front surface of the first door to selectively open or close the second storage compartment;
a door handle formed on a front surface of the second door; and
an opening unit configured to separate the second door from the first door when the second door rotates in order to open the second storage compartment,
wherein the opening unit includes:
a latch hook provided on the second door to be selectively inserted into the latch slot;
a pressing portion provided on the door handle and including a guide protrusion having an inclined surface formed on one side thereof; and
a link portion having a contact portion formed on one end thereof to contact the inclined surface and to move upward and downward along the inclined surface, the other end of the link portion contacting the latch hook,

wherein, when the pressing portion is pressed, the contact portion moves upward along the inclined surface, and the other end of the link portion pushes the latch hook upward together with the contact portion, such that the latch hook is separated from the latch slot, and
wherein the link portion includes:
a first link accommodated in the door handle, the contact portion being located on the first link, and
a second link that is accommodated in the second door and that is configured to contact the latch hook.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first link and the second link are coupled inside the second door.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein the guide protrusion includes:
a first guide protrusion; and
a second guide protrusion formed at a point laterally spaced apart from the first guide protrusion, and
wherein the first link is fitted between the first guide protrusion and the second guide protrusion.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the contact portion includes:
a first contact portion formed on a first side surface of the first link; and
a second contact portion formed on a second side surface of the first link, and
wherein the first contact portion and the second contact portion are in contact with inclined surfaces of the first and second guide protrusions.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the latch hook includes:
a hook portion rotating about a hinge shaft; and
a hook guide guiding rotation of the hook portion,
wherein the hook portion further includes:
a hinge portion;
a hook member bent at one end of the hinge portion and hooked on the latch slot; and
the hinge shaft formed in the other end of the hinge portion and serving as a rotation center of the hook portion,

wherein the other end of the link portion is in contact with a certain point of the hook portion spaced apart from the hinge shaft, and
wherein, when the link portion moves upward, the hook portion rotates about the hinge shaft such that the hook member is separable from the latch slot.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the pressing portion includes:
a pressing member having the guide protrusion protruding from a rear surface thereof and having a front surface pressed by a user;
a first cover having an opening formed therein to accommodate the pressing member; and
a second cover coupled to a rear surface of the first cover to surround one end of the link portion.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6 , wherein stopper grooves for restricting upward and downward movement of the link portion are formed in a rear surface of a lower end of the first cover and a front surface of a lower end of the second cover.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 6 , wherein the door handle includes a mounting groove formed by cutting a portion of a front surface thereof, and
wherein the pressing member is accommodated in the mounting groove, such that the front surface pressed by the user is exposed to an outside.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kim Jaeyoung
• Yu Seonil

Classifications

• F25D2323/023

  Door in door constructions · CPC title

• F25D2323/021

  French doors · CPC title

• F25D23/062

  defining a cabinet · CPC title

• F25D23/025 Primary

  Secondary closures · CPC title

• F25D23/02 Primary

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