Refrigerator having storage space formed on door body

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12498162-B2
Application number	US-202118245328-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2021
Priority date	Sep 15, 2020
Publication date	Dec 16, 2025
Grant date	Dec 16, 2025

Abstract

A refrigerator having a storage space formed on a door body. The refrigerator comprises: a refrigerator body in which at least a first storage space is defined, the first storage space having a forward opening; an inner-layer door pivotally provided on the front portion of the forward opening and comprising a storage container body defining a second storage space, the side of the storage container body facing the forward opening being provided with an air supply port used for introducing low-temperature air in the first storage space into the second storage space; a sterilization module provided at the air supply port and performing sterilization on passing air; an inner-layer door frame provided on the periphery of the storage container body; and an outer-layer door pivotally provided on the side of the inner-layer door frame away from the refrigerator body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A refrigerator having a storage space formed on a door body, comprising:
a refrigerator body, wherein at least a first storage space is defined in the refrigerator body, and the first storage space has a forward opening; an inner-layer door, pivotally disposed at a front portion of the forward opening and comprising: a storage container body, wherein the storage container body defines a second storage space, the second storage space is provided with an opening in one side away from the refrigerator body, the storage container body is provided with an air supply port in one side toward the forward opening, and low-temperature air in the first storage space is introduced into the second storage space via the air supply port to implement refrigeration inside the second storage space; a sterilization module, disposed at the air supply port and configured to sterilize the air passing through the air supply port; and an inner-layer door frame, disposed on the periphery of the storage container body; and an outer-layer door, pivotally disposed on one side of the inner-layer door frame away from the refrigerator body and configured to open and close the opening of the second storage space; wherein the inner-layer door further comprises an air supply assembly, disposed at the air supply port and configured to promote formation of a refrigerating airflow supplied from the first storage space to the second storage space; wherein the storage container body comprises: a container main body, wherein the container main body is configured to constitute the second storage space; and a housing, wherein the housing covers a back of the container main body to serve as a rear wall of the storage container body; the housing and the top of the container main body form a mounting chamber located above a top wall of the container main body; wherein the air supply port is formed in the top of the housing, and the air supply assembly is disposed inside the mounting chamber and opposite the air supply port; wherein the air supply assembly comprises: a fan bracket, disposed at the top wall of the container main body and extending upwards from the top wall of the container main body; and an air supply fan, installed on the fan bracket with a vertical gap between the air supply fan and the top wall of the container main body; wherein the sterilization module is pre-started before the air supply fan is turned on, and turning off of the sterilization module is delayed after the air supply fan is turned off.

2 . The refrigerator having the storage space formed on the door body according to claim 1 , wherein
one side of the container main body opposite to the refrigerator body protrudes toward the forward opening; and the housing covers a protruding portion of the container main body.

3 . The refrigerator having the storage space formed on the door body according to claim 1 , wherein
the top wall of the container main body is provided with a communicating opening below the air supply fan.

4 . The refrigerator having the storage space formed on the door body according to claim 3 , wherein
the sterilization module is mounted between the air supply fan and the communicating opening.

5 . The refrigerator having the storage space formed on the door body according to claim 4 , wherein
the sterilization module is a negative-ion generator and comprises a plurality of negative-ion emitters that are oppositely spaced apart below the air supply fan.

6 . The refrigerator having the storage space formed on the door body according to claim 3 , wherein the storage container body further comprises:
a grating plate disposed at the communicating opening.

7 . The refrigerator having the storage space formed on the door body according to claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator body is further internally provided with:
an air supply duct, which extends from a refrigeration chamber of the refrigerator to a front portion of a top wall of the refrigerator body, and forms an air duct opening at a position opposite the air supply port, such that an airflow supplied by the air supply duct is at least partially discharged into the air supply port, wherein the air duct opening allows a part of the airflow supplied by the air supply duct to be discharged into the second storage space and the remaining part of the airflow to be partially discharged into a front portion of the first storage space.

8 . The refrigerator having the storage space formed on the door body according to claim 1 , wherein the storage container body further comprises:
at least one dividing element, configured to divide the second storage space into a plurality of storage areas.

9 . The refrigerator having the storage space formed on the door body according to claim 8 , wherein
at least one of the storage areas is configured as a sealed drawer.

10 . The refrigerator having the storage space formed on the door body according to claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the housing is made of a thermally conductive material.

11 . The refrigerator having the storage space formed on the door body according to claim 10 , wherein at least a part of the housing is made of metal.

Assignees

• Qingdao haier refrigerator co ltd
• Haier Smart Home Co Ltd

Inventors

• Li Jiaming
• Zhang Hao
• Cui Zhanpeng
• Mou Sen
• Lyu Peng

Classifications

• F25D17/042

  Air treating means within refrigerated spaces (air conditioning in general F24F) · CPC title

• F25D2317/0417

  using an UV-lamp · CPC title

• F25D2317/041

  by purification · CPC title

• F25D2317/062

  along the inside of doors · CPC title

• F25D23/04

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