Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016356543-A1
Application number	US-201615237703-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 16, 2016
Priority date	Aug 27, 2014
Publication date	Dec 8, 2016
Grant date	—

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 having a front opening and configured to open or close the storage chamber; a plurality of racks mounted on the main door; a sub-door configured to open or close the opening of the main door, including:
an outer door,
a door liner,
a cap decoration assembled to the outer door, and
foam filled within a space defined by the outer door, the door liner, and the cap deco;
a handle groove configured to allow a user to pull the sub-door, recessed inward from a portion of the cap deco, and forming a rectangular shape; a groove portion communicated with the handle groove and provided beside the handle groove in a line parallel with the front surface of the sub-door; an axial groove formed within the handle groove; a lever member having a protrusion along a pivot axis which pivots on the axial groove, and configured to rotate back and forth within the handle groove and forming a rectangular shape; a lever formed on a surface of the lever member; a hook member having first extension that contacts the lever and transfers force from the lever member, and a hook bent from the first extension and protruding rearwards from the rear surface of the sub-door the hook member configured to rotate vertically about an axial protrusion protruding from the hook member; a bracket having a groove coupled to the axial protrusion of the hook member and mounted on the groove portion; an engagement groove provided on a front surface of the main door end 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.

2 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the cap decoration includes an upper cap decoration and a lower cap decoration.

3 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the handle groove is opened on the rear surface of the sub-door.

4 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the groove portion is deeper than a bottom of the handle groove.

5 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the axial groove is adjacent to a bottom of a side surface of the handle groove.

6 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the axial groove is provided on both sides of the handle groove within the handle groove.

7 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the lever member includes a rib provided on a rear surface of the lever member.

8 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the lever member has a thickness of less than half of the handle groove.

9 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the lever protrudes from a side surface of the lever member.

10 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the first extension portion extends upward.

11 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the hook member further includes a second extension portion to connect the first extension portion to the hook.

12 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the first extension portion is bent from the hook vertically.

13 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the bracket is fastened within the handle groove by a screw.

14 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the first extension portion passes through a hole in the bracket.

15 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the lever projects from a surface of the lever member toward the groove portion at a position separated from the protrusion along the pivot axis protruding from the surface of the lever member, and
wherein the lever and the protrusion along the pivot axis extend parallel to each other n a first direction.

16 . A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet having a storage chamber; a main door having a front opening and configured to open or close the storage chamber; a plurality of racks mounted on the main door; a sub-door coupled to the main door via an upper hinge and a 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 handle groove configured to allow a user to pull the sub-door, recessed inward from one of the edge surfaces, and forming a rectangular shape; a groove portion provided beside the handle groove in a line parallel with the front surface of the sub-door and in communication with the handle groove; an axial groove formed within the handle groove; a lever member having a pivot axial protrusion, which pivots on the axial groove, configured to rotate back and forth within the handle groove and forming a rectangular shape; a hook member having a first extension portion 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 configured to rotate vertically about an axial protrusion; a bracket having a groove, the bracket coupled to the axial protrusion of the hook member and mounted on the groove portion; 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.

17 . The refrigerator according to claim 16 , wherein the sub-door has a cap decoration defining one of the edge surfaces.

18 . The refrigerator according to claim 16 , wherein the handle groove is opened on the rear surface of the sub-door.

19 . The refrigerator according to claim 16 , wherein the groove portion is deeper than a bottom of the handle groove.

20 . The refrigerator according to claim 16 , wherein the axial groove is provided at both sides of the handle groove within the handle groove.

21 . The refrigerator according to claim 16 , wherein a lever is formed on a surface of the lever member.

22 . 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 recessed inward from one of the edge surfaces; a groove portion provided beside the handle groove in a line parallel with the front surface of the sub-door 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 extensi

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Park Jisu
• Lee Seungho
• Lee Jaeyoul

Classifications

• F25D23/02

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

• F25D23/04

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

• E05B65/0042

  For refrigerators or cold rooms (E05B17/0075 takes precedence; magnetic E05C19/16) · CPC title

• F25D2323/023

  Door in door constructions · CPC title

• F25D23/00 Primary

  General constructional features (F25D21/00 takes precedence) · CPC title