Refrigerator

• US 10,641,544 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2019
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Choi, Daejin
• Primary Examiner(s): Rohrhoff, Daniel J
• Application Number:
  US16/419,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20190271499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 15/00 Suspension arrangements for wings arrangements of wings not characterised by the construction of the supporting means E06B3/32
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/027 with closing action
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/24 of springs and brakes
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/31 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/02 with cooling compartments at different temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/02 Doors; Covers F25D23/08 takes precedence locks or fastenings E05B65/0042
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/021 Sliding doors
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/04 with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/069 Cooling space dividing partitions
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/021 French doors
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/024 Door hinges
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/04 Refrigerators with a horizontal mullion
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/005 using containers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/02 by shelves
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/024 Slidable shelves

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a structure of a receptacle apparatus, which enables efficient utilization of a space for storing an object to be refrigerated or an object to be frozen, and a door or a cover which is for opening or closing the receptacle apparatus. Provided is a refrigerator, according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprising: a first storage chamber provided above a cabinet; a second storage chamber positioned below the first storage chamber; a partition wall which is for partitioning the first storage chamber and second storage chamber vertically and of which the upper surface maintains a level position; an accommodation unit recessed downward from the upper side of the partition wall, forming a receptacle space and having an input port, into which an object to be stored is input, formed on the upper part thereof; an accommodation unit door provided so as to be movable in the direction parallel to the upper side of the partition wall and for selectively opening or closing the input port; and a position fixing unit provided on the rear of the accommodation unit door and for restraining the movement of the door when the accommodation unit door moves backward and opens the input port.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first storage compartment;

a second storage compartment;

a partition wall provided between the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment, and the partition wall having a surface;

a receiving space formed in the surface of the partition wall, the receiving space including an introduction port, which is constituted by an opening, to allow objects to be introduced into the receiving space through the opening;

a receiver door configured to be moved in a direction parallel to the surface of the partition wall, to an open position, to allow access to the opening;

a latch to maintain the receiver door in the open position; and

a closer configured to provide restoring force to the receiver door in case that the receiver door is moved to open the opening.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the latch includes a coupling member provided at one of the receiver door and the partition wall, and a coupling retainer provided at the other one of the receiver door and the partition wall to be selectively coupled to the coupling member.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the latch further includes a coupling body secured to the receiver door, the coupling member or the coupling retainer being provided at the coupling body.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the coupling retainer is configured to be repeatedly engaged with the coupling member and released from the coupling member in case that external force is applied to the coupling retainer.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the latch is provided at a center of the receiver door in a lateral direction, and the latch provided at least in part behind the receiver door.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the latch further comprises a coupling body secured to the receiver door and a roller rotatably secured to the coupling body.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a roller-receiving groove provided in the partition wall behind the receiving space in a direction parallel to a direction of movement of the receiver door so as to receive the roller and to guide movement of the roller.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a closer configured to provide restoring force to the receiver door in case that the receiver door is moved to open the opening.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the closer is configured to guide movement of the receiver door.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the closer is provided at both lateral sides of the receiver door.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the closer comprising:

an elastic-spring having a first end and a second end;

a support provided parallel to a direction of movement of the receiver door and secured to the first end of the elastic-spring; and

a slider movable along the support and coupled to the receiver door, the slider being secured to the second end of the elastic-spring.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a speed control configured to reduce moving speed of the receiver door when the receiver door is moved to close the opening.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the speed controller comprising:

a cylinder secured to the support;

a piston provided in the cylinder, the piston having a piston first end and a piston second end, and the piston second end connected to the slider; and

a head secured to the piston first end, and the head provided in the cylinder.

14. The apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising guides provided between the closers, the guides including a respective guide provided at both lateral ends of the receiver door so as to guide anteroposterior movement of the receiver door.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, the surface of the partition wall being an upper surface, and wherein the receiving space is provided at a front side of the upper surface, and an anteroposterior length of the receiver door is greater than an anteroposterior length of the opening such that the receiver door covers an entire anteroposterior length of the opening.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the receiver door is configured to be slidably moved anteroposteriorly along the upper surface of the partition wall, and an anteroposterior length of the receiver door is smaller than an anteroposterior length of the first storage compartment.

17. The apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising:

a support wall projecting upwards from an upper surface of the partition wall, the support wall extending anteroposteriorly so as to be parallel to a direction of movement of the receiver door; and

a roller rotatably provided on the receiver door so as to roll along the support wall.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a receiving unit is provided at a rear side of the opening, the receiving unit including a shelf or a drawer.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the receiver door is configured to be moved rearwards through a vertical gap between the upper surface of the partition wall and the receiving unit.

20. An apparatus comprising:

a first storage compartment;

a second storage compartment;

a partition wall provided between the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment, and the partition wall having a surface;

a receiving space formed in the surface of the partition wall, the receiving space including an introduction port, which is constituted by an opening, to allow objects to be introduced into the receiving space through the opening;

a receiver door configured to be moved in a direction parallel to the surface of the partition wall, to an open position to allow access to the opening;

a pair of closers, which are respectively provided at lateral side ends of the partition wall so as to guide movement of the receiver door, the pair of closers being configured to provide restoring force when the receiver door is opened; and

a guide provided between the pair of closers so as to guide movement of the receiver door.