Installation structure for display unit of refrigerator

• US 20010052741A1
• Filed: 06/18/2001
• Published: 12/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Yun, Keyong-Seok
• Granted Patent: US 6,682,161 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/405
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/10 around a horizontal axis F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 13/02 for supporting on, or attaching to, an object, e.g. tree, gate, window-frame, cycle
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 2200/024 by positive interaction, e.g. male-female connections
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/005 Mounting of control devices
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 7/18 Means for attaching signs, plates, panels, or boards to a supporting structure

Abstract

The present invention aims to construct a display unit installed in a front surface of a door of a refrigerator such that its installation angle can be adjusted.

According to the present invention, there is provided an installing structure for the display unit of the refrigerator for tiltably installing the display unit in the front surface of the door of the refrigerator. The installation structure comprises an accommodating portion recessed into the front surface of the door for receiving the display unit; a supporting means for supporting both sides of the display unit so that a vertical tilt of the display unit can be adjusted within the accommodating portion; and a fixing means for securing and supporting the display unit, which has pivoted on the supporting means, at a predetermined tilted position. Thus, according to the present invention, there is an advantage in that an installation can be adjusted so that a user can view clearest scenes on the display unit at the installation angle.

Claims

1. An installing structure for a display unit of a refrigerator for tiltably installing said display unit in a front surface of a door of said refrigerator, comprising:

an accommodating portion recessed into said front surface of said door for receiving said display unit;

a supporting means for supporting both sides of said display unit so that a vertical tilt of said display unit can be adjusted within said accommodating portion; and

a fixing means for securing and supporting said display unit, which has pivoted on said supporting means, at a predetermined tilted position.

2. The installation structure as claimed in

claim 1

, wherein said supporting means includes a pair of hinge shafts protruding from said both sides of said display unit, and a pair of hinge recesses located at both sides of said accommodating portion for pivotably receiving said hinge shafts.

3. The installation structure as claimed in

claim 1

or

2

, wherein said fixing means includes fixing projections formed on said both sides of said display unit, and elastic means for elastically biasing said fixing projections against said both sides of said accommodating portion, thereby keeping said display unit at an angle of said tilted position by means of pushing force of said fixing projections that press on said both sides of said accommodating portion due to elastic force of said elastic means.

4. The installation structure as claimed in

claim 3

, wherein said hinge shafts are formed at upper ends of said both sides of said display unit, and said fixing projections are formed at positions below said hinge shafts on said both sides of said display unit.

5. The installation structure as claimed in

claim 3

, wherein said both sides of said accommodating portion with which said fixing projections are in close contact are formed with arc-shaped guide grooves for defining some portions of pivoting trajectories of said fixing projections.

6. The installation structure as claimed in

claim 5

, wherein each of said guide grooves is formed with a plurality of fixing recesses at a constant interval in which a leading end of said fixing projection is selectively seated.

7. The installation structure as claimed in

claim 5

, wherein leading ends of said fixing projections are shaped in the form of a hemisphere.