Refrigerator and guide apparatus for display of refrigerator

• US 20060021360A1
• Filed: 05/27/2005
• Published: 02/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Oh, Joon Hwan, Lee, Youn Seok, Kim, Yang Gyu
• Application Number:
  US11/138,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20060021360A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/126
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/08 around a vertical axis , e.g. panoramic heads F16M11/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16M 11/2092 comprising means allowing depth adjustment, i.e. forward-backward translation of the head relatively to the undercarriage
• 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 2200/044 for balancing rotational movement of the undercarriage
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/005 Mounting of control devices

Abstract

There is provided a refrigerator and guide apparatus for a display of a refrigerator. The guide apparatus includes two extendable arms and a guide link guiding the movement of the extendable arms. The guide apparatus is installed between the display and the refrigerator to smoothly extend and retract the display in forward and backward directions.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a chamber kept at a low temperature;

a door selectively opening and closing the chamber;

an accommodation portion formed at an outer surface of the door;

a display extendable from the accommodation portion; and

at least one pair of extendable arms connected between the display and the accommodation portion.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the extendable arms are respectively connected to both sides of the accommodation portion.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the extendable arms are hinged to the display at the same position.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the extendable arms are symmetrical to each other.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a guide link connected between the accommodation portion and the extendable arms to enable the extendable arms to be extended bye the same length.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the accommodation portion includes a mounting panel to which the extendable arms are connected.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing bracket to which the extendable arms are connected at the same position, the fixing bracket having a front side on which the display is supported.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein each of the extendable arms includes:

a side guide forming outside of the extendable arm; and

a side arm installed in the side guide, the side arm being extendable in a length direction of the side guide.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein each of the extendable arms further includes an elastic member urging the side arm in the length direction of the side guide to extend the side arm.

10. A refrigerator comprising:

a chamber kept at a low temperature;

a door selectively opening and closing the chamber;

an accommodation portion formed at an outer surface of the door;

a display extendable from the accommodation portion;

a first extendable arm hinged between the display and a first portion of the accommodation portion; and

a second extendable arm hinged between the display and a second portion of the accommodation portion, the second portion being symmetrical to the first portion,

wherein the first and second extendable arms include at least two members slidable in the same direction for extending and retracting motions.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the display includes a fixing bracket at a back to which the first and second extendable arms are hinged.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the first and second extendable arms are symmetrically hinged to both sides of the accommodation portion, respectively.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 10, further comprising a mounting panel fixed to an inner surface of the accommodation portion, the first and second extendable arms being hinged to the mounting panel.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 10, further comprising two guide links connecting a center of the accommodation portion with the first and the second extendable arms, the two guide links having at least one gear mesh portion.

15. A guide apparatus for a display of a refrigerator, comprising:

a fixing bracket fixed to the display;

a mounting panel fixed to the refrigerator;

two extendable arms connecting a portion of the fixing bracket with both sides of the mounting panel; and

two guide links connecting the mounting panel with the extendable arms to enable the two extendable arms to be extended by the same length, the two guide links making contact with each other at at least one point.

16. The guide apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the two extendable arms are symmetrically hinged to left and right sides of the mounting panel, respectively.

17. The guide apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the guide links makes contact with each other at at least one point by a gear structure.

18. The guide apparatus according to claim 15, wherein each of the extendable arms includes:

a side arm extendable in a length direction; and

a side guide guiding the side arm,

wherein the side arm and the side guide are connected to the fixing bracket and the mounting panel, respectively.

19. The guide apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the guide links are respectively connected to the side arms.

20. The guide apparatus according to claim 18, wherein each of the extendable arms includes an elastic member disposed between the side arm and the side guide to provide elastic force therebetween.