REFRIGERATOR AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

• US 20100095601A1
• Filed: 08/03/2007
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Ha, Myung-Woo
• Granted Patent: US 8,287,061 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 49/506
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/02 Doors; Covers F25D23/08 takes precedence locks or fastenings E05B65/0042
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/023 Door in door constructions

Abstract

A refrigerator and a method of controlling the refrigerator are provided. A home bar door is closed when external pressure is applied to the home bar door in a state where the home bar door is opened.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a door provided with a home bar opening;

a home bar door rotatably installed on the home bar opening; and

an opening/closing unit that is coupled to both of the home bar door and the home bar opening to close the home bar door when external force is applied in a state where the home bar door is opened.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the opening/closing unit comprises:

a moving member that is movably coupled to either the home bar opening or the home bar door;

a coupling member having a first side coupled to the moving member to move the moving member when the home bar is opened and closed;

a locking groove that locks the moving member in a state where the home bar door is opened; and

an elastic member applying force for closing the home bar door.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein one of the home bar opening and the home bar door is provided with a guide slit for guiding movement of the moving member.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the elastic member is connected to the moving member to apply the force to the home bar door by moving the moving member.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the moving member is provided with a hook step that is configured to be interlocked with the locking groove.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein an inclined surface is formed on a lower portion of the locking groove so that the moving member can be released from the locking groove.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the elastic member is coupled to a rotational center of the home bar door.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the opening/closing unit is unlocked when the home bar door is pressed downward.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the opening/closing unit comprises:

a pressure detecting unit that detects pressure applied to the home bar door in a state where the home bar door is opened; and

a driving unit that closes the home bar door when a pressure detecting signal is transmitted from the pressure detecting unit.

10. A refrigerator comprising:

a door provided with a home bar opening;

a home bar door rotatably installed on the home bar opening; and

an opening/closing unit having a first side that is movably coupled to either the home bar door or the home bar opening to close the home bar door when external force is applied in a state where the home bar door is opened.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the opening/closing unit comprises:

a moving member that is movably coupled to either the home bar opening or the home bar door;

a coupling member having a first side coupled to the moving member to move the moving member when the home bar is opened and closed;

a locking groove that locks the moving member in a state where the home bar door is opened; and

an elastic member applying force for closing the home bar door.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein one of the home bar opening and the home bar door is provided with a guide slit for guiding movement of the moving member.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the elastic member is connected to the moving member to apply the force to the home bar door by moving the moving member.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the moving member is provided with a hook step that is configured to be interlocked with the locking groove.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein an inclined surface is formed on a lower portion of the locking groove to enable the moving member to be released from the locking groove.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the elastic member is coupled to a rotational center of the home bar door.

17. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the opening/closing unit comprises:

a pressure detecting unit that detects pressure applied to the home bar door in a state where the home bar door is opened; and

a driving unit that closes the home bar door when a pressure detecting signal is transmitted from the pressure detecting unit.

18. A method of controlling a refrigerator, comprising:

detecting if external force is applied in a state where a home bar door is opened; and

closing the home bar door when the external force is detected.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the home bar door is closed only when the detected external pressure is higher than a reference value.