Automatic door closing device of refrigerator and refrigerator having the same
First Claim
1. A refrigerator comprising:
- a body;
a storage compartment defined in the body;
a drawer unit inserted into or retracted from the storage compartment;
an automatic door closing device provided at the drawer unit to move the drawer unit to be opened from or closed to the storage compartment; and
a holding member provided at the storage compartment to operate the automatic door closing device,wherein the automatic door closing device includesa case;
a slider movable relative to the case;
a rotator rotatably provided at one end of the slider to restrain the slider in the case or to release the slider from the case; and
an elastic member provided between the case and the slider to provide elasticity,wherein the rotator is linked to the holding member to restrain the slider in the case or to release the slider from the case, so as to allow the slider to move relative to the case.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic door closing device of a refrigerator, which allows a drawer unit to automatically close a storage compartment, and a refrigerator having the same. The automatic door closing device is provided at a front lateral region of the drawer unit, thereby being operated even if a user moves the drawer unit only a short distance. Further, since the automatic door closing device is positioned so as not to invade an installation space of a sliding device for sliding opening/closing of the drawer unit, the sliding device may be installed to easily support the weight of the drawer unit. A damper device is provided underneath the automatic door closing device to prevent the automatic door closing device from causing sudden closing motion of the drawer unit. The damper device may adjust the beginning of shock alleviation by adjusting the length of a damper rod.
44 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A refrigerator comprising:
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a body; a storage compartment defined in the body; a drawer unit inserted into or retracted from the storage compartment; an automatic door closing device provided at the drawer unit to move the drawer unit to be opened from or closed to the storage compartment; and a holding member provided at the storage compartment to operate the automatic door closing device, wherein the automatic door closing device includes a case; a slider movable relative to the case; a rotator rotatably provided at one end of the slider to restrain the slider in the case or to release the slider from the case; and an elastic member provided between the case and the slider to provide elasticity, wherein the rotator is linked to the holding member to restrain the slider in the case or to release the slider from the case, so as to allow the slider to move relative to the case. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A refrigerator comprising:
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a body; a storage compartment defined in the body; a drawer unit inserted into or retracted from the storage compartment; an automatic door closing device to move the drawer unit in a given direction to enter the storage compartment; and a holding member provided at the storage compartment to operate the automatic door closing device, wherein the holding member is located closer to an entrance of the storage compartment than a middle position of the storage compartment, and wherein the holding member operates the automatic door closing device when the drawer unit begins a closing motion. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A refrigerator comprising:
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a body; a storage compartment defined in the body; a drawer unit inserted into or retracted from the storage compartment; a sliding device provided between the storage compartment and the drawer unit to enable sliding of the drawer unit; an automatic door closing device to slide the drawer unit in a given direction to enter the storage compartment; and a holding member provided at the storage compartment to operate the automatic door closing device to enable automatic closing of the drawer unit, wherein the automatic door closing device is provided at the drawer unit and is spaced apart from a moving path of the sliding device, and wherein the holding member is spaced apart from the moving path of the sliding device. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A refrigerator comprising:
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a body; a storage compartment defined in the body; a drawer unit inserted into or retracted from the storage compartment; an automatic door closing device to move the drawer unit in a given direction to enter the storage compartment; and a damper device to prevent rapid movement of the drawer unit, wherein the damper device operates simultaneously with operation of the automatic door closing device, or operates with a predetermined time delay after operation of the automatic door closing device begins. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A refrigerator comprising:
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a body; a storage compartment defined in the body; a drawer unit inserted into or retracted from the storage compartment; a damper device to prevent shock or damage to the drawer unit due to sudden collision between the drawer unit and the storage compartment; and a damping protrusion provided at the storage compartment to operate the damper device, wherein the damper device is moved a predetermined operation inducing distance prior to being operated by the damping protrusion, and wherein the damper device includes any one of a first damper rod having a relatively long length to reduce the operation inducing distance and a second damper rod having a relatively short length to increase the operation inducing distance. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification