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Refrigerator door opening/closing apparatus

  • US 5,579,606 A
  • Filed: 10/18/1994
  • Issued: 12/03/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A refrigerator comprising:

  • a stationary housing;

    a door hinged to said housing for rotation about an upright axis between open and closed positions; and

    a door opening/closing assist mechanism, comprising;

    a guide member fixed to one of said housing and door and forming a guide curvature,a roller mounted on the other of said housing and door, andan elastic member yieldably biasing said roller toward and against said guide curvature, so that said roller follows said curvature during opening and closing movements of said door,said guide curvature being shaped for displacing said roller in a first direction during an initial stage of said opening and closing movements to cause said elastic member to store energy, and for enabling said roller to be displaced in a second direction during a final stage of said opening and closing movements by released energy from said elastic member to apply a force to said door which assists in the performance of said final stage of movement, said guide curvature including first and second convexly shaped curves defining respective ones of said initial and final stages of each of said opening and closing movements.

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