Opening and closing device of a refrigerator door

• US 5,988,709 A
• Filed: 09/03/1998
• Issued: 11/23/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Company Limited (Dayou Holdings Co.,Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Company Limited (Dayou Holdings Co.,Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lee, Young Gunw, Song, Jin Woo
• Primary Examiner(s): Saether, Flemming
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUU, TUYET PHUONG PHAM
• Application Number:
  US09/146,538
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 292/199-210, 292/211, 292/219, 292/220, 292/224, 292/228, 292/51, 292/124, 292/127, 292/98, 292/99, 292/DIG. 71, 312/401, 312/405, 312/212, 312/222, 312/296
• US Class Current: 292/199
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 17/0033 for opening only E05B17/0029 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0042 For refrigerators or cold rooms E05B17/0075 takes precedence; magnetic E05C19/16
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 19/161 magnetic gaskets
• CPC Class Codes: E05C 3/30 in the form of a hook hook-like fastenings E05C19/10; locks for sliding wings with pivoting bolts E05B65/0811, E05B65/0835
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/047 Pressure equalising devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 292/71 Refrigerator latches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/0856 Gear
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1079 Gear

Abstract

An opening and closing device of a refrigerator door includes a button, a gear, a cam, an arm, a push panel, and a plurality of stoppers. The button has a gear portion formed vertically on one side thereof and a top portion protruding above a top surface of the door. The gear is engaged with the gear portion of the button. The cam is integrally formed on the gear and fixed on a same shaft as the gear. The arm has a top surface of a rear portion thereof coming in contact with the cam and a front end including a hook, rotatably mounted on the refrigerator door. The push panel has a depression for engaging with the hook of the arm, mounted on the body of the refrigerator and capable of being rotated by a spring. The plurality of stoppers restrict the rotation of the push panel and they are mounted near and on one side of the push panel.

Claims

1. A refrigerator having a door and a body said refrigerator door incorporating therein an opening and closing device, the device comprising:

a button having a gear portion formed vertically on one side thereof and a top portion protruding above a top surface of the refrigerator door;

a gear engaged with the gear portion of the button;

a cam integrally formed on the gear and fixed on a same shaft as the gear;

an arm having a top surface of a rear portion thereof coming in contact with the cam and a front end including a hook, rotatably mounted on the refrigerator door;

an elastic stopper mounted on the body of the refrigerator;

a push panel having a first depression and a second depression for engaging with the hook of the arm and the end portion of the elastic stopper, respectively, mounted on the body of the refrigerator and capable of being rotated by a spring; and

a plurality of stoppers for restricting the rotation of the push panel and mounted near and on one side of the push panel.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the button is forced upward by a compression spring.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of stoppers include a panel stopper protruding from one side of the push panel and a fixed stopper corresponding to the panel stopper mounted near the panel stopper on the body of the refrigerator, the panel stopper and fixed stopper restricting the rotation angle of the push panel during the refrigerator door opening.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the elastic stopper has a protrusion facing a side of the arm opposite from the side where the hook is formed.

5. A opening and closing device for a door mounted on a door frame, the device comprising:

a button having a gear portion formed vertically on one side thereof and a top portion protruding above a top surface of the door;

a gear engaged with the gear portion of the button;

a cam integrally formed on the gear and fixed on a same shaft as the gear;

an arm having a top surface of a rear portion thereof coming in contact with the cam and a front end including a hook, rotatably mounted on the door;

an elastic stopper mounted on the door frame;

a push panel having a first depression and a second depression for engaging with the hook of the arm and the end portion of the elastic stopper, respectively, mounted on the door frame and capable of being rotated by a spring; and

a plurality of stoppers for restricting the rotation of the push panel and mounted near and on one side of the push panel.