Switching device for refrigerator

• US 7,266,963 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2004
• Issued: 09/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Soo-Beom
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali; Mohammad M.
• Application Number:
  US11/024,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20050138948A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 622/591, 623/31, 62161-163, 49/70, 491/67, 493/81, 340/3.9
• US Class Current: 62/259.1
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/0081 for transmitting energy, e.g. electrical cable routing
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/31 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/12 Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/024 Door hinges
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/40 Refrigerating devices characterised by electrical wiring

Abstract

A switching device for an integrated product, such as a display, installed on a front surface of a door of a refrigerator is provided. The switching device includes a hinge assembly which rotatably couples the door to the refrigerator. The hinge assembly includes a power switch that applies power to the display, and a connector that connects the display to an external signaling/communication source. The switch may be provided on a lateral surface of a hinge plate portion of the assembly, and the connector may be provided on a rear surface of the hinge plate. The power switch and the connector may be connected to the display by lead wires.

Claims

1. A switching device for a refrigerator having a main body, and a door configured to receive an integrated product, the switching device comprising:

a hinge assembly that pivotally couples the door to the main body;

a power switch provided at a first side of the hinge assembly, wherein the power switch selectively applies power to an integrated product coupled to the door; and

a connector provided at a second side of the hinge assembly wherein the connector transmits external electrical signals to the integrated product coupled to the door.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power switch is provided at a lateral side surface of the hinge assembly, and the connector is provided at a rear surface of the hinge assembly.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the integrated product is a display, and the connector is configured to connect the display to a display signal.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a first lead wire that connects the power switch and the integrated product, and a second lead wire that connects the connector and the integrated product, wherein the first and second lead wires each pass through a through-hole formed in a hinge pin of the hinge assembly.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power switch and the connector are not visible from a front of the refrigerator.

6. The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the connector is configured to connect to at least one of an antenna or a cable so as to receive a television signal, or to a LAN cable configured to provide Internet capability to the integrated product.

7. A switching device for a refrigerator having a main body, and a door configured to receive an integrated product, the switching device comprising:

a hinge assembly that pivotally couples the door and the main body; and

a power switch provided at a peripheral surface of the hinge assembly, wherein the power switch selectively applies power to an integrated product coupled to the door.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the power switch is provided at a lateral side surface of the hinge assembly such that the power switch is accessible from an exterior of the refrigerator.

9. The device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a connector provided at a peripheral surface of the hinge assembly, wherein the connector is configured to connect to at least one of an antenna or a cable so as to receive a television signal, or to a LAN cable configured to provide Internet capability to the integrated product coupled to the door.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a first lead wire that connects the power switch and the integrated product, and a second lead wire that connects the connector and the integrated product.

11. A switching device for a refrigerator having a main body, and a door configured to receive an integrated product, the switching device comprising:

a hinge assembly that pivotally couples the door and the main body; and

a connector provided at a peripheral surface of the hinge assembly, wherein the connector transmits external electrical signals to an integrated product coupled to the door.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a switch coupled to the hinge assembly wherein the switch selectively applies power to the integrated product coupled to the door.

13. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the connector and the switch are not visible from a front of the refrigerator.

14. The device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising a first lead wire that connects the switch and the integrated product, and a second lead wire that connects the connector and the integrated product.

15. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the connector extends outward from a rear surface of the hinge assembly, and wherein the connector is configured to connect to at least one of an antenna or a cable so as to receive a television signal, or to a LAN cable configured to provide Internet capability to the integrated product coupled to the door.