Refrigerator with a door-in-door

• US 8,424,985 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2010
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kwon, Hong Sik, Chang, Yong Hun, Hwang, Jung Yeon, Yu, Seon Il
• Primary Examiner(s): Hansen, James O
• Assistant Examiner(s): Varghese, Sasha T
• Application Number:
  US12/834,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20110023527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 312/401, 312/402, 312/404, 312/405, 312/324, 312/326, 312/405.1, 312/291, 312/292, 624/48, 624/49
• US Class Current: 312/405
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/02 Doors; Covers F25D23/08 takes precedence locks or fastenings E05B65/0042
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/04 with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/023 Door in door constructions
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/024 Door hinges
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/06 Refrigerators with a vertical mullion

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to define an exterior boundary of the refrigerator. The refrigerator also includes a first storage chamber configured to store food stuffs and a first door configured to open and close the first storage chamber. The refrigerator further includes a second storage chamber defined at a side of the first door, and configured to enable access to food stuffs while the first door remains closed and a second door located in a predetermined portion of the first door, and configured to open and close the second storage chamber, wherein a rotation direction of the second door is identical to a rotation direction of the first door.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet;

a first storage chamber defined within the cabinet;

a first door configured to open and close at least a portion of the first storage chamber, wherein a first depth of a first part of the first door is narrower than a second depth of a second part of the first door and a stepped portion of the first door is located where the first door changes from the first depth to the second depth;

a handle provided at the stepped portion of the first door that enables a user to open and close the first door;

a second storage chamber defined at a side of the first door, and configured to move with the first door when the first door moves between opened and closed positions; and

a second door that is configured to open and close the second storage chamber, that enables access to the second storage chamber when the first door is oriented in a closed position, that is located at the first part of the first door that has the first depth, and that is spaced apart from the stepped portion of the first door,

wherein, at the space between the stepped portion of the first door and a lower surface of the second door, the first door includes a recess that is recessed inward across the first door from a first portion of the first door that has the second depth and that is located at a first end of the first door to a second portion of the first door that has the first depth and that is located at a second end of the first door that is opposite the first end of the first door, wherein the recess enables the user to access the handle provided at the stepped portion of the first door through the space, and

wherein a coupling part that rotatably couples the second door to the first door is located at the first portion of the first door that has the second depth.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising:

a third storage chamber defined at a side of the first door, and configured to move with the first door when the first door moves between opened and closed positions; and

a third door that is configured to open and close the third storage chamber and that enables access to the third storage chamber when the first door is oriented in a closed position.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the second storage chamber and the third storage chamber are independent.

4. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the second storage chamber and the third storage chamber are located adjacent to each other.

5. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein a rotational direction of the second door is the same as a rotational direction of the first door and a rotational direction of the third door is perpendicular to the rotational direction of the second door and the first door.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a horizontal recess positioned at the stepped portion of the first door.

7. The refrigerator of claim 6, further comprising a vertical groove that is provided in the second door and that enables a user to pull open the second door.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising:

a spring structure positioned at the second door and configured to open the second door.

9. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising:

a hinge assembly that is coupled to the first door and the second door and that establishes a rotational axis for the first door and the second door.

10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the hinge assembly comprises a rotational shaft that establishes the rotational axis for the first door and the second door.

11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the rotational shaft is located in the second door.

12. The refrigerator of claim 9, further comprising:

a first connection member configured to connect the hinge assembly to the cabinet.

13. The refrigerator of claim 12, further comprising:

a second connection member configured to connect the second door to the first door.

14. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein a lower surface of the second door is rotatably coupled to the first door.

15. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising:

a first hinge that is coupled to the first door and that establishes a first rotational axis for the first door; and

a second hinge that is coupled to the second door and that establishes a second rotational axis for the second door.

16. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising:

a first connection member configured to connect the first door to the cabinet.

17. The refrigerator of claim 16, further comprising:

a second connection member configured to connect the second door to the first door.

18. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein an uppermost edge of the second door aligns with an uppermost edge of the first door when the second door is oriented in a closed position.

19. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the second door aligns with three edges of the first door when the second door is oriented in a closed position.

20. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein, when the second door is oriented in a closed position, a front surface of the second door aligns with a front surface of the first door at the second part of the first door that has the second depth.

21. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a housing that is configured to connect to the first door and define the second storage chamber provided at the first door.

22. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the second door spans an entire width of the first door.

23. The refrigerator of claim 22, wherein a width of the second door is substantially identical to a width of the first door.

24. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein a rotational shaft of the first door is parallel to a rotational shaft of the second door.

25. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising:

a door basket positioned on an interior surface the first door, and configured to be accessible when the first door is oriented in an opened position.

26. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet;

a first storage chamber defined within the cabinet;

a first door configured to open and close at least a portion of the first storage chamber, wherein a first depth of a first part of the first door is narrower than a second depth of a second part of the first door;

a second storage chamber defined at a side of the first door, and configured to move with the first door when the first door moves between opened and closed positions;

a second door that is configured to open and close the second storage chamber and that enables access to the second storage chamber when the first door is oriented in a closed position, wherein a rotation direction of the second door is identical to a rotation direction of the first door;

a third storage chamber provided next to the first chamber;

a third door that is configured to open and close the third storage chamber, and that enables access to the third storage chamber when the first door is oriented in a closed position, wherein a rotational direction of the third door is different from the rotational direction of the first and second doors;

a first handle that is horizontally oriented, that is provided at the first door, and that is configured to facilitate access to the first storage chamber; and

a second handle that is horizontally oriented in a manner aligned with the first handle, that is provided at the third door, and that is configured to facilitate access to the third storage chamber,

wherein, at a space between the first handle and a lower surface of the second door, the first door includes a recess that is recessed inward across the first door from a first portion of the first door that has the second depth and that is located at a first end of the first door to a second portion of the first door that has the first depth and that is located at a second end of the first door that is opposite the first end of the first door, wherein the recess enables a user to access the first and second handles through the space, and

wherein a coupling part that rotatably couples the second door to the first door is located at the first portion of the first door that has the second depth.

27. The refrigerator of claim 26, wherein an upper surface of the first door and an upper surface of the second door are disposed at an identical level.

28. The refrigerator of claim 27, further comprising:

a spring structure positioned at the third door and configured to open the third door.

29. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet;

a first storage chamber defined within the cabinet;

a first door configured to open and close at least a portion of the first storage chamber, wherein a first depth of a first part of the first door is narrower than a second depth of a second part of the first door;

a second storage chamber defined at a side of the first door, and configured to move with the first door when the first door moves between opened and closed positions;

a second door that is configured to open and close the second storage chamber and that enables access to the second storage chamber when the first door is oriented in a closed position;

a third storage chamber provided next to the first chamber;

a third door that is configured to open and close the third storage chamber and that enables access to the third storage chamber when the first door is oriented in a closed position, wherein a rotation direction of the third door is identical to a rotation direction of the first door;

a first handle that is centered at approximately a midpoint of a height of the first door; and

a second handle that is centered at approximately a midpoint of a height of the third door,

wherein, at a space between an upper surface of the second part of the first door and a lower surface of the second door, the first door includes a recess that is recessed inward across the first door from a first portion of the first door that has the second depth and that is located at a first end of the first door to a second portion of the first door that has the first depth and that is located at a second end of the first door that is opposite the first end of the first door, and

wherein a coupling part that rotatable couples the second door to the first door is located at the first portion of the first door that has the second depth.

30. The refrigerator of claim 29, wherein the rotation direction of the third door is identical to a rotation direction of the second door.

31. The refrigerator of claim 29, further comprising:

a hinge assembly that is coupled to the first and second doors, and that establishes a rotational axis of the first and second doors.