Refrigerator

• US 8,544,973 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2010
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2009
• 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): Jayne, Darnell
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wright, Kimberley S
• Application Number:
  US12/792,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20100307188A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,217 Days
• Field of Search: 312/271, 312/273, 312/275, 312/405, 312/405.1, 312/311, 312/313, 312/315, 312/326, 312/321.5, 163/62, 163/63, 163/65, 163/66
• US Class Current: 312/405.1
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/00 General constructional features F25D21/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/025 Secondary closures
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• 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 is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to define an exterior boundary of the refrigerator. The refrigerator also includes a first storage chamber defined by interior walls of the cabinet and configured to store food stuffs. The refrigerator further includes a first door configured to open and close the first storage chamber by rotating about a rotational axis. In addition, the refrigerator includes a second storage chamber that is smaller than the first storage chamber defined at a side of the first door, and that is 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, configured to open and close the second storage chamber by rotating the rotational axis, wherein a rotation direction of the second door is identical to the 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 by rotating;

a first hinge that attaches an upper portion of the first door;

a second hinge that attaches a lower portion of the first door to a lower portion of the cabinet;

a second storage chamber that is smaller than the first storage chamber, that is defined at a side of the first door, that is configured to move with the first door when the first door rotates between opened and closed positions, and that is located in the first storage chamber when the first door is oriented in a closed position;

a second door that is configured to open and close the second storage chamber by rotating in a same direction as the first door, that enables access to the second storage chamber when the first door is oriented in a closed position, that spans an entire width of the first door, and that has a height that is less than a height of the first door;

a third hinge that attaches an upper portion of the second door and that is positioned adjacent to the first hinge; and

a fourth hinge that attaches a lower portion of the second door to the first door at a location of the first door that is between the first and second hinges,

wherein the first hinge and the third hinge are part of a single hinge assembly, and

wherein the single hinge assembly comprises a single rotational shaft that is coupled to the first door and the second door and that establishes a single rotational axis for the first door and the second door,

wherein the single hinge assembly comprises;

a first connection member in which a first end of the first connection member is coupled to an upper surface of the cabinet and a second end of the first connection member is connected to an upper surface of the second door through the single rotational shaft; and

a second connection member in which a first end of the second connection member is coupled to an upper surface of the first door and a second end of the second connection member is connected to the upper surface of the second door through the single rotational shaft,

wherein the second connection member is located below the first connection member.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising:

a freezer chamber located below the first storage chamber; and

a third door configured to open and close at least a portion of the freezer chamber.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the second storage chamber comprises a home bar.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first door comprises a recess that is defined at the first door and that provides a handle that enables a user to pull open the first door.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the second door comprises a recess that is defined at the second door and that provides a handle that enables a user to pull open the second door.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein a width of the second door is substantially identical to a width of the first door.

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

8. 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 side of the first door.

9. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the height of the second door is about half of the height of the first door.