Refrigerator with inner door

• US 8,752,918 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2012
• Issued: 06/17/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kang, Sang Hun
• Primary Examiner(s): ING, MATTHEW W
• Application Number:
  US13/558,454
• Publication Number:
  US 20130033163A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 312/321.5, 312403-4051, 312/116, 312/401, 624/48, 624/49
• US Class Current: 312/405.1
• 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

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet having at least one storage chamber, upper and lower hinges disposed at the cabinet, an inner door coupled to the upper and lower hinges to selectively open or close the storage chamber, an outer door disposed at the front of the inner door to selectively open or close an inner space of the inner door, a basket installation unit mounted onto an inner wall of the inner door, an inner door cover able to be inwardly open or closed based on a longitudinal rotational shaft disposed at the basket installation unit, a latch device to fix the inner door cover to the basket installation unit, and an opening member disposed at one side of the basket installation unit to rotate the inner door cover when the latch device is released.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising:

a cabinet having a first storage area in which a plurality of shelves are vertically arranged;

a first door rotatably coupled to a front surface of the cabinet and configured to open or close at least a portion of the first storage area, the first door including;

a second storage area at a rear surface thereof, and

an access opening enabling access to the second storage area;

a second door configured to contact a front surface of the first door to close the access opening, and configured to rotate to open the access opening, wherein a rotating direction of the second door to open the access opening is identical to a rotation direction of the first door to open the first storage area;

a handle provided on a front surface of the second door;

a first hinge connecting an upper part of the first door and an upper part of the cabinet;

a second hinge connecting the first door and the second door;

a locking hook provided to the second door;

a latch device provided to the first door and configured to confine or release the locking hook;

a first pressing portion located at the first door and configured to release the locking hook from the latch device;

a second pressing portion located at the second door and configured to press the first pressing portion; and

a third pressing portion located at the handle and configured to press the second pressing portion.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the latch device includes:

a latch member selectively coupled to the locking hook; and

a stopper restricting rotation of the latch member.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the first pressing portion includes:

a first button provided on the front surface of the first door;

a first spring elastically supporting the first button; and

a first pressing pin that extends from the first button, that passes through the first door, and that is configured to selectively press the stopper based on an elastic force of the first spring.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the second pressing portion includes:

a second button provided on the front surface of the second door;

a second spring elastically supporting the second button; and

a second pressing pin that extends from the second button, that passes through the second door, and that is configured to selectively press the first button based on an elastic force of the second spring.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the third pressing portion includes:

a third button provided on a front surface of the handle;

a third spring elastically supporting the third button; and

a third pressing pin that extends from the third button, that passes through the handle, and that is configured to selectively press the second button based on an elastic force of the third spring.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the first to third pressing portions are arranged in line.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the third pressing pin is maintained in contact with the second button.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein, based on pressing of the third button, the first and second pressing pins are pressed to allow the latch member to rotate in a manner that separates the stopper from the latch member, and

wherein the locking hook is released from the latch member based on the rotation of the latch member such that that only the second door is opened by pulling of the handle.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein, based on pulling of the handle without the third button being pressed, the first and second doors are opened together.