Refrigerator including multiple storage compartments

• US 9,170,045 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2014
• Issued: 10/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Oh, Seungjin, Lee, Jonghwa, Choi, Changbong, Lim, Kiyoung, Park, Manho
• Primary Examiner(s): Troy, Daniel J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gallego, Andres F
• Application Number:
  US14/165,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20140139092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 312/405, 312/321.5, 312/291, 312/292, 312/293.1, 312/293.2, 312/326, 312/328, 312/329, 312/324, 312/204, 312/405.1, 163/65, 163/66, 163/17, 162/84, 49/61, 49/62, 49/63, 49/65, 491/42, 49/98, 491/04, 491/09, 292/197, 292/198
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0042 For refrigerators or cold rooms E05B17/0075 takes precedence; magnetic E05C19/16
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/0081 for transmitting energy, e.g. electrical cable routing
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/06 Devices for limiting the opening movement of hinges
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 11/1078 the maintaining means acting parallel to the pivot
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 5/00 Construction of single parts, e.g. the parts for attachment
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/00 Hinges or pivots of special construction used for special suspension arrangements E05D15/00; so as to be self-closing E05F1/06, E05F1/12; with means for raising wings before being turned E05F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: E05D 7/081 the pivot axis of the wing being situated near one edge of the wing, especially at the top and bottom, e.g. trunnions
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 5/00 Braking devices, e.g. checks; Stops; Buffers construction of pneumatic or liquid braking devices E05F3/00; braking devices, buffers or end stops on drawers for tables, cabinets or like furniture A47B88/473; combined with devices for holding wings open E05C17/00; devices for limiting opening of wings or for holding wings open by a movable member extending between frame and wing E05C17/04
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2800/71 Secondary wings, e.g. pass doors
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/31 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/00 General constructional features F25D21/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/02 Doors; Covers F25D23/08 takes precedence locks or fastenings E05B65/0042
• 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 23/085 Breaking strips
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/087 Sealing strips
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/024 Door hinges
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/027 Rotatable shelves

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet that defines a first storage compartment; a first door that is opened or closed to allow or prevent access to an interior of the first storage compartment; and a storing device coupled to the first door to define a second storage compartment. When the first door is closed, the second storage compartment is disposed in the first storage compartment. The refrigerator also includes a second door connected to the first door and configured to be opened or closed to allow or prevent access to an interior of the second storage compartment. The interior of the second storage compartment is accessible when the first door is closed and the second door is opened.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising:

a cabinet;

a first storage area within the cabinet;

a first door that has a front surface, a rear surface, an upper surface, a lower surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface, the first door being rotatably connected to the cabinet and configured to open and close at least a portion of the first storage area such that, when the first door is oriented in a closed position, the rear surface of the first door contacts a front surface of the cabinet, the first door including;

a second storage area, and

an access opening enabling access to the second storage area;

a second door that has a front surface, a rear surface, an upper surface, a lower surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface, the second door being rotatably connected to the first door and configured to open and close the access opening such that, when the second door is oriented in a closed position, the rear surface of the second door contacts the front surface of the first door to close the access opening, the second door being thinner than the first door such that, when the first and second doors are oriented in closed positions, a distance between the front surface of the first door and the front surface of the second door is less than a distance between the front surface of the first door and the front surface of the cabinet; and

a hinge assembly including;

a first hinge that rotatably connects the upper surface of the first door to the cabinet, and

a second hinge that rotatably connects the upper surface of the second door to the upper surface of the first door, wherein the first door and the second door are configured to be opened and closed by rotating in a same direction,

wherein the first hinge comprises;

a first coupling part fixed to the cabinet;

a first extension extending from the first coupling part toward the first door; and

a first hinge shaft coupled to the first extension and inserted in the upper surface of the first door,

wherein the second hinge comprises;

a second coupling part fixed to the first door;

a second extension extending from the second coupling part; and

a second hinge shaft coupled to the second extension and inserted in the upper surface of the second door,

wherein the first hinge shaft is located at a position closer to the front surface of the first door than the rear surface of the first door and, when the second door is oriented in the closed position, the first hinge shaft is located at a position closer to the rear surface of the second door than the rear surface of the first door, and

wherein the first and second doors have a relative orientation in which, when the first door and the second door are oriented in closed positions, the first side surface of the first door and the first side surface of the second door are substantially coplanar, the upper surface of the first door and the upper surface of the second door are substantially coplanar, and the second hinge shaft is positioned ahead of the first hinge shaft.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a lower hinge assembly that rotatably connects a lower end of the second door to the first door.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the lower hinge assembly includes:

a hinge fixation part fixed in position to the first door; and

a hinge rotation part fixed in position to the second door,

wherein the hinge fixation part comprises a lower cam having a recessed cam surface, and the hinge rotation part comprises;

an upper cam having a protruded cam surface corresponding to and configured to be in contact with the recessed cam surface of the lower cam; and

an elastic member disposed above the upper cam to push the upper cam toward the lower cam.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the lower hinge assembly further comprises:

a hinge stopper having a confinement protrusion protruding from the lower end of the second door, the hinge stopper configured to rotate together with the second door; and

a confinement member fixed to the first door and having a confinement protrusion receiving part that is configured to receive the confinement protrusion and limit movement of the confinement protrusion.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the first door comprises:

a first part; and

a second part positioned above the first part and having a thickness less than a thickness of the first part,

wherein the lower hinge assembly is disposed at the second part.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the access opening is formed in the second part, and the second door is connected to the second part to selectively open and close the access opening.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the upper surface of the first door includes a first stepped portion that is recessed downward from an uppermost portion of the upper surface of the first door, wherein the upper surface of the second door includes a second stepped portion that is recessed downward from an uppermost portion of the upper surface of the second door, and wherein the first hinge shaft is inserted in the upper surface of the first door at the first stepped portion, and the second hinge shaft is inserted in the upper surface of the second door at the second stepped portion.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the second stepped portion is recessed downward starting at a predetermined distance away from the front surface of the second door.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a distance from a first hinge axis of the first hinge shaft to the first side surface of the first door is greater than a distance from a second hinge axis of the second hinge shaft to the first side surface of the second door.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the position at which the first hinge shaft is inserted in the upper surface of the first door is located at a midpoint of a distance between the rear surface of the first door and the front surface of the second door, the distance being the distance between the rear surface of the first door and the front surface of the second door at a time when the second door is closed.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first extension includes a portion that extends toward the first side surface of the first door, wherein the first hinge shaft is positioned closer to the first side surface of the first door than the second side surface of the first door.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the second extension includes a portion that extends toward the first side surface of the second door, wherein the second hinge shaft is positioned closer to the first side surface of the second door than the second side surface of the second door.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein when the second door is in a closed position, the first side surface of the first door and the first side surface of the second door are configured to be coplanar.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first hinge includes:

a hinge plate, at least a portion of the hinge plate being coupled to the cabinet; and

a confinement lever disposed on an upper surface of the hinge plate and configured to fix the hinge plate to the cabinet.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of the first hinge shaft is greater than a diameter of the second hinge shaft.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein an insertion depth of the first hinge shaft into the first door is longer than an insertion depth of the second hinge shaft into the second door.

17. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein upper ends of the first hinge and the second hinge, respectively, are positioned vertically lower than an uppermost portion of the upper surface of the second door.

18. A refrigerator, comprising:

a cabinet;

a first storage area within the cabinet;

a first door that has a front surface, a rear surface, an upper surface, a lower surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface, the first door being rotatably connected to the cabinet and configured to open and close at least a portion of the first storage area such that, when the first door is oriented in a closed position, the rear surface of the first door contacts a front surface of the cabinet, the first door including;

a second storage area, and

an access opening enabling access to the second storage area;

a second door that has a front surface, a rear surface, an upper surface, a lower surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface, the second door being rotatably connected to the first door and configured to open and close the access opening such that, when the second door is oriented in a closed position, the rear surface of the second door contacts the front surface of the first door to close the access opening; and

a hinge assembly including;

a first hinge that rotatably connects the upper surface of the first door to the cabinet, and

a second hinge that rotatably connects the upper surface of the second door to the upper surface of the first door, wherein the first door and the second door are configured to be opened and closed by rotating in a same direction,

wherein the first hinge comprises;

a first coupling part fixed to the cabinet;

a first extension extending from the first coupling part toward the first door; and

a first hinge shaft coupled to the first extension and inserted in the upper surface of the first door,

wherein the second hinge comprises;

a second coupling part fixed to the first door;

a second extension extending from the second coupling part; and

a second hinge shaft coupled to the second extension and inserted in the upper surface of the second door,

wherein the first hinge shaft is located at a position closer to the front surface of the first door than the rear surface of the first door and, when the second door is oriented in the closed position, the first hinge shaft is located at a position closer to the rear surface of the second door than the rear surface of the first door, and

wherein the first and second doors have a relative orientation in which, when the first door and the second door are oriented in closed positions, the first side surface of the first door and the first side surface of the second door are substantially coplanar, the upper surface of the first door and the upper surface of the second door are substantially coplanar, and the second hinge shaft is positioned ahead of the first hinge shaft.

19. The refrigerator according to claim 18, wherein the upper surface of the first door includes a first stepped portion that is recessed downward from an uppermost portion of the upper surface of the first door, wherein the upper surface of the second door includes a second stepped portion that is recessed downward from an uppermost portion of the upper surface of the second door, and wherein the hinge assembly is connected to the first and second doors at a space that is defined by the first and second stepped portions.

20. The refrigerator according to claim 19, wherein the second stepped portion is recessed downward starting at a predetermined distance away from the front surface of the second door.

21. The refrigerator according to claim 19, wherein the first hinge shaft is inserted in the upper surface of the first door at the first stepped portion, and the second hinge shaft is inserted in the upper surface of the second door at the second stepped portion.

22. The refrigerator according to claim 18, wherein the first extension is configured to be positioned vertically higher than the second extension.

23. The refrigerator according to claim 18, wherein a diameter of the first hinge shaft is greater than a diameter of the second hinge shaft.

24. The refrigerator according to claim 18, wherein an insertion depth of the first hinge shaft into the first door is longer than an insertion depth of the second hinge shaft into the second door.

25. The refrigerator according to claim 18, wherein upper ends of the first hinge and the second hinge, respectively, are positioned vertically lower than an uppermost portion of the upper surface of the second door.

26. The refrigerator according to claim 18, the position at which the first hinge shaft is inserted in the upper surface of the first door is located at a midpoint of a distance between the rear surface of the first door and the front surface of the second door, the distance being the distance between the rear surface of the first door and the front surface of the second door at a time when the second door is closed.

27. The refrigerator according to claim 18, wherein a distance from a first hinge axis of the first hinge shaft to the first side surface of the first door is greater than a distance from a second hinge axis of the second hinge shaft to the first side surface of the second door.