Refrigerator including multiple storage compartments
First Claim
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, andan 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 disposed on the upper surface of the first door to rotatably connect the upper surface of the first door to the cabinet about a first hinge axis extending through the upper surface of the first door, the first hinge axis being positioned closer to the first side surface of the first door than the second side surface of the first door, anda second hinge disposed on the upper surface of the second door to rotatably connect the upper surface of the second door to the upper surface of the first door about a second hinge axis extending through the upper surface of the second door, the second hinge axis being positioned closer to the first side surface of the second door than the second side surface of the second door, wherein the first door and the second door are configured to be opened and closed by rotating in a same direction,wherein a first distance between the first hinge axis of the first hinge and the first side surface of the first door is greater than a second distance between the second hinge axis of the second hinge and the first side surface of the second door, andwherein 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 axis is positioned ahead of the first hinge axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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, a storing device coupled to the first door to define a second storage compartment, and a second door connected to the first door that is opened or closed to allow or prevent access to an interior of the second storage compartment. The first door includes a plurality of first coupling parts to which the storing device is coupled. The storing device includes a frame and a basket installed on the frame, each including at least one second coupling part interacting with at least one of the plurality of first coupling parts. A front surface of the second door is positioned to be generally coplanar with at least a portion of a front surface of the first door.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A refrigerator, comprising:
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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 disposed on the upper surface of the first door to rotatably connect the upper surface of the first door to the cabinet about a first hinge axis extending through the upper surface of the first door, the first hinge axis being positioned closer to the first side surface of the first door than the second side surface of the first door, and a second hinge disposed on the upper surface of the second door to rotatably connect the upper surface of the second door to the upper surface of the first door about a second hinge axis extending through the upper surface of the second door, the second hinge axis being positioned closer to the first side surface of the second door than the second side surface of the second door, wherein the first door and the second door are configured to be opened and closed by rotating in a same direction, wherein a first distance between the first hinge axis of the first hinge and the first side surface of the first door is greater than a second distance between the second hinge axis of the second hinge and the first side surface of the second 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 axis is positioned ahead of the first hinge axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A refrigerator, comprising:
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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 disposed on the upper surface of the first door to rotatably connect the upper surface of the first door to the cabinet about a first hinge axis extending through the upper surface of the first door, the first hinge axis being positioned closer to the first side surface of the first door than the second side surface of the first door, and a second hinge disposed on the upper surface of the second door to rotatably connect the upper surface of the second door to the upper surface of the first door about a second hinge axis extending through the upper surface of the second door, the second hinge axis being positioned closer to the first side surface of the second door than the second side surface of the second door, wherein the first door and the second door are configured to be opened and closed by rotating in a same direction, wherein a first distance between the first hinge axis of the first hinge and the first side surface of the first door is greater than a second distance between the second hinge axis of the second hinge and the first side surface of the second door, thereby reducing interference of the second door with the first door during rotation and enabling the second door to, when closed, be closer to the first door as compared to the first distance being equal or less than the second distance, 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 axis is positioned ahead of the first hinge axis. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification