Refrigerator including multiple storage compartments
First Claim
1. A refrigerator, comprising:
- a cabinet;
a first storage area within the cabinet;
a first door having 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 covers a front surface of the cabinet, the first door including;
an access opening, anda second storage area located at a rear portion of the first door and accessible through the access opening;
a second door having 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 by rotating in a same direction as a rotation direction of the first door such that, when the second door is oriented in a closed position, the rear surface of the second door covers 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;
a first hinge connecting the upper surface of the first door to an upper surface of the cabinet and positioned closer to the first side surface of the first door than the second side surface of the first door;
a second hinge connecting the upper surface of the second door to the upper surface of the first door and positioned closer to the first side surface of the second door than the second side surface of the second door;
a hooking member located at one of the first door and the second door;
a locking unit located at the other of the first door and the second door at which the hooking member is not located, the locking unit being configured to confine the hooking member into a confined state and to also release the hooking member from the confined state;
gasket provided on the rear surface of the second door and configured to be compressed to provide a seal between the rear surface of the second door and the front surface of the first door when the second door is in the closed position; and
a limiting member disposed at one of the first door and the second door,wherein the locking unit is configured to release the hooking member based on a pressing force being applied to the front surface of the second door that is greater than a repulsive force being applied to the second door from the limiting member,wherein the limiting member is configured to, based on the second door being closed, apply, to the second door, the repulsive force to thereby prevent the hooking member from being released when the first door is rotated to be opened, andwherein when the second door is in the closed position, the first side surfaces of the first and the second door are substantially coplanar, the second side surfaces of the first and the second door are substantially coplanar, and the upper surfaces of the first and second doors are substantially coplanar.
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
18 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 having 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 covers a front surface of the cabinet, the first door including; an access opening, and a second storage area located at a rear portion of the first door and accessible through the access opening; a second door having 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 by rotating in a same direction as a rotation direction of the first door such that, when the second door is oriented in a closed position, the rear surface of the second door covers 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; a first hinge connecting the upper surface of the first door to an upper surface of the cabinet and positioned closer to the first side surface of the first door than the second side surface of the first door; a second hinge connecting the upper surface of the second door to the upper surface of the first door and positioned closer to the first side surface of the second door than the second side surface of the second door; a hooking member located at one of the first door and the second door; a locking unit located at the other of the first door and the second door at which the hooking member is not located, the locking unit being configured to confine the hooking member into a confined state and to also release the hooking member from the confined state; gasket provided on the rear surface of the second door and configured to be compressed to provide a seal between the rear surface of the second door and the front surface of the first door when the second door is in the closed position; and a limiting member disposed at one of the first door and the second door, wherein the locking unit is configured to release the hooking member based on a pressing force being applied to the front surface of the second door that is greater than a repulsive force being applied to the second door from the limiting member, wherein the limiting member is configured to, based on the second door being closed, apply, to the second door, the repulsive force to thereby prevent the hooking member from being released when the first door is rotated to be opened, and wherein when the second door is in the closed position, the first side surfaces of the first and the second door are substantially coplanar, the second side surfaces of the first and the second door are substantially coplanar, and the upper surfaces of the first and second doors are substantially coplanar. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification