Refrigerator including multiple storage compartments

• US 9,200,830 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2014
• Issued: 12/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Oh, Seungjin, Lee, Jonghwa, Choi, Changbong, Park, Manho, Lim, Kiyoung
• Primary Examiner(s): Troy, Daniel J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gallego, Andres F
• Application Number:
  US14/165,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20140139090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 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, 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.

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, wherein 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 pair of door dikes protruding rearward from both side edge portions of the rear surface of the first door and respectively extending in a vertical direction;

a second storage area positioned at the rear surface of the first door;

an access opening defined between the pair of door dikes and configured to enable access to the second storage area, and

a first stepped portion defined at the upper surface of the first door, the first stepped portion being recessed downward from an uppermost portion of the upper surface of the first door;

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, wherein 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, wherein the second door includes a second stepped portion defined as part of the upper surface of the second door, the second stepped portion being recessed downward from an uppermost portion of the upper surface of the second door;

a hinge assembly including;

a first hinge coupling the first stepped portion to an upper surface of the cabinet, and

a second hinge coupling the second stepped portion to the first stepped portion, wherein a rotation direction of the first door for opening the first storage area is the same as a rotation direction of the second door for opening the access opening;

a frame supported by the first door, the frame defining at least a portion of the second storage area and covering at least a portion of side and rear surfaces of the second storage area, the frame including;

a pair of side surfaces that extend in the vertical direction and whose front ends are in contact with rear ends of the pair of the door dikes, and

a supporter disposed horizontally within the second storage area and connecting the pair of side surfaces of the frame;

a basket installation part disposed on the supporter and within the second storage area, the basket installation part including;

an upper surface that is horizontally oriented,

a pair of side surfaces each extending vertically from the side ends of the upper surface, and

a receiving part defined by the upper surface and the pair of side surfaces;

a slidable basket configured to be slidably received in the receiving part of the basket installation part, below the upper surface, and to be pulled out through the access opening; and

a sliding guide part configured to guide a movement of the slidable basket such that the slidable basket can slidably move in a front-to-rear direction relative to the first door, the sliding guide part comprising;

a first guide part extending in a front-to-rear direction at both side surfaces of the slidable basket, and

a second guide part extending in a front-to-rear direction at both of the side surfaces of the basket installation part,

wherein the first guide part is configured to be received in and move along the second guide part based on the slidable basket being received in the receiving part of the basket installation part, and

wherein based on the first door being oriented in the closed position and the second door being oriented in an opened position, the slidable basket is configured to slide out through the access opening.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein based on the first and second doors being 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.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein a diameter of a hinge shaft of the first hinge is greater than a diameter of a hinge shaft of the second hinge.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the slidable basket is configured to be withdrawn forward through the access opening by sliding past the pair of door dikes.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the frame is coupled to the pair of door dikes.

6. The refrigerator of claim 5, further comprising an additional basket configured to be removably disposed on the upper surface of the basket installation part.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first door includes:

a first part; and

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

8. The refrigerator of claim 7, 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.