CN113494801A - Refrigerator with a door - Google Patents

Abstract

A refrigerator (10) comprising: a box body (12), wherein a storage chamber (14) is arranged in the box body (12); a door (16), the door (16) being openable and closable of the storage compartment (14), the door (16) comprising a liner (18), a front panel (20), and a thermally insulating material (24) and a stiffener (26) located at least partially within an insulated space (22) between the front panel (20) and the liner (18), the stiffener (26) extending along an inner side (28) of the liner (18) facing the insulated space (22) and comprising a first connection (30) protruding outside the liner (18); a flap (32); and a connection assembly (34), the connection assembly (34) connecting the flap (32) and the door (16), the connection assembly (34) being connected to the first connection (30).

Description

Refrigerator with a door

Technical Field

The invention relates to household appliances, in particular to a refrigerator.

Background

Some refrigerators use flaps to improve the seal when the door is closed. The existing turning plate has the defects of low assembly precision, high assembly difficulty and large turning space required by the existing turning plate during the installation, so that the available space of the refrigerator is smaller.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved refrigerator.

In view of the above objects, an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention relates to a refrigerator including: a box body, wherein a storage chamber is arranged in the box body; a door opening and closing the storage compartment, the door including a liner, a front panel, and a heat insulating material and a reinforcement at least partially located in a heat insulating space between the front panel and the liner, the reinforcement extending along an inner side of the liner facing the heat insulating space and including a first connection portion protruding outside the liner; turning over a plate; and the connecting assembly is connected with the turning plate and the door and is connected with the first connecting part.

In some embodiments, the inner container includes a protrusion protruding toward the storage compartment when the door is closed, the protrusion includes a recess recessed toward the storage compartment and in a direction away from the storage compartment, and the first connection portion protrudes into the recess.

In some embodiments, at least in one cross-section, the stiffener has a shape adapted to the recess.

In some embodiments, the inner container includes a first window exposing the first connection portion, and the connection assembly includes a hinge fastener fixed to the first connection portion.

In some embodiments, the first window opens in a front-to-back direction.

In some embodiments, the hinge fixture includes a second connection portion combined with the first connection portion and a third connection portion connected with the flap.

In some embodiments, the second connection portion and the third connection portion extend in parallel.

In some embodiments, the hinge fixing member includes an intermediate portion connecting the second connecting portion and the third connecting portion, and the intermediate portion extends in a direction different from the second connecting portion and the third connecting portion.

In some embodiments, the middle portion extends in a direction different from a length direction of the liner.

In some embodiments, the reinforcing member includes a fourth connecting portion extending out of the inner container, and the connecting assembly includes a cover connected to the fourth connecting portion.

In some embodiments, the cover covers the first connection portion and the fourth connection portion.

In some embodiments, the fourth connecting portions are distributed on two sides of the first connecting portion.

In some embodiments, a distance between the first connection portion and the fourth connection portion on one side thereof is greater than or equal to a width of the second connection portion.

In some embodiments, the reinforcement includes a base located within the insulating space, the first connection extending from the base.

In some embodiments, the reinforcing member includes first positioning portions extending from both ends of the base portion, and the inner bladder includes second positioning portions coupled to the first positioning portions.

In some embodiments, the stiffener is made of plastic.

Where the technical conditions warrant, the subject matter of any independent claim herein may be combined with any single subject matter or combination of subject matter recited in any dependent claim to form new claimed subject matter.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same or similar reference numerals may be used to refer to the same or similar elements, shapes, configurations in different embodiments, and the description of the same or similar elements, shapes, configurations in different embodiments and the description of prior art elements, shapes, configurations, features, effects, etc. may be omitted.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic partial perspective view of a refrigerator according to some embodiments of the present invention with a right side door omitted;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view, partially in section, of a door of the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partially assembled view of the door and flap of the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a partial explosion of the door of the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partially assembled schematic view of a door of the refrigerator of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 3, but with the addition of a cover;

FIG. 7 is a partially assembled view of the lid of the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional schematic view of a hinge assembly of the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a perspective schematic view of a hinge mount of the hinge assembly of FIG. 8; and

fig. 10 is a perspective schematic view of a hinge motion of the hinge assembly of fig. 8.

Detailed Description

As shown in fig. 1, 2 and 3, an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention relates to a refrigerator 10, in which the refrigerator 10 includes a cabinet 12, and a storage chamber 14 is provided in the cabinet 12.

The refrigerator 10 includes a door 16, and the door 16 opens and closes the storage chamber 14. The door 16 includes a liner 18, a front panel 20, and an insulating material 24 at least partially disposed in an insulating space 22 between the front panel 20 and the liner 18.

The door 16 may include a reinforcement 26. The reinforcement 26 extends along an inner side 28 of the liner 18 facing the insulating space 22. The reinforcement member 26 may include a first attachment portion 30 that extends outside of the inner bladder 18.

The refrigerator 10 includes a flap 32, the flap 32 being connected to the door 16. Flap 32 is rotatably connected to door 16 to close a gap between door 16 and another door (not shown) adjacent door 16.

The refrigerator 10 includes a connection assembly 34, the connection assembly 34 connecting the flap 32 and the door 16. The connecting assembly 34 is connected to the first connecting portion 30.

The refrigerator 10 may be of any suitable type. The chest 12, storage compartment 14, door 16 may include any suitable shape configuration, etc. The door 16 may include more than two doors, which may be arranged side-by-side with each other. The door (not shown) on the right side is omitted from fig. 1 to more clearly show the positional relationship between door 16 and flap 32. The refrigerator 10 can lift the seal between the doors 16 when the doors 16 are closed by the flaps 32.

Connecting assembly 34, which connects flap 32 to first connection 30 of reinforcement 26 of door 16, may help to improve the accuracy of assembly between flap 32 and door 16, while also helping to reduce assembly complexity.

The inner container 18 and the first connection 30 may be arranged relative to each other in any suitable manner. In some embodiments, the bladder 18 includes a tab 36 that projects toward the storage compartment 14 when the door 16 is closed. The tab 36 extends into the storage compartment 14 when the door 16 is closed. The projection 36 may be provided with a fixing structure 37 for fixing a door shelf (not shown).

The protrusion 36 includes a recess 38 facing the storage compartment 14 and recessed away from the storage compartment 14, and the first connection 30 extends into the recess 38.

The first connecting part 30 extends into the recess 38 and is connected with the flap 32, and the flap 32 requires a smaller turning space. When the required turnover space for the flap 32 is reduced, it is advantageous to increase the available space for the refrigerator 10.

The reinforcement 26 and the recess 38 may be arranged relative to each other in any suitable manner. In some embodiments, at least in one cross-section 40, the stiffener 26 has a shape that is adapted to the recess 38. In this manner, positioning of reinforcement 26 relative to recess 38, and thus positioning of flap 32 relative to door 16, is facilitated, as well as assembly of flap 32 to door 16 with greater precision and less difficulty during installation.

The first connection 30 can extend out of the inner container 18 in any suitable configuration. The connection assembly 34 may include any suitable shape configuration or the like for connection to the first connection portion 30. Referring to fig. 4, in some embodiments, the inner container 18 includes a first window 42 exposing the first connecting portion 30, and the connecting member 34 includes a hinge fastener 44 fixed to the first connecting portion 30. The first connecting portion 30 can extend out of the inner container 18 from the first window 42 to be fixed with the hinge fixing member 44 of the connecting assembly 34, which can facilitate the positioning of the flap 32 relative to the door 16, and the flap 32 and the door 16 can be assembled with high precision and low difficulty during installation.

The first window 42 may include any suitable shape configuration or the like that may accommodate the shape configuration or the like of the first connection portion 30. The opening direction of first window 42 may help determine the coupling direction of first connection 30 and connection assembly 34, and thus the installation direction of flap 32 relative to door 16. In some embodiments, the first window 42 opens in the front-to-back direction. If not otherwise stated, the front-to-back direction herein may be with respect to a user of the refrigerator 10, i.e., the closer one facing the user is the front, and the opposite is the back. The opening of the first window 42 in the front-to-rear direction may help the flap 32 require less space to flip over, thereby allowing more space for the refrigerator 10 to be used.

The hinge mounts 44 may comprise any suitable shape configuration, and the like. In some embodiments, the hinge mount 44 includes a second connection 46 and a third connection 48, the second connection 46 being coupled to the first connection 30, and the third connection 48 being coupled to the flap 32. Hinge mounts 44 may facilitate the connection of door 16 and flap 32.

The direction of extension of second connection 46 and third connection 48 may help determine the relative assembly direction of flap 32 and door 16. In some embodiments, the second connection portion 46 and the third connection portion 48 extend in parallel. In this manner, it may be advantageous for flap 32 and door 16 to extend relatively parallel after assembly.

The second connection portion 46 and the third connection portion 48 may be provided with each other in any suitable shape configuration or the like. In some embodiments, the hinge fastener 44 includes an intermediate portion 50 connecting the second and third connecting portions 46, 48, the intermediate portion 50 extending in a different direction than the second and third connecting portions 46, 48. In this manner, second and third connections 46, 48 may be facilitated to be spaced apart from one another, connecting door 16 and flap 32, respectively.

The intermediate portion 50 may extend in any suitable direction. In some embodiments, the middle portion 50 extends in a direction different from the length of the bladder 18. In this manner, hinge mounts 44 may facilitate the connection of door 16 and flap 32 in a lengthwise direction parallel to each other.

The reinforcing member 26, the connecting member 34 may include any suitable shape configuration, etc. to cooperate with one another. As shown in fig. 5 and 6, in some embodiments, the reinforcing member 26 includes a fourth connecting portion 52 extending outside the inner container 18, and the connecting assembly 34 includes a cover 54 connected to the fourth connecting portion 52. The cover 54 can be adapted to the shape and structure of the other parts of the protrusion 36, and after the cover 54 is connected to the fourth connecting portion 52, the outer contour of the cover 54 corresponds to the outer contour of the other parts of the protrusion 36, which can be beneficial to the shape continuity of the inner container 18.

The cover 54 may be configured in any suitable shape or the like to cooperate with the fourth connecting portion 52. In some embodiments, the cover 54 covers the first connection portion 30 and the fourth connection portion 52. The cover 54 may help prevent the first and fourth coupling portions 30, 52 from interfering with other portions of the refrigerator 10 and/or prevent debris and the like from falling into the recess 38.

The number of the fourth connection parts 52 may be more than one. When there is more than one fourth connection portion 52, in some embodiments, the fourth connection portions 52 are distributed on both sides of the first connection portion 30. In this way, the stability of the connection of the fourth connection portion 52 and the cover 54 can be facilitated.

The second connection portion 46 may be joined to the first connection portion 30 by any suitable angle, orientation. In some embodiments, the distance between the first connecting portion 30 and the fourth connecting portion 52 on one side thereof is greater than or equal to the width of the second connecting portion 46. In this manner, the second connection portion 46 can be facilitated to move from the gap between the first connection portion 30 and the fourth connection portion 52, which is spaced apart from each other by a distance equal to or greater than the width thereof, toward the first connection portion 30 to be engaged with the first connection portion 30.

The reinforcing member 26 may include any suitable configuration other than those described above. With continued reference to FIG. 2, in some embodiments, the reinforcement member 26 includes a base portion 56 positioned within the insulation space 22, and the first connection portion 30 extends from the base portion 56. The base 56 can be coupled to the inner side 28 of the liner 18 to facilitate engagement of the reinforcement 26 with the liner 18 and to prevent the reinforcement 26 from falling off the liner 18.

In some embodiments, the reinforcement member 26 includes first detents 58 extending from opposite ends of the base portion 56, and the bladder 18 includes second detents 60 that engage the first detents 58. The combination of the first detent 58 and the second detent 60 can aid in positioning the reinforcement member 26 relative to the bladder 18.

The reinforcing member 26 may be made of any suitable material. In some embodiments, the stiffener 26 is made of plastic. In this manner, the bonding of the reinforcement 26 to the bladder 18 may be facilitated.

As shown in fig. 1, 7 and 8, another aspect of the embodiments of the present invention relates to a refrigerator 10, the refrigerator 10 including a cabinet 12, and a storage chamber 14 disposed in the cabinet 12.

The refrigerator 10 includes a door 16, and the door 16 opens and closes the storage chamber 14.

The refrigerator 10 includes a flap 32. Flap 32 is connected to door 16. Flap 32 is rotatably connected to door 16 to close a gap between door 16 and another door (not shown) adjacent door 16.

The refrigerator 10 includes a hinge assembly 62, the hinge assembly 62 including a hinge motion 64 and a hinge mount 44 connecting the door 16 and the flap 32. One of the hinge mover 64 and the hinge retainer 44 defines a track 70 including a first end 66 and a second end 68, and the other of the hinge mover 64 and the hinge retainer 44 has a stop 72 adapted to rotate along the track 70 between the first end 66 and the second end 68.

The refrigerator 10 may be of any suitable type. The chest 12, storage compartment 14, door 16 may include any suitable shape configuration, etc. The door 16 may include more than two doors, which may be arranged side-by-side with each other. The door (not shown) on the right side is omitted from fig. 1 to more clearly show the positional relationship between door 16 and flap 32. The refrigerator 10 can raise the seal between adjacent doors 16 when the doors 16 are closed by the flap 32.

Guides 33 at the end of flap 32 cooperate with guides 35 on box 12 to drive flap 32 to rotate during opening or closing of door 16. As flap 32 rotates, hinge movement 64 simultaneously rotates with flap 32. When rotated to the designed maximum position, stop portion 72 bears against one of first end 66 and second end 68, and flap 32 can no longer rotate, thereby significantly reducing the likelihood that flap 32 will strike other components on door 16 (e.g., a door shelf, not shown). When the flap 32 is prevented from striking other components of the door 16 or is reduced in frequency, the likelihood of noise generation is significantly reduced, while facilitating an extended useful life of the refrigerator 10. In addition, controlling the flip angle of the flap 32 via the hinge assembly 62 can help to not detract from aesthetics nor significantly increase part cost.

In some embodiments, one of the hinge moving member 64 and the hinge securing member 44 includes a receiving slot 74 that communicates with the track 70, and the other of the hinge moving member 64 and the hinge securing member 44 includes a body portion 76 that is received in the receiving slot 74, and the stopper portion 72 protrudes from the body portion 76 into the track 70. The main body 76 can rotate in the receiving slot 74 to drive the limiting portion 72 to rotate along the track 70, which is beneficial to not affecting the appearance and not increasing the cost of parts.

The pockets 74 and tracks 70 may comprise any suitable shape configuration or the like. Referring also to fig. 9, in some embodiments, the receiving slot 74 includes a receiving space 78 with a sector-shaped cross section. The track 70 includes a spacing space 80 that is annular in cross-section. In this way, the main body 76 can be accommodated in the accommodating space 78, and the stopper 72 can protrude from the main body 76 into the stopper space 80. In some embodiments, the first end 66 and the second end 68 each interface with the receiving space 78. Thus, the movement of the limiting portion 72 can be controlled to the track 70 to limit the turning range of the flap 32.

In some embodiments, the outer diameter of the annular cross-section of the retention space 80 is greater than the diameter of the fan-shaped cross-section of the receiving space 78. In this way, the main body 76 can be accommodated in the accommodating space 78, and the stopper 72 can protrude from the main body 76 into the stopper space 80. The size of the main body portion 76 may be equal to or smaller than the diameter of the sector-shaped cross section of the receiving space 78, and the size of the stopper portion 72 may be equal to or smaller than the difference between the outer and inner ring diameters of the stopper space 80.

The body portion 76 and the stopper portion 72 may comprise any suitable shape configuration, etc. As shown in FIG. 10, in some embodiments, the main body 76 is cylindrical and the limiting portion 72 is a rib on the main body 76. Thus, the main body 76 can drive the limiting portion 72 to rotate.

In some embodiments, body portion 76 is hollow inside. The internally hollow body portion 76 may help to reduce the weight of the hinge assembly 62 and may provide some flexibility to the body portion 76 to allow for some tolerance in assembly with the receiving space 78.

In some embodiments, one of the hinge mover 64 and the hinge retainer 44 includes a first mating portion 82 defining the track 70 and the receiving slot 74 therein, and the other of the hinge mover 64 and the hinge retainer 44 includes a second mating portion 84 that abuts the first mating portion 82. The abutment of the first and second mating portions 82, 84 may facilitate the engagement of the track 70 and the receiving groove 74 with the retention portion 72 and the body portion 76, respectively.

In some embodiments, the body portion 76 and the retention portion 72 extend from the second interface portion 84 toward the first interface portion 82. In this way, when the second abutting portion 84 abuts against the first abutting portion 82, the track 70 and the receiving groove 74 are respectively matched with the limiting portion 72 and the main body portion 76.

In some embodiments, the first mating portion 82 includes a first mating surface 86 and the second mating portion 84 includes a second mating surface 88 that abuts the first mating surface 86. The abutment of the first abutment surface 86 and the second abutment surface 88 may facilitate surface-to-surface engagement between the hinge moving member 64 and the hinge fixing member 44.

In some embodiments, the first abutting surface 86 and the second abutting surface 88 are curved surfaces that are engaged with each other. As such, the reliability of the bonding of the first and second mating surfaces 86 and 88 can be facilitated.

In some embodiments, the body portion 76 and the retention portion 72 are smaller in size than the second interface portion 84. Thus, the main body portion 76 and the limiting portion 72 can be accommodated in the accommodating groove 74 and the track 70, the movement is not easy to be interfered, the appearance is not influenced, and the cost of parts is not increased.

The track 70 and the stopper portion 72, and other corresponding shape configurations, etc., may be located on either of the hinge mount 44 and the hinge mover 64, respectively. In some embodiments, the hinge mount 44 includes a track 70 and the hinge mover 64 includes a stop 72. Thus, the hinge moving member 64 can drive the limiting portion to rotate in the track 70 of the hinge fixing member 44 when moving.

Referring to fig. 7, the turning plate 32 includes a first mounting portion 90 and a second mounting portion 92 opposite to the first mounting portion 90. The third connecting portion 48 of the hinge mount 44 abuts the first mounting portion 90, and the hinge moving member 64 includes a third mounting portion 94 abutting the second mounting portion 92. The first and second mounting portions 90 and 92 may secure the cooperating hinge motion and hinge anchor 64 and 44 to each other and to the flap 32.

The third mounting portion 94 may extend from the second docking portion 84 in a direction opposite to the direction in which the body portion 76 extends and may be smaller in size than the second docking portion 84. The hinge assembly 62 includes a spring 96 positioned between the second docking portion 84 and the third mounting portion 94. The elastic member 96 is sleeved on the third mounting portion 94. The elastic member 96 may be a spring, which may help the hinge moving member 64 and the hinge fixing member 44 to maintain the coupled state at all times.

The various embodiments described above and shown in the drawings are illustrative of the invention and are not exhaustive of the invention. Any modification of the present invention by a person of ordinary skill in the related art within the scope of the basic technical idea of the present invention is within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (16)

1. A refrigerator (10), characterized by comprising:

a box body (12), wherein a storage chamber (14) is arranged in the box body (12);

a door (16), the door (16) being openable and closable of the storage compartment (14), the door (16) comprising a liner (18), a front panel (20), and a thermally insulating material (24) and a stiffener (26) located at least partially within an insulated space (22) between the front panel (20) and the liner (18), the stiffener (26) extending along an inner side (28) of the liner (18) facing the insulated space (22) and comprising a first connection (30) protruding outside the liner (18);

a flap (32); and

a connection assembly (34), the connection assembly (34) connecting the flap (32) and the door (16), the connection assembly (34) connected to the first connection (30).

2. A refrigerator (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the inner container (18) comprises a projection (36) projecting towards the storage compartment (14) when the door (16) is closed, the projection (36) comprising a recess (38) facing towards the storage compartment (14) and recessed away from the storage compartment (14), the first connection (30) projecting into the recess (38).

3. A refrigerator (10) as in claim 2, characterized by the reinforcement (26) having a shape adapted to the recess (38) at least in one section (40).

4. A refrigerator (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner container (18) comprises a first window (42) exposing the first connection (30), and the connection assembly (34) comprises a hinge fixture (44) fixed to the first connection (30).

5. A refrigerator (10) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the first window (42) is open in the front-rear direction.

6. A refrigerator (10) as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the hinge mount (44) comprises a second connection (46) and a third connection (48), the second connection (46) being joined to the first connection (30), the third connection (48) being connected to the flap (32).

7. A refrigerator (10) as in claim 6 wherein the second connection (46) and the third connection (48) extend in parallel.

8. A refrigerator (10) as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the hinge mount (44) comprises an intermediate portion (50) connecting the second connecting portion (46) and the third connecting portion (48), the intermediate portion (50) extending in a different direction than the second connecting portion (46) and the third connecting portion (48).

9. A refrigerator (10) as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the intermediate portion (50) extends in a direction different from the longitudinal direction of the inner container (18).

10. A refrigerator (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said reinforcement (26) comprises a fourth connection portion (52) projecting outside said inner container (18), said connection assembly (34) comprising a cover (54) connected to said fourth connection portion (52).

11. A refrigerator (10) as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the cover (54) covers the first connecting portion (30) and the fourth connecting portion (52).

12. A refrigerator (10) as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the fourth connection portions (52) are distributed on both sides of the first connection portion (30).

13. A refrigerator (10) as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the first connecting portion (30) is at a distance from the fourth connecting portion (52) at one side thereof which is greater than or equal to the width of the second connecting portion (46).

14. A refrigerator (10) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the reinforcement (26) comprises a base (56) located in the insulating space (22), the first connection (30) extending from the base (56).

15. A refrigerator (10) as claimed in claim 14 wherein the reinforcement (26) includes first detents (58) extending from either end of the base (56), and the inner bladder (18) includes second detents (60) that engage the first detents (58).

16. A refrigerator (10) as in claim 1 wherein the reinforcement (26) is made of plastic.

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