CN209944867U - Refrigerator or freezer - Google Patents

Abstract

A refrigerator or freezer is provided with a box-shaped body formed in an open top, a lid openably and closably attached to the top surface side of the body, and a plurality of hinges connecting the body and the lid, wherein the lid is rotatable relative to the body in a horizontal direction as an axial direction of rotation, and the rotational speed of the lid when the lid that is opened is closed can be reduced. The refrigerator (2) is provided with a plurality of hinges (1, 31) for connecting the main body (3) and the cover (4). The hinge (1, 31) is provided with a first hinge member (5, 35) fixed to the body (3), and a second hinge member (6, 36) fixed to the cover (4) and rotatably connected to the first hinge member (5, 35). In the refrigerator (2), the hinge (1) is a damper-equipped hinge having a fluid damper for moderating a rotational action of the second hinge part (6) with respect to the first hinge part (5).

Description

Refrigerator or freezer

Technical Field

The utility model relates to a refrigerator or freezer.

Background

Conventionally, an ice chest is known which includes an ice chest body formed in a box shape with an open top surface, a lid openably attached to the top surface side of the ice chest body, and two hinges connecting the ice chest body and the lid. In this refrigerator, the lid is rotatable relative to the refrigerator body in an axial direction in which the lid is rotatable in a horizontal direction. In this freezer, when the closed lid is opened, the lid is lifted by rotating the lid in an axial direction in which the lid is rotated in a horizontal direction. In this refrigerator, when the opened lid is closed, the lid is lowered by rotating the lid in an axial direction in which the lid is rotated in a horizontal direction.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

Technical problem to be solved by the utility model

In the case of the freezer as described above, when the opened lid is rotated and closed at a relatively fast rotational speed due to the self-weight of the lid or the like, the hand of the user using the freezer may be caught between the freezer body and the lid, causing danger. In addition, in the case of the refrigerator, when the opened cover is rotated and closed at a relatively fast rotational speed due to the self-weight of the cover or the like, the cover collides with the refrigerator body, noise is generated, and the refrigerator body or the cover may be damaged.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator or freezer having a box-shaped body formed with an open top surface, a lid openably and closably attached to the top surface side of the body, and a plurality of hinges connecting the body and the lid, wherein the lid can be rotated relative to the body in the horizontal direction as the rotational axial direction, and the rotational speed of the lid when the opened lid is closed can be reduced.

Technical scheme for solving technical problem

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a refrigerator or freezer comprising a box-shaped body having an open top surface and accommodating stored items therein, a lid openably and closably attached to the top surface side of the body, and a plurality of hinges connecting the body and the lid, wherein the lid is rotatable relative to the body in a horizontal direction as a rotational axial direction, the hinges comprise a first hinge member fixed to the body and a second hinge member fixed to the lid and rotatably connected to the first hinge member, and at least one of the plurality of hinges is a damper-attached hinge having a fluid damper for damping a rotational movement of the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member.

In the refrigerator or freezer of the present invention, at least one of the plurality of hinges is a damper-equipped hinge having a fluid damper for damping a rotational motion of the second hinge part with respect to the first hinge part. Therefore, in the present invention, the rotational speed of the lid when the opened lid is closed can be reduced by the fluid damper provided with the damper hinge.

In the present invention, it is desirable that the refrigerator or freezer is provided with two hinges, one of the two hinges being a damper-free hinge and the other of the two hinges being a damper-free hinge without a fluid damper. With this configuration, the cost of the refrigerator or freezer can be reduced as compared with the case where both hinges are hinges with dampers. That is, the rotational speed of the lid when the opened lid is closed can be reduced, and the cost of the refrigerator or freezer can be reduced.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the hinge includes: a rotation center shaft as a rotation center of the second hinge member with respect to the first hinge member; a swing shaft disposed in parallel with the rotation center shaft and rotating together with the second hinge member with respect to the first hinge member; and a spring member for urging the swing shaft toward one side of the second hinge member with respect to the rotational direction of the first hinge member, the second hinge member being connected to the first hinge member on the upper end side of the first hinge member.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the spring member is a compression coil spring, the compression coil spring is disposed below the rotation center shaft and the swing shaft, and the fluid damper is disposed below the compression coil spring. With this configuration, the thickness of the thin band damper hinge in the thickness direction orthogonal to the axial direction and the vertical direction of the rotation center axis can be reduced as compared with the case where the fluid damper is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the compression coil spring. That is, the hinge with damper can be made thin.

In the present invention, preferably, the first hinge member includes two flat-plate-shaped side surface portions supporting both end portions of the rotation center shaft and a flat-plate-shaped base portion connecting the two side surface portions, and the fluid damper is disposed between the two side surface portions. With this configuration, the hinge with damper can be made smaller in the axial direction of the rotation center shaft than in the case where the fluid damper protrudes to the outside of the two side surface portions in the axial direction of the rotation center shaft.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the damper-equipped hinge includes a first rod for transmitting the biasing force of the compression coil spring to the swing shaft and a second rod for transmitting the rotational motion of the second hinge member with respect to the first hinge member to the fluid damper. In the case where the rotational motion of the second hinge member with respect to the first hinge member is transmitted to the fluid damper via the first rod, it is difficult to freely set the biasing force of the compression coil spring acting on the second hinge member and the damping force of the fluid damper acting on the second hinge member at each rotational position of the second hinge member with respect to the first hinge member.

In the present invention, preferably, the first hinge member includes two flat-plate-shaped side surface portions supporting both end portions of the rotation center shaft and a flat-plate-shaped base portion connecting the two side surface portions, and the second rod is disposed between the two side surface portions. With this configuration, the hinge with damper can be made smaller in the axial direction of the rotation center shaft than in the case where the second rod is disposed outside both side surface portions in the axial direction of the rotation center shaft.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the damper-equipped hinge includes: a second swing shaft that is disposed in parallel with the rotation central shaft and the swing shaft, that is attached to the second hinge member, and that rotates together with the second hinge member with respect to the first hinge member; a first lever for transmitting an urging force of the spring member to the swing shaft; and a second rod for transmitting a rotational motion of the second hinge part with respect to the first hinge part to the fluid damper, an end portion of the second rod being connected to the second swing shaft.

In the case where the rotational motion of the second hinge member with respect to the first hinge member is transmitted to the fluid damper via the first rod, it is difficult to freely set the urging force of the compression coil spring acting on the second hinge member and the damping force of the fluid damper acting on the second hinge member at each rotational position of the second hinge member with respect to the first hinge member. In addition, with such a configuration, the rotational movement of the second hinge member with respect to the first hinge member can be transmitted to the second lever with a relatively simple configuration using the second swing shaft.

In the present invention, for example, an end portion of the second lever is connected to the second swing shaft and can rotate.

In the present invention, preferably, both end portions of the second swing shaft are supported by the second hinge member. With this configuration, the second swing shaft can be prevented from being deflected with respect to the second hinge member. Therefore, the rotational movement of the second hinge member with respect to the first hinge member can be reliably transmitted to the second lever.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the first hinge member is provided with a restriction groove into which an end portion of the second swing shaft is inserted, and the rotation range of the second hinge member with respect to the first hinge member is restricted by the end portion of the second swing shaft inserted into the restriction groove and the restriction groove. That is, it is desirable that the rotation range of the second hinge member with respect to the first hinge member is limited by the second swing shaft. With this configuration, the structure of the hinge with damper can be simplified.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the damper-equipped hinge includes a link for transmitting the rotation amount of the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member to the fluid damper while amplifying the rotation amount. With this configuration, the amount of operation of the fluid damper when the second hinge member rotates relative to the first hinge member can be increased. Therefore, even if a small and inexpensive fluid damper having a low damping effect is used, the damping force required for appropriately relaxing the rotational motion of the second hinge member with respect to the first hinge member can be obtained by the fluid damper. That is, the rotational movement of the second hinge member relative to the second hinge member can be appropriately relaxed, and a small and inexpensive fluid damper can be used.

In the present invention, for example, when the connecting rod is a rotating rod that can rotate about the second rotation center axis, and the action point of the connecting rod on which the force from the fluid damper acts is set as the first action point and the action point of the connecting rod on which the force from the second hinge member acts is set as the second action point, the distance between the first action point and the axis of the second rotation center axis is greater than the distance between the second action point and the axis of the second rotation center axis. In this case, for example, the distance between the first operating point and the axis of the second rotation center shaft is 2 times or more the distance between the second operating point and the axis of the second rotation center shaft.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the link is rotatable in the axial direction of rotation with the orthogonal direction when the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the rotation center shaft and the vertical direction is the orthogonal direction. With this configuration, the damper-equipped hinge can be made smaller in the orthogonal direction than a case where the link can be rotated in the axial direction in which the rotation center axis is the axial direction of rotation. That is, the hinge with damper can be made thin.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the spring member is a compression coil spring, and the hinge includes: a first lever for transmitting an urging force of the compression coil spring to the swing shaft; a brake member that contacts the first lever at a predetermined contact pressure; and a support member that supports the brake member, the compression coil spring being disposed below the rotation center shaft and the swing shaft, the first rod being formed in an elongated shape whose vertical direction is the longitudinal direction, the brake member including a supported portion supported by the support member and a contact portion disposed along the first rod and connected to the supported portion, the supported portion being supported by the support member from below and biased by the compression coil spring from above, the contact portion being in contact with the first rod by a biasing force of the compression coil spring.

With this configuration, the first lever can be stopped at the predetermined position by the braking member (specifically, the frictional force generated between the braking member and the first lever). Further, by stopping the first lever at the predetermined position, the swing shaft that rotates together with the second hinge member with respect to the first hinge member can be stopped at the predetermined position. That is, the second hinge member can be stopped at a predetermined position with respect to the first hinge member. In the above configuration, the contact portion of the brake member is in contact with the first lever by the biasing force of the compression coil spring, and therefore, the first lever can be stopped at the predetermined position by using the compression coil spring for biasing the swing shaft. Therefore, the structure of the hinge can be simplified as compared with a case where a spring member for bringing the contact portion into contact with the first lever is provided in addition to the compression coil spring. In the above configuration, the contact portion is in contact with the first lever by the biasing force of the compression coil spring for biasing the swing shaft, and therefore, the contact pressure between the contact portion and the first lever can be increased.

In the present invention, for example, when the second hinge member rotates relative to the first hinge member, the first rod moves in the vertical direction, and when the second hinge member rotates relative to the first hinge member, the urging force of the compression coil spring changes, and the contact pressure of the contact portion relative to the first rod changes according to the urging force of the compression coil spring. In the present invention, for example, a through hole penetrating the support member in the vertical direction is formed in the support member, and the contact portion and the first rod are inserted into the through hole.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the braking member is formed in an L-shape in which one end of a supported portion formed in a flat plate shape and one end of a contact portion formed in a flat plate shape are connected to each other, and an angle formed between the supported portion and the contact portion is an obtuse angle. With this configuration, with a relatively simple configuration, when the supported portion is biased from above by the compression coil spring, the contact portion can be brought into contact with the first lever by the biasing force of the compression coil spring.

(effects of utility model)

As described above, in the present invention, in a refrigerator or freezer which is provided with a box-shaped body formed in an open top surface, a lid openably and closably attached to the top surface side of the body, and a plurality of hinges connecting the body and the lid, and in which the lid can be rotated relative to the body in the horizontal direction as the rotational axial direction, the rotational speed of the lid when the opened lid is closed can be reduced.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a rear view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of a portion of an upper end side of the refrigerator shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion E of fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a state where a cover of the refrigerator is opened at the portion E of fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the damper-equipped hinge shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the band damper hinge shown in fig. 5 from a different orientation.

Fig. 7 is a front view of the damper-equipped hinge shown in fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a state where the first hinge part is detached from the band damper hinge shown in fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a side view for explaining operations of the second hinge member, the swing shaft, the second swing shaft, and the like shown in fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a diagram for explaining the structure of the first lever and the like shown in fig. 5.

Fig. 11 is a diagram for explaining the structure and operation of the brake member shown in fig. 5.

Fig. 12 is a front view of the undamped hinge shown in fig. 1.

Description of the reference numerals

1: hinge assembly

2: refrigerator with a door

3: body

4: cover

5. 35: first hinge part

5 a: side surface part

5 b: base part

5 d: limiting groove

6. 36: second hinge part

7. 37: rotating central shaft

10. 40: oscillating shaft

11: second swing shaft

12. 42: compression coil spring

13: fluid damper

15: first rod

16: second rod

17: connecting rod

17 a: first point of action

17 b: second point of action

18: brake component

18 a: supported part

18 b: contact part

19: support member

19 a: through hole

30: rotating central shaft

31: hinge assembly

L1: the distance between the first action point and the axle center of the second rotating central shaft

L2: the distance between the second action point and the axle center of the second rotating central shaft

X: axial direction of the rotating central shaft

Y: orthogonal direction

θ: angle formed by supported part and contact part

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(outline structure of refrigerator)

Fig. 1 is a rear view of a refrigerator 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a side view of a part of the upper end side of the refrigerator 2 shown in fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion E of fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of a state in which the cover 4 of the refrigerator 2 is opened, of the portion E of fig. 2.

The storage cabinet 2 of the present embodiment is a refrigerator or freezer for storing foods and the like. Specifically, the storage cabinet 2 includes a switch for switching from the refrigerator to the freezer and vice versa, and is set as the refrigerator or the freezer by the switch. In the following description, the storage cabinet 2 of the present embodiment is referred to as a "refrigerator 2". The refrigerator 2 may not include a changeover switch.

The refrigerator 2 includes a main body 3 for storing stored items such as food, a lid 4 openably and closably attached to the main body 3, and a plurality of hinges 1 and 31 for connecting the main body 3 and the lid 4. The main body 3 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped box shape with an open upper surface. The cover 4 is openably and closably attached to the upper surface side of the body 3. The cover 4 is rotatable relative to the body 3 in an axial direction in which the cover is rotatable in a horizontal direction. In addition, the cover 4 is rotatable relative to the body 3 between a position where the opening of the upper surface of the body 3 is closed and a position where the opening of the upper surface of the body 3 is opened. When the user of the refrigerator 2 opens the closed lid 4, the lid 4 is lifted by rotating the lid 4.

In the following description, the axial direction (X direction in fig. 1 and the like) of the rotation of the lid 4 with respect to the main body 3 is referred to as "left-right direction", and the Y direction in fig. 1 and the like orthogonal to the up-down direction (vertical direction, Z direction in fig. 1 and the like) and the left-right direction is referred to as "front-back direction". Further, one of the left and right directions, i.e., the X1 direction in fig. 1 and the like, is referred to as the "right" direction, the opposite direction, i.e., the X2 direction in fig. 1 and the like, is referred to as the "left" direction, one of the front and rear directions, i.e., the Y1 direction in fig. 2 and the like, is referred to as the "front" direction, and the opposite direction, i.e., the Y2 direction in fig. 2 and the like, is referred to as the. The Z1 direction in fig. 1 and the like is an upward direction, and the Z2 direction in fig. 1 and the like is a downward direction.

The hinges 1 and 31 are means for openably and closably attaching the cover 4 to the body 3. The refrigerator 2 of the present embodiment includes two hinges 1 and 31. The two hinges 1, 31 are attached to the body 3 and the cover 4 with a gap therebetween in the left-right direction. For example, the hinge 1 is attached to the right end portions of the body 3 and the cover 4, and the hinge 31 is attached to the left end portions of the body 3 and the cover 4.

The hinge 1 includes a first hinge member 5 fixed to the body 3, a second hinge member 6 fixed to the cover 4 and rotatably connected to the first hinge member 5, and a rotation center shaft 7 as a rotation center of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5. The hinge 31 includes a first hinge member 35 fixed to the body 3, a second hinge member 36 fixed to the cover 4 and rotatably connected to the first hinge member 35, and a rotation center shaft 37 (see fig. 12) as a rotation center of the second hinge member 36 with respect to the first hinge member 35.

The second hinge member 6 is connected to the first hinge member 5 at an upper end side of the first hinge member 5. The second hinge member 36 is connected to the first hinge member 35 at the upper end side of the first hinge member 35. The rotation center shafts 7, 37 are disposed so that the axial direction of the rotation center shafts 7, 37 coincides with the left-right direction. That is, the left-right direction (X direction) is the axial direction of the rotation center shafts 7, 37. The front-rear direction (Y direction) in the present embodiment is an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the rotation center shafts 7 and 37, that is, the left-right direction and the up-down direction.

The hinge 1 further includes a fluid damper 13 (see fig. 5 and the like) for damping a rotational movement of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5. That is, the hinge 1 is a damped hinge having the fluid damper 13. On the other hand, the hinge 31 does not include a fluid damper for damping the rotational movement of the second hinge member 36 with respect to the first hinge member 35. That is, the hinge 31 is an undamped hinge without a fluid damper. The structure of the hinge 1 and the structure of the hinge 31 will be described in order below.

(Structure of hinge with damper)

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the hinge 1 shown in fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the hinge 1 shown in fig. 5 from a different direction. Fig. 7 is a front view of the hinge 1 shown in fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the hinge 1 shown in fig. 5 in a state where the first hinge member 5 is detached. Fig. 9 is a side view for explaining operations of the second hinge member 6, the swing shaft 10, the second swing shaft 11, and the like shown in fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a diagram for explaining the structure of the first lever 15 and the like shown in fig. 5. Fig. 11 is a diagram for explaining the structure and operation of the braking member 18 shown in fig. 5.

As described above, the hinge 1 includes the first hinge member 5, the second hinge member 6, the rotation center shaft 7, and the fluid damper 13. Further, the hinge 1 includes: a swing shaft 10 arranged in parallel with the rotation center shaft 7 and rotating together with the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5; a second swing shaft 11 arranged parallel to the rotation center shaft 7 and the swing shaft 10 and rotating together with the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5; and a spring member 12 for urging the swing shaft 10 to one side of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the rotational direction of the first hinge member 5. The spring member 12 of the present embodiment is a compression coil spring. Therefore, the spring member 12 is hereinafter referred to as a "compression coil spring 12".

The hinge 1 further includes a first lever 15 for transmitting the biasing force of the compression coil spring 12 to the swing shaft 10, a second lever 16 for transmitting the rotational motion of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5 to the fluid damper 13, and a link 17 for amplifying the rotational motion of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5 and transmitting the amplified rotational motion to the fluid damper 13. The hinge 1 further includes a stopper member 18 that comes into contact with the first lever 15 at a predetermined contact pressure. The hinge 1 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of braking members 18. Specifically, the hinge 1 includes two braking members 18. The hinge 1 further includes a support member 19 that supports the brake member 18, and a damper holding member 20 that holds the fluid damper 13 (see fig. 7). Note that, in fig. 5 and 6, the damper holding member 20 is not shown.

The first hinge member 5 is formed by bending a metal plate such as a steel plate into a predetermined shape. The first hinge member 5 includes two flat plate-shaped side surface portions 5a that support both end portions of the rotation center shaft 7, and a flat plate-shaped base portion 5b that connects the two side surface portions 5 a. The side surface portion 5a is disposed so that the thickness direction of the side surface portion 5a coincides with the left-right direction, and the base portion 5b is disposed so that the thickness direction of the base portion 5b coincides with the front-rear direction.

The two side surface parts 5a are erected from both ends of the base part 5b in the left-right direction toward the front side, respectively. The first hinge member 5 is formed in a substantially square groove shape as a whole. The upper end of the side surface portion 5a is a protrusion 5c protruding upward from the upper end of the base portion 5 b. On the body 3, the base 5b is fixed by a screw or the like such that the rear surface of the base 5b is in contact with the body 3.

The second hinge member 6 is rotatable relative to the first hinge member 5 between an open position 6A (the position shown in fig. 4) in which the cover 4 is open (i.e., the cover 4 opens the opening of the upper surface of the body 3) and a closed position 6B (the position shown in fig. 2, 3) in which the cover 4 is closed (i.e., the cover 4 closes the opening of the upper surface of the body 3). The second hinge member 6 is rotatable at an angle (rotatable range) of 90 ° or less with respect to the first hinge member 5. In the present embodiment, the rotatable angle of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5 is about 75 °.

The second hinge member 6 is formed by bending a metal plate such as a steel plate into a predetermined shape. The second hinge member 6 includes two flat plate-shaped side surface portions 6a and a flat plate-shaped base portion 6b connecting the two side surface portions 6a, as in the first hinge member 5. The side surface portion 6a is disposed such that the thickness direction of the side surface portion 6a coincides with the left-right direction. That is, the side surface portion 6a is arranged parallel to the side surface portion 5 a.

When the second hinge member 6 is disposed at the closed position 6B, the base portion 6B is disposed such that the thickness direction of the base portion 6B coincides with the front-rear direction, and the two side surface portions 6a rise from both end portions of the base portion 6B in the left-right direction toward the front side. The second hinge member 6 is formed in a substantially square groove shape as a whole. The base portion 6B is fixed to the cover 4 by screws or the like so that the rear surface of the base portion 6B contacts the cover 4 when the second hinge member 6 is disposed at the closed position 6B.

The width of the first hinge member 5 in the left-right direction is wider than the width of the second hinge member 6 in the left-right direction. The two side surface portions 6a are disposed inside the two protruding portions 5c in the left-right direction, and are sandwiched by the two protruding portions 5 c. That is, the two side surface portions 6a are arranged between the two side surface portions 5a in the left-right direction. The side surface portion 6a is formed with insertion holes through which both end portions of the rotation center shaft 7 are inserted, respectively. The insertion hole is a circular hole penetrating the side surface portion 6a in the left-right direction.

The rotation center shaft 7 is formed in a cylindrical shape. Both end portions of the rotation center shaft 7 are fixed to the side surface portion 5 a. Specifically, both end portions of the rotation center shaft 7 are fixed to the upper end portions of the two projecting portions 5c, and the second hinge member 6 is connected to the first hinge member 5 on the upper end side of the first hinge member 5 as described above. In addition, the second hinge member 6 is connected to the first hinge member 5 at the front end side of the first hinge member 5. When the second hinge member 6 is rotated about the rotation center shaft 7 so that the upper end portion of the second hinge member 6 in the closed position 6B moves to the front side, the second hinge member 6 in the closed position 6B moves to the open position 6A.

The swing shaft 10 is formed in a cylindrical shape. Both ends of the swing shaft 10 are supported by the second hinge member 6. Specifically, both end portions of the swing shaft 10 are fixed to the two side surface portions 6a, respectively. As shown in fig. 9 (a), when the second hinge member 6 is in the closed position 6B, the swing shaft 10 is disposed below the rotation center shaft 7. Specifically, when the second hinge member 6 is at the closed position 6B, the swing shaft 10 is disposed slightly forward from just below the rotation center shaft 7. As shown in fig. 9 (B), when the second hinge member 6 is at the open position 6A, the swing shaft 10 is disposed obliquely rearward and downward of the rotation center shaft 7.

When the second hinge member 6 rotates relative to the first hinge member 5, the swing shaft 10 moves in the vertical direction. The amount of vertical movement of the swing shaft 10 when the second hinge member 6 is rotated at a certain angle with respect to the first hinge member 5 decreases as the swing shaft 10 moves directly below the rotation center shaft 7.

The right end of the swing shaft 10 is disposed on the left side of the left surface of the protrusion 5c so as not to contact the protrusion 5c disposed on the right side, and the left end of the swing shaft 10 is disposed on the right side of the right surface of the protrusion 5c so as not to contact the protrusion 5c disposed on the left side. The swing shaft 10 is inserted through a brake member 23 formed in a cylindrical shape. The brake member 23 is disposed between the two side surface portions 6 a. A recess 23a that is recessed inward in the radial direction of the braking member 23 is formed at the center position of the braking member 23 in the left-right direction. The recess 23a is formed over the entire circumferential area of the brake member 23.

The second swing shaft 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape. Both ends of the second swing shaft 11 are supported by the second hinge member 6. Specifically, both end portions of the second swing shaft 11 are fixed to the two side surface portions 6a, respectively. That is, the second swing shaft 11 is attached to the second hinge member 6. Both end portions of the second swing shaft 11 protrude outward in the left-right direction from the side surface portion 6 a. An insertion hole through which the second swing shaft 11 is inserted is formed in the side surface portion 6 a. The insertion hole is a circular hole penetrating the side surface portion 6a in the left-right direction.

In both side surface parts 5a of the first hinge member 5, a regulating groove 5d into which an end of the second swing shaft 11 is inserted is formed. That is, the first hinge member 5 is formed with a restriction groove 5 d. The restriction groove 5d is formed in the projection 5 c. The restriction groove 5d penetrates the protrusion 5c in the left-right direction. The restricting groove 5d is formed in an arc shape having the axis of the rotation center shaft 7 as the center of curvature when viewed from the left-right direction. The restricting groove 5d is formed in an arc shape bulging rearward.

The range of rotation of the second hinge member 6 relative to the first hinge member 5 is limited by the end of the second swing shaft 11 inserted into the limiting groove 5d and the limiting groove 5 d. As described above, since the second hinge member 6 can rotate at an angle of 90 ° or less with respect to the first hinge member 5, the central angle of the arcuate regulation groove 5d (the central angle centered on the axial center of the rotation center shaft 7) is 90 ° or less. In the present embodiment, the central angle of the regulating groove 5d is about 75 °.

As shown in fig. 9, when the second hinge member 6 is at the closed position 6B, the second swing shaft 11 is disposed obliquely rearward and downward with respect to the rotation center shaft 7, and when the second hinge member 6 is at the open position 6A, the second swing shaft 11 is disposed obliquely rearward and upward with respect to the rotation center shaft 7. When the second hinge part 6 rotates relative to the first hinge part 5, the second swing shaft 11 moves in the up-down direction. The amount of vertical movement of the second pivot shaft 11 when the second hinge member 6 is pivoted by a predetermined angle with respect to the first hinge member 5 is almost constant regardless of the pivot position of the second hinge member 6. Further, when the second hinge member 6 is rotated by a predetermined angle with respect to the first hinge member 5, the vertical movement amount of the second swing shaft 11 is larger than the vertical movement amount of the swing shaft 10.

The first rod 15 is formed in a substantially rectangular flat plate shape elongated in the vertical direction. That is, the first rod 15 is formed in an elongated shape whose vertical direction is the longitudinal direction. The first rod 15 is disposed such that the thickness direction of the first rod 15 coincides with the left-right direction. The first lever 15 is formed of a metal plate such as a steel plate. The first lever 15 is constituted by an upper lever portion 15a constituting an upper portion of the first lever 15 and a lower lever portion 15b constituting a lower portion of the first lever 15.

The upper rod portion 15a has a width in the front-rear direction larger than that of the lower rod portion 15 b. A step surface is formed at the boundary between the upper rod part 15a and the lower rod part 15 b. A concave curved surface formed in an arc shape is formed at the upper end of the first lever 15. The concave curved surface is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the braking member 23. Specifically, the concave curved surface contacts the bottom surface of the concave portion 23a of the brake member 23.

As shown in fig. 10, the first rod 15 is inserted through the washers 24, 25 and the guide members 26, 27. The washer 24 is formed in a disk shape, and the washer 25 is formed in a rectangular flat plate shape. The washers 24 and 25 are arranged such that the thickness direction and the vertical direction of the washers 24 and 25 substantially coincide with each other. The guide member 26 is formed in a flanged cylindrical shape having a flange portion 26a and a column portion 26b, and the guide member 27 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The guide members 26, 27 are arranged so that the axial direction and the vertical direction of the guide members 26, 27 substantially coincide with each other. The washer 24, the guide member 26, the guide member 27, and the washer 25 are arranged in this order from the upper side toward the lower side.

The washers 24 and 25 and the guide members 26 and 27 are formed with insertion holes through which the lower rod portions 15b are inserted, and the lower rod portions 15b are inserted. The upper surface of the washer 24 is in surface contact with a step formed at the boundary between the upper rod portion 15a and the lower rod portion 15 b. The washer 24 is restricted from moving upward relative to the first rod 15 by the upper surface of the washer 24 contacting the step surface. That is, the downward movement of the first rod 15 with respect to the washer 24 is restricted. The upper surface of the flange portion 26a of the guide member 26 contacts the lower surface of the washer 24.

The outer diameter of the flange 26a formed in a disc shape is larger than the outer diameter of the compression coil spring 12. The upper end of the compression coil spring 12 contacts the lower surface of the flange portion 26 a. The column portion 26b of the guide member 26 is inserted through the upper end portion of the compression coil spring 12. The washer 25 formed in a rectangular plate shape has a shorter side longer than the outer diameter of the compression coil spring 12. The gasket 25 is disposed so that the longitudinal direction of the gasket 25 coincides with the lateral direction. The lower end of the compression coil spring 12 is in contact with the upper surface of the washer 25. The guide member 27 is inserted through the lower end portion of the compression coil spring 12. The lower end surface of the guide member 27 is in contact with the upper surface of the washer 25. The guide members 26, 27 function to prevent the compression coil spring 12 from being displaced in the radial direction.

As shown in fig. 11, the brake member 18 includes a supported portion 18a supported by the support member 19 and a contact portion 18b arranged along the first lever 15. The braking member 18 of the present embodiment is composed of a supported portion 18a and a contact portion 18 b. The braking member 18 is formed by bending a metal plate such as a steel plate into an L shape, and the supported portion 18a and the contact portion 18b are formed into a flat plate shape. The contact portion 18b is connected to the supported portion 18 a. That is, the braking member 18 is formed in an L shape in which one end of a supported portion 18a formed in a flat plate shape and one end of a contact portion 18b formed in a flat plate shape are connected. The angle θ (see fig. 11 a) formed by the supported portion 18a and the contact portion 18b is an obtuse angle. In the present embodiment, the angle θ is 95 ° to 100 °.

The two brake members 18 are disposed so as to sandwich the first lever 15 in the left-right direction. That is, the two braking members 18 are disposed so as to sandwich the first rod 15 formed in a flat plate shape in the thickness direction of the first rod 15. Specifically, the two contact portions 18b are disposed so as to sandwich the lower rod portion 15b in the left-right direction. The contact portion 18b is disposed so that the thickness direction of the contact portion 18b substantially coincides with the left-right direction. In the brake member 18 disposed on the right side, the supported portion 18a extends rightward from the upper end of the contact portion 18 b. In the brake member 18 disposed on the left side, the supported portion 18a extends from the upper end of the contact portion 18b toward the left side.

The braking member 18 is disposed below the compression coil spring 12. The supported portion 18a is disposed below the washer 25 and above the support member 19. That is, the supported portion 18a is disposed between the supporting member 19 and the washer 25 in the vertical direction. The supported portion 18a is supported from below by the support member 19. The supported portion 18a is biased from above by the compression coil spring 12. Specifically, the supported portion 18a is biased from above by the compression coil spring 12 via the washer 25.

The support member 19 is formed by bending a metal plate such as a steel plate into a predetermined shape. Both ends of the support member 19 in the left-right direction are supported from below by support portions 5e formed on the side surface portions 5 a. The support portion 5e is formed in a flat plate shape. The support portion 5e stands upright from the two side surface portions 5a toward the inside in the left-right direction. The support portion 5e is disposed so that the thickness direction of the support portion 5e coincides with the front-rear direction. The support member 19 supports the two brake members 18 from the lower side. The support member 19 supports the compression coil spring 12 from below via the brake member 18 and the washer 25.

As shown in fig. 11, the support member 19 is formed with a through hole 19a through which the two contact portions 18b and the lower rod portion 15b are inserted. The through hole 19a penetrates the support member 19 in the vertical direction. The through hole 19a is formed in a rectangular shape. As shown in fig. 11, on the upper surface of the support member 19, the boundary between the supported portion 18a and the contact portion 18b contacts the edge of the through hole 19a in the left-right direction.

The compression coil spring 12 is disposed below the rotation center shaft 7, the swing shaft 10, and the second swing shaft 11. As described above, the lower end of the compression coil spring 12 is in contact with the upper surface of the washer 25. The compression coil spring 12 is supported from below by the supporting portion 5e of the first hinge member 5 via the washer 25, the supported portion 18a, and the supporting member 19. As described above, the upper end of the compression coil spring 12 contacts the lower surface of the flange portion 26a of the guide member 26. The compression coil spring 12 biases the first rod 15 upward with respect to the first hinge member 5 via the flange portion 26a and the washer 24.

The upper end of the first lever 15 is in contact with the stopper member 23 at a prescribed contact pressure. The first lever 15 biases the swing shaft 10 via the brake member 23 toward one side in the rotation direction of the second hinge member 6 about the rotation center axis 7 by the biasing force of the compression coil spring 12. That is, the compression coil spring 12 biases the swing shaft 10 fixed to the second hinge member 6 toward one side in the rotation direction of the second hinge member 6 about the rotation center axis 7. That is, the compression coil spring 12 biases the second hinge member 6 to one side in the rotational direction of the second hinge member 6 about the rotational center axis 7.

Specifically, the compression coil spring 12 biases the swing shaft 10 in a direction in which the second hinge member 6 moves from the closed position 6B to the open position 6A. In the present embodiment, when the second hinge member 6 is at the closed position 6B, the swing shaft 10 is disposed slightly forward of the position immediately below the rotation center axis 7, and therefore, strictly speaking, when the swing shaft 10 is at the position immediately forward of the position immediately below the rotation center axis 7, the compression coil spring 12 biases the second hinge member 6 in the direction in which the second hinge member 6 is toward the closed position 6B.

As described above, when the second hinge member 6 rotates relative to the first hinge member 5, the swing shaft 10 moves in the up-down direction, and therefore, the first lever 15 also moves in the up-down direction. Therefore, when the second hinge member 6 rotates relative to the first hinge member 5, the biasing force of the compression coil spring 12 biasing the swing shaft 10 varies. The biasing force of the compression coil spring 12 biasing the swing shaft 10 becomes maximum when the swing shaft 10 is disposed directly below the rotation center shaft 7.

As described above, the supported portion 18a of the brake member 18 is supported from below by the support member 19 and is biased from above by the compression coil spring 12. The two contact portions 18b are disposed so as to sandwich the lower rod portion 15b in the left-right direction, and a boundary portion between the supported portion 18a and the contact portion 18b contacts an edge of the through hole 19a in the left-right direction on the upper surface of the supporting member 19. In the present embodiment, the brake member 18 is rotated about the boundary between the supported portion 18a and the contact portion 18B as a fulcrum by the biasing force of the compression coil spring 12, and the contact portion 18B is brought into contact with the lower lever portion 15B of the first lever 15 (see fig. 11B). The lower rod portion 15b is sandwiched by the two contact portions 18b from both sides in the left-right direction.

The contact pressure of the contact portion 18b with the lower rod portion 15b of the first lever 15 varies according to the urging force of the compression coil spring 12. Specifically, when the first lever 15 is lowered and the biasing force of the compression coil spring 12 is increased, the contact pressure between the contact portion 18b and the lower lever portion 15b is increased. In addition, when the two contact portions 18B are in contact with the lower side lever portion 15B and the lower side lever portion 15B is sandwiched by the two contact portions 18B from both sides in the left-right direction, a braking force acts on the first lever 15, and therefore, the braking force acts on the second hinge member 6 that rotates toward the closed position 6B.

In the present embodiment, as described above, the upper end of the first lever 15 contacts the brake member 23 at the predetermined contact pressure, and therefore the inner peripheral surface of the brake member 23 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the swing shaft 10 at the predetermined contact pressure. Therefore, a braking force is also applied to the second hinge member 6 by the action of the braking member 23. The braking force of the second hinge member 6 generated by the action of the braking member 23 is smaller than the braking force of the second hinge member 6 generated by the action of the braking member 18.

In the present embodiment, in a range in which the combined force of the braking force of the second hinge member 6 by the action of the braking members 18 and 23, the braking force of the second hinge member 36 by the action of the braking member 53 described later which constitutes a part of the hinge 31, the biasing force of the second hinge member 6 by the compression coil spring 12, and the biasing force of the second hinge member 36 by the compression coil spring 42 described later which constitutes a part of the hinge 31 is larger than the gravity force acting on the lid 4, even if the user who performs the opening and closing operation of the lid 4 separates his or her hand from the lid 4, the second hinge members 6 and 36 are stopped with respect to the first hinge members 5 and 35. That is, even if the user who performs the opening and closing operation of the refrigerator 2 separates his or her hand from the lid 4, the lid 4 is stopped. For example, in a range in which the second hinge member 6 is rotated by 30 ° from the open position 6A toward the closed position 6B, even if the user who performs the opening and closing operation of the lid 4 separates his hand from the lid 4, the lid 4 is stopped.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the amount of movement in the vertical direction of the swing shaft 10 immediately after the second hinge member 6 starts rotating from the open position 6A toward the closed position 6B is large, the amount of movement in the vertical direction of the first lever 15 immediately after the second hinge member 6 starts rotating from the open position 6A toward the closed position 6B is large. Therefore, since the second hinge member 6 starts to rotate from the open position 6A toward the closed position 6B, the biasing force of the compression coil spring 12 can be made to act on the supported portion 18a of the brake member 18 relatively largely immediately, and as a result, the braking force of the second hinge member 6 by the action of the brake member 18 is easily generated immediately after the second hinge member 6 starts to rotate from the open position 6A toward the closed position 6B.

The second rod 16 is formed in a substantially rectangular flat plate shape elongated in the vertical direction. The second lever 16 is formed of a metal plate such as a steel plate. The second lever 16 is disposed such that the thickness direction of the second lever 16 coincides with the left-right direction. The second rod 16 is disposed between the two side surface portions 5 a. The second rod 16 is disposed along one side surface portion 5a of the two side surface portions 5 a. Specifically, the second lever 16 is disposed along the side surface portion 5a disposed on the right side.

The second rod 16 is disposed between one side surface portion 5a of the two side surface portions 5a and one side surface portion 6a of the two side surface portions 6a in the left-right direction. Specifically, the second lever 16 is disposed between the side surface portion 5a disposed on the right side and the side surface portion 6a disposed on the right side in the left-right direction. The second lever 16 is disposed on the right side of the right end of the swing shaft 10. The front end of the second rod 16 is arranged rearward of the front end of the side surface portion 5 a.

The upper end (one end) of the second lever 16 is connected to the second swing shaft 11. Specifically, the upper end portion of the second lever 16 is connected to the second swing shaft 11 and is rotatable. As shown in fig. 9, an insertion hole 16a through which the right end of the second swing shaft 11 is inserted is formed in the upper end portion of the second lever 16. The insertion hole 16a is a circular hole that penetrates the second rod 16 in the left-right direction. The second lever 16 is formed with a slit hole 16b in the shape of a slit whose longitudinal direction is the vertical direction. The slit hole 16b is a square hole that penetrates the second lever 16 in the left-right direction.

The support portion 5e formed on the side surface portion 5a disposed on the right side is inserted through the slit hole 16 b. The slit hole 16b has a width in the front-rear direction larger than the thickness of the support portion 5 e. In the present embodiment, the support portion 5e formed on the right side surface portion 5a is a guide portion for guiding the second rod 16 in the vertical direction. The support portion 5e supports the lower end of the compression coil spring 12 via the washer 25, the supported portion 18a, and the support member 19.

The fluid damper 13 is a direct-acting fluid damper. The fluid damper 13 is an oil damper, and a fluid chamber filled with oil (viscous oil) is formed inside a housing of the fluid damper 13. The fluid damper 13 is disposed such that a piston rod of the fluid damper 13 protrudes downward. The housing and the piston rod of the fluid damper 13 are formed of resin. The fluid damper 13 is disposed below the compression coil spring 12. The fluid damper 13 is disposed between the two side surface portions 5 a.

The fluid damper 13 is disposed on the left side of the center of the first hinge member 5 in the left-right direction. The fluid damper 13 is disposed on the front side of the base portion 5 b. The front end of the fluid damper 13 is disposed rearward of the front end of the side surface portion 5 a. As described above, the fluid damper 13 is held by the damper holding member 20. The damper holding member 20 is formed of resin. The damper holding member 20 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped block shape.

The damper retaining member 20 is fixed to the first hinge member 5. Specifically, the damper holding member 20 is fixed to the lower end portion of the first hinge member 5. The damper holding member 20 is disposed between the two side surface portions 5 a. The damper holding member 20 is disposed on the front side of the base portion 5 b. The front surface of the damper holding member 20 is disposed slightly rearward of the front end of the side surface portion 5 a.

The link 17 is formed in a flat plate shape. The links 17 are arranged such that the thickness direction of the links 17 coincides with the front-rear direction. The link 17 is a pivotal lever that is pivotable about a pivotal center axis 30. The rotation center shaft 30 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The rotation center shaft 30 is disposed so that the axial direction of the rotation center shaft 30 coincides with the front-rear direction. That is, the link 17 can rotate in the axial direction in which the forward and backward directions are rotational.

The rotation center shaft 30 is fixed to the link 17. The rotational center shaft 30 is rotatably held by the damper holding member 20. That is, the link 17 is rotatably held by the damper holding member 20. The rotation center shaft 30 of the present embodiment is a second rotation center shaft. Further, the rotation center shaft 30 may be fixed to the damper holding member 20, and the link 17 may be rotatably held by the rotation center shaft 30. That is, the link 17 may be rotatably held by the damper holding member 20 via the rotation center shaft 30.

The link 17 amplifies the amount of motion of the second lever 16 and transmits it to the fluid damper 13. That is, the link 17 accelerates the movement of the second lever 16 and transmits the same to the fluid damper 13. The lower end of the second lever 16 engages with the right end of the link 17 from above. A recess portion that engages with the right end portion of the link 17 is formed at the lower end portion of the second lever 16. The recess is recessed from the lower end of the second rod 16 toward the upper side. The piston rod of the fluid damper 13 is in contact with the left end of the connecting rod 17 from the upper side.

As shown in fig. 7, when the point of action of the link 17 on which the force from the fluid damper 13 acts is the first point of action 17a, and the point of action of the link 17 on which the force from the second lever 16 (i.e., the force from the second hinge member 6) acts is the second point of action 17b, the distance L1 between the first point of action 17a and the axial center of the rotation center shaft 30 is greater than the distance L2 between the second point of action 17b and the axial center of the rotation center shaft 30. Specifically, the distance L1 is 2 times or more the distance L2. In the present embodiment, the distance L1 is about 2 times the distance L2.

In the present embodiment, when the second hinge member 6 rotates from the open position 6A toward the closed position 6B, the second rod 16 descends, the link 17 rotates, and the piston rod of the fluid damper 13 is pushed up. Further, the rotational operation of the second hinge member 6 that rotates toward the closed position 6B is alleviated by raising the piston rod of the fluid damper 13. That is, when the cover 4 is closed, the rotational movement of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5 is alleviated.

(Structure of damper-free hinge)

Fig. 12 is a front view of the hinge 31 shown in fig. 1.

As described above, the hinge 31 includes the first hinge member 35, the second hinge member 36, and the rotation center shaft 37. Further, the hinge 31 includes: a swing shaft 40 arranged in parallel with the rotation center shaft 37 and rotating together with the second hinge member 36 with respect to the first hinge member 35; a spring member 42 for urging the swing shaft 40 to one side of the second hinge member 36 with respect to the rotation direction of the first hinge member 35; and a first lever 45 for transmitting the urging force of the spring member 42 to the swing shaft 40. The spring member 42 of the present embodiment is a compression coil spring. Therefore, the spring member 42 is hereinafter referred to as a "compression coil spring 42".

The first hinge member 35 is substantially similar in structure to the first hinge member 5. The first hinge member 35 includes two flat plate-shaped side surface portions 35a that support both end portions of the rotation center shaft 37, and a flat plate-shaped base portion 35b that connects the two side surface portions 35a, and is formed in a substantially square groove shape as a whole. The upper end of the side surface portion 35a is a protrusion 35c protruding upward from the upper end of the base portion 35 b. The base 35b is fixed to the body 3 by screws or the like so that the rear surface of the base 35b is in contact with the body 3.

The second hinge member 36 is substantially similar to the second hinge member 6. Like the second hinge member 6, the second hinge member 36 is rotatable relative to the first hinge member 35 between an open position in which the lid 4 is open and a closed position in which the lid 4 is closed. The second hinge member 36 has a rotational angle (rotational range) of about 75 ° with respect to the first hinge member 35. The second hinge member 36 includes two flat side surface portions 36a and a flat base portion 36b connecting the two side surface portions 36a, and is formed in a substantially square groove shape as a whole. The base portion 36b is fixed to the cover 4 by screws or the like so that the rear surface of the base portion 36b contacts the cover 4 when the second hinge member 36 is disposed at the closed position.

The width of the first hinge member 35 in the left-right direction is larger than the width of the second hinge member 36 in the left-right direction. The two side surface portions 36a are disposed inside the two protruding portions 35c in the left-right direction, and are sandwiched between the two protruding portions 35 c. The side surface portion 36a is formed with insertion holes through which both end portions of the rotation center shaft 37 are inserted. The insertion hole is a circular hole penetrating the side surface portion 36a in the left-right direction.

The rotation center shaft 37 is formed in a cylindrical shape, similarly to the rotation center shaft 7. Both end portions of the rotation center shaft 37 are fixed to the upper end portions of the two projecting portions 35c, and the second hinge member 36 is connected to the first hinge member 35 on the upper end side of the first hinge member 35 as described above. When the second hinge member 36 rotates about the rotation center shaft 37 to move the upper end portion of the second hinge member 36 in the closed position to the front side, the second hinge member 36 in the closed position moves to the open position.

The swing shaft 40 is formed in a cylindrical shape, similarly to the swing shaft 10. Both ends of the swing shaft 40 are supported by the second hinge member 36. Specifically, both end portions of the swing shaft 40 are fixed to the two side surface portions 36a, respectively. Both end portions of the swing shaft 40 protrude outward in the left-right direction from the side surface portion 36 a. When the second hinge member 36 rotates relative to the first hinge member 35, the swing shaft 40 moves in the up-down direction.

The two projections 35c of the first hinge member 35 are respectively formed with a restriction groove into which the end of the swing shaft 40 is inserted. The restricting groove penetrates the protruding portion 35c in the left-right direction. The restricting groove is formed in an arc shape having the axis of the rotation center shaft 37 as the center of curvature when viewed in the left-right direction. The range of rotation of the second hinge member 36 relative to the first hinge member 35 is limited by the end of the swing shaft 40 inserted into the limiting groove and the limiting groove.

The brake member 53 formed in a cylindrical shape is inserted through the swing shaft 40. The braking member 53 is disposed between the two side surface portions 36 a. A recess 53a that is recessed inward in the radial direction of the stopper member 53 is formed at the center position of the stopper member 53 in the left-right direction. The recess 53a is formed over the entire circumferential area of the brake member 53.

The first lever 45 is configured similarly to the first lever 15. That is, the first lever 45 is formed in a substantially rectangular flat plate shape elongated in the vertical direction, similarly to the first lever 15. The first lever 45 includes an upper lever portion 45a constituting an upper portion of the first lever 45 and a lower lever portion 45b constituting a lower portion of the first lever 45. A step surface is formed at the boundary between the upper rod portion 45a and the lower rod portion 45 b. A concave curved surface formed in an arc shape is formed at the upper end of the first lever 45. The concave curved surface contacts the bottom surface of the concave portion 53a of the stopper member 53.

The lower rod portion 45b is inserted through the compression coil spring 42. The lower rod 45b is inserted through a washer 54 that contacts the upper end of the compression coil spring 42 and a washer 55 that contacts the lower end of the compression coil spring 42. The upper surface of the washer 54 is in surface contact with a step formed at the boundary between the upper rod portion 45a and the lower rod portion 45 b. The washer 55 is supported from below by the support member 49 fixed to the first hinge member 35. The support member 49 is formed with a through hole through which the lower rod portion 45b is inserted. The compression coil spring 42 biases the first rod 45 upward with respect to the first hinge member 35 via a washer 54.

The upper end of the first lever 45 contacts the stopper member 53 with a prescribed contact pressure. Therefore, the inner peripheral surface of the brake member 53 contacts the outer peripheral surface of the swing shaft 40 at a predetermined contact pressure. Therefore, by the action of the braking member 53, a braking force acts on the second hinge member 36. The first lever 45 biases the swing shaft 40 toward one side in the rotation direction of the second hinge member 36 about the rotation center axis 37 via the brake member 53 by the biasing force of the compression coil spring 42. That is, the compression coil spring 42 biases the second hinge member 36 via the swing shaft 40 toward one side in the rotational direction of the second hinge member 36 about the rotational center axis 37. Specifically, the compression coil spring 42 biases the swing shaft 40 in a direction in which the second hinge member 36 moves from the closed position to the open position.

(main effect of the present embodiment)

As described above, in the present embodiment, the hinge 1 includes the fluid damper 13 for damping the rotational movement of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as described above, when the opened cover 4 is closed, the rotational movement of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5 is alleviated. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the rotational speed of the lid 4 when the opened lid 4 is closed can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the hinge 1 is a damper-equipped hinge, but the hinge 31 is a damper-free hinge having no fluid damper. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the cost of the refrigerator 2 can be reduced as compared with the case where the hinge 31 is a damper-equipped hinge. That is, in the present embodiment, the rotational speed of the lid 4 when the opened lid 4 is closed can be reduced, and the cost of the refrigerator 2 can be reduced.

In the present embodiment, the fluid damper 13 is disposed below the compression coil spring 12. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the thickness of the hinge 1 in the front-rear direction can be made thinner than in the case where the fluid damper 13 is disposed on the inner peripheral side of the compression coil spring 12. That is, in the present embodiment, the hinge 1 can be thinned.

In the present embodiment, the fluid damper 13 is disposed between the two side surface portions 5 a. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the hinge 1 can be downsized in the right-left direction as compared with the case where the fluid damper 13 protrudes to the outside in the right-left direction of the two side surface parts 5 a. In addition, in the present embodiment, since the second rod 16 is disposed between the two side surface portions 5a, the hinge 1 can be made smaller in the left-right direction as compared with the case where the second rod 16 is disposed outside the two side surface portions 5a in the left-right direction.

In the present embodiment, the hinge 1 includes a first lever 15 for transmitting the biasing force of the compression coil spring 12 to the swing shaft 10, and a second lever 16 for transmitting the rotational motion of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5 to the fluid damper 13. When the rotational motion of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5 is transmitted to the fluid damper 13 via the first rod 15, it is difficult to freely set the urging force of the compression coil spring 12 acting on the second hinge member 6 and the damping force of the fluid damper 13 acting on the second hinge member 6 at each rotational position of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5, but in the present embodiment, the urging force of the compression coil spring 12 acting on the second hinge member 6 and the damping force of the fluid damper 13 acting on the second hinge member 6 can be relatively freely set at each rotational position of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5 using the first rod 15 and the second rod 16.

In the present embodiment, the upper end portion of the second lever 16 is rotatably connected to the second swing shaft 11 that is arranged parallel to the rotation center shaft 7 and the swing shaft 10 and rotates together with the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5. Therefore, in the present embodiment, if the second hinge member 6 is formed with an insertion hole through which the second swing shaft 11 is inserted, the rotation operation of the second hinge member 6 can be transmitted to the second lever 16 via the second swing shaft 11. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the structure of the second hinge member 6 can be simplified. In addition, in the present embodiment, the rotational movement of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5 can be transmitted to the second lever 16 with a relatively simple configuration.

In the present embodiment, both end portions of the second swing shaft 11 are supported by the second hinge member 6. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the second swing shaft 11 can be suppressed from being deflected with respect to the second hinge member 6. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the rotational movement of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5 can be reliably transmitted to the second lever 16.

In the present embodiment, the rotation range of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5 is restricted by the restriction groove 5d formed in the first hinge member 5 and the end portion of the second swing shaft 11 inserted into the restriction groove 5 d. That is, in the present embodiment, the second swing shaft 11 is used to restrict the range of rotation of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the structure of the hinge 1 can be simplified.

In the present embodiment, the hinge 1 includes a link 17 for amplifying the amount of rotation of the second hinge member 6 relative to the first hinge member 5 and transmitting the amplified rotation to the fluid damper 13. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the amount of operation of the fluid damper 13 when the second hinge member 6 rotates relative to the first hinge member 5 can be increased. Therefore, in the present embodiment, even if the fluid damper 13, which is small and inexpensive and has a low damping effect in which the housing and the piston rod are formed of resin, is used, the damping force required for appropriately relaxing the rotational operation of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5 can be obtained by the fluid damper 13. That is, in the present embodiment, the rotational movement of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5 can be appropriately relaxed, and the fluid damper 13 which is small and inexpensive can be used.

In the present embodiment, the link 17 is rotatable in the axial direction in which the front-rear direction is rotational. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the hinge 1 can be made smaller in the front-rear direction than in the case where the link 17 can be rotated in the axial direction in which the left-right direction is rotated. That is, the hinge 1 can be thinned.

In the present embodiment, the hinge 1 includes the stopper member 18 that comes into contact with the first lever 15 at a predetermined contact pressure. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the first lever 15 can be stopped at the predetermined position using the brake member 18, and as a result, the second hinge member 6 can be stopped at the predetermined position in the range of rotation relative to the first hinge member 5 as described above.

In the present embodiment, since the contact portion 18b of the brake member 18 is in contact with the first lever 15 by the biasing force of the compression coil spring 12, the first lever 15 can be stopped at a predetermined position using the compression coil spring 12 for biasing the swing shaft 10. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the structure of the hinge 1 can be simplified as compared with a case where a spring member for bringing the contact portion 18b into contact with the first lever 15 is provided in addition to the compression coil spring 12. In the present embodiment, the contact portion 18b is in contact with the first lever 15 by the biasing force of the compression coil spring 12 for biasing the swing shaft 10, and therefore the contact pressure of the contact portion 18b with respect to the first lever 15 can be increased.

In the present embodiment, the braking member 18 is formed in an L shape in which one end of a supported portion 18a formed in a flat plate shape and one end of a contact portion 18b formed in a flat plate shape are connected, and an angle formed between the supported portion 18a and the contact portion 18b is an obtuse angle. Therefore, in the present embodiment, with a relatively simple configuration, when the supported portion 18a is biased from above by the compression coil spring 12, the contact portion 18b can be brought into contact with the first lever 15 by the biasing force of the compression coil spring 12.

(other embodiments)

The above embodiment is an example of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, but is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without changing the gist of the present invention.

In the above embodiment, the refrigerator 2 may include the hinge 1 instead of the hinge 31. That is, the refrigerator 2 may be provided with two hinges with dampers. In the above embodiment, the refrigerator 2 may be provided with 3 or more hinges for connecting the main body 3 and the lid 4. In this case, the refrigerator 2 is provided with at least one hinge 1. That is, at least one hinge of the 3 or more hinges is a damper-equipped hinge.

In the above-described embodiment, the fluid damper 13 is disposed such that the piston rod of the fluid damper 13 protrudes upward. In the above-described embodiment, the fluid damper 13 may be a rotary fluid damper. In the above-described embodiment, the fluid chamber of the fluid damper 13 may be filled with a viscous fluid other than oil. For example, the fluid damper 13 may be a gas damper filled with air in the fluid chamber.

In the above-described embodiment, the whole or a part of the fluid damper 13 may protrude outward in the lateral direction of the two side surface parts 5 a. In the above-described embodiment, the fluid damper 13 may be disposed in parallel with the compression coil spring 12 in the left-right direction, or may be disposed on the inner peripheral side of the compression coil spring 12. In the above embodiment, the second rod 16 may be disposed on the right side of the side surface portion 5a disposed on the right side, or may be disposed on the left side of the side surface portion 6a disposed on the right side.

In the above-described embodiment, the first operating point 17a is disposed on the left side of the rotation center shaft 30, and the second operating point 17b is disposed on the right side of the rotation center shaft 30, but the first operating point 17a and the second operating point 17b may be disposed on the left side of the rotation center shaft 30. In this case, for example, the rotation center shaft 30 is disposed on the right side of the side surface portion 5a disposed on the right side. In this case, for example, the fluid damper 13 is disposed such that the piston rod of the fluid damper 13 protrudes upward, and the left end of the link 17 contacts the piston rod of the fluid damper 13 from above.

In the above embodiment, the link 17 may be rotated in the axial direction in which the left-right direction is rotated. In the above-described embodiment, the distance L1 between the first operating point 17a and the axis of the rotation center shaft 30 may be greater than the distance L2 between the second operating point 17b and the axis of the rotation center shaft 30 and less than 2 times the distance L2. The distance L1 and the distance L2 may be equal. In the above embodiment, the hinge 1 may not include the link 17. That is, the motion of the second rod 16 may be directly transmitted to the fluid damper 13.

In the above-described embodiment, the swing shaft 10 may be used to limit the range of rotation of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5. In the above-described embodiment, the pivoting range of the second hinge part 6 in one side of the pivoting direction of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5 may be restricted by the pivoting shaft 10, and the pivoting range of the second hinge part 6 in the other side of the pivoting direction of the second hinge member 6 may be restricted by the second pivoting shaft 11.

In the above embodiment, the first rod 15 may transmit the rotational motion of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5 to the fluid damper 13. In this case, the hinge 1 may not include the second lever 16 and the second swing shaft 11. In this case, the first lever 15 may transmit the rotational motion of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5 to the fluid damper 13 via the link 17, or may transmit the rotational motion of the second hinge member 6 with respect to the first hinge member 5 directly to the fluid damper 13.

In the above-described embodiment, the upper end portion of the second lever 16 may be rotatably connected to the second hinge member 6. In this case, the hinge 1 may not include the second swing shaft 11. In this case, the upper end of the second rod 16 may be directly connected to the second hinge member 6, or may be connected to the second hinge member 6 via a predetermined member.

In the above-described embodiment, the angle of rotation of the second hinge part 6 relative to the first hinge part 5 can also exceed 90 °. In the above embodiment, the swing shaft 10 may be formed integrally with the second hinge member 6, and the second swing shaft 11 may be formed integrally with the second hinge member 6. In the above embodiment, the braking member 23 may be formed integrally with the first lever 15, and the braking member 53 may be formed integrally with the first lever 45.

In the above-described embodiment, the angle θ formed between the supported portion 18a and the contact portion 18b of the braking member 18 may be a right angle or an acute angle. In the above embodiment, the hinge 1 may include 3 or more braking members 18. In this case, for example, the first lever 15 is formed in a vertically elongated cylindrical shape, and 3 or more braking members 18 surround the first lever 15 from the outer peripheral side. When the first rod 15 is formed in an elongated cylindrical shape, the contact portion 18b may be formed in a curved plate shape having an elongated circular arc shape. The hinge 1 may have one braking member 18. In this case, for example, a contact surface that contacts one lateral side surface of the lower rod portion 15b of the first lever 15 is formed on the support member 19.

In the above-described embodiment, the hinge 31 may include the stopper member 18 that comes into contact with the first lever 45 at a predetermined contact pressure. In this case, for example, the first lever 45 is configured similarly to the first lever 15. In the above embodiment, the hinge 1 may not include the stopper member 18.

Claims (19)

1. A refrigerator or freezer comprising: a box-shaped body with an opening on the upper surface and used for accommodating the stored articles; a cover openably and closably attached to an upper surface side of the body; and a plurality of hinges connecting the body and the lid, characterized in that,

the cover can rotate relative to the body in an axial direction in which the cover rotates in a horizontal direction,

the hinge is provided with: a first hinge member fixed to the body; and a second hinge member fixed to the cover and rotatably connected to the first hinge member,

at least one of the plurality of hinges is a damper-less hinge having a fluid damper for moderating rotational motion of the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member.

2. A refrigerator or freezer according to claim 1,

the hinge is provided with two of the hinges,

one of the two hinges is the damped hinge,

the other of the two hinges is an undamped hinge without the fluid damper.

3. A refrigerator or freezer according to claim 1,

the hinge is provided with: a rotation center shaft as a rotation center of the second hinge member with respect to the first hinge member; a swing shaft arranged in parallel with the rotation center shaft and rotating together with the second hinge member with respect to the first hinge member; and a spring member for urging the swing shaft to one side of the second hinge member with respect to a rotational direction of the first hinge member,

the second hinge member is connected to the first hinge member on an upper end side of the first hinge member.

4. A refrigerator or freezer according to claim 3,

the spring member is a compression coil spring,

the compression coil spring is disposed below the rotation center shaft and the swing shaft,

the fluid damper is disposed below the compression coil spring.

5. A refrigerator or freezer according to claim 4,

the first hinge member includes: two flat-plate-shaped side surface portions supporting both end portions of the rotation center shaft; and a flat plate-like base portion connecting the two side surface portions,

the fluid damper is disposed between the two side surface portions.

6. A refrigerator or freezer according to claim 4,

the hinge with damper is provided with: a first lever for transmitting the urging force of the compression coil spring to the swing shaft; and a second rod for transmitting rotational motion of the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member to the fluid damper.

7. A refrigerator or freezer according to claim 6,

the first hinge member includes: two flat-plate-shaped side surface portions supporting both end portions of the rotation center shaft; and a flat plate-like base portion connecting the two side surface portions,

the second rod is disposed between the two side surface portions.

8. A refrigerator or freezer according to claim 3,

the hinge with damper is provided with: a second swing shaft that is disposed in parallel with the rotation center shaft and the swing shaft, that is attached to the second hinge member, and that rotates together with the second hinge member with respect to the first hinge member; a first lever for transmitting the urging force of the spring member to the swing shaft; and a second rod for transmitting rotational motion of the second hinge member relative to the first hinge member to the fluid damper,

one end of the second rod is connected with the second swinging shaft.

9. A refrigerator or freezer according to claim 8,

one end portion of the second lever is rotatably connected to the second swing shaft.

10. A refrigerator or freezer according to claim 8,

both end portions of the second swing shaft are supported by the second hinge member.

11. A refrigerator or freezer according to claim 8,

a restricting groove into which an end portion of the second swing shaft is inserted is formed in the first hinge member,

the rotation range of the second hinge member with respect to the first hinge member is restricted by the end of the second swing shaft inserted into the restriction groove and the restriction groove.

12. A refrigerator or freezer according to claim 3,

the hinge with damper is provided with a link for amplifying and transmitting the amount of rotation of the second hinge member with respect to the first hinge member to the fluid damper.

13. A refrigerator or freezer according to claim 12,

the connecting rod is a rotating rod which can rotate by taking the second rotating central shaft as a center,

when the point of action of the force from the fluid damper of the link is set as a first point of action and the point of action of the force from the second hinge member of the link is set as a second point of action,

the distance between the first action point and the axis of the second rotating central shaft is greater than the distance between the second action point and the axis of the second rotating central shaft.

14. A refrigerator or freezer according to claim 13,

the distance between the first action point and the axis of the second rotation central shaft is more than 2 times of the distance between the second action point and the axis of the second rotation central shaft.

15. A refrigerator or freezer according to claim 12,

when the direction orthogonal to the axial direction and the vertical direction of the rotation center shaft is set as the orthogonal direction,

the link is rotatable in an axial direction in which the orthogonal direction is rotational.

16. A refrigerator or freezer according to claim 3,

the spring member is a compression coil spring,

the hinge is provided with: a first lever for transmitting the urging force of the compression coil spring to the swing shaft; a brake member that contacts the first lever at a predetermined contact pressure; and a support member supporting the braking member,

the compression coil spring is disposed below the rotation center shaft and the swing shaft,

the first rod is formed into a long strip shape with the vertical direction as the long side direction,

the brake member includes: a supported portion supported by the support member; and a contact portion arranged along the first rod and connected to the supported portion, and the braking member is arranged below the compression coil spring,

the supported portion is supported from the lower side by the supporting member and urged from the upper side by the compression coil spring,

the contact portion is in contact with the first lever by the urging force of the compression coil spring.

17. A refrigerator or freezer according to claim 16,

when the second hinge member rotates relative to the first hinge member, the first lever moves in an up-down direction,

the urging force of the compression coil spring varies when the second hinge member rotates relative to the first hinge member,

the contact pressure of the contact portion with respect to the first lever varies in accordance with the urging force of the compression coil spring.

18. A refrigerator or freezer according to claim 16,

the support member is formed with a through hole penetrating the support member in the vertical direction,

the contact portion and the first rod are inserted into the through hole.

19. A refrigerator or freezer according to claim 16,

the braking member is formed in an L-shape by connecting one end of the supported portion formed in a flat plate shape and one end of the contact portion formed in a flat plate shape,

an angle formed between the supported portion and the contact portion is an obtuse angle.

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