EP2161522A2

EP2161522A2 - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: EP2161522A2
Application number: EP20090008768
Authority: EP
Inventors: Su Nam Chae; Sung Jhee
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2008-09-03
Filing date: 2009-07-03
Publication date: 2010-03-10
Anticipated expiration: 2029-07-03
Also published as: EP2161522B1; EP2161522A3; KR20100027575A

Abstract

Provided is a refrigerator (1). In an embodiment, the refrigerator (1), which includes a cabinet (10) in which a storage space is provided, a door (30) that selectively opens and closes the storage space, and a home bar (100) provided on the door (30), comprises: a home bar frame (110) installed on the door (30) and having a home bar opening (111); a home bar door (120) rotatably installed on the home bar frame (110) to selectively open and close the home bar opening (111); and first and second gaskets (140), 150) that shield the gap between home bar frame (110) and the home bar door (120), in a state where the home bar opening (111)is shielded.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator having a home bar.
A home bar is an apparatus to allow foods to be taken in or out without opening a door opening and closing a storage space of a refrigerator. In the home bar, a home bar receiving space in which foods are received is selectively opened and closed by the home bar. More specifically, a home bar opening through which foods received in the home bar receiving space is taken in or out is formed on a home bar frame and it is selectively opened and closed by a home bar door whose other end is rotated, centering on its one end put on the home bar frame.
In the prior art, the gap between the home bar frame and the home bar door has been shielded by gaskets. However, the gap between the home bar frame and the home bar door has not been substantially sufficiently shielded by the gaskets, there is a concern that cold air inside the home bar receiving space may be leaked through the gap between the home bar frame and the home bar door.

SUMMARY

The embodiment provides a refrigerator that can minimize the leakage of cold air.
In an embodiment, a refrigerator, which includes a cabinet in which a storage space is provided, a door that selectively opens and closes the storage space, and a home bar provided on the door, comprises: a home bar frame installed on the door and having a home bar opening; a home bar door rotatably installed on the home bar frame to selectively open and close the home bar opening; and first and second gaskets that shield the gap between home bar frame and the home bar door, in a state where the home bar opening is shielded.
In another embodiment, a refrigerator, which includes a cabinet in which a storage space is provided, a door that selectively opens and closes the storage space, and a home bar provided on the door, comprises: a home bar frame installed on the door and having a home bar opening; a home bar door rotatably installed on the home bar frame to selectively open and close the home bar opening; at least two gaskets closely adhered to the home bar frame and the home bar door, respectively, in a state where the home bar opening is shielded; and at least one adiabatic space formed on the gap between the home bar frame and the home bar door.
According to embodiments, it has advantage to reduce the leakage of cold air through the gap between the home bar frame and the home bar door.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a first embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing principal parts according to the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing principal parts according to a second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Hereinafter, a first embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a front view showing a first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing principal parts according to the first embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 includes a cabinet 10, a freezing chamber door 20, and a refrigerating chamber door 30. A freezing chamber (not shown) and a refrigerating chamber (not shown) are provided in the inside of the cabinet 10. And, the freezing chamber door 20 and the refrigerating chamber door 30 selectively open and close the freezing chamber or the refrigerating chamber, respectively.
A dispenser 40 is installed in front of the freezing chamber door 20. The dispenser 40 is to take in or out water or ice from the external without opening the freezing chamber or the refrigerating chamber by opening the freezing chamber door 20 or the refrigerating chamber door 30. Referring to FIG. 2, the home bar 100 includes a home bar frame 110, a home bar door 120, a home bar housing 130, first and second gaskets 140 and 150, and a heater 170.
More specifically, the home bar frame 110 is formed in an approximately rectangular frame form. A home bar opening 111 is formed in the inside of the home bar frame 110. The home bar opening 111 functions as an entrance/exit part through which the foods received in the home bar 100 are taken in and out.
And, a hooking part 113 is provided in the home bar frame 110. The hooking part 113 is formed as a portion of a border surface of the home bar frame 110 corresponding to the border of the home bar opening 111 is protruded toward the inside of the home bar opening 111. In the present embodiment, the border surface of the home bar frame 110 is bisected forward and backward so that its rear end is protruded toward the inside of the home bar opening 111.
The home bar door 120 is formed having a shape corresponding to the home bar opening 111. The home bar door 120 opens and closes the home bar opening 111 in a pull-down method that its upper end is rotated upward and downward centering on its lower end put on the home bar frame 110.
Meanwhile, a projection part 121 is provided on the backside of the home bar door 120. A backside central portion of the home bar door 120 is protruded backward, having a shape corresponding to the home bar opening 111 excepting for the hooking part 113, to form the projection part 121. The projection part 121 is to prevent interference with the hooking part 113 in a state where the home bar opening 111 is shielded by the home bar door 120. Therefore, in a state where the home bar opening 111 is shielded by the home bar door 120, the border surface of the home bar door 120 substantially including the border surface of the projection part 121 is positioned opposite to the border surface of the home bar frame 110 including the border surface of the hooking part 113. The backside of the home bar door 120 excepting for the projection part 121 is positioned to opposite to the front surface of the hooking part 113. And, the front surface of the home bar door 120 in a state where the home bar opening 111 is shielded by the home bar door 120 may be positioned on the same plane as the front surface of the refrigerating chamber door 3. The front surface of the home bar door 120 may be protruded or embedded from the front surface of the refrigerating chamber door, however it may be ignored in consideration of the entire thickness of the home bar door 120.
The home bar housing 130 is installed on the backside of the refrigerating chamber door 30. The home bar housing 130 forms a home bar receiving space 131 between the inner surface thereof and the backside of the refrigerating chamber door 30. The home bar receiving space 131 is a place where foods taken in or out through the home bar opening 111 are received and stored.
The first and second gaskets 140 and 150 are to reduce the phenomenon the cold air of the home bar receiving space 131 is leaked to the external through the gap between the home bar frame 110 and the home bar door 120. To this end, the first gasket 140 is provided in front of the hooking part 113. Therefore, the first gasket 140 is closely adhered to the backside of the home bar door 120 adjacent to the projection part 121, in a state where the home bar opening 111 is shielded by the home bar door 120. And, the second gasket 150 is provided on the backside of the home bar frame 110 adjacent to the home bar opening 111. At this time, the second gasket 150 is extended to the home bar opening 111 from the backside of the home bar frame 110. Therefore, the second gasket 150 is closely adhered to the backside of the home bar door 120, more specifically, to the backside of the projection part 121, in a state where the home bar opening 111 is shielded by the home bar door 120.
And, in a state where the home bar opening 111 is shielded by the home bar door 120, an adiabatic space 160 is formed between the home bar frame 110 and the home bar door 120 and between the first and second gaskets 140 and 150. The adiabatic space 160 serves to reduce a phenomenon that cold air of the home bar receiving space 131 is leaked to the external, similarly to the first and second gaskets 140 and 150. More specifically, the adiabatic space 160 is positioned between the first and second gaskets 140 and 150. Therefore, a heat-exchange between the outside of the home bar receiving space 131 that contacts the first gasket 140, that is, the indoor, and the inside of the home bar receiving space 131 that contacts the second gasket 150 is reduced by the adiabatic space 160. Also, the adiabatic space 160 is formed only in a state where the home bar opening 111 is shielded by the home bar door 120. In other words, the adiabatic space 160 is formed only in a state where the backside of the home bar door 120 is closely adhered to the first gasket 140 and the backside of the projection part 121 is closely adhered to the second gasket 150.
The heater 170 is provided in the inside of the home bar frame 110. The heater 170 is to reduce a dewing phenomenon on the front surfaces of the refrigerating chamber door 30, the home bar frame 110 and the home bar door 120 due to the temperature difference between the inside of the cabinet 10, that is, the refrigerating chamber, or the home bar receiving space 131 and the outside. For example, if the temperature difference between the refrigerating chamber or the home bar receiving space 131 and the outside is determined to be equal or more that the predetermined values, the heater 170 operates to reduce the dewing phenomenon.
Hereinafter, the operation of the first embodiment will be described in more detail.
First, in the state where the home bar opening 111 is shielded by the home bar door 120, the backside border of the home bar door 120 is closely adhered to the first gasket 140. And, the backside of the projection part 121 is closely adhered to the second gasket 150. Therefore, the adiabatic space 160 is formed between the gap between the home bar frame 110 and the home bar door 120 corresponding to between the first and second gaskets 140 and 150.
Meanwhile, cold air that freezes or refrigerates the received foods is supplied to the inside of the home bar receiving space 131. However, the gap between the home bar frame 110 and the home bar door 120 is shielded by the first and second gaskets 140 and 150. Therefore, the phenomenon that the cold air inside the home bar receiving space 131 is leaked to the external can be more efficiently reduced. The heat-exchange between the internal part and the external part of the home bar receiving space is reduced by the adiabatic space 160 formed between the first and second gaskets 140 and 150.
Also, as described above, the leakage of the cold air inside the home bar receiving space 131 is reduced and the heat-exchange between the internal part and the external part of the home bar receiving space is reduced, making it possible to minimize the dewing phenomenon on the front surfaces of the home bar frame 110 and the home bar door 120. Therefore, the operation of freezing cycle that supplies cold air to the home bar receiving space 131 and the operation of the heater 170 can be minimized, making it possible to minimize power consumption.
Hereinafter, a second embodiment will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 3 is a horizontal cross-sectional view showing principal parts according to a second embodiment.
Among the constituents of the present embodiment, the detailed description on the same constituents as those in the first embodiment will be omitted.
Referring to FIG. 3, a refrigerating door 30 (see FIG. 1) is installed in a home bar 200. A home bar opening 211 is formed on a home bar frame 210 that constitutes the home bar 200, and the home bar opening 211 is selectively opened and closed by a home bar door 220. And, a hooking part 213 is provided in the home bar frame 210 and a projection part 221 is provided in the home bar door 220. First and second gaskets 250 and 260 are provided between the home bar frame 210 and the home bar door 220. An adiabatic space 260 (hereinafter, referred to as 'first adiabatic space' for convenience of explanation) is formed between the home bar frame 210 and the home bar door 220 corresponding to between the first and second gaskets 250 and 260. A home bar housing 230 that forms the home bar receiving space 231 is installed on the backside of the refrigerating door 30. And, a heater 270 that reduces a dewing phenomenon is installed in the inside of the home bar frame 210. The constitution of the second embodiment as described above is the same as that in the first embodiment.
Meanwhile, in the second embodiment, a third gasket 280 is further provided, in addition to the first and second gaskets 240 and 250. The third gasket 280 is provided on the same virtual plan as the first gasket 240, that is, on the front surface of the hooking part 213. At this time, the third gasket 280 is positioned on the external side of the first gasket 240. In other words, the first gasket 240 is provided on the front surface of the hooking part 213 adjacent to the home bar opening 211. And, the third gasket 280 is positioned on the front surface of the hooking part 213 that is spaced from the home bar opening 211 based on the first gasket 240. Therefore, a second adiabatic space 290 is formed on the gap between the home bar frame 210 and the home bar door 220 corresponding to the first and third gaskets 240 and 280.
In another way, it may be expressed that the adiabatic spaces 260 and 290 are formed on the gap between the home bar frame 210 and the home bar door 220 corresponding to between the second and third gaskets 250 and 280, and the adiabatic spaces 260 and 290 are partitioned into two adiabatic spaces, that is, the first and second adiabatic spaces 260 and 290, by the first gasket 240.
With the present embodiment constituted as above, the phenomenon that the cold air inside the home bar receiving space 231 is leaked to the external is reduced by the first to third gaskets 240, 250 and 280. Also, the heat-exchange phenomenon between the internal and external parts of the home bar receiving space 231 is minimized by the first and second adiabatic spaces 260 and 290.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conceptions and specific embodiments disclosed in the foregoing description may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other embodiments for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that such equivalent embodiments do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
In the embodiments as described above, the home bar is described to be installed on the refrigerating chamber door, but is not limited thereto. In other words, the home bar may be installed on the freezing chamber door as well as on the refrigerating chamber door, and may be installed on both the freezing chamber door and the refrigerating chamber door.
With the refrigerator of the embodiments constituted as above, the following acting effects can be expected.
First, with the embodiments, the gap between the home bar frame and the home bar door is shielded by the first and second gaskets. Therefore, the phenomenon that the cold air is leaked through the gap between the home bar frame and the home bar door is reduced, making it possible to use the product economically.
Also, the leakage of the cold air through the gap between the home bar frame and the home bar door is reduced, making it possible to minimize the dewing phenomenon on the surfaces of the home bar frame and/or the home bar door. Furthermore, the use of the heater that reduces the dewing phenomenon is minimized, making it possible to reduce power consumption.

Claims

A refrigerator (1), which includes a cabinet (10) in which a storage space is provided, a door that selectively opens and closes the storage space, and a home bar (100) provided on the door, comprising:
a home bar frame (110) installed on the door and having a home bar opening (111);

a home bar door (120) rotatably installed on the home bar frame (110) to selectively open and close the home bar opening (111); and

first and second gaskets (140, 150) that shield the gap between home bar frame (110) and the home bar door (120), in a state where the home bar opening (111) is shielded.
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first gasket (140) contacts the home bar frame (110) and the home bar door (120) in a portion where the home bar frame (110) and the home bar door (120) are overlapped with each other in a state where the home bar opening (111) is shielded, and the second gasket (150) contact the home bar frame (110) and the home bar door (120) in a portion other than the portion where the home bar frame (110) and the home bar door (120) are overlapped with each other in a state where the home bar opening (111) is shielded.
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first gasket (140) contacts the home bar frame (110) and the home bar door (120) in a position corresponding to a trace of rotation of the home bar door (120) that opens and closes the home bar opening (111), and the second gasket (150) contacts the home bar frame (110) and the home bar door (120) corresponding to a position excepting for a trace of rotation of the home bar door (120) that opens and closes the home bar opening (111).
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first gasket (140) contacts the border surface of the home bar frame (110) and the border surface of the home bar door (120) corresponding to the home bar opening (111), and the second gasket (150) contacts the border surface or the backside of the home bar frame (110) and the backside of the home bar door (120).
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first gasket (140) contacts surfaces of the home bar frame (110) and the home door (120), opposed to each other, respectively, and the second gasket (150) is closely adhered to one surface of the home bar frame (110) and the home bar door (120) positioned on the same plane.
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a hooking part (113) that protrudes to the inside of the home bar opening (111) is provided on the border surface of the home bar frame (110) corresponding to the border of the home bar opening (111), and a projection part (121) that prevents interference with the hooking part (113) in a state where the home bar opening (111) is shielded is provided on the backside of the home bar door (120).
The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the first gasket (140) contacts between the front surface of the hooking part (113) and the border of the backside of the home bar door (120), and the second gasket (150) contacts between the backside of the home bar frame (110) and the backside of the projection part (121).
The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the first gasket (140) contacts between the front surface of the hooking part (113) and the border of the backside of the home bar door (120), and the second gasket (150) contacts between the front surface of the hooking part (113) and the border of the backside of the home bar door (120) so that it is spaced from the first gasket (140).
A refrigerator (1), which includes a cabinet (10) in which a storage space is provided, a door that selectively opens and closes the storage space, and a home bar (100) provided on the door, comprising:
a home bar frame (210) installed on the door and having a home bar opening (211);

a home bar door (220) rotatably installed on the home bar frame (210) to selectively open and close the home bar opening (211);

at least two gaskets (240, 250, 280) closely adhered to the home bar frame (210) and the home bar door (220), respectively, in a state where the home bar opening (211) is shielded; and

at least one adiabatic space (260, 290) formed on the gap between the home bar frame (210) and the home bar door (220).
The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the adiabatic space (260, 290) is formed only in a state where the home bar opening (211) is shielded by the home bar door (220).
The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the gasket includes two gaskets (250, 280) installed on the gap between the home bar frame (210) and the home bar door (220) to be spaced from each other, and the adiabatic space is formed between the home bar frame (210) and the home bar door (220) corresponding to between the gaskets.
The refrigerator according to claim 10, further comprising:
a gasket (240) installed on the gap between the home bar frame (210) and the home bar door (220) corresponding to between the two gaskets (250, 280) and partitioning the adiabatic space into two adiabatic spaces (260, 290).
The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the gasket includes three gaskets (240, 250, 280) installed on the gap between the home bar frame (210) and the home bar door (220) to be spaced from each other, and the shielded space includes two adiabatic spaces (260, 290) each formed between the home bar frame (210) and the home bar door (220) corresponding to the gaskets adjacent to each other among the gaskets.
The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein at least two gaskets (240, 280) of the gaskets contact the home bar frame (210) and the home bar door (220) on the same virtual plane.