JP2003336960A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the carrying in and out of a food material into a storage case by sufficiently assuring the withdrawal length of the storage case installed in a storage chamber without being bothered by the presence of a storage pocket in a front door. <P>SOLUTION: The storage pocket 2 provided on the inside of the front door 17 for opening and closing the front part of the storage chamber 12 having forward withdrawable storage cases 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d is formed slidably along the inner surface of the front door 17 so as to be removed from the withdrawal route for the storage cases 12a, 12b, 12c, and 12d. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator used for refrigerating or freezing foodstuffs stored in a storage room at a predetermined temperature.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Refrigerators that are widely used in homes for storing various kinds of foodstuffs have a front opening of a storage room provided for each foodstuff and for each storage temperature, to carry the foodstuffs into and out of the storage room. It is configured with a door (front door) that is opened and closed for.

A storage pocket for foodstuffs is provided on the inner surface of the front door of such a refrigerator, and beverages or seasonings in cans, bottles, and packs, foodstuffs to be placed vertically, and small bulks such as chicken eggs. It is used to store foodstuffs. Also, some storage rooms, for example, storage rooms for vegetables (vegetable room)
A plurality of storage cases that can be pulled out to the front are provided inside and used for sorting and storing a plurality of types of vegetables.

Further, the applicant of the present application has found that when storing long vegetables such as asparagus, celery, leeks, etc. inside the vegetable storage room, it is desirable to maintain the same upright posture as when growing these vegetables. It has been proposed to propose a refrigerator in which the front door of a vegetable compartment having a plurality of storage cases that can be pulled out as described above is provided with a storage pocket having a height capable of storing long vegetables in an upright posture ( Japanese Patent Application 2001-24
1991).

[0005]

However, in a refrigerator in which a storage pocket is provided in the front door of a storage room having a storage case that can be pulled out as described above, the refrigerator is installed in a state where the opening angle of the front door is limited. When used, there is a problem that the storage pocket exists on the withdrawal path of the storage case, which hinders the withdrawal operation of the storage case.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a problem in the conventional refrigerator. In the illustrated refrigerator A, a storage chamber C having a storage case B that can be pulled out forward and a front opening portion of the storage chamber C are shown. A front door D that can be opened and closed freely;
A storage pocket E is provided over the entire width on the inner surface of the. When such a refrigerator A is installed with the side surface of the front door D on the pivotal support side along the chamber wall W as shown in the figure, the opening angle of the front door D is the same as the front of the storage chamber C as shown in the figure. The angle is limited to an angle that is substantially a right angle.

Thus, the operation of pulling out the storage case B under such an opening is insufficient as shown by the chain double-dashed line in the figure due to the interference with the storage pocket E existing on the pull-out path. This can be done only within the range of the withdrawal length L ₁ , and it becomes difficult to carry in and out foodstuffs into and from the storage case B.

To address this problem, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application No. 2001-
As shown in FIG. 6, the 241991 employs a configuration in which a storage pocket E ′ is provided only in a half portion of the front door D on the side away from the pivot portion. According to this configuration, the withdrawal length L ₂ of the storage case B under the same installation conditions as in FIG.
As shown in (a), the front door D can be enlarged to a substantially half width to ease the difficulty of loading and unloading the foodstuff into and from the storage case B.

However, in this configuration, FIG.
As shown in (b), when the front door D is closed, the front door D is not provided with the storage pocket E '.
There is a problem that a dead space X that is not used as a storage space is generated inside the half of the above, and the internal volume of the storage chamber C cannot be effectively used.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the effective length of the internal volume of the storage chamber can be effectively utilized, and the length of the storage case provided in the storage chamber can be extended so that the storage pocket of the front door is provided. An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that can be sufficiently secured without being bothered by and that can easily carry in and out foodstuffs into and from the storage case.

[0011]

The refrigerator according to the present invention comprises:
The food storage compartment is provided with a food storage case that can be pulled out forward, and the food is located on the inner surface of the front door that opens and closes the front portion of the storage compartment at a height position corresponding to the withdrawal path of the storage compartment. In the refrigerator having the storage pocket, the storage device is provided with a moving unit that moves the storage pocket while the front door is open.

In the present invention, the storage pocket provided on the inner surface of the front door is moved by the moving means while the front door is opened, and is removed from the withdrawal path of the storage case inside the storage chamber to obtain a sufficient withdrawable length. Secure. The front door is closed by returning the storage pocket to effectively utilize the internal volume of the storage chamber when closed.

Further, in the refrigerator according to the present invention, the moving means is provided so as to project from a guide rail horizontally extending on an inner surface of the front door and a rear surface of the storage pocket, and is engaged with the guide rail. And a slider that slides.

Further, according to the present invention, the slider protruding from the back surface of the storage pocket is engaged with the guide rail extending across the inner surface of the front door to simplify the moving means, and the slider with respect to the guide rail. Slides to move the storage pocket along the inner surface of the front door, and secures a sufficient length of the storage case that can be pulled out.

Further, in the refrigerator according to the present invention, the moving means is attached to a guide rail extending laterally on an inner surface of the front door and a back surface of the storage pocket, and is engaged with the guide rail. And a rolling element that rolls.

Further, in the present invention, a rolling element such as a wheel is attached to the rear surface of the storage pocket, and the rolling element is engaged with a guide rail extending horizontally on the inner surface of the front door to simplify the moving means. By rolling the rolling element with respect to the guide rail, the storage pocket is smoothly moved along the inner surface of the front door, and a sufficient drawable length of the storage case is secured.

Further, the refrigerator according to the present invention is characterized in that the guide rail is integrally formed on the inner surface of the front door.

Further, in the present invention, a guide rail for moving and guiding the storage pocket is integrally formed on the inner surface of the front door,
The number of parts for configuring the moving means is reduced, and sufficient support strength of the storage pocket is secured.

[0019]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings showing the embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a refrigerator according to the present invention. In the refrigerator 1 shown in this figure, the inside of a main body 10 surrounded by a heat insulating wall is divided into five, and four storage chambers 11, 12, 13, 14 provided for each food material and each storage temperature are formed. The front opening of the storage chamber 11 occupying the entire half is openably and closably covered by a pair of left and right front doors 15 and 16, and the front opening of the storage chamber 12 on the left side of the lower half is openably and closably covered. Further, front opening portions of the storage chambers 13 and 14 arranged vertically on the lower right side of the lower half portion are openably and closably covered by separate front doors 18 and 19, respectively.

Here, the storage room 12 on the left side of the lower half is a vegetable room provided to store various vegetables at an appropriate temperature,
Inside the storage room 12, a plurality of (four in the figure) storage cases 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d that can be pulled out to the front are vertically arranged side by side to separately store the vegetables. Is configured.

The front door 17 of the storage room 12 as described above is formed by the main body 10
The left side vertical edge is pivotally supported on the same side edge, and the storage chamber 12 is opened and closed by the rotation around this pivotal support portion. The storage pocket 2 is attached over substantially the entire width except the abutting peripheral portion.

The storage pocket 2 is a rectangular box body having an opening on the entire upper surface thereof. The side walls 20, 20 in the width direction are extended upward, and a cross rail 21 is installed between them to form a horizontal crossbar. A long vegetable (asparagus, celery, green onion, etc.) inserted inside the crosspiece 21 or through the opening is stored in an upright posture close to these growing postures.

2 and 3 are explanatory views of the mounting state of the storage pocket 2. As shown in FIG. As shown in these figures, a pair of guide rails 22, 22 are provided side by side on the inner surface of the front door 17 which is the mounting portion of the storage pocket 2 at two positions vertically spaced apart from each other. These guide rails 22 and 22 have a cross-sectional shape that bends upward in a hook shape, and are laid across substantially parallel to the upper and lower edges of the front door 17.

On the back surface of the storage pocket 2 which faces the inner surface of the front door 17, a line parallel to each other is formed in the longitudinal direction of the storage pocket 2 with a distance substantially equal to the distance between the guide rails 22 and 22. , A pair of guide members are juxtaposed in the width direction by a proper distance.

In the storage pocket 2 shown in FIG. 2, the guide member is composed of a slider piece 23 having a shape bent into a hook shape toward the bottom side.
The pair of slider pieces 23, 23 arranged on the bottom side is installed on the guide rail 22 installed on the lower position of the front door 17, and the pair of slider pieces 23, 23 arranged on the opening side is installed on the upper position of the front door 17. The guide rails 22 are engaged with each other and mounted as shown in FIG.

In the storage pocket 2 shown in FIG. 3, the guide members are constituted by guide wheels (rolling elements) 24 which are rotatably supported by support shafts which are erected substantially vertically at their respective positions. The storage pocket 2 includes a pair of guide wheels 24, 24 arranged on the bottom side on a guide rail 22 installed at a lower position of the front door 17, and a pair of guide wheels 24, 24 arranged on the opening side for the front door 17.
The guide rails 22 erected at the upper position are engaged with each other and mounted as shown in FIG.

With the above attachment, the storage pocket 2 can be moved in the forward direction, which is the extending direction of the guide rails 22, 22 as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 1, when the front door 17 is opened. It is possible. In the configuration shown in FIG. 2, this movement is caused by the slider pieces 23, 23 along the guide rail 22.
And the rolling of the guide wheels 24, 24 rolling on the guide rail 22 in the configuration shown in FIG.

Here, the structure shown in FIG. 2 has a storage pocket 2
It can be realized only by projecting the slider pieces 23, 23 ... On the back surface of the above, and since the slider pieces 23, 23 ... Are obtained by integral molding with the storage pocket 2, the structure can be simplified. The configuration shown in FIG. 3 requires guide wheels 24, 24 ... As separate components, but the above-described movement of the storage pocket 2 is performed more smoothly under the rolling resistance of the guide wheels 24, 24. Can be made. Even in the configuration shown in FIG. 2, the slider piece 2 that abuts the guide rail 22.
By making the tips of 3, 23 ... In a semi-circular shape as shown in the figure, sliding resistance can be reduced and smooth movement can be performed.

Further, the guide rails 22 and 22 provided on the inner surface of the front door 17 are rail members which are separately formed.
Although it may be mounted on the inner surface of the door, it is possible to reduce the number of parts by integrally molding with the door bag forming the inner surface, and secure sufficient strength for supporting the storage pocket 2. can do.

FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory view of the moving means of the storage pocket 2 constituted by the slider pieces 23, 23 ... Or the guide wheels 24, 24 ... And the guide rail 22. The refrigerator 1 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. The state in which the side surface of the front door 17 on the pivotal support side is installed along the room wall W is shown.

The opening angle of the front door 17 in this state is limited to an angle which is substantially perpendicular to the front surface of the storage chamber 12 due to the interference with the chamber wall W, and at this time, the front door 17 opened. The storage pocket 2 on the inner surface extends to the front of the storage chamber 12 and is provided inside the storage chamber 12 as shown in the figure.
It is located on the drawing path of 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d.

Here, in the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention,
The storage pocket 2 can be moved forward by the moving means configured as described above. Therefore, for example, when pulling out the lowermost storage case 12d whose pull-out path is located at the height position of the storage pocket 2, prior to this, the storage pocket 2 is moved forward as indicated by the chain double-dashed line in the figure. At the very least, the pull-out length L of the storage case 12d can be increased to about half the width of the front door 17, and the food can be easily carried in and out of the storage case 12d.

After the loading / unloading is completed, if the storage pocket 2 is pushed back, the storage pocket 2 will be closed.
It is located so as to occupy substantially the entire width in the central portion of 17, and the front door 17 can be closed in this state. In this closed state, the dead space X as shown in FIG. 6B does not occur, and the internal volume of the storage chamber 12 can be effectively used.

In the above embodiment, the storage pocket 2 is configured to move along the inner surface of the front door 17, but this movement is performed by the storage cases 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d.
Is performed so as to remove the pull-out path of the front door 17, and may be performed by other moving means, for example, by rotating around the pivot along one edge of the front door 17.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the configuration in which the storage pocket 2 provided for storing a long vegetable is moved to the front door 17 of the storage chamber 12 configured as a vegetable chamber has been described. It is needless to say that the configuration of the present invention can be applied to all storage pockets provided on the front door of a storage room having a drawer type storage case, and similar effects can be obtained.

[0036]

As described above in detail, the refrigerator according to the present invention is provided with the moving means for moving the storage pocket provided on the inner surface of the front door for opening and closing the storage chamber while the front door is open. The storage pocket can be removed from the withdrawal path of the storage case inside the storage chamber to secure a sufficient withdrawal length, and it is possible to easily carry in and out foodstuffs into and from the storage case. Can be provided over the entire width of the front door to effectively utilize the inside of the storage chamber.

Further, a guide rail that is laid across the inner surface of the front door and a slider or a rolling element provided on the back surface of the storage pocket constitute a means for moving the storage pocket, and the storage pocket is moved along the inner surface of the front door. I made it happen,
With a simple structure, the storage pocket can be moved as desired.

Furthermore, since the guide rails for guiding the movement of the storage pockets are integrally formed on the inner surface of the front door, the number of parts for constructing the moving means can be reduced.
The present invention has excellent effects such as being able to secure sufficient support strength for the storage pocket.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a mounting state of a storage pocket.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a mounting state of a storage pocket.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the storage pocket moving means.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of problems in the conventional refrigerator.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a problem in the conventional refrigerator.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 refrigerator 2 storage pockets 11-14 Storage room 15-19 front door 12a to 12d storage case 22 Guide rail 23 Slider piece 24 Guide wheel (rolling element)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A storage case for foodstuffs that can be pulled out forward is provided inside a storage compartment for foodstuffs, and corresponds to a drawer path of the storage case on the inner surface of a front door that opens and closes the front part of the storageroom. A refrigerator provided with a storage pocket for foodstuffs at a height position, comprising a moving means for moving the storage pocket under opening of the front door. 2. The moving means includes a guide rail that is horizontally installed on the inner surface of the front door, and a slider that projects from the back surface of the storage pocket and slides under engagement with the guide rail. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising: 3. The moving means includes: a guide rail that is horizontally provided on an inner surface of the front door; and a rolling element that is attached to a rear surface of the storage pocket and that rolls under engagement with the guide rail. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising: 4. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the guide rail is integrally formed on the inner surface of the front door.