KR20090043972A

KR20090043972A - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: KR20090043972A
Application number: KR1020070109810A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 이병준
Original assignee: 엘지전자 주식회사
Priority date: 2007-10-30
Filing date: 2007-10-30
Publication date: 2009-05-07

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator which can open and close a refrigerator door using a foot by improving a structure of the refrigerator.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a refrigerator includes: a main body in which a cold air storage chamber is formed; a door hinged to a front surface of the main body; and a pedal unit rotatably coupled to the door; And a pressing member provided inside the door and configured to pressurize the main body by receiving power from the pedal unit.

According to the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention, even when it is difficult to open and close the refrigerator door with a hand in both hands, the refrigerator door can be easily opened using the foot.

In addition, since the refrigerator door and the main body are in close contact with each other by magnetic force, when the door is opened by hand, it takes a lot of force, but when the foot is used, the refrigerator door can be opened and closed with a small force.

Door opening device, pedal unit, pressure member, housing

Description

Refrigerator {Refrigerator}

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a refrigerator.

Refrigerators are generally home appliances that maintain the internal temperature lower than the room temperature, so that food can be stored for a long time in a refrigerated or frozen state.

On the other hand, the refrigerator is generally coupled to the main body for storing cold air for food storage, and the front door of the main body to selectively open the body. In addition, the refrigerator door may be provided with a handle to open and close the refrigerator door by allowing the user to pull or push by hand.

However, according to the conventional refrigerator as described above, it is difficult for the user to open the refrigerator door when the user is holding the object or food in both hands, and the disabled person who cannot use the hand cannot open the refrigerator door without the help of another person. there was.

In addition, in the conventional refrigerator, in a state in which the refrigerator door is closed to the main body, a magnetic force of a predetermined size is applied between the main body and the refrigerator door so that the refrigerator main body is sealed. However, when the size of the magnetic force is large, or when a child with a weak hand pulling force uses the refrigerator, there is a problem in that it is not easy to open the refrigerator door.

Embodiments of the present invention have been proposed to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to improve the structure of the refrigerator door so that the refrigerator door can be easily opened by using a foot.

In addition, since the user can open the door by stepping on the pedal in the direction in which gravity acts, an object of the present invention is to enable the refrigerator door to be opened with less force than when using the hand.

Refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention for solving the problems as described above, the main body is formed cold storage chamber; and the door hinged to the front of the main body; and the pedal unit rotatably coupled to the door ; And a pressing member provided inside the door and configured to pressurize the main body by receiving power from the pedal unit.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a refrigerator includes a main body in which a partition part is formed to partition a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment; and a door in which the main body is opened or shielded and in close contact with the partition part in a state of shielding the main body. It is provided in the interior of the door, and includes a door opening device operated by the foot.

According to the embodiment according to the above configuration, the user has an advantage that the user can easily open the refrigerator door by using the foot when the object or food holding in both hands, or when the handicapped person using the refrigerator. .

In addition, the user can open the refrigerator door by stepping on the pedal in the direction of gravity, and thus, the refrigerator is less powerful than when the refrigerator door is opened by hand, and thus a child or the elderly who have weak hands are easily freezer. The advantage is that the door can be opened.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings will be described a specific embodiment of the present invention. However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented, and those skilled in the art who understand the spirit of the present invention can easily suggest other embodiments within the scope of the same idea.

1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator having a pedal unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention includes a main body 10 in which food is stored and stores cold air, and is rotatably installed on the front surface of the main body 10, and includes a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment. Each includes a freezing compartment door 11 and a refrigerating compartment door 12 that selectively open and close. In addition, the main body 10 is formed with a partition (to be described later) for partitioning the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment from side to side.

Hereinafter, a side by side type refrigerator having a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment provided on left and right will be described as an example. However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is apparent that the freezer is applicable to both a top mount refrigerator provided with an upper side of the refrigerator compartment or a bottom freezer type refrigerator provided with a freezer compartment below the refrigerator compartment.

In detail, the freezer compartment door 11 is provided with a dispenser device 15 for discharging ice or water from the outside of the refrigerator 1, and the dispenser device 15 includes a discharge lever 16. . Although not shown, the freezing compartment door 11 may be provided with an ice making device for generating ice and a bucket for storing water.

In addition, the dispenser device 15 is recessed inwardly of the freezer compartment door 11, and water or ice is taken out through a blowout port (not shown) by the operation of the takeout lever 16.

In addition, an upper portion of the dispenser device 15 includes an operation unit 20 for controlling operations of the dispenser device 15 and other main parts of the refrigerator. In addition, the operation unit 20 may be provided with a display unit for displaying the operation of the refrigerator, and the operation state of the refrigerator may be displayed in letters, numbers, and icons.

In addition, the refrigerating compartment door 12 is provided with a groove bar 13 for taking out food from the outside without opening the refrigerating compartment door 12, and the groove bar 13 is selectively opened so that food can be added or taken out. Home bar door 14 is included.

In addition, a door opening device 100 is provided at a lower portion of the refrigerating compartment door 12 and the freezing compartment door 11 to allow the user to open the refrigerating compartment door 12 and the freezing compartment door 11 by using a foot. do.

In addition, the door opening device 100 includes a pedal unit 120 pressurized by a user, and an opening for allowing the user to access the pedal unit 120 in the refrigerator compartment door 12 and the freezer compartment door 11. 110 is formed. The opening 110 is provided with a shielding member 105 for selectively shielding the opening 110. However, the shielding member 105 may be removed as needed.

Hereinafter, the structure of the door opening device 100 provided in the refrigerator 1 and the process of operating the door opening device 100 will be described with drawings.

2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a door opening device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a view showing a pressing member according to an embodiment of the present invention. Perspective view.

2 to 4, the refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 10 in which cold air is stored, and a freezer compartment door 11 rotatably coupled to the front surface of the main body 10. And a door opening device 100 provided in the freezing compartment door 11 to allow the user to open the freezing compartment door 11 by using a foot.

However, although the door opening device 100 inside the freezing compartment door 11 is illustrated in this drawing, as shown in FIG. 1, the door opening device 100 may also be provided in the refrigerating compartment door 12.

In detail, a partition 150 for partitioning the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber from side to side is formed at approximately the center of the main body 10. At least a part of the freezer compartment door 11 and the refrigerating compartment door 12 is in close contact with the compartment 150 in a state where the freezer compartment door 11 and the refrigerating compartment door 12 are closed.

In addition, the main body gasket 160 is provided on the front surface of the main body 10 to seal the main body 10 to prevent cold air leakage, and the main body gasket 160 and the rear surface of the freezer compartment door 11 are provided. A door gasket 170 is provided to prevent cold air leakage at a corresponding position.

In addition, when the freezer compartment door 11 is closed to the main body 10, the main body gasket 160 and the door gasket 170 are in close contact with each other, whereby the cool air stored in the main body 10 is leaked. Is prevented.

In addition, magnets (magnets) may be provided in the main body gasket 160 and the door gasket 170, respectively. Accordingly, in the process of closing the doors 11 and 12 to the main body 10, the attraction force between the magnets can be easily closed. In the state in which the doors 11 and 12 are closed, the doors 11 and 12 are closed. The opening of 12) can be prevented.

However, unlike the drawings, a gasket 170 may be provided to the doors 11 and 12, and a gasket may not be provided to the main body 10. In addition, the main body 10 may be made of an iron plate material capable of acting on a magnet and a magnet provided in the gasket 170.

In addition, a lower portion of the freezing compartment door 11 is provided with a door opening device 100 for opening the freezing compartment door 11. In addition, the door opening device 100 may be installed near the center portion of the main body 10, that is, the partition portion 150. This is to allow the door opening device 100 to pressurize the partition unit 150 to interact with each other during the operation of the door opening device 100.

In more detail, the door opening device 100, the pedal unit 120 that the user can press the foot using, and the pressure that is moved to the front or rear of the door corresponding to the operation of the pedal unit 120 Member 102 is included.

In addition, the pedal unit 120 and the pressing member 102 are provided inside the housing 101 coupled to the inside of the freezer compartment door 11. In addition, the pedal unit 120 is coupled to be rotatable inside the lower surface of the housing 101.

In addition, the inside of the housing 101, the spring 104 is provided with one side is connected to the housing 101, the other side is connected to the pressing member 102. In this case, the spring 104 is extended when the pressing member 102 is moved to the rear of the door 11, and the spring 104 is compressed when the pressing member 102 is moved to the front of the door 11. Can be.

In addition, an opening 110 is formed below the front surface of the freezing compartment door 11 to expose the pedal unit 120 to the outside. Here, the opening 110 may be formed in such a size that the user can put a foot, the position of the opening 110 may allow the user to step on the pedal unit 120 through the opening 110. It may correspond to the position of the pedal unit 120 to be.

In addition, the opening 110 is provided with a shielding member 105 which is hinged around one end of the opening 110. In addition, a front surface of the shielding member 105 may be provided with a button unit 106 that the user manipulates to open the shielding member.

In addition, a locking portion 105a is formed on the rear surface of the shielding member 105 so that the shielding member 105 is locked to the freezer compartment door 11. In addition, the freezing chamber door 11 includes a latch assembly 30 which is engaged with the locking portion 105a while the shielding member 105 is closed by the door 11.

In this case, the user may press the button portion 106 to cause the latch portion 105a to be engaged with the latch assembly 30 or to release the latch.

In addition, the pedal unit 120 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and is coupled to the door 11 in an inclined state at a predetermined angle with the bottom surface of the housing 101.

The torsion spring 122 is coupled to the lower end of the pedal unit 120 and is connected to the housing 101 and provides an elastic force to rotate when the pedal unit 102 receives a force greater than or equal to a predetermined size. When the force is released, the pedal part 120 may be returned to its original state by the restoring force of the torsion spring 122.

The stopper 126 is provided on the bottom surface of the pedal unit 120 so that the pedal unit 120 is no longer rotated when the pedal unit 120 is rotated by a predetermined angle or more. In addition, when the pressing member 102 is moved to the rear of the freezer compartment door 11 as much as possible by the pedal unit 120, the stopper 126 may be constrained to the bottom surface of the housing 101.

On the other hand, although not shown in the figure, a groove for allowing the torsion spring 122 and the pedal unit 102 to be inserted into the housing 101 may be formed. However, the pedal unit 120 may be directly coupled to the front of the door 11.

In addition, the lower side of the pedal unit 120, when the pedal unit 120 is in contact with the pressing member 102, the pressing jaw 124 for pressing the pressing member 102 is formed protruding. In addition, the pressing jaw 124 has a triangular shape with one side of the rear surface of the pedal unit 120 as one surface.

In addition, the pressing member 102, the body portion 102a forming a body, formed on the front side of the body portion 102a and in contact with the pressing jaw 124 is a predetermined size from the pedal unit 120 The pressing unit 102b receiving power of the pressing unit 102 and the pressing unit 102c are formed to press the main body 10 to the rear in a state in which the pressing member 102 is in contact with the main body 10.

In detail, the pressing portion 102b is formed to be inclined to correspond to one surface of the pressing jaw 124. That is, the crimping portion 102b has a shape that is bent while making a predetermined inclination downward from one side of the body portion 102a.

In summary, the pressing portion 102b may be moved forward and backward of the door 11 by the action of the pressing jaw 124. In addition, the pressing jaw 124 and the pressing portion 102b have one surface inclined downward left for easy movement, respectively.

In addition, the pressing portion 102c is formed extending from the other side of the body portion 102a upward and downward by a predetermined length. Here, the pressing portion 102c is positioned on the same plane as the door gasket 170 before the pedal portion 120 presses the pressing member 102. However, when the pedal unit 120 compresses the pressing member 102 and the pressing member 102 is moved backward, the pressing unit 102c is connected to the partition 150 of the main body 10. It may be positioned to contact and exert a force backwards.

5 and 6 are cross-sectional views illustrating a process of opening a refrigerator door by the door opening device.

5 and 6, in the state in which the door 11 according to the embodiment of the present invention is in close contact with the main body 10, the pressing member 102 corresponds to the movement of the pedal unit 120. Is moved to the rear of the freezer compartment door 11, whereby the door 11 is spaced apart from the main body 10.

In detail, a user may first press the button portion 106 to open the shielding member 105. Thereafter, the user may put a foot on the upper surface of the pedal unit 120 and apply a force from the upper side to the lower side.

Then, the pedal unit 120 may be rotated clockwise around the lower end of the pedal unit 120. In this process, the pressing jaw 124 presses the upper side of the crimping portion 102b and continues to move downward while being pressed. And, when the pedal unit 120 is rotated to the maximum limit that can be rotated, the stopper 126 is in contact with the lower surface of the housing 101. Then, the pedal unit 120 can no longer be rotated.

In this state, the front surface of the pedal unit 120 is in contact with the front surface of the pressing portion 102b (see FIG. 6).

That is, the lower surface of the pressing jaw 124 presses the crimping portion 102b, and the power of the pressing jaw 124 is transmitted to the pressing member 102. Accordingly, the pressing member 102 is moved to the rear of the door 11. In addition, the pressing unit 102c pressurizes the main body gasket 160. Of course, when the gasket is not provided to the main body 10, the pressing unit 102c may press the main body 10, that is, the partition 150.

In addition, as the pressing member 102 is moved backward, the spring 104 connected with the pressing member 102 extends in the direction in which the pressing member 102 is moved.

When the pedal part 120 is rotated to a maximum limit, the front surface of the pedal part 120 is positioned to contact the front surface of the crimping part 102b, and in this state, the pressing part 102c is the main body. (10) will be pressed with maximum force.

Then, the pressing member 102 and the main body 10 is a force acting on each other by the principle of action and reaction.

In detail, as the pressing unit 102c exerts a force on the main body 10, the main body 10 allows a force of the same magnitude to be transmitted to the pressing member 102. Then, the force is transmitted to the spring 104, and eventually the force acts forward of the door 11 to the housing 101.

As a result, a force of a predetermined magnitude is applied to the door 11 coupled to the housing 101, and the force is greater than the attraction force of the magnet acting between the door gasket 170 and the main body gasket 160. When large, the door 11 is opened.

When the door 11 is opened, the user may lift his or her foot on the pedal unit 120. Then, the pedal unit 120 is rotated in the original state (counterclockwise) by the restoring force of the torsion spring 122, whereby the pressing member 102 is constrained by the pedal unit 120 The power to be released.

As a result, the pressing member 102 is moved forward, spaced apart from the main body 10 to return to the original position. Finally, the door gasket 160 may be positioned on the same surface as the surface formed by the door gasket 160.

By the above configuration, the user can easily open the refrigerator door without using a hand. Accordingly, there is an advantage that the refrigerator door can be easily opened by a person with an inconvenient hand, a child who is weak in hand, or an elderly person.

2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of FIG. 1.

3 is a perspective view showing a door opening device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a perspective view showing a pressing member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 and 6 are cross-sectional views showing a process of opening the refrigerator door by the door opening device.

Claims

A main body in which a cold air storage compartment is formed;

A door hinged to the front of the body;

A pedal unit rotatably coupled to the door; And

And a pressurizing member provided inside the door and configured to pressurize the main body by receiving power from the pedal unit.

The method of claim 1,

In the door,

And a housing in which the pedal part and the pressure member are inherently coupled.

The method of claim 2,

The pedal unit is spring-coupled to the housing or the door.

The method of claim 1,

The refrigerator provided below the said pedal part is provided with the stopper which sets the rotation limit of the said pedal part.

The method of claim 1,

The pedal unit, the refrigerator characterized in that the pressing jaw pressing the pressing member is formed.

The method of claim 5, wherein

The pressing member, the refrigerator is provided with a pressing portion receiving the power from the pedal selectively contacting the pressing jaw.

The method of claim 6,

The pressing jaw and the pressing portion is in contact with the surface, the pressing jaw and the pressing portion is a refrigerator inclined in the same direction, respectively.

The method of claim 1,

The door is in close contact with the main body, The refrigerator characterized in that the main body and the door is spaced apart when the pressing member presses the main body.

A main body in which a compartment is formed to partition the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment;

A door configured to open or shield the main body and to be in close contact with the partition in a state of shielding the main body;

And a door opening device provided inside the door and operated by a foot.

The method of claim 8,

The door opening device, the refrigerator comprising a pressing member in close contact with the partition in the state in which the door is closed.

The method of claim 9,

The pressing member is a refrigerator characterized in that the spring is connected to the door.

The method of claim 10,

The door opening device, the refrigerator further comprises a pedal for allowing the pressing member to be spaced apart from the partition.

The method of claim 11,

The pedal unit is rotatably coupled to the door, the refrigerator characterized in that for transmitting power to the pressing member in the state in which the pedal unit is rotated.