KR20120103252A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A refrigerator is provided to improve the convenience of a user by comprising a door opened and closed to left and right direction through the selection of a user by the pushing manipulation of a user. CONSTITUTION: A refrigerator comprises a cabinet, a door, hinge members, and a restricting member(40). The cabinet forms a storing space. The door is mounted on the cabinet to be rotated. The hinge members are comprised in the both sides of the cabinet and comprise hinge shafts respectively. The restricting member is comprised in the top potion of the door and selects the opening direction of a door through pushing manipulation.

Description

Refrigerator {Refrigerator}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance that allows food to be stored at a low temperature in an internal storage space that is shielded by a door. In detail, the refrigerator generates cold air through heat exchange with a refrigerant changed to a low temperature low pressure state by a refrigeration cycle, and keeps the food space fresh by keeping the storage space at a low temperature state by the cold air.

Such refrigerators are gradually becoming larger and more versatile in accordance with the change of dietary life and the trend of high quality, and refrigerators with various structures and convenience devices for the convenience of users have been released.

For example, a structure has been developed in which a door that is rotatably open according to a user's use environment or use state can be opened to both left and right sides. However, the conventional refrigerators having such a structure are formed to have a complicated mechanical configuration, and thus there is a problem in the insulation structure of the door or a complicated manufacturing process. In addition, there is a problem that the gasket may be pushed during operation for opening the door and may be damaged.

The object of the present embodiment is that the selected rotation axis of the left and right sides is selectively restrained with the locking member by the user's pressing operation, the other side of the rotation shaft to the left and right sides of the door to open and close the storage space by maintaining the restrained state with the locking unit It is to provide a refrigerator that can be selectively opened.

Refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, the cabinet forming a storage space; A door rotatably mounted to the cabinet to open and close the storage space; Hinge members provided on both left and right sides of the upper and lower sides of the cabinet, respectively, and having a hinge axis that is a rotational center of the door; It is provided on the upper and lower ends of the door, the restraint of the rotation axis of the corresponding one of the left and right sides is released according to the pressing operation position of the door, and includes a restraining device for restraining the rotation axis of the other side to determine the rotation direction of the door .

In addition, the hinge member, the plate-shaped fixing plate is coupled to the cabinet, characterized in that the hinge shaft extends up and down at the front end of the fixing plate extending in front of the cabinet.

The restraint device may include a restraint cover forming an upper surface of the door, and a locking unit provided inside the restraint cover and provided on both left and right sides corresponding to the position of the rotation shaft. It features.

In addition, the locking unit may include: a cam member rotatably mounted and formed with a receiving groove for selectively restraining the rotating shaft when rotating; A cam elastic member connected to the cam member and compressed when the cam member is rotated to provide an elastic force to the cam member; A catching part protruding from an outer surface of the cam member; A stopper which is moved along the locking portion when the cam is rotated to selectively limit rotation of the cam; It is connected to the stopper, characterized in that it comprises a stopper elastic member for allowing the stopper to return to its original position after the left and right rotation.

In addition, the upper or lower surface of the restraint device cover is characterized in that the guide portion for guiding the insertion of the hinge shaft is cut.

In addition, the guide portion is formed so that the hinge shaft is moved along the guide portion and inserted into the receiving groove in a state where the hinge shaft is not fixed, and in the state where the hinge shaft is fixed, It is disposed in the cross direction is characterized in that the hinge shaft is formed to be fixed in the receiving groove.

In addition, the cam member, the center of rotation is formed in a position eccentric with the hinge axis is characterized in that the cam member is configured to be rotated during the pressing operation of the door.

In addition, the refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention, a cabinet for forming a storage space; A door rotatably mounted to the cabinet to open and close the storage space; Hinge members provided on both left and right sides of the upper and lower sides of the cabinet, respectively, and having a hinge axis that is a rotational center of the door; A locking unit provided in each of the doors corresponding to the hinge member, and the hinge shaft being accommodated in the closed state of the door to maintain the door in a rotatable mounting state; And an opening device provided in the door, the locking unit corresponding to the corresponding position being rotated by a user's pressing operation to release the restraint of the hinge shaft and the locking unit to open the door.

In addition, the left and right sides of the upper and lower surfaces of the door corresponding to the locking unit is characterized in that the guide portion is formed so that the hinge shaft can be inserted into the locking unit.

In addition, the locking unit may include: a cam member rotatably mounted and formed with a receiving groove for selectively restraining the rotating shaft when rotating; A cam elastic member connected to the cam member and compressed when the cam member is rotated to provide an elastic force to the cam member; A catching part protruding from an outer surface of the cam member; A stopper which is moved along the locking portion when the cam is rotated to selectively limit rotation of the cam; It is connected to the stopper, characterized in that it comprises a stopper elastic member for allowing the stopper to return to its original position after the left and right rotation.

In addition, the opening device is formed on the front of the door corresponding to each of the locking unit, it characterized in that the cam member is configured to be rotated by pushing the stopper.

In addition, the opening device is provided in the door, the operation member for the user to operate, the locking unit is provided in the interior, the actuator is driven in accordance with the operation of the operation member to push the stopper to space the cam member Characterized in that comprises a.

In addition, the operation member is characterized in that consisting of a contact sensor or a switch.

The door may further include a power member electrically connected to the actuator to provide a power for driving the actuator.

In addition, the cabinet is formed with an induction electromotive force transmitter and the door is formed with an induction electromotive force receiver connected to the power member, characterized in that configured to be able to charge the power member.

In the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention, when the door is pressed or the opening device is operated while the hinge shaft provided in the cabinet is constrained to the locking unit, the hinge shaft and the locking unit of the corresponding position are released, thereby The opening direction of the door is determined.

Therefore, since the opening direction of the door can be selected by the user's pressing operation, it can be used more intuitively, and thus the convenience of use can be expected to be improved.

In addition, the opening of the door may be started by the elasticity of the locking member itself during the opening operation of the user, thereby reducing the initial force for the user to open the door, thereby improving the convenience of use.

In addition, since the locking unit having a relatively simple configuration can be mounted on the door corresponding to the hinge shaft, the left and right opening and closing can be performed, thereby simplifying the configuration and reducing the manufacturing process.

1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view of the door of the refrigerator separated from the embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a perspective view of a locking unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 and 5 are rear views showing an operating state of the locking unit.
6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 'of FIG. 1.
7 is a view showing a state in which one side of the door is opened for opening the door.
8 is a view showing a state in which the door is rotated with the right side as the rotation axis.
9 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention.
10 is a schematic block diagram illustrating an electrical connection state of the refrigerator.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 'of FIG. 9.
12 is a view illustrating a state in which the door according to another embodiment of the present invention is rotated with the right side as the rotating shaft.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the drawings, and that other embodiments falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention may be easily devised by adding, .

The refrigerator may be classified into various types according to the arrangement of the storage space and the arrangement and the shape of the door. However, in the embodiment of the present invention, the cabinet has one space and is opened and closed by one door for convenience of understanding and description. This will be described with an example. Therefore, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is apparent that the present invention may be applicable to all types of refrigerators equipped with doors.

1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. And, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the door of the refrigerator separated from the embodiment of the present invention.

1 and 2, the refrigerator 1 according to the present embodiment has an outer shape formed by a cabinet 10 having a front surface forming a storage space and a door 20 opening and closing the storage space.

The door 20 has a shape corresponding to the opened front surface of the storage space and is rotatably mounted so as to open and close the storage space by rotation. In addition, the door 20 is configured to be opened and closed to both left and right sides according to a user's selection.

In detail, a pair of hinge members 30 may be provided at both ends of the upper and lower surfaces of the cabinet 10. That is, the hinge member 30 may be provided with four of both the upper and lower left and right sides and the lower left and right sides of the cabinet, and the hinge member 30 is combined with the door 20 to selectively select the door 20. It can act as a rotating shaft.

The hinge member 30 may be formed in a plate shape and a fixing plate 31 fixed to the upper and lower surfaces of the cabinet 10 and a hinge shaft 32 extending upward or downward from the fixing plate 31. The fixing plate 31 may be fixedly mounted to the cabinet 10 and extend forward to extend to the front of the cabinet 10. In addition, the hinge shaft 32 is formed at the extended end to extend in a direction crossing the fixing plate 31 to serve as a rotation shaft of the door 20.

In addition, the upper and lower surfaces of the door 20 may be provided with a restraining device 40, respectively. The restraining device 40 is to allow the door 20 to be opened to rotate left or right according to a user's selection, and is mounted separately on the upper side of the door 20 or inside the door 20. It may be mounted in a form embedded in the.

The restraining device 40 may include a restraining device cover 41 mounted on the door 20 and a locking unit 50 provided inside the restraining device cover 41.

The restraining device cover 41 forms a space in which the locking unit 50 is formed and simultaneously forms an upper shape of the door 20. The restraining device cover 41 may be mounted on the upper and lower surfaces of the door 20 after being molded into a separate member, and may be integrally formed with the same material as the door 20. In the state in which the restrainer cover 41 is mounted, the restrainer cover 41 may be positioned at a height corresponding to the hinge member 30.

In addition, a guide part 411 may be formed in the restrainer cover 41. The guide portion 411 forms a path through which the hinge shaft 32 can be inserted into the locking unit 50 disposed inside the restrainer cover 41, and is adjacent to the hinge member 30. It is formed by cutting forward from the rear end. The cut width of the guide part 411 is formed to become narrower from the rear to the front, or is formed to have a predetermined curvature so that the door 20 may be rotated so that the guide part 411 interferes with the guide part 411. It may be configured not to.

On the other hand, the locking unit 50 is located inside the restrainer cover 41 corresponding to the hinge member 30. The locking unit 50 is provided in a number corresponding to the hinge member 30 may be configured so that each hinge shaft 32 can be inserted.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, the locking unit 50 will be described in more detail.

3 is a perspective view of a locking unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. 4 and 5 are rear views showing an operating state of the locking unit. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 'of FIG. 1.

3 to 6, the locking unit 50 forms an outer shape of the locking unit 50, and a locking unit case 51 and an locking unit case at upper and lower ends of the door 20. A cam member 52 rotatably mounted within the 51 and selectively restraining the hinge shaft 32, and a stopper 54 selectively restricting rotation of the cam member 52; Can be configured.

The locking unit case 51 forms a space in which the cam member 52 and the stopper 54 and the cam elastic member 53 and the stopper elastic member 55 to be described below are provided. In addition, the locking unit 50 may be fixedly mounted to the inside of the restraint device 40. In addition, an opening part 511 is opened at a part of the front side and one side of the locking unit case 51 so that the hinge shaft 32 can be moved and inserted into the cam member 52 when the door 20 is rotated. May be further formed.

The cam member 52 is rotatably provided inside the locking unit case 51. In addition, a cam elastic member 53 having a torsion spring shape is provided at the rotation center of the cam member 52, and the cam elastic member 53 connects the cam member 52 and the locking unit case 51. Thus, the cam member 52 can be returned to its original position by the elastic force when the cam member 52 is rotated.

In addition, the cam member 52 is formed with a receiving groove 521 into which the hinge shaft 32 is inserted. When the door 20 is closed, the receiving groove 521 allows the hinge shaft 32 to be inserted so that the hinge shaft 32 is restrained inside the locking unit 50. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, when the door 20 is closed, the hinge shaft 32 is inserted into the accommodating groove 521, and the opening direction of the accommodating groove 521 is the restrictor cover. In the direction intersecting with the guide portion 411 of (41) it is possible to maintain a state in which the hinge shaft 32 is fixed.

In addition, the outer surface of the cam member 52 is formed with a locking portion 522, such as a projection or groove formed on the switch to be restrained and released by a general pressing operation. The locking portion 522 has a shape such that the stopper 54 is locked or restrained while the stopper 54 rotates in one direction according to the pressing operation. The shape of the locking portion 522 may be variously changed.

The locking part 522 is provided above the first guide part 522a having the inclined surfaces on both sides of the lower side and the protrusions on both sides of the upper side, and the first guide part 522a, and the second guide part having the inclined surfaces on both the left and right sides thereof ( 522b). The locking portion 522 is formed at one side of the circumferential surface of the cam member 52 opposite to the receiving groove 521.

Therefore, in the state where the cam member 52 is not rotated, the end of the stopper 54 is positioned below the first guide portion 522a as shown in FIG. 4. Then, when the hinge shaft 32 is inserted into the receiving groove 521 to rotate the cam member 52, the end of the stopper 54 moves along the path ① to the first guide portion It is maintained in a state seated on the top surface of (522a). Accordingly, the cam member 52 can maintain a state of restraining the hinge shaft 32.

In this state, when the cam member 52 is pressed by the hinge shaft 32 and temporarily rotates further, the end portion of the stopper 54 moves along the path ② and again the first guide part ( 522a) an initial position below can be reached.

The end of the stopper 54 is guided by the inclined surface of the second guide part 522b. That is, when moving along the path ①, it may be guided to the upper surface of the first guide portion 522a by the right inclined surface of the second guide portion 522b, when moving along the path ② The first inclined surface of the second guide part 522b may be out of the upper surface of the first guide part 522a.

As such, the cam member 52 is selectively rotated as the hinge shaft 32 moves, and the cam member 52 is rotated by the cam member 52 and fixed by the stopper 54. And selective constraining of the hinge axis 32 is possible.

On the other hand, a stopper 54 is configured below the cam member 52 to selectively limit the rotation of the cam member 52. The stopper 54 is coupled in the axial coupling or the like manner so that the lower end may flow in left and right or front and rear directions, and the upper end may be bent to contact the locking part 522. In addition, an upper end of the stopper 54 may be configured to move along the locking part 522 when the cam member 52 is rotated. The stopper 54 may be connected to one side of the locking unit case 51 by a stopper elastic member 55 such as a spring. Therefore, the stopper 54 can be returned to its original position after being moved back and forth or left and right by the elasticity of the stopper elastic member 55.

Hereinafter, the opening and closing operation of the refrigerator door according to an embodiment of the present invention having the configuration as described above will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 'of FIG. 1 and showing the state in which the door is closed. And, Figure 7 is a view showing a state in which one side of the door is opened for opening the door. 8 is a view showing a state in which the door is rotated with the right side as the rotation axis.

6 to 8, in the state in which the door 20 is closed, as shown in FIG. 6, the hinge shafts 32 on both the left and right sides are inserted into the receiving groove 521 of the cam member 52. It becomes a state. In addition, the stopper 54 is constrained to prevent the cam member 52 from rotating in a state in which the stopper 54 is locked to the locking portion 522 of the cam member 52. In addition, the cam member 52 is located in the direction in which the opening direction of the receiving groove 521 intersects with the guide part 411 of the restraining device cover 41, thereby vibrating and impacting the refrigerator 1. Alternatively, the door 20 may be prevented from being opened by an unexpected operation. In this state, each of the hinge shafts 32 provided on both the left and right sides of the upper and lower surfaces of the cabinet 10 is locked to the inside of the receiving groove 521 of the corresponding locking unit 50 to allow the door 20 to be locked. Will remain closed.

 In this state, in order to open the door 20, the user presses a portion corresponding to a direction in which the door 20 is desired to be opened. That is, when the door 20 is desired to be opened by rotating the right end counterclockwise with respect to the axis, the front right side of the door 20 is pressed, and the door 20 is rotated clockwise with the left end as the axis. When it is desired to open by rotating, the front left side of the door 20 is pressed.

In this case, when the front left and right sides are pressed with respect to the center of the door 20, the door 20 may be rotated. However, in order to more easily open the door 20, the hinge shafts 32 on both the left and right sides are extended. When the front side of the door 20 corresponding to the pressing portion can be opened more effectively. Therefore, in order to more easily open the door 20, it is configured to be displayed in a manner such as printing or etching so that the user can identify at a corresponding point on the front of the door 20 to facilitate the pressing operation more easily. Can be.

Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the door 20 is opened in the counterclockwise direction with the right side as the rotating shaft, for example. Of course, it will be possible to open the door 20 in the opposite direction, in this case, the state at the time of opening in the counterclockwise direction and the operation direction of each component are the same way, so as to prevent unnecessary description overlapping. Hereinafter will be described based on the opening in the counterclockwise direction.

When the front left side of the door 20 is pressed, the left side of the door 20 is slightly moved backward as shown in FIG. 7, and the left part of the gasket 11 provided in the door 20 is compressed in this process. do. In addition, the right side of the door 20 maintains the original state because no external force is applied.

As the left part of the door 20 moves backward, the hinge shaft 32 on the left side of the receiving groove 521 pushes the cam member 52 on the left side. The cam member 52 on the left side pushed by the hinge shaft 32 is rotated counterclockwise, so that the stopper 54 is out of the locking portion 522.

When the user presses the left side of the door 20 in this state, the left side of the door 20 is counterclockwise of the cam member 52 together with the elasticity of the gasket 11 that has been compressed in the left side of the door. A force is applied to the cam elastic member 53 which was compressed during rotation to rotate the door 20 counterclockwise by a restoring force.

At this time, the cam member 52 is released by the stopper 54 is rotated by a predetermined angle in the clockwise direction by the restoring force of the cam elastic member 53. When the cam member 52 rotates by a predetermined angle, the receiving groove 521 of the cam member 52 and the guide portion 411 of the restrainer cover 41 coincide with each other. In the hinge shaft 32 can exit the receiving groove 521 and the guide portion 411 of the cam member 52, the door 20 is in a rotatable state. Therefore, the door 20 is rotatable while the left side is opened.

On the other hand, the cam member 52 provided on the right side of the upper part of the door 20 maintains the stopped state because no external force is applied while the door 20 rotates counterclockwise, and the hinge on the right side The shaft 32 maintains a state accommodated inside the receiving groove 521 formed in the cam member 52 on the right side. In such a state, the receiving groove 521 crosses the guide portion 411 of the restrainer cover 41, and the receiving groove 521 and the guide portion are rotated even when the door 20 is rotated. Since the 411 crosses each other, the hinge shaft 32 is accommodated inside the receiving groove 521. Thus, the hinge shaft 32 is a rotation center for allowing the door 20 to rotate counterclockwise.

On the other hand, after the door 20 is opened, the cam member 52 on the left side maintains the state as shown in FIG. 8, and when the door 20 rotates in a clockwise direction and closes, the hinge shaft on the left side ( 32 is inserted into the receiving groove 521 formed in the cam member 52 on the left side again through the guide portion 411 of the restraining device 40. When the door 20 is completely closed, the hinge shaft 32 pushes the cam member 52 inside the receiving groove 521 to rotate the cam member 52 in a counterclockwise direction. The cam member 52 is constrained by the stopper 54. Thus, the door 20 is in a state as shown in FIG. 6 and the door 20 can be maintained in a closed state.

The refrigerator according to the present invention may have various other embodiments in addition to the above-described embodiments. Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention is provided with an opening device in the door, an actuator is provided in the restraining device, and the actuator is driven when the opening device is operated to selectively release the restraint between the hinge shaft and the cam member. It is characterized in that the opening direction of the door can be determined.

Therefore, other embodiments of the present invention except for the configuration of the opening device and the actuator will be the same as the above-described embodiment, and the same description will be omitted for the same configuration will be omitted.

9 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention. 10 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an electrical connection state of the refrigerator. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10 'of FIG. 9. 12 is a view showing a state in which the door according to another embodiment of the present invention is rotated with the right side as the rotation axis.

9 to 12, the refrigerator 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet 10 and a door 20, and the door 20 includes a hinge member having a hinge shaft 32. 30) is rotatably mounted.

In addition, four hinge members 30 are formed on both the left and right sides of the upper end of the cabinet 10 and both the left and right sides of the lower end thereof, and the hinge shafts 32 are positioned at the front of the cabinet 10. In addition, the door 20 is provided with a restraining device 40 that is selectively restrained with the hinge shaft 32 to determine the opening direction of the door 20.

On the other hand, the door 20 is provided with a door 20. The door 20 determines the selective restraint of the hinge shaft 32 and the restraint device 40, and is configured to be exposed to the front of the door 20 so that the user can operate the door 20.

The door 20 includes an operation member 61 to which a user's operation is input and an actuator 62 which is driven according to the input operation signal to selectively move the stopper 54 of the restraining device 40. Can be configured.

The operation member 61 may be configured as a switch or button structure that is mechanically pressed to operate the actuator 62 or by pushing the stopper 54, or may be configured as an electrically operated sensor.

In this embodiment, an operation member 61 using a touch sensor that can sense a user's touch will be described as an example. That is, the operation member 61 may be configured using a capacitive or pressure type touch sensor. Of course, in addition to the touch sensor, other electrical devices capable of detecting a user's manipulation may be used.

On the other hand, the operation member 61 may be provided on each of the left and right sides of the door 20 may be configured to control the operation of the actuator 62 provided on each of the left and right sides. Of course, if necessary, the operation member 61 may be configured as one, or may be configured to be configured as a menu selection type to be opened to one side of the left and right sides.

In addition, the manipulation member 61 may be provided on the rear surface of the transparent member forming the front surface of the door 20 so as not to be exposed to the front surface of the door 20, in which case the user may open the door 20. By touching the front surface of the) it is possible to operate the operation member (61). In addition, the position of the operation member 61 may be displayed by printing or etching the front surface of the corresponding door 20 in order to identify the position of the operation member 61 more easily.

On the other hand, the door 20 may be provided with a display 21. The display 21 may also be provided inside the door 20 to be in contact with a rear surface of a member forming a front surface of the door 20. Therefore, when the display 21 is turned off, the display 21 does not appear through the front of the door 20, and only when the display 21 is turned on, information of the information is displayed through the front of the door 20. The display becomes possible. In addition, the operation member 61 may be integrally formed with the display 21.

The actuator 62 is electrically connected to the operation member 61 and configured to release the cam member 52 by pushing the stopper 54 according to an input of an operation signal. The operation signal transmitted to the actuator 62 is made by the operation of the operation member 61, and the actuator 62 momentarily pushes the stopper 54 back to its original position. .

On the other hand, the actuator 62 may be configured using other power means or mechanical means as necessary, it may be configured to selectively push the stopper 54 to release the restraint of the cam member 52. .

The power supply member 22 is provided inside the door 20, and the power supply member 22 may be electrically connected to the operation member 61 and the actuator 62. Accordingly, power is supplied to the operation member 61 and the actuator 62 by the power supply member 22 to operate the power supply member 22. The power member 22 may be formed of a rechargeable battery or a capacitor, and may be provided inside the door 20 to be charged by induction electromotive force.

In detail, the induction electromotive force transmitter 12 is provided inside the cabinet 10, and the door 20 is provided with the induction electromotive force receiver 23 connected to the power member 22. In addition, the induction electromotive force transmitter 12 and the induction electromotive force receiver 23 may be disposed to be adjacent to each other in a state where the door 20 is closed. For example, when the induction electromotive force transmitter 12 is provided at the front end of the cabinet 10, the induction electromotive force receiver 23 is provided at a corresponding position on the rear surface of the door 20, The transmission of the current becomes possible. Therefore, in the state where the door 20 is closed, the power source member 22 can be charged by the induced electromotive force, and the operation member 61 can be operated. Since the operation member 61 is operated to open the door 20 in the state in which the door 20 is closed, the power supply member 22 is small enough to be sufficiently charged even by charging by induced electromotive force. It may be configured.

The upper and lower ends of the door 20 are provided with a restraining device 40, and locking units 50 are provided at left and right sides of the restraining device 40, respectively. The locking unit 50 includes a cam member 52, a stopper 54, a cam member elastic member 53, a stopper elastic member 55, and an actuator 62 inside the locking unit case 51. Can be. The restraint device 40 and the locking unit 50 have the same configuration as those of the above-described embodiment except for the actuator 62, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Looking at the door opening operation of the refrigerator according to the present embodiment, in the state in which the door 20 is completely closed, as shown in FIG. 11, the hinge shafts 32 provided on both the left and right sides of the door 20 are respectively the door ( The confined state is maintained in a state accommodated in the receiving groove 521 of the cam member 52 provided on both left and right sides of the 20.

In this state, the receiving groove 521 and the guide part 411 of the restraining device 40 cross each other, so that the hinge shaft 32 is both restrained by the receiving groove 521 and the guide part 411. Therefore, the state is stably restrained, and the mounting of the door 20 may also be maintained in a stable state.

In this state, in order to open the door 20, the user presses or touches the operation member 61 on the front of the door 20. When the operation member 61 or the front surface of the door 20 corresponding to the operation member 61 is pressed, the operation member 61 transmits a user's operation signal to the actuator 62 to transmit the actuator ( 62) can be operated.

In this case, when the operation member 61 is provided on the left and right sides of the door 20, the opening direction of the door 20 may be determined by operating the operation member 61 at the corresponding position. In addition, when the operation member 61 is provided on one side, the actuator 62 of any one of the actuators 62 provided on both the left and right sides of the door 20 to determine the opening direction of the door 20 is provided. It is instructed to operate.

In the embodiment of the present invention will be described with an example that the actuator 62 on the left side is driven and opened while the door rotates in a counterclockwise direction with respect to the hinge shaft 32 on the right side.

According to the operation of the actuator 62, the actuator 62 pushes the stopper 54 so that the stopper 54 is separated from the cam member 52, and the cam member 52 is the cam elastic member 55. 12 rotates counterclockwise (as shown in FIG. 12) by the restoring force of the cam, and the rotation of the cam member 52 releases the restraint of the hinge shaft 32 and the cam member 52. The shaft 32 is able to exit the receiving groove 521 and the guide portion 411.

Then, the hinge shaft 32 on the right side of the door 20 maintains a state located inside the receiving groove 521 formed in the cam member 52 on the right side. In addition, external force is not applied to the cam member 52 and the stopper 54 so that the hinge shaft 32 remains fixed even when the door 20 is rotated to rotate the door 20. It becomes the center.

Particularly, even when the door 20 is rotated, the accommodation groove 521 and the guide part 411 of the restrainer cover 41 are maintained to cross each other, so that the hinge shaft 32 is accommodated. It can be restrained so as not to be separated by the groove 521 and the guide portion 411. Accordingly, the door 20 may be opened by using the hinge shaft 32 located at the right side of the door 20 as the rotation center.

When the door 20 is closed again when the door 20 is open, the hinge shaft 32 on the left side of the door is inserted into the receiving groove 521 through the guide part 411. . In addition, the cam member 52 on the left side may also be rotated by the rotation operation of the door 20 to be in a closed state as shown in FIG. 11, and the cam member 52 is rotated by the stopper 54. By limiting the door 20 to maintain a closed state.

On the other hand, according to the operation of the operation member 61, the door 20 may be opened while the hinge shaft 32 on the left side is rotated clockwise as the center of rotation. The process in which the door 20 is rotated in a clockwise direction to open is performed in the same manner as the above-described process, but only detailed positions thereof will be omitted.

30. Hinge member 32. Hinge shaft
40. Restraint device 50. Locking unit
51 Locking unit case 52. Cam member
54. Stopper 60. Opening device
61. Operation member 62. Actuator

Claims (15)

A cabinet forming a storage space;
A door rotatably mounted to the cabinet to open and close the storage space;
Hinge members provided on both left and right sides of the upper and lower sides of the cabinet, respectively, and having a hinge axis that is a rotational center of the door;
It is provided on the upper and lower ends of the door, the restraint with the rotation axis of the corresponding one of the left and right sides according to the pressing operation position of the door is released, including a restraining device for restraining the rotation axis of the other side to determine the rotation direction of the door; Refrigerator. The method of claim 1,
The hinge member,
A plate fixing plate is coupled to the cabinet, characterized in that the hinge shaft extends up and down at the front end of the fixing plate extending forward of the cabinet. The method of claim 1,
The restraint device,
A restrainer cover forming an upper surface of the door;
And a locking unit provided inside the restraining device cover and provided on both left and right sides corresponding to the position of the rotation shaft. The method of claim 3, wherein
The locking unit,
A cam member rotatably mounted, the cam member having a receiving groove selectively restraining the rotating shaft when rotating;
A cam elastic member connected to the cam member and compressed when the cam member is rotated to provide an elastic force to the cam member;
A catching part protruding from an outer surface of the cam member;
A stopper which is moved along the locking portion when the cam is rotated to selectively limit rotation of the cam;
And a stopper elastic member connected to the stopper to allow the stopper to return to its original position after left and right rotation. The method of claim 4, wherein
Refrigerator, characterized in that the guide portion for guiding the insertion of the hinge shaft is cut in the upper or lower surface of the restrainer cover. The method of claim 5, wherein
The guide portion,
In a state where the hinge shaft is not fixed, the hinge shaft is formed to move along the guide part and be inserted into the receiving groove.
The refrigerator is characterized in that the hinge shaft is fixed in a direction intersecting with the receiving groove is formed so that the hinge shaft can be fixed inside the receiving groove. The method of claim 4, wherein
The cam member is
And a rotation center is formed at a position eccentric with the hinge axis so that the cam member can be rotated when the door is pressed. A cabinet forming a storage space;
A door rotatably mounted to the cabinet to open and close the storage space;
Hinge members provided on both left and right sides of the upper and lower sides of the cabinet, respectively, and having a hinge axis that is a rotational center of the door;
A locking unit provided in each of the doors corresponding to the hinge member, and the hinge shaft being accommodated in the closed state of the door to maintain the door in a rotatable mounting state;
And an opening device provided in the door, wherein the locking unit corresponding to the corresponding position is rotated by a user's pressing operation to release the restraint of the hinge shaft and the locking unit to open the door. The method of claim 8,
Refrigerator, characterized in that the guide portion is formed so that the hinge shaft can be inserted into the locking unit on the left and right sides of the upper and lower surfaces of the door corresponding to the locking unit. The method of claim 8,
The locking unit,
A cam member rotatably mounted, the cam member having a receiving groove selectively restraining the rotating shaft when rotating;
A cam elastic member connected to the cam member and compressed when the cam member is rotated to provide an elastic force to the cam member;
A catching part protruding from an outer surface of the cam member;
A stopper which is moved along the locking portion when the cam is rotated to selectively limit rotation of the cam;
And a stopper elastic member connected to the stopper to allow the stopper to return to its original position after left and right rotation. 11. The method of claim 10,
The opening device is a refrigerator, characterized in that formed on the front of the door corresponding to each of the locking unit, so that the cam member is rotated by pushing the stopper. 11. The method of claim 10,
The opening device,
An operation member provided in the door and operated by a user;
And a actuator provided inside the locking unit, the actuator being driven according to the operation of the operation member to push the stopper to be spaced apart from the cam member. 11. The method of claim 10,
The operation member is a refrigerator, characterized in that consisting of a contact sensor or a switch. 11. The method of claim 10,
The inside of the door is a refrigerator, characterized in that it is further provided with a power member electrically connected to the actuator for providing a power for driving the actuator. 15. The method of claim 14,
The cabinet is formed with an induction electromotive force transmitting unit and the door is formed with an induction electromotive force receiving unit connected to the power member, the refrigerator characterized in that it is configured to be able to charge the power member.

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