KR20200021823A - French door type refrigerator and sealing apparatus thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a French door type refrigerator and a door sealing apparatus thereof. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the French door type refrigerator comprises: a refrigerator body having a storage space formed therein; a pair of refrigerator doors rotationally provided to the refrigerator body to open and close the storage space; a filler provided in one of the pair of refrigerator doors and rotated when opening and closing the refrigerator doors to seal a gap between the pair of refrigerator doors; an upper sealing means provided at an upper end portion of the filler in an elastically contractible manner to seal a gap between the filler and an inner upper surface of the storage space; and a lower sealing means provided at a lower end portion of the filler in an elastically contractible manner to seal a gap between the filler and an inner lower surface of the storage space.

Description

French door type refrigerator and door sealing device {FRENCH DOOR TYPE REFRIGERATOR AND SEALING APPARATUS THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a French door type refrigerator and a door sealing device.

In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance that enables food to be stored at a low temperature in an internal storage space that is shielded by a door. The refrigerator is configured to optimally store stored foods by cooling the inside of the storage space by using cold air generated through heat exchange with a refrigerant circulating in a refrigeration cycle.

The inside of the refrigerator may include a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment, and inside the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment, storage members such as shelves, drawers, and baskets are provided. And the refrigerating compartment and freezing compartment are shielded by the figure. Refrigerators are classified according to the arrangement of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment and the shape of the door.

Recently, refrigerators are becoming more and more large and multi-functional in accordance with the change of dietary life and the trend of high-quality products, and are equipped with various structures and convenience devices in consideration of user convenience.

For example, among the refrigerators, there is a refrigerator in which one storage space is shielded by two doors which are opened and closed at both sides. In such a refrigerator, there is a French door type refrigerator provided with a filler in one of two doors to seal a gap between the doors when the two doors are closed.

The French door type refrigerator is similar to a bottom type refrigerator in which a freezer compartment is provided on the lower side of the refrigerator body and a double door refrigerator is provided on the upper side, but a filler is provided between the left and right refrigerator compartment doors to seal between them.

In general, when the bottom type refrigerator closes the left and right refrigerating compartment doors, a gap occurs between the doors, and thus, the refrigerator may not be sealed. Therefore, the French door type refrigerator is provided with a filler having a separate sealing function between the left and right refrigerator compartment doors.

The filler is hinged rotatably in the form of a long vertical rod inside the left refrigerating compartment door so that the sealing between the left and right refrigerating compartment doors can be achieved while rotating around the hinge axis whenever the left refrigerating compartment door is opened and closed. .

However, in the conventional French door type refrigerator, the height of the filler is shorter than the height of the inner storage space of the refrigerator body in order to prevent the filler from interfering with the inner upper portion and the inner lower portion of the refrigerator body when the refrigerator door is closed. Accordingly, a gap is generated between the upper end of the filler and the inner upper part of the main body, the lower end of the filler and the inner lower part of the main body, and when the refrigerator door is closed, external air flows into the storage space of the main body of the refrigerator. .

Due to the problems described above, the sealing force of the refrigerator may be lowered, thereby causing a problem of dew condensation occurring on the upper and lower sides of the filler.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2013-52087

An embodiment of the present invention is to provide a French door type refrigerator and a door sealing device for improving sealing performance by shielding a gap between the upper and lower portions of the filler rotatably installed in any one refrigerator door and the refrigerator body.

According to an aspect of the invention, the refrigerator body is formed a storage space; A pair of refrigerator doors rotatably provided in the refrigerator body to open and close the storage space; A filler provided in any one of the pair of refrigerator doors, the filler being rotated during opening and closing of the refrigerator door to shield a gap between the pair of refrigerator doors; An upper sealing means provided at an upper end of the pillar to be elastically retractable to shield a gap between the filler and an inner upper surface of the storage space; And a lower sealing means provided at a lower end of the filler to elastically contract and shielding a gap between the filler and the inner lower surface of the storage space.

Wherein the upper sealing means, the upper sealing portion is fitted to surround the upper end of the filler, the receiving groove is formed therein, the upper sealing portion made of a material capable of elastic deformation; And an upper spring elastically installed in the receiving groove of the upper sealing part and elastically contracted in a height direction when the upper sealing part is compressed.

In addition, the lower sealing means, the lower portion of the filler is fitted to surround the lower end of the filler, the receiving groove is formed therein, the lower sealing portion made of a material capable of elastic deformation; And a lower spring elastically installed in the receiving groove of the lower sealing part and elastically contracted in a height direction when the lower sealing part is compressed.

In addition, the upper sealing part and the lower sealing part may not be caught by the upper and lower jaws of the storage space when the refrigerator door is closed at the contact portion contacting the inner surface of the storage space by the upper sealing part and the lower sealing part. An inclined surface may be formed to be guided into the storage space.

In addition, the inner surface of the upper sealing portion and the lower sealing portion is provided with a stopper protruding toward the filler, and the filler is provided so that the stopper is not separated and provided with a guide groove formed in a height direction along a movement path of the stopper. On the other hand, according to another aspect of the present invention, a filler provided in any one of the pair of refrigerator doors, rotated when opening and closing the refrigerator door to shield the gap between the pair of refrigerator doors; An upper sealing means provided at an upper end of the filler to be elastically retractable to shield a gap between the filler and an inner upper surface of a storage space formed in the refrigerator main body; And a lower sealing means provided at a lower end of the filler to elastically shrink and shielding a gap between the filler and the inner lower surface of the storage space, the door sealing apparatus of the french door type refrigerator.

Wherein the upper sealing means, the upper sealing portion is fitted to surround the upper end of the filler, the receiving groove is formed therein, the upper sealing portion made of a material capable of elastic deformation; And an upper spring elastically installed in the receiving groove of the upper sealing part and elastically contracted in a height direction when the upper sealing part is compressed.

In addition, the lower sealing means, the lower portion of the filler is fitted to surround the lower end of the filler, the receiving groove is formed therein, the lower sealing portion made of a material capable of elastic deformation; And a lower spring elastically installed in the receiving groove of the lower sealing part and elastically contracted in a height direction when the lower sealing part is compressed.

The upper sealing part and the lower sealing part may contact the inner surface of the storage space with the upper sealing part and the lower sealing part without being caught by the upper and lower jaws of the storage space when the refrigerator door is closed. An inclined surface may be formed to be guided into the interior of the space.

In addition, the inner surface of the upper sealing portion and the lower sealing portion is provided with a stopper protruding toward the filler, and the filler is provided so that the stopper is not separated and provided with a guide groove formed in a height direction along a movement path of the stopper. Can be.

The embodiment of the present invention can improve the sealing performance of the refrigerator door type refrigerator by shielding the gap between the upper and lower portions of the filler rotatably installed in any one refrigerator door and the sealing body with elastically deformable sealing means.

1 is a perspective view showing a French door type refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view illustrating a closed state of the refrigerating compartment door to which the filler of FIG. 1 is applied.
3 is a front view of a filler showing a filler to which the upper sealing means and the lower sealing means of FIG. 1 are applied.
4 is a side view illustrating a state in which the filler is not inserted into the refrigerator main body, viewed from the direction "A" of FIG. 3.
5 is a view showing a state immediately before the filler is inserted into the refrigerator main body in FIG.
6 is a front view illustrating a state in which the filler of FIG. 3 is inserted into the refrigerator main body and a gap between the filler and the storage space of the refrigerator main body is shielded by the upper sealing means and the lower sealing means.
FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating a state in which a filler is inserted into the refrigerator main body in FIG. 4 and a gap between the filler and the storage space of the refrigerator main body is shielded by the upper sealing means and the lower sealing means.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the configuration and operation according to the embodiment of the present invention. The following description is one of several aspects of the patentable invention and the following description may form part of the detailed description of the invention.

However, in the description of the present invention, a detailed description of known configurations or functions may be omitted for clarity of the present invention.

As the invention allows for various changes and numerous embodiments, particular embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, it should be understood to include all changes, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Terms including ordinal numbers such as first and second may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another.

When a component is said to be 'connected' or 'connected' to another component, it may be directly connected to or connected to that other component, but it may be understood that another component may exist in between Should be. On the other hand, when a component is said to be 'directly connected' or 'directly connected' to another component, it should be understood that there is no other component in between.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The term 'comprises' or 'having' in the present application is intended to indicate that there is a feature, number, step, action, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, and that one or more other features It should be understood that it does not exclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof.

Hereinafter, a French door type refrigerator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, the French door type refrigerator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a refrigerator main body 100, a pair of refrigerator doors 200, a filler 300, an upper sealing means 400, and a lower portion. It may include a sealing means (500).

The refrigerator body 100 forms an overall appearance of the French door type refrigerator 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and a predetermined storage space 110 for storing food therein may be formed. The lower side of the refrigerator main body 100 may be provided with a freezer compartment, and the upper side may be provided with a double door refrigerator compartment.

Meanwhile, the refrigerator door 200 is provided to be rotatable in the refrigerator main body 100 to open and close the storage space 110 of the refrigerator main body 100, and specifically, the storage space 110 of the refrigerator main body 100. A pair may be disposed on both left and right sides of the refrigerator main body 100 to open and close the double door refrigerator compartment.

The front of the refrigerator door 200 may be provided with a dispenser for taking out water or ice from the outside. The refrigerator door 200 may include an ice making room, which is an insulating space for generating and storing ice. The ice produced in the ice-making compartment is supplied to the dispenser so that it can be taken out.

The filler 300 may be provided in any one of the pair of refrigerator doors 200, and may be rotated through the hinge shaft 310 on the refrigerator door 200 on the left side as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. Can be installed. The filler 300 is configured to rotate when the refrigerator door 200 is opened and closed, and may shield the gap G between the pair of refrigerator doors 200 by the rotation operation.

The filler 300 is a rod-shaped member disposed in the height direction inside the refrigerator door 200 and is rotatably hinged to the refrigerator door 200 to open the refrigerator door 200 having the filler 300. Each time it closes, it rotates around the hinge shaft 310 to block the gap G of the left and right refrigerator doors 200 so that the cold air escapes through the gap G, or the outside air passes through the refrigerator main body 100. It may perform a sealing function to prevent entering into the storage space (110) of.

Here, the filler 300 has a length smaller than the height of the storage space 110 to prevent interference with the storage space 110 of the refrigerator body 100 when the refrigerator door 200 is opened and closed. When the refrigerator door 200 is closed, the filler 300 is disposed between the upper end of the filler 300 and the inner upper surface of the storage space 110, and the lower end of the filler 300 and the inner lower surface of the storage space 110. As many gaps h as may be formed.

If the length of the filler 300 is made identical to the height of the storage space 110, the gap may disappear, but since the filler 300 is made of a plastic body that is not elastically deformed, the refrigerator door 200 is opened. When closing, the filler 300 may be damaged when the upper and lower ends of the filler 300 directly interfere with or contact the inner upper and lower surfaces of the storage space 110 to generate noise or to close the refrigerator door 200 strongly. have.

Meanwhile, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper sealing means 400 is provided as an elastic shrinkable material at the upper end of the filler 300, and the inner upper surface 111 of the filler 300 and the storage space 110. By shielding the gap (h) of the cold air through the gap (h) can be prevented from flowing out or the outside air flow into the interior of the storage space (110).

In detail, the upper sealing means 400 may include an upper sealing part 410 and an upper spring 420.

The upper sealing part 410 is inserted to surround the upper end of the filler 300 on the upper part of the filler 300, and may be made of a rubber material that is elastically deformable. An accommodation groove 411 of a predetermined size may be formed inside the upper sealing portion 410, and the accommodation groove 411 is formed in the height direction of the upper sealing portion 410, and one or two or more as necessary. It can be formed as.

The upper spring 420 is elastically installed in the receiving groove 411 of the upper sealing portion 410, the refrigerator door 200 is closed so that the upper sealing portion 410 of the storage space 110 of the refrigerator body 100 When pressed by the inner upper surface, the upper spring 420 may be elastically contracted in the height direction.

The upper spring 420 is in close contact with the upper sealing portion 410 to the inner upper surface 111 of the storage space 110 when the upper sealing portion 410 is pressed to move the lower sealing portion 410 downward. The sealing efficiency may be improved by sealing the storage space 110.

On the other hand, the lower sealing means 500 is provided as a material that is elastically shrinkable at the lower end of the filler 300, shielding the gap (h) between the filler 300 and the inner lower surface 112 of the storage space 110. Through the gap (h) it is possible to prevent the cold air to escape to the outside or the outside air flows into the interior of the storage space (110).

In detail, the lower sealing means 500 may include a lower sealing part 510 and a lower spring 520.

The lower sealing part 510 may be fitted to surround the lower end of the filler 300 at the bottom of the filler 300, and may be elastically deformed by itself by being made of a rubber material that is elastically deformable. An accommodation groove 511 having a predetermined size may be formed in the lower sealing part 510, and the accommodation groove 511 is formed in the height direction of the lower sealing part 510, and one or two as needed. It may be formed as above.

The lower spring 520 is elastically installed in the receiving groove 511 of the lower sealing part 510, and the refrigerator door 200 is closed so that the lower sealing part 510 of the storage space 110 of the refrigerator main body 100 is closed. When pressed by the inner lower surface 112, the lower spring 520 may elastically contract in the height direction.

Accordingly, when the lower sealing part 510 is pressurized and the lower sealing part 510 moves upward, the lower spring 520 moves the lower sealing part 510 to the inner lower surface 112 of the storage space 110. The sealing efficiency may be improved by sealing the storage space 110 in close contact.

Here, the inclined surface 412 may be formed at the contact portions that contact the inner surfaces of the storage space 110 in the upper sealing portion 410 and the lower sealing portion 510, respectively.

The inclined surface 412 includes an upper jaw 111a and a lower jaw 112a in which the upper sealing part 410 and the lower sealing part 510 are formed on the upper and lower portions of the storage space 110 when the refrigerator door 200 is closed. It is formed to be inclined so as to be guided smoothly into the storage space 110 without being caught.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 5, when the refrigerator door 200 is closed, the upper sealing means 400 and the lower sealing means 500, which are provided on the upper and lower portions of the filler 300, respectively, are formed in the storage space 110. Even though protruding upward and downward from the inner upper surface 111 and the inner lower surface 112, the inclined surface 412 does not catch the upper jaw 111a and the lower jaw 112a of the storage space 110 without the upper sealing. The means 400 and the lower sealing means 500 may be inserted into the storage space 110 to increase the sealing efficiency as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 3, stoppers 413 and 513 protruding toward the filler 300 may be provided on the inner surfaces of the upper sealing part 410 and the lower sealing part 510 that contact the side surfaces of the filler 300. have.

In addition, the filler 300 is provided with a guide groove 313 for accommodating the stoppers 413 and 513. The guide groove 313 has a width smaller than the width of the stopper so that the stoppers 413 and 513 inserted therein are not separated. Is formed.

The guide groove 313 is formed in the height direction along the movement paths of the stoppers 413 and 513 on the filler 300. Accordingly, the refrigerator door 200 is closed so that the upper sealing part 410 and the lower sealing part 510 are closed. The upper sealing part 410 and the lower sealing part 510 are guided by the guide grooves 313 through the respective stoppers 413 and 513 when moved in the height direction by pressing, along the height direction of the filler 300. I can move it.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using the preferable embodiment, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment described, and the person of ordinary skill in the art is not limited within the scope of this invention. Substitutions and modifications of the components are possible, which also belongs to the rights of the present invention.

10: French door type refrigerator
100: refrigerator body 110: storage space
111: inner upper surface of the storage space 111a: upper jaw
112: inner lower surface of the storage space 112a: lower jaw
200: refrigerator door 300: filler
310: hinge axis 313: guide groove
400: upper sealing means 410: upper sealing part
411: receiving grooves 413, 513: stopper
420: upper spring 500: lower sealing means
510: lower sealing portion 511: receiving groove
520: lower spring

Claims (10)

A refrigerator body in which a storage space is formed;
A pair of refrigerator doors rotatably provided to the refrigerator body to open and close the storage space;
A filler provided in one of the pair of refrigerator doors, the filler being rotatably provided when the refrigerator door is opened and closed, and shielding a gap between the pair of refrigerator doors when the refrigerator door is closed;
An upper sealing means provided at an upper end of the pillar to be elastically retractable to shield a gap between the filler and an inner upper surface of the storage space; And
Lower sealing means provided at a lower end of the pillar to be elastically retractable to shield a gap between the filler and an inner lower surface of the storage space;
Including, French door type refrigerator. According to claim 1,
The upper sealing means,
An upper sealing part fitted to surround an upper end of the filler and having an accommodating groove formed therein and being elastically deformable; And
An upper spring elastically installed in the receiving groove of the upper sealing part and elastically contracted in a height direction when the upper sealing part is pressed;
Including, French door type refrigerator. The method of claim 2,
The lower sealing means,
A lower sealing part inserted into a lower part of the filler to surround the lower end of the filler, and having an accommodation groove formed therein and made of an elastically deformable material; And
A lower spring elastically installed in the receiving groove of the lower sealing part and elastically contracted in a height direction when the lower sealing part is pressed;
Including, French door type refrigerator. The method of claim 3, wherein
The upper sealing part and the lower sealing part may contact the inner surface of the storage space with the upper sealing part and the lower sealing part without being caught by the upper and lower jaws of the storage space when the refrigerator door is closed. French door type refrigerator, the inclined surface of which is guided into the interior of the space. The method of claim 3, wherein
Inner surfaces of the upper sealing portion and the lower sealing portion are provided with a stopper protruding toward the pillar,
The filler is provided with a guide groove which is received so that the stopper is not separated and is formed in the height direction along the movement path of the stopper, French door type refrigerator. A filler provided in any one of the pair of refrigerator doors, the filler being rotatably provided when the refrigerator door is opened and closed and shielding a gap between the pair of refrigerator doors when the refrigerator door is closed;
An upper sealing means provided at an upper end of the filler to be elastically retractable to shield a gap between the filler and an inner upper surface of a storage space formed in the refrigerator main body; And
A lower sealing means provided at a lower end of the filler to elastically shrink to shield a gap between the filler and an inner lower surface of the storage space;
Including, the door sealing device of the French door type refrigerator. The method of claim 6,
The upper sealing means,
An upper sealing part fitted to cover an upper end of the filler and having an accommodating groove formed therein and being elastically deformable; And
An upper spring elastically installed in the receiving groove of the upper sealing part and elastically contracted in a height direction when the upper sealing part is pressed;
Included, the door sealing device of the French door type refrigerator. The method of claim 7, wherein
The lower sealing means,
A lower sealing part inserted into a lower part of the filler to surround the lower end of the filler, and having an accommodation groove formed therein and made of an elastically deformable material; And
A lower spring elastically installed in the receiving groove of the lower sealing part and elastically contracted in a height direction when the lower sealing part is pressed;
Included, the door sealing device of the French door type refrigerator. The method of claim 8,
The upper sealing part and the lower sealing part may contact the inner surface of the storage space with the upper sealing part and the lower sealing part without being caught by the upper and lower jaws of the storage space when the refrigerator door is closed. A door sealing device of a french door type refrigerator, wherein the inclined surface is formed to be guided into the interior of the space. The method of claim 8,
Inner surfaces of the upper sealing portion and the lower sealing portion are provided with a stopper protruding toward the pillar,
The filler is provided so that the stopper is not separated and provided with a guide groove formed in the height direction along the movement path of the stopper, door sealing apparatus of the French door type refrigerator.

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