WO2006101291A1

WO2006101291A1 - Device for separating gasket of refrigerator

Info

Publication number: WO2006101291A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/002687
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joon Hwan Oh; Seong Jae Kim; Ki Chul Woo; Jang Ho Shim; Seung Yup Kim; Jong Ho Hong; Sang Yeul Lee
Original assignee: Lg Electronics Inc.
Priority date: 2005-03-19
Filing date: 2005-08-17
Publication date: 2006-09-28
Also published as: EP1861667A1; KR20060101112A; KR100755399B1

Abstract

A device for separating a gasket of a refrigerator incldues: a plurality of doors connected to the refrigerator body by a hinge portion; a gasket assembly installed at each of the doors, for sealing gaps between the doors; a connecting member at leat two locations of which are connected to the gasket assembly; and a gasket operating mechanism for pulling the connecting member so that the gasket assembly is separated from the opposite door when the door are opend and closed, or for firmly attaching the gasket assembly toward the opposite door when the doors are closed. As a result, the reliability of a gasket separating operation is improved by overally uniformly separating the gaskets when the doors are opened or closed, and accordingly an interference with the opposit edoor is minimized to open and close the doors more easily and lengthen the life span of the gaskets.

Description

DEVICE FOR SEPARATING GASKET OF REFRIGERATOR

Technical Field

[1] The present invenetion relates to a two-door type refrigerator, and more particularly, to a device for separating a gasket of a refrigerator, which allows the gaskets, firmly attached to each other with both doors closed, to be easily separated simultaneously with the opening of the doors. Background Art

[2] FTGS.1 and 2 are views illustrating a conventional french type refrigerator.

[3] As illustrated therein, a chilling chamber 1 is located in the upper side of the refrigerator, and a freezing chamber 2 is located in the lower side thereof. Particularly, the chilling chamber 1 has no partition wall for partioning the inside.

[4] A door 3 for opening and closing the chilling chamber 1 is constructed of a two- door opening structure, and a gasket 10 to be firmly attached to a refrigerator body 5 is installed on the circumferential surface of each door 3 so as to prevent cold air from leaking out.

[5] Especially, gaskets 11 are installed, too, at the portion where the two doors 3 meet so as to prevent cold air from leaking out. Generally, the french type refrigerator has a structure in which a filler is provided at either door so that the gaskets of the both doors can be firmly attached, or a fillerless structure in which no filler is provided and the gaskets 11 of both doors 3 can be firmly attached to each other.

[6] The refrigerator as illustrated in FTGS.1 and 2 are a fillerless type, and as shown in

FTG.1, with both doors 3 being closed, the gaskets 11 provided at both of the doors are firmly attached to each other to thus seal gaps of the doors 3.

[7] Here, FTG.3 is a plane cross sectional view of direction 'A' of FTG.1 showing a tightly attached state of the gaskets 11. Each of the gasket 11 is comprised of a gasket holder 12 installed at a lateral side where both doors 3 face each other and gasket rubber 13 mounted on the gasket holder 12 and firmly attached to each other.

[8] A magnetic body 14 is installed in the gasket rubber 13 in order to keep a firm attachment to each other.

[9] In particular, in order to solve the problem that when one of the doors 3 is opened, the other door is also opened, a gasket separating device 15 for separating both gaskets 11 from each other to a certain extent is installed at the gaskets 11.

[10] The gasket separation device 15 is construted in a manner that the gasket holder 12 rotates around a hinge portion 16 supported by the door 3, and provided with a cam lever 17 longitudinally projected to the opposite side of the gasket holder 12 from the hinge portion 16. And, the refrigerator body 5 has a cam portion 6 that faces the cam lever 17, so that the gaske rubber 13 and the gasket holder 12 can rotate around the hinge portion 16 when the door is opened, while contacting with the cam lever 17.

[11] Therefore, when the doors 3 are fully closed, the cam portion 18 of the cam lever 17 is kept mounted on the back side of the cam portion 6 of the refrigerator body 5. Then, when one of the doors 3 is opened, the cam lever 17 is released along with the door and rotates around the hinge portion 16 while a camp surface 18 of the cam lever 17 passes through the cam portion 6 of the refrigerator body 5. Simultaneously, the gasket holder 12 also rotates around the hinge portion 16. Thus, as the gasket 11' indicated by dotted line of FlG.3 is separated from the gasket 11 of the other door 3, only one door is opened.

[12] However, the thus-constructed device for separating a gasket of the refrigerator according to the conventional art is problematic in that since a variation in separation distance of the gaskets 11 is relatively smaller than a rotation angle of the cam lever 17 produced as the door 3 is opened, both gaskets 11 are not fully separated when opening either door 3 and accordingly, a door ajar condition occurs in which the other door is slightly opened along with either door.

[13] That is to say, referring to F1G.3, typically, the length H from the center of rotation, i.e., the hinge portion 16, to the cam lever 17 is greater than the length H from the hinge portion 16 to the gasket 11. Hence, var ations of the gasket 11 become smaller than variations of the cam lever 17 when opening the door. This leads to a problem that the gaskets and the magnetic bodies 14 provided within the gaskets 11 are not fully separated, or either door is opened in a state where a mutual attraction acts, thereby making the other door come out along with the either door to a certain extent.

[14] Moreover, because both gaskets 11 are not fully separated in the procedure of opening the door 3, the phenomenon that the gasket rubber 13 is deformed as it leans to one side, as shown in F1G.4, by an interaction between both magnetic bodies 14 whenever the door 3 is opened occurs over and over again. If the refrigerator is used for a long period of time in this state, the gasket rubber 13 is damaged and the life span of the gaskets is greatdly reduced.

[15] Especially, the gaskets 11 installed between both doors 3 are longitudinally formed and installed, and therefore in a case where the cam lever 17 and the cam portion 6 are installed only in the upper side of the door, their force are not sufficiently delivered to the entire part of the gaskets, including the bending of the gasket holder 12 and the like during the gasket separating procedure. Consequently, the gaskets are separated to a certain extent in the upper side, while the gaskest are not separated well in the lower side, thereby degrading the reliability of the gasket separation structure.

[16] Besides, due to these problems, in a case where the cam lever 12 and the cam portion 6 are formed in a plurlaity of positions, i.e., at upper and lower parts of the doors, the entire structure becomes complicated and a lot of cost is required. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[17] The present invention has been made in view of the problems mentioned above, and an object is to provided a device for separating a gasket of a refrigerator, which can minimize an interference with an opposite door and lengthen the lifespan of gaskets by clearly separating the gaskets by constructing the gaskets so as to be separated from the opposite door by pulling the gaskets from a hinge portion side when opening and closing the doors.

[18] Furthermore, another object of the present invention is to provide a device for separating a gasket of a refrigerator, which can minimize the exposure of a unit for pulling gaskets and improve the outer appearance of the central part of the refrigerator.

[19] Especially, another object of the present invention is to provide a device for separating a gasket of a refrigerator, which improves the reliability of a gasket separating operation by overally uniformly separating gaskets when the doors are opened or closed by constructing the gaskets longitudinaly formed so as to be simultaneously pulled from at least two locations. Technical Solution

[20] To accomplish the foregoing objects, there is provided a device for separating a gasket of a refrigerator according to the present invention, inclduing: a plurality of doors connected to a refrigerator body by a hinge portion; a gasket assembly installed at each of the doors, for sealing gaps between the doors; a connecting member at least two locations of which are connected to the gasket assembly; and a gasket operating mechanism for pulling the connecting member so that the gasket assembly is separated from the opposite door when the door are opend and closed, or for firmly attaching the gasket assembly to the opposite door when the doors are closed.

[21] The gasket operating mechanism includes: a pulling force generating mechanism for pulling the connecting member; and a return mechanism for providing a force in the direction of firmly attaching the plurality of gasket assemblies to each other.

[22] The gasket assembly includes: a gasket holder one end of which is rotatably provided at the doors and the other end of which is connected to the connecting member; and a gasket installed in front of the gasket holder and provided therein with a magnetic body.

[23] The return mechanism is comprised of an elastic member provided at the center of rotation of the gasket holder, for providing an elastic force.

[24] Alternately, the gasket assembly includes: a gasket holder provided at the doors so as to be movable in an inward direction of the doors; and a gasket installed in front of the gasket holder and provided therein with a magnetic body. [25] The doors have a guide for guiding the gasket assembly to be moved.

[26] The return mechanism is comprised of an elastic member supported by the doors, for providing an elastic force at the back of the gasket holder. [27] The connecting member is comprised of a linear member.

[28] The linear member is connected in a zigzag patttern to the gasket assembly and the doors along the length of the gasket assembly. [29] Rollers or rings are provided at a connecting portion between the gasket assembly and the linear member and a connecting portion between the door and the linear member. [30] The pulling force generating mechanism is comprised of a winding motor hat is installed at one side of the doors and constructed so as to wind or unwind the linear member according to an external signal. [31] The winding motor is operated according to a signal of a sensor mechanism for sensing the opening and closing of the doors. [32] A handle is installed at the doors for opening and closing the doors, and the sensor mechanism is comprised of a touch switch provided at the door handle. [33] Alternately, the sensor mechanism may be comprised of a sensor installed between the doors and the refrigerator body, for generating a signal when the doors are opened and closed. [34] Besides, the sensor mechanism may be comprised of a sensor installed between the plurlaity of doors, for generating signals according to the state of separation from the oppopsite door. [35] The sensor mechanism is comprised of a magnetic sensor for generating signals as a magnet moves according to an interval between the magnet and the opposite member. [36] The pulling force generating mechanism includes a limit switch for limiting the winding operation or unwinding operation of the winding motor. Preferably, the limit switch is comprised of a hole sensor provided at the doors, for sensing a movement state of the gasket assembly. [37] On the other hand, unlike above, the pulling force generating mechanism may be constructed so as to generate a pulling force by an interference between the doors and the refrigerator body during opening and closing of the doors. [38] The pulling force generating mechanism includes: a cam member provided at the refrigerator body; and a pull lever connecting from the doors to the connecting member and pulling the connecting member while performing a relative movement in contact with the cam member when the doors are opened and closed. [39] The pull lever is provided with rollers at the contact portion with the cam meber. [40] The connecting member is comprised of a linear member.

[41] Alternately, the connecting member may include: a link member relatively rotatably connected to the pulling force generating mechanism and one part of the gasket assembly; and a linear member connected to other part of the gasket assembly from the link member.

[42] The link member is connected to one end of the gasket assembly, and the linear member is connected to at least the other end of the gasket assembly.

[43]

Advantageous Effects

[44] The thus-constructed gasket separation device for a refrigerator according to the present invention is advantageous in that gaskets can be more clearly separated by increasing a displacement at which the gaskets are separated by constructing the gaskets so as to be separated by pulling the gasket not from the central part of the doors but from the hinge portion side of the doors, and accordingly an interference with an opposite door during opening and closing of the doors can be minimized to open and close the doors more easily and the lifespan of the gaskets can be lengthened.

[45] Furthermore, the present invention is advantageous in that since the gasket separation device is constructed inside the doors in most cases and the gasket separation device is located not at the central part of the doors but at the hinge portion side thereof because of an interfeference between the door and the refrigerator body, the exposure of the parts causes damage to the parts and deteriorates the outer appearance.

[46] Especially, the present invention is advantageous in that the reliability of a gasket separating operation is improved by overally uniformly separating the gaskets when the doors are opened or closed by constructing the gaskets longitudinaly formed so as to be simultaneously pulled from at least two locations. Brief Description of the Drawings

[47] FIG.1 is a view illustrating a french type refrigerator;

[48] FIG.2 is a front view illustrating an opened state of the french type refrigerator with a gasket separation device according to the conventional art;

[49] FIG.3 is a plane cross sectional view of an essential part illustrating the gasket separation device according to the conventional art;

[50] FIG.4 is a detailed view illustrating a deformed state of gaskets during opening of doors according to the conventional art;

[51] FIG.5 is a front view of a closed state of a refrigerator with a gasket separation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[52] FIG.6 is a front view of an opened state of a refrigerator with a gasket separation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[53] F1G.7 is a schematic perspective view of either door illustrating the gasket separation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[54] F1G.8 is a plane view of an essential part of the refrigerator with the gasket separation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[55] FIGS.9 and 10 are schematic views for explaining an operating state of the gasket separation device according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

[56] FlG.11 is a graph of the operation of a touch switch used in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[57] FlG.12 is a plane view of an essential part of a refrigerator with a gasket separation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

[58] FlG.13 is a plane view of an essential part of a refrigerator with a gasket separation device according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

[59] FlG.14 is a plane view of an essential part of a refrigerator with a gasket separation device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[60] FIGS.15 and 16 are schematic views for explaining an operating state of the gasket separation device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

[61] FlG.17 is a schematic perspective view of one door illustrating a gasket separation device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention;

[62] FlG.18 is a plane view of an essential part of a refrigerator with a gasket separation device according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

[63] FlG.19 is a schematic perspectivie view of one door illustrating a gasket separation device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention; and

[64] F1G.20 is a plane view of an essential part of a refrigerator with a gasket separation device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[65] Hereinafater, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[66] For reference, the present invention is applicable to a two-door opening type refrigerator although either freezing chamber or chilling chamber is not provided, and also applicable to a refrigerator both doors of which are opened in a vertical direction as well as a refrigerator both doors of which are opened in a bilateral direction. Accordingly, it is needless to say that the present invention is applicable to every refrigerator having a side gasket assembly installed at facing portions of both doors, the gasket assembly being fimrly attached to the opposite door for sealing gaps between the doors.

[67] The embodiments of the present invention will be described with respect to a french type refrigerator which is provided with two doors at one chilling chamber and made openable in a bilateral direction.

[68] FIGS.5 to 11 are views illustrating a first embodiment of a gasket separation device according to the present invention. F1G.5 is a front view of an opened state of a refrigerator. F1G.6 is a front view of a closed state of the refrigerator. F1G.7 is a schematic perspective view of either door. F1G.8 is a plane view of an essential part of the refrigerator. FIGS .9 and 10 are graphs for explaining an operating state of the gasket separation device. FlG.11 is a graph for explaining an operating state of a touch switch.

[69] As illustrated in FIGS.5 and 6, a freezing chamber 31 is located in the lower side, and a chilling chamber 32 with two doors 35L and 35R is located in the upper side.

[70] Both of the doors 35L and 35R are constructed so as to be connected to a refrigerator body 40 by a hinge portion 45 for opening and closing the chilling chamber 32 in a swinging manner, and are provided with a handle 38 on a front surface.

[71] Gaskets 37 are installed at the top, bottom, left and right of the doors 35L and 35R so that they are firmly attached to the refrigerator body 40 and the cold air in the refrigerator is kept from leaking out.

[72] Especially, sine no partition wall or refrigerator body 40 exists on the facing portions of both doors 35L and 35R, a gasket assembly 50 isinstalled thereon which is firmly attached to the opposite door and seals gaps between the doors 35L and 35R.

[73] Referring to FIGS .7 and 8, the gasket assembly 50 includes a gasket holder 51 installed at a lateral side of the doors 35L and 35R, a gasket 53 installed in front of the gasket holder 51 and firmly attached to the gasket of the opposite door, and a magnetic body 55 provided within the gasket 53, for generating magnetism so as to be firmly attached to the gasket 53 of the opposite door 35L and 35R.

[74] Particularly, the gasket assembly 50 seals the inside of the chilling chamber 32, being firmly attached to the side gasket assembly 50 of the opposite door, so it moves along the doors 35L and 35R as it is swept by the gasket assembly at the opposite side when the doors 35L and 35R swing open and closed.

[75] Therefore, in order to minimize the phenomenon that both of the gasket assemblies

50 are opened, firmly attached to each other, the present invention provides a device for isolating both gasket assemblies 50 by operating a winding motor 71 to be described later as a touch switch 80 provided at the handle 80 is operated when a user opens and closes the doors 35L and 35R, holding the handle.

[76] First, in the gasket assembly 50, a gasket holder 51 is rotatably installed at the doors

35L and 35R. That is, the gasket holder 51 is installed at the doors 35L and 35R through a rotational axis 57. Preferably, the rotational axis 57 is installed at a position spaced as far apart as possible from the portion where the magnetic body 55 is installed so that the displacement of separation of the main attachment portion of the gasket 53 becomes larger.

[77] Typically, the gasket assembly 50 is longitudinally disposed in a vertical direction at a lateral side of the door facing the opposite door. Therefore, the gasket assembly 50 is provided with a connecting member 60 at least two locations of which are connected to the gasket holder 51 so as to pull the entire gasket assembly 50 by a uniform force during opening and closing of the doors 35, and in addition, provided with a gasket operating mechanism for pulling the connecting member 60 so as to separate the gasket assembly 50 from the opposite door when the doors 35 swing open and closed, or for firmly attachingi the gasket assembly 50 to the opposite door when the doors are closed.

[78] The connecting member 60 is comprised of a linear member 61, such as a typical wire, rope, etc., and a plurality of rollers 65 are installed at the back of the gasket holder 51 so that the linear member 61 is connected thereto at regular intervals in a vertical direction.

[79] Further, the doors 35 have a door holder 67 longitudinally provided at the back of the gasket holder 51 in a vertical direction, and a plurlaity of rollers 68 are installed at the door holder 67 so that the linear member 61 is connected thereto at regular intervals.

[80] Particularly, the linear member 61 is connected in a zigzag pattern to the gasket holder 51 and the door holder 67 along the length of the gasket assembly 50. As a result, the rollers 65 at the gasket holder 51 side and the rollers 68 at the door holder 67 side are arranged in an alternating pattern, starting from the upper side, in the direction in which they face each other.

[81] Of course, it is also possible that rings or the like, in place of the rollers 65 and 68, that the linear member 61 passes through are installed at the gasket holder 51 and the door holder 67.

[82] It is preferred that such a linear member 61 is connected right at the back of the portion where the magnetic body 51 is located, which is as far as possible from the rotational axis 57 of the gasket holder 51.

[83] The gasket operating mechanism includes a return mechanism for providing a force in the direction of firmly attaching the gasket assemblies to each other and a pulling force generating mechanism 70 for pulling the linear member 61 so that the gasket 53 is separated from the opposite gasket 53 when the doors swing open and closed.

[84] The return mechanism is comprised of an elastic member 59 of a typical spring structure provided at the rotational axis 57 of the gasket holder 51, for providing a force opposite to the pulling force of the pulling force generating mechanism 70. That is, the elastic member 59 provides a force for allowing the gaskets 53 of both doors 35L and 35R to be firmly attached to each other.

[85] The pulling force generating mechanism 70 is comprised of a winding motor 71 that is installed at one side of the doors 35 and constructed so as to wind or unwind the linear member 61 according to an external signal.

[86] The winding motor is preferably provided within a door cap 36 provided on the upper end of the doors, but not limited thereto and any available locations, including the upper or lower end parts of the doors 35, the inside of the doors, etc. may be possible.

[87] The winding motor 71 is provided with a winding reel 72 for winding the linear member 61.

[88] The winding motor 71 is constructed so as to separate the gasket assemblies 50 as it is automatically operated according to a signal of a sensor mechanism sensing the opening and closing of the doors. Thus, it is preferred that the sensor mechanism is comprised of a touch switch 80 provided at the door handle 38.

[89] The touch switch 80 is a switch used for a general inverter stand or the like. The switch is made of a metal plate. Thus, with a voltage continuously applied, if the user touches his or her hand onto the switch in order to open and close the doors, the voltage changes as illustrated in FlG.11 to thus perform a switch operation.

[90] Besides the touch switch 80, it is also possible to use a variety of well-known switches or sensors, such as a button switch, for determining whether the user has the intention of opening and closing the doors, holding the door handle 38.

[91] On the other hand, a limit switch 75 for limiting the winding operation or unwinding operation of the winding motor 71 is provided between the gasket holder 71 and the door holder 67. The limit switch 75 is preferably comprised of a hole sensor for sensing a movement state of the gasket assembly 50.

[92] The hole sensor is made by using a well-known magnetic sensor, which is constructed so as to output signals to the winding motor 71 by detecting a magnetic field according to the approximity of the gasket assembly 50, and whicih may be installed in plural number between the gasket holder 51 and the door holder 67. Besides the hole sensor, various kinds of sensors including an optical sensor can be used.

[93] The operation of the first embdoiment of the thus-constructed gasket separation device according to the present invention will be described below.

[94] When both doors 35L and 35R of the refrigerator are in a closed state, one of the gaskets 53 is firmly attached to the opposite gasket 53 by an elastic force applied from the elastic member 59 of the gasket holder 51, thereby sealing the inside of the chilling chamber 32.

[95] At this time, as shown in F1G.9, the linear member 61 remains unwounded from the winding reel 72, thus the gasket holder 51 and the door holder 67 are kept spaced apart at a predetermined distance.

[96] In this state, if the user holds the handle in order to open the door 35R, this is sensed by the touch switch 80. As the winding motor 71 is driven according to a signal of the touch switch 80, the linear member 61 is wound around the winding reel 72.

[97] Therefore, by the linear member 61 being wound around the winding reel 72, the linear member 61 connected at regular intervals to the gasket assembly 50 is pulled out so as to form an almost straight line as shown in FlG.10, and accordingly the gasket assembly 50 is spaced apart and separated from the opposite gasket assembly 50 at a predetermined distance ΔX.

[98] At this time, the limit switch 75 senses the gap between the gasket holder 51 and the door holder 67. Thus, when the gasket assembly 50 is pulled out more than a predetermined distance, the driving of the winding motor 71 is stopped according to a signal of the limist switch 75.

[99] As a result, the gasket 53 and magnetic body 55 that have been firmly attached to the gasket 53 of the opposite door 35L are opened along the door 35R, spaced apart from the gasket 53 and magnetic body 55 of the opposite door 35L and 35R.

[100] On the contrary, when the door 35R is closed, too, the user close the door, holding the handle. Thus, the gasket 53 is closed, being separated from the opposite gasket. After the door is fully closed, when the user takes his or her hand off the handle 38, the winding motor 71 is operated reversely or the operation of the motor is stopped, which allows one of the gaskets 53 to be firmly attached to the opposite gasket 53 by an elastic force applied from the elastic member 59 of the gasket holder 51, thereby sealing the inside of the chilling chamber 32.

[101] As above, when the door 35R is closed and opened, the winding motor 71 is operated according to a signal of the touch switch 80 to thus pull the linear member 61 and separate both of the gaskets 53. This enables the opening and closing operation of the door 35R, with the pulling force between both magnetic bodies 55 reduced and the sweeping between the gaskets 53 minimized.

[102] Espcially, the linear member 61 is connected at regular intervals in a vertical direction of the gasket assembly 50, thus overally uniformly pulling and moving the gasket assembly. Hence, upon opening the doors, the entire part of the gasket assembly 50 is completely separated from the opposite gasket assembly 50 vertically, thereby increasing the reliability of the gasket separating operation.

[103] Meanwhile, although the first embodiment of the present invention has been described with respect to an implementation structure in which the pulling force generating mechanism 70 is installed within the door cap 36 constituting the upper end of the doors 35L and 35R, the pulling force generating mechanism 70 may be installed not inside the doors 35L and 35R but outside the upper end thereof, and it also may be installed in the lower side of the doors 35L and 35R, which is a part 'X' of F1G.5.

[104] Further, the present invention is not limited to a structure in which if the user holds the handle 38 of either door and the touch switch 80 recognizes this, only the winding motor 71 of the either door is operated, but such a construction in which the winding motors 71 of both doors 35L and 35R are operated is also applicable.

[105] Hereinafter, second to sixth embodiments according to the present invention will be described. For reference, the same reference numerals will be used to refer to the same or like parts as those described in the first embodiment and any further explanation will be omitted.

[106] FIG.12 is a plane view of an essential part of a refrigerator with a gasket separation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[107] As illustrated therein, the basic construction of the gasket assembly 50, linear member 61, puling force generating mechanism 70, etc. of the gasket separation device of the second embodiment of the present invention is identical to the above described construction of the first embodiment.

[108] That is to say, in this embodiment, a magnetic switch 85 is used in place of the touch switch 80.

[109] The magnetic switch 85 is configured in the same or similar way as a well-known lead sensor or lead switch, which is a switch that is made of two very thin steel plates facing each other and turned ON and OFF by an external magnetic force.

[110] Such a magnetic switch 85 is comprised of a pair of a switch portion 86 and a magnetic portion 87. The switch portion 86 is installed in the side of a refrigerator body 40, and the magnetic portion 87 is installed in the side of doors 35. Since there are two doors, it is preferred that two pairs are installed, respectively, as shown in FIG.12.

[Ill] Preferably, the magnetic switch 85 is installed on the doors 35L and 35R and on the upper part of the refrigerator body 40, it may be installed at any other parts of the refrigerator if the opening and closing of the doors can be sensed according to implementation conditions.

[112] Consequently, when the user opens and closes either door, a signal is generated by an interaction between the magnetic portion 87 and switch portion 86 of the switch 85, thereby operating the winding motor 71.

[113] FIG.13 is a plane view of an essential part of a refrigerator with a gasket separation device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[114] As illustrated therein, the gasket separation device of the third embodiment of the present invention is similar in construction to that of the above described second embodiment, except for the installation position of a magnetic switch 85'. [115] In this embodiment, the magnetic switches 85' is installed in a pair between a door

35L and a door 35R.

[116] That is, since the magnetic switch 85' is comprised of a pair of a magnetic portion

87' and a switch portion 86', the magnetic portion 87' is installed at the one door 35R and and the switch portion 86' is installed at the other door 35L.

[117] Accordingly, in this embodimnet, the winding motor 71 can be operated by sensing the opening and closing of the doors by the relation with the opposite door 35L and 35R by means of one magnetic switch 85' without installing two magnetic switches 85 as in the above-described second embodiment.

[118] FIGS.14 to 16 are views illustrating a gasket separation device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which FlG.14 is a plane view of an essential part of a refrigerator, and FIGS.15 and 16 are schematic views for explaining an operating state of the gasket separation device.

[119] As illustrated therein, unlike the gasket assembly 50 of each of the above embodiments constructed so as to rotate around the rotational axis 57, the gasket separation device of the fourth embodiment of the present invention is comprised of a structure in which an entire gasket assembly 150 is separated while moving in inward and outward directions of doors 35L and 35R, and a pulling force generating mechanism 170 is comprised of not a winding motor 171 but a driving motor 171 using a rack 173 and a pinion 172.

[120] That is, a guide portion 156 for enabling the gasket assembly 150 to be horizontally movable is provided at a lateral side of the doors 35L and 35R, and an elastic member 157 for pulling the gasket assembly 150 in the direction of the opposite gasket assembly 150 is provided at the back of a gasket holder 151. Of couse, a stopper 167 for stopping the gasket holder 151 from escaping any further is formed on the guide portion 156.

[121] As in the above construction of the first embodiment, a linear member 61 is connected to the back of the gasket holder 151, and the linear member 61 is connected to the pulling force generating mechanism 170.

[122] The pulling force generating mechanism 170 is comprised of a driving motor 171 operable by various kinds of sensor mechanisms described in the above embodiments, a pinion 172 rotating by the driving motor 171, and a rack 173 engaged with the pinion 172 and pulling the linear member 61.

[123] Accordingly, in this embodiment, when the driving motor 171 is operated upon closing and opening of the doors, the rack 173 engaged with the pinion 172 separates both gasket assemblies 150 by pulling the linear member 61 while horizontally moving along a guide 175 of the rack 173 of the doors.

[124] Of couse, when the doors 35 are fully closed, the gasket assembly 150 moves in the direction of being firmly attached to the opposite gasket assembly 150 by an elastic force of an elastic member 157.

[125] FIGS.17 and 18 are views illustrating a gasket separation device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, in which FlG.17 is a schematic view of one of doors, and FlG.18 is a plane view of an essential part of a refrigerator.

[126] As illustrated therein, the gasket separation device of the fifth embodiment of the present invention does not employ the sensor mechanisms and motors used in the above embodiments, but is constructed so that a pulling force generating mechanism 270 separates a gasket assembly 50 by an interference between doors 35 and a refrigerator body 40 upon opening and closing the doors 35.

[127] That is, the pulling force generating mechanism 270 of this embodiment is constructed so as to pull the gasket assembly 50 through a connecting member 60 when the doors 35L and 35R are opened by an interaction with a member secured to the refrigerator body, i.e., a cam member 271.

[128] The pulling force generating mechanism includes a cam member 271 projected from the refrigerator body in the direction of the doors 35L and 35R and a pull lever 275 connecting from the doors 35L and 35R to the connecting member 60 and moving the connecting member 60 while performing a relative movement in contact with the cam member 271 when the doors 35L and 35Rare opened.

[129] With the cam surface 272 of the cam member 271 being projected from the refrigerator body 40 in the direction of a hinge portion 45, and the cam surface of the pull lever 275 being projected in the opposite direction of the cam surface 272 of the cam member 271, the pulling force generating mechanism 270 is constructed to generate a pulling force as the two cam surfaces are contacted with each other when the doors 35L and 35R opened and closed.

[130] Preferably, the cam surface of the pull lever 275 is comprised of a roller 276 so as to come into rolling contact with the cam surface 272 of the cam member 271.

[131] Further, the connecting member 60 includes a link member 261 relatively rotatably connected between the pull lever 275 and the gasket holder 51 and a linear member 262 connected to other part of the gasket assembly from the link member 261.

[132] Preferably, the link member 261 is connected to the upper end of the gasket holder

51, and the linear member 262 is connected to the lower end of the gasket holder 51, to which the link member 261 is not connected, in a zigzag pattern as in the first embodiment.

[133] The operation of the gasket separation device according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

[134] When both doors 35L and 35R of the refrigerator are in a closed state, the pull lever

275 is contacted with a lower part of the cam member 271, so one of the gaskets 53 is firmly attached to the opposite gasket 53 by an elastic force applied from the elastic member 59 of the gasket holder 51, thereby sealing the inside of the chilling chamber 32.

[135] In this state, if the user opens the door 35R, the roller 276 of the pull lever 275 moves along the cam surface 272 of the cam member 271. At this time, as the roller 276 passes through the peak of the cam surface 272, the maximu pulling displacement is generated, and as the pull lever 275 moves in the direction of the hinge portion 45 of the door 35R, the gasket holder 51 connected to the connecting member 60 overcomes the elastic force of the elastic member 59 and moves inside the door 35R.

[136] Therefore, the gasket 53 and magnetic body 55 firmly attached to the gasket 53 of the opposite door 35L are opened along with the door 35R, being spaced apart from the gasket 53 and magnetic body 55 of the opposite door 35R.

[137] On the contrary, when the door 35R is closed, the roller 276 of the pull lever 275 slides along the cam member 271. Thus, the gasket 53 is closed, spaced apart to a certain extent from the gasket 53 of the opposite door 35L right before the door 35R is fully closed.

[138] As a result, in this embodiment, when the door 35R is closed and opened, the gasket

53 is separated from the gasket 53 of the opposite door 35R by an interaction between the cam member 271 and the pull lever 275. This enables the opening and closing operation of the door 35R, with the pulling force between both magnetic bodies 55 reduced and the sweeping between the gaskets 53 minimized.

[139] Espcially, as explained in the above-described embodiments, the linear member 261 constituting the connecting member 60 is connected at regular intervals in a vertical direction of the gasket assembly 50, thus overally uniformly pulling the gasket assembly 50. Hence, upon opening the doors, the entire part of the gasket assembly 50 is completely separated from the opposite gasket assembly 50, thereby carrying out the gasket separating operation more reliably.

[140] Further, in this embodiment, the link member 261 is connected along with the linear member 262. Thus, even if the linear member 262 is loosened or damaged by a long time use, the basic gasket separating operation can be continuously performed.

[141] FIGS.19 and 20 are views illustrating a gasket separation device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG.19 is a schematic view of one of doors, and FIG.20 is a plane view of an essential part of a refrigerator.

[142] As illustrated therein, the gasket separation device of the sixth embodiment of the present invention is similar in construction to that of the fifth embodiment, except for the link member 60.

[143] That is, in this embodiment, no particular link member 261 is provided, but only a linear member 361 is connected to a pull lever of a pulling force generating mechanism.

[144] The method in which the linear member 361 is conencted to the gasket assembly 50 is the same as the connection method of the first embodiment, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[145] Consequently, as the displacement of the pull lever 275 is changed by an interaction between the pull lever 275 and the cam member 271 upon opening and closing doors, the gasket assembly 50 can be separated from the opposite door while the gasket holder 51 connected to the pull lever 275 by the linear member 361 rotate.

[146]

Industrial Applicability

[147] The thus-constructed and operated device for separating a gasket for a refrigerator according to the present invention is advantageous in that gaskets can be more clearly separated by increasing a displacement at which the gaskets are separated by constructing the gaskets so as to be separated by pulling the gaskets not from the central part of the doors but from the hinge portion side of the doors, and accordingly an interference with an opposite door during opening and closing of the doors can be minimized to open and close the doors more easily and the lifespan of the gaskets can be lengthened.

[148] Furthermore, the present invention is advantageous in that since the gasket separation device is constructed inside the doors in most cases and the gasket separation device is located not at the central part of the doors but at the hinge portion side thereof because of an interfeference between the door and the refrigerator body, the exposure of the parts causes damage to the parts and deteriorates the outer appearance.

[149] Especially, the present invention is advantageous in that the reliability of a gasket separating operation is improved by overally uniformly separating the gaskets when the doors are opened or closed by constructing the gaskets longitudinaly formed so as to be simultaneously pulled from at least two locations.

[150]

[151]

Claims

[1] A gasket separation device for a refrigerator, inclduing: a plurality of doors connected to a refrigerator body by a hinge portion; a gasket assembly installed at each of the doors, for sealing gaps between the doors; a connecting member at leat two locations of which are connected to the gasket assembly; and a gasket operating mechanism for pulling the connecting member so that the gasket assembly is separated from the opposite door when the door are opend and closed, or for firmly attaching the gasket assembly to the opposite door when the doors are closed.

[2] The gasket separation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gasket operating mechanism includes: a pulling force generating mechanism for pulling the connecting member; and a return mechanism for providing a force in the direction of firmly attaching the plurality of gasket assemblies to each other.

[3] The gasket separation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gasket assembly includes: a gasket holder one end of which is rotatably provided at the doors and the other end of which is connected to the connecting member; and a gasket installed in front of the gasket holder and provided therein with a magnetic body.

[4] The gasket separation device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the gasket operating mechanism includes: a pulling force generating mechanism for pulling the connecting member; and a return mechanism for providing a force in the direction of firmly attaching the plurality of gasket assemblies to each other, the return mechanism being comprised of an elastic member provided at the center of rotation of the gasket holder, for providing an elastic force.

[5] The gasket separation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gasket assembly includes: a gasket holder provided at the doors so as to be movable in an inward direction of the doors; and a gasket installed in front of the gasket holder and provided therein with a magnetic body.

[6] The gasket separation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gasket operating mechanism includes: a pulling force generating mechanism for pulling the connecting member; and a return mechanism for providing a force in the direction of firmly attaching the plurality of gasket assemblies to each other, the return mechanism being comprised of an elastic member supported by the doors, for providing an elastic force at the back of the gasket holder.

[7] The gasket separation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the connecting member is comprised of a linear member.

[8] The gasket separation device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the linear member is connected in a zigzag patttern to the gasket assembly and the doors along the length of the gasket assembly.

[9] The gasket separation device as claimed in claim 7, wherein rollers or rings are provided at a connecting portion between the gasket assembly and the linear member and a connecting portion between the door and the linear member.

[10] The gasket separation device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the gasket operating mechanism includes: a pulling force generating mechanism for pulling the connecting member; and a return mechanism for providing a force in the direction of firmly attaching the plurality of gasket assemblies to each other, the pulling force generating mechanism being comprised of a winding motor hat is installed at one side of the doors and constructed so as to wind or unwind the linear member according to an external signal.

[11] The gasket separation device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the winding motor is operated according to a signal of a sensor mechanism for sensing the opening and closing of the doors.

[12] The gasket separation device as claimed in claim 11, wherein a handle is installed at the doors for opening and closing the doors, and the sensor mechanism is comprised of a touch switch provided at the door handle.

[13] The gasket separation device as claimed in claim 11, wherein, the sensor mechanism is comprised of a sensor installed between the doors and the refrigerator body, for generating a signal when the doors are opened and closed.

[14] The gasket separation device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sensor mechanism is comprised of a sensor installed between the plurlaity of doors, for generating signals according to the state of separation from the oppopsite door.

[15] The gasket separation device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pulling force generating mechanism includes a limit switch for limiting the winding operation or unwinding operation of the winding motor.

[16] The gasket separation device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gasket operating mechanism includes: a pulling force generating mechanism for pulling the connecting member; and a return mechanism for providing a force in the direction of firmly attaching the plurality of gasket assemblies to each other, the pulling force generating mechanism being constructed so as to generate a pulling force by an interference between the doors and the refrigerator body during opening and closing of the doors.

[17] The gasket separation device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the pulling force generating mechanism includes: a cam member provided at the refrigerator body; and a pull lever connecting from the doors to the connecting member and pulling the connecting member while performing a relative movement in contact with the cam member when the doors are opened and closed. [18] The gasket separation device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the connecting member is comprised of a linear member. [19] The gasket separation device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the connecting member includes: a link member relatively rotatably connected to the pulling force generating mechanism and one part of the gasket assembly; and a linear member connected to other part of the gsket assembly from the link member. [20] The gasket separation device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the link member is connected to one end of the gasket assembly, and the linear member is connected to at least the other end of the gasket assembly.