WO2009113756A1

WO2009113756A1 - Open and close unit for door

Info

Publication number: WO2009113756A1
Application number: PCT/KR2008/005113
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hyeon Jung Kim
Original assignee: Dongwoo Precision Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2008-03-14
Filing date: 2008-09-01
Publication date: 2009-09-17
Also published as: JP5032675B2; JP2011513696A; CN101970959B; CN101970959A; KR100888167B1

Abstract

The present invention provides an open and close unit for a door, such as a home-bar door of a refrigerator. The open and close unit includes a rotating disk (200) which is rotatably provided in a frame (100) and is connected to a torsion spring. A hook catch (201) which releasably locks a hook provided on the door is formed in the rotating disk. A moving path (210) is formed in one surface of the rotating disk such that two rotations of the rotating disk form one cycle. The frame has a guide groove (110) at a position facing the moving path of the rotating disk. The open and close unit further includes a ball (300) which is provided in a space defined by the guide groove and the moving path. Thereby, the open and close unit according to the present invention can re¬ peatedly conduct an operation of opening and closing the door using the ball which moves along the moving path formed in a rotating disk.

Description

OPEN AND CLOSE UNIT FOR DOOR

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates, in general, to open and close units for doors, such as home-bar doors of refrigerators, and, more particularly, to an open and close unit for a door which can repeatedly conduct an operation of opening and closing the door using a ball which moves along a moving path formed in a rotating disk. Background Art

[2] Recently, refrigerators which have home bars provided in main doors to ensure convenience and economize electric power have gained in popularity. Such a home bar enables a user to take out a beverage or the like without having to open a main door. Typically, when the user pushes a home-bar door and releases it, the home-bar door is rotated forwards and is thus opened. To close the home-bar door, the user rotates the home-bar door in the reverse direction and pushes it.

[3] Several open and close units for such doors have been developed. A representative example of the conventional technique was proposed in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 416692 which was filed by the applicant of the present invention and entitled "DOOR LATCH UNIT FOR ELECTRIC APPLIANCES".

[4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the door latch unit according to the conventional technique. As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional door latch unit includes a main body which has therein an opening through which a latch hook provided on a door is inserted into or removed from the main body. The door latch unit further includes a latch which is installed so as to be rotatable by contacting with the latch hook, and which has a latch depression and a cam on the circumferential outer surface thereof. The door latch unit further includes a first elastic member which provides elastic force to the latch, and a guide lever which has a guide pin which moves along the cam and prevents the latch from undesirably rotating.

[5] As can be understood from the drawing and the description of elements, the door latch unit according to the conventional technique has a complex structure. Furthermore, the cam having a complex shape is formed on the circumferential outer surface of the latch. Therefore, a process of manufacturing the door latch unit is relatively difficult. In addition, because of the complex structure and difficulty in manufacture, the production cost is increased, with the result that the competitive power is reduced.

Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem [6] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an open and close unit for a door which has a simple structure and superior operability. Technical Solution

[7] In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides an open and close unit for a door, including: a rotating disk provided in a frame so as to be rotatable, the rotating disk having a hook catch therein and being connected to a torsion spring, the hook catch releasably locking a hook provided on the door, and a moving path formed in one surface of the rotating disk such that two rotations of the rotating disk form one cycle, the frame having a guide groove at a position facing the moving path of the rotating disk, the guide groove extending vertically; and a ball provided in a space defined by the guide groove and the moving path, wherein the hook is selectively locked to the hook catch.

[8] Preferably, the moving path may have two stop points at two predetermined positions. Each of the stop points may be lower than a neighboring portion of the moving path such that the ball stops at the stop point.

[9] Furthermore, the frame may include a first frame body having the guide groove therein, the guide groove having a linear shape; and a second frame body coupled to the first frame body, with a support shaft provided on the second frame body. The rotating disk may be rotatably provided on the support shaft.

[10] In addition, the first frame body may have a shaft support recess formed below the guide groove. An end of the support shaft may be inserted into the shaft support recess.

[11] The frame may further include a stopper protruding from an upper surface of the second frame body, and a stopper catch provided on an upper surface of the first frame body at a position corresponding to the stopper, so that the stopper is releasably locked to the stopper catch.

[12] The first and second frame bodies may be formed by injection molding.

[13] The guide groove may be integrally formed in the frame or be removably formed in the frame.

[14] The frame may be fastened at an end thereof to a mounting base having a hook insert hole, through which the hook provided on the door passes.

Advantageous Effects

[15] An open and close unit according to the present invention can be used in a home-bar door of a refrigerator or the like. The open and close unit of the present invention has a simple structure, thus reducing the production cost. Furthermore, because the open and close unit is operated using the rolling motion of a ball, the operability thereof is superior. In addition, compared to the conventional technique, noise, that is, a snap, is markedly reduced when the open and close unit is operated. Hence, the open and close unit of the present invention is predominant over competitive products. Brief Description of Drawings

[16] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a door latch unit, according to a conventional technique;

[17] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an open and close unit according to the present invention, illustrating the mounting of a frame to a mounting base;

[18] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the open and close unit of FIG. 2;

[19] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a rotating disk of the open and close unit according to the present invention; and

[20] FIG. 5 is of front views showing the operation of the rotating disk according to the present invention when a door is opened or closed.

[21] <Description of the elements in the drawings>

[22] 100 : frame 110 : guide groove

[23] 120 : shaft support recess 200 : rotating disk

[24] 210 : moving path 202 : shaft hole

[25] 201 : hook catch 300 : ball

[26] 100a : first frame body 100b: second frame body

[27] 130 : support shaft 140 : stopper

[28] 150 : stopper catch 400 : mounting base

[29] 410: hook insert hole SPl : first stop point

[30] SP2: second stop point

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

[31] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of an open and close unit for a door according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. The drawings show only one example which can be implemented by the technical spirit of the present invention, and those skilled in the art will appreciate that modifications, such as simple structural changes or substitutions of equivalent elements, fall within the bounds of the present invention.

[32]

[33] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an open and close unit according to the present invention, illustrating the mounting of a frame to a mounting base. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the open and close unit of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a rotating disk of the open and close unit. FIG. 5 is of front views showing the operation of the rotating disk when a door is opened or closed.

[34] As shown in the drawings, the open and close unit according to the present invention includes the rotating disk 200, a ball 300, the frame 100, a torsion spring (not shown) and a guide groove 110. The rotating disk 200, the ball 300 and the torsion spring are installed in the frame 100. The guide groove 110 may be integrally formed in the frame 100 or, alternatively, it may be formed by a separate part which is removably coupled to the frame 100.

[35] The open and close unit of the present invention is provided for installation of a door, for example, a home-bar door of a refrigerator. A hook H which is releasably locked to the open and close unit of the present invention is installed in the home-bar door. When the hook H is locked to a hook catch 201 of the rotating disk 200 which will be explained later, the home-bar door enters a locked state. When the hook H is released from the hook catch 201, the home-bar door enters an open state.

[36] In the open and close unit according to the present invention, the torsion spring (not shown) is connected to the rotating disk 200 such that an appropriate force can be applied to the rotating disk 200 by elastic force of the torsion spring. Therefore, the rotating disk 200 having the hook catch 201 is rotatable with respect to the frame 100. Particularly, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a moving path 210 which has a continuous shape is formed in one surface of the rotating disk 200. The guide groove 110 is formed in the frame 100 at a position facing the moving path 210. The ball 300 is disposed in a space which is defined by the moving path 210 and the guide groove 110. The ball 300 has a spherical shape. When the rotating disk 200 is rotated by force with which the hook H pushes the hook catch 201, the ball 300 rolls and moves along the moving path 210 and the guide groove 110. Here, when force is applied to the hook catch 201 of the rotating disk 200, the rotating disk 200 is rotated at a predetermined angle by reciprocal action between the guide groove 110, the moving patch 210 and the ball 300. When force is applied to the hook catch 201 of the rotating disk 200 once more, the rotating disk 200 is rotated in a reverse direction and returned to its original position. That is, because of the two operations of the rotating disk 200, the ball 300 completes one cycle along the moving path. At this time, the ball 300 moves upwards and downwards along the guide groove 110 of the frame 100.

[37]

[38] In more detail, the present invention will be explained with reference to the attached drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment.

[39] In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in the drawings, the frame 100 comprises two bodies which are removably coupled to each other. The two bodies of the frame 100 are respectively called a first frame body 100a and a second frame body 100b. However, unlike the preferred embodiment, the frame 100 may be formed into a single body.

[40] The rotating disk 200, the torsion spring (not shown) and the ball 300 are installed in a space which is defined by the coupling of the first frame body 100a and the second frame body 100b. The guide groove 110 is formed in the inner surface of the first frame body 100a. The guide groove 110 is linear and extends a predetermined length upwards and downwards. Preferably, a shaft support recess 120 is formed below the guide groove 110. In the embodiment, although the guide groove 110 has been illustrated as being integrally formed in the first frame body 100a by injection molding, a part having the guide groove 110 may be separately manufactured and be removably coupled to the first frame body 100a. The shaft support recess 120 functions to support an end of a support shaft 130 which is provided on the second frame body 100b and inserted into the shaft support recess 120.

[41] The second frame body 100b is coupled to the first frame body 100a. The support shaft 130, over which the rotating disk 200 is rotatably fitted, protrudes from the inner surface of the second frame body 100b. The end of the support shaft 130 is fitted into the shaft support recess 120 of the first frame body 100a. Furthermore, the torsion spring is fitted over the support shaft 130 before the rotating disk 200 is fitted over the support shaft 130. The torsion spring is also coupled to the rotating disk 200. When force is applied once more to the rotating disk 200 which has been rotated a predetermined angle by external force, the rotating disk 200 can be returned to its original position by restoring force of the torsion spring.

[42] It is preferable that the first frame body 100a and the second frame body 100b constituting the frame 100 be formed by separate processes and assembled with each other. Here, the first frame body 100a and the second frame body 100b are preferably formed by injection molding. In addition, to assemble the first frame body 100a to the second frame body 100b, a stopper 140 is provided on the second frame body 100b, and a stopper catch 150 corresponding to the stopper 140 is provided on the first frame body 100a. Thus, the first frame body 100a is coupled to or separated from the second frame body 100b by coupling or separation between the stopper 140 and the stopper catch 150. In detail, in this embodiment, stoppers 140 are provided on the opposite ends of the upper surface of the second frame body 100b, and stopper catches 150 are provided on the upper surface of the first frame body 100a at positions corresponding to the respective stoppers 140. Each stopper 140 has an inclined surface. Each stopper catch 150 crosses over the inclined surface of the corresponding stopper 140 and then is locked to the stopper 140.

[43] Next, the rotating disk 200 which is installed in the frame 100 will be explained in detail. A shaft hole 202 through which the support shaft 130 of the second frame body 100b is inserted is formed through the rotating disk 200. And the hook catch 201 to which the hook H is removably locked is provided on the rotating disk 200. Particularly, the moving path 210 is formed in one surface of the rotating disk 200, in detail, in the surface facing the first frame body 100a. The moving path 210 is a closed path which has a predetermined width and is partially varied in depth. A predetermined space is defined by the coupling between the guide groove 110 and the moving path 210. The spherical ball 300 is provided in the space defined by the coupling between the guide groove 110 and the moving path 210. When the rotating disk 200 rotates, the ball 300 moves along the moving path 210 in a repeating cycle and simultaneously linearly moves along the guide groove 110 upwards and downwards.

[44] That is, a range within which the rotating disk 200 rotates is limited by the relationship between the moving path 210 and the guide groove 110. Furthermore, the rotating disk 200 is converted between the open state and the closed state by external force (with which the hook pushes it). For this, two stop points SP are formed in the moving path 210. The two stop points SP are lower than neighboring portions of the moving path 210, so that when the ball 300 enters each stop point SP, the ball 300 naturally stops. For the sake of description, the two stop points SP are respectively called a first stop point SPl and a second stop point SP2. The first stop point SPl is the point at which the ball 300 is stopped when the door enters an open state. The second stop point SP2 is the point at which the ball 300 is stopped when the door enters a closed state. From the open state of the door in which the ball 300 is initially disposed at the first stop point SPl, when external force is applied to the rotating disk 200, the ball 300 is moved to and stopped at the second stop point SP2 by the rotation of the rotating disk 200. When external force is applied to the rotating disk 200 once more, the ball 300 leaves the second stop point SP2 and moves to the first stop point SPl again, so that the rotating disk 200 is returned to its initial position.

[45] Furthermore, when the rotating disk 200 rotates, the ball 300 linearly moves along the guide groove 110 upwards or downwards. Here, when the ball 300 is disposed at the first stop point SPl of the moving path 210, the ball 300 is positioned at the uppermost end of the guide groove 110. When the ball 300 is disposed at the second stop point SP2, the ball 300 is positioned at the lowermost end of the guide groove 110.

[46]

[47] Meanwhile, preferably, the open and close unit of the present invention is installed in such a way as to mount the frame 100 to a mounting base 400. In detail, as shown I FIG. 2, a hook insert hole 410 is formed in the mounting base 400, so that the hook H provided on the door is inserted into the hook insert hole 410. The open and close unit is coupled to the mounting base 400 such that the hook catch 201 of the rotating disk 200 is disposed at a position corresponding to the hook insert hole 410 and oriented at an inclined angle.

[48] To couple the frame 100 to the mounting base 400, a bolt hole 101 is formed through a first end of the second frame body 100b, and a U-shaped support notch 102 is formed in a second end of the second frame body 100b. In addition, preferably, a U-shaped support notch 102 is also formed in one end of the first frame body 100a such that it can be fastened to the mounting base 400. A bolt insert protrusion 420 is provided on the mounting base 400 at a position corresponding to the bolt hole 101. Two support blocks 430 corresponding to the respective support notches 102 are provided on the mounting base 400 at positions opposite the bolt insert protrusion 420.

[49]

[50] The open and close unit for doors according to the present invention can be used not only in the home -bar door of the refrigerator but also in various other electric home appliances or the like having doors. Particularly, the open and close unit of the present invention is advantageous in that the assemblability is superior and the maintenance or repair work is easy, because the frame comprises the two frame bodies which are separably coupled to each other. Moreover, in the present invention, the rotating disk is operated using reciprocal action between the moving path, the guide groove and the ball which rolls along the moving path and the guide groove. Therefore, the open and close unit according to the present invention can be smoothly operated without causing any noise and have a compact structure thanks to having a minimized number of elements. Industrial Applicability

[51] As described above, an open and close unit according to the present invention can be used as a means for opening and closing a door not only for a refrigerator but also for various electric appliances. Therefore, the present invention can substitute for existing products and wide use is expected.

Claims

[1] An open and close unit for a door, comprising: a rotating disk provided in a frame so as to be rotatable, the rotating disk having a hook catch therein and being connected to a torsion spring, the hook catch re- leasably locking a hook provided on the door, and a moving path formed in one surface of the rotating disk such that two rotations of the rotating disk form one cycle, the frame having a guide groove at a position facing the moving path of the rotating disk, the guide groove extending vertically; and a ball provided in a space defined by the guide groove and the moving path, wherein the hook is selectively locked to the hook catch.

[2] The open and close unit according to claim 1, wherein the moving path has two stop points at two predetermined positions, wherein each of the stop points is lower than a neighboring portion of the moving path such that the ball stops at the stop point.

[3] The open and close unit according to claim 2, wherein the frame comprises: a first frame body having the guide groove therein, the guide groove having a linear shape; and a second frame body coupled to the first frame body, with a support shaft provided on the second frame body, wherein the rotating disk is rotatably provided on the support shaft.

[4] The open and close unit according to claim 3, wherein the first frame body has a shaft support recess formed below the guide groove, wherein an end of the support shaft is inserted into the shaft support recess.

[5] The open and close unit according to claim 4, wherein the frame further comprises a stopper protruding from an upper surface of the second frame body, and a stopper catch provided on an upper surface of the first frame body at a position corresponding to the stopper, so that the stopper is releasably locked to the stopper catch.

[6] The open and close unit according to any one of claims 3 through 5, wherein the first and second frame bodies are formed by injection molding.

[7] The open and close unit according to any one of claims 1 through 5, wherein the guide groove is integrally formed in the frame or is removably formed in the frame.

[8] The open and close unit according to any one of claims 1 through 5, wherein the frame is fastened at an end thereof to a mounting base having a hook insert hole, through which the hook provided on the door passes.