WO2022265254A1

WO2022265254A1 - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: WO2022265254A1
Application number: PCT/KR2022/007545
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jihyun Lee; Kyukwan Choi; Minsub Kim; Hangbok Lee; Sungkyong Han; Yezo Yun
Original assignee: Lg Electronics Inc.
Priority date: 2021-06-16
Filing date: 2022-05-27
Publication date: 2022-12-22
Also published as: KR20220168314A

Abstract

A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage space, a main door configured to open and close the storage space and including an opening and a door storage portion, a sub door configured to open and close the opening of the main door, a handle provided on the sub door, a locking device provided on the sub door so that the main door and the sub door are in a lock state, and a manipulation portion movably provided on the sub door and configured to manipulate the locking device so that the main door and the sub door are in an unlocked state. The manipulation portion is spaced apart from a surface of the handle, which faces the sub door.

Description

REFRIGERATOR

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator.

In general, refrigerators are home appliances for storing foods at low temperature in an inner storage space covered by a refrigerator door. Here, the inside of the storage space is cooled using cool air that is generated by being heat-exchanged with a refrigerant circulated in a refrigeration cycle to store the foods in an optimal state.

The refrigerator tends to increase in size more and more, and multi-functions are provided to the refrigerator as dietary life changes and pursues high quality, and accordingly, refrigerators of various structures in consideration of user convenience are, brought to the market.

Korean Patent Publication No. 10-1942416, which is a prior art document, discloses a device for opening and closing a door of a refrigerator.

The device for opening and closing the door according to the prior art document includes a cabinet having a storage space, a main door configured to open and close the storage space and having a door storage space, a sub door configured to open and close the door storage space, a restriction device protruding from a rear surface of the sub door, a latch device configured to accommodate and selectively restrict the restriction device, and a manipulation device provided on the sub door to release the restriction of the latch device and restriction device due to a ressing operation by a user.

A handle is provided on the sub door. The handle includes a handle bar extending vertically to be held by the user, a pair of handle mounting portions coupled to the sub door at both ends of the handle bar so that the handle bar is fixed in a state of being spaced apart from a front surface of the sub door, and a handle connection portion configured to connect the handle to the sub door between the pair of handle mounting portions.

A button constituting a manipulation device is provided on a front surface of the handle, and a first push rod connected to the button passes through the handle connection portion to protrude and extend from the rear surface of the sub door.

According to this prior art document, there is a disadvantage of impairing user’s convenience because a portion that is not held by the user exists due to the handle connection portion configured to connect the handle to the front surface of the sub door, and there is a disadvantage of being complicated in structure of the handle itself by the handle connection portion.

In addition, in the case of the prior art document, since the user has to hold a lower side of the handle connection portion on the handle bar to manipulate the button, there is a disadvantage in that user's convenience for the button manipulation is low.

Embodiments provide a refrigerator in which an area, on which a handle is gripped to manipulate a manipulation portion, increases to improve user’s convenience.

Optionally or additionally, embodiments provide a refrigerator in which a manipulation portion is movably provided on a front surface of a sub door and is spaced apart from a handle to reduce possibility of interference between a manipulation portion and a user’s hand in a process of holding a handle when the manipulation portion does not intend to be manipulated.

Optionally or additionally, embodiments provide a refrigerator in which a manipulation portion is movably provided on a front surface of a sub door to simplify a structure of a handle and simplify assembly of the handle.

In one embodiment, a refrigerator may include a cabinet having a storage space. The refrigerator may further include a main door configured to open and close the storage space and including an opening. The refrigerator may further include a sub door configured to open and close the opening of the main door. The refrigerator may further include a handle provided on the sub door.

The refrigerator may further include a locking device provided on the sub door so that the main door and the sub door are in a lock state. The refrigerator may further include a manipulation portion movably provided on the sub door and configured to manipulate the locking device so that the main door and the sub door are in an unlocked state.

The manipulation portion is spaced apart from a surface of the handle, which faces the sub door.

The manipulation portion may be installed on the sub door so as to be movable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction in a manipulation standby state.

The first direction may be any one of an upward direction and a downward direction. The second direction may be the other one of the upward direction and the downward direction.

The main door may include a locking space and a hook protrusion provided in the locking space.

The locking device may include a locking member provided with a hook portion that is hooked with the hook protrusion so that the main door and the sub door are in the lock state. When the manipulation portion is manipulated in the first direction, the hooking of the locking member and the hook protrusion may be released.

When the manipulation portion is manipulated in the second direction, the hooking of the locking member and the hook protrusion may be released.

The locking device may include a movable member connected to the manipulation portion to allow the locking member to rotate in an unlocking direction when the manipulation portion is manipulated in the first direction. The locking device may further include a transmission member configured to receive manipulating force of the manipulation portion from the movable member and configured to allow the locking member to rotate in the unlocking direction when the manipulation portion is manipulated in the second direction.

The sub door may include an accommodation portion in which the locking device is accommodated. The movable member may be movable vertically in the accommodation portion.

The movable member may include a first guide portion. The accommodation portion may include a first guide groove in which the first guide portion is accommodated.

The locking device may further include a first elastic member configured to elastically support the locking member so that the locking member rotating in the unlocking direction returns to its original position.

The transmission member may include a first transmission member pushed by the movable member to rotate when the manipulation portion is manipulated in the second direction. The transmission member may further include a second transmission member configured to receive rotating force of the first transmission member to move vertically so that the locking member rotates in the unlocking direction.

The locking device may further include a second elastic member configured to elastically support the first transmission member so that the first transmission member pushed by the movable member to rotate returns to its original position.

The movable member may be disposed between the locking member and the first transmission member.

A portion of the second transmission member may be disposed between the locking member and the movable member.

The locking member may include a first member disposed at a rotation center. The locking member may further include a second member extending from one end of the first member.

The locking member may further include a third member which extends from the other end of the second member in a direction opposite to the second member. The hook portion may extend from the third member.

When the manipulation portion is manipulated in the first direction, the movable member may be configured to push the second member so that the locking member rotates in the unlocking direction.

When the manipulation portion is manipulated in the second direction, the second transmission member may be configured to push the second member so that the locking member rotates in the unlocking direction.

The sub door may include an accommodation portion in which the locking device is accommodated. The second transmission member may be movable vertically in the accommodation portion.

The second transmission member may include a second guide portion. The accommodation portion may include a second guide groove in which the second guide portion is accommodated.

The sub door may include a door frame comprising an accommodation portion in which the locking device is accommodated. A panel opening through which the locking device or the manipulation portion passes may be defined in a front panel configured to define an outer appearance of a front surface of the door frame.

In another embodiment, a refrigerator may include a cabinet having a storage space.

The refrigerator may further include a main door configured to open and close the storage space and including an opening. The refrigerator may further include a sub door configured to open and close the opening of the main door. The refrigerator may further include a locking device provided on the sub door so that the main door and the sub door are in a lock state.

The refrigerator may further include a manipulation portion movably provided on the sub door and configured to manipulate the locking device so that the main door and the sub door are in an unlocked state.

The locking device may include a locking member including a hook portion that is hooked with the hook protrusion provided on the main door so that the main door and the sub door are in the lock state.

When the manipulation portion is manipulated in the first direction and the second direction, the hooking of the locking member and the hook protrusion may be released.

The locking device may include a movable member connected to the manipulation portion to allow the locking member to rotate in an unlocking direction so that the hooking of the locking member and the hook protrusion is released when the manipulation portion is manipulated in the first direction. The locking device may further include a transmission member configured to receive manipulating force of the manipulation portion from the movable member and configured to allow the locking member to rotate in the unlocking direction when the manipulation portion is manipulated in the second direction.

The transmission member may include a first transmission member pushed by the movable member to rotate when the manipulation portion is manipulated in the second direction. The transmission member may include a second transmission member configured to receive rotating force of the first transmission member to move vertically so that the locking member rotates in the unlocking direction.

The locking device may further include an elastic member configured to elastically support the first transmission member so that the first transmission member pushed by the movable member to rotate returns to its original position.

The locking device may further include an elastic member configured to elastically support the locking member so that the locking member rotating in the unlocking direction returns to its original position.

According to the embodiments, when the user grips the door handle to manipulate the manipulation portion, the area on which the door handle is gripped may increase to improve the user’s convenience.

In addition, the manipulation portion may be movably provided on the front surface of the sub door and be spaced apart from the handle to reduce the possibility of interference between the manipulation portion and the user's hand in the process of holding the handle when the manipulation portion does not intend to be manipulated.

In addition, since the manipulation portion is provided on the sub door, there is no structure for manipulating the locking device on the door handle to simplify the structure of the door handle and easily assemble the door handle to the sub door.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the refrigerator according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a manipulation portion and a locking device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state in which the locking device is removed from a sub door in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a state in which the manipulation portion is manipulated in a first direction according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a state in which the manipulation portion is manipulated in a second direction according to an embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a state in which a sub door is opened in a state in which a main door is closed.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an operation of the locking device when the manipulation portion is manipulated in the first direction.

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an operation of the locking device when the manipulation portion is manipulated in the second direction.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that when components in the drawings are designated by reference numerals, the same components have the same reference numerals as far as possible even though the components are illustrated in different drawings. Further, in description of embodiments of the present disclosure, when it is determined that detailed descriptions of well-known configurations or functions disturb understanding of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the detailed descriptions will be omitted.

Also, in the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, the terms such as first, second, A, B, (a) and (b) may be used. The terms are merely used to distinguish the corresponding component from other components, and do not delimit an essence, an order or a sequence of the corresponding component. It should be understood that when one component is “connected”, “coupled” or “joined” to another component, the former may be directly connected or jointed to the latter or may be “connected”, coupled” or “joined” to the latter with a third component interposed therebetween.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment, and FIG. 1 is a side view of the refrigerator according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cutaway cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a manipulation portion and a locking device according to an embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state in which the locking device is removed from a sub door in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment may include a cabinet 10 having a storage space. The refrigerator 1 may further include a refrigerator door 20 that opens and closes the storage space.

Although not limited, the storage space may include a first space 11 and a second space 12 disposed in a left and right direction.

The refrigerator door 20 may include a first door 21 that opens and closes the first space 11 and a second door 22 that opens and closes the second space 12.

The first space 11 may be a freezing compartment, and the second space 12 may be a refrigerating compartment or vice versa. Alternatively, the storage space may be a single space, and a single refrigerator door may open and close the storage space.

At least one or more of the first door 21 and the second door 22 may be a rotation type door. Alternatively, the single refrigerator door 20 may be a rotation type door.

The first door 21 may be rotatably connected to the cabinet 10 by a hinge device. The first door 21 may include a door handle 31.

The second door 22 may be rotatably connected to the cabinet 10 by a hinge device.

The second door 22 may include a main door 22a. The second door 22b may further include a sub door 23 rotatable with respect to the main door 22a.

The main door 22a may include an opening 22c (see FIG. 7).

The main door 22a may further include a door storage portion 22b (see FIG. 7).

The sub door 23 may open and close the opening 22c. For example, when the main door 22a is closed, the sub door 23 may open the opening 22c so that a user accesses the door storage portion 22b.

The second door 22 may further include a door handle 32. The door handle 32 may be provided, for example, on a front surface of the sub door 23.

Although the structure in which the second door 22 includes the main door 22a and the sub door 23 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as an example, the first door 21 may include the main door 22a and the sub door 23.

Thus, hereinafter, the refrigerator door 20 will be described as including the main door 22a and the sub door 23.

The user may grip the door handle 32 to open the main door 22a. The user may grip the door handle 32 to open the sub door 23.

In this embodiment, the refrigerator door 20 may include a locking device 200 that locks the main door 22a and the sub door 23 to be in a locked state. The refrigerator door 20 may further include a manipulation portion 100 that releases the locked state due to the locking device 200.

The locked state of the main door 22a and the sub door 23 means a state in which the main door 22a is rotatable together with the sub door 23 fixed to the main door 22a by a locking member.

The unlocked state of the main door 22a and the sub door 23 means a state in which the sub door 23 is rotatable independently with respect to the main door 22a.

The locking device 200 may be provided on the sub door 23. The manipulation portion 100 may be movably provided on the front surface of the sub door 23.

For example, the door handle 32 may be connected in a vertical direction, and upper and lower ends of the door handle 32 may be connected to the front surface of the sub door 23. A central portion of the door handle 32 may be convex based on the front surface of the sub door 23.

The door handle 32 may include a rounded front surface 322. The door handle 32 may further include a rounded rear surface 321.

The rounded rear surface 321 may face the front surface of the sub door 23 and may be spaced apart from the front surface of the sub door 23.

The manipulation portion 100 may be disposed to protrude from the front surface of the sub door 23 toward the rounded rear surface 321. The manipulation portion 100 may be spaced apart from the rounded rear surface 321. Here, a gap between the rounded rear surface 321 and the manipulation portion 100 may be defined to a degree that a user's finger is capable of being positioned.

Thus, according to this embodiment, since the manipulation portion 100 is spaced apart from the door handle 32 in the state in which the manipulation portion 100 is movably provided on the front surface of the sub door 23, when there is no intention to manipulate the manipulation portion 100, possibility of interference between the manipulation portion 100 and the user's hand in a process of gripping the door handle 32 may be reduced.

Since the manipulation portion 100 is provided on the sub door 23, there are no structure for manipulating the locking device 200 on the door handle 32, and thus, the structure of the door handle may be simplified, and the door handle 32 may be easily assembled to the sub door 23.

The sub door 23 may include a door frame 51 having an insulating material therein. The insulating material may be formed by being cured after a foaming liquid is injected. Alternatively, a vacuum insulating material may be provided on the sub door 23.

The sub door 23 may include a sub opening. The sub opening may be covered by a panel assembly constituted by one or more panels. The one or more panels may be made of a glass material or a light-transmissive plastic material.

The panel assembly may include a front panel 70. The front panel 70 may form an outer appearance of the front surface of the sub door 23.

Alternatively, the sub door 23 may include the front panel 70 that defines an outer appearance of a front surface of the door frame 51 without including the sub opening.

In any case, the front panel 70 may be disposed on the front surface of the door frame 51.

The door frame 51 may include an accommodation portion 52 that accommodates the locking device 200.

The door frame 51 may include a first opening 53a and a second opening 53. The first opening 53a and the second opening 53 may communicate with the accommodation portion 52. The first opening 53a may be disposed on the front surface of the door frame 51. The second opening 53 may be disposed on the rear surface of the door frame 51. The second opening 53 may face the main door 22a.

The manipulation portion 100 may include a coupling body 102 coupled to the locking device 200. The manipulation portion 100 may include an outer body 101 surrounding the coupling body 102.

The coupling body 102 or the locking device 200 may pass through the front panel 70.

The front panel 70 may include a panel opening 72. The panel opening 72 may be aligned with the first opening 53a. The coupling body 102 may cover the panel opening 72. Since the outer body 101 surrounds the outside of the coupling body 102, the panel opening 72 may be covered by the manipulation portion 100 so as to be prevented from being exposed to the outside during the manipulation of the manipulation portion 100.

As another example, the manipulation portion 100 may be provided as a single body.

The panel opening 72 may not only allow the coupling body 102 or the locking device 200 to pass therethrough, but also allow the coupling body 102 or the locking device 200 passing through the panel opening 72 to be movable on the panel opening 72.

The locking device 200 may include a movable member 210 connected to the coupling body 102 to move together with the manipulation portion 100.

The movable member 210 may move, for example, in the vertical direction. Since the movable member 210 moves in the vertical direction, the movable member 210 may also be referred to as a sliding member.

The movable member 210 may include a moving body 211 extending in the vertical direction. The movable member 210 may further include a coupling portion 212 protruding from the moving body 211 toward the manipulation portion 100.

The coupling portion 212 may extend, for example, in a horizontal direction from the moving body 211. The coupling portion 212 may be coupled to the coupling body 102 by, for example, a coupling member.

For example, a structure in which the coupling portion 212 passes through the panel opening 72 so as to be coupled to the coupling body 102 is illustrated in FIG. 3. Alternatively, a portion of the coupling body 102 may be coupled to the coupling portion 212 after passing through the panel opening 72. Alternatively, the coupling portion 212 and a portion of the coupling body 102 may be coupled to each other in a state of being disposed in the panel opening 72.

A vertical length of the panel opening 72 may be greater than a vertical length of the coupling portion 212 so that the coupling portion 212 is vertically movable in the state in which the coupling portion 212 is disposed in the panel opening 72.

In this embodiment, a state in which external force is not applied to the manipulation portion 100 or a state in which the manipulation portion 100 is not manipulated may be referred to as a manipulation standby state of the manipulation portion 100.

In the manipulation standby state of the manipulation portion 100, the coupling portion 212 may be spaced apart from each of an upper end 72a and a lower end 72b of the panel opening 72.

In this embodiment, in the manipulation standby state of the manipulation portion 100, since the coupling portion 212 is spaced apart from each of the upper end 72a and the lower end 72b of the panel opening 72, the user may manipulate the manipulation portion 100 in a downward direction or in an upward direction. In this embodiment, the downward manipulation of the manipulation portion 100 may be referred to as first direction manipulation, and the upward manipulation may be referred to as second direction manipulation.

A first guide portion 214 may be provided on the movable member 210 so that the movable member 210 stably moves in the vertical direction. The first guide portion 214 may protrude from one surface or both surfaces of the moving body 211.

A first guide groove 61 that guides the vertical movement of the first guide portion 214 may be provided in the accommodation portion 52. A vertical length of the first guide groove 61 may be greater than a vertical length of the first guide portion 214.

The locking device 200 may further include a locking member 220 that is locked with or unlocked from the main door 20 by receiving manipulation force of the manipulation portion 100.

The locking member 220 may be rotatably installed, for example, in the accommodation portion 52. A first pin P1 may be coupled to the locking member 220. The first pin P1 may provide a rotation center of the locking member 220.

The first pin P1 may pass through a pin hole 225 of the locking member 220. A pin slot 63 to which the first pin P1 is coupled may be provided in the accommodation portion 52.

As another example, the first pin P1 may be integrated with the locking member 220.

The locking member 220 may include a hook portion 228. The hook portion 228 may protrude to a rear side of the sub door 23 through the second opening 53.

The main door 22a may include a main door opening 42a through which the locking member 220 protruding to the rear side of the sub door 23 passes.

The main door 22a may further include a locking space 42 in which the locking member 220 passing through the main door opening 42a is disposed.

The lock space 42 may include a recessed surface 41 and top and

bottom surfaces

42 and 43. A hook protrusion 44 that hooks the hook portion 228 thereon may be provided on the bottom surface 43.

The hook protrusion 44 may protrude upward from the bottom surface 43.

The hook protrusion 44 may be disposed between the recessed surface 41 and the main door opening 42a and may be spaced apart from the recessed surface 41. The hook protrusion 44 may be spaced apart from the top surface 42.

The hook protrusion 44 may include an inclined surface 44a. The inclined surface 44a may be inclined upward from the main door opening 42a toward the recessed surface 41.

When the sub door 23 is closed in the unlocked state of the sub door 23 and the main door 22a, the hook portion 228 may ascend along the inclined surface 44a and then pass through an upper end of the inclined surface 44a, and thus, the hook portion 228 may be hooked on the hook protrusion 44.

The locking member 220 may include a first member 222 connected to the first pin P1. The locking member 220 may further include a second member 224 extending from one end of the first member 222. The locking member 220 may further include a third member 226 extending from the other end of the first member 222.

A rotation center may be disposed at the first member 222. For example, the first member 222 may extend in the vertical direction.

The second member 224 may extend in a horizontal direction from a lower end of the first member 222. The second member 224 may extend toward the manipulation portion 100.

The third member 226 may extend in the horizontal direction from an upper end of the first member 222. The third member 226 may extend in a direction away from the manipulation portion 100. The hook portion 228 may be provided at an end of the third member 226.

That is, the second member 224 and the third member 226 may extend in a direction away from each other from the first member 222.

The second member 224 may be disposed below the movable member 210. The second member 224 may receive downward moving force of the movable member 210. Although not limited, the movable member 210 may be in contact with the top surface of the second member 224.

That is, in this embodiment, the movable member 210 may directly transmit the manipulation force of the manipulation portion 100 to the locking member 220 when the manipulation portion 100 is manipulated in the first direction.

When the movable member 210 moves downward, the second member 224 may move downward, and thus, the locking member 220 may rotate in a clockwise direction in FIG. 3. The clockwise direction referred to below may be understood to mean an unlocking direction of the locking member 220.

The locking device 200 may further include a first elastic member 250 elastically supporting the movable member 210.

The first elastic member 250 may elastically support the movable member 210 under the movable member 210. For example, the first elastic member 250 may be a coil spring. A first coupling groove 56 to which the first elastic member 250 is coupled may be defined in the accommodation portion 52.

When the manipulation force of the manipulation portion 100 is removed in the state in which the manipulation portion 100 is manipulated in the first direction so that the locking member 220 rotates in the clockwise direction, the locking member 220 rotates in a counterclockwise direction by the first elastic member 250.

The locking device 200 may further include a transmission member that transmits the moving force of the movable member 210 to the locking member 220 when the manipulation portion 100 is manipulated in the second direction.

The transmission member may include a first transmission member 230 that is in contact with the movable member 210 when the manipulation portion 100 is manipulated in the second direction.

The transmission member may further include a second transmission member 240 that transmits the upward moving force of the movable member 210 to the locking member 220.

At least a portion of the first transmission member 230 may be disposed above the movable member 210. The first transmission member 230 may include a hinge pin 232. The hinge pin 232 may extend from the first transmission member 230 to both sides. The hinge pin 232 may be integrated with the first transmission member 230 or may be coupled to the first transmission member 230.

The first transmission member 230 may rotate by the hinge pin 232. A pin groove 64 to which the hinge pin 232 is coupled may be provided in the accommodation portion 52.

The hinge pin 232 may be disposed at positions spaced apart from both ends of the first transmission member 230.

The second transmission member 240 may move by accommodating rotation force of the first transmission member 230. The second transmission member 240 may be movable, for example, in the vertical direction.

The second transmission member 240 may be disposed below the first transmission member 230 and may be spaced apart from the movable member 210 in the horizontal direction.

The second transmission member 240 may include a first portion 241 extending in the vertical direction. The second transmission member 240 may further include a second portion 242 extending in the horizontal direction from an upper end of the first portion 241. The second transmission member 240 may further include a third portion 243 extending upward from the second portion 242.

In the process of manipulating the manipulation portion 100 in the second direction, the movable member 210 may be in contact with one side with respect to the hinge pin 232 of the first transmission member 230. The second transmission member 240 (e.g., the third portion 243 ) may be in contact with the other side with respect to the hinge pin 232 of the first transmission member 230.

The first portion 241 may be disposed between the moving body 211 and the first member 222. The second portion 242 may be disposed above the third member 226.

The first portion 241 may be disposed above the second member 224. In the manipulation standby state of the manipulation portion 241, the first portion 241 may be seated on a top surface of the second member 224 or disposed adjacent to the top surface of the second member 224.

A second guide portion 246 may be provided on the second transmission member 240 to enable stable vertical movement of the second transmission member 240. The second guide portion 246 may protrude from, for example, one surface or both surfaces of the first portion 241.

A second guide groove 62 that guides the vertical movement of the second guide portion 246 may be provided in the accommodation portion 52. A vertical length of the second guide groove 62 may be greater than a vertical length of the second guide portion 246.

The locking device 200 may further include a second elastic member 260 elastically supporting the first transmission member 230.

The first elastic member 260 may elastically support the first transmission member 230 at an upper side of the first transmission member 230.

For example, the second elastic member 260 may be a coil spring. A second coupling groove 55 to which the second elastic member 260 is coupled may be defined in the accommodation portion 52.

The second elastic member 260 may be in contact with one side with respect to the hinge pin 232 of the first transmission member 230.

For example, one side of the first transmission member 230 may be disposed between the second elastic member 230 and the movable member 210. In the manipulation standby state of the manipulation portion 100, the movable member 210 and the second elastic member 260 may be in contact with the first transmission member 230.

When the manipulation force of the manipulation portion 100 is removed in the state in which the manipulation portion 100 is manipulated in the second direction, and the locking member 220 rotates in the clockwise direction, the first transmission member 230 may return to its original position by the elastic force of the second elastic member 260.

Hereinafter, operations of the locking device according to the first direction and the second direction manipulation of the manipulation portion 100 will be described.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the state in which the manipulation portion is manipulated in the first direction according to an embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a state in which the manipulation portion is manipulated in the second direction according to an embodiment. FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a state in which the sub door is opened in a state in which the main door is closed.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an operation of the locking device when the manipulation portion is manipulated in the first direction, and FIG. 10 is a view illustrating an operation of the locking device when the manipulation portion is manipulated in the second direction.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 10, in this embodiment, the manipulation portion 100 protruding from the front surface of the sub door 23 is movable in the vertical direction.

Thus, when the user's finger is disposed above the manipulation portion 100 while the user grips the door handle 32, the user manipulates the manipulation portion 100 by using the finger (e.g., little finger) in the first direction that is the downward direction.

On the other hand, when the user's finger is disposed below the manipulation portion 100 while the user grips the door handle 32, the user may manipulate the manipulation portion 100 by using the finger (e.g., index finger) in the second direction that is the upward direction.

Referring to FIG. 9, when the manipulation portion 100 is manipulated in the first direction, the movable member 210 moves downward. When the movable member 210 moves in the downward direction, the movable member 210 pushes the second member 224 of the locking member 220 downward. As a result, the locking member 220 rotates in the clockwise direction to release the hooking between the hook portion 228 of the locking member 220 and the hook protrusion 44 of the main door 22a. Here, the first elastic member 250 may be contracted, and the second transmission member 240 may move downward by its own weight.

Thus, the hook portion 228 of the locking member 220 may be in a state of being capable of being withdrawn from the locking space 42 of the main door 22a, and when the sub door 23 rotates, the hook portion 228 of the locking member 220 may be withdrawn from the lock space 42.

When the first direction manipulation force of the manipulation portion 100 is removed, the locking member 220 may rotate in the clockwise direction by the elastic force of the first elastic member 250. When the locking member 220 rotates in the clockwise direction, the second transmission member 240 and the movable member 210 ascend.

Next, referring to FIG. 10, when the manipulation portion 100 is manipulated in the second direction, the movable member 210 moves upward. When the movable member 210 moves in the upward direction, the movable member 210 pushes one side of the first transmission member 230 upward, and the first transmission member 230 rotates in the counterclockwise direction in the drawings. Also, the second elastic member 260 may be contracted.

When the first transmission member 230 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, the other side of the first transmission member 230 pushes the second transmission member 240 downward. As a result, the second transmission member 240 moves downward so that the second transmission member 240 pushes the second member 224 of the locking member 220 downward. As a result, the locking member 220 rotates in the clockwise direction to release the hooking between the hook portion 228 of the locking member 220 and the hook protrusion 44 of the main door 22a. Thus, the hook portion 228 of the locking member 220 may be in a state of being capable of being withdrawn from the locking space 42 of the main door 22a, and when the sub door 23 rotates, the hook portion 228 of the locking member 220 may be withdrawn from the lock space 42.

When the second direction manipulation force of the manipulation portion 100 is removed, the first transmission member 230 may rotate in the clockwise direction by the elastic force of the second elastic member 260. When the first transmission member 230 rotates in the clockwise direction, the force pushing the second transmission member 240 is removed, and thus, the force pushing the second member 224 of the locking member 220 is also removed. As a result, the locking member 220 rotates in the counterclockwise direction by the elastic force of the first elastic member 250, and the second transmission member 240 ascends.

As described above, when the locking device 200 is manipulated by the manipulation of the manipulation portion 100, the main door 22a and the sub door 23 are in the unlocked state. When the sub door 23 rotates in this state, the sub door 23 may rotate so that the opening 22c of the main door 22a and the door storage portion 22b are exposed to the outside.

Claims

A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet having a storage space;

a main door configured to open and close the storage space and comprising an opening and a door storage portion;

a sub door configured to open and close the opening of the main door;

a handle provided on the sub door;

a locking device provided on the sub door so that the main door and the sub door are in a lock state; and

a manipulation portion movably provided on the sub door and configured to manipulate the locking device so that the main door and the sub door are in an unlocked state,

wherein the manipulation portion is spaced apart from a surface of the handle, which faces the sub door.
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the manipulation portion is installed on the sub door so as to be movable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction in a manipulation standby state.
The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the main door comprises a locking space and a hook protrusion provided in the locking space,

the locking device comprises a locking member provided with a hook portion that is hooked with the hook protrusion so that the main door and the sub door are in the lock state, and

when the manipulation portion is manipulated in the first direction and the second direction, the hooking of the locking member and the hook protrusion is released.
The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the locking device further comprises:

a movable member connected to the manipulation portion to allow the locking member to rotate in an unlocking direction when the manipulation portion is manipulated in the first direction, and

a transmission member configured to receive manipulating force of the manipulation portion from the movable member and configured to allow the locking member to rotate in the unlocking direction when the manipulation portion is manipulated in the second direction.
The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the sub door comprises an accommodation portion in which the locking device is accommodated,

the movable member is movable vertically in the accommodation portion, and

the movable member comprises a first guide portion, and the accommodation portion comprises a first guide groove in which the first guide portion is accommodated.
The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the locking device further comprises a first elastic member configured to elastically support the locking member so that the locking member rotating in the unlocking direction returns to its original position.
The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the transmission member comprises:

a first transmission member pushed by the movable member to rotate when the manipulation portion is manipulated in the second direction; and

a second transmission member configured to receive rotating force of the first transmission member to move vertically so that the locking member rotates in the unlocking direction.
The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the locking device further comprises a second elastic member configured to elastically support the first transmission member so that the first transmission member pushed by the movable member to rotate returns to its original position.
The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the movable member is disposed between the locking member and the first transmission member.
The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein a portion of the second transmission member is disposed between the locking member and the movable member.
The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the locking member comprises:

a first member disposed at a rotation center;

a second member extending from one end of the first member; and

a third member which extends from the other end of the second member in a direction opposite to the second member,

wherein the hook portion extends from the third member.
The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein, when the manipulation portion is manipulated in the first direction, the movable member is configured to push the second member so that the locking member rotates in the unlocking direction, and

when the manipulation portion is manipulated in the second direction, the second transmission member is configured to push the second member so that the locking member rotates in the unlocking direction.
The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the sub door comprises an accommodation portion in which the locking device is accommodated,

the second transmission member is movable vertically in the accommodation portion, and

the second transmission member comprises a second guide portion, and the accommodation portion comprises a second guide groove in which the second guide portion is accommodated.
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the sub door comprises a door frame comprising an accommodation portion in which the locking device is accommodated, and

a panel opening through which the locking device or the manipulation portion passes is defined in a front panel configured to define an outer appearance of a front surface of the door frame.
A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet having a storage space;

a main door configured to open and close the storage space and comprising an opening;

a sub door configured to open and close the opening of the main door;

a handle provided on the sub door;

a locking device provided on the sub door so that the main door and the sub door are in a lock state; and

a manipulation portion movably provided on the sub door and configured to manipulate the locking device so that the main door and the sub door are in an unlocked state,

wherein the locking device comprises a locking member comprising a hook portion that is hooked with a hook protrusion provided on the main door so that the main door and the sub door are in the lock state,

the manipulation portion is installed on the sub door so as to be movable in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction in a manipulation standby state, and

when the manipulation portion is manipulated in the first direction and the second direction, the hooking of the locking member and the hook protrusion is released.
The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein the first direction is any one of an upward direction and a downward direction, and

the second direction is the other one of the upward direction and the downward direction.
The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein the locking device further comprises:

a movable member connected to the manipulation portion to allow the locking member to rotate in an unlocking direction so that the hooking of the locking member and the hook protrusion is released when the manipulation portion is manipulated in the first direction, and

a transmission member configured to receive manipulating force of the manipulation portion from the movable member and configured to allow the locking member to rotate in the unlocking direction when the manipulation portion is manipulated in the second direction.
The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein the transmission member comprises:

a first transmission member pushed by the movable member to rotate when the manipulation portion is manipulated in the second direction; and

a second transmission member configured to receive rotating force of the first transmission member to move vertically so that the locking member rotates in the unlocking direction.
The refrigerator according to claim 18, wherein the locking device further comprises an elastic member configured to elastically support the first transmission member so that the first transmission member pushed by the movable member to rotate returns to its original position.
The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein the locking device further comprises an elastic member configured to elastically support the locking member so that the locking member rotating in the unlocking direction returns to its original position.