Abstract:
A refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to define an exterior boundary of the refrigerator with at least one opening therein. The refrigerator also includes a first storage chamber defined by interior walls of the cabinet and configured to store food stuffs and a first door configured to open and close the first storage chamber by rotating about a rotational axis. The refrigerator further includes a second storage chamber that is smaller than the first storage chamber defined at a side of the first door, and that is configured to enable access to food stuffs while the first door remains closed and a second door, located in a predetermined portion of the first door, configured to open and close the second storage chamber by rotating the rotational axis, wherein a rotation direction of the second door is identical to the rotation direction of the first door. In addition, the refrigerator includes a rotational shaft coupled to an upper surface of second door to establish the rotational axis, a first connection member configured to connect the rotational shaft to the cabinet and a second connection member connected to the rotational shaft to the first door.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean Application No. 10-2009-0069026, filed on Jul. 28, 2009, which is herein expressly incorporated by reference in its entirely. 
       FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Refrigerators have at least one storage chamber for storing food stuffs and the storage chambers are selectively closed by doors. In general, such a storage chamber may be classified into a freezer chamber and a refrigerator chamber, and refrigerators may be classified into several types based on freezer/refrigerator chamber arrangement, door appearance or door closing structure. 
         [0004]    Typically, a predetermined space for preserving food stuffs is defined by a door. For example, a door basket having a predetermined space is provided in the door to preserve food stuffs contained in relatively tall containers, for example, bottles. A user opens the door to put or take the food stuffs into or out of the door basket defined in the door. That is, the door basket is accessible from an inner side of the door. Another type of food storage space provided in the door is a storage chamber commonly called as a home bar. Such the storage chamber, namely, a home bar, is provided in the door and it is accessible from an outer side of the door via an auxiliary door additionally provided in the door. That is, without opening the door, the user opens the auxiliary door to put or take in or out food stuffs provided in the door storage chamber. A structure of the refrigerator has been diversified and demands for improving user convenience of the refrigerator have been increased. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In one aspect, a refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to define an exterior boundary of the refrigerator with at least one opening therein. The refrigerator also includes a first storage chamber defined by interior walls of the cabinet and configured to store food stuffs and a first door configured to open and close the first storage chamber by rotating about a rotational axis. The refrigerator further includes a second storage chamber that is smaller than the first storage chamber defined at a side of the first door, and that is configured to enable access to food stuffs while the first door remains closed and a second door, located in a predetermined portion of the first door, configured to open and close the second storage chamber by rotating the rotational axis, wherein a rotation direction of the second door is identical to the rotation direction of the first door. In addition, the refrigerator includes a rotational shaft coupled to an upper surface of second door to establish the rotational axis, a first connection member configured to connect the rotational shaft to the cabinet; and a second connection member connected to the rotational shaft to the first door. 
         [0006]    Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the refrigerator further includes a recess means positioned on an upper surface of the first door. The refrigerator further includes a recess means positioned on the upper surface of the second door. The refrigerator further includes a projection means positioned in front of the recess of the second door and configured to be projected upward. The rotational shaft is positioned on the recess means of the second door. The first and second connecting members are configured to be a curved shape horizontally. The first and second connecting members are configured to be a curved shape horizontally toward an edge of the refrigerator. 
         [0007]    In some examples, the first and second connecting members positioned on the second door are configured to be a curved shape horizontally. The first member is configured to be a curved shape vertically. An appearance of the second door is corresponding to an appearance of the first door. A width of the second door is substantially identical to a width of the first door. 
         [0008]    In another aspect, a refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to define an exterior boundary of the refrigerator with at least one opening therein. The refrigerator also includes a first storage chamber defined by interior walls of the cabinet and configured to store food stuffs and a first door configured to open and close the first storage chamber by rotating about a first rotational axis. The refrigerator further includes a second storage chamber that is smaller than the first storage chamber defined at a side of the first door, and that is configured to enable access to food stuffs while the first door remains closed and a second door, located in a predetermined portion of the first door, configured to open and close the second storage chamber by rotating a second rotational axis, wherein a rotation direction of the second door is identical to the rotation direction of the first door. In addition, the refrigerator includes a first rotational shaft coupled to an upper surface of first door to establish the first rotational axis, a second rotational shaft coupled to an upper surface of first door to establish the second rotational axis, a first connection member configured to connect the rotational shaft to the cabinet and a second connection member connected to the rotational shaft and the second rotational shaft. 
         [0009]    Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the refrigerator further includes a recess means positioned on the upper surface of the first door. The first rotation shaft is positioned on the recess means of the first door. The refrigerator further includes a recess means positioned on the upper surface of the second door. The second rotation shaft is positioned on the recess means of the second door. 
         [0010]    In some examples, the refrigerator further includes a projection means positioned in front of the recess of the second door and configured to be projected upward. The second connecting member is configured to be a curved shape horizontally. The first connecting member is configured to be a curved shape horizontally toward an edge of the refrigerator. The second connecting member positioned on the second door is configured to be a curved shape horizontally. 
         [0011]    It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a refrigerator in a state of a first storage chamber being opened; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a view illustrating the refrigerator in a state of a second storage chamber being opened; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a longitudinal-sectional view of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a first door and a second door of the refrigerator, in a state of being opened; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a view illustrating a refrigerator; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a longitudinal-sectional view; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a view illustrating a refrigerator; 
           [0019]      FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  are views illustrating a door structure; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating a door structure; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a side-sectional view of  FIG. 9 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    Reference will now be made in detail to implementations, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
         [0023]    As follows, a refrigerator according to an exemplary implementations of the present disclosure will be described in reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0024]    In reference to  FIG. 1 , an overall structure of the refrigerator will be described. A side by side type refrigerator is embodied to describe the present disclosure as an example. 
         [0025]    A first storage chamber  12  is defined in a cabinet  10  of the refrigerator  1  to preserve food stuffs therein. The first storage chamber  12  may include a freezer chamber  12   b  and a refrigerator chamber  12   a.  According to a side-by-side type refrigerator, the freezer chamber  12   b  and the refrigerator chamber  12   a  are arranged horizontally, that is side by side. 
         [0026]    A first door  20  is defined in a front surface of the cabinet  10  to selectively open and close the first storage chamber  12 . A second storage chamber  40  is defined in the first door  20  to preserve food stuffs therein, and the second chamber  40  is selectively opened and closed by a second door  30 . 
         [0027]    Each of the above configurations will be described in detail as follows. 
         [0028]    The first storage chamber  12  defined in the cabinet  10  of the refrigerator  1  is partitioned into the freezer chamber  12   b  and the refrigerator chamber  12   a  by a partition wall  14 . Here, at least one shelf and drawer may be installed in the first storage chamber  12 . 
         [0029]    The second storage chamber  40  is defined in the first door  20 , and it has a predetermined space to preserve food stuffs. The second storage chamber  40  is configured to surround the predetermined defined space. That is, the second storage chamber  40  has the predetermined space positioned inside of the door  20  and it is accessible from an outside of the first door  20 . For example, the second storage chamber  40  is accessible through an inside of the first door  20 ,and the second storage chamber  40  is accessible via a second door  30  coupled to the outer surface of the first door  20 . Another type of storage space, for example, a door basket  25  may be defined in the inside of the first door  20 , different from the second storage chamber  40 . The door basket  25  is accessible from the inner side of the first door  20 . In this implementation, the door basket  25  is not accessible via the second door  30  and the door basket is accessible after the first door  20  is opened. 
         [0030]    In some examples, the second storage chamber  40  is typically a predetermined surrounded space and it may includes a structure capable of receiving cold air to the second storage chamber  40 . The second storage chamber  40  may include a first communication part  46  in communication with the first storage chamber  12  such that cold air of the first storage chamber  12  is supplied to the second storage chamber  40 . To supply the cold air to the second storage chamber  40 , a fan may be positioned around the first communication part  40 . In this implementation, the first communication part  46  may block supplying the cold air to the second storage chamber  40  when a temperature in the second storage chamber  40  is determined to be cold enough to preserve the food stuffs. A second communication part  48 , in direct communication with an end of a cold air duct  18  positioned on the partition wall  14  of the cabinet  10  may be defined in the second storage chamber  40 . The second communicate part  48  defines at least one passage that the cold air passes through. 
         [0031]    In reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the first door and the second door will be described in detail. 
         [0032]    The first door  20  includes a securing part  21  recessed toward the cabinet  10  and the second door  30  may be secured in the securing part  21 . A step  29  stepped toward the cabinet  10  is defined in a predetermined portion of the first door  20 , for example, approximately a middle portion of the first door shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0033]    The appearance of the second door  30  may be corresponding to the appearance of the first door  20 , although it may be otherwise configured. In some examples, the width of the second door  30  may be substantially identical to the width of the first door  20 . The height of the second door  30  may be changeable. And the thickness of the second door  30  may be identical to the thickness of the securing part  21 . Although the height of the second door  30  defined in a predetermined portion of the first door  20  may be changed, a user recognizes the second door  30  as the first door  20  itself or a part of the first door  20 , such that beauty of the refrigerator  1  may not be damaged. 
         [0034]    In the implementation, a first recess  26  which is recessed inward, may be located in a predetermined portion of the first door  20 , for example, between a lower surface of the second door  30  and a coupling part  24  that is rotatably coupled to the first door. A second recess  28  recessed downward from the first recess  26  may be defined in the first door  20 . A third recess  36  recessed upward from a lower surface of the second door  30 , which is adjacent to the first recess  26 , may be located in the second door  30 . This configuration allows the second and third recesses  28  and  36  to function as handles for the first and second doors, respectively, and thus auxiliary handles do not have to be provided in the first and second doors  20  and  30 . 
         [0035]    A projection part  34 , projected upward, is defined in the second door  30  and a gasket  35  may be coupled to a circumstance of the projection part  34  for sealing the second door  30 . 
         [0036]    In reference to  FIG. 3 , a coupling and rotation structure of the first door and the second door will be described. As an example, the second door  30  is secured in the securing part  21  of the first door  20 . 
         [0037]    The first door  20  selectively opens and closes the first storage chamber  12  and the second door  30  selectively opens and closes the second storage chamber defined in the first door  20 . In this implementation, a rotational direction of the first door  20  is identical to that of the second door  30 . For example, the first door  20  is rotatable with respect to a vertical shaft in the conventional refrigerator and the second door  30  is also rotatable with respect to the vertical shaft. 
         [0038]    If the rotational direction of the first door  20  is identical to that of the second door  30 , a rotational radius of the conventional refrigerator  1  may be determined based on the first door  20  for opening and closing the first storage chamber. As a result, the user should arrange the refrigerator without any obstacles placed in the rotational radius of the first door  20 . Also, if the rotational direction of the second door  30  is identical to that of the first door, it may be possible to increase the size of the second storage chamber defined in the first door  20 . Also, if the rotational directions of the first and second doors  20  and  30  are identical, the sealing structure between the first and second doors  20  and  30  may be applicable to the sealing structure between the cabinet  10  and the first door  20 . 
         [0039]    In this implementation, the rotational shaft of the first door  20  is parallel to the rotational shaft of the second door  30 . The rotational shafts of the first and second doors  20  and  30  are located on the same line. If then, only a single rotational shaft may be used to simplify an assembly structure of the refrigerator  1 . Alternatively, in this implementation, the rotational shafts of the first and second doors  20  and  30  may be located at opposite side. For example, the first rotational shaft for the first door  20  is located at a right side of the refrigerator while the second rotational shaft for the second door  30  is located at a left side in case that the refrigerator  1  is not the side by side type. Therefore, the user can open the first door  20  in a first rotation direction in which the first door  20  rotates with respect to the rotational shaft in the right side. Also, the user can open the second door  30  in a second rotation direction which is opposite of the first rotation direction in which the second door  30  rotates with respect to the rotational shaft located in the left side. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , an upper structure to selectively open the first door  20  and the second door  30  includes a first connection member  110 , a second connection member  120  and a rotational shaft  130 . 
         [0041]    An end of a first connection member  110  is coupled to an upper surface  14  of the cabinet  10  and the other end of the connection member  110  is connected to an upper surface of the second door  30  through the medium of the rotational shaft  130 . An end of a second connection member  120  is coupled to an upper surface of the first door  20  and the other end of the second connection member  120  is connected to the upper surface of the second door  30  through the medium of the same upper rotational shaft  130 . The second connection member  120  may be located below the first connection member  110 . As a result, the upper rotational shaft  130  is employed as common upper rotational shaft for the first and second doors  20  and  30 . 
         [0042]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a rotational shaft  132  for a lower portion of the second door  30  is defined in a lower surface of the second door  30  and the lower rotational shaft  132  is connected to the coupling part  24  (see,  FIG. 2 ) defined in the securing part  21  of the first door  20 . A rotational shaft  134  for a lower portion of the first door  20  is defined in a lower surface of the first door  20  and the lower first door rotational shaft  134  is connected to a lower surface of the cabinet  10  by a third connection member  140 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 4   a  shows a configuration of the upper structure in a closed state of the first and second doors  20  and  30 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 4   b  shows a configuration of the upper structure in a open state of the second door  30 . The user can open the second door  30  to approach to the second storage chamber  40  defined in the first door  20 . if the user pulls only the second door  30  in a forward direction by using the handle  36  as shown in  FIG. 1 , the second door  30  is rotated with respect to the common upper rotational shaft  130  and the lower rotational shaft  132  (see,  FIG. 3   while  the first door  20  not opened, and the second storage chamber  40  is thus opened. 
         [0045]      FIG. 4C  shows a configuration of the upper structure in an open state of the first door  20 . 
         [0046]    The user can open the first door  20  to approach to the first storage chamber  12 . If the user pulls the first door  20  forward by using a handle as shown in  FIG. 1 , the first and second doors are rotated together with respect to the common upper rotational shaft  130  and the lower first door rotational shaft  134  (see,  FIG. 3 ) and then the first storage chamber  12  is opened. In this implementation, the second connection member  120  is rotated such that the first and the second doors  20  and  30  can rotate together. 
         [0047]    As an example,  FIG. 5  shows a handle  27  for opening and closing the first door  20  and a handle  37  for opening and closing the second door positioned on outer surfaces of the first and second doors  20  and  30 , respectively. As mentioned in the description, a recess used as a handle may be defined in the first and second doors, respectively. 
         [0048]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a projection part  39  is defined in an upper portion of the first door  20  to rotatably couple the upper surface of the second door  30  to a lower surface of the projection part  39 . As a result, the upper surface of the second door  20  is located under the projection part  39  of the first door  20 . 
         [0049]    A pair of rotational shafts for the first door  139  may be provided in the first door  20  and a pair of rotational shafts for the second door  138  may be provided in the second door  30 . The first door rotational shaft  139  and the second door rotational shaft  138  are parallel but offset. 
         [0050]    In some implementations, the first door rotational shaft  139  and the second door rotational shaft  138  may be located at the same shaft line. In this case, an upper rotational shaft of the first door  139  and an upper rotational shaft of the second door  138  may be on the same rotational shaft line. 
         [0051]    In case of a door structure in  FIG. 6 , a hinge structure may be installed in inner surfaces of the first and second doors  20  and  30 , instead of the rotational shaft  138  of the second door  30 . 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the present disclosure may be applicable to a refrigerator having the refrigerator chamber arranged in the upper portion of the cabinet and the freezer chamber defined in the lower portion of the cabinet. In this implementation, the first door  20  selectively opens and closes the refrigerator chamber and the second door selectively opens and closes a portion of the refrigerator chamber, for example, a home bar. In this implementation, a sliding door  90  is located below the first door  20  to selectively open and close the freezer chamber. 
         [0053]    Further, the appearance of the first door is corresponding to that of the second door. For example, the width of the first door is identical to the width of the second door and the length of the second door is smaller than the length of the first door. Also, the present disclosure may be applicable to a case in that both of the width and the height of the second door may be smaller than those of the first door. 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b , an implementation will be described as follows. 
         [0055]    This implementation is basically identical to the previous implementation, except the structure of the first and second connection members that connect the cabinet  10  to the first door  20  and the first door to the second door  30 , respectively. 
         [0056]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , the end of the second connection member  120  is projectedly extending upward and the second connection member  120  is located under the extending portion, to locate the second connection member  120  under the first connection member  110 . That is, the first connection member  110  has the step. 
         [0057]    However, according to this implementation, as shown  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b , recesses  29   a  and  39  are position at the upper surfaces of the first and second doors  20  and  30 , respectively, instead of projecting the end of the first connection member  110 , and then the second connection member  120  is located in the recesses  29   a  and  39 . Here, the second connection member  120  and the upper rotational shaft  138  may be exposed to the front of the refrigerator. Because of that, the overall appearance of the refrigerator may deteriorate. To prevent the deterioration of the overall appearance, a projection part  37  may be positioned at a predetermined portion of the second door  30  that is in front of the recesses  29   a  and  39 . 
         [0058]    The shapes of the first connection member  110  and the second connection member  120  are different from the previous implementation which is shown in  FIG. 4 . The first member  110  and the second member  120  have a curved shape vertically. For example, a middle portion of the connection members are protruded as shown in  FIG. 8 . Also, the first connection member  110  and the second connection member  120  have a curved shape horizontally. For example, from an edge of the first door  20  to the second door  30 , the first connection member  110  and the second connection member  120  have a horizontally round shape toward to the left edge of the refrigerator. 
         [0059]    Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , this implementation shows that a rotational axis to the lower shaft  134  from the upper shaft  134   a  of the first door  20  is parallel to a rotational axis to the lower shaft  132  from the upper shaft  132   a  of the second door  30 . That is, the rotational axis between  134  and  134   a  of the first door  20  is located apart a predetermined distance from the rotational axis between  132  and  132   a  of the second door  30 . Here, each positions of the rotational shafts  134  and  134   a  and  132  and  132   a  of the first and second doors  20  and  30  may be determined appropriately. For example, the first door rotational shafts  134  and  134   a  are coupled to the first door  20  vertically. Then, a first connection member  110   a  is positioned between the cabinet  10  and the upper first door rotational shaft  134   a,  and a third connection member  140  is connected between the cabinet  10  and the lower first door rotational shaft  134 , such that the first door  20  may be rotatable with respect to the first door rotational shaft  134  and  134   a.    
         [0060]    The second door rotational shafts  132  and  132   a  are coupled to the second door  30  vertically. Then, a second connection member  120   a  is positioned between the first door  20  and the upper second door rotational shaft  132   a  and the lower second door rotational shaft  132  is positioned between a lower portion of the second door  30  and the step  29  of the first door  20  such that the second door  30  may be rotatable with respect to the second door rotational shaft  132  and  132   a.  This implementation presents that an end of the second connection member  120   a  is securely located in the upper first door rotational shaft  134   a  as shown in  FIG. 9  and the present invention is not limited thereto. In consideration of the rotational radius of the first and second doors  20  and  30 , the end of the second connection member is secured to another different portion of the first door  20 . 
         [0061]    This implementation is advantageous to determine the interval of the cabinet  10  and the first door  20  and the interval of the first door  20  and the second door  30 , because the rotational shafts  134  and  134   a  of the first door  20  and the rotational shafts  132  and  132   a  of the second door  30  are not located on the same shaft line. 
         [0062]    In the meanwhile, like the above implementation shown in  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b , it is possible to include the recesses ( 29   a  and  39 , see  FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b ) defined in the upper surfaces of the first and second doors  20  and  30 , respectively, to locate the second connection member  120   a  in the recesses.