Refrigerator and hinge assembly of the same

The present embodiment provides a hinge assembly of a refrigerator. The hinge assembly includes a bracket; a shaft rotatably supported by the bracket and providing a rotation center of a door; a transfer unit transferring selectively rotatory power of the door to the shaft in order to move the shaft upward and downward; and an operating unit operating the transfer unit.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present embodiment relates to a refrigerator and a hinge assembly of the same.

BACKGROUND ART

A refrigerator is an apparatus storing for foods at a low temperature. The refrigerator includes a main body in which a storage chamber is formed and a door coupled movably to the main body to open/close the storage chamber. The door is, for example, coupled rotatably to the main body by a hinge assembly.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

An object of the present embodiment is to provide a refrigerator which easily adjusts the height of its door and a hinge assembly of the same.

Technical Solution

According to one aspect of the present embodiment, there is provided a hinge assembly of a refrigerator comprising: a bracket; a shaft rotatably supported by the bracket and providing a rotation center of a door; a transfer unit transferring selectively rotatory power of the door to the shaft in order to move the shaft upward and downward; and an operating unit operating the transfer unit.

According to another aspect of the present embodiment, there is provided a refrigerator comprising: a main body in which a storage chamber is formed; a door opening/closing the storage chamber; and a hinge assembly allowing the door to be rotatably connected to the body, wherein the hinge assembly comprises: a transfer unit transferring rotatory power selectively to the door; and a shaft providing a rotation center of the door and movable upward and downward with respect to the body by the rotatory power of the door transferred by the transfer unit.

Advantageous Effects

With the proposed embodiment, the present embodiment is advantageous in that a user can adjust the height of a door by moving the door upward and downward.

Also, the present embodiment is advantageous in that the height of the door can be adjusted by rotating the door in both directions in a state where an operating unit is operated so that user's convenience can be improved and the height of the door can be stably adjusted by the user.

MODE FOR THE INVENTION

FIG. 1is a front view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment.

InFIG. 1, a side-by-side type refrigerator in which a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber are arranged side by side is illustrated. However, the idea of the present embodiment is not limited to the sort of refrigerator but is able to be applied to a top-mount type refrigerator in which a freezing chamber is formed on the top of a refrigerating chamber or a bottom-freezer type refrigerator in which a freezing chamber is formed on the bottom of a refrigerating chamber.

The idea of the present embodiment can also be applied to a refrigerator in which only any one of a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber is formed.

Referring toFIG. 1, the refrigerator1according to the present embodiment includes a main body100in which one or more storage chamber is formed, one or more door200opening/closing the storage chamber, and door hinge assemblies300(hereinafter, referred to as “hinge assembly”) allowing the door to be rotatably connected to the main body.

A plurality of doors200may be provided and they may be arranged side by side in view of the front of the refrigerator1.

The hinge assembly300is provided at least on the lower part of the door200to support the door200, wherein the height thereof is adjusted, for example, to allow the height of the lower surface of the door for a bottom surface to be adjusted.

The hinge assembly300may also be provided on the upper side of the door200, or may also be provided on the upper side and the lower side of the door200, respectively.

FIG. 2is a perspective view showing a structure that a hinge assembly is mounted to a door according to a first embodiment, andFIG. 3is an exploded perspective view of a hinge assembly according to a first embodiment.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, the hinge assembly300includes a bracket400, a shaft500, and a transfer unit600.

The bracket400is coupled to the main body100at a position spaced from the lower end of the door200.

The bracket400supports the load of the door200and is bent in an approximate “” shape. The shaft500is mounted to the bracket400.

A receiving part220for receiving the transfer unit600is formed on the lower side of the door200. The transfer unit600transfers rotatory power of the door200to the shaft500to allow the shaft to be rotated with the door200.

The transfer unit600includes a case610formed having a shape corresponding to that of the receiving part200, a rotating member630received in the inner side of the case610, a plurality of levers650selectively contacted to the rotating member630, and a plurality of elastic members670elastically supporting the respective levers. The plurality of levers650are operated by an operating unit690.

The shaft500provides a rotation center of the door200. The shaft500and the bracket400are coupled to each other in a screw coupling method.

More specifically, a thread is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the shaft500. A shaft hole410through which the shaft510passes is formed on the bracket410, wherein a thread for being engaged with the thread of the shaft500is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the shaft hole410. Therefore, if the shaft500rotates, the shaft500moves upward and downward against the bracket400.

A coupling part510in which the thread is formed is formed on the lower side of the shaft500. The coupling part510selectively rotates in a state where it is coupled to the bracket400. And, the up and down movement distance of the shaft610may be the same as the length of the coupling part510.

A supporting part530is formed on the circumference of the shaft500corresponding to the upper end of the coupling part510. The supporting part530supports the door200, and is extended outwardly from the circumference of the shaft500.

The supporting part530is constituted to contact the lower surface of the door200or an auto-closing means to be described later.

A coupling part550is formed on the upper side of the shaft500. The coupling part550penetrates through the rotating member630constituting the transfer unit600. The cross-section of the coupling part550may be formed in a polygonal shape so that the coupling part550rotate together with the rotating member630in a state that it is coupled to the rotating member630.

The coupling part550is inserted into an inner side of the case610, and is coupled to the rotating member630in the inner side of the case610.

Meanwhile, a spacer750closely adhered to the lower surface of the door200and an auto-closing means700is provided between the case610and the bracket400. The shaft500penetrates through the spacer750and the auto-closing means700.

The spacer750is closely adhered to the lower surface of the door200to support the lower surface of the door200, and to prevent the shaking of the shaft500.

The auto-closing means700includes an upper member710and a lower member730. The upper member710and the lower member730are formed in a cam profile corresponding to each other in a partial section of the contact surface thereof so that they slidingly rotates when the door200is closed to allow the door200to be closed more smoothly.

The spacer750and the auto-closing means700are the same as those adopted to a door hinge of a general refrigerator, such that the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 4is an exploded perspective view of a transfer unit according to a first embodiment, andFIG. 5is a perspective view showing a structure that a transfer unit is coupled to a shaft according to a first embodiment.

Referring toFIGS. 4 and 5, the case610includes a cover611and a base613.

The cover611is formed in an hexahedral shape and includes an lower opening. The cover611is received in an inner side of the receiving part220. The base613covers the lower opening of the cover611and has an inserting hole615into which the rotating member630is inserted.

At this time, the base613can be positioned on the same plane as the lower surface of the door200in a state where the base613covers the lower surface of the cover611.

A coupling hole631through which a coupling part550of the shaft500is penetrated and coupled is formed in the center of the rotating member630.

Gear teeth633are continuously formed on the outer circumferential surface of the rotating member630. The gear teeth633of the rotating member630are formed to have the same angle of the inclined planes. The rotating member630selectively contacts any one of the plurality of levers650to forward-rotate or reverse-rotate together with the shaft500.

The external diameter of the rotating member630is formed to be smaller than the diameter of the inserting hole615. Therefore, the rotating member630can be easily inserted into the inside of the case610through the inserting hole615, and the case610can rotate with respect to the rotating member630without interference of the rotating member630in a general usage state of the door.

The plurality of levers650are received in the case610. Any one of the plurality of levers650contacts the gear teeth633of the rotating member630to allow the rotating member630to rotate together with the case200in one direction during the process to adjust the height of the door200.

The plurality of levers650may be provided in both sides of an operating part693to be described later, respectively. The plurality of levers650include a first lever6501(seeFIG. 6) and a second lever6502(seeFIG. 6).

The respective levers650are hinge-coupled to the base613to be rotatable. The other ends of the levers650are positioned on both right and left sides of the rotating member630. In other words, the rotating member630and the shaft500are positioned between the plurality of levers650.

Hooking parts651are formed on the ends of the levers650adjacent to the rotating member630. The hooking part651is formed so that the angle of the edge of the end of the lever650corresponds to the angle of the valley between the two adjacent gear teeth633formed on the rotating member630. And, in a state where the hooking part651is positioned in the valley of the gear teeth633, the rotating member630rotates with the case when the case610rotates in one direction. To the contrary, when the case610rotates in other direction, the rotating member630maintains a stationary state and the case610rotates with respect to the rotating member630.

A projecting part563projected to be inclined at a predetermined angle is formed on the lever650to allow unnecessary interference between the lever650and the gear teeth633not to be generated when the lever650rotates.

Hereinafter, a process to adjust the height of the door will be described.

FIG. 6is an operation state view of a hinge assembly according to a first embodiment, andFIG. 7is a cross-sectional view showing a structure that the height of a door according to a first embodiment is adjusted at maximum.

Referring toFIGS. 6 and 7, first, a general usage state of the door will be described.

The general usage state of the door means a state where since the plurality of levers are spaced form the rotating member (a neutral state), the height of the door200is not adjusted in spite of the rotation of the door200.

In a neutral state of the plurality of levers650, if the door200rotates, the case610rotates with the door200, but the shaft and the rotating member630maintain a stationary state. In other words, since the plurality of levers650are spaced form the rotating member, rotatory power of the door200is not transferred to the rotating member so that the rotating member630does not rotate.

Meanwhile, when the height of the plurality of doors200does not correspond as the refrigerator1is re-installed after it is originally installed or it is moved for transfer, or the refrigerator1is inclined during the use thereof, a user adjusts the height of the door by rotating the door in which the height adjustment is requested.

First, in order to heighten the door200, an operating member691is rotated in one direction (a clockwise direction, in view ofFIG. 6).

Then, the second lever6502becomes a state spaced from the rotating member630, and the first lever6501rotates by elasticity to contact the rotating member630. At this time, a hooking part651of the first lever6501is inserted into the valley of the gear teeth633formed on the rotating member630.

In the condition as described above, the rotating member rotates only in a counter-clockwise direction, in view ofFIG. 6.

In a state where the first lever6501contacts the rotating member, if the door200rotates on the shaft500in a counterclockwise direction in order to open the storage space of the main body100, the case610rotates on the shaft500in a counter-clockwise direction (in view ofFIG. 6) together with the door. Then, the rotatory power of the door (or case) is transferred to the rotating member630so that the rotating member630coupled to the shaft500rotates in a counterclockwise direction, together with the case610.

If the shaft500rotates in a counterclockwise direction, the shaft500moves upwardly in a state where the shaft500is coupled to the bracket400so that the door moves upwardly. In other words, if the shaft500rotates in a counterclockwise direction, the height of the door heightens.

To the contrary, if the door200rotates in a clockwise direction in order to close the opened door200, the case610rotates in a clockwise direction in a state where the rotating member630is stopped. At this time, the first lever6501rotates with the case610, and the hooking part651goes across the gear teeth631of the rotating member630during the rotation process of the first lever6501. And, while the hooking part651goes across the gear teeth, the elastic member670is repeatedly compressed-expanded.

In other words, as the first lever6501repeatedly compresses the elastic member670when the door200is closed, the first lever6501is movable along the circumference of the rotating member630.

The rotatory power of the door is not transferred to the shaft500so that only door200is rotated in a clockwise direction in a fixed state of the shaft500.

With the present embodiment as described above, the height of the door can be heighten by repeatedly rotating the door in a clockwise direction and a counter-clockwise direction after the operating unit690is operated, such that a user can easily heighten the height of the door.

After adjusting the height of the door200, the operating member691is operated so that the operating member691becomes a neutral state. Then, the door200can rotate without the change in the height of the door200.

Meanwhile, in order to lower the height of the door200, first, the operating member691rotates in another direction (in a counterclockwise direction, in view ofFIG. 6).

Then, the first lever6501becomes a state where it is spaced from the rotating member630, and the second lever6502rotates by elasticity of the elastic member670to contact the rotating member630. At this time, the hooking part651of the second lever6502is inserted into the valley of the gear teeth633formed on the rotating member630.

In view ofFIG. 6, the rotating member630in a state as described above rotates only in a clockwise direction.

In a state where the second lever6502contacts the rotating member, if the door200rotates on the shaft500in a counterclockwise direction in order to open the storage space of the main body100, the case610rotates in a counterclockwise direction together with the door.

At this time, the second lever6502rotates with the case610, and the hooking part651goes across the gear teeth631of the rotating member630during the rotation process of the second lever6502. And, while the hooking part651goes across the gear teeth, the elastic member670is repeatedly compressed-expanded.

In other words, as the second lever6502repeatedly compresses the elastic member670when the door200is opened, the second lever6502is movable along the circumference of the rotating member630.

The rotatory power of the door200is not transferred to the shaft500so that only door200is rotated in a counterclockwise direction in a fixed state of the shaft500.

To the contrary, if the door200rotates in a clockwise direction in order to close the opened door200, the case610rotates on the shaft500in a clockwise direction (in view ofFIG. 6). Then, the rotatory power of the door (or case) is transferred to the rotating member630so that the rotating member630coupled to the shaft500rotates in a clockwise direction, together with the case610.

If the shaft500rotates in a clockwise direction, the shaft500moves downwardly in a state where the shaft500is coupled to the bracket400so that the door moves downwardly. In other words, if the shaft500rotates in a clockwise direction, the height of the door lowers.

With the present embodiment as described above, the height of the door can be lowered by repeatedly rotating the door in a clockwise direction and a counter-clockwise direction after the operating unit690is operated, such that a user can easily lower the height of the door.

After adjusting the height of the door200, the operating member691is operated so that the operating member691becomes a neutral state. Then, the door200can rotate without the change in the height of the door200.

FIG. 8is an exploded perspective view of a hinge assembly according to a second embodiment.

The present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment, except for the feature that a shaft selectively contacts any one of a plurality of levers. Therefore, only the features of the present embodiment will be described herein and the first embodiment will be quoted for the same contents as the first embodiment.

Referring toFIG. 8, the shaft800according to the embodiment includes a coupling part810coupling to the bracket410, a supporting part supporting the door200, and a gear part850having a circumference along which gear teeth are continuously formed.

The gear part850penetrates through the base613to be received in the case610, and selectively contacts the plurality of levers by the operation of the operating unit690.

In other words, the shaft directly and selectively contacts the plurality of levers, without having the rotating member as shown in the first embodiment.

The acting of the hinge assembly of the present embodiment is the same as the first embodiment, except for the feature that the hinge assembly contacts the gear teeth formed on the shaft800. Therefore, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.