Abstract:
A gasket for a refrigerator includes a pivotable flexible gasket main body extending in a longitudinal direction, the gasket main body having a front contact side portion and a rear side portion opposite to the front contact side portion, the front contact side portion of the gasket being contactable with a front contact side portion of another gasket to form a contact interface; an elastic portion formed in the gasket main body, the elastic portion having an elastic connection portion, the elastic connection portion extending from the front contact side portion to the rear side portion; and a magnet provided within the gasket main body and located on the front contact side portion of the gasket main body.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of Invention 
   The present invention relates to a refrigerator. More particularly, the present invention relates to a gasket used in a refrigerator in which a single storage space is opened and closed by two doors, and a storage space sealing structure using the same. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   A refrigerator maintains an interior of a storage space at a predetermined temperature, and thus keeps stored goods fresh. There are various kinds of refrigerators. Lately, a refrigerator in which a single storage space is opened and closed by two doors has also come into the market.  FIGS. 1 and 2  show a refrigerator according to a prior art in which a single storage space is opened and closed by two doors. 
   As shown in the figures, the interior of a refrigerator main body  1  is vertically divided into a refrigerating chamber  3  and a freezing chamber  5 . A plurality of shelves  11  and accommodation boxes  13  are installed in the refrigerating and freezing chambers  3  and  5  in order to accommodate foods. The refrigerating and freezing chambers  3  and  5  are selectively opened and closed by first and second refrigerating chamber-doors  7  and  7 ′ and a freezing chamber door  9 , respectively. The first and second refrigerating chamber doors  7  and  7 ′ are opened and closed in such a way that their distal ends facing each other pivot about their proximal ends connected to both side ends of the refrigerator main body  1 . The freezing chamber door  9  may be forwardly drawn in a sliding manner. Reference numerals  7   a ,  7 ′ a , and  9   a  designate door handles. 
   When the refrigerating chamber doors  7  and  7 ′ are closed, in order to prevent cold air in the refrigerating chamber  3  from leaking out, there are provided gaskets Ga and Gc. The gaskets Ga and Gc consist of the side gaskets Ga provided on the respective distal ends of the refrigerating chamber doors  7  and  7 ′ adjacent to each other, and the rear gaskets Gc provided on respective rear surfaces of the refrigerating chamber doors  7  and  7 ′ corresponding to a front surface of the refrigerator main body  1 . The gaskets Ga and Gc are magnetic. 
   In the meantime, as a sectional view taken along line III–III′ of  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 3  shows a portion where the side gaskets Ga provided on side surfaces of the respective distal ends of the refrigerating chamber doors  7  and  7 ′ are in contact with each other. As shown in the figure, portions of the side surfaces and the front surfaces of the refrigerating chamber doors  7  and  7 ′ are defined by outer plates  20 , and the inner or rear surfaces thereof are defined by door liners  24 . Each of the outer plates  20  consists of a front surface portion  21  defining the front surface thereof and a side surface portion  22  defining the side surface thereof. Each internal space defined by the outer plate  20  and the door liner  24  is formed with an insulating layer  24 ′. An insertion flange portion  23  is formed on a distal end of each side surface portion  22  to extend vertically in parallel with each front surface portion  21 . 
   The respective side surfaces of the refrigerating chamber doors  7  and  7 ′ facing each other are provided with door brackets  25 . The respective door brackets  25  are formed with a length corresponding to a vertical length of the refrigerating chamber doors  7  and  7 ′, and thus define portions of the side surfaces of the refrigerating chamber doors  7  and  7 ′. The door brackets  25  are formed with vertically elongated insertion grooves  26  into which the insertion flange portions  23  are inserted, respectively. Flange portions  27  are provided at opposite sides of the insertion grooves  26  to be brought into close contact with inner surfaces of the door liners  24 , respectively. 
   Outer surfaces of the door brackets  25  are formed with installation spaces  28  concaved toward the insulating layers  24 ′, respectively. The installation space  28  extends in the lengthwise direction of the door bracket  25 . The installation space  28  is formed so that a width of an inlet side thereof is relatively narrower than that of an inner side thereof. A gasket holder  30  is installed in each of the installation spaces  28 . The gasket holder  30  extends in the lengthwise direction of the installation space  28 . The gasket holder  30  is made of metal or synthetic resin with a predetermined hardness. When the gasket holder  30  is shown as a sectional plan view, a hinge hole  30 ′ is formed at an end of each of the gasket holders  30  corresponding to the refrigerating chamber  3  side. Each of the door brackets  25  are provided with a hinge shaft  31  positioned in the hinge hole  30 ′. Thus, the gasket holder  30  may pivot about the hinge shaft  31 . 
   Ends of the gasket holders  30  opposite to the hinge holes  30 ′ are formed with protruding stoppers  32 , respectively. The stopper  32  serves to be caught on a side of the interior of the installation space  28  so that the gasket holder  30  does not protrude out of the installation space  28 . The gasket holder  30  tends to rotate in the direction to protrude out of the installation space  28  by an elastic member. A mounting channel  33  is formed in each of the gasket holders  30  in the lengthwise direction thereof. The mounting channel  33  is opened to the inlet of the installation space  28 , and has an inlet that is narrower than an inner side thereof. 
   The gasket holders  30  are mounted with the side gaskets Ga. A gasket main body Gb of each of the side gaskets Ga has flexibility, and a magnet Mg is provided in the gasket main body Gb. A mounting rib Gr is formed on a surface of each of the gasket main bodies Gb in the lengthwise direction. The mounting rib Gr is formed with a cross section corresponding to that of the interior of the mounting channel  33 . Thus, the mounting rib Gr is inserted into the mounting channel  33 , so that the side gasket Ga is mounted to the gasket holder  30 . Reference numeral  35  not described designates door covers. 
   However, the above prior art has the following problems. 
   In the prior art, the side gaskets Ga are rotatably installed in the installation spaces  28  of the door brackets  25 . However, if the side gaskets Ga is to be rotatably installed, the installation spaces  28  cannot be completely sealed. Therefore, there is a problem in that cold air leaks out through the side gaskets. 
   In addition, when the first or second refrigerating chamber door  7  or  7 ′ is opened or closed, the side gaskets Ga of the respective doors  7  and  7 ′ come into close contact with each other and thus the gasket holders  30  pivot on the hinge shafts  31 , so that distal ends thereof swing into the installation spaces  28 , respectively. However, if the gasket holders  30  excessively pivot, the gasket holders  30  collide against inner surfaces of the installation spaces  28 , thereby producing noises. It is the reason why the gasket holders  30  and the door brackets  25  have a predetermined hardness. 
   Furthermore, according to the prior art, the magnets Mg are provided throughout entire surfaces of the gasket main bodies Gb which are brought into close contact with each other. Thus, since a magnetic force of the magnets Mg acts on the whole of the gasket main bodies Gb that are in close contact with each other, the magnetic force is relatively large. Accordingly, there is a problem in that it is relatively difficult to open the refrigerating chamber doors  7  and  7 ′. 
   In addition, the magnets Mg have the predetermined hardness, which causes the flexibility of the gasket main bodies Gb to be reduced. Since the magnets Mg are also provided at the interiors of portions of the gasket main bodies Gb which first come into contact with each other when the refrigerating chamber doors  7  and  7 ′ are closed (or portions of the gasket main bodies Gb which lastly comes apart from each other when the refrigerating chamber doors  7  and  7 ′ are opened), there is a problem in that such portions are severely worn out or damaged. In particular, since the portions of the gasket main bodies Gb, which first come into contact with each other or lastly come apart from each other when the refrigerating chamber doors  7  and  7 ′ are opened or closed, are adjacent to the hinge shafts  31  on which the door brackets  25  pivot, the collision force between the gasket main bodies Gb becomes large. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, the present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to relatively reduce areas of gaskets which are brought into contact with each other by magnets to prevent cold air from leaking out between doors. 
   Another object of the present invention is to minimize collision caused from the pivoting operation of gaskets for sealing a gap between two doors of a refrigerator in which a storage space is opened and closed by the two doors. 
   A further object of the present invention is to more completely seal a gap between two doors of a refrigerator in which a storage space is opened and closed by the two doors. 
   According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the objects, there is provided a storage space sealing structure for a refrigerator in which a single storage space in a main body of the refrigerator is opened and closed by a pair of doors, comprising: installation spaces depressed to extend along opposite side surfaces of the doors, respectively; gasket holders, each of which is installed in the installation space so that a distal end thereof can pivot about a proximal end thereof toward the inside of the installation space and tends to pivot toward the outside of the installation space; and gaskets provided on side surfaces of the gasket holders, respectively, and brought into contact with each other when the doors close the storage space, each of said gaskets being provided with a magnet at a portion of the contact surface of the gasket opposite to the storage space. 
   Preferably, the installation space is formed by causing a portion of a door bracket to be depressed into the door, said door bracket defining an external appearance of the side surface of the door. 
   More preferably, a free end of the gasket holder is formed with a catching stopper which in turn is caught on a stopper formed on an inlet of the installation space, whereby the free end of the gasket holder is prevented from protruding out of the installation space. 
   More preferably, each of the gaskets comprises: a flexible gasket main body extending in a longitudinal direction; an elastic portion formed in the gasket main body adjacent to the storage space; the magnet provided within the gasket main body and positioned at a region far way from the elastic portion on a side surface of the gasket main body which is in contact with a counterpart gasket main body; and a mounting rib formed on an outer surface of the gasket main body to extend in a longitudinal direction and inserted into and caught in the gasket holder. 
   More preferably, an elastic connection portion through which both ends of the interior of the gasket main body are connected is formed in the elastic portion to reinforce the elasticity of the elastic portion. 
   More preferably, a spacer is installed in the installation space, the spacer being having a predetermined cushioning function. 
   More preferably, the spacer is provided at least on an inner surface of the installation space corresponding to the distal end of the gasket holder. 
   According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the objects, there is provided a gasket for a refrigerator, comprising: a flexible gasket main body extending in a longitudinal direction; an elastic portion formed in the gasket main body adjacent to the storage space; and a magnet provided within the gasket main body to extend in a longitudinal direction and positioned at a region far away from the elastic portion on a side surface of the gasket main body which is in contact with a counterpart gasket main body. 
   Preferably, an elastic connection portion through which both ends of the interior of the gasket main body are connected is formed in the elastic portion to reinforce the elasticity of the elastic portion. 
   More preferably, a mounting rib is formed on an outer surface of the gasket main body to extend in a longitudinal direction, thereby causing the gasket main body to be fixed at a predetermined position. 
   According to the present invention so configured, in a refrigerator in which a storage space is opened and closed by two doors, there are advantages in that damage of side gaskets, which are provided at distal ends of the doors and come into contact with each other, is minimized, operating noises of the side gaskets producing when the doors are opened and closed are eliminated, and there is no leakage of cold air since the sealing between the doors is more completed. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of an external appearance of a refrigerator according to a prior art; 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of an interior of the refrigerator shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along line III–III′ of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a storage space sealing structure for a refrigerator according to the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a major portion of the embodiment according to the present invention; and 
       FIG. 6  is a view showing an operation of a gasket and a gasket holder in a state where a door is opened in the embodiment according to the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a gasket for a refrigerator according to the present invention and a storage space sealing structure using the same will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 4  shows a cross sectional view of gaskets for a refrigerator and a storage space sealing structure using the same according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and  FIG. 5  shows an enlarged view of a major portion according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
   Referring to the figures, a storage space  48  defined in a refrigerator main body is opened and closed by first and second doors  50  and  50 ′. The first and second doors  50  and  50 ′ are connected to both ends of the refrigerator main body through hinge assemblies, respectively, and the storage space  48  is closed as a state shown in  FIG. 4  where distal ends of the respective doors are in contact with each other. 
   An external appearance of each of the first and second doors  50  and  50 ′ is defined by an outer plate  51  and a door liner  54 . An insulating layer  55  is formed in each of the first and second doors  50  and  50 ′. The outer plates  51  mainly define front surfaces of the doors  50  and  50 ′. The outer plate  51  comprises a front surface portion  52  defining the front surface of each of the doors  50  and  50 ′ and a side surface portion  53  bent from the front surface portion  52  at a substantially right angle and defining a portion of a side surface of each of the doors  50  and  50 ′. A distal end of each side surface portion  53  is formed with an insertion flange portion  53 ′ which is substantially parallel with the front surface portion  52 . A portion at which the front surface portion  52  and the side surface portion  53  are connected to each other is preferably formed in a round shape. 
   The door liners  54 , which define rear surfaces of the doors  50  and  50 ′, are positioned in the storage space  48  when the doors  50  and  50 ′ are closed. The door liners  54  are provided with accommodation pockets for accommodating stored goods. 
   A door bracket  56  is installed on each of the side surfaces of the doors  50  and  50 ′ facing each other between the side surface portion  53  of the outer plate  51  and the door liner  54 . The door bracket  56  with a predetermined width has a length corresponding to that from an upper end to a lower end of each of the doors  50  and  50 ′. The width of the door bracket  56  corresponds to a length between the side surface portion  53  and the door liner  54  in the side surface of each of the doors  50  and  50 ′. The door brackets  56  are installed so that surfaces thereof are exposed from the side surfaces of the doors  50  and  50 ′. 
   An insertion groove  57  is formed in each of the door brackets  56  at a position corresponding to the outer plate  51 . The insertion groove  57  is a portion into which the insertion flange portion  53  of the outer plate  51  is inserted. The insertion groove  57  extends in the lengthwise direction of the door bracket  56 . A flange portion  57 ′, which is brought into close contact with an inner surface of each of the door liners  54 , is formed at a side opposite to the insertion groove  57 . The close contact flange portion  57 ′ is shaped so as to come into close contact with the corresponding portion of the door liner  54 . The close contact flange portion  57 ′ also extends in the lengthwise direction of the door bracket  56 . A structure for fastening the close contact flange portion  57 ′ and the door liner  54  to each other may be provided therebetween. 
   Surfaces of the door brackets  56 , i.e. surfaces of the doors  50  and  50 ′ which are exposed to the outside, are formed with installation spaces  58 , respectively. The installation space  58  also extends in a longitudinal direction of the door bracket  56  and is depressed into the insulating layer  55 . The installation space  58  may extend up to both ends of the door bracket  56 . However, it is not necessarily so, that is, the installation space  58  may extend only to positions slightly short of both ends of the door bracket  56 . As shown in the figures, the installation space  58  is formed so that a sectional width of an inner side thereof is relatively wider than that of an inlet thereof. That is, a stopper  58 ′ is formed along a side of the inlet of each installation space  58 . 
   A gasket holder  61  is installed in each of the installation spaces  58 . The gasket holder  61  extends in a longitudinal direction thereof in the same manner as the door bracket  56 . A hinge hole  61 ′ is bored through an end of each of the gasket holders  61 . A hinge shaft  62  formed on the door bracket  56  is inserted into the hinge hole  61 ′. The hinge holes  61 ′ are formed relatively adjacent to the storage space  48  when the gasket holders  61  are shown as a cross sectional view. 
   The gasket holders  61  are provided with distal ends pivoting about the hinge shafts  62 , respectively. Particularly, the gasket holders  61  are supported by elastic members not shown, and thus tend to rotate about the hinge shafts  62  in the directions so that the distal ends of the gasket holders  61  protrude out of the installation spaces  58 . There are provided catching stoppers  63  at the respective distal ends of the gasket holders  61 , i.e., at ends opposite to the hinge holes  61 ′. The catching stopper  63  extends along the whole of the gasket holder  61 . However, it is not necessarily so, that is, the catching stoppers  63  may be formed at necessary portions according to design conditions. The catching stoppers  63  are caught on the stoppers  58 ′ of the door brackets  56 , and thus cause the gasket holders  61  not to protrude out of the installation spaces  58 . 
   A mounting channel  65  is formed in each of the gasket holders  61  to extend in the lengthwise direction thereof. The mounting channel  65  is formed so that a width of an inlet thereof is narrower than that of an inner side thereof when shown as a sectional view. Each of the mounting channels  65  is formed with a side gasket  70 , which will be described below. 
   The side gaskets  70 , which are provided respectively on the side surfaces of the first and second doors  50  and  50 ′ facing each other, come into close contact with each other, so that cold air can be prevented from leaking out between the side surfaces of the doors  50  and  50 ′. Each of the side gaskets  70  comprises a gasket main body  71  that is made of flexible material, e.g. rubber, with predetermined elasticity. The gasket main body  71  is formed to extend in a longitudinal direction such that it has a length enough to prevent cold air from leaking out between the opposite doors  50  and  50 ′. 
   The gasket main bodies  71  are formed with mounting ribs  72  which protrude to be inserted into the mounting channels  65  of the gasket holders  61 , respectively. The mounting rib  72  has a cross section corresponding to that of the mounting channel  65 . Accordingly, when the mounting rib  72  is inserted into the mounting channel  65 , the mounting rib  72  is hardly detached from the mounting channel  65 , which has the relatively narrow inlet. 
   Each of the gasket main bodies  71  is provided with a magnet  73 . The magnet  73  has the same length as the gasket main body  71 . The respective magnets  73  should be installed in the gaskets  70  of the opposite doors  50  and  50 ′ and different from each other in view of their polarities. The magnets  73  have a relatively narrow width so as to be positioned only at portions of surfaces of the gasket main bodies  71  that come into close contact with each other. The magnet  73  is provided at the portion of the gasket main body  71  biased toward an opposite side of the storage space  48 . 
   That is, the magnets  73  are positioned at the portions of the gaskets  70  which are separated from each other first when the doors  50  and  50 ′ are opened and come into contact with each other last when the doors  50  and  50 ′ are closed. It is the reason why the portions of the gasket main bodies  71  provided with the magnets  73  have a relatively high hardness due to the magnets  73 . 
   A portion of each gasket main body  71  in which the magnet  73  is not installed is formed with an elastic portion  75 . The elastic portion  75  is provided with elastic connection portions  77  through which both ends of the interior of the gasket main body  71  are connected. The elastic connection portions  77  cause the elastic portion  75  to have a predetermined elasticity. That is, although the elastic portions  75  come into contact with and are separated from each other repeatedly, the elasticity is maintained. 
   A spacer  80  is installed in each of the installation spaces  58  of the door brackets  56 . The spacers  80  are filled in the installation spaces  58  and thus serve to relatively reduce volumes of the installation spaces  58 . It is for the purpose of minimizing contact between the cold air and the outer air or leakage of the cold air through the installation spaces  58 . The spacer  80  is made of material having predetermined cushion, and thus causes noise and collision not to occur even if the gasket holder  61  collides thereagainst during pivoting. 
   Reference numeral  82  not described designates door covers. The door covers  82  are fixed to the door brackets  56  by allowing fixing hooks (not shown) provided on inner surfaces of the door covers  82  to be inserted into fixing grooves (not shown) formed in the door brackets  56 , respectively. 
   Hereinafter, the operation of the gasket for a refrigerator and the storage space sealing structure using the same according to the present invention so configured will be described in detail. 
   First, in the gasket  70  of the present invention, the magnet  73  is provided at only a portion of the gasket main body  71  which comes into contact with the counterpart gasket  70 . Particularly, the magnets  73  are not provided at the elastic portions  75  of the gasket main bodies  71 , which first come into contact with each other and are last separated from each other when the doors  50  and  50 ′ are opened and closed. The elastic portion  75  of the gasket main body  71  in which the magnet  73  is not provided is formed with the elastic connection portions  77 , and thus, the predetermined elasticity is maintained. 
   Since the elastic portions  75  have the predetermined elasticity, the elastic portions  75  are elastically deformed and restored when the gaskets come into contact with each other and are separated from each other, thus preventing damage thereof. Of course, with the restoring force of the elastic portions  75 , the magnets  73  bring the gaskets  70  into close contact with each other securely. 
   Both the doors  50  and  50 ′ simultaneously or any one of them may be opened and closed. When both the doors  50  and  50 ′ or any one of them is opened, the gasket holders  61  pivot about the hinge shafts  62  by restoring forces of the elastic members, so that the gaskets  70  protrude somewhat from the side surfaces of the doors  50  and  50 ′, as shown in  FIG. 6 . The catching stoppers  63  are caught on the stoppers  58 ′, so that the gasket holders  61  are prevented from further rotating. 
   In such a state, when the doors  50  and  50 ′ are closed, the gaskets  70  provided on the side surfaces of the doors  50  and  50 ′ facing each other come into close contact with each other, and thus, cold air is prevented from leaking out. At this time, the elastic portions  75  of the gaskets  70  first come into contact with each other, the contact area continuously increases, and then, the gaskets  70  fully come into contact with each other. When the doors  50  and  50 ′ are completely closed, the magnets  73  are stuck to each other and the elastic portions  75  are also restored somewhat and come into close contact with each other, as shown in  FIG. 5 . Thus, the cold air is blocked from leaking out through between the side surfaces of the doors  50  and  50 ′. 
   In the meantime, when the doors  50  and  50 ′ are opened, the portions provided with the magnets  73  separated firstly from each other. That is, as the doors  50  and  50 ′ are opened, the portions of the gasket main bodies  71  that have been in close contact with each other by the magnets  73  are first separated from each other, and gradually, the elastic portions  75  are separated from each other. Of course, there may be provided an additional structure for separating the magnets  73 , which are stuck to each other. 
   When the doors  50  and  50 ′ are opened, the portions of the gasket main bodies  71 , which lastly come apart from each other, become the elastic portions  75  that are pressed to each other and elastically deformed to a certain degree by means of the doors  50  and  50 ′ and then restored to a state shown in  FIG. 6 . 
   The spacers  80  are installed in the installation spaces  58  of the door brackets  56 , so that the spacers  80  do not hinder the gasket holders  61  from pivoting and reduce the volumes of the installation spaces  58 . Thus, the spacers  80  serve to prevent the cold air from leaking out through the installation spaces  58  and to minimize the contact between the cold air and the outer air. In addition, since the spacers  80  have a cushioning function, collision energy can be absorbed without noises even though the gasket holders  61  collide against the spacers  80 . 
   According to the gasket for a refrigerator and the storage space sealing structure using the same of the present invention so configured, the following advantages can be expected. 
   First, while the gasket of the present invention is stuck to the counterpart gasket using the magnetic force of the magnets, the gasket is provided with the elastic portion, in which a magnet is not installed, in order to prevent the flexibility of the gasket main body from deteriorating by the magnet. Thus, the gasket is hardly damaged even though the gasket is used for a long time, so that there is an advantage in that the durability of the gasket is improved. 
   Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is provided the spacer, which does not hinder the pivoting of the gasket holder installed in the installation space of the door bracket provided in the side surface of the door, minimizes the volume of the installation space, and absorbs the collision energy when the gasket holder collides against the spacer. Thus, there is an advantage in that the noise caused from the gasket holder does not occur when the door is opened and closed. 
   In addition, since the spacer installed in the installation space of the door bracket minimizes the volume of the installation space, there are advantages in that the installation space is prevented from being a passage for the leakage of the cold air and the contact between the outer air and the cold air is prevented. 
   The scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above but is defined by the appended claims. It will be apparent that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and changes thereto within the scope of the invention. Therefore, the true scope of the present invention should be defined by the appended claims.