Abstract:
A refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to define an exterior boundary of the refrigerator. The refrigerator also includes a first storage chamber configured to store food stuffs and a first door configured to open and close the first storage chamber. The refrigerator further includes a second storage chamber defined at a side of the first door, and 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, and configured to open and close the second storage chamber, wherein a rotation direction of the second door is identical to a rotation direction of the first door.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of the priority to Korean Application No. 10-2009-0069025, filed on Jul. 28, 2009, which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Refrigerators have storage chambers 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. 
     Typically, predetermined space for preserving food stuffs is defined by a door. For example, a predetermined space, that is, a door basket 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 provided 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. As mentioned above, the structure of the refrigerator has been diversified and demands for improving user convenience of the refrigerator have been increasing accordingly. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, a refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to define an exterior boundary of the refrigerator. The refrigerator also includes a first storage chamber configured to store food stuffs and a first door configured to open and close the first storage chamber. The refrigerator further includes a second storage chamber defined at a side of the first door, and 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, and configured to open and close the second storage chamber, wherein a rotation direction of the second door is identical to a rotation direction of the first door. In addition, the refrigerator includes a third storage chamber defined at a side of the first door, and configured to enable access to food stuffs while the first door remains and a third door, located in a predetermined portion of the first door, configured to open and close the third storage chamber, wherein a rotational direction of the third door is perpendicular to the rotational direction of the first and second doors. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the second storage chamber and the third storage chamber are provided independently. The second storage chamber and the third storage chamber are located adjacent to each other. The refrigerator further includes a recess positioned at least one of the first, second, third doors and configured to be recessed horizontally to be used as a handle. The refrigerator further includes a groove positioned at the first door, and configured to be recessed vertically. A groove recessed vertically is provided in the first door and a recess recessed horizontally is provided in the first door. 
     In some examples, the refrigerator further includes a push-spring structure positioned at least one of the first, second and third door to open the at least one of the doors. The push-spring structure positioned at the third door. The refrigerator further includes a rotational axis establishing means coupled to the first and second doors, and configured to establish a rotational axis of the first and second doors. The rotational axis establishing means is a rotational shaft. The rotational axis establishing means is located in the second door. 
     The refrigerator further includes a first connection member configured to connect the rotational axis establishing means of the first door to the cabinet. The refrigerator further includes a second connection member configured to the second door to the first door. The refrigerator further includes a securing part located in the first door, and configured to secure the second door. A lower surface of the second door is rotatably coupled to the first door. The first door further includes a first recess configured to be recessed toward the cabinet from a lower surface of the securing part. The first door further includes a second recess configured to be recessed downward from a predetermined portion adjacent to the first recess. The refrigerator further includes a third recess configured to be recessed upward from a lower portion of the first door. A first rotational axis establishing means coupled to the first door and configured to establish a first rotational axis and a second rotational axis establishing means coupled to the second door and configured to establish a second rotational axis. 
     The refrigerator further includes a first connection member configured to the first door to the cabinet. The refrigerator further includes a second connection member configured to connect the second door to the first door. 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. A rotational shaft of the first door is parallel to a rotational shaft of the second door. The refrigerator further includes a door basket positioned inside the first door, and configured to be accessible when the first door is opened. 
     In another aspect, a refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to define an exterior boundary of the refrigerator. The refrigerator also includes a first storage configured to store food stuffs and a first door configured to open and close the first storage chamber. The refrigerator further includes a second storage chamber defined at a side of the first door, and configured to enable access to food stuffs while the first door remains and a second door located in a predetermined portion of the first door, and configured to open and close the second storage chamber, wherein a rotation direction of the second door is identical to a rotation direction of the first door. In addition, the refrigerator includes a third storage chamber defined at a side of the first door, and configured to enable access to food stuffs while the first door remains and a third door, located in a predetermined portion of the first door, configured to open and close the third storage chamber, wherein a rotational direction of the third door is different from the rotational direction of the first and second doors. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, an upper surface of the first door and an upper surface of the second door have an identical level. The refrigerator further includes a push-spring structure positioned at the third door to open the third door. 
     In yet another aspect, a refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to define an exterior boundary of the refrigerator. The refrigerator also includes a first storage configured to store food stuffs and a first door configured to open and close the first storage chamber. The refrigerator further includes a second storage chamber defined at a side of the first door, and configured to enable access to food stuffs while the first door remains and a second door located in a predetermined portion of the first door, and configured to open and close the second storage chamber. In addition, the refrigerator includes a third storage chamber defined at a side of the first door, and configured to enable access to food stuffs while the first door remains and a third door, located in a predetermined portion of the first door, configured to open and close the third storage chamber, wherein a rotation direction of the third door is identical to a rotation direction of the first door. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the rotation direction of the third door is identical to a rotation direction of the second door. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view illustrating a refrigerator in a state of a first storage chamber being opened; 
         FIG. 2  is a view illustrating the refrigerator in a state of a second storage chamber being opened; 
         FIG. 3  is a longitudinal-sectional view of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating a first door and a second door of the refrigerator, in a state of being opened; 
         FIG. 5  is a view illustrating a refrigerator; 
         FIG. 6  is a longitudinal-sectional view; 
         FIG. 7  is a view illustrating a refrigerator; 
         FIG. 8  is a view illustrating a refrigerator; 
         FIG. 9  is a side-sectional view of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a front view illustrating a refrigerator; 
         FIG. 11  is a sectional view of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a front view illustrating a refrigerator; 
         FIG. 13  is a sectional view of I-I line shown in  FIG. 12 ; and 
         FIG. 14  is a sectional view of II-II line shown in  FIG. 12 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to various implementations of the present technology, 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. 
     As follows, a refrigerator according to an exemplary implementation will be described in reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     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 for convenience sake, although the present invention not limited thereto. 
     A first storage chamber  12  is provided 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 . The freezer chamber  12   b  and the refrigerator chamber  12   a  are arranged horizontally, that is, side by side. 
     A first door  20  is provided in the cabinet  10  to open and close the first storage chamber  12  selectively. A second storage chamber  40  is provided in the first door  20  to preserve food stuffs therein, and the second chamber  40  is opened and closed by a second door  30  selectively. 
     Each of the above configurations will be described in detail as follows. 
     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 . 
     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 space. That is, the second storage chamber  40  has the predetermined space positioned at inside of the first door  20  so that the second chamber  40  can be accessible from an outside of the first door  20 . In this implementation, the second storage chamber  40  is further accessible through an inside of the first door  20 , and the second storage chamber  40  is further accessible via a second door  30  coupled to the first door  20 . Another type of storage space, namely, a door basket  25  may be defined in the inner side 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 other words, the door basket  25  is not accessible via the second door  30  and it is accessible after the first door  20  is opened. 
     In some examples, the second storage chamber  40  is typically a predetermined surrounded space and it may include that a structure capable of providing cold air to the second storage chamber  40 . The second storage chamber 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 . A second communication part  48  in direct communication with an end  18  of a cold air duct positioned on the partition wall  14  of the cabinet  10 , may be defined in the second storage chamber  40 . 
     In reference to  FIG. 2 , the first door and the second door will be described in detail. 
     The first door  20  includes a securing part  21  (see,  FIG. 3 ) 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 in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
     The appearance of the second door  30  may be corresponding to the appearance of the first door  20 , although it may be otherwise configured. Especially, the width of the second door  30  may be substantially identical to the width of the first door  20  and the height of the second door  30  may be adjustable. The thickness of the second door  30  may be identical to the thickness of the securing part  21 . In this implementation, the position or the height of the second door  30  defined in a predetermined portion of the first door  20  is changed or adjusted, and 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. 
     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 located 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 needed in the first and second doors  20  and  30 . 
     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 . 
     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 . 
     The first door  20  opens and closes the first storage chamber  12  selectively and the second door  30  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. 
     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 . 
     Here, the rotational shaft of the first door  20  is parallel to the rotational shaft of the second door  30  and it is preferable that the rotational shafts of the first and second doors  20  and  30  are located on the same line, such that a single rotational shaft may be used to simplify an assembly structure of the refrigerator. 
     This configuration will be described in detail as follows. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a structure to selectively open and close the first door  20  and the second door includes a first connection member  110 , a second connection member  120  and a rotational shaft  130 . 
     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 . In this implementation, 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 a common rotational shaft for the first and second doors  20  and  30 . 
     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 . The lower second door rotational shaft  132  is connected to the coupling part  24  as shown in  FIG. 2 . The coupling part  24  may be 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 provided in a lower surface of the first door  20 , and the lower rotational shaft  134  is connected to a lower surface of the cabinet  10  by a third connection member  140 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
       FIG. 4A  shows a configuration of the upper structure in a close state of the first and second doors  20  and  30 . 
       FIG. 4B  shows a configuration of the upper structure in an open state of the first and second doors  20  and  30 . A 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 ), so the second storage chamber  40  is opened. 
       FIG. 4C  shows a configuration of the upper structure in an open state of the first door  20 . 
     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  28  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. 
     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. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , this implementation is similar to the previous implementation for example, two door structure, but, the structure to selectively open the first door  20  and the second door  30  is modified. For example, appearance of the securing part  21  of the first door  20  is modified. As shown in  FIG. 3 , in the previous implementation, an upper portion of the securing part  21  of the first door  20  is exposed such that the upper surfaces of the first and second doors  20  and  30  are at an identical level. In this implementation, 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 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a pair of rotational shafts for the first door  139  may be defined 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. 
     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  20  and an upper rotational shaft of the second door  30  may be on the same rotational shaft line. 
     In case of a structure of a securing part  21   a , 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 . 
       FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  show a handle  27  for the first door and a handle  37  for the second door provided on outer surfaces of the first and second doors  20  and  30 , respectively, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. As mentioned in the description of the above embodiment, the recess used as handles may be provided in the first and second doors, respectively. 
     The side by side type refrigerator is presented to describe the implementations and so, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The present invention is applicable to a top freezer type having a freezer chamber placed on a refrigerator chamber or a bottom freezer type having a freezer chamber arranged under a refrigerator chamber. Referring to  FIG. 7 , the present invention 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. Also, the present disclosure may be applicable to a refrigerator having a closable freezer chamber that is a drawer type and a refrigerator chamber having a pair of doors opened and closed with respect to a pair of vertical shafts. 
     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. Here, the present invention is not limited thereto. That is, 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. 
     The refrigerator may include another type of door that is rotatable along a predetermined rotational direction different from that of the first door. In reference to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , this case will be described in detail as follows. 
     Different from the above implementations, a refrigerator shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9  includes a third storage chamber and a third door  500  for selectively opening and closing the third storage chamber. Here, the third door  500  has a rotational direction that is different from the first door  20  and the second doors  30 , for example, perpendicular to the rotational direction of the first door  20  or the second door  30 . 
     The third storage chamber and the third door  500  will be described as follows. For convenient explanation sake, the refrigerator described in reference to  FIG. 2  may further include the third storage chamber and the third door  500 . 
     The third storage chamber is positioned in the first door  20  and it has a predetermined space for preserve food stuffs therein. The third storage chamber is typically configured to surround the defined space. That is, the third storage chamber has the predetermined space defined in the third door  500  and it is accessible from the outer side of the first door  20  basically. Not excluding that the third storage chamber is accessible from the inner side of the first door  20 , the third storage chamber is accessible via the third door  500  provided in the outer surface of the first door  20 . As configured of the surrounded space, the third storage chamber may have a structure allowing cold air to be supplied thereto. 
     As an example, the third storage chamber is functioned similarly to the second storage chamber  40 . Here, the second storage chamber  40  and the third storage chamber do not have to be separated physically and they form a single space, accessible via the second and third doors  20  and  500 , respectively. 
     Although it is possible that the second storage chamber  40  and the third storage chamber should be spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other, the second storage chamber  40  and the third storage chamber may be adjacent to each other, with configuration of a single space. The structure of the entire storage chamber may be simplified. 
     As mentioned above, the third door  500  may have the predetermined rotational direction different from the first door  20 , for example, perpendicular to the rotational direction of the second door  30 . Because of that, the third door  500  may be used as supporter in a state of being opened. This configuration enables re-categorized food stuffs. For example, having high usage frequency to be preserved in the second storage chamber  40  and the third storage chamber. 
     The coupling and opening/closing structure of the first, second and third storage chambers will be described as follows. 
     A first recess  26  recessed toward the cabinet, that is, the storage chamber is provided in a predetermined portion, for example, a lower portion of the first door  20 . A third recess  36  is adjacently beyond the first recess  26  and the third recess  36  is used as handle for the second door  30 . A fourth recess  500   a  is adjacently below the first recess  26  and the fourth recess  500   a  is used as handle for the third door  500 . 
     In addition, a fifth recess  26   a  recessed toward the cabinet, that is, the storage chamber of the refrigerator. A second recess  28   a  is adjacently below the fifth recess  26   a  and the second recess  28   a  is used as handle for the first door  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the third door  500  is coupled to the first door  20 , rotatable with respect to a horizontal shaft  510 . For example, an opening  520  is defined in a front surface of the first door  20  and the third door  500  is rotatably coupled to the opening  520 . That is, the rotational shaft  510  of the third door  500  is arranged horizontally, and the pair of the rotational shafts  510  may be arranged in the opening  520  of the first door  20 . 
     The installation structure of the handles for the first, second and third doors  20 ,  30  and  500  may not be limited. For example, as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , auxiliary handles  37  and  27  may be provided in outer surfaces of the first and second doors, respectively, and the handle for the third door  500  may be a push-spring type. Such a push-spring type handle is installed in the third door  500 . If the user pushes the third door  500 , the third door  500  is opened automatically. The structure of the push-spring type handle is well-known in the art to which the present disclosure pertains and the detailed description thereof will be omitted accordingly. 
     Alternatively the handle for the third door may be installed in an outer surface of the third door  500  and the push-spring type may be applicable to the first and second doors  20  and  30 . 
     As this implementation may not use the first recess  26  and the fifth recess  26   a  for handle installation, exterior beauty of the refrigerator may be enhanced. 
     In reference to  FIGS. 12 to 14 , a refrigerator will be described as follows. 
     A groove  550  recessed vertically is provided in a predetermined portion of the first door  20  and a first door recess  552  recessed horizontally and a second door recess  554  are provided in the groove  550  as shown  FIG. 13  and  FIG. 14 . A third door handle may be a push-spring type. Alternatively, it is possible to open and close the third door  500  by using a third door recess provided horizontally in the groove  550 . The corresponding drawings show that the recesses have a predetermined length. It is also possible to have the recesses along the entire length of the door. 
     Here, the above implementations may jointly use each structure of the handles. For example, the groove formed vertically, the recess formed horizontally and the push-spring structure. 
     It will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. For example, advantageous results still could be achieved if steps of the disclosed techniques were performed in a different order and/or if components in the disclosed systems were combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.