Abstract:
A refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to define an exterior boundary of the refrigerator. The refrigerator also includes a first storage chamber defined by interior walls of the cabinet and configured to store food stuffs. The refrigerator further includes a first door configured to open and close the first storage chamber by rotating about a rotational axis. In addition, the refrigerator 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.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean Application No. 10-2009-0049240, filed on Jun. 3, 2009, which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirely. 
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator structure. 
     BACKGROUND 
     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. 
     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 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 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. 
     The conventional refrigerator may have limitation of enlarging the size of the door storage chamber. Also, the conventional refrigerator may have a relatively complicated coupling structure of an auxiliary door coupled to the door to open and close the door storage chamber. 
     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 defined by interior walls of the cabinet and configured to store food stuffs. The refrigerator further includes a first door configured to open and close the first storage chamber by rotating about a rotational axis. In addition, the refrigerator 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. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the refrigerator further includes a rotational shaft coupled to the first door and the second door to establish the rotational axis. The rotational shaft includes an upper rotational shaft that is coupled to the first door and the second door. The refrigerator further includes a first rotational shaft coupled to the first door and a second rotational shaft coupled to the second door, wherein the first rotational shaft and the second rotational shaft establish the rotational axis. 
     In some examples, the refrigerator of claim further includes a first connection member configured to connect the rotational shaft to the cabinet. The refrigerator further includes a second connection member configured to connect the rotational shaft to the first door. The refrigerator further includes a securing part stepped toward the cabinet and configure to secure the second door. 
     The refrigerator further includes a freezer chamber located below the first storage chamber and a third door configured to open and close the freezer chamber. The second storage chamber comprises a home bar. The first door includes a recess configured to be used as a door handle. The second door includes a recess configured to be used as a door handle. A width of the second door is substantially identical to a width of the first door. 
     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. In addition, the refrigerator includes 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, and the first rotational axis is parallel to the second rotational axis. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the refrigerator further includes a first rotational shaft coupled to the first door and configured to establish the first rotational axis and a second rotational shaft coupled to the second door and configured to establish the second rotational axis. The refrigerator further includes a connection member configured to connect the first rotational shaft to the cabinet. 
     In some examples, a width of the second door is substantially identical to a width of the first door. The first rotational axis and the second rotational axis are substantially same. 
     In yet 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 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 or substantially same rotational axis of the first door, 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 connection member is configured to connect the first door to the cabinet and a second connection member is connected to the second door to the first door. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, The second connection member comprises a hinge. 
     In a further aspect, a refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to define an exterior boundary of the refrigerator with at least one opening therein and 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 plurality of first rotational axes. 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. In addition, the refrigerator includes a second door, located in a predetermined portion of the first door, configured to open and close the second storage chamber by rotating a plurality second rotational axes, wherein the first door and second door have at least one identical rotational axis. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the plurality of rotational axis includes a first rotational axis positioned at a left side of the first door and second door and a second rotational axis positioned at a right side of the first door and the second door. The first rotational axis configured to open and close the first door and the second door at a identical direction. The second door includes a recess configured to be used as a door handle and configured to open the second door in more than one rotation directions. 
     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 
         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; and 
         FIG. 7  is a view illustrating a refrigerator. 
     
    
    
     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 as an example. 
     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 . The freezer chamber  12   b  and the refrigerator chamber  12   a  may be arranged horizontally, that is, side by side. 
     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 . 
     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 inside of the first door  20  and the second chamber  40  is accessible from an outside of the first door  20 . In this implementation, the second storage chamber  40  is accessible through an inside of the first door  20 . The second storage chamber  40  is also 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 therefore, the door basket  25  may be 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 a structure capable of receiving cold air. 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 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 lower than a predetermined temperature. 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 communication part  48  defines at least one passage that the cold air passes through. 
     In reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the first door and the second door will be described in detail. 
     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 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. In some examples, 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 changeable. And, the thickness of the second door  30  may be identical to the thickness of the securing part  21 . In this implementation, although the position or the height of the second door  30  defined in a predetermined portion of the first door  20  is changed or adjusted, 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 ratably 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 do not 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 . 
     As shown in  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  selectively opens and closes the first storage chamber  12 , and the second door  30  selectively opens and closes the second storage chamber  40  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 . 
     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, such that only a single rotational shaft may be used to simplify an assembly structure of the refrigerator  1 . Alternatively, in one 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. 
     Furthermore, the first door  20  and the second door  30  can share the rotational shafts so that the user can open the first door  20  and the second door  30  in both directions. For example, if the user pull the right side of the first door  20 , the first door  20  is rotated with respect to the rotational shaft located in the left side, and if the user pull the left side of the second door  30 , the second door  30  is rotated with respect to the rotational shaft located in the right side. In this implementation, the rotational shafts located in the right side and the left side, respectively can be shared by the first door  20  and the second door  30 , the user can open the first door  30  and the door any rotational directions whatever the user wants. In this case, the second and third recesses  28  and  36  employed as handles as shown in  FIG. 3  may be recessed from the left side to entirely or left and right sides. 
     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 . 
     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  to open and close is defined in a lower surface of the second door  30 . The lower 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 defined 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. 4(   a ) shows a configuration of the upper structure in a close state of the first and second doors  20  and  30 . 
       FIG. 4(   b ) shows a configuration of the upper structure in a open state of the second door  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  as shown in  FIG. 3 , while the first door  20  not opened, and the second storage chamber  40  is thus opened. 
       FIG. 4(   c ) shows a configuration of the upper structure in a 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 the 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  as shown in  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   a  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 defined 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, the upper rotational shaft of the first door  139  and the upper rotational shaft of the second door  138  may be on the same rotational shaft line. 
     In case of the door structure as shown  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 . 
     The side by side type refrigerator is presented to describe the implementations and so, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The present disclosure 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 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 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. 
     Further, 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. 
     In addition, 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. Since the width of the first door  20  and the second door  30  is identical, the rotation width of the first door  20  and the second door  30  also may be identical. 
     Further, 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. 
     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.