Abstract:
A refrigerator including a body, a door movably coupled to the body, a gasket installed at a rear surface of the door to establish a gasket seal between the door and the body when the door is in a closed position, a first mount provided at a first location of the door located adjacent to a left edge portion of the door, a second mount provided at a second location of the door located adjacent to a right edge portion of the door, and a door opening device to cause the gasket seal to break between the door and the body, the door opening device including a pivoting member mounted to the door, first and second operating portions and a first push unit mounted to a first mount to press against the body when being pressed by the first operating portion of the pivoting member.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/585,298, filed Sep. 10, 2009 now U.S. Pat No. 7,984,955, which in turn claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2008-0105965, filed on Oct. 28, 2008 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Embodiments of the present invention relate to a refrigerator having an improved door opening configuration. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Generally, a refrigerator is an apparatus to store food at a low temperature, and includes a first storage compartment in which food is stored at a relatively low temperature, and a second storage compartment in which food is stored at a temperature higher than that of the first storage compartment. 
     The refrigerator includes a body internally defining storage compartments, such as the first and second storage compartments, doors provided at a front side of the body to open or close the respective storage compartments, and door handles provided at a front side of the respective doors. 
     A user may open or close the storage compartments by gripping the door handles provided at the front side of the respective doors. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a refrigerator having an improved door opening configuration. 
     Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the embodiments of the invention. 
     In accordance with one aspect, a refrigerator includes a body in which a storage compartment is defined, a door hingedly coupled to the body and serving to open or close the storage compartment, and a door opening device to open the door, the refrigerator further including a shield provided at a front surface of the door and serving to cover the door opening device, and the door opening device is mounted in a grip part defined in any one of an upper surface of the door, a lower surface of the door and a side surface of the door opposite to a hinge shaft of the door, and the door opening device includes a pivoting member having a pivoting shaft extending in a longitudinal direction of the grip part, a press portion extending from the pivoting shaft outward of the door, and an operating portion extending from the pivoting shaft inward of the door, and a push unit to push the body when being pressed by the operating portion of the pivoting member. 
     The pivoting shaft may be arranged parallel to any adjacent one of an upper rim and a lower rim of the door. 
     The push unit may be pressed by the operating portion, thereby acting to push a sidewall of the body. 
     The pivoting shaft may have a length corresponding to a distance between opposite sidewalls of the body, and the operating portion may include a first operating portion and a second operating portion provided at both ends of the pivoting shaft. The door may include a first mount and a second mount provided at positions corresponding to the first operating portion and the second operating portion. 
     The door may be selectively hingedly coupled to one of opposite sides of the body, to enable selective leftward or rightward opening of the door, and the push unit may be selectively installed to the first mount or the second mount based on an opening or closing direction of the door. 
     The push unit may include a supporting portion to come into contact with the press portion, and a push rod bent from the supporting portion to extend toward a rear surface of the door, and the first mount and the second mount respectively may include a seating portion on which the supporting portion is seated, and a passage through which the push rod penetrates. 
     The door opening device may further include an elastic member having one end supported by the supporting portion of the push unit and the other end supported on the door, and each of the mounts may further include an elastic member receiving recess defined in the seating portion to receive the elastic member. 
     The refrigerator may further include a gasket provided at the rear side of the door along a door rim, and a distance between the push rod of the push unit and the gasket may be in the range of about 2 mm to about 10 mm. 
     The shield may be integrally formed with a front panel of the door. 
     The shield may be connected to be level with a front panel of the door without a difference in height. 
     The pivoting shaft may be arranged parallel to a door rim opposite to the hinge shaft of the door, and the push unit may be pressed by the operating portion of the pivoting member, thereby acting to push the body. 
     The grip part may be defined in a door cap provided at an upper side of the door. 
     In accordance with another aspect, a refrigerator includes a body in which a storage compartment is defined, a door hingedly coupled to the body and serving to open or close the storage compartment, and a door opening device to open the door, the refrigerator further including a shield provided at a front surface of the door and serving to cover the door opening device, and the door opening device is mounted in a grip part defined in any one of an upper surface and a lower surface of the door and includes a pivoting member having a pivoting shaft extending in a longitudinal direction of the grip part, a press portion extending from the pivoting shaft outward of the door, and an operating portion extending from the pivoting shaft inward of the door, and a push unit to push the body when being pressed by the operating portion of the pivoting member. 
     In accordance with another aspect, a refrigerator includes a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment provided in upper and lower sides of a body, a first storage compartment door and a second storage compartment door hingedly coupled, respectively, to the upper and lower sides of the body, to open or close the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment, a first grip part and a second grip part defined, respectively, in a lower surface of the first storage compartment door and an upper surface of the second storage compartment door, and a first door opening device and a second door opening device mounted, respectively, in the first grip part and the second grip part. 
     In accordance with another aspect, a refrigerator includes a body in which a storage compartment is defined, a door to open or close the storage compartment of the body, a door opening device including a pivoting member to be pivotally rotated by an opening force applied forward from the rear of the door by a user, and a push unit to slide rearward from the front of the door by the pivoting member so as to push the body, and a shield provided at the front of the door and serving to cover the door opening device. 
     The pivoting member may include a press portion to which an opening force is applied by a user, a pivoting shaft coupled to the press portion and arranged parallel to one of an upper rim of the door, a lower rim of the door and a side rim of the door opposite to a hinge shaft of the door, and an operating portion coupled to the pivoting shaft and adapted to transmit the user opening force applied to the press portion to the push unit. 
     The pivoting member may be installed to the door such that a pivoting shaft thereof is parallel to one of the upper rim and lower rim of the door, and the push unit may be selectively installed to one of opposite sides of the door and serves to push a sidewall of the body. 
     In accordance with a further aspect, a refrigerator includes a body in which a storage compartment is defined, a door to open or close the storage compartment of the body, a grip part defined in any one of an upper surface of the door, a lower surface of the door and a side surface of the door opposite to a hinge shaft of the door, a pivoting member pivotally rotatably installed in the grip part, and a push unit to push the body when being pressed by the pivoting member. 
     The pivoting member may include a pivoting shaft extending in a longitudinal direction of the grip part, a press portion extending from the pivoting shaft outward of the door, and an operating portion extending from the pivoting shaft inward of the door. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other aspects of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of a refrigerator according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a side sectional view illustrating a configuration of the refrigerator according to the embodiment; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are perspective views illustrating a door opening device of the refrigerator according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 3C  is a partial enlarged view illustrating a rear surface of a second storage compartment door according to the embodiment; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are sectional views illustrating an operation of the door opening device according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 4C  is a rear perspective view of the door opening device according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 4D  is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of  FIG. 4C ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the refrigerator according to the embodiment, illustrating a door opening or closing direction different from that of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 6A and 6B  are front views illustrating an installation position of a push unit depending on a door opening or closing direction; and 
         FIGS. 7A and 7B  are, respectively, a perspective view and a front view illustrating a refrigerator according to another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an external appearance of a refrigerator according to one embodiment, and  FIG. 2  is a side sectional view illustrating a configuration of the refrigerator according to the embodiment. 
     As shown, the refrigerator according to the present embodiment includes a body  10  in which a plurality of storage compartments  20  and  30  is defined separately, doors  40  and  50  provided at the front of the plurality of storage compartments  20  and  30  to open or close the respective storage compartments  20  and  30 , cold air supply devices  60  provided in the respective storage compartments  20  and  30  and serving to supply cold air into the storage compartments  20  and  30 , and a machine room  61  provided in a rear lower region of the body  10  to receive electric devices, such as a compressor  62 , etc. 
     The refrigerator according to the present embodiment includes a refrigeration cycle comprised of the compressor  62 ; condenser (not shown), expander (not shown) and evaporator  63 , to produce cold air to be discharged via the cold air supply devices  60 . 
     The body  10  includes an inner shell  10   a  and an outer shell  10   b . A foam material  11  for heat insulation is filled between the inner shell  10   a  and the outer shell  10   b  of the body  10 . In this case, an external appearance of the body  10  is defined by an upper wall  12 , a lower wall  13 , a left sidewall  14 , a right sidewall  15  and a rear wall  16 . An intermediate partition  17  is further located in the body  10 , to separate the storage compartments  20  and  30  from each other. 
     The storage compartments  20  and  30 , separated from each other by the intermediate partition  17 , include a first storage compartment  20  located above the partition  17 , and a second storage compartment  30  located under the partition  17 . The respective storage compartments  20  and  30  are provided with shelves  21  and  31  and receiving drawers  22  and  32 , to assist fresh storage of food, etc. 
     The doors  40  and  50  include a first storage compartment door  40  and a second storage compartment door  50 . The first and second storage compartment doors  40  and  50  are provided at the front side of the respective first and second storage compartments  20  and  30  and are hingedly coupled to the same lateral side of the body  10 . The respective doors  40  and  50  are defined in several positions of an inner surface thereof with receiving spaces. 
     The refrigerator according to the present embodiment further includes door opening devices  100  and  100 ′ provided at the first storage compartment door  40  and second storage compartment door  50  and serving to facilitate easy opening of the respective doors  40  and  50 . For convenience, the following description will be concentrated on the door opening device  100  provided at an upper side of the second storage compartment door  50 . The door opening device  100 ′ provided at a lower side of the first storage compartment door  40  is symmetrical to the door opening device  100  provided at the upper side of the second storage compartment door  50  and thus, a description thereof will be omitted. Accordingly, if there is no special mention, the following description may be equally applicable to the door opening device  100 ′ provided at the lower side of the first storage compartment door  40 . 
       FIGS. 3A and 3B  are perspective views illustrating the door opening device of the refrigerator according to the embodiment, and  FIG. 3C  is a partial enlarged view illustrating a rear surface of the second storage compartment door according to the embodiment. 
     As shown, the refrigerator of the present embodiment includes the door opening device  100  provided at the upper side of the second storage compartment door  50 . The door opening device  100  includes a pivoting member  110  pivotally rotatably installed on the upper side of the second storage compartment door  50 , a push unit  120  to be slidably moved by the pivoting member  110  so as to push the body  10 , a mount  130  defined in the second storage compartment door  50  to receive the push unit  120 , and an elastic member  140  to elastically bias the push unit  120  toward a front surface of the door  50 . 
     The pivoting member  110  includes a pivoting shaft  111  arranged parallel to an adjacent rim of the door, i.e. an upper rim  51  of the second storage compartment door  50 , a press portion  112  extending from the pivoting shaft  111  outward of the second storage compartment door  50 , and an operating portion  113  extending from the pivoting shaft  111  inward of the second storage compartment door  50 . For reference, a pivoting member  110 ′ of the door opening device  100 ′ provided at the lower side of the first storage compartment door  40  is arranged such that a pivoting shaft  111 ′ thereof is parallel to a lower rim  41  of the first storage compartment door  40  (see  FIG. 6A ). 
     The pivoting shaft  111  is pivotally rotatably supported by supporting recesses  141  defined in the second storage compartment door  50  and supporting recesses  142  defined in a rear surface of a shield  150  which will be described hereinafter. 
     The operating portion  113  includes a first operating portion  113   a  and a second operating portion  113   b  provided at both ends of the pivoting shaft  111 . The press portion  112  is located between the first operating portion  113   a  and the second operating portion  113   b . As shown, the pivoting shaft  111  has a length corresponding to a distance between opposite sidewalls of the body  10 . The first operating portion  113   a  and second operating portion  113   b  may be arranged at positions corresponding to opposite sidewalls of the body  10 , i.e. the left sidewall  14  and right sidewall  15 . As will be described hereinafter, the door opening device of the present embodiment may be also applicable to a reversible door. 
     The push unit  120  includes a supporting portion  121  to come into contact with the press portion  112  of the pivoting member  110 , and a push rod  122  bent at a right angle from the supporting portion  121  to extend toward a rear surface of the second storage compartment door  50 . When the pivoting member  110  is manually pivotally rotated, the operating portion  113  of the pivoting member  110  presses the supporting portion  121  against an elastic force of the elastic member  140 , and the push rod  122  integrally formed with the supporting portion  121  slides rearward of the second storage compartment door  50  thus acting to push the left sidewall  14  of the body  10 . Reference numeral  123  indicates a spring support on which one end of the elastic member  40  is supported. 
     The push rod  122  is spaced apart from a gasket  55  installed at the rear surface of the door  50  by a predetermined distance g (see  FIG. 3C ), and the predetermined distance g may be in the range of about 2 mm to about 10 mm. If the distance g between the gasket  55  and the push rod  122  is less than 2 mm, there is a high possibility of interference between the push rod  122  and the gasket  55  upon sliding movement of the push unit  120 . If the distance g between the gasket  55  and the push rod  122  is more than 10 mm, this may excessively increase a width w of the sidewall  14  in contact with the gasket  55  and push rod  122 . 
     The mount  130  includes a first mount  130   a  and a second mount  130   b  provided at upper opposite ends of the second storage compartment door  50  to correspond to the first operating portion  113   a  and second operating portion  113   b  of the pivoting member  110 . As will be described hereinafter, the push unit  120  may be selectively mounted to the first mount  130   a  or the second mount  130   b  based on an opening or closing direction of the door. 
     The mounts  130   a  and  130   b  respectively include seating portions  131   a  and  131   b , on which the supporting portion  121  of the push unit  120  is seated, passages  132   a  and  132   b  to guide the push rod  122 , and elastic member receiving recesses  133   a  and  133   b  defined in the seating portions  131   a  and  131   b , in which the elastic member  140  to elastically support the push unit  120  is received. 
     The refrigerator of the present embodiment further includes the shield  150  provided at the front of the door opening device  100 . The shield  150  and a door frame  52  define a grip part  160  longitudinally defined in an upper surface of the second storage compartment door  50 . The door opening device  100  is arranged in the grip part  160  and both the door opening device  100  and the grip part  160  are invisible from the front of the refrigerator. Of course, similar to a conventional manner, a grip part may be defined in a door cap plane, and the door opening device may be installed to the grip part. In this case, it will be understood that the frame  52  and shield  150  of the present embodiment correspond to a door cap. 
     The pivoting member  110  of the door opening device  100  may be completely inserted in the grip part  160 , to allow the door opening device  100  to be completely invisible from the front of the refrigerator (see  FIGS. 4A and 4B ). However, a part of the pivoting member  110 , more particularly, a part of the press portion  112  may protrude upward from the shield  150  as necessary. 
     Although the shield  150  may be level with a front panel  53  of the second storage compartment door  50  without a difference in height in consideration of an aesthetic outer appearance and safety, there is no special limit in connecting methods between the shield  150  and the front panel  53  and configurations thereof. 
     For reference, although the shield  150  of the present embodiment is fabricated separately from the front panel  53  of the second storage compartment door  50 , the shield  150  may be integrally formed with the front panel  53  of the second storage compartment door  50  so as to constitute a part of the front panel  53 . Of course, the shield  150  may be integrally formed with the frame  52 . In this case, the pivoting member  110  and push rod  122  may have a slight change in installation configuration. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  are sectional views illustrating an operation of the door opening device according to the embodiment,  FIG. 4C  is a rear perspective view of the door opening device according to the embodiment, and  FIG. 4D  is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of  FIG. 4C . 
     As shown, if the press portion  112  of the pivoting member  110  is manually pressed forward, the pivoting member  110  is rotated about the pivoting shaft  111 . Rotation of the pivoting shaft  111  causes the operating portion  113  to press the supporting portion  121  of the push unit  120  against the elastic force of the elastic member  140 . As the pressed push unit  120  slides rearward of the second storage compartment door  50 , the push rod  122  of the push unit  120  pushes the sidewall  14  as a free sidewall of the body, i.e. a sidewall opposite to the hinge shaft  54  of the second storage compartment door  50  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     Accordingly, the refrigerator of the present embodiment enables door opening with a slight force based on leverage. In particular, the push rod  122  of the present embodiment pushes a free sidewall of the body  10  farthest from a pivoting center x of the door, i.e. the left sidewall  14  (see  FIG. 1 ) thus further reducing a required door opening force. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the refrigerator according to the embodiment, illustrating a door opening or closing direction different from that of  FIG. 1 , and  FIGS. 6A and 6B  are front views illustrating an installation position of the push unit depending on a door opening or closing direction. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the door of the present embodiment is a reversible door to optionally select a door opening or closing direction. Accordingly, the user may hingedly couple the door to the left sidewall or the right sidewall based on a wanted opening or closing direction. 
     In the refrigerator of the present embodiment, simultaneously with changing a door opening or closing direction, the configuration of the door opening device also may be easily changed. More specifically, the refrigerator of the present embodiment includes the first mount  130   a  and second mount  130   b  at opposite sides of the second storage compartment door  50  (see  FIG. 3 ) and therefore, the user may selectively install the push unit  120  to the first mount  130   a  or the second mount  130   b  based on an opening or closing direction of the second storage compartment door  50 . Accordingly, even in the case of the reversible door, effective use of the door opening device according to the present embodiment may be assured via appropriate change in the installation position of the push unit. That is, regardless of an opening or closing direction, the push rod  120  of the present embodiment may be arranged to push a sidewall farthest from a pivoting center of the door. 
     For reference, the refrigerator shown in  FIG. 6A  is a left opening type refrigerator as shown in  FIG. 1  and in this case, the push unit  120  will be located at a left upper end of the second storage compartment door  50 . On the other hand, the refrigerator shown in  FIG. 6B  is a right opening type refrigerator as shown in  FIG. 5  and in this case, the push unit  120  will be located at a right upper end of the second storage compartment door  50 . In  FIG. 5 , reference numerals  71  and  72  indicate coupling holes for hinge brackets  74  and  75  for coupling of a left opening/closing type hinge, and reference numeral  73  indicates a coupling hole for a hinge shaft (not shown) for coupling of the left opening/closing type refrigerator. 
     In the refrigerator of the present embodiment, as described above, no visible handle is used and also, any recess and door opening device for easy opening of the door are completely invisible from the front of the refrigerator, resulting in enhanced aesthetic value of the entire refrigerator. That is, as compared to a conventional refrigerator wherein a door handle or door opening device is located at a front surface of a door, the refrigerator according to the present embodiment allows the door opening device to be invisible from the front of the refrigerator thus having the effect of improving the external appearance of the refrigerator. 
     Further, in the case where a handle is attached to the front surface of the door to thereby be revealed to the front of the door, the handle causes serious inconvenience in packaging and transportation of the refrigerator. However, the refrigerator of the present embodiment provides a level door front surface thus achieving considerably easy packaging and transportation of the refrigerator. That is, the refrigerator of the present embodiment may improve the distribution efficiency of the refrigerator. 
     Not attaching the door handle or the door opening device to the front surface of the door, furthermore, may provide not only improved space utility with relation to the surrounding space of the refrigerator, but also reduction in material costs and assembly costs required to attach the handle. 
     In the refrigerator of the present embodiment, a door opening force is applied to a sidewall farthest from a pivoting center of the door. This configuration allows even a very heavy door to be opened with a slight force, resulting in enhanced use convenience. 
     In addition, since the refrigerator of the present embodiment assures easy change in the installation position of the push rod of the door opening device, the door opening device may be effectively used even when a door opening or closing direction is changed. In other words, the user may easily change the position of the push rod so as to push a sidewall farthest from a pivoting center of the door based on a door opening or closing direction. 
       FIGS. 7A and 7B  are, respectively, a perspective view and a front view illustrating a refrigerator according to another embodiment. For reference, the same elements and configurations as those of the previously described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and a description thereof will be omitted. 
     As shown, door opening devices  200  and  200 ′ of the present embodiment are located at free ends of the first storage compartment door  40  and second storage compartment door  50 , i.e. at an opposite side of the hinge shaft  54 . 
     Specifically, a pivoting member  210  of the door opening device  200  provided at the free end of the second storage compartment door  50  according to the present embodiment is arranged such that a pivoting shaft  211  thereof is parallel to a free end rim of the door  50 . In this case, a press portion  212  of the pivoting member  210  extends from the pivoting shaft  211  outward of the second storage compartment door  50 , and an operating portion  213  extends from the pivoting shaft  211  inward of the second storage compartment door  50 . A shield  250  to cover the door opening device  200  is provided at the front of the door opening device  200 . Also, a first mount  230   a  and a second mount  230   b  are provided at upper and lower ends of the free end rim of the second storage compartment door  50 . Accordingly, in the present embodiment, a pair of the push units  120  is installed to both the first mount  230   a  and the second mount  230   b , respectively. 
     Various other modifications of the above-described embodiments may be naturally possible. For example, there is no limit in the number of the storage compartments defined in the body. Also, the refrigerator according to the embodiments may naturally be applied to a double-door type refrigerator. 
     In addition, the door opening device described herein is an exemplary door opening device, a front side of which is covered by a shield, and there is no limit in the configuration of the door opening device. 
     As is apparent from the above description, a refrigerator according to the embodiments has the following technical advantages. 
     First, a grip part used to open or close a door and a door opening device is invisible from the front of the refrigerator, resulting in an improved outer appearance of the refrigerator. 
     Secondly, the refrigerator has no handle attached to, for example, a front surface of a door, and this has the effect of reducing material costs and assembly costs. The elimination of the handle protruding forward from the door may be advantageous in view of packaging and transportation of the refrigerator thus resulting in enhanced distribution efficiency. 
     Thirdly, provision of the door opening device assures easy door opening with a slight force and consequently, enhancement of user convenience. In particular, the door opening device is adapted to transmit an opening force to a sidewall of the refrigerator farthest from a pivoting center of the door thus enabling door opening with a further reduced force. 
     Fourthly, the door opening device according to the embodiments is applicable to a reversible door. Specifically, the configuration of the door opening device may be changed based on a door opening direction for the purpose of effective door opening, and this configuration change may be simply accomplished even by a user. 
     Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.