Abstract:
The present invention relates to a door apparatus for a drawer for a drawer type refrigerator which can be put in and taken out from the interior of a main body of the refrigerator through guidance of rails. The door apparatus comprises a door with a thermally isolating layer; a frame disposed in the rear of the door to be simultaneously put in and taken out from the interior of the main body together with the door and provided with a storage space for accommodating stored goods; a rotating means for connecting the door to a front end of the frame and causing the door to rotate through a predetermined angle with respect to the frame; and a rotation limiting means for connecting the door to the frame and selectively limiting the rotation of the door. According to the present invention, a user can select and utilize a tilting function of the door.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a drawer type refrigerator, and more particularly, to a door apparatus for a drawer for a drawer type refrigerator constructed to take out an inner storage unit by pulling forward a door of the door apparatus for the refrigerator.  
       BACKGROUND ART  
       [0002]     Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication (Sho)57-125992 discloses a structure capable of causing a door of a door apparatus for a drawer for a drawer type refrigerator to be tilted at a predetermined angle. However, in the door apparatus disclosed in the Japanese publication, the door is in close contact with a main body of the refrigerator by means of a magnetic force of a gasket in a state where the door is closed. Thus, there is a problem in that the close contact of the door with the main body of the refrigerator is deteriorated and cold air in the refrigerator leaks out.  
         [0003]     Further, since the door is automatically pivoted even when tilting of the door is not required, there is a problem in that it is inconvenient to handle the door. If slits or guide pieces provided for guiding the tilting of the door are deformed by an external force, there is a problem in that the tiling operation of the door cannot be properly made.  
         [0004]     Moreover, in the prior art, there is another problem in that the door returning to its original state from its tilted state strongly strikes a storage unit provided in the rear of the door and thus an impact is exerted on the storage unit.  
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems. An object of the present invention is to enhance close contact of a drawer door with a main body of a drawer type refrigerator.  
         [0006]     Another object of the present invention is to allow a user to freely select and utilize a door tilting function of the door for the drawer type refrigerator.  
         [0007]     A further object of the present invention is to allow a tilting operation of the door to be smoothly made.  
         [0008]     A still further object of the present invention is to minimize an impact when the door returns to its original state from its tilted state.  
         [0009]     According to one aspect of the present invention for achieving these objects, there is provided a door apparatus for a drawer for a drawer type refrigerator which can be put in and taken out from the interior of a main body of the refrigerator through guidance of rails, comprising a door with a thermally isolating layer; a frame disposed in the rear of the door to be simultaneously put in and taken out from the interior of the main body together with the door and provided with a storage space for accommodating stored goods; a rotating means for connecting the door to a front end of the frame and causing the door to rotate through a predetermined angle with respect to the frame; and a rotation limiting means for connecting the door to the frame and selectively limiting the rotation of the door.  
         [0010]     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a door apparatus for a drawer for a drawer type refrigerator which can be put in and taken out from the interior of a main body of the refrigerator through guidance of rails, comprising a door with a thermally isolating layer; a frame disposed in the rear of the door to be simultaneously put in and taken out from the interior of the main body together with the door and provided with a storage space for accommodating stored goods; a rotating means for connecting the door to a front end of the frame and causing the door to rotate through a predetermined angle with respect to the frame; and a connection link including a plurality of links for connecting the door to the front end of the frame.  
         [0011]     According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a door apparatus for a drawer for a drawer type refrigerator which can be put in and taken out from the interior of a main body of the refrigerator through guidance of rails, comprising a door with a thermally isolating layer; a frame disposed in the rear of the door to be simultaneously put in and taken out from the interior of the main body together with the door and provided with a storage space for accommodating stored goods; hinge units of which each includes a plurality of links and exerts an elastic force so as to connect the door to a front end of the frame and cause the door to rotate through a predetermined angle with respect to the frame; and a rotation limiting means for connecting the door to the frame and selectively limiting the rotation of the door.  
         [0012]     According to a still further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a door apparatus for a drawer for a drawer type refrigerator which can be put in and taken out from the interior of a main body of the refrigerator through guidance of rails, comprising a door with a thermally isolating layer; a frame disposed in the rear of the door to be simultaneously put in and taken out from the interior of the main body together with the door and provided with a storage space for accommodating stored goods; a rotating means for connecting the door to a front end of the frame and causing the door to rotate through a predetermined angle with respect to the frame; and a shock-absorbing means provided between a rear face of the door and the front end of the frame for absorbing an impact generated when the door comes into close contact with the frame. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a refrigerator employing a preferred embodiment of a door apparatus for a drawer for a drawer type refrigerator according to the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the refrigerator employing the embodiment of the present invention in a state where a door of the door apparatus is tilted and pulled out;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing the inner configuration of the refrigerator employing the embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  are the configuration and operation of a hinge unit constituting the embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0017]      FIGS. 5   a  to  5   c  are operational views sequentially showing the relationship between a tilting lock and a locking portion in the embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a side view showing the configuration of another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is a side view showing the configuration of a further embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a partially cut-away side view showing the configuration of a still further embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing the configuration of a still further embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  is a view showing a use state where a door and a frame are coupled to each other in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view showing the configuration of a still further embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 12  is a view showing a use state where a door and a frame are coupled to each other in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 ;  
         [0025]      FIG. 13  is a partial side view showing the configuration of a still further embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 14  is a view showing a use state where tilting of a door is prevented in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 ;  
         [0027]      FIG. 15  is a partial side view showing the configuration of a still further embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0028]      FIGS. 16 and 17  are views showing the use of the embodiment of  FIG. 15 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0029]     Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a door apparatus for a drawer for a drawer type refrigerator will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0030]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a main body  10  of the refrigerator has an isolated inner space  12  that is thermally isolated from the outside. Doors  20  and  20 ′ are installed on a front face of the main body  10  so that the isolated inner space  12  can selectively communicate with the outside. In the illustrated embodiment, the door  20  is a drawer door provided at a lower portion of the main body  10 , and the door  20 ′ is constructed to be opened and closed while being horizontally pivoted on a hinge shaft provided at the right of the front face when a door handle  22 ′ of the door  20 ′ is pulled forward by a user.  
         [0031]     The door  20  is provided with a door handle  22  at an upper end of a front face thereof. The door  20  is a drawer type door that is opened when the user pulls forward the door handle  22 , and is particularly constructed to be tilted forward at a predetermined angle. Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the isolated inner space  12  can be opened by simply tilting the door  20  even without pulling forward the door  20 .  
         [0032]     Further, as shown in  FIG. 2 , when the door  20  is pulled forward, the whole door is opened so that a space for use in taking in and out foodstuffs becomes larger than that of a conventional one. Thus, it is apparent that there is convenience of use.  FIG. 2  shows a state where the door  20  is tilted at a predetermined angle.  
         [0033]     Next, a specific embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 3, 4   a  and  4   b.  A gasket  24  is provided along a marginal portion of a rear face of the door  20 . The gasket  24  is in close contact with the front face of the main body  10  to prevent leakage of cold air when the door  20  is closed. Reference numeral  26  designates a door pocket.  
         [0034]     Guide plates  28  are provided on both sides of a lower end of the rear face of the door  20 . The guide plates  28  are installed to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance from both ends of a frame  30  to be described later and functions to shied hinge units  40  to be described later.  
         [0035]     The support frame  30  is provided in the rear of the door  20 . The support frame  30  is coupled at a lower end thereof to the door  20  through the hinge units  40 . A basket  32  is supported within the frame  30 . Therefore, the basket  32  is put in or taken out from the main body  10  together with the door  20 . The frame  30  may have any configurations so far as it can support the basket  32 . In this embodiment, the frame  30  comprises both side plates  31  and a connection bar  31 ′ for connecting the side plates  31 . The connection bar  31  ′ connects upper portions of front ends of the side plates  31  to each other. The side plates  31  are formed to extend rearward and downward from upper portions of a front end of the frame  30 .  
         [0036]     Fixing rails  33  are provided on the side plates  31  of the frame  30 . The fixing rails  33  are provided with movable rails  34  to be guided by guide rails (not shown) provided on both sidewalls of the isolated inner space of the main body  10 , so that the door  20  can be opened and closed.  
         [0037]     Locking portions  36  are formed at the front end of the frame  30  to face the rear face of the door  20 . Each of the locking portions  36  is formed by cutting and bending a portion of the relevant side plate  31  of the frame  30 . The locking portions  36  have a predetermined length extending toward the rear face of the door . 20 .  
         [0038]     Next, the hinge units  40  for connecting the frame  30  to the door  20  will be explained with reference to  FIG. 4 . In this embodiment, each of the hinge units  40  comprises a plurality of links. That is, each of the hinge units  40  is constructed such that a door hinge portion  41  mounted on the rear face of the door  20  and a frame hinge portion  41 ′ mounted on the frame  30  are connected through first and second connection links  42  and  43  to the door so as to open and close the door  20 .  
         [0039]     One end of the first connection link  42  is installed on the door hinge portion  41  to be pivoted on a connection pin  42   p,  and the other end thereof is installed to penetrate through the frame hinge portion  41 ′. The frame hinge portion  41 ′ is constructed to have a “         -shaped” cross-section through which the fist connection link  42  penetrates.  
         [0040]     A spring  42  provided in the door hinge portion  41  is connected to the end of the first connection link  42 . The spring  42  provides the first connection link  42  with an elastic force so that the door  20  can vertically stand. A catching hook  42   h  is formed at the other end of the first connection link  42  to be caught by a stopper  45  provided in the frame hinge portion  41 ′ when the door  20  is fully tilted. The stopper  45  is installed such that both ends thereof are supported within the frame hinge portion  41 ′.  
         [0041]     One end of the second connection link  43  is installed on the door hinge portion  41  to be pivoted on a connection pin  43   p.  The other end of the second connection link  43  is installed to penetrate through the frame hinge portion  41 ′ in the same manner as the first connection link  42 . The other end of the second connection link  43  is formed with a catching surface  43   f  to be selectively caught by a catching pin  46  provided on the frame hinge portion  41 ′.  
         [0042]      FIG. 4   a  shows the first and second connection links  42  and  43  in a state where the door is not tilted, and  FIG. 4   b  shows them in a state where the door is fully tilted. In the fully titled state, the catching hook  42   h  of the first connection link  42  is caught by the stopper  45  and the catching surface  43   f  of the second connection link  43  is caught by the catching pin  46 .  
         [0043]     Tilting locks  50  are provided on portions of the rear face of the door  20  corresponding to the locking portions  36  of the frame  30 . The configuration of the tilting locks  50  is well shown in  FIGS. 5   a  to  5   c.  Each of the tilting locks  50  is formed through molding and comprises a base plate  52  fastened to the door hinge portion  41 . The base plate  52  is fastened to an upper end of the door hinge portion  41  by means of a fastening screw  50 ′. A resilient piece  54  is provided in the based plate  52  to extend from one side thereof. The resilient piece  54  is constructed to be elastically deformed in view of its shape and material and to extend from one end of the base plate  52  toward the other end thereof.  
         [0044]     One end of the resilient piece  54  is connected to the base plate  52  and the remainder thereof is formed to be spaced apart by a predetermined distance from a top surface of the base plate  52 . A top surface of the resilient piece  54  is formed with a leading guide surface  55  and a trailing guide surface  56 . A portion where the leading and trailing guide surfaces  55  and  56  meet each other is formed to have the highest height in order to form a locking step  57 . Here, a portion of the locking step  57  on the side of the leading guide surface  55  is slanted to catch the locking portion  36 , and a portion of the locking step  57  on the trailing guide surface  56  is slanted so that the locking portion  36  can smoothly slide thereon. The locking step  57  functions to prevent the door  20  from being tilted in such a manner that the portion of the locking step  57  on the side of the leading guide surface  56  is caught by the locking portion  36 .  
         [0045]     Meanwhile, the user can insert a spacer  58  between the base plate  52  and the resilient piece  54  of the tilting lock  50  to prevent the door  20  from being tilted. The spacer  58  prevents the resilient piece  54  from being elastically deformed and thus prevents the tilting of the door  20 . Such a spacer  58  is separately formed and stored in the door pocket  26  or the like so that the user can utilize it if necessary.  
         [0046]     A shock-absorbing member  60  is installed on a front face of the frame  30 , i.e. a face of the frame facing the rear face of the door  20 . The shock-absorbing member  60  functions to absorb an impact exerted on the frame  30  when the door  20  has been tilted and returns to its original state. The shock-absorbing member  60  may be installed on the rear face of the door  20 .  
         [0047]     The operation of the preferred embodiment of the present invention constructed as above will be described.  
         [0048]     In this embodiment, the user can select whether the door  20  is used to be tilted. That is, in a state where the door  20  stands vertically, the tilting lock  50  is caught by the locking portion  30  of the frame  30  as shown in  FIG. 5   a.  The locking portion  36  sits on the leading guide surface  55  formed in the resilient piece  54  of the tilting lock  50  so as to maintain a state where the locking portion is caught by the locking step  57 . Therefore, when the user pulls the door  20 , the tilting lock  50  provided in the door hinge portion  41  tends to move in a direction designated by an arrow A in the figure. However, the locking step  57  is caught and thus cannot pass by the locking portion  36 .  
         [0049]     In this state, the door  20  and the frame  30  are united with each other through the coupling of the locking portion  36  and the tilting lock  50 . Therefore, the door  20  is not tilted with respect to the frame  30  and pulled together with the frame  30  so that they are pulled out of the main body  10 .  
         [0050]     On the other hand, in order to tilt the door  20 , the door  20  should be pulled simply with a relatively large force. That is, the door  20  is pulled with such a force that the resilient piece  54  of the tilting lock  50  is caused to be elastically deformed by means of the locking portion  30 .  
         [0051]     In this state, the resilient piece  54  instantaneously becomes closer to the base plate  54  by means of the locking portion  30  so that the locking step  57  is released from the state where it is caught by the locking portion  30 .  FIG. 5   b  shows a state where the resilient piece  54  passes by the locking portion  30 , and  FIG. 5   c  shows the relationship between the tilting lock  50  and the locking portion  30  when the door  20  is tilted.  
         [0052]     Then, if the force pulling the door  20  is removed, the door  20  returns to its original state by means of a restoring force of the spring  42  of the hinge unit  40 . When the door  20  returns to its original state, the trailing guide surface  56  of the tilting lock  50  is guided along the locking portion  36 . Further, as the locking step  57  passes by the locking portion  36 , the resilient piece  54  is elastically deformed so that the door  20  can be completely closed. When the locking step  57  has passed by the locking portion  36 , the state shown in  FIG. 5   a  is established.  
         [0053]     In the meantime, in order to prevent the door  20  from being tilted regardless of a user&#39;s force pulling the door  20 , the spacer  58  is inserted into the tilting lock  50 . If the spacer  58  is inserted between the base plate  52  and the resilient piece  54  of the tilting lock as shown in a dotted line in  FIG. 5   a,  the resilient piece  54  is prevented from being elastically deformed and thus the tilting of the door  20  is avoided.  
         [0054]     Further, when the door  20  has been tilted and returns to its original state, the impact exerted on the frame  30  by the door  20  is absorbed by the shock-absorbing member  60 . Thus, even though the door  20  is strongly closed, the whole impact is not transmitted to the frame  30 .  
         [0055]     Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . In this embodiment, one side of the frame  30  that is connected to the rear face of the door  20 , i.e. the front face of the frame  30  facing the rear face of the door  20 , is formed with a close contact plate  136 . It is preferred that close contact plates  136  be provided on both sides of the front face of the frame  30 .  
         [0056]     The close contact plates  136  are formed to vertically stand and are portions with which the rear face of the door  20  comes into close contact when the door  20  is closed. Further, the frame  30  is made of a magnetic material and, for example, the close contact plates  136  may be formed of the same material as the frame  30  made of a sheet metal and also formed integrally with the frame  30 .  
         [0057]     Electromagnets  150  are installed at portions on the rear face of the door  20  which come into close contact with the close contact plates  136 . The electromagnets  150  themselves are constructed in the same manner as well-known electromagnets so that magnetic forces are generated upon supply of an electric current thereto. When the electric current is supplied to the electromagnets  150 , the magnetic forces are generated. The magnetic forces strongly attract the close contact plates  136  that are in close contact with the electromagnets  150  when the door  20  is closed.  
         [0058]     Therefore, since the close contact plates  136  are in strong and close contact with the electromagnets  150  upon supply of the electric current to the electromagnets  150 , the door  20  is substantially prevented from being tilted. If the handle  22  is pulled forward in such a state, the door  20  is slidably pulled out together with the support frame  30 .  
         [0059]     A switch or control button for controlling the electric current supplied to the electromagnets  150  can be installed on the handle  22 . Therefore, when the control button is pressed, the supply of the electric current to the electromagnets  150  is shut off so that the door  20  can be in a tiltable state. Further, since there is no operation of the control button  28  in a state where the door  20  is closed, the electric current is supplied to the electromagnets  150 . Thus, the door  20  can be in a locked state in which the door cannot be tilted.  
         [0060]     In this embodiment, if the user presses the control button installed on the handle  22  while opening the door  20 , the door  20  is in the tiltable state. If the handle  22  is pulled in such a state, the door  20  is tilted. If the user pulls the handle  22  without pressing the control button, the door  20  can be simply pulled out forward without the tilting thereof.  
         [0061]     Next, a further embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 7 . In this embodiment, solenoids  150 ′ are installed on the rear face of the door  20 . Each of the solenoids  150 ′ has a plunger  152  that moves upward and downward according to whether an electric current is supplied thereto. For example, the plunger  152  is maintained in an upward protruding state if the electric current is supplied to the solenoid  150 ′, whereas the plunger  152  moves downward if the supply of the electric current is shut off.  
         [0062]     The plunger  152  of the solenoid  150 ′ is disposed at a position corresponding to that of a rear surface of the relevant close contact plate  136  of the frame  30 . Further, the plunger  152  moves upward and downward so that whether the door  20  will be tilted can be determined depending on the supply of the electric current to the solenoid  150 ′.  
         [0063]     For example, if the plunger  152  moves upward in a state where the door  20  is closed, the plunger  152  is placed on the rear surface of the close contact plate  136  so that the door  20  cannot be tilted. When the user presses the control button  29  provided on the handle  20 , the plunger  152  moves downward not to engage the close contact plate  136  so that the door  20  can be in the tiltable sate.  
         [0064]      FIG. 8  shows a still further embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment employs a mechanism for determining whether the door  20  can be tilted. That is, a close contact piece  239  is provided at a front end of the frame  20 , and an operating lever  250  is installed to penetrate through the door  20  in a fore and aft direction so that it can be selectively caught by the close contact piece  239 .  
         [0065]     The operating lever  250  is installed such that both ends thereof are pivotable on a hinge shaft  251  within the door  20 . One end of the operating lever  250  protrudes beyond the front face of the door  20  to form an operating portion  253 . The operating portion  253  slantingly extends forward and downward of the door  20 . The other end of the operating lever  250  protrudes beyond the rear face of the door  20  to form a catching portion  254 . It is preferred that the catching portion  254  extend nearly vertically in a direction opposite to the extending direction of the operating portion  253 .  
         [0066]     The operating lever  250  is installed to pivot on the hinge shaft  251  in a specific direction by means of an elastic member (not shown). In this embodiment, it is preferred that the catching portion  254  of the operating lever  250  be supported by the elastic member to pivot in a direction in which the catching portion is caught by a rear surface of the close contact piece  239 .  
         [0067]     Therefore, the catching portion  254  is normally maintained in a state where it is caught by the rear surface of the close contact piece  239 . If the user grasps the operating portion  253  of the operating lever  250  and causes it to pivot upward, the catching portion  254  pivots downward on the hinge shaft  251  and thus is disengaged from the close contact piece  239 .  
         [0068]     At this time, it is preferred that the operating portion  253  of the operating lever  250  be installed at a position substantially close to the handle  22  of the door  20 , for example, at a position slightly below the handle so that the user can simultaneously grasp the operating portion when he/she grasps the handle  22 .  
         [0069]      FIG. 9  shows a still further embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a locking lever  339  is installed at one side of the frame  30 . The locking lever  339  is constructed such that a leading free end thereof can rotate about a rotation shaft  339   p  that is installed to penetrate through one side end of the frame  30 . The free end of the locking lever  339  is provided with a catching hook  340  formed through bending. A knob  342  is provided at a portion of the locking lever  339  corresponding to between the catching hook  340  and the rotation shaft  339   p.  Although the knob  342  takes the shape of a rod in this embodiment, any types of knobs may be used so far as the user can operate the locking lever  339  with his/her hand.  
         [0070]     A tilting lock  350  is provided on the door  20 . The tilting lock  350  is provided at an upper end of the door hinge unit  41 . A locking step  357  by which the catching hook  340  is caught is formed at one side of the tilting lock  350 . The locking step  357  is formed to protrude from one side of a top surface of the tilting lock  350 .  
         [0071]     In this embodiment, the catching hook  340  of the locking lever  339  is caught by the locking step  357  so that the door  20  and the frame  30  are fastened to each other, as shown in  FIG. 10 . That is, in a state where the rear face of the door  20  is in close contact with the front face of the frame  30 , the user grasps the knob  342  of the locking lever  339  of which the catching hook  340  is raised upward as shown in  FIG. 9  and rotates the locking lever about the rotation shaft  339   p  so that the catching hook  340  is caught by the locking step  357 .  
         [0072]     In a state where the catching hook  340  of the locking lever  339  is caught by the locking step of the tilting lock  350 , the door  20  cannot be tilted by the user and can be put in or taken out from the main body  10  together with the frame  30  that is united with the door  20 .  
         [0073]     A still further embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 11 . In this embodiment, a locking screw  440  is used for allowing the user to select the tilting of the door  20 . The locking screw  440  is stored in a storage hole  441  formed at a portion of a side plate  31  of the frame  30  in a normal condition, i.e. when the tilting of the door  20  is required.  
         [0074]     A locking hole  443  is formed at another portion of the side plate  31 . A fastening piece  454  of a tilting lock  450  to be described later is fastened to the locking hole  443  by means of the locking screw  440 . The tilting of the door  20  is prevented in such a way.  
         [0075]     The tilting lock  450  is installed on the door  20 . The tilting lock  450  comprises the fastening piece  454  and a mounting piece  452 . The fastening piece  454  functions to fasten the door  20  to the frame  30 , whereas the mounting piece  452  functions to mount the tilting lock  450  to the door  20 . The mounting piece  452  is mounted on the rear face of the door  20  by means of a mounting screw  450 ′.  
         [0076]     In this embodiment, the fastening piece  454  is formed to be perpendicular to one side of the mounting piece  452  and to extend rearward of the door  20 . A locking hole  455  is formed at a leading end portion of the fastening piece  454  so that it corresponds to the locking hole  443  when the rear face of the door  20  comes into close contact with the front face of the frame  30 .  
         [0077]     Meanwhile,  FIG. 12  shows a state where the door  20  and the frame  30  are fastened to each other. That is, this state corresponds to a state where the user makes a selection so that the door  20  cannot be tilted. When the rear face of the door  20  is in close contact with the frame  30 , the fastening piece  454  of the tilting lock  450  is positioned beside the side plate  31  of the frame  30 . Further, the locking hole  455  of the fastening piece  454  corresponds to the locking hole  443  formed in the side plate  31 .  
         [0078]     In such a state, the locking screw  440  that has been fastened to the storage hole  441  in the normal state is unscrewed and then screwed into the locking hole  443  of the side plate  31  after penetrating through the locking hole  455  of the fastening piece  454 . At this time, the door  20  and the frame  30  are fastened to each other to prevent the door  20  from being tilted.  
         [0079]      FIGS. 13 and 14  show a still further embodiment of the present invention. As shown in these figures, a connection link  540  is provided to connect the rear face of the door  20  to the frame  30 . The connection link  540  comprises a first link  541  and a second link  542  to be folded depending on the tilting of the door  20 . It is preferred that connection links  540  be provided at both side ends of the door  20 .  
         [0080]     A portion of the first link  541  is perforated to form a locking hole  543 . The locking hole  543  allows a fastener  550 , which will be described later, to penetrate therethrough and to fix a connection link  540 .  
         [0081]     The fastener  550  is provided in the side plate  31  of the frame  30 . A general screw can be used as the fastener  550 . The fastener  550  is normally stored in a storage hole  552 . The storage hole  552  is formed at a portion of the side plate  31  and has threads formed on an inner periphery thereof. Therefore, the fastener  550  can be fastened to and then stored in the storage hole  552 .  
         [0082]     Further, the side plate  31  is perforated to form a locking hole  553 . The locking hole  553  is formed at a relatively upper end of the side plate  31 . The locking hole  553  is formed at a position corresponding to that of the locking hole  543  of the first link  541  when the rear face of the door  20  comes into close contact with the frame  30 .  
         [0083]     In this embodiment constructed as above, the fastener  550  is placed in the storage hole  552  as shown in  FIG. 13  if the user wants to utilize the tilting function of the door  20 . In such a state, the door  20  can be tilted with respect to the frame  30 . Of course, if the fastener  550  is on a moving path of the second link  542 , the fastener  550  can regulate the degree of tilting of the door  20 .  
         [0084]     Meanwhile, if the user does not want to utilize the tilting of the door  20 , the first link  541  is fastened to the frame  30  by using the fastener  550  as shown in  FIG. 14 . That is, the locking hole  543  of the first link  541  corresponds to the locking hole  553  of the frame  30  when the rear face of the door  20  is in close contact with the frame  30 . In such a state, the fastener  550  is fastened to the locking hole  553  of the side plate  553  after penetrating through the locking hole  543 . At this time, since the connection link  540  is fastened to the frame  30  not to be folded, the door  20  is prevented from being tilted.  
         [0085]     FIGS.  15  to  17  show a still further embodiment of the present invention. As shown in these figures, a connection link  640  is provided to connect the rear face of the door to the frame  30 . The connection link  640  comprises a first link  641  and a second link  642  to be folded depending on the tilting of the door  20 . It is preferred that connection links  640  be provided at both side ends of the door  20 .  
         [0086]     A selection screw  650  is provided in the side plate  31  of the frame  30 . A general screw can be used as the selection screw  650 . The side plate  31  of the frame  30  is perforated to form a plurality of selection holes  652  including selection holes  652   a,    652   b,    652   c  and  652   d  to which the selection screw  650  is fastened. The selection holes  652  are formed in the side plate  31  in such a manner that they are arranged at a predetermined interval in an up and down direction. The selection holes  652  have threads formed on inner peripheries thereof. Therefore, the selection screw  650  is selectively screwed into one of the selection holes  652 .  
         [0087]     The selection screw  650  is on a moving path of the second link  642  when it is fastened to one of the selection holes  652 ; Therefore, the movement of the second link  642  is limited depending on the position of one of the selection holes  652  to which the selection screw  650  is fastened. In such a way, the degree of tilting of the door  20  can be regulated. Here, it is preferred that a head of the selection screw  650  be sized to catch the second link  642  and made of a material capable of absorbing an impact to a certain extent without being easily damaged by the second link  642 .  
         [0088]     Meanwhile, if the user fastens the selection screw  650  to a lowermost one of the selection holes  652 , the connection link  640  can be unfolded to a relatively large extent as shown in  FIG. 15 . Therefore, the degree of tilting of the door  20  becomes maximum.  
         [0089]     Moreover, if the selection screw  650  is fastened to the selection hole  652   b  that is the second from below as shown in  FIG. 16 , the degree of unfolding of the connection link  640  is relatively decreased and thus the degree of tilting of the door  20  is also decreased.  
         [0090]     If the selection screw  650  is fastened to the uppermost selection hole  652   d,  the amount of tilting of the door  20  becomes minimum as shown in  FIG. 17 . Alternatively, it is possible to design them in such a manner that the door  20  cannot be tilted if the selection screw  650  is fastened to the uppermost selection hole  652   d.    
         [0091]     The scope of the invention is not limited by the embodiments described above and is defined only 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 defined by the claims.  
         [0092]     Industrial Applicability  
         [0093]     According to the present invention described above, it is possible to obtain the following advantages in the tiltable door apparatus for the drawer for the drawer type refrigerator.  
         [0094]     First, since the user can select and utilize the tilting function of the door if desired, there is an advantage in that convenience of use is improved.  
         [0095]     Further, since the door is closed by means of the elastic forces of the hinge units in the present invention, there is an advantage in that close contact of the door with the main body of the refrigerator is improved to prevent leakage of cold air.  
         [0096]     Moreover, since the present invention employs the hinge units as the structure for tilting the door without using other structures for guiding the tilting of the door, the tilting operation of the door is not hindered by deformation of peripheral components and the like so that the reliability of the operation can be improved.  
         [0097]     According to the present invention, since the shock-absorbing member is disposed between the door and the frame so that it can absorb an impact exerted by the door when the door that has been tilted returns to its original state, the impact exerted on the frame is minimized.  
         [0098]     Finally, according to one embodiment of the present invention, since the user can select a variety of tilting angles of the door, there is convenience in properly tilting the door depending on conditions such as respective users or installation environments of the refrigerator.