Patent Publication Number: US-9845628-B2

Title: Refrigerator

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2014-0182070, filed on Dec. 17, 2014, and 10-2014-0182071, filed on Dec. 17, 2014 which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure generally relates to a refrigerator. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A refrigerator is an apparatus keeping foods fresh using cold air generated by a refrigeration cycle. For example, a refrigerator may include a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. 
     SUMMARY 
     In general, one innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a refrigerator that includes a cabinet; a storage compartment located within the cabinet; a first door pivotally mounted to the cabinet, the first door configured to open or close a first portion of the storage compartment; a second door pivotally mounted to the cabinet, the second door configured to open or close a second portion of the storage compartment; a pillar pivotally mounted to the first door and configured to block leakage of cold air between the first door and the second door; a pillar boss protruding outward from the pillar; a guide recess configured to guide the pillar boss; and a rotator that defines the guide recess, the rotator being configured to rotate about a rotation axis. 
     The foregoing and other embodiments can each optionally include one or more of the following features, alone or in combination. In particular, one embodiment includes all the following features in combination. The guide recess includes an insertion portion configured to receive the pillar boss; a first slope coupled to the insertion portion, the first slope having a convex shape; and a second slope coupled to the insertion portion, the second slope having a concave shape. The rotator is configured to rotate in a first direction based on closing force of the second door. The refrigerator further includes a protruding member protruding from the rotator, wherein the protruding member is configured to contact the second door and the rotator is configured to rotate in the first direction based on the closing force of the second door. The second slope is configured to guide the pillar boss and the pillar is configured to be unfolded based on a first rotation of the rotator in the first direction. The refrigerator further includes an elastic member coupled to the rotator and configured to rotate the rotator in a second direction based on elastic force of the elastic member. The refrigerator further includes a first guide configured to guide the elastic member, the elastic member being fitted to the first guide; a second guide configured to guide the first guide; an expanded portion coupled to one end of the first guide, a diameter of the expanded portion being larger than a diameter of the first guide; and a through-hole in the second guide, the through-hole being configured to fit the other end of the first guide, wherein the expanded portion is connected to the rotator. The first slope is configured to guide the pillar boss and the pillar is configured to be folded based on a second rotation of the rotator in the second direction. The elastic force of the elastic member is configured to be smaller than the closing force of the second door. The pillar includes a pillar spring configured to retain a position of the pillar, and wherein the elastic force of the elastic member is configured to be larger than inertia force of the pillar spring. The pillar boss is configured to, based on opening force of the first door, slide on the first slope and exit the insertion portion, and the pillar is configured to be folded after the pillar boss exits the insertion portion. The pillar boss is configured to, based on closing force of the first door, enter the insertion portion and inwardly slide on the second slope, and the pillar is configured to be unfolded based on the pillar boss sliding on the second slope. The elastic member includes two elastic member units and the first guide includes two first guide units, and the protruding member is located between the two elastic member units. The elastic member is spaced apart from the rotation axis in relation to the rotator. 
     In general, another innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in a refrigerator that includes a cabinet; a storage compartment located within the cabinet; a first door pivotally mounted to the cabinet, the first door configured to open or close a first portion of the storage compartment; a second door pivotally mounted to the cabinet, the second door configured to open or close a second portion of the storage compartment; a pillar rotatably mounted to the first door and configured to seal a gap between the first door and the second door; a rotator rotatably mounted to a ceiling of the storage compartment, the rotator rotating in a first direction based on closing force of the second door; and an elastic member configured to rotate the rotator in a second direction based on elastic force of the elastic member, wherein the pillar is configured to be unfolded based on a first rotation of the rotator in the first direction, and is configured to be folded based on a second rotation of the rotator in the second direction. 
     The foregoing and other embodiments can each optionally include one or more of the following features, alone or in combination. In particular, one embodiment includes all the following features in combination. The refrigerator further includes a pillar boss protruding outward from the pillar; and a guide recess that is coupled to the rotator and that is configured to guide the pillar boss. The guide recess includes: an insertion portion configured to receive the pillar boss; a first slope, having a convex shape, configured to guide the pillar boss being removed from the insertion portion; and a second slope, having a concave shape, configured to guide the pillar boss being inserted into the insertion portion. The guide recess rotates in the second direction and the first slope is configured to rotate the pillar boss in the first direction based on opening force of the second door. The guide recess rotates in the first direction and the second slope is configured to rotate the pillar boss in the second direction based on closing force of the second door. The rotator is configured to rotate in the first direction to a maximum extent and remain static after the second door is closed. 
     Particular embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented so as to realize one or more of the following advantages. Compared to a conventional refrigerator, a refrigerator prevents interference between a pillar and a vegetable box or a door basket by folding the pillar when a door is opened. Thus, the refrigerator is more usable and has more storage capacity when the door is opened. 
     The details of one or more embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an example refrigerator. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating an example pillar, an example protruding member, an example rotator, and an example housing. 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating an example protruding member, an example rotator, and an example housing. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram illustrating an example protruding member, an example rotator, and an example housing. 
         FIG. 5  is a diagram illustrating an example state representing that a first door and a second door are closed. 
         FIG. 6  is a diagram illustrating an example state representing that a first door is being opened. 
         FIG. 7  is a diagram illustrating an example representing state that a first door is completely opened. 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating an example state representing that a first door and a second door are closed. 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating an example state representing that a second door is being opened. 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating an example state representing that a second door is opened. 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating another example state representing that a second door is opened. 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating an example state representing that a second door is being closed. 
         FIG. 13  is a diagram illustrating an example state representing that a second door is closed. 
         FIG. 14  is a diagram illustrating an example state representing that a first door and a second door are closed. 
         FIG. 15  is a diagram illustrating an example state representing that the first door is being opened. 
         FIG. 16  is a diagram illustrating an example state representing a first door is completely opened. 
         FIG. 17  is a diagram illustrating an example state representing that a first door and a second door are closed. 
         FIG. 18  is a diagram illustrating an example state representing that a second door is being opened. 
         FIG. 19  is a diagram illustrating an example state representing that a second door is opened. 
         FIG. 20  is a diagram illustrating another example state representing that a second door is opened. 
         FIG. 21  is a diagram illustrating an example state representing that a second door is being closed. 
         FIG. 22  is a diagram illustrating an example state representing that a second door is closed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an example refrigerator. The refrigerator  10  may include a cabinet  1  defining an external appearance of the refrigerator  10 , a storage compartment  2  defined inside the cabinet  1 , a first door  31  and a second door  32  pivotally provided respectively at the left and right sides of the cabinet  1  in order to open or close the storage compartment  2 , a pillar  4  provided at the first door  31 , a pillar boss  41  formed on the top of the pillar  4 , and a rotator  51  having a guide recess  510  configured to guide the pillar boss  41 . 
     The refrigerator  10  includes the pillar  4 . The pillar  4  is unfolded to seal a gap between the doors  31  and  33  in a state in which both the doors  31  and  33  are closed, and the pillar  4  is folded in a state in which at least one of the doors  31  and  33  is opened. 
     The storage compartment  2  represents a space in which storage items may be stored. In some implementations, the storage compartment  2  may include a freezing compartment in which storage items are stored at a temperature below the freezing point, and a refrigerating compartment in which storage items are stored at a temperature above the freezing point. 
     The storage compartment  2  may include a shelf  21  on which the storage items may be placed, and a vegetable box  23  which is configured to receive storage items therein and to be pulled out of the storage compartment  2 . 
     The doors  31  and  33  may prevent the leakage of cold air supplied into the storage compartment  2 . The doors  31  and  33  may include the first door  31 , which is hinged to the left side of the cabinet  1  and is pivotable, and the second door  33  which is hinged to the right side of the cabinet  1  and is pivotable. 
     Each of the first door  31  and the second door  33  may be provided at a rear surface thereof with a door basket  311  so as to receive storage items therein. 
     In addition, a gasket  331  is provided at the periphery of the rear surface of each of the first door  31  and the second door  33 , and prevents cold air from being discharged between the doors  31  and  33  and the cabinet  1 . 
     In some implementations, the pillar  4  can be coupled to the first door  31 . In some other implementations, the pillar  4  can be coupled to the second door  3 . Other components may correspondingly be provided and operated in the opposite configuration. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the pillar  4  takes the form of an elongated bar. That is, the pillar  4  is long in the vertical direction and wide in the horizontal direction. The pillar  4  may incorporate a pillar spring therein, and the elastic force of the pillar spring becomes minimum force that must be supplied to the pillar  4  configured to allow the pillar  4  to be folded or unfolded. 
     In some implementations, a first angle can be set. The first angle represents an angular range to cause the pillar  4  to be changed between a folded state and an unfolded state. Thus, when external force is applied to exceed the first angle and the pillar  4  is in the unfolded state, the pillar  4  is folded. Contrary, when external force is applied to exceed the first angle and the pillar  4  is in the folded state, the pillar  4  is unfolded. 
     Although the pillar boss  41  may have a circular pole shape, the pillar boss  41  may have an oval pole shape in order to increase the radius of curvature. 
     The pillar boss  41  protrudes from the top of the pillar  4 . The pillar  4  incorporates a pillar boss spring therein to support the pillar boss  41  such that the pillar boss  41  is movable up and down. 
     Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the pillar boss  41  from being damaged while being guided to the guide recess  510 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the guide recess  510  has a prescribed space configured to guide the pillar boss  41 . 
     The guide recess  510  includes an insertion portion  513  which is open for the insertion of the pillar boss  41 , a first slope  511  which is connected to the insertion portion  513  and is located close to the doors  31  and  33 , the first slope  51  being convex rearward, and a second slope  512  which is connected to the insertion portion  513  and is located far from the doors  31  and  33 , the second slope  512  being concave forward. 
     In some implementations, the guide recess  510  may include the insertion portion  513  which is open to allow the insertion and removal of the pillar boss  41 , the first slope  511  which is configured to guide the pillar boss  41  when the pillar boss  41  is removed from the insertion portion  513 , and the second slope  512  which is configured to guide the pillar boss  41  when the pillar boss  41  is inserted into the insertion portion  513 . 
     The prescribed space is defined between the first slope  511  and the second slope  512  so as to guide the pillar boss  41 . The first slope  511  is convex and the second slope  512  is concave. 
     The insertion portion  513  is wider than the pillar boss  41 . This prevents the pillar boss  41  from being damaged by colliding with the periphery of the insertion portion  513  when the pillar boss  41  is inserted into the insertion portion  513  due to the assembly tolerance of the doors  31  and  33  and the assembly tolerance of the pillar  4 . 
     The rotator  51  includes the guide recess  510 , and is provided below housings  55  and  56 , as will be described below, which are installed at the ceiling of the storage compartment  2 , so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis C. Since the housings  55  and  56  are not essential to the present invention, the rotator  51  may be rotatably provided at the ceiling of the storage compartment  2 . In addition, the guide recess  510  may be formed in an inner case of the storage compartment  2 . 
     In addition, the rotator  51  may take the form of a fan-shaped plate. In this example, a straight portion of the fan-shaped rotator  51  is configured so as not to protrude forward from a top surface of the storage compartment  2  even if the rotator  51  is rotated, thus having no risk of interference with the doors  31  and  33 . 
     The storage compartment  2  may have a concavely stepped fixing portion at the ceiling thereof, and the rotator  51  and the housings  55  and  56  may be provided at the fixing portion. In this example, the rotator  51  and the housings  55  and  56  may be placed on the same plane as the top surface of the storage compartment  2 . 
     As definitions related to rotation directions, when viewing the rotator  51  from the top side, the counterclockwise direction or the right-handed screw direction is referred to as a first direction R, and the clockwise direction or the left-handed screw direction is referred to as a second direction L. The first direction R and the second direction L are applied not only to the rotation of the rotator  51 , but also to the rotation of the pillar  4 . 
     In some implementations, the refrigerator  10  may further include a protruding member  53  connected to the rotator  51  and an elastic member  571  connected to the rotator  51 . 
     The protruding member  53  is configured to protrude downward from the rotator  51 . There is the rotation axis C between the guide recess  510  and the protruding member  53 . That is, in one embodiment of the present invention, when viewing the rotator  51  from the top side, the guide recess  510  is located at the left side of the rotator  51  and the protruding member  53  is located at the right side of the rotator  51 . 
     In addition, the protruding member  53  may be spaced apart from the rotation axis C to the maximum extent, so as to allow more torque to be applied when force is supplied in order to rotate the rotator  51 . 
     Accordingly, the protruding member  53  comes into contact with the second door  33  when the second door  33  is closed, and is pushed rearward by the closing force of the second door  33 , thereby rotating the rotator  51  in the first direction R. 
     In this example, the protruding member  53  may be in contact with a pusher which protrudes from the rear surface of the second door  33 , or may be in contact with the door basket  311  provided at the rear surface of the second door  33 . 
     The protruding member  53  may be rotatably provided in a protruding member fitting hole  515  formed in the rotator  51 . In some implementations, the protruding member  53  may be integrally formed at the underside of the rotator  51 . 
     In some other implementations, the elastic member  571  provides elastic force required to allow the rotator  51  to be rotated in the second direction L. 
     The elastic member  571  may include a spring. 
     The rotation axis C may be present between the guide recess  510  and the elastic member  571 . That is, the elastic member  571  is located at the right side of the rotator  51 . 
     In this example, the elastic member  571  is compressed when the rotator  51  is rotated in the first direction R, and returns to an original state thereof when the rotator  51  is rotated in the second direction L. That is, the rotator  51  is rotated in the second direction L using the compressive elastic force of the elastic member  571 . 
     In some implementations, in order to enhance the operation ability of the elastic member  571 , the refrigerator  10  may further include the housings  55  and  56  installed at the ceiling of the storage compartment  2 , and guides  573  and  567  for the elastic member  571  provided inside the housings  55  and  56 . 
     The housings  55  and  56  include the upper housing  56  and the lower housing  56 . The rotator  51  is provided on a lower surface of the lower housing  55  so as to be rotatable about the rotation axis C. 
     The guides  573  and  567  are provided inside the housings  55  and  56 , and include the first guide  573  into which the elastic member  571  is fitted, and the second guide  567  formed in the lower housing  55  in order to guide the first guide  573 . 
     The second guide  567  has a through-hole  567   a  into which one end of the first guide  573  is fitted so as to be guided. 
     The first guide  573  is coupled to an expanded portion  573   a . For example, one end of the first guide  573  can be coupled to the expanded portion  573   a . The expanded portion  573   a  may have a greater diameter than the first guide  573  so as to prevent the elastic member  571  from being removed from the first guide  573 . 
     As such, the elastic member  571  fits the first guide  573 , and in turn, the first guide  573  fits the through-hole  567   a  so as to be guided in the front-and-rear direction. With this guidance, the elastic member  571  is compressed between the expanded portion  573   a  and the through-hole  567   a.    
     In some implementations, in order to enhance the elastic force of the elastic member  571 , the elastic member  571  may include two elastic member units. Thus, in order to guide the two respective elastic member units, two first guide units, two expanded portions, two second guides, and two through-holes may be provided. 
     In this example, the two expanded portions  573   a  may be integrally formed with each other, which allow the two elastic members  571  to be moved in the same manner. 
     In some implementations, where the elastic members  571  and the guides  573  and  567  are provided inside the housings  55  and  56 , the refrigerator  10  may further include a linkage member  58  configured to connect the expanded portions  573   a  and the rotator  51  to each other, and a third guide  555  formed in the lower housing  55  to enable the movement of the linkage member  58 . 
     As such, the elastic force of the elastic members  571  may be transmitted to the rotator  51  so as to rotate the rotator  51 . 
     The third guide  555  takes the form of an elongated rectangular hole having a prescribed length in the front-and-rear direction, the third guide  555  being perforated in the lower surface of the lower housing  55  and serving to allow the linkage member  58  to be linearly moved in the front-and-rear direction. 
     In addition, in one embodiment of the present invention, as the protruding member  53  and the linkage member  58  are directly connected to each other using the same shaft, forces to rotate the rotator  51  in different directions are present on the same shaft. 
     As such, when the rotator  51  is rotated, unsmooth rotation, for example, rattling of the rotator  51 , which is caused by opposite forces applied at different distances from the rotation axis C, may hardly occur. 
     In this example, the protruding member fitting hole  515  must be perforated in the rotator  51  so as to have a prescribed area, in order to ensure that the rotating shaft of the protruding member  53  connected to the rotator  51  is movable inside the protruding member fitting hole  515 . This is because the linkage member  58  is linearly moved in the front-and-rear direction by the third guide  555  and the protruding member  53  connected to the rotator  51  is rotated, which causes the protruding member  53  and the linkage member  58  to conflict with each other when connected using the same shaft. 
     Accordingly, as the rotating shaft of the protruding member  53  is movable in the protruding member fitting hole  515 , the protruding member  53  is also linearly movable in the front-and-rear direction. 
     In addition, the lower housing  55  may have a fourth guide  553  perforated therein in order to prevent the rotator  51  from falling down from the housings  55  and  56  and to guide the rotation of the rotator  51 , and the rotator  51  may further include a support piece  513 ′ which is connected to the rotator  51  through the fourth guide  553  so as to be guided by the fourth guide  553 . 
     In the refrigerator  10 , the protruding member  53  may include a flat contact portion  531  configured to have the surface in contact with the second door  33  or the pusher. 
     That is, the protruding member  53  may have a semicircular pole shape, and the contact portion  531  may be formed as a flat surface formed at the diameter of a semicircle. 
     The contact portion  531  may incorporate a first magnet therein, and a second magnet may be incorporated inside the pusher. The first magnet and the second magnet have different polarities so as to be attracted to each other. 
     As such, when the second door  33  is opened, the protruding member  53  is pulled, by the pusher, in the direction in which the second door  33  is opened, and correspondingly, the rotator  51  is rotated in the second direction L. 
     Through provision of the guide recess  510 , the pillar  4  is operated so as to be unfolded when the pillar boss  41  is inserted into the guide recess  510 , and is operated so as to be folded when the pillar boss  41  is removed from the guide recess  510 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates an example state representing that a first door and a second door are closed.  FIG. 6  illustrates an example state representing that a first door is being opened.  FIG. 7  illustrates an example representing state that a first door is completely opened. The folding and unfolding operations of the pillar  4  upon the opening and closing of the first door  31  and the second door  33  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 5-7 . 
     First, a folding configuration of the pillar  4  when the first door  31  is opened and an unfolding configuration of the pillar  4  when the first door  31  is closed will be described. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in a state in which the second door  33  is closed, the protrusion  53  is moved rearward to the maximum extent by the second door  33 , and the rotator  51  is static in a state in which it is rotated in the first direction R to the maximum extent. In addition, as described above, the guide recess  510  is located at the left side of the rotator  51 . 
     In this example, the first door  31  is being opened. As the first door  31  is being opened, the pillar boss  41  slides on the first slope  511  (see  FIG. 6 ) and passes through the insertion portion  513 , thereby being removed from the guide recess  510  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
     Since the first slope  511  is convex rearward, the pillar boss  41  is rotated in the first direction R, and larger force than the elastic force of the pillar spring provided inside the pillar  4  is applied to the pillar boss  41 , thus causing the pillar  4  to be folded. That is, folding torque applied to the pillar boss  41  by the first slope  511  must be larger than the elastic force of the pillar spring described above. 
     In some implementations, once the pillar boss  41  has been removed from the insertion portion  513 , the pillar  4  is rotated more than the first angle, thereby being folded. 
     Accordingly, as the pillar  4  is folded as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 6 , when the first door  31  is opened, the pillar  4  hardly collides with the second door  33  or the door basket  311  of the second door  33 , and the pillar  4  hardly protrudes from the side surface of the second door  31 , which may improve the aesthetic appearance of the refrigerator  10 . 
     Although not illustrated in the drawings, in comparison, the first door  31  can be being closed. As the first door  31  is being closed, the pillar boss  41  is introduced into the insertion portion  513  and comes into contact with the second slope  512  so as to slide on the second slope  512 . Thereby, the pillar boss  41  is inserted inside the guide recess  510 . 
     Since the second slope  512  is concave forward, the pillar boss  41  is rotated in the second direction L, and larger force than the elastic force of the pillar spring provided inside the pillar  4  is applied to the pillar boss  41 , thus causing the pillar  4  to be unfolded. 
     That is, the pillar boss  41  receives unfolding torque required to allow the pillar  4  to be unfolded by sliding and rotating on the second slope  512 , and the unfolding torque must be larger than the elastic force of the pillar spring described above. 
     In some implementations, as the pillar  4  is rotated beyond the first angle while the pillar boss  41  is being guided by the second slope  512 , the pillar  4  is unfolded. 
     Accordingly, the pillar  4  is unfolded and seals a gap between the first door  31  and the second door  33  so as to prevent leakage of cold air. 
       FIG. 8  illustrates an example state representing that a first door and a second door are closed.  FIG. 9  illustrates an example state representing that a second door is being opened.  FIG. 10  illustrates an example state representing that a second door is opened. A folding configuration of the pillar  4  when the second door  33  is opened will be described with reference to  FIGS. 8-10 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , both the first door  31  and the second door  33  are closed. In such a state, the protruding member  53  is pushed rearward by the second door  33 , and the rotator  51  is rotated in the first direction R to the maximum extent. 
     This is because the closing force of the second door  33  is larger than the elastic force of the elastic member  571 . The closing force of the second door  33  may include, for example, the weight of the door  33 , the weight of items stored in the door basket  311 , and magnetic force of the magnet in the closed state of the door  33 . 
     In this example, the pillar  4  is in the unfolded state, and prevents leakage of cold air between the first door  31  and the second door  33 . 
     As exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 9 , when the second door  33  begins to be opened, the closing force of the second door  33  applied to the rotator  51  is removed, and therefore the rotator  51  is rotated in the second direction L by the elastic force of the elastic member  571 . 
     Thereby, the guide recess  510  formed in the rotator  51  is also rotated in the second direction L. 
     Force is applied to the pillar boss  41  located in the guide recess  510  by the first slope  511  in the direction in which the pillar  4  is rotated (i.e. the first direction R). Since this force is larger than the elastic force of the pillar spring provided inside the pillar  4 , the pillar  4  is rotated toward the first door  31 . 
     That is, the elastic force of the elastic member  571  must be larger than the elastic force of the pillar spring of the pillar  4  in order to ensure that the pillar  4  may be folded. Thus, as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the pillar  4  is folded when the second door  33  is completely opened. 
     In some implementations, the pillar  4  is rotated beyond the first angle to thereby be folded when the pillar boss  41  is removed from the insertion portion  513 . 
     Since the pillar  4  is in the folded state, the pillar  4  does not cover an opening of the storage compartment  2  that is opened or closed by the second door  33 , which allows the vegetable box  23  provided inside the storage compartment  2  to be configured to have a great volume, and may prevent the user from being blocked by the pillar  4  when introducing or retrieving storage items. 
       FIG. 11  illustrates another example state representing that a second door is opened.  FIG. 12  illustrates an example state representing that a second door is being closed.  FIG. 13  illustrates an example state representing that a second door is closed. An unfolding configuration of the pillar  4  when the second door  33  is closed will be described with reference to  FIGS. 11-13 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a state in which the second door  33  is opened. In such a state, the rotator  51  is rotated in the second direction L to the maximum extent by the elastic member  571  (see  FIG. 11 ), and the pillar  4  is folded. In addition, the protruding member  53  is moved toward the second door  33 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , when the second door  33  is being closed, the second door  33  is in contact with the protruding member  53 . The closing force of the second door  33  is transmitted through the protruding member  53  to the rotator  51  so as to rotate the rotator  51  in the first direction R. As such, the guide recess  510  formed in the rotator  51  is also rotated in the first direction R. 
     In this example, the pillar boss  41  is inserted into the guide recess  510  through the insertion portion  513 . The second slope  512  applies force to the pillar boss  41  in the direction in which the pillar  4  is rotated (i.e. the second direction L), and comes into contact with the pillar boss  41  so as to guide the pillar boss  41 . 
     Accordingly, as exemplarily illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the pillar  4  is unfolded when the second door  33  is completely closed, thereby preventing leakage of cold air between the first door  31  and the second door  33 . 
     In some implementations, the pillar boss  41  is guided by the second slope  512  and is unfolded when the pillar  4  is rotated beyond the first angle. 
     As described above, as the rotator  51  is rotated when the second door  33  is opened or closed, the guide recess  510  is also rotated, and the pillar boss  41  is guided by the rotating guide recess  510 . With this operation, the refrigerator  10  achieves enhanced operation ability compared to a pillar and a pillar guide of the related art. 
     This is because the guide recess  510  pushes the pillar boss  41  in the direction in which the pillar  4  is rotated, in order to rotate the pillar  4 . In other words, since the guide recess  510  pushes the pillar boss  41  in the tangential direction of the radius of rotation of the pillar  4 , rather than pushing the pillar boss  41  in the rotation axis direction of the pillar  4 , torque applied to the pillar  4  is increased. 
       FIGS. 14-22  are respectively corresponding to  FIGS. 5-13 . In  FIGS. 14 to 22 , the pillar  4  is pivotally provided at the first door  31  using a coupler  43  and is secured to the side surface of the door basket  311  provided at the first door  31 . 
     When a user opens a door and pulls out a vegetable pulled out from a storage compartment, there occurs no interference between a pillar and the vegetable box, which may result in increased convenience of use. 
     In addition, a door basket does not interfere a pillar when a door is opened. Thus, a refrigerator may increase the practical storage capacity of the door basket. 
     In addition, a pillar is folded when a door is opened. Thus, a refrigerator can have more storage capacity.