Patent Publication Number: US-2023160628-A1

Title: Storage box and refrigerator having the same

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present utility model relates to the technical field of refrigerating devices, and specifically to a storage box and a refrigerator having the same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A refrigerator is a refrigerating device commonly used in daily life. The refrigerator usually stores many diverse items. To store some items that need to be isolated from other items, storage boxes are disposed in the refrigerator, and are provided with a pull handle to facilitate opening and closing the storage boxes. 
     However, the designed pull handles occupy partial space. Since the space available for placing the storage boxes in the refrigerator is certain, when the storage boxes are disposed in the refrigerator, the space available for storing items will be substantially reduced; when the user&#39;s hands are dirty, they might pollute the pull handles when the user opens the storage boxes, thereby affecting the overall appearance of the storage boxes, and providing an undesirable experience effect. 
     SUMMARY 
     To solve the problems in the prior art, the present utility model provides a storage box and a refrigerator having the same, to solve the problems in the prior art that the space for storing items is substantially reduced since the handle is provided on the storage box, and the handle is likely to be polluted when the storage box is opened. 
     To achieve the above object of the utility model, an embodiment provides a storage box, comprising an enclosure, a storage box body, a pivot shaft connected to the enclosure and the storage box body, the storage box further comprising: 
     an elastic element disposed between the pivot shaft and the enclosure, the elastic element always providing a driving force driving the storage box body to turn outwards the enclosure about the pivot shaft; 
     a locking device comprising a locking portion and a fitting portion which is push-fitted with the locking portion, where one of the locking portion and the fitting portion is disposed on the enclosure, and the other is disposed on the storage box body. 
     Optionally, the elastic element is a torsion spring, the torsion spring comprises a spring body, and a spring arm connected to the spring body, and the spring body is sleeved on the pivot shaft. 
     Optionally, the enclosure comprises a fixing portion connected to a side wall of the enclosure, the fixing portion is provided with a through hole, and the spring arm passes through the through hole. 
     Optionally, the fitting portion is a lock tongue provided on a rear wall of the storage box body, and the locking portion is a push lock provided on a rear wall of the enclosure. 
     Optionally, the push lock comprises a first force receiving portion, a second force receiving portion, and a resisting portion, the first force receiving portion causes the resisting portion to release the lock tongue, and the second force receiving portion causes the resisting portion to clamp the lock tongue. 
     Optionally, the resisting portion is provided with a first protrusion, and the lock tongue is provided with a second protrusion. 
     Optionally, the storage box further comprises a damping device connected to the enclosure and the storage box body, and the damping device provides a resistance against the turn of the storage box body outward the enclosure. 
     Optionally, the damping device comprises: 
     a rotary damper fixedly connected to a side wall of the enclosure; 
     a gear fixedly connected to a damping rotation shaft of the rotary damper; 
     an arc-shaped rack fixedly connected to the side wall of the storage box body and meshing with the gear. 
     Optionally, the storage box further comprises a buffer structure which is a rubber member disposed on the enclosure. 
     To achieve the above object of the invention, an embodiment provides a refrigerator, comprising a door body, a storage box is disposed on an inner side of the door body; the storage box comprises an enclosure, a storage box body, a pivot shaft connected to the enclosure and the storage box body, the storage box further comprising: 
     an elastic element disposed between the pivot shaft and the enclosure, the elastic element always providing a driving force driving the storage box body to turn outwards the enclosure about the pivot shaft; 
     a locking device comprising a locking portion and a fitting portion which is push-fitted with the locking portion, where one of the locking portion and the fitting portion is disposed on the enclosure, and the other is disposed on the storage box body. 
     Optionally, the elastic element is a torsion spring, the torsion spring comprises a spring body, and a spring arm connected to the spring body, and the spring body is sleeved on the pivot shaft. 
     Optionally, the enclosure comprises a fixing portion connected to a side wall of the enclosure, the fixing portion is provided with a through hole, and the spring arm passes through the through hole. 
     Optionally, the fitting portion is a lock tongue provided on a rear wall of the storage box body, and the locking portion is a push lock provided on a rear wall of the enclosure. 
     Optionally, the push lock comprises a first force receiving portion, a second force receiving portion, and a resisting portion, the first force receiving portion causes the resisting portion to release the lock tongue, and the second force receiving portion causes the resisting portion to clamp the lock tongue. 
     Optionally, the resisting portion is provided with a first protrusion, and the lock tongue is provided with a second protrusion. 
     Optionally, the storage box further comprises a damping device connected to the enclosure and the storage box body, and the damping device provides a resistance against the turn of the storage box body outward the enclosure. 
     Optionally, the damping device comprises: 
     a rotary damper fixedly connected to a side wall of the enclosure; 
     a gear fixedly connected to a damping rotation shaft of the rotary damper; 
     an arc-shaped rack fixedly connected to the side wall of the storage box body and meshing with the gear. 
     Optionally, the storage box further comprises a buffer structure which is a rubber member disposed on the enclosure. 
     As compared with the prior art, the present utility model has the following advantageous effects: the elastic element is fitted with the locking device so that the storage box body can turn automatically; the storage box needn&#39;t be provided with a handle, thereby expanding the space for storing items, and the user needn&#39;t manually open the storage box so that his experience can be improved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a side view of a storage box in an embodiment of the present utility model; 
         FIG.  2    is a structural schematic diagram of an enclosure in an embodiment of the present utility model; 
         FIG.  3    is an enlarged schematic diagram of position A of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  4    is an enlarged schematic diagram of position B of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  5    is an enlarged schematic diagram of position C of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  6    is a structural schematic diagram of a storage box body in an embodiment of the present utility model; 
         FIG.  7    is a structural schematic structural view showing that a storage box is disposed on a refrigerator door body in an embodiment of the present utility model. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The present utility model will be described in detail below in conjunction with specific embodiments shown in the figures. However, these embodiments are not intended to limit the present utility model. Variations in structures, methods or functions made by those having ordinary skill in the art according to these embodiments all are included in the extent of protection of the present utility model. 
     In the figures of the present utility model, some dimensions of structures or parts will be enlarged relative to other structures or parts for the convenience of illustration. Therefore, the figures are only used to illustrate the basic structures of the subject matter of the present utility model. 
     Referring to  FIG.  1   , the present utility model provides a storage box  20 , comprising an enclosure  21 , a storage box body  22 , a pivot shaft  23  connected to the enclosure  21  and the storage box body  22 , an elastic element, and a locking device. 
     The storage box body  22  is formed with a cavity for storing items, the enclosure  21  has an opening on one side, and the storage box body  22  is turnable outward about the pivot shaft  23  from the opening to open. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2    through  FIG.  6   , in the present embodiment, the pivot shaft  23  is fixedly disposed on side walls of the enclosure  21 , the side walls of the storage box body  22  are each provided with a pivot hole  221 , the pivot shaft  23  is inserted into the pivot holes  221 , and the pivot shaft  23  rotates in the pivot holes  221  so that the storage box body  22  pivots relative to the enclosure  21 , thereby helping the user to take out the items from the storage box body  22 . 
     The elastic element is disposed between the pivot shaft  23  and the enclosure  21 , and the elastic element always provides a driving force driving the storage box body  22  to turn outwards the enclosure  21  about the pivot shaft  23 . When a user needs to take an item, the storage box body  22  can be automatically opened under the action of the elastic element, and the user needn&#39;t manually open the storage box body  22 , so that the user experience can be improved. 
     Specifically, the elastic element is a torsion spring  25 . The torsion spring  25  comprises a spring body  251 , and a spring arm  252  connected to the spring body  251 . The spring body  251  is sleeved on the pivot shaft  23 . When the storage box body  22  is in a closed state, the spring body  251  is in a torsional energy-storing state, and the elastic potential energy can be continuously released while the spring body  251  drives the storage box body  22  to open. At the same time, the torsion spring  25  can make the storage box body  22  in an open state, and the user may take items out of the cavity without holding the storage box body. 
     Further, the enclosure  21  comprises a fixing portion  213  connected to the side wall of the enclosure  21 , the fixing portion  213  is provided with a through hole, the spring arm  252  passes through the through hole, and the through hole catches the spring arm  252 , thereby improving the stability of the torsion spring  25 . 
     The locking device can lock or unlock the enclosure  21  to the storage box body  22 . It may be appreciated that when the locking device locks, the elastic element cannot make the storage box body  22  open, so that the closeness of the storage box  20  may be maintained; when the locking device unlocks, the elastic element can make the storage box body  22  open, which is convenient for users to use. 
     Specifically, the locking device comprises a locking portion and a fitting portion which is push-fitted with the locking portion. One of the locking portion and the fitting portion is disposed on the enclosure  21 , and the other is disposed on the storage box body  22 . 
     The fitting portion is a lock tongue  222  provided on a rear wall of the storage box body  22 , and the locking portion is a push lock  211  provided on a rear wall of the enclosure  21 . When the storage box body  22  is in the closed state, the lock tongue  222  extends into the push lock  211 ; when the storage box body  22  is in the open state, the lock tongue  222  separates from the push lock  211 . 
     The push lock  211  comprises a first force receiving portion  2111 , a second force receiving portion  2113 , and a resisting portion  2112 . The first force receiving portion  2111  causes the resisting portion  2112  to release the lock tongue  222 , and the second force receiving portion  2113  causes the resisting portion  2112  to clamp the lock tongue  222 . 
     When the storage box body  22  is in the closed state, the user may apply a push elastic force to any position of the front wall of the storage box body  22 , and the push elastic force may be transferred to the first force receiving part  2111  to cause the resisting portion  2112  to release the lock tongue  222  to open the storage box body  22 . When the storage box body  22  is closed, after the lock tongue  222  contacts the second force receiving portion  2113 , the resisting portion  2112  clamps the lock tongue  222 . 
     Preferably, the resisting portion  2112  is provided with a first protrusion, and the lock tongue  222  is provided with a second protrusion. When the storage box  20  is in the closed state, the first protrusion abuts against the second protrusion so that the second protrusion cannot cross the first protrusion, such that the lock tongue  222  is locked in the push lock  211 . 
     Further, the storage box  20  further comprises a damping device  24  connected to the enclosure  21  and the storage box body  22 , and the damping device  24  provides a resistance against the turn of the storage box body  22  outward the enclosure  21 . During the opening process of the storage box body  22 , the damping device  24  can reduce a turning speed of the storage box body  22 , so that the storage box body  22  can slowly open and the storage box body  22 , thereby preventing damages of the storage box body  22  and the enclosure  21  caused by the storage box body  22  violently stroking the enclosure  21  due to an excessive turning speed. 
     Specifically, the damping device  24  comprises a rotary damper  242 , a gear  243 , and an arc-shaped rack  241 . The rotary damper  242  is fixedly connected to a side wall of the enclosure  21 , the gear  243  is fixedly connected to a damping rotation shaft  244  of the rotary damper  242 , the arc-shaped rack  241  is fixedly connected to the side wall of the storage box body  22 , and the arc-shaped rack  241  meshes with the gear  243 . 
     During the opening of the storage box body  22 , the arc-shaped rack  241  rotates and drives the gear  243  to rotate, then the gear  243  drives the damping rotation shaft  244  to rotate, the damping rotation shaft  244  has a rotational damping force, and the storage box body  22  receives the rotational damping force so that the opening speed of the storage box body  22  is reduced. 
     Furthermore, the storage box  20  further comprises a buffer structure. When the body of the storage box  20  turns inward the enclosure  21  about the pivot shaft  23 , the buffer structure can further prevent damages caused by the storage box  20  body striking the enclosure  21 , and reduce the noise generated when the storage box body  22  strikes the enclosure  21 . 
     Specifically, the buffer structure is a rubber member  212  disposed on the enclosure  21 . The rubber member  212  can cooperate with the front wall of the storage box body  22  to prevent the storage box body  22  from violently striking the enclosure  21 . In other embodiments, the buffer structure may also be disposed on the storage box body  22 , and may also be any of other members functioning to buffer, such as a sponge. 
     Referring to  FIG.  7   , the present utility model further provides a refrigerator, comprising a door body  10 , wherein the storage box  20  is disposed on an inner side of the door body  10 . 
     The detailed descriptions set forth above are merely specific illustrations of feasible embodiments of the present utility model, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present utility model. All equivalent embodiments or modifications that do not depart from the art spirit of the present utility model should fall within the scope of protection of the present utility model.