Patent Publication Number: US-9885204-B2

Title: Method for manufacturing hinge for refrigerator

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/744,591 filed Jun. 19, 2015, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,556,657 B2 and which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 and 35 U.S.C. § 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0075872 filed on Jun. 20, 2014, whose entire disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a hinge for a refrigerator and a method for manufacturing the same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Refrigerators are electric appliances that can store foods at low temperature in an inner storing space closed by a refrigerator door. Typically, the storing space is cooled using cool air that is generated by heat-exchanging with a refrigerant circulating a refrigeration cycle to store the foods in an optimal state. 
     In recent years, refrigerators have tended to increase in size and to provide multi-functions, and accordingly, refrigerators of various structures in consideration of user convenience have been brought to the market. 
     In general, doors mounted on the refrigerator may be opened and closed through rotation thereof. For this, each of the doors may be rotatably coupled to a main body defining a storage space by using a hinge. In some cases, a hinge may include a hinge plate fixed to a main body and a hinge pin connecting the hinge plate to a door to serve as a rotation shaft of the door. In some cases, a hinge may include a mounting plate on which a hinge pin is mounted and a vertical flange to which the mounting plate is coupled. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to one aspect, a hinge for a refrigerator includes a hinge support configured to be mounted on a front surface of a cabinet of the refrigerator, where the hinge support has a plate shape and defining a coupling hole, a hinge bracket including an insertion part configured to be inserted into the coupling hole, where the hinge bracket is coupled to the hinge support along a longitudinal direction of the hinge support, and a hinge pin that is configured to mount to the hinge bracket and that is configured to allow a door of the refrigerator to rotate about the hinge pin. The hinge support includes a bracket support that at least partially surrounds the coupling hole and protrudes from a front surface of the hinge support, the bracket support being configured to provide support to the hinge support. 
     Implementations according to this aspect may include one or more of the following features. For example, the hinge support may define a support recess part that is recessed into a rear surface of the hinge support that is opposite of the front surface of the hinge support that includes the bracket support, and the coupling hole may be defined within the support recess part. The hinge support may be made of metal and formed by press processing, and the support recess part may be molded at the same time as the press processing of the hinge support such that the support recess part has a recessed volume corresponding to a protruding volume of the bracket support. An outlet of the coupling hole may include an inclined part that is inclined around an inner circumference of the coupling hole, the outlet of the coupling hole opening toward and being exposed to the support recess part. Based on the insertion part being inserted into the coupling hole, the insertion part may protrude from the outlet of the coupling hole. The bracket support may have an outer surface that is inclined or rounded. The bracket support may define a space in which an end of the hinge bracket is accommodated. The bracket support may gradually decrease in thickness as the bracket support extends in the protruding direction thereof. 
     Further according to this aspect, the hinge support may define a fastening hole through which a fastening member is configured to pass through, a tapered part may have an inner diameter that gradually decreases from an inlet to an outlet thereof is disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the fastening hole, and a seating surface having an inclination corresponding to the tapered part may be provided on the fastening member. The fastening hole may include a main fastening hole disposed on one side of the bracket support and a sub fastening hole disposed on each of upper and lower sides of the bracket support. The hinge bracket may define a pin insertion hole into which the hinge pin is configured to be inserted from an upper side of the pin insertion hole, and a bottom surface of the hinge bracket may define a bracket recess part recessed to be disposed inside the pin insertion hole. 
     According to another aspect, a method for manufacturing a hinge for a refrigerator includes processing a hinge support and hinge bracket, wherein the hinge support is configured to be fixedly mounted on a cabinet and includes a coupling hole and a bracket support, and the hinge bracket includes an insertion part configured to be inserted into the coupling hole and has one end configured to be inserted into the bracket support, temporarily assembling the hinge bracket and the hinge support such that the hinge bracket is coupled to the hinge support along a longitudinal direction of the hinge support, pressing and fixing the hinge bracket, wherein a rear end of the insertion part protruding to a rear side of the coupling hole is pressed to be closely attached to an inclined part disposed along a circumferential surface of the coupling hole, thereby fixing the hinge bracket to the hinge support, and performing surface treatment to plate or paint surfaces of the hinge support and the hinge bracket that are coupled to each other. 
     Implementations according to this aspect may include one or more of the following features. For example, processing the hinge support may include molding the hinge support by using press processing, and molding the hinge support may include molding a support recess part that is recessed from a back surface of the hinge support, wherein the bracket support is molded to protrude from a front surface of the hinge support such that the protruding volume of the bracket support corresponds to a recessed volume of the support recess part. The method may further include pressing and deforming a rear end of the insertion part such that the rear end does not further protrude beyond the support recess part. Processing the hinge bracket may include molding the hinge bracket, and molding the hinge bracket may include forming, at a top surface of the hinge bracket, a pin insertion hole into which a hinge pin is configured to be inserted, and forming, on a bottom surface of the hinge bracket, a stepped part in which the pin insertion hole is accommodated, as well as, after the hinge pin is inserted into the pin insertion hole, fixing the hinge pin to the hinge bracket at the stepped part through welding or riveting. 
     According to yet another aspect, a refrigerator includes a cabinet, one or more doors, and a hinge. The hinge includes a hinge support configured to be mounted on a front surface of a cabinet of the refrigerator, where the hinge support has a plate shape and defining a coupling hole, a hinge bracket including an insertion part configured to be inserted into the coupling hole, where the hinge bracket is coupled to the hinge support along a longitudinal direction of the hinge support, and a hinge pin that is configured to mount to the hinge bracket and that is configured to allow a door of the refrigerator to rotate about the hinge pin. The hinge support includes a bracket support that at least partially surrounds the coupling hole and protrudes from a front surface of the hinge support, the bracket support being configured to provide support to the hinge support. 
     The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The implementations will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an example refrigerator having a mounting structure of a refrigerator hinge; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an assembled state of the example refrigerator hinge of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front exploded perspective view showing the refrigerator hinge; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear exploded perspective view showing the refrigerator hinge; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator hinge taken along line  5 - 5 ′ of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a hinge bracket and a hinge pin are coupled to each other; 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating an example method for manufacturing the hinge in stages; 
         FIG. 8  is a partial perspective view illustrating a temporarily assembled state between the hinge bracket and the hinge support; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  9 - 9 ′ of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a partial perspective view illustrating a state where the hinge bracket and the hinge support are completely assembled with each other; and 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  11 - 11 ′ of  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the implementations of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     For convenience of description and understanding of a refrigerator according to an implementation, although a bottom freezer type refrigerator in which a pair of doors are disposed on left and right sides of a refrigerating compartment is described as an example, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the current implementation may be applied to all types of refrigerators in which doors are rotatably mounted through a hinge. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a refrigerator  1  according to an implementation includes a cabinet  10  defining a storage space and doors  20  and  30  disposed on a front surface of the cabinet  10  to open and close the storage space. Here, an outer appearance of the refrigerator  1  may be defined by the cabinet  10  and the doors  20  and  30 . 
     The storage space within the cabinet  10  may be vertically partitioned by a barrier  11  to define a refrigerating compartment  12  at an upper side and a freezing compartment  13  at a lower side of the cabinet  10 . Also, a plurality of shelves and drawers may be disposed inside the freezing compartment  13  and the refrigerating compartment  12  to accommodate foods. 
     The doors  20  and  30  may include a refrigerating compartment door  20  for opening/closing the refrigerating compartment  12  and a freezing compartment door  30  for opening/closing the freezing compartment  13 . The freezing compartment door  30  may be disposed on a front surface of the freezing compartment  13 . The freezing compartment door  30  may be inserted into or withdrawn from the freezing compartment  13  like a drawer. Also, the refrigerating compartment door  20  may be provided in a pair on both left and right sides of a front surface of the refrigerating compartment  12 . The pair of refrigerating compartment doors  20  may be independently rotatably mounted to open/close the refrigerating compartment  12 . 
     An ice making device  21 , a dispenser, and various baskets for accommodating foods may be disposed on the refrigerating compartment door  20 . 
     Each of upper and lower ends of the refrigerator door  20  may be coupled to the cabinet  10  by using a hinge. Here, the refrigerator door  20  may be rotatably mounted by using the hinge as a rotation shaft. The hinge may include an upper hinge that connects the upper end of the refrigerating compartment door  20  to an upper end of the cabinet  10  and an intermediate hinge  100  that connects the lower end of the refrigerating compartment door  20  to the front surface of the cabinet  10 . 
     Hereinafter, the intermediate hinge  100  supporting the refrigerator door  20  will be described in detail. For convenience of description and understanding, the “refrigerating compartment door  20 ” will be referred to as a “door  20 ”, and the “intermediate hinge  100 ” will be referred to as a “hinge  100 ”. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 6 , the hinge  100  may include a hinge support  200  fixedly mounted on the front surface of the cabinet  10 , a hinge pin  400  inserted into a lower end of the door  20  to serve as a rotation shaft, and a hinge bracket  300  on which the hinge pin  400  is mounted and being coupled to the hinge support  200  to support the door  20 . 
     The hinge support  200  may be provided as a metal plate having a predetermined thickness. The hinge support  200  may vary in thickness according to a weight of the door  20 . The hinge support  200  may be attached to the front surface of the cabinet, which corresponds to the lower end of the door  20 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the hinge support  200  may be mounted on a front surface of the barrier  11 . 
     The hinge support  200  may have an outer circumference that is molded to be rounded by press processing. Also, the hinge support  200  may have a plurality of fastening holes  210  and  220  and a coupling hole  230 . The hinge support  200  may define the whole outer appearance of the hinge  100 . 
     In detail, the fastening holes  210  and  220  may be defined in the hinge support  200  to fixedly mount the hinge support  200  on the cabinet  10 . The fastening holes  210  and  220  may include main fastening holes  210  arranged in a horizontal direction along a longitudinal direction of the hinge support  200  and sub fastening holes  220  arranged in a vertical direction. 
     The plurality of main fastening holes  210  may be defined in one side, in which the coupling hole  230  is defined, at a predetermined distance. Also, an end of the one side of the hinge support  200  in which the main fastening holes  210  are defined may be rounded along the configuration of each of the main fastening holes  210 . 
     The main fastening hole  210  may have an outlet having an inner diameter less than that of an inlet thereof. Thus, a tapered part  211  having a shape that is gradually inclined from the inlet to the outlet may be provided in the main fastening hole  210 . When the hinge support  200  has thicknesses different from each other, the hinge support  200  may have the same inclination. Thus, a fastening member  500  fastened to the main fastening holes may be closely attached and fixed regardless of the thickness of the hinge support  200 . 
     Also, the sub fastening hole  220  may be disposed on the other side of the hinge support  200  in which the coupling hole  230  is defined. The sub fastening hole  220  may be defined above and below the coupling hole  230 . Here, the sub fastening holes  220  may be defined in upper and lower edges of the hinge support  200 . Each of the sub fastening holes  230  may have a size that does not interfere with the coupling hole  230 . Also, the sub fastening hole  220  may have a size slightly less than that of the main fastening hole  210 . However, the fastening hole  220  and the main fastening hole  210  may have the same structure and configuration except for the size and position thereof. Also, the sub fastening hole  220  may have an inner surface having the same configuration as the tapered part  211 . 
     The fastening member  500  may be fastened to the main fastening hole  210  and the sub fastening hole  220  to allow the hinge support  200  to be fixedly mounted on the front surface of the cabinet  10 . The fastening member  500  may pass through each of the main fastening hole  210  and the sub fastening hole  220  and then be fastened to the cabinet  10 . 
     In detail, the fastening member  500  may include a head part  510  seated on the fastening holes  210  and  220  and a fastening part  520  passing through the fastening holes  210  and  220  and fixedly fastened to the cabinet  10 . 
     Also, a tool groove  511  that is configured to be manipulated to be fastened by using a tool such as screwdriver may be defined in a front surface of the head part  510  that is exposed through an inlet of each of the fastening holes  210  and  220 . An inclined seating surface  512  may be disposed on a circumferential of the head part  510 . 
     The seating surface  512  may be inclined to correspond to the tapered part  211  formed in each of the fastening holes  210  and  220 . Here, the seating surface  512  may have the same inclination regardless of a size of the fastening member  500 . 
     The fastening part  520  may extend backward from a rear end of the seating surface  512  and may have an inner diameter corresponding to that of an outlet of each of the fastening holes  210  and  220 . Also, the fastening part  520  may have a length that is enough to be inserted into and fastened to the cabinet  10 . Also, a screw thread may be formed on an outer surface of the fastening part  520 . 
     Thus, in the state where the fastening member  500  is inserted into and fastened to the fastening holes  210  and  220 , the seating surface  512  may be closely attached to the tapered part  211 , and the fastening part  520  may pass through the fastening holes  210  and  220  and the front surface of the cabinet and then be inserted and fixed. 
     The seating surface  512  of the fastening member  500  and the tapered part  211  of each of the fastening holes  210  and  220  may have the same inclination regardless of the sizes of the fastening member  500  and the fastening holes  210  and  220 . Also, even though the thickness of the hinge support  200  changes according to a support load of the door  20 , the hinge support  200  may be fixed by using the same fastening member  500 . 
     However, if the main fastening hole  210  and the sub fastening hole  220  have sizes different from each other, the fastening members  500  having sizes different from each other may be used. 
     The coupling hole  230  is defined in the hinge support  200 . The coupling hole  230  may be defined in a central portion in a vertical width direction of the hinge support  200 . Also, the coupling hole  230  may extend in a transverse direction in which the hinge support  200  extends. The coupling hole  230  may have a shape corresponding so that the insertion part  310  disposed on the hinge bracket  300  is inserted into and fixed to the coupling hole  230 . 
     The coupling hole  230  may be defined inside a bracket support  240  and support recess part  250 , which will be described below. Also, at least one or more coupling holes  230  may be continuously defined at a predetermined distance. 
     The bracket support  240  may have a shape protruding to the front surface of the hinge support  200  that is a direction in which the hinge bracket  300  is inserted. Also, the bracket support  240  may be disposed along the outside of the coupling hole  230  up to an end of the coupling hole  230  in a direction that faces the end of the hinge support  200 . Thus, the bracket support  240  may have a predetermined space therein. The coupling hole  230  may be defined in the inner space. 
     The bracket support  240  may have an outer surface that is rounded or inclined to decrease in thickness as the bracket support protrudes. Also, the bracket support  240  may have an inner surface that is closely attached to the outer surface of the hinge bracket  300 . 
     Also, in the state where the hinge support  200  and the hinge bracket  300  are coupled to each other, a portion at which the hinge support  200  and the hinge bracket  300  contact each other by the bracket support  240  may be rounded or inclined to minimize a gap and/or line that may occur when assembled. Thus, when surface treatment such as plating or painting is performed after the hinge support  200  and the hinge bracket  300  are coupled to each other, the surface treatment may be uniformly realized on an entire surface without defects. 
     The support recess part  250  may be defined in a rear surface of the hinge support  200 , which is opposite to the position of the bracket support  240 . The support recess part  250  may have a rectangular shape having a predetermined area and be defined in a position corresponding to the bracket support  240 . 
     Here, the support recess part  250  may have a recessed volume equal to a protruding volume of the bracket support  240 . That is, when the hinge support  200  is processed by using press processing, a material may protrude by the recessed volume of the support recess part  250  to mold the bracket support  240 . Thus, since the support recess part  250  has a depth that is proportional to a protruding height of the bracket support  240 , the more the bracket support  240  protrudes, the more the support recess part  250  may be recessed. 
     Also, the coupling hole  230  may be defined inside the support recess part  250 . An insertion part  310  of the hinge bracket  300 , which will be described below, may be inserted into and coupled to the coupling hole  230 . Also, the coupling hole  230  may be defined in a position that is somewhat spaced apart from both left and right ends of the bracket support  240 . 
     An inclined part  231  may be disposed around an outlet of the coupling hole  230 . The inclined part  231  may be disposed on the outlet of the coupling hole, which is exposed to the rear surface of the hinge support. When the insertion part  310  is inserted into the coupling hole  230 , a rear end of the insertion part  310  may not further protrude from a height of a back surface of the hinge support  200 , but further protrude from the outlet of the coupling hole  230 . 
     In this state, the rear end of the insertion part  310 , which is exposed to the outlet of the coupling hole  230 , may be pressed by using a presser or compressed through riveting to allow the rear end of the insertion part  310  to be closely attached to the inclined part  231 . When the rear end of the hinge bracket is hooked with the hinge support by the above-described structure, the hinge support  200  and the hinge bracket  300  may not be easily separated from each other, but be completely coupled to each other. 
     The hinge bracket  300  may be provided as a metal plate having a predetermined area. Also, the hinge bracket  300  may have a predetermined thickness to support the door  20 . Here, due to the structural feature in which a lower of the door  20  is directly applied, the hinge bracket  300  may have a thickness thicker than that of the hinge support  200 . 
     The whole configuration of the hinge bracket  300  as well as configurations of a pin insertion hole in which the hinge pin  400  is inserted, the bracket recess part  330  for fixing the hinge pin  400 , and the insertion part  310  may be molded through press processing. 
     The insertion part  310  may protrude from one end of the hinge bracket  300  and have a shape corresponding to that of the coupling hole  230 . The insertion part  310  may have a rectangular shape in cross-section. In the state where the insertion part  310  is inserted, the insertion part  310  may be closely attached to an inner surface of the coupling hole  230 . Also, in the state where the insertion part  310  is inserted into the coupling hole  230 , the rear end of the insertion part  310  may be pressed to be closely attached to the inner surface of the coupling hole  230  and the inclined part  231 , thereby preventing a gap from occurring therebetween. 
     In some cases, the pin insertion hole  320  may be a rectangular-shaped hole corresponding to that of the lower end of the hinge pin  400  and pass through the hinge bracket  300 . Thus, in the state where the hinge pin  400  is inserted into the pin insertion hole  320 , the hinge pin  400  may be fixed and coupled to a rotation shaft of the lower end of the door  20  to serve as a rotation shaft. 
     In some cases, a washer  410  may be further disposed between the pin insertion hole  320  and the hinge pin  400 . The hinge pin  400  may pass through the washer  410 . When the hinge bracket  300  is seated, the washer  410  may contact the door or the rotation shaft of the door  20 . Thus, the washer  410  may be formed of a material having high abrasion resistance and superior lubrication performance such as engineering plastic so that the door smoothly rotates. 
     The bracket recess part  330  is defined in a bottom surface of the hinge bracket  300 . The bracket recess part  330  may be recessed outside the outlet of the pin insertion hole  320  to accommodate the lower end of the pin insertion hole  320 . The bracket recess part  330  may have a rectangular shape like the pin insertion hole  320 . The bracket recess part  330  may define a predetermined space outside the pin insertion hole  320 . 
     Thus, in the state where the hinge pin  400  is inserted into the pin insertion hole  320 , the lower end of the hinge pin  400  may be cocked or welded within the space of the bracket recess part  330  to fix the hinge pin  400  to the hinge bracket  300 . Here, the fixed lower end of the hinge pin  400  may be disposed inside the bracket recess part  330  to prevent the hinge pin  400  from interfering with the other door disposed under the hinge  100 . 
     Hereinafter, a method for manufacturing the hinge having the above-described structure according to an implementation will be described. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 to 11 , to manufacture a hinge  100  according to one implementation, a hinge support  200 , a hinge bracket  300 , and a hinge pin  400  are processed. The overall configuration as well as detailed structures of the hinge support  200  and the hinge bracket  300  may be molded by using press processing. 
     In detail, the press processing may be performed on the hinge support  200  to form a main fastening hole, a sub fastening hole  220 , and a coupling hole  230 . Also, when a support recess part is molded, a bracket support  240  may also be molded. 
     Referring to a process (S 100 ) in  FIG. 7  of processing a hinge support and a hinge bracket, the press processing may also be performed on the hinge bracket  300  to form a pin insertion hole  320 , a bracket recess part  330 , and an insertion part  310 . 
     Further referring to a process (S 200 ) of temporarily assembling the hinge bracket, when the hinge support  200  and the hinge bracket  300  are completely molded, the hinge support  200  and the hinge bracket  300  can be assembled with each other. To achieve this, the insertion part  310  can be inserted into the coupling hole  230 . In the state where the insertion part  310  is completely inserted into the coupling hole  230 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , an end of the hinge bracket  300  including the insertion part  310  is inserted into a space that is formed by the bracket support  240 . 
     Thus, the insertion part  310  may be supported inside the coupling hole  230  and also additionally supported by the bracket support  240 . In this state, the insertion part  310  may be closely attached inside the coupling hole  230 , and also, the end of the hinge bracket  300  may be closely attached to an inner surface of the bracket support  240 . Here, portions, which are adjacent to each other by the bracket support  240 , of the hinge support  200  and the hinge bracket  300  may be rounded or inclined. 
     Further referring to a process (S 300 ) of pressing and fixing the hinge bracket, the hinge bracket  300  may be inserted into the bracket support  240 , and the insertion part  310  may be inserted into the coupling hole  230  to maintain the temporarily assembled state by using a mold or jig. Here, the rear end passing through the coupling hole  230  may be pressed and deformed by the press process or riveting process. Thus, as illustrated in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the insertion part  310  and the coupling hole  230  may be closely attached to each other without forming a gap therebetween. 
     In detail, the rear end of the insertion part  310  that are temporarily assembled may be exposed backward through an outlet of the coupling hole  230 . Here, when the rear end of the insertion part  310  is pressed by the press or riveting process, the rear end of the insertion part  310  may be deformed and thus closely attached toward an inclined part  231  of an outlet of the coupling hole  230 . Since the insertion part  310  is deformed and closely attached, the insertion part  310  and the coupling hole  230  may be more firmly coupled to each other to prevent the gap from occurring therebetween. 
     In the state where the hinge support  200  and the hinge bracket  300  are completely fixed to each other, the hinge support  200  and the hinge bracket  300  may be disposed perpendicular to each other. The portion at which outer surfaces of the hinge support  200  and the hinge bracket  300  contact each other may be rounded or inclined by the bracket support  240 . As described above, in the state where the hinge support  200  and the hinge bracket  300  are completely assembled with each other, surface treatment such plating or printing may be performed on surfaces of the hinge support  200  and the hinge bracket  300 . 
     Further referring to a process (S 400 ) of performing the surface treatment, when the surface treatment is performed on the hinge support  200  and the hinge bracket  300 , since the assembly gap or edge is not formed on the portion at which the hinge support  200  and the hinge bracket  300  contact each other, an occurrence of the defects due to the assembly gap or edge that is formed when the surface treatment is performed may be prevented. 
     Further referring to a process (S 500 ) of assembling the hinge pin, after the surface treatment is completed, the hinge pin  400  may be coupled to the hinge bracket  300 . To achieve this, the hinge pin  400  can be inserted into and fixed to the pin insertion hole  320 . Also, the hinge pin  400  exposed to a lower side of the pin insertion hole  320  may be fixed to the hinge bracket  300  within the bracket recess part  330  by the calking or welding. 
     When the mounting and surface treatment of the hinge pin are completed, the assembly of the hinge  100  may be completed. In this state, to install the hinge  100 , the hinge  100  may be disposed on a front surface of the cabinet  10 , and then, the fastening member  500  may be coupled to the main fastening hole  210  and the sub fastening hole  220  to fix the hinge  100 . Also, after the hinge  100  is fixed and mounted, a hinge shaft disposed on a lower end of the door  20  and the hinge pin  400  may be coupled to each other. 
     As described above, when the mounting of the hinge  100  and the assembly of the door  20  are completed, the hinge  100  may support the door  20  at the lower portion of the door  20 . Therefore, the door  20  may be rotatably mounted on the cabinet  10  by the hinge  100 . 
     In the hinge for the refrigerator and the method for manufacturing the same according to one implementation, the hinge may be provided by coupling the hinge support and the hinge bracket which are manufactured by using the press processing. Also, in the hinge support, the front surface of the bracket support having a volume corresponding to the support recess part may protrude when the press processing is performed. When the hinge bracket is coupled, the bracket support may surround and support the end of the hinge bracket. 
     Thus, the hinge may be doubly supported by the supporting structure between the bracket support and the hinge bracket in addition to the coupling structure between the insertion part and the coupling hole to stably support the heavy door. 
     Also, since the bracket support can be naturally formed without performing a separate molding process while the hinge support is molded, the processing complexity may be reduced to improve productivity. 
     Also, since the bracket support has the rounded or inclined outer surface, the gap occurring in the coupling portion when the hinge support and the hinge bracket are coupled to each other may be minimized, thereby realizing an elegant outer appearance. In addition, when the surface treatment such as the plating and painting is performed, it may prevent the painting failure from occurring at the gap or edge at which the hinge support and the hinge bracket contact each other. 
     Also, the inclination part may be disposed on the outlet of the coupling hole. Thus, when the rear end of the insertion part is pressed to deform the insertion part in the state where the insertion part is inserted, the inclination part and the rear end of the insertion part, which is deformed, may be closely attached to each other. 
     Thus, the occurrence of the gap between the coupling hole and the insertion part may be prevented to provide the more strong coupling structure between the hinge support and the hinge bracket by the adhesion structure between the inclination part and the insertion part. 
     Also, since the insertion part and the coupling hole are disposed inside the support recess part, and the rear end of the insertion part does not further protrude from the support recess part after the rear end of the insertion part is deformed, avoiding space may be provided to prevent the hinge from interfering with the cabinet when the hinge is mounted on the cabinet, thereby allowing a more accurate mounting the hinge. 
     Also, since the pin insertion hole to which the hinge pin is coupled is disposed inside the bracket recess part, and the coupling of the hinge pin through the calking or welding is performed inside the bracket recess part, a separate protruding structure may not be provided outside the bracket recess part. 
     Therefore, even though the other door is disposed under the hinge, the hinge may not interfere with the other door to improve the manipulation of the door and reduce the defect rate of the refrigerator. 
     Although implementations have been described with reference to a number of illustrative implementations thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and implementations can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.