Patent Publication Number: US-8523302-B2

Title: Door handle and refrigerator having the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2010-0042983, filed on May 7, 2010 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Embodiments relate to refrigerator having a door opening device to push one side of a refrigerator body of a refrigerator according to manipulation of a door handle such that a door of the refrigerator is easily opened. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Generally, a refrigerator is an apparatus that freshly stores various kinds of food in a refrigerated state or in a frozen state for a long period of time. 
     Cool air supplied into the refrigerator is generated by heat exchange of a refrigerant. The cool air is continuously supplied into the refrigerator through repetitive cycles of compression, condensation, expansion, and evaporation. The supplied cool air is uniformly dispersed in the refrigerator by convection to keep food at a predetermined temperature. 
     In recent years, demand for large-sized, high-quality refrigerators has gradually increased according to improvement in living standards, with the result that refrigerators having increased storage capacities have been increasingly popularized. 
     The storage space of each refrigerator is closed by a door. Based on how the door is opened and closed, the door may be classified as a rotary type door which is opened and closed by side-to-side rotation or up-and-down rotation or a drawer type door which is opened and closed by frontward-and-rearward movement. 
     In the door is mounted a door handle configured to be gripped by a user to easily open and close the door. Therefore, the door may be rotated or moved frontward and rearward while gripping the door handle to open and close the storage space. 
     In the conventional refrigerator, the door is rotated so as to open the storage space. To this end, the user rotates or pulls the door while gripping the door handle. 
     At this time, the user may apply force to open the door since the rear of the door is in tight contact with the refrigerator body via a gasket. That is, the user may apply force sufficient to separate the rear of the door from the refrigerator body so as to open the door. 
     Particularly in a case in which a large amount of food is stored at the rear of the rotary type door or in a case in which a large amount of food is stored in a drawer of the drawer type door, the door is very heavy, with the result that a large amount of force may be used to open the door. 
     According to the strength of the user, users may have difficulty applying force sufficient to open the door, which deteriorates user convenience. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an aspect to provide a refrigerator having a door opening device to selectively push one side of a refrigerator body of a refrigerator according to manipulation of a door handle such that a door of the refrigerator is easily opened. 
     It is another aspect to provide a refrigerator having a door opening device to allow a user to easily open a door of the refrigerator, thereby improving user convenience. 
     Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. 
     In accordance with one aspect, a refrigerator includes a refrigerator body, a door to open and close the front of the refrigerator body, and a door handle provided at one side of the door, wherein the door handle includes a handle unit having a grip part to allow a user to grip the door handle, an actuating rod fixed inside the handle unit such that the actuating rod is moved along with the handle unit, a guide unit to guide movement of the actuating rod, a pusher configured to be advanced and retreated through movement relative to the actuating rod to push one side of the refrigerator body, and a gear unit disposed between the actuating rod and the pusher such that the gear unit is engaged with the actuating rod and the pusher. 
     The door handle may further include a guide base at which the guide unit is fixedly located and a handle case coupled to the guide base to fixedly couple the door handle to one side of the door. 
     The gear unit may include a gear shaft located at the guide base in a supported state and a plurality of gears fixed to opposite ends of the gear shaft such that the gears are simultaneously rotated with the gear shaft. 
     The gears may be coupled to the opposite ends of the gear shaft in a symmetric manner. 
     The pusher may have a toothed part engaged with the gears of the gear unit. 
     The pusher may be selectively engaged with one of the gears. 
     The gears may include a first gear engaged with the actuating rod and a second gear engaged with the pusher. 
     The actuating rod may include at least one rod part fixed to the handle unit, the at least one rod part being disposed in the guide unit such that the at least one rod part is advanced and retreated in the frontward and rearward direction of the door, a toothed rod formed to be engaged with the gear unit in a protruding state, and a connection part to integrally interconnect the at least one rod part and the toothed rod. 
     The door handle may further include an elastic member disposed between the guide unit and the at least one rod part while surrounding the at least one rod part to apply elastic force to the actuating rod. 
     The guide unit may include a guide hole through which the at least one rod part is advanced and retreated. 
     The actuating rod may further include a first damper coupled to one end of the at least one rod part. 
     The refrigerator may further include a second damper disposed between the handle unit and the guide unit, the second damper being fixed to an inside of the handle unit or an outside of the guide unit. 
     The guide base may include a first guide groove to support the pusher such that the pusher is advanced and retreated in the frontward and rearward direction of the door. 
     The handle case may include a second guide groove to support the pusher such that the pusher is advanced and retreated in the frontward and rearward direction of the door. 
     In accordance with another aspect, a door handle, provided at one side of a door to open and close the front of a refrigerator body of a refrigerator, includes a handle unit having a grip part to allow a user to grip the door handle, actuating rods fixed to upper and lower parts of the handle unit inside the handle unit such that the actuating rods are moved along with the handle unit in the frontward and rearward direction of the door, a guide unit to guide movement of the actuating rods, a pusher to push one side of the refrigerator body, and a gear unit disposed between the actuating rods and the pusher, wherein the gear unit includes a plurality of gears engaged with the actuating rods and the pusher and a gear shaft having opposite ends to which the gears are fixed. 
     The door handle may further include a guide base at which the guide unit is fixedly located and a handle case coupled to the guide base and to one side of the door. 
     The gears may be coupled to the opposite ends of the gear shaft in a vertically symmetric manner. 
     The pusher may have a toothed part engaged with the gears of the gear unit. 
     The pusher may be selectively engaged with one of the gears. 
     The gears may include first gears engaged with the actuating rods and a second gear engaged with the pusher. 
     Each of the actuating rods may include at least one rod part fixed to the handle unit, the at least one rod part being disposed in the guide unit such that the at least one rod part is advanced and retreated in the frontward and rearward direction of the door, a toothed rod formed to be engaged with the gear unit in a protruding state, and a connection part to integrally interconnect the at least one rod part and the toothed rod. 
     The door handle may further include an elastic member disposed at the guide unit and the at least one rod part of each of the actuating rods while surrounding the at least one rod part of each of the actuating rods to apply elastic force to each of the actuating rods. 
     The guide unit may include a guide hole through which the at least one rod part is advanced and retreated. 
     Each of the actuating rods may further include a first damper coupled to one end of the at least one rod part. 
     The door handle may further include a second damper disposed between the handle unit and the guide unit, the second damper being fixed to an inside of the handle unit or an outside of the guide unit. 
     The guide base may include a first guide groove to support the pusher such that the pusher is advanced and retreated in the frontward and rearward direction of the door. 
     The handle case may include a second guide groove to support the pusher such that the pusher is advanced and retreated in the frontward and rearward direction of the door. 
     In accordance with a further aspect, a refrigerator door to open and close the front of a refrigerator body of a refrigerator is provided at one side thereof with a door opening device including a handle unit having a grip part to allow a user to pull the door opening device while gripping the door opening device, a plurality of actuating rods fixed to upper and lower parts of the handle unit such that the actuating rods are moved along with the handle unit in a frontward and rearward direction of the door, a plurality of guide units to guide movement of the actuating rods, a guide base at which the guide units are fixedly located, a handle case coupled to the guide base to fixedly couple the door opening device to one side of the door, a pusher configured to be advanced and retreated through movement relative to the actuating rods to push one side of the refrigerator body, and a gear unit disposed between the actuating rods and the pusher, wherein the gear unit includes a plurality of gears engaged with the actuating rods and the pusher and a gear shaft having opposite ends to which the gears are fixed. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the external appearance of a refrigerator having door handles according to an embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the door handle; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of a handle unit, an actuating rod, a guide unit, and elastic members of the door handle; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of a gear unit, a guide base, and a pusher of the door handle; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of a gear unit, a guide base, and a pusher of a door handle according to another embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of the guide unit and the guide base of the door handle; 
         FIG. 7  is a front view of a refrigerator door in which the door handle is mounted when viewed from the inside; 
         FIG. 8  is a sectional view illustrating the operating principle of the door handle; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating an open state of the refrigerator door in which the door handle is mounted. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating the external appearance of a refrigerator having door handles according to an embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the refrigerator has a refrigerator body  10  configured approximately in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. In the refrigerator body  10  is defined a storage chamber including a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber. 
     The front of the storage chamber is open, and the open front of the storage chamber is closed by a refrigerator door  25  including a refrigerating chamber door  20  and a freezing chamber door  30 . The refrigerating chamber door  20  and the freezing chamber door  30  are hingedly mounted at left and right sides of the refrigerator body  10 , respectively. 
     At the front of the freezing chamber door  30  is provided a dispenser  40  to dispense purified water or ice as needed. At the front of the refrigerating chamber door  20  is mounted a home bar  50  to allow a user to take food out of the refrigerating chamber without opening the refrigerating chamber door  20 . 
     A door handle  100  is mounted at the front of the refrigerating chamber door  20 . Another door handle  100  is mounted at the front of the freezing chamber door  30 . Each door handle  100  is gripped by a user upon opening the refrigerator door  25 . Specifically, one of the door handles  100  is mounted at the right side of the front of the refrigerating chamber door  20 . Also, the other door handle  100  is mounted at the left side of the front of the freezing chamber door  30 . 
     Each door handle  100  is mounted at the refrigerator door  25  at a height at which a user may easily grip each door handle  100 . 
     Also, each door handle  100  has a length corresponding to the length of the dispenser  40  or the home bar  50 . Each door handle  100  is spaced apart from the front of the refrigerator door  25  frontward such that a user may easily grip and manipulate each door handle  100 . 
     The door handle  100  mounted at the refrigerating chamber door  20  and the door handle  100  mounted at the freezing chamber door  30  have the same structure and differ only in position. Hereinafter, therefore, a description will be given based on the door handle  100  mounted at the refrigerating chamber door  20 . 
       FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the door handle,  FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of a handle unit, an actuating rod, a guide unit, and elastic members of the door handle,  FIG. 4  is a perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of a gear unit, a guide base, and a pusher of the door handle,  FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of a gear unit, a guide base, and a pusher of a door handle according to another embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of the guide unit and the guide base of the door handle, and  FIG. 7  is a front view of a refrigerator door in which the door handle is mounted when viewed from the inside. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 to 7 , the door handle  100  includes a handle unit  110 , actuating rods  120 , guide units  130 , a pusher  140 , a gear unit  150 , a guide base  160 , elastic members  170 , and a handle case  210 . 
     The handle unit  110  is gripped by a user during manipulation of the door handle  100 . The handle unit  110  is configured approximately in a rectangular shape. The handle unit  110  includes a grip part  112  (see  FIG. 1 ) to allow the user to easily grip the door handle  100 . While griping the grip part  112  of the handle unit  110 , the user may pull the door handle  100 . 
     The handle unit  110  is hollowed to define an inner space in which the actuating rods  120  and the guide units  130  are disposed. 
     In the inner space of the handle unit  110  is fixedly disposed a portion of each actuating rod  120 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , each actuating rod  120  is fixed to the handle unit  110  by threadedly inserting screws into coupling holes  128  and  129  formed at first and second rods  122  and  123  of each actuating rod  120  through first screw holes  116  formed at the handle unit  110 . 
     In  FIG. 3 , each actuating rod  120  is fixed to the handle unit  110  in a screw coupling manner. Alternatively, each actuating rod  120  may be fixed to the handle unit  110  using a bonding agent, or a receiving part (not shown) may be formed in the inner space of the handle unit  110  such that each actuating rod  120  is fitted into the receiving part. 
     Each actuating rod  120 , fixedly coupled to the handle unit  110 , includes a first rod  122 , a second rod  123 , a toothed rod  124 , and a connection part  126 . 
     The first rod  122  and the second rod  123  extend from the connection part  126  by a predetermined length. As previously described, the coupling holes  128  and  129  are formed at ends of the first rod  122  and the second rod  123  such that the first rod  122  and the second rod  123  are coupled into the inner space of the handle unit through the coupling holes  128  and  129 . 
     The first rod  122  and the second rod  123  are received in guide holes  132  and  133  formed at the guide unit  130  such that the first rod  122  and the second rod  123  are reciprocated in the frontward and rearward direction of the refrigerator door  25 . 
     The toothed rod  124  extends from the connection part  126  by a predetermined length. The toothed rod  124  is disposed between the first rod  122  and the second rod  123 . The toothed rod  124  is engaged with a second gear  156  formed at the gear unit  150 . The toothed rod  124  may be configured in a toothed shape corresponding to the second gear  156  such that each actuating rod  120  is moved relative to the gear unit  150 . 
     The connection part  126  interconnects the first rod  122 , the second rod  123 , and the toothed rod  124 . The connection part  126  is curved downward to have a predetermined curvature. 
     Sides of the connection part  126  from which the first rod  122  and the second rod  123  extend constitute support parts  127 , which are formed in the shape of a circle having a greater diameter than the first rod  122  and the second rod  123  to support the elastic members  170  in the direction in which the elastic members  170  are opposite to each guide unit  120 . 
     Also, first dampers  180  are provided at sides of the connection part  126  opposite to the direction in which the first rod  122  and the second rod  123  extend. 
     The first dampers  180  minimize noise and impact which may be generated when each actuating rod  120  collides with the front of the refrigerator door  25  during reciprocating movement in the frontward and rearward direction of the refrigerator door  25 . 
     Each guide unit  130 , which receives the first rod  122  and the second rod  123  such that each actuating rod  120  is reciprocated in the frontward and rearward direction of the refrigerator door  25 , includes guide holes  132  and  133 , support protrusions  136 , and second screw holes  138 . 
     The guide holes  132  and  133  are provided at positions of each guide unit  130  corresponding to the first rod  122  and the second rod  123  of each actuating rod  120 . The guide holes  132  and  133  are depressed approximately in the sectional shape of a circle to receive the elastic members  170  while the first rod  122  and the second rod  123  are inserted through the guide holes  132  and  133 . 
     The support protrusions  136  perform the same function as the support parts  127  of each actuating rod  120 . When one end of each elastic member  170  is supported by a corresponding one of the support parts  127  of each actuating rod  120 , the other end of each elastic member  170  is supported by a corresponding one of the support protrusions  136  of each guide unit  130 . In a state in which the opposite ends of each elastic member  170  are supported by the corresponding support part  127  and the corresponding support protrusion  136 , each elastic member  170  applies elastic force to the corresponding support part  127  and the corresponding support protrusion  136  in the direction in which each elastic member  170  stretches. 
     A second damper  190  may be provided at the reverse side of each support protrusion  136 , i.e., at the side of each support protrusion  136  opposite to the side at which the corresponding elastic member  170  is supported. 
     The second dampers  190  minimize noise and impact which may be generated when the handle unit  110  collides with each guide unit  130  during reciprocating movement in the frontward and rearward direction of the refrigerator door  25 . 
     The second dampers  190  may not be provided at the reverse sides of the support protrusions  136  of each guide unit  130 . As long as the second dampers  190  are located between the handle unit  110  and the guide unit, the second dampers  190  may be fixed to the reverse sides of the support protrusions  136  of each guide unit  130  or to the inside of the handle unit  110 . 
     The second screw holes  138  are configured to fixedly locate each guide unit  130  at the guide base  160  along with fixing holes  163  formed at the guide base  160 . 
     In  FIG. 6 , each guide unit  130  is fixed to the guide base  160  in a screw coupling manner. Alternatively, each guide unit  130  may be fixed to the guide base  160  using a bonding agent. 
     The guide base  160 , at which each guide unit  130  is fixedly located, includes a base connection part  162 , fixing holes  163 , gear shaft location slots  164 , a first guide groove  166 , and guide ribs  168 . 
     Each guide unit  130  is fixed to the guide base  160  by threadedly inserting screws into the fixing holes  163  of the guide base  160  through the second screw holes  138  formed at each guide unit  130 . 
     The gear shaft location slots  164  are configured such that a gear shaft  152  of the gear unit  150  is located in the gear shaft location slots  164 . Each of the gear shaft location slots  164  is configured in the shape of a circle having a diameter slightly greater than the gear shaft  152 , which is configured in the shape of a rod. One side of each gear shaft location slot  164  is open such that the gear shaft  152  is inserted into each gear shaft location slot  164 . Consequently, the gear shaft  152  is rotated in the gear shaft location slots  164  of the guide base  160 . 
     The guide ribs  168  protrude from positions of the guide base  160  corresponding to the guide holes  132  and  133  of each guide unit  130 . 
     The guide ribs  168  are hollowed in a shape corresponding to each actuating rod  120  such that each actuating rod  120  is reciprocated through the guide ribs  168  in the frontward and rearward direction of the refrigerator door  25 . 
     The first guide groove  166  is provided at one side of the guide base  160  in an open state. 
     The first guide groove  166  supports the pusher  140  such that the pusher  140  is reciprocated in the frontward and rearward direction of the refrigerator door  25  when the pusher  140  is moved relative to the handle unit  110  and each actuating rod  120  in the direction opposite to the handle unit  110  and each actuating rod  120 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the base connection part  162  vertically interconnects upper and lower parts of the guide base  160 . 
     The gear unit  150 , disposed between the actuating rods  120  and the pusher  140  to move the actuating rods  120  and the pusher  140  relative to each other in opposite directions, includes a gear shaft  152 , first gears  154 , and second gears  156 . 
     The gear shaft  152  is configured in the shape of a rod. The gear shaft  152  extends vertically by a predetermined length. The first gears  154  and the second gears  156  are connected to the gear shaft  152  such that the first gears  154  and the second gears  156  are simultaneously rotated about a single center. 
     Also, the gear shaft  152  is rotatably located in the gear shaft location slots  164  of the guide base  160 . 
     The first gears  154  are fixed to opposite ends of the gear shaft  152 . The first gears  154  are configured generally in the shape of a spur gear. Each of the first gears  154  is engaged with the corresponding toothed rod  124  of the actuating rod  160 . 
     The second gears  156  are integrally formed with the first gears  154 . The second gears  156  are coupled to the gear shaft  152 . One of the second gears  156  is configured in a shape corresponding to a gear part  142  formed at the pusher  140  such that the second gear  156  is engaged with the gear part  142 . 
     The first gears  154  and the second gears  156  are located at the opposite ends of the gear shaft  152  in a vertically symmetric manner. 
     With the structure and coupling relationship of the gear unit  150 , force applied from a user to the handle unit  110  is sequentially transmitted to the actuating rod  120 , the first gears  154 , the second gears  156 , and the pusher  140 . 
     The pusher  140  is advanced and retreated through movement of the pusher  140  relative to the corresponding actuating rod  120  to push one side of the refrigerator body  10 . The pusher  140  includes a toothed part  142 . 
     The toothed part  142  is engaged with the corresponding second gear  156  of the gear unit  150  such that the pusher  140  is advanced and retreated. 
     The pusher  140  is bent outward to avoid interference with a gasket  230  mounted inside the refrigerator door  25  (see  FIG. 7 ). 
     As previously described, the upper and lower parts of the guide base  160  are vertically connected to each other via the base connection part  162 , the gear shaft  152  is rotatably located in the gear shaft location slots  164  provided at the upper and lower parts of the guide base  160 , and the first gears  154  and the second gears  156  are coupled to the opposite ends of the gear shaft  152  in a vertically symmetric manner. 
     The pusher  140  may be selectively coupled to one of the second gears  156  coupled to the gear shaft  152  in the vertically symmetric manner. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , therefore, when a pair of door handles  100  is mounted at opposite sides of the refrigerator door  25 , a pusher  140  is mounted in the upper side of the door handle  100  mounted in the refrigerating chamber door  20  and a pusher  140  is mounted in the lower side of the door handle  100  mounted in the freezing chamber door  30 , so as to reduce the distance d between the refrigerating chamber door  20  and the freezing chamber door  30 . 
     The pusher  140  selectively coupled to the corresponding second gear  156  is advanced and retreated while being supported by the first guide groove  166  of the guide base  160  and a second guide groove  212  formed at the handle case  210 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the gear unit  150  may include a gear shaft  152  and first gears  154 . That is, the first gears  154 , coupled to the gear shaft  152 , may be configured to be simultaneously engaged with the toothed rod  124  and the toothed part  142 . 
     The handle case  210  and a case cover  220  are coupled to the refrigerator door  25  in a state in which the guide base  160  is fixed inside the handle case  210  and the case cover  220 . 
     A cover member  114  is coupled to the outside of the handle unit  110 . The cover member  114  may be designed to provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance. 
     In conclusion, the respective components constituting the door handle  100  are coupled as follows. The guide units  130  are fixed to the handle case  210  in a state in which the guide units  130  are coupled to the guide base  160 , and the handle case  210  is fixed to the refrigerator door  25 . That is, the guide units  130 , the guide base  160 , and the handle case  210  are fixed to the refrigerator door  25 . 
     An actuating rod  120  is fixed to the upper part of the handle unit  110 , and another actuating rod  120  is fixed to the lower part of the handle unit  110 . The toothed rods  124  of the actuating rods  120  are disposed to be engaged with the first gears  154  coupled to the opposite ends of the gear shaft  152  such that the actuating rods  120  are advanced and retreated along with the handle unit  110  when a user applies force to the handle unit  110 . 
     At this time, the advancing and retreating movement of the actuating rods  120  are guided along the guide holes  132  and  133  of the guide units  130  and the guide ribs  168  of the guide base  160 . 
     The elastic members  170  are located between the support parts  127  of the actuating rods  120  and the support protrusions  132  of the guide units  130  in a compressed state. 
     The gear unit  150  is located in the gear shaft location slots  164  of the guide base  160  in a state in which the gear unit  150  is engaged with the actuating rods  120  and the pusher  140  such that the actuating rods  120  and the pusher  140  are moved relative to each other. 
     The first gears  154  and the second gears  156  constituting the gear unit  150  are connected to the opposite ends of the gear shaft  152  such that the first gears  154  and the second gears  156  are operated together. 
     The pusher  140  is selectively coupled to the second gear  156  located at the upper end or the lower end of the gear shaft  152 . 
     Hereinafter, a principle of opening the refrigerator door to which the door handle  100  with the above-stated construction will be described. 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view illustrating the operating principle of the door handle, and  FIG. 9  is a perspective view illustrating an open state of the refrigerator door in which the door handle is mounted. 
     Generally, the refrigerating chamber door  20  is in contact with one side of the refrigerator body  10  to close the storage chamber. At this time, the inside of the handle unit  110  is in contact with the second dampers  190  coupled to the guide units  130 . 
     When a user pulls the handle unit  110  in the direction in which the handle unit  110  moves away from the refrigerating chamber door  20  (hereinafter, referred to as frontward and the opposite direction is referred to as rearward), as shown in  FIG. 8 , while gripping the grip part  112  of the handle unit  110  to open the refrigerating chamber door  20  in the above-stated state, the actuating rods  120  fixedly connected to the handle unit  110  are moved frontward, with the result that the toothed rods  124  of the respective actuating rods  120  are moved frontward. 
     The first gears  154  of the gear unit  150  engaged with the corresponding toothed rods  124  are rotated in the direction, as shown in  FIG. 8 , with the result that the gear shaft  152  and the second gears  156  connected to the first gears  154  are rotated in the same direction as the first gears  154 . 
     The pusher  140 , engaged with one of the second gears  156 , is moved rearward, i.e., toward the refrigerator body  10 , by the toothed part  142  to which rotational force from the corresponding second gear  156  is transmitted. 
     While moving toward the refrigerator body  10 , the pusher  140  protrudes from the handle case  210  and the case cover  220  to push one side of the refrigerator body  10  as shown in  FIG. 9 , with the result that the refrigerating chamber door  20  is opened according to a principle of action and reaction. 
     On the other hand, when the user removes the force applied to the handle unit  110  in a state in which the refrigerating chamber door  20  is open, the actuating rods  120  are moved rearward by the elastic members  170  applying elastic force to the support parts  127  of the respective actuating rods  120  in the direction in which elastic members  170  stretch, with the result that the handle unit  110  connected to the actuating rods  120  is moved rearward to the original position thereof. 
     As is apparent from the above description, when the door handle is pulled frontward to open the refrigerator door, the pusher pushes one side of the refrigerator body in proportion to force pulling the door handle through relative movement of the actuating rods, the gear unit, and the pusher, thereby easily opening the refrigerator door with smaller force. 
     Also, separation of food from the inside of the refrigerator door, which may occur when the user suddenly opens the refrigerator door with strong force, is prevented, thereby improving user convenience. 
     Furthermore, the dampers are provided at the contact portions in the door handle and the contact portions between the door handle and the refrigerator door, thereby reducing noise and impact generated during opening and closing of the refrigerator door. 
     Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.