Patent Abstract:
The present invention relates to a door for a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a door for use in a refrigerator in which a direction of opening and/or closing the door can be selectively changed. The door of the present invention comprises an external plate  80  which defines at least a front appearance of the door; a door liner  81  which defines a rear appearance of the door and constitutes a space with an insulating layer  83  formed therein in cooperation with the external plate  80 ; a dispenser  74  which is installed at a front surface of the external plate  80  for dispensing water to the outside of the refrigerator; tube passages  97  and  97 ′ which pass through the insulating layer  83  and allow the dispenser  74  and through-holes  86  for installation of a hinge  57  located at both sides of the door to communicate with each other; a door side tube structure  72  which is installed in at least one of the tube passages  97  and  97 ′ and transfers water from a main body  50  of the refrigerator to the dispenser  74 ; and a power cable  99  which extends from the dispenser  74  to the respective through-holes  86  and through which electrical signals are transmitted between the door  56  and the main body  50  of the refrigerator. According to the present invention, there are advantages in that the door opening/closing direction can be easily changed and the external appearance of the door can be cleanly and neatly finished.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a door for a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a door for use in a refrigerator with a dispenser capable of dispensing water to the outside of the refrigerator. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
     FIG. 1  shows a front configuration of a related art refrigerator. As shown in this figure, a storage space such as refrigerating and freezing chambers is formed within a main body  10  of the refrigerator. The storage space is opened and/or closed by separate doors  12  and  14 . 
   The door  12  is hinged on an end side thereof to the main body  10  of the refrigerator to be opened and/or closed. The door  14  is used to constitute a front face of a tray (i.e., a portion in which articles to be stored are secured) that is slid in and out in a drawer fashion. The door  14  is in close contact with the front face of the main body  10  of the refrigerator or pulled in a forward direction so as to open and/or close the storage space. 
   The doors  12  and  14  are provided with door handles  16  and  16 ′, respectively. The door handles  16  and  16 ′ are portions which users grasp to exert predetermined force when intending to open and/close the door  12  and  14 , respectively. The door handle  16  of the door  12  is provided on the front face at a side opposite to the end side where a hinge is installed. 
   In the meantime, a dispenser  18 , by which the user can directly catch water without opening the door  12  to take out the water stored in the refrigerator, is further provided on the front face of the door  12 . 
   Since the dispenser  18  is installed at the front face of the door  12 , a water supply tube  20  should be provided in the door  12  to supply water to the dispenser  18  in the door  12 . The water supply tube  20  penetrates through the hinge of the door  12  so as to transfer water from the main body  10  of the refrigerator to the door  12 . Reference numeral  22  designates a hinge cover. 
   However, the related art refrigerator has the following problems. 
   That is, when the dispenser  18  is provided in the door  12 , the water supply tube  20  for supplying the dispenser  18  with water and a power cable for transmitting an electrical signal to the dispenser are generally installed to penetrate through the hinge. In such a case, however, the door  12  cannot be designed such that it can be opened and/or closed on right and left sides. This is because the water supply tube  20  or power cable should be inserted into the interior of the door  12  prior to forming an insulating layer, when intending to manufacture the door  12 . 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems in the prior art. Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator door which can be selectively opened and/or closed on both right and left end sides even while including a dispenser. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator door which can be selectively opened and/or closed on both right and left end sides in a state where a part such as an unused power cable is not exposed to the outside. 
   According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the objects, there is provided a door for a refrigerator in which a direction of opening and/or closing the door can be selectively changed, comprising an external plate which defines at least a front appearance of the door; a door liner which defines a rear appearance of the door and constitutes a space with an insulating layer formed therein in cooperation with the external plate; a dispenser which is installed at a front surface of the external plate for dispensing water to the outside of the refrigerator; tube passages which pass through the insulating layer and allow the dispenser and through-holes for hinge installation located at both sides of the door to communicate with each other; a door side tube structure which is installed in at least one of the tube passages and transfers water from a main body of the refrigerator to the dispenser; and a power cable which extends from the dispenser to the respective through-holes and through which electrical signals are transmitted between the door and the main body of the refrigerator. 
   The door may further comprise decoration caps serving as a finishing trim at both upper and lower ends thereof, and wiring chambers for accommodating a tip end of the power cable therein may be formed in the respective decoration caps at locations adjacent to the through-holes. 
   Preferably, each wiring chamber is covered with a removable cover and a hook for catching and fastening a portion of the power cable is formed in the wiring chamber. 
   Preferably, the wiring chamber is formed to have a predetermined space defined by inwardly depressing the decoration cap. 
   More preferably, the wiring chamber is formed with a neck portion that is relatively narrower than other portions thereof, and the cover is formed with a neck portion corresponding to the neck portion of the wiring chamber. 
   Further, a hook for catching and fastening the power cable may be formed to protrude from a bottom surface of the wiring chamber. 
   Preferably, the door side tube structure and the power cable are installed through the tube passage. 
   More preferably, the door side tube structure and the power cable are installed in the insulating layer. 
   According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a door for a refrigerator in which a direction of opening and/or closing the door can be selectively changed, comprising an external plate which defines at least a front appearance of the door; a door liner which defines a rear appearance of the door and constitutes a space with an insulating layer formed therein in cooperation with the external plate; decoration caps which are provided at both upper and lower ends of the door and formed with through-holes for hinge installation at at least opposite sides of the decoration cap; a dispenser which is installed at a front surface of the external plate for dispensing water to the outside of the refrigerator; a door side tube structure which passes through the insulating layer and allow the dispenser and the through-holes to communicate with each other; and a power cable which is installed in the insulating layer to extend from the dispenser to the respective through-holes and through which electrical signals are transmitted between the door and the main body of the refrigerator. 
   Preferably, wiring chambers for accommodating a tip end of the power cable therein are formed in the respective decoration caps adjacent to the through-holes. 
   Preferably, each wiring chamber is covered with a removable cover and a hook for catching and fastening a portion of the power cable is formed in the wiring chamber. 
   More preferably, the wiring chamber is formed with a neck portion that is relatively narrower than other portions thereof, and the cover for covering the wiring chamber is formed with a neck portion corresponding to the neck portion of the wiring chamber. 
   Further, a hook for catching and fastening the power cable may be formed to protrude from a bottom surface of the wiring chamber. 
   Preferably, the door side tube structure is securely arranged in a tube passage formed in the insulating layer. 
   According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a door for a refrigerator in which a direction of opening and/or closing the door can be selectively changed, comprising an external plate which defines at least a front appearance of the door, a door liner which defines a rear appearance of the door and constitutes a space with an insulating layer formed therein in cooperation with the external plate, decoration caps which are provided at both upper and lower ends of the door and formed with through-holes for hinge installation at least opposite sides of the decoration cap, having wiring chambers formed in the respective decoration caps adjacent to the through-holes, and at least two power cable which are installed in the insulating layer to extend from the external plate to the respective through-holes, a tip end of the power cable are accommodated the wiring chambers and through which electrical signals are transmitted between the door and the main body of the refrigerator. 
   According to the present invention constructed as such, there are advantages in that the opening and/or closing direction of a refrigerator door with a dispenser can be easily changed, the external appearance of the door can be cleanly and neatly finished, and the door can be opened and/or closed without any hindrance due to the unused power cable. 
   The door may further comprise a dispenser which is installed at a front surface of the external plate for dispensing water to the outside of the refrigerator and a door side tube structure which passes through the insulating layer and allow the dispenser and the through-holes to communicate with each other. 
   Preferably, the door side tube structure is securely arranged in a tube passage formed in the insulating layer. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a related art refrigerator; 
       FIG. 2  is a side sectional view showing the configuration of a refrigerator in which a preferred embodiment of a door according to the present invention is employed; 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of the refrigerator in which the preferred embodiment of the door according to the present invention is employed; 
       FIG. 4  is a partial perspective view of main portion of the refrigerator door according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the main portions of the refrigerator door according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a view showing a state where a power cable is accommodated in a wiring chamber of the refrigerator door according to the further preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 7  is a partial perspective view of main portions of a refrigerator door which is opened and/or closed in a direction opposite to the opening/closing direction of the door according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a door for a refrigerator according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 2  is a sectional view showing the internal configuration of a refrigerator with a door according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 3  is a front view showing the configuration of the refrigerator to which the door according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is applied. 
   Referring to these figures, a main body  50  of the refrigerator is vertically divided into a refrigerating chamber  52  and a freezing chamber  54 . The refrigerating chamber  52  is arranged at a relatively upper side of the main body  50  of the refrigerator, while the freezing chamber  54  is arranged at a relatively lower side of the main body. 
   The main body  50  of the refrigerator is provided with a refrigerating chamber door  56  and a freezing chamber door  58  for allowing the refrigerating chamber  52  and the freezing chamber  54  to be selectively opened and/or closed. According to this embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerating chamber door  56  is pivotally supported on the main body  50  of the refrigerator by a hinge  57  installed at right upper and lower ends as viewed from FIG.  3 . 
   The doors  56  and  58  are provided with door handles  56 ′ and  58 ′, respectively. The door handles  56 ′ and  58 ′ are portions which users grasp to exert predetermined force for opening and/or closing the doors  56  and  58 , respectively. The door handle  56 ′ of the refrigerating chamber door  56  is mounted to a supporting bracket  56   f  fixed to a decoration cap  84  to be explained later. 
   A filter  60  is installed in the refrigerating chamber  52 . The filter  60  serves to purify water. The water s supplied to the filter  60  through a water supply tube  62  connected to an external water supply source  61 . 
   A valve  64  is provided at one side of the main body  50  of the refrigerator. The valve  64  serves to distribute the water, which has passed through the filter  64 , to a water tank  66 , an icemaker  68  and the like. The water tank  66  and the icemaker  68  are provided in the refrigerating chamber  52  and the freezing chamber  54 , respectively. The water tank  66  serves to store the water that was purified through the filter  66 , while the icemaker  68  manufacture ice from the water that was purified through the filter  60 . 
   The main body  50  of the refrigerator is provided with a main body side tube structure  70  for transferring the water from the water tank  66  to the refrigerating chamber door  56 . A leading end of the main body side tube structure  70  is exposed toward a top end of the main body  50  of the refrigerator and connected through the hinge  57  to a door side tube structure  72  installed in the refrigerating chamber door  56 . 
   Furthermore, a dispenser  74  is provided at a front surface of the refrigerating chamber door  56 . The dispenser  74  allows the water supplied from the water tank  66  to be discharged out of the refrigerating chamber door  56 . The configuration of the dispenser  74  will now first be explained. A depressed portion  75  is formed on the front surface of the refrigerating chamber door  56  and a water dispensing port  76  is provided on a top surface of the depressed portion  75 . The dispensing port  76  is connected to the door side tube structure  72 . Although it is not shown in these figures, a valve is provided for regulating the discharge of water through the dispensing port  76 . An actuating lever  78  is provided in the depressed portion  75 . The actuating lever  78  controls the opening and/or closing of the valve so as to regulate the discharge of water through the dispensing port  76 . 
   Next, the configuration of the refrigerating chamber door  56  will be described in detail. An external appearance of the refrigerating chamber door  56  is defined by an external plate  80  and a door liner  81 . The external plate  80  defines an externally exposed portion, i.e. at least a front surface of the refrigerating chamber door  56 . Preferably, the external plate can constitute both side surfaces and top and bottom surfaces of the door. The door liner  81  defines a rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door  56 . A gasket  81 ′ is also provided along an edge of the door liner  81 . The gasket  81 ′ comes into close contact with the front surface of the main body  50  of the refrigerator to prevent cold air from leaking out when the refrigerating chamber door  56  is closed. 
   An insulating layer  83  is formed in a space between the external plate  81  and the door liner  81 . The insulating layer  83  is formed by causing a good insulation material to be foamed and cured between the external plate  80  and the door liner  81 . 
   The decoration caps  84  are provided at the top and bottom ends of the refrigerating chamber door  56 , respectively. Each of the decoration caps  84  functions as a finishing trim. Through-holes  86  are perforated at both ends of the decoration cap  84 , respectively. A hinge bushing  88  is inserted into the through-hole  86  by a predetermined depth toward the refrigerating chamber door  56 . 
   A wiring chamber  90  is formed to be depressed in each of the decoration cap  84 . The wiring chamber  90  is formed by causing a portion of the decoration cap  84  to be depressed, but it is not necessarily formed in such a manner. Alternatively, the wiring chamber may pass through and be placed within the decoration cap  84 . The wiring chamber  90  is connected to each of the through-holes  86  at both sides and extends toward the opposite through-hole  86 . 
   A neck portion  90 ′ is formed at one side of the wiring chamber  90  such that its width is smaller than other portions of the wiring chamber. The width of the neck portion  90 ′ should be determined such that at least a power cable  99  accommodated in the wiring chamber  90  can be placed into the neck portion  90 ′. The power cable  99  and a connector  99 ′ attached to an end of the power cable are accommodated in a relatively wide portion of the wiring chamber  90 . 
   A hook  91  is formed to protrude from a bottom surface of the wiring chamber  90 . The hook  91  is a portion where the power cable  99  is caught and fastened. The hook  91  is formed to face a side wall of the wiring chamber  90 . A fastening boss  92  for fixing a cover  94  to be explained later is formed in the wiring chamber  90 . The fastening boss  92  is formed with a female thread. Further, the fastening is preferably formed to protrude from the surface of the wiring chamber by a predetermined height. 
   A plurality of bracket-fastening holes  93  are formed in the decoration cap  84 . At least four bracket-fastening holes  93  are formed in such a manner that at least one hole is provided at each end of the neck portion  90 ′ of the wiring chamber  90 . A supporting bracket  56   f  on which both ends of the door handle  56 ′ are supported is fastened into the bracket-fastening holes  93  by means of fastening screws  93 ′. 
   The wiring chamber  90  is covered with the cover  94  which in turn is securely fastened to an opening of the wiring chamber. To this end, it is preferred that a step portion be formed around an outer periphery of the opening of the wiring chamber  90 . Therefore, the cover  94  has the same shape as that of the opening of the wiring chamber  90  and is thus provided with a neck portion  94  corresponding to the neck portion  90 ′. The cover  94  is formed with a fastening hole  95  at a position corresponding to the fastening boss  92  of the wiring chamber  90 . A screw  95 ′ is coupled to the fastening boss  92  through the fastening hole  95  such that the cover  94  is fixedly attached to the opening of the wiring chamber  90 . 
   Furthermore, first and second tube passages  97  and  97 ′ are formed such that they pass through the insulating layer  83  of the refrigerating chamber door  56 . The tube passages  97  and  97 ′ are used to communicate the dispenser  74  with the through-holes  86 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the first tube passage  97  communicates the dispenser  74  with the through-hole  86  located at the right upper end of the main body of the refrigerator, while the second tube passage  97 ′ communicates the dispenser  74  with the through-hole  86  located at the left upper end of the main body of the refrigerator. 
   The door side tube structure  72  may be selectively provided in the first or second tube passage  97  or  97 ′. That is, the door side tube structure  72  is installed in the tube passage  97  or  97 ′ which is in communication with the through-hole  86  that is connected to the hinge  57  according to the opening and/or closing direction of the refrigerating chamber door  56 . In this embodiment of the present invention, the door side tube structure  72  is installed in the first tube passage  97 . 
   On the other hand, the two door side tube structures  72  may be installed in the insulating layer  83  such that they allows the dispenser  74  to communicate with both through-holes  86  without using the tube passages  97  and  97 ′. But, the power cable  99  may be arranged through the tube passages  97  and  97 ′. Of course, the power cable  99  may be positioned within the insulating layer rather than the tube passage  97  and  97 ′. When the power cable  99  is installed within the insulating layer, the power cable must be extended to all the through-holes  86  located at both sides. At this time, the unused power cable  99  is neatly and securely arranged in the wiring chamber  90 . 
   Hereinafter, an operation of the door for the refrigerator according to the present invention so configured will be described in detail. 
   A case where the refrigerating chamber door  56  is supported and installed at the left side by the hinge  57  as shown in  FIG. 3  will be first explained. In such a case, the door side tube structure  72  is installed in the first tube passage  97  and then communicates with the main body side tube structure  70  through the hinge  57 . Further, the power cable  99  passes through the hinge  57  and electrically connects with the main body  50  of the refrigerator and electric/electronic parts provided in the refrigerating chamber door  56 . 
   Then, the supporting bracket  56   f  is fastened into the bracket-fastening hole  93  located at a side opposite to a side where the hinge  57  is installed, and the door handle  56 ′ is installed at the supporting bracket. At this time, the power cable  99  extending through the through-hole  86  where the supporting bracket  56   f  is installed is securely arranged in the wiring chamber  90 . 
   That is, after the cover  94  has been removed from the wiring chamber  90 , the power cable  99  extending through the through-hole  86  is fitted into the neck portion  90 ′ and then securely arranged in the wiring chamber  90 . Further, the connector  99 ′ attached to the end of the power cable  99  is neatly arranged in the relatively wide portion of the wiring chamber  90 . At this time, a portion of the power cable  99  is caught around and fastened to the hook  91 . Such a state is clearly shown in FIG.  6 . 
   The wiring chamber  90  is covered with the cover  94  regardless of whether the power cable  99  is used or not, i.e. whether the power cable  99  is securely arranged in the wiring chamber  90 . The cover  94  is mounted to the wiring chamber  90  by screwing the screw  95 ′ into the fastening boss  92  through the fastening hole  95 . 
   The power cable  99  to be used, i.e. the power cable located at the right side in this embodiment of the present invention, is extended out from the through-hole  86  through the hinge  57 . 
   In the meantime, if a manufacturer or user intends to reverse the direction of opening and/or closing the refrigerating chamber door  56 , the door side tube structure  72  is pulled out from the first tube passage  97  and inserted into the second tube passage  97 ′ through the hinge bushing  88  and through-hole  86 . 
   Subsequently, the power cable  99 , which was extended to the outside of the refrigerating chamber door  56  through the right through-hole  86 , is securely arranged in the right wiring chamber  90 , and then, another power cable  99  is drawn out from the left wiring chamber  90 . Then, the respective wiring chambers  90  are covered with covers  94 . 
   Thereafter, the fastening screw  93 ′ that is used to fasten the supporting bracket  56   f  to the decoration cap  84  is unscrewed, and the supporting bracket  56   f  and the door handle  56 ′ are shifted to a desired right location. That is, the supporting bracket  56   f  is fastened to the bracket-fastening hole  93  formed on the right decoration cap  84 . 
   If the configuration of the refrigerating chamber door  56  is changed as described above, the refrigerating chamber door  56  can be opened and/or closed in a reverse direction by mounting the door to the main body  50  of the refrigerator. Such a mounting state is shown in FIG.  7 . That is, as shown in this figure, the refrigerating chamber door  56  is configured in such a manner that its left side is pivotally supported by the hinge  57  while its right side comes into close contact with or is separated from the front face of the main body  50  of the refrigerator to open and/or close the refrigerating chamber  52 . 
   In the meantime, when manufacturing the refrigerating chamber door  56 , a generally V-shaped hose is embedded therein so as to form the tube passages  97  and  97 ′. That is, the V-shaped hose, into which the door side tube structure  72  can be inserted such that its lower end communicates with the dispenser  74  and its upper end communicates with the hinge bushing  88  provided at both upper sides of the refrigerating chamber door  56 , is inserted between a space defined between the external plate  80  and door liner  81  of the refrigerating chamber door  56  and a foam liquid is then filled in the interior of the refrigerating chamber door  56 . Therefore, the V-shaped hose can constitute the tube passages  97  and  97 ′. 
   Next, it is described how water is dispensed through the dispenser  74  installed in the refrigerating chamber door  56 . Water is supplied from the external water supply source  61  to the filter  60  of the main body  50  of the refrigerator through the water supply tube  62 . The water purified in the filter  60  is supplied to both the water tank  66  and icemaker  68  through the valve  64 . 
   The water that is temporarily stored in the water tank  66  is supplied to the door side tube structure  72  in the refrigerating chamber door  56  through the main body side tube structure  70  when the user intends to draw water out from the dispenser  74 . At this time, the main body side tube structure  70  and the door side tube structure  72  communicate with each other via the hinge  57 . The water supplied in the door side tube structure  72  of the refrigerating chamber door  56  is dispensed through the water dispensing port  76  when the user operates the actuating lever  78  installed in the dispenser  74 . 
   As specifically described above, a door for a refrigerator according to the present invention has the following advantageous effects. 
   First, even when a user intends to change the direction of opening and/closing the refrigerator door, a door side tube structure can be easily shifted from one tube passage to another tube passages. Thus, the door opening/closing direction can be easily changed in the refrigerator with a dispenser. 
   Further, a refrigerator of which door opening/closing direction can be selectively changed can be configured in such a manner that an unused power cable is not exposed to the outside. Thus, an external appearance of the door is clean and neat, and moisture can be prevented from being transferred to the power cable. 
   Furthermore, the unused power cable can be prevented from being broken or being a hindrance to the door opening and/or closing. 
   Although the present invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiments. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered as not restrictive but illustrative. Further, the true scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims, and changes and modifications should be constructed as falling within the scope of the present invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5