Patent Description:
In general, a refrigerator is an apparatus that keeps food fresh by including a main body including an inner case and an outer case, a storage compartment formed by the inner case, and a cold air supplying unit for supplying cold air to the storage compartment.

The temperature of the storage compartment is maintained to be in a predetermined range required to keep food fresh.

A front side of the storage compartment of the refrigerator is disposed to be opened, and the opened front side is closed by a door so that the temperature of the storage compartment can be maintained at normal times.

The storage compartment is partitioned off by a barrier wall into upper and lower portions. The refrigerator door that opens/closes a refrigerator compartment disposed on the upper portion of the storage compartment is configured of a side by side type door that is rotatably coupled to the main body, and the refrigerator door that opens/closes a freezer compartment disposed on the lower portion of the storage compartment is a drawer type door that slides in a forward/backward direction.

For convenience's sake of a consumer, one of refrigerator compartment doors composed of a pair of doors has a structure of a double door.

The double door includes a first door rotatably coupled to the main body and a second door rotatably coupled to the first door. The first door and the second door are respectively provided with handles to open and close the first door and the second door.

Since the first door and the second door have the respective handles, a user, if desired to open/close the first door, needs to grip the handle provided on the first door and open/close the first door, and if desired to open/close the second door, needs to grip the handle provided on the second door and open/close the second door, which causes inconvenience of use.

<CIT>, <CIT> and<CIT> each disclose a handle for a refrigerator having a double door structure that enables the user to open one or both of the doors.

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide a refrigerator capable of opening/closing only a second door or opening/closing both of a first door and a second door using one handle, by allowing the second door to be fixed or released to/from the first door using a latch device.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator according to claim <NUM>. Optional features of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

As is apparent from the above, the convenience of a user can be improved since the doors are selectively opened and closed by only one handle.

These and/or other aspects of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:.

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

With respect to a front side and a rear side that will be described below, a front side of a main body <NUM> of a refrigerator is referred to as the front side, and a rear side of the main body <NUM> of the refrigerator is referred to as the rear side.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the refrigerator includes the main body <NUM> that constitutes an exterior of the refrigerator, a storage compartment <NUM> disposed in the main body <NUM> in such a way that a front side of the storage compartment <NUM> is opened, and doors <NUM> and <NUM> that open/close the storage compartment <NUM>.

The main body <NUM> includes an inner case (not shown) that constitutes the storage compartment <NUM>, an outer case (not shown) that constitutes an exterior of the main body <NUM>, and a cold air supplying unit (not shown) that supplies cold air to the storage compartment <NUM>.

The cold air supplying unit may include a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, a blower fan, and a cold air duct. An insulating material (not shown) is foamed between the inner case and the outer case of the main body <NUM> so as to prevent cold air of the storage compartment <NUM> from being discharged to the outside.

A machine compartment (not shown) in which the compressor that compresses a refrigerant and the condenser that condenses the compressed refrigerant are installed, is provided in a lower side of the rear of the main body <NUM>.

The storage compartment <NUM> is partitioned off by a barrier wall <NUM> into upper and lower portions. A refrigerator compartment <NUM> is disposed in an upper portion of the main body <NUM>, and a freezer compartment <NUM> is disposed in a lower portion of the main body <NUM>.

A plurality of shelves <NUM> may be disposed in the refrigerator compartment <NUM> and may partition off the refrigerator compartment <NUM> into a plurality of portions. A plurality of storage containers <NUM> in which food is stored, may be disposed.

The refrigerator compartment <NUM> is opened/closed by a pair of refrigerator compartment doors <NUM> rotatably coupled to the main body <NUM>. The freezer compartment <NUM> is opened/closed by a freezer compartment door <NUM> that slides in a forward/backward direction.

Handles <NUM> and <NUM> are disposed on the refrigerator compartment door <NUM> and the freezer compartment door <NUM> so that a user may open/close the refrigerator compartment door <NUM> and the freezer compartment door <NUM> by grasping the handles <NUM> and <NUM>.

The refrigerator compartment door <NUM> disposed on the right of the drawing of the pair of refrigerator compartment doors <NUM> may have a structure of a double door.

The right refrigerator compartment door <NUM> having the structure of the double door includes a first door <NUM> that is rotatably disposed in front of the main body <NUM> and opens/closes the refrigerator compartment <NUM>, and a second door <NUM> that is rotatably disposed in front of the first door <NUM> and rotated in the same direction as the first door <NUM>.

An opening <NUM> is disposed in the first door <NUM>, and a plurality of door guards <NUM> are disposed in the opening <NUM>.

The opening <NUM> disposed in the first door <NUM> is opened/closed by the second door <NUM> disposed in front of the first door <NUM>.

A cooling plate <NUM> may be disposed on a rear side of the second door <NUM> and may be formed of an aluminum (Al) material.

Since the cooling plate <NUM> is formed of the Al material, when the second door <NUM> is closed, the cooling plate <NUM> may be uniformly cooled by thermal conduction caused by cold air inside the refrigerator compartment <NUM> so that the temperature of the entire refrigerator compartment <NUM> may be uniform.

The material used to form the cooling plate <NUM> is not limited to the Al material but may be formed of a different metal material having good thermal conduction efficiency.

Since one side of the refrigerator compartment door <NUM> has the structure of the double door, when the plurality of door guards <NUM> disposed in the opening <NUM> of the first door <NUM> are used, only the second door <NUM> is opened without the need of opening the whole of the refrigerator compartment door <NUM> so that cold air discharge caused by opening/closing of the refrigerator compartment door <NUM> may be minimized and the energy reduction effect may be achieved.

A handle <NUM> to which a latch device <NUM> that causes the first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM> to be selectively opened/closed, is coupled, is disposed on the second door <NUM>. This will be described later.

The first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM> are rotatably coupled to the main body <NUM> and the first door <NUM>, respectively, using a hinge unit <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> and <FIG> and <FIG>, the hinge unit <NUM> may include a first upper hinge <NUM> that is coupled to the upper portion of the main body <NUM> so that the first door <NUM> may be rotatably coupled to the main body <NUM>, a second upper hinge <NUM> that is coupled to an upper portion of the first door <NUM> so that the second door <NUM> may be rotatably coupled to the first door <NUM>, a first lower hinge <NUM> that is coupled to the lower portion of the main body <NUM> corresponding to a lower portion of the first door <NUM> so that the first door <NUM> may be rotatably coupled to the main body <NUM>, and a second lower hinge <NUM> that is coupled to the lower portion of the first door <NUM> so that the second door <NUM> may be rotatably coupled to the first door <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first upper hinge <NUM> includes a first coupling portion <NUM> coupled to the main body <NUM>, a first hinge shaft <NUM> that causes the first door <NUM> to be rotatably coupled to the main body <NUM>, and a cam member coupling portion <NUM> which extends from the first coupling portion <NUM> toward the first door <NUM> and to which a cam member <NUM> that will be described below is coupled.

The first coupling portion <NUM> is coupled to the upper portion of the main body <NUM> by using a fastening member B. The first hinge shaft <NUM> is disposed in a portion that extends from the first coupling portion <NUM> toward the first door <NUM> and is rotatably inserted into a first hinge hole <NUM> disposed in the upper portion of the first door <NUM>.

Thus, the first door <NUM> is rotated about the first hinge shaft <NUM> to open/close the refrigerator compartment <NUM>.

The second upper hinge <NUM> includes a second coupling portion <NUM> coupled to the upper portion of the first door <NUM> and a second hinge shaft <NUM> that causes the second door <NUM> to be rotatably coupled to the first door <NUM>.

The second coupling portion <NUM> is coupled to the upper portion of the first door <NUM> by using the fastening member B. The second hinge shaft <NUM> is disposed in a portion that extends from the second coupling portion <NUM> toward the second door <NUM> and is rotatably inserted into a second hinge hole <NUM> disposed in an upper portion of the second door <NUM>.

The second hinge hole <NUM> disposed in the upper portion of the second door <NUM> and the second hinge shaft <NUM> inserted into the second hinge hole <NUM> are disposed not to be exposed to the outside in view of sides or the upper portion of the main body <NUM>, have esthetic appealing, and may prevent foreign substances, such as dust, from penetrating into the second hinge hole <NUM> through the sides or the upper portion of the main body <NUM>.

Thus, the second door <NUM> is rotated about the second hinge shaft <NUM> so as to open/close the opening <NUM> disposed in the first door <NUM>.

An elastic lever <NUM> is disposed in the first door <NUM> so as to transfer an elastic force in a direction in which the first door <NUM> is closed, so that the first door <NUM> may be in close contact with the main body <NUM> when it is closed.

The elastic lever <NUM> includes a first elastic lever <NUM> that is disposed in the upper portion of the first door <NUM> and transfers an elastic force in the direction in which the first door <NUM> is closed, so that the first door <NUM> may be in close contact with the main body <NUM> when it is closed and thus leakage of cold air may be prevented, and a second elastic lever <NUM> that is disposed in the lower portion of the first door <NUM> and transfers the elastic force in the direction in which the first door <NUM> is closed, so that the first door <NUM> may be in close contact with the main body <NUM> when it is closed and thus leakage of cold air may be prevented.

Since the elastic levers <NUM> and <NUM> are disposed in the upper and lower portions of the first door <NUM> and are in close contact with the main body <NUM> when the first door <NUM> is closed, leakage of cold air may be prevented in both the upper and lower portions of the first door <NUM>. The first elastic lever <NUM> is disposed to be bent in a '<IMG>' shape to have elasticity. A second fastening hole <NUM> fastened into a first coupling hole <NUM> disposed in the upper portion of the first door <NUM> is disposed at one side of the first elastic lever <NUM> by using the fastening member B. A roller <NUM> is disposed at the other side of the first elastic lever <NUM> so as to be in contact with a cam surface <NUM> of the cam member <NUM> and to move along a shape of the cam surface <NUM> when the first door <NUM> is closed.

The roller <NUM> is maintained to be not in contact with the cam surface <NUM> of the cam member <NUM> in a state in which the first door <NUM> is fully opened, and when the roller <NUM> is in contact with the cam surface <NUM> while the first door <NUM> is closed, the first elastic lever <NUM> is compressed and accumulates an elastic force.

When the first door <NUM> is closed in a state in which the roller <NUM> is in contact with the cam surface <NUM>, the roller <NUM> moves along the shape of the cam surface <NUM> and transfers the accumulated elastic force in a direction in which the first door <NUM> is closed, so that the first door <NUM> may be in close contact with the main body <NUM>.

A description of the second elastic lever <NUM> will be provided below.

The cam member <NUM> is coupled to the cam member coupling portion <NUM> that extends from the first coupling portion <NUM> of the first upper hinge <NUM> toward the first door <NUM>. When the first door <NUM> is closed, the cam member <NUM> is in contact with the first elastic lever <NUM> and has the cam surface <NUM> on which the first elastic lever <NUM> accumulates the elastic force and then transfers the elastic force to the first door <NUM>.

The cam surface <NUM> includes an inflexion point <NUM> that is a base point when the first door <NUM> is opened/closed, and a first contact surface <NUM> and a second contact surface <NUM> respectively disposed at lower and upper sides of the inflexion point <NUM> so as to have opposite inclined surfaces based on the inflexion point <NUM>.

In a state in which the first door <NUM> is fully opened, the roller <NUM> of the first elastic lever <NUM> is not in contact with the cam surface <NUM> of the cam member <NUM>, and while the first door <NUM> is closed, the roller <NUM> is in contact with the first contact surface <NUM> of the cam surface <NUM>.

The roller <NUM> that contacts the first contact surface <NUM> is sequentially in contact with the first contact surface <NUM>, the inflexion point <NUM>, and the second contact surface <NUM> while the first door <NUM> is closed, and moves so that the first elastic lever <NUM> accumulates the elastic force and transfers the elastic force to the first door <NUM> in the direction in which the first door <NUM> is closed, so that the first door <NUM> may be in close contact with the main body <NUM>.

Next, an operation in which the first door <NUM> is in close contact with the main body <NUM> by the first elastic lever <NUM> and the cam member <NUM> when the first door <NUM> is closed, will be described with reference to <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in a state in which the first door <NUM> is fully opened, the first elastic lever <NUM> is maintained not to be in contact with the cam surface <NUM> of the cam member <NUM>.

When, in the state in which the first door <NUM> is fully opened, as illustrated in <FIG>, the first door <NUM> is somewhat closed, the roller <NUM> of the first elastic lever <NUM> is in contact with the cam surface <NUM> of the cam member <NUM>.

The roller <NUM> is primarily in contact with the first contact surface <NUM> of the cam surface <NUM>. When, in a state in which the roller <NUM> is in contact with the first contact surface <NUM>, the roller <NUM> is pushed in the direction in which the first door <NUM> is closed, as illustrated in <FIG>, as the roller <NUM> moves toward the lower portion of the first contact surface <NUM>, the first elastic lever <NUM> is compressed and accumulates the elastic force.

When, in a state in which the first elastic lever <NUM> accumulates the elastic force, the roller <NUM> is further pushed in the direction in which the first door <NUM> is closed, as illustrated in <FIG>, the roller <NUM> moves upward along the first contact surface <NUM> of the cam surface <NUM>, passes through the inflexion point <NUM>, and moves toward the second contact surface <NUM>.

As the roller <NUM> moves toward the second contact surface <NUM> of the cam surface <NUM> and is supported on the second contact surface <NUM>, the first elastic lever <NUM> transfers the accumulated elastic force to the first door <NUM>, and the first door <NUM> is fully closed by the transferred elastic force, as illustrated in <FIG>.

When the first door <NUM> is closed, the first door <NUM> receives an elastic force in the direction in which the first door <NUM> is closed, by the elastic force that remains in the first elastic lever <NUM> and is maintained to be fully in close contact with the main body <NUM>.

Although not shown, when the first door <NUM> is opened, the roller <NUM> is sequentially in contact with the second contact surface <NUM> of the cam surface <NUM>, the inflexion point <NUM>, and the first contact surface <NUM> and moves. Before the roller <NUM> passes through the inflexion point <NUM>, the first door <NUM> is maintained in a closed state. Thus, even when the other-side refrigerator compartment door <NUM> is rapidly closed, the first door <NUM> may be maintained in the closed state.

The above-described operations may be applied to both a case where the first door <NUM> is closed together with the second door <NUM> or only the first door <NUM> is closed.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first lower hinge <NUM> includes a third coupling portion <NUM> coupled to the main body <NUM>, a third hinge shaft <NUM> that causes the first door <NUM> to be rotatably coupled to the main body <NUM>, an elastic lever contact portion <NUM> that is in contact with the second elastic lever <NUM> that will be described later when the first door <NUM> is closed and by which the second elastic lever <NUM> accumulates the elastic force and causes the elastic force accumulated on the first door <NUM> to be transferred, and a first contact portion <NUM> that is in contact with a first stopping member <NUM> that will be described later when the first door <NUM> is opened and that limits an angle at which the first door <NUM> is opened.

The third coupling portion <NUM> is coupled to the main body <NUM> by the fastening member B, and the third hinge shaft <NUM> is disposed in a portion that extends from the third coupling portion <NUM> to the first door <NUM> and is rotatably inserted into a third hinge hole <NUM> disposed in the lower portion of the first door <NUM>.

Thus, the first door <NUM> is rotated about the third hinge shaft <NUM> to open/close the refrigerator compartment <NUM>.

The second elastic lever <NUM> is disposed to be bent in the '<IMG>' shape to have elasticity. One side of the second elastic lever <NUM> is coupled to a hole <NUM> inside a protrusion <NUM> disposed in the lower portion of the first door <NUM> by the fastening member B, and the other side of the second elastic lever <NUM> is in contact with the elastic lever contact portion <NUM> of the first lower hinge <NUM> when the first door <NUM> is closed.

The other side of the second elastic lever <NUM> is maintained not to be in contact with the elastic lever contact portion <NUM> of the first lower hinge <NUM> in a state in which the first door <NUM> is fully opened, and while the first door <NUM> is closed, if the second elastic lever <NUM> is in contact with the elastic lever contact portion <NUM>, the second elastic lever <NUM> is compressed and accumulates the elastic force.

When the first door <NUM> is closed in a state in which the other side of the second elastic lever <NUM> is in contact with the elastic lever contact portion <NUM>, the other side of the second elastic lever <NUM> moves along the surface of the elastic lever contact portion <NUM> and transfers the accumulated elastic force in the direction in which the first door <NUM> is closed, so that the first door <NUM> may be in close contact with the main body <NUM>.

Since the elastic levers <NUM> and <NUM> are disposed in the upper and lower portions of the first door <NUM> and are in close contact with the main body <NUM> when the first door <NUM> is closed, both the upper and lower portions of the first door <NUM> may be in close contact with the main body <NUM> so that leakage of cold air may be effectively prevented.

The second lower hinge <NUM> includes a fourth coupling portion <NUM> coupled to the first door <NUM>, a fourth hinge shaft <NUM> that causes the second door <NUM> to be rotatably coupled to the first door <NUM>, a second contact portion <NUM> that is in contact with a second stopping member <NUM> that will be described later when the second door <NUM> is opened and that limits an angle at which the second door <NUM> is opened, a first insertion hole <NUM> inserted into and fixed to the protrusion <NUM> that protrudes from the lower portion of the first door <NUM>, and a first penetration hole <NUM> that is disposed so that the third hinge shaft <NUM> of the first lower hinge <NUM> penetrates into the fourth coupling portion <NUM>.

The protrusion <NUM> that protrudes to fix the second lower hinge <NUM> is disposed in the lower portion of the first door <NUM>, and the hole <NUM> is disposed in the protrusion <NUM> so that the second lower hinge <NUM> may be fastened into the hole <NUM> by using the fastening member B. A fourth hinge hole <NUM> into which the fourth hinge shaft <NUM> is rotatably inserted, is disposed in the lower portion of the second door <NUM>.

The first insertion hole <NUM> of the second lower hinge <NUM> is disposed in the fourth coupling portion <NUM>. When the first insertion hole <NUM> is inserted and fixed into the protrusion <NUM> of the first door <NUM>, the second lower hinge <NUM> is coupled to the lower portion of the first door <NUM> by using the fastening member B.

A stopping member <NUM> is disposed in the lower portion of the first door <NUM> and the lower portion of the second door <NUM> so as to limit an angle at which the first door <NUM> is opened, and an angle at which the second door <NUM> is opened, and to prevent the first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM> from being excessively opened.

The stopping member <NUM> includes the first stopping member <NUM> that is coupled to the lower portion of the first door <NUM> and limits the angle at which the first door <NUM> is opened, and the second stopping member <NUM> that is coupled to the lower portion of the second door <NUM> and limits the angle at which the second door <NUM> is opened.

The first stopping member <NUM> includes a second insertion hole <NUM> inserted into and fixed to the protrusion <NUM> disposed in the lower portion of the first door <NUM>, a first fixed portion <NUM> fixed to the lower portion of the first door <NUM> by using the fastening member B, a first stopper <NUM> that is in contact with the first contact portion <NUM> of the first lower hinge <NUM> when the first door <NUM> is opened and that stops the first door <NUM> not to be further opened, and a second penetration hole <NUM> disposed in the first fixed portion <NUM> so that the third hinge shaft <NUM> of the first lower hinge <NUM> penetrates into the second penetration hole <NUM>.

The first penetration hole <NUM> disposed in the second lower hinge <NUM> and the second penetration hole <NUM> disposed in the first stopping member <NUM> are disposed in a position corresponding to the third hinge hole <NUM> disposed in the lower portion of the first door <NUM> so that the third hinge shaft <NUM> of the first lower hinge <NUM> may penetrate into the second penetration hole <NUM> and the first penetration hole <NUM> and may be rotatably coupled to the third hinge hole <NUM>.

Since the third hinge shaft <NUM> of the first lower hinge <NUM> is configured to penetrate into the second lower hinge <NUM>, the first lower hinge <NUM> and the second lower hinge <NUM> may be together fastened to the lower portion of the first door <NUM> having a small width.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the first door <NUM> is opened, the first stopping member <NUM> fixed to the lower portion of the first door <NUM> is rotated together with the first door <NUM>, and when the first stopper <NUM> is in contact with the first contact portion <NUM>, rotation of the first door <NUM> is stopped and thus the first door <NUM> is not opened any more.

The second stopping member <NUM> includes a second fixed portion <NUM> fixed to the lower portion of the second door <NUM> by using the fastening member B, and a second stopper <NUM> that, when the second door <NUM> is opened, is in contact with the second contact portion <NUM> of the second lower hinge <NUM> and stops the second door <NUM> not to be opened any more.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the second door <NUM> is opened, the second stopping member <NUM> fixed to the lower portion of the second door <NUM> is rotated together with the second door <NUM>, and when the second stopper <NUM> is in contact with the second contact portion <NUM>, rotation of the second door <NUM> is stopped and thus the second door <NUM> is not opened any more.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a configuration in which the second lower hinge <NUM>, the first stopping member <NUM>, and the second elastic lever <NUM> are coupled to the lower portion of the first door <NUM>, will be described in detail. First, the first insertion hole <NUM> of the second lower hinge <NUM> is inserted into and fixed to the protrusion <NUM> disposed to protrude from the lower portion of the first door <NUM>.

When the second lower hinge <NUM> is fixed to the lower portion of the first door <NUM>, the first stopping member <NUM> is placed in a lower portion of the second lower hinge <NUM> so that the second insertion hole <NUM> of the first stopping member <NUM> may be inserted into and fixed to the protrusion <NUM>.

When the second lower hinge <NUM> and the first stopping member <NUM> are fixed to the lower portion of the first door <NUM>, the second lower hinge <NUM> and the first stopping member <NUM> are coupled to the lower portion of the first door <NUM> by using the fastening member B.

When the second lower hinge <NUM> and the first stopping member <NUM> are coupled to the lower portion of the first door <NUM>, the second elastic lever <NUM> is placed in the lower portion of the first stopping member <NUM> so that a third insertion hole <NUM> may be inserted into the protrusion <NUM> and may fix the second elastic lever <NUM>.

When the second elastic lever <NUM> is fixed, the fastening member B is inserted into the third insertion hole <NUM> and is fastened into the hole <NUM> disposed in the protrusion <NUM> so that the second elastic lever <NUM> may be coupled to the lower portion of the first door <NUM>.

Next, an operation in which, when the first door <NUM> is closed, the first door <NUM> is closed to be in close contact with the main body <NUM> by the second elastic lever <NUM> and the elastic lever contact portion <NUM> of the first lower hinge <NUM>, will be described with reference to <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in a state in which the first door <NUM> is opened, the second elastic lever <NUM> is maintained not to be in contact with the elastic lever contact portion <NUM> of the first lower hinge <NUM>.

When, in a state in which the first door <NUM> is opened, as illustrated in <FIG>, the first door <NUM> is somewhat closed, the other side of the second elastic lever <NUM> is in contact with the elastic lever contact portion <NUM>.

When, in a state in which the other side of the second elastic lever <NUM> is in contact with the elastic lever contact portion <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, the second elastic lever <NUM> is pushed in the direction in which the first door <NUM> is closed, the other side of the second elastic lever <NUM> is compressed by the elastic lever contact portion <NUM>, and the second elastic lever <NUM> accumulates an elastic force.

When, in a state in which the second elastic lever <NUM> accumulates the elastic force, the second elastic lever <NUM> is further pushed in the direction in which the first door <NUM> is closed, as illustrated in <FIG>, the other side of the second elastic lever <NUM> moves along the surface of the elastic lever contact portion <NUM> and passes the elastic lever contact portion <NUM>.

The other side of the second elastic lever <NUM> passes the elastic lever contact portion <NUM> and is supported by the elastic lever contact portion <NUM>, and the second elastic lever <NUM> transfers the accumulated elastic force to the first door <NUM>, and due to the transferred elastic force, the first door <NUM> is fully closed, as illustrated in <FIG>.

When the first door <NUM> is closed, the first door <NUM> receives the elastic force in the direction in which the first door <NUM> is closed, due to the elastic force that remains in the second elastic lever <NUM> and is maintained to be fully in close contact with the main body <NUM>.

Although not shown, when the first door <NUM> is opened, the other side of the second elastic lever <NUM> is in contact with the elastic lever contact portion <NUM> in an opposite direction to the direction in which the first door <NUM> is closed, moves along the surface of the elastic lever contact portion <NUM>, and passes the elastic lever contact portion <NUM>. Since the first door <NUM> is maintained in the closed state before the other side of the second elastic lever <NUM> passes the elastic lever contact portion <NUM>, the first door <NUM> may be maintained in the closed state even when the other-side refrigerator compartment door <NUM> is rapidly closed.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the second door <NUM> includes the handle <NUM> to which the latch device <NUM> that selectively opens/closes the first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM>, is coupled.

The handle <NUM> is coupled to a front side of the second door <NUM>. The latch device <NUM> is coupled to a rear side of the handle <NUM> so that the second door <NUM> is fixed to the first door <NUM> and fixing of the second door <NUM> is released.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the latch device <NUM> includes a fixing unit <NUM> buried in the front side of the first door <NUM>, a support <NUM> that is accommodated in and coupled to the rear side of the handle <NUM>, a handle lever <NUM> including a first handle lever <NUM> coupled to the support <NUM> and a second handle lever <NUM> that is connected to the first handle lever <NUM> and is hung in the fixing unit <NUM> or is released from hanging in the fixing unit <NUM>, and a guide <NUM> which is buried in the second door <NUM> and through which the handle lever <NUM> penetrates.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the fixing unit <NUM> includes a hanging portion <NUM> in which the second handle lever <NUM> is hung and from which hanging of the second handle lever <NUM> is released, a flow prevention portion <NUM> that prevents the hanging portion <NUM> from flowing inside the first door <NUM>, and a cover <NUM> that is coupled to a rear side of the flow prevention portion <NUM> and prevents an insulating material U (see <FIG>) filled in the first door <NUM> from penetrating into a space formed between the insulating material U and the flow prevention portion <NUM>.

The hanging portion <NUM> includes a fixing hole 211a fixed to the flow prevention portion <NUM>, and a hanging hook 211b which is disposed at a lower portion of the fixing hole 211a and in which the second handle lever <NUM> is hung and hanging of which is released.

The flow prevention portion <NUM> includes a front side portion 213a exposed to an outside of a front side of the first door <NUM>, a fixing protrusion 213b which protrudes from a rear side of the front side portion 213a and into which the fixing hole 211a is inserted, and an accommodation portion 213c that protrudes from the rear side of the front side portion 213a so that an accommodation space may be formed in the rear side of the front side portion 213a.

When the fixing protrusion 213b is disposed at an upper portion of the accommodation portion 213c and the accommodation portion 213c in which the accommodation space is formed, is disposed so that front and top sides of the accommodation portion 213c may be opened and thus the fixing hole 211a of the hanging portion <NUM> is inserted into the fixing protrusion 213b and the hanging portion <NUM> is fixed to the flow prevention portion <NUM>, the hanging hook 211b is accommodated in the accommodation portion 213c through the opened top side of the accommodation portion 213c, and the hanging hook 211b accommodated in the accommodation portion 213c is exposed to the outside through the opened front side of the accommodation portion 213c so that the second handle lever <NUM> may be hung in the hanging hook 211b and hanging of the second handle lever <NUM> may be released.

When seeing from the opened front side of the accommodation portion 213c, the hanging hook 211b is placed in the upper portion of the accommodation portion 213c, and a front end of the second handle lever <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodation portion 213c through the opened front side of the accommodation portion 213c and moves in a vertical direction and thus, a hanging protrusion <NUM> disposed on the front end of the second handle lever <NUM> is hung in the hanging hook 211b and hanging of the hanging protrusion <NUM> is released.

The cover <NUM> is coupled to the rear side of the flow prevention portion <NUM> and prevents the insulating material U filled in the first door <NUM> from penetrating into the space formed between the insulating material U and the flow prevention portion <NUM>. The cover <NUM> supports the rear side of the hanging portion <NUM> so that the hanging portion <NUM> fixed when the fixing protrusion 213b of the flow prevention portion <NUM> fixing hole is inserted into the fixing hole 211a fixing protrusion may be prevented from escaping from the fixing protrusion 213b.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the support <NUM> is accommodated in and coupled to the rear side of the handle <NUM>, and a support accommodation portion <NUM> in which the support <NUM> is accommodated, is disposed in the rear side of the handle <NUM>.

The support <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> which is accommodated in and coupled to the support accommodation portion <NUM> and a rear side of which is opened, and a rear cover <NUM> coupled to the opened rear side of the housing <NUM>.

A first coupling hole <NUM> into which the housing <NUM> is coupled, is disposed in the support accommodation portion <NUM>, and a second coupling hole 221a is disposed in a position of the housing <NUM> corresponding to the first coupling hole <NUM> so that the housing <NUM> may be coupled to the support accommodation portion <NUM> by the fastening member B.

A rotation hole 221b into which a rotation shaft <NUM> of the handle lever <NUM> that will be described later is rotatably coupled, a first support portion 221c that supports one side of a spring S elastically supporting the first handle lever <NUM>, and a third coupling hole 221d into which the rear cover <NUM> is coupled, are disposed in the housing <NUM>.

The rear cover <NUM> includes an opening 223a opened so that the rear side of the first handle lever <NUM> that will be described later may be exposed to the outside, a guide portion 223b that guides the second handle lever <NUM> not to be exposed to the outside, and a fourth coupling hole 223c disposed in a position corresponding to the third coupling hole 221d disposed in the housing <NUM>.

The rear side of the first handle lever <NUM> is exposed to the outside through the opening 223a of the rear cover <NUM> and thus, a user may pressurize the rear side of the first handle lever <NUM> exposed to the outside forward by grasping the handle <NUM>.

The guide portion 223b causes the second handle lever <NUM> coupled to the housing <NUM> not to be exposed to the outside in the space between the handle <NUM> and the second door <NUM> to pass through the second door <NUM> so that the second handle lever <NUM> may be hung in the fixing unit <NUM> disposed in the first door <NUM> and hanging of the second handle lever <NUM> may be released.

The guide portion 223b is disposed to have a sufficient space in the vertical direction so that the second handle lever <NUM> may be moved in the vertical direction. The guide portion 223b communicates with the guide <NUM> buried in the second door <NUM>.

The rear cover <NUM> is coupled to the housing <NUM> by using the fastening member B through the third coupling hole 221d disposed in the housing <NUM> and the fourth coupling hole 223c disposed in the rear cover <NUM>.

The handle lever <NUM> is rotatably coupled to the support <NUM> and is hung in the fixing unit <NUM>, and hanging of the handle lever <NUM> is released.

The rotation shaft <NUM> is disposed in the handle lever <NUM>. The rotation shaft <NUM> is rotatably coupled to the rotation hole 221b disposed in the housing <NUM> of the support <NUM> so that the handle lever <NUM> may be rotated.

The handle lever <NUM> includes the first handle lever <NUM> disposed to be rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> in the forward/backward direction, and a second handle lever <NUM> that is linked to the first handle lever <NUM>, is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> in the vertical direction when the first handle lever <NUM> is rotated in the forward/backward direction, and is hung in the hanging portion <NUM> of the fixing unit <NUM> and hanging of the second handle lever <NUM> is released.

When seeing from the rotation shaft <NUM>, the first handle lever <NUM> is disposed to extend from the rotation shaft <NUM> downward so that the front side of the first handle lever <NUM> is accommodated in the housing <NUM> of the support <NUM>.

The rear side of the first handle lever <NUM> is exposed to the outside through the opening 223a of the rear cover <NUM> coupled to the rear side of the housing <NUM> so that the user may pressurize the first handle lever <NUM> forward by grasping the handle <NUM>.

A second support portion <NUM> that supports the spring S is disposed in a lower portion of the first handle lever <NUM>, and both sides of the spring S are supported by the first support portion 221c disposed in the housing <NUM> and the second support portion <NUM> of the first handle lever <NUM>.

Since the spring S is disposed in the lower portion of the first handle lever <NUM>, when the user pressurizes the first handle lever <NUM>, the first handle lever <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> backward and compresses the spring S and accumulates an elastic force.

When the user takes his/her hand off from the first handle lever <NUM> in a state in which the first handle lever <NUM> is pressurized, the first handle lever <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> backward by the accumulated elastic force of the spring S and is returned to its original position.

When seeing from the rotation shaft <NUM>, the second handle lever <NUM> is disposed to extend from the rotation shaft <NUM> backward.

The second handle lever <NUM> is guided by the guide portion 223b of the rear cover <NUM> and the guide <NUM> buried in the second door <NUM> and extends so that the second handle lever <NUM> may be hung in the fixing unit <NUM> buried in the front side of the first door <NUM> and hanging of the second handle lever <NUM> may be released.

The second handle lever <NUM> is connected to the first handle lever <NUM>. When the user pressurizes the first handle lever <NUM> to be rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> forward, the second handle lever <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> downward.

The hanging protrusion <NUM> is disposed on an end of the second handle lever <NUM>. The hanging protrusion <NUM> causes the second handle lever <NUM> to be hanging-released from the hanging hook 211b of the fixing unit <NUM> when the second handle lever <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> downward.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the guide <NUM> is buried in the second door <NUM>, communicates with the guide portion 223b disposed in the rear cover <NUM> of the support <NUM>, and guides the second handle lever <NUM> to pass through the second door <NUM>.

As described above, the latch device <NUM> includes the housing <NUM> coupled to the handle <NUM>, the handle lever <NUM> coupled to the housing <NUM>, the fixing unit <NUM> buried in the first door <NUM>, and the guide <NUM> buried in the second door <NUM>. As illustrated in <FIG>, both ends of the handle <NUM> are configured to be inserted into and coupled to the coupling member <NUM> disposed at the front side of the second door <NUM> by using a sliding method. Thus, even when the refrigerator is put on the market in a state in which the handle <NUM> is separated from the second door <NUM> without the need of coupling the handle <NUM> to the second door <NUM>, the user may easily couple the handle <NUM> to the second door <NUM> and use the refrigerator.

Since the housing <NUM> and the handle lever <NUM> of the latch device <NUM> are coupled to the handle <NUM> and the fixing unit <NUM> and the guide <NUM> are buried in the first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM>, respectively, by coupling the handle <NUM> to the second door <NUM>, the latch device <NUM> may be used without performing a separate assembly operation so that the refrigerator may be put on the market in the state in which the handle <NUM> is separated from the second door <NUM> and then the user may couple the handle <NUM> to the second door <NUM> and use the refrigerator.

Since the refrigerator may be put on the market in the state in which the handle <NUM> is separated from the second door <NUM>, the refrigerator may be easily transported, and damage of the handle <NUM> when the refrigerator is transported may be prevented.

Next, an operation of the latch device <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when both the first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM> are closed, the hanging protrusion <NUM> of the second handle lever <NUM> is hung in the hanging hook 211b of the fixing unit <NUM>. Thus, the second door <NUM> is fixed to the first door <NUM>, and the user opens the second door <NUM> by grasping the handle <NUM> so that the first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM> may be opened together.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when the user pressurizes the first handle lever <NUM> forward, the first handle lever <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> forward, and the second handle lever <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> downward.

When the second handle lever <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> downward, hanging of the hanging protrusion <NUM> disposed on the end of the second handle lever <NUM> is released from the hanging hook 211b. Thus, when fixing of the second door <NUM> to the first door <NUM> is released and the user opens the second door <NUM> by grasping the handle <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, only the second door <NUM> is opened.

When the user takes his/her hand off from the handle <NUM> in a state in which only the second door <NUM> is opened, as illustrated in <FIG>, the first handle lever <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> backward by the elastic force of the spring S, and the second handle lever <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> upward and is returned to its original state.

Although not shown, when the user closes the second door <NUM> in the state in which only the second door <NUM> is opened, if the user pressurizes the first handle lever <NUM> by grasping the handle <NUM>, the first handle lever <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> forward, and the second handle lever <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> downward. Thus, when the second door <NUM> is closed in the above state, the hanging protrusion <NUM> of the second handle lever <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodation portion 213c of the fixing unit <NUM>.

When the user takes his/her hand off from the second handle lever <NUM> in a state in which the hanging protrusion <NUM> of the second handle lever <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodation portion 213c, due to the elastic force of the spring S, the first handle lever <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> backward, and the second handle lever <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> upward, and the hanging protrusion <NUM> is hung in the hanging hook 211b.

When the second door <NUM> is closed in the state in which only the second door <NUM> is opened, if the user closes the second door <NUM> by grasping the handle <NUM> without pressurizing the first handle lever <NUM>, the hanging protrusion <NUM> of the second handle lever <NUM> is in contact with the hanging hook 211b.

When the second door <NUM> is further pushed to be closed in a state in which the hanging protrusion <NUM> is in contact with the hanging hook 211b, the second handle lever <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> downward, and the second door <NUM> is closed in a state in which the first handle lever <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> forward.

When the second door <NUM> is closed, the first handle lever <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> backward due to the elastic force of the spring S, the second handle lever <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> upward, and the hanging protrusion <NUM> is hung in the hanging hook 211b.

As illustrated in <FIG>, when only the second door <NUM> is opened and the first door <NUM> is closed, at least one lamp <NUM> may be installed at sidewalls of the opening <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>, so that the user may easily identify food stored in the door guard <NUM> disposed in the opening <NUM> of the first door <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, since the refrigerator compartment door <NUM> having the double door structure of the pair of refrigerator compartment doors <NUM> includes the first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM>, both the first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM> have small thicknesses.

The insulating material U is filled in the second door <NUM>. As a larger amount of insulating material U is filled in the second door <NUM>, an insulating property of the second door <NUM> is improved. Thus, the thickness of the second door <NUM> needs to be increased so as to improve the insulating property of the second door <NUM> having a small thickness. However, for the reason of esthetic appealing, the pair of refrigerator compartment doors <NUM> are required to be balanced. Thus, instead of increasing the thickness of the second door <NUM>, a vacuum insulation panel (VIP) V may be filled in the second door <NUM> so as to supplement the insulating property of the insulating material U.

The first door <NUM> includes a cabinet <NUM> that constitutes an exterior, and an internal injection-molded body <NUM> that constitutes the sidewalls of the opening <NUM>. The insulating material U is foamed between the cabinet <NUM> and the internal injection-molded body <NUM>.

Since the first door <NUM> has a small thickness and is disposed in a rectangular shape having the opening <NUM>, insulating performance of the first door <NUM> may be reduced, and rigidity of the first door <NUM> is lowered so that the first door <NUM> may be deformed by the weight of the first door <NUM> and a load of a material stored in the door guard <NUM> disposed in the opening <NUM>.

In order to supplement lowered rigidity of the first door <NUM>, a reinforcement frame <NUM> may be disposed between the cabinet <NUM> and the internal injection-molded body <NUM>.

The reinforcement frame <NUM> includes an upper reinforcement frame <NUM> that is disposed at a front side of the internal injection-molded body <NUM>, supplements rigidity of the first door <NUM>, and is coupled to an upper portion of the internal injection-molded body <NUM>, a lower reinforcement frame <NUM> coupled to a lower portion of the internal injection-molded body <NUM>, a first side reinforcement frame <NUM> disposed at the left side of the first door <NUM> that is a portion to which the handle <NUM> is coupled, of both sides of the reinforcement frame <NUM>, and a second side reinforcement frame <NUM> disposed at the right side of the first door <NUM> that is an opposite side to the left side of the first door <NUM>.

The upper reinforcement frame <NUM> and the lower reinforcement frame <NUM> are inserted into and coupled to coupling ribs 49a disposed in the upper and lower portions of the internal injection-molded body <NUM>, respectively.

In order to fix the first side reinforcement frame <NUM> and the second side reinforcement frame <NUM> disposed on both sides of the reinforcement frame <NUM>, fixing members <NUM> bent in a '<IMG>' shape are inserted into and coupled to both ends of each of the upper reinforcement frame <NUM> and the lower reinforcement frame <NUM>.

One side of each of the fixing members <NUM> disposed in the upper portion of the internal injection-molded body <NUM> is inserted into and coupled to the upper reinforcement frame <NUM>. The other side of each of the fixing members <NUM> is inserted into and coupled to a top end of the first side reinforcement frame <NUM> and a top end of the second side reinforcement frame <NUM>.

One side of each of the fixing members <NUM> disposed in the lower portion of the internal injection-molded body <NUM> is inserted into and coupled to the lower reinforcement frame <NUM>. The other side of each of the fixing members <NUM> is inserted into and coupled to a bottom end of the first side reinforcement frame <NUM> and a bottom end of the second side reinforcement frame <NUM>.

Thus, the first side reinforcement frame <NUM> and the second side reinforcement frame <NUM> may be fixed to the upper reinforcement frame <NUM> and the lower reinforcement frame <NUM> by using the fixing members <NUM>.

Since the fixing units <NUM> of the latch device <NUM> coupled to the handle <NUM> are buried in the left side of the first door <NUM> in which the first side reinforcement frame <NUM> is disposed, an auxiliary reinforcement frame <NUM> may be additionally disposed so as to further reinforce rigidity.

The auxiliary reinforcement frame <NUM> may be inserted into and fixed to fixing ribs 48a disposed on the right side of the cabinet <NUM> and may be disposed to be placed at an outer side than the first side reinforcement frame <NUM>.

Although not shown, like in the second door <NUM>, the VIP V may be filled in the first door <NUM> so as to improve an insulating property of the first door <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, at least one lamp installation hole <NUM> is disposed in the internal injection-molded body <NUM> so as to install the lamp <NUM>.

At least one lamp fixing member <NUM> is disposed between the cabinet <NUM> and the internal injection-molded body <NUM> so as to fix the lamp <NUM>.

The lamp fixing member <NUM> is fixed to the internal injection-molded body <NUM> so as to correspond to the position of the lamp installation hole <NUM> disposed in the internal injection-molded body <NUM> before the insulating material U is foamed between the cabinet <NUM> and the internal injection-molded body <NUM>. When the lamp fixing member <NUM> is fixed to the internal injection-molded body <NUM>, the insulating material U is foamed between the cabinet <NUM> and the internal injection-molded body <NUM>.

The lamp fixing member <NUM> includes a seating portion <NUM> on which the lamp <NUM> is seated, a plurality of fixing hooks <NUM> that fix the lamp <NUM> seated on the seating portion <NUM>, ribs <NUM> that are disposed on upper and right and left side edges of the lamp fixing member <NUM> and prevents the insulating material U from penetrating into the seating portion <NUM>, and a wire guide portion <NUM> that guides a wire W for supplying power so that the lamp <NUM> may emit light, as illustrated in <FIG>.

When the lamp fixing member <NUM> is fixed to the internal injection-molded body <NUM> and the insulating material U is foamed between the cabinet <NUM> and the internal injection-molded body <NUM>, the lamp <NUM> is seated on the seating portion <NUM> of the lamp fixing member <NUM> through the lamp installation hole <NUM>.

When the lamp <NUM> is seated on the seating portion <NUM>, the lamp <NUM> is fixed to the seating portion <NUM> by using the plurality of fixing hooks <NUM>.

The ribs <NUM> may be disposed on the upper and right and left side edges of the lamp fixing member <NUM> so as to prevent the insulating material U from penetrating into the seating portion <NUM> through a space between the lamp fixing member <NUM> and the internal injection-molded body <NUM> when the insulating material U is foamed between the cabinet <NUM> and the internal injection-molded body <NUM> after the lamp fixing member <NUM> is fixed to the internal injection-molded body <NUM>.

Although the ribs <NUM> are disposed on the upper and right and left side edges of the lamp fixing member <NUM>, they are not limited thereto. The ribs <NUM> may be disposed on the internal injection-molded body <NUM> in which the lamp fixing member <NUM> is disposed, and a separate structure may be disposed between the upper and right and left side edges of the lamp fixing member <NUM> and the internal injection-molded body <NUM> so as to prevent penetration of the insulating material U.

As illustrated in <FIG>, an opening/closing detection sensor <NUM> is disposed in the hinge unit <NUM> disposed in the upper portion of the main body <NUM> so as to detect opening/closing of the first door <NUM>, and a sensor detection unit <NUM> is disposed in the upper portion of the second door <NUM> to correspond to the opening/closing detection sensor <NUM> so as to transfer the result of detection regarding whether the second door <NUM> is opened/closed, to the opening/closing detection sensor <NUM>.

A hinge cover <NUM> (see <FIG>) that covers the hinge unit <NUM> not to be exposed to the outside, is disposed in an upper portion of the hinge unit <NUM>, and electronic apparatus components <NUM> are accommodated in the hinge cover <NUM> so as to control an operation of the refrigerator.

The opening/closing detection sensor <NUM> disposed in the hinge unit <NUM> is connected to the electronic apparatus components <NUM>, and the electronic apparatus components <NUM> and the lamp <NUM> are connected to each other by using the wire W so that the opening/closing detection sensor <NUM> may detect whether the first door <NUM> is opened/closed and may transfer the result of detection to the electronic apparatus components <NUM> and the electronic apparatus components <NUM> supply power to the lamp <NUM> by using the wire W or cut off the supply of power.

The wire W that connects the electronic apparatus components <NUM> and the lamp <NUM> is connected to the electronic apparatus components <NUM> and is guided into the main body <NUM> through the first hinge hole <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. The wire W guided into the main body <NUM> is guided by the wire guide portion <NUM> disposed in the lamp fixing member <NUM> and is connected to the lamp <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>.

The sensor detection unit <NUM> is disposed in the upper portion of the second door <NUM>, and the opening/closing detection sensor <NUM> detects a distance at which the sensor detection unit <NUM> is spaced apart from the opening/closing detection sensor <NUM>, and causes power to be supplied to the lamp <NUM> or to cut off the supply of power depending on whether the second door <NUM> is opened/closed.

An operation of the lamp <NUM> depending on whether each of the first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM> is opened, will now be described.

When the first door <NUM> is opened, the opening/closing detection sensor <NUM> detects opening of the first door <NUM> and transfers the result of detection to the electronic apparatus components <NUM>, and the electronic apparatus components <NUM> supply power to the lamp <NUM> by using the wire W so that the lamp <NUM> may emit light.

Since, when the first door <NUM> is opened, the first door <NUM> is distant from the refrigerator compartment <NUM>, the user cannot easily identify food stored in the door guard <NUM> disposed in the opening <NUM> by using only light emitted from an inside of the refrigerator compartment <NUM>. However, when the lamp <NUM> disposed on the sidewalls of the opening <NUM> emits light, the user may easily identify food stored in the door guard <NUM> disposed in the opening <NUM> so that, even when there is no light around the refrigerator, the user does not feel inconvenience.

When the first door <NUM> is closed, the opening/closing detection sensor <NUM> detects closing of the first door <NUM> and transfers the result of detection to the electronic apparatus components <NUM>. The electronic apparatus components <NUM> cut off power supplied to the lamp <NUM> by using the wire W.

When the second door <NUM> is opened, the opening/closing detection sensor <NUM> detects a distance at which the sensor detection unit <NUM> is spaced apart from the opening/closing detection sensor <NUM>, and transfers the result of detection that the second door <NUM> is opened, to the electronic apparatus components <NUM>, and the electronic apparatus components <NUM> supply power to the lamp <NUM> by using the wire W so that the lamp <NUM> may emit light.

When the second door <NUM> is opened, the user may identify food stored in the door guard <NUM> disposed in the opening <NUM> of the first door <NUM> by using light emitted from the inside of the refrigerator compartment <NUM>. However, when food or an article having a large height is disposed in the refrigerator compartment <NUM>, light emitted from the inside of the refrigerator compartment <NUM> is cut off, and the user may not easily identify food stored in the door guard <NUM>. However, when the lamp <NUM> disposed on the sidewalls of the opening <NUM> emits light, the user may easily identify food stored in the door guard <NUM>.

When the second door <NUM> is closed, the opening/closing detection sensor <NUM> detects a distance between the opening/closing detection sensor <NUM> and the sensor detection unit <NUM> and transfers the result of detection that the second door <NUM> is closed, to the electronic apparatus components <NUM>, and the electronic apparatus components <NUM> cut off power supplied to the lamp <NUM> by using the wire W.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the freezer compartment door <NUM> is configured as a drawer type door that moves in the forward/backward direction by using the sliding method.

A storing unit <NUM> is coupled to a rear side of the freezer compartment door <NUM>. The storing unit <NUM> is inserted into and drawn from the inside of the freezer compartment <NUM> by using the sliding method.

In order to guide the storing unit <NUM> to be inserted into and drawn from the inside of the freezer compartment <NUM>, a guide rail <NUM> is coupled to both sidewalls of the inside of the freezer compartment <NUM> in which the storing unit <NUM> is accommodated.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> and <FIG>, the storing unit <NUM> includes a panel <NUM> coupled to the rear side of the freezer compartment door <NUM>, a storage box <NUM> which is disposed at a rear side of the panel <NUM> and in which food is stored, a slide rail <NUM> that is coupled to the rear side of the panel <NUM>, supports a lower portion of sides of the storage box <NUM>, and is guided by the guide rail <NUM>, a hanger <NUM> that connects the panel <NUM> and the slide rail <NUM>, and at least one tilting adjustment unit <NUM> that adjusts the hanger <NUM> to be tilted from the slide rail <NUM>.

hanger <NUM> includes a panel coupling portion <NUM> coupled to the panel <NUM> and a rail coupling portion <NUM> coupled to the slide rail <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a first fastening member insertion hole <NUM> through which the hanger <NUM> and the slide rail <NUM> are coupled to each other, is disposed in the rail coupling portion <NUM>. A second fastening member insertion hole <NUM> is disposed in the slide rail <NUM> to correspond to the first fastening member insertion hole <NUM>, and the hanger <NUM> and the slide rail <NUM> are coupled to each other by using the fastening member B inserted into the first fastening member insertion hole <NUM> and the second fastening member insertion hole <NUM>.

The first fastening member insertion hole <NUM> is disposed in the center of the rail coupling portion <NUM>. A first tilting adjustment hole <NUM> and a second tilting adjustment hole <NUM> into which the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> is inserted, are disposed in a front end and a rear end of the rail coupling portion <NUM>.

A first fixing groove <NUM> and a second fixing groove <NUM> into which the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> inserted into the first tilting adjustment hole <NUM> and the second tilting adjustment hole <NUM> is rotatably fixed to prevent from moving, are disposed in the slide rail <NUM> to correspond to the first tilting adjustment hole <NUM> and the second tilting adjustment hole <NUM>.

Since the hanger <NUM> and the slide rail <NUM> are coupled in an upper portion of the slide rail <NUM>, the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> inserted into the first tilting adjustment hole <NUM> and the second tilting adjustment hole <NUM> disposed in the rail coupling portion <NUM> is inserted in the upper portion of the rail coupling portion <NUM>. The first fixing groove <NUM> and the second fixing groove <NUM> disposed in the slide rail <NUM> are disposed in a top surface of the slide rail <NUM>, and a part of a bottom end of the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> inserted into the first tilting adjustment hole <NUM> and the second tilting adjustment hole <NUM> is inserted into the first fixing groove <NUM> and the second fixing groove <NUM> and is fixed thereto.

Next, an operation in which the hanger <NUM> is tilted from the slide rail <NUM> by using the tilting adjustment unit <NUM>, will be described with reference to <FIG>.

In order to allow the hanger <NUM> to be tilted from the slide rail <NUM> by using the tilting adjustment unit <NUM>, when tilting is finished after removing the fastening member B that couples the hanger <NUM> and the slide rail <NUM> each other, the fastening member B needs to be fastened again. Thus, in the drawings that illustrate an operation in which the hanger <NUM> is tilted from the slide rail <NUM> by using the tilting adjustment unit <NUM>, the fastening member B, and the first fastening member insertion hole <NUM>, and the second fastening member insertion hole <NUM> into which the fastening member B is inserted, are deleted.

When sealing of a bottom end of the freezer compartment door <NUM> is defective and cold air in the freezer compartment <NUM> leaks toward the outside, in order to improve defective sealing, when the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> inserted into the first tilting adjustment hole <NUM> is rotated in the state of <FIG>, as illustrated in <FIG>, the bottom end of the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> is rotatably fixed into the first fixing groove <NUM>. Thus, the first tilting adjustment hole <NUM> is moved in an upward direction of the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> and thus, the front end of the rail coupling portion <NUM> is spaced apart from the slide rail <NUM> and is rotated about the second tilting adjustment hole <NUM> upward.

When the hanger <NUM> is rotated about the second tilting adjustment hole <NUM> upward, in the drawings, the panel <NUM> coupled to the hanger <NUM> is rotated clockwise.

When the panel <NUM> is rotated clockwise, the freezer compartment door <NUM> to which the panel <NUM> is coupled, is rotated clockwise. Thus, the bottom end of the freezer compartment door <NUM> is moved in a downward direction compared to a case before the freezer compartment door <NUM> is rotated so that defective sealing of the bottom end of the freezer compartment door <NUM> may be prevented.

When sealing of the top end of the freezer compartment door <NUM> is defective and cold air in the freezer compartment <NUM> leaks toward the outside, in order to improve defective sealing, when the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> inserted into the second tilting adjustment hole <NUM> is rotated in the state of <FIG>, as illustrated in <FIG>, the bottom end of the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> is rotatably fixed into the second fixing groove <NUM>. Thus, the second tilting adjustment hole <NUM> is moved in the upward direction of the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> and thus, a rear end of the rail coupling portion <NUM> is spaced apart from the slide rail <NUM> and rotated about the first tilting adjustment hole <NUM> upward.

When the hanger <NUM> is rotated about the first tilting adjustment hole <NUM> upward, in the drawings, the panel <NUM> coupled to the hanger <NUM> is rotated counterclockwise.

When the panel <NUM> is rotated counterclockwise, since the freezer compartment door <NUM> to which the panel <NUM> is coupled, is rotated counterclockwise, the top end of the freezer compartment door <NUM> is moved in an upward direction compared to the case before the freezer compartment door <NUM> is rotated so that defective sealing of the top end of the freezer compartment door <NUM> may be prevented.

Next, another embodiment in which positions of the tilting adjustment hole and the fixing groove are changed, will be described.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a first fastening member insertion hole <NUM> through which a hanger <NUM> and a slide rail <NUM> are coupled to each other, is disposed in a rail coupling portion <NUM>, and a second fastening member insertion hole <NUM> is disposed in the slide rail <NUM> to correspond to the first fastening member insertion hole <NUM> so that the hanger <NUM> and the slide rail <NUM> may be coupled to each other by using the fastening member B inserted into the first fastening member insertion hole <NUM> and the second fastening member insertion hole <NUM>.

The first fastening member insertion hole <NUM> is disposed in the center of the rail coupling portion <NUM>. A first tilting adjustment hole <NUM> and a second tilting adjustment hole <NUM> into which the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> is inserted, are disposed in the slide rail <NUM> in the position corresponding to the front end and the rear end of the rail coupling portion <NUM>.

A first fixing groove <NUM> and a second fixing groove <NUM> into which the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> inserted into the first tilting adjustment hole <NUM> and the second tilting adjustment hole <NUM> is rotatably fixed to prevent from moving, are disposed in the rail coupling portion <NUM> in positions corresponding to the first tilting adjustment hole <NUM> and the second tilting adjustment hole <NUM>.

Since the hanger <NUM> and the slide rail <NUM> are coupled in an upper portion of the slide rail <NUM>, the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> inserted into the first tilting adjustment hole <NUM> and the second tilting adjustment hole <NUM> disposed in the slide rail <NUM> is inserted in the lower portion of the slide rail <NUM>. The first fixing groove <NUM> and the second fixing groove <NUM> disposed in the rail coupling portion <NUM> are disposed in a bottom surface of the rail coupling portion <NUM>, and a part of a top end of the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> inserted into the first tilting adjustment hole <NUM> and the second tilting adjustment hole <NUM> is inserted into the first fixing groove <NUM> and the second fixing groove <NUM> and is fixed thereto.

An operation in which the hanger <NUM> is tilted from the slide rail <NUM> by using the tilting adjustment unit <NUM>, is merely different from the operation illustrated in <FIG> in positions of the first tilting adjustment hole <NUM> and the second tilting adjustment hole <NUM> and positions of the first fixing groove <NUM> and the second fixing groove <NUM>. Since, when the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> inserted into the first tilting adjustment hole <NUM> is rotated, the hanger <NUM> is rotated about the second tilting adjustment hole <NUM> upward and when the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> inserted into the second tilting adjustment hole <NUM> is rotated, the hanger <NUM> is rotated about the first tilting adjustment hole <NUM> upward, a detailed description of the operation will be omitted.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a first fastening member insertion hole <NUM> through which a hanger <NUM> and a slide rail <NUM> are coupled to each other, is disposed in a rail coupling portion <NUM>. A second fastening member insertion hole <NUM> is disposed in the slide rail <NUM> to correspond to the first fastening member insertion hole <NUM> so that the hanger <NUM> and the slide rail <NUM> may be coupled to each other by using the fastening member B inserted into the first fastening member insertion hole <NUM> and the second fastening member insertion hole <NUM>.

The first fastening member insertion hole <NUM> is disposed in the center of the rail coupling portion <NUM>. A second tilting adjustment hole <NUM> into which the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> is inserted, is disposed in the rear end of the rail coupling portion <NUM>, and a first tilting adjustment hole <NUM> into which the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> is inserted, is disposed in the slide rail <NUM> in a position corresponding to the front end of the rail coupling portion <NUM>.

A first fixing groove <NUM> into which the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> inserted into the first tilting adjustment hole <NUM> is rotatably fixed, is disposed in the front end of the rail coupling portion <NUM> to correspond to a position corresponding to the first tilting adjustment hole <NUM>. The second fixing groove <NUM> into which the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> inserted into the second tilting adjustment hole <NUM> is rotatably fixed, is disposed in the slide rail <NUM> in a position corresponding to the second tilting adjustment hole <NUM>.

Since the hanger <NUM> is coupled in an upper portion of the slide rail <NUM>, the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> is inserted into a lower portion of the first tilting adjustment hole <NUM> disposed in the slide rail <NUM>, and the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> is inserted into an upper portion of the second tilting adjustment hole <NUM> disposed in the rail coupling portion <NUM>.

The first fixing groove <NUM> disposed in the rail coupling portion <NUM> is disposed in a bottom surface of the rail coupling portion <NUM> so that a part of a top end of the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> inserted into the first tilting adjustment hole <NUM> may be inserted into and fixed into the first fixing groove <NUM>. The second fixing groove <NUM> disposed in the slide rail <NUM> is disposed in a top surface of the slide rail <NUM> so that a part of a bottom end of the tilting adjustment unit <NUM> inserted into the second tilting adjustment hole <NUM> may be inserted into and fixed into the second fixing groove <NUM>.

The following description will be made in relation to a latch device that is useful for understanding the present invention, which allows the first door and the second door <NUM> to be selectively opened and closed.

Referring to <FIG>, the second door <NUM> is provided with a handle <NUM> to which a latch device <NUM> is coupled to selectively open and close the first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM>.

The handle <NUM> is coupled to a front side of the second door <NUM>, and the latch device <NUM> is coupled to a rear side of the handle <NUM> with some portion thereof accommodated at an inside of the handle <NUM>, so as to fix the second door <NUM> to the first door <NUM> and release the second door <NUM> from being fixed to the first door <NUM>.

The handle <NUM> includes a upper handle <NUM> and a lower handle <NUM>, and the lower handle <NUM> is provided at a rear surface thereof with an opening <NUM> allowing the portion accommodated at an inside of the handle <NUM> to be protruded from the rear side of the handle <NUM>.

The latch device <NUM> includes a fixing unit <NUM> buried inside a front side of the first door <NUM>, a support <NUM> coupled to the handle <NUM> while accommodated in the handle <NUM>, a connection member <NUM> provided to be movable forward and backward at an inside of the handle <NUM>, a handle lever <NUM> disposed on the rear side of the handle <NUM> and allowing the connection member <NUM> to move forward, a rotation unit <NUM> hung and released with/from the fixing unit <NUM> by being rotated by the connection member <NUM> leftward and rightward (when viewed at a front of the refrigerator), and a guide <NUM> buried inside the second door <NUM> to guide the rotation unit <NUM> to be hung and released with/from the fixing unit <NUM> by passing through the second door <NUM>.

The fixing unit <NUM> includes a hanging portion <NUM> in which a hanging hook <NUM> provided on a locking portion <NUM> of the rotation unit <NUM>, which is to be described later, is hung and the hanging of which is released, and an accommodation portion <NUM> exposed to an outside of the front side of the first door <NUM> and opened at a front side thereof to form a space in which the locking portion <NUM> of the rotation unit <NUM> is movable leftward and rightward.

The hanging portion <NUM> is provided with a hanging hole 511a in which the hanging hook <NUM> is hung and the hanging of which is released when the locking portion <NUM> is rotated leftward and rightward.

The support <NUM> is coupled while accommodated in the handle <NUM>, and the handle <NUM> is provided with an empty space at an inside thereof to accommodate the support <NUM>.

The support <NUM> includes a connection member coupling portion <NUM> to which the connection member <NUM> is coupled so as to be movable forward and backward, a rotation unit coupling portion <NUM> to which the rotation unit <NUM> is rotatably coupled, a handle reinforcing member <NUM> to reinforce the strength of the handle <NUM>, a handle ring <NUM> coupled to the handle reinforcing member <NUM> such that the upper handle <NUM> is connected to the lower handle <NUM>, and a guide portion <NUM> guiding to prevent the locking portion <NUM> of the rotation unit <NUM> exposed from the rear side of the handle <NUM> from being exposed to the outside.

The connection member coupling portion <NUM> is provided with a connection member coupling hole 521a into which a coupling protrusion <NUM> of the connection member <NUM> is inserted and moved forward and backward.

The guide portion <NUM> allows the locking portion <NUM> of the rotation unit <NUM> coupled to the rotation unit coupling portion <NUM> to be hung and released with/from the fixing unit <NUM> provided on the first door <NUM> by passing through the second door <NUM> without being exposed to the outside between the handle <NUM> and the second door <NUM>.

The guide portion <NUM> has a space formed in leftward and rightward directions allowing the locking portion <NUM> to move leftward and rightward. The guide portion <NUM> communicates with the guide <NUM> buried in the second door <NUM>.

The connection member <NUM> includes a coupling protrusion <NUM> coupled to the connection member coupling portion <NUM> of the support <NUM> so as to be movable forward and backward, and a rotation unit coupling hole <NUM> to which the rotation unit <NUM> is coupled.

The coupling protrusion <NUM> is inserted into the connection member coupling hole 521a so as to be movable forward and backward, and a fixing protrusion <NUM> of the handle lever <NUM>, which will be described later, is fixed to a fixing hole 531a provided on the coupling hole <NUM>, so that when a user pressurizes the handle lever <NUM> forward, the connection member <NUM> moves forward due to the fixing protrusion <NUM>.

A spring S is provided on outer circumferential surfaces of the coupling protrusion <NUM> and the fixing protrusion <NUM> and disposed between the handle lever <NUM> and the connection member coupling portion <NUM>, and the spring S is compressed by the handle lever <NUM> when the connection member <NUM> is moved forward by the handle lever <NUM>.

When a user cancels the force applied to the handle lever <NUM>, the spring S compressed by the handle lever <NUM> allows the handle lever <NUM> to move backward by an elastic force and thus the connection member <NUM> is moved backward.

An extension portion <NUM> of the rotation unit <NUM>, which will be described later, is coupled to the rotation unit coupling hole <NUM>, and the extension portion <NUM> bent at a lower portion of a shaft, which is rotatably coupled to the rotation unit coupling portion <NUM>, and vertically downwardly extending, so that the rotation unit <NUM> is rotated about the shaft <NUM> when the connection member <NUM> moves forward and backward.

The handle lever <NUM> is disposed at a rear side of the handle <NUM> such that a user pressurizes the handle lever <NUM> forward while gripping the handle <NUM>.

The handle lever <NUM> is provided with the fixing protrusion <NUM>, which is fixed to the coupling protrusion <NUM> of the connection member <NUM>, and when a user pressurizes the handle lever <NUM> to move forward, the connection member <NUM> moves forward and thus the rotation unit <NUM> is rotated.

The rotation unit <NUM> is connected to the connection member <NUM>, and when the connection member <NUM> is moved forward and backward, is rotated leftward and rightward and thus hung and released with/from the hanging portion <NUM> of the fixing unit <NUM>.

The rotation unit <NUM> includes the shaft <NUM> rotatably coupled to the rotation unit coupling portion <NUM> of the support <NUM>, the extension portion <NUM> bent at a lower portion of the shaft <NUM> and vertically downwardly extending to be coupled to the rotation unit coupling hole <NUM> of the connection member <NUM>, and the locking unit <NUM> extending from an upper portion of the shaft <NUM> in perpendicular to an extension direction of the shaft <NUM>.

The shaft <NUM> is rotated by the connection member <NUM> that is rotatably coupled to the rotation unit coupling portion <NUM> and moved forward and backward.

Since the extension portion <NUM> is bent at a lower portion of the shaft <NUM> and coupled to the connection member <NUM> by vertically and downwardly extending, the center of the shaft <NUM> is not coincide with the center of the extension portion <NUM> coupled to the connection member <NUM>.

Accordingly, when the connection member <NUM> moves forward and backward, the rotation unit <NUM> rotates about the shaft <NUM> clockwise or counterclockwise.

The locking portion <NUM> extends from an upper portion of the shaft <NUM> to be perpendicular to an extension direction of the shaft <NUM> while penetrating the second door <NUM>. The hanging hook <NUM> is provided at an end of the locking portion <NUM> to be hung and released with/from the hanging hole 511a provided on the hanging portion <NUM> of the fixing unit <NUM>.

When the shaft <NUM> is rotated while guided by the guide portion <NUM> of the support <NUM> and the guide <NUM> buried in the second door <NUM>, the locking portion <NUM> is rotated together with the shaft <NUM> and thus the hanging hook <NUM> is hung and released with/from the hanging portion <NUM>.

The rotation unit <NUM> is rotated about the shaft <NUM> counterclockwise as the extension portion <NUM> is pushed forward by the connection member <NUM> when the connection member <NUM> moves forward, and thus the locking portion <NUM> extending from the shaft <NUM> is rotated leftward.

In addition, the rotation unit <NUM> is rotated about the shaft <NUM> clockwise as the extension portion <NUM> is pulled backward by the connection member <NUM> when the connection member <NUM> moves backward, and thus the locking portion <NUM> extending from the shaft <NUM> is rotated rightward.

The guide portion <NUM> is buried in the second door <NUM>, and communicating with the guide portion <NUM> of the support <NUM> such that the locking portion <NUM> of the rotation unit <NUM> is guided to penetrate the second door <NUM>.

Hereinafter, an operation of the latch device <NUM> will be described with reference to <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, when both of the first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM> are closed, the hanging hook <NUM> provided on the locking portion <NUM> of the rotation unit <NUM> is hung with the hanging portion <NUM> of the fixing unit <NUM>. In this case, the second door <NUM> is maintained fixed to the first door <NUM>, and when a user opens the second door <NUM> by gripping the handle <NUM>, the first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM> are open together.

Referring to <FIG>, when a user pressurizes the handle lever <NUM> forward while gripping the handle <NUM>, the handle lever <NUM> moves forward such that the fixing protrusion <NUM> of the handle lever <NUM> pushes the coupling protrusion <NUM> of the connection member <NUM> forward.

At this time, the spring S disposed between the handle lever <NUM> and the connection member coupling portion <NUM> is compressed, and the connection member <NUM> is moved forward.

The connection member <NUM> moved forward pushes the extension portion <NUM> of the rotation unit <NUM> forward, and as the extension portion <NUM> is moved forward by the connection member <NUM>, the rotation unit <NUM> is rotated about the shaft <NUM> counterclockwise.

When the rotation member <NUM> is rotated about the shaft <NUM> counterclockwise, the locking portion <NUM> is rotated about the shaft <NUM> leftward.

When the locking portion <NUM> is rotated leftward, the hanging hook <NUM> provided on the locking portion <NUM> is released from the hanging portion <NUM> of the fixing unit <NUM>, so that the second door <NUM> is released from being fixed to the first door <NUM>. Accordingly, when a user opens the second door <NUM>, only the second door <NUM> is opened as shown in <FIG>.

Although not shown in the drawing, when a user removes the hand from the handle <NUM> after opening the second door <NUM>, the handle lever <NUM> is moved backward by an elastic force of the spring S, and thus the connection member <NUM> is moved together with the handle lever <NUM> backward.

When the connection member <NUM> is moved backward, the connection member <NUM> pulls the extension portion <NUM> of the rotation unit <NUM> backward, and the rotation unit <NUM> is rotated about the shaft <NUM> clockwise.

As the rotation unit <NUM> is rotated about the shaft <NUM> clockwise, the locking portion <NUM> is rotated on the shaft <NUM> rightward when viewed at the front of the refrigerator.

In the case in which a user closes the second door <NUM> having been open, the user pressurizes the handle lever <NUM> forward while griping the handle <NUM> so that the locking portion <NUM> of the rotation unit <NUM> is rotated about the shaft <NUM> leftward when viewed at the front of the refrigerator. Accordingly, when the user closes the second door <NUM> and removes the hand with the locking portion <NUM> rotated leftward, the locking portion <NUM> of the rotation unit <NUM> is rotated about the shaft <NUM> rightward, so that the hanging hook <NUM> is hung with the hanging portion <NUM> of the fixing unit <NUM>, thereby causing the second door <NUM> to be fixed to the first door <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the second door <NUM> may be provided with a latch device <NUM> to selectively open and close the first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM>.

The latch device <NUM> includes a fixing unit <NUM> buried in the front side of the first door <NUM>, a support <NUM> buried in the second door <NUM>, a rack <NUM> coupled to the support <NUM> so as to be movable forward and backward, a pinion gear <NUM> rotatably coupled to the support <NUM> and engaged with the rack <NUM> so as to be rotated when the rack <NUM> moves forward and backward, and a locking portion <NUM> engaged with the pinion gear <NUM> to be moved upward and downward when the pinion gear <NUM> is rotated.

The fixing unit <NUM> includes an accommodation portion <NUM> buried in the front side of the first door <NUM> and having a front side thereof open, and a hanging protrusion <NUM> protruding upward from a lower portion of the accommodation portion <NUM>.

The accommodation portion <NUM> has the front side thereof open to accommodate a rear end of the locking portion <NUM> coupled to the support <NUM> buried in the second door <NUM>.

The hanging protrusion <NUM> is provided in the accommodation portion <NUM> so as to be hung and released with/from a hanging groove <NUM> provided at the rear end of the locking portion <NUM> that is configured to move upward and downward.

An inclination surface 613a is provided at an upper end of a front side of the hanging protrusion <NUM>, and when the second door <NUM> is closed, the rear end of the locking portion <NUM> rises and passes over the inclination surface 613a of the hanging protrusion <NUM> so that the hanging hole <NUM> of the locking portion <NUM> is hung with the hanging protrusion <NUM> of the fixing unit <NUM>, thereby causing the second door <NUM> to be closed.

An elastic member <NUM> may be provided at a rear wall of the accommodation portion <NUM> to push the locking portion <NUM> forward when the locking portion <NUM> is moved upward and released from being hung with the hanging protrusion <NUM>, to open the second door <NUM>.

The support <NUM> is buried in the second door <NUM>, and includes a rotation shaft <NUM> to which the pinion gear <NUM> is rotatably coupled, a rack coupling portion <NUM> to which the rack <NUM> is coupled to be movable forward and backward, and guide rails <NUM> allowing the locking portion <NUM> to move upward and backward.

A spring S having one side thereof supported by the support <NUM> and the other side thereof supported by the rack <NUM> is provided at an outer circumferential surface of the rack coupling portion <NUM>, and when the rack <NUM> is moved backward, the spring S is compressed to store an elastic force and the stored elastic enables the rack <NUM> to be moved forward.

The guide rails <NUM> are provided corresponding to guide grooves <NUM> provided at both sides of the locking portion <NUM>, to guide the locking portion <NUM> to move upward and downward.

The rack <NUM> includes a coupling hole <NUM> coupled to a rack coupling portion <NUM> of the support <NUM> so as to be moved forward and backward, a first rack gear <NUM> engaged with the pinion gear <NUM>, and a press portion <NUM> provided at a front end portion of the rack <NUM> and exposed forward of the second door <NUM>.

The first rack gear <NUM> is engaged with the pinion gear <NUM>, and allows the pinion gear <NUM> to be rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> when the rack <NUM> moves forward and backward.

The press portion <NUM> is exposed forward of the second door <NUM> so as to be pressed by a user.

When a user presses the press portion <NUM>, the rack <NUM> is moved backward while compressing the spring S, so that the pinion gear <NUM> engaged with the first rack gear <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> clockwise.

When a user cancels the force pressing the press portion <NUM>, the rack <NUM> is moved forward by the elastic force of the spring S, and the pinion gear <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> counterclockwise.

The pinion gear <NUM> includes a rotation hole <NUM> rotatably coupled to the rotation shaft <NUM> provided on the support <NUM>, and is disposed to be engaged with the first rack gear <NUM> of the rack <NUM> and a second rack gear <NUM> of the locking portion <NUM>.

When the rack <NUM> is moved backward, the pinion gear <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> clockwise to move the locking portion <NUM> upward, and when the rack <NUM> is moved forward, the pinion gear <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> counterclockwise to move the locking portion <NUM> downward.

The locking portion <NUM> includes the guide grooves <NUM> allowing the locking portion <NUM> to move upward and downward while being guided by the guide rails <NUM> provided on the support <NUM>, the second rack gear <NUM> engaged with the pinion gear <NUM>, and the hanging hole <NUM> provided at the rear end of the locking portion <NUM> so as to be hung and released with/from the hanging protrusion <NUM> of the fixing unit <NUM>.

The guide groove <NUM> is vertically recessed in a shape corresponding to the guide rail <NUM> provided on the support <NUM>, allowing the locking portion <NUM> to be moved upward and downward.

The second rack gear <NUM> is provided to be engaged with the pinion gear <NUM>, so that the locking portion <NUM> moves upward and downward along the guide rail <NUM> when the rack <NUM> moves forward and backward, the pinion gear <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM>.

The hanging hole <NUM> is provided at the rear end of the locking portion <NUM>, and when the locking portion <NUM> moves upward and downward, is hung and released with/from the hanging protrusion <NUM> of the fixing unit <NUM>, thereby causing the second door <NUM> to be fixed and released to/from the first door <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, when both of the first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM> are maintained closed, the hanging hole <NUM> of the locking portion <NUM> is hung with the hanging protrusion <NUM> of the fixing unit <NUM>, and the second door <NUM> is maintained fixed to the first door <NUM>.

In this case, when a user opens the second door <NUM> by gripping a handle H, the first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM> are open together.

Referring to <FIG>, when a user pressurizes the press portion <NUM> protruding forward of the second door <NUM>, the rack <NUM> is moved backward while compressing the spring S.

When the rack <NUM> is moved backward, the pinion gear <NUM> engaged with the first rack gear <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> clockwise.

When the pinion gear <NUM> is rotated about the rotation shaft <NUM> clockwise, the locking portion <NUM> engaged with the pinion gear <NUM> is moved upward, so that the hanging hole <NUM> is released from the hanging protrusion <NUM>.

The locking portion <NUM> released from being hung with the hanging protrusion <NUM> is moved upward, to compress the elastic member <NUM> provided on the fixing unit <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, when a user removes the hand from the press portion <NUM> in a state that the elastic member <NUM> is compressed, the locking portion <NUM> is moved forward together with the second door <NUM> due to the compressing force of the elastic member <NUM>, thereby opening only the second door <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in the case in which a user closes the second door <NUM> having been open, the rear end of the locking portion <NUM>, which has a circular shape, rises and passes over the inclination surface 613a provided on the hanging protrusion <NUM> of the fixing unit <NUM>, so that the second door <NUM> is closed with the hanging protrusion <NUM> hung in the hanging hole <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

Although not shown in the drawings, in the case that a user closes the second door <NUM> having been open, the locking portion <NUM> is moved upward when a user pressurizes the press portion <NUM> to close the second door <NUM>, and when the user removes the hand from the press portion after closing the second door <NUM>, the rack <NUM> is moved forward by the elastic force of the spring S, and the locking portion <NUM> is moved downward, so that the hanging hole <NUM> is hung with the hanging protrusion <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the second door <NUM> is provided with a handle <NUM> to which a latch device <NUM> is coupled such that the second door <NUM> comes into close contact with the first door <NUM> and the close contact is released.

The first door <NUM> is provided at a rear side thereof with a first gasket G1 accommodating a first magnet M1 having a magnetic force allowing the first door <NUM> to come into close contact with the main body <NUM>, and the second door <NUM> is provided at a rear side thereof with a second gasket G2 accommodating a second magnet M2 having a magnetic force allowing the second door <NUM> to come into close contact with the first door <NUM>.

Each of the front side of the main body <NUM> and the front side of the first door <NUM> is formed of metal, and the first door <NUM> comes into close contact with the main body <NUM> by the first gasket G1, and the second door <NUM> comes into close contact with the first door <NUM> by the second gasket G2.

The second magnet M2 accommodated in the second gasket G2 has a magnetic force greater than that of the first magnet M1 accommodated in the first gasket G1, so that the first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM> are open together with each other when a user opens the second door <NUM> by gripping the handle <NUM>.

The latch device <NUM> includes a support <NUM> coupled to the rear side of the handle <NUM> while being accommodated in the rear side of the handle <NUM>, a handle lever <NUM> provided on the rear side of the handle <NUM> so as to be movable forward and backward, a pinion gear <NUM> engaged with the handle lever <NUM> so as to be rotated when the handle lever <NUM> moves forward and backward, and a slider <NUM> moved in a direction opposite to a direction of the handle lever <NUM> when the pinion gear <NUM> is rotated.

The handle lever <NUM> is disposed on the rear side of the handle <NUM> while disposed on the rear side of the support <NUM>.

The handle lever <NUM> includes a first rack gear <NUM> provided to be movable forward and backward and engaged with the pinion gear <NUM>.

When a user pressurizes the handle lever <NUM> while gripping the handle <NUM>, the handle lever <NUM> is moved forward, and the pinion gear <NUM> engaged with the handle lever <NUM> is rotated clockwise.

The pinion gear <NUM> is disposed between the handle lever <NUM> and the slider <NUM> to be engaged with the first rack gear <NUM> of the handle lever <NUM> and a second rack gear <NUM> of the slider <NUM>.

The pinion gear <NUM> allows the handle lever <NUM> and the slider <NUM> to linearly move in opposite directions to each other. When the handle lever <NUM> is moved forward, the pinion gear <NUM> rotates clockwise, so that the slider <NUM> is moved backward, and when the handle lever <NUM> is moved backward, the pinion gear <NUM> is rotated counterclockwise, so that the slider <NUM> is moved forward.

In contrast, when the slider <NUM> is moved backward, the pinion gear <NUM> is rotated clockwise, so that the handle lever <NUM> is moved forward, and when the slider <NUM> is moved forward, the pinion gear <NUM> is rotated counterclockwise, so that the handle lever <NUM> is moved backward.

The slider <NUM> includes the second rack gear <NUM> provided to be movable forward and backward and engaged with the pinion gear <NUM>.

The slider <NUM> is guided by a guide <NUM> buried in the second door <NUM> so that a rear end portion of the slider <NUM> makes contact with the front side of the first door <NUM> by passing through the second door <NUM> when the second door <NUM> is closed. The slider <NUM> is moved in a direction opposite to a direction of the handle lever <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the rear end portion of the slider <NUM> is maintained in contact with the front side of the first door <NUM> when the second door <NUM> is maintained closed.

Since the second magnet M2 accommodated in the second gasket G2 has a magnetic force greater than that of the first magnet M1 accommodated in the first gasket G1, the first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM> are open together with each other when a user opens the second door <NUM> as shown in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, when a user pressurizes the handle lever <NUM> forward, the handle lever <NUM> is moved forward so that the pinion gear <NUM> is rotated clockwise, and the slider <NUM> is moved backward by the pinion gear <NUM>.

As the slider <NUM> is moved backward with the rear end portion thereof making contact with the front side of the first door <NUM>, the contact of the second door <NUM> with the first door <NUM> is released and the second door <NUM> is open.

Although not shown in the drawings, when the second door <NUM> having been open is closed, the rear end portion of the slider <NUM> moved backward is pushed forward while making contact with the front side of the first door <NUM>, thereby closing the second door <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A refrigerator comprising:
a main body (<NUM>) having a storage compartment (<NUM>);
a first door (<NUM>) for the storage compartment (<NUM>) disposed at a front side of the main body (<NUM>) and having an opening (<NUM>) formed therein;
a second door (<NUM>) disposed at a front side of the first door (<NUM>) to open/close the opening (<NUM>) of the first door (<NUM>);
a handle (<NUM>) disposed at the second door (<NUM>) to open or close the first door (<NUM>) and the second door (<NUM>) together or to open or close the second door (<NUM>) alone; and
a latch device (<NUM>) configured to allow the second door (<NUM>) to be fixed to and released from the first door (<NUM>), wherein the latch device (<NUM>) comprises:
a fixing unit (<NUM>) provided in the first door (<NUM>),
a support (<NUM>) coupled to the rear side of the handle (<NUM>),
a handle lever (<NUM>) rotatably coupled to the support (<NUM>) by a rotation shaft (<NUM>), and including a first handle lever (<NUM>) to rotate about the rotation shaft (<NUM>) forward or backward, and a second handle lever (<NUM>) connected to the first handle lever (<NUM>) and configured to rotate downward or upward to be released from or hung in the fixing unit (<NUM>) when the first handle lever (<NUM>) is rotated forward or backward about the rotation shaft (<NUM>) by being pressed or released, and
a guide (<NUM>) provided at the second door (<NUM>) and configured to guide the second handle lever (<NUM>) to pass through the second door (<NUM>) to be released from or hung in the fixing unit (<NUM>),
wherein when the first handle lever (<NUM>) is pressurised to be rotated about the rotation shaft (<NUM>) forward, the second handle lever (<NUM>) is rotated about the rotation shaft (<NUM>) downward causing the second handle lever (<NUM>) to be released from the fixing unit (<NUM>),
wherein the latch device further comprises a guide portion (223b) through which the second handle lever (<NUM>) extends and configured to guide the second handle lever (<NUM>) not to be exposed to the outside between the handle (<NUM>) and the second door (<NUM>), and
wherein the guide (<NUM>) is configured to communicate with the guide portion (223b) to guide the movement of the second handle lever (<NUM>) to be released from or hung in the fixing unit (<NUM>).