Patent Description:
A refrigerator may include a main body having a storage area, and a cool air supplier for supplying cool air to the storage space to keep food fresh. The storage area may include a refrigerating area that is maintained at about <NUM> to <NUM> to keep food refrigerated and a freezing area that is maintained at about <NUM> to -<NUM> (<NUM> degrees below zero) to keep food frozen. The storage area opens at the front side to put food in or take food out, and the open front side of the storage area is opened or closed by a door.

The door is configured with an inner door providing a door storage space, and an outer door rotatably coupled with the inner door to open or close the door storage space. A front plate of the inner door is cut at the upper corner portion, and a hinge connecting the inner door with the outer door is installed at the cut portion.

A reed switch and a magnet are provided to detect an opening/closing of the outer door, and generally, the reed switch and the magnet are installed horizontally. <CIT> discloses a refrigerator that improves convenience by forming a storage space in the main door and providing a dispenser in a sub-door that opens and closes the storage space. This document does not describe a hinge cover covering a portion of the hinge bracket, the portion positioned outside the inner door, and also does not describe a fixing plate being positioned inside the inner door. <CIT> discloses a door ajar detection system.

Provided is a refrigerator capable of minimizing exposure of a hinge connecting an inner door with an outer door and a hinge cover covering the hinge.

Further, provided is a refrigerator capable of securing a separation distance between a reed switch and a magnet without increasing a thickness of an outer door.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a refrigerator as set out in claim <NUM>. According to a concept of the disclosure, a refrigerator includes: a main body comprising a storage area; an inner door comprising a door storage space in which food is stored, the inner door being rotatably coupled with the main body; an outer door configured to open or close the door storage space and rotatably coupled with the inner door; and a hinge rotatably coupling the outer door with the inner door, the hinge comprising a hinge bracket that comprises a fixing plate coupled with the inner door, and a hinge shaft on which the outer door is rotatable, wherein the inner door further comprises a front plate forming a front surface of the inner door, and an upper cap coupled with an upper end of the front plate, wherein the front plate comprises a through hole, and wherein the hinge bracket penetrates the through hole such that the fixing plate is coupled with the upper cap.

The through hole may be spaced a preset gap from an upper edge of the front plate and both side edges of the front plate.

The upper cap may comprise a flat installing portion contacting the fixing plate, and the fixing plate may be coupled with the installing portion by a coupling member.

The upper cap may comprise an upper cap hole corresponding to the through hole, and the hinge bracket may penetrate the upper cap hole.

The refrigerator further comprises a hinge cover covering a portion of the hinge bracket, the portion being exposed to an outside of the inner door.

The hinge cover may penetrate the through hole.

The refrigerator may further comprise a reed switch configured to detect opening and closing of the outer door, and the reed switch may be provided on the hinge cover.

The hinge cover may comprise an upper cover covering an upper surface of the hinge, and a side cover covering a side surface of the hinge, and the reed switch may be mounted on the upper cover.

The upper cover may comprise a switch supporter supporting an edge of the reed switch, and the upper cover may comprise an opening that the reed switch penetrates.

The refrigerator may further comprise a wire connected with the reed switch and configured to supply electricity to the reed switch, and the wire may pass through the through hole.

The wire may comprise: a first wire of which one end is connected with a power supply of the main body, wherein a first connector is provided in the other end; and a second wire of which one end is connected with the reed switch, wherein a second connector coupled with the first connector is provided in the other end, and the first connector and the second connector may be positioned in a hinge accommodating space formed in the upper cap.

The refrigerator may further comprise a magnet mounted on the outer door and configured to interwork with the reed switch.

In a closed state of the outer door, the reed switch and the magnet may be positioned vertically.

The outer door may comprise a hinge accommodating groove depressed in a rear surface of the outer door and configured to accommodate the hinge cover in a closed state of the outer door.

The outer door may comprise a magnet mounting groove on which the magnet is mounted, and the magnet mounting groove may formed above the hinge accommodating groove.

In another aspect, according to a concept of the disclosure, a refrigerator includes: a main body including a storage room; an inner door including a door storage space in which food is stored, the inner door rotatably coupled with the main body; an outer door configured to open or close the door storage space, and rotatably coupled with the inner door; a hinge configured to connect the inner door with the outer door and including a hinge shaft forming a rotating shaft of the outer door; a hinge cover configured to cover the hinge; a reed switch configured to detect opening/closing of the outer door and mounted on the hinge cover; and a magnet mounted on the outer door to interwork with the reed switch and positioned vertically to the reed switch in a closed state of the outer door.

The outer door may include a hinge accommodating groove depressed in a rear surface of the outer door and configured to accommodate the hinge cover in the closed state of the outer door.

The outer door may include a magnet mounting groove on which the magnet is mounted, and the magnet mounting groove may be formed above the hinge accommodating groove.

The hinge cover may include an upper cover configured to cover an upper surface of the hinge, and a side cover configured to cover a side surface of the hinge, and the reed switch may be mounted on the upper cover of the hinge.

The upper cover may include a switch supporter configured to support an edge of the reed switch, and an opening which the reed switch penetrates.

According to one or more embodiments, by minimizing exposure of a hinge connecting an inner door with an outer door, and a hinge cover covering the hinge, an outer appearance may be improved.

According to one or more embodiments, a separation distance between a magnet and a reed switch for detecting an opening/closing of an outer door may be secured without increasing a thickness of the outer door.

The embodiments described below do not represent all technical aspects of the disclosure. It should be understood that various equivalents or variations that may be substituted for them at the time of the present application belong to the scope of rights of the disclosure.

It will be understood that when the terms "includes," "comprises," "including," and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, figures, steps, operations, components, members, or combinations thereof.

Also, it will be understood that, although the terms including ordinal numbers, such as "first", "second", etc., may be used herein to describe various components, these components should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing an outer appearance of a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, a refrigerator <NUM> may include a main body <NUM>, storage areas <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> formed inside the main body <NUM>, doors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> for opening or closing the storage areas <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and a cool air supplier for supplying cool air to the storage areas <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The main body <NUM> may include an inner case <NUM> forming the storage areas <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, an outer case <NUM> coupled with an outer side of the inner case <NUM> and forming an outer appearance, and an insulation provided between the inner case <NUM> and the outer case <NUM> to insulate the storage areas <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The storage areas <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be partitioned into a plurality of rooms by a horizontal partition wall <NUM> and a vertical partition wall <NUM>. The storage areas <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be partitioned into an upper storage area <NUM> and lower storage areas <NUM> and <NUM> by the horizontal partition wall <NUM>, and the lower storage areas <NUM> and <NUM> may be partitioned into a left lower storage area <NUM> and a right lower storage area <NUM> by the vertical partition wall <NUM>.

The upper storage area <NUM> may be used as a refrigerating area, and the lower storage areas <NUM> and <NUM> may be used as freezing areas. The above-described partitioning and uses of the storage areas <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are only examples, which are not limited.

Inside the storage areas <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, a shelf <NUM> on which food is put and a storage container <NUM> in which food is stored may be provided.

The cool air supplier may generate cool air by using a cooling circulation cycle of compressing, condensing, expanding, and evaporating a refrigerant, and supply the generated cool air to the storage areas <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The upper storage area <NUM> may be opened or closed by a pair of doors <NUM> and <NUM>. The doors <NUM> and <NUM> may be rotatably coupled with the main body <NUM>. The left lower storage area <NUM> may be opened or closed by a door <NUM>, and the door <NUM> may be rotatably coupled with the main body <NUM>. The right lower storage area <NUM> may be opened or closed by a door <NUM>, and the door <NUM> may be rotatably coupled with the main body <NUM>. In the main body <NUM>, upper hinges <NUM> and <NUM>, a middle hinge <NUM>, and a lower hinge <NUM> may be provided to rotatably couple the doors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> with the main body <NUM>.

Any one or any combination of the doors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may include a door guard <NUM> having a door storage space <NUM> in which food is stored. On a rear surface of each of the doors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, a gasket <NUM> that closely contacts a front surface of the main body <NUM> may be provided to seal the storage areas <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

At least any one of the door <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, or <NUM> may be configured as a double door having an inner door and an outer door. For example, the right upper door <NUM> may include an inner door <NUM> and an outer door <NUM>.

The inner door <NUM> may have the door storage space <NUM> where food is stored and may be rotatably coupled with the main body <NUM>. The inner door <NUM> may have an opening <NUM>. In a closed state of the inner door <NUM>, an access to the storage area <NUM> may be allowed through the opening <NUM>.

The door guard <NUM> having the door storage space <NUM> may be coupled with the opening <NUM>. The inner door <NUM> may be rotatably coupled with the main body <NUM> by the hinges <NUM> and <NUM>. The hinge <NUM> may include a hinge shaft 44a forming a rotating shaft of the inner door <NUM>, and the hinge shaft 44a may be inserted in an upper end of the inner door <NUM>.

The outer door <NUM> may open or close the door storage space <NUM> of the inner door <NUM>. By opening the outer door <NUM>, an access to the door storage space <NUM> of the inner door <NUM> may be allowed. The outer door <NUM> may be rotatably coupled with the inner door <NUM>. The outer door <NUM> may rotate in the same direction as the inner door <NUM>.

The outer door <NUM> may correspond to a size of the inner door <NUM>. The outer door <NUM> may cover an entire area of the inner door <NUM>.

The outer door <NUM> may be rotatably coupled with the inner door <NUM> by a hinge <NUM>. On a rear surface of the outer door <NUM>, a gasket 70a may be provided to closely contact a front surface of the inner door <NUM>. A decoration panel may be detachably coupled with a front surface of the outer door <NUM>. The refrigerator may include a magnet <NUM> and a reed switch <NUM> for detecting an opening or closing of the outer door <NUM>.

Hereinafter, the inner door <NUM>, the outer door <NUM>, the hinge <NUM> for rotatably coupling the outer door <NUM> with the inner door <NUM>, and the magnet <NUM> and the reed switch <NUM> for detecting opening or closing of the outer door <NUM> will be described.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a closed state of an outer door and an inner door in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is a perspective view showing an open state of an outer door in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view showing an outer door and an inner door in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view showing an outer door and an inner door at another angle in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is an exploded view showing a hinge, a hinge cover, and a reed switch in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> shows a coupled state of a hinge, a hinge cover, and a reed switch in a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII' of <FIG>. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX' of <FIG>.

The inner door <NUM> may include a front plate <NUM> and a rear plate <NUM>. The front plate <NUM> may form a front surface and both side surfaces of the inner door <NUM>. The rear plate <NUM> may form a rear surface and inner side surfaces <NUM> of the inner door <NUM>. An insulation may be provided between the front plate <NUM> and the rear plate <NUM>.

The opening <NUM> may be formed along the inner side surfaces <NUM> of the inner door <NUM>. In the opening <NUM>, the door guard <NUM> having the door storage space <NUM> may be installed. On the inner side surfaces <NUM> of the inner door <NUM>, an installing protrusion <NUM> on which the door guard <NUM> is installed may be formed.

An upper cap <NUM> may be coupled with upper ends of the front plate <NUM> and the rear plate <NUM>. The upper cap <NUM> may be formed of a resin material that is easily molded. The hinge <NUM> for rotatably coupling the inner door <NUM> with the main body <NUM> may be coupled with the upper cap <NUM>. More specifically, a shaft hole <NUM> in which the hinge shaft 44a of the hinge <NUM> is inserted may be formed in the upper cap <NUM>.

The refrigerator may include the hinge <NUM> for rotatably coupling the outer door <NUM> with the inner door <NUM>. The hinge <NUM> may include a hinge bracket <NUM> fixed to the inner door <NUM> and extending from the inner door <NUM> toward the outer door <NUM>, and a hinge shaft <NUM> coupled with the hinge bracket <NUM> and forming a rotating shaft of the outer door <NUM>.

The hinge bracket <NUM> may be formed with an iron plate. The hinge bracket <NUM> may include a fixing plate <NUM> fixed to the inner door <NUM>, a hinge shaft coupling portion <NUM> with which the hinge shaft <NUM> is coupled, and an extension portion <NUM> formed between the fixing plate <NUM> and the hinge shaft coupling portion <NUM>. The fixing plate <NUM> may be flat. The hinge shaft coupling portion <NUM> may include an opening which the hinge shaft <NUM> is inserted into and coupled with.

The hinge shaft <NUM> may be inserted in a shaft hole 71a of the outer door <NUM>, and form the rotating shaft of the outer door <NUM>. In the current embodiment, the hinge shaft <NUM> may be provided separately from the hinge bracket <NUM>. However, the hinge shaft <NUM> may be integrated into the hinge bracket <NUM>.

The fixing plate <NUM> may be coupled with the upper cap <NUM> by penetrating the front plate <NUM> of the inner door <NUM>. For this, a through hole <NUM> which the hinge <NUM> penetrates may be formed in the front plate <NUM>. The through hole <NUM> may be spaced a preset gap G1 from an upper edge 51a of the front plate <NUM>. The through hole <NUM> may be spaced a preset gap G2 from a side edge 51b of the front plate <NUM>.

As such, because the hinge bracket <NUM> penetrates the through hole <NUM> of the front plate <NUM>, notching (cutting) a corner of the front plate <NUM> to install the hinge bracket <NUM> may be not required. Also, because the hinge bracket <NUM> and a hinge cover <NUM> which will be described below are inserted into inside of the inner door <NUM> through the through hole <NUM>, exposure of the hinge bracket <NUM> and the hinge cover <NUM> may be minimized, resulting in an improvement of a design.

The fixing plate <NUM> of the hinge bracket <NUM> may pass through the through hole <NUM> of the front plate <NUM> and be positioned inside the inner door <NUM>. The fixing plate <NUM> of the hinge bracket <NUM> may be coupled with the upper cap <NUM>. For this, the upper cap <NUM> may include an installing portion <NUM> being flat to be in close contact with the fixing plate <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The installing portion <NUM> of the upper cap <NUM> may extend substantially horizontally. That is, the installing portion <NUM> of the upper cap <NUM> may be formed to be vertical to the front plate <NUM>. Accordingly, the fixing plate <NUM> of the hinge bracket <NUM> may extend substantially horizontally to correspond to the installing portion <NUM>.

The upper cap <NUM> may include a hinge accommodating space <NUM> formed by being depressed at one surface to accommodate the fixing plate <NUM> of the hinge bracket <NUM>, and the installing portion <NUM> may form a lower surface of the hinge accommodating space <NUM>.

The fixing plate <NUM> may be firmly coupled with the installing portion <NUM> by a coupling member S. For this, a coupling hole 82a into which the coupling member S is inserted may be formed in the fixing plate <NUM>, and a coupling hole <NUM> into which the coupling member S is inserted may be formed in the installing portion <NUM>. The coupling member S may include various mechanical elements for coupling, such as a screw, a nail, a rivet, a pin, etc..

The fixing plate <NUM> may be in close contact with one surface of the installing portion <NUM>, and a reinforcing plate <NUM> for reinforcing a coupling force of the coupling member S may be provided on the other surface of the installing portion <NUM>.

The upper cap <NUM> may include an upper cap front portion <NUM> that is in close contact with a rear surface of the front plate <NUM>. In the upper cap front portion <NUM>, an upper cap hole <NUM> may be formed to correspond to the through hole <NUM> formed in the front plate <NUM>. Accordingly, the hinge bracket <NUM> may penetrate the through hole <NUM> and the upper cap hole <NUM>.

An upper end of the upper cap <NUM> may be coupled with an upper cover to cover the hinge accommodating space <NUM> of the upper cap <NUM>.

By this structure, the fixing plate <NUM> of the hinge bracket <NUM> may be positioned inside the inner door <NUM> not to be exposed to outside. However, because the extension portion <NUM> of the hinge bracket <NUM> is positioned outside the inner door <NUM>, the hinge cover <NUM> may be coupled with the hinge bracket <NUM> to cover such a portion of the hinge bracket <NUM>, exposed to the outside of the inner door <NUM>.

The hinge cover <NUM> may have a section being substantially in a shape of '<IMG>', and extend from the fixing plate <NUM> of the hinge bracket <NUM> to the hinge shaft <NUM>. The hinge cover <NUM> may include an upper cover <NUM>, and both side covers <NUM> extending downward from both ends of the upper cover <NUM>.

The hinge bracket <NUM> may be inserted in lower ends of the both side covers <NUM> of the hinge cover <NUM>. In this case, the upper cover <NUM> may be spaced a preset gap from the hinge bracket <NUM>.

Also, the hinge cover <NUM> may be coupled with the upper cap <NUM> through a coupling member S. Accordingly, a portion fixing the hinge cover <NUM> may be positioned inside the inner door <NUM> and not exposed to the outside.

In this case, the hinge bracket <NUM> and the hinge cover <NUM> may be coupled with the upper cap <NUM> through the same coupling member S. For this, the hinge cover <NUM> may include an insertion portion <NUM> configured to be inserted in the inside of the inner door <NUM>.

The insertion portion <NUM> may be inserted into the inside of the inner door <NUM> through the through hole <NUM> of the front plate <NUM>, like the fixing plate <NUM> of the hinge <NUM>. In the insertion portion <NUM>, a boss <NUM> protruding downward may be formed, and the boss <NUM> may be positioned above the fixing plate <NUM> of the hinge bracket <NUM>. In the boss <NUM>, a coupling hole <NUM> in which the coupling member S is inserted may be formed.

Accordingly, the coupling member S may be coupled by passing through the coupling hole <NUM> of the hinge cover <NUM>, the coupling hole 82a of the fixing plate <NUM>, and the coupling hole <NUM> of the installing portion <NUM> of the upper cap <NUM>. That is, a single coupling member S may couple both the hinge cover <NUM> and the hinge bracket <NUM> with the upper cap <NUM>.

In the hinge cover <NUM>, the reed switch <NUM> for detecting opening or closing of the outer door <NUM> may be provided. The reed switch <NUM> may detect opening or closing of the outer door <NUM> by interworking with the magnet <NUM> provided in the outer door <NUM>.

The reed switch <NUM> may include two reeds, wherein the two reeds may attract each other to close a contact point according to an approach of the magnet <NUM> within a preset distance and, according to a moving-away of the magnet <NUM> out of the preset distance, the two reeds may be separated from each other by elasticity to open the contact point. Alternatively, in contrast, the contact point may open according to an approach of the magnet <NUM> to the reed switch <NUM>, and according to a moving-away of the magnet <NUM> from the reed switch <NUM>, the contact point may be closed.

By this configuration, the reed switch <NUM> may detect opening or closing of the outer door <NUM>, and a light, etc. provided inside the storage area may be turned on or off according to the opening or closing of the outer door.

The reed switch <NUM> may be mounted on the upper cover <NUM> of the hinge cover <NUM>. For this, in the upper cover <NUM>, a switch supporter <NUM> forming a step with an upper surface of the upper cover <NUM> to support an edge <NUM> of the reed switch <NUM> may be formed in the upper cover <NUM>. In a center portion of the switch supporter <NUM>, an opening <NUM> which the reed switch <NUM> penetrates may be formed. By this configuration, the reed switch <NUM> may be positioned between the hinge cover <NUM> and the hinge bracket <NUM> such that an upper surface of the reed switch <NUM> is exposed upward from the hinge cover <NUM>.

The reed switch <NUM> may be connected with wires <NUM> and <NUM> for supplying electricity to the reed switch <NUM>. The wires <NUM> and <NUM> may be connected with a power supply provided in the main body <NUM>.

The wires <NUM> and <NUM> may include a first wire <NUM> and a second wire <NUM>. One end of the first wire <NUM> may be connected with the power supply, and a first connector <NUM> may be provided in the other end. One end of the second wire <NUM> may be connected with the reed switch <NUM>, and a second connector <NUM> that may be connected with the first connector <NUM> may be provided in the other end (see <FIG>).

The second wire <NUM> may pass through the through hole <NUM> of the front plate <NUM> together with the hinge <NUM> and the hinge cover <NUM>. That is, a space may be formed between the hinge <NUM> and the hinge cover <NUM>, and the second wire <NUM> may be positioned in the space. The second wire <NUM> and the second connector <NUM> may pass through the fixing plate <NUM> of the hinge bracket <NUM> and the insertion portion <NUM> of the hinge cover <NUM> and be connected with the first connector <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>).

The first connector <NUM> may be connected with the second connector <NUM> inside the upper cap <NUM>. More specifically, the first connector <NUM> may be connected with the second connector <NUM> in the hinge accommodating space <NUM> of the upper cap <NUM>. As such, because the first connector <NUM> is connected with the second connector <NUM> inside the upper cap <NUM>, a task of connecting the first connector <NUM> with the second connector <NUM> may be easily performed.

The magnet <NUM> may be mounted on an upper end of the rear surface of the outer door <NUM>. For this, a magnet mounting groove <NUM> on which the magnet <NUM> is mounted may be formed in the upper end of the rear surface of the outer door <NUM>.

In a closed state of the outer door <NUM>, the reed switch <NUM> and the magnet <NUM> may be positioned vertically. More specifically, in a closed state of the outer door <NUM>, the magnet <NUM> may be positioned vertically above the reed switch <NUM>.

In the rear surface <NUM> of the outer door <NUM>, a hinge accommodating groove <NUM> depressed to accommodate the hinge <NUM> and the hinge cover <NUM> upon closing of the outer door <NUM> may be formed, and the magnet mounting groove <NUM> may be formed above the hinge accommodating groove <NUM>. By this configuration, in a closed state of the outer door <NUM>, the reed switch <NUM> and the magnet <NUM> may be positioned vertically.

In a case in which the reed switch <NUM> and the magnet <NUM> are positioned horizontally, the outer door <NUM> may need to have a large thickness to secure a separation distance between the reed switch <NUM> and the magnet <NUM>. However, according to one or more embodiments, because the reed switch <NUM> and the magnet <NUM> are positioned vertically, a minimal separation distance between the reed switch <NUM> and the magnet <NUM> may be secured without increasing the thickness of the outer door <NUM>.

<FIG> is a top view showing a state in which an outer door opens by about <NUM> degrees in a refrigerator according to an embodiment. <FIG> is a top view showing a state in which an outer door opens by about <NUM> degrees in a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

An internal light of the storage area may be turned off upon closing of the outer door <NUM>, and turned on upon opening of the outer door <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, in an open state of the outer door <NUM> with respect to the inner door <NUM>, the reed switch <NUM> may fail to detect the magnet <NUM> and accordingly, the internal light of the storage area may be in a turned-on state. According to a rotation of the outer door <NUM>, the magnet <NUM> installed in the outer door <NUM> may rotate together with the outer door <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, according to a rotation of the outer door <NUM> in a direction in which the outer door <NUM> is closed such that an angle between the outer door <NUM> and the inner door <NUM> reaches a preset angle, the reed switch <NUM> may detect the magnet <NUM> and accordingly, the internal light of the storage area may be turned off.

An opening/closing of the outer door <NUM> may be detected depending on whether or not the reed switch <NUM> mounted on the upper surface of the hinge cover <NUM> detects the magnet <NUM> mounted on the rear surface of the outer door <NUM>. That is, opening/closing of the outer door <NUM> may be detected according to a separation distance between the reed switch <NUM> mounted on the hinge cover <NUM> and the magnet <NUM> mounted on the rear surface of the outer door <NUM>.

The reed switch <NUM> may have a preset detection range. That is, the reed switch <NUM> may detect the magnet <NUM> being within the preset detection range, and may fail to detect the magnet <NUM> being out of the preset detection range. For example, the detection range may be a shape of a sphere having a radius of R mm from the reed switch <NUM>. Because the R value of the reed switch <NUM> is a fixed value, the reed switch <NUM> and the magnet <NUM> may be positioned such that a separation distance between the reed switch <NUM> and the magnet <NUM> in a closed state of the outer door <NUM> is R or close to R, to accurately detect an opening/closing of the outer door <NUM>.

As described above, according to an embodiment, in a closed state of the outer door <NUM>, the reed switch <NUM> mounted on the hinge cover <NUM> may be positioned vertically to the magnet <NUM> mounted on the rear surface of the outer door <NUM>. Accordingly, even in the closed state of the outer door <NUM>, a separation distance in vertical direction between the reed switch <NUM> and the magnet <NUM> may be secured.

Claim 1:
A refrigerator (<NUM>) comprising:
a main body (<NUM>) comprising a storage area (<NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>);
an inner door (<NUM>) comprising a door storage space (<NUM>), the inner door (<NUM>) being rotatably coupled with the main body (<NUM>);
an outer door (<NUM>);
a hinge (<NUM>) rotatably coupling the outer door (<NUM>) with the inner door (<NUM>), the hinge (<NUM>) comprising a hinge bracket (<NUM>) that comprises a fixing plate (<NUM>) coupled with the inner door (<NUM>), and a hinge shaft (<NUM>) on which the outer door (<NUM>) is rotatable; and
a hinge cover (<NUM>) covering a portion of the hinge bracket (<NUM>), the portion being positioned outside the inner door (<NUM>),
wherein the inner door (<NUM>) further comprises a front plate (<NUM>) forming a front surface of the inner door (<NUM>), and an upper cap (<NUM>) coupled with an upper end of the front plate (<NUM>),
wherein the front plate (<NUM>) comprises a through hole (<NUM>), and
wherein the hinge bracket (<NUM>) penetrates the through hole (<NUM>) such that the fixing plate (<NUM>) is coupled with the upper cap (<NUM>), characterized in that the hinge bracket is positioned inside the inner door (<NUM>), a hinge cover (<NUM>) covering a portion of the hinge bracket (<NUM>), the portion being positioned outside the inner door (<NUM>)."