Patent Description:
A refrigerator is a refrigerating device commonly used in daily life. The refrigerator usually stores many diverse items. To store some items that need to be isolated from other items, storage boxes are disposed in the refrigerator, and are provided with a pull handle to facilitate opening and closing the storage boxes.

However, the designed pull handles occupy partial space. Since the space available for placing the storage boxes in the refrigerator is certain, when the storage boxes are disposed in the refrigerator, the space available for storing items will be substantially reduced; when the user's hands are dirty, they might pollute the pull handles when the user opens the storage boxes, thereby affecting the overall appearance of the storage boxes, and providing an undesirable experience effect.

<CIT> relates to a cooling device comprising a storage container that opens controllably by tilting forward. The cooling device comprises a pinion gear that moves in the opposite direction while the storage container is opening and a gear path whereon this pinion gear moves for maintaining controlled motion.

<CIT> concerns a refrigerator and/or freezer appliance having a drawer to hold the produce or items for refrigeration and/or freezing. When the opening/closing mechanism is operated, the drawer moves out automatically, with a tilting movement. When the drawer is closed, a spring mechanism is placed under tension.

<CIT> relates to a subframe is connected with a reinforcing panel by way of a locking mechanism and a damping mechanism. And a container is installed on the reinforcing panel and the container is also installed on the subframe while the container is movable to fit in the subframe. And then a hook pawl of the subframe is hooked on the upper wall arranged in an instrument panel of a body, simultaneously, the lower end section of the subframe is fixed on the rear end section of a housing with fastener.

To solve the problems in the prior art, the present application provides a storage box and a refrigerator having the same, to solve the problems in the prior art that the space for storing items is substantially reduced since the handle is provided on the storage box, and the handle is likely to be polluted when the storage box is opened.

To achieve the above object of the application, an embodiment provides a storage box according to claim <NUM>. The dependent claims set out particular embodiments of the invention.

To achieve the above object of the application, an embodiment provides a refrigerator according to claim <NUM>.

As compared with the prior art, the present application has the following advantageous effects: the elastic element is fitted with the locking device so that the storage box body can turn automatically; the storage box needn't be provided with a handle, thereby expanding the space for storing items, and the user needn't manually open the storage box so that his experience can be improved.

The present application will be described in detail below in conjunction with specific embodiments shown in the figures. However, these embodiments are not intended to limit the present application. Variations in structures, methods or functions made by those having ordinary skill in the art according to these embodiments all are included in the extent of protection of the present application.

In the figures of the present application, some dimensions of structures or parts will be enlarged relative to other structures or parts for the convenience of illustration. Therefore, the figures are only used to illustrate the basic structures of the subject matter of the present application.

Referring to <FIG>, the present application provides a storage box <NUM>, comprising an enclosure <NUM>, a storage box body <NUM>, a pivot shaft <NUM> connected to the enclosure <NUM> and the storage box body <NUM>, an elastic element, and a locking device.

The storage box body <NUM> is formed with a cavity for storing items, the enclosure <NUM> has an opening on one side, and the storage box body <NUM> is turnable outward about the pivot shaft <NUM> from the opening to open.

Referring to <FIG>, in the present embodiment, the pivot shaft <NUM> is fixedly disposed on side walls of the enclosure <NUM>, the side walls of the storage box body <NUM> are each provided with a pivot hole <NUM>, the pivot shaft <NUM> is inserted into the pivot holes <NUM>, and the pivot shaft <NUM> rotates in the pivot holes <NUM> so that the storage box body <NUM> pivots relative to the enclosure <NUM>, thereby helping the user to take out the items from the storage box body <NUM>.

The elastic element is disposed between the pivot shaft <NUM> and the enclosure <NUM>, and the elastic element always provides a driving force driving the storage box body <NUM> to turn outwards the enclosure <NUM> about the pivot shaft <NUM>. When a user needs to take an item, the storage box body <NUM> can be automatically opened under the action of the elastic element, and the user needn't manually open the storage box body <NUM>, so that the user experience can be improved.

Specifically, the elastic element is a torsion spring <NUM>. The torsion spring <NUM> comprises a spring body <NUM>, and a spring arm <NUM> connected to the spring body <NUM>. The spring body <NUM> is sleeved on the pivot shaft <NUM>. When the storage box body <NUM> is in a closed state, the spring body <NUM> is in a torsional energy-storing state, and the elastic potential energy can be continuously released while the spring body <NUM> drives the storage box body <NUM> to open. At the same time, the torsion spring <NUM> can make the storage box body <NUM> in an open state, and the user may take items out of the cavity without holding the storage box body.

Further, the enclosure <NUM> comprises a fixing portion <NUM> connected to the side wall of the enclosure <NUM>, the fixing portion <NUM> is provided with a through hole, the spring arm <NUM> passes through the through hole, and the through hole catches the spring arm <NUM>, thereby improving the stability of the torsion spring <NUM>.

The locking device can lock or unlock the enclosure <NUM> to the storage box body <NUM>. It may be appreciated that when the locking device locks, the elastic element cannot make the storage box body <NUM> open, so that the closeness of the storage box <NUM> may be maintained; when the locking device unlocks, the elastic element can make the storage box body <NUM> open, which is convenient for users to use.

Specifically, the locking device comprises a locking portion and a fitting portion which is push-fitted with the locking portion. One of the locking portion and the fitting portion is disposed on the enclosure <NUM>, and the other is disposed on the storage box body <NUM>.

The fitting portion is a lock tongue <NUM> provided on a rear wall of the storage box body <NUM>, and the locking portion is a push lock <NUM> provided on a rear wall of the enclosure <NUM>. When the storage box body <NUM> is in the closed state, the lock tongue <NUM> extends into the push lock <NUM>; when the storage box body <NUM> is in the open state, the lock tongue <NUM> separates from the push lock <NUM>.

The push lock <NUM> comprises a first force receiving portion <NUM>, a second force receiving portion <NUM>, and a resisting portion <NUM>. The first force receiving portion <NUM> causes the resisting portion <NUM> to release the lock tongue <NUM>, and the second force receiving portion <NUM> causes the resisting portion <NUM> to clamp the lock tongue <NUM>.

When the storage box body <NUM> is in the closed state, the user may apply a push elastic force to any position of the front wall of the storage box body <NUM>, and the push elastic force may be transferred to the first force receiving part <NUM> to cause the resisting portion <NUM> to release the lock tongue <NUM> to open the storage box body <NUM>. When the storage box body <NUM> is closed, after the lock tongue <NUM> contacts the second force receiving portion <NUM>, the resisting portion <NUM> clamps the lock tongue <NUM>.

Preferably, the resisting portion <NUM> is provided with a first protrusion, and the lock tongue <NUM> is provided with a second protrusion. When the storage box <NUM> is in the closed state, the first protrusion abuts against the second protrusion so that the second protrusion cannot cross the first protrusion, such that the lock tongue <NUM> is locked in the push lock <NUM>.

Further, the storage box <NUM> further comprises a damping device <NUM> connected to the enclosure <NUM> and the storage box body <NUM>, and the damping device <NUM> provides a resistance against the turn of the storage box body <NUM> outward the enclosure <NUM>. During the opening process of the storage box body <NUM>, the damping device <NUM> can reduce a turning speed of the storage box body <NUM>, so that the storage box body <NUM> can slowly open and the storage box body <NUM>, thereby preventing damages of the storage box body <NUM> and the enclosure <NUM> caused by the storage box body <NUM> violently stroking the enclosure <NUM> due to an excessive turning speed.

Specifically, the damping device <NUM> comprises a rotary damper <NUM>, a gear <NUM>, and an arc-shaped rack <NUM>. The rotary damper <NUM> is fixedly connected to a side wall of the enclosure <NUM>, the gear <NUM> is fixedly connected to a damping rotation shaft <NUM> of the rotary damper <NUM>, the arc-shaped rack <NUM> is fixedly connected to the side wall of the storage box body <NUM>, and the arc-shaped rack <NUM> meshes with the gear <NUM>.

During the opening of the storage box body <NUM>, the arc-shaped rack <NUM> rotates and drives the gear <NUM> to rotate, then the gear <NUM> drives the damping rotation shaft <NUM> to rotate, the damping rotation shaft <NUM> has a rotational damping force, and the storage box body <NUM> receives the rotational damping force so that the opening speed of the storage box body <NUM> is reduced.

Furthermore, the storage box <NUM> further comprises a buffer structure. When the storage box body <NUM> turns inward the enclosure <NUM> about the pivot shaft <NUM>, the buffer structure can further prevent damages caused by the storage box body <NUM> striking the enclosure <NUM>, and reduce the noise generated when the storage box body <NUM> strikes the enclosure <NUM>.

Specifically, the buffer structure is a rubber member <NUM> disposed on the enclosure <NUM>. The rubber member <NUM> can cooperate with the front wall of the storage box body <NUM> to prevent the storage box body <NUM> from violently striking the enclosure <NUM>. In other embodiments, the buffer structure may also be disposed on the storage box body <NUM>, and may also be any of other members functioning to buffer, such as a sponge.

Referring to <FIG>, the present application further provides a refrigerator, comprising a door body <NUM>, wherein the storage box <NUM> is disposed on an inner side of the door body <NUM>.

The detailed descriptions set forth above are merely specific illustrations of feasible embodiments of the present application, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present application. All equivalent embodiments or modifications that do not depart from the art spirit of the present application should fall within the scope of protection of the present application. gear <NUM>, and an arc-shaped rack <NUM>. The rotary damper <NUM> is fixedly connected to a side wall of the enclosure <NUM>, the gear <NUM> is fixedly connected to a damping rotation shaft <NUM> of the rotary damper <NUM>, the arc-shaped rack <NUM> is fixedly connected to the side wall of the storage box body <NUM>, and the arc-shaped rack <NUM> meshes with the gear <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A storage box (<NUM>) , comprising an enclosure (<NUM>) , a storage box body (<NUM>) , a pivot shaft(<NUM>) connected to the enclosure(<NUM>) and the storage box body(<NUM>), wherein the storage box (<NUM>) further comprises:
an elastic element disposed between the pivot shaft (<NUM>) and the enclosure (<NUM>) , the elastic element always providing a driving force driving the storage box body (<NUM>) to turn outwards the enclosure (<NUM>) around the pivot shaft (<NUM>) ; the elastic element is a torsion spring (<NUM>) , the torsion spring (<NUM>) comprises a spring body (<NUM>), and a spring arm (<NUM>) connected to the spring body (<NUM>) ; characterized in that the spring body (<NUM>) is sleeved on the pivot shaft (<NUM>) ;
and wherein further the storage box is comprising a locking device, the locking device comprising a locking portion and a fitting portion which is push-fitted with the locking portion, where one of the locking portion and the fitting portion is disposed on the enclosure (<NUM>) , and the other is disposed on the storage box body (<NUM>) ; the fitting portion is a lock tongue (<NUM>) provided on a rear wall of the storage box body (<NUM>) , and the locking portion is a push lock (<NUM>) provided on a rear wall of the enclosure (<NUM>); the push lock (<NUM>) comprises a first force receiving portion (<NUM>) , a second force receiving portion (<NUM>) , and a resisting portion (<NUM>) , the first force receiving portion (<NUM>) causes the resisting portion (<NUM>) to release the lock tongue (<NUM>) , and the second force receiving portion (<NUM>) causes the resisting portion (<NUM>) to clamp the lock tongue (<NUM>) ,
a damping device (<NUM>) connected to the enclosure (<NUM>) and the storage box body (<NUM>), and the damping device (<NUM>) provides a resistance against the turn of the storage box body (<NUM>) outward the enclosure (<NUM>) .