Patent Description:
Generally, a refrigerator is a home appliance capable of keeping foods fresh by providing a storage compartment configured to store the foods and a cold air supply device configured to supply cold air to the storage compartment.

The refrigerator includes components for a refrigeration cycle therein, and is a device that refrigerates or freezes an object stored in the storage compartment through the cool air generated from the components for the refrigeration cycle.

The refrigerator may be classified according to the type of storage compartment and type of door.

There are top mounted freezer (TMP) type refrigerators in which a storage compartment is divided into an upper portion and a lower portion by a horizontal partition wall to form a freezing compartment at an upper side of the storage compartment and a refrigerating compartment at a lower side thereof, and a bottom mounted freezer (BMF) type refrigerator in which a storage compartment is divided into an upper portion and a lower portion by a horizontal partition wall to form a refrigerating compartment at an upper side of the storage compartment and a freezing compartment at a lower side thereof.

In addition, there is a French door type refrigerator (FDR) in which a refrigerating compartment at the upper side is opened and closed by a pair of doors in the bottom mounted freezer (BMF) type refrigerator in which a storage compartment is divided into an upper portion and a lower portion by a horizontal partition to form the refrigerating compartment at an upper side of the storage compartment and a freezing compartment at a lower side thereof.

Meanwhile, there is a side-by-side (SBS) type refrigerator in which a storage compartment is divided into left and right sides by a vertical partition wall to form a freezing compartment at one of the left and right sides and a refrigerating compartment chamber at the other side thereof.

<CIT> discloses a refrigerator having a door frame, a coupling member coupled to the door frame and a door handle coupled with the coupling member in a sliding manner.

<CIT> discloses a handle assembly for a refrigerator.

<CIT> discloses a door frame coupling structure.

It is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a refrigerator having an improved structure capable of increasing the convenience of assembly of a door handle by reducing the number of a coupling member and a fixing member of the door handle.

It is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a refrigerator capable of allowing a user to intuitively distinguish an inner door handle and an outer door handle by a difference in depth of a finger of the user gripping the door handle when the door is opened.

It is another aspect of the present disclosure a refrigerator capable of opening an outer door without opening an inner door or opening the inner door together with the outer door.

It is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a refrigerator capable of coupling an insulating partition wall, which is configured to seal between an upper door and a lower door, to an inner case after being manufactured separately from a main body including the inner case and an outer case.

In accordance with the invention, there is provided a refrigerator according to claim <NUM>.

As is apparent from the above description, the convenience of assembling the door handle may be increased, and the quality of the appearance of the door handle may be improved.

The door may be easily opened and closed because the user may intuitively distinguish the door handle of the double door.

The insulation of the storage compartment may be efficiently performed because an insulating material may be uniformly filled in an insulating partition wall provided to seal between the upper door and the lower door.

Further, like reference numerals or symbols given in the various drawings of the present specification indicate parts or components that perform substantially the same functions.

Further, it should be understood that terms including ordinals such as "a first," "a second," and the like may be used herein to describe various components, but the components are not limited to the terms, and these are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which a door is opened in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which an outer door is opened in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in <FIG>, a refrigerator <NUM> includes a main body <NUM>, and a storage compartment <NUM> formed inside the main body <NUM>. The refrigerator <NUM> includes a door <NUM> configured to open and close the storage compartment <NUM>, and a cold air supply unit (not shown) configured to supply cold air to the storage compartment <NUM>.

The main body <NUM> may include an inner case <NUM> configured to form the storage compartment <NUM>, and an outer case <NUM> connected to the outside of the inner case <NUM> to form an exterior of the main body <NUM>. The main body <NUM> may include insulation (not shown) to be foamed between the inner case <NUM> and the outer case <NUM> to insulate the storage compartment <NUM>.

The cold air supply unit (not shown) may generate cold air using a cooling cycle that compresses, condenses, expands, and evaporates a refrigerant.

A front surface of the storage compartment <NUM> may be provided to be opened, and the storage compartment <NUM> may be divided into a refrigerating compartment 20a at a right side thereof and a freezing compartment 20b at a left side thereof by a vertical partition wall <NUM>. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the positions of the refrigerating compartment 20a and the freezing compartment 20b may be variously provided. The storage compartment <NUM> may include a plurality of shelves <NUM>.

The storage compartment <NUM> may be opened and closed by the door <NUM> rotatably coupled to the main body <NUM>. The door <NUM> configured to open and close the storage compartment <NUM> may be laterally disposed thereat.

The refrigerating compartment 20a may be opened and closed by a first door <NUM> rotatably coupled to the main body <NUM>, and the freezing compartment 20b may be opened and closed by a second door <NUM> rotatably coupled to the main body <NUM>.

The second door <NUM> may include an upper door <NUM> rotatably coupled to the upper portion of the main body <NUM>, and a lower door <NUM> disposed at the lower portion of the upper door <NUM>.

The main body <NUM> may include an insulating partition wall <NUM> to be coupled with the inner case <NUM> to be positioned between the upper door <NUM> and the lower door <NUM>. The insulating partition wall <NUM> may not divide the freezing compartment 20b up and down.

Namely, the insulating partition wall <NUM> may be formed only partially in the front portion of the inner case <NUM> to have a surface to which a gasket <NUM> of the upper door <NUM> and the lower door <NUM> may be in close contact. A space between a rear end of the insulating partition wall <NUM> and a rear wall of the freezing compartment 20b may be empty.

The shelf <NUM> may be mounted in the empty space between the rear end of the insulating partition wall <NUM> and the rear wall of the freezing chamber 20b. A detailed description of the detailed structure of the insulating partition wall <NUM> is given below.

The first door <NUM> includes an inner door <NUM> arranged in a double and rotatably coupled to the main body <NUM>, and a second door <NUM> rotatably coupled to the inner door <NUM> to cover the inner door <NUM>.

An outer door <NUM> may include a first outer door <NUM> rotatably coupled to an upper portion of the inner door <NUM> and a second outer door <NUM> rotatably coupled to a lower portion of the inner door <NUM> to be disposed at the lower portion of the first outer door <NUM>.

The door <NUM> includes a door handle <NUM> that can be gripped by the user to open and close the door <NUM>.

The door handle <NUM> may include a first door handle <NUM> arranged to grip the first door <NUM> and a second door handle <NUM> arranged to grip the second door <NUM>.

The second door handle <NUM> may include an upper door handle <NUM> arranged to grip the upper door <NUM> and a lower door handle <NUM> arranged to grip the lower door <NUM>.

The first door handle <NUM> includes an inner door handle <NUM> arranged to grip the inner door <NUM> and an outer door handle <NUM> arranged to grip the outer door <NUM>.

The outer door handle <NUM> may include a first outer door handle <NUM> arranged to grip the first outer door <NUM> and a second outer door handle <NUM> arranged to grip the second outer door <NUM>.

A door guard <NUM> may be provided at a rear surface of each of the first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM> to receive foods. The door <NUM> may include a guard supporting portion <NUM> extending vertically from the door <NUM> to support the door guard <NUM> at left and right sides thereof.

The guard supporting portion <NUM> may be separably provided at the door <NUM> as a separate configuration.

The gasket <NUM> may be provided at an edge of the rear surface of the door <NUM> to seal a gap between the main body <NUM> and the door <NUM> in a state in which the door <NUM> is closed. The gasket <NUM> may be installed in a form of a loop along the edge of the rear surface of the door <NUM>, and a magnet (not shown) may be contained in the gasket <NUM>.

The inner door <NUM> may include a door opening <NUM> having an open interior. The outer door <NUM> may be configured to cover the door opening <NUM> of the inner door <NUM>.

The refrigerator <NUM> may include a display <NUM> having an input and output function. For convenience of a user, the display <NUM> may be installed at the front surface of the door <NUM>. The display <NUM> may be provided at the first outer door <NUM>.

A display mounting portion <NUM> may be formed to be recessed at the front surface of the first door <NUM> to allow the display <NUM> to be installed thereon. Since the display <NUM> is formed in a substantially quadrangular shape, the display mounting portion <NUM> may also be formed in a quadrangular shape.

The refrigerator <NUM> may include an electric wire (not shown) connecting the door <NUM> to the main body <NUM> for an electronic device installed at the door <NUM>. For example, the electric wire (not shown) may be connected to the display <NUM> to transmit information between the display <NUM> and the controller, or to supply power to the display <NUM>.

The main body <NUM> may include a hinge <NUM>. By the hinge <NUM>, the inner door <NUM> and the outer door <NUM> can be operated in an open state with respect to the main body <NUM>. The outer door <NUM> can be operated in an open state with respect to the inner door <NUM> by the hinge <NUM>.

<FIG> is an enlarged view illustrating a portion A in the refrigerator shown in the <FIG>. <FIG> is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a portion A in the refrigerator shown in the <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first door handle <NUM> includes the inner door handle <NUM> coupled to an inner door frame 69a provided at the inner door <NUM> to open the inner door <NUM> together with the outer door <NUM>.

The first door handle <NUM> includes the outer door handle <NUM> provided at the outer door <NUM> to only open the outer door <NUM>.

The first door handle <NUM> includes a grip portion <NUM> extending toward the outside of the first door <NUM> when the first door <NUM> is closed. The inner door handle <NUM> includes a first grip portion <NUM> extending toward the outside of the inner door <NUM> when the inner door <NUM> is closed.

The outer door handle <NUM> includes a second grip portion <NUM> extending toward the outside of the outer door <NUM> when the outer door <NUM> is closed. The second grip portion <NUM> of the outer door handle <NUM> protrudes more than the first grip portion <NUM> of the inner door handle <NUM>.

The second grip portion <NUM> and the inner door <NUM> may have the same position in the direction toward the vertical partition wall <NUM>. That is, the second grip portion <NUM> may have a position corresponding to one side edge of the inner door <NUM>.

The inner door handle <NUM> is covered by the outer door handle <NUM> so as not to be exposed to the outside when viewed from the front of the refrigerator <NUM>.

The inner door handle <NUM> includes a first receiving groove <NUM> to receive a user's hand, and the outer door handle <NUM> includes a second receiving groove <NUM> to receive a user's hand.

The user can open the inner door <NUM> together with the outer door <NUM> by putting his or her hand into the first receiving groove <NUM>, approaching the inner door handle <NUM>, and gripping the first grip portion <NUM>.

The user can open only the outer door <NUM> by putting his or her hand into the second receiving groove <NUM>, approaching the outer door handle <NUM>, and gripping the second grip portion <NUM>.

That is, in the refrigerator <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, lengths that the first grip portion <NUM> of the inner door handle <NUM> and the second grip portion <NUM> of the outer door handle <NUM> are extended toward the outside of the first door <NUM> when the first door <NUM> is closed are different.

Therefore, the user can distinguish intuitively the inner door handle <NUM> and the outer door handle <NUM> by the depth difference of the finger of the user when the user grasps the first door handle <NUM>.

The gasket <NUM> may be disposed between the inner door <NUM> and the outer door <NUM> to maintain sealing.

The refrigerator <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a locking unit <NUM> to lock the outer door <NUM> and the inner door <NUM> and a latch cover <NUM> provided at the inner door frame 69a to cover the locking unit <NUM>. A detailed description of the locking unit <NUM> and the latch cover <NUM> is given below.

<FIG> is an enlarged perspective view illustrating an inner door in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is an exploded view illustrating the inner door in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the inner door <NUM> includes the inner door handle <NUM> coupled to the inner door frame 69a.

The inner door <NUM> includes a coupling member <NUM> coupled to the inner door frame 69a provided at the inner door <NUM> in a sliding manner and the inner door handle <NUM> coupled to the coupling member <NUM> in a sliding manner.

The user can freely grasp the first grip portion <NUM> of the inner door handle <NUM> from the upper portion to the lower portion of the inner door handle <NUM>.

The inner door frame 69a includes a coupling hole <NUM> provided at the front surface of the inner door frame 69a to be coupled with the coupling member <NUM>. Although the coupling holes <NUM> are illustrated as four in <FIG>, the number of the coupling holes <NUM> is not limited thereto, and the number of the coupling holes <NUM> may be variously provided.

The coupling member <NUM> includes a first coupling portion <NUM> and a second coupling portion <NUM> extending upward from the first coupling portion <NUM> and having a smaller length protruding forward than the first coupling portion <NUM>.

The inner door handle <NUM> may include a fixing member <NUM> provided to fix the inner door handle <NUM> to the coupling member <NUM> and a fixing hole <NUM> provided to allow the fixing member <NUM> to be inserted.

The movement of the inner door handle <NUM> in the front-rear direction may be prevented because the inner door handle is inserted from the front to the rear of the inner door <NUM> and then coupled from the upper portion to the lower portion of the inner door <NUM> in a sliding manner.

That is, the fixing member <NUM> configured to fix the inner door handle <NUM> to the inner door <NUM> may be required only to prevent the inner door handle <NUM> from moving in the vertical direction. Accordingly, the refrigerator <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may reduce the production cost by reducing the number of fixing members <NUM> configured to fix the inner door handle <NUM> to the inner door <NUM>.

<FIG> are a view illustrating a process in which an inner door handle is coupled to an inner door frame in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating the inner door handle coupled to the inner door frame in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the process in which the inner door handle <NUM> is coupled to the inner door <NUM> is described.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the inner door frame 69a includes the coupling hole <NUM> having a first coupling hole <NUM> provided at the front surface of the inner door frame 69a to be coupled with the coupling member <NUM> and a second coupling hole <NUM> extending from the first coupling hole <NUM> and having a size larger than the first coupling hole <NUM>.

The coupling member <NUM> includes a first coupling portion <NUM> coupled to the first coupling hole <NUM> and a second coupling portion <NUM> coupled to the second coupling hole <NUM> and provided at the upper side of the first coupling portion <NUM>.

First, the coupling member <NUM> may be inserted from the rear to the front of the inner door <NUM> toward the coupling hole <NUM> so that the first coupling portion <NUM> corresponds to the second coupling hole <NUM>.

The first coupling portion <NUM> may be inserted directly into the second coupling hole <NUM> from the rear to the front of the second coupling hole <NUM>, but the first coupling portion <NUM> may not be inserted directly into the first coupling hole <NUM> from the rear to the front of the first coupling hole <NUM>.

This is because the width of a frame engaging portion <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the engaging member <NUM> may be smaller than the width of the second coupling hole <NUM>, but larger than the width of the first coupling hole <NUM>.

The second coupling portion <NUM> extending from the upper side of the first coupling portion <NUM> may interfere with the rear surface of the inner door frame 69a, when the first coupling portion <NUM> is inserted into the second coupling hole <NUM>.

At this time, the coupling member <NUM> may be inserted into the coupling hole <NUM> because interference between the coupling member <NUM> and the inner door frame 69a is reduced by the elasticity of the coupling member <NUM> and the inner door frame 69a.

This is also possible because the length of the second coupling portion <NUM> protruding forward is relatively small than the length of the first coupling portion <NUM> protruding forward.

In <FIG>, the first coupling portion <NUM> and the second coupling portion <NUM> of the coupling member <NUM> are formed integrally with each other. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, the coupling member <NUM> may be formed by assembling the first coupling portion <NUM> and the second coupling portion <NUM>.

Next, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the coupling member <NUM> inserted into the second coupling hole <NUM> is coupled to the first coupling hole <NUM> because the coupling member <NUM> is slid to the second coupling hole <NUM> down toward the first coupling hole <NUM>.

When the coupling member <NUM> is fully coupled to the coupling hole <NUM> in a sliding manner, the empty space of the second coupling hole <NUM>, which is covered by the first coupling portion <NUM>, may be covered again by the second coupling portion <NUM>.

Therefore, it is prevented that the second coupling hole <NUM> affects the appearance and it is possible to prevent the insulating material (not shown) from leaking through the second coupling hole <NUM>.

A supporting portion <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the coupling member <NUM> coupled to the inner door frame 69a may be supported by the insulating material (not shown) foamed inside the inner door <NUM>.

Next, when the coupling member <NUM> is coupled to the inner door frame 69a, the inner door handle <NUM> may be coupled to the coupling member <NUM> from the front to the rear of the inner door <NUM> so as to be coupled to the coupling member <NUM>.

The inner door handle <NUM> may include protruding portions <NUM> protruding inward of the inner door handle <NUM> and a receiving groove <NUM> provided between the protruding portions <NUM>.

The first coupling portion <NUM> may include a handle assembling portion <NUM> (see <FIG>) extending forward from the frame engaging portion <NUM> and a handle engaging portion <NUM> (see <FIG>) extending forward from the handle assembling portion <NUM>.

The width of the handle engaging portion <NUM> may be larger than the width of the handle assembling portion <NUM>. The width of the handle engaging portion <NUM> may be larger than the distance between the protruding portions <NUM> provided to opposite of the inner door handle <NUM>.

Therefore, the inner door handle <NUM> may be coupled to the coupling member <NUM> from the front to the rear of the inner door <NUM> at a position where the handle engaging portion <NUM> of the first coupling portion <NUM> and the receiving groove <NUM> correspond to each other.

Next, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, when the inner door handle <NUM> is coupled to the coupling member <NUM> so that the receiving groove <NUM> corresponds to the handle engaging portion <NUM>, the inner door handle <NUM> may be protruded upward than the inner door <NUM>.

The inner door handle <NUM> may be fully coupled to the coupling member <NUM> because the inner door handle protruding upward from the inner door <NUM> is slid toward the lower side of the inner door <NUM>.

Therefore, the inner door handle <NUM> is not only coupled to the inner door <NUM> from the front to the rear of the inner door <NUM>, but after the inner door handle <NUM> is coupled to the inner door <NUM> from the front to the rear of the inner door <NUM>, the inner door handle <NUM> is also coupled to the inner door <NUM> from the upper portion to the lower portion of the inner door <NUM> in a sliding manner. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the inner door handle <NUM> from moving in the front-rear direction.

That is, it is possible to prevent the inner door handle <NUM> from being detached from the inner door <NUM> in the front-rear direction without a separate fixing member configured to prevent the inner door handle <NUM> from moving in the front-rear direction.

Meanwhile, in another embodiment of the present disclosure, the inner door handle <NUM> is not integrally formed, and may be coupled with each other by dividing into a plurality of parts. For example, the inner door handle <NUM> may be coupled with each other by dividing into two. However, it is not limited thereto.

The method that the two inner door handles <NUM> are coupled to the inner door <NUM> through the coupling member <NUM> may most be similar to the method that the inner door handle <NUM> integrally formed is coupled to the inner door <NUM> through the coupling member <NUM>, however, the two inner door handles <NUM> may be slidably coupled up and down, respectively.

In other words, one inner door handle <NUM> may be slidably downwardly coupled to the inner door <NUM> after inserted from the front to the rear of the inner door <NUM>, and the other inner door handle <NUM> may be slidably upwardly coupled to the inner door <NUM> after inserted from the front to the rear of the inner door <NUM>.

Each of the inner door handles <NUM> slidably coupled to the upper side and the lower side of the inner door <NUM> may be fully coupled to the inner door <NUM> by being coupled to each other.

As shown in <FIG>, when the inner door handle <NUM> is coupled to the coupling member <NUM> in a sliding manner, the fixing member <NUM> may be fastened to prevent the inner door handle <NUM> from being detached downward from the coupling member <NUM>.

The fixing member <NUM> may be disposed to be positioned at upper portion of the first coupling portion <NUM> and in front of the second coupling portion <NUM> when the inner door handle <NUM> is coupled to the coupling member <NUM>.

The fixing member <NUM> may be in contact with the upper portion of the first coupling portion <NUM>. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the fixing member <NUM> may be disposed at various positions as long as that the inner door handle <NUM> is prevented from being detached from the coupling member <NUM> downwardly.

The refrigerator <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may reduce the production cost because the number of separate fixing members is reduced by fastening one fixing member <NUM> to one fixing hole <NUM> provided in the inner door handle <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the coupling member <NUM> may include the supporting portion <NUM> and the frame engaging portion <NUM>. The supporting portion <NUM> is coupled to the rear surface of the inner door frame 69a. The frame engaging portion <NUM> extends forward from the supporting portion <NUM> and is disposed at the front surface of the inner door frame 69a so that the coupling member <NUM> is coupled to the inner door frame 69a.

The supporting portion <NUM> may be provided to prevent the coupling member <NUM> from being detached forward from the coupling hole <NUM>, and the frame engaging portion <NUM> may be provided to prevent the first coupling portion <NUM> from being detached rearward from the first coupling hole <NUM>.

The width of the supporting portion <NUM> may be larger than the width of the coupling portion <NUM>. The width of the frame engaging portion <NUM> may be larger than the width of the first coupling hole <NUM> and smaller than the width of the second coupling hole <NUM>.

In order that the inner door handle <NUM> is coupled to the coupling member <NUM>, the first coupling portion <NUM> may include the handle assembling portion <NUM> extending forward from the frame engaging portion <NUM> and the handle engaging portion <NUM> extending forward from the handle assembling portion <NUM>.

The cross section of the first coupling portion <NUM> may include the shape of the approximate capital letter 'I' by the frame engaging portion <NUM>, the handle assembling portion <NUM>, and the handle engaging portion <NUM>. However, it is not limited thereto.

The coupling member <NUM> may include a frame assembling portion <NUM> provided between the supporting portion <NUM> and the frame engaging portion <NUM>. The width of the frame assembling portion <NUM> may be smaller than the width of the first coupling hole <NUM>.

When the coupling member <NUM> is coupled to the inner door frame 69a, the frame assembling portion <NUM> and the inner door frame 69a may be coupled. Meanwhile, the coupling member <NUM> may be coupled to the inner door frame 69a without being detached from the inner door frame 69a by the interference between the inner door frame 69a and the frame engaging portion <NUM>.

The inner door handle <NUM> may include a receiving portion <NUM> coupled with the coupling member <NUM> and the first grip portion <NUM> bent and extended from the receiving portion <NUM> and provided to grip the inner door <NUM>.

The receiving portion <NUM> may include a first receiving portion <NUM> in which the frame engaging portion <NUM> is received and a second receiving portion <NUM> in which the handle engaging portion <NUM> is received.

The receiving portion <NUM> may include the protruding portion <NUM> protruding inward of the receiving portion <NUM> between the first receiving portion <NUM> and the second receiving portion <NUM> to prevent the inner door handle <NUM> from being detached from the coupling member <NUM> forward.

Therefore, the inner door handle <NUM> may be coupled without being detached from the coupling member <NUM> because the protruding portion <NUM> interferes with the handle engaging portion <NUM>.

The shapes of the frame engaging portion <NUM>, the handle engaging portion <NUM>, the first receiving portion <NUM>, the second receiving portion <NUM>, and the protruding portion <NUM> are not limited and may be variously provided as long as that the inner door frame 69a, the coupling member <NUM>, and the inner door handle <NUM> are maintained in engagement.

<FIG> is a view illustrating the structure of a locking unit in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is an exploded view illustrating the structure of the locking unit in the refrigerator shown in the <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the refrigerator <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include the locking unit <NUM> provided to couple or detach the inner door <NUM> and the outer door <NUM>.

The locking unit <NUM> may include an upper locking unit disposed at the upper portion of the first door <NUM> to couple or detach the inner door <NUM> and the first outer door <NUM> , and a lower locking unit disposed at the lower portion of the first door <NUM> to couple or detach the inner door <NUM> and the second outer door <NUM> and.

Since the internal structures of the upper locking unit and the lower locking unit are mostly similar except for a position thereof, the locking unit <NUM> provided at the upper portion of the first door <NUM> is mainly described.

The inner door frame 69a may include a latch hole <NUM> through which the locking unit <NUM> passes. The inner door handle <NUM> may include a first striker hole <NUM> through which the locking unit <NUM> passes.

The latch cover <NUM> to cover the latch hole <NUM> may include a second striker hole <NUM> through which the locking unit <NUM> penetrating the latch hole <NUM> passes and a cover cap <NUM> to cover the second striker hole <NUM> and the first striker hole <NUM>.

The cover cap <NUM> may prevent the beauty from being hindered by the first striker hole <NUM> and the second striker hole <NUM> when the outer door <NUM> is opened only, and at the same time, the cover cap <NUM> may include a substantially cross-shaped insertion hole so that a striker <NUM> provided at the outer door <NUM> is inserted. However, it is not limited thereto.

The cover cap <NUM> may include a rubber material.

By being covered by the inner door handle <NUM>, the latch cover <NUM> to cover the latch hole <NUM> may not be exposed to the outside when viewed from the front.

The locking unit <NUM> may prevent the outer door <NUM> from being opened unintentionally due to inertia when the inner door <NUM> is opened.

When the user opens the inner door <NUM> by grasping the inner door handle <NUM>, pivotal movement of the inner door <NUM> is stopped after the inner door <NUM> is sufficiently opened, and at this time, the outer door <NUM> may be unintentionally opened, when the inertial force of rotation generated during the pivotal movement of the inner door <NUM> is greater than the engagement force between the inner door <NUM> and the outer door <NUM>.

This is because the pivotal movement directions of the inner door <NUM> and the outer door <NUM> are identical, and the outer door <NUM> is connected to the inner door <NUM> by the hinge <NUM>.

The locking unit <NUM> may allow the outer door <NUM> to be opened although the inner door <NUM> is closed and prevent the outer door <NUM> from being opened when the inner door <NUM> is opened.

The locking unit <NUM> may include the striker <NUM> coupled to the upper portion of the outer door <NUM>, and a latch <NUM> coupled to the upper portion of the inner door <NUM> and engaged with or disengaged from the striker <NUM> in accordance with opening or closing of the inner door <NUM>.

The latch <NUM> may include an actuating bar <NUM> to be pressed by the main body <NUM> such that the actuating bar <NUM> is rectilinearly movable, and a rotating bar <NUM> to perform rotation in accordance with rectilinear movement of the actuating bar <NUM>. The rotating bar <NUM> is provided with an engaging hook <NUM> formed at one end thereof.

The latch <NUM> may include a returning spring <NUM> to return the actuating bar <NUM> to an original position thereof when a pressing force from the main body <NUM> to the actuating bar <NUM> is released.

The actuating bar <NUM> may include a head portion 321a to which the pressing force from the main body <NUM> is directly applied, and a body portion 321b connected to the head portion 321a.

The rotating bar <NUM> may include a rotating shaft 322a as a rotation center, and a connecting shaft 322b connected to the actuating bar <NUM> to receive drive force from the actuating bar <NUM>. The connecting shaft 322b may be arranged to be eccentric from the rotating shaft 322a.

A connecting hole 321c may be formed at the actuating bar <NUM> and, as such, the connecting shaft 322b of the rotating bar <NUM> may be rotatably inserted into the connecting hole 321c.

The locking unit <NUM> may include a housing <NUM> to receive the actuating bar <NUM>, rotating bar <NUM>, and the returning spring <NUM>. The housing <NUM> may be coupled to the upper portion of the inner door <NUM>.

The striker <NUM> may include a coupling plate <NUM> to be coupled to the upper portion of the outer door <NUM>, and an arm bar <NUM> formed with a coupling hole <NUM> into which the engaging hook <NUM> of the latch <NUM> may be inserted.

The coupling plate <NUM> may be coupled to the upper portion of the first outer door <NUM> by a fastening member (not shown). The striker <NUM> may be formed to have an integrated structure, using stainless steel.

<FIG> is a view illustrating an operation of the locking unit when the inner door and the outer door are opened together in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a view illustrating the operation of the locking unit when only the outer door is opened in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, when the inner door <NUM> and the outer door <NUM> are opened together, the actuating bar <NUM> may be moved in the direction toward the main body <NUM> by the returning spring <NUM> to restore the actuating bar <NUM> to its original position because the pressure applied to the head portion 321a by the main body <NUM> disappears.

The engaging hook <NUM> may be engaged with the engaging groove <NUM> as the rotating bar <NUM> is rotated upward in conjunction with the movement of the actuating bar <NUM>. The outer door <NUM> and the inner door <NUM> may be opened together as the rotating bar <NUM> and the striker <NUM> are coupled because the engaging hook <NUM> is engaged with the engaging groove <NUM>.

Conversely, when only the outer door <NUM> is opened, the actuating bar <NUM> may maintain the position shifted away from the main body <NUM> because the pressure of the head 321a by the main body <NUM> is continuously maintained.

The engaging hook <NUM> may be released from the engaging groove <NUM> because the rotating bar <NUM> may be maintained in a state of being rotated downward by the maintenance position of the actuating bar <NUM>. The rotating bar <NUM> and the striker <NUM> may be released since the engaging hook <NUM> is released from the engaging groove <NUM>.

Accordingly, the outer door <NUM> may be opened regardless of the inner door <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a filling inlet and a rib of an insulating partition wall in the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. <FIG> is a view illustrating an outlet of the insulating partition wall in the refrigerator shown in the <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the refrigerator <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include the insulating partition wall <NUM> positioned between the upper door <NUM> and the lower door <NUM> to insulate the inside and the outside of the freezing compartment 20b.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> are an exploded view illustrating the structure of the insulating partition <NUM> disposed between the upper door <NUM> and the lower door <NUM>.

The insulating partition wall <NUM> may be coupled to the inner case <NUM> to be filled together with the insulating material (not shown) filled between the inner case <NUM> and the outer case <NUM>.

The temperature difference between the inside and the outside of the freezing chamber 20b may be large since the temperature of the freezing chamber 20b is relatively lower than the temperature of the refrigerating chamber 20a. That is, the seal of the insulating partition wall <NUM> may be required to be larger than that of the refrigerating chamber 20a.

Accordingly, the insulating partition wall <NUM> may provide a surface to which the gasket <NUM> may be adhered by being disposed between the upper door <NUM> and the lower door <NUM> like a normal middle partition wall, and furthermore, the insulating partition wall <NUM> may have better the seal and the insulating property than a normal middle partition wall.

In order to ensure the seal and the insulation, the insulating partition wall <NUM> may include a filling inlet <NUM> connected to the inner case <NUM> so that the insulating partition wall <NUM> is filled with the insulating material (not shown) from the inner case <NUM>, and a rib <NUM> provided adjacent to the filling inlet <NUM> to prevent leakage of the insulating material (not shown) filled in the insulating partition wall <NUM> through the filling inlet <NUM>,.

Although the filling inlet <NUM> shown in <FIG> is illustrated as being substantially circular, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the filling inlet <NUM> may have various shapes.

The rib <NUM> may be configured in a substantially circular shape to correspond to the shape of the filling inlet <NUM> and provided to be adjacent to the filling inlet <NUM>. The ribs <NUM> may be provided of two ribs corresponding to a single inner rib and a single outer rib.

However, the number and position of the ribs <NUM> are not limited to the above, and may be variously arranged to prevent the leakage of the insulating material (not shown) filled from the inner case <NUM> into the filling inlet <NUM>.

The insulating partition wall <NUM> may include an outlet <NUM> provided to discharge the gas of the insulating material (not shown) filled into the insulating partition wall <NUM> to the outside of the insulating partition wall <NUM>.

A plurality of outlets <NUM> may be provided at the lower portion of the insulating partition wall <NUM>. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the outlet <NUM> may be variously arranged to discharge the gas, which is generated when the insulating material (not shown) is charged from the inner case <NUM> to the insulating partition wall <NUM>, to the outside of the insulating partition wall <NUM>.

The insulating partition wall <NUM> may be sealed to prevent the leakage of the insulating material (not shown). The insulating partition wall <NUM> may be formed separately from the inner case <NUM> and the outer case <NUM> and then coupled to the inner case <NUM> so as to insulate the freezing compartment 20b from the outside.

A filling connecting hole (not shown) is provided in the inner case <NUM> so that the insulating material (not shown) is filled into the insulating partition wall <NUM> through the filling hole <NUM> provided at one side of the insulating partition wall <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A refrigerator (<NUM>) comprising:
a main body (<NUM>) having a storage compartment (<NUM>);
an inner door (<NUM>) rotatably coupled to the main body (<NUM>) to open and close the storage compartment (<NUM>), and having an inner door frame (69a);
an outer door (<NUM>) rotatably coupled to the inner door (<NUM>);
an inner door handle (<NUM>) coupled to the inner door frame (69a) to open the inner door (<NUM>) together with the outer door (<NUM>);
an outer door handle (<NUM>) provided at the outer door (<NUM>) to open the outer door (<NUM>) and configured to cover the inner door handle (<NUM>);
a coupling member (<NUM>) with which the inner door handle (<NUM>) is coupled in a sliding manner;
wherein the inner door frame (69a) comprises a first coupling hole (<NUM>) provided at a front surface of the inner door frame (69a) and a second coupling hole (<NUM>) extending from the first coupling hole (<NUM>) and larger than the first coupling hole (<NUM>);
wherein the coupling member (<NUM>) comprises a first coupling portion (<NUM>) and a second coupling portion (<NUM>) provided at the upper side of the first coupling portion (<NUM>);
wherein the coupling member (<NUM>) is coupled to the inner door frame (69a) in a sliding manner so that the first coupling portion (<NUM>) is coupled to the first coupling hole (<NUM>) and the second coupling portion (<NUM>) is coupled to the second coupling hole (<NUM>);
wherein the inner door handle (<NUM>) includes a first grip portion (<NUM>) extending towards the outside of the inner door (<NUM>) in one direction when the inner door (<NUM>) is closed, the first grip portion (<NUM>) defining a first receiving groove (<NUM>), to receive a user's hand, in the inner door handle (<NUM>);
wherein the outer door handle (<NUM>) includes a second grip portion (<NUM>) extending more than the first grip portion (<NUM>) towards the outside of the outer door (<NUM>) in the one direction when the outer door (<NUM>) is closed, the second grip portion (<NUM>) defining a second receiving groove (<NUM>), to receive a user's hand, in the outer door handle (<NUM>) to open the outer door excepting the inner door.