Patent Description:
Generally, a refrigerator is an appliance for storing food in a fresh state within a storage compartment (freezing compartment or refrigerating compartment) for a certain period of time by cooling the storage compartment through repeated operation of a refrigeration cycle.

Such a refrigerator includes a compressor for compressing refrigerant circulating through a refrigeration cycle into a high-temperature and high-pressure state. The refrigerant compressed in the compressor generates cold air while passing through a heat exchanger, and the generated cold air is supplied to a freezing compartment or a refrigerating compartment.

Generally, the refrigerator has an arrangement in which the freezing compartment is arranged at the upper side, and the refrigerating compartment is arranged at the lower side. On the other hand, in a side-by-side type refrigerator, the freezing and refrigerating compartments thereof are arranged to laterally neighbor to each other.

In a refrigerator of another type, a storage compartment provided at the upper or lower side of the refrigerator can be opened by two side-by-side type doors.

In the case in which one storage compartment can be opened by two side-by-side type doors, a pillar is provided at one of the two doors. The pillar, which is provided at only one of the two doors, comes into contact with the two doors through rotation thereof when the storage compartment is closed by the two doors and, as such, functions to enhance sealability of the storage compartment.

In a conventional refrigerator provided with such a pillar, typically, a structure including a protrusion and a guide groove is provided at an inner case of the refrigerator in order to guide rotation of the pillar.

In conventional cases, the structure to guide rotation of the pillar is formed at an upper portion of the inner case, to extend downwards. For this reason, there is inconvenience in using the storage compartment by the user.

Furthermore, in a state in which the door provided with the pillar seals a corresponding portion of the storage compartment, the pillar obstructs a path, along which a drawer installed in the refrigerator moves, because the pillar is in a state of being unfolded while escaping from the corresponding door. For this reason, there is a problem in that, when two drawers are arranged in parallel, the drawers should have different widths.

Furthermore, since the pillar is in an unfolded state as mentioned above, baskets provided at the doors should have smoothly curved corners in order to prevent the baskets from coming into contact with the pillar during rotation thereof together with the doors. For this reason, there is a problem in that the storage capacity of each basket is reduced.

<CIT>and <CIT> disclose a refrigerator having a pillar which causes such problems as identified above.

<CIT> is a further relevant prior art document.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator having two side-by-side type doors to open one storage compartment, thereby being capable of achieving an improvement in use convenience.

The problems identified above are resolved by the present invention being disclosed in the appended independent claim.

In accordance with the present invention, the structure for rotating the pillar does not protrude into the storage compartment and, as such, the capacity of the storage compartment is increased. In addition, inconvenience of the user caused by a protruding structure is eliminated.

In addition, the pillar is in a folded state under the condition that the door provided with the pillar seals the storage compartment, and the other door opens the storage compartment. Accordingly, when the drawer installed at the side of the other door is withdrawn, the drawer is not caught on the pillar. In this regard, it may be possible to install a pair of drawers having the same width at respective sides of the doors.

Meanwhile, since the pillar is in a folded state under the condition that the door provided with the pillar seals the storage compartment, and the other door opens the storage compartment, the basket installed at the other door is not caught on the pillar when the other door rotates. Accordingly, the basket may have angled corners and, as such, may have an increased storage capacity.

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> and <FIG> show embodiments being useful for understanding the invention, which are outside the subject-matter of the claims. <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> show embodiments according to the present invention, which disclose a refrigerator according to claim <NUM>.

During the process, sizes and shapes of constituent elements or the like illustrated in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of explanation. Therefore, the definitions of terms used in the present description should be construed based on the contents throughout the specification.

<FIG> is a front view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the refrigerator according to the illustrated embodiment includes a cabinet <NUM> defining an appearance of the refrigerator.

The cabinet <NUM> is provided with a storage compartment <NUM> for storing food.

The storage compartment <NUM> may be defined by an inner case <NUM> provided at an inside of the cabinet <NUM>. The inner case <NUM> may include a top wall <NUM> and a bottom wall <NUM> in order to define an inner surface of the storage compartment <NUM>. The storage compartment <NUM> is open at a front side thereof and, as such, the user may access the storage compartment <NUM> through the front side of the storage compartment <NUM>.

The cabinet <NUM> is provided, at a front side thereof, with a first door <NUM> pivotally mounted to the cabinet <NUM>, to open or close one side of the storage compartment <NUM>, and a second door <NUM> pivotally mounted to the cabinet <NUM>, to open or close the other side of the storage compartment <NUM>. When the first door <NUM> and second door <NUM> close the front side of the storage compartment <NUM>, the storage compartment <NUM> may be completely sealed.

The second door <NUM> may be provided with a pillar <NUM> rotatable to come into contact with the first door <NUM>. The pillar <NUM> generally has a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The pillar <NUM> is coupled to the second door <NUM> such that the pillar <NUM> is rotatable with respect to the second door <NUM>. In this case, the pillar <NUM> may be arranged to have different rotation angles with respect to the second door <NUM> in accordance with rotation angles of the second door <NUM> with respect to the storage compartment <NUM> or whether the first door <NUM> opens or closes the storage compartment <NUM>.

The pillar <NUM> has a shorter length than the distance between the top wall <NUM> and the bottom wall <NUM> in the inner case <NUM> in order to prevent the pillar <NUM> from contacting the top wall <NUM> and bottom wall <NUM>. That is, although the second door <NUM> rotates to close the storage compartment <NUM>, the pillar <NUM> does not contact any of the top wall <NUM> and bottom wall <NUM>. There is no element arranged at the structure of the inner case <NUM>, namely, the top wall <NUM> and bottom wall <NUM>, to limit rotation of the pillar <NUM> and, as such, the top wall <NUM> and bottom wall <NUM> may generally form one plane.

The first door <NUM> may be provided with a door dike <NUM> defining a rear appearance of the first door <NUM>. Similarly, the second door <NUM> may be provided with a door dike <NUM> defining a rear appearance of the second door <NUM>.

Baskets <NUM> and <NUM> may be mounted to the door dikes <NUM> and <NUM>, to store various food articles. The basket <NUM>, which is provided at the first door <NUM>, at which the pillar <NUM> is not provided, does not interfere with the pillar <NUM> when the first door <NUM> rotates. In this regard, the basket <NUM> may have angled corners. In this case, accordingly, it may be possible to store an increased amount of food in the basket <NUM>, as compared to a basket having round corners.

The storage compartment <NUM> may be provided with a first drawer <NUM> arranged at the side of the first door <NUM>, and a second drawer <NUM> arranged at the side of the second door <NUM>. In this case, the first drawer <NUM> and second drawer <NUM> may be flush with each other. That is, the first drawer <NUM> and second drawer <NUM> may be arranged at the same level at left and right sides in the storage compartment <NUM>, respectively. The first drawer <NUM> and second drawer <NUM> may be independently withdrawn.

The first drawer <NUM> and second drawer <NUM> may have the same width. That is, the first drawer <NUM> and second drawer <NUM> may have the same storage capacity and, as such, are interchangeable. If the first drawer <NUM> and second drawer <NUM> have different widths and, as such, have different shapes, manufacturing costs thereof may be increased because it is necessary to manufacture two kinds of drawers. On the other hand, when the first drawer <NUM> and second drawer <NUM> have the same shape, as described above, there is an advantage in that manufacturing costs may be reduced.

In the illustrated embodiment it may be possible to open the first door <NUM> and to withdraw the first drawer <NUM> under the condition that the second door <NUM> seals a corresponding portion of the storage compartment <NUM>. This effect may be achieved because the pillar <NUM> is not arranged on a path, along which the first drawer <NUM> is withdrawn. This will be described later with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Meanwhile, in an embodiment the first door <NUM> and second door <NUM> may have the same width. Accordingly, the processes for manufacturing the first door <NUM> and second door <NUM> may be partially duplicated and, as such, manufacturing costs of the first door <NUM> and second door <NUM> may be reduced. This will be described later with reference to the remaining ones of the accompanying drawings.

A drive assembly <NUM> may be provided at an inside of the top wall <NUM> in the inner case <NUM>, to rotate the pillar <NUM> under particular conditions. The drive assembly <NUM> is arranged to be movable in forward and rearward directions.

According to the present invention, the pillar <NUM> is rotated without using a physical element such as a guide protrusion, but using magnetic force. In this regard, the drive assembly <NUM> may be embedded in the top wall <NUM>, to be hidden from the user.

Accordingly, the portion of the top wall <NUM> where the drive assembly <NUM> is installed may have the same level as other portions of the top wall <NUM> adjacent thereto. That is, the portion of the top wall <NUM> where the drive assembly <NUM> is installed is flush with the adjacent portions of the top wall <NUM> and, as such, the user cannot find whether or not the drive assembly <NUM> is installed at the inside of the top wall <NUM>. In this regard, it may be possible to eliminate inconvenience of the user caused by protrusion of the top wall portion where the drive assembly <NUM> is installed or other problems, for example, reduction of storage capacity.

<FIG> is a view explaining a region where magnetic members are installed in accordance with an embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, gaskets <NUM> and <NUM> are installed at rear sides of the first and second doors <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. The gaskets <NUM> and <NUM> are made of a rubber material and, as such, may seal the storage compartment <NUM> while contacting an opening formed at the front side of the storage compartment <NUM>.

The door dikes <NUM> and <NUM> may be arranged at rear sides of the gaskets <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively, to define rear appearances of the first and second doors <NUM> and <NUM>. As described above, the baskets <NUM> and <NUM> may be provided at the door dikes <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively.

The first door <NUM> may be provided with a first door magnetic member <NUM> having magnetic force, and a door dike magnetic member <NUM> having magnetic force. A second door magnetic member <NUM> having magnetic force may be provided at the second door <NUM>.

The pillar <NUM> may be provided with a second pillar magnetic member <NUM> to magnetically interfere with the first door magnetic member <NUM>, and a second pillar magnetic member <NUM> to magnetically interfere with the second door magnetic member <NUM>. In this case, the first pillar magnetic member <NUM> may magnetically interfere with not only the first door magnetic member <NUM>, but also the door dike magnetic member <NUM>.

In an embodiment of the present invention, each magnetic member may mean a magnet having N and S poles.

Each of the first door magnetic member <NUM>, second door magnetic member <NUM>, first pillar magnetic member <NUM>, second pillar magnetic member <NUM>, and door dike magnetic member <NUM> may have a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a wider cross-section at one side than at the other side.

The first door magnetic member <NUM> may be installed at the gasket <NUM> of the first door <NUM>, whereas the door dike magnetic member <NUM> may be installed at the door dike <NUM> provided at a rear side of the first door <NUM>. In addition, the second door magnetic member <NUM> may be installed at the gasket <NUM> of the second door <NUM>.

The door dike magnetic member <NUM> may be arranged inwards of the storage compartment <NUM>, as compared to the second door magnetic member <NUM>.

The first pillar magnetic member <NUM> and second pillar magnetic member <NUM> may be arranged to be perpendicular to corresponding surfaces of the pillar <NUM>, which generally has a rectangular cross-sectional shape, respectively. The fist and second pillar magnetic members <NUM> and <NUM> are installed at the pillar <NUM> and, as such, rotate together with the pillar <NUM> when the pillar <NUM> rotates.

A third pillar magnetic member <NUM>, which may magnetically interfere with the drive assembly <NUM>, is provided at an upper portion of the pillar <NUM>. In this case, the third pillar magnetic member <NUM> may have a rectangular parallelepiped structure having a relatively greater area towards an upper portion thereof.

The first pillar magnetic member <NUM>, second pillar magnetic member <NUM>, and third pillar magnetic member <NUM> are arranged to be perpendicular to one another while being close to corresponding ones of the surfaces of the pillar <NUM>, respectively, to achieve easy magnetic interference with one another under the condition that the first pillar magnetic member <NUM>, second pillar magnetic member <NUM>, and third pillar magnetic member <NUM> are arranged at positions where magnetic interference between corresponding ones thereof may be generated.

Meanwhile, the pillar <NUM> is rotatably mounted to the second door <NUM> and, as such, may selectively come into contact with the gaskets <NUM> and <NUM> respectively provided at the first and second doors <NUM> and <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating another region not illustrated in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the drive assembly <NUM> may be installed to be embedded in the top wall <NUM> of the inner case <NUM>. A drive magnetic member <NUM> capable of generating magnetic force is installed at the drive assembly <NUM>.

In this case, the drive magnetic member <NUM> may magnetically interfere with the third pillar magnetic member <NUM> and, as such, may rotate the pillar <NUM> when the pillar <NUM> satisfies desired conditions.

The drive magnetic member <NUM> may move in a lateral direction of the storage compartment <NUM>. That is, the pillar <NUM> may be rotated in accordance with variation of the lateral position of the drive magnetic member <NUM>.

The drive magnetic member <NUM> may be moved within the drive assembly <NUM> in accordance with spring force applied thereto from a spring or magnetic force applied thereto from another magnetic member.

Meanwhile, since the drive assembly <NUM> is installed without being exposed to the outside of the top wall <NUM> or protruded from the top wall <NUM>, the drive assembly <NUM> does not physically limit rotation of the pillar <NUM>. Accordingly, the portion of the top wall <NUM> in the inner case <NUM> where the drive assembly <NUM> is installed may be flush with other portions of the top wall <NUM> adjacent thereto.

That is, rotation of the pillar <NUM> may be determined by magnetic interference between the drive assembly <NUM> and the pillar <NUM>.

Meanwhile, in order to prevent rotation of the pillar <NUM> from being physically limited under the condition that the second door <NUM> is maintained to seal the storage compartment <NUM>, the pillar <NUM> does not contact the top wall <NUM> of the inner case <NUM> and the bottom wall <NUM> of the inner case <NUM>. To this end, the pillar <NUM> is spaced apart from the top wall <NUM> and bottom wall <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a refrigerator according to claim <NUM> and is a view explaining polarities of magnetic members installed at the doors and pillar. In detail, <FIG> illustrate a procedure in which magnetic interference is generated between corresponding ones of the magnetic members in accordance with relative positions of the first and second doors.

Referring to <FIG>, the first door magnetic member <NUM> includes a first surface 26a exhibiting a particular polarity, and a second surface 26b exhibiting opposite polarity to the first surface 26a. In this case, the particular polarity may be one of N and S polarities. The first and second surfaces 26a and 26b are arranged opposite each other.

In the following description, first surfaces of the magnetic members may exhibit the same polarity, whereas second surfaces of the magnetic members may exhibit the same polarity, in order to generate attraction between particular ones of the magnetic members, and repulsion between other particular ones of the magnetic members.

Similarly, the second door magnetic member <NUM> includes a first surface 46a exhibiting a particular polarity, and a second surface 46b exhibiting opposite polarity to the first surface 46a.

The first pillar magnetic member <NUM>, which magnetically interferes with the first door magnetic member <NUM>, also includes a first surface 102a exhibiting a particular polarity, and a second surface 102b exhibiting opposite polarity to the first surface 102a.

The second pillar magnetic member <NUM>, which magnetically interferes with the second door magnetic member <NUM>, also includes a first surface 106a exhibiting a particular polarity, and a second surface 106b exhibiting opposite polarity to the first surface 106a.

In this case, the first surfaces 26a and 102a of the first door magnetic member <NUM> and first pillar magnetic member <NUM> may have the same polarity such that attraction is generated between the first door magnetic member <NUM> and first pillar magnetic member <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the first surfaces 46a and 106a of the second door magnetic member <NUM> and second pillar magnetic member <NUM> may have the same polarity such that attraction is generated between the second door magnetic member <NUM> and the second pillar magnetic member <NUM> in a state in which the pillar <NUM> rotates a predetermined angle (state of <FIG>).

For reference, as illustrated in <FIG>, the pillar <NUM> may rotate from a state of <FIG> in a counterclockwise direction up to an angle, at which the pillar <NUM> is perpendicular to the state of <FIG>. That is, the pillar <NUM> is mounted to the second door <NUM> such that the pillar <NUM> rotates within a predetermined angle range.

The door dike magnetic member <NUM> includes a first surface 28a exhibiting a particular polarity, and a second surface 28b exhibiting opposite polarity to the first surface 28a, for magnetic interference thereof with the first pillar magnetic member <NUM>. In this case, the door dike magnetic member <NUM> may be arranged such that repulsion is generated between the door dike magnetic member <NUM> and the first pillar magnetic member <NUM> in a state of <FIG>.

<FIG> shows a refrigerator according to claim <NUM> and is a view explaining polarities of the magnetic members installed at the pillar and drive assembly.

<FIG> are views illustrating a procedure in which the pillar rotates in accordance with movement of the drive magnetic member. <FIG> is a side view corresponding to <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the drive assembly <NUM> is arranged over the pillar <NUM>. In this case, the drive assembly <NUM> is embedded in the first inner case <NUM>, to be hidden from the user. For convenience of explanation, several elements are omitted from <FIG>.

As described above, the drive assembly <NUM> is provided with the drive magnetic member <NUM>. The drive magnetic member <NUM> includes a first surface 144a exhibiting a particular polarity, and a second surface 144b exhibiting opposite polarity to the first surface 144a.

The third pillar magnetic member <NUM> includes a first surface 110a exhibiting a particular polarity, and a second surface 110b exhibiting opposite polarity to the first surface 110a.

In this case, the drive magnetic member <NUM> and third pillar magnetic member <NUM> may be arranged such that attraction is generated therebetween. To this end, the first surfaces 110a and 144a may have the same polarity, and the second surfaces 110b and 144b may have the same polarity.

Referring to <FIG>, the drive magnetic member <NUM> may be arranged to be laterally movable within the drive assembly <NUM>. That is, an elastic member may be provided at each side or one side of the drive magnetic member <NUM>, to restrain movement of the drive magnetic member <NUM>. Alternatively, two separate magnets may be provided at the drive magnetic member <NUM>, to restrain lateral movement of the drive magnetic member <NUM>.

When the drive magnetic member <NUM> moves from a position of <FIG> to a position of <FIG>, the pillar <NUM> is rotated from a position of <FIG> in a clockwise direction. As a result, one surface of the pillar <NUM> comes into contact with the gasket of the first door <NUM> and, as such, may seal the storage compartment <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view explaining an operation in which the second door rotates to open the storage compartment, which has been sealed by the first and second doors.

The first door <NUM> may rotate about a first rotation axis 20a, and the second door <NUM> may rotate about a second rotation axis 40a.

In a state of <FIG>, the first door <NUM> and second door <NUM> seal the storage compartment <NUM>.

When the user rotates the second door <NUM>, the pillar <NUM> is rotated while contacting the first door <NUM>. When the pillar <NUM> is in an unfolded state with respect to the second door <NUM>, the pillar <NUM> comes into contact with the first door <NUM> during rotation of the second door <NUM>. In this case, during rotation of the second door <NUM>, the pillar <NUM> is rotated by rotational force of the second door <NUM> and, as such, is folded toward the second door <NUM> (cf.

As the rotation angle of the second door <NUM> increases, the rotation angle of the pillar <NUM> is increased. Consequently, the pillar <NUM> may be rotated to be perpendicular to the front surface of the second door <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>.

Since the pillar <NUM> is completely folded when the second door <NUM> rotates, rotation of the second door <NUM> to open the storage compartment <NUM> may be achieved without any interference even when the first door <NUM> is maintained to seal the storage compartment <NUM>.

Meanwhile, in accordance with operations corresponding to the order of <FIG>, the second door <NUM> may rotate to seal the storage compartment <NUM> under the condition that the first door <NUM> is maintained to seal the storage compartment <NUM>, and the second door <NUM> has rotated to open the storage compartment <NUM>.

Under the condition that both the first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM> seal the storage compartment <NUM>, the pillar <NUM> should be rotated to be unfolded with respect to the second door <NUM>, namely, to be parallel to the front surface of the second door <NUM>. This is because the pillar <NUM> contacts not only the first door <NUM>, but also the second door <NUM>, in an unfolded state thereof and, as such, the storage compartment <NUM> may be substantially sealed.

Under the condition that the first door <NUM> is maintained to seal the storage compartment <NUM>, the user may rotate the second door <NUM>, to seal the storage compartment <NUM> by the second door <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>.

In this case, when the second door <NUM> reaches the state of <FIG>, the pillar <NUM> may be rotated in a counterclockwise direction in accordance with attraction generated between the first surface 102a of the first pillar magnetic member <NUM> in the pillar <NUM> and the second surface 102b of the first door magnetic member <NUM>. That is, although the pillar <NUM> does not contact the first door <NUM> during closing of the second door <NUM>, the pillar <NUM> may be rotated from a folded state to an unfolded state by virtue of attraction between two magnets.

Meanwhile, when the second door <NUM> further rotates from the state of <FIG> in a direction that the storage compartment <NUM> is sealed, the pillar <NUM> is further rotated in the counterclockwise direction because the distance between the first pillar magnetic member <NUM> and the first door magnetic member <NUM> is reduced. As a result, the pillar <NUM> substantially reaches the state of <FIG>.

That is, although the pillar <NUM> does not physically come into contact with an upper or lower portion of the inner case, the pillar <NUM> may be rotated in accordance with relative positions of the first door <NUM> and second door <NUM>.

In the illustrated embodiment, in a state in which the second door <NUM> does not seal the storage compartment <NUM>, the pillar <NUM> may be folded toward the second door <NUM> by magnetic force. On the other hand, in a state in which the second door <NUM> seals the storage compartment <NUM>, together with the first door <NUM>, the pillar <NUM> is unfolded to contact both the first door <NUM> and the second door <NUM> and, as such, the storage compartment <NUM> is substantially sealed.

<FIG> shows a refrigerator according to claim <NUM> and is a view explaining an operation in which the first door rotates to open the storage compartment, which has been sealed by the first and second doors. <FIG> shows a refrigerator according to claim <NUM> and is a view illustrating a state in which the drive assembly is omitted from the configuration of <FIG>.

In operations according to the order of <FIG> or <FIG>, only the first door <NUM> is rotated to open the storage compartment <NUM> under the condition that the second door <NUM> is maintained to seal the storage compartment <NUM>.

First, as illustrated in <FIG> or <FIG>, the pillar <NUM> is in an unfolded state under the condition that the first door <NUM> and second door <NUM> are maintained to seal the storage compartment <NUM>.

When the user rotates the first door <NUM> in the above-described state, the drive magnetic member <NUM> is moved toward the first door <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG>. Movement of the drive magnetic member <NUM> may be achieved by external force from a motor or the like or elastic force of an elastic member such as a spring. The elastic force may be accumulated in the elastic member in a restrained state of the elastic member, and may be applied to the drive magnetic member <NUM> when the restrained state of the elastic member is released. That is, a configuration of any type may be employed to move the drive magnetic member <NUM>, so long as the configuration can move the drive magnetic member <NUM> in a left direction toward the first door <NUM> when the first door <NUM> rotates.

Of course, an additional magnet may be provided at the first door <NUM>, and another additional magnet may be provided at the drive magnetic member <NUM>, in order to implement a design in which movement of the first door <NUM> influences on the drive magnetic member <NUM> in accordance with magnetic interference between the two magnets.

Meanwhile, when the first door <NUM> rotates to the state of <FIG> or <FIG>, repulsion is generated between the first surface 28a of the door dike magnetic member <NUM> and the first surface 102a of the first pillar magnetic member <NUM> as the first surface 28a approaches the first surface 102a. As a result, force causing the pillar <NUM> to be folded toward the second door <NUM> is generated (cf. <FIG> and <FIG>).

In addition, attraction may be generated between the first surface 144a of the drive magnetic member <NUM> and the second surface 110b of the third pillar magnetic member <NUM> as the first surface 144a approaches the second surface 110b.

When the drive magnetic member <NUM> moves toward the second door <NUM> in the state of <FIG> or <FIG>, force causing the pillar <NUM> to be folded toward the second door <NUM> may be additionally generated by virtue of the attraction between the drive magnetic member <NUM> and the third pillar magnetic member <NUM>.

That is, the pillar <NUM> may be folded toward the second door <NUM> in accordance with magnetic relation of the drive magnetic member <NUM> and magnetic relation of the door dike member <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG> or <FIG>.

Meanwhile, when the pillar <NUM> is sufficiently rotated, attraction is generated between the second surface 46b of the second door magnetic member <NUM> and the first surface 106a of the second pillar magnetic member <NUM> and, as such, force to sufficiently fold the pillar <NUM> is additionally provided.

Since folding of the pillar <NUM> is carried out under the condition that the first door <NUM> opens the storage compartment <NUM>, and the second door <NUM> is maintained to seal the storage compartment <NUM>, the pillar <NUM> does not obstruct a path, along which the drawer arranged at the side of the first door <NUM> moves, during withdrawal of the drawer. If the pillar <NUM> cannot be unfolded under the above-described condition, the width of the drawer arranged at the side of the first door <NUM> should be reduced by the unfolding width of the pillar <NUM>. In this case, there is a problem in that the two drawers respectively arranged at opposite sides have different widths. In the illustrated embodiment, however, the drawer arranged at the side of the first door <NUM> may have a relatively great width because the pillar <NUM> is folded under the above-described condition. In addition, the drawers respectively arranged at opposite sides may have the same width.

On the other hand, the first door <NUM> rotates to seal the storage compartment <NUM> under the condition that the second door <NUM> is maintained to seal the storage compartment <NUM>, and the first door <NUM> has rotated to open the storage compartment <NUM>.

These operations are carried out in accordance with the order of <FIG> or <FIG>.

The drive magnetic member <NUM> is moved toward the first door <NUM> when the first door <NUM> rotates from the state of <FIG> or <FIG> to the state of <FIG> or <FIG>, in order to rotate the pillar <NUM> in the counterclockwise direction. That is, as the drive magnetic member <NUM> moves left, force causing unfolding of the pillar <NUM> is applied to the pillar <NUM>.

In this case, magnetic interference is generated between the door dike magnetic member <NUM> and the magnetic member installed at the pillar <NUM>. In spite of such magnetic interference, the pillar <NUM> may be rotated in the counterclockwise direction by virtue of leftward movement of the drive magnetic member <NUM> because magnetic force between the drive magnetic member <NUM> and the third pillar magnetic member <NUM> has most influence on rotation of the pillar <NUM>.

When the first door <NUM> and second door <NUM> seal the storage compartment <NUM>, and the pillar <NUM> reaches a state of being unfolded toward the first door <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG> or <FIG>, the drive magnetic member <NUM> cannot rotate the pillar <NUM> by movement thereof even when the drive magnetic member <NUM> moves right toward the second door <NUM>. This is because a rotating arm portion of the pillar <NUM> extending from a rotation axis of the pillar <NUM> is short due to a linear movement path of the drive magnetic member <NUM> and, as such, sufficient rotational force to rotate the pillar <NUM> cannot be provided.

In the illustrated embodiment, the pillar <NUM> is folded when the first door <NUM> rotates to open or seal the storage compartment <NUM> under the condition that the second door <NUM> is maintained to seal the storage compartment <NUM>. Accordingly, the basket <NUM> installed at the first door <NUM> does not interfere with the pillar <NUM> during rotation of the first door <NUM>.

If the pillar <NUM> is maintained in an unfolded state, irrespective of rotation of the first door <NUM>, the basket <NUM> installed at the first door <NUM> is caught on the pillar <NUM> during rotation of the first door <NUM>. In order to avoid such a problem, the basket <NUM> should have smoothly curved corners, to be prevented from being caught on the pillar <NUM>. In this case, the storage capacity of the basket <NUM> is reduced and, as such, the storage space usable by the user is substantially reduced.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, when the basket <NUM> is rotated together with the first door <NUM>, the pillar <NUM>, which may obstruct a rotation trace of the basket <NUM>, is folded. Accordingly, the storage space of the basket <NUM> installed at the first door <NUM> may be increased.

Various embodiments have been described in the best mode for carrying out the invention.

Claim 1:
A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet (<NUM>) provided with a storage compartment (<NUM>);
an inner case (<NUM>) to define an appearance of the storage compartment (<NUM>);
a first door (<NUM>) pivotally mounted to the cabinet (<NUM>), to open or close one side of the storage compartment (<NUM>); and
a second door (<NUM>) pivotally mounted to the cabinet (<NUM>), to open or close the other side of the storage compartment (<NUM>), the second door (<NUM>) is provided with a pillar (<NUM>) rotatable to come into contact with the first door (<NUM>),
wherein the pillar (<NUM>) is configured to rotate on the second door (<NUM>) in accordance with rotation angles of the first door (<NUM>) in case that the second door (<NUM>) stops,
wherein the first door (<NUM>) is provided with a first door magnetic member (<NUM>) having magnetic force;
the second door (<NUM>) is provided with a second door magnetic member having magnetic force; and
the pillar (<NUM>) is provided with a first pillar magnetic member (<NUM>) to magnetically interfere with the first door magnetic member (<NUM>), and a second pillar magnetic member (<NUM>) to magnetically interfere with the second door magnetic member (<NUM>),
characterized in that the first door (<NUM>) is further provided with a door dike magnetic member (<NUM>) having magnetic force.