REFRIGERATOR

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The following disclosure relates to a refrigerator.

2. Description of the Related Art

A refrigerator has a storage space that is shielded by a door, and food can be stored in the storage space at a low temperature. The refrigerator may cool the inside of the storage space using cool air generated through heat exchange with a refrigerant circulating in a refrigeration cycle. Recently, refrigerators are becoming larger and multi-functional with changes of dietary habits and premiumization of products, and refrigerators having various structures and convenience devices for convenience of users and for efficient use of internal spaces are being released.

The storage space of the refrigerator may be opened/closed by the door. Further, the refrigerator may be classified into various types according to the arrangement of storage spaces and the structure of doors that open and close the storage spaces. For example, the doors of the refrigerator may be opened and closed by rotation or inserted or withdrawn by sliding.

A user may open and close the door. The door is difficult to handle if it is large and heavy, or if a pressure difference between the inside and outside the refrigerator is large, and/or if a magnetic force of a door gasket is large. For example, a greater force may be required to open the door, causing inconvenience to the user.

Korean Laid-open Patent Publication No. 10-2024-0052562 (hereinafter referred to as Patent Publication No. 562) discloses a refrigerator with a door opening device. The door opening device disclosed in Patent Publication No. 562 includes a handle lever rotatably coupled to a door cap, a slider disposed at the rear of the handle lever so as to be linearly movable upward and downward by the handle lever, and a pusher coupled to the rear of the slider so as to be linearly movable forward and backward.

In recent living environments, a cabinet to accommodate a refrigerator is provided or a refrigerator is placed next to other furniture. The existing refrigerator with a thick door has a problem in that its thickness in the front-rear direction is larger than the thickness of a refrigerator cabinet or other furniture, such that the refrigerator protrudes more forwardly than other furniture, causing inconvenience to users, and adversely affecting the interior design.

In consideration of the above problem, there is a growing demand for a refrigerator including a door with reduced thickness. However, the door opening device disclosed in Patent Publication No. 562 or door opening devices applied to existing refrigerators are difficult to be mounted to a thin door.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the present disclosure to solve the above and other problems.

It is another objective of the present disclosure to provide a refrigerator including an opening module that opens a door.

It is yet another objective of the present disclosure to provide a refrigerator including an opening module having a small volume.

It is yet another objective of the present disclosure to provide a refrigerator including an opening module that is mounted to a door thinner than existing doors.

It is yet another objective of the present disclosure to provide a refrigerator having a sufficient space for a user's hand to fit into a handle of an opening module.

It is yet another objective of the present disclosure to provide a refrigerator capable of preventing interference between a handle and a pusher of an opening module.

The objectives of the present disclosure are not limited to the aforementioned objectives and other objectives not described herein will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, the above and other objectives can be accomplished by providing a refrigerator including a cabinet defining a storage space, a door opening and closing the storage space, and an opening module disposed inside the door.

The storage space may be open toward the front.

The door may be disposed at a front of the cabinet to open and close the storage space.

The door may have an accommodation space open to an outside.

The opening module may be disposed inside the door.

The opening module may include: a handle that is rotatably provided; a link movable upward and downward; and a pusher movable forward and backward.

The handle may include an operation part disposed in the accommodation space, a rotating shaft defining a center of rotation of the handle, and a lever extending radially outwardly.

The link may be movable upward and downward by the lever when the handle rotates.

The pusher may include an inclined surface that contacts the link, and may be movable forward and backward by upward and downward movement of the link. The pusher may protrude rearward from a rear surface of the door that faces the cabinet.

The pusher may overlap the lever in a vertical direction. The pusher may vertically overlap the lever when viewed from a side. That is, the pusher and the lever may be disposed at positions corresponding to each other in a front-rear direction.

The pusher may be spaced apart from the operation part of the handle in a width direction of the door.

The handle may further include a body. The body may be extending from the operation part.

The body and the operation part may be positioned at a central portion in the width direction of the door.

The handle may further include a handle arm extending outward in the width direction of the door from the body. The handle arm may be disposed below the operation part.

The lever may protrude rearward from the handle arm at a position spaced apart from the body in the width direction of the door.

The lever of the handle, the link, and the pusher may be disposed at positions corresponding to each other in the width direction of the door. The lever, the link, and the pusher may vertically overlap each other.

The operation part may be disposed above the rotating shaft of the handle. The link may be disposed at an upper side of the lever of the handle. The link may move upward when the handle rotates in a first direction. The first direction may be a direction in which the handle rotates so that the operation part moves forward. The pusher may be disposed at an upper side of the link, and may move backward by upward movement of the link.

The link may be vertically disposed between the lever and the pusher.

When no external force is applied to the opening module, the pusher and the lever may vertically overlap each other.

When the handle is rotated by an external force and the pusher protrudes from the rear surface of the door, the pusher and the lever may vertically overlap each other.

When viewed from a side, the operation part and the pusher may overlap each other in a front-rear direction.

The pusher may contact a partition part of the cabinet.

An upper end of the link may be located in front of a lower end thereof. The link may be inclined so that an upper end of the link is located in front of a lower end thereof. When viewed from a side, the pusher may vertically overlap a rotating shaft of the handle. The pusher may be spaced apart the operation part of the handle in the width direction of the door.

The operation part may be disposed below the rotating shaft. The lever may be disposed at an upper side of the link. The pusher may be disposed at a lower side of the link.

The door may include: a front panel facing forward; and an opening formed in the front panel and communicating with the accommodation space. The operation part may have a grip that is recessed downward, and may be exposed to the opening.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, the above and other objectives can be accomplished by providing a refrigerator including: a cabinet defining a storage space open forward; a door disposed at a front of the cabinet and configured to open and close the storage space, the door having an accommodation space open to an outside; and an opening module disposed inside the door.

The opening module may include: a handle that is rotatably provided, the handle including an operation part disposed in the accommodation space, a rotating shaft defining a center of rotation of the handle, and a lever extending radially outwardly; a link that is disposed above the lever and is movable upward and downward; and a pusher including an inclined surface that contacts the link and has a front end positioned higher than a rear end, the pusher movable forward and backward above the link, and protruding rearward from a rear surface of the door that faces the cabinet.

The pusher may overlap the lever in a vertical direction.

The operation part and the pusher may be spaced apart from each other in a width direction of the door, and may overlap each other in a front-rear direction when viewed from a side.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present disclosure, the above and other objectives can be accomplished by providing a refrigerator including: a cabinet defining a storage space open forward; a door disposed at a front of the cabinet and configured to open and close the storage space, the door having an accommodation space open to an outside; and an opening module disposed inside the door.

The opening module may include: a handle that is rotatably provided, the handle including a rotating shaft defining a center of rotation of the handle, an operation part disposed below the rotating shaft and in the accommodation space, and a lever extending radially outwardly; a link that is disposed at a lower side of the lever and is movable upward and downward; and a pusher including an inclined surface that contacts the link and has a front end positioned higher than a rear end, the pusher movable forward and backward below the link, and protruding rearward from a rear surface of the door that faces the cabinet. The pusher may overlap the lever in a vertical direction.

Other detailed matters of the exemplary embodiments are included in the detailed description and the drawings.

Effects of the Invention

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a refrigerator including an opening module that opens a door may be provided.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a refrigerator including an opening module having a small volume may be provided.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a refrigerator including an opening module that is mounted to a door thinner than existing doors may be provided.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a refrigerator having a sufficient space for a user's hand to fit into a handle of an opening module may be provided.

According to at least one of the embodiments of the present disclosure, a refrigerator capable of preventing interference between a handle and a pusher of an opening module may be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a door illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an opening module and a cap illustrated in FIG. 2 that are mounted to a door;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a portion of an opening module of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a handle, a link, and a pusher illustrated in FG 4;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are conceptual diagrams illustrating an operation of a door and an opening module of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a handle, a link, and a pusher of an opening module of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a door and an opening module of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a handle, a link, and a pusher of the opening module illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are conceptual diagrams illustrating an operation of a door and an opening module of the refrigerator according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to designate the same or similar components, and a redundant description thereof will be omitted.

The suffixes, such as “module” and “unit,” for elements used in the following description are given simply in view of the ease of the description, and do not have a distinguishing meaning or role.

In addition, it will be noted that a detailed description of known arts will be omitted if it is determined that the detailed description of the known arts can obscure the embodiments of the present disclosure. Further, the accompanying drawings are used to help easily understand various technical features and it should be understood that the embodiments presented herein are not limited by the accompanying drawings. As such, the present disclosure should be construed to extend to any alterations, equivalents and substitutes in addition to those which are particularly set out in the accompanying drawings.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another.

It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present.

A singular representation may include a plural representation unless context clearly indicates otherwise.

Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerator 1 includes a cabinet 11 defining storage spaces 101 and 102. The storage spaces 101 and 102 may be provided in the cabinet 11. The refrigerator 1 includes doors 12, 13, and 20 that open and close the storage spaces 101 and 102. Hereinafter, the storage spaces 101 and 102 may be referred to as storage chambers 101 and 102. Hereinafter, the interior of the storage chambers 101 and 102 may be referred to as the interior of the refrigerator.

A plurality of storage chambers 101 and 102 may be provided, one of which is provided as a refrigerating compartment, and the other one is provided as a freezing compartment. For example, a first storage chamber 101 may be provided at an upper side and a second storage chamber 102 may be provided at a lower side. For example, the first storage chamber 101 may be provided as a refrigerating compartment, and the second storage chamber 102 may be provided as a freezing compartment.

The following description will be made using a bottom freezer type refrigerator having the freezing compartment provided at a lower side thereof as an example, but the present disclosure may also be applied to other types of refrigerators.

The refrigerator 1 may include a partition plate 115 that partitions the first storage chamber 101 and the second storage chamber 102. The partition plate 115 may vertically partitions the first and second storage chambers 101 and 102.

The above configuration of storage chambers is exemplary, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the second storage chamber 102 may be provided as a refrigerating compartment. Alternatively, the first and second storage chambers may be provided side-by-side.

The doors 12, 13, and 20 may include a first door 12 and 13 for opening and closing the first storage chamber 101, and a second door 20 for opening and closing the second storage chamber 102.

The first door may rotate about a hinge 14 as a support axis. The first door 12 and 13 may include a left door 12 and a right door 13.

The second door 20 may be slidably mounted to the cabinet 11. The second storage chamber 102 may be opened and closed by insertion and withdrawal of the second door 20. The second door 20 may include a door part 201 that opens and closes the second storage chamber 102, and a basket 202 disposed on a rear surface of the door part 201. A rail 29 may be disposed at the rear of the second door. The rail may guide insertion and withdrawal of the second door.

The second door 20 may be referred to as a drawer type door 20. The refrigerator may include different types of opening/closing doors. The refrigerator may include a combination of various types of opening/closing doors. An opening module and the like of the present disclosure may be applied to different types of doors.

The refrigerator 1 includes a opening module 3 (see FIG. 2). The first door 12 and 13 may be provided with the opening module 3. The second door 22 may be provided with the opening module 3. An external force may be applied to the opening module 3. A user may operate the door by using the opening module 3. By operating the opening module 3, the doors 12, 13, and 20 may be withdrawn from the storage chambers 101 and 102. For example, the opening module 3 may open the door by overcoming the weight of the door, pressure difference between the interior and exterior of the refrigerator, and/or attraction force of a gasket. In this case, the opening of the door may refer to initial opening. The gasket 113 may include a magnetic substance, and the attraction force may refer to a magnetic force. Alternatively, the gasket 113 may seal a gap between the door 20 and the cabinet 11, and the attraction force may be an attraction force generated due to a pressure difference between the interior and exterior of the storage space of the cabinet 11 when the door 20 opens.

The opening of the door will be described below. The opening of the door may include initial opening and non-initial opening. The initial opening may refer to an initial opening state of the door in which the door 20 starts to open. The non-initial opening may refer to an opening state of the door after the initial opening is terminated. The weight of the door may act as a resistance force against the initial opening and the non-initial opening. The resistance force may refer to a force to resist opening of the door so that the door does not open. The pressure difference between the interior and exterior of the refrigerator may greatly act at the beginning of the initial opening. The resistance force due to the pressure difference between the interior and exterior of the refrigerator during the initial opening of the door may rapidly disappear. The magnetic force of the gasket may be applied to the entire door during the initial opening of the door. The magnetic force of the gasket may gradually decrease over the entire period of the initial opening.

The opening module 3 may provide force for overcoming the resistance force against the initial opening. For example, when the opening module 3 operates, initial opening of the door and the cabinet may be achieved. For example, a user may operate the opening module 3 with a finger to initially open the door. Then, the door may be operated by the user's arm. The user may perform actions, such as touching, holding, pushing, pulling, and/or pressing the opening module 30. An automatic mechanism, which is used instead of the user or is added, may operate the opening module 3. The opening module 3 may be provided at the edge of the first and second doors 12, 13, and 20.

The opening module 3 may be provided at an upper end of the second door 20.

The following description will be made of an example in which the opening module 3 is provided for the second door 20. In the following description, the second door may be preferentially considered. Obviously, the door may be the first door.

Referring to FIG. 2, a left-right direction of the door may be defined as the X-axis direction, and a front-rear direction of the door may be defined as the Y-axis direction. An up-down direction of the door may be defined as the Z-axis direction.

The door 20 may include an outer panel 21 facing the outside of the cabinet 11 and an inner panel 22 facing the storage chamber 102. The outer panel 21 faces forward, and the inner panel 22 faces rearward. The outer panel 21 may be made of a metal material. The inner panel 22 may be made of a resin material. The outer panel 21 may be referred to as a front panel 21. The inner panel 22 may be referred to as a door liner 22.

The door 20 may include a rail 29 extending rearward from the inner panel 22. The rail 29 may be fastened to the inner panel 22 by a fastening member. A rail mount 221 may be fastened to the inner panel 22. The inner panel 22 may have a rail recess 223. The rail mount 221 may be aligned with the rail recess 223. The rail mount 221 and the rail 29 may be fastened to each other by the fastening member. The rail 29 and the inner panel 22 may be securely fastened to each other by the rail mount 221. The rail 29 may be firmly fixed to the inner panel by the rail mount 221 even though the thickness (length in the Y-axis direction) of the door is small.

Both side surfaces of the door 20 may be protected by a portion that extends from one of the panels. For example, the outer panel 21 may include side surfaces at both ends of the external panel 21.

The door 20 may include a bottom 211 that protects a lower portion.

The door 20 may include a cap 28 that defines an upper surface. The cap 28 may have a cap recess 284. The cap recess 284 may define a space for receiving a user's hand. The cap recess 284 may have a convex structure into which the user's hand is put. The cap recess 284 may accommodate at least a portion of the opening module 3. The cap recess 284 may be recessed toward the lower side of the cap 28. The cap recess 284 may include a portion which is recessed toward the lower side of the door 20.

The opening module may include a case 32. The case 32 may be disposed inside the door 20. The case 32 may be disposed between the front panel 21 and the door liner 22. The case 32 may be disposed under the cap 28. The case 32 may be coupled to a lower portion of the cap 28.

The case 32 may accommodate a handle 4. The case 32 may accommodate a link 6 and a pusher 8 which will be described later.

An operation part 45 of the handle 4 may be disposed on the outside of the case 32, or may be exposed to the outside through the cap recess 284 even when the operation part 45 is disposed inside the case 32. A user may access the operation part 45 through the cap recess 284.

The opening module 3 may include a pusher 8 that pushes the cabinet 11 to open the door 20. The door 20 has an opening formed in a rear surface, and the pusher 8 may move backward through the opening formed in the rear surface of the door 20. An opening 228 may be formed in the door liner 22.

The pusher 8 may be mounted at an upper end or left and right ends of the door.

Referring to FIG. 3, the cap recess 284 may be elongated laterally, thereby improving user accessibility. A user may access not only the center of the door but also any part of the cap recess 284 that is elongated in the width direction of the door 20.

The opening module 3 and the cap 28 are fastened to define a first assembly. The outer panel 21, the inner panel 22, and the bottom 211 are fastened to define a second assembly. The first assembly may be fastened to the upper surface of the second assembly. In the above configuration, an insulation space may be provided inside the door. The interior of the door may be insulated with a foam member and/or an insulation material.

A space between the case 32 of the opening module 3 and the door panel 21 and 22 may be filled with a foam member and/or an insulation material. The interior of the door may be filled with the foam member. The interior space, defined by the rear side of the outer panel, the front side of the inner panel, the upper side of the bottom, the lower side of the cap, and the left side and the right side on which the inside of the door is viewed from the wing, may be filled with the foam member. The exterior space of the opening module 3 may be filled with the foam member. The interior space of the opening module 3 may not be filled with the foam member. A space between the opening module 3 and the outer panel, a space between the opening module 3 and the inner panel, a space between the opening module 3 and the bottom, a space between the opening module 3 and the cap, and/or a space between the opening module 3 and the wing may be filled with the foam member. The foam member may be made of a resin material, polystyrene (PS), and/or a porous material. A vacuum insulation member may be used instead of or in combination with the foam member.

The cap 28 may be fastened to at least one of the inner panel and/or the outer panel. The cap may be fastened to at least one of the inner panel and/or the outer panel when the opening module 3 is fastened. The cap may be fastened to an upper end of at least one of the inner panel and/or the outer panel. The cap may be fastened to at least one of the inner panel and/or the outer panel via a protrusion and groove arrangement. The inner panel and the outer panel may have upper ends having the same height. The inner panel and the outer panel may not have a recessed portion and/or a protruding portion in the front-rear direction (Y) for fastening the cap. The inner panel and the outer panel may not have a recessed portion and/or a protruding portion in the up-down direction Z for fastening the cap. At least one of a gap between the cap and the inner panel and/or a gap between the cap and the outer panel may be filled with a foam member. The cap and the opening module 3 may be firmly seated in the door by the foam member.

Referring to FIG. 4, the refrigerator 1 may include the opening module 3. The opening module 3 may include the handle 4, the link 6, and the pusher 8. The opening module 3 may include an elastic member 84.

The handle 4 may be rotatable. The handle 4 may include a rotating shaft 43. The rotating shaft 43 of the handle 4 may be disposed in the width direction of the door 20, i.e., in the left-right direction.

The handle 4 may include the operation part 45. The handle 4 may be operated by a user. The handle 4 may be rotatable by a user.

The operation part 45 may be disposed in a space accessible from the outside through the cap recess 284 (see FIG. 2).

The operation part 45 may include a grip 451. The grip 451 may extend vertically. The grip 451 may have a curved shape.

The operation part 45 may include a lower end 452 extending downward from a lower end of the grip 451.

The operation part 45 may be provided at an upper end of a body 41 which will be described below. The operation part 45 may be disposed on a rear surface of the upper end of the body 41.

The handle 4 may include the body 41. The body 41 may extend downward from the operation part 45.

The operation part 45 and the body 41 may be disposed at a central portion of the door 20 in the width direction of the door 20.

The body 41 may increase a moment arm of an external force exerted on the operation part 45.

The handle 4 may include an arm 42. The arm 42 may extend from the body 41 in the width direction of the door 20. The arm 42 may extend from the body 41 toward both sides thereof. The arm 42 may include a first arm extending from the body 41 toward one side thereof, and a second arm extending from the body 41 toward the other side thereof.

The arm 42 may extend from a position spaced apart from the operation part 45. The arm 42 may be vertically spaced apart from the operation part 45. The operation part 45 may be radially outwardly spaced apart from the arm 42.

The rotating shaft 43 may be disposed at the arm 43. The rotating shaft 43 may be disposed at an outer end of the arm 42. The rotating shaft 43 may protrude outward in the width direction of the door 20 from the arm 42.

The handle 4 may include a lever 44 (see FIG. 5). The lever 44 will be described later with reference to FIG. 5.

The link 6 may be movable upward and downward. The link 6 is restricted from moving forward and backward, but is movable upward and downward. The link 6 may be restricted from moving from side to side.

The link 6 is restricted from moving forward and backward or moving from side to side by the case 32 or a separate support member, but is movable upward and downward.

The link 6 may be moved upward and downward by the handle 4. The link 6 may be moved upward by the handle.

The pusher 8 may be movable forward and backward. The pusher 8 may protrude rearward from the door 20 to press the cabinet 11 backward. The cabinet 11 may be considered to be fixed based on the weight, installation position, and the like. Accordingly, when the pusher 8 pushes the cabinet 11 backward, the door 20 may be opened forward.

The pusher 8 may be moved backward by the link 6.

The opening module 3 may include an elastic member 84 that presses the pusher 8 forward. When the pusher 8 moves backward, the elastic member 84 is compressed to apply an elastic force to the rear of the pusher 8. When the external force is removed, the pusher 8 may move forward.

The link 6 and the pusher 8 may include a first link and a first pusher that are disposed at one end of the handle 4 and a second link and a second pusher that are disposed at an opposite side end of the handle 4.

Referring to FIG. 5, the rotating shaft 43 of the handle may be provided at an end portion of the arm 42. The rotating shaft 43 and the arm 42 may be disposed in the same direction.

The handle 4 may include the lever 44. The lever 44 may extend outwardly in a radial direction of the handle 4. The lever 44 may extend radially outwardly from the arm 42.

The lever 44 may be spaced apart from the body 41 and the operation part 45 in a rotation direction of the handle. For example, the body 41 may be disposed vertically, and the lever 44 may extend rearward from the arm 42.

The link 6 may be disposed at an upper side of the lever 44. The link 6 may be moved upward and downward by the lever 6. The link 6 may be disposed in the up-down direction. The link 6 may be disposed vertically.

The link 6 may be disposed between the lever 44 and the pusher 8.

The link 6 may include a first end 61 disposed on the lever side and a second end 62 disposed on the pusher side.

The first end 61 may be disposed on the lever 44. The first end 61 may be seated on the lever 44.

The second end 62 may contact the pusher 8. The second end 62 may contact an inclined surface 86 of the pusher 8 which will be described below.

The second end 62 may have a shape curved toward the inclined surface 86.

The pusher 8 may include an outer portion 83 that is disposed at a rear end thereof. The outer portion 83 may protrude rearward from the door 20. The outer portion 83 may protrude rearward from the door 20 when the pusher 8 moves backward. The outer portion 83 may contact the cabinet 11.

The pusher 8 may include an inner portion 81 disposed at the front side, and an extension portion 82 that extends from the inner portion 81 toward the outer portion.

The pusher 8 may include the inclined surface 86. The inclined surface 86 may face the link 6. The inclined surface 86 may be inclined so that a front portion is disposed at an upper side and a rear portion is disposed at a lower side. The second end 62 of the link 6 may contact the inclined surface 86.

The pusher 8 may include an accommodation portion 85 that accommodates the elastic member 84. The accommodation portion 85 may be recessed forward from the inner portion 81. That is, the accommodation portion 85 may be disposed between an upper surface of the inner portion 81 and the inclined surface 86 (lower surface of the inner portion).

When the handle 4 rotates in a first rotation direction so that the lever 44 moves upward, the link 6 moves upward, and the pusher 8 moves backward. When the handle 4 rotates so that the lever 44 moves upward, the link 6 may be moved upward by the lever 44. When the link 6 moves upward, the second end 62 may push the pusher 8 upward, and the pusher 8 may be moved backward by the inclined surface 86. While moving rearward, the pusher 8 pushes the cabinet 11, and the door 20 may be withdrawn forward, which will be described in further detail below with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

Referring to FIG. 6, the opening module 3 pushes the cabinet 11 and withdraws the door 2 forward. For example, the pusher 8 applies force to the partition plate 115 in a rearward direction. A user may open the door 2 by operating the opening module 3.

The opening module 3 may be disposed inside the door part 201. That is, the opening module 3 may be disposed between the front panel 21 and the door liner 22. The operation part 45 of the opening module 3 may be exposed to the outside through the cap recess 284. A user may open the door 2 by operating the operation part 45 through the cap recess 284.

The outer portion 83 of the pusher 8 may protrude rearward from the rear surface (the door liner 22) of the door part 201. In this manner, the outer portion 83 of the pusher 8 may apply force to the partition plate 115 in a rearward direction.

A gasket 113 may be provided on a rear surface of the door part 201. For example, the gasket 113 may be coupled to the door liner 22.

The gasket 113 may be disposed between the rear surface of the door part 201 and the cabinet 11. An upper portion of the gasket 113 may contact the partition part 115, and a side portion thereof may contact a front end 112 of a side wall 111 of the cabinet 11. A lower portion of the gasket 113 may contact a front surface of the bottom of the cabinet 11.

The gasket 113 may seal a gap between the storage chamber 102 and the door 20 so as to prevent leakage of cold air of the storage chamber 102 when the door 20 is closed.

The pusher 83 may be disposed outside a region surrounded by the gasket 113. The pusher 83 may be disposed above the gasket 113.

The pusher 8 may vertically overlap the lever 44. The pusher 8 may vertically overlap the lever 44 when viewed from the side. The pusher 8 and the lever 44 may be disposed at positions corresponding to each other in the front-rear direction.

The pusher 8 may be disposed at a height corresponding to the operation part 45. That is, the pusher 8 may overlap the operation part 45 when viewed from the side.

The link 6 may be disposed between the pusher 8 and the handle 4 in the up-down direction.

In this manner, a height of the opening module in the vertical direction may be minimized.

As described above, the pusher 8 may be spaced part from the operation part 45 in the width direction of the door.

In this manner, the pusher 8 and the operation part 45 may not interfere with each other.

Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7(a), the opening module 3 may initially open the door. When the handle 4 rotates in a first rotation direction R1 so that the operation part 45 is moved forward by an external force F1, the lever 44 moves the first end 61 upward to move the link 6 upward (h1).

The operation part 45, the body 41, the arm 42, and the lever 44 may be formed as one body. The body 41, the arm 42, and the lever 44 may be formed as one body. The operation part 45 may be fixed to the body 41 or may be formed as one body with the body 41. The rotating shaft 43 may be formed as one body with the arm 42 or may be fixed to the arm 42.

When the link 6 moves upward, the second end 62 presses the inclined surface 86. The front side of the inclined surface 86 is located at an upper side, such that when the link 6 moves upward, the pusher 8 may move backward (d1).

The outer portion 83 of the pusher 8 may be in contact with the cabinet 11 (or the partition part 115) when the door 20 closes the storage space 102 and no external force is applied to the handle 4.

Alternatively, the pusher 8 may be spaced apart or separated from the partition part 115 when the door 20 closes the storage space 102 and no external force is applied to the handle 4, and the pusher 8 moves backward to contact the partition part 115 when an external force is applied to the operation part 45.

In this state, when the external force F1 is applied to the operation part 45, the handle 4 rotates further and the pusher 8 pushes the partition part 115, such that the door 20 may be withdrawn forward as illustrated in (a) of FIG. 7. When the door 20 is withdrawn, the gasket 113 and the partition part 115 are separated from each other (d1).

The elastic member 84 may be disposed between the case 32 (see FIG. 2) and the accommodation portion 85 of the pusher 8. Alternatively, the elastic member 84 may also be disposed between the doors 21, 22, and 28 and the accommodation portion 85.

Referring to (b) and (c) of FIG. 7, when the external force F1 (see (a) of FIG. 7) applied to the operation part 45 is removed, the pusher 8 may be moved forward by the elastic force F2 of the elastic member 84. When the pusher 8 moves forward, the inclined surface 86 may push the second end 62 of the link 6, and the link 6 may move downward. The handle 4 rotates in the second rotation direction R2 so that the lever 44 is moved downward by the first end 61 of the link 6, and the handle 4 returns to a position before the external force F1 is applied, as illustrated in (c) of FIG. 7. The second rotation direction R2 may be an opposite direction of the first rotation direction R1.

Referring to (d) of FIG. 7, when an external force F3 is applied to the operation part 45 when the door 20 is initially opened, the door 20 may be opened more (d2) than the distance d1 by which the door 20 is withdrawn from the cabinet 11 in the initial opening state. After the door 20 is initially opened, an attraction force to a magnetic substance, pressure difference, and the like may be removed, such that the door 20 may be easily withdrawn forward.

An opening module 30 of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 8, except for some features of the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment described above, other features may be applied to the refrigerator according to the second embodiment. The description of the first embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 may be applied to the second embodiment unless otherwise specified, and a redundant description of the same features as those in the above embodiment will be omitted.

Compared to the refrigerator in the first embodiment, an opening module 30 of the refrigerator according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure is different in the position of a link 60.

The link 60 may have the first end 61 disposed at a lower side thereof which contacts the lever 44 of the handle 4, and the second end 62 which contacts the inclined surface 86 of the pusher 80. The first end 61 of the link 60 may be disposed at the rear side thereof, and the second end 62 of the link 60 may be disposed at the front side thereof. For example, the link 60 may be inclined so that the first end 61 is disposed at the rear side thereof, and the second end 62 is disposed at the front side.

Accordingly, in the opening module 30 of the refrigerator according to the second embodiment, the pusher 80 is located further forward, compared to the first embodiment.

The pusher 80 may vertically overlap the rotating shaft 43 of the handle 4.

As explained in the first embodiment, the pusher 80 may be spaced apart from the operation part 45 in the width direction of the door 20.

In this structure, the depth in the front-rear direction of the opening module 30 in the door 20 may be reduced, and the depth of the door 20 may be reduced.

Further, it is possible to prevent interference between the operation part 45 and the pusher 80.

The opening module 30 in this embodiment may initially open the door. When the handle 45 rotates to move the operation part 45 forward, the lever 44 pushes the first end 61 of the link 6 upward, such that the link 60 may move upward (h1).

As in the aforementioned embodiment, the operation part 45, the body 41, the arm 42, and the lever 44 of the handle 4 may be formed as one body.

When the link 60 moves upward, the second end 62 presses the inclined surface 86. The front side of the inclined surface 86 is disposed at an upper side, such that when the link 6 moves upward, the pusher 8 may move backward (d1). The pusher 8 presses the partition part 115, such that the door 20 may be withdrawn forward. When the door 20 is withdrawn, the gasket 113 and the partition part 115 are separated from each other (d1).

The opening module 30 in this embodiment may include an elastic module, and the features of the elastic member described above may be applied thereto. When an external force applied to the handle 4 is removed, the elastic force of the elastic member may allow the handle 4, the link 60, and the pusher 80 of the opening module 30 to return to a position before the external force is applied.

An opening module 300 of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12.

Except for some features of the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment described above, other features may be applied to the refrigerator according to the third embodiment. The description of the first embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 may be applied to the second embodiment unless otherwise specified, and a redundant description of the same features as those in the above embodiment will be omitted.

Compared to the refrigerator in the first embodiment, the refrigerator according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure is different in the structure of a handle 5, the arrangement of a link 600 and a pusher 800, and some features of a door 200.

For example, the structure of the handle 5 in the third embodiment is different from the structure of the handle 4 in the above embodiment, and the structure of the handle 4 in the above embodiment may not be applied as it is to the third embodiment, but its features may be applied.

Referring to FIG. 9, the door 200 may include a front panel 210. The front panel 210 may face forward. The front panel 210 may have an opening 215. The opening 215 may be formed at the center in the width direction (left-right direction) of the door 200. The opening 215 may be formed adjacent to the upper end of the door 200.

The opening module 300 may be exposed forward through the opening 215. A portion of the opening module 300 may be exposed forward through the opening 215. The opening module 300 may include an operation part 55 (see FIG. 11), and the operation part 55 may be exposed forward through the opening 215.

A user may operate the operation part 55 through the opening 215. The user may open the door 200 by operating the operation part 55. The user may initially open the door 200 by operating the operation part 55. The user may withdraw the door 200 forward by pulling the operation part 55 forward.

The door 200 may include a door liner 220. The door liner 220 may face rearward. The door liner 220 may face the storage space.

The door liner 220 may be disposed at the rear of the front panel 210.

The opening module 300 may include a pusher 800 that pushes the cabinet 11 to open the door 200. The door 200 has an opening formed in the rear surface thereof, and the pusher 800 may move backward through the opening formed in the rear surface of the door 200. The opening may be formed in the door liner 220. Alternatively, the opening 228 may be formed in the rear side of the front panel 210.

The door 200 may include a cap 280. The cap 280 may define the upper surface of the door 200. The cap 280 may cover the upper portion between the front panel 210 and the door liner 220.

Unlike the cap 280 in the first embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, the cap 280 in this embodiment may not have a cap recess.

Similar to the first embodiment described above, the opening module 300 may include the case 32, and the case 32 may be mounted to the cap 280 (see FIG. 1).

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 9, the door 11 may include the door part 201 that closes the storage space 102 of the cabinet 11, and a basket 202 disposed at the rear of the door part 201 and in the storage space. The door 200 may be withdrawn forward from the storage space 102.

The rail recess 223 may be formed in the door liner 220, and the rail 29 may be mounted to the door part by the rail mount 221 and a fastening member. Alternatively, the rail 29 may also be mounted to the basket 202.

Referring to FIG. 9, the refrigerator may include the opening module 300. The opening module 300 may be disposed inside the door part 201. That is, the opening module 300 may be disposed between the front panel 210 and the door liner 220. The opening module 300 may be exposed forward through the opening 215. A portion of the opening module 300 may be exposed forward through the opening 215.

The opening module 300 may include the handle 5, the link 600, and the pusher 800. The opening module 300 may further include the elastic member 84.

The link 600 and the pusher 800 may include first and second links and first and second pushers that are disposed at both ends of the handle 5.

The handle 5 may be rotatably provided. The handle 5 may include a rotating shaft 53. The rotating shaft 53 of the handle 5 may be disposed in the width direction of the door 20, i.e., in the left-right direction. The rotating shaft 53 will be described below with reference to FIG. 10.

The handle 5 may include the operation part 55. The handle 5 may be operated by a user. The handle 5 may be rotated by a user.

The operation part 55 may be exposed to the outside. The operation part 55 may be exposed forward through the opening 215. A front portion 551 of the operation part 55 may be exposed forward through the opening 215.

The operation part 55 may include a grip 550 that is recessed downward.

The operation part 55 may be provided at a lower end of a body 51 which will be described below.

The handle 5 may include the body 51. The body 51 may extend upward from the operation part 55. The body 51 may extend upward from a rear surface 552 of the operation part 55.

The operation part 55 and the body 51 may be disposed at a central portion of the door 200 in the width direction of the door 200.

The body 51 may increase a moment arm of an external force exerted on the operation part 45.

The handle 5 may include an arm 52. The arm 52 may extend from the body 51 in the width direction of the door 20. The arm 52 may extend from the body 51 toward both sides thereof. The arm 52 may include a first arm extending from the body 51 toward one side thereof, and a second arm extending from the body 51 toward the other side thereof.

The arm 52 may extend from a position spaced apart from the operation part 55. The arm 52 may be vertically spaced apart from the operation part 55. The operation part 55 may be radially outwardly spaced apart from the arm 52.

The handle 5 may include a lever 54. The lever 54 may protrude from the arm 52. The arm 52 may be spaced apart from the operation part 55 in the rotation direction of the handle 5.

The link 600 may be movable upward and downward. The link 600 is restricted from moving forward and backward, but is movable upward and downward. The link 600 may be restricted from moving from side to side.

The link 600 is restricted from moving forward and backward or moving from side to side by the case 32 or a separate support member, but is movable upward and downward.

The link 600 may be moved upward and downward by the handle 5. The link 600 may be moved downward by the handle.

The pusher 800 may be movable forward and backward. The pusher 800 may protrude rearward from the door 20 to press the cabinet 11 backward. The pusher 800 may be moved backward by the link 600.

The opening module 300 may include the elastic member 84 that presses the pusher 800 forward. When the pusher 800 moves backward, the elastic member 84 is compressed to apply an elastic force to the rear of the pusher 800. When the external force is removed, the pusher 800 may move forward.

The link 600 and the pusher 800 may include a first link and a first pusher that are disposed at one end of the handle 5 and a second link and a second pusher that are disposed at an opposite side end of the handle 5.

Referring to FIG. 10, the rotating shaft 53 of the handle may be provided at an end portion of the arm 52. The rotating shaft 53 may be provided at an outer end of the arm 52. The rotating shaft 53 may protrude outward in the width direction of the door 20 from the arm 52. The rotating shaft 53 and the arm 52 may be disposed in the same direction.

The handle 5 may include the lever 54. The lever 54 may extend outwardly in a radial direction of the handle 5. The lever 54 may extend radially outwardly from the arm 52.

The lever 54 may be spaced apart from the body 51 and the operation part 55 in a rotation direction of the handle. For example, the body 51 may be disposed vertically, and the lever 54 may extend rearward from the arm 52.

The lever 54 may include an extension portion 546. The extension portion 546 may extend rearward from an end portion of the body of the lever 54. The body or the extension portion 546 of the lever 54 may press the link 600 downward.

The link 600 may be disposed at a lower side of the lever 54. The link 600 may be moved upward and downward by the lever 54. The link 600 may be disposed in the up-down direction. The link 600 may be disposed vertically.

The link 600 may be disposed between the lever 54 and the pusher 800.

The link 600 may include a first end 61 disposed on the lever side and a second end 62 disposed on the pusher side. The first end 61 may be disposed at a lower side of the lever 54. The second end 62 may be disposed at an upper side of the pusher 800. The second side 62 may contact an inclined surface 86. The second end 62 may have a shape curved toward the inclined surface 86.

The pusher 800 may include an outer portion 83 that is disposed at a rear end thereof. The pusher 800 may include an inner portion 81 disposed at the front thereof, and an extension portion 82 that extends from the inner portion 81 toward the outer portion.

The pusher 800 may include the inclined surface 86. The inclined surface 86 may be inclined so that a front portion is disposed at a lower side and a rear portion is disposed at an upper side.

The pusher 800 may include an accommodation portion 85 that accommodates the elastic member 84.

When the handle 5 rotates so that the lever 54 moves downward, the link 600 may move downward, and the pusher 800 may move backward.

Referring to FIG. 11, the opening module 300 may be disposed inside the door 20. The operation part 55 of the opening module 300 may be exposed forward through an opening 215. The outer portion 83 of the pusher 800 may protrude rearward from the rear surface (door liner 220) of the door part 201.

The pusher 800 may vertically overlap the lever 54.

The pusher 800 may be disposed at a height corresponding to the operation part 55. That is, the pusher 800 and the operation part 55 may overlap at least partially when viewed from the side. In the front-rear direction, a portion of the pusher 800 may overlap the operation part 55, and another portion of the pusher 800 may not overlap with the operation part 55. For example, a lower end of the pusher 800 may be located below a lower end of the operation part 55.

As in the aforementioned embodiment, the pusher 83 may be disposed outside a region surrounded by the gasket 113. The pusher 83 may be disposed outside the gasket 113 in the width direction of the door 200.

The link 600 may be disposed between the pusher 800 and the lever 54 of the handle 5 in the up-down direction.

In this manner, a height of the opening module in the vertical direction may be minimized.

As described above, the pusher 800 may be spaced part from the operation part 55 in the width direction of the door.

Referring to FIG. 11 and FIG. 12(a), when the handle 5 rotates in the first rotation direction R1 so that the operation part 55 is moved forward by an external force F1, the lever 54 moves the first end 61 downward to move the link 600 downward (h1).

The operation part 55, the body 51, the arm 52, and the lever 54 may be formed to integrally rotate.

The link 600 may move downward to apply force to the pusher 800, and the pusher 800 may move backward (d3 of FIG. 12).

The outer portion 83 of the pusher 800 may be in contact with the cabinet 11 when the door 200 closes the storage space 102 and no external force is applied to the handle 5. Alternatively, the pusher 800 may be spaced apart or separated from a front end 112 of a partition part 111 when the door 200 closes the storage space 102 and no external force is applied to the handle 5, and the pusher 800 moves backward to contact the front end 112 when an external force is applied to the operation part 55.

In this state, when the external force F1 is applied to the operation part 55, the handle 5 rotates further, such that the door 20 may be withdrawn forward as illustrated in FIG. 12. When the door 20 is withdrawn, the gasket 113 and the cabinet 11 are separated from each other.

The elastic member 84 may be disposed between the case 32 (see FIG. 2) and the accommodation portion 85 of the pusher 800.

Referring to (a) of FIG. 12, when the external force F1 (see FIG. 11) applied to the operation part 55 is removed, the pusher 800 may be moved forward by the elastic force F2 of the elastic member 84. When the pusher 800 moves forward, the inclined surface 86 may push the second end 62 of the link 600, and the link 600 may move upward. The handle 5 rotates in the second rotation direction R2 so that the lever 54 is moved downward by the first end 61 of the link 600, and the operation part 55 returns to a position before the external force F1 is applied.

Referring to (b) of FIG. 12, when an external force F3 is applied to the operation part 45 when the door 20 is initially opened, the door 20 may be withdrawn forward.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIG. 13. The refrigerator in this embodiment may include an opening module 3, 30, and 300.

A second door 20 may rotate about a hinge 14 to open and close a storage chamber. The opening module 3, 30, and 300 may be mounted to the second door 20. The opening module 3, 30, and 300 mounted to the second door 20 may be disposed on an opposite side of the hinge 14.

The opening module 3, 30, and 300 may also be mounted to the first door 13.

The first door 13 may rotate about the hinge 14 to open and close the storage chamber. The opening module 3, 30, and 300 mounted to the first door 13 may be disposed on an opposite side of the hinge 14.

In the case where the opening module 3 and 30 in the first embodiment or the second embodiment is applied to the door 13 and 20, the cap recess 284 may be formed in a cap decoration of the door 13 and 20. In the case where the opening module 300 in the third embodiment is applied to the door 13 and 20, the cap recess 284 is not formed, but the opening 215 may be formed in the front panel of the door.

Certain embodiments or other embodiments of the disclosure described above are not mutually exclusive or distinct from each other. Any or all elements of the embodiments of the disclosure described above may be combined with another or combined with each other in configuration or function.

For example, a configuration “A” described in one embodiment of the disclosure and the drawings and a configuration “B” described in another embodiment of the disclosure and the drawings may be combined with each other. Namely, although the combination between the configurations is not directly described, the combination is possible except in the case where it is described that the combination is impossible.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.