KR20090102237A - Refrigerator with function of shutting out gap between doors - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A refrigerator having gap blocking function is provided to reduce the driving number of electric products and save the cost for driving the refrigerator. CONSTITUTION: A refrigerator having gap blocking function comprises: a main body (110) of the refrigerator, plural doors (125, 135), end gasket (145), and blocking rib (151). The main body of the refrigerator comprises a refrigerating room. Plural doors are rotatably placed at front of the refrigerating room. The end gasket is fixed at one side end among the doors. The blocking rib blocks the gap between the end gasket and other side end.

Description

REFRIGERATOR WITH FUNCTION OF SHUTTING OUT GAP BETWEEN DOORS}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a gap blocking function, and more particularly, to a refrigerator having a gap blocking function capable of suppressing the occurrence of cold air loss through a gap between doors.

As is well known, a refrigerator is a device for refrigeration or freezing food to be kept fresh, and includes a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber therein and a refrigeration cycle for providing cold air to the cooling chamber. The refrigeration cycle usually includes a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a condenser in which the compressed refrigerant is radiated and condensed, an expansion device in which the refrigerant is decompressed and expanded, and an evaporator in which the refrigerant absorbs latent heat of the surroundings and evaporates. It consists of a type refrigeration cycle.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a conventional refrigerator, and FIG. 2 is a plan view when the refrigerator compartment door of FIG. 1 is closed. As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator includes a refrigerator main body 10 having a refrigerator compartment 20 and a freezer compartment 30 therein, and a refrigerator compartment door 25 that opens and closes the refrigerator compartment 20 and the freezer compartment 30, respectively. ) And a freezer compartment door 35.

A refrigerating compartment 20 is formed in an upper region of the refrigerator main body 10, and a plurality of refrigerating compartment doors 25 are provided on the front surface of the refrigerating compartment 20 to open and close the refrigerating compartment 20.

A freezer compartment 30 is formed in a lower region of the refrigerator body 10, and a freezer compartment door 35 is installed in the freezer compartment 30 so as to slide along the front and rear directions of the refrigerator body 10. A storage container 37 is provided at the rear of the freezing chamber door 35 to accommodate food, and the storage container 37 slides back and forth integrally with the freezing chamber door 35.

The inner surface of the refrigerating chamber door 25 is provided with a door gasket 26 to be in contact with the edge portion of the opening of the refrigerating chamber to prevent the leakage of cold air. One of the refrigerating chamber doors 25 is provided with a dispenser 27 so that water or ice can be taken out without opening the refrigerating chamber door 25. Another one of the refrigerating chamber doors 25 may be provided with a groove bar 29.

On the other hand, the refrigerating chamber doors 25 are formed so that the two side end portions adjacent to each other to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance to prevent contact with each other during opening and closing. End gaskets 29 are respectively coupled to side ends of the refrigerating chamber doors 25 to block gaps between the side ends of the refrigerating chamber doors 25.

Side heaters of the refrigerating chamber doors 25 are each provided with an electric heater (not shown) to prevent dew condensation caused by leakage of cold air between the end gaskets 29.

However, in such a conventional refrigerator, the contact between each end gasket 29 is weakened or a gap is generated due to contraction or the like of each end gasket 29, and thus, cold air leakage occurs between each end gasket 29. There is a problem that occurs. In particular, as shown in Figure 2, the shrinkage or deformation of the rear outer edge region of each end gasket 29 is severely generated, such shrinkage or deformation is the front and rear contact distance (cold air leakage blocking distance) of each end gasket 29 There is a problem in that the cold air leakage is further promoted due to the shortening of).

In addition, in such a conventional refrigerator, the internal temperature of the refrigerating compartment 20 rises relatively quickly when the leakage of cold air between the side ends of the refrigerating compartment door 25 increases, so that a compressor and There is a problem that power consumption is increased by frequently driving electrical components such as a blowing fan. In addition, there is a problem that the overall power consumption is further increased because the heat generating capacity of the electric heater must also be increased.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator having a gap blocking function capable of suppressing leakage of cold air between doors.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator having a gap blocking function capable of preventing dew condensation between doors and reducing power consumption.

The present invention, in order to achieve the object described above, the refrigerator body and the cooling chamber formed therein; A plurality of doors rotatably disposed in front of the cooling chamber; An end gasket fixed to one side end of the door; A blocking rib blocking a gap between the end gasket and the other side end of the door; It provides a refrigerator containing.

Here, the blocking rib may be formed to protrude from the end gasket and the end thereof is disposed to overlap the side end of the other door.

In addition, the blocking rib may be configured to protrude from the other door and the end thereof is disposed to overlap the end gasket.

The blocking rib may be formed separately from the end gasket and configured to be coupled to the other door by bonding or the like.

On the other hand, according to another field of the present invention, the refrigerator body and the cooling chamber formed therein; A plurality of doors rotatably disposed in front of the cooling chamber; An end gasket fixed to each side end of each door; A blocking rib disposed to block a gap between the end gaskets; A refrigerator is included.

Here, the blocking ribs may be configured to protrude from the respective end gaskets to the other door and overlap each other.

The blocking rib may protrude from one of the end gaskets so that the other end portion of the blocking rib overlaps with the other.

The blocking rib may be formed to gradually decrease in thickness along the protruding direction.

The blocking rib may be configured such that the thick side is fixed to the end gasket or the door.

As described above, according to the present invention, by providing the end gasket and the blocking rib between the side end portions of the two doors for rotating and opening the cooling chamber, it is possible to suppress the leakage of cold air between the side ends of the two doors. As a result, the heat generating capacity of the electric heater disposed between the side ends of the two doors can be reduced. In addition, since the leakage of cold air is suppressed, the number of driving of electrical components such as a refrigeration cycle and a blowing fan for supplying cold air can be reduced, and the heat generation capacity of the electric heater can be reduced, thereby reducing overall power consumption.

In addition, according to the present invention, by forming the blocking rib integrally on one side of the end gasket can be easily manufactured and assembled.

In addition, according to the present invention, by forming the blocking ribs separately from the end gasket, it is possible to suppress cold air leakage of the gap between the side end portions of the door while using the existing end gasket without modifying the mold of the end gasket.

In addition, according to the present invention, by forming the blocking ribs integrally on one side of each end gasket so that the ends of the two blocking ribs overlap each other, the length of the blocking ribs can be formed relatively short, thereby suppressing deformation. .

In addition, according to the present invention, the thickness of the blocking rib is gradually reduced along the protruding direction, and by fixing the thick side, elastic deformation is smoothly performed when opening and closing the door, and cold air leakage can be effectively blocked.

1 is a perspective view showing an example of a conventional refrigerator,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the refrigerating compartment door of FIG. 1 when closed; FIG.

3 is a perspective view of a refrigerator having a gap blocking function according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a plan view when the refrigerating chamber door of FIG. 3 is closed;

5 to 8 are views corresponding to FIG. 4 of the refrigerator having a gap blocking function according to another embodiment of the present invention, respectively.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

110: refrigerator body 120: refrigerator

125: refrigerating chamber door 126: upper hinge portion

127: lower hinge portion 130: freezer

135: freezer door 142: door gasket

145: end gasket 151: blocking rib

152: electric heater

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the present invention.

3 is a perspective view of a refrigerator having a gap blocking function according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a plan view when the refrigerating chamber door of FIG. 3 is closed, and FIGS. 5 to 8 each show another embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerator having the gap blocking function includes a refrigerator main body 110 having a cooling chamber 120 formed therein; A plurality of doors (125) rotatably disposed in front of the cooling chamber (120); An end gasket (145) fixed to one side end of the door (125); A blocking rib 151 for blocking a gap between the end gasket and the side end of the other one of the doors; It is configured to include. Here, the cooling chamber is a general term for the refrigerating chamber 120 and the freezing chamber 130. In this embodiment, a case in which two refrigerating chamber doors 125 are provided is provided to divide the front opening of the refrigerating chamber 120 and rotate and open them respectively. Will be explained.

A refrigerating chamber 120 is formed in an upper region of the refrigerator main body 110, and a plurality of refrigerating chamber doors 125 are provided on a front surface of the refrigerating chamber 120 so as to rotate and open the refrigerating chamber 120. Upper and lower hinge parts 126 and lower hinge parts 127 are rotatably supported on one side of the refrigerating chamber doors 125 and rotatably supporting the refrigerating chamber doors 125, respectively. One of the refrigerating chamber doors 125 may be provided with a dispenser 128 to draw water or ice without opening the refrigerating chamber door 125, and the other may be provided with a home bar 129.

A freezing compartment 130 is formed below the refrigerating compartment 120, and a freezing compartment door in the freezing compartment 130 that opens and closes the front opening of the freezing compartment 130 while sliding along the front and rear directions of the refrigerator main body 110 ( 135).

On the other hand, the rear surface of each refrigerating chamber door 125, that is, a liner (or inner plate) is provided with a door gasket 142 to contact the edge of the front opening of the refrigerating chamber 120 to prevent cold air leakage, respectively. have. Opposite side end portions of the upper hinge portion 126 and the lower hinge portion 127 of the refrigerator compartment doors 125 may block between the side ends of the two refrigerator compartment doors 125 when the refrigerator compartment doors 125 are closed. End gaskets 145 are coupled to each other. Each end gasket 145 may be formed of an elastic member capable of elastic deformation, for example, a rubber member.

Each of the end gaskets 145 has a left and right width that is in contact with each other to block the side end portions of the two refrigerating chamber doors 125 and the front and rear widths reduced compared to the thicknesses of the refrigerating chamber doors 125. It is formed to have a length corresponding to the vertical length of the refrigerating chamber door (125). The end gaskets 145 are disposed in the rear region along the thickness direction of the refrigerating chamber doors 125, and the electric heater 152 may prevent dew formation on the side ends of the refrigerating chamber doors 125. Are each provided.

As shown in FIG. 4, blocking ribs 151 are formed in the end gaskets 145 to protrude toward side ends of the other refrigerating chamber doors 125. Each of the blocking ribs 151 is formed in a plate shape having a thin thickness. Each of the blocking ribs 151 is formed to protrude separately from each of the end gaskets 145 at the rear end along the front and rear directions of the end gasket 145. That is, each of the blocking ribs 151 is integrally formed with one end at the rear inner edge of each of the end gaskets 145 and extends along the rear edge of each of the end gaskets 145, thereby forming another end gasket 145. Protruding to the side. This prevents the end of the blocking rib 151 from moving toward the hinge side of each of the refrigerating chamber doors 125 when the rear outer edge of each end gasket 145 is contracted or deformed, thereby shortening the protruding length. For sake. Accordingly, even when the rear outer edges of the end gaskets 145 are contracted and deformed, the blocking ribs 151 block the gap between the end gaskets 145 so that the front and rear directions of the end gaskets 145 are closed. As the cold air blocking distance is relatively long, the cold air leakage can be effectively blocked. Here, the portion shown by the dotted line of the rear outer edge of each end gasket 145 represents a state before the contraction or deformation of each end gasket 145 occurs, the solid line portion is an example in which the contraction or deformation occurs It is only shown virtually, and does not mean that the rear outer edges of all the end gaskets 145 are deformed like solid lines.

By such a configuration, when each refrigerating chamber door 125 is rotated to block the front opening of the refrigerating chamber 120, the end gasket 145 is in contact with each other to prevent cold air leakage. At this time, each of the blocking ribs 151 is disposed so that the ends thereof overlap each other, so that the gap between the end gaskets 145 is blocked even if the rear edge region of each end gasket 145 is contracted or deformed. The gap between 145 blocks the leakage of cold air.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator having a gap blocking function according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8. Hereinafter, the same or equivalent components as those described above and shown in the drawings will be omitted for convenience of description of the drawings and will be described with reference to the same reference numerals. As shown in FIG. 5, the refrigerator having the gap blocking function includes a refrigerator main body 110 in which a refrigerating chamber 120 is formed, and a plurality of refrigerating chamber doors 125 for rotating and opening the refrigerating chamber 120. And an end gasket 145 coupled to the side end portion of the refrigerating chamber door 125 and a blocking rib 155 protruding from one of the end gaskets 145 and overlapping with the other end gasket 145. It is composed.

The blocking rib 155 is integrally formed at the rear end of the end gasket 145 and is formed in a thin plate shape having the same thickness. The blocking rib 155 is formed to have a left and right width such that an end thereof may be disposed to overlap a rear end of the other end gasket 145.

Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 6, the blocking rib 155 may be formed to gradually decrease in thickness along the protruding direction. Each of the blocking ribs 155 may have a thick side fixed to the rear end of each end gasket 145 and the thin side ends overlap each other with a predetermined length. This is to facilitate the elastic deformation of each blocking rib 155 to effectively block the cold air leakage.

As shown in FIG. 7, the refrigerator having the gap blocking function includes a refrigerator main body 110 in which a refrigerating chamber 120 is formed, and a plurality of refrigerating chamber doors 125 for rotating and opening the refrigerating chamber 120. The end gasket 175 coupled to any one side end of the refrigerating chamber door 125 protrudes from the end gasket 175 to block a gap between the end gasket 175 and the other refrigerating chamber door 125. It is configured to include a blocking rib (185).

The blocking rib 185 protrudes from the rear end of the end gasket 175 toward the rear end of the other refrigerating chamber door 125 so that the end thereof overlaps the rear edge of the other refrigerating chamber door 125 by a predetermined length. Formed.

Here, as shown in Figure 8, formed separately from the end gasket 175, one side is coupled to the refrigerating chamber door 125 is not provided with the end gasket 175, such as by bonding, the other side is the end The blocking rib 195 may be configured to overlap the end gasket 175 so as to block a gap between the gasket 175. In addition, one end of the blocking rib 195 may be configured to be fused and fixed to the refrigerating chamber door 125 or to be detachable such as a fitting.

In the above-described and illustrated embodiments, the case where the refrigerating chamber door is configured to be plurally rotatable has been described by way of example, but the freezing chamber door is configured to be plurally rotatable, and end gaskets and blocking ribs are disposed at the side ends of the two freezer doors. It can also be configured.

In addition, the blocking rib of the embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 5, 7 and 8 may also be configured such that the thickness is gradually reduced, like the blocking rib described above with reference to FIG. 6.

Claims (9)

A refrigerator body having a cooling chamber formed therein; A plurality of doors rotatably disposed in front of the cooling chamber; An end gasket fixed to one side end of the door; A blocking rib blocking a gap between the end gasket and the other side end of the door; Including refrigerator. The method of claim 1, The blocking rib protrudes from the end gasket and is arranged to overlap with the side end of the other door. The method of claim 1, And the blocking rib protrudes from the other door and overlaps with the end gasket. The method of claim 3, The blocking rib is coupled to the other door. A refrigerator body having a cooling chamber formed therein; A plurality of doors rotatably disposed in front of the cooling chamber; An end gasket fixed to each side end of each door; A blocking rib disposed to block a gap between the end gaskets; Including refrigerator. The method of claim 5, The blocking ribs protrude from the end gaskets to the other door side and are arranged to overlap each other. The method of claim 5, And the blocking rib protrudes from any one of the end gaskets and overlaps the other one. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, The blocking rib is characterized in that the thickness is formed to be gradually reduced in the protruding direction. The method of claim 8, The blocking rib is a refrigerator characterized in that the thick side is fixed.