Refrigerator

Abstract

Disclosed is a refrigerator having a home bar. The refrigerator has a reinforcement unit that supports a pair of rotating shafts to securely assemble the rotating shafts with a home bar door such that the rotating shafts securely support the home bar door. The refrigerator includes a home bar door, a pair of support members provided in the home bar door symmetrically to each other, and a connection member connecting the support members to each other. The support members are integrally formed with the connection member.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2008-0097019 filed on Oct. 2, 2008, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a home bar. More particularly, the present invention relates to a refrigerator having a home bar which is securely assembled with a refrigerator door by a reinforcement unit.

2. Description of the Related Art

A refrigerator is an appliance that supplies cold air generated through a refrigerating cycle to a storage compartment to keep foods fresh for a long period of time. In general, the refrigerator includes a body that forms a storage compartment in which food is stored, and at least one door that is pivotably installed to the body to open/close the storage compartment.

The door is formed with an opening communicated with the storage compartment and a home bar is installed in the opening. A user can take out the food or beverages from the storage compartment or can put the food or beverages into the storage compartment through the home bar without opening the door. For instance, a storage space is formed inside the door that is opened/closed by the home bar such that the user can put food and beverages into the storage space or take out the food and beverages. That is, the home bar is additionally installed to the door and the user can easily put in/take out the food and beverages by opening/closing the home bar. Thus, it is not necessary to frequently open/close the door, so that leakage of cold air can be prevented.

In addition, since the home bar is horizontally arranged in the open state, the user can put the food or beverages on the home bar. This configuration of the home bar may improve convenience of the user, but require an additional support structure to allow the home bar to be horizontally maintained. Such a support structure must have sufficient strength to support the weight of the home bar as well as the weight of the food and beverages placed on the home bar.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a refrigerator capable of securely maintaining a home bar door such that the home bar door is not inclined by supporting the home bar door using a reinforcement unit installed in the home bar door.

Additional aspects and/or advantages will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are achieved by providing a refrigerator including a home bar which includes a home bar door, a pair of support members provided in the home bar door symmetrically to each other, and a connection member to connect the support members to each other.

The support members are integrally formed with the connection member.

The support members and the connection member are installed in the home bar door.

The support members have a pair of rotating shaft receptacles and a pair of rotating shafts are inserted into the rotating shaft receptacles.

The home bar door is formed with a pair of perforation holes and the rotating shafts extend by passing through the perforation holes.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are also achieved by providing a refrigerator including a home bar which includes a home bar door, a reinforcement unit extending in one direction along the home bar door, and a pair of rotating shafts installed in the reinforcement unit symmetrically to each other.

The reinforcement unit has a pair of rotating shaft receptacles and the rotating shafts are inserted into the rotating shaft receptacles.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are also achieved by providing a refrigerator including a body, a door installed in the body, a home bar mounting section formed in the door, and a home bar door installed in the home bar mounting section, wherein the home bar door includes a pair of rotating shafts rotatably installed in the home bar mounting section and a reinforcement unit, and wherein the rotating shafts are inserted into the reinforcement unit symmetrically to each other.

The reinforcement unit is fabricated through a die casting process.

The refrigerator further includes a reinforcement bracket fixed to the door, and the reinforcement bracket includes a stopper for restricting rotation of the home bar door.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are also achieved by providing a refrigerator including a body, a door installed in the body, a home bar mounting section formed in the door, a home bar door installed in the home bar mounting section, a pair of rotating shafts rotatably supporting the home bar door in the home bar mounting section, and a reinforcement unit installed in the home bar door to support the rotating shafts, wherein the reinforcement unit is integrally fabricated.

The reinforcement unit has a pair of rotating shaft receptacles and the rotating shafts are inserted into the rotating shaft receptacles.

As described above, according to the refrigerator according to example embodiments, the home bar door can be stably open/closed, so that reliability of the product can be improved.

In addition, since the reinforcement unit is integrally formed through the die casting process, strength of the reinforcement unit can be improved, so that the home bar door can be securely supported by the reinforcement unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator having a home bar according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a home bar of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a home bar door according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a home bar according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements. The embodiments are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator having a home bar according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a body 10 having storage compartments 11 and 12 storing food therein, and doors 13 and 14 rotatably installed to the body 10 to open/close the storage compartments 11 and 12. The storage compartments 11 and 12 are divided by an intermediate wall, into a refrigerating compartment 11 maintaining the food under the low temperature and a freezing compartment 12 to freeze the food wall. The refrigerating compartment 11 is open/closed by a refrigerating compartment door 13, and the freezing compartment 12 is open/closed by a freezing compartment door 14. Hinge devices 15 are installed at upper and lower ends of the body 10 to allow the doors 13 and 14 open/close the storage compartments 11 and 12 while rotating about the hinge devices 15.

A home bar 20 is installed to the refrigerating door 13 to allow the user to take out food or beverages from the refrigerator without opening the refrigerating compartment door 13. The home bar 20 includes a home bar mounting section 30 formed in the refrigerating compartment door 13, and a home bar door 40 installed in the home bar mounting section 30. The home bar mounting section 30 is formed with an opening 31 communicated with the storage compartments 11 and 12. The home bar door 40 is installed in the home bar mounting section 30 to open/close the opening 31 of the home bar mounting section 30. The user can take out food or beverages from the refrigerator or put the food or beverages into the refrigerator by opening the home bar door 40 without opening the refrigerating compartment door 13. In addition, since the home bar door 40 is horizontally arranged in the open state, the user can put the food or beverages on the home bar door 40, so that convenience of the user can be improved.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the home bar 20 of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the home bar 20 of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the home bar door 40 and the home bar mounting section 30 to install the home bar door 40.

The home bar mounting section 30 has a substantially rectangular shape and the opening 31 is formed at the center of the home bar mounting section 30. The home bar mounting section 30 is formed in the refrigerating compartment door 13 and a reinforcement bracket 50 is provided at a lower portion of the home bar mounting section 30. The reinforcement bracket 50 is partially inserted into the refrigerating compartment door 13 such that the reinforcement bracket 50 can be securely fixed to the refrigerating compartment door 13. The reinforcement bracket 50 has a substantially “T” shape, and a coupling part 51 of the reinforcement bracket 50 is fixedly inserted into the refrigerating compartment door 13. As shown in FIG. 4, since the coupling part 51 is inserted into a foaming material of the refrigerating compartment door 13, the reinforcement bracket 50 can be securely fixed to the refrigerating compartment door 13 as the foaming material is cured.

The home bar door 40 is rotatably installed in the home bar mounting section 30. The home bar door 40 is provided at both sides thereof with a pair of rotating shafts 41, and the home bar mounting section 30 is formed at both sides thereof with a pair of holes 33. The rotating shafts 41 are rotatably inserted into the holes 33, so that the home bar door 40 is rotatably installed in the home bar mounting section 30. According to the above configuration, since the rotating shafts 41 are subject to the weight of the home bar door 40, great load is applied to the rotating shafts 41. In particular, if the rotating shafts 41 do not maintain the horizontal state due to the assembling tolerance or the like, the home bar door 40 may be tilted in one direction. In this case, the foodstuffs or the beverages cannot be stably placed on the home bar door 40. Thus, it is necessary to prevent the home bar door 40 from being tilted in one direction, which will be described below in detail.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the home bar door 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the home bar door 40 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a front cover 43 and a rear cover 44 coupled to a rear surface of the front cover 43. The front cover 43 has a flat plate shape. Decorative glass may be attached to the front cover 43 to improve the aesthetic appearance. The rear cover 44 includes an outer frame 45 and an inner frame 46, which is recessed from the outer frame 45 by a predetermined depth. Thus, a space section S is formed between the front and rear covers 43 and 44 as the front cover 43 is coupled with the rear cover 44. A foaming material having an insulating property is filled in the space section S.

In addition, a reinforcement unit 60 is provided in the space section S formed between the front and rear covers 43 and 44. The reinforcement unit 60 extends along a lower edge of the home bar door 40. The reinforcement unit 60 may be integrally formed by die casting. The reinforcement unit 60 has a plurality of holes 63 and the foaming material is uniformly filled in the space section S by passing through the holes 63. The reinforcement unit 60 is primarily fixed to the rear cover 44 by a screw 66, and is secondarily fixed to the rear cover 44 as the foaming material is cured. Thus, the reinforcement unit 60 can be securely fixed to the home bar door 40.

The reinforcement unit 60 includes a pair of support members 61 into which the rotating shafts 41 are inserted, and a connection member 62 connecting the support members 61 to each other. As mentioned above, the reinforcement unit 60 is integrally formed through the die casting process. However, the connection member 62 may also be installed between the support members 61 after fabricating the connection member 62 separately from the support members 61. In this case, the connection member 62 can be integrated with the support members 61 through a welding process.

The rotating shafts 41 are installed in the reinforcement unit 60. In detail, the rotating shafts 41 are installed in the support members 61 of the reinforcement unit 60. In addition, the rear cover 44 is formed at both sides thereof with perforation holes 42 corresponding to the rotating shafts 41 such that the rotating shafts 41 protrude outward by passing through the perforation holes 42. Referring again to FIG. 2, the perforation holes 42 are formed at both sides of the home bar door 40 in correspondence with the rotating shafts 41.

Rotating shaft receptacles 64 are formed in the support members 61 of the reinforcement unit 60. The rotating shaft receptacles 64 are prepared in the form of holes having a predetermined depth. Springs 65 are primarily accommodated in the rotating shaft receptacles 64 and then the rotating shafts 51 are inserted into the rotating shaft receptacles 64. In addition, oil dampers are inserted into the rotating shaft receptacles 64 to allow the home bar door 40 to be easily open/closed. A pair of rotating shaft receptacles 64 are formed corresponding to a pair of the support members 61.

As described above, the support members 61 assembled with the rotating shafts 41 are integrally formed with the connection member 62, so that the rotating shafts 41 may not be tilted in one direction. In addition, since the reinforcement unit 60 is dually fixed to the home bar door 40 by the screw and the foaming material, the reinforcement unit 60 can be securely fixed to the home bar door 50, so that strength of the reinforcement unit 60 can be enhanced. That is, since the reinforcement unit 60 is securely fixed to the home bar door 40, the home bar door 40 can be prevented from being tilted in one direction caused by the assembling tolerance, so that the performance and reliability of the home bar door 40 can be improved.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the home bar 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a latch unit 70 is installed at an upper portion of the home bar 20. The latch unit 70 includes a hook member 71 installed in the home bar door 40, and a locking member 72 installed in the home bar mounting section 30. The home bar door 40 is rested in a mounting hole 47 of the home bar door 40, and the locking member 72 protrudes downward from an upper inner surface of the home bar mounting section 30. When the home bar door 40 is in the closed state, the hook member 71 is locked with the locking member 72. In contrast, the hook member 71 is separated from the locking member 72 when the home bar door 40 is in the open state. In particular, FIG. 4 shows the home bar door 40 that is horizontally arranged in the open state. At this time, a lower end of the home bar door 40 is supported by a stopper 52 of the reinforcement bracket 50. In detail, the rear cover 44 of the home bar door 40 is supported by the stopper 52 of the reinforcement bracket 50. The user can put the foodstuffs or beverages on the home bar door 40 when the home bar door 40 is horizontally arranged.

When the home bar door 40 is horizontally arranged to serve as a shelf, a large load is applied to the rotating shafts 41 as well as the lower end of the home bar door 40 supported by the stopper 52. As shown in FIG. 3, the rotating shafts 41 are assembled with the support members 61, and the support members 61 supporting the rotating shafts 41 are integrally formed with the connection member 61. Thus, the rotating shafts 41 can be securely coupled with the support members 61 even if a different load is applied to the rotating shafts 41. Since the reinforcement unit 60 includes the support members 61, and the connection member 62 interposed between the support members 61 and the rotating shafts 41 are inserted into both sides of the reinforcement unit 60, the home bar door 40 can be securely supported in the home bar mounting section 30. Therefore, the home bar door 40 is prevented from being tilted in one direction, so that the home bar door 40 can be smoothly open/closed and can serve as the shelf when the home bar door 40 is horizontally arranged in the open state.

Although few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a home bar including: a home bar door; a pair of support members provided in the home bar door symmetrically to each other; and a connection member to connect the support members to each other.

2. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support members are integrally formed with the connection member.

3. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support members and the connection member are installed in the home bar door.

4. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support members have a pair of rotating shaft receptacles and a pair of rotating shafts, inserted into the rotating shaft receptacles.

5. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 4, wherein the home bar door is formed with a pair of perforation holes and the rotating shafts extend by passing through the perforation holes.

6. A refrigerator comprising:

a home bar including: a home bar door; a reinforcement unit extending in one direction along the home bar door; and a pair of rotating shafts installed in the reinforcement unit symmetrically to each other.

7. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcement unit has a pair of rotating shaft receptacles and the rotating shafts are inserted into the rotating shaft receptacles.

8. A refrigerator comprising:

a body;

a door installed in the body;

a home bar mounting section formed in the door; and

a home bar door installed in the home bar mounting section,

wherein the home bar door includes a pair of rotating shafts rotatably installed in the home bar mounting section and a reinforcement unit, and wherein the rotating shafts are inserted into the reinforcement unit symmetrically to each other.

9. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 8, wherein the reinforcement unit is fabricated through a die casting process.

10. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a reinforcement bracket fixed to the door, wherein the reinforcement bracket includes a stopper to restrict rotation of the home bar door.

11. A refrigerator comprising:

a body;

a door installed in the body:

a home bar mounting section formed in the door;

a home bar door installed in the home bar mounting section,

a pair of rotating shafts rotatably supporting the home bar door in the home bar mounting section; and

a reinforcement unit installed in the home bar door to support the rotating shafts,

wherein the reinforcement unit is integrally fabricated.

12. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 11, wherein the reinforcement unit has a pair of rotating shaft receptacles and the rotating shafts are inserted into the rotating shaft receptacles.