Refrigerator having basket lift apparatus

Abstract

A refrigerator having a basket lift apparatus comprises a body having a cooling chamber, a door for opening and closing the cooling chamber, a lifting frame mounted at the door to be movable up and down and on which a basket is positioned, and a buffer installed at the door for attenuating a shock generated when the basket is lowered.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a basket lift apparatus, and more particularly, to a refrigerator having a basket lift apparatus capable of enhancing a user's convenience by lifting a basket received in a body.

2. Description of the Conventional Art

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator in accordance with the conventional art, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a lower region of a refrigerator showing a state that a basket is received in a body.

The conventional refrigerator comprises a body 102 having an opened front side and a receiving space, an upper cooling chamber 106 arranged at an upper side of the body 102 and having a pair of upper doors 104 openable towards both directions for storing chilled food, and a lower cooling chamber 112 arranged at a lower side of the body 102, separated from the upper cooling chamber 106 by a partition wall 108, and having a lower door 110 openable in a slidable manner.

A mechanical chamber 116 having a compressor 114 for generating cool air supplied to the upper cooling chamber 106 and the lower cooling chamber 112, etc., is installed at a rear side of the body 102.

A basket 120 for storing food is arranged at the lower cooling chamber 112 to be slidable back and forth, and the lower door 110 is fixed to a front side of the basket 120. Accordingly, when the lower door 110 is pulled, the basket 120 is opened. Also, when the lower door 110 is pushed, the basket 120 is closed. A guide rail 124 is installed between the basket 120 and an inner side surface of the lower cooling chamber 112 thereby to guide the basket 120 to be slidable back and forth.

A plurality of drawers 126 for storing food are provided at an upper side of the basket 120 and are opened in a slidable manner.

In the conventional refrigerator, when the lower door 110 is pulled in order to take food stored in the lower cooling chamber 112 out or in order to store food in the lower cooling chamber 112, the basket 120 is opened by a slide motion. Also, when the lower door 110 is pushed after taking the food stored in the basket 120 out or storing food in the basket 120, the basket 120 is closed by a slide motion.

However, in the conventional refrigerator, since the position of the basket is low, a user has to bend his waist or crouch at the time of storing food in the basket or taking the food out of the basket thereby to have inconvenience.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator having a basket lift apparatus capable of enhancing a user's convenience by lifting a basket arranged at a body when the basket is drawn out.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator having a basket lift apparatus capable of attenuating a shock generated when a basket is lowered by installing a buffer.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a refrigerator comprising a body having a cooling chamber; a door for opening and closing the cooling chamber; a lifting frame mounted at the door to be movable up and down and on which a basket is positioned; and a buffer installed at the door for attenuating a shock generated when the basket is lowered.

The refrigerator further comprises a driving unit for lifting the lifting frame. The driving unit comprises a lifting arm contacting a lower surface of the lifting frame and hinge-connected to the door for lifting the lifting frame, and a driving motor for generating a driving force to rotate the driving arm.

The buffer comprises a cylinder fixed to the door and containing fluid therein, a piston movably arranged in the cylinder and having a fluid channel through which the fluid passes and a flow resistance is generated therein, and an operation rod connected to the piston and contacting the lifting frame.

The buffer further comprises a spring for providing an elastic force to the operation rod along a direction that the operation rod is extended.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator in accordance with the conventional art;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a lower region of a refrigerator showing a state that a basket is received in a body;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a lateral view showing a basket lift apparatus of the refrigerator according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the basket lift apparatus of the refrigerator according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a frontal view showing the basket lift apparatus of the refrigerator according to the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a buffer according to the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a view showing a state that a basket of the basket lift apparatus of the refrigerator according to the present invention has been lifted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

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

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a lateral view showing a basket lift apparatus of the refrigerator according to the present invention.

A refrigerator according to the present invention comprises a body 10 having a receiving space, an upper cooling chamber 14 arranged at an upper side of the body 10 and having a pair of upper doors 12 to be openable towards both directions, a lower cooling chamber 18 arranged at a lower side of the body 10 and separated from the upper cooling chamber 14 by a partition wall 16, and a basket 20 arranged at the lower cooling chamber 18 to be slidable back and forth for storing food, and a basket lift apparatus for lifting the basket 20 upwardly.

The upper cooling chamber 14 is preferably used as a refrigerating chamber for storing chilled food, and the lower cooling chamber 18 is preferably used as a freezing chamber for storing frozen food.

A door 22 movable in back and forth directions of the body 10 for drawing the basket 20 out is arranged at a front side of the lower cooling chamber 18. Also, a plurality of drawers 24 drawn back and forth for storing food are provided at an upper side of the lower cooling chamber 18.

A pair of guide rails 26 are installed between both side surfaces of the lower cooling chamber 18 and a rear surface of the door 22, thereby guiding the door 22 to be slidable in back and forth directions of the body 10.

The guide rail 26 comprises a fixed rail 26a fixed to both side surfaces of the lower cooling chamber 18, a middle rail 26b slidably connected to the fixed rail 26a, and a movable rail 26c slidably connected to the middle rail 26b and fixed to a rear surface of the lower door 22.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the basket lift apparatus comprises a lifting frame 30 arranged at a rear surface of the lower door 22 to be movable up and down and loading the basket 20 thereon, a driving unit 32 for driving the lifting frame 30 up and down, and a buffer 70 installed at the door 22 for attenuating a shock generated when the lifting frame 30 is lowered.

A lifting rail 34 is installed at a rear surface of the door 22 thereby to support the lifting frame 30 to be movable up and down. An upper stopper 38 and a lower stopper 40 are mounted at an upper end and a lower end of the lifting rail 34 thereby to prevent the lifting frame 30 from being detached from the door 22.

The driving unit 32 comprises a driving arm 42 having one end roll-contacting a lower surface of the lifting frame 30 to be movable back and forth and another end rotatably mounted at the rear surface of the door 22, a driving motor 44 fixed to the rear surface of the door 22 for generating a driving force to rotate the driving arm 42, and a driving power transmitting unit for transmitting a rotation force generated from the driving motor 44 to the driving arm 42.

A roller 46 roll-motioned at a lower surface of the lifting frame 30 is mounted at one end of the driving arm 42, and a hinge shaft 48 is mounted at another end of the driving arm 42. The hinge shaft 48 is rotatably supported by a support bracket 50 fixed to the rear surface of the lower door 22.

A first stopper 52 and a second stopper 54 for limiting a rotation range of the driving arm 42 are respectively formed at side surfaces of the support bracket 50.

The driving power transmitting unit comprises a driving gear 60 fixed to the rotation shaft 46 of the driving motor 44 and arranged in the support bracket 50, and a driven gear 62 fixed to the hinge shaft 48 and gear-engaged with the driving gear 60.

A pair of the driving arms 42 are arranged at both sides of the lifting frame 30, and the two driving arms 42 are connected to each other by the hinge shaft 48.

In the driving power transmitting unit, when the driving motor 44 is driven, the driving gear 60 is rotated and the driven gear 62 gear-engaged with the driving gear 60 is rotated. As the result, the hinge shaft 48 is rotated and thereby the driving arm 42 is rotated.

A first switch 66 and a second switch 68 adjusted by a user for driving the driving motor 44 in a forward direction or a backward direction are installed at the door 22. That is, when the user adjusts the first switch 66, the driving motor 44 is forward driven thereby to lift the basket 20. On the contrary, when the user adjusts the second switch 68, the driving motor 44 is backward driven thereby to lower the basket 20.

The buffer 70 is preferably constructed as a shock absorber.

As shown in FIG. 7, the buffer 70 comprises a cylinder 72 fixed to the rear surface of the door 22 and containing fluid therein, a piston 76 movably arranged in the cylinder 72 and having a fluid channel 74 through which the fluid contained in the cylinder 72 passes and a flow resistance is generated therein, an operation rod 78 connected to the piston 76 and extending towards an upper side of the cylinder 72 thus to be in contact with the lifting frame 30, and a spring 80 for providing an elastic force to the operation rod along a direction that the operation rod is extended.

A contact portion 82 contacting the buffer 70 when the lifting frame 30 is lowered is formed at the lifting frame 30. Also, a support plate 84 contacting the contact portion 82 when the lifting frame 30 is lowered is formed at an upper surface of the operation rod 78.

A buffering pad 86 for attenuating a shock generated as the lifting frame 30 is in contact with the support plate 78 when the lifting frame 30 is lowered is installed at the lower surface of the contact portion 82 or at the upper surface of the support plate 84.

The spring 80 is preferably constructed as a compression coil spring. A lower end of the spring 80 is supported by a spring seat 88 formed at an outer circumferential surface of the cylinder 72, and an upper end of the spring 80 is supported by the support plate 84 formed at the upper surface of the operation rod 78.

An extended length of the operation rod 78, a length of the spring 80, and an elastic coefficient of the spring 80 are properly set with consideration of a weight of food stored in the basket 20.

An operation of the basket lift apparatus according to the present invention will be explained as follows.

FIG. 8 is a lateral view showing a state that the basket lift apparatus of the refrigerator according to the present invention has been lifted.

When the user pulls the door 22 forward, the lifting frame 30 is slid along the guide rail 26 and is drawn out from the lower cooling chamber 18. At this time, the basket 20 positioned on the lifting frame 30 is drawn out.

Under the state, when the first switch 66 mounted at a front surface of the door 22 is pressed, the driving motor 44 is forward driven.

As the result, the rotation shaft 46 of the driving motor 44 is rotated, the driving gear 60 fixed to the rotation shaft 46 is rotated, and the driven gear 62 gear-engaged with the driving gear 60 is rotated, thereby rotating the hinge shaft 48 in a forward direction. As the result, the driving arm 42 fixed to the hinge shaft 48 is rotated and the roller 46 mounted at one end of the driving arm 42 is roll-motioned at the lower surface of the lifting frame 30, thereby lifting the lifting frame 30.

When the user presses the second switch 68 after taking food out of the basket 20 or storing food in the basket 20, the lifting frame 30 is lowered. Under the state, the buffer 70 is operated thereby to attenuate a shock generated when the basket 20 is lowered.

An operation of the buffer 70 will be explained more specifically. When the lifting frame 30 is lowered, the contact portion 82 formed at the lifting frame 30 is in contact with the support plate 84 formed at the upper surface of the operation rod 78. Then, the operation rod 78 is downward moved by the weight of the basket 20, and the fluid contained in the cylinder 72 passes through the fluid channel 74 formed at the piston 76 thereby to generate a flow resistance. Accordingly, the basket 20 is slowly lowered thereby to attenuate a shock generated when the basket 20 is lowered.

Also, a shock generated when the contact portion 82 and the support plate 84 are in contact with each other is attenuated by the buffering pad 86 formed at the contact portion 82 and the support plate 84.

When the basket 20 is lifted, the operation rod 78 is extended by the elastic force of the spring 80 and returns to the original state.

Effects of the refrigerator having the basket lift apparatus according to the present invention will be explained.

Since the basket lift apparatus is provided at the basket of the refrigerator, the user can take food stored in the basket out without bending his waist by lifting the basket thereby to enhance the user's convenience.

Also, since the buffer is installed at the basket lift apparatus, a damping force is generated when the basket is lowered thereby to attenuate a shock generated when the basket is drastically lowered.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising:

a body having a cooling chamber;

a door for opening and closing the cooling chamber;

a lifting frame mounted at the door to be movable up and down and on which a basket is positioned; and

a buffer installed at the door for attenuating a shock generated when the basket is lowered.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a driving motor for lifting the lifting frame.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a lifting arm contacting the lifting frame and hinge-connected to the door for lifting the lifting frame.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the door is provided with a lifting rail for guiding the lifting frame to be movable up and down.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the lifting frame is provided with a contact portion contacting the buffer when the lifting frame is lowered.

6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the contact portion is provided with a buffering pad for attenuating a shock generated when the contact portion comes in contact with the buffer.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the buffer is constructed as a shock absorber.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the buffer comprises:

a cylinder fixed to the door and containing fluid therein;

a piston movably arranged in the cylinder and having a fluid channel through which the fluid passes and a flow resistance is generated therein; and

an operation rod connected to the piston and contacting the lifting frame.

9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the operation rod is provided with a support plate contacting the contact portion formed at the lifting frame at an upper end thereof.

10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the support plate is provided with a buffering pad for attenuating a shock generated when the support plate comes in contact with the contact portion of the lifting frame.

11. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the buffer further comprises a spring for providing an elastic force to the operation rod along a direction that the operation rod is extended.

12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the spring has a lower end supported by a spring seat formed at an outer circumferential surface of the cylinder, and an upper end supported by the support plate formed at an upper surface of the operation rod.

13. A refrigerator, comprising:

a body having a cooling chamber;

an upper cooling chamber arranged at an upper side of the body;

a lower cooling chamber arranged at a lower side of the body, and having a door opened back and forth;

a lifting frame mounted at a door to be movable up and down for loading a basket; and

a buffer installed at the door for attenuating a shock generated when the basket is lowered.

14. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the lifting frame is provided with a contact portion with which the buffer comes in contact when the lifting frame is lowered.

15. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the contact portion is provided with a buffering pad for attenuating a shock generated when the contact portion comes in contact with the buffer.

16. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the buffer is a shock absorber.

17. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the buffer comprises:

a cylinder fixed to the door and containing fluid therein;

a piston movably arranged in the cylinder and having a fluid channel through which the fluid passes and a flow resistance is generated therein; and

an operation rod connected to the piston and contacting the lifting frame.

18. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the operation rod is provide with a support plate contacting the contact portion formed at the lifting frame at an upper end thereof.

19. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein the support plate is provided with a buffering pad for attenuating a shock generated when the support plate comes in contact with the contact portion of the lifting frame.

20. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the buffer further comprises a spring for providing an elastic force to the operation rod in a direction that the operation rod is extended.