Hinge structure for refrigerator

Abstract

The present invention provides a hinge structure for a refrigerator, comprising a pivot, a fixed hinge seat, a rotating hinge seat, a torsion spring, a first latching tooth and a second latching tooth. The pivot is inserted into the fixed hinge seat and the rotating hinge seat, the first latching tooth is fixedly mounted on the pivot, the second latching tooth is fixedly mounted on the fixed hinge seat, the first latching tooth is provided with a plurality of first oblique teeth arranged in a circle in the circumferential direction, the second latching tooth is provided with a number of second oblique teeth which are the same as the number of the first oblique teeth and surround the pivot in the circumferential direction; the torsion spring is arranged between the pivot and the cabinet door; the rotating hinge seat extends an elastic convex tongue located beside the pivot, the fixed hinge seat is provided with a raised arch structure, the elastic convex tongue is aligned with the arch structure along the rotating direction of the rotating hinge seat, the elastic convex tongue is blocked with the arch structure when the rotating hinge seat is switched to the open position and under the action of the torsion spring, the elastic convex tongue passes over the arch structure through elastic deformation during the process of the rotating hinge seat being switched to the folded position; the rapid positioning after opening is ensured, and the folding operation and torque adjustment are convenient.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a refrigerator, and in particular to a hinge structure for the refrigerator. Background Art

[0002] Refrigerator is a common equipment for storing food, which can be seen everywhere in people's daily life. Among them, for the refrigerator, it is inseparable from the use of hinges, so that the door of the refrigerator can rotate relative to the cabinet body with the help of the hinge, thereby achieving the purpose of opening or closing the door.

[0003] However, in the existing hinges, due to their unreasonable design, the cabinet door does not have a positioning function after opening, that is, the opened cabinet door is in a free state, and it will rotate relative to the cabinet body and accidentally close under an unexpected collision, which is not conducive to the storage operation of refrigerated items in the refrigerator.

[0004] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a hinge structure for a refrigerator to overcome the above-mentioned defects. Summary of the invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide a hinge structure for a refrigerator to ensure the reliability of the positioning of the cabinet door after opening and to facilitate the folding operation of the cabinet door after opening.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the present invention provides a hinge structure for a refrigerator provided between a door and a cabinet of the refrigerator, comprising a pivot, a fixed hinge seat, a rotating hinge seat, a torsion spring, a first latch and a second latch. The fixed hinge seat is mounted on the cabinet body, and the rotating hinge seat is mounted on the door. The pivot is inserted into the fixed hinge seat and the rotating hinge seat so that the rotating hinge seat can rotate around the pivot and has at least one open position and one retracted position relative to the fixed hinge seat. The pivot can also rotate around the axis of the pivot relative to the fixed hinge seat and the rotating hinge seat respectively; the first latch and the second latch are located between the fixed hinge seat and the rotating hinge seat along the axial direction of the pivot, the first latch is fixedly mounted on the pivot, the second latch is fixedly mounted on the fixed hinge seat, and the first latch is provided with a plurality of first oblique teeth arranged in a circle in the circumferential direction, the second latch is provided with a second oblique tooth with the same number as the first oblique teeth and surrounding the pivot in the circumferential direction, and the second oblique teeth are meshed with the first oblique teeth to control the pivot to move in a single direction. The torsion spring is sleeved on a first section of the pivot away from the first tooth and passing through the rotating hinge seat, the first end of the torsion spring is assembled and connected to the first section, the second end of the torsion spring is assembled and connected to the rotating hinge seat or the cabinet door, the torsion spring always has a tendency to drive the rotating hinge seat to switch to the folded position, the rotating hinge seat extends an elastic tongue located next to the pivot in a direction close to the fixed hinge seat, the fixed hinge seat is provided with a raised arch structure in a direction close to the rotating hinge seat, the elastic tongue is aligned with the arch structure along the rotation direction of the rotating hinge seat, the elastic tongue is blocked by the arch structure when the rotating hinge seat is switched to the open position and under the action of the torsion spring, and the elastic tongue passes over the arch structure through elastic deformation during the process of the rotating hinge seat being converted to the folded position.

[0007] Preferably, the surface of the arched structure facing the rotating hinge seat comprises a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface each inclined toward a direction close to the rotating hinge seat, and the intersection of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface is an arc surface.

[0008] Preferably, the end of the elastic tongue is folded back toward the direction close to the rotating hinge seat, and the folded portion of the elastic tongue has an arc surface that slidably cooperates with the surface of the arched structure.

[0009] Preferably, the first bevel tooth and the second bevel tooth each include a vertical surface extending along the axial direction of the pivot and an inclined surface inclined relative to the axial direction of the pivot, the inclined surface of the first bevel tooth matches the inclined surface of the second bevel tooth, and the vertical surface of the first bevel tooth matches the vertical surface of the second bevel tooth.

[0010] Preferably, an insertion hole for inserting and assembling the torsion spring is formed at the end of the first section away from the rotating hinge seat.

[0011] Preferably, the fixed hinge seat is in a right-angle shape.

[0012] Preferably, the first latch tooth and the pivot together form an integrated structure.

[0013] Preferably, the second latching tooth and the fixed hinge seat together form an integrated structure.

[0014] Preferably, the circumferential profile of the first latch tooth is a regular polygon.

[0015] Preferably, the circumferential profile of the second latch tooth is a regular polygon.

[0016] Compared with the prior art, since the rotating hinge seat extends an elastic protruding tongue located next to the pivot toward the direction close to the fixed hinge seat, the fixed hinge seat is provided with a raised arch structure toward the direction close to the rotating hinge seat, the elastic protruding tongue is aligned with the arch structure along the rotation direction of the rotating hinge seat, the torsion spring is sleeved on the edge of the pivot away from the first latch tooth and passes through the first section of the rotating hinge seat, the first end of the torsion spring is assembled and connected to the first section, and the second end of the torsion spring is assembled and connected to the rotating hinge seat or the cabinet door, and the torsion spring always has a tendency to drive the rotating hinge seat to switch to the folded position; therefore, when the rotating hinge seat switches to the open position and under the action of the torsion spring, the elastic protruding tongue blocks the arch structure, so that the cabinet door can be quickly positioned after opening and will not be accidentally closed; at the same time, the elastic protruding tongue passes over the arch structure through elastic deformation during the process of the rotating hinge seat switching to the folded position, and cooperates with the reset force provided by the torsion spring, so that the folding operation of the cabinet door is more convenient; furthermore, the one-way pivoting of the pivot is controlled by means of the cooperation of the first latch tooth and the second latch tooth, so the reset torque of the torsion spring is adjusted by making the pivot seat do one-way pivoting. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Figure 1 It is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the hinge structure for a refrigerator of the present invention when the rotating hinge seat is switched to the open position.

[0018] Figure 2 It is a three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the hinge structure for a refrigerator of the present invention when the rotating hinge seat is converted to a folded position.

[0019] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 The three-dimensional exploded structural diagram of the hinge structure for a refrigerator is shown.

[0020] Figure 4 It is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the refrigerator hinge structure of the present invention being assembled on the cabinet door and the cabinet body. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] In order to explain the technical content and structural features of the present invention in detail, further description will be given below in combination with the implementation modes and the accompanying drawings.

[0022] See also Figures 1 to 4 The hinge structure 100 for a refrigerator of the present invention is arranged between the cabinet door 220 and the cabinet body 210 of the refrigerator, so that the cabinet door 220 can pivot relative to the cabinet body 210 with the help of the hinge structure 100 for a refrigerator of the present invention, thereby correspondingly opening and closing the cabinet body 210. Among them, the hinge structure 100 for a refrigerator of the present invention includes a pivot 10, a fixed hinge seat 20, a rotating hinge seat 30, a torsion spring 40, a first latching tooth 50 and a second latching tooth 60. The fixed hinge seat 20 is assembled on the cabinet body 210, so that the fixed hinge seat 20 and the cabinet body 210 are fixed together and relatively stationary; the rotating hinge seat 30 is assembled on the cabinet door 220, so that the cabinet door 220 and the rotating hinge seat 30 are fixed together and relatively stationary; the pivot 10 is inserted into the fixed hinge seat 20 and the rotating hinge seat 30, so that the rotating hinge seat 30 can rotate around the pivot 10 and has at least the following relative position to the fixed hinge seat 20: Figure 1 The open position shown and Figure 2 The pivot 10 is in the retracted position shown; the pivot 10 can also rotate relative to the fixed hinge seat 20 and the rotating hinge seat 30 around the axis C of the pivot 10. The first latch 50 and the second latch 60 are located between the fixed hinge seat 20 and the rotating hinge seat 30 along the axial direction of the pivot 10 (i.e. the direction indicated by the double arrow A), and the first latch 50 is fixedly mounted on the pivot 10, so that the first latch 50 and the pivot 10 are fixed together and relatively stationary; the second latch 60 is fixedly installed on the fixed hinge seat 20, so that the second latch 60 and the fixed hinge seat 20 are fixed together and relatively stationary; and the first latch 50 is provided with six first oblique teeth 51 arranged in a circle in the circumferential direction, and the second latch 60 is provided with second oblique teeth 61 with the same number as the first oblique teeth 51 and surrounding the pivot 10 in the circumferential direction, and the second oblique teeth 61 are meshed with the first oblique teeth 51 to control the pivot 10 to pivot in one direction, for example, in Figure 3 In the embodiment, the first oblique teeth 51 of the first latching tooth 50 and the second oblique teeth 61 of the second latching tooth 60 cooperate to control the pivot 10 to rotate only in the counterclockwise direction but not in the clockwise direction, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0023] like Figures 1 to 3As shown, the torsion spring 40 is sleeved on the first section 11 of the pivot 10 away from the first latch 50 and passing through the rotating hinge seat 30. The first end of the torsion spring 40 is assembled and connected with the first section 11, such as but not limited to the plug-in connection shown in the figure, and the second end of the torsion spring 40 is assembled and connected with the rotating hinge seat 30, such as but not limited to the plug-in connection shown in the figure; the torsion spring 40 always has the tendency to drive the rotating hinge seat 30 to switch to the folded position, so as to facilitate the operator to make the cabinet door 220 close the cabinet body 210. The rotating hinge seat 30 extends an elastic tongue 31 located next to the pivot 10 in the direction close to the fixed hinge seat 20. The fixed hinge seat 20 is provided with a raised arch structure 21 in the direction close to the rotating hinge seat 30. The elastic tongue 31 is along the rotation direction of the rotating hinge seat 30 (see Figure 1 The elastic tongue 31 is aligned with the arch structure 21 when the rotating hinge seat 30 is switched to the open position and under the action of the torsion spring 40, that is, the rotating hinge seat 30 causes the torsion spring 40 to produce elastic deformation when it is switched to the open position, so that the elastically deformed torsion spring 40 has a reset force to move the rotating hinge seat 30 to the folded position. Therefore, under the action of the reset force, the elastic tongue 31 is blocked by the arch structure 21 to prevent the opened cabinet door 220 from accidentally closing the cabinet body 210; the elastic tongue 31 passes over the arch structure 21 through elastic deformation during the process of the rotating hinge seat 30 being switched to the folded position, so as to ensure the smoothness and reliability of the closing operation of the cabinet door 220 relative to the cabinet body 210. It should be noted that, according to actual needs, the number of the first helical teeth 51 and the second helical teeth 61 can be two, three, four or five. In addition, the second end of the torsion spring 40 can be assembled and connected to the cabinet door 220, so it is not limited to the figure. More specifically, as follows:

[0024] like Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, the surface 21a of the arch structure 21 facing the rotating hinge seat 30 includes a first inclined surface 211 and a second inclined surface 212, each inclined toward the direction close to the rotating hinge seat 30. The intersection of the first inclined surface 211 and the second inclined surface 212 is an arc surface 213. The purpose of this design is to facilitate the elastic tongue 31 to more smoothly pass over the arch structure 21 when following the rotating hinge seat 30 to switch between the open position and the retracted position. Specifically, Figure 1 and Figure 3 In the figure, the end of the elastic tongue 31 is folded back toward the direction close to the rotating hinge seat 30, and the folded part of the elastic tongue 31 has an arc surface 311 that slidably cooperates with the surface of the arch structure 21, so that the elastic tongue 31 can pass over the arch structure 21 more smoothly with the help of the arc surface 311, but it is not limited to this.

[0025] like Figure 3As shown, the first oblique tooth 51 includes a vertical surface 511 extending along the axial direction of the pivot 10 and an inclined surface 512 inclined relative to the axial direction of the pivot 10, and the second oblique tooth 61 includes a vertical surface 611 extending along the axial direction of the pivot 10 and an inclined surface 612 inclined relative to the axial direction of the pivot 10. The inclined surface 512 of the first oblique tooth 51 cooperates with the inclined surface 612 of the second oblique tooth 61, and the vertical surface 511 of the first oblique tooth 51 cooperates with the vertical surface 611 of the second oblique tooth 61, so as to block the pivot 10 from moving along the axial direction by means of the cooperation between the vertical surface 511 and the vertical surface 611. Figure 3 The clockwise rotation of the pivot 10 allows the pivot 10 to rotate along the inclined surface 512 and the inclined surface 612 by cooperation. Figure 3 Specifically, Figures 1 to 3 In the embodiment, a first section 11 is provided at the end away from the rotating hinge seat 30 with a socket 111 for inserting and assembling the torsion spring 40, so as to facilitate the assembly connection between the first end of the torsion spring 40 and the pivot 10; in addition, the fixed hinge seat 20 is in a right angle shape to increase the fixed connection strength between the fixed hinge seat 20 and the cabinet body 210; in addition, the second end of the torsion spring 40 is inserted into the separation notch 32 opened by the rotating hinge seat 30 to separate the elastic tongue 31, but not limited to this.

[0026] like Figures 1 to 3 As shown, the first latching tooth 50 and the pivot 10 together form an integrated structure, so that the two are relatively stationary to simplify the manufacturing process; the second latching tooth 60 and the fixed hinge seat 20 together form an integrated structure, so that the second latching tooth 60 and the fixed hinge seat 20 are relatively stationary to simplify the manufacturing process. Figure 3 In the embodiment, the circumferential profile of the first latch tooth 50 is a regular hexagon, and the circumferential profile of the second latch tooth 60 is a regular hexagon to match the number of the first bevel teeth 51 and the second bevel teeth 61; when the number of the first bevel teeth 51 and the second bevel teeth 61 is five, the circumferential profiles of the first latch tooth 50 and the second latch tooth 60 are regular pentagons, and so on.

[0027] Compared with the prior art, since the rotating hinge seat 30 extends the elastic tongue 31 located next to the pivot 10 in the direction close to the fixed hinge seat 20, the fixed hinge seat 20 is provided with a raised arch structure 21 in the direction close to the rotating hinge seat 30, and the elastic tongue 31 is extended along the rotation direction of the rotating hinge seat 30 (see Figure 1The torsion spring 40 is mounted on the first section 11 of the pivot 10 away from the first latch 50 and passing through the pivot 30. The first end of the torsion spring 40 is assembled and connected with the first section 11, and the second end of the torsion spring 40 is assembled and connected with the pivot 30 or the cabinet door 220. The torsion spring 40 always has a tendency to drive the pivot 30 to switch to the retracted position; therefore, when the pivot 30 is switched to the open position and under the action of the torsion spring 40, the elastic tongue 31 is The lower part is blocked by the arch structure 21, so that the cabinet door 220 can be quickly positioned after opening and will not be accidentally closed; at the same time, the elastic tongue 31 passes over the arch structure 21 through elastic deformation during the process of rotating the hinge seat 30 to the folded position, and cooperates with the restoring force provided by the torsion spring 40, so that the folding operation of the cabinet door 220 is more convenient; furthermore, the one-way pivoting of the pivot 10 is controlled by means of the cooperation of the first latch tooth 50 and the second latch tooth 60, so the restoring torque of the torsion spring is adjusted by making the pivot 10 unidirectionally pivot.

[0028] The above disclosure is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which cannot be used to limit the scope of the present invention. Therefore, equivalent changes made according to the claims of the present invention are all within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hinge structure for a refrigerator, arranged between a door and a cabinet of the refrigerator, comprising a pivot, a fixed hinge seat mounted on the cabinet body and a rotating hinge seat mounted on the door, wherein the pivot passes through the fixed hinge seat and the rotating hinge seat, so that the rotating hinge seat can rotate around the pivot and has at least an open position and a retracted position relative to the fixed hinge seat, and the pivot can also rotate around the axis of the pivot relative to the fixed hinge seat and the rotating hinge seat, respectively, wherein: The hinge structure for the refrigerator also includes a torsion spring and a first latch tooth and a second latch tooth located between the fixed hinge seat and the rotating hinge seat along the axial direction of the pivot, the first latch tooth is fixedly mounted on the pivot, the second latch tooth is fixedly installed on the fixed hinge seat, and the first latch tooth is provided with a plurality of first oblique teeth arranged in a circle in the circumferential direction, the second latch tooth is provided with a second oblique teeth with the same number as the first oblique teeth and surrounding the pivot in the circumferential direction, the second oblique teeth are meshed with the first oblique teeth to control the pivot to pivot in one direction, the torsion spring is mounted on the first section of the pivot away from the first latch tooth and passing through the rotating hinge seat, the first end of the torsion spring is connected to the first The second end of the torsion spring is connected to the rotating hinge seat or the cabinet door, the torsion spring always has a tendency to drive the rotating hinge seat to switch to the folded position, the rotating hinge seat extends an elastic tongue located next to the pivot in the direction close to the fixed hinge seat, the fixed hinge seat is provided with a raised arch structure in the direction close to the rotating hinge seat, the elastic tongue is aligned with the arch structure along the rotation direction of the rotating hinge seat, the elastic tongue is blocked by the arch structure when the rotating hinge seat is switched to the open position and under the action of the torsion spring, and the elastic tongue passes over the arch structure through elastic deformation during the process of the rotating hinge seat being converted to the folded position.

2. The hinge structure for a refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The surface of the arched structure facing the rotating hinge seat includes a first inclined surface and a second inclined surface each inclined toward a direction close to the rotating hinge seat, and the intersection of the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface is an arc surface.

3. The hinge structure for a refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that: The end of the elastic tongue is folded back toward the direction close to the rotating hinge seat, and the folded portion of the elastic tongue has an arc surface that is slidably matched with the surface of the arched structure.

4. The hinge structure for a refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first bevel tooth and the second bevel tooth each include a vertical surface extending along the axial direction of the pivot and an inclined surface inclined relative to the axial direction of the pivot, the inclined surface of the first bevel tooth matches with the inclined surface of the second bevel tooth, and the vertical surface of the first bevel tooth matches with the vertical surface of the second bevel tooth.

5. The hinge structure for a refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The end of the first section away from the rotating hinge seat is provided with an insertion hole for the torsion spring to be plugged and assembled.

6. The hinge structure for a refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The fixed hinge seat is in a right angle shape.

7. The hinge structure for a refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first latch tooth and the pivot together form an integrated structure.

8. The hinge structure for a refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second latching tooth and the fixed hinge seat together form an integrated structure.

9. The hinge structure for a refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The circumferential profile of the first latch tooth is a regular polygon.

10. The hinge structure for a refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that: The circumferential profile of the second latch tooth is a regular polygon.

Images