Door closing device and refrigerator having the same

Abstract

The application provides a door closing device and a refrigerator with the same. The door closing device comprises a cabinet, a door body connected to the cabinet through a hinge, the hinge having a hinge plate and a hinge shaft, and a door closing device between the hinge and the door body for driving the door body to close, the door closing device having an elastic engaging closing structure, the elastic engaging closing structure comprising a first engaging member arranged on the hinge shaft in a circumferential direction, a second engaging member arranged on the door body and engaged with the first engaging member, and an elastic element for moving the first engaging member and the second engaging member towards each other, the first engaging member having an engaging portion engaged with the second engaging member and a bearing portion surrounding the engaging portion, and the bearing portion bearing downward on the hinge plate. The refrigerator has the door closing device. Thus, the door body gravity is prevented from being applied to the inside of the closing structure, and the operation stability of the door closing device is ensured.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a door closing device and a refrigerator having the same, and more particularly to a door closing device and a refrigerator having the same for preventing the weight of the door from being applied inside the door closing structure. Background Technology

[0002] Refrigerator doors often fail to close properly when retrieving items, leading to wasted electricity and potential damage to stored items. To address this, a door closing mechanism exists, featuring a spring element and two engaging parts. These components work together to close the door. However, this design has a drawback: when positioned below the door, its internal structure often bears the weight of the door, causing instability in its operation. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a door closing device and a refrigerator that can prevent the weight of the door from being applied to the inside of the door closing structure, thereby ensuring the operational stability of the door closing device.

[0004] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention provides a door closing device, which includes a housing and a door connected to the housing by a hinge. The hinge has a hinge plate fixedly connected to the housing and a hinge shaft pivotally connected to the door. A door closing structure for driving the door to close is provided between the hinge and the door. The door closing structure is characterized in that it has an elastic engagement door closing structure, which includes a first engagement member fixedly disposed on the hinge shaft in a circumferential direction, a second engagement member disposed on the door and cooperating with the first engagement member, and an elastic element that allows the first engagement member and the second engagement member to move towards each other in the axial direction of the hinge shaft. The second engagement member has an engagement portion that engages with the first engagement member and a supporting portion surrounding the engagement portion, the supporting portion abutting downward against the hinge plate.

[0005] As a further improvement of the present invention, the maximum deformation of the elastic element is not less than the maximum relative displacement of the first engaging member and the engaging portion along the hinge axis.

[0006] As a further improvement of the present invention, the first engaging member has a shaped through hole at its center, the hinge shaft has a shaped shaft that mates with the shaped through hole, and is used to restrict the axial rotation of the first engaging member. The second engaging member is fixedly connected to the door body. The engaging part has a through hole at its center, and is used for rotation and movement along the axial direction of the hinge shaft. The abutting part is formed by the engaging part extending vertically downward from the outer wall. The elastic element is disposed between the hinge plate and the first engaging member.

[0007] As a further improvement of the present invention, the first engaging member is fixed on the hinge shaft, the engaging part has a through hole at its center for rotation and movement along the axial direction of the hinge shaft, the second engaging member has a receiving cavity for accommodating the engaging part, the outer wall of the receiving cavity is fixedly connected to the door body, the inner wall of the receiving cavity and the engaging part have a mating structure that allows the engaging part to slide longitudinally within the receiving cavity, the abutting part is formed by extending vertically downward from the outer wall of the receiving cavity, and the elastic element is disposed between the engaging part and the door body.

[0008] As a further improvement of the present invention, the second engaging member also has a cap disposed at the end of the receiving cavity, the cap abutting against the elastic element to prevent the elastic element from dislodging from the receiving cavity.

[0009] As a further improvement of the present invention, the closing structure also has a hook-shaped closing structure that can drive the door to close, and the elastic engaging closing structure can assist the hook-shaped closing structure in driving the door to close.

[0010] As a further improvement of the present invention, the hook-shaped door closing structure has a first hook disposed on the hinge plate and a second hook fixedly connected to the door body and having a certain elasticity. The first hook has a latching area that engages with the second hook. The elastic engagement door closing structure is configured such that before the second hook enters the latching area, the elastic engagement door closing structure provides a first closing force to close the door body. The first closing force drives the second hook and the first hook to latch together.

[0011] As a further improvement of the present invention, the fastening area is an arc-shaped curved surface recessed towards the side where the box body is located, the second hook has a fastening surface that cooperates with the fastening area, the first hook has an interference area that interferes with the second hook, the interference area faces the side where the door body is located and is connected to the fastening area, the second hook has an interference surface that contacts the interference area, the interference surface and the fastening surface are connected, and the elastic engagement closing structure is configured such that the elastic element starts to drive the first engagement member and the second engagement member to move towards each other before the second hook enters the interference area or when the second hook enters the interference area, thereby generating the first closing force.

[0012] As a further improvement of the present invention, when the door body rotates 10-15 degrees relative to the box body along the hinge axis, the second hook is in the interference zone; when the door body rotates 5-10 degrees relative to the box body along the hinge axis, the second hook is in the holding zone.

[0013] As a further improvement of the present invention, the elastic element is a compression spring or a disc spring.

[0014] To achieve the above-mentioned objective, the present invention also provides a refrigerator having the aforementioned door closing device.

[0015] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effect of the present invention is that it can avoid the weight of the door being applied to the inside of the closing device, thereby ensuring the operational stability of the closing device. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0017] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the door closing device of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the assembly area of ​​the first meshing component and the hinge shaft;

[0019] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the structure of the second meshing component;

[0020] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the internal assembly of the second meshing component after it has been cut open;

[0021] Figure 5 This is an exploded view of the second embodiment of the door closing device of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 6 Figure 5 A schematic diagram of the internal assembly of the connecting structure after it has been cut open.

[0023] Figure 7 This is a structural schematic diagram of an optimized door closing device;

[0024] Figure 8 yes Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the hook-shaped closed door structure in the interference region;

[0025] Figure 9 yes Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the hook-shaped closing door structure in the fastening area;

[0026] Figure 10 yes Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the hook-shaped closing structure after the middle door is fully closed;

[0027] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the door opening and stopping structure. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, these embodiments do not limit the present invention, and any structural, methodological, or functional modifications made by those skilled in the art based on these embodiments are included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0029] Figures 1 to 4 A first embodiment of the door closing device of the present invention is shown.

[0030] The entire door closing device includes a housing 10 with internal receiving space, and a door 20 is pivotally connected to the housing 10 via a hinge 30. The hinge 30 is made of metal. The hinge 30 has a hinge plate 31 and a hinge pin 32. The hinge plate 31 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the housing 10 by screws, and the hinge pin 32 is vertically fixed to the hinge plate 31. The hinge pin 32 can be inserted into the bottom of the door 20, allowing the door 20 to rotate axially along the hinge pin 32.

[0031] A closing structure is provided between the hinge 30 and the door body 20. The closing structure has an elastic engagement closing structure 40. The elastic engagement closing structure 40 includes a first engagement member 41 fixedly disposed on the hinge shaft 32 along the circumferential direction, a second engagement member 42 disposed on the door body 20 and cooperating with the first engagement member 41, and an elastic element 43 that allows the first engagement member 41 and the second engagement member 42 to move towards each other in the axial direction of the hinge shaft 32. The second engagement member 42 has an engagement portion 421 that engages with the first engagement member 41 and a supporting portion 422 surrounding the engagement portion. The supporting portion 422 abuts downward against the hinge plate 31.

[0032] This design avoids the weight of the door body 20 being applied to the inside of the closing structure, thus ensuring the operational stability of the closing structure and reducing wear and tear on the closing device during use, thereby extending the service life of the closing device.

[0033] Preferably, the first engaging member 41 and the second engaging member 42 are made of polyoxymethylene (POM) or nylon (PA). This material has high mechanical strength, rigidity and self-lubricating properties. Using this material can effectively reduce friction and resist impacts of a certain intensity.

[0034] The first engaging part 41 is cylindrical in shape and has an irregular through hole 413 in the middle.

[0035] The irregular through hole 413 is a combination of rounded ends and a rectangle in the middle. An irregular shaft 321 is provided at the part where the hinge shaft 32 mates with the first engaging member 41. This structural design prevents the first engaging member 41 from rotating along the circumference of the hinge shaft 32, while allowing the first engaging member 41 to move up and down along the hinge shaft 32.

[0036] The upper end face 414 of the first engaging member 41 has a mountain-shaped protrusion 411. The mountain-shaped protrusion 411 has a transition surface 4113 that is parallel to the upper end face 414.

[0037] Of the two sides where the mountain-shaped protrusion 411 connects to the upper end face 414, one is the working surface 4111 and the other is the free surface 4112. Both the working surface 4111 and the free surface 4112 are inclined planes.

[0038] The working surface 4218 spans a specific angle relative to the axis of rotation 32 as required by the application.

[0039] The free surface 4112 is a clearance surface, used to prevent interference between the first engaging member 41 and the second engaging member 42 after the door body 20 is closed.

[0040] There are two mountain-shaped protrusions 411, one of which is formed by rotating the other 180 degrees along the axis of the hinge shaft 32. This structural design makes the meshing movement between the first meshing member 41 and the second meshing member 42 smoother, while reducing wear during use and extending the service life of the elastic meshing closing structure 40.

[0041] The second engaging member 42 is disposed on the hinge shaft 32 and is fixedly connected to the bottom of the door body 20.

[0042] The meshing part 421 has a through hole 4213 in the middle for accommodating the hinge shaft 32. The lower end face of the meshing part has a meshing surface 4211 that mates with the first meshing member 41.

[0043] The meshing surface 4211 has a protrusion 4212 that is always in contact with the first meshing member 41. There are two protrusions 4212 that cooperate with the first meshing member 41, one of which is formed by rotating the other 180 degrees along the axial direction of the hinge axis 32. The surface of the protrusion 4212 that contacts the first meshing member 41 is a smoothly transitioned curved surface.

[0044] Preferably, a sealing portion 423 is also provided above the engaging portion 421. The sealing portion 423 is formed by stretching the upper end surface of the engaging portion 421 upwards. The center of the sealing portion 423 has a shaft hole 4231 for accommodating the hinge shaft 32. The lower end of the shaft hole 4231 communicates with the through hole 4213, and the upper end is closed. This structural design can prevent dust and other impurities from entering and affecting the fit between the parts.

[0045] The abutment portion 422 extends vertically downward from the outer wall perimeter of the engagement portion 421. The interior of the abutment portion 422 forms a chamber for accommodating the first engagement member 41 and the elastic element 43. The lower end face of the abutment portion 422 abuts against the hinge plate 31, thereby supporting the weight of the door body 20 on the hinge plate 31.

[0046] This structural design avoids the weight of the door 20 being applied to the inside of the closing structure, thus making the operation of the closing structure more stable. Since the closing requirements can be met by using a smaller elastic element 53, the structural design is more streamlined, reducing the space occupied and extending the service life of the closing structure.

[0047] The elastic element 43 is disposed on the hinge shaft 32 and located between the first engaging member 41 and the hinge plate 31. The maximum deformation of the elastic element 43 is not less than the maximum relative displacement of the first engaging member 41 and the engaging part 421 along the axial direction of the hinge shaft 32. This structural design can prevent internal interference of the closing structure, thereby enabling the closing structure to function better.

[0048] Preferably, the elastic element 43 is a disc spring. This structural design allows the elastic engagement closing structure 40 to provide sufficient closing force while being more compact, thereby reducing space requirements.

[0049] The working principle of the elastic meshing closing structure 40 is as follows:

[0050] When the door 20 is opened, the door 20 drives the second engaging member 42 to rotate on the hinge shaft 32, and the second engaging member 42 rotates relative to the first engaging member 41. The protrusion 4212 on the second engaging member 42 slides from the working surface 4111 of the first engaging member 41 to the transition surface 4113, thereby pushing the first engaging member 41 to move downward. The first engaging member 41 presses down on the elastic element 43, and the elastic element 43 undergoes elastic deformation and stores energy.

[0051] When the door 20 is closed, the protrusion 4212 on the second engagement member 42 moves from the transition surface 4113 to the working surface 4111. When it is on the working surface 4111, the elastic element 43 releases elastic potential energy, pushing the first engagement member 41 to move upward. The first engagement member 41 pushes the protrusion 4212 to slide on the working surface 4111, thereby driving the second engagement member 42 to rotate on the hinge shaft 32, thereby driving the door 20 to close.

[0052] The force generated by the elastic meshing closing structure 40 that drives the door body 20 to close is collectively referred to as the first closing force in this invention.

[0053] Figures 5 to 6 A second embodiment of the invention is shown.

[0054] The second embodiment differs only in the specific structural design of the elastic meshing closing structure 40. The working principle of the closing device is the same as that of the first embodiment.

[0055] The first engaging member 41 is fixedly mounted on the hinge shaft 32 and is an integral structure with the hinge shaft 32. The upper end face of the first engaging member 41 has a mountain-shaped protrusion 411, and the upper surface of the mountain-shaped protrusion 411 is a smooth curved surface.

[0056] There are two mountain-shaped protrusions 411, one of which is formed by rotating the other 180 degrees along the axis of the hinge shaft 32. This structural design makes the meshing movement between the first meshing member 41 and the second meshing member 42 smoother, while reducing wear during use and extending the service life of the elastic meshing closing structure 40.

[0057] The second engaging member 42 is disposed on the hinge shaft 32. The second engaging member has a through hole 4213 in the middle for accommodating the hinge shaft 32.

[0058] The second engaging member 42 has an engaging portion 421, the lower end face of which has an engaging surface 4211 that mates with the first engaging member 41. The engaging surface 4211 has a protrusion 4216 and a recess 4215. The top surface of the protrusion 4216 and the bottom surface of the recess 4215 are both parallel to the upper end face 414 of the first engaging member 41.

[0059] There are two protrusions 4216 and two recesses 4215, one of which is formed by rotating the other 180 degrees along the axis of hinge axis 32.

[0060] The interface between the protrusion 4216 and the recess 4215 has one working surface 4218 and the other free surface 4217. Both the working surface 4218 and the free surface 4217 are inclined planes.

[0061] The working surface 4218 spans a specific angle relative to the axis of rotation 32 as required by the application.

[0062] The free surface 4217 is a clearance surface, used to prevent interference between the first engaging member 41 and the second engaging member 42 after the door body 20 is closed.

[0063] The upper end of the engaging portion 421 extends upward to form a columnar connecting portion 427. The outer diameter of the connecting portion 427 is smaller than the outer diameter of the engaging portion 421, and it is used to assemble the elastic element 43.

[0064] The second engaging member 42 has a receiving cavity 424. A limiting groove 4242 is provided on the inner wall of the receiving cavity 424 along the axial direction of the hinge shaft 32. There are three limiting grooves 4242 in total, which are evenly arranged on the inner wall of the receiving cavity 424.

[0065] The outer wall of the meshing part 421 has a limiting post 426 that mates with the limiting groove 4242. The limiting post 426 can be inserted into the limiting groove 4242 and slide up and down along the limiting groove 4242. This structural design is simple and easy to install.

[0066] The elastic element 43 is disposed on the connecting portion 427 and located within the receiving cavity 424. The maximum deformation of the elastic element 43 is not less than the maximum relative displacement of the first engaging member 41 and the engaging portion 421 along the hinge axis 32. This structural design prevents internal interference within the closing structure, thereby allowing the closing structure to function better.

[0067] Preferably, the elastic element 43 is a compression spring. This structural design is simple and easy to install, making the elastic meshing closing door structure 40 more compact while providing sufficient closing force, thereby reducing space occupation.

[0068] The abutment portion 422 extends vertically downward from the outer wall of the receiving cavity 424, and its outer diameter is the same as that of the receiving cavity 424. The abutment portion 424 has a relief hole in the middle to receive the first engaging member 41. The lower end face of the abutment portion 424 abuts against the hinge plate 31 to support the weight of the door body 20 onto the hinge plate 31.

[0069] This structural design avoids the weight of the door 20 being applied to the inside of the closing structure, thus making the operation of the closing structure more stable. Since the closing requirements can be met by using a smaller elastic element 53, the structural design is more streamlined, reducing the space occupied and extending the service life of the closing structure.

[0070] Preferably, the second engaging member 42 also has a cap 425 fixedly connected to the upper end of the receiving cavity 424. The cap 425 abuts against the upper end of the elastic element 43 to prevent the elastic element 43 from dislodging from the receiving cavity 424.

[0071] A first latch 4241 is provided on the outer wall of the upper end of the receiving cavity 424, and a corresponding second latch 4251 is provided on the inner wall of the lower end of the cap 425. The second latch 4251 can be fastened to the first latch 4241, thereby fixing the cap 425 to the receiving cavity 424. This structural design is simple, easy to install, and also provides a certain degree of sealing to prevent dust and other impurities from entering and affecting the fit between parts.

[0072] The upper end of the elastic element 43 can also be directly inserted and fixed onto the second engaging member 42.

[0073] The working principle of the elastic meshing closing structure 40 is as follows:

[0074] When the door 20 is opened, the door 20 rotates, causing the receiving cavity 424 to rotate. The receiving cavity 424 causes the engaging part 421 to rotate relative to the first engaging member 41. The mountain-shaped protrusion 411 of the first engaging member 41 slides from the recessed part 4215 through the working surface to the protruding part 4216, pushing the engaging part 421 to move upward. The engaging part 421 presses the elastic element 43 upward, and the elastic element 43 undergoes elastic deformation and stores energy.

[0075] When the door 20 is closed, the mountain-shaped protrusion 411 of the first engaging member 41 moves from the protrusion 4216 to the working surface 4218. The elastic element 43 releases elastic potential energy, pushing the engaging part 421 to move downward. The working surface 5218 squeezes the mountain-shaped protrusion 411, and the mountain-shaped protrusion 411 generates a reaction force to drive the engaging part 421 to rotate on the hinge shaft 32, thereby driving the door 20 to close.

[0076] To further optimize the present invention, such as Figure 7 As shown, the closing structure also has a hook-shaped closing structure 50 disposed between the hinge shaft 32 and the door body 20. The elastically engaging closing structure 40 can assist the hook-shaped closing structure 50 in closing the door body 20.

[0077] This design facilitates the closing of the door 20, requiring only a small amount of force to close it. At the same time, the two closing structures work together to reduce the load on a single closing structure, reduce wear and tear on the closing device during use, thereby extending the service life of the closing device. Furthermore, it makes the structural design of the closing device more compact, reducing the space it occupies.

[0078] Figures 8 to 10 The different states of the hook-shaped closing structure 50 when the door body 20 is at different angles are shown.

[0079] like Figure 8 As shown, the hook-shaped closing structure 50 has a first hook 51 and a second hook 52.

[0080] The first hook 51 is located at the end of the hinge plate 31 and is an integral part of the hinge plate 31. The second hook 52 is fixedly connected to the door body 20 and has a certain degree of elasticity.

[0081] The first hook 51 has an interference area 511 that interferes with the second hook 52 and a holding area 512 that engages with the second hook 52. The interference area 511 faces the side where the door body 20 is located, and the holding area 512 faces the side where the box body 10 is located. The interference area 511 and the holding area 512 are connected.

[0082] During the closing process of the door 20, the second hook 52, which is fixedly connected to the door 20, rotates along the hinge axis 32 with the door 20, and the hook-shaped closing structure 50 presents the following state:

[0083] First, such as Figure 8 As shown, the second hook 52 comes into contact with the first hook 51 and enters the interference zone 511 of the first hook 51, applying a certain pressure to the interference zone 511. The interference zone 511 generates a corresponding reaction force, causing the second hook 42 to undergo elastic deformation. The direction of the reaction force applied by the interference zone 511 is opposite to the direction of the door 20 closing, thus hindering the closing of the door 20.

[0084] Secondly, such as Figure 9 As described above, after passing through the interference zone 511, the second hook 52 enters the holding zone 512 of the first hook 51. At this time, the second hook 52 begins to release the energy stored in the elastic deformation, generating an elastic force, which acts on the holding zone 512. The holding zone 512 generates a certain reaction force, and the direction of the reaction force is the same as the direction of the door 20 closing, thereby driving the door 20 to close.

[0085] Finally, as Figure 10 As shown, under the action of the closing structure and the inertia of the door body 20 itself, the door body 20 is completely closed, and there is a small gap between the first hook 51 and the second hook 52.

[0086] The force that drives the door 20 to close, generated by the interaction between the first hook 51 and the second hook 52, is referred to in this invention as the second closing force.

[0087] The latching area 512 is a smooth, curved surface facing the side of the housing 10. Correspondingly, the second hook 52 has a latching surface 522 that mates with the latching area 512. This structural design facilitates the latching engagement of the first hook 51 and the second hook 52, thereby driving the door 20 to close.

[0088] The interference zone 511 is a smoothly transitioned curved surface. Correspondingly, the second hook 52 has an interference surface 521 that contacts the interference zone 511. The interference surface 521 is a smooth curved surface. The interference zone 511 and the latching zone 512 are smoothly connected. The interference surface 521 and the latching surface 522 are smoothly connected. This structural design helps to reduce the friction between the first hook 51 and the second hook 52, facilitating the closing of the door 20 and improving the service life of the hook-shaped closing structure 50.

[0089] Preferably, when the door body 20 rotates 5-10 degrees relative to the housing 10 along the hinge axis 32, the second hook 52 is in the holding area 512. When the door body 20 rotates 10-15 degrees relative to the housing along the hinge axis 32, the second hook 52 is in the interference area 511.

[0090] This structural design better suits users' door-closing habits. After the user releases their hand, the closing mechanism functions promptly, generating enough force to close the door 20.

[0091] There is a clearance area 513 between the hinge plate 31 and the latching surface 522 to prevent interference between the second hook 52 and the hinge plate 31 when the door 20 is fully closed.

[0092] Preferably, the second hook 52 is a hook-shaped structure with an internal cavity. This structural design facilitates the deformation of the second hook 52, reduces the force generated when the first hook 51 and the second hook 52 interfere with each other, and thus facilitates the closing of the door 20.

[0093] Preferably, the second hook 52 is thicker than the first hook 51. This structural design facilitates effective cooperation between the first hook 51 and the second hook 52, thereby reducing the likelihood that the hook-shaped closing structure 50 will fail to function effectively due to installation errors of the door body 20 or sagging of the door body 20 after prolonged use.

[0094] To cooperate with the hook-shaped closing door structure 50, the preferred structural design of the elastic engagement closing door structure 40 is as follows:

[0095] When the door 20 is closed to the angle at which the second hook 52 is about to enter the interference zone 511, or when the door 20 is closed to the angle at which the second hook 52 is close to the interference zone 511, the elastic meshing closing structure 40 begins to generate a first closing force to assist the second hook 52 in engaging with the first hook 51, until the second hook 52 moves to the holding zone 512.

[0096] When the door 20 is closed to the angle at which the second hook 52 enters the holding area 512, the hook-shaped closing structure 50 begins to generate a second closing force. At this time, the elastic meshing closing structure 40 continues to generate a first closing force. The first closing force and the second closing force work together to close the door 20.

[0097] This structural design overcomes the shortcomings of the hook-shaped closing structure 50 by using an elastic interlocking closing structure 40, making the door 20 easier to close and requiring only a smaller force to achieve closure. Since two closing forces act on the door 20 together, each closing structure only needs to provide a portion of the closing force, thus requiring a smaller closing structure to meet the needs. This simplifies the structural design and reduces space occupation. Furthermore, wear on individual closing structures is reduced during use, extending the service life of the closing structure.

[0098] The structure design of the elastic meshing closing structure 40 can also be such that the first closing force only assists the second hook 52 to move to the latching area 512, and the second closing force generated by the hook-shaped closing structure 50 drives the door body 20 to close.

[0099] Preferably, a connecting plate 44 is provided between the second engaging member 42 and the second hook 52. The second engaging member 42 and the second hook 52 are respectively disposed at both ends of the connecting plate 44. The connecting plate 44 and the hinge plate 31 are parallel and spaced apart by a certain gap to prevent interference between the connecting plate 44 and the hinge plate 31.

[0100] The connecting plate 44 has a through hole 441. Screws pass through the through hole 441 to fix the connecting plate 44 to the bottom of the door body 20. This structural design facilitates the assembly and disassembly of the closing door structure and helps ensure the effective cooperation of the two closing door structures.

[0101] As a further optimization of the present invention, as shown in 11, an opening stop structure 45 is also provided between the connecting plate 44 and the hinge plate 31.

[0102] The door opening stop structure 45 has a stop member 451 provided on the connecting plate 44 and a locking part 452 provided on the hinge plate 31.

[0103] The locking member 451 has a locking plate 4511 that mates with the locking part 452, and a mounting plate 4512 extends vertically from the end of the locking plate 4511. The mounting plate 4512 has mounting holes 4513. Bolts are used to install the locking member 451 onto the connecting plate 44 through the mounting holes 4513.

[0104] The locking part 452 is provided on the hinge plate 31. The locking part 452 consists of an arc surface 4521 for making way for the stop plate 4511 and an inclined surface 4522 for locking the stop plate.

[0105] Preferably, when the door body 20 rotates 135 degrees relative to the housing 10 along the hinge axis 32, the door locking structure 45 locks the door body 20, preventing the door body 20 from rotating any further.

[0106] This structural design prevents the door 20 from opening excessively, which could cause the elastic meshing closing structure 40 to fail to mesh properly. It also prevents the door 20 from opening too wide and causing it to collide with other objects.

[0107] In summary, the technical solution provided by this invention solves the problems in the prior art where the internal structure of the closing mechanism, located below the door, bears the weight of the door, leading to unstable operation, short service life, easy damage, and difficulty in closing the door. The technical solution provided by this invention avoids the door's weight being applied to the closing device and the refrigerator containing it, thus ensuring the stability of the closing device's operation, extending the service life of the closing structure, reducing damage, and facilitating door closure with minimal force.

[0108] It should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This way of describing the specification is only for clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole. The technical solutions in each embodiment can also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0109] The detailed descriptions listed above are merely specific descriptions of feasible embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention. All equivalent embodiments or modifications made without departing from the spirit of the present invention should be included within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A door closing device, comprising a housing, a door connected to the housing by a hinge, the hinge having a hinge plate fixedly connected to the housing and a hinge shaft pivotally connected to the door, a door closing structure for driving the door to close is provided between the hinge and the door, characterized in that, The closing structure has an elastic engagement closing structure, which includes a first engaging member fixedly mounted on the hinge shaft along the circumferential direction, a second engaging member mounted on the door body and cooperating with the first engaging member, and an elastic element that allows the first engaging member and the second engaging member to move towards each other in the axial direction of the hinge shaft. The first engaging member has a shaped through hole at its center, and the hinge shaft has a shaped shaft that cooperates with the shaped through hole to restrict the axial rotation of the first engaging member. The second engaging member has an engaging portion that engages with the first engaging member and a supporting portion surrounding the engaging portion. The second engaging member has a receiving cavity for accommodating the engaging portion, and the supporting portion is formed by extending vertically downward from the outer wall of the receiving cavity. The supporting portion abuts downward against the hinge plate to bear the weight of the door.

2. The door closing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The maximum deformation of the elastic element is not less than the maximum relative displacement of the first meshing member and the meshing part along the hinge axis.

3. The door closing device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The second engaging member is fixedly connected to the door body. The center of the engaging part has a through hole for rotation and movement along the hinge axis. The supporting part is formed by the engaging part extending vertically downward from the outer wall. The elastic element is disposed between the hinge plate and the first engaging member.

4. The door closing device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The first engaging member is fixed to the hinge shaft. The center of the engaging part has a through hole for rotation and movement along the axial direction of the hinge shaft. The outer wall of the receiving cavity is fixedly connected to the door body. The inner wall of the receiving cavity and the engaging part have a mating structure that allows the engaging part to slide longitudinally within the receiving cavity. The elastic element is disposed between the engaging part and the door body.

5. The door closing device as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The second engaging member also has a cap disposed at the end of the receiving cavity, the cap abutting against the elastic element to prevent the elastic element from dislodging from the receiving cavity.

6. The door closing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The closing structure also has a hook-shaped closing structure that drives the door to close, and the elastic engaging closing structure assists the hook-shaped closing structure in driving the door to close.

7. The door closing device as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The hook-shaped closing structure has a first hook disposed on the hinge plate and a second hook fixedly connected to the door body and having a certain elasticity. The first hook has a latching area that engages with the second hook. The elastic engaging closing structure is configured such that before the second hook enters the latching area, the elastic engaging closing structure provides a first closing force to close the door body, and the first closing force drives the second hook and the first hook to latch together.

8. The door closing device as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The latching area is an arc-shaped curved surface recessed towards the side where the box is located. The second hook has a latching surface that cooperates with the latching area. The first hook has an interference area that interferes with the second hook. The interference area faces the side where the door is located and is connected to the latching area. The second hook has an interference surface that contacts the interference area. The interference surface and the latching surface are connected. The elastic engagement closing structure is configured such that the elastic element starts to drive the first engagement member and the second engagement member to move towards each other before the second hook enters the interference area or when the second hook enters the interference area, thereby generating the first closing force.

9. The door closing device as described in claim 8, characterized in that, When the door body rotates 10-15 degrees relative to the box body along the hinge axis, the second hook is in the interference zone; when the door body rotates 5-10 degrees relative to the box body along the hinge axis, the second hook is in the holding zone.

10. The door closing device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that, The elastic element is a compression spring or a disc spring.

11. A refrigerator, characterized in that, The refrigerator has a door closing device as described in any one of claims 1-10.

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