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 fixedly connected to the cabinet and a hinge shaft pivotally connected to the door body, a door closing device is arranged between the hinge and the door body, the door closing device comprises a hook-shaped door closing structure arranged between the hinge plate and the door body and an elastic engagement door closing structure arranged between the hinge shaft and the door body, and the elastic engagement door closing structure assists the hook-shaped door closing structure to close the door body. The refrigerator has the door closing device. Thus, the door body can be closed conveniently, and the door body can be closed by a small force.

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 that facilitates door closure and a refrigerator having the same. 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, most refrigerators employ a hook-like closing mechanism. This mechanism includes hooks on the refrigerator body and hooks on the door. When closing, the two hooks engage to seal the door. However, this design has a drawback: during door closure, an interference zone exists between the two hooks. Within this zone, the hooks resist each other, generating a force opposite to the closing direction, often requiring considerable force to close the door. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a door closing device and a refrigerator having the same, which are easy to close, so that the door can be closed with only a small amount of force.

[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 device is provided between the hinge and the door. The door closing device includes a hook-shaped door closing structure disposed between the hinge plate and the door and an elastically engaging door closing structure disposed between the hinge shaft and the door. The elastically engaging door closing structure assists the hook-shaped door closing structure in closing the door.

[0005] As a further improvement of the present invention, the door closing device 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.

[0006] 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 when the second hook enters the interference area, the elastic engagement closing structure provides the first closing force to drive the second hook into the fastening area.

[0007] 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.

[0008] As a further improvement of the present invention, the elastic meshing closing structure includes a first meshing member fixedly disposed on the hinge shaft along the circumferential direction, a second meshing member disposed on the door body and cooperating with the first meshing member, and an elastic element that allows the first meshing member and the second meshing member to move toward each other in the axial direction of the hinge shaft. The elastic element starts to drive the first meshing member and the second meshing member to move toward each other before the second hook enters the interference zone or when the second hook enters the interference zone, thereby generating a first closing force.

[0009] As a further improvement of the present invention, after the second hook enters the holding area, the second hook engages with the first hook to generate a second closing force that drives the door to close. After the hook-shaped closing structure provides the second closing force, the elastic element still drives the first engaging member and the second engaging member to move towards each other to provide the first closing force. The first closing force and the second closing force work together on the door to drive the door to close.

[0010] As a further improvement of the present invention, after the second hook enters the holding area, the second hook and the first hook engage to generate a second closing force that drives the door to close. After the hook-shaped closing structure provides the second closing force, the elastic element no longer drives the first engaging member and the second engaging member to move towards each other. The second closing force acts solely on the door to drive the door to close.

[0011] As a further improvement of the present invention, the elastic element is a disc spring or a compression spring.

[0012] As a further improvement of the present invention, the elastic element is disposed between the hinge plate and the first engaging member, the first engaging member has a shaped through hole at its center, the hinge shaft has a shaped shaft that cooperates with the shaped through hole, and is used to restrict the axial rotation of the first engaging member, and the second engaging member is fixed to the door body.

[0013] 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 second engaging member along the hinge axis. The second engaging member has an engaging portion that engages with the first engaging member and an abutting portion connected to the engaging portion and abutting against the hinge plate. The abutting portion is used to support the weight of the door body onto the hinge plate.

[0014] As a further improvement of the present invention, a connecting plate is provided between the second engaging member and the second hook, the second engaging member and the second hook are respectively disposed at both ends of the connecting plate, and the connecting plate is fixedly connected to the door body.

[0015] As a further improvement of the present invention, the first engaging member is fixed on the hinge shaft, the second engaging member has a through hole in the middle for rotation and movement along the axial direction of the hinge shaft, the second engaging member and the door body have a connecting structure, the connecting structure allows the second engaging member to rotate together with the door body while allowing the second engaging member to slide relative to the door body along the axial direction of the hinge shaft, and the elastic element is disposed between the second engaging member and the door body.

[0016] 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 second engaging member along the hinge axis. The connecting structure has a receiving cavity for accommodating the second engaging member. The outer wall of the receiving cavity is fixedly connected to the door body. There is a mating structure between the inner wall of the receiving cavity and the second engaging member that allows the second engaging member to slide linearly in the longitudinal direction within the receiving cavity. The connecting structure also has a supporting portion connected to the receiving cavity. The supporting portion abuts against the connecting plate and is used to support the weight of the door body onto the hinge plate.

[0017] As a further improvement of the present invention, a connecting plate is provided between the connecting structure and the second hook, the connecting structure and the second hook are respectively disposed at both ends of the connecting plate, and the connecting plate is fixedly connected to the door body.

[0018] To achieve the above-mentioned objective, the present invention also provides a refrigerator having the aforementioned door closing device.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effect of the present invention is that it facilitates the closing of the door and only requires a small force to close the door. Attached Figure Description

[0020] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the door closing device of the present invention;

[0022] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the hook-shaped closed door structure in the interference region;

[0023] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the hook-shaped closing door structure in the fastening area;

[0024] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the hook-shaped closing structure after the middle door is fully closed;

[0025] Figure 5 This is an exploded view of the first embodiment of the door closing device of the present invention;

[0026] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of the assembly area of ​​the first meshing component and the hinge shaft;

[0027] Figure 7 yes Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the structure of the second meshing component;

[0028] Figure 8 yes Figure 5 Schematic diagram of the internal assembly of the second meshing component after it has been cut open;

[0029] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the door opening and stopping structure;

[0030] Figure 10 This is an exploded view of the second embodiment of the door closing device of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 11 Figure 10 A schematic diagram of the internal assembly after the central connecting structure is cut open. Detailed Implementation

[0032] 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.

[0033] Figures 1 to 8 A first embodiment of the door closing device of the present invention is shown.

[0034] like Figure 1 As shown, the entire door closing device includes a housing 10 with an 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 shaft 32. The hinge plate 31 is fixedly connected to the bottom of the housing 10 by screws, and the hinge shaft 32 is vertically fixed on the hinge plate 31. The hinge shaft 32 can be inserted into the bottom of the door 20, allowing the door 20 to rotate axially along the hinge shaft 32. A door closing structure is provided between the hinge 30 and the door 20. This door closing structure includes a hook-shaped door closing structure 40 disposed between the hinge plate 31 and the door 20, and an elastically engaging door closing structure 50 disposed between the hinge shaft 32 and the door 20. The elastically engaging door closing structure 50 can assist the hook-shaped door closing structure 40 in closing the door 20.

[0035] 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.

[0036] Figures 2 to 4 The different states of the hook-shaped closing structure 40 when the door body 20 is at different angles are shown.

[0037] like Figure 2 As shown, the hook-shaped closing structure 40 has a first hook 41 and a second hook 42.

[0038] The first hook 41 is located at the end of the hinge plate 31 and is an integral part of the hinge plate 31. The second hook 42 is fixedly connected to the box body and has a certain degree of elasticity.

[0039] The first hook 41 has an interference region 411 that interferes with the second hook 42 and a holding region 412 that engages with the second hook 42. The interference region 411 faces the side where the door body 20 is located, and the holding region 412 faces the side where the box body 10 is located. The interference region 411 and the holding region 412 are connected.

[0040] During the closing process of the door 20, the second hook 42, which is fixedly connected to the door 20, rotates along the hinge axis 32 with the door 20, and the hook-shaped closing structure 40 presents the following state:

[0041] First, such as Figure 2As shown, the second hook 42 comes into contact with the first hook 41 and enters the interference zone 411 of the first hook 41, applying a certain pressure to the interference zone 411. The interference zone 411 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 411 is opposite to the direction of the door 20 closing, thus hindering the closing of the door 20.

[0042] Secondly, such as Figure 3 As described above, after passing through the interference zone 411, the second hook 42 enters the holding zone 412 of the first hook 41. At this time, the second hook 42 begins to release the energy stored in its elastic deformation, generating an elastic force that acts on the holding zone 412. The holding zone 412 correspondingly generates a certain reaction force, the direction of which is the same as the closing direction of the door 20, thereby driving the door 20 to close. The force that drives the door 20 to close, generated by the interaction between the first hook 41 and the second hook 42, is collectively referred to in this invention as the second closing force.

[0043] Finally, as Figure 4 As shown, under the action of the second closing force 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 41 and the second hook 42.

[0044] The latching area 412 is a smooth, curved surface facing the side of the housing 10. Correspondingly, the second hook 42 has a latching surface 422 that mates with the latching area 412. This structural design facilitates the latching engagement of the first hook 41 and the second hook 42, thereby driving the door 20 to close.

[0045] The interference zone 411 is a smoothly transitioned curved surface. Correspondingly, the second hook 42 has an interference surface 421 that contacts the interference zone 411. The interference surface 421 is a smooth curved surface. The interference zone 411 and the latching zone 412 are smoothly connected. The interference surface 421 and the latching surface 422 are smoothly connected. This structural design helps to reduce the friction between the first hook 41 and the second hook 42, facilitating the closing of the door 20 and improving the service life of the hook-shaped closing structure 40.

[0046] Preferably, when the door body 20 rotates 5-10 degrees relative to the housing 10 along the hinge axis 32, the second hook 42 is in the holding area 412. When the door body 20 rotates 10-15 degrees relative to the housing along the hinge axis 32, the second hook 42 is in the interference area 411.

[0047] 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.

[0048] There is a clearance area 413 between the hinge plate 31 and the latching surface 422 to prevent interference between the second hook 42 and the hinge plate 31 when the door 20 is fully closed.

[0049] Preferably, the second hook 42 is a hook-shaped structure with an internal cavity. This structural design facilitates the deformation of the second hook 42, reduces the force generated when the first hook 41 and the second hook 42 interfere with each other, and thus facilitates the closing of the door 20.

[0050] Preferably, the second hook 42 is thicker than the first hook 41. This structural design facilitates effective cooperation between the first hook 41 and the second hook 42, thereby reducing the likelihood that the hook-shaped closing structure 40 will fail to function effectively due to installation errors of the door body 20 or sagging of the door body 20 after prolonged use.

[0051] Figures 5 to 8 The elastic meshing closing structure 50 is shown.

[0052] like Figure 5 As shown, the elastic meshing closing structure 50 has a first meshing member 51, a second meshing member 52, and an elastic element 53.

[0053] The first engaging component 51 and the second engaging component 52 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.

[0054] The first engaging member 51 is fixedly mounted on the hinge shaft 32 along the circumferential direction. The first engaging member 51 is cylindrical in shape and has an irregular through hole 513 in the middle.

[0055] The irregular through hole 513 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 51. This structural design prevents the first engaging member 51 from rotating along the circumference of the hinge shaft 32, while allowing the first engaging member 51 to move up and down along the axial direction of the hinge shaft 32.

[0056] The upper end face 514 of the first engaging member 51 has a mountain-shaped protrusion 511. The mountain-shaped protrusion 511 has a transition surface 5113 parallel to the upper end face 514. One of the two side surfaces of the mountain-shaped protrusion 511 that are in contact with the upper end face 514 is a working surface 5111 and a free surface 5112. Both the working surface 5111 and the free surface 5112 are inclined planes.

[0057] The setting of the axial span angle of the working surface 5111 relative to the hinge axis 32 is adapted to the structural design of the hook-shaped closing door structure 40. The axial span angle of the working surface 5111 along the hinge axis 32 is not less than the angle of rotation of the door body 20 from the second hook 42 from entering the interference zone 411 to entering the holding zone 412.

[0058] The free surface 5112 is a clearance surface, used to prevent interference between the first engaging member 51 and the second engaging member 52 after the door body 20 is closed.

[0059] There are two mountain-shaped protrusions 511, 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 51 and the second meshing member 52 smoother, while reducing wear during use and extending the service life of the elastic meshing closing structure 50.

[0060] The second engaging member 52 is disposed on the hinge shaft 32 and fixedly connected to the bottom of the door body 20. The second engaging member 52 has an engaging portion 521, and the engaging portion 521 has a through hole 5213 in the middle for accommodating the hinge shaft 32. The lower end face of the engaging portion has an engaging surface 5211 that mates with the first engaging member 51.

[0061] The meshing surface 5211 has a protrusion 5212 that is always in contact with the first meshing member 51. There are two protrusions 5212 that cooperate with the first meshing member 51, 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 5212 that contacts the first meshing member 52 is a smoothly transitioned curved surface.

[0062] Preferably, a sealing portion 523 is also provided above the engaging portion 521. The sealing portion 523 is formed by stretching the upper end surface of the engaging portion 521 upwards. The center of the sealing portion 523 has a shaft hole 5231 for accommodating the hinge shaft 32. The lower end of the shaft hole 5231 communicates with the through hole 5213, and the upper end is closed. This structural design can prevent dust and other impurities from entering and affecting the fit between the parts.

[0063] The elastic element 53 is disposed on the hinge shaft 32 and is located between the first engaging member 51 and the hinge plate 31.

[0064] Preferably, the elastic element 53 is a disc spring. This structural design allows the elastic engagement closing structure 50 to provide sufficient closing force while being more compact, thereby reducing space requirements.

[0065] The working principle of the elastic meshing closing structure 50 is as follows:

[0066] When the door 20 is opened, the door 20 drives the second engaging member 52 to rotate on the hinge shaft 32, and the second engaging member 52 rotates relative to the first engaging member 51. The protrusion 5212 on the second engaging member 52 slides from the working surface 5111 of the first engaging member 51 to the transition surface 5113, thereby pushing the first engaging member 51 to move downward. The first engaging member 51 presses down on the elastic element 53, and the elastic element 53 undergoes elastic deformation and stores energy.

[0067] When the door 20 is closed, the protrusion 5212 on the second engagement member 52 moves from the transition surface 5113 to the working surface 5111. When it is on the working surface 5111, the elastic element 53 releases elastic potential energy, pushing the first engagement member 51 to move upward. The first engagement member 51 pushes the protrusion 5212 to slide on the working surface 5111, thereby driving the second engagement member 52 to rotate on the hinge shaft 32, thereby driving the door 20 to close.

[0068] The force generated by the elastic meshing closing structure 50 that drives the door body 20 to close is collectively referred to as the first closing force in this invention.

[0069] To better assist the hook-shaped closing structure 40, the preferred structural design of the elastic interlocking closing structure 50 is as follows:

[0070] When the door 20 is closed to the angle at which the second hook 42 is about to enter the interference zone 411, or when the door 20 is closed to the angle at which the second hook 42 is close to the interference zone 411, the protrusion 5212 is on the working surface 5111, and the elastic meshing closing structure 50 begins to generate the first closing force to assist the second hook 42 in engaging with the first hook 41, until the second hook 42 moves to the holding area 412.

[0071] When the door 20 is closed to the angle at which the second hook 42 enters the holding area 412, the hook-shaped closing structure 40 begins to generate a second closing force. At this time, the protrusion 5212 is still on the working surface 5111, and the elastic meshing closing structure 50 continues to generate a first closing force. The first closing force and the second closing force work together to close the door 20.

[0072] The angle at which the working surface 5111 spans along the hinge axis 32 is greater than the angle at which the second hook 42 rotates from the interference zone 411 into the holding zone 412 of the door body 20.

[0073] This structural design overcomes the shortcomings of the hook-shaped closing structure 40 by using an elastic interlocking closing structure 50, 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.

[0074] The structure design of the elastic meshing closing structure 50 can also be such that when the first closing force assists the second hook 42 to move to the holding area 412, the protrusion 5212 is no longer on the working surface 5111, and the hook-shaped closing structure 40 generates a second closing force to drive the door body 20 until it is closed.

[0075] Preferably, the second engaging member 52 further includes a supporting portion 522. The supporting portion 522 extends vertically downward from the outer wall of the engaging portion 521. The supporting portion 522 has a cavity inside that accommodates the first engaging member 51 and the elastic element 53. The lower end face of the supporting portion 522 abuts against the hinge plate 31, thereby supporting the weight of the door 20 onto the hinge plate 31. In this structural design, the maximum deformation of the elastic element 53 is not less than the maximum relative displacement of the first engaging member 51 and the second engaging member 52 along the hinge axis 32.

[0076] With this structural design, the elastic element 53 does not need to bear the weight of the door body 20, so a smaller elastic element 53 can meet the door closing requirements, making the structural design more streamlined, reducing space occupation, extending the service life of the elastic engagement closing structure 50, and making the rotation of the door body 20 more stable.

[0077] Preferably, a connecting plate 54 is provided between the second engaging member 52 and the second hook 42. The second engaging member 52 and the second hook 42 are respectively disposed at both ends of the connecting plate 54. The connecting plate 54 and the hinge plate 31 are parallel and spaced apart by a certain gap to prevent interference between the connecting plate 54 and the hinge plate 31. The connecting plate 54 is provided with a through hole 541. Screws are used to fix the connecting plate 54 to the bottom of the door body 20 through the through hole 541. This structural design facilitates the assembly and disassembly of the closing door structure and helps to ensure the effective cooperation of the two closing door structures.

[0078] As a further optimization of the present invention, such as Figure 9 As shown, an opening stop structure 55 is also provided between the connecting plate 54 and the hinge plate 31.

[0079] The door opening stop structure 55 has a stop member 551 provided on the connecting plate 54 and a locking part 552 provided on the hinge plate 31.

[0080] The locking member 551 has a locking plate 5511 that mates with the locking part 552, and a mounting plate 5512 extends vertically from the end of the locking plate 5511. The mounting plate 5512 has mounting holes 5513. Bolts are used to install the locking member 551 onto the connecting plate 54 through the mounting holes 5513.

[0081] The locking part 552 is provided on the hinge plate 31. The locking part 552 consists of an arc surface 5521 for making way for the stop plate 5511 and an inclined surface 5522 for locking the stop plate.

[0082] Preferably, when the door body 20 rotates 135 degrees relative to the housing 10 along the hinge axis 32, the door locking structure 55 locks the door body 20, preventing the door body 20 from rotating any further.

[0083] This structural design prevents the door 20 from opening excessively, which could cause the elastic meshing closing structure 50 to fail to mesh properly. It also prevents the door 20 from opening too wide and causing it to collide with other objects.

[0084] Figures 10 to 11 A second embodiment of the invention is shown.

[0085] The second implementation differs from the first implementation only in the specific structural design of the elastic meshing closing structure 50. The working principle of the closing device, the cooperation between the two closing structures, and other related structural designs in the closing device are the same as in the first implementation, and will not be repeated here.

[0086] like Figure 10 As shown, the elastic meshing closing structure 50 has a first meshing member 51, a second meshing member 52, an elastic element 53, and a connecting structure 56.

[0087] The first engaging member 51 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 51 has a mountain-shaped protrusion 511, and the upper surface of the mountain-shaped protrusion 511 is a smooth curved surface.

[0088] There are two mountain-shaped protrusions 511, 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 51 and the second meshing member 52 smoother, while reducing wear during use and extending the service life of the elastic meshing closing structure 50.

[0089] The second engaging member 52 is disposed on the hinge shaft 32 and connected to the bottom of the door body 20 via the connecting structure 56. The second engaging member 52 has a through hole 5213 in the middle for accommodating the hinge shaft 32.

[0090] The second engaging member 52 has an engaging portion 521, the lower end face of which has an engaging surface 5211 that mates with the first engaging member 51. The engaging surface 521 has a protrusion 5216 and a recess 5215. The top surface of the protrusion 5216 and the bottom surface of the recess 5215 are both parallel to the upper end face of the first engaging member 51.

[0091] There are two protrusions 526 and two recesses 5215, one of which is formed by rotating the other 180 degrees along the axis of hinge axis 32.

[0092] The interface between the protrusion 5216 and the recess 5215 has one working surface 5218 and the other free surface 5217. Both the working surface 5218 and the free surface 5217 are inclined planes.

[0093] The setting of the axial span angle of the working surface 5218 relative to the hinge axis 32 is adapted to the structural design of the hook-shaped closing door structure 40. The axial span angle of the working surface 5218 along the hinge axis 32 is not less than the angle of rotation of the door body 20 from the second hook 42 from entering the interference zone 411 to entering the holding zone 412.

[0094] The free surface 5217 is a clearance surface, used to prevent interference between the first engaging member 51 and the second engaging member 52 after the door body 20 is closed.

[0095] The upper end of the engaging portion 521 extends upward to form a columnar connecting portion 525. The outer diameter of the connecting portion 525 is smaller than the outer diameter of the engaging portion 521, and it is used to assemble the elastic element 53.

[0096] The connecting structure 56 is fixedly connected to the housing 10 and is used to allow the second engaging member 52 to rotate together with the door 20 while allowing the second engaging member 52 to slide relative to the door 20 along the axial direction of the hinge shaft 32.

[0097] The connecting structure 56 has a receiving cavity 561. A limiting groove 5611 is provided on the inner wall of the receiving cavity 561 along the axial direction of the hinge shaft 32. There are three limiting grooves 5611 in total, which are evenly arranged on the inner wall of the receiving cavity 561.

[0098] The outer wall of the second engaging member 52 has a limiting post 526 that mates with the limiting groove 5611. The limiting post 526 can be inserted into the limiting groove 5611 and slide up and down along the limiting groove 5611. This structural design is simple and easy to install.

[0099] The elastic element 53 is disposed on the connecting portion 525 of the second engaging member 52 and is located within the receiving cavity 561. Preferably, the elastic element 53 is a compression spring.

[0100] This structural design is simple and easy to install, making the elastic meshing closing door structure 50 more compact while providing sufficient closing force, thus reducing space occupation.

[0101] Preferably, the connecting structure 56 also has a cap 563 fixedly connected to the upper end of the receiving cavity 561. The cap 563 abuts against the upper end of the elastic element 53 to prevent the elastic element 53 from falling out of the receiving cavity 561.

[0102] A first buckle 564 is provided on the upper end of the outer wall of the receiving cavity 561, and a corresponding second buckle 5631 is provided on the lower end of the inner wall of the cap 563. The second buckle 5631 can be fastened to the first buckle 564, thereby fixing the cap 563 to the receiving cavity 561. 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.

[0103] The upper end of the elastic element 53 can also be directly inserted and fixed onto the second engaging member 52.

[0104] The working principle of the elastic meshing closing structure 50 is as follows:

[0105] When the door 20 is opened, the rotation of the door 20 drives the rotation of the connecting structure 56, which in turn drives the second engaging member 52 to rotate relative to the first engaging member 51. The mountain-shaped protrusion 511 of the first engaging member 51 slides from the recess 5215 across the working surface to the protrusion 5216, pushing the second engaging member 52 upward. The second engaging member 52 presses upward against the elastic element 53, causing the elastic element 53 to undergo elastic deformation and store energy.

[0106] When the door 20 is closed, the mountain-shaped protrusion 511 of the first engaging member 51 moves from the protrusion 5216 to the working surface 5218. The elastic element 53 releases elastic potential energy, pushing the second engaging member 52 to move downward. The working surface 5218 of the second engaging member 52 squeezes the mountain-shaped protrusion 511. The mountain-shaped protrusion 511 generates a reaction force that drives the second engaging member 52 to rotate on the hinge shaft 32, thereby driving the door 20 to close.

[0107] Preferably, the connecting structure 56 further includes a supporting portion 562. The supporting portion 562 is stretched from the lower end face of the receiving cavity 561, and its outer diameter is the same as that of the receiving cavity 561. The supporting portion 562 has a relief hole in the middle to accommodate the first engaging member 51. The lower end face of the supporting portion 562 abuts against the hinge plate 31 to support the weight of the door body 20 onto the hinge plate 31. In this structural design, the maximum deformation of the elastic element 53 is not less than the maximum relative displacement of the first engaging member 51 and the second engaging member 52 along the hinge axis 32.

[0108] With this structural design, the elastic element 53 does not need to bear the weight of the door body 20, so a smaller elastic element 53 can meet the door closing requirements, making the structural design more streamlined, reducing space occupation, extending the service life of the elastic engagement closing structure 50, and making the rotation of the door body 20 more stable.

[0109] Preferably, a connecting plate 54 is provided between the connecting structure 56 and the second hook 42. The connecting structure 56 and the second hook 42 are respectively disposed at both ends of the connecting plate 54. The connecting plate 54 and the hinge plate 31 are parallel and spaced apart by a certain gap to prevent interference between the connecting plate 54 and the hinge plate 31. The connecting plate 54 is provided with a through hole 541, and screws are used to install the connecting plate 54 to the bottom of the door body 20. This structural design facilitates the assembly and disassembly of the closing door structure and helps to ensure the effective cooperation of the two closing door structures.

[0110] In summary, the technical solution provided by this invention can solve the problems of doors being difficult to close, requiring a large force to close, having a short service life, and being easily damaged in the prior art. Using the technical solution provided by this invention, the door can be easily closed, requiring only a small force to close, and the closing structure has a long service life and is not easily damaged. Furthermore, the overall structure is simple, easy to install, and saves space.

[0111] 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.

[0112] 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, characterized in that, A door closing device is provided between the hinge and the door body. The door closing device includes a hook-shaped door closing structure disposed between the hinge plate and the door body and an elastic engagement door closing structure disposed between the hinge shaft and the door body. The elastic engagement door closing structure assists the hook-shaped door closing structure in closing the door body. The door closing device has a first hook disposed on the hinge plate and a second hook fixedly connected to the door body. The first hook has an interference area that interferes with the second hook and a latching area that engages with the second hook. The elastic meshing closing structure includes a first meshing member fixedly disposed on the hinge shaft along the circumferential direction, a second meshing member disposed on the door body and cooperating with the first meshing member, and an elastic element that allows the first meshing member and the second meshing member to move towards each other in the axial direction of the hinge shaft. After the second hook enters the latching area, the second hook latches with the first hook to generate a second closing force that drives the door body to close. After the hook-shaped closing structure provides the second closing force, the elastic element still drives the first meshing member and the second meshing member to move towards each other to provide a first closing force. The first closing force and the second closing force work together on the door body to drive the door body to close. After the second hook enters the holding area, the second hook and the first hook engage to generate a second closing force that drives the door to close. After the hook-shaped closing structure provides the second closing force, the elastic element no longer drives the first engaging member and the second engaging member to move towards each other. The second closing force acts solely on the door to drive the door to close.

2. The door closing device as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The second hook has a certain elasticity, and the elastic engagement closing structure is configured such that before the second hook enters the holding area, the elastic engagement 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 engage.

3. The door closing device as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The holding area is an arc-shaped curved surface recessed towards the side where the box is located. The second hook has a holding surface that cooperates with the holding area. The interference area faces the side where the door is located and is connected to the holding area. The second hook has an interference surface that contacts the interference area. The interference surface and the holding surface are connected. The elastic engagement closing structure is configured such that when the second hook enters the interference area, the elastic engagement closing structure provides the first closing force to drive the second hook into the holding area.

4. The door closing device as described in claim 3, 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.

5. The door closing device as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The elastic element begins to drive the first engaging member and the second engaging member to move toward each other before the second hook enters the interference zone or when the second hook enters the interference zone, thereby generating a first closing force.

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

7. The door closing device as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The elastic element is disposed between the hinge plate and the first engaging member. 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 to restrict the axial rotation of the first engaging member. The second engaging member is fixed to the door body.

8. The door closing device as described in claim 7, characterized in that, The maximum deformation of the elastic element is not less than the maximum relative displacement of the first engaging member and the second engaging member along the hinge axis. The second engaging member has an engaging portion that engages with the first engaging member and an abutting portion connected to the engaging portion and abutting against the hinge plate. The abutting portion is used to support the weight of the door body onto the hinge plate.

9. The door closing device as described in claim 8, characterized in that, A connecting plate is provided between the second engaging member and the second hook. The second engaging member and the second hook are respectively disposed at both ends of the connecting plate, and the connecting plate is fixedly connected to the door body.

10. The door closing device as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The first engaging member is fixed to the hinge shaft. The second engaging member has a through hole in the middle for rotation and movement along the hinge shaft axis. There is a connecting structure between the second engaging member and the door body. The connecting structure allows the second engaging member to rotate together with the door body while allowing the second engaging member to slide relative to the door body along the hinge shaft axis. The elastic element is disposed between the second engaging member and the door body.

11. The door closing device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that, The maximum deformation of the elastic element is not less than the maximum relative displacement of the first engaging member and the second engaging member along the hinge axis. The connecting structure has a receiving cavity for accommodating the second engaging member. The outer wall of the receiving cavity is fixedly connected to the door body. There is a mating structure between the inner wall of the receiving cavity and the second engaging member that allows the second engaging member to slide linearly in the longitudinal direction within the receiving cavity. The connecting structure also has a supporting part connected to the receiving cavity. The supporting part abuts against the connecting plate and is used to support the weight of the door body onto the hinge plate.

12. The door closing device as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that, A connecting plate is provided between the connecting structure and the second hook. The connecting structure and the second hook are respectively disposed at both ends of the connecting plate, and the connecting plate is fixedly connected to the door body.

13. A refrigerator, characterized in that, The refrigerator has a door closing device as described in any one of claims 1-12.

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