refrigerator

Abstract

The present invention provides a refrigerator, belonging to the technical field of household appliances. The refrigerator includes a door and a hinge plate. When the door rotates from a closed state to open to a first state, a first hinge axis moves from a first positioning position along a first straight line to a second positioning position, and simultaneously, a second hinge axis moves from a first guide position along a second straight line to a second guide position, so that the door moves inward a first distance and forward a certain distance. When the door continues to open from the first state to a second state, the second state is less than 90°, and the first hinge axis moves from the second positioning position along a first curve to a third positioning position, and the second hinge axis moves from the second guide position along a second curve to a third guide position, so that the door moves inward a second distance. The hinge structure of this refrigerator ensures that the door does not extend beyond or extend too far beyond the side of the cabinet when opened.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of household appliances, in particular to a refrigerator. Background Art

[0002] In the related art, the hinge structure of the refrigerator is mostly a single-axis type, and the door rotates around the hinge axis through the cooperation between the hinge axis and the shaft sleeve of the door. When the door of this type of hinge structure is opened, the corner of the door will extend beyond the side of the door body.

[0003] For built-in refrigerators, the refrigerator is generally placed in a cabinet. It is required that when the door is opened to 90 degrees, the corners of the door cannot exceed the size of the cabinet too much, otherwise the use of the refrigerator will be restricted. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present invention solves one of the technical problems in the related art at least to a certain extent.

[0005] To this end, the present application aims to provide a refrigerator whose hinge structure ensures that the door does not extend beyond or extends too far beyond the side of the refrigerator body when opened.

[0006] The refrigerator according to the present application includes: a box body, which is formed with a storage chamber; a hinge plate, which is fixed to the box body, and a first hinge axis and a second hinge axis are provided on the hinge plate, and the length of the first hinge axis is longer than the second hinge axis; a box door, which is rotatably connected to the box body to open or close the storage chamber, and the box door has a front wall and a side wall close to the hinge plate, and the box door is provided with a first track groove that cooperates with the first hinge axis, and a second track groove that cooperates with the second hinge axis; the first track groove has a first positioning position, a second positioning position and a third positioning position in sequence, and correspondingly, the second track groove has a first guide position, a second guide position and a third guide position in sequence, and the second positioning position is farther away from the front wall than the first positioning position. , close to the side wall, the third positioning position is closer to the front wall and the side wall than the second positioning position; when the door is rotated to open from the closed state to the first state, the first hinge shaft moves from the first positioning position along the first straight line to the second positioning position, and at the same time, the second hinge shaft moves from the first guide position along the second straight line to the second guide position, so that the door moves inward by a first distance and to the front side for a distance; when the door continues to open from the first state to the second state, the second state is less than 90°, the first hinge shaft moves from the second positioning position along the first curve to the third positioning position, and the second hinge shaft moves from the second guide position along the second curve to the third guide position, so that the door moves inward by a second distance.

[0007] In some embodiments of the refrigerator of the present application, when the door continues to open to 90° from the second state, the door only rotates with the first hinge axis as the center, and the second hinge axis moves from the third guide position to the fourth guide position along the arc relative to the second track groove.

[0008] In some embodiments of the refrigerator of the present application, the first trajectory groove also has a first terminal position that is closer to the side wall and the front wall than the third positioning position, and the second trajectory groove also has a second terminal position that is closer to the side wall and the front wall than the fourth guide position; when the door continues to open from 90°, the first hinge axis moves from the third positioning position along the fourth curve to the first terminal position, and at the same time, the second hinge axis moves from the fourth guide position along the fifth curve to the second terminal position.

[0009] In some embodiments of the refrigerator of the present application, a distance from the first positioning position to the second positioning position is shorter than a distance from the second positioning position to the third positioning position.

[0010] In some embodiments of the refrigerator of the present application, the third positioning position is closer to the front wall than the first positioning position.

[0011] In some embodiments of the refrigerator of the present application, when the door is in a closed state, the first hinge axis is closer to the side wall and farther away from the front wall than the second hinge axis, the second guide position is closer to the side wall and farther away from the front wall than the first guide position, and the third guide position is closer to the side wall and farther away from the front wall than the second guide position.

[0012] In some embodiments of the refrigerator of the present application, when the door is in a closed state, the first hinge axis is located at the end of the first track groove, and the second hinge axis is located at the end of the second track groove.

[0013] In some embodiments of the refrigerator of the present application, there is a gap between the second hinge axis and the end of the second track groove.

[0014] In some embodiments of the refrigerator of the present application, when the door is opened 90°, there is a vertical gap between the front wall of the door and the side of the refrigerator body.

[0015] In some embodiments of the refrigerator of the present application, a limiting structure is provided between the door and the hinge plate to limit the door from opening to a maximum angle. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present invention or the technical solutions in the prior art, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the description of the prior art. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without paying any creative work.

[0017] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0018] Figure 2 is a top view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0019] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 A-axis enlarged view;

[0020] Figure 4 is an exploded view of the hinge at the upper right corner of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0021] Figure 5 1 is a bottom view of the hinge at the lower end of the refrigerator door according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0022] Figure 6 is an exploded view of a hinge at the lower end of a refrigerator door according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0023] Figure 7 1 is a diagram illustrating relative positions of a first hinge axis and a second hinge axis of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0024] Figure 8 This is a view of the hinge of the refrigerator door in a closed state according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0025] Figure 9 yes Figure 8 View at the middle hinge Figure 1 ;

[0026] Figure 10 yes Figure 8 View at the middle hinge Figure 2 ;

[0027] Figure 11 1 is a view of a refrigerator door in a first state according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0028] Figure 12 1 is a view of a refrigerator door according to an embodiment of the present application being between a first state and a second state;

[0029] Figure 13 2 is a view showing a refrigerator door in a second state according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0030] Figure 14 This is a view of a refrigerator door in an open 90° state according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0031] Figure 15 This is a view of a refrigerator door in a fully opened state according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0032] Figure 16 is a view of another embodiment of a hinge shaft of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0033] Figure 17 is an exploded view of the hinge at the upper right corner of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0034] Figure 18 is a perspective view of an upper mounting block of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0035] Figure 19 is an exploded view of a hinge at the lower end of a refrigerator door according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0036] Figure 20 is a perspective view of a lower mounting block of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0037] Figure 21 This is a view of the hinge at the lower end of the refrigerator door according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0038] Figure 22 This is another embodiment of the refrigerator door according to the embodiment of the present application. Figure 1 ;

[0039] Figure 23 This is another embodiment of the refrigerator door according to the embodiment of the present application. Figure 2 ;

[0040] In the above figures: 1. Refrigerator;

[0041] 10. Box; 20. Storage room; 21. Upper storage room; 22. Lower storage room;

[0042] 30. Door; 301. Door shell; 302. Raised portion; 303. First raised portion; 304. Second raised portion; 31. Front wall; 32. Side wall; 33. Corner edge; 34. Upper receiving groove; 36. Lower receiving groove; 37. First raised portion; 38. Second raised portion; 39. Clearance groove;

[0043] 40. Hinge plate; 401. Connecting portion; 402. Extending portion; 403. Stopping portion; 41. First hinge axis; 42. Second hinge axis;

[0044] 50, first track groove; 51, first positioning position; 512, first straight line; 52, second positioning position; 523, first curve; 5231, first curve segment; 5232, third curve segment; 53, third positioning position; 534, fourth curve; 54, first end position;

[0045] 60, second track groove; 61, first guide position; 612, second straight line; 62, second guide position; 623, second curve; 6231, second curve segment; 6232, fourth curve segment; 63, third guide position; 634, third curve; 64, fourth guide position; 645, fifth curve; 65, second end position;

[0046] 70. Mounting block; 71. Upper mounting block; 711. Plate; 712. Extension; 72. Lower mounting block; 721. Lock hook; 7211. Root joint; 7212. Hook;

[0047] 80. Limit block; 81. Embedded portion; 82. Limit portion; 83. Reinforced portion;

[0048] 90. Bushing; 100. Cabinet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] The present invention is described in detail below by way of exemplary embodiments, but it should be understood that elements, structures, and features of one embodiment may be beneficially combined in other embodiments without further description.

[0050] In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that the terms "center", "up", "down", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inside", "outside", etc., indicating the orientation or position relationship, are based on the orientation or position relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, and are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, rather than indicating or implying that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore cannot be understood as limiting the present invention.

[0051] The terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," and "fifth" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be understood to indicate or imply relative importance or implicitly specify the quantity of the technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature specified as "first," "second," "third," "fourth," or "fifth" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of such features.

[0052] In the description of the present invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise expressly specified or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," and "connected" should be understood broadly. For example, they may refer to fixed connections, detachable connections, or integral connections; they may refer to direct connections, indirect connections through an intermediary, or internal communication between two components. Those skilled in the art will understand the specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0053] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the accompanying drawings, the side of the refrigerator facing the user when in use is defined as the front side, and the side opposite thereto is defined as the rear side.

[0054] Reference Figure 1 The refrigerator 1 may include: a cabinet 10 having a storage chamber 20 , a cabinet door 30 connected to the cabinet 10 to open and close the storage chamber 20 , and a cold air supply device that supplies cold air to the storage chamber 20 .

[0055] The cool air supply device may include an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, and an expansion device, and may generate cool air by using latent heat of evaporation of a refrigerant.

[0056] The cabinet 10 may include an inner case defining the storage chamber 20 , an outer case connected to the outer side of the inner case to form the appearance of the refrigerator 1 , and an insulator provided between the inner case and the outer case to insulate the storage chamber 20 .

[0057] The cabinet 10 may include a horizontal partition plate that divides the storage chamber 20 into an upper storage chamber 21 and a lower storage chamber 22, and a vertical partition plate that divides the lower storage chamber 22 from side to side. The upper storage chamber 21 may be used as a refrigerator for storing food in a refrigerated mode by maintaining the air at a temperature of approximately 0 to 5°C, and the lower storage chamber 22 may be used as a freezer for storing food in a frozen mode by maintaining the air at a temperature of 0 to -30°C.

[0058] The storage chamber 20 may have an open front to allow food to be received and taken out, and the open front of the storage chamber 20 may be opened and closed by a rotatable door 30 .

[0059] The cabinet door 30 may be rotatably supported by a hinge located at an upper portion and a hinge located at a lower portion.

[0060] Reference Figures 2 to 6 The hinge may include a first hinge axis 41, a second hinge axis 42, a first track groove 50 and a second track groove 60; the first hinge axis 41 is adapted to the first track groove 50, and the second hinge axis 42 is adapted to the second track groove 50. During the process of rotating the door 30 to open or close, the first hinge axis 41 moves relative to the first track groove 50, and the second hinge axis 42 moves relative to the second track groove 60.

[0061] The hinge may include a hinge plate 40 fixedly connected to the box body 10. The hinge plate 40 may include a connecting portion 401 connected to the box body 10 and an extending portion 402 extending forward from the connecting portion 401 and having a horizontal plate shape. The connecting portion 401 may be fastened to the box body 10 by fasteners such as screws, pins, and bolts.

[0062] Specific reference Figure 3 、 Figure 4 The hinge at the upper end of the door 30 may include a hinge plate 40 connected to the upper end of the cabinet 10, and a first hinge shaft 41 and a second hinge shaft 42 connected to the hinge plate 40 to form a rotation axis. The hinge plate 40, the first hinge shaft 41, and the second hinge shaft 42 may be integrally formed, but may be provided separately and assembled with each other.

[0063] The first hinge shaft 41 and the second hinge shaft 42 may be formed on the extension portion 402 and extend vertically downward.

[0064] Reference Figure 5 、 Figure 6 For the hinge at the lower end of the door 30 , the connecting portion 401 is connected to the front end surface of the box body 10 . The first hinge shaft 41 and the second hinge shaft 42 extend upward on the hinge plate 40 .

[0065] Corresponding to the position of the hinge plate 40 , a first track groove 50 and a second track groove 60 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the door 30 .

[0066] For ease of description, the side of the door 30 closest to the hinge plate 40 is referred to as the side wall 32. For example, when the hinge plate 40 is on the right side of the cabinet 10, the right side of the door 30 is the side wall 32; when the hinge plate 40 is on the left side of the cabinet 10, the left side of the door 30 is the side wall 32. The front wall 31 and the side wall 32 of the door 30 intersect to form an angled edge 33.

[0067] Normally, continue to refer to Figure 2 The plane of the side of the cabinet 10 near the hinge plate 40 is defined as reference plane O. The side of reference plane O closest to the cabinet is the exterior, and the opposite side is the interior. When the refrigerator is placed in the cabinet 100 for use, to prevent factors such as uneven flooring and cabinet deformation, the cabinet is typically positioned at a distance of α = 5 mm from the side of the refrigerator (reference plane O). To ensure that the refrigerator door 30 opens properly, the corner edge 33 of the door 30 cannot extend too far beyond the side of the cabinet 10 (reference plane O) during rotation. Otherwise, the corner edge 33 will collide with the cabinet 100 and prevent it from opening properly.

[0068] Therefore, the door 30 needs to be able to move inward during the rotation process so that the corner edge 33 does not extend too far beyond the side of the box body 10. If the hinge plate 40 is located on the right side of the door 30, the inner side is the left side, that is, the door 30 can move to the left; if the hinge plate 40 is located on the left side of the door 30, the inner side is the right side, that is, the door 30 can move to the right.

[0069] Since the first track groove 50 and the first hinge shaft 41, as well as the second track groove 60 and the second hinge shaft 42, are in relative motion, when the door 30 is opened, with the first track groove 50 and the second track groove 60 as stationary reference points, it is equivalent to the first hinge shaft 41 moving within the first track groove 50 and the second hinge shaft 42 moving within the second track groove 60. For ease of description, this application uses the first track groove 50 and the second track groove 60 as reference points, and describes the manner in which the first hinge shaft 41 and the second hinge shaft 41 move relative to the reference points:

[0070] In some embodiments of the present application, when the box door 30 is rotated to open 90° from a closed state, the movement trajectory of the first hinge axis 41 relative to the first track groove 50 generally extends in a direction close to the side wall 32 and the front wall 31, and the movement trajectory of the second hinge axis 41 relative to the second track groove 60 generally extends in a direction away from the front wall 31 and close to the side wall 32, so that the box door 30 moves inward a certain distance while rotating, thereby avoiding the problem that the corner edge 33 of the box door 30 exceeds the reference plane O and interferes with the cabinet during the opening process, making it impossible to open normally.

[0071] Reference Figure 7 The figure shows an example of the relative positions of the first hinge axis 41 and the second hinge axis 42: when the door 30 is in the closed state, the first hinge axis 41 is closer to the side wall 32 and farther away from the front wall 31 than the second hinge axis 42. The vertical distance L1 between the first hinge axis 41 and the second hinge axis 42 in the front-to-back direction satisfies 2.5mm≤L1≤10mm, and the vertical distance L2 between the first hinge axis 41 and the second hinge axis 42 in the left-to-right direction satisfies 7.5mm≤L2≤30mm. In the current example, L1=5mm and L2=15mm are set, and the thickness of the door 30 is between 44mm and 53mm, so that when the door 30 is opened, its corner always protrudes from the side of the box body 10 by a small distance, specifically less than 3mm.

[0072] In some embodiments of the present application, reference is made to Figure 8 When the door 30 is closed, the first hinge axis 41 is located at the end of the first track groove 50, and the second hinge axis 42 is located at the end of the second track groove 60. This determines the starting ends of the first track groove 50 and the second track groove 60. The first track groove 50 generally extends from the starting end toward the side wall 32 and the front wall 31 to the other end, while the second track groove 60 generally extends from the starting end toward the direction away from the front wall 31 and toward the side wall 32. The extension of the first and second track grooves 50, 60 toward the side wall 32 allows the door 30 to move inward relative to the hinge plate 40.

[0073] In some embodiments, reference Figure 9 When the door 30 is in the closed state, there is a certain gap δ between the second hinge shaft 42 and the end wall of the second track groove 60, so that when the door 30 is dropped forcefully, the second hinge shaft 42 is prevented from contacting the starting end of the second track groove 60 and causing the door 30 to bounce open.

[0074] The following is a detailed description of the process of rotating the door 30 from the closed state to open:

[0075] Phase 1

[0076] Reference Figure 10The first trajectory groove 50 has a first positioning position 51 and a second positioning position 52, and the movement trajectory of the first hinge axis 41 from the first positioning position 51 to the second positioning position 52 in the first trajectory groove 50 is the first positioning trajectory line; correspondingly, the second trajectory groove 60 has a first guide position 61 and a second guide position 62, and the movement trajectory of the second hinge axis 42 from the first guide position 61 to the second guide position 62 in the second trajectory groove 60 is the first guide trajectory line.

[0077] Reference Figure 11 When the door 30 is rotated and opened from the closed state to the first state, the first hinge shaft 41 moves from the first positioning position 51 along the first positioning trajectory line relative to the first trajectory groove 50 to the second positioning position 52; at the same time, the second hinge shaft 42 moves from the first guide position 61 along the first guide trajectory line relative to the second trajectory groove 60 to the second guide position 62.

[0078] Among them, the second positioning position 52 is farther away from the front wall 31 and closer to the side wall 32 than the first positioning position 51, and the first positioning trajectory line extends in the direction away from the front wall 31 and closer to the side wall 32. In this way, the first hinge axis 41 moves in the direction closer to the side wall 32 and away from the front wall 31, which is equivalent to the box door 30 with the first trajectory groove 50 moving a first distance away from the side wall 32 (inward) and a distance toward the front wall 31 (front). The inward movement of the box door 30 can prevent the corner edge 33 from extending too much beyond the side of the box body 10 and touching the cabinet; because when the box door 30 is just opened, the right rear end of the box door 30 will rotate backward relative to the first hinge axis 41. As the box door 30 moves inward, the door seal 30a on the box door 30 will have contact and friction with the front side of the box body 10. In the present application, the box door 30 is set to move forward, which can avoid friction between the door seal 30a and the front side of the box body 10, thereby improving the service life of the door seal 30a.

[0079] The second guide position 62 is farther away from the front wall 31 and closer to the side wall 32 than the first guide position 61 , and the first guide track line extends in a direction away from the front wall 31 and closer to the side wall 32 .

[0080] In the current embodiment, the first positioning trajectory is a first straight line 512, and the first guiding trajectory is a second straight line 612. However, in other embodiments, the first positioning trajectory and the first guiding trajectory may also be in the form of curves.

[0081] In the first state ( Figure 11 ), the opening angle of the door 30 is about 5-10°, and the corner edge 33 extends beyond the side β of the box body 10 by about 2 mm.

[0082] In this stage, the angle between the first straight line 512 and the second straight line 612 is greater than 45°, which can avoid the shaking of the door 30 when the angle between the first straight line 512 and the second straight line 612 is small and close to parallel, thereby ensuring the stability of the rotation process of the door 30.

[0083] Phase II

[0084] Reference Figure 10 The first trajectory groove 50 also has a third positioning position 53, and the movement trajectory of the first hinge axis 41 from the second positioning position 52 to the third positioning position 53 in the first trajectory groove 50 is a second positioning trajectory line; accordingly, the second trajectory groove 60 also has a third guide position 63, and the movement trajectory of the second hinge axis 42 from the second guide position 62 to the third guide position 63 in the second trajectory groove 60 is a second guide trajectory line.

[0085] Reference Figure 13 When the door 30 continues to open from the first state to the second state, the second state is less than 90°, the first hinge axis 41 moves from the second positioning position 52 along the second positioning trajectory line to the third positioning position 53 relative to the first trajectory groove 50, and the second hinge axis 42 moves from the second guide position 62 along the second guide trajectory line to the third guide position 63 relative to the second trajectory groove 60.

[0086] Among them, the third positioning position 53 is closer to the front wall 31 and the side wall 32 than the second positioning position 52, and the second positioning trajectory line extends from the second positioning position 52 to the direction close to the front wall 31 and the side wall 32 to the third positioning position 53, so that the box door 30 moves inward by a second distance.

[0087] The third guide position 63 is farther away from the front wall 31 and closer to the side wall 32 than the second guide position 62 , and the second guide track line extends in a direction away from the front wall 31 and closer to the side wall 32 .

[0088] In the current embodiment, the second positioning trajectory is a first curve 523, and the second guiding trajectory is a second curve 623. However, in other embodiments, the second positioning trajectory and the second guiding trajectory may also be straight lines.

[0089] When the door 30 is in a closed state, the center of curvature of the first curve 523 is located on the side of the first curve 523 close to the front wall; the center of curvature of the second curve 623 is located on the side of the second curve 623 close to the corner edge.

[0090] The present application divides the process of the door 30 moving inward when it is opened into two different stages, namely, moving along a straight line to a first state and moving along a curve to a second state. This can avoid the problem of the door 30 shaking when the trajectory is close to parallel when the door rotates only along a straight line or only along a curve at a large angle.

[0091] In the current embodiment, as the door 30 opens from the closed state to the second state, the corner edge 33 of the door 30 rotates outside the reference plane O and moves inward. During this process, the distance β that the corner edge 33 extends beyond the reference plane O is always less than the distance α (5 mm) between the reference plane O and the cabinet, thereby ensuring that the corner edge 33 does not contact the cabinet and interfere with it. Furthermore, the corner edge 33 of the door 30 is outside the reference plane O, thus avoiding the problem of a jerky feeling when the door 30 moves a large distance inward to the inside of the reference plane O.

[0092] In some embodiments, the distance from the second positioning position 52 to the third positioning position 53 is greater than the distance from the first positioning position 51 to the second positioning position 52, that is, the length of the first straight line 512 is less than the first curve 523, and the length of the second straight line 612 is less than the second curve 623. In this way, the first hinge axis 41 and the second hinge axis 42 only perform a linear movement of a smaller distance at the beginning, and then perform a curved movement at a larger angle. The curved movement can ensure the smoothness of the movement of the door 30, and avoid the door 30 moving inward during the straight line movement, which may cause the user to feel a sense of jerk.

[0093] In some embodiments of the second stage, the first curve 523 and the second curve 623 each include at least two curve segments with decreasing curvatures.

[0094] In this way, the curvature of the curve becomes smaller, so that the distance the door 30 moves inward per unit angle becomes smaller. That is to say, when the door 30 rotates to open and moves inward, the inward movement slows down, ensuring the smoothness of the door 30 during the movement process.

[0095] Reference Figure 12 、 Figure 13 In some embodiments of curvature change, the first curve 523 includes a first curve segment 5231 and a third curve segment 5232 connected in sequence, and the second curve 623 includes a second curve segment 6231 and a fourth curve segment 6232 connected in sequence; the curvature of the third curve segment 5232 is smaller than that of the first curve segment 6231, and the curvature of the fourth curve segment 6232 is smaller than that of the second curve segment 6231.

[0096] When the first hinge axis 41 moves along the first curved segment 5231, the second hinge axis 42 moves along the second curved segment 6231. During this process, the door 30 moves inward by a distance d1 per unit angle of opening. When the first hinge axis 41 continues to move along the third curved segment 5232, the second hinge axis 42 moves along the fourth curved segment 6232. During this process, the door 30 moves inward by a distance d2 per unit angle of opening, where d2 < d1. As a specific example, d2 can be 1 / 2 of d1.

[0097] In other embodiments, the first curve 523 and the second curve 623 may further include three or more curve segments with decreasing curvature.

[0098] In other embodiments of curvature change, the curvatures of the first curve 523 and the first curve 623 gradually decrease, respectively. This can also ensure that the movement of the door 30 slows down during the process of rotating the door open and moving inward, thereby ensuring the smoothness of the movement of the door 30.

[0099] Phase 3

[0100] Reference Figure 14 When the door 30 continues to open 90 degrees from the second position, the door 30 only rotates. The position of the first hinge axis 41 in the first track groove 50 remains unchanged. The door 30 rotates around the first hinge axis 41, and the second hinge axis 42 moves along the third guide track line within the second track groove 60 to the fourth guide position 64. The third guide track line is arc-shaped, and the fourth guide position 64 is farther away from the front wall 31 and closer to the side wall 32 than the third guide position 63.

[0101] In some embodiments, when the door 30 is open at 90°, a vertical gap γ is formed between the front wall 31 or corner edge 33 of the door 30 and the side surface of the cabinet 10 (reference plane O). In other words, the front wall 31 of the door 30 is located inboard of the reference plane O, and the distance γ from the front wall 31 to the reference plane O is greater than 0, allowing the door 30 to continue opening at a small angle without interfering with the cabinet. In the current example, when the refrigerator is placed in the cabinet, the door 30 can be opened to more than 90°, approximately between 105° and 110°.

[0102] In order to allow the refrigerator to be opened to a greater angle when not embedded in a cabinet, the first track groove 50 and the second track groove 60 are extended in this embodiment:

[0103] Stage 4

[0104] Reference Figure 10 The first trajectory groove 50 also has a first end position 54, and the movement trajectory of the first hinge axis 41 from the third positioning position 53 to the first end position 54 in the first trajectory groove 50 is a third positioning trajectory line; correspondingly, the second trajectory groove 60 also has a second end position 65, and the movement trajectory of the second hinge axis 42 from the fourth guide position 64 to the second end position 65 in the second trajectory groove 60 is a fourth guide trajectory line.

[0105] Reference Figure 15When the door 30 continues to open from 90°, the first hinge shaft 41 moves from the third positioning position 53 along the third positioning trajectory line relative to the first trajectory groove 50 to the first end position 54, and the second hinge shaft 42 moves from the fourth guide position 64 along the fourth guide trajectory line relative to the second trajectory groove 60 to the second end position 65.

[0106] Among them, the first terminal position 54 is closer to the front wall 31 and the side wall 32 than the third positioning position 53, and the third positioning trajectory line extends from the third positioning position 53 to the first terminal position 54 in the direction close to the front wall 31 and the side wall 32; the second terminal position 65 is closer to the front wall 31 and the side wall 32 than the fourth guide position 64, and the fourth guide trajectory line extends from the fourth guide position 64 to the second terminal position 65 in the direction close to the front wall 31 and the side wall 32.

[0107] In the above description, the extension direction of the track line is based on the moving direction of the first hinge axis 41 relative to the first track groove 50 or the moving direction of the second hinge axis 42 relative to the second track groove 60 during the opening process of the door 30.

[0108] In the current embodiment, the third positioning trajectory is the fourth curve 534, and the fourth guide trajectory is the fifth curve 645. However, in other embodiments, the third positioning trajectory and the fourth guide trajectory may also be straight lines.

[0109] If the motion trajectory at this stage is still the same as in the previous stage: the door 30 only rotates, then it is easy for the movement trends of the first hinge axis 41 and the second hinge axis 42 to be parallel within a longer rotation range, causing the door 30 to shake. Therefore, at this stage, the corner edges of the door 30 are set to move forward and inward a certain distance during rotation, so that there is an angle between the motion trajectory of the first hinge axis 41 and the motion trajectory of the second hinge axis 42 at any point.

[0110] Specifically, the tangent angle between the motion trajectory of the first hinge shaft 41 and the motion trajectory of the second hinge shaft 42 at any corresponding point is greater than 30°, thereby ensuring the smooth movement of the door 30 .

[0111] In some embodiments of the present application, since the first hinge shaft 41 mainly plays a positioning role and the second hinge shaft 42 mainly plays a guiding role, among the two hinge shafts, the first hinge shaft 41 is the main shaft and the second hinge shaft 42 is the auxiliary shaft, and the force is mainly concentrated on the main shaft. Therefore, the length of the first hinge shaft 41 is set to be greater than the second hinge shaft 42, and accordingly, the first track groove 50 is deeper than the second track groove 60. This can avoid the waste of material costs caused by the second hinge shaft 42 being too long, and at the same time avoid the problem of the track groove and the hinge shaft being easily separated when the first hinge shaft 41 is shorter when the box door is tilted, thereby saving material costs while ensuring structural reliability.

[0112] In addition, since the force is concentrated on the first hinge shaft 41, the first hinge shaft 41 can be set to have a larger diameter than the second hinge shaft 42. In this way, the first hinge shaft 41 is thicker and can bear the force better, and has sufficient strength to withstand the force when the door is tilted; at the same time, since the second track groove 60 is longer and occupies more space in the thickness direction of the door, the second hinge shaft 42 is set to be thinner, and the second track groove 60 can be narrower accordingly, so that the door can be designed to be thinner, and the overall thickness of the refrigerator can be smaller, which has the advantage of small size.

[0113] In some embodiments of the present application, reference is made to Figure 16 The first and second hinge shafts 41, 42 are covered with sleeves 90, which are rotatable relative to the shafts. During the movement of the dual-axis hinge, the sleeves 90 rotate relative to the shafts, while sliding between the sleeves 90 and the track grooves reduces friction and increases service life. The sleeves 90 can be made of wear-resistant POM and can be connected to the hinge shafts or to the hinge plate 40 via bearings.

[0114] In other embodiments, a bushing made of POM material may be provided on the inner wall of the track groove, and the hinge shaft moves in the bushing.

[0115] In some embodiments of the present application, reference is made to Figures 17 to 20 The door 30 includes a mounting block 70 , which is mounted on the door 30 at a position opposite to the hinge plate 40 , and the first track groove 50 and the second track groove 60 are provided on the mounting block 70 .

[0116] The mounting block 70 includes an upper mounting block 71 disposed at the upper end of the box door 30 , and a lower mounting block 72 disposed at the lower end of the box door 30 .

[0117] Specific reference Figure 17 、 Figure 18 The upper mounting block 71 may include a plate body 711 and an extension portion 712 extending downward from the lower surface of the plate body 711. The first track groove 50 and the second track groove 60 are recessed downward from the upper surface of the plate body 711 onto the extension portion 712. The shape of the extension portion 712 corresponds to that of the track groove.

[0118] An upper receiving groove 34 is correspondingly provided at the upper end of the box door 30 , and the upper mounting block 71 is inserted into the upper receiving groove 34 , and then the plate body 711 is fastened to the box door 30 by screws or the like.

[0119] Specific reference Figure 19 、 Figure 20The lower mounting block 72 has the same structure as the upper mounting block 71, including the plate body 711, extension portion 712, and track groove. The extension portion 712 of the lower mounting block 72 extends upward from the upper surface of the plate body 711, while the first track groove 50 and the second track groove 60 are recessed upward from the lower surface of the plate body 711 into the extension portion 712. Furthermore, a lower receiving groove 36 is correspondingly defined at the lower end of the door 30. The lower mounting block 72 is inserted into the lower receiving groove 36, and the plate body 711 is then fastened to the door 30 using screws or the like.

[0120] The upper mounting block 71 and the lower mounting block 72 can be made of POM material. POM has a strong friction resistance and can increase the service life of the hinge.

[0121] In some embodiments of the present application, Figure 6 The lower mounting block 72 may be provided with a locking hook structure. Specifically, the lower mounting block 72 includes a locking hook 721 disposed on the inner side of the plate body 711. The locking hook 721 extends inward and bends toward the rear side. The opening of the locking hook 721 faces the plate body 711, and the free end of the locking hook 721 is located at the rear side.

[0122] A stopper 403 extending outward is provided on the inner side of the hinge plate 40 at the lower end of the door 30. When the door 30 is in a closed state, the lock hook 721 on the door 30 hooks the stopper 403 on the hinge plate 40, thereby locking the door 30 to prevent the door 30 from being loosely closed and affecting the refrigeration and freezing effect of the refrigerator; when the door 30 is opened, the lock hook 721 is deformed by the force and overcomes the obstruction of the stopper 403, thereby disengaging from the stopper 403.

[0123] The lock hook 721 may include a root portion 7211 and a hook portion 7212. The root portion 7211 is connected to the plate 711, and the hook portion 7212 is connected to the root portion 7211 and bent backward. A screw is passed through the root portion 7211 to connect it to the door 30 to strengthen the connection between the root portion 7211 and the door 30. This ensures that only the hook portion 7212 deforms when the lock hook 721 is released from the stop portion 403.

[0124] The free ends of the hook portion 7212 and the stop portion 403 are both in an arc shape, which helps the hook portion 7212 to hook onto the stop portion 403 or detach from the stop portion 403 along the arc.

[0125] In some embodiments, a first protrusion 37 and a second protrusion 38 may be provided on the box door 30. When the box door 30 is in a closed state, the first protrusion 37 and the second protrusion 38 are roughly arranged in a front-to-back manner, and a gap groove 39 is formed between the first protrusion 37 and the second protrusion 38. Part 7211a of the root connection 7211 is inserted into the gap groove 39. In this way, the root connection 7211 can be prevented from being deformed in the front-to-back direction by limiting the first protrusion 37 and the second protrusion 38.

[0126] It should be noted that the lock hook 721 can also be provided on the upper mounting block 71 , and the stopper 403 is correspondingly provided on the hinge plate 40 located at the upper end of the door 30 .

[0127] In some embodiments of the present application, a limiting structure is provided between the door 30 and the hinge plate 40 for limiting the door 30 from opening to a maximum angle, so as to avoid damage to the mounting block 70 when the door is opened forcefully to a certain angle.

[0128] Specifically, refer to Figure 19 、 Figure 21 A limit block 80 is provided at the lower end of the door 30. The limit block 80 is located at the front end of the lower mounting block 72. When the door 30 rotates to the maximum allowable position, the limit block 80 abuts against the side 404 of the hinge plate 40, thereby stopping the door 30 from continuing to rotate.

[0129] The limiting block 80 may be a sheet metal component, including an embedding portion 81 , a limiting portion 82 and a reinforcing portion 83 .

[0130] The embedded portion 81 is plate-shaped and is installed in the lower receiving groove 36 of the box door 30. The plate body 711 of the lower mounting block 72 clamps the embedded portion 81 on the box door 30 from the lower end, thereby fixing the limit block 80 on the box door 30.

[0131] The reinforcing portion 83 and the embedding portion 81 form a vertical angle, that is, in the assembled state, the embedding portion 81 is in a horizontal state and the reinforcing portion 83 is in a vertical state; the reinforcing portion 83 is formed by bending the front end of the embedding portion 81 downward.

[0132] The limiting portion 82 is block-shaped and is formed by the lower end portion of the reinforcement portion 83 continuing to extend downward. The limiting portion 82 extends vertically out of the lower surface of the door 30, so that when the door 30 drives the limiting block 80 to rotate to the maximum angle, the limiting portion 82 will be blocked by the side 404 of the hinge plate 40, thereby forcing the door 30 to stop opening.

[0133] The limiting block 80 is clamped on the box door 30 through the lower mounting block 72, omitting the connection structure between the limiting block 80 and the box door 30, simplifying the product structure, and having the advantage of a simple structure.

[0134] It should be noted that the limit block 80 can also be set at the upper end of the box door 30, which will not be described in detail here.

[0135] If the distance between the first hinge axis 41 and the second hinge axis 42 is relatively far, the hinge movement will be greatly affected when the door 30 is tilted or the two axes are not parallel, and may even affect the normal rotation of the hinge. Therefore, in some embodiments of the present application, Figure 18The thickness of the plate 711 of the mounting block 70 is recorded as L1, and the minimum wall thickness between the first track groove 50 and the second track groove 60 is recorded as L2, then L2 = (0.5 ~ 1) L1. This setting can make the distance between the first hinge axis 41 and the second hinge axis 42 closer, and the hinge movement is less affected when the door is slightly tilted or the two axes are not parallel, and at the same time will not affect the strength of the mounting block 70.

[0136] In the above embodiment, the first track groove 50 and the second track groove 60 are provided on the mounting block 70, and then the mounting block 70 is mounted on the door 30. However, in other embodiments, the first track groove 50 and the second track groove 60 can also be directly provided on the door 30.

[0137] Reference Figure 22 、 Figure 23 As shown, the position of the upper hinge plate 40 on the door 30 is recessed downward to form a first track groove 50 and a second track groove 60 ; the position of the lower hinge plate 40 on the door 30 is recessed upward to form a first track groove 50 and a second track groove 60 .

[0138] Specifically, the door 30 includes a door shell 301 and a protrusion 302 vertically extending from the door shell 301 toward the interior thereof. The first track groove 50 and the second track groove 60 are formed by the outer end surface of the door shell 301 being recessed inwardly onto the protrusion 302 .

[0139] The protrusion 302 can be integrally formed with the door shell 301 . The protrusion 302 includes a first protrusion 303 and a second protrusion 304 . The shape of the first protrusion 303 corresponds to the first track groove 50 , and the shape of the second protrusion 304 corresponds to the second track groove 60 .

[0140] The thickness of the door shell 301 is denoted as H1, and the minimum wall thickness between the first track groove 50 and the second track groove 60 is denoted as H2, then H2 = (0.5~1)H1. This arrangement can make the distance between the first hinge axis 41 and the second hinge axis 42 closer, and the hinge movement is less affected when the box door is slightly tilted or the two axes are not parallel, and at the same time will not affect the strength of the mounting block 70.

[0141] In the above embodiment, the first hinge axis 41 and the second hinge axis 42 are arranged on the hinge plate 40, and the first track groove 50 and the second track groove 60 correspond to the box door 30; in other embodiments, the first hinge axis 41 and the second hinge axis 42 can be arranged on the box door 30, and the first track groove 50 and the second track groove 60 are arranged on the hinge plate 40; or, in another embodiment, the first hinge axis 41 and the second track groove 60 are arranged on the hinge plate 40, and the second hinge axis 42 and the first track groove 50 are arranged on the box door 30; or the first hinge axis 41 and the second track groove 60 are arranged on the box door 30, and the second hinge axis 42 and the first track groove 50 are arranged on the hinge plate 40.

[0142] According to the present application, by setting the box door 30 to move a first distance inward and a distance forward when initially opened, moving the first distance inward can ensure that the box door 30 will not interfere with the cabinet, and moving the first distance forward can avoid the door seal 30a from rubbing against the front side of the box body 10 and causing wear.

[0143] According to the present application, the process of the door 30 rotating to open and moving inward is divided into two stages, that is, the movement trajectory of the first hinge axis 41 and the second hinge axis 42 when opening from the closed state to the first state is a straight line, and the movement trajectory of the first hinge axis 41 and the second hinge axis 42 when continuing to open from the first state to the second state is a curve. From the first state along the straight line to the second state along the curve, the problem of the door 30 shaking due to the trajectory being close to parallel when the door is rotated only along a straight line or only along a curve at a large angle can be avoided; and the first hinge axis 41 and the second hinge axis 42 only perform a straight line movement of a small distance at the beginning, and perform a curved movement at a larger angle subsequently. The curved movement can ensure the smoothness of the door 30 in the movement process, and avoid the door 30 moving stiffly inward when moving along a straight line, causing the user to feel a sense of error.

[0144] According to the present application, when the door 30 opens from the first state to the second state, the curved trajectory of the movement of the first hinge axis 41 and the second hinge axis 42 includes at least two curved segments with decreasing curvature, so that the distance the door 30 moves inward within a unit angle becomes smaller. In the process of rotating the door 30 to open and move inward, the movement slows down, ensuring the smoothness of the door 30 during the movement process.

[0145] According to the present application, when the door 30 continues to open from 90°, the motion trajectory of the first hinge axis 41 is the fourth curve 54, and the motion trajectory of the second hinge axis 42 is the fifth curve 645, so that the motion trajectory of the first hinge axis 41 and the motion trajectory of the second hinge axis 42 have an angle at any point, avoiding the problem of the door 30 shaking easily when rotating within a larger angle range, and ensuring the smooth movement of the door 30.

[0146] According to the present application, during the entire process of opening the box door 30, the first hinge axis moves from one end of the first track groove to the other end, and the second hinge axis moves from one end of the second track groove to the other end. The movement process will not retract, thereby ensuring the smooth opening of the box door 30.

[0147] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, but the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any modifications or substitutions that can be easily conceived by a person skilled in the art within the technical scope disclosed in the present invention should be included in the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be based on the scope of protection of the claims.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, characterized in that: include: A box body is formed with a storage chamber; A hinge plate is fixedly mounted on the box body, wherein a first hinge shaft and a second hinge shaft are provided on the hinge plate, wherein the first hinge shaft is longer than the second hinge shaft; a box door rotatably connected to the box body to open or close the storage chamber, the box door having a front wall and a side wall adjacent to the hinge plate, the box door being provided with a first track groove cooperating with the first hinge axis, and a second track groove cooperating with the second hinge axis; The first track groove has a first positioning position, a second positioning position, and a third positioning position in sequence. Correspondingly, the second track groove has a first guiding position, a second guiding position, and a third guiding position in sequence. The second positioning position is farther from the front wall and closer to the side wall than the first positioning position, and the third positioning position is closer to the front wall and the side wall than the second positioning position. When the door is rotated from the closed state to the first state, the first hinge shaft moves from the first positioning position along the first straight line to the second positioning position, and at the same time, the second hinge shaft moves from the first guide position along the second straight line to the second guide position, so that the door moves inwardly by a first distance and forwardly by a certain distance. When the box door continues to open from the first state to the second state, the second state is less than 90°, the first hinge axis moves from the second positioning position along the first curve to the third positioning position, and the second hinge axis moves from the second guide position along the second curve to the third guide position, so that the box door moves inward by a second distance.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein: When the door continues to open to 90° from the second state, the door only rotates around the first hinge axis, and the second hinge axis moves from the third guide position to the fourth guide position along the arc relative to the second track groove.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that The first track groove further has a first end position closer to the side wall and the front wall than the third positioning position, and the second track groove further has a second end position closer to the side wall and the front wall than the fourth guide position; When the door continues to open from 90°, the first hinge shaft moves from the third positioning position along the fourth curve to the first end position, and at the same time, the second hinge shaft moves from the fourth guide position along the fifth curve to the second end position.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein A distance from the first positioning position to the second positioning position is shorter than a distance from the second positioning position to the third positioning position.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein The third positioning position is closer to the front wall than the first positioning position.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein: When the box door is in a closed state, the first hinge axis is closer to the side wall and farther from the front wall than the second hinge axis, the second guide position is closer to the side wall and farther from the front wall than the first guide position, and the third guide position is closer to the side wall and farther from the front wall than the second guide position.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein When the door is in a closed state, the first hinge shaft is located at an end of the first track groove, and the second hinge shaft is located at an end of the second track groove.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, characterized in that A gap is formed between the second hinge shaft and an end portion of the second track groove.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein When the box door is opened 90 degrees, there is a gap between the front wall of the box door and the side surface of the box body in the vertical direction.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein A limiting structure is provided between the box door and the hinge plate to limit the box door from opening to a maximum angle.

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