Hinge and refrigeration device having the same

Abstract

The application discloses a hinge and a refrigeration device, the hinge is used for connecting a door body to a cabinet, the hinge comprises a fixed seat fixed to the cabinet, the fixed seat is provided with a first sliding groove and a sliding block in sliding connection with the first sliding groove; a movable seat fixed to the door body, one end of the movable seat is connected with a hinge shaft, the movable seat has a linkage state of synchronous movement with the sliding block while rotating around the hinge shaft; a linkage assembly, the linkage assembly comprises a first connecting rod, one end of the first connecting rod is rotationally connected to the hinge shaft, and the other end of the first connecting rod is rotationally connected to the sliding block; a second connecting rod, one end of the second connecting rod is rotationally connected to the fixed seat, and the other end of the second connecting rod is movably connected to the movable seat; and a third connecting rod, one end of the third connecting rod is rotationally connected to the sliding block, and the other end of the third connecting rod is rotationally connected to the second connecting rod; the movement track of the door body can be controlled.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of home appliance technology, and more particularly to a hinge and a refrigeration device having the hinge. Background Technology

[0002] With societal development, refrigerators have become a common household item. Refrigerators are relatively large and take up considerable space. In homes with limited space, especially small kitchens, clever placement of the refrigerator is crucial to save space. This has led to a growing demand for built-in refrigerators that can fit into narrower, deeper spaces (such as cabinets).

[0003] Typically, the refrigerator cabinet and door are connected by a fixed hinge, which greatly restricts the door's opening and closing freedom, making it impossible to freely control the door's movement trajectory. During the opening process, the door rotates around the hinge axis, and the side of the door that is hinged to the cabinet protrudes from the side wall of the refrigerator cabinet. This can easily cause the door to hit the wall or cabinet on the open side, affecting not only the extent to which the refrigerator door can open but also damaging the door's surface and affecting its aesthetics.

[0004] To address these issues, existing technologies typically leave relatively large gaps on both sides of the built-in refrigerator and between it and the deep, narrow space or other objects placed within that space, to prevent interference. However, these gaps not only hinder the efficient use of space but also negatively impact the aesthetics of the refrigerator blending seamlessly with the surrounding environment.

[0005] In view of this, it is necessary to improve the existing hinges and the refrigeration devices with such hinges in order to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a hinge and a refrigeration device having the hinge.

[0007] To achieve one of the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention provides a hinge for connecting a door to a housing; the hinge includes:

[0008] A fixed base is fixed to the housing, and the fixed base has a first sliding groove and a slider that is slidably connected to the first sliding groove.

[0009] A movable seat is fixed to the door body. One end of the movable seat is connected to a hinge shaft. The movable seat has a linkage state in which it rotates around the hinge shaft and moves synchronously with the slider.

[0010] The linkage component includes:

[0011] A first connecting rod, one end of which is rotatably connected to the hinge shaft, and the other end of which is rotatably connected to the slider;

[0012] The second link has one end rotatably connected to the fixed base and the other end movably connected to the movable base;

[0013] The third link has one end rotatably connected to the slider and the other end rotatably connected to the second link.

[0014] As a further improvement of the present invention, the first slide extends along the length direction of the fixed seat, the first slide has an outer end close to the hinge shaft and an inner end away from the hinge shaft, and the second connecting rod is connected to the fixed seat at the end corresponding to the inner end.

[0015] As a further improvement of the present invention, the movable seat also has a non-linkage state that rotates only about the hinge axis, and the second link includes a telescopic rod that is movably connected to the movable seat. The telescopic rod has a non-extendable first state and a extendable second state. When the telescopic rod is in the second state, the movable seat is in the non-linkage state.

[0016] As a further improvement of the present invention, one of the telescopic rod and the third connecting rod is provided with a limiting groove, and the other is provided with a limiting block that cooperates with the limiting groove. When the limiting block is located in the limiting groove, the telescopic rod is in a first state. After the limiting block disengages from the limiting groove, the telescopic rod is in a second state.

[0017] As a further improvement of the present invention, during the rotation of the movable seat around the hinge axis away from the fixed seat, the telescopic rod is first in a first state and then in a second state.

[0018] As a further improvement of the present invention, the movable seat also has a non-linkage state that rotates only around the hinge axis. The movable seat is provided with a first clearance groove, which is an arc-shaped groove with the hinge axis as the center. When the movable seat is in the non-linkage state, the first rotating shaft on the second connecting rod that cooperates with the movable seat is movably connected in the first clearance groove.

[0019] As a further improvement of the present invention, during the rotation of the movable seat around the hinge axis away from the fixed seat, the movable seat is first in the non-linkage state and then in the linkage state.

[0020] As a further improvement of the present invention, the movable seat is provided with a second sliding groove extending along its length direction, and the second connecting rod is movably connected in the second sliding groove.

[0021] As a further improvement of the present invention, the movable seat includes a fixed plate fixed to the door body, a linkage plate rotatably connected to the fixed plate through the hinge axis, a second connecting rod movably connected to the linkage plate, the fixed plate having a linkage state relatively fixed to the linkage plate and a disengaged state that can be detached from the linkage plate. When the fixed plate is in the linkage state, the linkage component can drive the fixed plate and the slider to move synchronously. When the fixed plate is in the disengaged state, the fixed plate can rotate in place around the hinge axis.

[0022] As a further improvement of the present invention, the movable seat is provided with a second sliding groove extending along its length direction, the second sliding groove passing through the fixed plate, and the second connecting rod having a first rotating shaft slidably connected to the second sliding groove; the fixed plate is provided with a third sliding groove extending along its length direction, when the fixed plate is in the linked state, the second sliding groove and the third sliding groove are aligned, and the first rotating shaft is located in the second sliding groove and the third sliding groove; when the fixed plate is in the disengaged state, the first rotating shaft disengages from the third sliding groove.

[0023] As a further improvement of the present invention, the fixed plate is provided with a notch on the side facing the linkage plate that communicates with the third slide groove. The notch is provided through the width direction of the fixed plate. When the linkage component drives the slider to move to one end of the first slide groove in a preset direction, the first rotating shaft is located at the notch.

[0024] As a further improvement of the present invention, the fixing plate has an inclined surface on the side facing the linkage plate, extending from one end of the third slide groove away from the hinge axis toward the hinge axis and in a direction away from the linkage plate, the inclined surface extending to the location of the notch.

[0025] As a further improvement of the present invention, one of the fixed plate and the linkage plate is provided with a second clearance groove, and the other is provided with a convex shaft that cooperates with the second clearance groove. The second clearance groove is an arc-shaped groove with the hinge shaft as the center.

[0026] As a further improvement of the present invention, an alignment structure is provided between the fixed plate and the linkage plate. When the fixed plate rotates in place toward the fixed seat around the hinge axis, the alignment structure is used to align the relative positions between the linkage plate and the fixed plate.

[0027] As a further improvement of the present invention, the alignment structure includes an alignment post disposed on one of the movable plate and the linkage plate, and an alignment groove disposed on the other, wherein the alignment groove has an inlet and outlet for the alignment post to enter and exit.

[0028] As a further improvement of the present invention, the fixed base is also provided with a protrusion. After the linkage component drives the slider to move along a preset direction to one end of the first slide groove, the first connecting rod abuts against the protrusion to restrict the rotation of the first connecting rod.

[0029] As a further improvement of the present invention, the hinge further includes a docking post disposed on the movable seat for fixing the movable seat to the door body.

[0030] To achieve one of the above-mentioned objectives, the present invention also provides a refrigeration device, including a housing, a door, and the aforementioned hinge.

[0031] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: the hinge in the present invention, by setting a linkage component, the linkage component is used to link the slider on the fixed seat and the movable seat, which can control the movement trajectory of the door body, enhance the versatility of the door body, and enable the door body to adapt to a variety of application scenarios, such as the application scenario of embedded refrigerators. Attached Figure Description

[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the hinge structure in the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 Enlarged view of point A in the middle;

[0034] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the movable seat in the hinge after it is opened (the movable seat and the slider are in a linked state);

[0035] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of the movable seat in the hinge after it is opened (the movable seat and the slider are in a non-linked state);

[0036] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the hinge structure in the second embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the hinge structure in the third embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 7 yes Figure 6 Enlarged view of point B in the middle;

[0039] Figure 8 yes Figure 6 A schematic diagram of the linkage components in the folded state;

[0040] Figure 9 yes Figure 6Schematic structural diagram after the movable seat in [the device] is opened (the fixed plate and the linkage plate in the movable seat are in a linked state);

[0041] Figure 10 is Figure 6 Schematic structural diagram after the movable seat in [the device] is opened (the fixed plate and the linkage plate in the movable seat are in a disengaged state);

[0042] Figure 11 Schematic structural diagram of the hinge in the fourth embodiment of the present invention (the linkage component is in a folded state);

[0043] Figure 12 is Figure 11 after the fixed plate in the hinge in [the device] rotates in place around the hinge axis by a preset angle;

[0044] Figure 13 is Figure 11 Schematic structural diagram after the movable seat in [the device] is opened (the fixed plate and the linkage plate in the movable seat are in a linked state);

[0045] Figure 14 is Figure 11 Schematic structural diagram after the movable seat in [the device] is opened (the fixed plate and the linkage plate in the movable seat are in a disengaged state);

[0046] Figure 15 Schematic structural diagram of the refrigeration device in the present invention. Specific embodiments

[0047] The following will combine the attached Figure 1-15 The specific embodiments shown will be used to describe the present invention in detail. However, these embodiments do not limit the present invention, and any structural, method, or functional transformation made by those of ordinary skill in the art based on these embodiments is included within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0048] The terms used herein to represent relative spatial positions are for the purpose of facilitating the description of the relationship between one unit or feature and another unit or feature as shown in the drawings. The terms of relative spatial positions may be intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation other than the orientation shown in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is flipped, the unit described as being "below" or "beneath" other units or features will be located "above" other units or features. Therefore, the exemplary term "below" can encompass both the upper and lower orientations. The device may be oriented in other ways (rotated 90 degrees or other orientations), and the spatially related descriptive terms used herein will be interpreted accordingly.

[0049] Refer Figures 1-4As shown, the hinge 10 in the first embodiment of the present invention is used to connect the door to the cabinet. In this embodiment, the hinge 10 is applied to a vertical refrigerator and the refrigerator door is a left-right opening door for specific explanation.

[0050] Of course, it should be emphasized that the hinge 10 of this embodiment is not only applicable to refrigerators, but also to other scenarios, such as cabinets, wine cabinets, wardrobes, etc. This invention is illustrated by taking the application of the hinge 10 to a refrigerator as an example, but it is not limited thereto.

[0051] The hinge 10 includes a fixed base 1 for fixing to the housing, a movable base 2 for fixing to the door, and a linkage assembly 3. The fixed base 1 has a first sliding groove 11 and a slider 12 slidably connected to the first sliding groove 11. The movable base 2 has a hinge axis 21, and the movable base 2 can rotate around the hinge axis 21, so that the door fixed to the movable base 2 can rotate around the hinge axis 21 to open or close the housing. The linkage assembly 3 is disposed between the slider 12 and the movable base 2 to link the movable base 2 and the slider 12.

[0052] Specifically, the movable seat 2 has a linked state in which it rotates around the hinge axis 21 and moves synchronously with the slider 12, and a non-linked state in which it rotates only around the hinge axis 21. When the movable seat 2 and the slider 12 are in the linked state, when the movable seat 2 rotates around the hinge axis 21 to open, the linkage component 3 drives the movable seat 2 to move a preset distance with the slider 12; when the movable seat 2 and the slider 12 are in the non-linked state, the movable seat 2 can rotate freely in place around the hinge axis 21, and can control the movement trajectory of the door.

[0053] It is understood that the direction and preset distance of movement of the movable seat 2 driven by the linkage component 3 are related to the direction and distance of movement of the slider 12. The extension direction of the first slide groove 11, the movement direction of the slider 12, and the length of the first slide groove 11 can be designed according to specific needs. For example, to prevent the door from colliding with the wall / cabinet on the opening side when it is opened, the extension direction of the first slide groove 11 can be designed to extend in a direction perpendicular to the wall / cabinet on the opening side (extending in the length direction of the fixed seat 1), and the movement direction of the slider 12 when the door is opened is to move along the first slide groove 11 in a direction away from the wall / cabinet on the opening side. If the door is to move outwards in a direction away from the opening side to increase the opening degree, the extension direction of the first slide groove 11 can be designed to extend in a direction perpendicular to the wall / cabinet on the opening side (extending in the length direction of the fixed seat 1), and the movement direction of the slider 12 when the door is opened is to move along the first slide groove 11 in a direction towards the wall / cabinet on the opening side.

[0054] In this embodiment, the first slide groove 11 extends along the length of the fixed base 1. The end of the first slide groove 11 closest to the hinge axis 21 is defined as the outer end, and the end furthest from the hinge axis 21 is defined as the inner end. When the movable base 2 and the slider 12 are in a linked state, and the movable base 2 rotates open around the hinge axis 21 in a direction away from the fixed base 1, the slider 12 moves along the first slide groove 11 from the outer end to the inner end, causing the door to move inward. That is, the door moves inward a preset distance while rotating and opening, preventing collisions between the door and the wall or cabinet on the open side. Of course, this is not a limitation. In other embodiments, when the movable base 2 and the slider 12 are in a linked state, and the movable base 2 rotates open around the hinge axis 21 in a direction away from the fixed base 1, the slider 12 moves along the first slide groove 11 from the inner end to the outer end, causing the door to move outward. That is, the door moves outward a preset distance while rotating and opening, increasing the opening angle of the door and making it easier for the user to view the items inside the refrigerator.

[0055] Specifically, the preset distance by which the linkage component 3 moves the door can be adjusted by adjusting the length of the first slide groove 11.

[0056] It should be noted that "outer" refers to the outside of the refrigerator, while "inner" is a direction defined relative to "outer".

[0057] It is understood that when the hinge 10 is applied to a refrigerator with left and right doors, the length direction of the aforementioned fixing base 1 is the left-right direction, and the aforementioned outer end refers to the end of the first slide groove 11 corresponding to the opening side of the door. When the hinge 10 is applied to a refrigerator with top and bottom doors, the length direction of the aforementioned fixing base 1 is the top-bottom direction, and the aforementioned outer end refers to the end of the first slide groove 11 corresponding to the opening side of the door.

[0058] Specifically, the fixing base 1 includes a first plate 13 for fixing to the box body, a connecting plate 14 vertically disposed on the first plate 13, and the first sliding groove 11 disposed on the connecting plate 14.

[0059] The first plate 13 is fixed to the side of the box body facing the door so that the connecting plate 14 protrudes towards the door body.

[0060] It is understood that the position of the first slide groove 11 is set according to the relative positional relationship between the connecting plate 14 and the door body; that is, the first slide groove 11 is set on the side of the first plate 13 corresponding to the door body. For example, when the hinge 10 is installed at the bottom of the upright refrigerator and the door body is a left-right opening door, the door body is located above the hinge 10, therefore, the first slide groove 11 is set on the upper surface of the connecting plate 14.

[0061] Furthermore, the linkage component 3 has a folded state and an open state. When the movable seat 2 and the slider 12 are in the linkage state, during the process of the movable seat 2 rotating and opening around the hinge axis 21 in a direction away from the fixed seat 1, the linkage component 3 switches from the folded state to the open state, driving the slider 12 to move along the slide groove, and at the same time driving the movable seat 2 to move with the slider 12.

[0062] In this embodiment, when the linkage component 3 is in the folded state, the door is in the closed state. At this time, the movable seat 2 and the slider 12 are in a linkage state. When the door is opened, the movable seat 2 rotates around the hinge axis 21 in a direction away from the fixed seat 1. At the same time, the linkage component 3 switches from the folded state to the open state. That is, when the door is opened, the door rotates around the hinge axis 21 and moves inward synchronously with the slider 12 to prevent the door from colliding with the wall / cabinet on the open side during the opening process.

[0063] In one specific embodiment, the linkage component 3 includes a first link 31, a second link 32, and a third link 33. The first link 31, the second link 32, the third link 33, and the movable seat 2 form a four-bar linkage structure to realize the linkage between the slider 12 and the movable seat 2.

[0064] Specifically, one end of the first connecting rod 31 is rotatably connected to the hinge shaft 21, and the other end is rotatably connected to the slider 12. One end of the second connecting rod 32 is rotatably connected to the fixed seat 1 at the end corresponding to the inner end, and the other end is movably connected to the movable seat 2. One end of the third connecting rod 33 is rotatably connected to the slider 12, and the other end is rotatably connected to the second connecting rod 32. When the linkage assembly 3 is in the folded state, the first connecting rod 31, the second connecting rod 32, the third connecting rod 33, and the movable seat 2 are stacked.

[0065] During the opening process, when the door body drives the movable seat 2 to rotate around the hinge axis 21, the linkage component 3 drives the slider 12 to move inward, causing the movable seat 2 to move inward, so that the door body moves inward to avoid the door body colliding with the wall or cabinet on the open side when the door is opened.

[0066] In one specific embodiment, the first connecting rod 31 and the third connecting rod 33 are rotatably connected to the slider 12 via the same pivot. Of course, this is not a limitation.

[0067] In one specific embodiment, the movable seat 2 is provided with a second slide groove 22 extending along its length. The second connecting rod 32 has a first rotating shaft 321 that cooperates with the second slide groove 22. The cooperation between the first rotating shaft 321 and the second slide groove 22 allows the second connecting rod 32 to be movably connected to the movable seat 2. During the door opening process, when the movable seat 2 and the slider 12 are in a linked state, as the movable seat 2 continues to rotate around the hinge axis 21 to further open the door, the linkage component 3 drives the slider 12 to move inward. At the same time, the first rotating shaft 321 moves along the second slide groove 22 towards the end of the second slide groove 22 closer to the hinge axis 21. This reduces the rotation angle of the door during the inward movement of the door driven by the slider 12, enhancing the stability of the door movement. Of course, this is not a limitation. In other embodiments, the first rotating shaft 321 may also be configured to be rotatably connected only to the movable seat 2.

[0068] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the second connecting rod 32 includes a connecting rod 322 rotatably connected to the fixed base 1, a telescopic rod 323 slidably connected to the connecting rod 322 along the length direction of the connecting rod 322, and the third connecting rod 33 is rotatably connected to the connecting rod 322.

[0069] The telescopic rod 323 has a non-extendable first state and a telescopic second state. When the telescopic rod 323 is in the first state, the movable seat 2 and the slider 12 can be in a linked state. When the telescopic rod 323 is in the second state, the movable seat 2 and the slider 12 are in a non-linked state, that is, the movable seat 2 can rotate in place around the hinge axis 21.

[0070] Specifically, in this embodiment, after the door is opened and the slider 12 moves to the inner end of the first slide groove 11, the telescopic rod 323 switches from the first state to the second state. That is, during the rotation of the movable seat 2 around the hinge axis 21 in a direction away from the fixed seat 1, the second connecting rod 32 is first in the first state and then in the second state. After the door body moves inward, the telescopic rod 323 switches from the first state to the second state, and the movable seat 2 can rotate freely around the hinge axis 21 in place. That is, the door body can rotate freely around the hinge axis 21 in place to further open the door body, making it easier for the user to retrieve items.

[0071] It is understood that in the embodiment where the second link 32 includes the telescopic rod 323, the second slide groove 22 provided on the movable seat 2 can increase the opening of the door, making it easier for the user to retrieve items.

[0072] In one specific embodiment, one of the telescopic rod 323 and the third connecting rod 33 is provided with a limiting groove 3231, and the other is provided with a limiting block 331 that cooperates with the limiting groove 3231. When the limiting block 331 is located in the limiting groove 3231, the telescopic rod 323 is in a first state. After the limiting block 331 disengages from the limiting groove 3231, the telescopic rod 323 is in a second state.

[0073] Specifically, the limiting groove 3231 is an arc-shaped groove centered on the rotation center between the third link 33 and the second link 32. When the linkage assembly 3 switches from the folded state to the open state, the limiting block 331 moves relative to the limiting groove 3231. After the slider 12 moves to the inner end of the first slide groove 11, the limiting block 331 disengages from the limiting groove 3231, so that the telescopic rod 323 is in the second state. The movable seat 2 can rotate freely around the hinge axis 21 in place. That is, the door 30 can rotate freely around the hinge axis 21 in place to further open the door 30, making it easier for the user to take out items.

[0074] It is understandable that the cooperation between the limiting groove 3231 and the limiting block 331 can, on the one hand, enable the telescopic rod 323 to be in the first state, so that the movable seat 2 and the slider 12 can be in a linked state; on the other hand, it can enhance the stability of the relative movement between the first rotating shaft 321 and the second sliding groove 22, and enhance the stability of the hinge 10.

[0075] Furthermore, the fixed base 1 is also provided with a protrusion 15, which is located on the same side of the connecting plate 14 as the first sliding groove 11. After the linkage component 3 drives the slider 12 to move to the inner end, the first connecting rod 31 abuts against the protrusion 15 to restrict the rotation of the first connecting rod 31, thereby enhancing the stability of the door body 30 to rotate freely in place around the hinge axis 21.

[0076] Furthermore, the hinge 10 also includes a docking post 5 disposed on the movable seat 2 for fixing the movable seat 2 relative to the door body, so as to realize docking with the corresponding structure on the door body and fix the movable seat 2 to the door body.

[0077] Further, please refer to Figure 15 As shown, the present invention also provides a refrigeration device 100, the refrigeration device 100 including a housing 20, a door 30 for opening and closing the housing 20, and a hinge 10 for connecting the housing 20 and the door 30.

[0078] The hinge 10 is the hinge 10 in the first embodiment of the present invention described above, and will not be described again here.

[0079] In this embodiment, the refrigeration device 100 is a vertical refrigerator with left and right doors. Of course, it should be emphasized that the refrigeration device 100 can also be a vertical refrigerator with top and bottom doors or a horizontal freezer, etc.

[0080] The opening and closing process of the refrigeration device 100 with the hinge 10 is described below:

[0081] When the door 30, which is in a closed state, is opened, the door 30 rotates around the hinge axis 21 in a direction away from the box 20, and at the same time moves inward a preset distance with the slider 12 under the action of the linkage component 3;

[0082] After the door body 30 has moved inward, the door body 30 can rotate freely in place around the hinge axis 21;

[0083] When the door 30 is closed from the open state, the door 30 first rotates around the hinge axis 21 in place toward the direction of the box 20 until the movable seat 2 and the slider 12 are in a linked state;

[0084] After the door is closed until the movable seat 2 and the slider 12 are in a linked state, the door 30 rotates around the hinge axis 21 in the direction closer to the box 20. At the same time, under the action of the linkage component 3, the door 30 moves outward a preset distance with the slider 12 and then the door 30 is in a closed state.

[0085] It is understood that the preset distance for the door body 30 to move inward and the preset distance for it to move outward can both be preset by adjusting the length of the first slide groove 11.

[0086] The completion of the inward movement of the aforementioned door body 30 means that the slider 12 moves to the inner end and the telescopic rod 323 is in the second state.

[0087] The aforementioned closing of the door to the point where the movable seat 2 and the slider 12 are in a linked state means that when the door is closed to the point where the telescopic rod 323 switches from the second state to the first state, the movable seat 2 and the slider 12 are in a linked state.

[0088] Please refer to Figure 5 As shown, the hinge 10a is shown in the second embodiment of the present invention. For ease of explanation, the structures in the second embodiment that are similar or the same as those in the first embodiment are given the same or similar numbers, and the structures in the second embodiment that are the same as those in the first embodiment will not be described again here.

[0089] The difference between the hinge 10a in the second embodiment of the present invention and the hinge 10 in the first embodiment is that the movable seat 2a is further provided with a first clearance groove 23. The first clearance groove 23 is an arc-shaped groove with the hinge shaft 21 as the center. The first rotating shaft 321 is movably connected in the first clearance groove 23. Through the cooperation between the first rotating shaft 321 and the first clearance groove 23, the movable seat 2a can rotate in place only around the hinge shaft 21, that is, it is in a non-linkage state.

[0090] In one specific embodiment, during the rotation of the movable seat 2a around the hinge axis 21 in a direction away from the fixed seat 1, the movable seat 2a is first in the non-linkage state and then in the linkage state. That is, the first rotating shaft 321 first cooperates with the first clearance groove 23 to make the movable seat 2a rotate only around the hinge axis 21 in place, and then the movable seat 2a switches to the linkage state. Thus, when opening the door, the door body 30 can first rotate in place around the hinge axis 21 in a direction away from the box body 20 by a preset angle, and then rotate open and move inward under the action of the linkage component 3. In the final stage of closing the door, the door body 30 can first rotate in place around the hinge axis 21 in a direction closer to the box body 20 by a preset angle. This is suitable for door bodies 30 with a flip beam and makes it more convenient to open and close the door body 30.

[0091] It is understandable that the aforementioned preset angle is determined by the length of the first clearance groove 23.

[0092] In an embodiment where the second slide groove 22 is provided on the movable seat 2a, the first clearance groove 23 is located at the end of the second slide groove 22 away from the hinge shaft 21, and the first clearance groove 23 is connected to the second slide groove 22.

[0093] The hinge 10a in the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as the hinge 10 in the first embodiment except for the differences mentioned above, and will not be described again here.

[0094] Further, please refer to Figure 15 As shown, the present invention also provides a refrigeration device 100, the refrigeration device 100 including a housing 20, a door 30 for opening and closing the housing 20, and a hinge 10a for connecting the housing 20 and the door 30.

[0095] The hinge 10a is the hinge 10a in the second embodiment of the present invention described above, and will not be described again here.

[0096] In this embodiment, the refrigeration device 100 is a vertical refrigerator with left and right doors. Of course, it should be emphasized that the refrigeration device 100 can also be a vertical refrigerator with top and bottom doors or a horizontal freezer, etc.

[0097] The opening and closing process of the refrigeration device 100 with the hinge 10a is described below:

[0098] When the door 30, which is in a closed state, is opened, the door 30 first rotates in place around the hinge axis 21 by a preset angle;

[0099] After the door 30 rotates to a preset angle, the movable seat 2a is in a linked state. The door 30 continues to rotate around the hinge axis 21 in a direction away from the box 20, while the slider 12 moves inward a preset distance under the action of the linkage component 3.

[0100] After the door body 30 has moved inward, the door body 30 can rotate freely in place around the hinge axis 21;

[0101] When the door 30 is closed from the open state, the door 30 first rotates around the hinge axis 21 in place toward the direction of the box 20 until the movable seat 2a is in the linkage state;

[0102] After the door is closed until the movable seat 2a is in the linkage state, the door body 30 rotates around the hinge axis 21 in the direction closer to the box body 20. At the same time, under the action of the linkage component 3, it moves outward a preset distance with the slider 12 until the movable seat 2a is in the non-linkage state again.

[0103] After the movable seat 2a is in a non-linkage state again, the door 30 rotates in place around the hinge axis 21 toward the box 20 by a preset angle and then the door 30 is in a closed state.

[0104] It is understandable that during the opening process, the door body 30 mentioned above first rotates around the hinge axis 21 in place by a preset angle, that is, the door body 30 rotates around the hinge axis 21 in place until the first rotating shaft 321 enters the second sliding groove 22 from the first clearance groove 23.

[0105] The preset distances for the inward and outward movement of the door 30 can be preset by adjusting the length of the first slide groove 11.

[0106] The completion of the inward movement of the aforementioned door body 30 means that the slider 12 moves to the inner end and the telescopic rod 323 is in the second state.

[0107] The aforementioned closing of the door to the movable seat 2a being in a linked state means that closing the door to the telescopic rod 323 switching from the second state to the first state.

[0108] The aforementioned movable seat 2a is again in a non-linkage state, that is, during the closing process, the first rotating shaft 321 enters the first clearance groove 23 from the second sliding groove 22.

[0109] Please refer to Figures 6-10 As shown, the hinge 10b is shown in the third embodiment of the present invention. For ease of explanation, the structures in the third embodiment that are similar or the same as those in the first embodiment are numbered the same or similarly, and the structures in the third embodiment that are the same as those in the first embodiment will not be repeated here.

[0110] The difference between the third embodiment and the first embodiment is that the movable seat 2b includes a fixed plate 24 fixed to the door body 30 and a linkage plate 25 rotatably connected to the fixed plate 24 through the hinge shaft 21. The second connecting rod 32b is movably connected to the linkage plate 25. The fixed plate 24 has a linkage state that is relatively fixed to the linkage plate 25 and a disengaged state that can be separated from the linkage plate 25. When the fixed plate 24 is in the linkage state, the linkage component 3 can drive the fixed plate 24 and the slider 12 to move synchronously. When the fixed plate 24 is in the disengaged state, the fixed plate 24 can rotate around the hinge shaft 21 in place, so as to drive the door body 30 to rotate around the hinge shaft 21 in place.

[0111] In this embodiment, the second link 32b is an integral link, that is, the second link 32b is a non-retractable link.

[0112] It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the limiting groove and limiting block that cooperate between the second connecting rod 32b and the third connecting rod 33 can enhance the stability of the first rotating shaft 321 moving along the second sliding groove 22 and enhance the stability of the hinge 10b.

[0113] It is understood that in this embodiment, the linkage plate 25 and the slider 12 are always in a linkage state. The fixing plate 24 and the linkage plate 25 are switched between the linkage state and the disengagement state, thereby controlling the switching between the linkage state and the non-linkage state of the fixing plate 24 and the slider 12.

[0114] In this embodiment of hinge 10b, where the movable seat 2b has the second slide groove 22, the second slide groove 22 extends through the fixed plate 24. The first rotating shaft 321 in the second connecting rod 32b is movably connected within the second slide groove 22, so that the second connecting rod 32b is movably connected to the linkage plate 25. During the movement of the linkage plate 25 around the hinge axis 21 away from the fixed seat 1, while the linkage assembly 3 drives the slider 12 to move inward, the first rotating shaft 321 moves along the second slide groove 22 towards the end of the second slide groove 22 closer to the hinge axis 21. This reduces the rotation angle of the door 30 during the inward movement of the slider 12, enhancing the stability of the opening process. However, this is not a limitation; in other embodiments, the first rotating shaft 321 may also be configured to be rotatably connected only to the linkage plate 25.

[0115] Furthermore, the fixing plate 24 is provided with a third sliding groove 241 extending along its length direction. When the fixing plate 24 and the linkage plate 25 are in a linked state, the third sliding groove 241 is aligned with the second sliding groove 22, and the first rotating shaft 321 cooperates with both the second sliding groove 22 and the third sliding groove 241. When the first rotating shaft 321 disengages from the third sliding groove 241, the fixing plate 24 and the linkage plate 25 are in a disengaged state.

[0116] That is, the fixed plate 24 can switch between the linked state and the disengaged state through the cooperation between the first rotating shaft 321 and the third sliding groove 241. The structure is simple, easy to set up, and low in cost.

[0117] It is understandable that during the door opening process, when the fixed plate 24 and the linkage plate 25 are in a linked state, as the movable seat 2b continues to rotate around the hinge axis 21 to further open the door 30, the linkage component 3 drives the slider 12 to move inward, while the first rotating shaft 321 moves along the second slide groove 22 and the third slide groove 241 towards the end of the second slide groove 22 and the third slide groove 241 closer to the hinge axis 21.

[0118] Furthermore, the fixing plate 24 is provided with a notch 242 communicating with the third slide groove 241 on the side facing the linkage plate 25. The notch 242 is used to allow the first rotating shaft 321 to disengage from or enter the third slide groove 241. When the first rotating shaft 321 moves along the third slide groove 241 to disengage from the third slide groove 241 through the notch 242, the fixing plate 24 and the linkage plate 25 are in a disengaged state. The fixing plate 24 can rotate in place around the hinge axis 21, that is, the door body 30 can rotate in place around the hinge axis 21.

[0119] Specifically, when the linkage component 3 drives the slider 12 to move along the preset direction to one end of the first slide groove 11, the first rotating shaft 321 is located at the notch 242. That is, in this embodiment, when the linkage component 3 drives the slider 12 to move along the first slide groove 11 to the inner end, the first rotating shaft 321 is located at the notch 242. That is, after the door 30 completes the inward movement during the opening process, the first rotating shaft 321 is located at the notch 242. At this time, if the door continues to open, the first rotating shaft 321 will disengage from the third slide groove 241 from the notch 242, causing the fixing plate 24 to switch to the disengaged state. Thus, the door 30 can enter a state of free rotation around the hinge axis 21, which is convenient for the user to retrieve items.

[0120] Furthermore, the fixed plate 24 has an inclined surface 243 on the side facing the linkage plate 25, which extends from the end of the third slide groove 241 away from the hinge shaft 21 toward the hinge shaft 21 and in a direction away from the linkage plate 25. The inclined surface 243 extends to the position of the notch 242, so that the first rotating shaft 321 can enter and exit the third slide groove 241 through the notch 242.

[0121] Furthermore, an alignment structure 4 is provided between the fixed plate 24 and the linkage plate 25. When the fixed plate 24 rotates around the hinge axis 21 toward the fixed seat 1, the alignment structure 4 is used to align the relative positions between the linkage plate 25 and the fixed plate 24, thereby enhancing the stability of the hinge 10b operation.

[0122] In one specific embodiment, the alignment structure 4 includes an alignment post 41 disposed on one of the fixed plate 24 and the linkage plate 25, and an alignment groove 42 disposed on the other. The alignment groove 42 has an inlet and outlet for the alignment post 41 to enter and exit. In this embodiment, after the fixed plate 24 rotates in place toward the fixed seat 1 about the hinge axis 21 until the alignment post 41 abuts against the groove wall of the alignment groove 42, the second sliding groove 22 and the third sliding groove 241 are aligned.

[0123] The hinge 10b in the third embodiment of the present invention is the same as the hinge 10b in the first embodiment except for the differences mentioned above, and will not be described again here.

[0124] Further, please refer to Figure 15 As shown, the present invention also provides a refrigeration device 100, the refrigeration device 100 including a housing 20, a door 30 for opening and closing the housing 20, and a hinge 10b for connecting the housing 20 and the door 30.

[0125] The hinge 10b is the hinge 10b in the third embodiment of the present invention described above, and will not be described again here.

[0126] In this embodiment, the refrigeration device 100 is a vertical refrigerator with left and right doors. Of course, it should be emphasized that the refrigeration device 100 can also be a vertical refrigerator with top and bottom doors or a horizontal freezer, etc.

[0127] The opening and closing process of the refrigeration unit 100 with the hinge 10b is described below:

[0128] In the first stage of opening the door 30 which is in the closed state, the door 30 rotates around the hinge axis 21 in a direction away from the box 20, while moving inward a preset distance with the slider 12 under the action of the linkage component 3;

[0129] After the door body 30 has moved inward, the fixing plate 24 is in a disengaged state, and the door body 30 can rotate freely around the hinge axis 21 in place;

[0130] When the door 30 is closed from the open state, the door 30 first rotates around the hinge axis 21 in place toward the direction of the box 20 until the fixed plate 24 is in a linked state;

[0131] After the door is closed until the fixed plate 24 and the linkage plate 25 are in a linked state, the door body 30 rotates around the hinge axis 21 in the direction closer to the box body 20. At the same time, under the action of the linkage component 3, the door body 30 moves outward by a preset distance with the slider 12 and then the door body 30 is in a closed state.

[0132] It is understood that the preset distance for the door body 30 to move inward and the preset distance for it to move outward can both be preset by adjusting the length of the first slide groove 11.

[0133] When the door body 30 moves inward, it means that the slider 12 moves to the inner end. At this time, the first rotating shaft 321 is located at the notch 242, which makes it easier for the first rotating shaft 321 to disengage from the third sliding groove 241 through the notch 242.

[0134] The aforementioned closing of the door until the fixed plate 24 and the linkage plate 25 are in a linked state means that the door is closed until the first rotating shaft 321 enters the third sliding groove 241 through the notch 242. It can be understood that after the alignment post 41 abuts against the groove wall of the alignment groove 42, the third sliding groove 241 aligns with the second sliding groove 22, facilitating the entry of the first rotating shaft 321 into the third sliding groove 241.

[0135] Please refer to Figures 11-14 As shown, the hinge 10c in the fourth embodiment of the present invention. For ease of explanation, the structures in the fourth embodiment that are similar or the same as those in the third embodiment are given the same or similar numbers, and the structures in the fourth embodiment that are the same as those in the third embodiment will not be described again here.

[0136] The difference between the hinge 10c in the fourth embodiment of the present invention and the hinge 10c in the third embodiment is that: one of the fixed plate 24 and the linkage plate 25 is provided with a second clearance groove 244, and the other is provided with a convex shaft that cooperates with the second clearance groove 244. The second clearance groove 244 is an arc-shaped groove with the hinge shaft 21 as the center. The convex shaft cooperates with the second clearance groove 244, so that the fixed plate 24 can rotate independently around the hinge shaft 21 relative to the linkage plate 25.

[0137] In one specific embodiment, when the door 30 is in the closed state, the convex shaft engages with the second clearance groove 244. That is, when the movable seat 2c rotates around the hinge axis 21 in a direction away from the fixed seat 1, with the engagement of the convex shaft and the second clearance groove 244, the fixed plate 24 first rotates around the hinge axis 21 in place by a preset angle, and then the fixed plate 24 enters a linked state with the linkage plate 25. Thus, when opening the door, the door 30 can first rotate around the hinge axis 21 in a direction away from the housing 20 by a preset angle, and in the final stage of closing the door, the door 30 can rotate around the hinge axis 21 in a direction closer to the housing 20 by a preset angle. This is suitable for doors 30 with a flip beam and makes it easier to open and close the door 30.

[0138] It is understood that the aforementioned preset angle is determined by the length of the clearance groove.

[0139] In one specific embodiment, the second clearance groove 244 is provided on the fixed plate 24, and the convex shaft is the first rotating shaft 321, which simplifies the structure of the hinge 10c.

[0140] In an embodiment where the second clearance groove 244 is provided on the fixed plate 24 and the fixed plate 24 is provided with the third sliding groove 241, the second clearance groove 244 is provided at one end of the third sliding groove 241 away from the hinge shaft 21, and the second clearance groove 244 is connected to the third sliding groove 241.

[0141] It is understood that in this embodiment, the alignment structure 4 is achieved after the fixed plate 24 rotates around the hinge axis 21 toward the fixed seat 1 until the first rotating shaft 321 enters the second clearance groove 244 from the third sliding groove 241, thereby aligning the fixed plate 24 with the linkage plate 25.

[0142] The hinge 10c in the fourth embodiment of the present invention is the same as the hinge 10b in the third embodiment except for the differences mentioned above, and will not be described again here.

[0143] Furthermore, the present invention also provides a refrigeration device 100, the refrigeration device 100 including a housing 20, a door 30 for opening and closing the housing 20, and a hinge 10c for connecting the housing 20 and the door 30.

[0144] The hinge 10c is the hinge 10c in the fourth embodiment of the present invention, and will not be described again here.

[0145] In this embodiment, the refrigeration device 100 is a vertical refrigerator with left and right doors. Of course, it should be emphasized that the refrigeration device 100 can also be a vertical refrigerator with top and bottom doors or a horizontal freezer, etc.

[0146] The opening and closing process of the refrigeration device 100 with the hinge 10c is described below:

[0147] When the door 30, which is in a closed state, is opened, the door 30 first rotates around the hinge axis 21 by a preset angle until the fixed plate 24 is in a linked state;

[0148] After the fixed plate 24 and the linkage plate 25 are in a linked state, the door body 30 continues to rotate around the hinge axis 21 in a direction away from the box body 20, while moving inward a preset distance with the slider 12 under the action of the linkage component 3;

[0149] After the door body 30 has moved inward, the fixing plate 24 is in a detachable state, and the door body 30 can rotate freely around the hinge axis 21 in place;

[0150] When the door 30 is closed from the open state, the door 30 first rotates around the hinge axis 21 in place toward the direction of the box 20 until the fixed plate 24 and the linkage plate 25 are in a linked state.

[0151] After the door is closed until the fixed plate 24 and the linkage plate 25 are in a linked state, the door body 30 rotates around the hinge axis 21 in a direction closer to the box body 20. At the same time, under the action of the linkage component 3, it moves outward a preset distance with the slider 12 until the fixed plate 24 and the linkage plate 25 are in a non-linked state.

[0152] After the fixed plate 24 and the linkage plate 25 are in a non-linked state, the door 30 rotates in place around the hinge axis 21 toward the box 20 by a preset angle and then the door 30 is in a closed state.

[0153] It is understandable that during the opening process, the door body 30 mentioned above first rotates around the hinge axis 21 at a preset angle until the fixed plate 24 and the linkage plate 25 are in a linked state. That is, the door body 30 rotates around the hinge axis 21 until the first rotating shaft 321 enters the third sliding groove 241 from the second clearance groove 244. At this time, the third sliding groove 241 is aligned with the second sliding groove 22.

[0154] The preset distances for the inward and outward movement of the door 30 can be preset by adjusting the length of the first slide groove 11.

[0155] The completion of the inward movement of the aforementioned door body 30 means that the slider 12 moves to the inner end, and the first rotating shaft 321 is located at the notch 242.

[0156] The aforementioned closing of the door to the point where the fixed plate 24 and the linkage plate 25 are in a linked state means that the door is closed to the point where the first rotating shaft 321 enters the third sliding groove 241 through the notch 242. At this time, the third sliding groove 241 is aligned with the second sliding groove 22.

[0157] The aforementioned fixed plate 24 and the linkage plate 25 are in a non-linked state, that is, during the closing process, the first rotating shaft 321 enters the second clearance groove 244 from the third sliding groove 241.

[0158] In summary, the hinge 10 of the present invention, by setting a linkage component 3, which is used to link the slider 12 on the fixed seat 1 and the movable seat 2, can control the movement trajectory of the door 30, enhance the versatility of the door 30, and enable the door 30 to adapt to various application scenarios, such as the application scenario of embedded refrigerators.

[0159] The above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, for example, if the technologies in different embodiments can be used in combination to achieve the corresponding effects simultaneously, the solutions are also within the protection scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the present invention.

Claims

1. A hinge for connecting a door to a housing; characterized in that, The hinge includes: A fixed base is fixed to the housing, and the fixed base has a first sliding groove and a slider that is slidably connected to the first sliding groove. A movable seat is fixed to the door body. One end of the movable seat is connected to a hinge shaft. The movable seat has a linkage state in which it rotates around the hinge shaft and moves synchronously with the slider. The linkage component includes: A first connecting rod, one end of which is rotatably connected to the hinge shaft, and the other end of which is rotatably connected to the slider; The second link has one end rotatably connected to the fixed base and the other end movably connected to the movable base; The third link, one end of which is rotatably connected to the slider, and the other end of which is rotatably connected to the second link; The fixed base is also provided with a protrusion. After the linkage component drives the slider to move along a preset direction to one end of the first slide groove, the first connecting rod abuts against the protrusion to restrict the rotation of the first connecting rod.

2. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first slide extends along the length of the fixed base, and the first slide has an outer end close to the hinge axis and an inner end away from the hinge axis. The second connecting rod is connected to the fixed base at the end corresponding to the inner end.

3. The hinge according to claim 2, characterized in that, The movable seat also has a non-linkage state that rotates only about the hinge axis. The second link includes a telescopic rod that is movably connected to the movable seat. The telescopic rod has a non-extendable first state and a extendable second state. When the telescopic rod is in the second state, the movable seat is in the non-linkage state.

4. The hinge according to claim 3, characterized in that, One of the telescopic rod and the third connecting rod is provided with a limiting groove, and the other is provided with a limiting block that cooperates with the limiting groove. When the limiting block is located in the limiting groove, the telescopic rod is in a first state. After the limiting block is disengaged from the limiting groove, the telescopic rod is in a second state.

5. The hinge according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, During the rotation of the movable seat around the hinge axis away from the fixed seat, the telescopic rod is first in a first state and then in a second state.

6. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The movable seat also has a non-linkage state where it rotates only around the hinge axis. The movable seat is provided with a first clearance groove, which is an arc-shaped groove with the hinge axis as the center. When the movable seat is in the non-linkage state, the first rotating shaft on the second connecting rod that cooperates with the movable seat is movably connected in the first clearance groove.

7. The hinge according to claim 6, characterized in that, During the rotation of the movable seat around the hinge axis away from the fixed seat, the movable seat is first in the non-linkage state and then in the linkage state.

8. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The movable seat is provided with a second slide groove extending along its length, and the second connecting rod is movably connected in the second slide groove.

9. The hinge according to claim 2 or 8, characterized in that, The movable seat includes a fixed plate fixed to the door body and a linkage plate rotatably connected to the fixed plate via the hinge axis. The second connecting rod is movably connected to the linkage plate. The fixed plate has a linked state that is relatively fixed to the linkage plate and a disengaged state that can be detached from the linkage plate. When the fixed plate is in the linked state, the linkage component can drive the fixed plate and the slider to move synchronously. When the fixed plate is in the disengaged state, the fixed plate can rotate in place around the hinge axis.

10. The hinge according to claim 9, characterized in that, The movable seat is provided with a second sliding groove extending along its length, the second sliding groove passing through the fixed plate, and the second connecting rod having a first rotating shaft slidably connected to the second sliding groove; the fixed plate is provided with a third sliding groove extending along its length, when the fixed plate is in the linked state, the second sliding groove and the third sliding groove are aligned, and the first rotating shaft is located in the second sliding groove and the third sliding groove; when the fixed plate is in the disengaged state, the first rotating shaft disengages from the third sliding groove.

11. The hinge according to claim 10, characterized in that, The fixed plate has a notch on one side facing the linkage plate that communicates with the third slide groove. The notch extends through the width of the fixed plate. When the linkage component drives the slider to move to one end of the first slide groove in a preset direction, the first rotating shaft is located at the notch.

12. The hinge according to claim 11, characterized in that, The fixed plate has an inclined surface on the side facing the linkage plate, extending from the end of the third slide groove away from the hinge axis toward the hinge axis and in a direction away from the linkage plate, the inclined surface extending to the location of the notch.

13. The hinge according to claim 9, characterized in that, One of the fixed plate and the linkage plate is provided with a second clearance groove, and the other is provided with a convex shaft that cooperates with the second clearance groove. The second clearance groove is an arc-shaped groove with the hinge shaft as the center.

14. The hinge according to claim 9, characterized in that, An alignment structure is provided between the fixed plate and the linkage plate. When the fixed plate rotates around the hinge axis toward the fixed seat, the alignment structure is used to align the relative positions of the linkage plate and the fixed plate.

15. The hinge according to claim 14, characterized in that, The alignment structure includes an alignment post disposed on one of the fixed plate and the linkage plate, and an alignment groove disposed on the other, wherein the alignment groove has an inlet and outlet for the alignment post to enter and exit.

16. The hinge according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hinge also includes a connecting post disposed on the movable seat for fixing the movable seat to the door body.

17. A refrigeration device, comprising a housing and a door, characterized in that, The refrigeration device further includes a hinge as described in any one of claims 1-16.

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