Pipe joint, refrigerator door and refrigerator

Abstract

The invention discloses a pipe joint, a refrigerator door and a refrigerator. The pipe joint includes a conduit, a carrier, and a seal. The guide pipe is provided with an inlet connecting end and an outlet connecting end which are oppositely arranged. The bearing part comprises a connecting part and an inserting part, the connecting part is connected to the inner wall of the guide pipe so as to divide the cavity of the guide pipe into a liquid inlet cavity and a liquid outlet cavity which are communicated with each other, the inserting part is connected to the connecting part, and at least part of the inserting part faces the inlet connecting end and protrudes out of the connecting part so as to form an inserting groove between the inserting part and the inner wall of the liquid inlet cavity. The sealing piece is fixedly arranged on the inner wall of the liquid inlet cavity, and at least part of the sealing piece exceeds the inserting part in the direction from the outlet connecting end to the inlet connecting end. According to the pipe joint, the sealing performance between the water outlet of the kettle and the door hole of the refrigerator door can be improved, liquid leakage is avoided, and therefore the use experience of a user on a refrigerator is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of refrigeration technology, and more particularly to pipe fittings, cabinet doors, and refrigerators. Background Technology

[0002] Refrigerators are common household appliances that primarily store food or other items by maintaining a constant low temperature. With continuous technological advancements, refrigerators are increasingly equipped with additional functions. One such technology incorporates a water dispenser function. These refrigerators typically have a door latch, a spout, and a kettle on the door. The door has a door opening, and the spout is installed inside this opening. The door latch is located on the outside of the door and connected to one end of the spout. The kettle has a spout with a valve inside to control its opening and closing. The kettle is installed on the inside of the door, and its spout connects to the door opening and is linked to the other end of the spout. Users can dispense water by pressing the door latch. Alternatively, users can remove the kettle from the door and pour ice water directly from it.

[0003] However, the seal between the kettle's spout and the door opening is poor, causing ice water inside the kettle to frequently overflow from the door opening during disassembly and reassembly. Users need to repeatedly remove the overflowing ice water, resulting in a poor user experience. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention provides a pipe connector, a cabinet door, and a refrigerator, which can improve the sealing between the kettle's water outlet and the door opening of the cabinet door, prevent liquid leakage, and improve the user experience.

[0005] The technical solution adopted in this invention is as follows:

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a pipe fitting is provided, comprising a conduit, a carrier, and a seal. The conduit has an inlet connection end and an outlet connection end disposed opposite to each other. The carrier includes a connecting portion and a insertion portion, the connecting portion being connected to the inner wall of the conduit to divide the cavity of the conduit into an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber that communicate with each other, the insertion portion being connected to the connecting portion, and at least a portion of the insertion portion protruding from the connecting portion toward the inlet connection end to form a slot between the insertion portion and the inner wall of the inlet chamber. The seal is fixed to the inner wall of the inlet chamber, and at least a portion of the seal extends beyond the insertion portion in a direction from the outlet connection end toward the inlet connection end.

[0007] The pipe fitting provided by this invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0008] When the pipe fitting of the present invention is installed into the door opening of a cabinet door, the conduit is installed inside the door opening, with the inlet connection end of the conduit facing the inside of the door and the outlet connection end facing the outside of the door. The outlet of a liquid storage device such as a kettle can be inserted into a slot, causing the insertion part to lift the valve core of the switch valve, thereby connecting the liquid storage chamber of the liquid storage device with the conduit. During the insertion of the outlet of the liquid storage device such as a kettle into the slot, before the valve core of the switch valve is lifted by the insertion part, the outlet of the liquid storage device such as a kettle first contacts the sealing element. During the removal of the outlet of the liquid storage device such as a kettle from the slot, the valve core of the switch valve first separates from the insertion part, causing the valve core of the switch valve to reset and close the outlet of the liquid storage device. Simultaneously, the sealing element remains connected between the outlet and the inner wall of the inlet chamber until the outlet is removed from the slot. Therefore, during the repeated insertion and removal of liquid storage devices such as kettles from the pipe connector slots, the liquid inside the liquid storage devices will never flow out from the gap between the liquid outlet and the inner wall of the liquid inlet chamber, thereby reducing liquid overflow, ensuring the hygiene of the user's water intake and the environment inside the refrigerator, and at the same time, the user does not need to repeatedly clean up the overflowing liquid, thus improving the user experience.

[0009] Furthermore, the pipe connector provided by this invention is not limited to use between the refrigerator door and the water outlet. It can also be installed between the water dispenser body and the water storage container of the water dispenser, between the humidifier body and the liquid storage container of the humidifier, and any other leak-proof (air-leaking) location that the user needs to install. This invention does not impose any limitations.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a door is provided, comprising a door body, a liquid storage device, and the aforementioned pipe connector. The door body has an inner side, an outer side, and a door hole connecting the inner side and the outer side. The liquid storage device is fixed to the inner side of the door and has a liquid storage chamber and an outlet hole communicating with the liquid storage chamber. A conduit is installed in the door hole, with the inlet end of the conduit facing the inner side of the door and the outlet end facing the outer side of the door. A switching valve is provided in the outlet hole of the liquid storage device, and the outlet hole is inserted into a slot so that the valve core of the switching valve engages with the insertion part, and a sealing element is pressed between the outlet hole and the inner wall of the inlet chamber.

[0011] The cabinet door provided by this invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0012] The door provided by this invention, during the process of the user repeatedly inserting and removing the liquid outlet and slot of the liquid storage device, prevents liquid from leaking out from the assembly of the liquid outlet and the conduit, thereby improving the sealing effect and reducing residual liquid. This is because the sealing element is always connected between the liquid outlet and the inner wall of the liquid inlet chamber.

[0013] According to a third aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator is provided, including a cabinet and the aforementioned door. The cabinet includes a refrigerator compartment, and the door is connected to the cabinet for opening and closing the refrigerator compartment. The inner side of the door faces the refrigerator compartment, and the outer side of the door faces away from the refrigerator compartment.

[0014] The refrigerator provided by this invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0015] The refrigerator provided by this invention allows users to access the ice water in the liquid storage device from outside the door, thereby reducing the need to open and close the door and minimizing cold leakage. Furthermore, when the user removes or installs the liquid storage device from the door, the liquid inside will not leak from the connection between the outlet and the conduit, eliminating the need for repeated cleaning of residual liquid and improving the user experience. Attached Figure Description

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the pipe fitting of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Enlarged view of point A in the middle.

[0018] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the pipe fitting and the liquid storage device of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the catheter of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 5 This is a half-sectional view of the sealing element of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the sleeve structure of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 7 This is a structural schematic diagram of the sleeve of the present invention from another perspective.

[0023] Figure 8 This is a front view of the door of the box of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 9 This is an exploded view of the cabinet door of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the cabinet door of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the assembly of the pipe connector and the base of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 12 for Figure 11 A cross-sectional view along the middle BB.

[0028] Figure 13 for Figure 11 Enlarged view of point C in the middle.

[0029] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the internal structure of the connection hole of the base in this invention.

[0030] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the structure in which the pipe joint and the base are in an unlocked state in this invention.

[0031] Figure 16 This is a schematic diagram of the structure in which the pipe joint and the base are in a locked state in this invention.

[0032] Figure 17 for Figure 16 Rear view.

[0033] Figure 18 This is a schematic diagram of the refrigerator structure in this invention.

[0034] Figure label:

[0035] 1-Refrigerator; 10-Liquid storage device; 11-Liquid storage chamber; 12-Valve core; 13-Liquid outlet hole; 20-Liquid dispensing mechanism; 20a-Liquid outlet channel; 21-Liquid outlet component; 211-Liquid outlet shell; 212-Liquid outlet core; 213-Elastic connector; 22-Distribution component; 22a-Distribution shell; 22b-Force-bearing part; 30-Pipe connector; 31-Conduit; 31a-Inlet connection end; 31b-Outlet connection end; 311-Positioning connector 311a - Guide mating surface; 312 - Limiting mating part; 32 - Seal; 321 - Sealing ring; 321a - Inner wall of sealing ring; 321b - Outer wall of sealing ring; 3211 - Sealing rib; 3212 - Installation gap; 322 - Folded part; 323 - Abutting part; 323a - Mating hole; 33 - Bearing member; 331 - Connecting part; 331a - Liquid inlet chamber; 331b - Liquid outlet chamber; 332 - Insertion part; 33 3-Slot; 334-Flow guide hole; 34-Tube sleeve; 341-Mounting part; 342-Clamping part; 343-Anti-slip part; 35-First fastening part; 36-Second fastening part; 37-First guide part; 38-Second guide part; 39-Fastening guide part; 40-Base; 41-Connecting hole; 42-Positioning part; 421-Disassembly part; 421a-First open end; 421b-First closed end; 422-Fixing part; 422a - Second open end; 422b - Second closed end; 423 - Guide part; 423a - Guide surface; 424 - Limiting part; 50 - Door; 51 - Door body; 51a - Inner side of door; 51b - Outer side of door; 51c - Door hole; 51d - Accommodation space; 52 - Cold leakage seal; 521 - Sleeve; 522 - Press cap; 523 - First sealing ring; 524 - Second sealing ring; 60 - Box body; 61 - Refrigeration compartment; 62 - Freezer compartment. Detailed Implementation

[0036] The technical solutions of this invention will now be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the drawings are for illustrative purposes only, and the omission of certain well-known structures and their descriptions in the drawings is understandable to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, in the description of this invention, terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," and "right," indicating orientation or positional relationships, are merely simplified descriptions based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the drawings for ease of description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Correspondingly, the description of this invention uses terms such as "first" and "second," which are only used to distinguish different components and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance, any order, or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated.

[0037] In related technologies, refrigerators with a water dispenser function typically have a latch, a spout, and a kettle on their doors. The door has inner, outer, and connecting holes on both sides. The latch is installed on the outer side of the door. The spout is installed inside the door hole, with one end extending out and connecting to the latch. The kettle has a spout with a valve to control its opening and closing. When the kettle is installed on the inner side of the door, its spout is inserted into the door hole and connected to the other end of the spout. At this time, the valve core of the valve is lifted, opening the spout and allowing ice water from the kettle to enter the spout. When the user needs water, they simply press the latch to open the spout, allowing ice water to flow out.

[0038] In addition, users can remove the kettle from the door. At this time, the valve core of the switch valve resets, the water outlet is closed, and users can directly use the kettle to pour ice water, thereby improving water dispensing efficiency.

[0039] However, when users disassemble and reassemble the kettle to access the refrigerator, the kettle's spout is repeatedly inserted and removed from the door opening. During this process, the valve core of the switch is often pushed up before the spout is fully assembled, causing the spout to open prematurely. At this point, due to the poor seal between the kettle's spout and the door opening, ice water from the kettle overflows through the opening. Therefore, to prevent the overflowing ice water from contaminating drinking water and the refrigerator's interior, users need to repeatedly remove the overflowing ice water, resulting in a poor user experience.

[0040] Therefore, the present invention provides a pipe connector 30 to improve the sealing between the water outlet of the kettle and the door hole 51c of the refrigerator door 50, so as to prevent liquid from leaking out during the disassembly and assembly of the kettle and the refrigerator door 50, thereby ensuring the hygiene of water intake and the hygiene of the environment inside the refrigerator 1. At the same time, the user does not need to repeatedly clean up the overflowing liquid, thereby improving the user experience.

[0041] Furthermore, the pipe connector 30 provided by the present invention is not limited to use between the refrigerator door 50 and the water outlet of the refrigerator 1. The pipe connector 30 can also be installed between the water dispenser body and the water storage container of the water dispenser, between the humidifier body and the liquid storage container of the humidifier, and any other leak-proof (air-leaking) location that the user needs to install. The present invention does not impose any restrictions.

[0042] The pipe fitting 30 provided by the present invention will now be described.

[0043] See Figures 1 to 3 The pipe fitting 30 provided by the present invention includes a conduit 31, a support member 33, and a seal member 32. The conduit 31 has an inlet connection end 31a and an outlet connection end 31b disposed opposite to each other. The support member 33 includes a connecting portion 331 and a insertion portion 332. The connecting portion 331 is connected to the inner wall of the conduit 31 to divide the cavity of the conduit 31 into an inlet chamber 331a and an outlet chamber 331b that are in communication with each other. The insertion portion 332 is connected to the connecting portion 331, and at least a portion of the insertion portion 332 protrudes from the connecting portion 331 toward the inlet connection end 31a to form a slot 333 between the insertion portion 332 and the inner wall of the inlet chamber 331a. The seal member 32 is fixed to the inner wall of the inlet chamber 331a, and at least a portion of the seal member 32 extends beyond the insertion portion 332 in the direction from the outlet connection end 31b to the inlet connection end 31a.

[0044] It should be noted that the conduit 31 is used for fluid flow, and the conduit 31 can be configured as a round tube, a square tube, or other types of tubes; this invention is not limited in this regard. The conduit 31 has a length direction extending along the X direction, and its two ends, spaced apart along the length direction, are respectively designated as an inlet connection end 31a and an outlet connection end 31b. The inlet connection end 31a is used for fluid to enter the conduit 31 (e.g., it can be used to connect to the outlet of a liquid storage container such as a kettle). The outlet connection end 31b is used for fluid to exit the conduit 31 (e.g., it can be used to connect to the liquid outlet component 21).

[0045] The connecting portion 331 of the carrier 33 supports the insertion portion 332 and forms a slot 333 with the inner wall of the conduit 31 in conjunction with the insertion portion 332. The connecting portion 331 extends circumferentially along the conduit 31, dividing the cavity of the conduit 31 into an inlet chamber 331a and an outlet chamber 331b, which are separated axially along the conduit 31. The inlet chamber 331a communicates with the inlet connection end 31a, and the outlet chamber 331b communicates with the outlet connection end 31b. Furthermore, the connecting portion 331 may be provided with a guide hole 334 or other perforated structures to connect the inlet chamber 331a and the outlet chamber 331b.

[0046] The connector 332 is used to control the opening and closing of the switch valve. When the user installs the liquid storage device 10, such as a kettle, onto the door 50, the connector 332 can push up the valve core 12 of the switch valve, causing the valve core 12 to separate from the liquid outlet 13 of the liquid storage device 10, so that the liquid in the liquid storage device 10 can flow out.

[0047] The slot 333 is used to mate with the outlet hole 13 of the liquid storage device 10, such as a kettle. A seal 32 is installed in the slot 333. When the outlet hole 13 of the liquid storage device 10 is inserted into the slot 333, the seal 32 is pressed between the wall of the outlet hole 13 and the inner wall of the inlet chamber 331a to seal the assembly gap between the outlet hole 13 and the inner wall of the inlet chamber 331a, preventing liquid from flowing out of the liquid storage device 10 from the assembly gap. Specifically, in the direction from the outlet connection end 31b to the inlet connection end 31a, since at least a portion of the seal 32 extends beyond the insertion portion 332, the seal 32 remains connected between the outer wall of the outlet hole 13 and the inner wall of the inlet chamber 331a during repeated insertion and removal of the outlet hole 13 of the liquid storage device 10 from the assembly point of the outlet hole 13 and the slot 333, thereby reducing spillage.

[0048] See Figure 3As an example, the pipe connector 30 of the present invention can be installed on the door of a refrigerator. The outlet hole 13 of the liquid storage device 10, such as a kettle, can be inserted into the slot 333, such that the insertion part 332 lifts the valve core 12 of the switch valve to connect the liquid storage chamber 11 of the liquid storage device 10 with the conduit 31, facilitating subsequent water dispensing operations by the user. During the process of inserting the outlet hole 13 of the liquid storage device 10 into the slot 333, before the valve core 12 of the switch valve is lifted by the insertion part 332, the outlet hole 13 of the liquid storage device 10 first contacts the seal 32 because at least a portion of the seal 32 extends beyond the insertion part 332. At this time, the valve core 12 of the switch valve has not yet been lifted by the insertion part 332, and the liquid in the water tank or other liquid storage device 10 has not yet flowed out. The sealing element 32 has already sealed the installation gap between the outlet hole 13 and the inner wall of the inlet chamber 331a. Therefore, when the valve core 12 of the switch valve is lifted by the insertion part 332, the liquid in the water tank or other liquid storage device 10 cannot flow out from the gap between the outlet hole 13 and the inner wall of the inlet chamber 331a, thus reducing liquid overflow. Correspondingly, during the process of pulling the outlet hole 13 of the water tank or other liquid storage device 10 out of the slot 333, the valve core 12 of the switch valve first separates from the insertion part 332, causing the valve core 12 of the switch valve to reset and close the outlet hole 13 of the liquid storage device 10, preventing further liquid outflow. During this process, the sealing element 32 remains connected between the outlet hole 13 and the inner wall of the inlet chamber 331a until the outlet hole 13 is pulled out of the slot 333. Therefore, during the repeated insertion and removal of the water tank and other liquid storage device 10 from the slot 333 of the pipe connector 30, the liquid in the water tank and other liquid storage device 10 will never flow out from the gap between the liquid outlet 13 and the inner wall of the liquid inlet chamber 331a, so as to reduce liquid overflow, ensure the hygiene of the user's water intake and the hygiene of the refrigerator environment, and at the same time, the user does not need to repeatedly clean the overflowing liquid, thus improving the user's experience.

[0049] See Figure 3 and Figure 4 In some embodiments, to facilitate the processing of the carrier 33, the connecting portion 331 may be annular, and a notch at the center of the connecting portion 331 forms a guide hole 334 to connect the liquid inlet chamber 331a and the liquid outlet chamber 331b. The insertion portions 332 are spaced circumferentially along the guide hole 334, forming a notch between adjacent insertion portions 332 that communicates with the guide hole 334, facilitating the flow of liquid from the reservoir or other liquid storage device 10 through the guide hole 334 after the insertion portion 332 lifts the valve core 12 of the switch valve.

[0050] Optionally, the guide hole 334 is coaxially arranged with the conduit 31, so that a uniformly spaced slot 333 is formed between the insertion part 332 and the conduit 31. In this way, when the outlet hole 13 is inserted into the slot 333, the seal 32 can be uniformly pressed between the outer wall of the outlet hole 13 and the inner wall of the inlet chamber 331a, so that the gap between the outlet hole 13 and the inlet chamber 331a is uniformly sealed, thereby improving sealing performance and reducing leakage. Furthermore, the coaxial arrangement of the guide hole 334 and the conduit 31 also facilitates the alignment of the insertion part 332 with the valve core 12 of the switching valve, allowing the valve core 12 to be lifted to control the opening and closing of the switching valve.

[0051] Of course, in other embodiments, the connecting part 331 can also be configured as a circular baffle with multiple guide holes 334 distributed on the baffle. The connecting part 331 is provided with a protruding rib facing the inlet connecting end 31a, and the protruding rib forms a plug-in part 332. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the connecting part 331 and the plug-in part 332 form a linkage assembly to lift the valve core 12 of the switching valve through the linkage assembly, thereby controlling the opening and closing of the switching valve. This will not be elaborated further in this invention.

[0052] See Figure 5 In some embodiments, to improve the sealing effect of the seal 32, the seal 32 is provided with at least one sealing rib 3211 on the side facing the insertion part 332. In the direction from the outlet connection end 31b to the inlet connection end 31a, at least one sealing rib 3211 is located between the inlet connection end 31a and the insertion part 332.

[0053] It should be noted that each sealing rib 3211 can be arranged in a ring shape, so that the sealing element 32 is uniformly sealed between the liquid outlet 13 and the inner wall of the liquid inlet cavity 331a. This increases the squeezing force of the sealing element 32 on the liquid outlet 13 and the inner wall of the liquid inlet cavity 331a, making the sealing element 32 fit more tightly with the liquid outlet 13 and the inner wall of the liquid inlet cavity 331a, thereby improving the sealing effect. In addition, in the direction from the outlet connection end 31b to the inlet connection end 31a, the sealing rib 3211 also extends the liquid outflow path, further preventing liquid overflow and improving the sealing effect.

[0054] Optionally, to achieve a double seal and further improve the sealing effect, two or more sealing ribs 3211 may be provided. Adjacent sealing ribs 3211 are spaced apart along the axial direction of the conduit 31. In other embodiments, each sealing rib 3211 may also be arc-shaped, and adjacent sealing ribs 3211 may be at least partially offset along the direction from the inlet connection end 31a to the outlet connection end 31b to seal the gap between the liquid outlet hole 13 and the inner wall of the liquid inlet chamber 331a.

[0055] See you later Figure 1 and Figure 2In some embodiments, to facilitate fixing the seal 32, the seal 32 includes a folded portion 322 and a sealing ring 321. The folded portion 322 is fixed to the wall of the conduit 31, and the sealing ring 321 is connected to the folded portion 322 and disposed within the liquid inlet chamber 331a. The sealing ring 321 has an inner wall facing the insertion portion 332, and at least one sealing rib 3211 is fixed to the inner wall of the sealing ring 321.

[0056] It should be noted that during the installation of the seal 32, the sealing ring 321 of the seal 32 is inserted into the slot 333, so that the folded portion 322 of the seal 32 is fixed at the edge of the inlet connection end 31a, thereby limiting the sealing ring 321 and preventing it from being moved during the insertion and removal of the liquid outlet 13 of the liquid storage device 10 from the slot 333. This allows the sealing ring 321 to be stably pressed between the liquid outlet 13 and the inner wall of the liquid inlet chamber 331a, thus improving the sealing effect.

[0057] As an example, the sealing ring 321 may be annular or cylindrical and disposed on the inner wall of the conduit 31. The sealing ring 321 has an inner wall and an outer wall disposed opposite to each other. When the sealing ring 321 is installed into the conduit 31, the outer wall of the sealing ring 321 faces the inner wall of the conduit 31, and the inner wall of the sealing ring 321 faces the insertion portion 332. The sealing ring 321 has a flange on the side facing the inlet connection end 31a. The flange is disposed circumferentially along the sealing ring 321 and extends radially toward the outer wall of the sealing ring 321, forming a folded portion 322.

[0058] In some embodiments, to improve the fixing effect of the seal 32, the folded portion 322 is configured with an interference fit between the conduit 31 and the sleeve 34. This configuration allows the folded portion 322 to be clamped at its upper limit in the X direction, preventing the seal 32 from shifting and thus maintaining the sealing effect.

[0059] See Figure 1 and Figure 2 In some embodiments, to further improve the fixing effect on the seal 32, the thickness of the folded portion 322 gradually increases in the direction from the inner wall of the sealing ring 321 to the outer wall of the sealing ring 321.

[0060] This design, with varying thicknesses of the folded portion 322, results in different compressive forces acting on it between the sleeve 34 and the guide tube 31, effectively clamping the folded portion 322 at its upper limit along the Y direction. In other words, the thickness of the folded portion 322 gradually increases along the direction from the inner wall of the sealing ring 321 to its outer wall, preventing movement of the folded portion 322 along the Y direction. This design also prevents gaps between the sealing ring 321 and the wall of the outlet hole 13 when the liquid storage device 10 is inserted into the inlet connection end 31a, improving the sealing effect and preventing liquid leakage.

[0061] Therefore, the folding portion 322 is simultaneously limited in both the X and Y directions to improve the fixing effect of the seal 32, prevent the seal 32 from shifting, and thus ensure that the seal 32 is firmly pressed between the wall of the liquid outlet 13 and the inner wall of the conduit 31, thereby improving the sealing effect of the seal 32 and reducing liquid leakage. Optionally, the folding portion 322 can be configured as a wedge-shaped structure, which is not limited by the present invention.

[0062] See Figure 2 In some embodiments, to facilitate easy insertion and removal of the liquid outlet 13 of the liquid storage device 10 from the slot 333, the sealing ring 321 has an inner wall and an outer wall that are disposed opposite to each other, and an installation gap 3212 is provided between the outer wall of the sealing ring 321 and the inner wall of the liquid inlet cavity 331a. By providing the installation gap 3212, when the liquid outlet 13 of the liquid storage device 10 is inserted into the slot 333, the squeezed sealing ring 321 can move a small distance toward the inner wall of the liquid inlet cavity 331a, so as to avoid the hole wall of the liquid outlet 13 being too tightly inserted with the sealing ring 321, making it difficult to remove the liquid outlet 13 of the liquid storage device 10 from the slot 333. However, it should be noted that although the sealing ring 321 can move a small distance toward the inner wall of the liquid inlet cavity 331a, the sealing rib 3211 is always pressed against the liquid outlet 13. In this way, the cooperation between the sealing rib 3211 and the installation gap 3212 can prevent leakage during the insertion and removal of the liquid outlet 13 of the liquid storage device 10 and the slot 333.

[0063] Optionally, the installation gap 3212 can be set to a range of 0 to 1 mm. In this embodiment, a safety gap of 0.2 mm can be selected. Of course, in actual use, the installation gap 3212 can also be adjusted adaptively according to specific circumstances.

[0064] In some embodiments, to facilitate fixing the sealing member 32, the sealing member 32 further includes an abutment portion 323. The abutment portion 323 is connected to the sealing ring 321 and is offset from the folded portion 322. The abutment portion 323 is provided with a mating hole 323a. When the sealing member 32 is installed into the conduit 31, the abutment portion 323 abuts against the connecting portion 331, and the insertion portion 332 passes through the mating hole 323a.

[0065] In this way, by pressing the abutting part 323 against the connecting part 331, the folding part 322 can be supported against the edge of the inlet connecting end 31a. At the same time, the abutting part 323 can be provided on the inner wall of the sealing ring 321, and the abutting part 323 extends along the outer wall of the sealing ring 321 in the direction of the inner wall, so that the abutting part 323 is connected between the sealing ring 321 and the insertion part 332 through the mating hole 323a, and it is also convenient to reserve an installation gap 3212 between the sealing ring 321 and the inner wall of the liquid inlet chamber 331a.

[0066] See Figure 6 and Figure 7 In some embodiments, to facilitate fixing the seal 32, the pipe connector 30 also includes a pipe sleeve 34, which is fixed to the outer wall of the conduit 31, and the folded portion 322 is clamped between the pipe sleeve 34 and the conduit 31 to fix the seal 32.

[0067] As an example, the sleeve 34 includes an mounting portion 341 and a clamping portion 342. The mounting portion 341 is fixed to the outer wall of the conduit 31, and the clamping portion 342 is connected to the mounting portion 341 so that the clamping portion 342 cooperates with the conduit 31 to clamp the folded portion 322. The mounting portion 341 may be configured as an annular column, and the mounting portion 341 has a flange pointing from the outer wall of the sealing ring 321 towards the inner wall to form the clamping portion 342. When the mounting portion 341 is fitted onto the outer wall of the conduit 31 and fixed in the direction from the inlet connection end 31a to the outlet connection end 31b, the clamping portion 342 gradually approaches the inlet connection end 31a to compress the folded portion 322 of the sealing element 32, thereby fixing the sealing element 32.

[0068] Optionally, the seal 32 may be elastic to undergo elastic deformation when the seal 32 is compressed, thereby improving the sealing effect.

[0069] Compared to related technologies that fix the seal 32 with adhesive, the method of clamping and fixing the seal 32 by the cooperation of the conduit 31 and the sleeve 34 can avoid the seal 32 from falling off due to liquid soaking in the adhesive layer, thereby further improving the installation stability of the seal 32 and improving the sealing effect.

[0070] In some embodiments, to facilitate fixing the conduit 31 and the sleeve 34, the inner wall of the sleeve 34 is provided with at least one first fastening part 35, and the outer wall of the conduit 31 is provided with at least one second fastening part 36. Each first fastening part 35 and each second fastening part 36 cooperate to fix the sleeve 34 to the conduit 31.

[0071] It should be noted that, through the cooperation of the first engaging part 35 and the second engaging part 36, the mounting part 341 can be fixed to the outer wall of the conduit 31, so that the clamping part 342 is fixed relative to the conduit 31, thereby maintaining the compression stability of the folded part 322 of the sealing member 32. The first engaging part 35 and the second engaging part 36 can be mating threads or magnetic assemblies, etc., and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0072] In some embodiments, to facilitate the processing of the first fastening portion 35 and the second fastening portion 36, one of the first fastening portion 35 and the second fastening portion 36 is configured as a slot, and the other is configured as a latch. The latch is inserted into the slot to achieve the fastening assembly of the conduit 31 and the sleeve 34. Optionally, multiple first fastening portions 35 may be provided along the circumference of the sleeve 34, and multiple second fastening portions 36 may also be provided along the circumference of the conduit 31 to improve the fastening stability.

[0073] In some embodiments, to facilitate the fastening of the conduit 31 and the sleeve 34, the sleeve 34 and the conduit 31, which have a slot, are further provided with a fastening guide 39. The fastening guide 39 and the slot are spaced apart along the axial direction of the sleeve 34 so that the latch passes through the fastening guide 39 and is embedded in the slot.

[0074] It should be noted that the engaging guide 39 is used to guide the latch to embed into the slot, so that the conduit 31 and the sleeve 34 can be engaged. Optionally, the engaging guide 39 can be configured as a recess. As an example, the first engaging part 35 of the sleeve 34 is configured as a slot, and the engaging guide 39 and the slot are spaced apart along the axial direction of the sleeve 34. When the sleeve 34 and the conduit 31 are engaged, the latch on the outer wall of the conduit 31 first aligns with the engaging guide 39, and then the sleeve 34 is pushed toward the conduit 31, so that the latch is embedded into the slot through the engaging guide 39, thus completing the assembly of the sleeve 34 and the conduit 31, and pressing the folded part 322 of the seal 32 between the two for fixation, saving time and effort in installation.

[0075] In other embodiments, to facilitate the fastening of the conduit 31 and the sleeve 34, the fitting 30 includes a guide assembly. The guide assembly includes a first guide portion 37 and a second guide portion 38. The sleeve 34 is provided with at least one first guide portion 37, which is spaced apart from the first fastening portion 35 circumferentially from the sleeve 34. The conduit 31 is provided with at least one second guide portion 38, and each first guide portion 37 cooperates with each second guide portion 38 to fasten the first fastening portion 35 with the second fastening portion 36.

[0076] It should be noted that the first guide portion 37 and the second guide portion 38 are used to guide the first engaging portion 35 and the second engaging portion 36 to engage. Optionally, one of the first guide portion 37 and the second guide portion 38 is configured as a guide groove, and the other is configured as a guide rib. The guide groove extends along the axial direction of the conduit 31. By inserting the guide rib into the guide groove and sliding it, the first engaging portion 35 and the second engaging portion 36 can be aligned and engaged to achieve the fastening assembly of the conduit 31 and the sleeve 34.

[0077] When the conduit 31 and the sleeve 34 are installed together, the seal 32 is inserted into the slot 333, and then the first guide portion 37 of the sleeve 34 is aligned with the second guide portion 38 on the conduit 31. Then, along the guide of the first guide portion 37 and the second guide portion 38, the sleeve 34 is pushed toward the conduit 31 so that the first fastening portion 35 and the second fastening portion 36 are engaged, thus completing the assembly of the sleeve 34 and the conduit 31. The folded portion 322 of the seal 32 is pressed between the two and fixed. The installation is simple, quick and easy, saving time and effort.

[0078] In some embodiments, to facilitate the separation of the conduit 31 and the sleeve 34, the outer wall of the sleeve 34 is provided with an anti-slip portion 343. In this way, when the sleeve and the conduit 31 are configured for a plug-in fit, the anti-slip portion 343 allows the user to easily apply an external force along the axial direction of the sleeve 34 to separate the sleeve 34 and the conduit 31.

[0079] Optionally, the outer wall of the sleeve 34 is provided with a flange extending beyond the body. This flange extends circumferentially along the sleeve 34 to form an anti-slip portion 343, facilitating the user to grip the flange and assemble / disassemble the sleeve 34 and the conduit 31 along the axial direction of the sleeve 34. The flange can be square, circular, elliptical, or polygonal in shape, etc., and the present invention is not limited thereto. Furthermore, the outer wall of the flange can also be provided with multiple anti-slip ribs to increase the friction on the flange, facilitating the separation of the sleeve 34 and the conduit 31. Optionally, the anti-slip ribs can be spaced apart along the axial direction of the sleeve 34, or can be spiral, wavy, or straight, etc., and the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0080] See Figures 8 to 10 The present invention also provides a cabinet door 50 using the aforementioned pipe fitting 30, which facilitates the user in removing and installing the liquid storage device 10 from the cabinet door 50 and reduces residual liquid. The cabinet door 50 will be described below.

[0081] The door 50 provided by the present invention includes a door body 51, a liquid storage device 10, and the aforementioned pipe connector 30. The door body 51 has an inner side 51a, an outer side 51b, and a door hole 51c connecting the inner side 51a and the outer side 51b. The pipe connector 30 is installed in the door hole 51c. The liquid storage device 10 is installed on the inner side 51a of the door. The liquid storage device 10 has a liquid storage chamber 11 and a liquid outlet 13 communicating with the liquid storage chamber 11. The liquid outlet 13 of the liquid storage device 10 is inserted into the inlet connection end 31a of the conduit 31, so that the sealing member 32 is squeezed to seal the gap between the wall of the liquid outlet 13 and the inner wall of the conduit 31.

[0082] It should be noted that the pipe connector 30 and the box door 50 are designed to be detachably connected, such as by threaded connection or plug-in connection, and this invention does not impose any limitations. When the pipe connector 30 is installed on the box door 50, the conduit 31 is detachably installed in the door hole 51c, with the inlet connection end 31a of the conduit 31 facing the inner side 51a of the door and the outlet connection end 31b of the conduit 31 facing the outer side 51b of the door. The outlet hole 13 of the liquid storage device 10 can be inserted into the inlet connection end 31a of the conduit 31, pressing the sealing element 32 between the hole wall of the outlet hole 13 and the inner wall of the inlet chamber 331a to seal the assembly gap between the outlet hole 13 and the inner wall of the conduit 31. Thus, when the user takes water from the liquid storage device 10, the gap between the outlet hole 13 of the liquid storage device 10 and the door hole 51c of the box door 50 is sealed by the sealing element 32, thereby reducing the leakage of liquid from the liquid storage device 10 from the assembly point of the outlet hole 13 and the door hole 51c, and thus reducing residual liquid.

[0083] Furthermore, the pipe connector 30 provided by this invention forms a plug-in fit between the liquid outlet 13 of the liquid storage device 10 and the pipe connector 30, simplifying the assembly structure between the liquid storage device 10 and the cabinet door 50, and facilitating the user's disassembly and assembly of the liquid storage device 10 on the cabinet door 50. On the one hand, the user can directly remove the liquid storage device 10 from the cabinet door 50 and pour out the liquid using the drain outlet of the liquid storage device 10, making it convenient for the user to flexibly obtain ice water in multiple ways, further improving the user experience. At the same time, during the user's disassembly and assembly of the liquid storage device 10, the liquid outlet 13 of the liquid storage device 10 is repeatedly inserted and removed from the inlet connection end 31a of the conduit 31. Since the sealing element 32 is firmly clamped between the sleeve 34 and the conduit 31, the sealing rib 3211 on the sealing ring 321 is always pressed against the outer wall of the liquid outlet 13 of the liquid storage device 10, preventing liquid from leaking out from the assembly point of the liquid outlet 13 and the conduit 31, thereby improving the sealing effect and reducing residual liquid. Furthermore, since the seal 32 is clamped by the sleeve 34 and the conduit 31, the connection stability of the seal 32 is good, which can prevent the seal 32 from falling off, thus enabling the seal 32 to maintain a good sealing effect between the liquid outlet 13 and the door hole 51c of the liquid storage device 10.

[0084] Therefore, the door 50 provided by the present invention is squeezed between the wall of the liquid outlet 13 and the inner wall of the conduit 31 by the sealing member 32, which prevents the liquid in the liquid storage device 10 from leaking from the assembly of the liquid outlet 13 and the conduit 31, thereby reducing liquid residue, preventing residual liquid from polluting drinking water and the internal environment of the refrigerator 1, and eliminating the need for users to repeatedly clean residual liquid, saving time and effort and improving the user experience.

[0085] In some embodiments, to facilitate users in taking water from the liquid storage device 10, the door 50 further includes a liquid taking mechanism 20. The liquid taking mechanism 20 can be a linkage assembly, a button assembly, or an electronic control element, as long as the user can use the liquid taking mechanism 20 to drive the valve core 12 of the switching valve to move, thereby opening or closing the liquid outlet 13. Further details are omitted here.

[0086] See also, Figure 10For ease of understanding, this invention provides a liquid dispensing mechanism 20, which includes a dispensing component 21 and a dispensing component 22. The dispensing component 22 includes a dispensing housing 22a and a force-receiving part 22b. The dispensing housing 22a is mounted on the outer side 51b of the door body 51. The force-receiving part 22b is rotatably connected to the dispensing housing 22a. As an example, the force-receiving part 22b is configured as a pressure tongue, the top end of which is rotatably connected to the dispensing housing 22a, and the bottom end of which is a free end. A torsion spring is provided between the dispensing housing 22a and the pressure tongue. When the user presses the free end of the pressure tongue, the torsion spring deforms, allowing the pressure tongue to rotate around its top end. When the user releases the pressure tongue, the torsion spring returns to its original deformation, resetting the pressure tongue from the pressed position to the free position. The door body 51 includes a door outer shell and a door inner shell. The door outer shell forms the outer side 51b of the door body 51, and the door inner shell forms the inner side 51a of the door body 51. To facilitate the installation of the dispensing component 22 on the door body 51, a portion of the outer side 51b of the door body 51 is recessed towards the inner side 51a to form a receiving space 51d. The door opening 51c of the door body 51 communicates with the receiving space 51d. The dispensing housing 22a of the dispensing component 22 can be installed within the receiving space 51d.

[0087] The liquid dispensing component 21 includes a liquid dispensing housing 211, an elastic connector 213, and a liquid dispensing core 212. The liquid dispensing housing 211 has a liquid dispensing chamber 331b, an inlet end communicating with the liquid dispensing chamber 331b, and an outlet end. The inlet end of the liquid dispensing housing 211 is connected to the outlet connection end 31b of the pipe connector 30. The outlet end of the liquid dispensing channel 20a extends from the door hole 51c to the outside of the door 51b. The liquid dispensing core 212 is slidably disposed within the liquid dispensing chamber 331b of the liquid dispensing housing 211, and the outer wall of the liquid dispensing core 212 forms the liquid dispensing channel 20a between the inner wall of the liquid dispensing housing 211 and the outer wall of the liquid dispensing housing 212. The elastic connector 213 connects the liquid dispensing core 212 and the liquid dispensing housing 211. Furthermore, the liquid dispensing core 212 is connected to the force-receiving part 22b of the dispensing component 22, so that the liquid dispensing core 212 can press against or separate from the outlet end of the liquid dispensing housing 211, thereby opening or closing the liquid dispensing channel 20a.

[0088] When a user draws water, they press the pressure tongue of the dispensing component 22. The pressure tongue of the dispensing component 22 rotates relative to the door 51, pushing the dispensing core 212 of the dispensing component 21 upward along the axial direction of the door hole 51c, opening the outflow end of the dispensing channel 20a. Simultaneously, the elastic connector 213 between the dispensing core 212 and the dispensing housing 211 drives the dispensing housing 211 upward along the axial direction of the door hole 51c. The dispensing housing 211 then pushes the pipe connector 30 upward along the axial direction of the door hole 51c, so that the plug-in part 332 lifts the valve core 12 of the switch valve, causing the valve core 12 of the switch valve to separate from the dispensing hole 13, thereby opening the dispensing hole 13. This allows the liquid in the storage device 10 to flow through the pipe connector 30 to the dispensing component 21, thus enabling the user to draw water.

[0089] When the user stops drawing water, the user releases the pressure on the tongue of the dispensing component 22. The tongue of the dispensing component 22 rotates and resets, causing the liquid outlet core 212 to move axially downward along the door hole 51c to press against the outflow end of the liquid outlet channel 20a, thus closing the liquid outlet channel 20a. At the same time, the elastic connector 213 resets, causing the liquid outlet housing 211 to move axially downward along the door hole 51c. The liquid outlet housing 211 causes the pipe connector 30 to move axially downward along the door hole 51c, causing the plug-in part 332 to separate from the valve core 12 of the switch valve. The valve core 12 of the switch valve resets through the elastic element to press against the liquid outlet hole 13, closing the liquid outlet hole 13. The liquid in the storage device 10 no longer flows out, and the user stops drawing water.

[0090] The conduit 31 and the liquid outlet housing 211 are detachably connected, such as by a threaded connection or a plug-in connection, which is not limited in this invention. As an example, the outer wall of the conduit 31 has a first mating part and a second mating part, which are spaced apart along the length of the conduit 31. The first mating part is a plug for slidingly connecting the conduit 31 to the door 50. The second mating part is an external thread for threading the conduit 31 to the liquid dispensing mechanism 20.

[0091] Therefore, users can remove the ice water in the liquid storage device 10 to the outside of the door 50 without opening the door 50, so as to avoid frequently opening the door 50 of the refrigerator 1 and reduce the leakage of cold air from the refrigerator 1.

[0092] To facilitate water collection by users, the outlet hole 13 of the liquid storage device 10 is coaxially arranged with the flow channel of the conduit 31 and the outlet channel 20a of the outlet component 21, so that the liquid in the liquid storage device 10 is discharged sequentially through the flow channel of the conduit 31 and the outlet channel 20a to the outside of the door 51b. This shortens the liquid flow path and saves water collection time. As an example, the axis of the door hole 51c is inclined from top to bottom along the direction from the inside of the door 51a to the outside of the door 51b, and the outlet hole 13 of the liquid storage device 10 is coaxially arranged with the door hole 51c.

[0093] In some embodiments, the dispensing component 21 may not have a dispensing core 212. That is, the user directly drives the dispensing housing 211 to move axially along the door hole 51c via a pressure tongue, thereby pushing the valve core 12 to slide. In this case, when the user takes water from the storage device 10, the liquid in the storage device 10 can flow directly from the outlet end of the dispensing channel 20a without separating the dispensing core 212 from the outlet end of the dispensing channel 20a before discharge. This configuration, by reducing the need for the dispensing core 212, avoids prolonged accumulation of liquid in the dispensing channel 20a when the user takes water, preventing liquid spoilage and ensuring hygienic water intake.

[0094] In some embodiments, the door 50 further includes a cold leakage seal 5232, which is disposed in the door hole 51c to seal the installation gap 3212 between the door hole 51c and the liquid storage device 10, and between the door hole 51c and the liquid outlet component 21, thereby preventing cold air leakage inside the refrigerator 1.

[0095] The cold leakage seal 5232 includes a sleeve 521, a pressing cap 522, and a first sealing ring 523. The sleeve 521 is disposed on the inner wall of the door hole 51c, and the first sealing ring 523 is disposed between the sleeve 521 and the outer shell of the liquid outlet component 21. The top end of the first sealing ring 523 is fixed to the sleeve 521 by the pressing cap 522 to prevent the first sealing ring 523 from falling off during the movement of the liquid outlet component 21.

[0096] In addition, to improve the sealing between the pipe joint 30 and the door hole 51c, a second sealing ring 524 is provided between the pipe joint 30 and the door hole 51c to seal the gap between the outer wall of the pipe joint 30 and the inner wall of the door hole 51c, so as to prevent the refrigerator 1 from leaking cold.

[0097] See Figures 11 to 13 In some embodiments, to facilitate the user's removal of the liquid storage device 10 and the liquid dispensing component 21 from the door 50, the door 50 also includes a base 40. The base 40 is fixed to the inner side 51a of the door, and the pipe connector 30 is detachably connected to the base 40. The liquid storage device 10 is detachably connected to the base 40.

[0098] It should be noted that the base 40 is installed on the inner side 51a of the door body 51, and can be used for detachable connection with the pipe connector 30, and can also be used to support the liquid storage device 10. The base 40 has a connection hole 41, which corresponds to the door hole 51c of the door body 51. The pipe connector 30 is installed in the door hole 51c. The top end of the pipe connector 30 is used to insert into the liquid outlet 13 of the liquid storage device 10, and the bottom end of the pipe connector 30 is used to connect to the liquid outlet component 21. When the user removes the liquid storage device 10 from the door 50, the user only needs to lift the liquid storage device 10 to allow the liquid outlet 13 of the liquid storage device 10 to be pulled out from the inlet connection end 31a of the pipe connector 30, thus separating the liquid storage device 10 from the door 50, making it convenient for the user to directly remove the liquid storage device 10 and pour out a large amount of ice water. Meanwhile, the detachable connection between the pipe connector 30 and the base 40 can be a plug-in connection, a magnetic engagement, or a locking engagement, etc., and this invention is not limited to these methods. When the user removes the liquid outlet component 21 from the door 50, they only need to remove the pipe connector 30 from the base 40, and the liquid outlet component 21 can be removed along with the pipe connector 30, thus separating the liquid outlet component 21 from the door 50. The outlet connection end 31b of the pipe connector 30 and the outer shell of the liquid outlet component 21 can be connected by a threaded connection or a locking connection, etc., and this invention is not limited to these methods.

[0099] In some embodiments, since the liquid storage device 10 is usually heavy due to the large amount of liquid it contains, in order to facilitate the user to install the liquid storage device 10 onto the base 40, the base 40 is provided with at least one sliding guide portion, and the liquid storage device 10 is provided with at least one sliding guide mating portion. Each sliding guide portion is slidably connected to each sliding guide mating portion so that the liquid outlet hole 13 of the liquid storage device 10 is inserted into the slot 333 of the conduit 31.

[0100] See Figure 13 and Figure 14 In some embodiments, to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of the pipe connector 30 and the base 40, the inner wall of the connection hole 41 of the base 40 is provided with at least one positioning portion 42. The outer wall of the pipe connector 30 is provided with at least one positioning mating portion 311. One of the positioning portion 42 and the positioning mating portion 311 is configured as a groove, and the other is configured as a protrusion. The groove includes a disassembly portion 421 and a fixing portion 422, which are axially offset and connected along the connection hole 41. During the installation of the pipe connector 30 into the base 40, the pipe connector 30 is inserted into the connection hole 41, causing the protrusion to move through the disassembly portion 421 into the fixing portion 422 to fix the pipe connector 30 and the base 40. During the disassembly of the pipe connector 30 and the base 40, the pipe connector 30 is rotated, causing the protrusion to move from the fixing portion 422 to the disassembly portion 421 to release the fixed fit between the pipe connector 30 and the base 40.

[0101] In this way, by utilizing the misaligned engagement between the positioning part 311 and the positioning part 42, the position of the protrusion between the fixing part 422 and the disassembly part 421 can be changed by the rotational movement between the pipe connector 30 and the base 40, thereby realizing the disassembly and locking of the pipe connector 30 and the base 40. The user only needs to rotate the pipe connector 30 relative to the base 40 to remove the liquid outlet component 21 from the door 50 for replacement or cleaning, which is simple, convenient, time-saving and labor-saving.

[0102] Specifically, see Figures 15 to 17The N direction is the installation direction for switching the pipe connector 30 and base 40 from the initial unlocked state to the locked state, and the M direction is the disassembly direction for switching the pipe connector 30 and base 40 from the locked state to the unlocked state. When the user installs the pipe connector 30 onto the base 40, the protrusion of the pipe connector 30 first aligns with the disassembly portion 421 of the groove on the base 40. Guided by the disassembly portion 421, the user pushes the pipe connector 30 into the connection hole 41, causing the protrusion to move forward along the disassembly portion 421. When the protrusion moves to the misaligned engagement position between the disassembly portion 421 and the fixing portion 422, the pipe connector 30 is inserted into the connection hole 41. At this time, the user rotates the pipe connector 30 forward, causing the protrusion to rotate from the disassembly portion 421 of the groove to the fixing portion 422 of the groove, so that the fixing portion 422 and the protrusion form a fixed engagement, fixing the pipe connector 30 in the connection hole 41 of the base 40. At this time, the pipe connector 30 is in a locked state, and the liquid outlet component 21 connected to the pipe connector 30 is fixedly assembled with the box door 50 connected to the base 40.

[0103] When the user disassembles the pipe connector 30 from the base 40, the user only needs to rotate the pipe connector 30 in the reverse direction, causing the protrusion of the pipe connector 30 to rotate from the fixing part 422 of the groove on the base 40 to the disassembly part 421 of the groove, thereby releasing the fixed fit between the protrusion and the fixing part 422. Then, by moving the protrusion of the pipe connector 30 in the reverse direction within the disassembly part 421 of the groove, the pipe connector 30 can be pulled out from the connection hole 41 of the base 40, thereby separating the pipe connector 30 from the base 40. At this time, the pipe connector 30 is in the disassembled state, and the liquid outlet component 21 connected to the pipe connector 30 and the box door 50 connected to the base 40 can be separated.

[0104] Furthermore, the inner wall of the connecting hole 41 may be provided with multiple positioning portions 42, which are spaced apart circumferentially along the connecting hole 41. Correspondingly, the outer wall of the pipe connector 30 is provided with multiple positioning mating portions 311, each positioning mating portion 311 corresponding to each positioning portion 42. This arrangement increases the number of positioning portions 42 and positioning mating portions 311, thereby increasing the connection area between the base 40 and the pipe connector 30, and thus improving the connection stability between the base 40 and the pipe connector 30 in the locked state.

[0105] The disassembly portion 421 can be configured as a vertical groove extending axially along the connecting hole 41, and the fixing portion 422 can be configured as a transverse groove extending circumferentially along the connecting hole 41 and communicating with the vertical groove. Alternatively, the disassembly portion 421 can be configured as a vertical groove extending axially along the connecting hole 41, and the fixing portion 422 can also be configured as a vertical groove extending axially along the connecting hole 41, with the sidewalls of the two vertical grooves partially communicating. Alternatively, the disassembly portion 421 and the fixing portion 422 can form a spiral groove extending axially along the connecting hole 41. Of course, other shapes that meet the requirements can be provided for the disassembly portion 421 and the fixing portion 422, and the present invention does not impose any limitations.

[0106] It should be noted that the protrusion can be an elastomer with elastic deformation capability, such as a rubber block or a silicone block, and this invention is not limited thereto. As an example, when the compressive force on the protrusion in the fixing part 422 is greater than the compressive force on the protrusion in the disassembly part 421, the protrusion can be fixed within the fixing part 422 by utilizing elastic restoring force, thereby locking the base 40 and the pipe connector 30. Specifically, to facilitate the movement of the protrusion within the disassembly part 421, the protrusion may not be compressed within the disassembly part 421. That is, there is a gap between the protrusion and the side wall of the disassembly part 421, and the protrusion does not undergo elastic deformation when moving within the disassembly part 421. At this time, the user can easily insert the pipe connector 30 into the connection hole 41 and move the protrusion from the disassembly part 421 to the fixing part 422. When the protrusion moves from the disassembly part 421 to the fixing part 422, the protrusion is squeezed by the fixing part 422 to undergo elastic deformation, so that the protrusion and the fixing part 422 form a fixed fit, and the base 40 and the pipe joint 30 are locked by the elastic restoring force of the protrusion.

[0107] Alternatively, when the compressive force on the protrusion in the fixing part 422 is less than the compressive force on the protrusion in the disassembly part 421, the protrusion can also be confined within the fixing part 422 to lock the pipe connector 30 to the base 40. Optionally, the protrusion is in a compressed state when moving within the disassembly part 421, and in an uncompressed state within the fixing part 422. When the protrusion is not moved by external force, the protrusion prevents it from moving from the fixing part 422 to the disassembly part 421 by its elastic restoring force. Therefore, the protrusion is confined within the fixing part 422 to lock the base 40 to the pipe connector 30.

[0108] Alternatively, when the pressure exerted on the protrusion in the fixing part 422 is equal to the pressure exerted on the protrusion in the disassembly part 421, after the user moves the protrusion from the disassembly part 421 to the fixing part 422, the protrusion can also be restricted within the fixing part 422 without being moved by other external forces, so as to lock the pipe connector 30 and the base 40.

[0109] Of course, the user can also adjust the size of the protrusion and the width of the groove to adjust the squeezing force on the protrusion in the disassembly part 421 and the fixing part 422, so as to limit the movement of the protrusion between the fixing part 422 and the disassembly part 421 of the groove. This will not be described in detail in the present invention.

[0110] Therefore, when the protrusion is elastic, as long as at least one of the protrusions, the disassembly part 421 and the fixing part 422, undergoes elastic deformation, the elastic restoring force of the protrusion can be used to lock the base 40 and the pipe connector 30. When the user rotates the pipe connector 30, causing the external force on the protrusion to exceed the elastic restoring force, the lock between the protrusion and the fixing part 422 can be unlocked, and the base 40 and the pipe connector 30 can be separated. This facilitates the user's disassembly and assembly of the pipe connector 30 and the base 40, thereby facilitating the disassembly and assembly of the water outlet on the door 50.

[0111] See you later Figure 13 and Figure 14 In some embodiments, to facilitate the disassembly and assembly of the pipe connector 30 and the base 40, the groove includes a guide portion 423, which is connected between the disassembly portion 421 and the fixing portion 422. The protrusion undergoes elastic deformation when passing through the guide portion 423, and recovers its elastic deformation when it is in the disassembly portion 421 or the fixing portion 422.

[0112] It should be noted that the guide portion 423 is used to compress the protrusion, causing the protrusion to undergo elastic deformation. This restricts the movement of the protrusion between the fixing portion 422 and the disassembly portion 421 when the protrusion is not moved by external force, thereby maintaining the locked state of the pipe connector 30 and the base 40. Optionally, the groove includes two side walls spaced axially along the connecting hole 41, with at least one side wall protruding axially along the connecting hole 41 to form the guide portion 423.

[0113] In some embodiments, to facilitate the rotation of the protrusion between the fixing part 422 and the disassembly part 421, the guide part 423 is provided with a guide surface 423a, which extends circumferentially along the connecting hole 41. The protrusion is provided with a guide mating surface 311a that mates with the guide surface 423a, and the guide mating surface 311a extends in the same direction as the guide surface 423a.

[0114] It should be noted that, through the cooperation between the guide surface 423a and the guide mating surface 311a, the friction and resistance between the protrusion and the guide part 423 can be reduced when the protrusion passes through the guide part 423, making it easier for the protrusion to rotate between the fixing part 422 and the disassembly part 421.

[0115] The guide portion 423 includes a first guide wall and a second guide wall spaced apart axially along the connecting hole 41, and at least one of the first guide wall and the second guide wall is provided with a guide surface 423a. The protrusion includes a first mating surface and a second mating surface spaced apart axially along the connecting hole 41, and at least one of the first mating surface and the second mating surface is provided with a guide mating surface 311a. This invention is not limited in scope.

[0116] In some embodiments, to remind the user that the protrusion can rotate between the fixing part 422 and the disassembly part 421, the inner wall of the connecting hole 41 is also provided with a limiting part 424, and the outer wall of the pipe connector 30 is also provided with a limiting mating part 312. When the limiting part 424 and the limiting mating part 312 cooperate with each other, the protrusion can switch positions between the disassembly part 421 and the fixing part 422.

[0117] It should be noted that the axial movement distance of the pipe connector 30 relative to the insertion hole is limited by the engagement of the limiting part 424 and the limiting mating part 312. When the pipe connector 30 is inserted into the connection hole 41, the protrusion aligns with the disassembly part 421 and moves along the disassembly part 421. During the movement of the protrusion along the disassembly part 421, when the limiting part 424 and the limiting mating part 312 engage, the limiting part 424 and the limiting mating part 312 can generate a sense of resistance or a locking sound to indicate to the user that the pipe connector 30 is properly inserted into the connection hole 41. At this time, the user can rotate the pipe connector 30, causing the protrusion to rotate from the disassembly part 421 to the fixing part 422 to lock the pipe connector 30 and the base 40.

[0118] Furthermore, the cooperation between the limiting part 424 and the limiting mating part 312 can increase the contact area between the pipe joint 30 and the base 40 when locked, thereby improving the connection stability between the pipe joint 30 and the base 40 in the locked state.

[0119] As an example, to facilitate the processing of the limiting part 424 and the limiting mating part 312, the limiting part 424 is provided radially protruding from the inner wall of the connecting hole 41, and the limiting mating part 312 is provided protruding from the outer wall of the pipe connector 30. Along the axial direction of the connecting hole 41, the limiting part 424 and the limiting mating part 312 at least partially overlap, so that the limiting part 424 and the limiting mating part 312 press against each other. That is, the limiting part 424 is equivalent to a rib on the inner wall of the connecting hole 41, and the limiting mating part 312 is equivalent to a rib on the outer wall of the pipe connector 30. When the two ribs press against each other, the pipe connector 30 is inserted into the connecting hole 41.

[0120] See also Figure 13 and Figure 14 In some embodiments, when the positioning part 42 is configured as a groove and the positioning mating part 311 is configured as a protrusion, the positioning mating part 311 can be connected to the limiting mating part 312, and the positioning mating part 311 protrudes radially from the limiting mating part 312 along the connecting hole 41.

[0121] This arrangement is equivalent to setting the protrusion and the limiting mating part 312 along the same circumference of the connecting hole 41, which can save the installation space of the positioning mating part 311 and the limiting mating part 312 on the pipe joint 30, making the structure of the pipe joint 30 more compact and smaller, so as to meet the installation requirements of narrow spaces.

[0122] In some embodiments, to facilitate the assembly and disassembly of the pipe fitting 30 and the base 40, the disassembly portion 421 has a first open end 421a and a first closed end 421b spaced apart along the axial direction of the connecting hole 41. Along the axial direction of the connecting hole 41, the first closed end 421b and the limiting portion 424 are disposed at the same height.

[0123] It should be noted that the protrusion can be installed by aligning the first open end 421a with the disassembly part 421, so that the disassembly part 421 can guide the protrusion into the fixing part 422 to complete the locking of the pipe connector 30 and the base 40. The protrusion can also slide out of the disassembly part 421 through the first open end 421a to complete the disassembly of the pipe connector 30 and the base 40.

[0124] When the first closed end 421b and the limiting part 424 are set at the same height, it is equivalent to the first closed end 421b and the limiting part 424 being set along the same circumference of the connecting hole 41. At this time, the first closed end 421b can also be used to limit the movement distance of the protrusion within the disassembly part 421, so that after the protrusion abuts against the first closed end 421b, the user can rotate the pipe connector 30 to rotate the protrusion from the disassembly part 421 to the fixing part 422, locking the pipe connector 30 and the base 40.

[0125] In some embodiments, when the door 50 is provided with a base 40, in order to facilitate the movement of the insertion portion 332 of the pipe connector 30 in conjunction with the liquid dispensing mechanism 20 to lift the valve core 12 of the switching valve, the pipe connector 30 needs to be able to move axially relative to the base 40 along the connection hole 41. Therefore, in the locked state of the pipe connector 30 and the base 40, in order to satisfy the requirement that the pipe connector 30 can move axially relative to the base 40 along the connection hole 41, the fixing portion 422 has two groove walls spaced apart axially along the connection hole 41, the distance between the two groove walls being greater than the thickness of the protrusion, so that the protrusion can move axially within the fixing portion 422 along the connection hole 41.

[0126] It should be noted that when the protrusion is in the fixing part 422, since the distance between the two groove walls of the fixing part 422, which are axially spaced along the connecting hole 41, is greater than the thickness of the protrusion, when the water outlet is connected to the pipe connector 30, the pipe connector 30 can be pushed to move relative to the base 40 along the connecting hole 41 to lift the valve core 12 of the switch valve. In addition, during the movement of the pipe connector 30 relative to the base 40, in order to prevent the protrusion from moving from the fixing part 422 to the disassembly part 421, a guide part 423 can be provided between the fixing part 422 and the disassembly part 421.

[0127] In other embodiments, to facilitate the axial movement of the pipe fitting 30 relative to the base 40 along the connecting hole 41, the fixing part 422 has a second open end 422a and a second closed end 422b spaced axially along the connecting hole 41. The opening directions of the first open end 421a and the second open end 422a are opposite. Along the axial direction of the connecting hole 41, the second closed end 422b is disposed between the first open end 421a and the first closed end 421b, so as to limit the axial movement distance of the positioning mating part 311 along the connecting hole 41 by means of the second closed end 422b and the limiting part 424.

[0128] It should be noted that when the fixing part 422 is provided with the second open end 422a, the protrusion is restricted from moving axially along the connecting hole 41 by the limiting part 424 and the second closed end 422b.

[0129] See Figure 18 The present invention also provides a refrigerator 1 that uses the above-mentioned door 50, so as to improve the user's experience of using the refrigerator 1. The refrigerator 1 will be described below.

[0130] The refrigerator 1 provided by this invention includes a cabinet 60 and the aforementioned door 50. The cabinet 60 includes a refrigerator compartment 61, and the door 51 is connected to the cabinet 60 to open and close the refrigerator compartment 61. The inner side 51a of the door faces the refrigerator compartment 61, and the outer side 51b of the door faces away from the refrigerator compartment 61. A liquid storage device 10 is located on the side of the door 51 facing the refrigerator compartment 61 to cool the liquid inside the liquid storage device 10 using the refrigeration function of the refrigerator 1. A water outlet is located on the side of the door 51 facing away from the refrigerator compartment 61, allowing the user to press the pressure tongue from outside the door 50 to access the ice water in the liquid storage device 10, thereby reducing the need to open and close the door 50 and minimizing cold leakage from the refrigerator 1. Because the door 50 is equipped with a pipe connector 30, the water outlet can be detached from the door 50 through a detachable connection between the pipe connector 30 and the base 40, allowing the user to clean or replace it, ensuring hygienic water access and improving the user experience of the refrigerator 1.

[0131] In some embodiments, the cabinet 60 may also have at least one of a freezer compartment 62, a variable temperature compartment, and a fresh food compartment, which is not a limitation of the present invention. Furthermore, other structures of the refrigerator 1 are not described in detail here.

Claims

1. A pipe fitting, characterized in that, include: The catheter (31) has an inlet connection end (31a) and an outlet connection end (31b) disposed opposite to each other; The carrier (33) includes a connecting part (331) and a plug-in part (332). The connecting part (331) is connected to the inner wall of the conduit (31) to divide the cavity of the conduit (31) into an inlet chamber (331a) and an outlet chamber (331b) that communicate with each other. The plug-in part (332) is connected to the connecting part (331), and at least a portion of the plug-in part (332) protrudes from the connecting part (331) toward the inlet connecting end (31a) to form a slot (333) between the plug-in part (332) and the inner wall of the inlet chamber (331a). A sealing element (32) is fixed to the inner wall of the liquid inlet chamber (331a), and at least a portion of the sealing element (32) extends beyond the insertion portion (332) in the direction from the outlet connection end (31b) to the inlet connection end (31a).

2. The pipe fitting according to claim 1, characterized in that, The seal (32) has at least one sealing rib (3211) on the side facing the plug portion (332), and the at least one sealing rib (3211) is located between the inlet connection end (31a) and the plug portion (332) in the direction from the outlet connection end (31b) to the inlet connection end (31a).

3. The pipe fitting according to claim 2, characterized in that, Each of the sealing ribs (3211) is annular, and two adjacent sealing ribs (3211) are spaced apart along the direction from the outlet connection end (31b) to the inlet connection end (31a).

4. The pipe fitting according to claim 2, characterized in that, The sealing element (32) includes a folded portion (322) and a sealing ring (321). The folded portion (322) is fixed to the wall of the conduit (31), and the sealing ring (321) is connected to the folded portion (322) and disposed in the liquid inlet chamber (331a). The sealing ring (321) has an inner wall facing the insertion portion (332), and at least one sealing rib (3211) is fixed to the inner wall of the sealing ring (321).

5. The pipe fitting according to claim 4, characterized in that, The sealing ring (321) has an inner wall and an outer wall that are arranged opposite to each other, and an installation gap (3212) is provided between the outer wall of the sealing ring (321) and the inner wall of the liquid inlet chamber (331a).

6. The pipe fitting according to claim 4, characterized in that, The pipe fitting (30) also includes a pipe sleeve (34), which is fixed to the outer wall of the conduit (31) and clamps the folded part (322) between the pipe sleeve (34) and the conduit (31) to fix the sealing element (32).

7. The pipe fitting according to claim 6, characterized in that, The inner wall of the sleeve (34) is provided with at least one first fastening part (35), and the outer wall of the conduit (31) is provided with at least one second fastening part (36). Each first fastening part (35) cooperates with each second fastening part (36) to fix the sleeve (34) to the conduit (31).

8. The pipe fitting according to claim 7, characterized in that, The inner wall of the sleeve (34) is provided with at least one first guide portion (37), and the first guide portion (37) and the first fastening portion (35) are spaced apart along the circumference of the sleeve (34). The outer wall of the catheter (31) is provided with at least one second guide portion (38), and each second guide portion (38) cooperates with each first guide portion (37) so that the first fastening portion (35) and the second fastening portion (36) are fastened together.

9. The pipe fitting according to claim 6, characterized in that, The outer wall of the sleeve (34) is provided with an anti-slip part (343).

10. A cabinet door, characterized in that, Includes a door body (51), a liquid storage device (10), and a pipe fitting (30) as described in any one of claims 1 to 9; The door body (51) has an inner side (51a), an outer side (51b), and a door hole (51c) connecting the inner side (51a) and the outer side (51b); The liquid storage device (10) is fixed inside the door (51a), and the liquid storage device (10) has a liquid storage cavity (11) and a liquid outlet (13) communicating with the liquid storage cavity (11); The conduit (31) is installed in the door hole (51c), with the inlet connection end (31a) of the conduit (31) facing the inside of the door (51a) and the outlet connection end (31b) of the conduit (31) facing the outside of the door (51b). The liquid storage device (10) has a switch valve in its liquid outlet (13). The liquid outlet (13) is inserted into the slot (333) so that the valve core (12) of the switch valve cooperates with the insertion part (332), and the sealing member (32) is squeezed between the liquid outlet (13) and the inner wall of the liquid inlet chamber (331a).

11. The cabinet door according to claim 10, characterized in that, The door (50) also includes a liquid outlet component (21), which has a liquid outlet channel (20a). One end of the liquid outlet component (21) is connected to the outlet connection end (31b) of the conduit (31), and the other end of the liquid outlet component (21) extends from the door hole (51c) to the outside of the door (51b). The liquid outlet (13) of the liquid storage device (10) is coaxially arranged with the flow channel of the conduit (31) and the liquid outlet channel (20a) of the liquid outlet component (21) so that the liquid in the liquid storage device (10) is discharged to the outside of the door (51b) in sequence through the flow channel of the conduit (31) and the liquid outlet channel (20a).

12. The cabinet door according to claim 11, characterized in that, The cabinet door (50) includes a dispensing component (22); The dispensing component (22) includes a fixing part (422) and a force-receiving part (22b). The fixing part (422) is disposed on the outside of the door (51b). The force-receiving part (22b) is movably connected to the fixing part (422) and fixed to the liquid dispensing component (21). By applying an external force to the force-receiving part (22b), the liquid outlet component (21) is driven to push the conduit (31) to move axially along the door hole (51c), so that the plug-in part (332) pushes up the valve core (12) of the switch valve to open the liquid outlet hole (13).

13. The cabinet door according to claim 12, characterized in that, The liquid outlet component (21) includes a liquid outlet shell (211), an elastic connector (213), and a liquid outlet core (212); The liquid outlet housing (211) has the liquid outlet channel (20a), and the liquid outlet housing (211) is connected to the outlet connection end (31b) of the conduit (31); The liquid outlet core (212) is slidably disposed in the liquid outlet channel (20a), and the liquid outlet core (212) is connected to the force receiving part (22b) so that the liquid outlet core (212) can be pressed against or separated from the outflow end of the liquid outlet channel (20a); The elastic connector (213) is connected between the liquid outlet core (212) and the liquid outlet shell (211).

14. The cabinet door according to claim 11, characterized in that, The door (50) includes a base (40); The base (40) is fixed to the inner side (51a) of the door, and the base (40) is provided with a connecting hole (41) corresponding to the door hole (51c); The conduit (31) is detachably connected to the connection hole (41) so that the outlet connection end (31b) of the conduit (31) is located in the door hole (51c); The liquid storage device (10) is detachably connected to the base (40) so that the liquid outlet (13) is inserted into the slot (333) of the conduit (31).

15. The cabinet door according to claim 14, characterized in that, The inner wall of the connecting hole (41) is provided with at least one positioning part (42), and the outer wall of the conduit (31) is provided with at least one positioning mating part (311). Each positioning part (42) and each positioning mating part (311) are detachably connected so that the pipe joint (30) has a locked state fixed to the base (40) and a split state separated from the base (40).

16. The cabinet door according to claim 15, characterized in that, One of the positioning part (42) and the positioning mating part (311) is configured as a groove, and the other of the positioning part (42) and the positioning mating part (311) is configured as a protrusion. The protrusion is elastic so as to achieve a detachable connection by utilizing the elastic deformation generated by the protrusion in the groove.

17. The cabinet door according to claim 16, characterized in that, The groove includes a disassembly part (421) and a fixing part (422), wherein the disassembly part (421) and the fixing part (422) are connected in a axially offset manner along the connecting hole (41); The protrusion elastically deforms at least one of the fixing part (422) and the disassembly part (421) to limit the movement of the protrusion between the disassembly part (421) and the fixing part (422); When the protrusion rotates through the disassembly part (421) into the fixing part (422), the conduit (31) is fixed to the base (40), and the pipe joint (30) is in a locked state; When the protrusion rotates from the fixing part (422) to the disassembly part (421), the fixed engagement between the conduit (31) and the base (40) is released, and the pipe joint (30) is in a disassembled state.

18. The cabinet door according to claim 17, characterized in that, The groove includes a guide portion (423) which is connected between the disassembly portion (421) and the fixing portion (422). The protrusion undergoes elastic deformation when passing through the guide portion (423) and recovers its elastic deformation when it is in the disassembly portion (421) or the fixing portion (422).

19. A refrigerator, characterized in that, Includes a housing (60) and a door (50) as described in any one of claims 10 to 18; The cabinet (60) includes a refrigerator compartment (61), and the door (51) is connected to the cabinet (60) to open and close the refrigerator compartment (61); The inner side (51a) of the door faces the refrigerator compartment (61), and the outer side (51b) of the door faces away from the refrigerator compartment (61).

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