Refrigerator drawer and refrigerator

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of household appliances, and discloses a refrigerator drawer and a refrigerator. The refrigerator drawer comprises a guide rail support and a drawer, and a matching cavity is formed in the side face, facing the guide rail support, of the drawer; the drawer is arranged on the guide rail support, the matching part is arranged on the guide rail support, the locking part is configured to be detachably connected with the matching part in a clamped mode, and in the clamped state, the locking part is matched with the matching cavity so as to limit the drawer to be separated from the guide rail support. A mechanical locking structure which can only be unlocked by means of a tool is designed. By means of the structure, the possibility that the drawer is taken down by a user, especially a child, with bare hands is fundamentally eradicated, and therefore the potential safety hazard that a dangerous hidden space is formed in the refrigerator due to the fact that the drawer is out of position is thoroughly eliminated. Meanwhile, the locking structure is simple, reliable and convenient to assemble and disassemble, and the safety and reliability of the product are remarkably improved with low improvement cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of household appliance technology, and in particular to a refrigerator drawer and a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the movable drawers of household refrigerators can be removed by hand, creating a dangerous hidden space inside the refrigerator after the drawers are removed. If children imitate adults and enter this space, it can easily lead to serious safety accidents such as suffocation. Therefore, the existing design poses a certain safety hazard in this regard. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a refrigerator drawer and a refrigerator to solve the problems in the prior art. The refrigerator drawer is equipped with a locking structure that requires tools to remove, preventing children from accidentally removing the drawer and eliminating the safety accidents caused by it.

[0004] This invention provides a refrigerator drawer, comprising: Guide rail bracket; A drawer is mounted on the guide rail bracket, and the side of the drawer facing the guide rail bracket has a mating cavity; The mating component is provided on the guide rail bracket; and A locking element is configured to detachably engage with the mating element, and in the engaged state, the locking element engages with the mating cavity to prevent the drawer from disengaging from the guide rail bracket.

[0005] In a refrigerator drawer as described above, preferably, the locking member is configured to engage with the mating member from the side of the drawer and simultaneously enter the mating cavity after the drawer is installed to the guide rail bracket.

[0006] In a refrigerator drawer as described above, preferably, the mating cavity extends along the sliding direction of the drawer, and when the locking member engages with the mating member, the locking member extends into and abuts against the top wall and / or bottom wall of the mating cavity.

[0007] In a refrigerator drawer as described above, preferably, the mating cavity has a slot on the side facing the mating member, and when the locking member is in an engaged state, at least a portion of the locking member is received within the slot.

[0008] In a refrigerator drawer as described above, preferably, the locking member includes a connecting portion and a limiting portion, the connecting portion being used to engage with the mating member, and the limiting portion being used to extend into the mating cavity in the engaged state.

[0009] In a refrigerator drawer as described above, preferably, the connecting portion has at least one engaging portion on the side facing the mating member.

[0010] In a refrigerator drawer as described above, preferably, multiple engaging portions are provided and distributed circumferentially along the connecting portion.

[0011] In the refrigerator drawer described above, preferably, the mating component is a magnetic bracket, located at the end of the guide rail bracket near the refrigerator door.

[0012] The present invention also provides a refrigerator, including the refrigerator drawer described above.

[0013] Compared to existing technologies, this invention designs a mechanical locking structure that requires tools to disengage. This structure involves the locking element engaging with a mating component on the guide rail bracket and simultaneously mating with a cavity on the drawer side wall. This fundamentally eliminates the possibility of the drawer being removed by the user, especially a child, with their bare hands, thus completely eliminating the safety hazard of a hidden, dangerous space created inside the refrigerator due to a displaced drawer. Furthermore, this locking structure is simple, reliable, and easy to install and disassemble, requiring no changes to the main structure of the refrigerator body or drawers, significantly improving product safety and reliability at a low modification cost. Attached Figure Description

[0014] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a refrigerator drawer provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 This is a side view of a refrigerator drawer provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the mating parts provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 This is a partial exploded view of a refrigerator drawer provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 yes Figure 1 Enlarged view of point A in the image; Figure 6 This is a partial enlarged view of the drawer provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a perspective view of the locking member provided in an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 This is a perspective view of the positioning part and positioning groove provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures: 10. Guide rail bracket; 11. Positioning groove; 20. Drawer; 21. Mating cavity; 22. Groove; 23. Positioning part; 30. Mating parts; 40. Locking component; 41. Connecting part; 42. Limiting part; 43. Engaging part; 50. Refrigerator door. Detailed Implementation

[0016] The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0017] See Figure 1-5 As shown, this embodiment provides a refrigerator drawer, including a guide rail bracket 10, a drawer 20, a mating part 30, and a locking part 40, wherein: The guide rail brackets 10 are symmetrically mounted on the refrigerator's metal slide rails. The guide rail brackets 10 can move relative to the metal slide rails, thereby driving the drawer 20 to slide. The two sides of the drawer 20 are supported on the guide rail brackets 10 and can be pushed and pulled back and forth relative to the refrigerator with the guide rail brackets 10 to realize the function of storing and retrieving items. In the embodiment provided in this application, the drawer 20 has a mating cavity 21 on the side facing the guide rail bracket 10. The guide rail bracket 10 has a mating part 30 and an independently provided locking part 40. The locking part 40 is configured to be detachably engaged with the mating part 30. In the engaged state, the locking part 40 engages with the mating cavity 21 to prevent the drawer 20 from disengaging from the guide rail bracket 10. Specifically, the locking member 40 engages with the mating cavity 21 of the drawer 20 while connecting to the mating member 30, thus forming a whole with the drawer 20 and the guide rail bracket 10. When the locking member 40 is engaged, the drawer 20 is restricted and cannot be lifted up or detached from the guide rail bracket 10 as a whole, thereby achieving the safety purpose of preventing accidental removal and preventing children from opening it. This engagement method can only be released by strong external force, such as with the help of a screwdriver or pry tool.

[0018] See Figure 2 As shown, in this embodiment, the locking member 40 is installed in a convenient and safe rear-mounted manner. The locking member 40 is configured to engage with the mating member 30 from the side of the drawer 20 after the drawer 20 is installed onto the guide rail bracket 10, and simultaneously enter the mating cavity 21. Specifically, after the drawer 20 and the guide rail bracket 10 are installed in place, the drawer 20 is pulled out of the refrigerator body. At this time, the mating member 30 and the mating cavity 21 are located on the outside of the refrigerator, providing sufficient operating space. The operator pushes the locking member 40 towards the mating member 30 from the side. During this process, one end of the locking member 40 engages with the mating member 30, while the other end is simultaneously and naturally inserted into the mating cavity 21 on the side of the drawer 20. This assembly method allows the drawer 20 to be installed and removed without disassembling the drawer 20 itself. It also makes it convenient for the operator to remove the drawer 20 when maintenance or cleaning is required.

[0019] See Figure 5-6As shown, in some embodiments of this application, the mating cavity 21 extends along the sliding direction of the drawer 20. When the locking member 40 engages with the mating member 30, the locking member 40 extends into and abuts against the top and / or bottom wall of the mating cavity 21. The mating cavity 21 can be a groove or an elongated hole extending along the sliding direction of the drawer 20. When the locking member 40 engages with the mating member 30, the top and / or bottom surfaces of the locking member 40 contact the top and / or bottom walls of the mating cavity 21, effectively preventing the drawer 20 from displacing in the vertical direction, thereby limiting the drawer 20 from being accidentally disengaged from the guide rail bracket 10.

[0020] See Figure 6 As shown, to make the installation position of the locking member 40 more precise and the structure more compact, in this embodiment, a slot 22 is provided on the side of the mating cavity 21 facing the mating member 30. When the locking member 40 is in the engaged state, at least a portion of the locking member 40 is accommodated in the slot 22. This slot 22 and the mating cavity 21 together form a space for accommodating the locking member 40. When the locking member 40 is installed from the side, the upper part of the locking member 40 will be accommodated in the slot 22 and the mating cavity 21. In the embodiment provided in this application, the slot 22 plays a guiding and positioning role for the insertion path of the locking member 40, improving the installation accuracy, and the locking member 40 is internally stored in the locked state.

[0021] See Figure 5 As shown, the locking element 40 is further located within the projection range of the drawer 20. That is, when the locking element 40 is in the engaged state, it is concealed or contained by the side wall of the drawer 20, preventing it from protruding from the outer contour of the drawer 20. The purpose of this design is to make the locking element 40 less likely to be seen or touched by users, especially children, reducing the possibility of it being unintentionally manipulated or damaged, and enhancing the concealment and reliability of the locking element 40. In addition, it also prevents the locking element 40 from protruding extra and occupying storage space inside the refrigerator, and it will not affect the smooth pushing and pulling of the drawer 20 or interfere with adjacent parts, making the interior of the refrigerator look more neat and simple, and the overall structure more compact.

[0022] See Figure 5 and Figure 7 As shown, in some embodiments of this application, the locking member 40 includes a connecting portion 41 and a limiting portion 42. The connecting portion 41 is used to engage with the mating member 30, and the limiting portion 42 is used to extend into the mating cavity 21 in the engaged state. The connecting portion 41 and the limiting portion 42 are integrally formed. The limiting portion 42 extends from one end of the connecting portion 41 in a direction perpendicular to the connecting portion 41, so that the locking member 40 is L-shaped or T-shaped. The connecting portion 41 is configured to engage with the mating member 30, for example, having a hook-like structure or an engaging structure. The limiting portion 42 can be inserted precisely into the mating cavity 21, and the drawer 20 and the guide rail bracket 10 are locked, restricting the degree of freedom of the drawer 20 to move in the vertical direction.

[0023] See Figure 7 As shown, in one feasible embodiment, the connecting portion 41 has at least one engaging portion 43 on the side facing the mating member 30. The engaging portion 43 can be an elastic hook, a protrusion, or a latch, and correspondingly, the mating member 30 is provided with a matching slot, recess, or latch. Through the engagement of the engaging portion 43 and the latch, a quick connection and fixation between the locking member 40 and the mating member 30 is achieved, and the locking state can only be released with the aid of external force.

[0024] See Figure 7 As shown, to ensure a stable connection and prevent the locking member 40 from loosening under force, multiple engaging portions 43 are provided and distributed circumferentially along the connecting portion 41. In this embodiment, four engaging portions 43 symmetrically arranged circumferentially are preferably used. The locking member 40 is made entirely of plastic, and the engaging portions 43 are elastic buckles or hooks. When the locking member 40 is aligned and pressed with the mating member 30, the engaging portions 43 can undergo elastic deformation and spring back to lock after passing the edge or notch of the mating member 30, thereby forming a multi-point, multi-directional mechanical locking, enhancing the resistance to pull-out, and ensuring the stability of the locking state.

[0025] See Figure 3-4 As shown, in some embodiments of this application, the mating component 30 can be a part protruding from the guide rail bracket 10 and disposed at the end of the guide rail bracket 10 near the refrigerator door 50. As a preferred approach, the original functional components on the refrigerator guide rail bracket 10 are directly utilized. For example, many refrigerators have magnetic brackets at the ends of the guide rail bracket 10, whose original function is to assist in positioning or buffering the drawer 20 by adsorbing with the iron parts on the drawer 20 or the door when the drawer 20 is fully closed. In the embodiments provided in this application, the existing magnet bracket is used as the mating part 30 of the present invention, without the need to add an additional special mating part 30, which maximizes the use of the existing structure, significantly reduces material and assembly costs, and greatly improves the installation experience. It should be noted that the magnet bracket is usually firmly installed with the guide rail bracket 10 bracket by means of screws, buckles, etc., and a permanent magnet is embedded inside. Although the locking part 40 is engaged on the outside of the mating part 30, it does not affect the adsorption function of the permanent magnet. Furthermore, through holes or through slots can be opened on the locking part 40 to avoid the magnetic attraction part, and a lightweight design can also be achieved to a certain extent.

[0026] See Figure 2-3 and Figure 8As shown, in some embodiments of this application, the guide rail bracket 10 has at least one positioning groove 11 along the sliding direction of the drawer 20, and the drawer 20 has a positioning part 23 adapted to the positioning groove 11, the positioning part 23 and the positioning groove 11 forming a limiting fit. Specifically, two positioning grooves 11 are respectively opened on the two guide rail brackets 10 along the sliding direction of the drawer 20, and two positioning parts 23 are respectively provided on both sides of the drawer 20. During assembly, the positioning part 23 can be inserted into the positioning groove 11 from above. The side wall of the positioning groove 11 and the positioning part 23 are tightly fitted, which can realize the bearing function of the guide rail bracket 10 on the drawer 20, and can also limit the displacement of the drawer 20 relative to the guide rail bracket 10 in the left and right and front and back directions. With the cooperation of the locking member 40, the drawer 20 and the guide rail bracket 10 can form a multi-directional locking. In the embodiments provided in this application, the positioning part 23 can be a protrusion, a buckle or a hook, etc.

[0027] See Figure 1 As shown, this embodiment also provides a refrigerator, including the refrigerator drawer described above. The refrigerator drawer is installed as a storage container in the refrigerator compartment or freezer compartment. Due to the use of the drawer 20 structure with the safety lock 40, the refrigerator effectively prevents children from pulling out and removing the drawer 20 out of curiosity, thus preventing them from climbing into the refrigerator and causing safety hazards, significantly improving product safety.

[0028] The above description, based on the embodiments shown in the figures, details the structure, features, and effects of the present invention. The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the scope of implementation shown in the figures. Any changes made in accordance with the concept of the present invention, or equivalent embodiments modified to have equivalent changes, that do not exceed the spirit covered by the specification and figures, should be within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerator drawer, characterized in that, include: Guide rail bracket; A drawer is mounted on the guide rail bracket, and the side of the drawer facing the guide rail bracket has a mating cavity; A mating component is provided on the guide rail bracket; as well as A locking element is configured to detachably engage with the mating element, and in the engaged state, the locking element engages with the mating cavity to prevent the drawer from disengaging from the guide rail bracket.

2. The refrigerator drawer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The locking element is configured to engage with the mating element from the side of the drawer and simultaneously enter the mating cavity after the drawer is installed onto the guide rail bracket.

3. The refrigerator drawer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mating cavity extends along the sliding direction of the drawer. When the locking member engages with the mating member, the locking member extends into and abuts against the top and / or bottom wall of the mating cavity.

4. The refrigerator drawer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mating cavity has a slot on the side facing the mating member. When the locking member is in the engaged state, at least a portion of the locking member is received in the slot.

5. The refrigerator drawer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The locking member includes a connecting part and a limiting part. The connecting part is used to engage with the mating member, and the limiting part is used to extend into the mating cavity in the engaged state.

6. The refrigerator drawer according to claim 5, characterized in that, The connecting portion has at least one engaging portion on the side facing the mating member.

7. The refrigerator drawer according to claim 6, characterized in that, The engagement portion is provided in multiple parts and is distributed circumferentially along the connecting portion.

8. The refrigerator drawer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The fitting component is a magnet bracket, which is located at the end of the guide rail bracket near the refrigerator door.

9. The refrigerator drawer according to claim 1, characterized in that, The guide rail bracket has at least one positioning groove along the sliding direction of the drawer, and the drawer has a positioning part that matches the positioning groove, and the positioning part and the positioning groove form a limiting fit.

10. A refrigerator, characterized in that, Includes the refrigerator drawer as described in any one of claims 1-9.

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