Power assisting structure for opening and closing of refrigerator door and refrigerator
By setting the assist structure of the urging parts and driving mechanism on the refrigerator door, the problem of not closing tightly and inconvenient opening of the refrigerator door is solved, and the stability of refrigerator performance and user experience are improved.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202422172091.9
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Utility models(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-09-05
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-10
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-09-05
AI Technical Summary
The existing refrigerator door switch structure often has problems such as not being closed tightly or being closed automatically, which affects the performance of the refrigerator and causes inconvenience to users.
A power-assist structure for refrigerator door switches is designed, including a force evacuation member and a driving mechanism. The force evacuation member drives reciprocating movement through the driving mechanism to assist in opening and closing of the refrigerator door, ensuring that the door is completely closed without leaving any gaps, and providing a push-up action when opening.
Through the power-assist structure, users can ensure that the refrigerator door is completely closed without additional action, improve the performance stability of the refrigerator, and save energy consumption when opened, improving the user experience.
Smart Images
Figure CN222964248U_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of refrigerators, and particularly to an assisting structure for a refrigerator door switch and a refrigerator. Background Art
[0002] The refrigerator door of a modern French refrigerator is mainly fixed by the cooperation of a slide rail fixed on the inner liner of the refrigerator cabinet body and a reinforcing iron on the refrigerator door. Its pulling-out and closing methods are both realized by the structure of the slide rail itself. The refrigerator door in the freezer area is usually linked with a drawer, that is, the drawer is arranged on the refrigerator door, and the drawer can be taken out when the refrigerator door is pulled out, which is convenient for users to use.
[0003] Currently, to meet the furniture decoration style, the modern French refrigerator door is usually set as a handleless structure, and the opening and closing of the door are coordinated by an automatic opening device and a closing device. However, the existing refrigerator door switch structure generally realizes the opening and closing of the door body by setting a hinge or a hinge structure on the door body, and there are often situations where the door does not close tightly and cannot be automatically closed in place, which not only affects the performance of the refrigerator but also brings unnecessary trouble to users. Summary of the Utility Model
[0004] Based on this, it is necessary to provide an assisting structure for a refrigerator door switch that can assist in opening and closing the refrigerator door and improve the user experience of using the refrigerator.
[0005] To solve the above technical problems, the present application provides the following technical solutions:
[0006] An assisting structure for a refrigerator door switch, the assisting structure includes:
[0007] A force-applying member movably installed on the refrigerator cabinet body, the force-applying member cooperating with the refrigerator door to push the refrigerator door open or pull the refrigerator door closed;
[0008] A driving mechanism linked with the force-applying member to drive the force-applying member to reciprocate and accordingly open or close the refrigerator door.
[0009] It can be understood that in the present application, by setting a force-applying member, the force-applying member can be driven by a driving mechanism and cooperate with the refrigerator door to push or pull the refrigerator door, so that the refrigerator door can be opened or closed. Such a structural setting can enable the user not to need to add extra actions when the refrigerator door does not close tightly, and the force-applying member can pull to assist in closing the door, so that the refrigerator door is completely closed without gaps, ensuring the stable performance of the refrigerator. When opening the refrigerator door, the force-applying member has a pushing action to further assist in opening the refrigerator door, saving the energy consumption of the refrigerator and improving the user experience.
[0010] In one embodiment, the force-applying member and the refrigerator door are provided with a mutually cooperating coupling structure, and the force-applying member can pull and close the refrigerator door through the coupling structure.
[0011] In one embodiment, the coupling structure is capable of switching between a relative coupling state and a release state, and the coupling structure is selected from at least one of a mechanical locking structure, an electromagnetic attracting structure, or a negative pressure attracting structure.
[0012] It can be understood that when the coupling structure is in the coupling state, it has an attracting force on the refrigerator door that is not tightly closed, which can assist in closing the refrigerator door tightly; when the coupling structure is in the release state, the refrigerator door can be automatically unlocked and can be automatically opened.
[0013] In one embodiment, the force applying member is a deformable disc-shaped structure and is capable of switching between a first state and a second state. The force applying member has a relative central region and an edge region. In the first state, the central region protrudes outward toward the outside of the refrigerator door; in the second state, the central region is concave inward, and the force applying member forms a suction cup that can be adsorbed on the refrigerator door.
[0014] It can be understood that being set as a disc-shaped structure enables the force applying member to be continuously deformable and not easily damaged. When the force applying member protrudes outward in the first state, the suction force is released, enabling the refrigerator door to be opened freely; when the force applying member is concave inward in the second state, the force applying member is in the shape of a suction cup, enabling it to adsorb the refrigerator door and ensuring that it can always remain tightly closed.
[0015] In one embodiment, the assisting structure further includes a switching member, and the switching member has a relative fixed end and a follower end; wherein, the fixed end is connected to the refrigerator cabinet body, and the follower end is connected to the force applying member to drive the force applying member to change its state.
[0016] In one embodiment, the switching member is tubular, and the switching member deforms along its own axial direction and has relative:
[0017] A compressed state, correspondingly driving the force applying member to tend toward the second state;
[0018] An extended state, correspondingly driving the force applying member to tend toward the first state.
[0019] It can be understood that when the refrigerator door needs to be closed, the follower end of the switching member can move along with the driving mechanism to become in a compressed state, so as to drive the force applying member to change from the first state to the second state, forming a suction cup-like structure, thereby assisting the refrigerator door to be continuously closed until it is tightly closed; when the refrigerator door needs to be opened, the switching member becomes in an extended state, causing the force applying member to tend toward the first state, and the refrigerator door can be opened.
[0020] In one embodiment, relative to the refrigerator cabinet body, the force applying member successively has, in the order of the distance of outward extension from near to far:
[0021] A first position, where the refrigerator door is closed and the force applying member is in the second state;
[0022] A second position where the refrigerator door is open and the force - applying member is in the second state, and after the refrigerator door is closed and presses against the force - applying member, it tends to the first position;
[0023] A third position where the force - applying member extends outward to push against the limit position of the refrigerator door, the force - applying member is in the first state, and the force - applying member automatically tends to the second position in the third position.
[0024] It can be understood that when the force - applying member is in three different positions, it has three different states to cooperate with the driving mechanism to assist in opening or closing the refrigerator door.
[0025] In one embodiment, the driving mechanism includes:
[0026] A housing fixed to the refrigerator cabinet;
[0027] A driving rod movably passing through the housing, one end of the driving rod is an extension section extending out of the housing, and the extension section is connected to the side of the force - applying member facing away from the refrigerator door;
[0028] A motor linked to the other end of the driving rod;
[0029] Wherein, the switching member is sleeved on the extension section of the driving rod.
[0030] It can be understood that the switching member is sleeved on the extension section of the driving rod, can be hermetically connected to the housing, so that the fitting clearance between the extension section and the housing is sealed, and can prevent impurities from entering the switching member or the driving mechanism to prevent structural damage.
[0031] In one embodiment, one end of the switching member is fixed to the force - applying member and the other end is fixed to the housing; the switching member is a corrugated pipe made of an elastic material.
[0032] It can be understood that the corrugated pipe made of an elastic material has a certain stretching tension, can meet the stretching movement of the switching member, and then change the state of the force - applying member to timely cooperate with the automatic opening or closing of the refrigerator door.
[0033] This application also provides the following technical solutions:
[0034] A refrigerator includes a refrigerator cabinet and a refrigerator door that cooperate with each other, and the refrigerator further includes the assisting structure of the refrigerator door switch in any of the above - mentioned embodiments.
[0035] Compared with the prior art, the assisting structure of the refrigerator door switch enables, by arranging a force-applying member, a user to have the force-applying member pull to assist in closing the door when the refrigerator door is not tightly closed, without the need to add extra actions, so as to ensure that the refrigerator door is completely closed without gaps, guarantee the stable performance of the refrigerator, and when the refrigerator door is opened, the force-applying member has a pushing action to further assist in opening the refrigerator door, save the energy consumption of the refrigerator, and improve the user experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or in the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments or the prior art. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present application. For those of ordinary skill in the art, without creative efforts, other drawings can also be obtained based on these drawings.
[0037] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the assisting structure in the closed state of the refrigerator door provided by the present application.
[0038] Figure 2 It is a schematic diagram of the assisting structure in the opened state of the refrigerator door provided by the present application.
[0039] Figure 3 It is a schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of the refrigerator door in the closed state provided by the present application.
[0040] Figure 4 It is a schematic cross-sectional structure diagram of the refrigerator door in the opened state provided by the present application.
[0041] Figure 5 It is a schematic structure diagram of the refrigerator in the opened state provided by the present application.
[0042] The reference numerals of each component are as follows:
[0043] 100, assisting structure; 10, force-applying member; 11, central area; 12, edge area; 20, driving mechanism; 21, housing; 22, driving rod; 221, extension section; 30, switching member; 31, fixed end; 32, follower end; 200, refrigerator; 201, refrigerator cabinet; 202, refrigerator door. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0044] In order to make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present application more obvious and understandable, the following will provide a detailed description of the specific embodiments of the present application in conjunction with the drawings. Many specific details are set forth in the following description in order to fully understand the present application. However, the present application can be implemented in many other ways different from those described herein. Those skilled in the art can make similar improvements without departing from the connotation of the present application. Therefore, the present application is not limited by the specific embodiments disclosed below.
[0045] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as "fixed to" or "disposed on" another component, it can be directly on the other component or there can also be an intermediate component. When a component is considered to be "connected" to another component, it can be directly connected to the other component or there may be an intermediate component at the same time. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "upper", "lower", "left", "right" and similar expressions used in the description of this application are only for illustrative purposes and do not represent the only implementation.
[0046] In addition, the terms "first" and "second" are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the quantity of the indicated technical features. Thus, the features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of such features. In the description of this application, the meaning of "a plurality" is at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise specifically defined.
[0047] In this application, unless otherwise clearly defined and limited, the first feature may be in direct contact with the second feature "on" or "under" the second feature, or the first feature and the second feature may be in indirect contact through an intermediate medium. Moreover, the first feature being "above", "over" and "on top of" the second feature may mean that the first feature is directly above or obliquely above the second feature, or only indicates that the first feature has a higher horizontal height than the second feature. The first feature being "under", "beneath" and "underneath" the second feature may mean that the first feature is directly below or obliquely below the second feature, or only indicates that the first feature has a lower horizontal height than the second feature.
[0048] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used in the description of this application have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the technical field to which this application belongs. The terms used in the description of this application are only for the purpose of describing specific implementations and are not intended to limit this application. The term "and / or" used in the description of this application includes any and all combinations of one or more of the related listed items.
[0049] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 , this application provides an assisting structure 100 for a refrigerator door switch. The assisting structure 100 is applied to a refrigerator door 202 and is mainly used to assist in opening or closing the refrigerator door 202, so that the refrigerator door 202 can be tightly closed, thereby enhancing the user experience of the refrigerator 200 and protecting the performance of the refrigerator 200.
[0050] As Figures 1 to 5As shown, the assisting structure 100 includes a force - applying member 10 and a driving mechanism 20. Among them, the force - applying member 10 is movably installed on the refrigerator cabinet body 201, and the force - applying member 10 cooperates with the refrigerator door 202 to push - top the refrigerator door 202 to open or pull the refrigerator door 202 to close; the driving mechanism 20 is linked with the force - applying member 10, driving the force - applying member 10 to reciprocate and accordingly open or close the refrigerator door 202. It should be noted that during the actual use of modern French - style refrigerators by users, the situation of forgetting to close the door or not closing the door tightly often occurs. This will cause the refrigeration system in the refrigerator 200 to continuously operate under a heavy load, thus affecting the performance of the refrigerator 200 and reducing the service life of the refrigerator 200. In this application, the force - applying member 10 cooperates with the driving mechanism 20 to assist in the opening or closing of the refrigerator door 202. When the refrigerator door 202 is not closed tightly, the force - applying member 10 can cooperate with the driving mechanism 20 to completely close the refrigerator door 202 without gaps through its suction force; and when opening the refrigerator door 202, the force - applying member 10 can reciprocate with the driving mechanism 20. While assisting in opening the door, its state is restored to the state of waiting to close the door.
[0051] Here, the assisting structure 100 described in this application can be arranged at the bottom position of the refrigerator cabinet body 201 and connected to the inside of the refrigerator door 202 in the freezer area of the refrigerator 200.
[0052] Furthermore, the force - applying member 10 and the refrigerator door 202 are provided with mutually - cooperating coupling structures. The force - applying member 10 can pull - close the refrigerator door 202 through the coupling structure, and the coupling structure can be switched between a relative coupling state and a release state. Among them, the coupling structure is selected from at least one of a mechanical locking structure, an electromagnetic suction structure, or a negative - pressure suction structure. In this way, it can cooperate with the force - applying member 10 to assist in the opening and closing of the refrigerator door 202. Here, the coupling state and the release state are understood as the linkage ability between the force - applying member 10 and the refrigerator door 202. In the release state, the force - applying member 10 releases the linkage with the refrigerator door 202, but it does not strictly limit the separation of the two. In the release state, the force - applying member 10 does not restrict the further opening of the refrigerator door 202, nor can it pull - close the refrigerator door 202; in the coupling state, the force - applying member 10 can be linked with the refrigerator door 202, and the force - applying member 10 can push - top and pull the refrigerator door 202, thereby assisting in opening or closing the door.
[0053] In one embodiment, the force - applying member 10 is a deformable disc - shaped structure and can be switched between a first state and a second state. The force - applying member 10 has a relative central area 11 and an edge area 12. In the first state, the central area 11 protrudes outward towards the refrigerator door 202 (see Figure 2 ); in the second state, the central area 11 is concave (see Figure 1), the force - applying member 10 forms a suction cup that can be adsorbed on the refrigerator door 202. The disc - shaped structure enables the force - applying member 10 to be continuously deformed without being easily damaged. When the force - applying member 10 is convex in the first state, the suction force is released, allowing the refrigerator door 202 to be opened freely; when the force - applying member 10 is concave in the second state, the force - applying member 10 is in the shape of a suction cup, enabling it to adsorb the refrigerator door 202 and ensuring that it can always remain in a tightly - closed state.
[0054] Exemplarily, relative to the refrigerator cabinet 201, the force - applying member 10 successively has, in the order of increasing outward extension distance: a first position where the refrigerator door 202 is closed and the force - applying member 10 is in the second state; a second position where the refrigerator door 202 is open and the force - applying member 10 is in the second state, and after the refrigerator door 202 is closed and presses against the force - applying member 10, it tends to the first position; a third position which is the limit position where the force - applying member 10 extends outward to push against the refrigerator door 202, the force - applying member 10 is in the first state, and the force - applying member 10 automatically tends to the second position in the third position. Thus, when the force - applying member 10 is in three different positions, it has three different states to cooperate with the driving mechanism 20 to assist in opening or closing the refrigerator door 202.
[0055] Furthermore, the force - applying member 10 is connected to the end of the driving rod 22, and a constricted limiting sleeve is provided on the side of the force - applying member 10 facing away from the refrigerator door 202. The end of the driving rod 22 is provided with an anti - detachment head that can be inserted into the limiting sleeve of the force - applying member 10 to maintain the connection with the driving rod 22.
[0056] Please continue to refer to Figures 1 to 4 , the driving mechanism 20 can generally adopt an electric push rod. The driving mechanism 20 includes a housing 21, a driving rod 22, and a motor (not shown in the figure). Among them, the housing 21 is fixed to the refrigerator cabinet 201; the driving rod 22 movably passes through the housing 21, and one end of the driving rod 22 is an extension section 221 that extends out of the housing 21, and the extension section 221 is connected to the side of the force - applying member 10 facing away from the refrigerator door 202; the other end of the driving rod 22 is provided with a nut seat, and the motor can drive the nut seat and the driving rod 22 to perform reciprocating telescopic motion relative to the housing 21 through a screw.
[0057] As Figure 1 shown, the assisting structure 100 further includes a switching member 30. The switching member 30 has a relative fixed end 31 and a follower end 32; among them, the fixed end 31 is connected to the refrigerator cabinet 201, and the follower end 32 is connected to the force - applying member 10 to drive the force - applying member 10 to change its state.
[0058] Furthermore, the switching member 30 is tubular, and the switching member 30 deforms along its own axis and has a relative compressed state (see Figure 1 ) and an extended state (see Figure 2) Among them, the compressed state correspondingly drives the force-applying member 10 towards the second state; the extended state correspondingly drives the force-applying member 10 towards the first state. Thus, when the refrigerator door 202 needs to be closed, the follower end 32 of the switching member 30 can move along with the driving mechanism 20 to become the compressed state, so as to drive the force-applying member 10 to change from the first state to the second state, forming a sucker-like structure, thereby assisting the refrigerator door 202 to continue to close until it is tightly closed; when the refrigerator door 202 needs to be opened, the switching member 30 becomes the extended state, causing the force-applying member 10 to tend towards the first state, and the refrigerator door 202 can be opened.
[0059] Exemplarily, one end of the switching member 30 is fixed to the force-applying member 10, and the other end is fixed to the housing 21; further, the end fixed to the housing 21 is sleeved on the extended section 221 of the driving rod 22, which can make it hermetically connected to the housing 21, seal the fitting clearance between the extended section 221 and the housing 21, and prevent impurities from entering the switching member 30 or the driving mechanism 20 to prevent structural damage.
[0060] Preferably, the switching member 30 is a corrugated pipe made of an elastic material. The elastic material can be rubber or other materials that can return to their original state after being deformed by force, which can be determined according to specific production and use requirements, and being set as a corrugated pipe enables the switching member to be folded and stretched, meeting the telescopic movement of the switching member 30, changing the state of the force-applying member 10, and timely cooperating with the automatic opening or closing of the refrigerator door 202.
[0061] As Figures 3 to 5 shown, the present application also provides a refrigerator 200, including a refrigerator cabinet body 201 and a refrigerator door 202 that cooperate with each other, and including the assisting structure 100 in any of the above embodiments.
[0062] Here, the refrigerator door 202 has an acting portion on the side facing the refrigerator cabinet body 201 that cooperates with the force-applying member 10, for example, in the middle of the bottom side of the refrigerator door 202, and the acting portion is a plane or a smooth curved surface. It can enable the force-applying member 10 to cooperate with the closing of the refrigerator door 202 while not interfering with the opening of the refrigerator door 202.
[0063] Further, the refrigerator cabinet body 201 is provided with a detection device for detecting the state of the refrigerator door 202, and the driving mechanism 20 correspondingly controls the force-applying member 10 according to the signal from the detection device. The detection device is selected from at least one of a travel switch, a photoelectric sensor, and a pressure sensor, and can at least detect signals such as the opening of the refrigerator door 202 relative to the refrigerator cabinet body 201 (including the opening amplitude), the closing of the refrigerator door 202 relative to the refrigerator cabinet body 201, the contact between the force-applying member 10 and the refrigerator door 202 (including the pressing degree), the separation between the force-applying member 10 and the refrigerator door 202, the movement stroke of the force-applying member 10, and the working parameters of the driving mechanism 20.
[0064] The technical features of the above-described embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. For the sake of brevity of description, not all possible combinations of the various technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, it should be considered as falling within the scope described in this specification.
[0065] The above-described embodiments merely represent several implementation manners of the present application. The description thereof is relatively specific and detailed, but it should not be construed as a limitation on the scope of the patent application. It should be noted that for those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the concept of the present application, several modifications and improvements can still be made, and these all belong to the protection scope of the present application. Therefore, the patent protection scope of the present application shall be subject to the appended claims.
Claims
1. A power assist structure for a refrigerator door switch, characterized in that: The power-assisting structure comprises: A force-applying member is movably mounted on the refrigerator cabinet, and the force-applying member cooperates with the refrigerator door to push the refrigerator door to open or pull the refrigerator door to close; The driving mechanism is linked with the force applying member to drive the force applying member to reciprocate and open or close the refrigerator door accordingly.
2. The power assist structure of the refrigerator door switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The force-applying member and the refrigerator door are provided with a coupling structure that cooperates with each other, and the force-applying member can pull and close the refrigerator door through the coupling structure.
3. The power assist structure of the refrigerator door switch according to claim 2, characterized in that: The coupling structure can be switched between a relative coupling state and a release state, and the coupling structure is selected from at least one of a mechanical lock structure, an electromagnetic attraction structure or a negative pressure attraction structure.
4. The power assist structure of the refrigerator door switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The force-applying member is a deformable disc-shaped structure and can be switched between a first state and a second state. The force-applying member has a central area and an edge area relative to each other. In the first state, the central area protrudes toward the refrigerator door. In the second state, the central area is concave, and the force-applying member forms a suction cup that can be adsorbed on the refrigerator door.
5. The power assist structure of the refrigerator door switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The power-assisting structure further includes a switching member having a fixed end and a follower end relative to each other; wherein the fixed end is connected to the refrigerator cabinet, and the follower end is connected to the force-applying member to drive the force-applying member to change state.
6. The power assist structure of the refrigerator door switch according to claim 5, characterized in that: The switching member is tubular, deforms along its own axial direction and has relative: The force-applying member is driven toward a second state in response to the compression state; The force-applying member is driven toward the first state in response to the extension state.
7. The power assist structure of the refrigerator door switch according to claim 1, characterized in that: The force applying member has the following features in order of extending distance from near to far relative to the refrigerator cabinet: In the first position, the refrigerator door is closed and the force applying member is in the second state; In the second position, the refrigerator door is open and the force-applying member is in the second state, and the refrigerator door moves toward the first position after being closed and pressed against the force-applying member; In the third position, the force-applying member extends outward to the extreme position of pushing up the refrigerator door, and the force-applying member is in the first state. The force-applying member automatically moves toward the second position in the third position.
8. The power assist structure of the refrigerator door switch according to claim 5, characterized in that: The driving mechanism comprises: A housing, fixed to the refrigerator cabinet; A driving rod is movably arranged in the housing, one end of the driving rod is an extension section extending out of the housing, and the extension section is connected to a side of the force applying member facing away from the refrigerator door; A motor, linked to the other end of the driving rod; Wherein, the switching member is sleeved on the extension section of the driving rod.
9. The power assist structure of the refrigerator door switch according to claim 8, characterized in that: One end of the switching member is fixed to the force applying member, and the other end is fixed to the housing; The switching member is a bellows made of elastic material.
10. A refrigerator, comprising a refrigerator cabinet and a refrigerator door that cooperate with each other, characterized in that: The refrigerator also includes a power assist structure for the refrigerator door switch according to any one of claims 1 to 9.