Built-in side-by-side refrigerator door opening mechanism and refrigerator

Abstract

This application relates to an opening device for a built-in side-by-side refrigerator and the refrigerator itself. The opening device includes a first door, a second door, a first handle, and a second handle. The first handle is mounted on the first door on the side away from the second door and is used to drive the first door to rotate counterclockwise around the center of the refrigerator body to open. The side of the first door where the first handle is located defines a left-side limiting line for the door, which is flush with or located inside the left side of the refrigerator body. The second handle is mounted on the second door on the side away from the first door and is used to drive the second door to rotate clockwise around the center of the refrigerator body to open. The side of the second door where the second handle is located defines a right-side limiting line for the door, which is flush with or located inside the right side of the refrigerator body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of refrigerators, and more particularly to an embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device and a refrigerator. Background Technology

[0002] As residents' quality of life improves, refrigerators have evolved from simple storage to integrated home furnishings. High-end built-in refrigerators have become the mainstream in the market because they can blend with home decor styles and enhance the aesthetics of the space. Among them, flat-mounted and non-built-in side-by-side refrigerators have seen particularly significant demand growth due to their large capacity and attractive appearance.

[0003] Traditional side-by-side refrigerators have significant limitations: the handle is typically located in the middle of the door, and the door hinge is mounted directly on the side of the refrigerator. This structure makes it prone to interference with surrounding cabinetry when the door is opened, failing to meet the installation requirements for seamless or recessed installation. In other words, it cannot achieve a seamless fit between the door and the cabinetry, making it difficult to adapt to the spatial requirements of recessed installation scenarios. To solve the interference problem, existing technologies often attempt to improve the side-by-side door structure by using dual-axis hinges or linkage hinges to achieve free-recessed installation.

[0004] However, the doors of side-by-side refrigerators are significantly heavier than those of cross-door refrigerators. The structural strength and stress setting of the aforementioned dual-axis hinges or linkage hinges are difficult to match the weight requirements of side-by-side refrigerator doors. On the one hand, during the long-term opening and closing of the heavy doors, the hinges are prone to deformation due to overload, resulting in poor door opening and closing and reduced sealing performance. On the other hand, the guide blocks in the hinges need to repeatedly withstand the impact and friction of the door, which accelerates their wear rate and significantly shortens their lifespan. This not only increases the user's maintenance costs and frequency but may also lead to safety hazards such as door sagging and inability to close due to hinge failure.

[0005] In summary, the existing dual-axis or linkage hinge solutions used to achieve free-embedding of side-by-side refrigerators cannot adapt to the weight characteristics of the side-by-side doors, resulting in short guide block life and easy hinge deformation. At the same time, the traditional door opening structure itself also has the problem of interference between the door and the cabinet. These defects together restrict the promotion and application of free-embedding side-by-side refrigerators. There is an urgent need for a more suitable door opening solution and hinge structure to overcome the above-mentioned technical bottlenecks. Utility Model Content

[0006] This application provides an embedded door opening device and refrigerator for a side-by-side refrigerator, in order to solve the technical problems existing in the prior art, such as the inability to adapt to the weight characteristics of the side-by-side door, resulting in short life of the guide block and easy deformation of the hinge, and the interference between the door and the cabinet in the traditional door opening structure.

[0007] The embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device provided by this utility model includes a first door body, a second door body, a first handle, and a second handle. The first and second door bodies are positioned over the opening of the refrigerator body, on the left and right sides of the opening, respectively. The first handle is installed on the side of the first door body away from the second door body, and is used to drive the first door body to rotate counterclockwise around the middle area of ​​the refrigerator body to open. The side of the first door body where the first handle is located defines a left-side limiting line for the door body, which is flush with the left side of the refrigerator body, or located between the left and right sides of the refrigerator body. The second handle is installed on the side of the second door body away from the first door body, and is used to drive the second door body to rotate clockwise around the middle area of ​​the refrigerator body to open. The side of the second door body where the second handle is located defines a right-side limiting line for the door body, which is flush with the right side of the refrigerator body, or located between the right and left sides of the refrigerator body.

[0008] The embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device includes a dual-axis hinge structure, which is installed in the middle area of ​​the refrigerator body and is used to rotatably connect with the top and bottom surfaces of the first door and the second door.

[0009] The dual-axis hinge structure includes an upper hinge structure and a lower hinge structure. The upper hinge structure is located on the top surface of the first door and the second door and is rotatably connected to the first door and the second door respectively. The lower hinge structure is located on the bottom surface of the first door and the second door and is rotatably connected to the first door and the second door respectively.

[0010] The embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device is installed in the refrigerator. The refrigerator includes an outer shell. The upper hinge structure is installed on the upper edge of the outer shell, protrudes from the upper edge, and is rotatably connected to the top surface of the first door and the second door.

[0011] The embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device includes a crossbeam located below the first door and the second door. The lower hinge structure is installed on the crossbeam, protrudes from the crossbeam, and is rotatably connected to the bottom surface of the first door and the second door.

[0012] The upper hinge structure is constructed as a sheet or plate. The large surface area of ​​the upper hinge structure has a first mounting hole and a first adapter hole. The first mounting hole and the first adapter hole are located near two opposite sides of the upper hinge structure. The first mounting hole is used to assemble with the outer shell. Two separate first adapter holes are provided. The two first adapter holes are used to rotatably assemble with the first door body and the second door body, respectively.

[0013] The embedded double-door refrigerator door opening device includes a first rotating shaft and a second rotating shaft. The first rotating shaft passes through one of the first adapter holes from top to bottom and is fixedly connected to the first door body. The second rotating shaft passes through the other first adapter hole from top to bottom and is fixedly connected to the second door body.

[0014] The lower hinge structure is constructed as a sheet or plate. The large surface area of ​​the lower hinge structure has a second mounting hole and a second adapter hole. The second mounting hole and the second adapter hole are located near the two opposite sides of the lower hinge structure. The second mounting hole is used to assemble with the crossbeam. Two separate second adapter holes are provided, and the two second adapter holes are used to rotatably assemble with the first door body and the second door body, respectively.

[0015] The embedded double-door refrigerator door opening device includes a third rotating shaft and a fourth rotating shaft. The third rotating shaft passes through one of the second transition holes from top to bottom and is fixedly connected to the first door body. The fourth rotating shaft passes through the other second transition hole from top to bottom and is fixedly connected to the second door body.

[0016] A roller is installed below the lower hinge structure, and the roller is used to drive the refrigerator to slide to a preset position through the lower hinge structure.

[0017] The upper hinge structure and the lower hinge structure are both constructed as trapezoidal sheet structures, the first adapter hole and the second adapter hole are both located on the narrow side, and the first mounting hole and the second mounting hole are both located on the long side.

[0018] A safety gap is provided between the first door and the second door to ensure that there is no interference between the first door and the second door when both are at a 90° opening angle.

[0019] This utility model also provides a refrigerator, including the above-mentioned embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device.

[0020] The technical solutions provided in this application have the following advantages compared with the prior art:

[0021] The embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device and refrigerator provided in this application embodiment adopt a design where the handles are located on the outside of the door body instead of in the middle. The first door on the left can be opened counterclockwise using the first handle on the outside, and the second door on the right can be opened clockwise using the second handle on the outside. It should be noted that the first door can be opened to the side where the left limit line is located, but will not exceed the left limit line, and the second door can be opened to the side where the right limit line is located, but will not exceed the right limit line. There will be no interference with the outer cabinet of the refrigerator. In this way, both doors can be opened from the outside, and the outermost point of the door will not exceed the corresponding limit line during the opening and rotation process, which can occupy less space and facilitate the installation and application of the refrigerator. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention.

[0023] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this utility model or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, for those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0024] One or more embodiments are illustrated by way of example with reference numerals in the accompanying drawings. These illustrations do not constitute a limitation on the embodiments. Elements with the same reference numerals in the drawings are denoted as similar elements. Unless otherwise stated, the figures in the drawings are not to be limited by scale.

[0025] Figure 1 A top view of the structure of a side-by-side refrigerator provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0026] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the first and second doors of a side-by-side refrigerator in the closed state, provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0027] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the structure of the first and second doors of the side-by-side refrigerator in a 90° open state, provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0028] Figure 4 A top view of the upper hinge structure provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0029] Figure 5 This is a top view of the lower hinge structure provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0030] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0031] 1. First door; 2. Second door; 3. Refrigerator body; L, left side; R, right side; 4. First handle; 5. Second handle; 6. Left side limit line; 7. Right side limit line; 8. Dual-axis hinge structure; 81. Upper hinge structure; 811. First mounting hole; 812. First adapter hole; 82. Lower hinge structure; 821. Second mounting hole; 822. Second adapter hole; 9. Outer shell; 10. First pivot; 11. Second pivot; 12. Third pivot; 14. Fourth pivot; 15. Roller; 16. Safety clearance. Detailed Implementation

[0032] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this application clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0033] The following disclosure provides numerous different embodiments or examples for implementing various structures of the present invention. To simplify the disclosure, specific examples of components and arrangements are described below. These are merely examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Furthermore, reference numerals and / or letters may be repeated in different examples. Such repetition is for simplification and clarity and does not in itself indicate a relationship between the various embodiments and / or arrangements discussed.

[0034] For ease of description, spatial relative terms may be used in the text to describe the relative position or movement of one element or feature relative to another element or feature, as shown in the figure. These relative terms include, for example, "inside," "outside," "middle," "outer," "below," "below," "above," "front," "back," etc. Such spatial relative terms are intended to include different orientations of the device in use or operation, other than those depicted in the figure. For example, if the device in the figure undergoes a positional flip, orientation change, or change of motion, these directional indications will change accordingly. For instance, an element described as "below other elements or features" or "below other elements or features" will subsequently be oriented "above other elements or features" or "above other elements or features." Therefore, the example term "below" can include both upper and lower orientations. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or in other directions), and the spatial relative descriptors used in the text will be interpreted accordingly.

[0035] Due to the interference problem between the door and the cabinet in the free-embedded side-by-side refrigerator in the existing technology, the traditional dual-axis free-embedded refrigerator is generally used. However, when the traditional dual-axis free-embedded refrigerator is used in the free-embedded side-by-side refrigerator, there will be problems such as hinge deformation and short life of guide blocks.

[0036] This utility model provides an embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device and refrigerator. By changing the opening method of the side-by-side refrigerator, it achieves zero-embedding of the refrigerator. In general, the opening method of a side-by-side refrigerator is to install a handle in the middle of the cabinet, and the left and right doors are opened and closed by hinges installed on the upper and lower parts of the cabinet and bushings installed on the lower part of the door. The left and right doors open from the middle. However, the opening method of this utility model is to install the hinges in the middle of the cabinet and install the left and right door handles on the sides of the cabinet to open and close the doors. The left and right doors open from the sides of the cabinet. During the door opening and rotation process, the outermost point of the door does not exceed the limit line. Guide rollers are installed on the front and back of the refrigerator side to ensure smooth installation of the refrigerator and to maintain the gap between the refrigerator side and the cabinet, thereby realizing the free embedding of the side-by-side refrigerator.

[0037] For details, please refer to Figures 1-5 This disclosure provides an embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device, comprising a first door body 1, a second door body 2, a first handle 4, and a second handle 5. The first door body 1 and the second door body 2 cover the opening of the refrigerator body 3, and are respectively located on the left side (L) and right side (R) of the opening. The first handle 4 is mounted on the side of the first door body 1 away from the second door body 2, and is used to drive the first door body 1 to rotate counterclockwise about the middle area of ​​the refrigerator body 3 to open. The side of the first door body 1 where the first handle 4 is located defines a left-side limiting line 6 for the door body. The left limiting line 6 is flush with the left L side of the refrigerator cabinet, or the left limiting line 6 is located between the left L side of the refrigerator cabinet and the right R side of the refrigerator cabinet; the second handle 5 is installed on the side of the second door 2 away from the first door 1, and the second handle 5 is used to drive the second door 2 to rotate clockwise around the middle area of ​​the refrigerator cabinet 3 to open; the side of the second door 2 where the second handle 5 is located is used to limit the right limiting line 7 of the door, and the right limiting line 7 is flush with the right R side of the refrigerator cabinet, or the right limiting line 7 is located between the right R side of the refrigerator cabinet and the left L side of the refrigerator cabinet.

[0038] For example, the left limiting line 6 and the right limiting line 7, which are flush with the side of the cabinet or located inside the cabinet, restrict the outermost boundary of the first door 1 and the second door 2 when they are opened. This perfectly meets the core requirement of flush installation for built-in refrigerators, meaning that after the refrigerator is installed, the doors will not protrude from the cabinet surface, achieving a seamless integration of the refrigerator with the home cabinetry and enhancing the overall aesthetics of the home. At the same time, this limiting setting also avoids the risk of bumps and knocks caused by protruding doors, making it especially suitable for families with elderly people or children, thus improving the product's safety attributes.

[0039] In addressing the issue of handles in traditional side-by-side refrigerators, where the handles are located in the middle of the door and rotate clockwise on the left and counterclockwise on the right, easily causing interference with the cabinet, this embodiment moves the handles to the outer edge of the door, specifically at position L on the left side of the first door 1 and R on the right side of the second door 2. The rotation directions are reversed: the first door 1 (located at L on the left) rotates counterclockwise, and the second door 2 (located at R on the right) rotates clockwise. This causes the door's opening trajectory to deflect inwards rather than outwards, fundamentally preventing collisions between the door and the cabinet. This design eliminates the need for complex dual-axis or linkage hinges to forcibly avoid interference, simplifying the hinge structure and reducing the number of parts. This not only lowers the difficulty of processing and assembly but also reduces potential malfunctions caused by complex structures, such as hinge jamming or component wear.

[0040] In summary, the embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device provided in this embodiment uses a handle located on the outside of the door body instead of in the middle. The first door body 1 on the left side (L) can be opened counterclockwise using the first handle 4 on the outside, and the second door body 2 on the right side (R) can be opened clockwise using the second handle 5 on the outside. It should be noted that both doors can be opened to an opening angle of 90° without any interference. In this way, both doors can be opened from the outside. During the door opening and rotation process, the outermost point of the door will not exceed the corresponding limit line, which can occupy less space and facilitate the installation and application of the refrigerator.

[0041] Specifically, the door can open to 90° without any interference during the opening process, meeting users' daily needs for retrieving large items and avoiding inconvenience caused by insufficient door opening angle. Furthermore, through dual control of rotation direction and limit lines, the door will not collide with surrounding cabinets (e.g., kitchen wall cabinets or adjacent storage cabinets) or rub against another closed door when opened, completely solving the problem of collisions when opening traditional built-in French door refrigerators and improving operational safety and user experience.

[0042] Furthermore, the design ensuring the outermost point of the door does not exceed the limit line significantly reduces the additional space occupied by the refrigerator during installation. Traditional side-by-side refrigerators require additional space on both sides of the cabinet due to the outward expansion of the door, while this design eliminates the need for such extra space. It can be installed smoothly even in built-in cabinets only slightly wider than the refrigerator itself, making it particularly suitable for compact spaces such as small kitchens. Simultaneously, the door does not protrude outwards when opened, reducing its impact on kitchen aisle space and preventing users from bumping into the door during kitchen activities (such as cooking and cleaning), thus improving the flexibility of kitchen operations.

[0043] Considering a rotation scheme in which the first door 1 and the second door 2 can rotate from the outside to the inside using the middle area of ​​the refrigerator body 3 as a rotation axis, the embedded side-by-side refrigerator opening device provided in this embodiment includes a dual-axis hinge structure 8. The dual-axis hinge structure 8 is installed in the middle area of ​​the refrigerator body 3 and is used to rotatably connect with the top and bottom surfaces of the first door 1 and the second door 2.

[0044] Traditional side-by-side refrigerators have hinges installed on the left and right sides of the cabinet. Since the weight of a side-by-side door is significantly greater than that of a French door, each hinge must individually bear the weight of its corresponding door. Over time, this can easily lead to hinge deformation due to overload, such as bent door hinges or broken hinge arms. This solution installs a dual-axis hinge in the middle of the cabinet, allowing a single hinge structure to support the weight of both doors simultaneously. Furthermore, the force during door rotation is concentrated towards the center of the cabinet, rather than dispersed to the sides, resulting in more balanced force distribution on the hinge. This fundamentally solves the problem of weight mismatch between the hinge and the door, effectively preventing hinge deformation and extending the hinge's lifespan. Moreover, the dual-axis hinge connects both the top and bottom surfaces of the door, forming a two-point support structure. Compared to the traditional single-side, single-point support structure (e.g., hinges only at the bottom or top), this solution provides more stable door fixation, preventing lateral swaying or forward / backward shifting during rotation. It ensures the door always rotates along a preset trajectory, further reducing the risk of interference. At the same time, the two-point support can also distribute the local pressure of the door on the hinge, prevent the hinge from wearing out too quickly in certain areas, and improve the stability of the structure.

[0045] Considering the scheme where the dual-axis hinge structure 8 is rotatably connected to both the first door 1 and the second door 2, in the embedded double-door refrigerator opening device provided in this embodiment, the dual-axis hinge structure 8 includes an upper hinge structure 81 and a lower hinge structure 82. The upper hinge structure 81 is located on the top surface of the first door 1 and the second door 2, and is rotatably connected to both the first door 1 and the second door 2 respectively. The lower hinge structure 82 is located on the bottom surface of the first door 1 and the second door 2, and is rotatably connected to both the first door 1 and the second door 2 respectively.

[0046] This design divides the dual-axis hinge into upper and lower structures, corresponding to the top and bottom surfaces of the door, respectively. This allows the upper and lower ends of the door to rotate synchronously. In traditional single-hinged structures, where only the bottom hinge is present, the top of the door is unconstrained, making it prone to tilting due to gravity. This can result in a situation where the bottom of the door is open while the top remains stuck to the frame, causing a jam. This solution, through the synchronous constraint of the upper and lower hinges, ensures that the rotation angles of the upper and lower ends of the door are consistent, preventing tilting or jamming. This makes the door opening and closing smoother, eliminating the need for users to pull on the door and improving the user experience. Furthermore, traditional dual-axis hinges require additional guide blocks, such as plastic sliders or metal guide grooves, to guide the door's rotation. However, these guide blocks are subject to friction and impact from the door over time, making them prone to wear and breakage, leading to poor door opening and closing and requiring frequent replacement. The upper and lower hinges of this solution directly achieve door rotation through a dual-axis structure, eliminating the need for additional guide blocks. This completely avoids the problems of easy wear and short lifespan of guide blocks, reducing the frequency and cost of maintenance for users. At the same time, it reduces the risk of door failure due to guide block failure, such as the door failing to close or the seal failing.

[0047] Considering the scheme in which the upper hinge structure 81 is rotatably connected to both the first door 1 and the second door 2, in the embodiment of this disclosure, the embedded double-door refrigerator opening device is installed on the refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a shell 9, and the upper hinge structure 81 is installed on the upper edge of the shell 9, protrudes from the upper edge, and is rotatably connected to the top surfaces of the first door 1 and the second door 2.

[0048] In this way, the upper hinge is installed on the upper edge of the outer shell 9, which can also be understood as the top edge of the cabinet. This position is the rigid structural area of ​​the refrigerator cabinet 3, which can provide stable support and prevent the hinge from loosening due to insufficient strength of the installation position. Meanwhile, the upper hinge provides reliable support for the top of the door, forming a symmetrical support with the lower hinge. This effectively prevents the top of the door from sagging due to long-term use, such as frequent opening and closing, or the door's own weight. For example, in traditional designs without an upper hinge, the top of the door tends to sag gradually due to lack of support, leading to poor sealing between the door and the refrigerator body, such as the door seal not adhering properly, resulting in cold air leakage. The upper hinge support in this design avoids this problem, ensuring the refrigerator's sealing performance. In addition, the hinge protrudes from the upper edge of the outer shell 9 and connects to the top surface of the door. Sufficient clearance is provided between the hinge and the top of the outer shell 9 to ensure that the top surface of the door does not rub against the top of the outer shell 9 when the door rotates, preventing damage to the door or outer shell 9 from scratching the paint. At the same time, the protruding edge design also provides sufficient space for door rotation, ensuring that the door can be opened smoothly to 90° without being limited by insufficient space.

[0049] Considering the scheme in which the lower hinge structure 82 is rotatably connected to both the first door 1 and the second door 2, in the scheme of the embedded side-by-side refrigerator opening device provided in this embodiment, the embedded side-by-side refrigerator opening device includes a crossbeam located below the first door 1 and the second door 2, the lower hinge structure 82 is installed on the crossbeam, protrudes from the crossbeam and is rotatably connected to the bottom surface of the first door 1 and the second door 2.

[0050] In this way, the lower hinge is installed on the crossbeam, which is the horizontal beam at the bottom of the refrigerator body. The crossbeam is one of the main load-bearing structures of the refrigerator body 3, used to support the evaporator, storage drawers, and other components inside the body. Its load-bearing capacity is much higher than that of the thin-walled structure on the side of the body. Installing the lower hinge on the crossbeam utilizes the strong load-bearing capacity of the crossbeam to distribute the weight of the door, preventing the hinge from directly bearing the entire weight of the door and causing overload deformation. For example, if the traditional lower hinge is installed on the thin wall of the side of the body, it is prone to cracking at the hinge fixing point due to the insufficient strength of the thin wall structure, which in turn leads to hinge deformation. This solution, by using the crossbeam for load-bearing, further enhances the stress stability of the hinge and avoids hinge deformation. In addition, the lower hinge protrudes from the crossbeam and connects to the bottom surface of the door, forming a symmetrical design with the upper hinge's protrusion along the edge. This ensures consistent vertical rotation space for the door, preventing jamming caused by asymmetry in the vertical space. Simultaneously, the protrusion from the crossbeam also prevents friction between the bottom surface of the door and the crossbeam surface, reducing wear on the door's sealing strips, such as the bottom dustproof strip, extending the lifespan of the door's sealing components, and ensuring the refrigerator's dustproof and sealing performance.

[0051] Considering the specific structural connection scheme of the upper hinge structure 81, in the embedded double-door refrigerator door opening device scheme provided in this embodiment, the upper hinge structure 81 is constructed as a sheet or plate structure. The large surface area of ​​the upper hinge structure 81 has a first mounting hole 811 and a first transition hole 812. The first mounting hole 811 and the first transition hole 812 are respectively located near two opposite sides of the upper hinge structure 81. The first mounting hole 811 is used for assembly with the outer shell 9. Two separate first transition holes 812 are provided. The two first transition holes 812 are respectively used for rotatable assembly with the first door body 1 and the second door body 2.

[0052] In this way, the upper hinge adopts a sheet or plate structure. Compared with the traditional block hinge structure, which is bulky and heavy, this structure is thinner and lighter, which not only reduces material usage and manufacturing costs, but also facilitates processing, such as mass production through stamping. It also facilitates installation, such as eliminating the need for complex positioning structures. At the same time, the thin structure also reduces the space occupied by the hinge at the top of the cabinet, preventing the hinge from protruding too much from the cabinet and affecting the aesthetics of the embedded installation. For example, the hinge will not interfere with the top of the cabinet, adapting to the compact setting requirements of the built-in refrigerator. In addition, the first mounting hole 811 connects to the outer shell 9, and the first adapter hole 812 connects to the door. The first mounting hole 811 and the first adapter hole 812 are located on two opposite sides of the hinge, so that the fixed part (mounting hole side) and the rotating part (adapter hole side) of the hinge are completely separated, avoiding interference between the mounting screws and the door pivot. It should be noted that the mounting hole and adapter hole of the traditional hinge are too close together, which can easily cause the mounting screws to loosen and jam the pivot, making the door unable to rotate. The separate design of this solution ensures the stability of the connection between the hinge and the outer casing 9. This means that the mounting screws will not affect the pivot, while also guaranteeing smooth rotation between the door and the hinge. Furthermore, two independent first adapter holes 812 connect the first and second door bodies 2 respectively, allowing the two doors to rotate independently, such as opening only the left door, only the right door, or both doors simultaneously. This avoids the linkage interference problem caused by the rotation of one door leading to slight movement of the other door, which is common in traditional integrated hinges (where both doors share a single adapter structure). In traditional integrated hinges, opening the left door may cause the right door to slightly open due to linkage, resulting in cold air leakage. The independent adapter hole design of this solution completely solves the linkage interference problem, ensuring independent operation of the doors and reducing cold air leakage.

[0053] Considering the scheme in which the upper hinge structure 81 is rotatably connected to both the first door body 1 and the second door body 2 through a corresponding pivot, in the scheme of the embedded double-door refrigerator opening device provided in this embodiment, the embedded double-door refrigerator opening device includes a first pivot 10 and a second pivot 11. The first pivot 10 passes through one of the first transition holes 812 from top to bottom and is fixedly connected to the first door body 1. The second pivot 11 passes through the other first transition hole 812 from top to bottom and is fixedly connected to the second door body 2.

[0054] In this way, the first and second pivots 11 pass through the adapter holes from top to bottom and are fixed to the door body. This is achieved through a screw-locking or interference fit connection, ensuring the structural strength of the pivots and the door body. Traditional bottom-to-top pivot installations, such as inserting the hinge from the bottom of the door upwards, are prone to pivot loosening due to the door's weight. This top-to-bottom installation design, with the top of the pivot constrained by the hinge and the bottom fixed to the door body, creates vertical constraints, preventing the pivot from loosening or falling off during door rotation. This significantly improves structural reliability and reduces door wobbling caused by loose pivots.

[0055] Furthermore, the first and second hinges 11 are independently connected to their respective doors, ensuring that the rotation of the two doors does not affect each other. Users can open either door individually as needed, such as opening only the left door to retrieve refrigerated food while keeping the right door closed. This reduces cold air leakage, whereas traditional double doors require both doors to be opened simultaneously, resulting in greater cold air leakage and improving refrigerator energy efficiency. Simultaneously, the clearance between the hinges and the adapter holes can be precisely controlled through precision machining, with tolerances controlled within 0.05-0.1mm. This reduces rotational friction resistance, lowering the operating force for opening and closing the doors to below 30N, compared to approximately 50N for traditional hinges, thus improving the smoothness of opening and closing the doors.

[0056] Considering the specific structural connection scheme of the lower hinge structure 82, in the embedded double-door refrigerator door opening device provided in this embodiment, the lower hinge structure 82 is constructed as a sheet or plate structure. The large surface area of ​​the lower hinge structure 82 has a second mounting hole 821 and a second transition hole 822. The second mounting hole 821 and the second transition hole 822 are respectively located near two opposite sides of the lower hinge structure 82. The second mounting hole 821 is used for assembly with the crossbeam. Two separate second transition holes 822 are provided, and the two second transition holes 822 are respectively used for rotatable assembly with the first door body 1 and the second door body 2.

[0057] In this way, the lower hinge and the upper hinge have the same structure 81, such as a sheet or plate, forming a mirror image. This allows the upper and lower hinges to be manufactured using the same mold, eliminating the need to develop separate molds for the upper and lower parts. This achieves standardized production, reduces mold development costs, and consequently reduces production costs. For example, the use of interchangeable parts makes inventory management more convenient. Furthermore, the consistent structure allows assembly workers to quickly master the installation method without needing to distinguish between the installation differences of the upper and lower hinges, improving assembly efficiency and reducing assembly errors, such as the problem of door tilting caused by installing the upper and lower hinges backwards.

[0058] Furthermore, the layout logic of assembling the second mounting hole 821 with the crossbeam and the second transition hole 822 with the door body is completely consistent with that of the upper hinge. The alignment of the mounting hole on one side and the transition hole on the other side ensures that the upper and lower hinges constrain the door body in the same way, making the upper and lower forces on the door body balanced. This avoids the door body tilting caused by the asymmetry of the upper and lower structures, such as the upper mounting hole being on the left and the lower mounting hole on the right. Traditional asymmetrical layouts of upper and lower hinges are prone to the upper part of the door body tilting to the left and the lower part to the right, causing the door body to be unable to close. The symmetrical layout of this solution ensures that the door body always maintains a vertical state, improving the sealing performance of the door body when closed.

[0059] Considering the scheme that the lower hinge structure 82 is rotatably connected to both the first door 1 and the second door 2 through a corresponding pivot, the door opening device of the embedded double-door refrigerator includes a third pivot 12 and a fourth pivot 14. The third pivot 12 passes through one of the second transition holes 822 from top to bottom and is fixedly connected to the first door 1. The fourth pivot 14 passes through the other second transition hole 822 from top to bottom and is fixedly connected to the second door 2.

[0060] In this way, the third and fourth pivots 14 are fixed to the first and second door bodies 2, respectively. For example, the lower parts of the third pivot 12 and the fourth pivot 14 are fixed to the first door body 1 and the second door body 2, respectively, forming a double-pivot support structure with the upper first and second pivots 11. That is, each door body is supported by two pivots, distributing the weight of the door evenly across the four pivots, whereas traditionally each door body is supported by only one pivot. Furthermore, the precise fit between the pivots and the adapter holes, such as using precision bearing-level fitting, ensures the controllability of the door's rotation trajectory. The door will not deviate left or right during rotation; for example, the deviation is controlled within 0.5mm, ensuring it always rotates along the preset trajectory, further reducing the risk of interference between the door and the cabinet, and between doors. At the same time, precise fitting also avoids any jamming sensation during door rotation, such as a sudden obstruction when rotating to a certain angle, ensuring smooth and unobstructed rotation from 0° to 90°, thus improving the user experience.

[0061] Considering the dual-axis hinge structure 8 with a sliding function, in the embedded side-by-side refrigerator opening device provided in this embodiment, a roller 15 is installed below the lower hinge structure 82. The roller 15 is used to drive the refrigerator to slide to a preset position through the lower hinge structure 82.

[0062] Traditionally, installing a built-in refrigerator requires multiple people working together to push it into the cabinet. Because the bottom of the refrigerator slides against the floor, the force needed to overcome this friction is difficult and can easily scratch surfaces like tiles or wood floors. This solution, however, installs rollers 15 below the lower hinge, converting sliding friction into rolling friction. This significantly reduces sliding friction, allowing a single person to easily push the refrigerator into the built-in cabinet, greatly simplifying the installation process. Simultaneously, the rolling action of the rollers 15 prevents direct friction between the refrigerator's bottom and the floor, protecting the surface from scratches and enhancing user satisfaction. Furthermore, the rollers 15, in conjunction with the feet at the lower left and right corners of the cabinet, form a dual function of "movement and fixation": during installation, the rollers 15 enable smooth movement of the refrigerator, facilitating the adjustment of the refrigerator's position within the cabinet, such as aligning it with the center line of the cabinet; after installation, the feet are adjusted downwards to contact the ground, using the feet to support the weight of the refrigerator and preventing it from shifting due to the rollers 15 rolling. If the user opens the door, the refrigerator will be pulled along with the door, ensuring the refrigerator's stable position after installation and preventing interference between the door and the cabinet due to displacement, thus guaranteeing installation reliability.

[0063] Considering the arrangement of the transition holes and mounting holes on the dual-axis hinge structure 8, in the embedded side-by-side refrigerator opening device provided in this embodiment, the upper hinge structure 81 and the lower hinge structure 82 are both constructed as trapezoidal sheet structures. The first transition hole 812 and the second transition hole 822 are both located on the narrow side, and the first mounting hole 811 and the second mounting hole 821 are both located on the long side.

[0064] In this way, the hinge adopts a trapezoidal plate structure. Compared with the traditional rectangular structure, the trapezoidal structure has superior mechanical properties. The longer side of the trapezoid (e.g., the mounting hole side) is wider, providing a more stable fixing base. Multiple mounting holes can be made to enhance the connection strength with the outer shell / crossbeam. The narrower side (e.g., the adapter hole side) is narrower, adapting to the compact space in the middle area of ​​the cabinet and avoiding interference with the door due to excessive hinge width. At the same time, the trapezoidal structure has stronger bending resistance. At the same thickness, the bending strength of the trapezoidal structure is higher than that of the rectangle, which can better withstand the bending stress brought by the weight of the door, reducing hinge deformation. For example, the hinge arm will not bend downward due to the weight of the door, improving the structural strength of the hinge. Furthermore, the adapter hole (e.g., the narrow side) and the mounting hole (e.g., the long side) are located at opposite ends of the trapezoid, further increasing the distance between them compared to the rectangular structure, completely avoiding mutual interference between the mounting screw and the pivot.

[0065] Considering the scheme of avoiding interference by rotating the first door 1 and the second door 2 relative to each other, in the door opening device of the embedded double-door refrigerator provided in this embodiment, a safety gap 16 is left between the first door 1 and the second door 2. The safety gap 16 is used to ensure that when the first door 1 and the second door 2 are both at a 90° opening angle, there will be no interference between the first door 1 and the second door 2.

[0066] Thus, the safety gap 16 between the first door 1 and the second door 2, exemplarily 3mm, ensures that even when both doors are opened simultaneously to 90°, the edges of the doors will not collide. Traditional side-by-side refrigerators, lacking a dedicated safety gap 16, are prone to edge friction when both doors are opened simultaneously, such as scratching the door trim strips, leading to wear and tear, and affecting appearance and sealing performance. This solution's safety gap 16 completely solves this problem, allowing users to open both doors simultaneously as needed, such as when loading or unloading large quantities of items, without worrying about collisions, thus improving ease of use.

[0067] Furthermore, this solution incorporates a 4mm gap between the door handle and the cabinet body, and a 2mm gap between the door seal and the cabinet liner. This creates a multi-dimensional gap protection system encompassing "door-cabinet," "door-cabinet," and "door-door" connections: the 4mm door handle gap prevents the handle from colliding with the cabinet body; the 2mm door seal gap ensures the door seal does not squeeze the cabinet liner, preventing deformation and sealing failure; and the 3mm door body gap prevents door collisions. These three elements work together to ensure uninterrupted door rotation. Simultaneously, the 2mm door seal gap ensures a tight fit between the door seal and the cabinet liner. Too small a gap can lead to door seal deformation, while too large a gap can cause cold air leakage, thus improving the refrigerator's cooling efficiency and reducing energy consumption.

[0068] This disclosure also provides a refrigerator, including the above-described embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device.

[0069] In this way, integrating the aforementioned door opening mechanism into the refrigerator enables it to be installed flush with the cabinet surface. This means that after installation, the door is flush with the cabinet surface, with no protruding parts, seamlessly blending into the home décor. It achieves a unified aesthetic effect, similar to custom-made cabinets, satisfying users' aesthetic demands for high-end built-in refrigerators and aligning with the market trend of refrigerators becoming more integrated into home decor. Simultaneously, flush installation reduces dust accumulation on the refrigerator surface, whereas traditional protruding refrigerators are prone to dust accumulation on the top. This solution also reduces cleaning difficulty and enhances the user experience.

[0070] Through optimized hinge structures, such as a centrally mounted dual-axis hinge, 15 rollers at the bottom, and a trapezoidal plate design; innovative door opening methods, such as an outer handle with reverse rotation; and multi-dimensional gap protection, this solution comprehensively solves the three core defects of traditional free-standing side-by-side refrigerators: First, it avoids the hinge deformation problem caused by insufficient door weight in traditional dual-axis / linkage hinges, extending the hinge's service life; second, it eliminates the need for additional guide blocks, completely solving the maintenance pain points of easy wear and short lifespan of guide blocks, reducing the average annual maintenance cost for users; third, through trajectory control and gap setting, it completely eliminates the risk of interference between the door and the cabinet, and between doors, ensuring stable 24-hour operation of the refrigerator and avoiding production stoppages caused by interference failures. Production stoppages can be understood as the inability to store items normally in household use.

[0071] Furthermore, this refrigerator solution takes into account the comprehensive performance of aesthetics, reliability, and economy. Among them, the flush-mounted design meets the needs of high-end homes and expands the target customer group of the product; structural optimization improves product durability and enhances brand reputation; standardized hinge production and low maintenance costs reduce the production costs of enterprises and the usage costs of users, giving it strong market competitiveness and promoting the development of free-standing side-by-side refrigerators from a niche demand to a mainstream category.

[0072] It should be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “described” as used herein may also include the plural forms. The terms “comprising,” “including,” “containing,” and “having” are inclusive and therefore indicate the presence of the stated features, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or combinations thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not construed as requiring them to be performed in a particular order described or illustrated unless the order of performance is explicitly indicated. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps may be used.

[0073] Although terms such as first, second, third, etc., may be used in this document to describe multiple elements, components, regions, layers, and / or segments, these elements, components, regions, layers, and / or segments should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be used only to distinguish one element, component, region, layer, or segment from another. Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, terms such as "first," "second," and other numerical terms used herein do not imply order or sequence. Therefore, the first element, component, region, layer, or segment discussed below may be referred to as the second element, component, region, layer, or segment without departing from the teachings of the exemplary embodiments.

[0074] The above description is merely a specific embodiment of the present invention, enabling those skilled in the art to understand or implement the present invention. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments shown herein, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features claimed herein.

Claims

1. An embedded open door device for a side-by-side refrigerator, characterized in that, include: The first door and the second door are installed over the opening of the refrigerator body, with the first door and the second door respectively located on the left and right sides of the opening; The first handle is installed on the side of the first door away from the second door. The first handle is used to drive the first door to rotate counterclockwise around the middle area of ​​the refrigerator body to open. The side of the first door where the first handle is located is used to define the left side limit line of the door. The left side limit line is flush with the left side of the refrigerator body, or the left side limit line is located between the left side and the right side of the refrigerator body. The second handle is installed on the side of the second door away from the first door. The second handle is used to drive the second door to rotate clockwise around the middle area of ​​the refrigerator body to open. The side of the second door where the second handle is located is used to define the right limit line of the door body. The right limit line is flush with the right side of the refrigerator body, or the right limit line is located between the right side and the left side of the refrigerator body.

2. The embedded open door refrigerator door opening device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device includes a dual-axis hinge structure, which is installed in the middle area of ​​the refrigerator body and is used to rotatably connect with the top and bottom surfaces of the first door and the second door.

3. The embedded open door refrigerator door opening device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The dual-axis hinge structure includes an upper hinge structure and a lower hinge structure. The upper hinge structure is located on the top surface of the first door and the second door and is rotatably connected to the first door and the second door respectively. The lower hinge structure is located on the bottom surface of the first door and the second door and is rotatably connected to the first door and the second door respectively.

4. The embedded open door refrigerator door opening device according to claim 3, characterized in that, The embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device is installed on the refrigerator. The refrigerator includes an outer shell. The upper hinge structure is installed on the upper edge of the outer shell, protrudes from the upper edge, and is rotatably connected to the top surface of the first door and the second door.

5. The embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device according to claim 4, characterized in that, The embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device includes a crossbeam located below the first door and the second door. The lower hinge structure is installed on the crossbeam, protrudes from the crossbeam, and is rotatably connected to the bottom surface of the first door and the second door.

6. The embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device according to claim 5, characterized in that, The upper hinge structure is constructed as a sheet or plate. The large surface area of ​​the upper hinge structure has a first mounting hole and a first adapter hole. The first mounting hole and the first adapter hole are respectively located near two opposite sides of the upper hinge structure. The first mounting hole is used for assembly with the outer shell. Two separate first adapter holes are provided. The two first adapter holes are used for rotatable assembly with the first door body and the second door body, respectively.

7. The embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The embedded double-door refrigerator door opening device includes a first rotating shaft and a second rotating shaft. The first rotating shaft passes through one of the first adapter holes from top to bottom and is fixedly connected to the first door body. The second rotating shaft passes through the other first adapter hole from top to bottom and is fixedly connected to the second door body. 8.The embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device according to claim 6, characterized in that, The lower hinge structure is constructed as a sheet or plate. The large surface area of ​​the lower hinge structure has a second mounting hole and a second adapter hole. The second mounting hole and the second adapter hole are located near two opposite sides of the lower hinge structure. The second mounting hole is used to assemble with the crossbeam. Two separate second adapter holes are provided. The two second adapter holes are used to rotatably assemble with the first door body and the second door body, respectively. 9.The embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device according to claim 8, characterized in that, The embedded double-door refrigerator door opening device includes a third rotating shaft and a fourth rotating shaft. The third rotating shaft passes through one of the second transition holes from top to bottom and is fixedly connected to the first door body. The fourth rotating shaft passes through the other second transition hole from top to bottom and is fixedly connected to the second door body. 10.The embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device according to claim 9, wherein, A roller is installed below the lower hinge structure, and the roller is used to drive the refrigerator to slide to a preset position through the lower hinge structure.

11. The embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device according to claim 8, characterized in that, Both the upper hinge structure and the lower hinge structure are constructed as trapezoidal sheet structures, with the first adapter hole and the second adapter hole located on the narrow side, and the first mounting hole and the second mounting hole located on the long side. 12.The embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device according to claim 9, wherein A safety gap is provided between the first door and the second door to ensure that there is no interference between the first door and the second door when both are at a 90° opening angle.

13. A refrigerator characterized by comprising: Includes the embedded side-by-side refrigerator door opening device as described in any one of claims 1-12.

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