Connection apparatus for embedded refrigerator door body, and mounting method therefor

Abstract

A connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body, and a mounting method therefor. The connection apparatus comprises a first assembly (3) used for connecting to a first door body (1), and a second assembly (4) used for connecting to a second door body (2). The first assembly (3) is provided with a fixing structure (31) used for positioning same with respect to the first door body (1), and a first fitting portion (32) used for slidingly fitting with the second assembly (4). The second assembly (4) is provided with a second fitting portion (41) slidingly fitted with the first fitting portion (32), and a pre-positioning portion (42) detachably connected to the second fitting portion (41). The pre-positioning portion (42) is provided with a first pre-positioning portion (421) used for pre-positioning the second assembly (4) and the second door body (2), and a second pre-positioning portion (422) fitted with the first assembly (3) for limiting. The second fitting portion (41) is also provided with a fixing portion (411) used for fixing the second door body (2). The connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body has a simple structure, and is easy to mount.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims the priority of Chinese patent applications with the filing date of July 04, 2024, the application number of 202410891464.X and the invention title of " Connection Apparatus for Embedded Refrigerator Door Body", and the filing date of July 04, 2024, the application number of 202410891185.3 and the invention title of " Connection Apparatus for Embedded Refrigerator Door Body and Mounting Method thereof", the entire contents of which are incorporated into the present application by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present application relates to a field of household appliance technology, and in particular to a connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body and a mounting method thereof.BACKGROUND

[0003] Currently, with an improvement of living standards, more and more users pursue furniture integration. Users select refrigerators before decoration, design cabinets according to external dimensions of the refrigerators, place the refrigerators in the cabinets, and in order to beautify an overall effect, after the refrigerators are installed in the cabinets, cabinet door panels will be installed on refrigerator doors, and such refrigerators are called embedded refrigerators.

[0004] In an installation process of an existing sliding door type embedded refrigerator, when a sliding door combination installation apparatus opens an embedded refrigerator door body to a certain angle, a sliding assembly fixed on a cabinet door panel will be exposed outward, affecting aesthetics and resulting in a poor user experience; in addition, most current installation apparatuses also require a use of measuring tools to measure installation points during installation, resulting in a heavy workload for installation personnel and being prone to errors.

[0005] Any prior art mentioned in the description does not indicate confirmation or suggestion that the prior art constitutes part of common knowledge in any jurisdiction, or that the prior art can be reasonably expected to be understood, regarded as relevant and / or combined with other prior art by those skilled in the art.SUMMARY

[0006] An object of the present application is to provide a connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body and a mounting method therefor, to solve at least some of problems in related technology.

[0007] To achieve the above object, the present application provides a connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body, comprising a first assembly for connecting with a first door body and a second assembly for connecting with a second door body, characterized in that: the first assembly has a fixing structure for positioning the first assembly to the first door body, and a first fitting portion for a sliding engagement with the second assembly; the second assembly defines a second fitting portion in a sliding engagement with the first fitting portion, and a pre-positioning portion detachably connected to the second fitting portion, the pre-positioning portion is provided with a first pre-positioning portion for pre-positioning the second assembly with the second door body, and a second pre-positioning portion for a limiting cooperation with the first assembly, the second fitting portion is further provided with a fixing portion for fixing to the second door body.

[0008] Further, the fixing structure comprises a locking portion for connecting with a side end of the first door body, and the locking portion is detachably connected to the side end of the first door body via an adjustable fastener.

[0009] Further, the fixing structure further comprises a positioning protrusion formed by protruding along a thickness direction of a base plate portion of the first assembly to connect to a front surface of the first door body.

[0010] Further, the first pre-positioning portion is arranged on a side of the second fitting portion close to a door-opening side, and a side of the first pre-positioning portion for pre-positioning with the second door body is provided with a coupling portion, and the coupling portion is separable from or coupled with the second door body.

[0011] Further, the first pre-positioning portion has a first pre-assembly portion and a second pre-assembly portion that are detachably connected to each other, the coupling portion is arranged on a front side of the first pre-assembly portion, and the second pre-assembly portion is provided with a pre-assembly groove for accommodating a connecting member.

[0012] Further, the second pre-positioning portion and the first assembly are provided with mutually cooperating limiting protrusions and positioning grooves.

[0013] Further, the limiting protrusions comprise a protruding column and a snap portion with different structures, the protruding column limits the second pre-positioning portion and the first assembly, and the snap portion locks the second pre-positioning portion and the first assembly.

[0014] Further, the first pre-positioning portion further has a hook arranged at an end thereof in a transverse direction, and when the connection apparatus abuts against the second door body, the hook abuts against a side surface of the second door body.

[0015] Further, the second fitting portion is provided with a sliding groove and the fixing portion that are connected vertically, the sliding groove has an open configuration on one side in a vertical direction for the first fitting portion to be inserted and to slide therein, and the second pre-positioning portion is adjacently arranged with the sliding groove.

[0016] Further, the first fitting portion has a base portion and an insertion portion connected to the base portion along a vertical direction, a thickness of the insertion portion is smaller than a thickness of the base portion, to be inserted and limited within the sliding groove.

[0017] Further, the fixing portion penetrates through the second fitting portion along a front-and-rear direction, for a connecting member to be inserted therein and to fix to the second door body via the connecting member.

[0018] Further, the first fitting portion is formed with a sliding channel, the first assembly further has a positioning portion connecting the first fitting portion, the positioning portion is provided with a positioning structure for a positioning cooperation with the pre-positioning portion, the first fitting portion has at least one end open along a direction of a sliding engagement with the second assembly, and in a thickness direction of the first assembly, the first fitting portion is provided with an operation opening for a separation operation of the pre-positioning portion, and the operation opening communicates with the sliding channel.

[0019] Further, the second fitting portion is provided with a connection end surface at one end along a sliding engagement direction thereof for being detachably connected to the pre-positioning portion, and the connection end surface is exposed outward from the operation opening.

[0020] Further, the first fitting portion is provided with a first baffle and a second baffle arranged at an interval along a thickness direction of the first assembly to form the sliding channel, the first baffle extends along a sliding engagement direction, and the second baffle extends along a vertical direction and is located on one side of the operation opening in the sliding engagement direction.

[0021] Further, the positioning structure comprises a first coupling portion for limiting with the pre-positioning portion and a second coupling portion for snapping with the pre-positioning portion.

[0022] Further, the first assembly comprises a base plate portion, the first fitting portion and the positioning portion are both arranged on the base plate portion, and the fixing structure is formed by a bent extension from the base plate portion to overlap an outer side of the first door body.

[0023] To achieve the above object, the present application provides a mounting method of a connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body, the mounting method comprising following steps: positioning a connection apparatus as a whole on a first door body via a fixing structure of a first assembly; making the first door body and a second door body approach each other, to pre-position a second assembly to the second door body via a first pre-positioning portion; making the first door body and the second door body move away from each other, so that the entire connection apparatus as a whole separates from the first door body, and performing a fixing operation between a second fitting portion and the second door body; removing the first pre-positioning portion in the second assembly; making the first door body and the second door body approach each other, and fixing the first assembly to the first door body via the fixing structure of the first assembly.

[0024] Further, before a step of "positioning a connection apparatus as a whole on a first door body via a fixing structure of a first assembly", the mounting method further comprises: assembling the first assembly and a second assembly together to constitute the connection apparatus.

[0025] Further, a step of "assembling a first assembly and a second assembly together to constitute a connection apparatus" specifically comprises: inserting and mounting the second assembly to the first assembly, and connecting the two via a second pre-positioning portion in the second assembly.

[0026] Further, before a step of "positioning a connection apparatus as a whole on a first door body via a fixing structure of a first assembly", the mounting method further comprises: loosening a fastener pre-installed on the first door body, so that a connection apparatus constituted by a first assembly and a second assembly is assembled to the first door body along a direction perpendicular to a sliding engagement direction.

[0027] The connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body and the mounting method thereof provided by the present application achieve pre-positioning between a first assembly and a second assembly via a first pre-positioning portion and a second pre-positioning portion, utilize a fixing portion to achieve a fixed connection between the second assembly and a second door body, thereby achieving a convenient positioning and installation of the connection apparatus, and further achieving a sliding connection between a first door body and the second door body. Meanwhile, after installing the first assembly and the second assembly between the first door body and the second door body, the first pre-positioning portion and the second pre-positioning portion can be removed to avoid an outward exposure, thereby ensuring a cleanliness of an appearance of the embedded refrigerator door body.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0028] Some specific embodiments of the application will be described in detail hereinafter by way of example and not by way of limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals identify the same or similar components or parts in the drawings. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a connection apparatus in a first embodiment of an embedded refrigerator door body of the present application after being installed to a first door body and a second door body; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body shown in FIG. 1 after being installed to the first door body; FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body shown in FIG. 1 after being installed to the first door body; FIG. 4 is a perspective assembly view of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 5 is a view from another angle of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body shown in FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a perspective exploded view of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body shown in FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a view from another angle of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body shown in FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body shown in FIG. 1 installed on the second door body; FIG. 9 is a top view of a connection apparatus in a second embodiment of an embedded refrigerator door body of the present application when installed to a first door body and a second door body, and showing a rotation process of the first door body during installation of the connection apparatus; FIG. 10 is a perspective exploded view of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body shown in FIG. 9; FIG. 11 is a view from another angle of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body shown in FIG. 10; FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body shown in FIG. 9 installed on the second door body; FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body shown in FIG. 12 after a first pre-positioning portion is removed; FIG. 14 is a partial exploded view of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body shown in FIG. 13 after a second pre-positioning portion is removed; FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a connection apparatus in a third embodiment of an embedded refrigerator door body of the present application after being installed to a first door body and a second door body; FIG. 16 is a top view of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body shown in FIG. 15 when installed to the first door body and the second door body; FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body shown in FIG. 15 after being installed to the first door body; FIG. 18 is a perspective exploded view of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body shown in FIG. 17; FIG. 19 is a view from another angle of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body shown in FIG. 18; FIG. 20 is a perspective view of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body shown in FIG. 19 after being installed to the second door body; and FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body shown in FIG. 20 after a pre-positioning portion is removed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0029] The present application will be described in detail below in combination with specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. However, these embodiments do not limit the present application, and structural, method, or functional variations made by ordinary technicians in the art based on these embodiments are all included within a protection scope of the present application.

[0030] Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 21 showing schematic diagrams of a connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body of the present application, FIG. 1 to FIG. 8 are a first embodiment of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body of the present application, FIG. 9 to FIG. 14 are a second embodiment of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body of the present application, and FIG. 15 to FIG. 21 are a third embodiment of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body of the present application. A door body of an embedded refrigerator comprises a first door body 1 and a second door body 2 that are slidably connected.

[0031] For ease of explanation, the following description will be made by regarding a side of the embedded refrigerator facing a user as a front side, and an oppositely arranged other side as a rear side, and at the same time, one direction perpendicular to a front-and-rear direction is taken as a left-right direction, also known as a transverse direction, and another direction perpendicular to the front-and-rear direction is taken as a vertical direction, also known as a height direction.

[0032] Please refer to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, FIG. 9 and FIG. 15 to FIG. 16, the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body comprises a first assembly 3 for connecting with the first door body 1 and a second assembly 4 for connecting with the second door body 2. In some embodiments of the present application, the first door body 1 is a refrigerator door body, the second door body 2 is a cabinet door, the first door body 1 and the second door body 2 are collectively referred to as a door body, and the door body is openably and closably connected to a front side of a cabinet 100 of the embedded refrigerator.

[0033] In some embodiments, the first assembly 3 is fixedly connected to the first door body 1, and the second assembly 4 is fixedly connected to the second door body 2.

[0034] The first assembly 3 has a fixing structure 31 for positioning the first assembly 3 to the first door body 1, and a first fitting portion 32 for a sliding engagement with the second assembly 4; the second assembly 4 has a second fitting portion 41 in a sliding engagement with the first fitting portion 32, and a pre-positioning portion 42 detachably connected to the second fitting portion 41, the pre-positioning portion 42 is provided with a first pre-positioning portion 421 for pre-positioning the second assembly 4 with the second door body 2, and a second pre-positioning portion 422 for a limiting cooperation with the first assembly 3, the second fitting portion 41 is further provided with a fixing portion 411 for fixing to the second door body 2, in this way, the connection apparatus has a simple structure and a low cost, and can eliminate a step of manual measurement, effectively reducing installation steps and improving installation efficiency.

[0035] In some embodiments, the connection apparatus further comprises a fastener 62 pre-installed at an end of the first door body 1; in other embodiments, the fastener 62 may also be placed separately without being pre-installed on the first door body 1.

[0036] The fixing structure 31 comprises a locking portion 311 for connecting with a side end of the first door body 1, and the locking portion 311 is detachably connected to the side end of the first door body 1 via an adjustable fastener 62.

[0037] In some embodiments of the present application, as shown in the second and third embodiments, the side end of the first door body 1 is a top end and / or a bottom end thereof, that is, an end of the first door body 1 in the height direction. In other embodiments, as shown in the first embodiment, the side end of the first door body 1 not only comprises the top end and / or the bottom end, but also comprises an end thereof in the transverse direction, that is, in this embodiment, the fixing structure 31 has two locking portions 311 connected to different sides of the first door body 1, to achieve a more stable connection. The two locking portions 311 comprise a first locking portion 3112 and a second locking portion 3113, and the first locking portion 3112 and the second locking portion 3113 are arranged on different sides of the first assembly 3. And the first locking portion 3112 is connected to the top end or the bottom end of the first door body 1, and the second locking portion 3113 is connected to the side end (that is, the end in the transverse direction) of the first door body 1, thereby increasing a coupling strength between the first assembly 3 and the first door body 1.

[0038] The first assembly 3 comprises a base plate portion 33 and the locking portion 311 for fixedly connecting with the first door body 1, and the locking portion 311 is formed by a bent extension from the base plate portion 33 to overlap an outer side of the first door body 1. In one embodiment, the locking portion 311 and the first fitting portion 32 are arranged on two sides of the base plate portion 33 in the vertical direction.

[0039] Further, in the first embodiment of the present application, the fixing structure 31 further comprises a positioning protrusion 312, the positioning protrusion 312 is formed by protruding along a thickness direction of the base plate portion 33 of the first assembly 3, and is connected to a front surface of the first door body 1. The first fitting portion 32 is arranged on the base plate portion 33, and the locking portion 311 is formed by bending from the base plate portion 33.

[0040] Specifically, referring to FIG. 4 to FIG. 8, in the first embodiment of the present application, the first fitting portion 32 is provided with a sliding channel 321 and an operation opening 322 for performing a separation operation of the pre-positioning portion 42, and the operation opening 322 communicates with the sliding channel 321.

[0041] In one embodiment, the first fitting portion 32 has a first baffle 323 and a second baffle 324 arranged at an interval along a thickness direction thereof, the first baffle 323 extends along a sliding engagement direction, and the second baffle 324 extends along the vertical direction and is located on one side of the operation opening 322 in the sliding engagement direction. The first baffle 323 and the second baffle 324 form the sliding channel 321 with an interval in a thickness direction of the second fitting portion 32, and the second assembly 4 is mounted in the sliding channel 321 and can be in a sliding engagement with the sliding channel 321. In one embodiment, the second fitting portion 41 is mounted in the sliding channel 321 and can be in a sliding engagement with the sliding channel 321.

[0042] In one embodiment, the first assembly 3 has the first fitting portion 32 formed with the sliding channel 321, and a positioning portion 35 connecting the first fitting portion 32, the positioning portion 35 is provided with a positioning structure 351 for a positioning cooperation with the pre-positioning portion 42, and the second fitting portion 32 and the positioning portion 35 are both arranged on the base plate portion 33.

[0043] In one embodiment, the positioning portion 35 is provided with a pair of the positioning protrusions 312 arranged at an interval along the vertical direction. The pair of the positioning protrusions 312 are arranged on upper and lower sides of the positioning structure 351; in other embodiments, the positioning portion 35 may also have only one of the positioning protrusions 312, and the one positioning protrusion 312 is adjacently arranged to the operation opening 322, that is, the one positioning protrusion 312 is located between the positioning structure 351 and the operation opening 322 in the sliding engagement direction.

[0044] The first fitting portion 32 has at least one end open along a direction of the sliding engagement with the second assembly 4, and in a thickness direction of the first assembly 3, the first fitting portion 32 is provided with the operation opening 322 for performing the separation operation of the pre-positioning portion 42, and the operation opening 322 communicates with the sliding channel 321. In this way, the connection apparatus has a simple structure and a low cost, eliminates a traditional step of manual measurement, and thus can not only achieve the sliding connection between the first door body 1 and the second door body 2, but also effectively reduce installation steps and improve installation efficiency; and, the connection apparatus is hidden between the first door body 1 and the second door body 2, and is never exposed outward during an opening and closing process of the door body, thereby making an overall appearance of the embedded refrigerator more beautiful.

[0045] In some embodiments, the thickness direction of the first assembly 3 is a first direction, which is the same as a thickness direction of the first door body 1, a sliding engagement direction of the second assembly 4 with the first assembly 3 is a second direction, and the second direction is perpendicular to the first direction, and during an opening and closing process of the door body, the second assembly 4 can slide relative to the first assembly 3 along the second direction.

[0046] When the embedded refrigerator door body is in a closed state, a sliding direction of the second assembly 4 is parallel to the transverse direction, and a thickness direction of the first assembly 3 and a thickness direction of the second assembly 4 are both perpendicular to the sliding direction of the second assembly 4, and in this state, the thickness direction of the first assembly 3 is the front-and-rear direction.

[0047] The second assembly 4 is inserted between the first baffle 323 and the second baffle 324 from an end where the positioning portion 35 is arranged on the second fitting portion 32, and then is slidably accommodated in the sliding channel 321. In one embodiment, the second fitting portion 41 is inserted between the first baffle 323 and the second baffle 324 from an end where the sliding channel 321 is adjacent to the positioning protrusion 312, and then is slidably accommodated in the sliding channel 321.

[0048] In some embodiments, an end of the second baffle 324 away from the operation opening 322 is arranged with an interval from an end of the second fitting portion 32 away from the positioning portion 35, that is, the second baffle 324 is not arranged on an end edge of the second fitting portion 32, thereby using an end portion of the first baffle 323 protruding from the second baffle 324 to guide and limit the second assembly 4.

[0049] The second fitting portion 41 is provided with a connection end surface 410 at one end along a sliding engagement direction thereof for being detachably connected to the pre-positioning portion 42. In one embodiment, the second fitting portion 41 is provided with a connection end surface 410 at one end along a sliding engagement direction thereof for being detachably connected to the second pre-positioning portion 422, an installation personnel separates the second fitting portion 41 and the second pre-positioning portion 422 from the connection end surface 410, and the connection end surface 410 is exposed outward from the operation opening 322.

[0050] In some embodiments of the present application, the second assembly 4 is provided with the fixing portion 411 penetrating through the second assembly 4 along a thickness direction thereof. In one embodiment, the fixing portion 411 is a fixing hole. The connection apparatus further comprises a connecting member 61 for fixedly connecting the second assembly 4 with the second door body 2, and the connecting member 61 is inserted into a corresponding one of the fixing portions 411 and then continues to be inserted into the second door body 2, to fixedly connect the second assembly 4 with the second door body 2.

[0051] Further, the second assembly 4 is provided with a receiving groove 412 formed by recessing along a thickness direction thereof, the fixing portion 411 communicates with the receiving groove 412 and is further formed by recessing from the receiving groove 412, and a head of the connecting member 61 is accommodated in the receiving groove 412, thereby preventing an interference with the second baffle 324 from causing a sliding jam.

[0052] Further, in the first embodiment of the present application, the first assembly 3 further has a first coupling portion 3511 and a second coupling portion 3512 adjacently arranged to the positioning protrusion 312. The first coupling portion 3511 and the second coupling portion 3512 are arranged on the positioning structure 351, the first coupling portion 3511 is for limiting with the pre-positioning portion 42, and the second coupling portion 3512 is for snapping with the pre-positioning portion 42. Both the first coupling portion 3511 and the second coupling portion 3512 are through grooves formed by penetrating through the base plate portion 33 along a thickness direction thereof, and the first coupling portion 3511 and the second coupling portion 3512 are located between the pair of the positioning protrusions 312 in the vertical direction.

[0053] The second pre-positioning portion 422 is provided with a protruding column 4223 and a snap portion 4224 that cooperate with the first assembly 3. The protruding column 4223 cooperates with the first coupling portion 3511, and the snap portion 4224 cooperates with the second coupling portion 3512. The protruding column 4223 is inserted into the first coupling portion 3511 to preliminarily limit the second assembly 4 and the first assembly 3, and the snap portion 4224 is inserted into the second coupling portion 3512 to further snap-connect the second pre-positioning portion 422 and the first assembly 3.

[0054] In addition, the first assembly 3 is provided with a pair of first coupling portions 3511 and a pair of second coupling portions 3512. In some embodiments, the positioning structure 351 comprises the pair of first coupling portions 3511 and the pair of second coupling portions 3512, and the pair of first coupling portions 3511 and the pair of second coupling portions 3512 enclose a quadrangle. The pair of first coupling portions 3511 are oppositely arranged in a diagonal direction of the quadrangle, and the pair of second coupling portions 3512 are oppositely arranged in another diagonal direction of the quadrangle, so that the first coupling portion 3511 and the second coupling portion 3512 are arranged in a staggered manner, thereby achieving a stable connection between the positioning portion 35 and the pre-positioning portion 42, and further achieving a stable connection between the first assembly 3 and the second assembly 4.

[0055] The second pre-positioning portion 422 and the connection end surface 410 are detachably connected, and the first pre-positioning portion 421 has an adhesiveness to be connected to the second door body 2 in a removable manner.

[0056] In addition, referring to FIG. 10, FIG. 11 and FIG. 18, FIG. 19, in the second and third embodiments of the present application, the second fitting portion 41 is provided with a first connection end surface 4101 at one end along a sliding engagement direction thereof for being detachably connected to the first pre-positioning portion 421, and an installation personnel separates the second fitting portion 41 and the first pre-positioning portion 421 from the first connection end surface 4101. In addition, the second fitting portion 41 is provided with a second connection end surface 4102 at one end along the vertical direction for being detachably connected to the second pre-positioning portion 422, so as to remove the second pre-positioning portion 422 after the second assembly 4 is positioned.

[0057] In the first to third embodiments of the present application, taking FIG. 17 to FIG. 20 as an example for illustration, the first pre-positioning portion 421 is arranged on a side of the second fitting portion 41 close to a door-opening side, and a side of the first pre-positioning portion 421 for pre-positioning with the second door body 2 is provided with a coupling portion 4211, and the coupling portion 4211 can be separated from or coupled with the second door body 2.

[0058] In some embodiments of the present application, the coupling portion 4211 has an adhesiveness to be connected to the second door body 2 in a removable manner. Specifically, the coupling portion 4211 comprises a receiving groove 42112 recessed on a front side of the first pre-positioning portion 421 and an adhesive member 42113 accommodated in the receiving groove 42112, and the adhesive member 42113 has an adhesiveness. Preferably, the adhesive member 42113 is a double-sided tape, so as to facilitate a rapid pre-positioning by an installation personnel and a convenient removal of the adhesive member 42113, and at the same time not to damage a surface of the second door body 2.

[0059] Further, the first pre-positioning portion 421 has a first pre-assembly portion 4212 and a second pre-assembly portion 4213 that are detachably connected to each other, the coupling portion 4211 is arranged on a front side of the first pre-assembly portion 4212, and the second pre-assembly portion 4213 is provided with a pre-assembly groove 42132 capable of accommodating the connecting member 61. In one embodiment, the second pre-assembly portion 4213 is a box-shaped structure connected to one side of the first pre-assembly portion 4212 in the vertical direction, the second pre-assembly portion 4213 is internally provided with at least one accommodating portion, and the accommodating portion has an elasticity and forms the pre-assembly groove 42132. In this way, a time for an installation personnel to search for the connecting member 61 among numerous accessories is saved, thereby improving installation efficiency.

[0060] The connecting member 61 is pre-accommodated in the second pre-assembly portion 4213 arranged on the pre-positioning portion 42, and after the second assembly 4 is pre-positioned to the second door body 2, the connecting member 61 is taken out from the second pre-assembly portion 4213 and inserted into the fixing portion 411 of the second assembly 4, thereby fixedly connecting the second assembly 4 to the second door body 2. In this way, by pre-installing the connecting member 61 in the second pre-assembly portion 4213, a subsequent use of the connecting member 61 by an installation personnel can be facilitated, and a process of searching among numerous accessories can be omitted.

[0061] After the second assembly 4 is pre-positioned to the second door body 2 via the first pre-positioning portion 421, the connecting member 61 fixedly connects the fixing portion 411 with the second door body 2.

[0062] In the first to third embodiments of the present application, the second pre-positioning portion 422 and the first assembly 3 are provided with mutually cooperating limiting protrusions 4221 and positioning grooves 301. Specifically, please refer to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, in the first embodiment of the present application, the positioning grooves 301 are the positioning structure 351. The limiting protrusions 4221 comprise the protruding column 4223 and the snap portion 4224 with different structures, the protruding column 4223 limits the second pre-positioning portion 422 and the first assembly 3, and the snap portion 4224 locks the second pre-positioning portion 422 and the first assembly 3.

[0063] Referring to FIG. 10 to FIG. 11, in the second embodiment of the present application, the limiting protrusions 4221 and the positioning grooves 301 are mutually snap-fixed to snap-connect the second pre-positioning portion 422 and the first assembly 3. Different from the first embodiment, the limiting protrusions 4221 are arranged on the first assembly 3, and the positioning grooves 301 are arranged on the second pre-positioning portion 422. Referring to FIG. 18 to FIG. 20, in the third embodiment of the present application, the limiting protrusions 4221 and the positioning grooves 301 only mutually limit without locking.

[0064] As shown in FIG. 6, in the first embodiment of the present application, the fixing portion 411 penetrates through the second fitting portion 41 along the front-and-rear direction, for the connecting member 61 to be inserted therein and to be fixed to the second door body 2 via the connecting member 61.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 11 and FIG. 19, in the second and third embodiments of the present application, the second fitting portion 41 is provided with a sliding groove 413 and the fixing portion 411 that are connected vertically, the sliding groove 413 has an open configuration on one side in the vertical direction for the first fitting portion 32 to be inserted and to slide therein, and the second pre-positioning portion 422 is adjacently arranged with the sliding groove 413.

[0066] The first fitting portion 32 has a base portion 325 and an insertion portion 326 connected to the base portion 325 along the vertical direction, and a thickness of the insertion portion 326 is smaller than a thickness of the base portion 325, so as to be inserted and limited within the sliding groove 413.

[0067] In some embodiments, the pre-positioning portion 42 is integrally connected to the second fitting portion 41, and is detachably arranged, that is, the pre-positioning portion 42 can be removed from the second fitting portion 41, thereby avoiding an exposure outside the first door body 1 after an installation is completed.

[0068] The pre-positioning portion 42 comprises the first pre-positioning portion 421 for pre-positioning the second assembly 4 with the second door body 2, the second pre-positioning portion 422 for a limiting cooperation with the first assembly 3, and a hook 4214 capable of being hooked with the second door body 2. The second fitting portion 41, the second pre-positioning portion 422, and the first pre-positioning portion 421 are arranged in sequence along the sliding engagement direction.

[0069] In the first to third embodiments of the present application, the first pre-positioning portion 421 further has the hook 4214 arranged at an end thereof in the transverse direction. When the connection apparatus abuts against the second door body 2, the hook 4214 abuts against a side surface of the second door body 2. After the hook 4214 hooks a side surface of the second door body 2, the coupling portion 4211 of the first pre-positioning portion 421 is then connected to the second door body 2, thereby achieving a pre-positioning of the second assembly 4. In this way, an operation of the pre-positioning is simple and easy, no manual measurement of an installation position is required, installation steps are simplified, and installation efficiency can be effectively improved.

[0070] In the third embodiment of the present application, compared to the second embodiment, the first fitting portion 32 is further provided with the sliding channel 321, and the positioning groove 301 is arranged on a side of the sliding channel 321 close to the locking portion 311 in the vertical direction. The connection apparatus further has a guide member 63 inserted into the sliding channel 321 and the second fitting portion 41. When the first door body 1 and the second door body 2 rotate, the guide member 63 slides in the sliding channel 321, and the guide member 63 can simultaneously slidably connect the first assembly 3 and the second assembly 4 together to avoid separation.

[0071] In the first to third embodiments of the present application, the locking portion 311 has a fixing groove 3112 formed by penetrating through the locking portion 311 along a thickness direction thereof and a limiting protrusion 3113 formed in the fixing groove 3112. The fixing groove 3112 is open at one end in the thickness direction of the base plate portion 33 and forms an opening 3114. A pair of limiting protrusions 3113 are oppositely arranged on left and right sides of the opening 3114 to restrict the fastener 62 from escaping outward from the opening 3114.

[0072] In some embodiments of the present application, due to an arrangement of the opening 3114, the first assembly 3 can be installed to the first door body 1 without completely removing the fastener 62 from the first door body 1, thereby making an installation and disassembly of the connection apparatus more convenient. Of course, in other embodiments of the present application, the opening 3114 may not be provided. In this case, it is necessary to completely remove the fastener 62 from the first door body 1, and after hanging the first assembly 3 on the first door body 1, then tighten the fastener 62 to the first assembly 3.

[0073] The limiting protrusion 3113 protrudes along the vertical direction, and the fixing groove 3112 has a first groove section 31121 and a second groove section 31122 that are vertically connected. The first groove section 31121 and the second groove section 31122 are coaxially arranged, and an aperture of the first groove section 31121 is larger than an aperture of the second groove section 31122, so as to form a separating surface between the first groove section 31121 and the second groove section 31122.

[0074] The locking portion 311 is further provided with a pair of protruding portions 3115 protruding in the fixing groove 3112. The pair of protruding portions 3115 protrude toward each other along the sliding engagement direction of the second assembly 4, to clamp the fastener 62 in the fixing groove 3112 and prevent an escape outward from the locking portion 311.

[0075] The first assembly 3 further comprises a cover 34 flippably connected to an outer side of the locking portion 311. The cover 34 flips to cover the fixing groove 3112 and the fastener 62 inserted into the fixing groove 3112. When the fastener 62 is tightened in the fixing groove 3112, a head of the fastener 62 is accommodated in the first groove section 31121 and abuts against the separating surface.

[0076] The locking portion 311 is provided with a plurality of snap holes 3116 located on a periphery of the locking portion 311, and the cover 34 is provided with a snap protrusion 341 that snaps with the snap hole 3116. In this way, after the fastener 62 is tightened, the cover 34 is flipped to engage with the locking portion 311, and a snap positioning is performed via the snap protrusion 341 and a corresponding one of the snap holes 3116, thereby making an appearance of the embedded refrigerator door body neat and beautiful.

[0077] In some embodiments of the present application, the fastener 62 is pre-installed at an end of the first door body 1. When installing the connection apparatus, the fastener 62 is loosened so that the fastener 62 can be loaded into the fixing groove 3112 from the opening 3114.

[0078] FIG. 9 is a top view of the second embodiment of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body of the present application when installed to the first door body 1 and the second door body 2, and showing a rotation process of the first door body 1 during installation of the connection apparatus; FIG. 16 is a top view of the third embodiment of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body of the present application when installed to the first door body 1 and the second door body 2, and showing a rotation process of the first door body 1 during installation of the connection apparatus. A rotation process of the first door body 1 and the second door body 2 during installation of the connection apparatus in the first embodiment is the same as that in the second and third embodiments.

[0079] The mounting method of the connection apparatus for the embedded refrigerator door body of the present application comprises the following steps: positioning the connection apparatus as a whole on the first door body 1 via the fixing structure 31 of the first assembly 3; making the first door body 1 and the second door body 2 approach each other (as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 16), to pre-position the second assembly 4 to the second door body 2 via the first pre-positioning portion 421; making the first door body 1 and the second door body 2 move away from each other, so that the entire connection apparatus as a whole separates from the first door body, and performing a fixing operation between the second fitting portion 41 and the second door body 2; removing the first pre-positioning portion 421 in the second assembly 4; making the first door body 1 and the second door body 2 approach each other, and fixing the first assembly 3 to the first door body 1 via the fixing structure 31 of the first assembly 3.

[0080] Further, before a step of "positioning the connection apparatus as a whole on the first door body via the fixing structure of the first assembly", the mounting method further comprises: assembling the first assembly 3 and the second assembly 4 together to constitute the connection apparatus.

[0081] And, the above step of "assembling the first assembly 3 and the second assembly 4 together to constitute the connection apparatus" specifically comprises: inserting and mounting the second assembly 4 to the first assembly 3, and connecting the two via the second pre-positioning portion 422 in the second assembly 4.

[0082] In addition, the mounting method of the connection apparatus, before the step of "positioning the connection apparatus as a whole on the first door body 1 via the fixing structure 31 of the first assembly 3", further comprises: loosening the fastener 62 pre-installed on the first door body 1, so that the connection apparatus constituted by the first assembly 3 and the second assembly 4 is assembled to the first door body 1 along a direction perpendicular to the sliding engagement direction.

[0083] The mounting method of the connection apparatus, before a step of "making the first door body 1 and the second door body 2 approach each other, and fixing the first assembly 3 to the first door body 1 via the fixing structure 31 of the first assembly 3", further comprises: removing the second pre-positioning portion 422 in the second assembly 4.

[0084] In some embodiments, the connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body and the mounting method thereof, by providing on the first assembly 3 the fixing structure 31 for positioning the first assembly 3 to the first door body 1 and the first fitting portion 32 for a sliding engagement with the second assembly 4; providing on the second assembly 4 the second fitting portion 41 in a sliding engagement with the first fitting portion 32 and the pre-positioning portion 42 detachably connected to the second fitting portion 41, providing on the pre-positioning portion 42 the first pre-positioning portion 421 for pre-positioning the second assembly 4 with the second door body 2 and the second pre-positioning portion 422 for a limiting cooperation with the first assembly 3, and providing on the second fitting portion 41 the fixing portion 411 for fixing to the second door body 2, is able to utilize the first pre-positioning portion 421 and the second pre-positioning portion 422 to achieve a pre-positioning between the first assembly 3 and the second assembly 4, and utilize the fixing portion 411 to achieve a fixed connection between the second assembly 4 and the second door body 2, thereby achieving a convenient positioning and installation of the connection apparatus, and further achieving a sliding connection between the first door body 1 and the second door body 2, and at the same time, after installing the first assembly 3 and the second assembly 4 between the first door body 1 and the second door body 2, is able to remove the first pre-positioning portion 421 and the second pre-positioning portion 422, to avoid an outward exposure, thereby ensuring a cleanliness of an appearance of the embedded refrigerator door body.

[0085] In some embodiments, the connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body, by providing on the first assembly 3 the first fitting portion 32 having the sliding channel 321 and the positioning portion 35 connecting the first fitting portion 32, providing on the positioning portion 35 the positioning structure 351 for a positioning cooperation with the pre-positioning portion 42, and at the same time, the first fitting portion 32 has at least one end open along a direction of the sliding engagement with the second fitting portion 41, and in a thickness direction of the first assembly 3, the first fitting portion 32 is provided with the operation opening 322 for performing a separation operation of the pre-positioning portion 42, so that the operation opening 322 communicates with the sliding channel 321, is able to utilize the pre-positioning portion 42 to achieve a convenient positioning and installation of the first assembly 3 and the second assembly 4, and further achieve a sliding connection between the first door body 1 and the second door body 2, and at the same time, after installing the first assembly 3 and the second assembly 4 between the first door body 1 and the second door body 2, is able to remove the pre-positioning portion 42 to avoid an outward exposure.

[0086] It should be understood that although this specification is described according to embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This narrative manner of the specification is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should regard the specification as a whole, and technical solutions in various embodiments may also be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

[0087] A series of detailed descriptions listed above are merely specific descriptions of feasible embodiments of the present application, and are not intended to limit a protection scope of the present application. All equivalent embodiments or changes made without departing from a technical spirit of the present application should be included within the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body, comprising a first assembly for connecting with a first door body and a second assembly for connecting with a second door body, characterized in that: the first assembly has a fixing structure for positioning the first assembly to the first door body, and a first fitting portion for a sliding engagement with the second assembly; the second assembly defines a second fitting portion in a sliding engagement with the first fitting portion, and a pre-positioning portion detachably connected to the second fitting portion, the pre-positioning portion is provided with a first pre-positioning portion for pre-positioning the second assembly with the second door body, and a second pre-positioning portion for a limiting cooperation with the first assembly, the second fitting portion is further provided with a fixing portion for fixing to the second door body.

2. The connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body according to claim 1, wherein the fixing structure comprises a locking portion for connecting with a side end of the first door body, and the locking portion is detachably connected to the side end of the first door body via an adjustable fastener.

3. The connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body according to claim 2, wherein the fixing structure further comprises a positioning protrusion formed by protruding along a thickness direction of a base plate portion of the first assembly to connect to a front surface of the first door body.

4. The connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body according to claim 1, wherein the first pre-positioning portion is arranged on a side of the second fitting portion close to a door-opening side, and a side of the first pre-positioning portion for pre-positioning with the second door body is provided with a coupling portion, and the coupling portion is separable from or coupled with the second door body.

5. The connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body according to claim 4, wherein the first pre-positioning portion has a first pre-assembly portion and a second pre-assembly portion that are detachably connected to each other, the coupling portion is arranged on a front side of the first pre-assembly portion, and the second pre-assembly portion is provided with a pre-assembly groove for accommodating a connecting member.

6. The connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body according to claim 1, wherein the second pre-positioning portion and the first assembly are provided with a mutually cooperating limiting protrusion and a positioning groove.

7. The connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body according to claim 6, wherein the limiting protrusion comprises a protruding column and a snap portion with different structures, the protruding column limits the second pre-positioning portion and the first assembly, and the snap portion locks the second pre-positioning portion and the first assembly.

8. The connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body according to claim 1, wherein the first pre-positioning portion further has a hook arranged at an end thereof in a transverse direction, and when the connection apparatus abuts against the second door body, the hook abuts against a side surface of the second door body.

9. The connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body according to claim 1, wherein the second fitting portion is provided with a sliding groove and the fixing portion that are connected vertically, the sliding groove has an open configuration on one side in a vertical direction for the first fitting portion to be inserted and to slide therein, and the second pre-positioning portion is adjacently arranged with the sliding groove.

10. The connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body according to claim 9, wherein the first fitting portion has a base portion and an insertion portion connected to the base portion along a vertical direction, a thickness of the insertion portion is smaller than a thickness of the base portion, to be inserted and limited within the sliding groove.

11. The connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body according to claim 1, wherein the fixing portion penetrates through the second fitting portion along a front-and-rear direction, for a connecting member to be inserted therein and to fix to the second door body via the connecting member.

12. The connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body according to claim 1, wherein the first fitting portion is formed with a sliding channel, the first assembly further has a positioning portion connecting the first fitting portion, the positioning portion is provided with a positioning structure for a positioning cooperation with the pre-positioning portion, the first fitting portion has at least one end open along a direction of a sliding engagement with the second assembly, and in a thickness direction of the first assembly, the first fitting portion is provided with an operation opening for a separation operation of the pre-positioning portion, and the operation opening communicates with the sliding channel.

13. The connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body according to claim 12, wherein the second fitting portion is provided with a connection end surface at one end along a sliding engagement direction thereof for being detachably connected to the pre-positioning portion, and the connection end surface is exposed outward from the operation opening.

14. The connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body according to claim 12, wherein the first fitting portion is provided with a first baffle and a second baffle arranged at an interval along a thickness direction of the first assembly to form the sliding channel, the first baffle extends along a sliding engagement direction, and the second baffle extends along a vertical direction and is located on one side of the operation opening in the sliding engagement direction.

15. The connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body according to claim 12, wherein the positioning structure comprises a first coupling portion for limiting with the pre-positioning portion and a second coupling portion for snapping with the pre-positioning portion.

16. The connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body according to claim 12, wherein the first assembly comprises a base plate portion, the first fitting portion and the positioning portion are both arranged on the base plate portion, and the fixing structure is formed by a bent extension from the base plate portion to overlap an outer side of the first door body.

17. A mounting method of a connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body, <b>characterized by comprising following steps: positioning a connection apparatus as a whole on a first door body via a fixing structure of a first assembly; making the first door body and a second door body approach each other, to pre-position a second assembly to the second door body via a first pre-positioning portion; making the first door body and the second door body move away from each other, so that the entire connection apparatus as a whole separates from the first door body, and performing a fixing operation between a second fitting portion and the second door body; removing the first pre-positioning portion in the second assembly; making the first door body and the second door body approach each other, and fixing the first assembly to the first door body via the fixing structure of the first assembly.

18. The mounting method of a connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body according to claim 17, wherein before a step of "positioning a connection apparatus as a whole on a first door body via a fixing structure of a first assembly", the mounting method further comprises: assembling the first assembly and a second assembly together to constitute the connection apparatus.

19. The mounting method of a connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body according to claim 18, wherein a step of "assembling a first assembly and a second assembly together to constitute a connection apparatus" specifically comprises: inserting and mounting the second assembly to the first assembly, and connecting the two via a second pre-positioning portion in the second assembly.

20. The mounting method of a connection apparatus for an embedded refrigerator door body according to claim 17, wherein before a step of "positioning a connection apparatus as a whole on a first door body via a fixing structure of a first assembly", the mounting method further comprises: loosening a fastener pre-installed on the first door body, so that the connection apparatus constituted by a first assembly and a second assembly is assembled to the first door body along a direction perpendicular to a sliding engagement direction.

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