Refrigerator

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator capable of easily adjusting an installation position of a refrigerator.SOLUTION: A refrigerator 1 comprises a refrigerator body 2, and a leg part 32 that supports the front side of a lower surface of the refrigerator body 2. The leg part 32 comprises a first contact part 33 of which a contact surface 33a that comes into contact with an installation surface P on which the refrigerator 1 is installed is a spherical surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a refrigerator.

Background Art

[0002] In a refrigerator, cylindrical wheels are provided on the front side and the rear side of the lower surface of the refrigerator body so as to adjust the installation position of the refrigerator (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, in a refrigerator provided with cylindrical wheels, it is easy to move the refrigerator in the front-rear direction, but it is difficult to move it in the left-right direction, and it is difficult to adjust the installation position.

[0005] Embodiments of the present invention have been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a refrigerator capable of easily adjusting the installation position of the refrigerator.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A refrigerator according to an embodiment includes a refrigerator body and legs that support the front side of the lower surface of the refrigerator body, and the legs include a first contact portion whose contact surface that contacts the installation surface on which the refrigerator is installed is spherical.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. The following embodiments are illustrative, and the scope of the invention is not limited thereto. The following embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. The following embodiments and their modifications are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

[0009] In the following description, the left-right direction, front-rear direction, and up-down direction indicate the directions when the refrigerator is viewed from the front, and the left-right direction corresponds to the width direction of the refrigerator. Also, right, left, up, down, front, rear, back, depth, and front indicate the position and side when the refrigerator is viewed from the front, unless otherwise specified. For the refrigerator door, it indicates the position and side when the refrigerator is viewed from the front with the door closed.

[0010] (1) Configuration of Refrigerator 1 The overall configuration of the refrigerator 1 will be described. Fig. 1 shows the refrigerator 1 of the embodiment. The refrigerator 1 has a storage space formed inside a refrigerator body 2 that is a heat-insulating box body with an opening formed in the front surface. The refrigerator body 2 is composed of an outer box 3 formed by bending a metal plate and an inner box 4 made of synthetic resin, and is configured with a heat-insulating material 5 such as a foamed heat-insulating material or a vacuum heat-insulating panel provided between the outer box 3 and the inner box 4.

[0011] The refrigerator body 2 is configured with a plurality of storage compartments that are internally partitioned and have openings on the front surface. Specifically, the interior of the refrigerator body 2 is vertically partitioned by a heat insulation partition wall 6. The upper side of the heat insulation partition wall 6 is a refrigerating space, which is maintained at a refrigerating temperature suitable for refrigerated storage. The lower side of the heat insulation partition wall 6 is a freezing space, which is maintained at a freezing temperature suitable for frozen storage. A plurality of storage compartments for storing food are respectively provided in the refrigerating space and the freezing space. Each storage compartment has an opening in the front, and the user can take food in and out through the opening.

[0012] In the refrigerating space, a refrigerator compartment 10 and a vegetable compartment 11 as storage compartments are provided in order from the top. The inside of the refrigerator compartment 10 is maintained at, for example, 2 to 5°C within the range of the refrigerating temperature, and the inside of the vegetable compartment 11 is maintained at, for example, 4 to 7°C within the range of the refrigerating temperature. A plurality of placing shelves are provided in the refrigerator compartment 10. Below the bottom placing shelf is a chiller compartment that is maintained at a particularly low temperature even within the refrigerator compartment 10. Also, in the vegetable compartment 11, a two-stage pull-out type container is stored.

[0013] At the upper part of the freezing space, an ice-making compartment and an upper freezing compartment 13 as storage compartments are provided, and at the lower part of the freezing space, a lower freezing compartment 14 as a storage compartment is provided. The interiors of the ice-making compartment and the lower freezing compartment 14 are maintained at, for example, -20 to -18°C within the range of the freezing temperature. Also, the inside of the upper freezing compartment 13 is maintained at, for example, -18 to -16°C within the range of the freezing temperature. Pull-out type storage containers are respectively stored in the ice-making compartment, the upper freezing compartment 13, and the lower freezing compartment 14.

[0014] The front openings of the respective storage compartments 10, 11, 13, 14 partitioned and formed inside the refrigerator body 2 are closably blocked by doors 15, 16, 18, 19.

[0015] Specifically, the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 10 is closed by a pair of left and right rotatable refrigerator compartment doors 15 pivotally supported by hinges (not shown) provided on both the left and right sides of the refrigerator body 2. The front opening of the vegetable compartment 11 is closed by a drawer-type vegetable compartment door 16 disposed below the refrigerator compartment door 15. The front opening of the ice-making compartment is closed by a drawer-type ice-making compartment door disposed below the vegetable compartment door 16. The front opening of the upper freezer compartment 13 is closed by a drawer-type upper freezer compartment door 18 disposed below the vegetable compartment door 16. The front opening of the lower freezer compartment 14 is closed by a drawer-type lower freezer compartment door 19 disposed below the ice-making compartment door and the upper freezer compartment door 18.

[0016] On the inner side of the vegetable compartment door 16, the ice-making compartment door, the upper freezer compartment door 18, and the lower freezer compartment door 19, a pair of left and right support frames for holding the storage containers 11a, 13a, and 14a are respectively fixed, and the storage containers 11a, 13a, and 14a are configured to be pulled out of the cabinet together with the door opening operation.

[0017] (2) Fixed feet 20 As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of left and right fixed feet 20 are provided on the rear side of the lower surface 2a of the refrigerator body 2. The fixed feet 20 are composed of columnar wheels disposed between the refrigerator body 2 and the installation surface P, and support the rear part of the refrigerator body 2. The fixed feet 20 cannot adjust the height of the refrigerator body 2.

[0018] (3) Adjusting feet 30 The adjusting feet 30 are provided at the left and right ends of the front part of the lower surface 2a of the refrigerator body 2 respectively. The adjusting feet 30 are disposed between the refrigerator body 2 and the installation surface P and support the front part of the refrigerator body 2, so as to form a space with a certain interval between the refrigerator body 2 and the installation surface P such as the floor together with the fixed feet 20.

[0019] The adjusting feet 30 are provided so that the height can be adjusted by the user. Specifically, the adjusting feet 30 include a connecting portion 31 and a leg portion 32.

[0020] The connecting part 31 is made of, for example, a metal material. The connecting part 31 is fixed to the front part of the lower surface 2a of the refrigerator main body 2 by bolts. In the present embodiment, at the front side of the lower surface 2a of the refrigerator main body 2, both left and right end parts 2a2 are recessed upward from the central part 2a1 in the width direction, and the connecting part 31 is fixed to both the recessed left and right end parts 2a2.

[0021] With the connecting part 31 fixed to the lower surface 2a of the refrigerator main body 2, it extends forward from the front end of the refrigerator main body 2 with a length that does not exceed the front end of the lower freezer door 19. A screw hole 31a that penetrates the connecting part 31 in the thickness direction (vertical direction) is formed in front of the refrigerator main body 2 (see FIGS. 4 and 5).

[0022] The leg part 32 includes a first contact part 33 having a first contact surface 33a that contacts the installation surface P, a second contact part 34 having a second contact surface 34a that contacts the installation surface P, a holding part 36 provided with a recess 35 that opens downward, and a male screw part 37 that is screwed into the screw hole 31a provided in the connecting part 31.

[0023] The first contact part 33 is made of a resin molded body obtained by molding a synthetic resin such as POM (polyacetal resin) into a sphere. The lower part of the first contact part 33 is housed in the recess 35 of the holding part 36 so as to protrude downward from the holding part 36.

[0024] The holding part 36 is made of a resin molded body obtained by molding a synthetic resin such as POM (polyacetal resin) into a predetermined shape. Preferably, the holding part 36 is molded from the same synthetic resin as the synthetic resin constituting the first contact part 33.

[0025] The recess 35 provided in the holding portion 36 has an opening width at the lower end thereof smaller than the diameter of the first contact portion 33. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower end portion of the recess 35 has a shape that tapers downward with the inner diameter decreasing downward, or although not shown, the inner side surface of the lower end portion of the recess 35 has a shape that protrudes from a plurality of directions toward the center, and the opening width at the lower opening portion 35a of the recess 35 is smaller than the diameter of the first contact portion 33. Thereby, the holding portion 36 holds the first contact portion 33 so that the first contact portion 33 accommodated in the recess 35 does not fall out from the lower opening portion 35a.

[0026] A second contact portion 34 is provided outside the holding portion 36. The second contact portion 34 is composed of a ring-shaped member surrounding the outside of the holding portion 36, and includes a cylindrical main body portion 34b extending in the vertical direction along the peripheral surface of the holding portion 36, and a support portion 34c protruding in a flange shape radially outward from the lower end of the cylindrical main body portion 34b.

[0027] The second contact portion 34 is provided so as to be movable in the vertical direction along the outer peripheral surface of the holding portion 36. As shown in FIG. 4, a hole portion 34d into which a claw portion 36a protruding outward from the lower end portion of the outer peripheral surface of the holding portion 36 is fitted is provided in the upper portion of the cylindrical main body portion 34b. Further, a locking recess 34e recessed radially outward is provided at the lower end portion of the inner peripheral surface of the support portion 34c.

[0028] In such a second contact portion 34, when the cylindrical main body portion 34b is moved downward so that the second contact surface 34a provided below the support portion 34c is positioned below the first contact surface 33a of the first contact portion 33, the claw portion 36a protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the holding portion 36 is fitted into the hole portion 34d of the cylindrical main body portion 34b, and the vertical position is fixed. Thereby, the second contact surface 34a comes into contact with the installation surface P and the second contact portion 34 supports the front portion of the refrigerator body 2.

[0029] Also, when the claw portion 36a comes out of the hole portion 34d of the cylindrical main body portion 34b, the second contact portion 34 can be moved so that the second contact surface 34a is positioned above the first contact surface 33a of the first contact portion 33. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, when the second contact portion 34 is moved upward, the claw portion 36a of the holding portion 36 is caught by the locking recess 34e to hold the second contact portion 34.

[0030] As a result, the first contact surface 33a contacts the installation surface P and the first contact portion 33 supports the front portion of the refrigerator body 2. Since the first contact surface 33a is spherical, the refrigerator 1 can be easily moved not only in the front-rear direction but also in the left-right direction.

[0031] A male screw portion 37 protruding upward is provided on the upper surface of the holding portion 36. By rotating the holding portion 36 around the axis of the male screw portion 37, the height of the holding portion 36 with respect to the connecting portion 31 is adjusted, and the heights of the first contact portion 33 and the second contact portion 34 held by the holding portion 36 are adjusted.

[0032] (4) Effect In the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment as described above, since the first contact surface 33a having a spherical shape contacts the installation surface P and supports the front portion of the refrigerator body 2, the refrigerator 1 can be easily moved not only in the front-rear direction but also in the left-right direction. Also, the installation area between the first contact surface 33a and the installation surface P can be reduced, and damage to the installation surface P can be prevented.

[0033] In the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment, apart from the first contact portion 33 having the spherical first contact surface 33a, a second contact portion 34 that contacts the installation surface P is provided at a position below the first contact surface 33a. Therefore, by bringing the second contact surface 34a of the second contact portion 34 into contact with the installation surface P, the first contact surface 33a can be separated from the installation surface P, and undesired movement of the refrigerator 1 can be suppressed.

[0034] Furthermore, in the present embodiment, by rotating the holding portion 36 around the axis of the male screw portion 37, the vertical position of the second contact portion 34 with respect to the connecting portion 31 can be adjusted. Therefore, the height and inclination of the refrigerator 1 can be adjusted, and rattling can be suppressed.

[0035] In the present embodiment, since the first contact portion 33 is a sphere, it is easy to ensure the strength required to support the front portion of the refrigerator 1.

[0036] Also, in the present embodiment, since the concave portion 35 of the holding portion 36 has a shape that tapers downward such that the inner diameter becomes smaller toward the bottom, it is possible to prevent the first contact portion 33 accommodated in the concave portion 35 from accidentally falling out from the lower opening portion 35a.

[0037] (5) Modified Example In the above-described embodiment, the first contact portion 33 is a sphere. However, the first contact portion may have a shape in which the shape of the portion located on the opposite side of the installation surface P is different from a spherical surface, such as a shape in which the upper portion of the sphere is chipped.

[0038] For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the first contact portion 133 includes a spherical segment portion 133b in which the upper portion of the sphere is chipped, and a columnar portion 133c provided above the spherical segment portion 133b.

[0039] In the first contact portion 133, the columnar portion 133c is housed in the concave portion 35 of the holding portion 36, the spherical segment portion 133b faces downward with a first contact surface 133a forming a spherical surface, and protrudes downward from the lower end of the holding portion 36. A plurality of upwardly protruding ridges (ribs) 133d are provided in a lattice pattern on the upper side of the columnar portion 133c.

[0040] Even in this modified example, similar to the above-described embodiment, since the first contact surface 133a forming a spherical surface contacts the installation surface P to support the front portion of the refrigerator main body 2, the refrigerator 1 can be easily moved in the front-rear and left-right directions, and damage to the installation surface P can be prevented.

[0041] Also, by forming the first contact portion 133 into the above-described shape including the spherical recessed portion 133b and the columnar portion 133c, the height of the first contact portion 133 can be suppressed.

[0042] Further, by providing a plurality of ridges 133d on the upper side of the columnar portion 133c, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of dents on the first contact surface 133a due to sink marks (shrinkage of synthetic resin) that occur after the formation of the first contact portion 133 while ensuring the strength of the first contact portion 133.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0043] 1... Refrigerator, 2... Refrigerator main body, 3... Outer box, 4... Inner box, 5... Heat insulating material, 6... Heat insulating partition wall, 20... Fixed leg, 30... Adjusting leg, 31... Connecting portion, 31a... Screw hole, 32... Leg portion, 33... First contact portion, 33a... First contact surface, 34... Second contact portion, 34a... Second contact surface, 34b... Cylindrical main body portion, 34c... Support portion, 35... Recessed portion, 36... Holding portion, 36a... Claw portion, 37... Male screw portion

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising a refrigerator main body and legs that support the front side of the lower surface of the refrigerator main body, wherein the legs include a first contact portion having a contact surface that contacts the installation surface on which the refrigerator is installed and is spherical, a refrigerator.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the legs are provided so as to be vertically movable with respect to the first contact portion and include a second contact portion that contacts the installation surface below the first contact portion.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first contact portion is a sphere.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the portion of the first contact portion located on the side opposite to the installation surface is different from the spherical shape.

5. The legs include a holding portion in which a recess that opens downward is formed and the first contact portion is housed in the recess, and the refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the opening width at the lower end of the recess is smaller than the diameter of the first contact portion.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of ridges are provided on the upper side of the contact surface of the first contact portion.

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