Refrigerator

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator capable of minimizing a separation distance from a wall by preventing interference with the wall on which the refrigerator is installed when a door is rotated.SOLUTION: According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator including a cabinet forming a storage space, a door configured to open and close the storage space and including a hinge mounting portion formed by recessing an upper surface of the door, a hinge plate mounted on the cabinet, and a hinge protruding from the hinge plate toward the door, the laundry treatment apparatus may further include a hinge device including a hinge pin connected to the hinge mounting part, a hinge cover disposed over the upper surface of the cabinet and the hinge mounting part to cover the hinge device, and a guide member provided in the hinge mounting part and having a guide groove into which the hinge pin is inserted to guide movement of the hinge pin when the door is rotated, wherein the hinge mounting part may have a guide hole disposed in front of the guide member to guide a water supply pipe extending from the cabinet into the door.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, a refrigerator is a home appliance that stores food and beverages at low temperatures in an internal storage space enclosed by a door. The refrigerator is configured to cool the inside of the storage space using cold air generated by heat exchange with a refrigerant circulating in a refrigeration cycle, thereby maintaining the stored food and beverages in an optimal state.

[0003] Recently, refrigerators have become larger and more multifunctional due to changes in eating habits and the trend toward more sophisticated products, and refrigerators with various structures have been released to meet the needs of users.

[0004] Recently, refrigerators have been embedded in walls or designed to blend in with other furniture or home appliances. In this case, refrigerators require a certain distance to prevent the corners of the revolving door from interfering with adjacent walls, furniture, or home appliances. However, this distance not only creates unnecessary space for the refrigerator placement, but also leads to unsightly appearance.

[0005] To solve these problems, refrigerators equipped with multi-link hinges have been developed. However, multi-link refrigerators have problems such as a complicated structure and high cost. Furthermore, due to the characteristics of the multi-link operating structure, there are safety issues such as the risk of a user's body being caught between the links, and problems with the door rotation operability. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that can minimize the distance between the door and the wall by preventing interference with the wall on which the refrigerator is installed when the door rotates.

[0007] An embodiment of the present invention aims to provide a refrigerator in which two hinge pins are configured to move along guide grooves formed on the top surface of the door, thereby improving the operating feel when the door is opened or closed.

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that can prevent the water supply pipe from being exposed to the outside even when the door is rotating by using a hinge cover that covers a hinge device from above and also covers a guide hole through which a water supply pipe that supplies water to the door passes.

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator having a slim door structure by minimizing the distance between the front surface of the door and a hinge cover that covers both the hinge device and the guide hole.

[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that can easily be manufactured, in which a hinge cover covers a guide hole formed on an upper surface of a door through which a water supply pipe passes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] According to one embodiment of the present invention, a refrigerator includes: a cabinet that defines a storage space; a door configured to open and close the storage space and including a hinge mounting portion having a recessed upper surface; a hinge device including a hinge plate mounted to the cabinet and a hinge pin that protrudes from the hinge plate toward the door and is connected to the hinge mounting portion; a hinge cover disposed across the upper surface of the cabinet and the hinge mounting portion and covering the hinge device; and a guide member provided in the hinge mounting portion, configured to receive the hinge pin and having a guide groove that guides movement of the hinge pin when the door rotates, the hinge mounting portion having a guide hole disposed in front of the guide member and guiding a water supply pipe extending from the cabinet to inside the door.

[0012] During the process of rotating the door, the hinge cover can maintain a state of covering the guide hole.

[0013] The hinge pin includes a first pin and a second pin spaced apart from each other, and the guide groove is configured to allow both the first pin and the second pin to be inserted therein, thereby guiding the movement of the first pin and the second pin when the door rotates.

[0014] The door further includes an upper cap deco that forms an upper surface of the door and defines the hinge mounting portion, and a front end of the hinge cover is disposed between the guide hole and a front surface of the upper cap deco.

[0015] During the rotation of the door, the front end of the hinge cover may be maintained in a state where it is disposed between the guide hole and the front surface of the upper cap decoration.

[0016] The door further includes a front panel that forms the front surface of the door, and the front panel can cover the front surface of the upper cap decoration from the front.

[0017] The door includes an upper cap deco that forms the upper surface of the door and forms the hinge mounting portion, and a cap deco cover that is attached to the front of the upper cap deco, the upper cap deco forming an open frame opening and including a cap deco frame that is positioned in front of the hinge mounting portion, and the cap deco cover can cover the frame opening.

[0018] The front end of the hinge cover may be positioned within the frame opening.

[0019] The front end of the hinge cover is disposed between the guide hole and the cap deco cover.

[0020] The upper cap deco may include a cover mounting hole disposed on a front surface thereof, and the cap deco cover may include a cover mounting portion mounted in the cover mounting hole.

[0021] The door further includes a front panel that forms the front surface of the door, and the front panel can cover the cap deco cover from the front.

[0022] The hinge cover includes a cover body portion disposed on an upper portion of the cabinet and a cover protrusion portion extending forward from the cover body portion and disposed on the hinge mounting portion, and the cover protrusion portion can maintain a state of covering the guide hole during the door rotation process.

[0023] The door may further include a front panel constituting a front surface, and a front end of the cover protrusion may be maintained in a state of being disposed between the guide hole and the front panel during a process of rotating the door.

[0024] The guide member has a shape in which both ends are bent forward, and the guide member is disposed so as to surround the guide hole.

[0025] The water dispenser may further include a dispenser provided inside the door and configured to be connected to the water supply pipe to dispense water, and the water supply pipe may be guided through the hinge cover and the guide hole to extend to the dispenser. [Effects of the Invention]

[0026] The refrigerator according to the embodiment has the following advantages.

[0027] According to the refrigerator according to the embodiment, it is possible to prevent interference with the wall on which the refrigerator is installed when the door rotates, thereby minimizing the distance between the door and the wall.

[0028] According to an embodiment of the refrigerator, two hinge pins are configured to move along guide grooves formed on the upper surface of the door, improving the operational feel when the door is opened or closed.

[0029] According to one embodiment of the refrigerator, the hinge cover covers the hinge device from above and the guide hole through which the water supply pipe that supplies water to the door passes, thereby preventing the water supply pipe from being exposed to the outside even when the door is rotating.

[0030] According to the refrigerator of the embodiment, the door can be slimmed down by minimizing the distance between the hinge cover that covers the hinge device and the guide hole and the front surface of the door.

[0031] According to one embodiment of the refrigerator, a structure including an upper cap deco and a cap deco cover coupled to the front of the upper cap deco makes it easy to manufacture a structure in which a hinge cover covers a guide hole formed on the top surface of a door through which a water supply pipe passes. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0032] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of an installed refrigerator according to an embodiment. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the refrigerator according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a door of a refrigerator according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an upper cap deco according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a hinge cover, a hinge, and an upper cap deco of a refrigerator according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the hinge device and the guide member. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the hinge cover and the upper cap deco. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the front panel that forms the front face of the door. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a bottom perspective view of a hinge mounting portion of an upper cap deco according to one embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of an upper cap deco and a cap deco cover according to one embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the door opening process. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the door opening process. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the door opening process. [Figure 16] FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing the door opening process. [Figure 17] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an upper cap deco according to another embodiment. [Figure 18] FIG. 18 is a front view of a refrigerator according to another embodiment. [Figure 19] FIG. 19 is a front view showing a state in which the door of a refrigerator according to another embodiment is open. [Figure 20]FIG. 20 is an enlarged perspective view of a door hinge portion of a refrigerator according to another embodiment. [Figure 21] FIG. 21 is an enlarged perspective view of a door hinge portion in a refrigerator according to another embodiment when the sub-door is open. [Figure 22] FIG. 22 is an exploded perspective view of an upper cap decoration and a sub door in a refrigerator according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0033] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented, and other inventions that are degenerate or fall within the scope of the present invention can be easily proposed by adding, changing, or deleting further elements.

[0034] Before proceeding with the description, directions will be defined. In the embodiment of the present invention, the direction in which the front of the door shown in Figures 1 and 2 faces can be defined as "forward," the direction facing the cabinet based on the front of the door can be defined as "rear," the direction facing the floor on which the refrigerator is installed can be defined as "downward," and the direction away from the floor can be defined as "upward." When describing directions that are not defined, the directions can be defined and described based on each drawing.

[0035] In the embodiments of the present invention, a refrigerator having a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment arranged vertically and each having a door is described as an example. However, it should be clearly stated that the present invention is not limited to the structure and shape of the refrigerator and can be applied to all types of refrigerators having a rotating door.

[0036] Fig. 1 is a front view of an installed refrigerator according to an embodiment, Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the refrigerator according to an embodiment, and Fig. 3 is a schematic view showing the internal structure of the door of the refrigerator according to an embodiment.

[0037] 1 to 3, the overall appearance of a refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment is formed by a cabinet 10 that forms a storage space and a door 20 that opens and closes the storage space.

[0038] The refrigerator 1 is installed to blend in with the furniture or wall 0 of the room. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 is installed in a room such as a kitchen and is adjacent to the furniture or wall 0 to blend in. That is, a space corresponding to the size of the refrigerator 1 is provided in the furniture or wall 0, and the refrigerator 1 is housed in the space or installed as a built-in type. Of course, the refrigerator 1 may be arranged in series with other refrigerators or other home appliances besides the furniture or wall 0.

[0039] In this arrangement of the refrigerator 1, the front of the door 20, which forms the front of the refrigerator 1, is arranged very close to the furniture or wall 0. Therefore, the front of the door 20 and the furniture or wall 0 are arranged on the same or adjacent plane, creating a sense of unity.

[0040] The cabinet 10 may form a storage space. For example, the storage space of the cabinet 10 may be divided into an upper storage space and a lower storage space.

[0041] The door 20 is configured to open and close the storage space of the cabinet 10. The door 20 may include an upper door 21 for opening and closing the upper storage space and a lower door 22 for opening and closing the lower storage space. For example, the upper storage space may be a refrigerator compartment, and the lower storage space may be a freezer compartment. Therefore, the upper door 21 may be referred to as a refrigerator compartment door, and the lower door 22 may be referred to as a freezer compartment door.

[0042] The upper door 21 may be rotatably connected to the cabinet 10 by a hinge device 50. As an example, a pair of upper doors 21 may be rotatably connected to the cabinet 10 by hinge devices 50 provided at the upper and lower ends.

[0043] Taking the hinge device 50 provided at the upper end of the upper door 21 as an example, the hinge device 50 may be attached to the top surface of the cabinet 10 and rotatably coupled to the upper door 21 .

[0044] A hinge cover 11 is disposed on the top of the cabinet 10 to cover the hinge device 50 from above. The hinge cover 11 is attached to the top of the cabinet 10 and may have a shape that partially protrudes toward the upper door 21 to cover the hinge device 50. The hinge cover 11 may have a shape that opens downward. Therefore, the structure disposed below the hinge cover 11 is not interfered with by the hinge cover 11. The hinge device 50 is covered by the hinge cover 11 and is not exposed to the outside.

[0045] As an example, the hinge cover 11 may include a cover body part 111 disposed on the cabinet 10 and a cover protrusion part 112 protruding forward from the cover body part 111. The cover body part 111 may cover the top surface of the cabinet 10, and the cover protrusion part 112 may cover the top surface of the upper door 21. The part of the hinge device 50 mounted on the cabinet 10 is covered by the cover body part 111, and the part protruding toward the upper door 21 is covered by the cover protrusion part 112.

[0046] The upper door 21 may include a door frame 210 that defines the outer shape, an upper cap deco 31 that defines the upper surface, and a lower cap deco 32 that defines the lower surface. For example, the upper cap deco 31 and the lower cap deco 32 may be injection molded from a plastic material.

[0047] The door frame 210 may form the outer shape of the upper door 21. For example, the door frame 210 may have a frame shape with a rectangular opening. Although not shown, other components constituting the upper door 21 may be coupled to the door frame 210. For example, a front panel ("211" in FIG. 8) constituting the front surface of the upper door 21 and a door liner constituting the rear surface are coupled to the door frame 210.

[0048] An upper cap deco 31 is disposed on the upper part of the door frame 210. For example, the upper cap deco 31 may be coupled to the upper end of the door frame 210. A hinge device 50 for rotating the upper door 21 is rotatably mounted on the upper cap deco 31.

[0049] The upper cap deco 31 may include a hinge mounting space 31a in which the hinge device 50 is mounted. The hinge mounting space 31a may be formed by partially recessing the upper surface of the upper cap deco 31 downward. That is, the hinge mounting space 31a may be formed by partially recessing the rear surface of the upper cap deco 31 forward.

[0050] The upper door 21 may further include a cap decoration cover 33 attached to the front of the upper cap decoration 31. The cap decoration cover 33 is disposed in front of the hinge installation space 31a.

[0051] The upper cap deco 31 and the cap deco cover 33 will be described in detail later.

[0052] The upper door 21 is provided with a dispenser 23 for dispensing water. The dispenser 23 may be formed on either one of the pair of upper doors 21. The dispenser 23 may be provided on the front surface of the upper door 21.

[0053] Dispenser 23 may include dispenser case 231 including recessed space 23a, outlet 232 disposed in recessed space 23a and configured to dispense water, and outlet lever 233 connected to outlet 232 and operable to dispense water. That is, a user can dispense water from outlet 232 by operating outlet lever 233.

[0054] Although not shown, an ice making module for making ice may be provided on top of the dispenser 23. The dispenser 23 may further include an ice chute 234 that receives ice made in the ice making module. For example, ice provided to the dispenser 23 through the ice chute 234 is discharged through the outlet 232.

[0055] According to an embodiment, the upper door 21 may further include a guide portion 40 coupled to the upper cap deco 31. The guide portion 40 may provide a path for a water supply pipe 41 or an electric wire extending inside the upper door 21. The water supply pipe 41 or the electric wire extending inside the upper door 21 is protected by the guide portion 40 during the foaming process of the insulation material disposed inside the upper door 21.

[0056] As will be described later, the water supply pipe 41 guided by the guide unit 40 is connected to the outlet unit 232 of the dispenser 23. Thus, water is supplied through the water supply pipe 41 to the dispenser 23. In addition, the water supply pipe 41 is connected to the ice making module so as to supply water necessary for making ice.

[0057] The lower door 22 may be connected to the cabinet 10 so that it can be pulled out or retracted. That is, the lower door 22 may be a door that opens and closes in a drawer-like manner with respect to the cabinet 10. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the lower door 22 may be rotatably connected to the cabinet 10 by a hinge device 50, similar to the upper door 21.

[0058] Hereinafter, the structure of the upper cap deco 31 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0059] 4 is a perspective view of an upper cap deco according to one embodiment, and FIG 5 is a perspective view of a cross section taken along line 5-5 of FIG 4.

[0060] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the upper cap deco 31 according to an embodiment may include a deco body 311 and a hinge mounting portion 312 disposed on one side of the deco body 311.

[0061] The deco body 311 may include a receiving portion 311a recessed downward. The receiving portion 311a may have an open shape upward. The receiving portion 311a receives a PCB that controls various modules provided in the upper door 21. For example, the receiving portion 311a receives a dispenser PCB that controls the operation of the dispenser 23. Although not shown, the receiving portion 311a of the upper cap deco 31 is covered by a deco upper cover.

[0062] The hinge mounting part 312 may be located on one side of the deco body 311. A rotation axis around which the upper door 21 rotates is disposed in the hinge mounting part 312. The hinge mounting part 312 may include a recessed hinge mounting space 31a. For example, the upper surface of the hinge mounting part 312 may be recessed downward to form the hinge mounting space 31a. That is, the rear surface of the hinge mounting part 312 may be recessed forward to form the hinge mounting space 31a.

[0063] A hinge guide member 34 is attached to the hinge mounting portion 312. For example, the hinge guide member 34 may be inserted into the bottom surface of the hinge mounting portion 312. The hinge device 50 is rotatably connected to the hinge guide member 34 to guide the rotation of the upper door 21.

[0064] A guide hole 312h is formed in the hinge mounting part 312. The guide hole 312h is connected to the inside of the upper door 21. A structure extending inside the upper door 21 is disposed to pass through the guide hole 312h. For example, a water supply pipe 41 or an electric wire extending inside the upper door 21 is disposed to pass through the guide hole 312h. The guide hole 312h is connected to a guide connecting part 314, which will be described later. Therefore, the water supply pipe 41 extending inside the upper door 21 extends toward the guide connecting part 314 through the guide hole 312h and is guided to the guide part 40. The guide hole 312h is covered from above by the hinge cover 11.

[0065] The upper cap deco 31 may further include a cap deco frame 313 disposed in front of the hinge mounting portion 312 and a guide connecting portion 314 disposed at a lower end of the hinge mounting portion 312 .

[0066] A cap deco frame 313 is disposed in front of the hinge mounting portion 312. The cap deco frame 313 can form a part of the front surface of the upper cap deco 31. The cap deco frame 313 can include a frame opening 313h that opens to the front and rear. A cap deco cover 33 that covers the frame opening 313h is attached to the cap deco frame 313.

[0067] In another embodiment, the cap deco frame 313 may be omitted depending on the circumstances. For example, if the cap deco cover 33 is omitted, the cap deco frame 313 may be omitted. In this case, the hinge mounting space 31a is shielded by a structure coupled to the front surface of the upper cap deco 31.

[0068] The guide connecting part 314 is disposed below the hinge mounting part 312. As described above, the guide connecting part 314 is connected to the guide hole 312h formed in the hinge mounting part 312. The guide connecting part 314 may have a shape that protrudes downward from the lower surface of the hinge mounting part 312. The guide connecting part 314 is connected to the guide part 40. Therefore, the water supply pipe 41 extending toward the guide connecting part 314 through the guide hole 312h is guided to the guide part 40.

[0069] The mounting structure of the hinge device 50 will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0070] Fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a hinge cover, a hinge, and an upper cap deco of a refrigerator according to an embodiment. Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a hinge device and a guide member. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional perspective view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

[0071] 6 to 8, the hinge device 50 can connect the cabinet 10 and the upper part of the upper door 21. The hinge device 50 can include a hinge plate 51 and a hinge pin 52.

[0072] The hinge plate 51 may be made of a plate-shaped metal material and may protrude forward from the upper surface of the cabinet 10. The hinge plate 51 may extend to the hinge mounting portion 312 of the upper door 21. For example, the hinge plate 51 may include a hinge fixing portion 511 fixed to the cabinet 10 and a hinge extension portion 512 extending forward from the hinge fixing portion 511 and to which the hinge pin 52 is attached.

[0073] The hinge extension 512 can extend to the guide groove 340 inside the hinge mounting portion 312. The hinge pin 52 is mounted to the hinge extension 512.

[0074] The hinge pin 52 can extend downward from the hinge extension 512. As an example, the hinge pin 52 can be press-fit through the hinge extension 512 to couple it.

[0075] The hinge pins 52 may be configured as a pair. The pair of hinge pins 52 are formed to have the same shape and a size that allows them to be inserted into the guide groove 340 formed in the hinge mounting part 312. For example, each hinge pin 52 may have a circular cross section and a diameter corresponding to the inner width of the guide groove 340. Therefore, when inserted into the guide groove 340, the pair of hinge pins 52 can move while contacting the inner surface of the guide groove 340.

[0076] The pair of hinge pins 52 are spaced apart from each other. Each of the pair of hinge pins 52 may be spaced apart from the front and side surfaces of the upper door 21 by different distances. For example, the hinge pin 52 may include a first pin 521 and a second pin 522. The first pin 521 may be located closer to the front surface of the upper door 21 than the second pin 522. The first pin 521 may be located farther from one side surface of the upper door 21 than the second pin 522. The first pin 521 and the second pin 522 may be spaced apart from each other by a set distance.

[0077] The pair of hinge pins 52 may be spaced apart from each other in the front-rear and left-right directions when viewed from the front. An extension line passing through the centers of the first pin 521 and the second pin 522 may extend in an inclined direction based on the front surface of the upper door 21.

[0078] When the upper door 21 is opened, it moves in the direction of the extension line of the hinge pin 52. Therefore, the first pin 521 and the second pin 522 are spaced apart from each other so as to have an inclination corresponding to the angle of the moving direction of the upper door 21 when the door 20 starts to open.

[0079] Meanwhile, the hinge device 50 is covered by a hinge cover 11 disposed on the upper side. The hinge cover 11 is provided to prevent the hinge device 50 from being exposed. For example, the hinge fixing portion 511 is covered by the cover body portion 111, and the hinge extension portion 512 is covered by the cover protrusion portion 112. For example, the hinge fixing portion 511 may be located at a lower portion of the cover body portion 111, and the hinge extension portion 512 may be located at a lower portion of the cover protrusion portion 112.

[0080] The cover protrusion 112 may have a shape corresponding to the hinge device 50. As an example, the cover protrusion 112 may have a shape corresponding to the hinge extension 512. The cover protrusion 112 may extend forward from the cover body portion 111 and have an outwardly bent shape in which the hinge pin 52 is disposed.

[0081] The cover protrusion 112 may include a cover upper surface portion 112a constituting the top surface, a cover front surface portion 112b constituting the front surface, a first cover side surface portion 112c constituting one side surface, and a second cover side surface portion 112d constituting the other side surface. The cover front surface portion 112b, the first cover side surface portion 112c, and the second cover side surface portion 112d may constitute the side surfaces of the cover protrusion 112.

[0082] The cover upper surface portion 112a may constitute the upper surface of the cover protrusion portion 112. The cover upper surface portion 112a is connected to the upper surface of the cover body portion 111. For example, the cover upper surface portion 112a is disposed flush with the upper surface of the cover body portion 111.

[0083] The cover upper surface part 112a may have a planar shape corresponding to the hinge extension part 512. The cover upper surface part 112a may cover the upper part of the hinge extension part 512. The cover upper surface part 112a may cover the upper part of the guide hole 312h formed in the hinge mounting part 312.

[0084] The cover front surface portion 112b may constitute the front surface of the cover protrusion portion 112. The cover front surface portion 112b may extend downward from the front end of the cover upper surface portion 112a. For example, the cover front surface portion 112b is disposed opposite the cap decoration cover 33. The cover front surface portion 112b is also disposed opposite the front panel 211 that constitutes the front surface of the upper door 21. The front end of the cover front surface portion 112b is disposed between the guide hole 312h and the front panel 211.

[0085] The first cover side surface portion 112c may form one side surface of the cover protrusion portion 112. The first cover side surface portion 112c may form one side surface of the cover protrusion portion 112 facing the deco body 311. The first cover side surface portion 112c may extend downward from one side end of the cover upper surface portion 112a. For example, the first cover side surface portion 112c is disposed facing the deco body 311.

[0086] The second cover side portion 112d may constitute the other side portion disposed outward from the cover protrusion portion 112. The second cover side portion 112d is disposed opposite the first cover side portion 112c. The second cover side portion 112d may constitute the opposite side of the first cover side portion 112d. The second cover side portion 112d may extend downward from the other side end of the cover upper surface portion 112a. The second cover side portion 112d may be exposed to the outside, but is not limited to this, and may be covered by the upper door 21 and not be exposed. The second cover side portion 112d is connected to the first cover side portion 112c by the cover front surface portion 112b.

[0087] A hinge guide member 34 having a guide groove 340 is attached to the upper door 21. For example, the hinge guide member 34 is provided in the hinge mounting portion 312. The hinge guide member 34 may include the guide groove 340 that guides the movement of the hinge pin 52.

[0088] The hinge guide member 34 may be made of an engineering plastic material having wear resistance and lubricity. For example, the hinge guide member 34 may be made of a POM (Polyoxymethylene) material. Therefore, the hinge guide member 34 can minimize damage to the hinge pin 52 even when the hinge pin 52 moves repeatedly, ensuring smooth movement of the hinge pin 52. The guide member 34 may have a shape in which both ends are bent forward. For example, the guide member 34 may have a shape in which the center portion is recessed rearward and both ends protrude forward. The guide hole 312h is surrounded by the guide member 34. The guide hole 312h is disposed between the both ends of the guide member 34.

[0089] The hinge guide member 34 has a guide groove 340 that opens upward. The guide groove 340 may be referred to as a guide slot. The guide groove 340 may have a recessed groove shape or an open hole shape. The guide groove 340 may be configured as a single groove in which multiple paths having different extension directions are continuously connected.

[0090] The guide groove 340 may be formed in a bent shape corresponding to the shape of the guide member 34. For example, the guide groove 340 may have a shape in which a central portion is recessed rearward when viewed from the front and both end portions protrude forward. In this case, the protruding distances of both end portions protruding forward from the central portion may be different.

[0091] A guide hole 312h is disposed between the two ends of the guide groove 340. The guide hole 312h is disposed in front of the guide groove 340. The guide hole 312h is disposed to be surrounded by the guide groove 340. As a result, the guide hole 312h is disposed adjacent to the rotation axis of the upper door 21. Due to this structure, even when the upper door 21 is opened, the positional change of the guide hole 312h is minimized. Therefore, the movement of the water supply pipe 41 disposed in communication with the guide hole 312h is minimized, and damage to the water supply pipe 41 can be minimized.

[0092] The hinge guide member 34 may include a pair of side portions 341 spaced apart from each other to form the guide groove 340, and a first connecting portion 342 and a second connecting portion 343 connecting both ends of the side portion 341. The hinge guide member 34 may further include a bottom portion 345 connecting the side portion 341, the first connecting portion 342, and the second connecting portion 343 to form a lower surface.

[0093] The pair of side portions 341 may have a shape corresponding to the extension shape of the guide groove 340 and may be spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the diameter of the hinge pin 52. The pair of side portions 341 may be spaced apart in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the guide groove 340.

[0094] The first connecting portion 342 and the second connecting portion 343 may be formed in a rounded shape with a curvature corresponding to the hinge pin 52. As an example, the first connecting portion 342 may be formed in a rounded shape with a curvature corresponding to the side surface of the first pin 521, and the second connecting portion 343 may be formed in a rounded shape with a curvature corresponding to the side surface of the second pin 522.

[0095] A protrusion 346 is formed on the inner surface of the guide groove 340, which is configured to come into contact with the first pin 521 when the door 20 rotates. The protrusion 346 is formed on the inner surface of the side surface portion 341.

[0096] Meanwhile, the hinge guide member 34 may further include a reinforcing portion 344 for reinforcing the hinge guide member 34. The reinforcing portion 344 forms the upper end of the hinge guide member 34 and may be exposed to the outside when the hinge guide member 34 is attached to the door 20.

[0097] Hereinafter, the positional relationship between the hinge cover and the upper cap deco will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0098] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the hinge cover and the upper cap deco. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the front panel that forms the front of the door. Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the cover protrusion 112 of the hinge cover 11 can cover the hinge pin 52 to prevent it from being exposed. Therefore, by covering the hinge pin 52, the cover protrusion 112 can cover a portion of the guide groove 340 in which the hinge pin 52 is disposed. Meanwhile, as the upper door 21 rotates, the position of the hinge pin 52 changes along the guide groove 340. As a result, the position of the area in the guide groove 340 covered by the cover protrusion 112 also changes.

[0099] In addition, the cover protrusion 112 may cover the guide hole 312h through which the water supply pipe 41 is connected. The cover protrusion 112 may minimize exposure of the water supply pipe 41. For example, the cover protrusion 112 may cover the entire guide hole 312h.

[0100] As the upper door 21 rotates, the position of the guide hole 312h changes partially. However, as described above, the guide hole 312h is surrounded by the guide groove 340, minimizing the change in position caused by the rotation of the upper door 21. The cover protrusion 112 can cover the entire guide hole 312h even when the upper door 21 is rotating. Therefore, the cover protrusion 112 can stably cover the guide hole 312h when the upper door 21 is rotating, preventing the water supply pipe 41 from being exposed.

[0101] To this end, the front end of the cover front portion 112b of the cover protrusion 112 may be located forward of the guide hole 312h. The rear end of the cover front portion 112b may be located above the guide hole 312h. For example, the front end of the cover front portion 112b may be located below the upper end of the cap decorative frame 313. The front end of the cover front portion 112b is positioned to overlap the cap decorative frame 313 in the vertical direction. The front end of the cover front portion 112b may be located inside the frame opening 313h. In other words, the cover protrusion 112 is positioned to be as close as possible to the cap decorative cover 33. With this structure, the thickness of the upper door 21 can be minimized when the hinge cover 11 covers the guide hole 312h.

[0102] Meanwhile, the upper cap deco 31 can be manufactured by an injection process using a mold. Due to the characteristics of the mold injection process, there are structural limitations to mold manufacturing when the upper cap deco 31 and the cap deco cover 33 are integrated. Therefore, in order to achieve a structure that can stably cover the guide hole 312h using the cover protrusion 112, the cap deco cover 33 is attached to the upper cap deco 31 to shield the front. That is, this structure ensures a space for the frame opening 313h where the front end of the cover front portion 112b is located so that the guide hole 312h can be stably covered during the rotation of the upper door 21.

[0103] The distance from the cap decorative cover 33 to the hinge cover 11 may be smaller than the distance from the cap decorative cover 33 to the guide hole 312h. That is, the hinge cover 11 is positioned closer to the cap decorative cover 33 than the guide hole 312h. As an example, when the upper door 21 is closed, the cover front surface portion 112b is positioned closer to the cap decorative cover 33 than the guide hole 312h. As will be described later, when the upper door 21 is open, the second cover side surface portion 112d is positioned closer to the cap decorative cover 33 than the guide hole 312h. With this structure, the cover protrusion 112 can stably cover the guide hole 312h even when the upper door 21 is rotating, preventing the water supply pipe 41 from being exposed to the outside.

[0104] The front panel 211 according to an embodiment may include a panel front portion 2111 constituting the front surface of the upper door 21, and a panel side portion 2112 bent backward from one side end of the panel front portion 2111.

[0105] The panel front surface portion 2111 can form the front surface of the upper door 21. The panel front surface portion 2111 is disposed opposite the hinge cover 11 in the front-rear direction. The panel front surface portion 2111 is disposed opposite the upper cap deco 31 in the front-rear direction. The panel front surface portion 2111 is disposed opposite the cap deco cover 33 in the front-rear direction.

[0106] The upper end of the panel front part 2111 is bent backward to form a front bent part 2113. The front bent part 2113 is formed for mounting the upper end of the front panel 211. For example, the front bent part 2113 is mounted to a cap decoration frame 313. The front bent part 2113 is partially inserted into the cap decoration frame 313.

[0107] The front bent portion 2113 is positioned so as to overlap the cover front portion 112b in the vertical direction. The end of the front bent portion 2113 is positioned rearward of the front end of the cover front portion 112b. The front bent portion 2113 can be positioned above the frame opening 313h. The end of the front bent portion 2113 can be positioned rearward of the rear surface of the cap deco cover 33. The end of the front bent portion 2113 can be positioned rearward of the front end of the upper cap deco 31.

[0108] The panel side portion 2112 may constitute a side surface of the upper door 21. A panel cutout portion 2112a is formed at the upper end of the panel side portion 2112. The panel cutout portion 2112a may expose the hinge mounting portion 31a of the upper cap deco 31.

[0109] The rear end of the panel side portion 2112 is bent inward to form a side bent portion 2114. The side bent portion 2114 is formed for attaching the side end of the front panel 211. For example, the side bent portion 2114 is attached to the door frame 210.

[0110] Meanwhile, the hinge guide member 34 may further include a hook-shaped guide fastening portion 347 disposed below the bottom portion 345. The upper cap deco 31 may further include a guide member mounting portion 315 recessed into the hinge mounting portion 312. The guide member mounting portion 315 may be recessed into a shape corresponding to the hinge guide member 34. The guide member mounting portion 315 is disposed behind the guide connection portion 314. For example, the guide fastening portion 347 of the hinge guide member 34 is fastened to and fixed to the guide member mounting portion 315.

[0111] Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the lower part of the hinge mounting portion of the upper cap deco according to one embodiment, and Fig. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the upper cap deco and cap deco cover according to one embodiment.

[0112] 11 and 12, the cap decoration cover 33 may include a cover portion 331 that covers the frame opening 313h and a cover mounting portion 332 formed on one surface of the cover portion 331. For example, the cover mounting portion 332 may be formed in a hook shape. A plurality of cover mounting portions 332 may be provided.

[0113] The upper cap deco 31 may include cover mounting holes 31h disposed on the front surface. Hook-shaped cover mounting portions 332 are mounted and fixed in the cover mounting holes 31h. The cover mounting holes 31h are formed at positions corresponding to the cover mounting portions 332. For example, the number of cover mounting holes 31h may be equal to the number of the cover mounting portions 332.

[0114] With the above structure, the cap deco cover 33 is firmly fixed to the cap deco frame 313 of the upper cap deco 31.

[0115] Hereinafter, the positional relationship between the components according to the opening process of the upper door 21 will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0116] 13 to 16 are schematic diagrams showing the door opening process.

[0117] 13, when the upper door 21 is closed, the cover protrusion 112 can cover the hinge pin 52. By covering the hinge pin 52, the cover protrusion 112 can cover the portion of the guide member 34 where the hinge pin 52 is located. The cover protrusion 112 is disposed opposite the cap decorative cover 33. The cover protrusion 112 is disposed closer to the cap decorative cover 33 than the guide hole 312h. The cover protrusion 112 can cover the guide hole 312h. Therefore, the cover protrusion 112 can cover the water supply pipe 41 that communicates with the interior of the upper door 21 through the guide hole 312h, preventing it from being exposed.

[0118] Referring to FIG. 14 , the upper door 21 begins to open as the hinge pin 52 begins to move along the guide groove 340 of the guide member 34. Because the cover protrusion 112 and the hinge device 50 are attached to the cabinet 10, their positions do not change even when the upper door 21 is opened. The cover protrusion 112 can cover the hinge pin 52. By covering the hinge pin 52, the cover protrusion 112 can cover the portion of the guide member 34 where the hinge pin 52 is located. The cover protrusion 112 is positioned closer to the cap decorative cover 33 than the guide hole 312h. The cover front surface 112b of the cover protrusion 112 is positioned between the guide hole 312h and the cap decorative cover 33. The front end of the cover front surface 112b is positioned between the guide hole 312h and the front panel 211. The cover protrusion 112 covers the guide hole 312h, and can prevent the water supply pipe 41, which is connected to the inside of the upper door 21 through the guide hole 312h, from being exposed.

[0119] 15 and 16, the upper door 21 can be opened to an angle of 90° or more as the hinge pin 52 moves along the guide groove 340 of the guide member 34. The cover protrusion 112 can cover the hinge pin 52. By covering the hinge pin 52, the cover protrusion 112 can cover the portion of the guide member 34 where the hinge pin 52 is disposed. The cover protrusion 112 is disposed closer to the cap decorative cover 33 than the guide hole 312h. The second cover side portion 112d of the cover protrusion 112 is disposed between the guide hole 312h and the cap decorative cover 33. The front end of the cover front portion 112b is disposed between the guide hole 312h and the front panel 211. The cover protrusion 112 covers the guide hole 312h to prevent the water supply pipe 41, which communicates with the interior of the upper door 21 through the guide hole 312h, from being exposed.

[0120] That is, the hinge cover 11 included in the refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment may include a cover protrusion 112 extending toward the front side of the upper cap deco 31. During the process of opening the door 20, the hinge cover 11 may maintain a state of covering the guide hole 312h. Furthermore, during the process of opening the door 20, the front end of the cover front portion 112b may maintain a state of being disposed between the guide hole 312h and the front panel 211. During the process of opening the door 20, the front end of the cover front portion 112b may maintain a state of being disposed between the guide hole 312h and the cap deco cover 33. Therefore, during the process of opening the door 20, the guide hole 312h through which the water supply pipe 41 communicates is stably covered, thereby preventing the water supply pipe 41 from being exposed.

[0121] According to the refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment, when the door 20 rotates, interference with the wall 0 on which the refrigerator 1 is installed can be prevented, and the distance between the door 20 and the wall 0 can be minimized.

[0122] According to the refrigerator 1 according to one embodiment, the two hinge pins 52 are configured to move along the guide grooves 340 formed on the upper surface of the door 20, improving the operational feel when the door 20 is opened or closed.

[0123] According to the refrigerator 1 of one embodiment, the hinge cover 11 covers the hinge device 50 from above and the guide hole 312h through which the water supply pipe 41 that supplies water to the door 20 passes, thereby preventing the water supply pipe 41 from being exposed to the outside even when the door 20 is rotating.

[0124] According to the refrigerator 1 of one embodiment, the thickness of the door 20 can be slimmed down by a structure that minimizes the distance between the hinge cover 11 that covers the hinge device 50 and the guide hole 312h and the front surface of the door 20.

[0125] According to one embodiment of the refrigerator 1, the structure includes the upper cap deco 31 and the cap deco cover 33 attached to the front of the upper cap deco 31, so that the door 20 has a guide hole 312h formed on the upper surface through which the water supply pipe 41 passes, and the hinge cover 11 can easily cover the guide hole 312h.

[0126] Meanwhile, various other embodiments of the present invention are possible in addition to the above-described embodiment. Hereinafter, other embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Among the configurations of the other embodiments of the present invention, the same configurations as those of the above-described embodiment may be omitted from detailed description and illustration, or may be described using the same reference numerals. That is, the following description will only focus on the structure that is different from the above-described embodiment, and other configurations that are not described are the same as those of the above-described embodiment.

[0127] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of an upper cap deco according to another embodiment.

[0128] 17, the cap deco cover 33 of this embodiment is attached to the front surface of the upper cap deco 31 by a fastening member 33a. The fastening member 33a may be a screw. The cap deco cover 33 of this embodiment may omit the cover attachment portion 332.

[0129] With the above structure, the cap deco cover 33 is firmly fixed to the cap deco frame 313 of the upper cap deco 31.

[0130] Fig. 18 is a front view of a refrigerator according to another embodiment. Fig. 19 is a front view of a refrigerator according to another embodiment with the door open. Fig. 20 is an enlarged perspective view of a door hinge portion of a refrigerator according to another embodiment. Fig. 21 is an enlarged perspective view of a door hinge portion of a refrigerator according to another embodiment with the sub-door open. Fig. 22 is an exploded perspective view of an upper cap decoration and a sub-door of a refrigerator according to another embodiment.

[0131] 18 to 22, the refrigerator 1' according to this embodiment may include a door 20' having a different structure from the refrigerator 1 according to the previous embodiment. For example, in this embodiment, the door 20' may include an upper door 21' for opening and closing the upper storage space 10a of the cabinet 10 and a lower door 22' for opening and closing the lower storage space of the cabinet 10. The upper door 21' and the lower door 22' may be rotatably connected to the cabinet 10.

[0132] In this embodiment, the upper door 21' may include a main door 24 rotatably connected to the cabinet 10 and a sub-door 25 rotatably connected to the main door 24. The main door 24' is rotatably connected to the cabinet 10 to open and close the upper storage space 10a. The sub-door 25' is rotatably connected to the main door 24' to open and close the internal storage space of the main door 24'.

[0133] Meanwhile, in this embodiment, the front surface of the upper door 21' may include a see-through portion 21a configured to allow a view into the inside of the main door 24 and a bezel portion 21b disposed around the see-through portion 21a. The bezel portion 21b is disposed surrounding the see-through portion 21a.

[0134] A dispenser 23 may be provided inside the main door 24. The dispenser 23 of this embodiment may be substantially the same as the dispenser 23 of the refrigerator 1 according to the embodiment. The dispenser 23 provided inside the main door 24 can be seen from the front of the refrigerator 1′ through the see-through portion 21a.

[0135] The main door 24 may include an upper cap deco 31' forming an upper surface. The upper cap deco 31' of this embodiment may have a similar structure to the upper cap deco 31 included in the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment. Differences between the upper cap deco 31' included in the refrigerator 1' of this embodiment and the upper cap deco 31 included in the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment will now be described.

[0136] In this embodiment, the upper cap deco 31' does not necessarily include the cap deco frame 313. That is, the upper cap deco 31' in this embodiment may include a deco body 311' and a hinge mounting portion 312' recessed downward from one side of the deco body 311'. A hinge mounting space 31a' is formed above the hinge mounting portion 312'. A guide member 34 including a guide groove 340 is disposed in the hinge mounting portion 312', and a guide hole 312h is formed therein.

[0137] In this embodiment, the cover protrusion 112 of the hinge cover 11 can also cover the guide hole 312h. As described above with reference to Figures 13 to 16, the guide hole 312h is covered by the cover protrusion 112 even during the rotation of the main door 24. Therefore, even when the main door 24' rotates, the hinge cover 11 can prevent the water supply pipe 41 from being exposed to the outside.

[0138] A sub-hinge device 60 provided for pivoting the sub-door 25 is disposed in the hinge mounting portion 312'. The sub-door 25 can pivot relative to the main door 24 via the sub-hinge device 60.

[0139] Meanwhile, the sub door 25 may include a sub hinge mounting portion 25a formed by recessing an upper surface thereof downward, and a sub hinge device 60 is rotatably coupled to the sub hinge mounting portion 25a.

[0140] The sub-hinge device 60 can connect the upper portions of the main door 24 and the sub-door 25. The sub-hinge device 60 can include a sub-hinge plate 61 and a sub-hinge pin 62.

[0141] The sub-hinge plate 61 may be made of a plate-shaped metal material and may protrude forward from the hinge mounting portion 312′. The sub-hinge plate 61 may extend to the sub-hinge mounting portion 25a of the sub-door 25. For example, the sub-hinge plate 61 may be fixed to the main door 24 and have a shape that extends toward the sub-door 25.

[0142] A sub-hinge pin 62 is attached to the front end of the sub-hinge plate 61 disposed on the sub-hinge mounting portion 25a. For example, the sub-hinge pin 62 may extend downward from the front end of the sub-hinge plate 61. The sub-hinge pin 62 may be press-fitted to penetrate the sub-hinge plate 61 and be coupled thereto.

[0143] The sub-hinge device 60 is covered by the sub-hinge cover 12. The sub-hinge device 60 is not exposed to the outside by the sub-hinge cover 12. The sub-hinge cover 12 is disposed across the main door 24 and the sub-door 25. As an example, the sub-hinge cover 12 can extend from the hinge mounting portion 312' of the upper cap deco 31' to the sub-hinge mounting portion 25a of the sub-door 25. In other words, the sub-hinge cover 12 is configured to correspond to the shape of the sub-hinge device 60.

[0144] Meanwhile, the connection structure between the cabinet 10 and the main door 24 in the refrigerator 1' of this embodiment may be substantially the same as the connection structure between the cabinet 10 and the upper door 21 in the refrigerator 1 of the previous embodiment. That is, the cabinet 10 and the main door 24 in the refrigerator 1' of this embodiment may be connected by the hinge device 50 as described above with reference to Figures 6 to 8.

Claims

1. a cabinet forming a storage space; a door configured to open and close the storage space, the door including a hinge mounting portion formed by recessing an upper surface; a hinge device including a hinge plate attached to the cabinet and a hinge pin protruding from the hinge plate toward the door and connected to the hinge attachment portion; a hinge cover that is disposed across the top surface of the cabinet and the hinge mounting portion and covers the hinge device; a guide member provided at the hinge mounting portion, configured to receive the hinge pin, and having a guide groove that guides movement of the hinge pin when the door rotates; The hinge mounting portion has The refrigerator further comprises a guide hole disposed in front of the guide member, through which a water supply pipe extending from the cabinet to the inside of the door is guided.

2. During the rotation of the door, The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the hinge cover maintains a state of covering the guide hole.

3. The hinge pin includes a first pin and a second pin spaced apart from each other; and The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the guide groove is configured to receive both the first pin and the second pin, and guides the movement of the first pin and the second pin when the door is rotated.

4. The door is The door further includes an upper cap deco that forms the upper surface of the door and defines the hinge mounting portion; The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the front end of the hinge cover is disposed between the guide hole and the front surface of the upper cap deco.

5. During the rotation of the door, The refrigerator according to claim 4 , wherein the front end of the hinge cover remains positioned between the guide hole and the front surface of the upper cap deco.

6. The door is Further comprising a front panel that forms the front face of the door; The refrigerator according to claim 4 , wherein the front panel covers a front surface of the upper cap deco from the front.

7. The door is An upper cap deco that forms the upper surface of the door and forms the hinge mounting portion, and a cap deco cover that is attached to the front surface of the upper cap deco, The upper cap deco A cap deco frame is provided in front of the hinge mounting portion, forming an open frame opening; The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the cap deco cover shields the frame opening.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein a front end of the hinge cover is located inside the frame opening.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein a front end of the hinge cover is disposed between the guide hole and the cap deco cover.

10. The upper cap deco includes a cover mounting hole disposed on a front surface thereof; The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the cap decoration cover includes a cover mounting portion that is mounted in the cover mounting hole.

11. The door is Further comprising a front panel that forms the front face of the door; The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the front panel covers the cap deco cover from the front.

12. The hinge cover includes: a cover body portion disposed on an upper portion of the cabinet; a cover protrusion extending forward from the cover body and disposed on the hinge mounting portion; and During the rotation of the door, The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the cover protrusion maintains a state of covering the guide hole.

13. The door is Further including a front panel constituting a front surface; During the rotation of the door, The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the front end of the cover protrusion is maintained in a state of being disposed between the guide hole and the front panel.

14. The guide member has a shape in which both ends are bent forward, The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the guide member is arranged to surround the guide hole.

15. The water dispenser may further include a dispenser disposed inside the door and configured to be connected to the water supply pipe for dispensing water; and The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the water supply pipe is guided through the hinge cover and the guide hole and extends to the dispenser.

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