Center hinge and refrigerator having this

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet having an upper storage space and a lower storage space formed by partitioning by a barrier; an upper door that opens and closes the upper storage space by rotation; a lower door that opens and closes the lower storage space by rotation; a hinge bracket fixedly mounted on the front surface of the barrier; an upper link module axially coupled to the hinge bracket and fixedly mounted on the lower surface of the upper door to rotate the upper door; and a lower link module axially coupled to the hinge bracket and fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the lower door to rotate the lower door.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a center hinge and a refrigerator equipped with a center hinge. Background Technology

[0002] Generally, a refrigerator is a home appliance designed to store food at low temperatures in an internal storage space enclosed by a refrigerator door. It is configured to keep stored food in optimal condition by cooling the interior of the storage space using cold air generated through heat exchange with a refrigerant circulating in a refrigeration cycle.

[0003] As such, refrigerators are gradually becoming larger and more multifunctional in line with changes in dietary habits and the trend toward product sophistication, and refrigerators equipped with various structures and convenience features that consider user convenience are being released.

[0004] The above refrigerator may have storage spaces partitioned into upper and lower sections, respectively, and may have a structure in which the upper storage space and the lower storage space are opened and closed by an upper door and a lower door, respectively. Additionally, the upper door and the lower door may be rotatably mounted with their upper and lower ends supported by hinge devices, respectively, and the upper and lower storage spaces may be opened and closed by the rotation of the upper door and the lower door.

[0005] Representatively, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2016-0099982 discloses a structure in which an intermediate hinge is provided on the front of the main body, and a rotation axis is extended vertically to a horizontal support protruding between the upper door and the lower door to support the lower end of the upper door and the upper end of the lower door.

[0006] Meanwhile, in such a structure, when the refrigerator is installed in a manner such as being in close contact with a wall or furniture, or being arranged continuously in parallel, interference with adjacent components occurs when the door rotates due to the thickness of the door. Therefore, when installing the refrigerator, it is positioned to protrude beyond adjacent components on the side or is positioned with a gap sufficient to prevent interference.

[0007] In other words, a refrigerator with the above structure has a problem in that it cannot achieve a sense of unity when installed as a built-in unit, which is currently preferred, or when placed in a continuous arrangement with neighboring furniture or appliances.

[0008] To solve this problem, a hinge device that rotates so as not to interfere with adjacent components when the refrigerator door is rotated is being developed recently.

[0009] Representatively, Korean Registered Patent No. 10-1497295 discloses a multi-link hinge having a compact structure and formed to have a multi-joint structure, which provides a rotational structure in which the door does not interfere with adjacent components when mounted on a refrigerator door.

[0010] However, hinges of this structure are relatively thick, and when a pair of hinges are positioned vertically to support the upper and lower doors of a refrigerator, the vertical width becomes very large. Therefore, in this structure, the gap between the upper and lower doors becomes large, resulting in an unsightly appearance.

[0011] In addition, if the weight of the upper door is heavy, the hinge supporting the upper door may sag downward due to the characteristics of the extended link structure of the multi-hinge, and there is a problem in that normal opening and closing operation of the door becomes impossible due to interference with the hinge supporting the lower door.

[0012] In addition, if the hinge is designed to be thicker to prevent the upper door or the hinge supporting the upper door from sagging, there is a problem in that the gap between the upper door and the lower door becomes even larger. The problem to be solved

[0013] An embodiment of the present invention aims to provide a refrigerator equipped with a center hinge and a center hinge that can minimize the gap between an upper door and a lower door supported by a center hinge.

[0014] An embodiment of the present invention aims to provide a center hinge and a refrigerator equipped with the center hinge, which ensures the operation of the center hinge so that the refrigerator door is opened and closed by being composed of a combination of multiple links between upper and lower spaced refrigerator doors.

[0015] An embodiment of the present invention aims to provide a refrigerator equipped with a center hinge and a center hinge that prevents interference between an upper link module connected to an upper door and a lower link module rotatably connected to a lower door. means of solving the problem

[65535] A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a cabinet having an upper storage space and a lower storage space partitioned by a barrier; an upper door that opens and closes the upper storage space by rotation; a lower door that opens and closes the lower storage space by rotation; a hinge bracket including a base portion fixed to the front of the barrier and a pair of side portions spaced apart from each other and extending forward from the upper and lower ends of the base portion; and an upper link module axially coupled to the hinge bracket and fixedly mounted on the lower surface of the upper door to rotate the upper door. It includes a lower link module that is axially coupled to the hinge bracket and fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the lower door to rotate the lower door, wherein the upper link module and the lower link module are arranged vertically in the area between the side portions, and the lower link module may be formed in a plate shape and be formed to be thinner in the vertical direction than the upper link module. Between the upper link module and the lower link module, a supporter may be provided that contacts the upper link module or the lower link module when the upper link module or the lower link module operates. The supporter is formed in a plate shape, and a front guide portion that becomes lower towards the front is formed at the front end of the supporter, and a rear guide portion that becomes lower towards the rear is formed at the rear end of the supporter. An intermediate portion formed at the same height may be formed between the front guide portion and the rear guide portion. On the boundary line between the intermediate portion and the front guide portion and on the boundary line between the intermediate portion and the rear guide portion, a rolling motion that contacts the upper link module or the lower link module A supporting ball may be provided. The supporter may be provided with a supporting ball that rolls in contact with the upper link module or the lower link module, at least a portion of which is exposed to the outside. A plurality of supporting balls may be spaced apart in the front-rear direction.The supporter has a supporter opening through which the supporting ball is exposed, and the supporting ball is positioned below the supporter opening. The inner diameter of the supporter opening may be formed to be smaller than the diameter of the supporting ball. The supporter opening may be formed so that the inner diameter narrows toward the top. The supporting ball may protrude further upward than the supporter opening. The upper link module may be formed by bending a plate-shaped metal material multiple times to be thicker in the vertical direction than the lower link module. A supporter that supports the upper link module may be mounted on the upper part of the lower link module. The upper link module and the lower link module rotate independently around the same rotation axis penetrating the side portion, and a spacer may be provided between the side portions that penetrates through the rotation axis and maintains a gap between the upper link module and the lower link module inside the hinge bracket. The lower link module comprises: a lower main link axially coupled to the hinge bracket and facing the lower surface of the upper link module; a lower door bracket coupled to the door; a first lower sub-link axially coupled to one side of the lower main link and one side of the lower door bracket, respectively; and a second lower sub-link axially coupled to the other side of the lower main link and the other side of the lower door bracket, respectively. It may include a lower connecting link axially coupled to one side of the lower main link and another side of the second lower sub-link. On the upper surface of the lower main link, a supporter mounting portion may be formed by being recessed in a shape corresponding to the supporter, so that the supporter is mounted. A plurality of supporters may be provided along the upper surface of the lower main link. On the lower surface of the supporter, a plurality of coupling protrusions protruding downward are formed, and a plurality of coupling holes into which the coupling protrusions are inserted may be formed in the supporter mounting portion.A supporting ball is provided between the supporter and the supporter mounting portion, in contact with the lower surface of the upper link module, and a receiving groove is formed in the supporter mounting portion corresponding to the supporting ball to receive the supporting ball, and a supporter opening may be formed in the supporter corresponding to the supporting ball through which the upper end of the supporting ball passes. In another aspect, a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a cabinet having an upper storage space and a lower storage space formed by partitioning by a barrier; an upper door that opens and closes the upper storage space by rotation; a lower door that opens and closes the lower storage space by rotation; a hinge bracket fixedly mounted on the front surface of the barrier; and an upper link module that is axially coupled to the hinge bracket and fixedly mounted on the lower surface of the upper door to rotate the upper door. The center hinge according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a hinge bracket fixedly mounted between the lower surface of the upper door and the upper surface of the lower door, and a lower link module that rotates the lower door by being axially coupled to the hinge bracket and fixedly mounted to the upper surface of the lower door, and may include a supporter mounted on the upper surface of the lower link module to support the upper link module when the lower door is closed. In another aspect, the center hinge according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a hinge bracket fixedly mounted between the lower surface of the upper door and the upper surface of the lower door; an upper link module disposed on the upper surface of the hinge bracket and composed of a combination of a plurality of links to connect the hinge bracket and the upper door to rotate the upper door; and a lower link module disposed on the lower surface of the hinge bracket and composed of a combination of a plurality of links to connect the hinge bracket and the lower door to rotate the lower door, and a supporter that contacts the upper link module or the lower link module when the upper link module or the lower link module operates may be provided between the upper link module and the lower link module. Effects of the invention

[0036] The following effects can be expected from the center hinge and the refrigerator equipped with the center hinge according to the proposed embodiment.

[0037] A center hinge and a refrigerator equipped with a center hinge according to an embodiment of the present invention may have a structure in which an upper link module that rotatably connects an upper door to a single hinge bracket and a lower link module that rotatably connects a lower door are combined. In particular, the upper link module and the lower link module are composed of a combination of multiple links, so that they do not interfere with adjacent furniture, walls, or home appliances during the process of rotating the upper door and the lower door for opening and closing, thereby making the user's door opening and closing operation even easier.

[0038] In addition, the upper link module and lower link module constituting the center hinge are composed of a plurality of plate-shaped links and positioned in the inner area of ​​the hinge bracket, thereby minimizing the vertical width, or thickness, of the center hinge. Accordingly, the width of the space where the center hinge is mounted can be minimized, and the gap between the upper door and the lower door can be minimized so that the front exterior of the refrigerator looks very neat.

[0039] In addition, the thickness of the center hinge can be made thinner by minimizing the gap between the upper link module and the lower link module, and the front exterior of the refrigerator can be further improved by making the gap between the upper door and the lower door even narrower.

[0040] In addition, due to the structural characteristics of the heavy refrigerator door and the structural characteristics of the upper link module consisting of multiple link structures, the upper door and the upper link module inevitably sag downward during the opening and closing operation of the upper door; however, the upper link module is supported from below by the supporter, thereby preventing the sagging of the upper link module and the upper door.

[0041] In addition, by placing the supporter between the upper link module and the lower link module, interference between the upper link module and the lower link module can be prevented even when the gap between the upper link module and the lower link module is minimized, and there is an advantage that the upper link module can come into contact with the supporter to enable smoother rotational movement.

[0042] That is, when the supporter is in contact with the upper link module, downward sagging of the upper link module can be prevented, and by ensuring that the supporter maintains contact with the upper link module, there is an advantage that the operation of the upper link can be guaranteed even if the gap between the upper link module and the lower link module is minimized.

[0043] In addition, the supporter can prevent interference between the upper link module and the lower link module formed of a metal material, and thereby has the advantage of ensuring the strength of the upper link module and the lower link module made of a metal material.

[0044] In addition, the supporter is formed of a material with excellent wear resistance and lubricity, which has the advantage of facilitating the smooth movement of the upper link module when in contact with the upper link module.

[0045] In addition, the supporter has the advantage of ensuring smoother operation during the start and end of contact with the upper link module through the front guide and rear guide. Furthermore, the supporter is equipped with a supporting ball, and the supporting ball contacts the upper link module to enable the upper link module to operate more smoothly.

[0046] In particular, since the sagging of the upper link module is prevented by the supporter, heavy components such as dispensers and ice makers can be placed on the upper door, and a door basket for storing food can also be placed. In addition, even if the front exterior of the door is formed from heavy tempered glass, steel, or tile material, there is an advantage in that smooth opening and closing of the door can be ensured without excessive sagging of the door and the upper link module. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0047] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the installation state of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the refrigerator with the upper and lower doors open. Figure 3 is a drawing showing the state of the door, the wall, and the upper hinge when the upper door is open. FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the mounting state of a center hinge according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the center hinge in a folded state. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the center hinge unfolded at an arbitrary angle. FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the center hinge disassembled as seen from below. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of line VIII-VIII' of Figure 5. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of an upper link module, which is a component of the center hinge. FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a lower link module, which is a component of the center hinge. FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view taken from above of a supporter provided in the lower link module. FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view taken from below of a supporter provided in the lower link module. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional perspective view of FIG. 5 XIII-XIII'. Fig. 14 is an enlarged view of section A of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is a cross-sectional perspective view of Fig. 5 XV-XV'. FIG. 16 is a drawing showing the state of the center hinge with the upper door open. FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the state in which the upper link module is rotated. FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the state in which the lower link module is rotated. FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a center hinge according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the refrigerator with the upper and lower doors open. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0048] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not to be limited to the embodiments presented, and other inventions that are inferior or other embodiments included within the scope of the present invention can be easily proposed by adding, changing, or deleting other components.

[0049] Before the explanation, directions are defined. In an embodiment of the present invention, the direction in which the front of the door shown in FIG. 1 faces can be defined as the front, the direction facing the interior relative to the front of the door as the rear, the direction facing the floor surface where the refrigerator is installed as the downward direction, and the direction moving away from the floor surface as the upward direction.

[0050] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the installation state of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the upper door and lower door of the refrigerator open.

[0051] As illustrated in the drawing, the refrigerator (1) according to an embodiment of the present invention may have an overall exterior formed by a cabinet (10) that forms a storage space with an open front and doors (20, 30) that open and close the storage space.

[0052] In addition, the refrigerator (1) can be mounted to harmonize with the furniture or wall (O) of the indoor space. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator (1) can be installed in an indoor space such as a kitchen and can be placed adjacent to the furniture or wall (O) to harmonize. That is, a space corresponding to the size of the refrigerator (1) can be provided in the furniture or wall (O) and the refrigerator (1) can be accommodated or placed in a built-in type. Of course, in addition to the furniture or wall (O), multiple refrigerators or other home appliances may be placed in a continuous manner.

[0053] In the arrangement structure of the refrigerator (1) as described above, the front of the refrigerator (1), that is, the front of the door (20, 30), may be located very close to the furniture or wall (O) and may be configured to be positioned on the same or adjacent plane to create a sense of unity. Additionally, if necessary, the front of the door (20, 30) may be formed of a material having the same material or texture as the furniture or wall (O), so that the front of the refrigerator (1) may have a greater sense of unity with the adjacent furniture or wall (O).

[0054] Looking more closely at the structure of the refrigerator (1), the cabinet (10) can form a storage space divided vertically. For example, the cabinet (10) can be divided vertically by a barrier (11) to form an upper storage space (12) above the barrier (11) and a lower storage space (13) below the barrier (11). For example, the refrigerator (1) is a bottom freeze type, so the upper storage space (12) can be used as a refrigerator and the lower storage space (13) can be used as a freezer. Therefore, the upper storage space (12) can be called a refrigerator and the lower storage space (13) can be called a freezer.

[0055] A hinge cover (14) may be provided on the upper front surface of the cabinet (10), and the hinge cover (14) may be positioned to shield a hinge mounting member connected to an upper hinge (40) described below. The upper hinge (40) may be fixed to the upper surface of the cabinet (10) and may be positioned on the front surface of the hinge cover (14).

[0056] And, the above doors (20, 30) may include an upper door (20) and a lower door (30) that open and close the upper storage space (12) and the lower storage space (13), respectively.

[0057] The upper door (20) is rotatably mounted on the cabinet (10) and can open and close the upper storage space (12) by rotation. To this end, the upper and lower ends of the upper door (20) can be supported by an upper hinge (40) and a center hinge (60), respectively, and the upper door (20) can be rotated by the upper hinge (40) and the center hinge (60) to open and close the storage spaces (12, 13), respectively.

[0058] Meanwhile, a pair of upper doors (20) may be provided on both the left and right sides, and each can rotate independently to open and close the upper storage space (12). Additionally, an upper hinge (40) and a center hinge (60) may be connected to each of the pair of upper doors (20) arranged on both the left and right sides, and they may be rotatably mounted on the cabinet (10).

[0059] The upper door (20) may be provided with a dispenser (201) capable of dispensing water or ice from the outside of the upper door (20) when the upper door (20) is closed. Additionally, a storage member, such as a door basket for storing food, may be further provided on the back of the upper door (20). Furthermore, a panel (202) or plate may be disposed on the front of the upper door (20) to form the exterior of the upper door (20), and the panel (202) or plate may be made of various materials, such as tempered glass, metal, or tile, for example.

[0060] The lower door (30) is rotatably mounted on the cabinet (10) and can open and close the lower storage space (13) by rotation. To this end, the upper and lower ends of the lower door (30) can be supported by a center hinge (60) and a lower hinge (50), respectively, and the upper door (20) can be rotated by the center hinge (60) and the lower hinge (50) to open and close the lower storage space (13).

[0061] Meanwhile, a pair of lower doors (30) may be provided on both the left and right sides, and each may rotate independently to open and close the lower storage space (13). Additionally, a center hinge (60) and a lower hinge (50) may be connected to each of the pair of lower doors (30) arranged on both the left and right sides, and they may be rotatably mounted on the cabinet (10). Furthermore, the lower doors (30) may also be configured to include a panel or plate having the same appearance as the upper door (20).

[0062] A handle or handle space (301) into which a user can insert their hand may be formed between the bottom of the upper door (20) and the top of the lower door (30). Additionally, a handle for opening and closing the upper door (20) and the lower door (30) may be formed on the upper surface of the handle space (301), i.e., the lower surface of the upper door (20), and on the lower surface of the handle space (301), i.e., the upper surface of the lower door (30), respectively. For example, the handle may be formed in the shape of a recessed groove.

[0063] Meanwhile, the upper hinge (40), the center hinge (60), and the lower hinge (50) can rotate along the same trajectory, and the upper door (20) and the lower door (30) can rotate smoothly without interfering with neighboring furniture or walls (O) during the opening and closing process.

[0064] Below, we will examine the operation structure of the upper hinge for opening the above door.

[0065] Figure 3 is a drawing showing the state of the door, the wall, and the upper hinge when the upper door is open.

[0066] As shown in the drawing, the upper hinge (40) can be mounted on the corner formed by the front top and side end of the cabinet (10) and can be connected to one side end of the upper surface of the upper door (20).

[0067] The upper hinge (40) may have a structure in which a plurality of links are combined, and thus, when the upper hinge (40) is rotated, the upper door (20) can rotate while moving away from the front of the cabinet (10).

[0068] The rotational trajectory of the upper door (20) can be determined by a plurality of link structures constituting the upper hinge (40), and can implement a trajectory that does not interfere with a pair of upper doors (20) arranged side by side and furniture or a wall (O) arranged to the side. Therefore, the upper hinge (40) can be called a multi-link.

[0069] And, the upper hinge (40) and the lower hinge (50) may have the same structure. And, the center hinge (60) may have a different structure from the upper hinge (40) and the lower hinge (50) but may have the same rotational trajectory so that the rotation of the upper door (20) and the lower door (30) can naturally occur along the same trajectory.

[0070] Looking more closely at the structure of the upper hinge (40), the upper hinge (40) may include a hinge bracket (41) mounted on the cabinet (10), a main link (42) axially coupled to the hinge bracket (41), a first sub-link (43) and a second sub-link (44) axially coupled to the main link (42), and a door bracket (45) axially coupled to the ends of the first sub-link (43) and the second sub-link (44) and coupled to the upper surface of the upper door (20).

[0071] Each of these links (42, 43, 44, 45) can be axially connected to form an overall quadrilateral shape, and can provide a trajectory through which the upper door (20) can be rotated by folding or unfolding. Additionally, the hinge bracket (41) and the second sub-link (44) can be connected by a linear damper (46) with both ends axially connected. The linear damper (46) can decelerate rotation and mitigate impact during the folding motion of the upper hinge (40), that is, the closing motion of the upper door (20).

[0072] Additionally, the first sub-link (43) may be provided with a spring (47) that forces the rotation of the first sub-link (43) by being tensioned or compressed according to the rotation of the first sub-link (43). The spring (47) may be a compression spring or a tension spring. The spring (47) is compressed during the process of closing the upper door (20) and may be restored just before the upper door (20) closes. Therefore, the spring (47) can assist the rotation of the first sub-link (43) at the moment the upper door (20) closes, and the upper door (20) can be effectively closed even with the operation of the linear damper (46).

[0073] Due to the action of the linear damper (46) and the spring (47), the multiple links (42, 43, 44, 45) constituting the upper hinge (40) can rotate while maintaining a set trajectory. When the multiple links (42, 43, 44, 45) rotate along the set trajectory, the upper door (20) can rotate without interfering with the furniture or wall (O) and open the upper storage space (12).

[0074] In addition, when the upper door (20) is closed, the side of the upper door (20) may be spaced apart from the adjacent furniture or wall (O) by a set distance. For example, the set distance may be 3 mm. Thus, while ensuring the initial rotation of the upper door (20) so as not to interfere, the space between the upper door (20) and the furniture or wall (O) can be narrowed when the upper door (20) is closed to create a sense of unity.

[0075] When the upper door (20) is in an open state, the main link (42), the first sub-link (43), the second sub-link (44), and the door bracket (45) allow the end of the upper door (20) to rotate so that it does not interfere with the furniture or wall (O). That is, the distance between the end of the upper door (20) and the front of the furniture or wall (O) can be separated by a set distance. For example, the set distance (W3) may be within 9 mm.

[0076] In this way, the upper door (20) can be rotated by the upper hinge (40) during the rotation process, and in particular, can be rotated along the corner of the furniture or wall (O) while maintaining a set distance so as not to interfere with the corner of the furniture or wall (O).

[0077] In the embodiment of the present invention, the operation of one of the upper doors (20) of the pair of upper doors (20) was described based on the operation of the upper door (20), but the other upper door (20) may also have the same operation structure. Also, the lower door has a structure that is rotatably supported by a lower hinge (50) having the same structure as the upper hinge (40), differing only in its mounting position, and has the same operation structure, so a detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0078] Meanwhile, the center hinge (60) may be provided on the front of the cabinet (10), and the lower surface of the upper door (20) and the upper surface of the lower door (30) may be independently supported to rotate by the center hinge (60).

[0079] Below, we will examine the center hinge (60) in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0080] FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view showing the mounting state of a center hinge according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the center hinge in a folded state. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the center hinge unfolded at an arbitrary angle.

[0081] As illustrated in the drawing, the center hinge (60) rotatably supports the upper door (20) and the lower door (30). Thus, the center hinge (60) can be positioned between the upper door (20) and the lower door (30). Specifically, the center hinge (60) is positioned in the space between the lower surface of the upper door (20) and the upper surface of the lower door (30), and can be mounted on the front of the cabinet (10).

[0082] The center hinge (60) can be mounted on the front of the barrier (11) and connected to the lower surface of the upper door (20) and the upper surface of the lower door (30), respectively, so that the upper door (20) and the lower door (30) can rotate independently.

[0083] That is, the center hinge (60) comprises a hinge bracket (61) mounted on the barrier (11), and an upper link module (70) and a lower link module (80) composed of a plurality of links axially coupled to the hinge bracket (61), wherein the upper link module is coupled to the lower surface of the upper door (20) and the lower link module (80) can be coupled to the upper surface of the lower door (30).

[0084] The upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) can be arranged vertically in the inner area of ​​the hinge bracket (61). That is, the thickness of the center hinge (60) can be determined by the vertical width of the hinge bracket (61), and the sum of the vertical widths of the upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) can be formed to be equal to or smaller than the sum of the vertical widths of the hinge bracket (61).

[0085] And, the upper link module (70) is a structure that supports the upper door (20) from below, and therefore has a relatively higher possibility of sagging or deforming due to the load of the upper door (20). On the other hand, the lower link module (80) is a structure that supports the lower door (30) from above and is a structure that is structurally subjected to less load, so that the lower door (30) can substantially be supported by the lower hinge (50).

[0086] Accordingly, the upper link module (70) may be formed thicker than the lower link module (80) to prevent it from sagging or deforming downward due to the load of the upper door (20). Within the limited thickness of the center hinge (60), that is, the vertical width of the hinge bracket (61), the vertical width of the upper link module (70) is designed to be larger than the vertical width of the lower link module (80) to prevent sagging or deformation of the upper link module (70).

[0087] Meanwhile, the vertical width of the hinge bracket (61) can be determined according to the vertical width of the barrier (11). The barrier (11) can be designed to have a thickness that can partition the upper space (710) and the lower space (710) in an insulated state.

[0088] In addition, a portion of the upper door gasket (21) and the lower door gasket (31) provided along the rear perimeter of the upper door (20) and the lower door (30) must be able to be in close contact with the front of the barrier (11) without interfering with the center hinge (60). Furthermore, a heating element (113) may be arranged along the perimeter of the upper storage space (12) and the lower storage space (13), including the barrier (11). For example, the heating element may be composed of a hot gas pipe or a heater.

[0089] The heating element (113) is intended to prevent condensation from forming on the front of the cabinet (10) and is provided inside the barrier (11) and can be extended along the barrier (11). At this time, the heating element (113) is placed along the upper storage space (12) and the lower storage space (13), respectively, and thus can be spaced apart from the upper and lower parts of the hinge bracket (61). The center hinge (60), that is, the hinge bracket (61), is mounted on the front of the barrier (11) and can be positioned between the heating elements (113) that are positioned above and below, and can be positioned between the upper door gasket (21) and the lower door gasket (31).

[0090] Accordingly, as the vertical width of the hinge bracket (61) is minimized, the gap between the heating elements (113) arranged vertically and the gap between the upper door gasket (21) and the lower door gasket (31) can be designed to be narrower, and the thickness of the barrier (11) can also be reduced, thereby securing the storage capacity of the upper storage space (12) and the lower storage space (13). In this way, it is desirable for the center hinge (60) to minimize its vertical width within a range that enables normal opening and closing operations of the upper door (20) and the lower door (30).

[0091] In addition, the center hinge (60) can be configured so that the upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) are placed together on a single hinge bracket (61) to minimize the vertical width. Furthermore, the center hinge (60) can have a compact structure to occupy minimal placement space between the cabinet (10), the upper door (20), and the lower door (30). Accordingly, when the upper door (20) and the lower door (30) are closed and both the upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) are completely folded, the center hinge (60) can be formed in a roughly cuboid shape as shown in FIG. 5, and the multiple links constituting the hinge bracket (61), the upper link module (70), and the lower link module (80) can have corresponding shapes between corresponding links so that they do not interfere with each other in the folded state.

[0092] Meanwhile, the upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) are configured to have basically the same rotational trajectory, differing only in their thickness and the coupling structure due to the thickness, and thus the length and coupling structure of each link can be formed identically or similarly.

[0093] In addition, for stable opening and closing of the upper door (20) and the lower hinge (50), the center hinge (60) may have the same rotational trajectory as the upper hinge (40) and the lower hinge (50). Accordingly, the configuration of the upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) constituting the center hinge (60) may correspond to the configuration of the upper hinge (40) and the lower hinge (50).

[0094] The upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) are mounted on the hinge bracket (61) to have the same axis of rotation, but can rotate independently of each. The main axis of rotation (62) and the sub-axis of rotation (63) mounted on the hinge bracket (61) can be positioned to pass through both the upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80), and the upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) can be spaced apart from each other.

[0095] Meanwhile, the upper link module (70) supports the upper door (20) from below, and as it rotates, it moves away from the front of the cabinet (10) and may structurally sag downward. That is, sagging of the upper link module (70) may occur when a dispenser (201) is provided on the upper door (20), when food is stored in the door basket (203), and when the upper door (20) itself is heavy due to the panel (202), etc. Also, unlike the door of general furniture, the door (20) of the refrigerator (1) is filled with insulation material inside and has a thick thickness, making it heavy, and may sag when it has a structure supported only by the upper link module (70).

[0096] In particular, in order to minimize the vertical width of the center hinge (60), the thickness of the upper link module (70) should be configured to be as thin as possible, and the gap between the upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) should be minimized.

[0097] Under these conditions, the sagging of the upper link module (70) during the opening and closing process of the upper door (20) cannot be completely prevented, and the upper link module (70) inevitably comes into contact with the lower link module (80) below.

[0098] At this time, a supporter (86) may be provided between the upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80), and the upper link module (70) may come into contact with the supporter (86) during operation. The supporter (86) may have a structure that allows the upper link module (70) to operate smoothly even when in contact with the upper link module (70). For example, the supporter (86) may be placed on the upper surface of the lower link module (80) and may come into contact with the lower surface of the upper link module (70). Of course, the supporter (86) may be provided on the lower surface of the upper link module (70) and may be configured to come into contact with the upper surface of the lower link module (80). The structure of the supporter (86) will be examined in more detail below.

[0099] Below, we will examine in more detail, with reference to the drawings, the structure of each of the hinge bracket (61), upper link module (70), and lower link module (80) constituting the center hinge (60), including unexplained drawing symbols.

[0100] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the center hinge as disassembled, viewed from below. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII' of FIG. 5.

[0101] As shown in the drawing, the hinge bracket (61) may be formed in the shape of a plate made of metal material, and the upper and lower surfaces may be bent to form a receiving space (610) in which the upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) can be received.

[0102] That is, the hinge bracket (61) may include a base portion (611) that is fixed in contact with the cabinet (10), and a side portion (612) that is bent and extended forward from the top and bottom of the base portion (611).

[0103] The base portion (611) may be formed in a plate shape, and a plurality of fastening holes (613) may be formed in the base portion (611), and a fastening member such as a screw (615) may be inserted into the plurality of fastening holes (613) to fix and mount the hinge bracket (61) to the front of the cabinet (10).

[0104] And, the side portion (612) is bent vertically with respect to the base portion (611) and can be extended forward. As the side portion (612) extends from one end to the other, the width in the extended direction may increase. In addition, a main side hole (616) and a sub-side hole (617) may be formed in the side portion (612) to which a main rotation axis (62) and a sub-rotation axis (63) are mounted, which penetrate the side portion (612) arranged vertically. The sub-side hole (617) is located at the outer end of the side portion (612) and may be located further forward than the main side hole (616).

[0105] In addition, the extended front shape of the side portion (612) is formed to correspond to the shape of the upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80), so that the upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) do not interfere with each other even when they are completely folded.

[0106] Meanwhile, a shielding portion (614) may be further formed at the outer end of the base portion (611). The shielding portion (614) is bent forward from the outer end of the base portion (611) and may be combined with the outer end of the side portion (612). Thus, it may form a part of the shape of the outer surface of the hinge bracket (61) and shield the receiving space (610) from the side, thereby preventing the upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) from being exposed to the side of the hinge bracket (61). Additionally, the shielding portion (614) may connect the base portion (611) and the side portion (612) to further reinforce the strength of the hinge bracket (61).

[0107] In addition, the upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) are arranged vertically and can be rotated independently by being passed through by the main rotation axis (62) and the sub rotation axis (63). The upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) are located inside the receiving space (610) and are arranged very close to each other vertically so that the vertical width of the center hinge (60) can be minimized.

[0108] Additionally, a main rotation axis spacer (817) may be further provided below the lower main link (81). Thus, the lower main link (81) can be spaced apart from the side part (612) and can rotate without interfering with the side part (612).

[0109] The sub-rotation axis (63) penetrating the sub-side hole (617) passes through the upper connecting link (72) constituting the upper link module (70) and the lower connecting link (82) constituting the lower link module (80) in sequence. At this time, the upper connecting link (72) and the lower connecting link (82) can be operated in a state separated from each other by the sub-rotation axis spacer (64).

[0110] In detail, the sub-rotation axis spacer (64) is positioned between the side portions (612) and can be penetrated by the sub-rotation axis (63). Additionally, a spacer groove (641) may be formed on the circumferential surface of the sub-rotation axis spacer (64), and the spacer groove (641) may be formed between the upper and lower portions of the sub-rotation axis spacer (64). The end of the upper connecting link (72) may be inserted into the spacer groove (641), and the upper connecting link (72) may be penetrated by the sub-rotation axis (63) while inserted into the spacer groove (641). Thus, the upper connecting link (72) can maintain its vertical height within the upper main link (71) by the sub-rotation axis spacer (64).

[0111] And, the lower connecting link (82) is positioned below the sub-rotation axis spacer (64). Accordingly, the upper connecting link (72) can be maintained separated from the side part (612) and the lower connecting link (82) by the sub-rotation axis spacer (64).

[0112] Meanwhile, the upper link module (70) may include an upper main link (71), an upper connecting link (72), a first upper sub link (73), a second upper sub link (74), and a door bracket (75). And, the lower link module (80) may include a lower main link (81), a lower connecting link (82), a first lower sub link (83), a second lower sub link (84), and a lower door bracket (85).

[0113] The upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) can each be composed of a combination of multiple links and can have the same combination structure so as to have the same rotational trajectory. In addition, the upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) are configured to have the same rotational trajectory as the upper hinge (40) and the lower hinge (50) so as to allow the upper door (20) and the lower door (30) to rotate smoothly.

[0114] The upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) may be positioned in the area of ​​the mounted hinge bracket (61). Specifically, the vertical width (W) of the hinge bracket (61) may be formed to be equal to or greater than the sum of the vertical width (W1) of the upper link module (70) and the vertical width (W2) of the lower link module (80). At this time, since the upper link module (70) supports the upper door (20) from below, a relatively higher load may be applied. Therefore, the upper link module (70) may have a larger vertical width than the lower link module (80). That is, even if the upper link module (70) is formed thicker than the lower link module (80) and operates in a state supporting the upper door (20), the downward sagging of the upper link module (70) and the upper door (20) can be minimized.

[0115] Meanwhile, the supporter (86) may be disposed on the upper surface of the lower link module (80), and the supporter (86) may be positioned facing the lower surface of the upper link module (70). Accordingly, when the upper link module (70) sags downward, the lower surface of the upper link module (70) comes into contact with the upper surface of the supporter (86).

[0116] The supporter (86) enables the upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) to move relative to each other even when in contact with the upper link module (70), and ensures smooth rotational movement through sliding.

[0117] The supporter (86) may be in a state of maximum contact when both the upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) are completely folded or rotated at the same angle, and the contact area may be reduced when the upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) are rotated to be opposite each other. Also, when the lower link module (80) is completely folded and the upper link module (70) is completely unfolded, the contact area between the supporter (86) and the upper link module (70) may be minimized.

[0118] In addition, when the supporter (86) is in contact with the upper link module (70), downward sagging of the upper link module (70) can be prevented. By ensuring that the supporter (86) maintains contact with the upper link module (70), the operation of the upper link module (70) can be guaranteed even if the gap between the upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) is minimized.

[0119] Below, we will examine the detailed structure of the upper link module (70) and lower link module (80) in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0120] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of an upper link module, which is a component of the center hinge.

[0121] Referring to the drawing, the upper link module (70) may include the upper main link (71), the first upper sub link (73), the second upper sub link (74), and the door bracket (75). In this case, the structure may have such that the first upper sub link (73) and the second upper sub link (74) are rotatably connected to each other between the upper main link (71) and the door bracket (75). Additionally, the upper link module (70) may further include an upper connecting link (72) connecting the second upper sub link (74) and the hinge bracket (61).

[0122] Looking at this in more detail, the upper main link (71) is formed from a plate-shaped metal material and can be formed by bending it multiple times so as to accommodate at least a portion of the upper connecting link (72), the first upper sub link (73), and the second upper sub link (74) inside.

[0123] The upper main link (71) can be formed in a shape that does not interfere with the hinge bracket (61) and the upper door (20) during the rotation process, and can also be formed so as not to interfere with the door bracket (75). That is, the hinge bracket (61), the upper main link (71), and the door bracket (75) can be formed so as not to interfere with each other during the folding or unfolding process.

[0124] The upper main link (71) may include an upper surface (711), a lower surface (712), and a connecting surface (713) connecting the upper surface (711) and the lower surface (712). The upper surface (711) and the lower surface (712) may be bent vertically at the top and bottom of the connecting surface (713) and may be formed to extend in the same direction. The upper surface (711) and the lower surface (712) may have the same external shape and may be arranged to face each other. Accordingly, a predetermined space (710) may be formed by the upper surface (711), the lower surface (712), and the connecting surface (713).

[0125] Additionally, an upper main hole (714) through which the main rotation axis (62) passes may be formed at one end of the upper surface (711) and lower surface (712). Additionally, shaft holes (715, 716) through which the ends of the first upper sub-link (73) and the second upper sub-link (74) are axially coupled may be formed on the upper surface (711) and lower surface (712) of the upper main link (71), respectively. A shaft (717, 718) may pass through the shaft holes (715, 716), and the first upper sub-link (73) and the second upper sub-link (74) may be rotatably coupled.

[0126] A spacer (719) may be placed on the shafts (717, 718). The first upper sub-link (73) and the second upper sub-link (74) may be placed at an appropriate height between the upper and lower surfaces of the upper main link (71) by the spacer (719), and smooth rotation can be ensured without interference with the upper main link (71) and the upper connecting link (72).

[0127] In detail, the spacer (719) is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a hole may be formed in the center so that the shaft (717, 718) can pass through in the vertical direction. Additionally, a spacer groove (719a) into which it is inserted may be formed on the circumferential surface of the spacer (719). Thus, with the ends of the first upper sub-link (73) and the second upper sub-link (74) inserted into the spacer groove (719a), the shaft (717, 718) can pass through the upper main link (71), the spacer (719), and the first upper sub-link (73) or the second upper sub-link (74).

[0128] Accordingly, the first upper sub-link (73) and the second upper sub-link (74) can be rotatably coupled inside the upper main link (71). Also, the first upper sub-link (73) and the second upper sub-link (74) can maintain their vertical height in the inner space (710) of the upper main link (71) by means of the spacer (7199) and can be rotated without interfering with other components constituting the upper link module (70).

[0129] The thickness of the upper main link (71) can be determined by the connecting surface (713), and the connecting surface (713) can be formed to have a minimum width that can accommodate the upper connecting link (72), the first upper sub link (73), and the second upper sub link (74).

[0130] The first upper sub-link (73) may be axially coupled to the end of the upper main link (71) by the shaft (718). The first upper sub-link (73) may be formed in the shape of a metal plate and may be supported by the spacer (719) in the inner space of the upper main link (71).

[0131] The first upper sub-link (73) may be extended to be connected to one side of the door bracket (75) and may be rotatably connected to the door bracket (75) by a shaft (754). That is, the first upper sub-link (73) may have shaft holes (731, 732) formed at each end, and a rotating shaft (718, 754) may be connected to each of the shaft holes (731, 732) to be rotatably connected to the upper main link (71) and the door bracket (75), respectively. Additionally, a washer (756) is provided on the shaft (754) connecting the first upper sub-link (73) to facilitate smoother rotation of the first upper sub-link (73).

[0132] Meanwhile, an outer portion of the circumference of the first upper sub-link (73) may be formed in a straight shape. Accordingly, the upper link module (70) may be formed to correspond to the outer end of the straight shape of the upper main link (71) when folded.

[0133] In addition, the inner surface of the first upper sub-link (743) forms an inclined and recessed space and can be formed in a shape corresponding to a part of the circumferential surface of the second upper sub-link (74). That is, the ends facing each other of the first upper sub-link (73) and the second upper sub-link (74) are formed in corresponding shapes so that they do not interfere with each other until the upper door (20) is fully opened, and when the upper door (20) is fully opened, they are joined in an interlocking manner so that the upper link module (70) is no longer rotated.

[0134] The second upper sub-link (74) may be formed in the shape of a plate made of metal material, and one end may be rotatably mounted to the upper main link (71) by a shaft (717). At this time, one end of the second upper sub-link (74) may be rotatably mounted between the first upper sub-link (73) and the main rotation axis (62).

[0135] Additionally, the second upper sub-link (74) may be extended to be connected to the door bracket (75) and may be rotatably connected to the door bracket (75) by a shaft (755). That is, the second upper sub-link (74) may have shaft holes (741, 742) formed at each end, and shafts (717, 755) may be connected to the shaft holes (741, 742) respectively, so as to be rotatably connected to the upper main link (71) and the door bracket (75), respectively. Furthermore, a washer (757) is provided on the shaft (755) connecting the second upper sub-link (74) to facilitate smoother rotation of the second upper sub-link (74).

[0136] The ends of the first upper sub-link (73) and the second upper sub-link (74) can each be connected to the door bracket (75). The door bracket (75) is intended to support the upper door (20) from below and can connect the upper link module (70) and the upper door (20).

[0137] The door bracket (75) may be formed of a metal material and may include a plate-shaped upper plate (751) and an upper shaft (752). Specifically, the upper plate (751) is formed in a plate shape and may have a plate hole (753) formed therein to which the ends of the first upper sub-link (73) and the second upper sub-link (74) can be axially connected. The plate hole (753) is provided on each side, and the first upper sub-link (73) and the second upper sub-link (74) can be rotatably connected by shafts (754, 755).

[0138] Meanwhile, the upper shaft (752) extends upward from the upper plate (751), and a pair may be spaced apart from each other. The upper shaft (752) is inserted into the lower surface of the upper door (20) and may be coupled so that the upper door (20) rotates together with the upper link module (70).

[0139] The shaft (754, 755) connecting the upper plate (751), the first upper sub-link (73), and the second upper sub-link (74) is provided with the washer (756, 756a, 757, 757a) so that the first upper sub-link (73) and the second upper sub-link (74) can maintain a stable axial connection with the upper plate (751).

[0140] Meanwhile, a sub-connecting hole (743) may be further formed in the second upper sub-link (74). The sub-connecting hole (743) may be located between the shaft holes (741, 742) at both ends of the second upper sub-link (74), allowing the second upper sub-link (74) to be connected to the upper connecting link (72). That is, a shaft (744) passing through the sub-connecting hole (743) of the second upper sub-link (74) is fastened to pass through the connecting hole (726) of the upper connecting link (72), so that the second upper sub-link (74) and the upper connecting link (72) can be rotatably coupled to each other.

[0141] The upper connecting link (72) is positioned in the inner space of the upper main link (71) and may be configured to prevent downward sagging of the first upper sub-link (73) and the second upper sub-link (74) and to assist in the rotation of the second upper sub-link (74).

[0142] In detail, the upper connecting link (72) is rotatably connected at one end to the hinge bracket (61) by the sub-rotation axis (63) and can be extended to the end of the upper main link (71). Also, the upper connecting link (72) can be extended to pass under the first upper sub-link (73) and the second upper sub-link (74). That is, the upper connecting link (72) is rotatably positioned inside the upper main link (71) and can support the first upper sub-link (73) and the second upper sub-link (74) from below.

[0143] A sub-rotation axis hole (721) through which the sub-rotation axis (63) passes may be formed at one end of the upper connecting link (72). Accordingly, the upper connecting link (72) is mounted on the hinge bracket (61) and can rotate around the sub-rotation axis (63).

[0144] A connecting hole (726) connected to the second upper sub-link (74) may be further formed in the upper connecting link (72). Additionally, a shaft (744) passing through the sub-connecting hole (743) of the second upper sub-link (74) may be fastened to pass through the connecting hole (726). Accordingly, the second upper sub-link (74) may be rotated in a state of being axially coupled with the upper main link (71) and the upper connecting link (72). Furthermore, a washer (746) passing through the shaft (744) may be disposed above the upper connecting link (72).

[0145] The connection hole (726) may be located at approximately the midpoint of the upper connection link (72). The upper connection link (72) may be composed of a connection part (727) and a support part (728) that extend to both the left and right sides centered on the connection hole (726). The connection hole (426) and the sub-rotation axis hole (721) are formed in the connection part (727) to form a rotatably coupled structure for the upper connection link (72) and the second upper sub-link (74). Additionally, the support part (728) may be formed to extend at least past the second upper sub-link (74) to the first upper sub-link (73), and may be accommodated in the inner space (710) of the upper main link (71) below the first upper sub-link (73) and the second upper sub-link (74).

[0146] Additionally, an auxiliary supporter (729) may be further provided at one end of the support member (728). The auxiliary supporter (729) may be mounted on the support member (728) and may be formed from a plastic material. For example, the auxiliary supporter (729) may be formed from an engineering plastic material or POM material having wear resistance and lubricity. The auxiliary supporter (729) may be called an upper auxiliary supporter.

[0147] The support member (728) may have an auxiliary support mounting part (728a) formed with a step or a recess, on which the auxiliary supporter (729) is mounted. A protrusion (729a) is formed on the lower surface of the auxiliary supporter (729), and a groove (728b) is formed in the auxiliary support mounting part (728a) so that the auxiliary supporter (729) can be fixedly mounted to the support member (728).

[0148] And, the auxiliary supporter (729) may protrude further than the upper surface of the upper connecting link (72) while mounted on the support member (728). Accordingly, the auxiliary supporter (729) may come into contact with the lower surface of the first upper sub-link (73) during the process of the first upper sub-link (73) rotating.

[0149] The upper link module (70) is structured such that a plurality of links (72, 73, 74) are accommodated in the internal space of the upper main link (71), and has a slim structure in the vertical direction to satisfy the total thickness of the center hinge (60). In such a structure, the first upper sub-link (73) or the second upper sub-link (74) may sag downward during the operation of the upper link module (70). At this time, in order to prevent interference with other components as the first upper sub-link (73) or the second upper sub-link (74) sags downward, an auxiliary supporter (729) of the upper connecting link (72) supports the first upper sub-link (73) or the second upper sub-link (74).

[0150] In detail, if food is stored in the upper door (20) or if the upper link module (70) is heavy, partial sagging may occur. In particular, during the process of opening and closing the upper door (20), the first upper sub-link (73) and the second upper sub-link (74) may unfold, and in this state, it may become more vulnerable to sagging.

[0151] At this time, even if the first upper sub-link (73) or the second upper sub-link (74) sags, the first upper sub-link (73) and the second upper sub-link (74) can be supported from below by the support member (725). In particular, when the first upper sub-link (73) sags downward during rotational movement, it can come into contact with the auxiliary supporter (729), thereby allowing the rotation of the first upper sub-link (73) to be performed more smoothly. In addition, when the first upper sub-link (73) is supported by the protruding auxiliary supporter (729), the second upper sub-link (74) is naturally maintained in a state separated from the upper connecting link, so that the second upper sub-link (74) can rotate smoothly without interfering with the upper connecting link (72).

[0152] Below, we will examine the structure of the lower link module (80) in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0153] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a lower link module, which is a component of the center hinge.

[0154] Referring to the drawing, the lower link module (80) may have a planar shape that is entirely identical to the upper link module (70), and may have the same structure and shape as the upper link module (70) even when folded or unfolded when viewed from above.

[0155] The lower link module (80) may include the lower main link (81), the first lower sub-link (83), the second lower sub-link (84), and the lower door bracket (85). In this case, the structure may have a first lower sub-link (83) and the second lower sub-link (84) being rotatably connected to each other between the lower main link (81) and the lower door bracket (85). Additionally, the lower link module (80) may further include a lower connecting link (82) connecting the second lower sub-link (84) and the hinge bracket (61).

[0156] Looking at this in more detail, the lower main link (81) can be formed from a plate-shaped metal material and can be formed in a shape that does not interfere with the hinge bracket (61), lower door (30), and lower door bracket (85) during the rotation process, similar to the planar shape of the upper main link (71). That is, the hinge bracket (61), lower main link (81), and lower door bracket (85) can be formed so that they do not interfere with each other during the folding or unfolding process.

[0157] A lower main hole (811) through which the main rotation axis (62) passes may be formed at one end of the lower main link (81). Additionally, a spacer (817) through which the main rotation axis (62) passes may be further provided below the lower main hole (811) so that the lower main link (81) can be kept separated from the lower surface of the hinge bracket (61).

[0158] Additionally, a shaft hole (812, 813) may be formed in the lower main link (81) to which the ends of the first lower sub-link (83) and the second lower sub-link (84) are axially coupled. A shaft (814, 815) may pass through the shaft hole (812, 813), and the first lower sub-link (83) and the second lower sub-link (84) may be rotatably coupled. Furthermore, at least one washer (816, 816a, 817, 817a) may be disposed on the shaft (814, 815). The gap between the lower main link (81) and the first lower sub-link (83) and the second lower sub-link (84) can be kept constant by the washer (816, 816a, 817, 817a), and smooth rotational movement can be ensured.

[0159] The thickness of the lower main link (81) can be formed as a plate thinner than the thickness of the upper main link (71), and thus the thickness of the lower link module (80) itself can be formed to be significantly thinner than the thickness of the upper link module (70). The lower link module (80) simply fixes the upper end of the lower door (30), and the actual load of the lower door (30) can be supported by the lower hinge (50). Therefore, the thickness of the lower link module (80) can be minimized to secure the thickness of the upper link module (70), and it may be possible to minimize the thickness of the center hinge (60).

[0160] The first lower sub-link (83) may be formed in the shape of a metal plate and may be axially coupled to the end of the lower main link (81) by the shaft (814). Additionally, the first lower sub-link (83) may be extended to be connected to one side of the lower door bracket (85) and may be rotatably coupled to the lower door bracket (85) by the shaft (855). That is, the first lower sub-link (83) may have shaft holes (831, 832) formed at each end, and shafts (814, 855) may be coupled to the shaft holes (831, 832) respectively, so that they may be rotatably connected to the lower main link (81) and the lower door bracket (85), respectively. In addition, a washer (816, 816a, 857) is provided on the shaft (814, 855) to which the first lower sub-link (83) is axially coupled, so that the rotation of the first lower sub-link (83) can be made smooth.

[0161] Meanwhile, an outer portion of the circumferential surface of the first lower sub-link (83) may be formed in a straight shape. Additionally, an inner portion of the circumferential surface of the first lower sub-link (83) may be formed in an inclined and recessed shape to correspond to the second lower sub-link (84). Thus, when the lower link module (80) is fully unfolded, the first lower sub-link (83) and the second lower sub-link (84) interfere with each other, thereby allowing the rotation of the lower link module (80) to be completed.

[0162] The second lower sub-link (84) may be formed in the shape of a plate made of metal material, and one end may be rotatably mounted to the lower main link (81) by a shaft (815). At this time, one end of the second lower sub-link (84) may be rotatably mounted between the shaft (814) to which the first lower sub-link (83) is coupled and the main rotation axis (62).

[0163] Additionally, the second lower sub-link (84) may be extended to be connected to the lower door bracket (85) and may be rotatably connected to the lower door bracket (85) by a shaft (854). That is, the second lower sub-link (84) may have shaft holes (841, 842) formed at each end, and shafts (815, 854) may be connected to each of the shaft holes (841, 842) to be rotatably connected to the lower main link (81) and the lower door bracket (85), respectively. Furthermore, washers (817, 817a, 856) are provided on the shafts (815, 854) to which the second lower sub-link (84) is axially connected to facilitate the smooth rotation of the second lower sub-link (84).

[0164] The ends of the first lower sub-link (83) and the second lower sub-link (84) can each be connected to the lower door bracket (85). The lower door bracket (85) is connected to the upper surface of the lower door (30), and can connect the lower link module (80) and the lower door (30).

[0165] The lower door bracket (85) may be formed of a metal material and may include a plate-shaped lower plate (851) and a lower shaft (852). Specifically, the lower plate (851) is formed in a plate shape and may have a plate hole (853) formed therein to which the ends of the first lower sub-link (83) and the second lower sub-link (84) can be axially connected. The plate hole (853) is provided on each side, and the first lower sub-link (83) and the second lower sub-link (84) can be rotatably connected by shafts (854, 855).

[0166] Meanwhile, the lower shaft (852) extends downward from the lower plate (851), and a pair may be spaced apart from each other. The lower shaft (852) is inserted into the lower surface of the lower door and may be coupled so that the lower door (30) rotates together with the lower link module (80).

[0167] The shaft (854, 855) connecting the lower plate (851) and the first lower sub-link (83) and the second lower sub-link (84) is provided with at least one washer (856, 857) so that the first lower sub-link (83) and the second lower sub-link (84) can maintain a stable axial connection state with the lower plate (851).

[0168] Meanwhile, a sub-connecting hole (843) may be further formed in the second lower sub-link (84). The sub-connecting hole (843) may be located between the shaft holes (841, 842) at both ends of the second lower sub-link (84), allowing the second lower sub-link (84) to be connected to the lower connecting link (82). That is, a shaft (844) passing through the sub-connecting hole (843) of the second lower sub-link (84) may be fastened to pass through the connecting hole (826) of the lower connecting link (82), so that the second lower sub-link (84) and the lower connecting link (82) can be rotatably coupled to each other.

[0169] The lower connecting link (82) is positioned below the first lower sub-link (83) and the second lower sub-link (84) and may be configured to prevent downward sagging of the first lower sub-link (83) and the second lower sub-link (84) and to assist in the rotation of the second lower sub-link (84).

[0170] In detail, the lower connecting link (82) is rotatably connected at one end to the hinge bracket (61) by the sub-rotation axis (63) and can be extended to the end of the lower main link (81). Also, the lower connecting link (82) can be extended to pass under the first lower sub-link (83) and the second lower sub-link (84). That is, the lower connecting link (82) is rotatably positioned inside the lower main link (81) and can support the first lower sub-link (83) and the second lower sub-link (84) from below.

[0171] A sub-rotation axis hole (821) through which the sub-rotation axis (63) passes may be formed at one end of the lower connecting link (82). Accordingly, the lower connecting link (82) is mounted on the hinge bracket (61) and can rotate around the sub-rotation axis (63).

[0172] A connecting hole (826) connected to the second lower sub-link (84) may be further formed in the lower connecting link (82). Additionally, a shaft (844) passing through the sub-connecting hole (743) of the second lower sub-link (84) may be fastened to pass through the connecting hole (826). Thus, the second upper sub-link (74) may be rotated in a state axially coupled with the upper main link (71) and the upper connecting link (72). The connecting hole (826) may be located at approximately the midpoint of the upper connecting link (72). Furthermore, washers (846, 846a) passing through the shaft (844) may be disposed on the upper and lower sides of the lower connecting link (82).

[0173] A sub-rotation axis hole (821) through which the sub-rotation axis (63) passes may be formed at the end of the first connecting part (825). Accordingly, the lower connecting link (82) can rotate around the sub-rotation axis (63) in the hinge bracket (61).

[0174] And, a connecting hole (826) is formed in the second connecting part (827), so that the second upper sub-link (74) has a rotatable coupling structure. Accordingly, the lower connecting link (82) and the second lower sub-link (84) can rotate relative to each other around the shaft (844).

[0175] The second connecting part (827) may be formed to extend past the second lower sub-link (84) to the first lower sub-link (83), and may support the first lower sub-link (83) below the first lower sub-link (83) and the second lower sub-link (84).

[0176] An auxiliary supporter (829) may be further provided at one end of the second connecting part (827). The auxiliary supporter (829) may be mounted on the end of the second connecting part (828) and may be formed of a plastic material. For example, the auxiliary supporter (829) may be formed of an engineering plastic material or POM material having wear resistance and lubricity. The auxiliary supporter (829) may be called a lower auxiliary supporter.

[0177] In the second connecting part (827), an auxiliary support mounting part (828a) on which the auxiliary supporter (829) is mounted may be formed in a stepped or recessed manner. A protrusion (829a) is formed on the lower surface of the auxiliary supporter (829), and a groove (828b) is formed in the auxiliary support mounting part (828a), so that the auxiliary supporter (829) can be fixed to the auxiliary support mounting part (828a) by the combination of the protrusion (829a) and the groove (828b).

[0178] And, the auxiliary supporter (829) may protrude further than the upper surface of the upper connecting link (72) while mounted on the second connecting part (827). Accordingly, the auxiliary supporter (829) may come into contact with the lower surface of the first lower sub-link (83) during the process of the first lower sub-link (83) rotating.

[0179] The lower link module (80) has a thin plate-like structure to satisfy the total thickness of the center hinge (60). In such a structure, the first lower sub-link (83) or the second lower sub-link (84) may sag downward during the operation of the lower link module (80). At this time, in order to prevent interference with other components as the first lower sub-link (83) or the second lower sub-link (84) sags downward, an auxiliary supporter (829) of the lower connecting link (82) supports the first lower sub-link (83) or the second lower sub-link (84).

[0180] In detail, when a heavy object is stored in the lower door (30) or an excessive downward load is applied, the lower link module (80) may partially sag. In particular, during the process of opening and closing the lower door (30), the first lower sub-link (83) and the second lower sub-link (84) may unfold, and in this state, it may become more vulnerable to sagging.

[0181] At this time, even if the first lower sub-link (83) and the second lower sub-link (84) sag, the first lower sub-link and the second lower sub-link can be supported from below by the second connecting part. In particular, when the first lower sub-link (83) sags downward during rotational movement, it can come into contact with the auxiliary supporter (829), thereby allowing the rotation of the first lower sub-link (83) to be performed more smoothly. In addition, when the first lower sub-link (83) is supported by the protruding auxiliary supporter (829), the second lower sub-link (84) is naturally maintained in a spaced-away state from the upper connecting link (72), so that the second lower sub-link (84) can rotate smoothly without interfering with the upper connecting link (72).

[0182] Meanwhile, a pair of supporters (86) may be provided on the upper surface of the lower main link (81). The supporters (86) can support the lower link module (80) so that it is not constrained by catching even if downward sagging occurs during the rotational movement of the upper link module (70). In addition, the supporters (86) are formed from an engineering plastic or POM material having wear resistance and lubrication performance, so that when the upper link module (70) comes into contact with the supporters (86), the upper link module (70) is not constrained by catching and can rotate smoothly.

[0183] Below, we will examine the supporter (86) in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0184] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view taken from above showing a disassembled supporter provided in the lower link module. FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view taken from below showing a disassembled supporter provided in the lower link module. FIG. 13 is a cutaway perspective view taken along line XIII-XIII' of FIG. 5. FIG. 14 is an enlarged view of section A of FIG. 13. FIG. 15 is a cutaway perspective view taken along line XV-XV' of FIG. 5.

[0185] As illustrated in the drawing, the supporter (86) may be mounted on the upper surface of the lower main link (81). Multiple supporters (86) may be provided. For example, two supporters (86) may be provided along the lower main link (81) and may consist of a first supporter (86a) and a second supporter (86b). The first supporter (86a) and the second supporter (86b) may have the same overall configuration, differing only in size and mounting position. Therefore, a detailed description of the second supporter (86b) will be omitted.

[0186] The supporter (86) may be formed in a plate shape and may be mounted on a supporter mounting portion (818) formed on the upper surface of the lower main link (81). The supporter (86) may be formed from a plastic material having wear resistance and lubricity and may be firmly attached to the upper surface of the lower main link (81) formed from a metal material.

[0187] The supporter mounting portion (818) is formed in a shape corresponding to the supporter (86) and may be formed as a recess. Additionally, the supporter mounting portion (818) may be composed of a first supporter mounting portion (818a) on which the first supporter (86a) is mounted and a second supporter mounting portion (818b) on which the second supporter (86b) is mounted.

[0188] The supporter (86) can be seated and fixed inside the supporter mounting portion (818). Specifically, a plurality of supporter coupling protrusions (865) protruding downward are formed on the lower surface of the supporter (86), and a supporter coupling hole (818c) into which the supporter coupling protrusions (865) are inserted can be formed in the supporter mounting portion (818) corresponding to the position of the supporter coupling protrusions (865). Accordingly, the supporter (86) can be firmly fixedly mounted to the lower main link (81).

[0189] The lower surface of the supporter (86) may be in close contact with the inner surface of the supporter mounting part (818), and the upper surface of the supporter (86) may protrude further upward than the upper surface of the lower main link (81). Accordingly, when the upper link module (70) sags downward, the lower surface of the upper link module (70) is supported by contacting the upper surface of the supporter (86), and does not come into contact with other components below, including the lower main link (81).

[0190] The upper surface of the supporter (86) protruding above the lower main link (81) may include an intermediate section (861), a front guide section (863), and a rear guide section (864). Specifically, the intermediate section (861) may form most of the upper surface of the supporter (86) and may form the space between the front guide section (863) and the rear guide section (864). The intermediate section (861) may form the protruding upper surface of the supporter (86) and may be formed in a flat shape having the same height.

[0191] And, the front guide portion (863) may extend forward from the front end of the middle portion (861) and may form the front end of the supporter (86). The front guide portion (863) may be formed with a slope or a rounded shape so that its height decreases as it extends forward.

[0192] Additionally, the rear guide portion (864) may extend rearward from the rear end of the intermediate portion (861) and may form the rear end of the supporter (86). The rear guide portion (864) may be formed with a slope or a rounded shape so that its height decreases as it extends rearward.

[0193] Accordingly, during the rotation process of the upper link module (70) or lower link module (80), the lower surface of the upper link module (70) may begin to contact the front guide (863) or rear guide (864) and move to the middle section (861). That is, as contact begins along the slope or round of the front guide (863) and rear guide (864), the upper link module (70) can move smoothly in the contact state.

[0194] The front-to-back width of the supporter (86) may be formed to be the same as the front-to-back width of the lower main link (81). That is, the front end of the supporter (86) is located at a position corresponding to the front end of the lower main link (81) and may be formed to be identical to the front end shape of the lower main link (81). Also, the rear end of the supporter (86) is located at a position corresponding to the rear end of the lower main link (81) and may be formed to be identical to the rear end shape of the lower main link (81). Furthermore, the supporter (86) may have a first supporter (86a) and a second supporter (86b) arranged in multiple numbers along the lower main link (81).

[0195] Accordingly, the upper link module (70) can maintain a state of contact with the supporter (86) without contacting the lower main link (81) at any position during operation. In particular, at the moment the lower surface of the upper link module (70) passes a position corresponding to the front or rear end of the lower main link (81), it begins to contact the front guide (863) or rear guide (864) of the supporter (86), thereby ensuring smooth operation of the upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80).

[0196] Meanwhile, the supporter (86) may be provided with a supporting ball (867). The supporting ball (867) may be mounted on the supporter (86) in a structure such as a ball bearing. The supporting ball (867) may come into contact with the lower surface of the upper link module (70) to allow the upper link module (70) to move more smoothly in a contact state.

[0197] The above supporting balls (867) may be provided in multiple numbers on the supporter (86). The supporting balls (867) may be spaced apart in all directions and may maintain contact while the upper link module (70) passes through the supporter (86).

[0198] The supporting ball (867) may be positioned on the boundary line between the front guide section (863) and the middle section (861), and on the boundary line between the rear guide section (864) and the middle section (861). That is, the supporting ball (867) is provided at the front and rear ends of the middle section (861) to support the upper link module (70) passing through the front guide section (863) or the rear guide section (864). Therefore, the upper link module (70) can move more naturally in contact with and in contact with the supporter (86) of the protruding structure.

[0199] The supporting ball (867) may be provided between the supporter mounting portion (818) and the supporter (86), and may be configured to protrude at least a portion upward through the upper surface of the supporter (86).

[0200] In detail, a receiving groove (818d) that is recessed downward may be formed in the supporter mounting portion (818). The receiving groove (818d) may be formed to receive the supporting ball (867). The supporting ball (867) may rotate while received in the receiving groove (818d), and at least a portion may protrude upward from the receiving groove (818d).

[0201] Additionally, a support opening (866) may be formed in the supporter (86). The support opening (866) may be formed in a position facing the receiving groove (818d). Furthermore, the inner diameter of the support opening (866) may be formed to be smaller than the diameter of the supporting ball (867). Additionally, the support opening (866) accommodates a portion of the upper part of the supporting ball (867), and a portion of the supporting ball (867) may protrude upward through the support opening (866). The support opening (866) may be formed so that its diameter narrows toward the top, and thus the inner surface of the support opening (866) may surround the outer surface of the supporting ball (867), allowing the supporting ball (867) to rotate in a stable state without moving.

[0202] Additionally, the supporting ball (867) can be maintained in a state of being received in the space between the supporter opening (866) and the receiving groove (818d). Furthermore, the upper end of the supporting ball (867) protruding upward from the supporter (86) can be rotated in contact with the lower surface of the upper link module (70). That is, the supporting ball (867) can be supported from below by rotatably contacting the upper link module (70) to allow the upper link module (70) to move more smoothly.

[0203] In detail, as illustrated in FIGS. 14 and 15, the supporting ball (867) may come into contact with the lower surface of the upper main link (71) of the upper link module (70). Thus, when the upper link module (70) is rotated or the lower link module (80) is rotated, the supporting ball (867) may come into contact with the lower surface of the upper main link (71) that is being moved.

[0204] At this time, even if the upper link module (70) is slightly sagging downward due to the load of the upper door (20), the operation of the upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) can be performed without interference by the supporting ball (867) and the supporter (86).

[0205] Of course, the upper door (20) may be in a light state, or the upper link module (70) may not sag relatively during the initial installation of the refrigerator (1), and when the upper link module (70) does not sag, the supporting ball (867) and the upper link module (70) may not always come into contact.

[0206] Below, we will examine the state of the center hinge (60) according to the open / closed state of the upper door (20) and the lower door (30) with reference to the drawing.

[0207] FIG. 16 is a drawing showing the state of the center hinge with the upper door in an open state. FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the state in which the upper link module is rotated. FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the state in which the lower link module is rotated.

[0208] Referring to the drawings, when both the upper door (20) and the lower door (30) are closed as in FIG. 1, the user can open the upper door (20) by rotating it as in FIG. 16.

[0209] When the user operates the upper door (20) to open it, the rotational operation of the upper link module (70) begins. Then, depending on the rotational operation of the upper door (20), the upper link module (70) can be operated from the completely folded state of FIG. 5 to the unfolded state as shown in FIG. 16.

[0210] In detail, the operation of the upper link module (70) of the upper hinge (40) and the center hinge (60) is performed according to the user's operation of the upper door (20), and the upper door (20) can be opened by rotating together according to the rotational trajectory of the upper link module (70) of the center hinge (60).

[0211] At this time, the upper link module (70) operates in a state of supporting the upper door (20) from below. The upper link module (70) can be rotated and unfolded until the upper door (20) begins to rotate and is fully opened.

[0212] That is, the upper main link (71) rotates counterclockwise with respect to the main rotation axis (62) as the upper door (20) begins to open, and the upper connecting link (72) begins to rotate counterclockwise with respect to the sub rotation axis (63). Then, the ends of the first upper sub-link (73) and the second upper sub-link (74) connected to the upper main link (71) begin to rotate clockwise. And, the upper door bracket (75) connected to the other ends of the first upper sub-link (73) and the second upper sub-link (74) rotates counterclockwise.

[0213] At this time, the upper main link (71), the first upper sub link (73), and the second upper sub link (74) are positioned inside the upper main link (71) and can be rotated while moving together with the upper main link (71). Also, the upper connecting link (72) supports the first upper sub link (73) and the second upper sub link (74) from below so that they do not sag.

[0214] The upper link module (70) is configured so that the upper door (20) rotates away from the front of the cabinet (10), and due to this structural feature, when the opening of the upper door (20) begins, the upper link module (70) may sag slightly downward.

[0215] However, the upper link module (70) can be supported from below by the supporter (86) and rotated without interfering with the lower link module (80). That is, while the upper main link (71) is rotating, the upper main link (71) can be maintained in a supported state by the supporting ball (867) and the supporter (86), and smooth rotational movement of the upper main link (71) can be ensured.

[0216] Meanwhile, when the user opens the lower door (30), the rotational operation of the lower link module (80) begins. Then, depending on the rotational operation of the upper door (20), the lower link module (80) can be rotated and unfolded from the completely folded state of FIG. 17 to the state of FIG. 18.

[0217] In detail, the lower link module (80) of the lower hinge (50) and the center hinge (60) is operated according to the user's operation of the lower door (20), and the lower door (30) can be opened by rotating together according to the rotational trajectory of the lower link module (80) of the center hinge (60).

[0218] At this time, the lower link module (80) operates in a state where it connects the lower door (30) from above. The lower link module (80) can be unfolded while rotating until the lower door (30) starts to rotate and is fully opened.

[0219] That is, the lower main link (81) rotates counterclockwise with respect to the main rotation axis (62) as the lower door (30) begins to open, and the lower connecting link (82) begins to rotate counterclockwise with respect to the sub rotation axis (63). Then, the ends of the first lower sub-link (83) and the second lower sub-link (84) connected to the lower main link (81) begin to rotate clockwise. And, the lower door bracket (85) connected to the other ends of the first lower sub-link (83) and the second lower sub-link (84) rotates counterclockwise.

[0220] At this time, the lower main link (81), the first lower sub-link (83), and the second lower sub-link (84) can be rotated while moving together with the lower main link (81) while in a state combined with the lower main link (81). And, the lower connecting link (82) supports the first lower sub-link (83) and the second lower sub-link (84) from below so that they do not sag.

[0221] As the lower main link (81) and the lower connecting link (82) continuously rotate according to the opening rotation of the lower door (30), the first lower sub-link (83) and the second lower sub-link (84) also rotate together.

[0222] Meanwhile, while the lower link module (80) is in operation, the upper link module (70) may be slightly sagging due to the weight of the upper door (20). However, the upper link module (70) is supported from below by the supporter (86) so as not to interfere with the lower link module (80).

[0223] Therefore, interference with the upper link module (70) can be prevented even while the lower link module (80) is rotating, and smooth rotational movement of the lower main link (81) can be ensured.

[0224] And, the process of closing the upper door (20) and the lower door (30) is performed in the reverse order of the opening process described above, and similarly, the supporter (86) supports the upper link module (70) from below so that the rotational movement of the upper link module (70) and the lower link module (80) can be performed smoothly.

[0225] Meanwhile, the center hinge according to the embodiment of the present invention may have various other embodiments in addition to the aforementioned embodiment.

[0226] Hereinafter, other embodiments of the present invention will be examined in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0227] Another embodiment of the present invention may differ only in the combination of the upper link module and the lower link module constituting the center hinge, while having the same detailed configuration. Therefore, to prevent duplication of description, identical components are indicated using the same reference numerals or their detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0228] FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a center hinge according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0229] As illustrated in the drawing, a center hinge (60'') according to another embodiment of the present invention may include a hinge bracket (61) fixedly mounted to the cabinet (10), and an upper link module (80') and a lower link module (80) arranged vertically on the inner side of the hinge bracket (61). Furthermore, the structure and shape of the hinge bracket (61) and the lower link module (80) may be exactly the same as those of the previously described embodiment.

[0230] In detail, the hinge bracket (61) may have the same structure as the hinge bracket (61) of the previously described embodiment. The hinge bracket (61) may form a receiving space capable of accommodating both the upper link module (80') and the lower link module (80). Both the upper link module (80') and the lower link module (80) may be formed in a plate shape, and the upper and lower thickness of the hinge bracket (61) may be formed thinner than that of the previously described embodiment.

[0231] That is, if the thickness of the hinge bracket (61) is made thinner, the center hinge (60'') can be made more compact. Therefore, the thickness of the barrier (11) can be made thinner, and the gap between the upper door (20) and the lower door (30) can be made narrower to improve the appearance.

[0232] The lower link module (80) may be configured to include the lower main link (81) identical to the above-described embodiment, a lower connecting link (82), a first lower sub-link (83), a second lower sub-link (84), a lower door bracket (85), and a supporter (86).

[0233] In addition, the upper link module (80') may have the same structure as the lower link module (80) and the supporter (86), excluding the rest of the structure. That is, the upper link module (80') may also include an upper main link (81') having a plate-like structure like the lower link module (80), and a first upper sub-link (83'), a second upper sub-link (84'), and an upper connecting link (82) that are coupled to the upper main link (81'), and these configurations may have the same shape as the lower main link (81), the first lower sub-link (83), the second lower sub-link (84), and the lower connecting link (82), differing only in their names.

[0234] However, since the upper link module (80') must be connected to the lower surface of the upper door (20), the upper shaft of the upper door bracket (85) may be formed to face upward.

[0235] Meanwhile, the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention may have various other embodiments in addition to the aforementioned embodiment.

[0236] Hereinafter, other embodiments of the present invention will be examined in more detail with reference to the drawings.

[0237] Other embodiments of the present invention may differ only in the structure of the cabinet and door, while the configuration of the center hinge may be the same as the previously described embodiments. Therefore, to prevent duplication of description, identical components are indicated using the same reference numerals or their detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0238] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the refrigerator with the upper door and lower door open.

[0239] As illustrated in the drawing, a refrigerator (1') according to another embodiment of the present invention may include a cabinet (10') forming a storage space and a door (20', 30') for opening and closing the storage space.

[0240] The storage space of the cabinet (10') may be divided vertically by a barrier (11'), and a refrigerator room (12') may be formed in the upper part and a freezer room (13') may be formed in the lower part. Additionally, the doors (20', 30') may include a refrigerator room door (20') and a freezer room door (30') that open and close the refrigerator room (12') and the freezer room (13'), respectively, and the refrigerator room door (20') and the freezer room door (30') may be rotatably mounted on the cabinet (10').

[0241] To this end, an upper hinge (40), a lower hinge (50), and a center hinge (60) may be provided on the front of the cabinet (10'). The structure of the upper hinge (40), the lower hinge (50), and the center hinge (60) is the same as that of the previously described embodiments, and therefore, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0242] The refrigerator (1') may be positioned so as to be embedded in furniture or a wall, or multiple refrigerators (1') may be positioned side by side laterally or side by side with other home appliances. In such cases, the perimeter of the door (20', 30') may be positioned very close to the furniture or wall, other refrigerators, or home appliances, so that a very narrow gap can be formed.

[0243] In this state, the refrigerator door (20') and the freezer door (30') can be rotated so as not to interfere with the adjacent furniture or wall, other refrigerator or home appliance. To this end, the upper hinge (40), the lower hinge (50), and the center hinge (60) may be composed of a combination of multiple links, and the doors may be configured to rotate along a set trajectory so as not to interfere with the furniture or wall, other refrigerator or home appliance during the operation of the upper hinge (40), the lower hinge (50), and the center hinge (60).

[0244] In particular, the center hinge (60) is mounted on the barrier (11') and can independently support the refrigerator door (20') and the freezer door (30'), respectively, and the refrigerator door (20') and the freezer door (30') can be rotated by the center hinge (60).

[0245] In addition, the center hinge (60) can be mounted on a barrier (11') with a narrow vertical width, and can have a mounting structure that minimizes the distance between the bottom of the refrigerator door (20') and the top of the freezer door (30') by having a particularly compact structure.

[0246] The above center hinge (60) may use the center hinge (60, 60'') of the above-described embodiment and may have a structure including an upper link module (70, 80') and a lower link module (80).

[0247] Therefore, even if the weight of the door (20') that shields the refrigerator room (12') and the freezer room (13') is heavy, it is possible to prevent the door (20') and the upper link module (70, 80') from sagging excessively. In addition, even if the door (20') and the upper link module (70, 80') sag while the door (20') is open, the upper link module (70, 80') is supported by the supporter (86) and allows for smooth relative movement of the upper link module (70, 80'), thereby enabling smooth opening and closing operation of the door (20').

Claims

Claim 1 A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet having an upper storage space and a lower storage space partitioned by a barrier; an upper door that opens and closes the upper storage space by rotation; a lower door that opens and closes the lower storage space by rotation; a hinge bracket including a base portion fixed to the front of the barrier and a pair of side portions extending forward from the top and bottom of the base portion and spaced apart from each other; an upper link module axially coupled to the hinge bracket and fixedly mounted on the lower surface of the upper door to rotate the upper door; and a lower link module axially coupled to the hinge bracket and fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the lower door to rotate the lower door, wherein the upper link module and the lower link module are arranged vertically in the area between the side portions, and the lower link module is formed in a plate shape and is formed to be thinner in the vertical direction than the upper link module. Claim 2 A refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that a supporter is provided between the upper link module and the lower link module, which contacts the upper link module or the lower link module when the upper link module or the lower link module is operated. Claim 3 A refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the supporter is formed in a plate shape, a front guide portion is formed at the front end of the supporter such that it becomes lower towards the front, and a rear guide portion is formed at the rear end of the supporter such that it becomes lower towards the rear. Claim 4 A refrigerator according to claim 3, characterized in that an intermediate section is formed at the same height between the front guide section and the rear guide section. Claim 5 A refrigerator according to claim 4, characterized in that a supporting ball that rolls in contact with the upper link module or lower link module is provided on the boundary line between the middle section and the front guide section and on the boundary line between the middle section and the rear guide section. Claim 6 A refrigerator according to claim 2, characterized in that the supporter is provided with a supporting ball that rolls in contact with the upper link module or the lower link module, at least a portion of which is exposed to the outside. Claim 7 A refrigerator according to claim 6, characterized in that a plurality of supporting balls are spaced apart in the front-rear direction. Claim 8 A refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the supporter has a supporter opening through which the supporting ball is exposed, the supporting ball is positioned below the supporter opening, and the inner diameter of the supporter opening is formed to be smaller than the diameter of the supporting ball. Claim 9 A refrigerator according to claim 8, characterized in that the supporter opening is formed such that its inner diameter narrows as it extends upward. Claim 10 A refrigerator according to claim 8, characterized in that the supporting ball protrudes further upward than the supporter opening. Claim 11 A refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper link module is formed by bending a plate-shaped metal material multiple times to be thicker in the vertical direction than the lower link module. Claim 12 A refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that a supporter supporting the upper link module is mounted on the upper part of the lower link module. Claim 13 A refrigerator according to claim 12, characterized in that the upper link module and the lower link module rotate independently around the same axis of rotation, and a spacer is provided between the pair of side parts that is penetrated by the axis of rotation and maintains a gap between the upper link module and the lower link module inside the hinge bracket. Claim 14 A refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the lower link module comprises: a lower main link axially coupled to the hinge bracket and facing the lower surface of the upper link module; a lower door bracket coupled to the door; a first lower sub-link axially coupled to one side of the lower main link and one side of the lower door bracket, respectively; a second lower sub-link axially coupled to the other side of the lower main link and the other side of the lower door bracket, respectively; and a lower connecting link axially coupled to one side of the lower main link and another side of the second lower sub-link. Claim 15 A refrigerator according to claim 14, characterized in that a supporter mounting portion is formed on the upper surface of the lower main link, which is recessed in a shape corresponding to the supporter and on which the supporter is mounted. Claim 16 A refrigerator according to claim 15, characterized in that a plurality of supporters are provided along the upper surface of the lower main link. Claim 17 A refrigerator according to claim 15, characterized in that a plurality of coupling protrusions protruding downward are formed on the lower surface of the supporter, and a plurality of coupling holes into which the coupling protrusions are inserted are formed in the supporter mounting portion. Claim 18 A refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein a supporting ball is provided between the supporter and the supporter mounting portion that contacts the lower surface of the upper link module, a receiving groove is formed in the supporter mounting portion corresponding to the supporting ball to receive the supporting ball, and a supporter opening is formed in the supporter corresponding to the supporting ball through which the upper end of the supporting ball passes. Claim 19 A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet having an upper storage space and a lower storage space formed by partitioning by a barrier; an upper door that opens and closes the upper storage space by rotation; a lower door that opens and closes the lower storage space by rotation; a hinge bracket fixedly mounted on the front surface of the barrier; an upper link module axially coupled to the hinge bracket and fixedly mounted on the lower surface of the upper door to rotate the upper door; and a lower link module axially coupled to the hinge bracket and fixedly mounted on the upper surface of the lower door to rotate the lower door, wherein a supporter is mounted on the upper part of the lower link module to support the upper link module when the lower door is closed. Claim 20 A center hinge comprising: a hinge bracket fixedly mounted between the lower surface of an upper door and the upper surface of a lower door; an upper link module disposed on the upper portion of the hinge bracket and composed of a combination of multiple links to connect the hinge bracket and the upper door and rotate the upper door; and a lower link module disposed on the lower portion of the hinge bracket and composed of a combination of multiple links to connect the hinge bracket and the lower door and rotate the lower door, wherein a supporter is provided between the upper link module and the lower link module to contact the upper link module or the lower link module when the upper link module or the lower link module operates.

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