KR20130053318A - A latch device of sheet metal material and a refrigerator thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A latch device made of sheet metal materials and a refrigerator comprising the same are provided to prevent a latch device from being damaged and unfixed by forming a stopper and a latch member with sheet metal materials. CONSTITUTION: A latch device made of sheet metal materials comprises a latch member(160), a stopper(120), a mounting panel, and a hook insertion unit(170). The latch member rotates on a latch hinge shaft and is engaged with a locking hook. The stopper rotates on a stopper hinge shaft and is selectively engaged with the latch member. The mounting panel is manufactured into an integral type, is made of sheet metal materials, and is installed in a latch device through a joining unit. The mounting panel is integrally cut at the lateral side towards the inside for forming the hook insertion unit. The hook insertion unit is inserted with the locking hook.

Description

Sheet metal material latching device and refrigerator including same {A LATCH DEVICE OF SHEET METAL MATERIAL AND A REFRIGERATOR THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a sheet metal material latch device and a refrigerator including the same. More particularly, in a latch structure capable of easily opening and closing a door provided in a refrigerator, a latch member receiving a large force is formed of sheet metal material to provide rigidity. The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a latch structure made of sheet metal that improves durability and improves durability.

In general, the refrigerator is provided with a plurality of storage compartments for storing the stored matter. The storage chamber includes a refrigerating chamber for refrigerating and storing a freezer and a freezing chamber for freezing storage, and one side of the storage chamber is opened to store and take out food. One side of the storage compartment is formed to be opened so that the storage can be taken out, one side is provided with a refrigerator door for selectively shielding the storage compartment.

In general, the refrigerator storage compartment includes a refrigerating compartment for storing food at a low temperature, a refrigerating compartment for freezing food, and the like, and the refrigerator compartment and the freezing compartment are generally provided together.

The refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment may include a freezer compartment in an upper portion of the refrigerator, a refrigerator compartment in a lower portion of the refrigerator, or a freezer compartment in a left side as viewed from the front of the refrigerator, and a refrigerator compartment in a right side of the refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment. The arrangement of the refrigerator storage compartment is provided in various forms.

When the left or right door of the refrigerator is opened by pulling with a strong force by the sealed pressure inside, there is an inconvenience to pull by applying a force by holding a separate handle. This inconvenience has necessitated a structure in which the door of the refrigerator can be opened and closed simply.

Thus, in the related art, a latch structure is adopted in a refrigerator for simple opening and closing. In the related art, an embodiment employing a latch structure for convenience according to the opening / closing of a home bar can be seen.

Referring to Patent Document D1 of the prior art document, the home bar has an opening formed in the door so as to communicate with the inside of the refrigerator storage compartment, and the opening is provided with a home bar door which is opened / closed separately from the door. In addition, while the door of the refrigerator storage compartment is closed, the home bar door is opened / closed while storing and taking out food contained in a basket formed on the inner side of the home bar door, usually on the inner side of the door.

It is installed to be rotatable in the groove bar frame forming the opening frame of the door by a hinge member installed through the bottom of the groove bar door or a link fastened to both sides of the groove bar door.

In the home bar door disclosed in the prior art document D1, a home bar door having a home bar door which is rotatably coupled to the home bar frame of the refrigerator door opening with a hinge member, wherein the home bar door is closed and locked to the home bar frame. A latch assembly fastened to one surface of the groove bar door, a latch assembly for locking / releasing the latch member by pressing the groove bar door, and one surface of the latch assembly is opened to accommodate the latch assembly, and the other surface is sealed. It includes a housing to which the latch assembly and a portion thereof is fastened.

D1: Korean Patent Application No. 10-2005-0038232 (published date: November 10, 2006) Applicant: LGI Co., Ltd.

The present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art as described above, an object of the present invention is a latch structure of a refrigerator door system, a stopper and a latch member receiving a large force in the locking position engaged with each other in the latch device of the refrigerator door. It is formed by a sheet metal member is damaged by a large force to prevent the latch lock position is not fixed to malfunction.

Another object of the present invention is to form a mounting panel in which the devices for the latch structure is mounted integrally with a sheet metal material, the hook insertion portion is inserted into the hook hook portion is inserted into the locking hook that is latched to the mounting panel cut inwards from the inside The present invention provides a latch device and a refrigerator including the same so that a latch device equipped with a latch member and a stopper can be employed in various door means employing the latch structure as one completed unit.

Still another object of the present invention is to solve the noise problem caused by the collision with the hook hook formed of a metal material by covering the hook portion of the latch member included in the latch device of the present invention with a plastic covering member, When the material is formed of rust, the outer surface of the hook hook is rusted to prevent rust from affecting the durability of the hook, and furthermore, to prevent wear and breakage due to friction between the latch member and the hook, thereby improving durability. will be.

An object of the present invention is to provide a button for opening the latch separately to the handle of the refrigerator door for convenience of use, and also to open and close the refrigerator door to a refrigerator that can easily operate the latch using the handle To provide.

According to an aspect of the present invention for achieving the above technical problem, the present invention is a latch member formed of a sheet metal member, rotates about the latch hinge shaft, the latch member engaged with the latch hook; It is formed of a sheet metal member and rotates about the stopper hinge shaft, and is movable between a locking position for limiting the movement of the latch member after the locking hook is caught by the latch member and a release position where the latch member is separated from the locking hook. A stopper mounted to selectively engage the latch member; A mounting panel made of a sheet metal material, wherein the latch member and the stopper are mounted through the latch hinge shaft and the stopper hinge shaft, and installed by a coupling means in a mechanism forming a latch structure; And a hook insertion part which is integrally cut into the mounting panel from the side in the lateral direction and is inserted into the hook hook.

The latch member includes a hook catching portion which is cut in the lateral direction from the center to the hook hook so that the catching hook is indented and latched and locked, and the hook catching portion caught by the catching hook is covered by a covering member. It is characterized by that.

Then, the locking jaw selectively engaging the locking hook formed on the stopper is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the latch member, the locking jaw portion is exposed to the sheet metal member, and the hook hook portion caught by the hook hook is covered with plastic. To be covered by a member.

The latch device may further include a first push pin slidably mounted on the front surface of the first door and extending toward the stopper; A first button connected to the first push pin and configured to press from the outside; And a first pressing installation part to which the first pressing pin and the first button are mounted and fixedly installed on the mounting panel, wherein the stopper is pressed by the first pressing pin to rotate the locking member. Or to move to a release position.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the latch device includes a first spring having an elastic restoring force to operate the stopper and the latch member from the locked position to the released position, wherein the latch member and the stopper are respectively It includes a first spring fixing projection, one end of the first spring is fixed to the fixing projection of the latch member, the other end is fixed to the fixing projection of the stopper to allow the stopper and the latch member to rotate with elastic restoring force. .

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides a storage compartment formed in the refrigerator body; Upper and lower hinges mounted on upper and lower wall surfaces of the refrigerator main body; A first door coupled to the upper and lower hinges to selectively open and close the storage compartment and having a sealing material in contact with the main body; A second door disposed on the front surface of the first door to selectively open and close an inner space of the first door; A latch device provided on a front surface of the first door and formed of a sheet metal member to be rotatably mounted on an inner surface of the first door; And a hook hook disposed on an inner surface of the second door and coupled to the latch device, wherein the latch device includes: a latch member formed of a sheet metal member and rotating with a latch hinge axis to engage the hook hook; Formed of a sheet metal member to be selectively engaged with the latch member so as to be movable between a locking position that limits the movement of the latch member after the latching hook is engaged with the latch member and a release position from which the latch member is separated from the latching hook. Stopper; And a hook insertion portion into which the hook hook is inserted, wherein the stopper is rotated by the first push pin to be moved from the locked position to the released position.

And, the latch member, by rotating the latch hinge shaft formed on the mounting panel of the latch device to the axis to enable the movable between the locking position and the unlocking position to engage the locking hook, the stopper is attached to the latch device The latch member is fixed to the latch position or movable to the release position while rotating the stopper hinge shaft formed on the panel.

In addition, a locking jaw selectively engaging the locking hook formed on the stopper is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the latch member.

In the latch member of the present invention, the locking jaw portion is exposed to the sheet metal member, and the hook engaging portion portion caught by the hook hook is covered by the plastic covering member.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the latch device includes: a first push pin slidably mounted to the front of the first door and extending toward the stopper; A first button connected to the first push pin and configured to press from the outside; And a first pressing installation unit in which the first pressing pin and the first button are installed. The stopper is disposed to move from the locked position to the release position by being pressed by the first pressing pin to rotate.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the latch device includes a; first spring having an elastic restoring force to operate the stopper and the latch member from the locked position to the released position.

Thus, the latch member and the stopper each include a first spring fixing protrusion, one end of the first spring is fixed to the fixing protrusion of the latch member, the other end is fixed to the fixing protrusion of the stopper and the stopper The latch member rotates with elastic restoring force.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a handle mounted on an outer surface of the second door; And a latch release member disposed on the second door and the handle so as to face the latch device and to release the latch device.

The latch release member may further include: a second pressing part mounted on the second door so as to reciprocate to the first pressing pin; And a third pressing part mounted on the handle so as to reciprocate to the second pressing part side.

Preferably, the first pressing pins, the second and third pressing parts are arranged in a line.

The second pressing unit may include: a second pressing pin configured to move the first pressing pin in contact with the first button; And a second button coupled to the second push pin and installed on the second door via an elastic means.

The cross-sectional area of the second push pin is preferably smaller than the cross-sectional area of the first button.

The third pressing part may further include: a third pressing pin moving the second pressing part in contact with the second button; And a third button coupled to the second push pin and installed on the handle via the elastic means.

Preferably, the third push pin is to be in contact with the second button.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the present invention provides a storage compartment formed in the refrigerator body; Upper and lower hinges mounted on upper and lower wall surfaces of the refrigerator main body; Doors for selectively opening and closing the storage compartment in combination with the upper and lower hinges; A latch device selectively coupled to the door, accommodated in the front of the storage compartment, rotatably mounted, and formed of a sheet metal member; And a hook hook disposed on an inner surface of the door selectively coupled to the front surface of the storage compartment, the hook hook selectively coupled to the latch device, wherein the latch device is formed of a sheet metal member and rotates to a latch hinge axis to An engaging latch member; Formed of a sheet metal member to be selectively engaged with the latch member so as to be movable between a locking position that limits the movement of the latch member after the latching hook is engaged with the latch member and a release position from which the latch member is separated from the latching hook. Stopper; And a hook insertion portion into which the hook hook is inserted, wherein the stopper is rotated by the first push pin to be moved from the locked position to the released position.

And, the latch member, by rotating the latch hinge shaft formed on the mounting panel of the latch device to the axis to enable the movable between the locking position and the unlocking position to engage the locking hook, the stopper is attached to the latch device The latch member is fixed to the latch position or movable to the release position while rotating the stopper hinge shaft formed on the panel.

A locking jaw selectively engaged with the locking hook formed on the stopper is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the latch member, and the locking jaw portion is exposed to the sheet metal member, and the hook hook portion caught by the hook hook is formed of a plastic covering member. It is covered by.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the latch device, the first push pin slidably mounted on the front of the first door and extending to the stopper side; A first button connected to the first push pin and configured to press from the outside; And a first pressing installation unit in which the first pressing pin and the first button are installed, and the stopper is disposed to move from the locked position to the release position by being pressed by the first pressing pin to rotate.

And a first spring having an elastic restoring force to allow the stopper and the latch member to operate from the locked position to the release position, wherein the latch member and the stopper each include a first spring fixing protrusion. One end of the spring is fixed to the fixing protrusion of the latch member, and the other end is fixed to the fixing protrusion of the stopper to allow the stopper and the latch member to rotate with elastic restoring force.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is a handle mounted on the outer surface of the door; And a latch release member disposed on the door and the handle so as to face the latch device and releasing the latch device.

The latch release member may include a second pressing part mounted on the door so as to reciprocate to the first pressing pin side; And a third pressing part mounted on the handle so as to reciprocate to the second pressing part side.

According to an aspect of the present invention having the configuration as described above, the present invention in the case of a hinged refrigerator door system of the latch structure, the stopper and the latch member receiving a large force in the locking position engaged with each other in the latching device of the refrigerator door formed of a sheet metal member Therefore, it is possible to prevent the malfunction that the latch lock position cannot be fixed due to being damaged by a large force.

The present invention also provides a mounting panel on which the devices for the latch structure are mounted is integrally formed with a sheet metal material, and the hook insertion portion into which the hook is latched to the mounting panel is inserted is recessed from one side to the inside to be cut out. This allows the latch member and the latch device equipped with the stopper to be installed and employed by separate coupling means in various door means employing the latch structure as one completed unit.

The present invention also solves the noise problem caused by the hook hook portion of the latch member included in the latching device of the present invention is covered with a plastic covering member and hits the hook hook formed of a metallic material, and formed of a metallic material without coating. If the rust is generated to prevent the hook hook outer circumferential rust to affect the durability of the hook hook, and further improve the durability by preventing wear and damage due to the friction between the latch member and the hook hook.

The present invention also provides a refrigerator that provides convenience for use by providing a button to separately open the latch on the handle of the refrigerator door, and also provides a refrigerator that can be easily operated using the handle to open and close the refrigerator door. It is.

The present invention also allows the first door or the second door to be selectively opened depending on whether the latch release member disposed on the handle is used, so that the user can easily open the refrigerator door by using the handle alone.

1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention;
2 and 3 are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of the latch device of FIG.
4 and 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a latch release member formed on a latch device and a door of a refrigerator according to the present invention;
6 and 7 are cross-sectional views showing an embodiment in which a handle is added in the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5.
8 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of a latch device and a refrigerator including the same according to the present invention will be described in detail.

In the refrigerator having the latch structure of the prior art, when the door having the latch structure is closed and in the locked state, the hook is caught by the latch member, and a large force is applied in the opening direction. However, since the latch member is typically formed of a plastic member, a problem of breaking or breaking due to a large force is generated. Accordingly, since the latch lock state of the door cannot be maintained, the door is broken and requires repair.

Therefore, the present invention provides rigidity by forming the latch member and the stopper as a sheet metal member so as to promote the management and convenience of the use of the refrigerator door without causing problems such as breakage even when a large force is received while improving durability. Raise.

1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention, Figures 2 and 3 are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view showing a latch device of Figure 1, Figures 4 and 5 are a latch of the refrigerator according to the present invention 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a latch release member formed in the device and the door, and FIGS. 6 and 7 are views showing an embodiment in which a handle is added in the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5.

Hereinafter, the latch device 100 itself of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

The present invention is formed of a sheet metal member, the latch hinge shaft 161 rotates to the axis, the latch member 160 is engaged with the latching hook hook (270 shown in Figure 4); It is formed of a sheet metal member, the stopper hinge shaft 121 is rotated to the axis, the locking position and the latching member to limit the movement of the latch member 160 after the locking hook 270 is caught by the latch member 160 A stopper (120) mounted to selectively engage the latch member (160) so as to be movable between the latching hook (270) and the release position to be separated; It is made of a sheet metal material, and the latch member 160 and the stopper 120 are mounted through the latch hinge shaft 161 and the stopper hinge shaft 121, by means of separate coupling means to the mechanism forming the latch structure. A mounting panel 100a installed; And a hook insertion portion 170 formed integrally with the mounting panel 100a in the lateral direction from the side to the inner side, and the hook hook 270 is inserted therein. .

The mounting panel 100a is formed of a sheet metal material integrally formed as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and may be integrally fixed to a fixing device employing a latch structure of a door in refrigerators, washing machines, and other home appliances. To help. Accordingly, the mounting panel 100a may be mounted to the latch structure of the door by using a separate fastening hole and a fastening bolt, and the coupling means may be fixedly coupled by various means as well as the fastening bolt.

Particularly, by forming the mounting panel 100a integrally with a sheet metal material, the hook inserting portion 270 is formed in a shape in which the hook inserting portion 270 is recessed and cut inward from one side as shown in FIG. 3, and the hook inserting portion 270 is mounted. By being formed in the panel 100a, the latch device 100 equipped with the latch member 160 and the stopper 120 can be employed in various door means employing the latch structure as one completed unit.

The latch member 160, the hook hook portion 165 for cutting the recess in the lateral direction to the center direction so that the hook hook 270 is inserted into the latch hook is locked; includes the hook hook 270 The hook catching portion 165 to be caught is characterized by being covered by the covering member 168.

Thus, by hooking the hook portion 165 of the latch member 160 with the plastic covering member 168 it is possible to solve the noise problem due to the collision with the hook hook formed of a metal material. In addition, when the hook catching portion 165 of the latch member 160 is formed of a metal material without covering, rust may be generated. In the operation of contacting with the hook hook 270, the outer surface of the hook hook 270 may be rusted. The hook hook 270 may affect the durability. Thus, by covering the hook portion 165 of the latch member 160 with plastic, it is possible to prevent the durability degradation due to rust.

Furthermore, the covering member 168 may be formed of a plastic material of a smooth silicon surface to minimize the frictional force upon contact with the outer circumferential surface of the locking hook 270 made of aluminum metal. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent wear and damage due to the friction between the latch member 160 and the hook hook 270 to improve durability.

In addition, the locking jaw 163a selectively engaged with the locking hook 123a formed on the stopper 120 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the latch member 160, and the locking jaw 163a is formed of the sheet metal member 163. ), And the hook catching portion 165 of the hook hook 270 is covered by the plastic covering member 168.

This is because the locking jaw (163a) is to be in contact with the stopper 120 so as to support the locking position is made of a metal material so that the frictional force is small to prevent slipping off.

In addition, the latch device 160, the first push pin 130 is slidably mounted and extends toward the stopper 120; A first button 110 connected to the first push pin 130 and configured to press from the outside; And a first pressing installation part 140 in which the first pressing pin 130 and the first button 110 are mounted and fixedly installed on the mounting panel 100a. The stopper 120 includes the stopper 120. It is arranged to move the latch member 160 to the lock position or the release position by being pressed by the first push pin 130 to rotate.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the stopper 120 and the latch member 160 includes a first spring 150 having an elastic restoring force to operate from the locked position to the released position, and includes the latch member ( 160 and the stopper 120 includes first spring fixing protrusions 167 and 127, respectively, and one end of the first spring 150 is fixed to the fixing protrusion 167 of the latch member and the other end thereof. Is fixed to the fixing protrusion 127 of the stopper to allow the stopper 120 and the latch member 160 to rotate with elastic restoring force.

2 and 3, the first spring fixing protrusion 127 of the stopper is a protrusion formed spaced apart from the stopper hinge shaft 121, and the first spring fixing protrusion 167 of the latch member is the latch hinge. The protrusions are spaced apart from the shaft 161. Pulled by mutual tension by the first spring 150, each of the stopper and the latch member has an anti-clockwise rotation moment around the stopper hinge axis and the latch hinge axis. Accordingly, the stopper 120 allows the latch member 160 to move from the locked position to the released position by a restoring moment with respect to the rotation moment between the latch members 160.

Hereinafter, the refrigerator 10 having the latch structure of the sheet metal material of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

Referring to Figure 1, the embodiment 10 is a so-called French door refrigerator comprising a refrigerator compartment at the top and a freezer compartment at the bottom, and opening and closing the refrigerator compartment. The door is installed to open and close half of the refrigerating compartment, thereby allowing the user to partially open the front of the refrigerating compartment without taking out or inserting the stored article, which is advantageous in preventing cold air leakage.

However, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the French door refrigerator, and may be applied to a so-called "double door refrigerator" in which a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment which extend in the vertical direction of the refrigerator body are arranged side by side, and employ a latch structure in a general refrigerator. Any structure would be applicable.

On the other hand, the embodiment includes an interior door 1 having a cabinet 12 having a storage compartment therein and mounted by a hinge rotatably with respect to the cabinet 12. In addition, the front of the inner door (1) is also provided with an outer door (2) rotatably mounted through a hinge, the inner door and the outer door is installed so that each can be rotated individually. Accordingly, when only the outer door 2 is opened, the storage space provided in the outer door 2 is opened, and when the inner door 1 is opened, the storage chamber is opened. The outer door is provided with a plurality of baskets to provide a storage space independent of the refrigerating chamber.

2 to 4, the present invention is a storage compartment formed in the refrigerator body (10); Upper and lower hinges mounted on upper and lower wall surfaces of the refrigerator main body; A first door (1) coupled to the upper and lower hinges to selectively open and close the storage compartment and having a sealing material in contact with the main body; A second door (2) disposed on the front of the first door to selectively open and close an inner space of the first door; A latch device 100 provided on a front surface of the first door and formed of a sheet metal member to be rotatably mounted on an inner surface of the first door; And a hook hook 270 installed on an inner surface of the second door and coupled to the latch device.

In addition, the latch device 100 in the present invention, the latch member 160 is formed of a sheet metal member 163 and rotates to the latch hinge shaft 161 to engage with the hook hook 270; A locking position that is formed of a sheet metal member 123 to limit the movement of the latch member 160 after the locking hook 270 is caught by the latch member 160 and the latch member 160 and the locking hook 270 A stopper 120 mounted to selectively engage the latch member 160 so as to be movable between the release positions to be separated; And a hook insertion part 170 into which the hook hook 270 is inserted, wherein the stopper 120 is rotated by the first push pin 130 to be moved from the locked position to the released position. It is done.

The latch device 100 includes: a first button 110 that is elastically pushed into a through hole formed in an upper surface of the inner door 1; A first spring 150 elastically supporting the first button 110 and installed in the first pressing installation part 140 of the inner door; A first push pin 130 connected to the inside of the first button 110 to reciprocate left and right; And a stopper 120 for restraining the latch from being released by restraining the movement of the latch member 160 and a hook inserting portion 170 into which the hook hook 270 of the door is inserted.

The stopper 120 may release the latch member 160 by the pressing of the first push pin 130.

In addition, a locking jaw 163a selectively engaged with the locking hook 123a formed on the stopper 120 is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the latch member.

In the present invention, the latch member 160, the portion where the locking jaw (163a) is formed is exposed to the sheet metal member 163, the hook portion 165 that is caught on the hook hook 270 is covered with plastic To be covered by the member.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, in the latch device 100 of the present invention, the hook hook 270 of the refrigerator door is inserted into the latch hook to receive the greatest force, and the hook hook of the stopper 120 is received. 123a and the locking jaw 163a of the latch member 160 are engaged with each other. Accordingly, the stopper 120 and the latch member 160 are formed of sheet metal members 123 and 163 having high strength, thereby increasing strength and improving durability.

In addition, the hook hooking portion 165 in which the hook hook 270 is caught in the latch member 160 is also required to have a large strength by the hook hook 170. The hook hook 270 and the hook of the latch member 160 are required. Since there is a risk of damage due to frequent friction between the engaging portion 165 may be formed of a coating member 168 having a plastic coating on the sheet metal member 163 having a high strength.

Accordingly, the covering member 168 is preferably formed of a plastic member having a low friction coefficient of polyurethane or silicone series to be a member that slides.

The latch member 160 has a locking jaw 163a engaged with the stopper 120 on an outer circumferential surface thereof. As shown in FIG. 5, the locking hook 123a of the stopper 120 includes the locking jaw 163a. If the latch is locked, the rotation of the latch member is limited, but when the locking lock is released is configured to rotate freely.

5 to 7, when no external force is applied by the elastic means of the first spring 150, the latch member 160 rotates in a counterclockwise direction based on FIG. 5. do. Therefore, when the engagement with the stopper 120 is released, the locking hook may be released from the latch member by rotating in the counterclockwise direction. However, the rotation angle is less than 90 ° as shown in Figure 7 is configured to be returned to the state of Figure 6 when the locking hook advances to the latch member to push the latch member.

2 and 3, the latch member 160 rotates the latch hinge shaft 161 formed on the mounting panel 100a of the latch device 100 to the shaft, and the latching hook 270. The engagement member is movable between the locking position and the release position, and the stopper 120 rotates the stopper hinge shaft 121 formed on the mounting panel 100a of the latch device with the shaft as the latch member 160. To lock in the locked position or to move to the unlocked position.

In addition, the latch device 100, the first spring 150 as an elastic means having an elastic restoring force to operate the stopper 120 and the latch member 160 from the locked position to the release position.

Accordingly, the latch member 160 and the stopper 120 include first spring fixing protrusions 127 and 167, respectively, and one end of the first spring 150 is a fixing protrusion of the latch member 160. 167 and the other end is fixed to the fixing protrusion 127 of the stopper to allow the stopper 120 and the latch member 160 to rotate with each other by an elastic restoring force.

Referring to FIG. 5, when looking at the locking and releasing operations of the stopper 120 and the latch member 160, the stopper 120 rotates the stopper rotation shaft 121 in a clockwise direction with respect to the axis, and thus the latch member ( The rotation moment is received by the first spring 150 to rotate counterclockwise about the latch rotation shaft 161 of the 160.

As such, when the stopper 120 is pushed to the left to rotate clockwise, the locking hook 123a of the stopper 120 is spaced apart from the locking jaw 163a of the latch member 160 to release the latch member 160. Is released to the unlocked state.

Then, after unwinding in the state of FIG. 7, when the hook hook 270 is pushed back through the hook inserting portion 170, the hook hook 270 is hooked to the hook catching portion 165 of the latch member 160. Is caught, and when a force is applied in the direction pushing inwards, the locking member 163a is caught by the locking hook 123a of the stopper while the latch member 160 is rotated clockwise. In this case, the first spring 150 is fixed to each of the fixing projections 127 and 167 spaced apart from the hinge rotation shafts 121 and 161 of the stopper 120 and the latch member 160, respectively. It imparts rotation moment restoring force to rotate in the opposite direction.

Meanwhile, referring to FIG. 5, a latch device 100 is installed on a front surface of the inner door 1, and a second pressing part 200 is disposed below the outer door 2, and the latch device is disposed below the latch device 100. The hook hook 270 that is selectively coupled with the 100 is installed. The hook hook 270 is disposed to be inserted into the hook insertion unit 170 provided in the latch device 100, and the second pressing member 200 is provided in the latch device 100. It is disposed to face the push button 110.

Therefore, when the hook hook 270 is inserted into the hook insertion unit 170 and combined with the latch member 160, the outer door is kept closed in the inner door.

4 to 7, the latch device 100 includes a latch member 160 that is selectively coupled to the locking hook 270. In addition, the outer door 2 includes a hook hook 270 latched to the latch member 160 and a second pressing part 200 to release the door latch in cooperation with the latch device 100.

The latch device 100 includes: a first push pin 130 slidably mounted on the front surface of the first door 1 and extending toward the stopper 120; A first button 110 connected to the first push pin 130 and configured to press from the outside; And a first pressing installation unit 140 in which the first pressing pin 130 and the first button 110 are installed, and the stopper 120 is pressed by the first pressing pin 130 to rotate. It is arranged to move from the locked position to the release position.

The invention also comprises a handle (3) mounted on the outer surface of the second door (2); And a latch release member disposed on the second door 2 and the handle 3 so as to face the latch device 100 and releasing the latch device 100.

The latch release member may include: a second pressing part 200 mounted to the second door 2 so as to reciprocate to the first pressing pin 130; And a third pressing part 300 mounted to the handle so as to reciprocate to the second pressing part 200.

Thus, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the handle 3 includes a third pressing part 300 that presses the second pressing part 200. Preferably, the first push pins 130, the second and third push parts 200 and 300 are arranged in a line.

The second pusher 200 may include a second push pin 230 that elastically presses the first button to interlock with the first push pin 130 to release the latch; Second button 210; And a second spring 250.

In addition, in the second pusher 200, the second push pin 230 is in contact with the first button 110 to move the first push pin 310, the second button 210 is It is coupled to the second push pin 230, it is installed in the second door 2 via the elastic means 250. Preferably, the cross-sectional area of the second push pin 230 is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the first button 110.

In addition, the third pressing part 300 includes a third pressing pin 310 to move the second pressing part 200 in contact with the second button 210; And a third button 310 coupled to the second push pin 230 and installed on the handle 3 via the elastic means 350.

Preferably, the third push pin 310 is maintained in contact with the second button 210.

Referring now to the operation of the embodiment with reference to FIGS. 5 and 7, first, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the outer door 3 is closed to the inner door 1 by pressing the outer door on the upper surface of the inner door. The hook hook 270 is inserted into the hook insertion part 170 formed to penetrate the upper part of the inner door 1.

The latch member 160 is formed with a hook catching portion 165 as a U-shaped incision groove in which one side is recessed, and the hook catching portion 165 is formed to be inclined to the right side before the door is closed. As such, when the hooking hook 270 is pushed to the left while the hook hook 270 is caught by the hook hooking portion 165 in a state where the cutout groove of the latch member 160 is opened toward the hook insertion portion 170, the latch member 160 is clockwise. Will rotate.

The latch member 160 latches and restrains the hook hook 170, and the hook hook 170 is latched and restrained by the latch member 160 when viewed in a plan view in a non-referenced configuration. A locking portion is formed. Accordingly, the latch member 160 is rotated clockwise in the direction in which the hook hook 270 is pushed, and the hook hook portion 165 is vertically downwardly directed so that the protruding portion of the latch member 160 is caught by the hook hook 270. The hook hook 170 is latched into the locking part.

At this time, in order to restrain the rotation of the latch member 160, the locking hook 123a of the stopper 120 is formed to be locked in contact with the outer circumferential surface of the locking jaw 163a of the latch member 160, thereby latching the member 160. Since the counterclockwise rotation is constrained, the locking hook 170 is fixed in the locked state, so that the door 2 is kept closed.

Next, when releasing the latch locked door, the latch is released by pressing the second button 210 formed on the second pressing part 200 of the door 2 as shown in FIG. 5.

Accordingly, the second push pin 230 formed in connection with the second button 210 is fixed to penetrate through the door 2 to contact the first button 110. When the second button 210 is pressed, The second push pin 230 presses the first button 110, and the first push pin 130, which is formed to be connected to the first button 110 and fixed, pushes the stopper 130 to the left to rotate.

The stopper 130 restrains counterclockwise rotation of the latch member 160 as described above. The stopper 130 is pushed to the left by the first push pin 130 and the locking hook 123a of the stopper is latched ( The contact of the outer circumferential surface of the locking jaw 163a of the 160 is released. Here, since the first spring 150 has an anti-clockwise restoring moment by elastic restoring force, the latch member 160 naturally rotates counterclockwise, and the hook catching part 165 is tilted to the right. By being formed in the photo direction, the locking hook 170 caught on the protruding portion of the latch member 160 can be pulled out.

Here, the stopper 120 has a counterclockwise restoring moment by the first spring 150. When the lock is released, the stopper 120 pushes the first push pin 130 to the right. Accordingly, the first button 110 is returned to its original position. In addition, the second pressing part 200 includes a separate second spring 250 for restoring the second button 210, wherein the second button 210 is elastic by the second spring 250. Since it can be reciprocated, it is pushed back to the original position.

In order to realize the door lock function again, as described above, the outer hook 2 is pushed onto the inner door 1 as it is, so that the hook hook 270 is inserted into the hook insertion part 170 to latch the latch.

Hereinafter, a structure of a handle provided in the refrigerator door of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

The handle 3 includes a third pressing part 300 interlocking with the second pressing part 200 to release the latch of the outer door 2. The handle 3 is attached to the outer surface of the outer door 2 as shown in Figure 6 as a separate member, the fastening means is typically fixed to the binding bolt at the end or the center of the handle fixed.

The third pressing part 300 may include: a third pressing pin 330 elastically pressing the second pressing part 200 to release the door latch; A third button 310 fixed to the third push pin and exposed to an upper portion of the handle to elastically press the user; And a third spring 315 elastically supported by the third button to elastically reciprocate the third push pin and the third button.

Accordingly, the third pressing pin 330 of the third pressing part 300 may be in contact with the upper surface of the second button 210 to elastically compress.

In addition, the handle 3 includes a third push pin guide 320 to guide the second button 210 when the third push pin 330 elastically reciprocates.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the third push pin guide 320 allows the third push pin 330 to set a position in the handle 3, and typically, a third push pin guide ( 320 is formed in a long tubular shape so that the third push pin 330 can be penetrated and fixedly supported by the handle 3.

In addition, the third button 310 may include a third spring support part 350 for inducing and supporting the elastic action of the third spring 315. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the third spring support part 350 is preferably positioned slightly spaced from the position where the third push pin 330 is formed in the third button 310. Since the elastic support portion in which the third spring 315 is formed to support a separate load from the third push pin 330 is formed separately to prevent a risk such as a malfunction.

6 and 7, the third push pin 330 is formed by forming a third button 310 on the upper surface of the central part of the handle 3 by providing the handle 3 as a separate member. When the second button 210 is pressed, the second push pin 230 is formed to have a structure in which the latch is released by pressing the first button 110 which is fixedly connected to the first push pin 130 and connected in series.

When the handle 3 is integrally manufactured with the push pin, the length of the push pin may be increased, which may cause structural problems such as restraint. In addition, since the third pressing part 300 is formed on the handle 3 of the refrigerator door manufactured as a detachable type, only the second button 210 according to the second pressing part 200 is exposed to the outside without a handle. Since it can be easily applied to the refrigerator door, the management efficiency can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

When the third button 310 of the handle 3 is pressed in this way, the load is transferred axially to the third push pin 330, the second push pin 320, and the first push pin 310, and ultimately, The stopper 120 is pushed to the left. Accordingly, as described above, the latch member 160 rotates in the counterclockwise direction, and the latch lock can be released.

On the other hand, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the form shown, it can be applied even when having a conventional single door. 8 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention, which shows an embodiment having a single door, which is the same as the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, but the latch device 100 has an inner door. Is formed on the front portion (1) of the cabinet 12, not the difference in that the second pressing portion 200 is provided in the single door (2).

Accordingly, an embodiment thereof includes a storage compartment formed in a refrigerator body; Upper and lower hinges mounted on upper and lower wall surfaces of the refrigerator main body; Door (2) for selectively opening and closing the storage compartment in combination with the upper and lower hinges; A latch device (100) selectively coupled to the door, accommodated in the front of the storage compartment (1), rotatably mounted, and formed of a sheet metal member; And a hook hook 270 installed on an inner surface of the door 2 to be selectively coupled to the front of the storage compartment 1 and selectively coupled to the latch device 100.

Each detailed configuration of the latch device 100, the second pressing part 200, and the third pressing part 300 operates in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment.

The latch device 100, the latch member 160 is formed of a sheet metal member 163 is rotated by the latch hinge shaft 161 and engaged with the locking hook 270; Between the locking position formed by the sheet metal member 123 to limit the movement of the latch member 160 after the locking hook 270 is caught by the latch member 160 and the release position to separate the latch member from the locking hook A stopper 120 mounted to be selectively engaged with the latch member 160 to be movable; And a hook insertion part 170 into which the hook hook 270 is inserted, and the stopper 120 is rotated by the first push pin 130 and disposed to move from the locked position to the released position.

In addition, the latch member 160 is rotated by a latch hinge shaft 161 formed on the mounting panel 100a of the latch device 100 to the shaft, the locking position and the release position to be engaged with the locking hook 270. And the stopper 120 fixes the latch member 160 in the locked position while rotating the stopper hinge shaft 121 formed on the mounting panel 100a of the latch device 100 in its axis. To be able to move it to the release or release position.

In addition, a locking jaw 163a selectively engaged with the locking hook 123a formed on the stopper 120 is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the latch member 160, and the locking jaw 163a is formed of a sheet metal member 163. Exposed to the hook hook portion 165 that is caught by the hook hook 270 is covered by a plastic covering member 168.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the latch device 100, the first push pin 130 slidably mounted to the front of the storage compartment (1) and extending toward the stopper 120 side; A first button 110 connected to the first push pin 130 and configured to press from the outside; And a first pressing installation unit 140 in which the first pressing pin 130 and the first button 110 are installed, and the stopper 120 is pressed by the first pressing pin 130 to rotate. By moving from the locked position to the released position.

And a first spring 150 having an elastic restoring force to allow the stopper 120 and the latch member 160 to operate from the locked position to the release position. The latch member 160 and the stopper 120 ) Includes first spring fixing protrusions 127 and 167, one end of the first spring 150 is fixed to the fixing protrusion 167 of the latch member, and the other end thereof is a fixing protrusion of the stopper. 127 is fixed to the stopper 120 and the latch member 160 to rotate with elastic restoring force.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the invention is a handle (3) mounted on the outer surface of the door (2); And a latch release member disposed on the door 2 and the handle 3 so as to face the latch device 100 and releasing the latch device 100.

The latch release member may further include: a second pressing part 200 mounted to the door 2 so as to reciprocate to the first pressing pin 130; And a third pressing part 300 mounted to the handle so as to reciprocate to the second pressing part 200.

Since the configuration of the second pressing portion and the third pressing portion has already been described above sufficiently, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The above-described embodiment is preferred to enable a person having ordinary knowledge in the art to which the present invention pertains (hereinafter referred to as a person skilled in the art) to easily implement a latch device and a refrigerator including the same according to the present invention. The embodiment is not limited to the above-described embodiment and the accompanying drawings, and thus, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit of the present invention, and it is obvious that those parts easily changeable by those skilled in the art are also included in the scope of the present invention.

10: refrigerator 12: cabinet
1: 1st door (cabinet front part) 2: 2nd door (single door)
3: handle 100: latch device
110: first button 120: stopper
121: stopper hinge shaft 123: sheet metal member
123a: locking hook 127: first spring fixing protrusion
130: first push pin 140: first push installation
150: first spring 160: latch member
161: latch hinge shaft 163: sheet metal member
163a: locking jaw 165: hook locking portion
167: first spring fixing protrusion 168: covering member
170: hook insertion portion 200: second pressing portion
210: second button 230: second push
250: second spring 270: hook hook
300: third pressing part 310: third button
315: third spring support 320: third push pin guide
330: third push pin 350: third spring

Claims (30)

A latch member that rotates about the latch hinge shaft and engages with the hook to be latched;
The stopper hinge axis rotates about the axis, and is selectively movable with the latch member to move between a locking position for limiting the movement of the latch member after the locking hook is engaged with the latch member and a release position from which the latch member is separated from the locking hook. A stopper mounted to engage with the rod;
A mounting panel made of a sheet metal material, wherein the latch member and the stopper are mounted through the latch hinge shaft and the stopper hinge shaft, and installed by a coupling means in a mechanism forming a latch structure; And
And a hook insertion part which is integrally cut into the mounting panel from the side in the lateral direction and in which the hook is inserted. The method of claim 1,
The latch member,
Includes a hook catching portion to be cut in the lateral direction to the center direction so that the hook is inserted into the latch hook is locked.
The latching portion of the hook hook portion caught by the latching member, characterized in that the covering member. 3. The method of claim 2,
And a locking jaw selectively engaging the locking hook formed on the stopper on an outer circumferential surface of the latch member. The method of claim 3, wherein
The latch member and the stopper are formed of a sheet metal member,
The locking jaw portion is exposed by a sheet metal member, and the hook hook portion that is caught on the hook hook is covered with a plastic covering member. 3. The method of claim 2,
The latch device,
A first push pin slidably mounted and extending toward the stopper side;
A first button connected to the first push pin and configured to press from the outside; And
The first push pin and the first button is mounted, the first pressing installation portion fixed to the mounting panel; includes, the stopper is pressed by the first push pin to rotate the latch member or And a latch device arranged to move to a release position. The method of claim 1,
The latch device,
And a first spring having an elastic restoring force for causing the stopper and the latch member to operate from the locked position to the released position. The method according to claim 6,
Each of the latch member and the stopper includes a first spring fixing protrusion,
One end of the first spring is fixed to the fixing projections of the latch member, the other end is fixed to the fixing projections of the stopper latch device, characterized in that the stopper and the latch member to rotate with an elastic restoring moment. A storage compartment formed in the refrigerator main body;
Upper and lower hinges mounted on upper and lower wall surfaces of the refrigerator main body;
A first door coupled to the upper and lower hinges to selectively open and close the storage compartment and having a sealing material in contact with the main body;
A second door disposed on the front surface of the first door to selectively open and close an inner space of the first door;
A latch device provided on a front surface of the first door and rotatably mounted on an inner surface of the first door; And
And a hook hook disposed on an inner surface of the second door and coupled to the latch device.
The latch device includes a latch member formed of a sheet metal member and rotating with a latch hinge shaft to engage with the hook hook; Formed of a sheet metal member to be selectively engaged with the latch member so as to be movable between a locking position that limits the movement of the latch member after the latching hook is engaged with the latch member and a release position from which the latch member is separated from the latching hook. Stopper; And a hook insertion portion into which the hook hook is inserted, wherein the stopper is rotated about the stopper hinge shaft to move from the locked position to the released position. The method of claim 8,
The latch member is capable of moving between a locking position engaged with the hook hook and a unlocking position by rotating the latch hinge shaft formed on the mounting panel of the latch device about an axis,
And the stopper is configured to move the stopper hinge shaft formed on the mounting panel of the latch device about an axis to fix the latch member in a locked position or to move to a release position. The method of claim 9,
And a locking jaw selectively engaged with the locking hook formed on the stopper is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the latch member. 11. The method of claim 10,
The latch member,
The locking jaw portion is exposed to the sheet metal member,
The hook engaging portion caught by the hook is characterized in that the refrigerator is covered with a plastic covering member. The method of claim 9,
The latch device,
A first push pin slidably mounted on the front surface of the first door and extending toward the stopper;
A first button connected to the first push pin and configured to press from the outside; And
And a first pressing installation unit in which the first pressing pin and the first button are installed, wherein the stopper is disposed to move from the locked position to the release position by being pressed by the first pressing pin to rotate. . The method of claim 8,
The latch device,
And a first spring having an elastic restoring force such that the stopper and the latch member operate from the locked position to the released position. The method of claim 13,
Each of the latch member and the stopper includes a first spring fixing protrusion,
One end of the first spring is fixed to the fixing protrusion of the latch member, the other end is fixed to the fixing protrusion of the stopper, characterized in that the stopper and the latch member to rotate with elastic restoring force. The method of claim 8,
A handle mounted on an outer surface of the second door; And
And a latch release member disposed on the second door and the handle to face the latch device, the latch release member releasing the latch device. The method of claim 15,
The latch release member,
A second pressing part mounted on the second door so as to reciprocate to the first pressing pin; And
And a third pressing part mounted on the handle to be reciprocated to the second pressing part side. 17. The method of claim 16,
The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first pressing pin, the second pressing part, and the third pressing part are arranged in a line. 17. The method of claim 16,
The second pressing portion,
A second push pin for moving the first push pin in contact with the first button; And
And a second button coupled to the second push pin and installed on the second door via an elastic means. The method of claim 18,
The cross-sectional area of the second push pin is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the first button refrigerator. 17. The method of claim 16,
The third pressing portion
A third push pin for moving a second push part in contact with the second button; And
And a third button coupled to the second push pin and installed on the handle via the elastic means. 21. The method of claim 20,
And the third push pin is in contact with the second button. A storage compartment formed in the refrigerator main body;
Upper and lower hinges mounted on upper and lower wall surfaces of the refrigerator main body;
Doors for selectively opening and closing the storage compartment in combination with the upper and lower hinges;
A latch device selectively coupled to the door, accommodated in the front of the storage compartment, rotatably mounted, and formed of a sheet metal member; And
It is installed on the inner surface of the door and selectively coupled to the front of the storage compartment, the hook hook selectively coupled with the latch device; includes;
The latch device includes a latch member formed of a sheet metal member and rotating with a latch hinge shaft to engage with the hook hook; Formed of a sheet metal member to be selectively engaged with the latch member so as to be movable between a locking position that limits the movement of the latch member after the latching hook is engaged with the latch member and a release position from which the latch member is separated from the latching hook. Stopper; And a hook insertion portion into which the hook hook is inserted, wherein the stopper is rotated by the first push pin to be moved from the locked position to the released position. 23. The method of claim 22,
The latch member is capable of moving between a locking position engaged with the hook hook and a unlocking position by rotating the latch hinge shaft formed on the mounting panel of the latch device about an axis,
And the stopper is configured to move the stopper hinge shaft formed on the mounting panel of the latch device about an axis to fix the latch member in a locked position or to move to a release position. 24. The method of claim 23,
And a locking jaw selectively engaged with the locking hook formed on the stopper is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the latch member. 25. The method of claim 24,
The latch member,
The locking jaw portion is exposed to the sheet metal member,
The hook engaging portion caught by the hook is characterized in that the refrigerator is covered with a plastic covering member. 24. The method of claim 23,
The latch device,
A first push pin slidably mounted in front of the storage compartment and extending toward the stopper;
A first button connected to the first push pin and configured to press from the outside; And
And a first pressing installation unit in which the first pressing pin and the first button are installed, wherein the stopper is disposed to move from the locked position to the release position by being pressed by the first pressing pin to rotate. . 23. The method of claim 22,
The latch device,
And a first spring having an elastic restoring force to allow the stopper and the latch member to operate from the locked position to the released position. The method of claim 27,
Each of the latch member and the stopper includes a first spring fixing protrusion,
One end of the first spring is fixed to the fixing protrusion of the latch member, the other end is fixed to the fixing protrusion of the stopper, characterized in that the stopper and the latch member to rotate with elastic restoring force. 23. The method of claim 22,
A handle mounted on an outer surface of the door; And
And a latch release member disposed on the door and the handle to face the latch device, the latch release member releasing the latch device. 30. The method of claim 29,
The latch release member,
A second pressing part mounted on the door so as to reciprocate to the first pressing pin; And
And a third pressing part mounted on the handle to be reciprocated to the second pressing part side.

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