A MULTI-DOOR COOLING DEVICE COMPRISING A VERTICAL DOOR BAR

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a cooling device having a door with a vertical door bar according to the preamble of claim 1.

State Of The Art

Two-door cooling devices, such as refrigerators have been proposed in which the vertical door bar is mounted on a first of the doors. When the first door is in a closed position, supplements the frame of the body in such a way that a sealing profile of the second door can fit closely against either the frame or the vertical door bar in an essentially continuous manner and thus satisfactorily seal the internal space. The vertical door bar is pivotably attached to the first of the doors via one or more hinge assemblies. The hinge assemblies are provided on a visible area of the first of the doors. Therefore, the members of the hinge assemblies which provide recessed-protruding structure, such as connecting elements, cables of the heater can uncomfortably be seen from outside. Also, dust or dirt may accumulate on the hinge assemblies having recessed-protruding structure. It may not be easy for the users to clean such dust or dirt accumulated on the hinge assemblies.

The state of the art document numbered KR20150003641A discloses a sealing device for a side-by- side refrigerator capable of preventing malfunction of a filler when the door of the side-by-side refrigerator is closed. The disclosed sealing device for a side-by-side refrigerator comprises a filler arranged in a door on one side of the refrigerator; a hinge unit to hinge-connect the filler to the door; a guide unit to rotate the filler toward the sealing location when the door is closed; and a restricting unit to selectively restrict the rotation of the filler by being interlocked with the guide unit.

The invention provides an additional improvement, an additional advantage or an alternative to the prior art.

Brief Description of the Invention

The object of the invention is to provide a cooling device having a door with an easy-to-clean and aesthetic vertical door bar.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned objects, the invention is a cooling device comprising a body and a pair of doors which are attached on opposite sides of the body and which jointly delimit an inner chamber where the foodstuffs to be chilled can be located, and a vertical door bar pivotably attached to one of the doors by means of at least one hinge assembly. The cooling device further comprises a hinge cover part having a plurality of positioning and connecting means in order to detachably be mounted to the hinge assembly so as to at least partially cover the hinge assembly. Thus, the recessed- protruding structure of the hinge assemblies are aesthetically covered. With this design, accumulating the dirt and dust on the hinge assemblies are prevented. The user can easily detach the hinge cover part, and therefore the user can easily clean the hinge cover part. Afterwards, the user can also easily attach the hinge cover part to the respective hinge assembly. On the other hand, the hinge cover part attaches to the hinge assembly without any external connection members such as screws. Therefore, a cost-effective and easy-to-assemble solution is provided for the vertical door bars.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, one or more positioning means are configured on the hinge cover part, and one or more corresponding positioning means are provided on the mutual sidewalls of the hinge assembly so as to correspond to the respective positioning means. Thus, during the attaching process, the positioning of the hinge cover part is ensured.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, one or more first connecting means are provided mutually on the hinge cover part in a direction which the positioning means extend, and an outer side surface of each of the sidewalls facing outside have corresponding first connecting means so as to correspond to the respective first connecting means. Thus, the hinge cover part easily attaches to the respective hinge assembly.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the first connecting means are configured as a connecting protrusion having first guiding surfaces for guiding the first connecting means. Thus, the hinge cover part attaches to the respective hinge assembly from one side by an external pushing force.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, each of sidewalls have first guiding means configured on each of the outer side surfaces so as to guide the respective first connecting means towards the respective corresponding first connecting means, when the hinge cover part is moved towards the hinge assembly in a mounting direction. Thus, the hinge cover part easily attaches to the respective hinge assembly from one side in an easily manner.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, one or more second connecting means are provided on an inner surface of the hinge cover part facing the hinge assembly, and one or more corresponding second connecting means are configured on the hinge assembly so as to correspond to the respective second connecting means. Thus, the attachment of the hinge cover part from the other side is ensured. In a possible embodiment of the invention, at least a pair of second connecting means are provided at opposite sides of the hinge cover part. Thus, the attachment of the hinge cover part from the other side is ensured.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, one or more second guiding means are provided on the hinge assembly so as to guide the respective second connecting means towards the respective corresponding second connecting means, when the hinge cover part is moved towards the hinge assembly in the mounting direction. Thus, the hinge cover part easily attaches to the respective hinge assembly from the other side in an easily manner.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the second connecting means are configured as a connecting protrusion having a widening cross-section in a direction towards the inner surface. Thus, the second connection means are reinforced. Therefore, undesirable separations/breakings of the second connecting means are prevented.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, each of the second connecting means comprises a connecting tab having second guiding surfaces for guiding the second connecting means. Thus, the hinge cover part attaches to the respective hinge assembly from the other side by an external pushing force.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, a circumferential wall is provided on a circumference of the inner surface for defining an inner gap where the respective hinge assembly locates, when the hinge cover part attached to the respective hinge assembly. Thus, the hinge cover part covers the respective hinge assembly.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, a first portion of the inner gap where the positioning means and the first connecting means locate, is deeper than a second portion of the inner gap where the second connecting means are provided. Thus, the hinge cover part completely covers the hinge assembly.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, at least one access groove is provided on the circumferential wall for accessing the inner gap from outside. Thus, accessing the second connecting means from outside for detaching the hinge cover part easily, is provided.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, a stopper element is provided on a surface of the vertical door bar facing the hinge assembly in such a way that a side of the hinge cover part which is opposite to a side where the positioning means are provided, can contact with the stopper element. Thus, when the hinge cover part contacted to the stopper element, possible deformations of the hinge cover part at a side where the stopper element contacts, is prevented.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, two hinge assemblies spaced apart each other in a vertical direction, are provided for pivotably attaching the vertical door bar to one of the doors, and each of hinge assemblies are configured to be covered by hinge cover parts. Thus, fixation of the vertical door bar to one of the doors is ensured. An easy-to-clean and aesthetic vertical door bar is provided.

In this context, with the indications “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “rear”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “upward”, “downward”, “inner”, “outer”, “inward”, “outward” etc. the positions and orientations given for intended use and intended arrangement of the cooling device and for a user then standing in front of the cooling device in a closed position and viewing in the direction of the device are indicated.

Each possible embodiment disclosed in this text can be combined with the other possible embodiments disclosed in this text if there is no any technical constraint.

Explanation of Figures

The figures, whose brief explanations are herewith provided, are solely intended for providing a better understanding of the present invention and are as such not intended to define the scope of protection or the context in which said scope is to be interpreted in the absence of the description.

Fig. 1 is a representative perspective view of a cooling device having a door with a vertical door bar.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the vertical door bar.

Fig. 3 is a zoomed perspective view of the vertical door bar with a hinge assembly.

Fig. 4 is a is a zoomed perspective view of the vertical door bar with a hinge cover part at least partially covering the hinge assembly.

Fig. 5 is a representative perspective view of the hinge cover part.

Fig. 6 is a zoomed perspective view of the vertical door bar with the hinge assembly and the hinge cover part attached to the hinge assembly.

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the hinge assembly and the hinge cover part attached to the hinge assembly, which shows the connecting means and the corresponding second connecting means.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the hinge assembly and the hinge cover part attached to the hinge assembly, which shows first connecting means and corresponding first connecting means.

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the hinge assembly and the hinge cover part attached to the hinge assembly, which shows positioning means and corresponding positioning means. Detailed Description of the Figures

In this detailed description, the subject matter is explained with references to examples without forming any restrictive effect only in order to make the subject more understandable.

With reference to Fig. l, the cooling device (1), particularly a refrigerator comprises a body (2) and a pair of doors (4) which are attached on opposite sides of the body (2). The cooling device (1) comprises a multi-door structure one of which connects to the left side of the body (2), and one of which connects to the right side of the body (2). The doors (4) jointly delimit an inner chamber (3) where the foodstuffs to be chilled can be located. There is a vertical door bar (5) pivotably attached to one of the doors by means of at least one hinge assembly (6). As can be seen in Fig.l, the vertical door bar (5) extends in a vertical direction (V) of the respective door and the cooling device (1). The vertical door bar (5) pivotably attaches to the narrower of the two doors. The vertical door bar (5) is arranged to be pivotable on the first one of the door. The vertical door bar (5) can have a guide groove (not shown) at the top and bottom end face in each case. The guide grooves are arranged in such a way that when the first one of the door is swung from the open position in which the inner chamber (3) is accessible from outside, into the closed position against a frame (30) of the body (2), guide members (not shown) which can be arranged at the top and bottom of the body project into the guide grooves of the vertical door bar (5) and, as a result of sliding along in said guide grooves, cause a pivoting movement of the vertical support bar relative to the first one of the door. Upon completion of this pivoting movement, when the first one of the door is fitting closely against the frame (30), a front side of the vertical door bar (5) is flush with the frame (30). If the second one of the door is now swung into the closed position, its sealing profile comes to rest against both the frame (30) and the front side of the vertical door bar (5) in a tight-fitting manner. The pivoting movement of the vertical door bar (5), said movement being guided by the guide members and grooves, makes it possible to open or close the second one of the door even if the second one of the door is closed.

Fig.2 shows a front view of the vertical door bar (5) which extends in the vertical direction (V) and a horizontal direction (H) that is substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction (V). There are two hinge assemblies (6) spaced apart each other in a vertical direction (V) for pivotably attaching the vertical door bar (5) to the first one of the doors.

With reference to Fig.3, the vertical door bar (5) attaches to the first one of the doors via the hinge assemblies (6). The hinge assembly (6) is in an essentially T-shaped form. The hinge assembly (6) connects to the vertical door bar (5) in a connection groove (31) provided on the vertical door bar (5) correspondingly, from one side. And from the other side, the hinge assembly (6) connects to an inner surface of the first one of the door via one or more connection holes (29). The inner surface is the surface facing the inner chamber (3), when the first one of the door is at the closed position. A connection element (not shown) such as a screw passes through the respective connection hole (29) for connecting the vertical door bar (5) to the first one of the door. In Fig.3, as an example, three connection holes (29) are provided on the hinge assembly (6). As can be seen in Fig.4, the cooling device (1) further comprises a hinge cover part (7) so as to at least partially cover the hinge assembly (6). The hinge cover part (7) can detachably be mounted onto the hinge assembly (6) via plurality of positioning and connecting means (8, 11, 16). As can be seen in Fig.3, the hinge assembly (6) has two mutual sidewalls (10) extending from a portion of the hinge assembly (6) that contacts the inner surface, towards the connection groove (31). One or more corresponding positioning means (9) are provided on the mutual sidewalls (10) of the hinge assembly (6) so as to correspond to the respective positioning means (8) configured on the hinge cover part (7). The positioning means (8) can be configured as one or more positioning grooves. As can be seen in Fig.3, as an example, each of the sidewalls (10) have two positioning grooves. The positioning grooves are separated from each other with a partition wall. Furthermore, an outer side surface (12) of each of the sidewalls (10) facing outside have corresponding first connecting means (13) so as to correspond to the respective first connecting means (11) of the hinge cover part (7). The corresponding first connecting means (13) are configured on a side of the outer side surface (12) away from the corresponding positioning means (9) in a mounting direction (M) of the hinge cover part (7). The mounting direction (M) is a direction to push the hinge cover part (7) towards the hinge assembly (6). In other words, the corresponding positioning means (9) are provided on a side of the sidewalls (10) away from the inner surface of the first one of the door, and the corresponding first connecting means (13) are provided on a side of the sidewalls (10) closer to the inner surface of the first one of the door. The corresponding first connecting means (13) can be configured as a connection groove. In a possible embodiment, each of sidewalls (10) have first guiding means (15) configured on each of the outer side surfaces (12) so as to guide the respective first connecting means (11) towards the respective corresponding first connecting means (13), when the hinge cover part (7) is moved towards the hinge assembly (6) in the mounting direction (M). As can be seen in Fig.3, as an example, the first guiding means (15) are configured as a guiding surface, in particular an inclined surface. Furthermore, one or more corresponding second connecting means (18) are configured on the hinge assembly (6) so as to correspond to the respective second connecting means (16) of the hinge cover part (7). The corresponding second connecting means (18) are configured on a part of the hinge assembly (6) which contacts to the inner surface of the first one of the door. The corresponding second connecting means (18) can be configured as a connection groove. The corresponding second connecting means (18) are configured on a side of the hinge assembly (6) closer to the inner surface of the first one of the door. Preferably, four corresponding second connecting means (18) are provided on the hinge assembly (6). In more details, two mutual corresponding second connecting means (18) are provided at an upper side of the hinge assembly (6), and two mutual corresponding second connecting means (18) are provided at a lower side of the hinge assembly (6). One or more second guiding means (19) are provided on the hinge assembly (6) so as to guide the respective second connecting means (16) towards the respective corresponding second connecting means (18), when the hinge cover part (7) is moved towards the hinge assembly (6) in the mounting direction (M). The second guiding means (19) are provided on a vicinity of the corresponding second connecting means (18). As can be seen in Fig.3, as an example, the second guiding means (19) are configured as a guiding surface, in particular an inclined surface.

With reference to Fig.5, the hinge cover part (7) is shaped and sized with respect to the hinge assembly (6). The hinge cover part (7) is in an essentially T-shaped form. An end of the T-shaped hinge cover part (7) which is at least partially being received by the connection groove (as seen in Fig.4), is configured as an open-end. There is a gap covering wall (28) is provided on the end of the hinge cover part (7) so as to cover a gap, when the hinge cover part (7) attached to the hinge assembly (6). A circumferential wall (22) is provided on a circumference of an inner surface (17) facing the hinge assembly (6). The circumferential wall (22) defines an inner gap (23) where the respective hinge assembly (6) locates, when the hinge cover part (7) attached to the respective hinge assembly (6). The inner gap (23) has two portions: a first portion (24) and a second portion (25). The positioning means (8) and the first connecting means (11) locate in the first portion (24) of the inner gap (23). The second connecting means (16) are provided in the second portion (25). The first portion (24) is deeper than the second portion (25). As can be seen in Fig. 5, the positioning means (8) extends along the width of the first portion (24). The positioning means (8) are configured as a protrusion. Preferably, two positioning means (8) are provided so as to be spaced apart each other. As can be seen in Fig.9, the positioning means (8) correspond to the corresponding positioning means (9). In more details, ends of the first one of the positioning means (8) seat to first mutual corresponding positioning means (9). Similarly, ends of the second one of the positioning means (8) seat to second mutual corresponding positioning means (9). Thus, the hinge cover part (7) can easily be positioned onto the hinge assembly (6). On the other hand, one or more first connecting means (11) are provided mutually on the hinge cover part (7) in a direction which the positioning means (8) extend. One or more first connecting means (11) are configured on the mutual sidewalls of the hinge cover part (7) facing the first portion (24). The first connecting means (11) are configured as a connection protrusion. Preferably, a pair of first connecting means (11) are provided on the first one of the sidewalls of the hinge cover part (7), and a pair of first connecting means (11) are provided on the second one of the sidewalls of the hinge cover part (7). As can be seen in Fig. 8, a pair of first connecting means (11) correspond to the first one of the corresponding first connecting means (13), and the other a pair of first connecting means (11) correspond to the second one of the corresponding first connecting means (13), when the an external force applied to the hinge cover part (7) in the mounting direction (M). In a possible embodiment, each of the first connecting means (11) are configured as connecting protrusions having first guiding surfaces (14) for guiding the first connecting means (11). The first connecting means (11) can have first guiding surface (14) at a front contour facing the corresponding first connecting means (13), with a curved-shape form. On the other hand, a wall of the hinge assembly (6) facing the corresponding first connecting means (13) and closer to the first guiding means (15), is configured as an inclined wall.

As can be seen in Fig.5, one or more second connecting means (16) are provided in the second portion (25. Preferably, at least a pair of second connecting means (16) are provided at opposite sides of the hinge cover part (7). More preferably, four second connecting means (16) are provided on the hinge cover part (7). In more details, a pair of mutual second connecting means (16) are provided at an upper side of the hinge cover part (7), and a pair of mutual second connecting means (16) are provided at a lower side of the hinge cover part (7). Said second connecting means (16) are provided on the inner surface (17) of the hinge cover part (7) facing the hinge assembly (6). In a possible embodiment, the second connecting means (16) are configured as a connecting protrusion having a widening crosssection in a direction towards the inner surface (17). As can be seen in Fig. 7, each of the second connecting means (16) comprise a connecting tab (20) having second guiding surfaces (21) for guiding the second connecting means (16). The second guiding surfaces (21) of each of the second connecting means (16) are configured in an inclined manner. With the aid of such second guiding surfaces (21), the second connecting means (16) can be guided towards the corresponding second connecting means (18) and attached to said corresponding second connecting means (18) easily, and also detached from said corresponding second connecting means (18) easily. Each of the second connecting means (16) are being flexible connecting arms. The inclination direction and inclination angle of the connecting tabs (20) can have a different value than the inclination direction and inclination angle of the second guiding means (19).

In a possible embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, at least one access groove (26) is provided on the circumferential wall (22) for accessing the inner gap (23) from outside. Preferably, two access grooves (26) are provided at opposite sides of the hinge cover part (7) for accessing the second connecting means (16) from outside. The first one of the access grooves (26) provide to access to first pair of second connecting means, and the second one of the access grooves (26) provide to access to second pair of second connecting means.

As shown in Fig.3 and 4, a stopper element (27) is provided on a surface of the vertical door bar (5) facing the hinge assembly (6). The stopper element (27) can be made from any soft material such as a rubber or sponge element. The stopper element (27) is provided on a wall of the vertical door bar (5) facing the connection groove (31). A side of the hinge cover part (7) which is opposite to a side where the positioning means (8) are provided, can contact with the stopper element (27) for softly limiting a pivoting movement of vertical door bar (5). In a possible embodiment, each of the hinge assemblies (6) spaced apart each other in a vertical direction (V) as shown in Fig.2, are configured to be covered by the subject-matter hinge cover parts (7).

The mounting process of the hinge cover part (7) is as follows: Firstly, each of the positioning means (8) correspond to the corresponding positioning means (9). This prevents incorrect mounting of the hinge cover part (7) and also prevents undesirable breakings of the connecting means. When the hinge cover part (7) pushed towards the hinge assembly (6) in the mounting direction (M), the first connecting means (11) attach to the corresponding first connecting means (13), and similarly, the second connecting means (16) attach to the corresponding second connecting means (18). With the aid of first and second connecting means (13, 16), the hinge cover part (7) become stable in vertical and horizontal directions. Thus, during the pivoting movements of the vertical door bar (5), undesirable separations of the hinge cover part (7) from the hinge assembly (6) is prevented.

The demounting process of the hinge cover part (7) is as follows: Firstly, when the hinge cover part (7) pulled away from the hinge assembly (6) in a demounting direction (D), the first connecting means (11) detach from the corresponding first connecting means (13), and similarly, the second connecting means (16) detach from the corresponding second connecting means (18). In order to detach the second connecting means (16) from the corresponding second connecting means (18), an external apparatus, such as a screwdriver can be used for accessing the second connecting means (16) from outside via access grooves (26). Thus, the hinge cover part (7) can easily be detached from the hinge assembly (6) for cleaning the hinge cover part (7) and/or the hinge assembly (6).

Reference List

1. Cooling device

2. Body

3. Inner chamber

4. Door

5. Vertical door bar

6. Hinge assembly

7. Hinge cover part

8. Positioning means

9. Corresponding positioning means

10. Sidewalls

11. First connecting means

12. Outer side surface

13. Corresponding first connecting means

14. First guiding surface

15. First guiding means

16. Second connecting means

17. Inner surface

18. Corresponding second connecting means

19. Second guiding means

20. Connecting tab

21. Second guiding surface

22. Circumferential wall

23. Inner gap

24. First portion

25. Second portion

26. Access groove

27. Stopper element

28. Gap covering wall

29. Connection hole

30. Frame

31. Connection groove

M. Mounting direction

D. Demounting direction

V. Vertical direction

H. Horizontal direction