A REFRIGERATOR

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator wherein energy is transmitted to the displays and other devices on the doors thereof.

[0002] In refrigerators, particularly in multi-door refrigerators, for example with double doors that close the freezer and the cooler compartments, displays or devices used for other purposes are provided on the doors. Generally hinges are used for the cables transmitting energy to the displays or devices on the door to pass from the body to the door, connecting the door to the body and rotating around an axis for opening and closing thereof. The cables that extend from the body to the door are inserted through a hole bored in the hinge for reaching the display or another electrical device on the door. In double-door refrigerators, the hinge at the uppermost portion of the refrigerator is used for transmitting energy to the upper door and the hinge at the lowermost portion is used for transmitting energy to the lower door. When energy is to be transmitted to the devices on both doors from the upper and lower hinges, the cables used are longer than required and the labor hours increase.

[0003] In the patent documents United States of America no US6868692 and

European no EP1191289, refrigerator doors are explained wherein energy transmitting cables are passed through the hinge.

[0004] In the European patent document no EP1529910, the hinge structure in the middle in a double door refrigerator is explained.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a refrigerator wherein energy is transmitted to the display or other devices on the door from a single point and using up less cable.

[0006] In the refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, two doors, preferably one at the top and one at the bottom are provided, the upper door and the lower door are connected to the body not only with an uppermost and lowermost hinge and but also with an intermediary hinge disposed in the gap between the upper and lower doors. The cables that transmit energy to the display or other devices on the doors are

passed through the said hinge and thus the costs of cables and labor is less since the cables are delivered to the doors by directing from one point.

[0007] The hinge is comprised of a fixing plate, a hinge plate fastened to the fixing plate and a hollow hinge pin connected to the hinge plate and the energy transmitting cables coming from the refrigerator body pass through these elements in this order and directed to the doors from the hole in the hinge pin.

[0008] The hinge plate, one of the elements constituting the hinge, comprises a cut-out that allows the cables coming from the refrigerator body to pass through and covers the cables only from the sides, concealing to be seen from the outside when viewed from the level of the gap. The sides of the cables are covered by the hinge plate and the open upper and lower portions are covered by the edges of the upper and lower doors facing each other thereby an element such as a big size hollow body is not required for completely concealing the cables. The hinge plate that conceals the cables can also function in the narrow gap between the upper door and the lower door.

[0009] The hinge pin, one of the elements constituting the hinge, is hollowed longitudinally such that the cables can pass through to be delivered to the upper door and the lower door, and furthermore comprises an aperture formed on the lateral surface that joins with the hole therein, positioned in alignment with the cut-out in the hinge plate for the cables passing through the cut-out to pass to the through-hole.

[0010] The refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0011] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a refrigerator.

[0012] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of a hinge.

[0013] Figure 3 - is the perspective view of a hinge plate.

[0014] Figure 4 - is the perspective view of a hinge pin.

[0015] Figure 5 - is the perspective view of a fixing plate.

[0016] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows: 1. Refrigerator

2. Body

3. 103. Door

4. Hinge

5. Fixing plate

6. Pin

7. Hinge plate

8. Exit hole

9. Cut-out

10. Pin slot

11. Through-hole

12. Aperture

[0017] The refrigerator (1) comprises a body (2), at least two doors (3, 103) for accessing the compartments, and a hinge (4) disposed between the two doors (3, 103), maintaining the connection of the doors (3, 103) to the body (2) and the opening, closing by rotating around an axis. In the refrigerator (1) furthermore, an upper hinge is provided for connecting the first door (3) to the body (2) from above, and a lower hinge connecting the second door (103) to the body (2) from below.

[0018] The hinge (4) is disposed in the gap between the first door (3) and the second door (103), one on top of the other for example, and connects both doors (3, 103) to the body (2) from the same point. In double door refrigerators (1) the gap between the first door (3) and the second door (103) is kept narrow due to design conditions and aesthetic appearance and the hinge (4) that functions between the two doors (3, 103) is designed to function in the said narrow gap.

[0019] In the refrigerator (1) of the present invention, the cables (K) that transmit energy to the display or other devices on the doors (3, 103) pass through the hinge (4) and the hinge (4) maintains the cables (K) to be delivered and directed to both doors (3, 103) at once from the same point.

[0020] The hinge (4) comprises a fixing plate (5) having an exit hole (8) for securing to the body (2) and through which the cables (K) coming from the body (2) pass, a pin (6) with one end inserted through the first door (3), the other end through the second door (103), maintaining the doors (3, 103) to

open, close by rotating around an axis, and a hinge plate (7) having a pin slot (10) that is mounted in the vicinity of the exit hole (8) on the fixing plate (5), for example by a crossing type or screw joint connection, extending outwards from the body (2) to which the pin (6) is for example press-fitted.

[0021] The hinge plate (7) comprises a cut-out (9) that allows the cable (K) extending from the exit hole (8) to pass through by only covering the sides thereof, and prevents the cables (K) to be seen from the outside when viewed from the level of the gap between the two doors (3, 103) by covering the sides of the cables (K).

[0022] The hinge plate (7) has a thickness of maximum a few millimeters since it functions in the narrow gap between the two doors (3, 103). Since the cables (K) that pass through the cut-out (9) are covered only from the sides by the hinge plate (7) and the top and bottom portions thereof are covered by the doors (3, 103), the dimensions of the hinge plate (7) are not enlarged even though burdened by an additional function such as carrying the cables (K).

[0023] The pin (6) comprises a through-hole (11), with one end extending to the upper door (3), the other end to the lower door (103) for the cables (K) to pass through to be delivered to the upper door (3), and the lower door (103) and an aperture (12) bored on the side surface thereof, positioned in alignment with the cut-out (9) that communicates with the through-hole (11), maintaining the cables (K) passing through the cut-out (9) to get through the through-hole (11).

[0024] The cables (K) directed from inside the body (2) towards the doors (3, 103) for providing energy to the display or any other device on the doors (3, 103) are brought up to the hinge (4) that functions in the gap between the two doors (3, 103) and inserted through the exit hole (8) on the fixing plate (5), pass through the cut-out (9) at the center of the hinge plate (7) and are extended towards the pin (6). The cables (K) reach the aperture (12) aligned with the cut-out (9) and reach the through hole (11) in the pin (6). The cables (K) that transmit energy to the devices on the first door (3) are directed for example upwards in the through hole (11) and the cables (K)

that transmit energy to the display or devices on the second door (103) are directed for example downwards in the through hole (11). The cables (K) that reach inside the first door (3) and the second door (103) are conveyed to the display or the devices for establishing a connection.

[0025] In the embodiment of the present invention, besides the cables (K), tubes that deliver water to devices such as a water dispenser on the door (3, 103) can also be passed through the hinge (4).

[0026] In the refrigerator (1) of the present invention, cables (K) are passed through the hinge (4) that functions between the doors (3, 103), less cable (K) is used and labor hours are reduced as compared to the embodiments wherein the energy transmission cable (K) is passed through the upper and lower hinges.