Cooling appliance having door hinge component

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a cooling appliance. A cooling appliance (100) includes a main body (101), a rotatable door (102, 102'), and a hinge component (1) connecting the door and the main body. The hinge component (1) includes a hinge axis (8), an adjusting member (3) used for adjusting the height of the door relative to the main body, and a bushing (6) having at least one part accommodated in the door, where the adjusting member sits on the hinge axis. According to the recommendations of the present invention, the bushing is incapable of being rotatably sleeved outside the adjusting member relative to the adjusting member.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooling appliance, and more particularly to a cooling appliance having a door hinge component, where the cooling appliance is for example, a refrigerator, a wine dispenser, a freezer, among others.

Related Art

[0002] It is known that the height of a door of a cooling appliance relative to a main body of the appliance may be adjusted by using a door hinge component having a height adjusting apparatus.

[0003] The published document CN201731720U discloses a height adjusting apparatus for a refrigerator door, which includes a hinge supporting piece and an adjusting member, where adjusting teeth rising/lowering gradually are provided at an upper end of a hinge axis fixed on the hinge supporting piece, and toothed patterns that mesh with the adjusting teeth are provided on a segment, facing the adjusting teeth at the hinge axis, of the adjusting member. When the adjusting member is rotated, the adjusting member rotates relative to the hinge axis, and the height of the adjusting member relative to a main body of a refrigerator is changed, so that the height of a door body supported by an upper end of the adjusting member is changed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The objective of the present invention is to provide an improved cooling appliance having a hinge component capable of adjusting the height of a door.

[0005] The foregoing objective may be implemented through the features in the independent claim. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are the subject of the accompanying drawings, specification, and dependent claims.

[0006] An aspect of the present invention relates to a cooling appliance, which includes a main body, a rotatable door, and a hinge component connecting the door and the main body, where the hinge component includes a hinge axis, an adjusting member used for adjusting the height of the door relative to the main body, and a bushing having at least one part accommodated in the door, where the adjusting member sits on the hinge axis; where the bushing is incapable of being rotatably sleeved outside the adjusting member relative to the adjusting member.

[0007] Therefore, in the process of opening and closing the door, the adjusting member does not rotate relative to the bushing, so as to avoid wear and noise caused by relative movement between the adjusting member and the bushing; furthermore, without rotation, it becomes easy to select materials of the adjusting member and the bushing. For example, the adjusting member may be made of metal, whereas the bushing is made of plastic. In cases where both upper and lower end walls of the door are usually made of plastic, it is especially helpful to reduce wear of relevant members in the process of opening and closing the door.

[0008] In a possible embodiment, the hinge component includes an anti-rotation structure. The anti-rotation structure may include an insertion portion located on one of the bushing and the adjusting member and a reception portion located on the other of the bushing and the adjusting member. The insertion portion is inserted in the reception portion. Compared with an embodiment in which the bushing and the adjusting member are nonrotatably fixed on one member or different members respectively to indirectly make the bushing and the adjusting member nonrotatable relative to each other, when an anti-rotation structure is directly arranged on the bushing and the adjusting member, the structure of the hinge component is further simplified, and the implementation does not require alterations to other members of the hinge component, which further obtains a possibility: for a manufacturer, one or more members of the hinge component may be shared with refrigerators of other models, thereby lowering a cost. In addition, the manner of preventing the bushing and the adjusting member from rotating relative to each other by inserting the insertion portion in the reception portion is easier to implement. According to demands, the insertion portion may be arranged on the bushing or the adjusting member, so that the reception portion is arranged on the other of the bushing and the adjusting member.

[0009] In a possible embodiment, the insertion portion may be axially inserted in the reception portion along the bushing. Accordingly, the insertion portion may be inserted in the reception portion in the process of making the bushing sleeved outside adjusting member; therefore, it is expectable no extra procedure needs to be added in the process of assembling the cooling appliance to connect the insertion portion and the reception portion.

[0010] In a possible embodiment, the insertion portion is cooperatively plugged in the reception portion for the sake of shape, which helps to avoid shakes between the bushing and the adjusting member.

[0011] In a possible embodiment, the bushing includes an upper wall, the insertion portion rises from the upper wall, or the reception portion has at least one part located in the upper wall, which helps to keep a complete and smooth surface for a circumferential wall of the bushing that rotates in the door, so as to reduce possibilities that the anti-rotation structure and the door collide with each other.

[0012] In a possible embodiment, the insertion portion may be located on the bushing, the reception portion may be located on the adjusting member, the insertion portion extends downwards from an inner side of the upper wall, and the reception portion includes a hole that sinks downwards from a top face of the adjusting member, which helps to avoid the occurrence of a case in which the anti-rotation structure extends from the hinge component to interfere with the door.

[0013] In a possible embodiment, a central axis line of the insertion portion and the reception portion may overlap a central axis line of the adjusting member, and the insertion portion and the reception portion have non-circular cross sections. The non-circular shape may be, for example, shapes of elliptic, rectangular, and the like; the insertion portion and the reception portion may have same cross sections, or may also have different cross sections.

[0014] In another possible embodiment, a gap exists between a central line of the insertion portion and the reception portion and a central axis of the adjusting member, so that the bushing and the adjusting member are effectively prevented from rotating relative to each other.

[0015] In a possible embodiment, the adjusting member and the hinge axis may each include a plurality of bearing faces located at different heights, and at least one bearing face of the adjusting member sits on a corresponding bearing face of the hinge axis, so as to join different bearing faces of the adjusting member and the hinge axis, thereby implementing adjustment of the height of the door.

[0016] In a possible embodiment, the plurality of bearing faces may be parallel to the horizontal plane, and adjacent bearing faces form steps, so that the adjusting member may sit on the hinge axis stably and reliably.

[0017] In a possible embodiment, the hinge axis is a hollow cylinder, and the adjusting member has a rod body that is inserted in the hinge axis, and a second adjusting portion is integrally formed at a tail end of the hinge axis.

[0018] In a possible embodiment, the adjusting member includes at least one stopper that is immovably fixed on the rod body, an inner wall of a hole of the hinge axis has a plurality of grooves, the stopper stretches into a corresponding groove in a manner as follows: when the adjusting member moves upwards relative to the hinge axis to preset a distance, the stopper is detachable from the groove. Accordingly, in the process that the door rotates, the adjusting member also does not rotate relative to the hinge axis, so that in the process that the door rotates, none of the bushing, the adjusting member, and the hinge axis rotates relative to each other. When the height of the door needs to be adjusted, the height of the adjusting member, that is, the rotatable adjusting member, is slightly raised to change the position of the adjusting member relative to the hinge axis, so as to further adjust the height of the door.

[0019] The groove used for cooperating with the stopper may extend at the entire height of the hinge axis, or may also only extend at partial height of the hinge axis, as long as it is met that the stopper can fall in a corresponding groove no matter which height the door is adjusted to.

[0020] The structure of the present invention and other inventive objectives and beneficial effects thereof will become more comprehensible through the description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus is not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

[0022] As a part of the specification and for further understanding of the present invention, the specific implementation manners of the present invention are illustrated below with the accompanying drawings, which are used, together with the specification, to describe the principles of the present invention. Where:

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a cooling appliance according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a hinge component according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an adjusting member according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4a is a partial perspective view of a first adjusting portion and a second adjusting portion being attached at a first height according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4b is a sectional view along a surface A-A in FIG. 4a;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a first adjusting portion and a second adjusting portion being detached to allow rotation of an adjusting member according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a first adjusting portion and a second adjusting portion being attached at a second height according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of a first adjusting portion and a second adjusting portion being attached at a third height according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is another partial sectional view of a hinge component.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a cooling appliance 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, a cooling appliance 100 includes a main body 101 having a storage chamber and a pair of doors 102 and 102' that are connected to the main body 101 and are closed or opened for the storage chamber. The doors 102 and 102' are hinged at a left side and a right side of the main body 101 respectively and are opened or closed for the corresponding storage chamber.

[0024] The cooling appliance 100 includes a hinge component 1 connected between a lower end of each door 102, 102' and the main body 101. The hinge component 1 is arranged to be capable of adjusting the height of the corresponding door 102, 102' relative to the main body 101.

[0025] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a hinge component 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 in combination, the hinge component 1 includes a hinge support 2 fixed on a main body 101, a hinge axis 8 fixed on the hinge support 2, and an adjusting member 3 connected to the hinge axis 8 rotatably relative to the hinge axis 8. The adjusting member 3 is operated in the process of adjusting the height of a door.

[0026] The hinge support 2 includes an installing portion 21 fixed on the main body 101. A plurality of fixing holes 22 may be provided on the installing portion 21 to allow a suitable fixing piece (not shown) to pass through the installing portion to fix the hinge support on the main body 101. The fixing piece may be a screw. In this embodiment, the installing portion 21 is connected on a front surface of the main body 101. In an alternate embodiment, the hinge support may also be fixed on a lower surface of the main body, which is particular applicable to a case in which a lower wall of a storage chamber is formed by a bottom wall of the main body.

[0027] The hinge support 2 includes a support portion 23 extending forward from the installing portion 21. The support portion 23 is perpendicular to the front surface of the main body 101, and is approximately plate-shaped. The support portion 23 and the installing portion 21 may be integrally formed.

[0028] The hinge component 1 includes a hinge axis 8 immovably fixed on the hinge support 2. The hinge axis 8 defines a rotational axis line of a door 102, and is immovable relative to the main body 101.

[0029] The hinge axis 8 is fixed on the support portion 23 and extends upwards vertically from the support portion 23. In the process that the door 102 rotates, the hinge axis 8 is immovable relative to the support portion 23. In this embodiment, the hinge axis 8 and the support portion 23 are integrally formed. In an alternate embodiment, the hinge axis 8 and the support portion 23 may also be fabricated separately and then assembled.

[0030] In this embodiment, the hinge axis 8 is a hollow cylinder and has a central hole 80. The central hole 80 may penetrate the support portion 23.

[0031] Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 4b, the adjusting member 3 includes a base portion 31 and a rod body 32 extending downwards vertically from a lower end of the base portion 31. The base portion 31 and the rod body 32 are solid cylinders having different diameters, and therefore a vertical-sectional surface of the adjusting member 3 is approximately T-shaped. The diameter of the base portion 31 may be equal to an outer diameter of the hinge axis 8, and the diameter of the rod body 32 is slightly smaller than a minimum inner diameter of the hole 80.

[0032] The adjusting member 3 is rotatably installed on the door 102 or 102'. Specifically, the rod body 32 is received in the hole 80, and a lower end surface of the base portion 31 sits on an upper end surface of the hinge axis 8. An adjusting groove 37 may be formed on a lower end surface of the adjusting member 3. A corresponding tool, for example, a screwdriver is inserted in the adjusting groove 37 to rotate the adjusting member 3, and the adjusting member 3 rotates relative to the hinge axis 8.

[0033] A first adjusting portion 33 is formed on the lower end of the base portion 31, and the hinge axis 8 includes a second adjusting portion 82 in facing contact with the first adjusting portion 33 in the vertical direction. The second adjusting portion 82 may be formed by an upper end portion of the hinge axis 8, and is integrally formed with the hinge axis 8.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the first adjusting portion 33 includes a plurality of bearing faces; specifically, includes a first bearing face 34a, a second bearing face 34b, and a third bearing face 34c that are located at different heights. From top to bottom, the first bearing face 34a, the second bearing face 34b, and the third bearing face 34c drop stepwise, and steps are formed between adjacent bearing faces 34a, 34b, and 34c. The first bearing face 34a, the second bearing face 34b, and the third bearing face 34c are parallel to the horizontal plane.

[0035] To enable the adjusting member 3 to be stably supported on the upper end surface of the hinge axis 8, the bearing faces 34a, 34b, and 34c located at different heights are arranged in pairs, and each pair of the bearing faces 34a, 34b, and 34c are symmetrically arranged relative to a central axis of the rod body 32. Preferably, a same height difference exists between the adjacent bearing faces 34a, 34b, and 34c.

[0036] Correspondingly, the second adjusting portion 82 also includes a plurality of horizontal bearing faces, that is, a fourth bearing face 8a, a fifth bearing face 8b, and a sixth bearing face 8c that rise stepwise. The fourth bearing face 8a, the fifth bearing face 8b, and the sixth bearing face 8c are also arranged in pairs respectively.

[0037] The adjacent first bearing face 34a, second bearing face 34b, third bearing face 34c are connected by a vertical first connecting surface 35. The adjacent fourth to sixth bearing faces 8a, 8b, and 8c are also connected by a vertical second connecting surface 84.

[0038] When the adjusting member 3 rotates relative to the hinge axis 8, relative positions of the bearing faces of the first adjusting portion 33 and the second adjusting portion 82 are changed, and accordingly the height of the adjusting member 3 relative to the main body 101 can be changed, so as to change the height of the door 102, which is supported by the adjusting member 3, relative to the main body 101. At least one of the bearing faces 34a, 34b, and 34c of the first adjusting portion 33 sits on a corresponding bearing face 82a, 82b or 82c of the second adjusting portion 82.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4b, an inner surface of the hinge axis 8 is uneven and a plurality of grooves 81 extending vertically is formed. The grooves 81 may extend at the entire height of the hinge axis 8. The adjacent grooves 81 are transitioned by a smooth rising curved surface 83 at the entire height. As seen from the cross section, the hole 80 is approximately flower-shaped. In this embodiment, the hinge axis 8 has six grooves 81.

[0040] The rod body 32 may include one accommodating groove 36 that penetrates the rod body 32 in the longitudinal direction of the rod body 32. Reference may be made to the prior patent application CN201210230780.X filed by the applicant before for the use of the accommodating groove 36. Because the implementation of the present invention does not rely on the feature, the applicant no longer elaborates this feature here.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 5, and FIG. 8, the adjusting member 3 includes a stopper 38 located on the rod body 32 and joined with the base portion 31. The stopper 38 is fixed on the rod body 32 and is immovable relative to the rod body 32. The stopper 38 and the rod body 32 may be integrally formed.

[0042] The stopper 38 is connected to the lowest one of the plurality of bearing faces, that is, the third bearing face 34c, of the first adjusting portion 33. When the first adjusting portion 33 and the second adjusting portion 82 are joined, the stopper 38 falls in a corresponding groove 81, which may limit the rotation of the adjusting member 3 when the first adjusting portion 33 and the second adjusting portion 82 are joined. The stopper 38 extends a small segment of distance upwards along the axis of the rod body 32, so that when the adjusting member 3 moves upwards to enable the first adjusting portion 33 to be detached from the second adjusting portion 82 in the vertical direction to preset a distance, the stopper 38 is detached from the groove 81, and the adjusting member 3 becomes rotatable.

[0043] Because the stopper 38 abuts the third bearing face 34c, the third bearing face 34c sits on the second adjusting portion 82 no matter the adjusting member 3 is at a first, second or third height; therefore, no matter which height the door 102 is adjusted to, the stopper 38 falls in the corresponding groove 81. In the process that the door 102 rotates, the stopper 38 may prevent the rotation of the adjusting member 3 relative to the hinge axis 8, so as to change the height of the door 102.

[0044] FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b show a state of the first adjusting portion 33 and the second adjusting portion 82 being attached when the door 102 is at the first height. As shown in FIG. 4, at this position, the bearing faces of the first adjusting portion 33 and the second adjusting portion 82 are joined in a complementary manner, and no gap exists between relative bearing faces of the first adjusting portion 33 and the second adjusting portion 82. Specifically, the first bearing face 34a of the first adjusting portion 33 is supported by the sixth bearing face 8c of the second adjusting portion 82, and correspondingly, the second bearing face 34b and the fifth bearing face 8b are attached, and the third bearing face 34c and the fourth bearing face 8 are attached.

[0045] When the height of the door 102 needs to be adjusted, as shown in FIG. 5, the door 102 is first raised to hold up the adjusting member 3. The adjusting member 3 moves upwards to the extent where the stopper 38 located at the upper end of the rod body 32 is detached from a guiding groove 81, and the main body of the rod body 32 is still kept in the hole 80.

[0046] At the position shown in FIG. 6, the door 102 is adjusted to the second height, the second bearing face 34b and the sixth bearing face 8c are joined, the third bearing face 34c and the fifth bearing face 8b are joined, and a gap exists between the first bearing face 34a and the fourth bearing face 8a.

[0047] Similarly, at the third height, the relationship between the adjusting member 3 and the hinge axis 8 is shown in FIG. 7. At this position, the third bearing face 34c and the sixth bearing face 8c are joined, and the first bearing face 34a is separated from the fifth bearing face 8b by a gap, while the second bearing face 34b is separated from the fourth bearing face 8a by a gap.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 8, the hinge component 1 includes a bushing 6 sleeved outside the adjusting member 3 and the hinge axis 8 from top to bottom. The bushing 6 may be inserted inside the door 102.

[0049] The adjusting member 3 and the hinge axis 8 are preferably made of metal. The bushing 6 is made of plastic. In this implementation, the bushing 6 is made of anti-slip polyformaldehyde resin and Teflon.

[0050] To reduce the friction between an upper wall 60 of the bushing 6 and a top face of the adjusting member 3, and a gasket 7 may be provided between the upper wall 60 of the bushing 6 and the top face of the adjusting member 3.

[0051] The bushing 6 is sleeved outside the adjusting member 3 and the hinge axis 8 nonrotatably relative to the adjusting member 3. The hinge component 1 includes an anti-rotation structure used for preventing the rotation of the bushing 6 relative to the adjusting member 3. The anti-rotation structure includes an insertion portion 61 located on the bushing 6 and a reception portion 301 arranged on the adjusting member 3. The insertion portion 61 is inserted in the reception portion 301 to prevent the rotation of the bushing 6 relative to the adjusting member 3.

[0052] The insertion portion 61 rises from the upper wall 60 of the bushing 6, and is axially inserted in the reception portion 301 along the bushing 6. Specifically, the insertion portion 61 extends downwards from an inner side of the upper wall 60, and the reception portion 301 includes a hole that sinks downwards from the top face of the adjusting member 3.

[0053] The insertion portion 61 is cooperatively plugged in the reception portion 301 for the sake of shape. A central axis line of the insertion portion 61 and the reception portion 301 overlaps a central axis line of the adjusting member 3, and the insertion portion 61 and the reception portion 301 have non-circular cross sections, so as to prevent the rotation of the insertion portion 61 relative to the reception portion 301.

[0054] The insertion portion 61 may be a protruding column having a cross section of an elliptic ring. Correspondingly, the reception portion 301 has an elliptic cross section.

[0055] In the process that the door 102 rotates, the hinge axis 8, the adjusting member 3, and the bushing 6 are nonrotatable relative to each other; therefore, even though the bushing 6 is made of plastic and the adjusting member 3 and the hinge axis 8 located in the bushing 6 are made of metal, the bushing 6 is not subject to wear caused by the adjusting member 3 and the hinge axis 8 made of metal and also no noise is produced.

[0056] In the process that the door 102 rotates, the bushing 6 rotates relative to a hinge hole (not shown), that is used for accommodating the bushing 6, of the door 102; because a lower end cover, where the hinge hole is usually formed to accommodate the bushing 6, of the door 102, is also usually made of plastic, large noise is not produced between the bushing 6 and the door 102; also, through proper selection of the material of the bushing 6, obvious wear on the bushing 6 and the door 102 are avoided.

[0057] Various embodiments of single parts and members described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 8 may be combined with each other in any given manner to achieve the advantages of the present invention. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the shown embodiments, and generally measures other than the shown measures may also be used, as long as these measures also can achieve same effects.

List of Reference Numerals

[0058] 

1

Hinge component

2

Hinge support

3

Adjusting member

6

Bushing

7

Gasket

8

Hinge axis

21

Installing portion

22

Fixing hole

23

Support portion

31

Base portion

32

Rod body

33

First adjusting portion

35

First connecting surface

36

Accommodating groove

37

Adjusting groove

38

Stopper

60

Upper wall

61

Insertion portion

80

Hole

81

Groove

82

Second adjusting portion

83

Curved surface

84

Second connecting surface

100

Cooling appliance

101

Main body

102, 102'

Rotatable door

301

Reception portion

34a, 34b, 34c; 8a, 8b, 8c, 82a, 82b, 82c

Bearing face

Claims

1. A cooling appliance (100), comprising a main body (101), a rotatable door (102, 102'), and a hinge component (1) that connects the door and the main body, wherein the hinge component (1) comprises:

a hinge axis (8);

an adjusting member (3) used for adjusting the height of the door relative to the main body, wherein the adjusting member sits on the hinge axis; and

a bushing (6), having at least one part accommodated in the door;

characterized in that, the bushing is incapable of being rotatably sleeved outside the adjusting member relative to the adjusting member.

2. The cooling appliance (100) according to claim 1, characterized by comprising an anti-rotation structure, wherein the anti-rotation structure comprises an insertion portion (61) located on one of the bushing and the adjusting member and a reception portion (301) located on the other of the bushing and the adjusting member, and the insertion portion is inserted in the reception portion (301).

3. The cooling appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that, the insertion portion (61) is axially inserted in the reception portion (301) along the bushing.

4. The cooling appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that, the insertion portion (61) is cooperatively plugged in the reception portion (301) for the sake of shape.

5. The cooling appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that, the bushing comprises an upper wall, and the insertion portion (61) rises from the upper wall, or the reception portion (301) has at least one part located in the upper wall.

6. The cooling appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that, the insertion portion (61) is located on the bushing, the reception portion (301) is located on the adjusting member, the insertion portion (61) extends downwards from an inner side of the upper wall, and the reception portion (301) comprises a hole that sinks downwards from a top face of the adjusting member.

7. The cooling appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that, a central axis line of the insertion portion (61) and the reception portion (301) overlaps a central axis line of the adjusting member, and the insertion portion (61) and the reception portion (301) have non-circular cross sections.

8. The cooling appliance according to claim 2, characterized in that, a gap exists between a central line of the insertion portion and the reception portion and a central axis of the adjusting member.

9. The cooling appliance according to any one of the claims, characterized in that, the adjusting member and the hinge axis each comprise a plurality of bearing faces (34a, 34b, 34c; 8a, 8b, 8c) located at different heights, and at least one bearing face of the adjusting member sits on a corresponding bearing face of the hinge axis.

10. The cooling appliance according to claim 9, characterized in that, the plurality of bearing faces (34a, 34b, 34c; 8a, 8b, 8c) is parallel to the horizontal plane, and adjacent bearing faces form steps.

11. The cooling appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, the hinge axis (8) is a hollow cylinder, the adjusting member (3) has a rod body (32) that is inserted in the hinge axis, and a second adjusting portion (82) is integrally formed at a tail end of the hinge axis (8).

12. The cooling appliance according to claim 11, characterized in that, the adjusting member (3) comprises at least one stopper (38) that is immovably fixed on the rod body (32), an inner wall of a hole of the hinge axis (8) has a plurality of grooves (81), and the stopper (38) stretches into a corresponding groove (81) in a manner as follows: when the adjusting member (3) moves upwards relative to the hinge axis (8) to preset a distance, the stopper (38) is detachable from the groove (81).

Drawing