A REFRIGERATOR COMPRISING A DOOR

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator comprising a door which can be locked.

[0002] Doors are used to provide or block access into the body of the refrigerator. Doors having locking mechanisms are used to prevent the door from being opened by children. In the state of the art refrigerators, the locking mechanism which locks the door disrupts the aesthetic appearance of the refrigerators from outside. Furthermore, in refrigerators which can be locked and unlocked by means of a key, the user has difficulty with opening the locked door when the key is lost.

[0003] In the state of the art Korean Patent Application No. KR20010048304, a refrigerator comprising a door having a child lock is disclosed.

[0004] In the state of the art Korean Patent Application No. KR20070093288, a refrigerator comprising a door having a child lock is disclosed. Other refrigerator door lock solutions are disclosed in WO2008/080936 and in KR19990074446.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a refrigerator wherein the locking of the door is facilitated.

[0006] The refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, is explicated in claim 1.

[0007]  In a preferred version of the present invention, the movement member comprises a ramp. As the movement member is slid when the pin is on the ramp of the movement member, the pin is pushed out of the housing plane or moved so as to be inserted into the housing. Thereby, most of the locking mechanism is concealed on the door. Furthermore, the locking mechanism is positioned so as not to be easily reached by children. The user can easily lock the door or unlock a locked door.

[0008] In an embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator comprises two doors placed one above the other, a cavity provided on the upper door and a tongue which is positioned on the body between the two doors. As the movement member is slid when the door is in the closed position, the pin passes through the locking mechanism on the tongue and fits into the cavity on the upper door. Thus, both of the doors are locked in the closed position by sliding a single movement member.

[0009] In another embodiment of the present invention, the housing is provided on the upper section of the door. Thus, the housing is enabled to be positioned so as not to be reached by small children.

[0010] In another embodiment of the present invention, the housing is provided on the lower section of the door. Thus, the user can slide the movement mechanism easily using his/her foot.

[0011] In another embodiment of the present invention, the movement member has a handle. By means of the handle, the movement member can be easily moved by the user.

[0012] By means of the present invention, a refrigerator is realized, wherein the locking of the door is facilitated and the locking mechanism is concealed to a great extent.

[0013] The refrigerator realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the schematic view of the refrigerator related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 - is the schematic view of the refrigerator related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 - is the exploded schematic view of the refrigerator related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 - is the schematic view of the refrigerator related to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Refrigerator

2. Body

3. Door

4. Locking mechanism

5. Locking housing

6. Tongue

7. Housing

8. Movement member

9. Pin

10. Cavity

11. Handle

[0015] The refrigerator (1) comprises a body (2); a door (3) provided on the body (2) and having an open position wherein access into the body (2) is allowed and a closed position wherein access into the body (2) is prevented, and a locking mechanism (4) which enables the door (3) to be fixed to the body (2) and locked in the closed position.

[0016] The refrigerator (1) of the present invention comprises the locking mechanism (4) having a tongue (6) which is disposed on the body (2) and whereon a locking housing (5) is provided, a housing (7) disposed on the door (3), a movement member (8) provided in the housing (7) and suitable to be slidably moved by the user in the horizontal plane parallel to the door, and a pin (9) which is disposed in the housing (7) and which is suitable to be moved by means of the movement member (8) and which has a released position wherein the pin (9) is almost completely in the housing (7) and a locking position wherein the pin (9) is pushed out of the housing (7) by the movement mechanism (4) so as to fit into the locking housing (5). The housing (6) is in the form of a cavity which is formed in the door (3). The movement member (8) is slid in the housing (7) parallel to the door (3). At least a part of the movement member (8) is in the form of a ramp. The pin (9) is disposed on the movement member (8). The pin (9) moves in a vertical plane perpendicular to the door (3) when the movement member (8) is moved in the horizontal plane parallel to the door (3). The pin (9) is almost completely in the housing (7) in the released position. As the movement member (8) is slid in the released position, the pin (9) is pushed by the movement member (8) from the housing (7) towards the tongue (6). The pin (9) has a locking position wherein the pin (9) fits into the locking housing (5) by being pushed by the movement member (8) when the door (3) is in the closed position. The locking housing (5) is disposed on the tongue (6) which is fixed onto the body (2). As the pin (9) extends from the housing (7) and fits into the locking housing (5), the door (3) is enabled to be fixed and locked on the body (2) in the closed position. When the movement member (8) is slid in a direction opposite to the direction wherein the pin (9) is moved from the released position to the locking position when the pin (9) is in the locking position, the pin (9) moves out of the locking housing (5) and reaches the released position.

[0017] In another embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises two doors (3) disposed on the body (2) one above the other, the tongue (6) provided between the two doors (3), a housing (7) which is provided on one of the doors (3), a cavity (10) which is provided on the other door (3) so as to be aligned with the housing (7), and the pin (9) which fits into the cavity (10) by passing through the locking housing (5) when in the locked position and thus, enabling both of the doors (3) to be locked in the closed position. The tongue (6) is disposed onto the body (2) so as to be positioned between two doors (3). The cavity (10) is positioned on the lower section of the upper door (3) so as to be aligned with the locking housing (5). As the movement member (8) is slid when the doors (3) are in the closed position and the movement member (8) is the released position, the pin (9) passes through the locking housing (5) and fits into the cavity (10) . Thus, the two doors (3) are enabled to be locked in the closed position.

[0018] In an embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises the housing (7) which is provided on the upper section of the door (3). In the refrigerator (1) comprising two doors (3) which are positioned one above the other, the housing (7) is provided on the upper section of the lower door (3). The movement mechanism (8) is concealed in the housing (7). A locking mechanism (4) is provided for the user, which can easily be reached by hand when he/she wants to lock the door (3) or to unlock the door (3) which is locked.

[0019] In another embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises the housing (7) which is provided on the lower section of the door (3). Thus, the user can slide the movement member (8) easily with his/her foot. Thus, the locking of the door (3) by the user is facilitated.

[0020] In another embodiment of the present invention, the refrigerator (1) comprises the movement member (8) having a handle (11). The user is enabled to easily slide the movement member (8) by hand or foot by means of the handle (11). In a preferred version of the present invention, the handle (11) is in the form of a protrusion extending outwards from the housing (7).

[0021] By means of the present invention, a refrigerator (1) is realized, comprising the locking mechanism (4) having the housing (7) disposed on the door (3), the movement member (8) which is disposed in the housing (7) and which is moved by being slid and a pin (9) which fits into the locking housing (5) provided on the tongue (6) by being pushed by the movement member (8) when the door (3) is in the closed position and enables the door (3) to be locked in the closed position, wherein the locking of the door (3) is facilitated and the locking mechanism (4) is significantly concealed on the door (3).

Claims

1. A refrigerator (1) comprising a body (2); a door (3) provided on the body (2) and having an open position wherein access into the body (2) is allowed and a closed position wherein access into the body (2) is prevented, and a locking mechanism (4) which enables the door (3) to be fixed to the body (2) and locked in the closed position, wherein the locking mechanism (4) comprises

- a tongue (6) which is disposed on the body (2) and whereon a locking housing (5) is provided,

- a housing (7) disposed on the door (3),

- a movement member (8) provided in the housing (7) and suitable to be slidably moved by the user, and

- a pin (9) which is disposed in the housing (7) and which is suitable to be moved by means of the movement member (8) and which has a released position wherein the pin (9) is almost completely in the housing (7) and a locking position wherein the pin (9) is pushed out of the housing (7) by the movement mechanism (4) so as to fit into the locking housing (5), characterized by the movement member (8) which is arranged to be slid in a horizontal direction parallel to the door (3) surface, and the pin (9) being arranged to move vertically when the movement member (8) is moved in the horizontal direction parallel to the door (3) surface.

2. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by two doors (3) disposed on the body (2) one above the other, the tongue (6) provided between the two doors (3), a housing (7) which is provided on one of the doors (3), a cavity (10) which is provided on the other door (3) so as to be aligned with the housing (7), and the pin (9) which fits into the cavity (10) by passing through the locking housing (5) when in the locked position and thus, enabling both of the doors (3) to be locked in the closed position.

3. A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the housing (7) which is provided on the upper section of the door (3).

4. A refrigerator (1) as in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized by the housing (7) which is provided on the lower section of the door (3).

5. A refrigerator (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the movement member (8) which has a handle (11).

Ansprüche

1. Ein Kühlschrank (1) umfasst einen Körper (2); eine Tür (3), die am Körper (2) vorgesehen ist und eine offene Position aufweist, in der der Zugang zum Körper (2) gestattet ist, und eine geschlossene Position, in der der Zugang zum Körper (2) verhindert wird, und einen Verriegelungsmechanismus (4), der es ermöglicht, die Tür (3) an der Karosserie (2) zu befestigen und in der geschlossenen Position zu verriegeln, wobei der Verriegelungsmechanismus (4) folgendes umfasst

- eine Zunge (6), die am Körper (2) angeordnet ist und an der ein Verriegelungsgehäuse (5) vorgesehen ist,

- ein an der Tür (3) angeordnetes Gehäuse (7),

- ein Bewegungselement (8), das im Gehäuse (7) vorgesehen ist und vom Benutzer gleitend bewegt werden kann, und

- einen Stift (9), der in dem Gehäuse (7) angeordnet ist und der geeignet ist, mittels des Bewegungselements (8) bewegt zu werden, und der eine freigegebene Position hat, in der der Stift (9) fast vollständig in dem Gehäuse (7) ist, und eine Verriegelungsposition, in der der Stift (9) durch den Verriegelungsmechanismus (4) aus dem Gehäuse (7) herausgeschoben wird, so dass er in das Verriegelungsgehäuse (5) passt, gekennzeichnet ist es dadurch, dass das Bewegungselement (8) so angeordnet ist, dass es in einer horizontalen Richtung parallel zur Oberfläche der Tür (3) verschoben werden kann, und dass der Stift (9) so angeordnet ist, dass er sich vertikal bewegt, wenn das Bewegungselement (8) in der horizontalen Richtung parallel zur Oberfläche der Tür (3) bewegt wird.

2. Ein Kühlschrank (1), wie in Anspruch 1 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass zwei Türen (3) auf dem Körper (2) übereinander angeordnet sind, die Zunge (6) zwischen den beiden Türen (3) vorgesehen ist, ein Gehäuse (7), das an einer der Türen (3) vorgesehen ist, ein Hohlraum (10), der an der anderen Tür (3) so vorgesehen ist, dass er mit dem Gehäuse (7) ausgerichtet ist, und der Stift (9), der in den Hohlraum (10) passt, indem er durch das Verriegelungsgehäuse (5) hindurchgeht, wenn er sich in der verriegelten Position befindet, und somit ermöglicht, dass beide Türen (3) in der geschlossenen Position verriegelt werden.

3. Ein Kühlschrank (1), wie in einem der vorherigen Ansprüchen aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Gehäuse (7) am oberen Teil der Tür (3) angebracht ist.

4. Ein Kühlschrank (1), wie in Anspruch 1 oder 2 aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Gehäuse (7) am unteren Teil der Tür (3) angebracht ist.

5. Ein Kühlschrank (1), wie in einem der vorherigen Ansprüchen aufgeführt, ist dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Bewegungselement (8) mit einem Griff (11) versehen ist.

Revendications

1. Un réfrigérateur (1) comprenant un corps (2), une porte (3) placée sur le corps (2) et ayant une position ouverte dans laquelle l'accès au corps (2) est autorisé et une position fermée dans laquelle l'accès au corps (2) est empêché, et un mécanisme de verrouillage (4) qui permet à la porte (3) d'être fixée au corps (2) et verrouillée en position fermée, dans lequel le mécanisme de verrouillage (4) comprend

- une languette (6) disposée sur le corps (2) et sur laquelle se trouve un logement de verrouillage (5),

- un boîtier (7) disposé sur la porte (3),

- un élément de mouvement (8) prévu dans le boîtier (7) et apte à être déplacé de manière coulissante par l'utilisateur, et

- une goupille (9) disposée dans le boîtier (7), apte à être déplacée au moyen de l'élément de mouvement (8) et ayant une position libérée dans laquelle la goupille (9) est presque entièrement dans le boîtier (7) et une position de verrouillage dans laquelle la goupille (9) est poussée hors du boîtier (7) par le mécanisme de mouvement (4) de manière à s'insérer dans le boîtier de verrouillage (5), caractérisé par l'élément de mouvement (8) qui est conçu pour être déplacé dans une direction horizontale parallèle à la surface de la porte (3), et par la goupille (9) qui est conçue pour se déplacer verticalement lorsque l'élément de mouvement (8) est déplacé dans la direction horizontale parallèle à la surface de la porte (3).

2. Un réfrigérateur (1) tel que dans la déclaration 1, caractérisé par deux portes (3) disposées sur le corps (2) l'une au-dessus de l'autre, la languette (6) prévue entre les deux portes (3), un logement (7) qui est prévu sur l'une des portes (3), une cavité (10) qui est prévue sur l'autre porte (3) de manière à être alignée avec le logement (7), et la goupille (9) qui s'insère dans la cavité (10) en passant à travers le logement de verrouillage (5) en position verrouillée et permettant ainsi de verrouiller les deux portes (3) en position fermée.

3. Un réfrigérateur (1) selon l'une quelconque des déclarations précédentes, caractérisé par le logement (7) qui est prévu sur la partie supérieure de la porte (3).

4. Un réfrigérateur (1) selon la déclaration 1 ou la déclaration 2, caractérisé par le logement (7) qui est prévu sur la partie inférieure de la porte (3).

5. Un réfrigérateur (1) tel que dans l'une quelconque des déclarations ci-dessus, caractérisé par l'élément de mouvement (8) qui a une poignée (11).

Drawing