IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,498,166
Granted Patent B2
US 12,498,166 · App. 18/084,036 · Granted Dec 16, 2025

Refrigerator

Inventors: Jonghyun Son (Suwon-si, KR); Byoungmok Kim (Suwon-si, KR); Taecheol Park (Suwon-si, KR); Jeonghyun Lee (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
F25D23/025E05D11/0054E05D11/0081F25D23/028F25D23/063E05Y2400/445E05Y2900/31
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,498,166
App. No.
18/084,036
Granted
Dec 16, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A refrigerator includes: a main body including a storage area; an inner door including a door storage space, the inner door being rotatably coupled with the main body; an outer door; and a hinge rotatably coupling the outer door with the inner door, the hinge including a hinge bracket that includes a fixing plate coupled with the inner door, and a hinge shaft on which the outer door is rotatable, wherein the inner door further includes a front plate forming a front surface of the inner door, and an upper cap coupled with an upper end of the front plate, wherein the front plate includes a through hole, and wherein the hinge bracket penetrates the through hole such that the fixing plate is coupled with the upper cap.

Claims (40)

1 . A refrigerator comprising:

a main body comprising a storage area;

an inner door comprising a door storage space, the inner door being rotatably coupled with the main body;

an outer door;

a hinge rotatably coupling the outer door with the inner door, the hinge comprising a hinge bracket that comprises a fixing plate coupled with the inner door, and a hinge shaft on which the outer door is rotatable; and

a hinge cover covering a portion of the hinge bracket, the portion being positioned outside the inner door,

wherein the inner door further comprises a front plate forming a front surface of the inner door, and an upper cap coupled with an upper end of the front plate,

wherein the front plate comprises a through hole spaced a first gap from an upper edge of the front plate and spaced a second gap from a side edge of the front plate,

wherein the hinge bracket penetrates the through hole such that the fixing plate is coupled with the upper cap and is positioned inside the inner door, and

wherein the hinge cover penetrates the through hole.

2 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the upper cap comprises a flat installing portion contacting the fixing plate, and

wherein the refrigerator further comprises a coupling member coupling the fixing plate is coupled with the flat installing portion.

3 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the upper cap comprises an upper cap hole corresponding to the through hole, and

wherein the hinge bracket penetrates the upper cap hole.

4 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising a reed switch configured to detect opening and closing of the outer door, and

wherein the reed switch is provided on the hinge cover.

5 . The refrigerator of claim 4 , wherein the hinge cover comprises an upper cover covering an upper surface of the hinge, and a side cover covering a side surface of the hinge, and

the reed switch is provided on the upper cover.

6 . The refrigerator of claim 5 , wherein the upper cover comprises a switch supporter supporting an edge of the reed switch, and

wherein the upper cover comprises an opening that the reed switch penetrates.

7 . The refrigerator of claim 4 , further comprising a wire connected with the reed switch and configured to supply electricity to the reed switch,

wherein the wire passes through the through hole.

8 . The refrigerator of claim 7 , wherein the wire comprises:

a first wire having a first end connected with a power supply of the main body, and a second end at which a first connector is provided; and

a second wire having a first end connected with the reed switch, and a second end at which a second connector is provided, the second connector being coupled with the first connector, and

wherein the first connector and the second connector are positioned in a hinge accommodating space formed in the upper cap.

9 . The refrigerator of claim 4 , further comprising a magnet provided on the outer door and configured to interwork with the reed switch.

10 . The refrigerator of claim 9 , wherein, in a closed state of the outer door, the reed switch and the magnet are positioned vertically.

11 . The refrigerator of claim 9 , wherein the outer door comprises a hinge accommodating groove depressed in a rear surface of the outer door and configured to accommodate the hinge cover in a closed state of the outer door.

12 . The refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein the outer door comprises a magnet mounting groove on which the magnet is mounted, and

wherein the magnet mounting groove is formed above the hinge accommodating groove.

13 . A refrigerator comprising:

a refrigerator door comprising an inner door and an outer door, the inner door being coupled with a main body, and the outer door being coupled with the inner door, wherein the inner door further comprises a front plate comprising a through hole spaced a first gap from an upper edge of the front plate and spaced a second gap from a side edge of the front plate;

a hinge comprising a hinge bracket coupled with the inner door;

a hinge cover covering a portion of the hinge bracket that is positioned outside the inner door, wherein the hinge cover penetrates the through hole; and

a reed switch configured to detect opening and closing of the outer door based on an interworking between the reed switch and a magnet,

wherein the reed switch and the magnet are positioned vertically with respect to each other when the refrigerator door is closed, and

wherein the inner door comprises the front plate forming a front surface of the inner door, and an upper cap coupled with an upper end of the front plate.

14 . The refrigerator of claim 13 , wherein the reed switch is further configured to detect the refrigerator door is closed based on a distance between the reed switch and the magnet being less than a predetermined distance.

15 . The refrigerator of claim 13 , wherein the reed switch is provided on the hinge cover.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 19, 2022
From: SON, JONGHYUN; KIM, BYOUNGMOK; PARK, TAECHEOL; LEE, JEONGHYUN
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 062145/0438 →
Priority Claims (2)
KR 10-2020-0075013 · Jun 19, 2020 · national
KR 10-2020-0161449 · Nov 26, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTKR2021005143 · Apr 23, 2021
Related Publication 20230125013A1 · Apr 20, 2023
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