US 12,410,969 B2
Multi-joint link hinge and refrigerator having the same
Changseok Oh, Seoul (KR); and Chunho Byun, Gyeonggi-do (KR)
Assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC., Seoul (KR); and EPTECH CO., LTD., Gyeonggi-Do (KR)
Filed by LG ELECTRONICS INC., Seoul (KR); and EPTech Co., Ltd., Gyeonggi-do (KR)
Filed on Jan. 30, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/426,807.
Application 18/426,807 is a continuation of application No. 17/320,591, filed on May 14, 2021, granted, now 11,920,855.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2020-0059986 (KR), filed on May 19, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0167757 A1, May 23, 2024
Int. Cl. F25D 23/02 (2006.01); E05D 3/06 (2006.01)
CPC F25D 23/028 (2013.01) [E05D 3/06 (2013.01); E05Y 2900/31 (2013.01); F25D 2323/024 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet having an upper storage space and a lower storage space;
an upper door configured to open or close the upper storage space;
an upper hinge configured to rotatably connect a top of the upper door to the cabinet;
a lower door configured to open or close the lower storage space;
a lower hinge configured to rotatably connect a bottom of the lower door to the cabinet; and
a center hinge provided between the upper hinge and the lower hinge,
wherein the center hinge comprises:
a hinge bracket mounted at the cabinet;
an upper link module rotatably coupled to the hinge bracket and configured to rotate the upper door relative to the cabinet; and
a lower link module disposed below the upper link module and rotatably coupled to the hinge bracket and configured to rotate the lower door relative to the cabinet,
wherein the upper link module comprises:
a plurality of upper links rotatably coupled to the hinge bracket; and
an upper door bracket mounted to a lower surface of the upper door, and coupled to at least one of the plurality of upper links,
wherein the lower link module comprises:
a plurality of lower links disposed below the upper link module and rotatably coupled to the hinge bracket; and
a lower door bracket mounted to an upper surface of the lower door, and coupled to at least one of the plurality of lower links,
wherein the plurality of lower links comprise:
a lower main link rotatably coupled to the hinge bracket, and the lower main link faces a bottom surface of the upper link module;
a first lower sub link rotatably coupled to one side of the lower main link and one side of the lower door bracket;
a second lower sub link rotatably coupled to another side of the lower main link and another side of the lower door bracket; and
a lower connection link rotatably coupled to the lower main link and the second lower sub link, and
wherein a support is disposed on an upper surface of the lower main link, the support is disposed between shafts that separately pass through at least two of the lower links, and the support selectively contacts with a lower surface of the upper link module depending on a load of the upper door.