Refrigerator including multiple storage compartments

Abstract

The present invention provides a refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet that defines a first storage compartment; a first door that is opened or closed to allow or prevent access to an interior of the first storage compartment; a storing device coupled to the first door to define a second storage compartment, wherein, when the first door is closed, the second storage compartment is disposed in the first storage compartment; and a second door connected to the first door and configured to be opened or closed to allow or prevent access to an interior of the second storage compartment, wherein the interior of the second storage compartment is accessible when the first door is closed and the second door is opened, wherein the first door includes a plurality of first coupling parts to which the storing device is coupled, wherein the storing device includes: a frame; and a basket installed on the frame, wherein each of the frame and the basket includes at least one second coupling part interacting with at least one of the plurality of first coupling parts, wherein a front surface of the second door is positioned to be generally coplanar with at least a portion of a front surface of the first door.

1 - 175 . (canceled) 
     
     
         176 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet;   a first storage compartment within the cabinet;   a first door configured to open and close at least a portion of the first storage compartment;   a storing device that is coupled to the first door and that defines a second storage compartment, the second storage compartment being disposed in the first storage compartment when the first door is oriented in a closed position and the second storage compartment being configured to move with the first door when the first door rotates between opened and closed positions; and   a second door that is connected to the first door, that is configured to open and close the second storage compartment, that is configured to enable access to the second storage compartment when the first door is oriented in a closed position and the second door is oriented in an open position, and that is located in a position at which a front surface of the second door is generally coplanar with at least a portion of a front surface of the first door when the second door is oriented in a closed position,   wherein the first door includes a plurality of first coupling parts that couple the storing device to the first door, and   wherein the storing device includes a plurality of second coupling parts that interact with the plurality of first coupling parts to couple the storing device to the first door, the plurality of first coupling parts and the plurality of second coupling parts enabling removal and replacement of the storing device on the first door.   
     
     
         177 . The refrigerator of  claim 176 , wherein the second door aligns with an uppermost edge of the first door when the second door is oriented in a closed position. 
     
     
         178 . The refrigerator according to  claim 176 , wherein the second door rotates in the same direction as the first door. 
     
     
         179 . The refrigerator according to  claim 176 , wherein a rotational axis of the first door is parallel to a rotational axis of the second door. 
     
     
         180 . The refrigerator according to  claim 179 , wherein the rotational axis of the first door is the same as the rotational axis of the second door. 
     
     
         181 . The refrigerator according to  claim 176 , wherein the second door aligns with three edges of the first door when the second door is oriented in a closed position. 
     
     
         182 . The refrigerator according to  claim 176 , wherein the storing device includes a frame and a basket installed on the frame,
 wherein each of the frame and the basket includes at least one of the plurality of second coupling parts that interact with the plurality of first coupling parts.   
     
     
         183 . The refrigerator according to  claim 182 , wherein the first door comprises:
 an outer case;   a door liner coupled to the outer case; and   a plurality of dikes integral with the door liner, the dikes being projected at both side edges of the door liner and defining the plurality of first coupling parts.   
     
     
         184 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet;   a first storage compartment within the cabinet;   a first door configured to open and close at least a portion of the first storage compartment;   a storing device that is coupled to the first door and that defines a second storage compartment, the second storage compartment being disposed in the first storage compartment when the first door is oriented in a closed position and the second storage compartment being configured to move with the first door when the first door rotates between opened and closed positions;   a second door that is connected to the first door, that is configured to open and close the second storage compartment, and that is configured to enable access to the second storage compartment when the first door is oriented in a closed position and the second door is oriented in an open position;   a first hinge that rotatably connects the first door to the cabinet, the first hinge including a first hinge shaft positioned at a first location relative to a side edge of the first door that is closest to the first hinge shaft; and   a second hinge that rotatably connects the second door to the first door, the second hinge including a second hinge shaft positioned at a second location relative to the side edge of the first door, the second location of the second hinge shaft having a horizontal distance from the side edge of the first door that is less than a horizontal distance from the side edge of the first door of the first location of the first hinge shaft.   
     
     
         185 . The refrigerator according to  claim 184 , wherein the second door is located in a position at which a front surface of the second door is generally coplanar with at least a portion of a front surface of the first door when the second door is oriented in a closed position. 
     
     
         186 . The refrigerator according to  claim 185 , wherein the second door aligns with three edges of the first door when the second door is oriented in a closed position. 
     
     
         187 . The refrigerator according to  claim 184 , wherein the second hinge shaft of the second hinge is inserted in the second door, the first hinge shaft of the first hinge is inserted in the first door, and a diameter of the first hinge shaft of the first hinge is greater than a diameter of the second hinge shaft of the second hinge. 
     
     
         188 . The refrigerator according to  claim 184 :
 wherein the second door includes a recessed portion at an uppermost edge of the second door at a side of the second door that faces the first door when the second door is oriented in a closed position;   wherein the second hinge shaft is located in the recessed portion at the uppermost edge of the second door;   wherein the first door includes a recessed portion at an uppermost edge of the first door, the recessed portion at the uppermost edge of the first door aligning at least partially with the recessed portion at the uppermost edge of the second door;   wherein the first hinge shaft is located in the recessed portion at the uppermost edge of the first door and the second hinge connects to the first door in the recessed portion at the uppermost edge of the first door; and   wherein the first hinge and the second hinge are hidden by a front side of the second door when the second door is oriented in a closed position, the front side of the second door being a side of the second door that is furthest from the first door when the second door is oriented in a closed position.   
     
     
         189 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet;   a first storage compartment within the cabinet;   a first door configured to open and close at least a portion of the first storage compartment;   a storing device that is coupled to the first door and that defines a second storage compartment, the second storage compartment being disposed in the first storage compartment when the first door is oriented in a closed position and the second storage compartment being configured to move with the first door when the first door rotates between opened and closed positions;   a second door that is connected to the first door, that is configured to open and close the second storage compartment, and that is configured to enable access to the second storage compartment when the first door is oriented in a closed position and the second door is oriented in an open position;   a locking unit configured to lock the second door to the first door; and   a release member configured to receive a user input,   wherein the locking unit is configured to release the second door from the first door based on the release member receiving the user input, and   wherein the locking unit also is configured to release the second door from the first door based on a sufficient amount of pressure applied to a front surface of the second door at a location spaced apart from the release member or based on a touch of the user input.   
     
     
         190 . The refrigerator according to  claim 189 , wherein the locking unit comprises:
 a latch hook provided to the second door;   a latch cam provided to the first door and configured to catch a portion of the latch hook; and   a stopper provided to the first door and configured to limit rotation of the latch cam.   
     
     
         191 . The refrigerator according to  claim 190 , wherein the release member comprises:
 a first member provided to the second door; and   a second member that is provided to the first door and that links with the first member.   
     
     
         192 . The refrigerator according to  claim 191 , wherein the first member operates the second member and, based on the first member operating the second member, the second member pushes the stopper in a direction in which the stopper is removed from the latch cam. 
     
     
         193 . The refrigerator according to  claim 191 , wherein the first member comprises:
 an operation button that is pressed by a user; and   a push rod positioned behind the operation button, the push rod being configured to move together with the operation button, and   the second member comprises a latch rod that is pressed by the push rod.   
     
     
         194 . The refrigerator according to  claim 193 , further comprising an elastic member that is wound around an outer circumferential surface of the push rod to return the push rod to an original position of the push rod when pressure on the operation button is released. 
     
     
         195 . The refrigerator according to  claim 193 , further comprising an elastic member that is wound around an outer circumferential surface of the latch rod to return the latch rod to an original position of the latch rod when pressure on the operation button is released. 
     
     
         196 . The refrigerator according to  claim 191 , wherein the first member comprises an input member that is positioned on the front surface of the second door and that is configured to receive input of an operation command of the release member, and
 the second member comprises an actuator that is operated according to an electrical signal based on input received by the input member.   
     
     
         197 . The refrigerator according to  claim 190 , further comprising an elastic member that is provided to a rotation shaft of the latch cam and configured to rotate the latch cam to an original position of the latch cam. 
     
     
         198 . The refrigerator according to  claim 190 , further comprising an elastic member having a first end connected to the stopper and a second end connected to the first door, the elastic member being configured to return the stopper to an original position of the stopper. 
     
     
         199 . The refrigerator according to  claim 189 , wherein the second door is located in a position at which a front surface of the second door is generally coplanar with at least a portion of a front surface of the first door when the second door is oriented in a closed position. 
     
     
         200 . The refrigerator according to  claim 199 , wherein the second door aligns with three edges of the first door when the second door is oriented in a closed position. 
     
     
         201 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet;   a first storage compartment within the cabinet;   a first door configured to open and close at least a portion of the first storage compartment;   a storing device that is coupled to the first door and that defines a second storage compartment, the second storage compartment being disposed in the first storage compartment when the first door is oriented in a closed position and the second storage compartment being configured to move with the first door when the first door rotates between opened and closed positions; and   a second door that is connected to the first door, that is configured to open and close the second storage compartment, that is configured to enable access to the second storage compartment when the first door is oriented in a closed position and the second door is oriented in an open position, and that is located in a position at which a front surface of the second door is generally coplanar with at least a portion of a front surface of the first door when the second door is oriented in a closed position,   wherein the first door includes a pocket type handle which is configured to open the first door, and the pocket type handle is located at a bottom side of the second door.   
     
     
         202 . The refrigerator according to  claim 201 , wherein the second door comprises a ground wire therewithin. 
     
     
         203 . The refrigerator according to  claim 190 , wherein the second door further comprises an automatic opening device which is configured to automatically open the second door when the locking unit is released. 
     
     
         204 . The refrigerator according to  claim 203 , wherein the automatic opening device comprises a torsion spring rotating the latch cam in a direction where the latch hook is separated from the latch cam.