Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include a sub hinge connecting a main door to a sub door, and a main hinge connecting the main door to a main body of the refrigerator. The sub hinge is not connected to the main hinge, to prevent interference during door movement and to minimize leakage of cool air. A single latch assembly may allow both the main door and the sub door to be smoothly opened and secured, to reduce manufacturing costs and enhance reliability with respect to a simultaneous operation of the latch.

1 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a main body having a cooling compartment therein;   a door rotatably coupled to the main body to selectively open and close the cooling compartment, the door comprising:   a main door having a front surface defining a front exterior surface of the main body; and   a sub door positioned at a rear surface of the main door opposite the front surface thereof, and being coaxially rotated with the main door; and   a hinge assembly, comprising:
 a main hinge rotatably coupling the main door to the main body; and 
 a sub hinge independently and rotatably coupling the sub door to the main door, wherein a front surface of the sub door faces and is coupled to the rear surface of the main door. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the sub door and the sub hinge are completely received in the cooling compartment when the door is closed. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the sub hinge comprises a multi-joint link which folds and unfolds based on a rotation direction of the main door. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the sub hinge comprises:
 a first bracket attached to the front surface of the sub door;   a second bracket attached to the back surface of the main door; and   a multi-joint link connecting the first bracket to the second bracket.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein the multi-joint link comprises:
 a first link having a first end and a second end, the first end thereof being rotatably coupled to the first bracket by a first rotation shaft; and   a second link having a first end thereof rotatably coupled to the second end of the first link by a second rotation shaft and a second end thereof rotatably coupled to the second bracket by a third rotation shaft.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , further comprising an elastic member provided on the second rotation shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein the elastic member comprises a torsion spring generating a force in a direction increasing an angle between the first and second links when the main door is opened. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising a latch assembly that selectively coupled the main body, the sub door and the main door, the latch assembly comprising:
 a first hook fixed to the main body and extending toward the sub door;   a second hook fixed to the main door and extending toward the sub door;   a first stopper provided in the sub door, at a position corresponding to the first hook, the first stopper engaging the first hook so as to secure the sub door in the cooling compartment and disengaging the first hook so as to release the sub door for rotation with the main door; and   a second stopper provided in the sub door, at a position corresponding to the second hook, the second stopper engaging the second hook so as to secure the sub door to the main door and disengaging the second hook so as to release the sub door from the main door.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , further comprising a connection device that operably couples the first and second stoppers, the connection device comprising at least one gear or at least one connecting rod. 
     
     
         10 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a main body having a cooling compartment therein;   a door rotatably coupled to the main body to selectively open and close the cooling compartment, the door comprising:
 a main door having a front surface defining a front exterior surface of the main body; and 
 a sub door provided at a rear surface of the main door and being coaxially rotated with the main door; and 
 a latch assembly that selectively couples the main body, the sub door and the main door to selectively restrict rotation of the door, wherein the latch assembly comprises:
 a first restriction device restricting rotation of the sub door; 
 a second restriction device restricting rotation of the main door; and 
 a connection device that operably links the first and second restriction devices. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the first restriction device comprises:
 a first hook fixed to a side of the cooling compartment; and   a first stopper provided in the sub door, at a position corresponding to the first hook, the first stopper having a first groove formed therein for receiving the first hook to selectively engage the first hook.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the second restriction device comprises:
 a second hook fixed to a side of the main door; and   a second stopper provided in the sub door, at a position corresponding to the second hook, the second stopper having a second groove formed therein for receiving the second hook to selectively engage the second hook.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the connection device comprises a gear engaged with the first and second stoppers. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the connection device comprises a connecting rod connecting the first stopper to the second stopper. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an actuator provided on the main door; and   a rotation hook having a first end operably coupled to the actuator and a second end hooked on the second stopper to selectively restrict rotation of the second stopper based on an actuation state of the actuator.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , wherein the actuator comprises:
 a push button provided on the main door; and   a push rod having a first end corresponding to the push button and a second end corresponding to the rotation hook, wherein depression of the push button releases the hooked state between the rotation hook and the second stopper.   
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , further comprising a seal provided on a contact area between the main body and the main door. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , further comprising a hinge assembly that rotatably couples the door to the main body, comprising:
 a main hinge that rotatably couples the main door to the main body;   a sub hinge that rotatably couples the sub door to the main door; and   a multi-joint link coupled between the main door and the sub door that contracts and expands based on a rotation direction and position of the door.   
     
     
         19 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a main body having a cooling compartment formed therein;   a door rotatably coupled to the main body, comprising:
 a main door having a first side defining an exterior surface of the main body and a second side opposite the first side; and 
 a sub door rotatably coupled to the second side of the main door; 
   a hinge assembly that rotatably couples the door to the main body, comprising:
 a first hinge that rotatably couples the main door to the main body; and 
 a second hinge that rotatably couples the sub door to the main door, wherein the sub door and the main door rotate together about the first hinge; and 
   a latch assembly that selectively couples the main body, the sub door and the main door, comprising:
 a first latch selectively engaged between the main body and the sub door, the first latch securing the sub door in the cooling compartment in a first mode thereof and releasing the sub door from the cooling compartment in a second mode thereof; and 
 a second latch selectively engaged between the sub door and the main door, the second latch securing the sub door to the main door in a first mode thereof and releasing the sub door from the main door in a second mode thereof.