Foldable door for refrigerator

Abstract

A foldable door for a refrigerator appliance comprises: a first door hingedly connected to one end of a refrigerator body and configured to open and close one open surface of the refrigerator body; a second door foldably connected to the first door so as to open and close the other open surface of the refrigerator body; and a locking unit configured to selectively fold or affix the first door with respect to the second door. A fixing unit is configured to fix the locking unit against movement thereof, wherein the fixing unit comprises: a fixing portion disposed on the reinforcing bar; and an electromagnetic portion configured to generate an electromagnetic attraction force acting on the fixing portion when electric power is applied to the electromagnetic portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foldable door for a refrigerator, the foldable door comprising:
 a first door hingedly connected to one end of a refrigerator body and configured to open and close a first open surface of the refrigerator body;   a second door foldably connected to the first door and configured to open and close a second open surface of the refrigerator body; and   a locking unit configured to selectively fold and affix the second door with respect to the first door.   
     
     
         2 . The foldable door of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sealing gasket disposed in one of: the first door; and the second door, and configured to cover a folding region between the first door and the second door when an open surface of the refrigerator body is closed by the first door and the second door.   
     
     
         3 . The foldable door of  claim 1 , wherein the locking unit comprises:
 a locking groove disposed on the first door;   a reinforcing bar slidably mounted on the second door and configured to be inserted into the locking groove; and   a switch configured to press and move the reinforcing bar to allow the reinforcing bar to be inserted into the locking groove.   
     
     
         4 . The foldable door of  claim 3 , wherein the locking unit further comprises an elastic member mounted in the locking groove and configured to provide a restoring force to the reinforcing bar to return the reinforcing bar to an original position when the switch is released. 
     
     
         5 . The foldable door of  claim 2 , further comprising a fixing unit configured to fix the locking unit against movement thereof, wherein the fixing unit comprises:
 a fixing portion disposed on the reinforcing bar; and   an electromagnetic portion configured to generate an electromagnetic attraction force acting on the fixing portion when electric power is applied to the electromagnetic portion.   
     
     
         6 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a refrigerator body; and   a foldable door comprising:
 a first door hingedly connected to one end of a refrigerator body and configured to open and close a first open surface of the refrigerator body; 
 a second door foldably connected to the first door and configured to open and close a second open surface of the refrigerator body; and 
 a locking unit configured to selectively fold and affix the second door with respect to the first door. 
   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a sealing gasket disposed in one of: the first door; and the second door, and configured to cover a folding region between the first door and the second door when an open surface of the refrigerator body is closed by the first door and the second door.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein the locking unit comprises:
 a locking groove disposed on the first door;   a reinforcing bar slidably mounted on the second door and configured to be inserted into the locking groove; and   a switch configured to press and move the reinforcing bar to allow the reinforcing bar to be inserted into the locking groove.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the locking unit further comprises an elastic member mounted in the locking groove and configured to provide a restoring force to the reinforcing bar to return the reinforcing bar to an original position when the switch is released. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the locking unit comprises:
 a locking groove disposed on the first door;   a reinforcing bar slidably mounted on the second door and configured to be inserted into the locking groove; and   a switch configured to press and move the reinforcing bar to allow the reinforcing bar to be inserted into the locking groove.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the locking unit further comprises an elastic member mounted in the locking groove and configured to provide a restoring force to the reinforcing bar to return the reinforcing bar to an original position when the switch is released. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , further comprising a fixing unit configured to fix the locking unit against movement thereof, wherein the fixing unit comprises:
 a fixing portion disposed on the reinforcing bar; and   an electromagnetic portion configured to generate an electromagnetic attraction force acting on the fixing portion when electric power is applied to the electromagnetic portion.