Refrigerator including multiple storage compartments

Abstract

A refrigerator includes 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.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet; a first storage compartment within the cabinet; a first door having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface, the first door rotatably 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 having an upper surface, a lower surface, a first side surface, and a second side surface, the second door rotatably mounted to an upper portion of the first door, that is configured to open and close the second storage compartment in a same direction as a rotation direction of the first door, and that is being configured to enable access to the second storage compartment when the first door is oriented in a the closed position and the second door is oriented in an open position; a first hinge connecting the upper surface of the first door to an upper surface of the cabinet; a second hinge connecting the upper surface of the second door to the upper surface of the first door; 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 pressing force 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; wherein the second door, on the upper portion of the first door, is positioned above a lower portion of the first door in a position at which the front surface of the second door is generally coplanar with a front surface of the lower portion of the first door when the second door is oriented in a closed position; and wherein when the second door is oriented in the closed position, the first side surfaces of the first door and the second door are substantially coplanar, the second side surfaces of the first door and the second door are substantially coplanar, and the upper surfaces of the first door and second door are substantially coplanar. 
     
     
       2. The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , 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. 
 
     
     
       3. The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , 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. 
 
     
     
       4. The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , wherein the first member comprises:
 an operation button configured to be 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. 
 
     
     
       5. The refrigerator according to  claim 4 , 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. 
     
     
       6. The refrigerator according to  claim 4 , 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. 
     
     
       7. The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , 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. 
     
     
       8. The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , 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. 
 
     
     
       9. The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , 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. 
     
     
       10. The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , 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.