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 region within the cabinet; 
 a first door having an upper facing surface, a lower facing 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 region; 
 a storing device that is coupled to the first door and that defines a second storage compartment region, the second storage compartment region being disposed in the first storage compartment region when the first door is oriented in a closed position and the second storage compartment region being configured to move with the first door when the first door rotates between opened and closed positions; 
 a second door having an upper facing surface, a lower facing 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 region in a same direction as a rotation direction of the first door, and that is configured to enable access to the second storage compartment region when the first door is oriented in a closed position and the second door is oriented in an open position; 
 a first hinge connecting the upper facing surface of the first door to an upper facing surface of the cabinet, the first hinge having a first hinge shaft that is inserted into the first door at a position closer to the first side surface of the first door than the second side surface of the first door; 
 a second hinge connecting the upper facing surface of the second door to the upper facing surface of the first door, the second hinge having a second hinge shaft that is inserted into the second door at a position that is closer to the first side surface of the second door than the second side surface of the second 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; or by operation of a button, 
 wherein a first thickness of the first side surface of the first door in a front to rear direction is greater than a second thickness of the first side surface of the second door in the front to rear direction, 
 wherein a first diameter of the first hinge shaft is greater than a second diameter of the second hinge shaft, and 
 wherein, when the second door is oriented in a closed position, the second door, is positioned on the upper at least a portion of the first door, the second door is positioned above a lower to cover the at least the portion of the first door in a position at which, and the front surface of the second door is generally coplanar parallel 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, and 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. 
     
     
       11. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the upper facing surface of the first door is oriented parallel to the upper facing surface of the second door. 
     
     
       12. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein when the second door is oriented in the closed position, the first side surfaces of the first door and the second door are coplanar, and the second side surfaces of the first door and the second door are coplanar, and the upper facing surfaces of the first door and second door are substantially coplanar. 
     
     
       13. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein when the second door is oriented in the closed position, the upper facing surfaces of the first door and second door are coplanar. 
     
     
       14. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the storing device includes one or more baskets provided in the second storage region. 
     
     
       15. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the storing device includes one or more shelves provided in the second storage region. 
     
     
       16. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the storing device includes a frame that covers a rear surface of the first door. 
     
     
       17. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first hinge includes a first extension part that connects to the first hinge shaft, and the second hinge includes a second extension part that connects to the second hinge shaft, and
 wherein the first extension part is positioned vertically higher than the second extension part.   
     
     
       18. The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein the first extension part of the first hinge is exposed from a top side of the refrigerator. 
     
     
       19. The refrigerator according to claim 17, further comprising a confinement lever that is removably coupled to the upper facing surface of the cabinet,
 wherein the first hinge includes a coupling part that contacts the upper facing surface of the cabinet, and   wherein the coupling part of the first hinge is configured, based on being pressed downward by the confinement lever, to be affixed to the upper facing surface of the cabinet.   
     
     
       20. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first hinge is mounted to the first door at an upper mounting surface of the first door that is positioned vertically below an uppermost portion of the first door. 
     
     
       21. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the second hinge is mounted to the second door at an upper mounting surface of the second door that is positioned vertically below an uppermost portion of the second door. 
     
     
       22. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first hinge is mounted to the first door at an upper mounting surface of the first door that is positioned vertically below an uppermost portion of the first door, and
 wherein the second hinge is mounted to the second door at an upper mounting surface of the second door that is positioned vertically below an uppermost portion of the second door.   
     
     
       23. The refrigerator according to claim 22, wherein the first door includes a first stepped portion that is recessed downward from the uppermost portion of the first door, and the second door includes a second stepped portion that is recessed downward from the uppermost portion of the second door, and
 wherein the first hinge is mounted to the first door at the first stepped portion, and the second hinge is mounted to the second door at the second stepped portion.   
     
     
       24. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the front surface of the second door extends vertically higher than first and second hinges to thereby shield the first and second hinges from being exposed from a front side of the refrigerator. 
     
     
       25. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the upper facing surfaces of the first door and second door are positioned vertically higher than the upper facing surface of the cabinet. 
     
     
       26. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a first distance between a first hinge axis of the first hinge shaft and the first side surface of the first door is greater than a second distance between a second hinge axis of the second hinge shaft and the first side surface of the second door. 
     
     
       27. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein when the first and second doors are oriented in closed positions, a distance between the front surface of the first door and a rear surface of the second door is less than a distance between the front surface of the cabinet and a rear surface of the first door. 
     
     
       28. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first hinge shaft is located closer to a front edge of the first side surface of the first door than to a rear edge of the first side surface of the first door when the first door is oriented in the closed position. 
     
     
       29. The refrigerator according to claim 28, wherein the first hinge shaft is located closer to a rear edge of the first side surface of the second door than to a rear edge of the first side surface of the first door when the second door is oriented in the closed position.