NZ785601B2 - Embedded refrigerator having switching assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

embedded refrigerator with a switching assembly, comprising: a cabinet, a door for opening and closing the cabinet, and a hinge assembly 30 for connecting the cabinet and the door, where the cabinet comprises an accommodating chamber and a pivoting side connected with the hinge assembly. The hinge assembly 30 comprises a first hinge part 31, a second hinge part 32 and a switching assembly 40 connected with the first hinge part 31 and the second hinge part 32. The first hinge part 31 is fixed to the cabinet, the second hinge part 32 is fixed to the door, and the switching assembly comprises a first fitting part and a second fitting part. The first hinge part 31 and the first fitting part move relatively by a first shaft set and a first groove set which are fitted with each other. The second hinge part 32 and the second fitting part move relatively by a second shaft set and a second groove set which are fitted with each other. The first shaft set comprises a first shaft 311 and a second shaft 312, the first groove set comprises a first groove 411 fitted with the first shaft 311 and a second groove 412 fitted with the second shaft 312. The second shaft set comprises a third shaft 321 and a fourth shaft, and the second groove set comprises a third groove 421 fitted with the third shaft 321 and a fourth groove 422 fitted with the fourth shaft. When the door is in an opening process, the second fitting part limits the second hinge part 32 and the first hinge part 31 moves relative to the switching assembly 40, and then, the first fitting part limits the first hinge part 31 and the second hinge part 32 moves relative to the switching assembly 40 The hinge assembly 30 drives the door to rotate in situ relative to the cabinet, then drives the door to move from the pivoting side towards the accommodating chamber, drives the door to move from the accommodating chamber towards the pivoting side, and then drives the door to continuously rotate in situ relative to the cabinet. The switching assembly with first and second fitting parts adds precise control over the door movement sequence, dictates the order and timing of each stage, and can produce a variety of movement trajectories to adapt to various application scenarios.

Claims (19)

What is claimed is:

1. An embedded refrigerator with a switching assembly, comprising: a cabinet, a door for opening and closing the cabinet, and a hinge assembly for connecting the cabinet and the door, wherein the cabinet comprises an accommodating chamber and a pivoting side connected with the hinge assembly, the hinge assembly comprises a first hinge part, a second hinge part and a switching assembly connected with the first hinge part and the second hinge part; the first hinge part is fixed to the cabinet, the second hinge part is fixed to the door, and the switching assembly comprises a first fitting part and a second fitting part; the first hinge part and the first fitting part move relatively by a first shaft set and a first groove set which are fitted with each other, and the second hinge part and the second fitting part move relatively by a second shaft set and a second groove set which are fitted with each other; the first shaft set comprises a first shaft and a second shaft, the first groove set comprises a first groove fitted with the first shaft and a second groove fitted with the second shaft, the second shaft set comprises a third shaft and a fourth shaft, and the second groove set comprises a third groove fitted with the third shaft and a fourth groove fitted with the fourth shaft; when the door is in an opening process, the second fitting part limits the second hinge part and the first hinge part moves relative to the switching assembly, and then, the first fitting part limits the first hinge part and the second hinge part moves relative to the switching assembly; the hinge assembly drives the door to rotate in situ relative to the cabinet, then drives the door to move from the pivoting side towards the accommodating chamber, drives the door to move from the accommodating chamber towards the pivoting side, and then drives the door to continuously rotate in situ relative to the cabinet.

2. The embedded refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the door is provided with a first fitting portion, the cabinet is provided with a second fitting portion, the first fitting portion and the second fitting portion are engaged with each other when the door is in a closed state, and when the door is opened from the closed state to a first opening angle, the door rotates in situ relative to the cabinet, so as to drive the first fitting portion to be disengaged from the second fitting portion.

3. The embedded refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the door comprises a first door and a second door, the first door and the second door are pivotally connected with the cabinet and arranged side by side in a horizontal direction, the refrigerator further comprises a vertical beam movably connected to a side of the first door close to the second door, the first fitting portion is provided at the vertical beam, and when the door is in the closed state, the vertical beam extends to the second door; when the door is opened from the closed state to the first opening angle, the door rotates in situ relative to the cabinet, such that the vertical beam rotates towards a side close to the accommodating chamber, a first folding angle is formed between the first door and the vertical beam, and then, the vertical beam and the first door are kept relatively static.

4. The embedded refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the cabinet comprises an accommodating chamber and a fixed beam dividing the accommodating chamber into a first compartment and a second compartment, and the door comprises a first door provided corresponding to the first compartment and a second door provided corresponding to the second compartment; when the door is in the closed state, both the first door and the second door contact the fixed beam, and when the door is opened from the closed state to the first opening angle, the door rotates in situ relative to the cabinet, so as to separate the door from the fixed beam.

5. The embedded refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first hinge part is fixed to the cabinet, the second hinge part is fixed to the door, and the switching assembly comprises a first fitting part and a second fitting part; when the door is opened from the closed state to the first opening angle, the first hinge part and the first fitting part move relatively to drive the door to rotate in situ relative to the cabinet, the first hinge part and the first fitting part then move relatively to drive the door to move from the pivoting side towards the accommodating chamber, the first hinge part and the first fitting part then move relatively to drive the door to move from the accommodating chamber towards the pivoting side, and the second fitting part limits the second hinge part; when the door is continuously opened from the first opening angle to a second opening angle, the second hinge part is released from the limit of the second fitting part, and the first fitting part limits the first hinge part; when the door is continuously opened from the second opening angle to a maximum opening angle, the second hinge part and the second fitting part move relatively to drive the door to continuously rotate in situ.

6. The embedded refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first hinge part is fixed to the cabinet, the second hinge part is fixed to the door, and the switching assembly comprises a first fitting part and a second fitting part; when the door is opened from the closed state to the first opening angle, the first hinge part and the first fitting part move relatively to drive the door to rotate in situ relative to the cabinet, the first hinge part and the first fitting part then move relatively to drive the door to move from the pivoting side towards the accommodating chamber, and the second fitting part limits the second hinge part; when the door is continuously opened from the first opening angle to a second opening angle, the second hinge part is released from the limit of the second fitting part, and the first fitting part limits the first hinge part; when the door is continuously opened from the second opening angle to a maximum opening angle, the second hinge part and the second fitting part move relatively to drive the door to move from the accommodating chamber towards the pivoting side, and then, the second hinge part and the second fitting part move relatively to drive the door to continuously rotate in situ.

7. The embedded refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first hinge part is fixed to the cabinet, the second hinge part is fixed to the door, and the switching assembly comprises a first fitting part and a second fitting part; when the door is opened from the closed state to the first opening angle, the first hinge part and the first fitting part move relatively to drive the door to rotate in situ relative to the cabinet, and the second fitting part limits the second hinge part; when the door is continuously opened from the first opening angle to a second opening angle, the second hinge part is released from the limit of the second fitting part, and the first fitting part limits the first hinge part; when the door is continuously opened from the second opening angle to a maximum opening angle, the second hinge part and the second fitting part move relatively to drive the door to move from the pivoting side towards the accommodating chamber, the second hinge part and the second fitting part then move relatively to drive the door to move from the accommodating chamber towards the pivoting side, and then, the second hinge part and the second fitting part move relatively to drive the door to continuously rotate in situ.

8. The embedded refrigerator according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the switching assembly comprises a first switching part and a second switching part which are fitted with each other; when the door is opened from the closed state to the first opening angle or continuously opened from the second opening angle to the maximum opening angle, the first switching part and the second switching part are relatively stationary, and when the door is continuously opened from the first opening angle to the second opening angle, the first switching part moves relative to the second switching part, such that the second hinge part is released from the limit of the second fitting part, and the first fitting part limits the first hinge part.

9. The embedded refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first hinge part comprises the first shaft and the second shaft, the first fitting part comprises the first groove and the second groove, the second fitting part comprises the third shaft and the fourth shaft, and the second hinge part comprises the third groove and the fourth groove; the first groove comprises a first upper groove located at the first switching part and a first lower groove located at the second switching part, the first upper groove comprises a first upper free section, and the first lower groove comprises a first lower free section; the second groove comprises a second upper groove located at the first switching part and a second lower groove located at the second switching part, the second upper groove comprises a second upper free section, the second lower groove comprises a second lower free section, the third groove comprises a third free section, the fourth groove comprises a fourth free section, the first groove set comprises a locking section, and the second groove set comprises a limiting section; when the door is opened from the closed state to the first opening angle, the first switching part and the second switching part are relatively stationary, the first upper free section and the first lower free section are overlapped to form a first free section, the second upper free section and the second lower free section are overlapped to form a second free section, the first shaft moves at the first free section, the second shaft moves at the second free section, and the third shaft and/or the fourth shaft are/is limited at the limiting section, such that the switching assembly limits the second hinge part; when the door is continuously opened from the first opening angle to the second opening angle, the first switching part and the second switching part move relatively, such that the fourth shaft is separated from the limiting section, and the first shaft and/or the second shaft are/is limited at the locking section, such that the switching assembly limits the first hinge part; when the door is continuously opened from the second opening angle to the maximum opening angle, the third shaft moves in the third free section, and the fourth shaft moves at the fourth free section.

10. The embedded refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the locking sections comprise a first upper locking section located at the first upper groove, a first lower locking section located at the first lower groove, a second upper locking section located at the second upper groove, and a second lower locking section located at the second lower groove, and the limiting section comprises a fourth limiting section located at the fourth groove; when the door is opened from the closed state to the first opening angle, the fourth shaft is limited at the fourth limiting section; when the door is continuously opened from the first opening angle to the second opening angle, the first shaft is limited at the first upper locking section and the first lower locking section at the same time, the second shaft is limited at the second upper locking section and the second lower locking section at the same time, and the fourth shaft is separated from the fourth limiting section.

11. The embedded refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the first free section comprises an initial position and a stop position which are arranged oppositely, and the second free section comprises a first section, a second section and a third section which are connected sequentially; when the door is in the closed state, the first shaft is located at the initial position, and the second shaft is located at an end of the first section apart from the second section; when the door is opened from the closed state to the first opening angle, the first shaft rotates in situ at the initial position, the second shaft moves in the first section around the first shaft, the second shaft then moves in the second section to drive the first shaft to move from the initial position to the stop position, the door moves from the pivoting side towards the accommodating chamber, the second shaft then moves in the third section to drive the first shaft to move from the stop position to the initial position, and the door moves from the accommodating chamber towards the pivoting side; when the door is continuously opened from the second opening angle to the maximum opening angle, the third shaft rotates in situ in the third free section, and the fourth shaft moves in the fourth free section around the third shaft.

12. The embedded refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the first free section comprises an initial position and a stop position which are arranged oppositely, the second free section comprises a first section and a second section which are connected, the third free section comprises a start position and a pivoting position which are arranged oppositely, and the fourth free section comprises a moving section and a rotating section which are connected; when the door is in the closed state, the first shaft is located at the initial position, the second shaft is located at an end of the first section apart from the second section, and the third shaft is located at the start position; when the door is opened from the closed state to the first opening angle, the first shaft rotates in situ at the initial position, the second shaft moves in the first section around the first shaft, the second shaft then moves in the second section to drive the first shaft to move from the initial position to the stop position, and the door moves from the pivoting side towards the accommodating chamber; when the door is continuously opened from the second opening angle to the maximum opening angle, the fourth shaft moves in the moving section to drive the third shaft to move from the start position to the pivoting position, the door moves from the accommodating chamber towards the pivoting side, the third shaft then rotates in situ at the pivoting position, and the fourth shaft moves in the rotating section around the third shaft.

13. The embedded refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the third free section comprises a start position and a pivoting position which are arranged oppositely, and the fourth free section comprises a first moving section, a second moving section and a rotating section which are connected sequentially; when the door is in the closed state, the second shaft is located at an end of the second free section, and the third shaft is located at the start position; when the door is opened from the closed state to the first opening angle, the first shaft rotates in situ at the initial position, and the second shaft moves in the second free section around the first shaft; when the door is continuously opened from the second opening angle to the maximum opening angle, the fourth shaft moves in the first moving section to drive the third shaft to move from the start position to the pivoting position, the door moves from the pivoting side towards the accommodating chamber, the fourth shaft then moves in the second moving section to drive the third shaft to move from the pivoting position to the start position, the door moves from the accommodating chamber towards the pivoting side, the third shaft then rotates in situ at the start position, and the fourth shaft moves in the rotating section around the third shaft.

14. The embedded refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the cabinet comprises an opening and a front end surface provided around the opening, a first pitch exists between the first shaft and the front end surface, and when the door is continuously opened from the second opening angle to the maximum opening angle, a second pitch exists between the third shaft and the front end surface, and the second pitch is greater than the first pitch; the refrigerator further comprises an outer side surface adjacent to the hinge assembly and on an extension section of a rotation path of the door, a third pitch exists between the first shaft and the outer side surface, and when the door is continuously opened from the second opening angle to the maximum opening angle, a fourth pitch exists between the third shaft and the outer side surface, and the fourth pitch is less than the third pitch.

15. An embedded refrigerator with a switching assembly, comprising: a cabinet, a door for opening and closing the cabinet, and a hinge assembly for connecting the cabinet and the door, wherein the cabinet comprises an accommodating chamber and a pivoting side connected with the hinge assembly, and the hinge assembly comprises a first hinge part fixed to the cabinet, a second hinge part fixed to the door and a switching assembly connected with the first hinge part and the second hinge part; the first hinge part and the switching assembly move relatively by a first shaft and a first groove which are fitted with each other, and the first groove comprises a first free section; the second hinge part and the switching assembly move relatively by a second shaft set and a second groove set which are fitted with each other; the second shaft set comprises a third shaft and a fourth shaft, the second groove set comprises a third free section, a fourth free section and a limiting section, the third free section comprises a start position, an intermediate position and a pivoting position, and the fourth free section comprises a first moving section, a second moving section and a rotating section which are connected in sequence; when the door is in a closed state, the first shaft is located at the first free section, and the fourth shaft is located at the limiting section, such that the switching assembly limits the second hinge part, and the third shaft is located at the start position; when the door is opened to a first opening angle from the closed state, the first shaft rotates in situ in the first free section to drive the door to rotate in situ relative to the cabinet; when the door is continuously opened from the first opening angle to a second opening angle, the fourth shaft is separated from the limiting section, the third shaft is kept at the start position, and the switching assembly limits the first hinge part; when the door is continuously opened from the second opening angle to a maximum opening angle, the fourth shaft moves in the first moving section to drive the third shaft to move from the start position to the intermediate position, the door moves from the pivoting side to the accommodating chamber, the fourth shaft then moves in the second moving section to drive the third shaft to move from the intermediate position to the pivoting position, the door moves from the accommodating chamber to the pivoting side, the third shaft then rotates in situ at the pivoting position, the fourth shaft moves in the rotating section around the third shaft, and the door continuously rotates in situ relative to the cabinet.

16. The embedded refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein the first hinge part comprises the first shaft, the switching assembly comprises the first groove, the third shaft and the fourth shaft, the second hinge part comprises a third groove with the third free section and a fourth groove with the fourth free section and the limiting section, and the switching assembly comprises a first switching part and a second switching part which are fitted with each other; when the door is opened from the closed state to the first opening angle or continuously opened from the second opening angle to the maximum opening angle, the first switching part and the second switching part are relatively static; when the door is continuously opened from the first opening angle to the second opening angle, the first switching part moves relative to the second switching part, such that the fourth shaft is separated from the limiting section; the first hinge part comprises a first limiting portion, the first switching part comprises a second limiting portion, and the first groove comprises a first upper groove located at the first switching part and a first lower groove located at the second switching part; when the door is opened from the closed state to the first opening angle, a first free section is formed by overlapped parts of the first upper groove and the first lower groove, the first shaft rotates in situ in the first free section, and the second limiting portion abuts against the first limiting portion, such that the switching assembly limits the first hinge part; when the door is continuously opened from the first opening angle to the second opening angle, the first switching part moves relative to the second switching part, such that the fourth shaft is separated from the limiting section.

17. An embedded refrigerator with a switching assembly, comprising: a cabinet, a door for opening and closing the cabinet, and a hinge assembly for connecting the cabinet and the door, wherein the cabinet comprises an accommodating chamber and a pivoting side connected with the hinge assembly, the hinge assembly comprises a first hinge part fixed to the cabinet, a second hinge part fixed to the door and a switching assembly connected with the first hinge part and the second hinge part, and the switching assembly comprises a first switching part and a second switching part which are fitted with each other; when the door is opened from a closed state to a first opening angle, the first switching part, the second switching part and the second hinge part are relatively static and move together relative to the first hinge part, and the door rotates in situ relative to the cabinet; when the door is continuously opened from the first opening angle to a second opening angle, the first switching part and the first hinge part are relatively static, the second switching part and the second hinge part are relatively static and move together relative to the first switching part, and the door moves by a first horizontal distance towards the accommodating chamber from the pivoting side; when the door is continuously opened from the second opening angle to a third opening angle, the first switching part and the first hinge part are relatively static, the second switching part and the second hinge part are relatively static and move together relative to the first switching part, and the door moves by a second horizontal distance towards the pivoting side from the accommodating chamber; when the door is continuously opened from the third opening angle to a maximum opening angle, the first hinge part, the first switching part and the second switching part are relatively static, the second hinge part moves relative to the second switching part, and the door continuously rotates in situ relative to the cabinet.

18. The embedded refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein the first hinge part comprises a first shaft, the first switching part comprises a third shaft and a first upper groove, the second switching part comprises a fourth shaft and a through hole, the second hinge part comprises a third groove and a fourth groove, the through hole comprises an initial position, a first intermediate position and a stop position, the third groove comprises an initial position, a second intermediate position and a pivoting position, and the fourth groove comprises a rotation start position and a rotation stop position which are oppositely arranged; when the door is in the closed state, the first shaft extends to the first upper groove, the third shaft sequentially passes through the through hole and the third groove, the third shaft is located at the initial position and the start position, and the fourth shaft is located at the rotation start position of the fourth groove; when the door is opened from the closed state to the first opening angle, the first shaft rotates in situ in the first upper groove to drive the door to rotate in situ relative to the cabinet; when the door is continuously opened from the first opening angle to the second opening angle, the fourth shaft is kept at the rotation start position, the third shaft moves from the initial position to the first intermediate position, the third shaft moves from the start position to the second intermediate position at the same time, and the door moves by the first horizontal distance from the pivoting side to the accommodating chamber; when the door is continuously opened from the second opening angle to the third opening angle, the third shaft moves from the first intermediate position to the stop position, the third shaft moves from the second intermediate position to the pivoting position at the same time, and the door moves by the second horizontal distance from the accommodating chamber to the pivoting side; when the door is continuously opened to the maximum opening angle from the third opening angle, the third shaft is kept at the stop position and the pivoting position, the fourth shaft moves from the rotation start position to the rotation stop position, and the door continuously rotates in situ relative to the cabinet.

19. The embedded refrigerator according to claim 18, wherein the first hinge part comprises a first limiting portion, the first switching part comprises a second limiting portion, one of the first limiting portion and the second limiting portion is configured as a bump, the other is configured as a recess, the bump comprises a first limiting surface, and the recess comprises a second limiting surface; when the door is in the closed state, the first limiting surface is apart from the second limiting surface; when the door is opened from the closed state to the first opening angle, the first limiting surface and the second limiting surface gradually approach until the first limiting surface abuts against the second limiting surface; the first hinge part comprises a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion, and the first switching part comprises a third engaging portion; when the door is in the closed state, the third engaging portion is limited at the first engaging portion; when the door is opened from the closed state to the first opening angle, the third engaging portion is separated from the first engaging portion, and the third engaging portion and the second engaging portion gradually approach until the third engaging portion is limited at the second engaging portion; the first switching part comprises a fourth engaging portion and a fifth engaging portion, and the second switching part comprises a sixth engaging portion; when the door is opened from the closed state to the first opening angle, the sixth engaging portion is limited at the fourth engaging portion; when the door is continuously opened from the first opening angle to the third opening angle, the sixth engaging portion is separated from the fourth engaging portion, and the sixth engaging portion and the fifth engaging portion gradually approach until the sixth engaging portion is limited at the fifth engaging portion.