GB2256452A

GB2256452A - Right-hand/left-hand changeable refrigerator door panel fastening structure

Info

Publication number: GB2256452A
Application number: GB9111968A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jenn-Shing Gan
Original assignee: GAN JENN SHING
Current assignee: GAN JENN SHING
Priority date: 1991-06-04
Filing date: 1991-06-04
Publication date: 1992-12-09
Also published as: GB9111968D0

Abstract

A refrigerator door fastening structure is generally comprised of a door panel connected to a housing for a refrigerator by a link system (30). The door panels have pivots (21) at the four corners thereof respectively releasably engaged in four holder plates (12) which are mounted on the housing at the front at four corners. The link (30) comprises four pairs of link holders (31) respectively fastened on the front edge of said housing and the back side of said door panel at four corners, and two pairs of connecting rods (32) respectively connected between the link holders on said housing and the link holders on said door panel. By means of alternatively engaging the retaining rods on the door panel on one side in the holder plates on the housing on the same side, the door panel can be turned to open from the left to the right or from the right to the left. <IMAGE>

Description

RIGHT-HAND/LEFT-HAND CHANGEABLE REFRIGERATOR DOOR PANEL FASTENING STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION: The present invention relates to door panel fastening structures and relates more particularly to a refrigerator door panel fastening structure which permits a refrigerator's door to be alternatively turned to open from the right to the left or from the left to the right.

Electric refrigerator has become one of the requisite electric home appliances which is to be used for keeping food cool to preserve it from going bad.

Because an electric refrigerator is generally heavy and occupies much space, it is generally placed inside a house at a corner area. Since the door panel of an refrigerator can only be turned from the left to the right (it is a commonly design to suit the right-handed people), the door panel of an electric refrigerator may be difficult to open completely when an electric refrigerator is placed at a corner area inside a house.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: The present invention has been accomplished to provide a refrigerator door panel fastening structure which permits a refrigerator's door panel to be turned to open from the left to the right as well as from the right to the left.

According to the present invention, a refrigerator door panel fastening structure is generally comprised of a door panel connected to a housing for a refrigerator by a link. The door panels have retaining rods at the four corners thereof respectively releasably engaged in four holder plates which are mounted on the housing at the front at four corners. The link comprises four pairs of link holders respectively fastened on the front edge of said housing and the back side of said door panel at four corners, and two pairs of connecting rods respectively connected between the link holders on said housing and the link holders on said door panel.

By means of alternatively engaging the retaining rods on the door panel on one side in the holder plates on the housing on the same side, the door panel can be turned to open from the left to the right or from the right to the left.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: Fig. 1 is a dismantled perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the refrigerator door fastening structure of the present invention; Fig. 2 illustrates that the door panel can be alternatively fastened in a refrigerator's housing at either side; and Fig. 3 is a partly enlarged view showing the connection between the door panel and the housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT: Referring to Fig. 1, the present invention is generally comprised of a door panel 20 pivotably alternatively attached to a refrigerator's housing 10 at either side by a link 30. The housing 10 is a substantially rectangular cabinet having a front opening at the front through which foods can be put inside the housing or removed therefrom, having four holder plates 12 transversely projecting from the front edge 11 around the front opening at the four corners thereof, which holder plates .12 have each a retaining slot 13. The door panel 20 is made in rectangular shape and provided for closing the front opening on the housing 10, having four fastening plates 22 respectively secured to the four corners thereof by screws 58.Each fastening plate 22 has two round holes 23 and 24 through which screws 58 are inserted to fasten to the door panel 20, and a retaining rod 21 in front of said round holes 23 and 24. The fastening plates 22 are so disposed on the floor panel 20 at the four corners thereof that the retaining rods 21 thereon can be respectively engaged in the retaining slots 13 on the holder plates 12 to firmly retain the door panel 20 in a closed position relative to the front opening of the housing 10.The link 30 is comprised of four pairs of link holders 31 and two pairs of connecting rods 32 respectively made on the front edge 11 of the housing 10 and the inner side of the door panel 20, wherein the link holders 31 are respectively fastened on the front edge 11 of the housing 10 and the inner side of the door panel 20 at the four corners thereof and, the connecting rods 32 are respectively transversely mounted between each pair of link holders 31. Each link holder 31 has an axle hole 33 vertically disposed at the middle and two throughholes 34 and 35 transversely disposed at two opposite ends. By fastening screws through the through-holes 34 and 35 into the front edge 11 of the housing 10 or the inner side of the door panel 20, the link holders 31 can be firmly secured in place for mounting the connecting rods 32.Each connecting rod 32 has two opposite ends 36 and 37 bent through same direction into 90 angle.

Referring to Fig. 2, the connecting rods 30 include a pair of first connecting rods 41 and a pair of second connecting rods 42, wherein the first connecting rods 41 are respectively disposed at the outside relative to the second connecting rods 42.

Installation of the connecting rods 30 is outlined hereinafter. Insert the first end 36 of one second connecting rod 42 downwards into the axle hole 33 on the link holder 31 which is mounted on the front edge 11 of the housing 10 at the top on the right side (as indicated at A) and then insert its second end 37 downwards into the axle hole 33 on the link holder 31 which is mounted on the inner side of the door panel 20 at the top on the left side (as indicated at B).

Then, insert the first end 36 of one first connecting rod 41 upwards into the axle hole 33 on the link holder 31 which is mounted on the front edge 11 of the housing 10 at the bottom on the right side (as indicated at C) and then insert its second end 37 upwards into the axle hole 33 on the link holder 31 which is mounted on the inner side of the door panel 20 at the bottom on the left side (as indicated at D). In the same manner, the other second connecting rod 42 and the other first connecting rod 41 are respectively mounted between the housing 10 and the door panel 20.

After assembly, the door panel 20 can be turned to open either from the left to the right or from the right to the left. When the door panel 20 is turned to open from the left to the right, the retaining rods 21 on the fastening plates 22 on the right side are respectively engaged in the retaining slots 13 on the holder plates 12 on the right side and therefore, the holder plates 12 on the right side are serving as bearings for the door panel 20. On the contrary, the door panel 20 is supported by the retaining rods on the fastening plates 22 on the left side when it is turned to open from the right to the left. When the door panel 20 is closed, the retaining rods 21 on all fastening plates 22 are respectively engaged in the retaining slots 13 on the holder plates 12.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator door panel fastening structure, comprising: a housing for a refrigerator made in rectangular shape having a front edge around the front opening thereof and two pairs of opposite holder plates on said front edge at the four corners thereof, each of said two pairs of opposite holder plates having each a retaining slot disposed against each other; a door panel made in rectangular shape and provided for closing the front opening on said housing, having four fastening plates respectively secured thereto at the four corners thereof by screws, said fastening plates having each a retaining rod respectively releasably engaged in said retaining slot;; a link comprising a first two pairs of link holders respectively fastened on said front edge at the four corners thereof, a second two pairs of link holders respectively fastened on said door panel at the four corners on the back side thereof, said first and second two pairs of link holders having each an axle hole vertically disposed at the middle, a first pair of connecting rods having each one end fastened in the axle hole on either one of either pair of said first two pairs of link holders and an opposite end fastened in the axle hole on either one of either pair of said second two pairs of link holders, a second pair of connecting rods having each one end fastened in the axle hole on either one of the other pair of said first two pairs of link holders and an opposite end fastened in the axle hole on either one of the other pair of said second two pairs of link holders; and wherein said door panel is turned to open from the left to the right permitting the retaining rods on the fastening plates on the right side to be respectively engaged in the retaining slots on the holder plates on the right side and the retaining rods on the fastening plates on the left side to be respectively disengaged from the retaining slots on the holder plates on the left side; said door panel is turned to open from the right to the left permitting the retaining rods on the fastening plates on the left side to be respectively engaged in the retaining slots on the holder plates on the left side and the retaining rods on the fastening plates on the right side to be respectively disengaged from the retaining slots on the holder plates on the right side.