TODAY’S PATENT – DOOR OPENING AND CLOSING DEVICE FOR REFRIGERATOR

The said invention (US10301865B2) was invented by Changwoo Son, Myoungju Kang and Cholok Han on 5^th September 2014. Currently; it stands assigned to LG Electronics Inc.

This invention addresses the need for an efficient door opening and closing device for refrigerators. Traditional refrigerators use a motor to open the door, but separating the magnetic gasket and rotating the door requires different forces, necessitating a large, inefficient actuator.

This invention aims to solve this issue by providing a compact, low-powered motor that can effectively open and close the refrigerator door without compromising the appliance’s size or insulation.

A door opening and closing device for a refrigerator includes a door hinged to the main body that houses a storage compartment, with a gasket providing an airtight seal between them. The device features an opening and closing unit with a drive unit that generates the necessary force. This unit includes a gasket separation mechanism that pushes the main body to detach the gasket, and a door rotation mechanism that rotates the door, both powered by the drive unit’s rotational force.