# US 2019/0169910 A1 · Refrigerator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0169910 A1 - Document ID: US20190169910A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/207,984 - Filed: 2018-12-03 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-12-01 - Assignees: LG Electronics Inc. - Applicants: LG Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Jihyun IM; Dongjeong KIM; Heejun LEE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190169910A1 ## CPC - E05F 15/619: using flexible or rigid rack-and-pinion arrangements - F25D 23/028: {Details} - E05Y 2201/10: Covers; Housings - E05Y 2201/434: Electromotors; Details thereof - E05Y 2201/716: Pinions - E05Y 2201/722: Racks - E05Y 2600/51: Screwing or bolting - E05Y 2600/56: Positioning, e.g. re-positioning, or pre-mounting - E05Y 2600/636: Washers - E05Y 2800/266: curved - E05Y 2900/31: for refrigerators - F25D 2323/02: Details of doors or covers not otherwise covered - F25D 2400/40: Refrigerating devices characterised by electrical wiring - E05F: DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; CHECKS FOR WINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - E05Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES E05D AND E05F, RELATING TO CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS, ELECTRIC CONTROL, POWER SUPPLY, POWER SIGNAL OR TRANSMISSION, USER INTERFACES, MOUNTING OR COUPLING, DETAILS, ACCESSORIES, AUXILIARY OPERATIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, APPLICATION THEREOF ## Abstract The refrigerator includes a cabinet including an outer case forming an external appearance and a storage compartment, a refrigerator door coupled to the cabinet to open or close the storage compartment, an installation bracket coupled to the outer case inside the outer case, a door opening device installed in the installation bracket outside the outer case and including a push member for opening or closing the refrigerator door, and a buffer member disposed a coupling portion between the door opening device and the installation bracket. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet that defines a storage compartment, the cabinet comprising an outer case that defines an external appearance of the refrigerator; a refrigerator door coupled to the cabinet and configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage compartment; an installation bracket coupled to the outer case and located inside of the outer case; a door opening device that is located outside of the outer case and that includes a push member configured to at least partially open the refrigerator door, at least a portion of the door opening device being configured to be positioned in the installation bracket; and a buffer member located at a coupling portion between the door opening device and the installation bracket. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the installation bracket comprises an installation part that has a recessed shape, wherein the door opening device comprises a coupling part that is configured to couple to the installation part based on the buffer member coupling to the door opening device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the installation part comprises a bottom surface, a perimeter surface, and a coupling projection that protrudes from the bottom surface and that is configured to couple to the buffer member, and wherein a portion of the coupling projection is connected to the perimeter surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the coupling projection defines a single body with the bottom surface and the perimeter surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the buffer member defines an open side configured to receive the coupling projection based on the buffer member coupling to the coupling projection. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the buffer member has a U-shape. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the coupling part defines a buffer space configured to receive the buffer member, the coupling part comprising a fixing part that protrudes to the buffer space, and wherein the buffer member defines a slot at an outer circumference surface of the buffer member, the slot being configured to receive the fixing part. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the buffer member further defines a coupling space at an inner circumference surface of the buffer member, the coupling space being configured to receive the coupling projection. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the fixing part comprises a coupling hook, and wherein the buffer member defines a hook insertion part that is recessed in a direction from the slot to the inner circumference surface of the buffer member, the hook insertion part being configured to receive the coupling hook. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the coupling hook comprises a pair of coupling hooks that face each other and that protrude toward the coupling space. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the coupling part is configured to pass through an opening defined at the outer case and to insert into the installation part through the opening. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the door opening device further comprises a driving motor configured to drive the push member, and wherein the installation bracket further comprises a motor accommodation part configured to accommodate the driving motor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the push member has a curved shape, wherein the push member comprises a first end configured to contact the refrigerator door based on opening the refrigerator door, and a second end disposed at an opposite side of the first end, and wherein a length from the first end to the second end is greater than a thickness of the refrigerator door. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the push member is configured to move from an initial position to a door opening position to open the refrigerator door, wherein the first end is configured to be positioned closer to the refrigerator door than the second end in a state in which the push member is located at the initial position, and wherein the second end is configured to be positioned closer to a sidewall of the outer case than the first end in the state in which the push member is located at the initial position. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the installation bracket further comprises a cable guide configured to guide a cable connected to the refrigerator door, wherein the refrigerator door comprises a hinge shaft configured to enable rotation of the refrigerator door relative to the cabinet, wherein the push member has an inner circumference surface facing the hinge shaft, and an outer circumference surface opposite to the inner circumference surface, and wherein the cable guide is located between the inner circumference surface of the push member and the hinge shaft. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the door opening device is located vertically above an upper surface of the outer case, and wherein the installation bracket is located vertically below the upper surface of the outer case. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the buffer member is configured to couple the door opening device to the installation bracket through the outer case. ### Claim 18 (depends on 3) The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the buffer member is configured to be positioned in the installation part and to surround the coupling projection of the installation bracket. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the installation bracket comprises a bracket body that is configured to be positioned vertically below the outer case, that is configured to contact a lower surface of the outer case, and that defines one or more recesses configured to receive the buffer member and the portion of the door opening device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 3) The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the coupling projection defines a fastening groove configured to receive a fastening member that is configured to fix the buffer member to the installation bracket.