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US 7,841,493 B2Granted
Dispenser and refrigerator including the same
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorsKyong Bae Park, Sung Jhee, Nam Soo Cho
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dispenser for a refrigerator is provided. The dispenser may include a cover which opens or shuts an opening of a duct that guides contents from an interior of the refrigerator to the dispenser for discharge. An actuator transmits an externally applied force to the cover to cause the cover to move and selectively open and shut the opening. A regulator controls action of the actuator to adjust movement of the cover.
Claims27
A dispenser for a refrigerator, comprising:
- a cover configured to selectively open and close an opening of a duct through which contents are discharged from the dispenser;
- an actuator configured to transmit an external force to the cover to selectively open and close the opening;
- and
- a damping system configured to interact with the actuator so as to regulate movement of the cover, wherein the damping system includes:
- a first elastic member configured to provide an elastic force to the cover;
- and
- a damping member configured to control an opening velocity and a closing velocity of the cover, wherein the first elastic member and the damping member are configured to exert forces in opposite directions and then exert forces in the same direction so as to open the cover, and wherein the elastic member and the damping member are configured to exert forces in the same direction and then exert forces in opposite directions so as to close the cover.
4 more elements
A refrigerator, comprising:
- a main body having at least one storage chamber formed therein;
- a door rotatably coupled to the main body;
- and
- a dispenser installed in one of the storage chamber or the door, wherein the dispenser includes:
- a cover configured to selectively open or close an opening of a duct that discharges contents from the dispenser;
- an actuator configured to transmit an external force to the cover so as to selectively open or close the opening;
- and
- a damping system configured to control the actuator so as to regulate movement of the cover, wherein the damping system includes:
- a first elastic member configured to provide an elastic force to the cover;
- and
- a damping member configured to control an opening velocity and a closing velocity of the cover, wherein the first elastic member and the damping member are configured to exert forces in opposite directions and then exert forces in the same direction so as to open the cover, and wherein the elastic member and the damping member are configured to exert forces in the same direction and then exert forces in opposite directions so as to close the cover.
8 more elements
A dispenser for a refrigerator, comprising:
- a cover configured to selectively open and close an opening of a duct through which contents are discharged from the dispenser;
- an actuator configured to transmit an external force to the cover to selectively open and close the opening;
- and
- a damping system configured to interact with the actuator so as to regulate movement of the cover, wherein the damping system includes:
- a first elastic member configured to provide an elastic force to the cover;
- and
- a damping member configured to control an opening velocity and a closing velocity of the cover, wherein the closing velocity has a first velocity period and a second velocity period, wherein the cover moves more quickly in the second velocity period than in the first velocity period.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.