# US 9,869,112 B2 · Refrigerator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,869,112 B2 - Document ID: US9869112B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/682,281 - Filed: 2015-04-09 - Published: 2015-10-29 - Granted: 2018-01-16 - Earliest claimed: 2014-04-28 - Assignees: LG Electronics Inc. - Applicants: LG Electronics Inc. - Inventors: Kibum Jeon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9869112B2 ## CPC - E05B 65/0042: {For refrigerators or cold rooms (E05B17/0075 takes precedence; magnetic E05C19/16)} - E05B 47/0607: {the detent moving pivotally or rotatively} - E05C 3/12: with latching action (devices in which the securing part is formed or merely carried by a spring and moves only by distortion of the spring, e.g. snaps, E05C19/06; tilt-plate latches E05C19/007) - E05C 3/24: in the form of a bifurcated member {(automatic catches with a bifurcated latch E05C19/024; locks with a bifurcated bolt E05B65/0046, E05B85/243)} - F25D 23/02: Doors; Covers (F25D23/08 takes precedence {locks or fastenings E05B65/0042}) - F25D 23/025: {Secondary closures} - F25D 23/028: {Details} - E05C 7/02: for wings which lie one behind the other when closed {(E05C7/002 takes precedence)} - E05F 1/1223: {with a compression or traction spring} - E05Y 2900/31: for refrigerators - E05B: LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS - E05C: BOLTS OR FASTENING DEVICES FOR WINGS, SPECIALLY FOR DOORS OR WINDOWS (latching means for sideboard or tailgate structures for vehicles B62D, {B62D33/02}; fastening devices for constructional or engineering elements E04, F16B; locks, fastening devices structurally or operatively combined or having significant cooperation with locks E05B; means for operating or controlling wing fasteners in conjunction with mechanisms for moving the wing E05F) - 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) - 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 - 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 A refrigerator includes a cabinet, a storage compartment within the cabinet, a main door to open or close the storage compartment, an auxiliary storage compartment mounted to a rear surface of the main door and configured to be accessed through an opening in the main door, a sub door to open or close the opening leading to the auxiliary storage compartment, a hook member at the sub door, a latch cam pivotally mounted in the main door to be selectively caught by the hook member, a stopper pivotally mounted at a location above the latch cam to selectively limit pivotal rotation of the latch cam, a solenoid device mounted below the latch cam to laterally push the stopper via a vertical movement caused by the solenoid device to release locking between the stopper and the latch cam, and a controller provided at the sub door to selectively operate the solenoid device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet; a storage compartment defined within the cabinet; a main door pivotally mounted to the cabinet and configured to open or close at least a portion of the storage compartment; an auxiliary storage compartment mounted to a rear surface of the main door, the auxiliary storage compartment being configured to be accessed through an opening in the main door; a sub door pivotally mounted to the main door and configured to open or close at least a portion of the opening leading to the auxiliary storage compartment; a hook member provided at the sub door; a latch cam pivotally mounted in the main door and configured to be selectively caught by the hook member; a stopper pivotally mounted at a location above the latch cam and configured to selectively limit pivotal rotation of the latch cam; an operating button provided at the sub door and configured to be pushed by a user; a push rod located at a rear side of the operating button and configured to be horizontally moved along with the operating button; a latch rod mounted in the main door and configured to push the stopper in a rearward direction by being horizontally moved by the push rod; a solenoid device mounted below the latch cam and configured to laterally push the stopper via a vertical movement caused by the solenoid device to pivotally rotate the stopper about an axis extending in the rearward direction to thereby release locking between the stopper and the latch cam; and a controller provided at the sub door to selectively operate the solenoid device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the solenoid device includes: a main body configured to be operated via application of electric power; a rod mounted to the main body and configured to move in a vertical direction; and a head member coupled to an end of the rod and configured to selectively push a lateral surface of the stopper. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the rod and head member are configured, based on being upwardly moved, to be lowered by weights thereof to return to original positions thereof when electric power is interrupted after operation of the solenoid device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein: the stopper has at least one inclined lateral surface; and the head member includes a groove configured to laterally push the stopper while moving upward in contact with the inclined lateral surface of the stopper. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the latch cam includes: a latching protrusion formed at an outer circumferential surface of the latch cam and configured to be caught by a bent end of the stopper; and a lateral support portion protruding from a lateral end of the latching protrusion and configured to support a lateral surface of the latching protrusion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the latch cam has an open side opposite to the lateral support portion such that the stopper is configured to be released from the latching protrusion by being pivoted based on the head member laterally pushing the stopper. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the latch cam further includes a slope configured to guide the bent end of the stopper so as to allow the bent end to be caught by the latching protrusion based on the latch cam that has been released from the stopper again being locked with the stopper. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a first elastic member connected to the stopper and configured to apply force for restricting rotation of the stopper about the axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The refrigerator according to claim 8, further comprising a second elastic member connected to the latch cam and configured to apply force for rotating the latch cam based on the latch cam being released from the stopper. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the second elastic member is a torsion spring mounted to a rotating shaft of the latch cam. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the latch cam, the stopper, the first elastic member, and the second elastic member are mounted in a latch case. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the latch case is provided with an elastic cover member that is configured to allow rearward pivotal rotation of the stopper. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the controller is a touch sensor device configured to be operated by user touch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the controller is a voice recognition device configured to be operated by user voice. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising: a hinge bracket configured to pivotally couple one end of the sub door to the main door; and a hinge assembly configured to pivotally connect one end of the sub door to the hinge bracket, the hinge assembly being configured to apply elastic force in an opening direction of the sub door. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein the hinge assembly includes: a hinge fixing portion fixed to the hinge bracket, the hinge fixing portion having a first cam at an upper surface thereof; a hinge rotating portion at the sub door, the hinge rotating portion having a second cam at a lower surface thereof, the second cam being engaged with the first cam; and an elastic member mounted to one side of the hinge rotating portion to provide elastic force for pushing the hinge rotating portion to the hinge fixing portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the stopper is configured, based on the solenoid device moving upward, to be pivotally rotated about the axis from an original position in a first direction, and wherein the stopper is configured, based on the solenoid device moving downward, to return to the original position by being pivotally rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction. ### Claim 18 (depends on 8) The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the first electric member is configured, based on the latch rod pushing the stopper in the rearward direction, to apply a pulling force on the stopper for restricting horizontal movement of the stopper in the rearward direction, and wherein the first electric member is configured, based on the solenoid laterally pushing the stopper via the vertical movement, to apply a rotational force on the stopper for restricting rotation of the stopper about the axis.