초록 ▼

A refrigerator includes a main body, a door hinged to the main body, a gasket sealingly disposed between the main body and the door when the door is closed, and a handle assembly mounted on the door for enabling a user to open the door. The handle assembly includes an actuator which is movable relat

A refrigerator includes a main body, a door hinged to the main body, a gasket sealingly disposed between the main body and the door when the door is closed, and a handle assembly mounted on the door for enabling a user to open the door. The handle assembly includes an actuator which is movable relative to the door in response to being pulled by the user, and an operating member movable relative to the actuator. The operating member is operably connected to the actuator to be moved thereby into contact with the body for creating a force tending to separate the gasket from the body.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A refrigerator comprising:A) a main body;B) a door hinged to the main body;C) a gasket disposed between the main body and the door in sealing contact therewith when the door is closed; andD) a handle assembly mounted on the door for enabling a user to open the door, the h

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A refrigerator comprising:A) a main body;B) a door hinged to the main body;C) a gasket disposed between the main body and the door in sealing contact therewith when the door is closed; andD) a handle assembly mounted on the door for enabling a user to open the door, the handle assembly including:D1) a main handle having opposite ends fixed to the door, andD2) a lever including:D2i) a manually grippable portion disposed between the main handle and the door, andD2ii) a mounting structure pivotably mounting one end of the lever to the door to enable the lever to rotate relative to both the door and the main handle in response to the manually grippable portion being gripped by a user, the mounting structure fixing one of the ends of the main handle to the door;D3) an operating member linearly movable into pressing contact against the body for creating a force tending to separate the gasket from the body; andD4) a force transmitting mechanism operably connected between the lever and the operating member for converting rotary movement of the lever into linear movement of the operating member, the force transmitting mechanism comprising a pivot member mounted on the door for rotation relative thereto, the pivot member being operably connected to the manually grippable portion of the lever for being rotated thereby, and operably connected to the operating member for linearly moving the operating member in response to the pivot member being rotated.