초록 ▼

Disclosed is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to define an exterior boundary of the refrigerator with at least one opening therein. The refrigerator also includes a storage chamber defined by interior walls of the cabinet and configured to store food stuffs. The refrige

Disclosed is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cabinet configured to define an exterior boundary of the refrigerator with at least one opening therein. The refrigerator also includes a storage chamber defined by interior walls of the cabinet and configured to store food stuffs. The refrigerator further includes a door configured to open and close an access point to the storage chamber by rotating about a rotational axis. In addition, the refrigerator includes a supporting member positioned at the storage chamber and configured to be moved in connection with opening and closing of the door.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet;a first storage chamber defined within the cabinet;a first door configured to open and close at least a portion of the first storage chamber, the first door having a first rotational shaft that enables rotation of the first door;a second storage chamber that i

1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet;a first storage chamber defined within the cabinet;a first door configured to open and close at least a portion of the first storage chamber, the first door having a first rotational shaft that enables rotation of the first door;a second storage chamber that is smaller than the first storage chamber, that is defined at a side of the first door, and that is configured to move with the first door;a second door that is configured to open and close the second storage chamber by rotating in a same direction as the first door and that enables access to the second storage chamber when the first door is oriented in a closed position, wherein: the second door has a second rotational shaft that enables rotation of the second door and that is parallel to the first rotational shaft, anda shape of the second door corresponds to a shape of the first door such that a width of the second door is substantially equal to a width of the first door and a thickness of the second door is substantially equal to a thickness of a mounting part of the first door on which the second door is positioned; anda supporting member positioned at the second storage chamber and configured to move between a supporting position and a stored position in connection with opening and closing of the second door, wherein: the supporting member extends out of the second storage chamber in the supporting position and the supporting member is located within the second storage chamber in the stored position, andthe supporting member rotates in a different direction than the first door and the second door and has a third rotational shaft that enables rotation of the supporting member and that is perpendicular to the first rotational shaft and the second rotational shaft. 2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the supporting member is configured to rotate about a rotational axis in response to opening and closing of the second door. 3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the supporting member is configured to rotate from the stored position to the supporting position in response to opening of the second door and rotate from the supporting position to the stored position in response to closing of the second door. 4. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: a motion conversion unit coupled to the second door and the supporting member, respectively, and configured to convert rotation of the second door into movement of the supporting member. 5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the motion conversion unit comprises a link member and a door connection part. 6. The refrigerator of claim 5, further comprising: a connection hole configured to connect the second door and the motion conversion unit, wherein the connection hole extends in a lengthwise direction of the link member. 7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein when the second door is opened, the supporting member is opened in connection with the opening of the second door, and when the second door is closed, the supporting member is closed in connection with the closing of the second door. 8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the supporting member is positioned at a lowermost surface of the second storage chamber such that, in the supporting position, the supporting member is adjacent to the lowermost surface of the second storage chamber. 9. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the second door aligns with an uppermost edge of the first door when the second door is oriented in a closed position. 10. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the second door aligns with three edges of the first door when the second door is oriented in a closed position. 11. The refrigerator of claim 1: wherein a first depth of a first part of the first door is narrower than a second depth of a second part of the first door and a stepped portion of the first door is located where the first door changes from the first depth to the second depth; andwherein the second door is located at the first part of the first door that has the first depth. 12. The refrigerator of claim 11, further comprising a handle provided at the stepped portion of the first door that enables a user to open and close the first door, wherein the second door is spaced apart from the stepped portion of the first door to enable a user to access the handle provided at the stepped portion of the first door. 13. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the handle comprises a horizontal recess positioned at the stepped portion of the first door. 14. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the handle is positioned at about a center of the first door and the second door is positioned above the handle. 15. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein, when the second door is oriented in a closed position, a front surface of the second door aligns with a front surface of the first door at the second part of the first door that has the second depth. 16. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: a hinge assembly that is coupled to the first door and the second door and that establishes a rotational axis for the first door and the second door. 17. The refrigerator of claim 16, further comprising: a first connection member configured to connect the hinge assembly to the cabinet. 18. The refrigerator of claim 17, further comprising: a second connection member configured to connect the second door to the first door. 19. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein a rotational axis of the first door is located at a same position as a rotational axis of the second door. 20. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the height of the second door is about half of the height of the first door. 21. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: a first hinge that attaches an upper portion of the first door;a second hinge that attaches a lower portion of the first door to a lower portion of the cabinet;a third hinge that attaches an upper portion of the second door; anda fourth hinge that attaches a lower portion of the second door to the first door at a location of the first door that is between the first and second hinges. 22. The refrigerator of claim 21, wherein the first hinge and the third hinge are part of a single hinge assembly.