US20120061405A1

US20120061405A1 - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: US20120061405A1
Application number: US13/224,551
Authority: US
Inventors: Gidong KWON
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2010-09-14
Filing date: 2011-09-02
Publication date: 2012-03-15
Also published as: KR20120028034A; KR101190448B1

Abstract

Provided is a refrigerator in which an input member manipulated by being pushed using a user's body is disposed on a door of the refrigerator to easily open the door. Thus, convenience of use may be improved.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 35 U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0089987 (14, Sep., 2010), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator.
Refrigerators are electric appliances for storing foods at low temperature in an inner storing space closed by a door. Here, the storing space is cooled using cool air that is generated by heat-exchanging with a refrigerant circulating a refrigeration cycle to store the foods in an optimal state.
The storing space within the refrigerator is divided into a refrigerating compartment that is maintained at a temperature of about 1° C. to about 4° C. to store foods such as vegetables in a fresh state and a freezing compartment that is maintained at about 18° C. below zero to store foods such as meats and fishes in a frozen state. Various types of refrigerators may be provided according to an arrangement of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment and configurations of refrigerator doors that cover the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment, respectively.
In general, a user grasps a door handle using his/her hand and then rotates the door handle to open a refrigerating compartment or a freezing compartment. However, when the user holds a food or a container in which foods are contained using both hands, it may be difficult to open the door using the hand. In this case, the food or container in which foods are contained may put down, and then the user should open the door to take the foods in the refrigerator.
To solve the above-described limitation, various types of refrigerators having a structure in which the door is opened by stepping on a foot lever and a structure in which the door is opened using a button are being developed.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment, a refrigerator includes: a cabinet defining a storage space; a door opening or closing the storage space; a door plate disposed on a front surface of the door to define a front outer appearance of the door; an input member disposed on the door, the input member recognizing a pushed operation of a side of the door plate; and a door opening device operated by a manipulation signal of the input member to open the door, wherein at least one portion of the input member is disposed on a position corresponding to at least one portion of a design or pattern disposed on the door plate.
The input member may be disposed in an approximately central region when the total height of the cabinet is divided into three sections.
The door may be provided in plurality, and the door opening device may be provided in number corresponding to that of the plurality of the doors.
The input member may be provided in number corresponding to that of the plurality of doors and disposed on one door of the plurality of doors.
The input member may be provided in number corresponding to that of the plurality of doors, the input members may be disposed on the plurality of doors, respectively.
The refrigerator may further include a hinge device for further opening the door at a rotation center of the door when the door is opened at a predetermined angle.
The input member may have a shape corresponding to that of the design or pattern.
The input member may be provided in plurality, each of the plurality of input members may be disposed corresponding to a portion of the design or pattern.
The design or pattern may be disposed on the door plate, and the input member may be disposed at a rear side of the door plate to recognize a touch of a position corresponding to that of the design or pattern, thereby receiving the manipulation signal.
A pattern part opened with a shape corresponding to that of at least one portion of the design or pattern may be disposed on the door plate, and the input member may be disposed on a position corresponding to that of the pattern part and has a shape corresponding to that of the pattern part.
The input member may include: a push part disposed on a position and having a shape corresponding to those of at least one portion of the opened design or pattern on the door plate; and a switch disposed at a rear side of the push part to push the push part.
The push part may be formed of the same material as the door plate.
The input member may include: a push part formed of the same material as a front surface of the door plate, the push part constituting a portion of the front surface of the door; and a switch disposed at a rear side of the push part, the switch being operated when the push part is manipulated.
The input member may have a length corresponding to a horizontal or vertical length of the door plate and define a portion of an outer appearance of the front surface of the door.
A front surface of the input member may be flush with that of the door plate.
The input member may be formed of the same material as the door plate.
The input member may be provided in plurality, and the plurality of input members may be continuously disposed on the same extending line.
All of the plurality of input members may be disposed on one door of the plurality of doors.
The plurality of input members may be disposed on the doors, respectively.
The door may be provided in plurality, and the input member may have a shape corresponding to that of a design or pattern of the other door.
The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a door according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control signal flow of a refrigerator according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a door according to another embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a door according to another embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, that alternate embodiments included in other retrogressive inventions or falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art.
Hereinafter, for convenience of description and comprehension, a side by side type refrigerator is described as an example. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, various types of refrigerators may be applied to embodiments.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment includes a cabinet 10 defining a storage space therein and a door 20 opening and closing an opened front surface of the cabinet 10, which define an outer appearance of the refrigerator 1.
The storage space may be partitioned into left and right sides to respectively define a refrigerating compartment 11 and a freezing compartment 12. The refrigerating compartment 11 and the freezing compartment 12 may be separately opened or closed by the door 20. The door 20 includes a refrigerating compartment door 21 and a freezing compartment door 22. The refrigerating compartment door 21 and the freezing compartment door 22 are rotatably installed on the cabinet 10.
A door handle 23 to be grasped by a user when the door 20 is opened or closed is disposed on each of a front surface of the pair of doors 20. The door handle 23 may have a protruding bar shape or a recessed pocket shape so that it is easily grasped by the user.
Also, various components (not shown) for user's convenience may be further provided on the door 20. For example, a manipulation part for manipulating an operation of the refrigerator 1 and displaying an operation state of the refrigerator 1 may be further disposed on the door 20. Also, a dispenser for dispensing water or ices to the outside of the door 20 and a home bar for taking foods in or out of the refrigerator 1 in a state where the door 20 is closed may be further disposed in the door 20.
Also, an input member 30 for opening the door 20 without manipulating the door handle 23 may be further disposed on the door 20. The input member 30 is exposed to the front surface of the door 20. Also, the input member 30 is disposed at an approximately central portion of a height of the refrigerator 1. In detail, the input member 30 may be disposed at an approximately central region when the total height of the cabinet 10 is divided into three sections. In addition, the input member 30 may have a size corresponding to that of at least portion of a design or pattern on the front surface of the door 20. Thus, the input member 30 may be easily pushed using a human body of the user, particularly, an elbow of the user.
A door opening device 13 operated by the manipulation of the input member 30 is disposed on the cabinet 10. The door opening device 13 may be connected to a control unit 40, and thus an operation of the door opening device 13 may be controlled by the control unit 40. The door opening device 13 may push and open the door 20 when the input member 30 is operated. The door opening device 13 may include a refrigerating compartment door opening device 131 for opening the refrigerating compartment 21 and a freezing compartment door opening device 132 for opening the freezing compartment door 22.
Also, the door opening device 13 may have various structures such as a previously known structure using a magnetic force and a structure using a driving force of a motor or solenoid. As necessary, the door opening device 13 may be disposed on the door 20 to push the cabinet, thereby opening the door 20.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a door according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a control signal flow of a refrigerator according to an embodiment.
Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the door 20 may include a door case 24 defining an inner appearance of the door 20, a door liner defining a configuration of a back surface of the door 20, a door plate 26 disposed on the outside of an insulation member (not shown) disposed between the door case 24 and the door liner 25 to define an outer appearance of the door 20, a door plate 26 and defining an outer appearance of the door 20, and a deco member 27 for fixing the door case 24, the door liner 25, and the door plate 26. Here, the entire configuration of the door 20 may be defined by the door case 24, the door liner 25, the door plate 26, and the deco member 27.
The door case 24 may define an overall outer appearance of the door 20. A circumference of an iron plate having a square shape may be bent to manufacture the door case 24. An input member mounting part 241 (that will be described later) for mounting the input member 30 may be disposed on a front surface of the door case 24.
The door liner 25 may define the configuration of the back surface of the door 20. The door liner 25 may be formed of a plastic resin material. The door liner 25 may provide a formation end for mounting a receiving member (not shown) for receiving foods or a separate space.
The door case 24 and the door liner 25 may be spaced from each other. The insulation member may be disposed in the spaced space between the door case 24 and the door liner 25. A foaming agent such as an expandable polystyrene material may be injected into the sealed space between the door case 24 and the door liner 25 to form the insulation member.
The deco member 24 may be disposed on upper and lower sides and left and right sides of the door case 24 and the door liner 25. The deco member 27 may define a circumference surface of the door 20. The door plate 26 may be mounted on the deco member 27.
In detail, the deco member 27 may include a cap deco 271 disposed on each of upper and lower ends of the door 20 and a side deco 272 disposed on each of left and right side ends of the door 20. The cap deco 271 may be fixedly mounted on each of top and bottom surfaces of the door case 24. The side deco 272 may be fixedly mounted on each of both left and right side surfaces of the door case 24.
The door plate 26 may define a front outer appearance of the door 20 in a state where it is fixed by the deco member 27. The door plate 26 may be mounted so that it is spaced from the front surface of the door case 24. A space for disposing the input member 30 that will be described below in detail may be defined between the door plate 26 and the door case 24.
The door plate 26 may be formed of a tempered glass or plastic material. A pattern 261 or color for forming the outer appearance of the door 20 may be realized on the door plate 26. For this, a back surface of the door plate 26 may be printed, or a printed film may be attached to the back surface of the door plate 26.
Here, the pattern 261 may have various shapes such as a geometric shape and a flower shape. Also, the pattern 261 may have a shape having a predetermined area. Hereinafter, the pattern 261 having the flower shape may be described as an example.
The pattern 261 formed on the door plate 26 may have various shapes. The pattern 261 may be disposed on at least central portion of a vertical height of the door 20. Also, the pattern 261 may be disposed on a position corresponding to that of the input member 30 so that the user touches the pattern 261 to manipulate the input member 30.
Here, the pattern 261 corresponding to the input member 30 may have various shapes according to a design of the refrigerator 1. The pattern 261 may have a relatively large size. For example, the pattern may have a size significantly greater than that of each of buttons used for manipulating the refrigerator 1. Thus, the input member 30 may be very easily manipulated.
The input member 30 may be electrically connected to the control unit 40 to manipulate the door opening device 13. Thus, when the input member 30 is manipulated, the door opening device 13 may be operated by the control unit 40.
The input member 30 may include a general static or piezoelectric touch module. Also, the input member 30 may be disposed on a back surface of the pattern 261 disposed on the door plate 26. Thus, the input member 30 is not exposed to the outside of the door 20. When the user pushes a portion corresponding to the input member 30 and the pattern 261 of the door plate 26, the input member may be operated.
In detail, the input member 30 is mounted on the input member mounting part 241 of the door case 24. Here, the input member mounting part 241 may have a shape corresponding to that of the pattern 261 of the door plate 26 and be disposed at a rear side of the pattern 261. Thus, when the input member 30 is mounted, the input member 30 may be disposed on a position corresponding to that of the pattern 261.
Also, the input member 30 may include first and second input members 31 and 32 for respectively manipulating the refrigerating compartment door opening device 131 and the freezing compartment door opening device 132. Each of the first and second input members 31 and 32 may define a portion of the pattern 261 and be disposed adjacent to each other.
Thus, when the opening of the refrigerating compartment door 21 is required, the user may push the pattern 261 corresponding to the first input member 31 to open the refrigerating compartment 11. Also, when the opening of the freezing compartment door 22 is required, the user may push the pattern 261 corresponding to the second input member 32 to open the freezing compartment 12.
Here, the first and second input members 31 and may be disposed on the patterns 261 disposed on positions different from each other. In this case, the first and second input members 31 and 32 may be disposed on positions at which the first and second input members 31 and 32 can be manipulated by an elbow of the user or a portion of the body of the user corresponding to the elbow.
Also, upper and lower ends of the door 20 may be rotatably mounted on the cabinet 10 by upper and lower hinge devices 14 and 15, respectively. The lower hinge device 15 may be configured to further open the door 20 when the door 20 is opened at a predetermined angle.
In detail, after the door 20 is opened at a predetermined angle by the door opening device 13, the door 20 may be further opened at an angle greater than the predetermined angle by the lower hinge device 15. Here, the lower hinge device 15 may include a torsion spring therein. Thus, the lower hinge device 15 may be rotated by an elastic restoring force to further open the door 20. Alternatively, the lower hinge device 15 may have a structure in which cam surfaces corresponding to each other are relatively moved by a load of the door 20 to open the door 20.
Hereinafter, operations of the refrigerator including the above-described components according to an embodiment will be described.
In a state where the refrigerator 1 is normally operated, the door handle 23 may be pulled to open the door 20 and receive the food, thereby receiving foods in the refrigerator 1.
When it is difficult to open the door 20 because the user holds a food using both hands, the user may push the input member 30 using the user's body, particularly, the user's elbow.
Since the input member 30 is disposed on the door 20 at a height corresponding to the approximately central portion of the vertical height of the cabinet 10, the input member 30 may be easily pushed using the user's body. Specifically, in case where the user is an adult, when the input member 30 disposed at a height of about 1 m from the ground is manipulated, the input member 30 may be easily pushed using the user's elbow.
The input member 30 may be disposed on a position corresponding to that of the pattern 261 disposed on the door plate 26 and have the same size as that of the pattern 261. Thus, the user may push the pattern 261 to manipulate the input member 30. Here, the input member 30 is not exposed to the outside. Thus, the user may touch the pattern 261 to open the door 20.
Also, the input member 30 may include the first and second input members 31 and 32 for respectively opening the refrigerating compartment door 21 and the freezing compartment door 22. In this case, the user may push a portion of the pattern 261 corresponding to each of the first and second input members 31 and 32 to open the corresponding door 20. Here, when the pattern 261 has a large size, the first and second input members 31 and 32 may be disposed on one pattern 261. In this case, the user may push a portion corresponding to the one pattern 261 to open the door 20.
A refrigerator according to various embodiments except the above-described embodiment may be realized. Hereinafter, a refrigerator will be described according to another embodiment.
In the refrigerator according to another embodiment, an input member has a shape corresponding to that of a pattern of a door and has the same material as that of an outer surface of the door.
Thus, the refrigerator according to another embodiment may be equal to the refrigerator according to the foregoing embodiment except for a portion of the door and the input member, and thus detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a door according to another embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 4, a door 20 may include a door case 24, a door liner 25, a door plate 26, a deco member 27, and a door handle 23.
A pattern 261 expressed to the outside through the door 20 may be disposed on the door plate 26. The pattern 261 may have various shapes. The pattern 261 may be disposed on an approximately central portion of the total height of the refrigerator 1, i.e., on portion corresponding to a point spaced about 1 m from the ground.
A pattern part 262 opened with a shape corresponding to that of the pattern 261 may be disposed on the door plate 26. The pattern part 262 may be disposed on only a center portion of the door 20 in the entire pattern 261 disposed on the door plate 26. Alternatively, the pattern part 262 may be disposed on only a portion on which the input member 40 is disposed.
The input member 40 is disposed on a portion corresponding to the pattern part 262. The input member 40 may be used for manipulating the door opening device 13 and have a shape corresponding to that of the pattern part 262.
In detail, the input member 40 may include a push part 41 constituting a portion of the door plate 26 to perform push manipulation and a switch 42 disposed on the door case 24 to contact the push part 41.
Here, the push part 41 may have a shape corresponding to that of the pattern part 262 and have the same material as that of the door plate 26. Thus, when the input member 40 is mounted, the push part 41 may constitute a portion of the door plate 26. As a result, when viewed from the outside, the push part 41 may be integrated with the door plate 26.
Also, the push part 41 may be moved in front and rear directions by the guide of the input member mounting part 241 on which the input member 40 is mounted. Thus, when the input member 40 is pushed, the push part 41 may be guided in the front and rear direction by the input member mounting part 241.
The switch 42 may be disposed on a position at which it is pushed when the push part 41 is pushed. Here, even though any portion of the push part 41 is pushed, the switch should be pushed. Two switches 42 may be respectively disposed to manipulate the refrigerating compartment door opening device 131 and the freezing compartment door opening device 132. Also, the push part 41 may be divided into two sections. Here, the two push parts 41 may be divided also by the pattern 261.
The push part 41 may be returned to its original position after being pushed by elasticity of the switch 42. Thus, an elastic member for returning the push part 41 may be disposed at a rear side of the push part 41. Thus, the push part 41 may be flush with the door plate 26 without manipulating the push part 41 to visually realize sense of unity with the door plate.
A refrigerator according to various embodiments except the above-described embodiments may be realized. Hereinafter, a refrigerator will be described according to another embodiment.
In the refrigerator according to another embodiment, both ends of an input unit contact both ends of a door.
Thus, the refrigerator according to another embodiment may be equal to the refrigerator according to the foregoing embodiment except for the input member, and thus the same part will be designated by the same reference numeral and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to another embodiment. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a door according to another embodiment.
Referring to FIGS. 5 to 6, a refrigerator 1 according to another embodiment includes a cabinet 10 defining a refrigerating compartment 12 and a freezing compartment 12 and a door 20 including a refrigerating compartment door 12 and a freezing compartment door 22. Here, an outer appearance of the refrigerator 1 may be defined by the cabinet 10 and the door 20.
The door 20 may be opened or closed by rotation thereof. A door opening device 13 which is operated when an input member 50 (that will be described below) is manipulated to open the door 20 may be disposed on the cabinet 10.
The door 20 may include a door case 24 defining the whole configuration of the door 20, a door plate 26 defining a front outer appearance of the door 20, a deco member 27 disposed on a circumference of the door 20 so that the door plate 26 is fixed in a state where it is spaced from a front surface of the door case 24, and a door handle 23 to be grasped by a user when the door 20 is opened or closed.
An input member 50 for manipulating an opening/closing of the door opening device 13 may be disposed on an approximately central portion of the door 20. The input member 50 may be disposed on a front surface of the door 20 corresponding to a center portion of a vertical height of the refrigerator 1.
The input member 50 may extend from one side end of the door 20 up to the other side end and have a predetermined width in a vertical direction. Thus, the input member 50 may have a size greater than that of each of buttons for manipulating a typical refrigerator. Also, the input member 50 may be disposed on a position having a height at which the input member 50 can be easily manipulated using a user's elbow or arm.
The input member 50 may include a first input member 50 a for manipulating a refrigerating compartment door opening device 131 and a second input member 50 b for manipulating a freezing compartment door opening device 132. The refrigerating compartment door opening device 131 and the freezing compartment door opening device 132 may be successively disposed in a horizontal direction.
The input member 50 may include a push part 51 to be pushed by the user, a mounting member 52 on which the push part 51 is mounted, and a switch 53 contacting the push part 51 to turn on/off.
The push part 51 may be formed of the same material as the door plate 26. Also, the push part 51 may have the same color as the door plate 26 and be continuously disposed to realize sense of unity with the door 20 on the whole.
The mounting member 52 may be fixedly mounted on the door case 24. Also, the mounting part 52 may be opened with a shape corresponding to that of the push part 51. Thus, when the push part 51 is pushed, the mounting member 52 may guide the front and rear movements of the push part 51. Also, lower and upper ends of the door plate 26 may be supported by upper and lower ends of the push part 51. A gap between the ends of the push part 51 and the door plate 26 may be minimized. Also, both left and right side ends of the push part 51 may be disposed on positions corresponding to those of both ends of the door plate 26. The both left and right side ends of the push part 51 may be received in the deco member 27 defining both ends of the door 20.
The switch 53 may be disposed on the door case 24 and connected to a control unit 40 to operate the door opening device 13 when the push part 51 is manipulated. The switch 53 should be manipulated even though any position of the push part 51 is pushed.
Also, the push part 51 may be returned to its original position after being pushed by elasticity of the switch 42. As necessary, a separate elastic member may be provided to return the push part 51 to its original position after the input member 50 is manipulated. Thus, the push part 51 may be flush with the door plate 26 to allow the door 20 to visually realize sense of unity on the whole.
The input member 50 may be operated in a static or piezoelectric manner.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to another embodiment.
In the current embodiment, the refrigerator according to another embodiment may be equal to the refrigerator according to the foregoing embodiments except for an input member, and thus detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. Also, like reference numeral denote like elements.
Referring to FIG. 7, an input member 60 for manipulating a door opening device 13 is disposed on a door 20 of a refrigerator 1 according to another embodiment includes. The input member 60 may include a first input member 60 a for operating a refrigerating compartment door opening device 131 and a second input member 60 b for operating a freezing compartment door opening device 132.
The first input member 60 a may be disposed in a refrigerating compartment 11. Also, the first input member 60 a may have a length corresponding to a horizontal length of the refrigerating compartment 11. The second input member 60 b may be disposed in a freezing compartment 12. Also, the second input member 60 b may have a length corresponding to a horizontal length of the freezing compartment 12.
The first and second input members 60 a and 60 b may have the same height as each other. Thus, the first and second input members 60 a and 60 b may be continuously disposed adjacent to each other in a horizontal direction. The first and second input members 60 a and 60 b may have the same front outer appearance as that of the door plate 26 to allow the door 20 to realize sense of unity on the whole.
Also, the first and second input members 60 a and 60 b may be disposed on approximately central portions of the total height of the refrigerator 1 to allow a user to be easily manipulated using a user's body, particularly, a user's elbow.
In the refrigerator according to the embodiments, the input member for manipulating an operation of the door opening device for opening the door may be disposed on the approximately central portion of the total height of the refrigerator. The input member may have a width corresponding to a horizontal width of the door and have a relatively large size.
Thus, the input member may be disposed on a position and with a size in which the user can easily push the input member using the user's body, e.g., user's elbow in a state where the user holds the foods using both hands to improve convenience of use.
Also, the input member may have a size corresponding to the horizontal width of the door to provide sense of unity on the whole to the door. Also, when the input member is formed of the same material as that of the front surface of the door, the input member may be visually integrated with the door.
Also, when the input member has a shape corresponding to that of the pattern disposed on the door is disposed on a position corresponding to that of the pattern, the input member may have sense of unity with the door on the whole event though the input member has a relatively large size.
When the plurality of input members are provided, the plurality of input members may be continuously disposed adjacent to each other to provide convenience of manipulation and also maintain sense of unity in the design of the door.
Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet defining a storage space;

a door opening or closing the storage space;

a door plate disposed on a front surface of the door to define a front outer appearance of the door;

an input member disposed on the door, the input member recognizing a pushed operation of a side of the door plate; and

a door opening device operated by a manipulation signal of the input member to open the door,

wherein at least one portion of the input member is disposed on a position corresponding to at least one portion of a design or pattern disposed on the door plate.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the input member is disposed in an approximately central region when the total height of the cabinet is divided into three sections.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the door is provided in plurality, and the door opening device is provided in number corresponding to that of the plurality of the doors.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the input member is provided in number corresponding to that of the plurality of doors and disposed on one door of the plurality of doors.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the input member is provided in number corresponding to that of the plurality of doors, the input members are disposed on the plurality of doors, respectively.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a hinge device for further opening the door at a rotation center of the door when the door is opened at a predetermined angle.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the input member has a shape corresponding to that of the design or pattern.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the input member is provided in plurality, each of the plurality of input members is disposed corresponding to a portion of the design or pattern.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the design or pattern is disposed on the door plate, and

the input member is disposed at a rear side of the door plate to recognize a touch of a position corresponding to that of the design or pattern, thereby receiving the manipulation signal.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a pattern part opened with a shape corresponding to that of at least one portion of the design or pattern is disposed on the door plate, and

the input member is disposed on a position corresponding to that of the pattern part and has a shape corresponding to that of the pattern part.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the input member comprises:

a push part disposed on a position and having a shape corresponding to those of at least one portion of the opened design or pattern on the door plate; and

a switch disposed at a rear side of the push part to push the push part.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the push part is formed of the same material as the door plate.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the input member comprises:

a push part formed of the same material as a front surface of the door plate, the push part constituting a portion of the front surface of the door; and

a switch disposed at a rear side of the push part, the switch being operated when the push part is manipulated.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the input member has a length corresponding to a horizontal or vertical length of the door plate and defines a portion of an outer appearance of the front surface of the door.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein a front surface of the input member is flush with that of the door plate.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein the input member is formed of the same material as the door plate.

17. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein the input member is provided in plurality, and the plurality of input members are continuously disposed on the same extending line.

18. The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein all of the plurality of input members are disposed on one door of the plurality of doors.

19. The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein the plurality of input members are disposed on the doors, respectively.

20. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the door is provided in plurality, and

the input member has a shape corresponding to that of a design or pattern of the other door.