Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Corporation

Itsuo Fujibayashi

Takashi Yoshikawa

Hiroshi Yoshimura

A cam mechanism has different portions thereof arranged on a main unit, which may be a refrigerator, and on a door. When the door is closed, a hinge pin is locked at one end of a hinge groove, keeping the cam mechanism in a first locked position. As the door is opened, the hinge pin is guided by the hinge groove and a guide pin is guided by a guide groove, permitting the door to rotate and slide. Thus, the hinge pin is locked at the other end of the hinge groove, bringing the cam mechanism to a second locked position. A boss slides on a rib and thereby maintains the second locked position, permitting the door to rotate about the hinge pin. This structure helps realize a door opening/closing mechanism with enhanced operability at reduced cost.

Growing community of inventors

Kishiwada, Japan

Itsuo Fujibayashi