Refrigerator

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.

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.