A fixation seat having a first guiding element and a second guiding element mounted inside of a hinge mechanism is mounted at a wall or a frame's surface. A first guided assembly and a second guided assembly are mounted at the fixation seat and respectively guided by the first guiding element and the second guiding element to move away from each other or move back. A movable assembly comprises a movable and pivotable shaft mounted through the fixation seat and optionally connected to the first guided assembly or the second guided assembly. A door is mounted at the movable assembly and pivots relative to the surface through the shaft. The movable assembly lifts and lowers the door via the shaft, connected one of the guided assemblies, guided by the guiding elements, so the hinge mechanism is adaptable to install the door at left-side or right-side surfaces.

A refrigerator in which an opening having a size corresponding to the size of a refrigerator compartment is provided in a refrigerator compartment door and an outer door to open/close the opening is rotatably coupled to the refrigerator compartment door so that a plurality of door guards provided in a space corresponding to the size of the refrigerator compartment may be used by only opening/closing the outer door, and the refrigerator compartment door and the outer door may be rotated on one hinge shaft and the outer door has an auto closing structure so that the outer door may be automatically closed when a predetermined portion of the outer door is opened.

A hinge assembly includes a first hinge element having a hinge pin with upper and lower portions and an engagement portion outwardly extending from the hinge pin. The engagement portion of the first hinge element includes a lower surface having an upwardly angled portion and an abutment surface. A second hinge element includes a body portion surrounding a hollow interior portion and further includes a contoured upper rim having a downwardly angled portion and an abutment surface. The lower portion of the hinge pin of the first hinge element is slideably received in the hollow interior portion of the second hinge element. The first hinge element rotates between a first position, wherein the abutment surface of the first hinge element abuts the abutment surface of the second hinge element, and a second position, wherein the abutment surfaces of the first and second hinge elements are spaced-apart from one another.

The hinge assembly comprises a housing for mounting on a cabinet and a post member for mounting on a door and for rotation relative to the housing. A first electrical contact is mounted within the housing for connection to a source of electrical power in the cabinet and a second electrical contact is disposed in the post in electrical contact with the first contact for connection to an electrical appliance in the door. In one embodiment, the electrical contacts rotate relative to each other as the post member pivots on the housing while in other embodiments; the electrical contacts remain stationary relative to each other as the post member pivots on the housing.