US20220003487A1

US20220003487A1 - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: US20220003487A1
Application number: US17/332,567
Authority: US
Inventors: Nayoung Kim
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2020-07-02
Filing date: 2021-05-27
Publication date: 2022-01-06
Also published as: KR20220003832A

Abstract

Proposed is a refrigerator in which a blocking casing may be provided at a rear side of a home bar of a door of the refrigerator, so the inside of the refrigerator and the refrigerator door are configured to be blocked from each other. The refrigerator includes: a main body having a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment formed therein; the refrigerator door installed rotatably at a front of the main body and covering the front of the main body; a home bar door provided at the refrigerator door and configured to have a size smaller than a size of the refrigerator door to be opened and closed; and a blocking casing provided at a rear surface of the refrigerator door and covering a side of at least one door basket.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0081553, filed on Jul. 2, 2020, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a refrigerator. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a refrigerator, in which a blocking casing is provided at a rear side of a home bar of a door of the refrigerator, so the inside of the refrigerator and the refrigerator door are configured to be separated from each other.

BACKGROUND

A refrigerator is a device for storing food at a low temperature, and normally includes a freezer compartment storing food by freezing the food at a relatively low temperature and a refrigerating compartment storing food by refrigerating the food at a temperature higher than the temperature of the freezer compartment.
Accordingly, the refrigerator is a home appliance used for the low-temperature storage of various foods, and is provided to have the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment separated from each other for storing food at frozen and refrigerated states, respectively, wherein a door is provided at a front of each of the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment such that the door is selectively opened.
Depending on the shape of the refrigerator, the refrigerator may be divided into a vertical refrigerator which has a freezer compartment located at an upper part thereof and a refrigerating compartment located at a lower part thereof, and a double-door refrigerator which has a freezer compartment located at a left side thereof and a refrigerating compartment located at a right side thereof.
In the double-door refrigerator, the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment are provided at left and right sides, respectively, with a partitioning wall placed therebetween. Additionally, a vegetable room as a separate storage space may be provided at an inner lower side of the refrigerating compartment to store vegetables or fruits such that the freshness of the vegetables or fruits is maintained.
In addition, the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment are configured for cold air to be continuously supplied thereto such that the insides of the freezer compartment and refrigerating compartment maintain a predetermined temperature. That is, when an evaporator provided at the rear side of an upper end part of the freezer compartment generates cold air, the cold air is distributed to the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment, and then is discharged into the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment from each upper end part thereof by operation of a blower fan of each of the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment. The discharged cold air is supplied thereto in a manner flowing downward from the upper end part such that food stored in the corresponding freezer compartment and refrigerating compartment is cooled. While cooling the food, the cold air is increased in temperature and flows upward back to the evaporator. The air flowing back to the evaporator is cooled again to a predetermined temperature in the evaporator, and then is supplied again to each of the freezer compartment and refrigerating compartment. This circulation is repeated.
In addition, a separate home bar door is provided in a door of such a refrigerator. That is, a home bar or the home bar door allowing food stored in a door basket to be easily taken out to the outside without opening the refrigerator door is provided in the door of the refrigerator.
However, in the refrigerator in which the home bar door is provided at the door of the refrigerator, when the home bar door is opened, cold air inside the refrigerator is immediately discharged to the outside. When the home bar provided at the refrigerator door is opened, the cold air inside the refrigerator escapes to the outside.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, the present disclosure has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and the present disclosure is intended to propose a refrigerator in which a separate blocking casing may be provided at a rear side of a refrigerator door so as to separate a home bar as a single space from the inside of the refrigerator.
In addition, the present disclosure is intended to propose a refrigerator in which cold air inside the refrigerator may be forcibly supplied to the inside of the separate blocking casing, so the loss of the cold air occurring during the use of the home bar may be compensated.
In order to achieve the above objectives, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a refrigerator, in which a blocking casing is provided at a rear surface of a door of a refrigerator to cover the rear side of the door such that the inside of the refrigerator and the rear side of the door are blocked from each other by the blocking casing.
In addition, in the refrigerator of the present disclosure, a fan motor may be provided to supply cold air to the rear side of the refrigerator door.
Furthermore, in the refrigerator of the present disclosure, the fan motor may be provided at the upper surface or upper end of the blocking casing covering the rear side of the refrigerator door.
The refrigerator according to the present disclosure includes: a main body having a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment formed therein; a refrigerator door installed rotatably at a front of the main body and covering the front of the main body; a home bar door provided at the refrigerator door and configured to have a size smaller than a size of the refrigerator door to be opened and closed; and a blocking casing provided at a rear surface of the refrigerator door and covering a side of at least one door basket.
A fan motor supplying cold air into the blocking casing may be provided at a side of the blocking casing.
The fan motor may be mounted to an upper surface of the blocking casing.
The blocking casing may include: a casing body covering a rear part and opposite sides of the door basket, and a casing cover covering an upper part of the casing body.
The fan motor may be mounted to the casing cover.
The casing cover may include: a fixing frame allowing the fan motor to be mounted thereto; a lower decoration provided at a lower side of the fixing frame and constituting a lower exterior of the casing cover; and an upper decoration provided at an upper side of the fixing frame and constituting an upper exterior of the casing cover.
An installation depression to which the fan motor is mounted may be formed at the fixing frame by being depressed therefrom.
An installation hole may be famed in the installation depression by passing vertically therethrough such that the cold air blowing through the fan motor passes through the installation hole.
A vent hole which is a path of the cold air to be introduced to the fan motor may be formed vertically through the upper decoration.
At least one vent rib crossing the vent hole may be provided in the vent hole.
A through hole may be formed vertically through the lower decoration, the through hole guiding the cold air moved by the fan motor into the casing body.
The upper decoration and the lower decoration may be coupled to each other by a fastening means.
The fastening means may pass through the fixing frame.
A fastening hook and a fastening hole may be formed at the upper decoration and the fixing frame, respectively, such that the fastening hook and the fastening hole are configured to have shapes corresponding to each other to be fastened to each other.
A hook hole may be formed in the casing body such that the fastening hook passes through or is fastened to the hook hole.
The refrigerator according to the present disclosure has the following effects.
First, in the refrigerator of the present disclosure, the blocking casing may be provided to separate the inner space of the refrigerator from the space of the rear side of the refrigerator door. Accordingly, even when the home bar door of the refrigerator door is opened, cold air inside the refrigerator may be prevented from escaping to the outside through the home bar.
Second, in the refrigerator of the present disclosure, the fan motor may be provided to supply the cold air of the inside of the refrigerator into the blocking casing. Accordingly, even when temperature around the door basket increases due to the opening of the home bar door of the refrigerator, the temperature around the door basket may be rapidly decreased due to the cold air supplied by the fan motor.
Third, in the refrigerator of the present disclosure, the fan motor supplying cold air into the blocking casing may be controlled not to be operated when the home bar door is opened. Accordingly, during the opening of the home bar door, the cold air of the inside of the refrigerator may be completely prevented from escaping to the outside of the refrigerator.
Fourth, in the refrigerator of the present disclosure, the fan motor supplying cold air into the blocking casing may be mounted to the upper surface of the blocking casing. Accordingly, due to the downward movement of the cold air, the cold air may naturally circulate evenly inside the blocking casing.
Fifth, in the refrigerator of the present disclosure, a fixing frame, the upper decoration, and the lower decoration which constitute the casing cover may be simultaneously coupled to each other by one or two fastening means. Accordingly, the assembly productivity of the casing cover may be improved.
Sixth, in the refrigerator of the present disclosure, when the fastening hook formed at the upper decoration passes through the hook hole of the casing body and is inserted to the fastening hole of the fixing frame, the casing cover may be mounted to the casing body. Accordingly, even without a separate fastening member, the casing cover and the casing body may be coupled to each other.
Seventh, in the refrigerator of the present disclosure, a wire cover may be provided and may cover a wire allowing power to be supplied to the fan motor. Accordingly, the wire may not be exposed to the outside, which makes the exterior of the refrigerator neat.
Eighth, in the refrigerator of the present disclosure, the front end of the wire cover may be fastened to the rear surface of the refrigerating door by one touch (a hook coupling), and the rear end of the wire cover may be fitted to the upper decoration.
Accordingly, work efficiency may be improved due to the easiness of the fastening of the wire cover, and the coupling of the upper decoration may be solidified.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objectives, features, and other advantages of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating the configuration of a refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view illustrating the configuration of a door constituting the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a partial rear perspective view illustrating the enlargement of the configuration of an upper end part of the door constituting the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a top exploded perspective view illustrating the detailed configuration of the door constituting the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a bottom exploded perspective view illustrating the detailed configuration of the door constituting the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a partial cutaway perspective view illustrating the detailed configuration of the door constituting the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged view illustrating a state in which a wire cover constituting the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is separated from a fixing frame; and

FIG. 8 is a partial side sectional view illustrating a state in which the wire cover constituting the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present disclosure is coupled to an upper decoration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinbelow, a refrigerator according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The content of the present disclosure may be applied to various shapes or types of a refrigerator, but for convenience of description, a double-door refrigerator having a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment provided at left and right sides, respectively, will be described as an example.
In FIG. 1, the approximate configuration of the refrigerator according to the present disclosure is illustrated.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 may be composed of a main body (not shown) having a shape of a rectangular container having an open front, and doors 22 and 32 covering the open front of the main body (not shown).
More specifically, the refrigerator may be composed of the main body (not shown) having the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment formed therein, and the doors 22 and 32 installed rotatably at the front of the main body (not shown) and covering the front of the main body (not shown).
The freezer compartment in which frozen food is mainly stored and the refrigerating compartment in which refrigerated food is mainly stored may be formed inside the main body (not shown). For example, the freezer compartment may be formed in the inner left space of the main body (not shown), and the refrigerating compartment may be formed in the inner right space of the main body (not shown).
The front of the freezer compartment may be opened and closed by a freezer compartment door 22, and the front of the refrigerating compartment may be opened and closed by a refrigerating compartment door 32.
The left end of the freezer compartment door 22 may be rotatably installed at the left end of the main body (not shown), and the right end of the refrigerating compartment door 32 may be rotatably installed at the right end of the main body (not shown).
Meanwhile, at least one shelf may be provided in the inner space of each of the freezer compartment and the refrigerating compartment such that food is stored in the shelf. Such a shelf may include multiple shelves which may be installed to have the same intervals or different intervals therebetween.
An ice maker by which ice is made may be installed at the upper end of the freezer compartment, and an ice box in which frozen ice is stored may be installed at the lower side of the ice maker such that the ice box slides forward and backward.
At least one freezer compartment basket may be installed at the lower side of the freezer compartment to facilitate freezing storage of food such that the freezer compartment basket slides forward and backward.
The refrigerating compartment may be a place in which a temperature is maintained higher than the temperature of the freezer compartment such that the refrigerated storage of food is performed in the refrigerating compartment. A vegetable box in which vegetables are stored may be installed at the lower end part of such a refrigerating compartment such that the vegetable box slides forward and backward.
A display part may be provided at each of the doors 22 and 32 so as to control the operation of the refrigerator 1 or to indicate the operation state of the refrigerator 1.
A home bar door 80 having a shape of a small door may be provided at the upper part of the refrigerating compartment door 32.
The home bar door 80 may be usually provided at the refrigerating compartment door 32 such that a user can take out or store food inside the refrigerator without opening the entirety of the refrigerating compartment door 32. A separate storage basket may be provided in the home bar door 80.
A transparent screen may be formed on the home bar door 80. That is, the transparent screen may be configured to be transparent such that a user can see food inside the home bar door from the outside. Furthermore, when a user touches or taps the transparent screen, the inside of the refrigerator may be lit and be visible to the outside through the transparent screen.
A handle 90 may be provided at a middle portion of each of the freezer compartment door 22 and the refrigerating compartment door 32 such that a user pulls each of the doors 22 and 32 by holding the handle with a hand.
In FIGS. 2 to 6, the configuration of the refrigerating compartment door is illustrated. That is, FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view illustrating the configuration of the refrigerating compartment door 32, and FIG. 3 is a partial rear perspective view illustrating the enlargement of the enlarged configuration of the upper end part of the refrigerating compartment door 32.
Additionally, FIGS. 4 and 5 are top and bottom exploded perspective views, respectively, illustrating the detailed configuration of the refrigerating compartment door 32, respectively, and FIG. 6 is a partial cutaway perspective view of the refrigerating compartment door 32.
As illustrated in these drawings, the refrigerating compartment door 32 may cover the front of the main body as described above, and the home bar door 80 may be provided in the refrigerating compartment door 32.
The home bar door 80 may be provided at the refrigerating compartment door 32, and may be configured to have a size smaller than the size of the refrigerating compartment door 32 or the freezer compartment door 22, and may be installed to be opened and closed.
Multiple door baskets 35 may be provided at the rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door 32 to store food therein.
In addition, a blocking casing 100 may be provided at the rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door 32, and may be configured to cover a side of at least one of the door baskets 35 installed at the rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door 32. That is, the blocking casing 100 may be installed to cover the rear side of each of the door baskets 35. More specifically, the blocking casing 100 may be configured to the rear, upper and lower parts, and opposite sides of the door basket 35.
The blocking casing 100 may be composed of a casing body 110 covering the rear part and opposite sides of the door basket 35, and a casing cover 200 covering the upper part of the casing body 110.
As illustrated in the drawings, the casing body 110 may be fundamentally configured to cover the rear sides of the door baskets 35 at the rear side of the refrigerating compartment door 32. That is, the casing body 110 may be configured to cover the rear, opposite sides, and lower part of the refrigerating compartment door 32.
Of course, the lower part of the casing body 110 may be configured to be covered by a separate cover such as the casing cover 200.
The casing body 110 may be made of a transparent material such that a user can see food thereinside.
The casing cover 200 may be provided to cover the upper part of the casing body 110.
Accordingly, the door basket 35 provided at the upper part of the rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door 32 may be separated and blocked from outside space by the home bar door 80 and the blocking casing 100.
A fan motor 300 may be provided at a side of the blocking casing 100 such that cold air is supplied into the blocking casing 100.
Specifically, the fan motor 300 may be installed at the upper surface of the blocking casing 100. That is, the fan motor 300 may be mounted to the casing cover 200.
The fan motor 300 may consist of a fan creating a forced flow of air, and a motor supplying rotational power to the fan.
The casing cover 200 may be composed of a fixing frame 210 to which the fan motor 300 is mounted; a lower decoration 230 provided at the lower side of the fixing frame 210 and constituting the lower exterior of the casing cover 200; and an upper decoration 250 provided at the upper side of the fixing frame 210 and constituting the upper exterior of the casing cover 200.
Of course, as described above, the casing cover 200 may be composed of one member or part instead of multiple parts.
The fixing frame 210 may be configured to have shape and size corresponding to the upper end of the casing body 110, and to have a predetermined thickness.
An installation depression 212 to which the fan motor 300 is mounted may be formed at the fixing frame 210 by being depressed therefrom. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the installation depression 212 having a predetermined size may be formed at the center part of the upper surface of the fixing frame 210 by being depressed therefrom.
An installation hole 214 may be formed in the installation depression 212 by passing vertically therethrough such that cold air blown by the fan motor 300 passes through the installation hole 214. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the installation hole 214 having a circular shape may be formed at the lower end of the installation depression 212 by passing vertically therethrough, and an air flow generated by the fan motor 300 may be performed downward through such an installation hole 214.
The upper decoration 250 may be coupled to the upper side of the fixing frame 210 and may constitute the upper exterior of the fixing frame 210. A vent hole 252 which is a path of cold air to be introduced to the fan motor 300 may be formed vertically through the upper decoration 250.
More specifically, the vent hole 252 may be formed at the center part of the upper decoration 250 by passing vertically therethrough. Such a vent hole 252 may be formed at a vertical position corresponding to the position of the fan motor 300 and to have a shape corresponding to the shape of fan motor 300.
In the present disclosure, a case in which the vent hole 252 is formed to have a square shape corresponding to the outer shape of the fan motor 300 is illustrated.
In addition, at least one vent rib 254 crossing the vent hole 252 may be provided in the vent hole 252. That is, multiple vent ribs may be provided to prevent external foreign matter from being introduced into the upper decoration 250 through the vent hole 252. In the present disclosure, a case in which the multiple vent ribs 254 horizontally crossing the vent hole 252 are provided is illustrated.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the vent ribs 254 may be horizontally provided entirely on the upper surface of the upper decoration 250, so the upper surface of the upper decoration 250 may be configured to have a comb pattern shape.
Specifically, the vent ribs 254 may be provided to be horizontally long on the entirety of the upper surface of the upper decoration 250 as well as in the vent hole 252. That is, the vent ribs 254 may be provided to cross the vent hole 252 to primarily prevent a user's hand or foreign matter from being introduced to the fan motor 300 such that the user's injury or the breakdown of the fan motor is prevented. Furthermore, the vent ribs 254 may be provided at left and right sides of the vent hole 252 such that the upper decoration 250 looks neat to a consumer.
Each of the vent ribs 254 may be provided slantingly to have a predetermined angle, and when such ribs having a comb pattern shape are provided entirely on the upper surface of the upper decoration 250, the exterior of the upper decoration 250 may look more luxurious compared to an upper decoration without the vent ribs.
The lower decoration 230 may be provided at the lower side of the fixing frame 210 and may constitute the lower exterior of the casing cover 200. A through hole 232 may be formed vertically through the lower decoration 230, the through hole 232 guiding the cold air moved by the fan motor 300 into the casing body 110.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the through hole 232 may be formed to be horizontally long, and may be formed at a vertical position corresponding to the position of the fan motor 300. Additionally, the through hole 232 may include at least two through holes such that the cold air is guided evenly to each portion of the door basket 35.
In the refrigerator of the present disclosure, the through hole 232 is formed vertically through the rear end (a left end in FIG. 6) of the lower decoration 230. That is, an embodiment in which the through hole 232 is formed to have a slit shape to be long in a direction parallel to the inner surface of the refrigerating compartment door 32 is illustrated.
Accordingly, when the through hole 232 is formed in the rear end (a left end in FIG. 6) of the lower decoration 230, cold air flown by the fan motor 300 may efficiently flow downward through a gap between the casing body 110 and the door basket 35.
Alternatively, in a case in which the through hole 232 is formed directly under the fan motor 300, that is, at the center part of the lower decoration 230, cold air may hit the door basket 35 located directly under the fan motor 300 and may be prevented from moving downward.
In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 6, ribs guiding cold air downward may be provided in the through hole 232. Accordingly, the direction of the cold air may be controlled by the ribs of the through hole 232.
The upper decoration 250 and the lower decoration 230 may be coupled to each other by a fastening means (234,257). That is, the upper decoration 250 and the lower decoration 230 may be coupled to each other by the fastening means such as a screw 257.
In addition, when the lower decoration 230 and the upper decoration 250 are coupled to each other by the fastening means, the fastening means (234,257) may be configured to pass through the fixing frame 210. In this case, a separate fastening means may not be required to couple the fixing frame 210 to the lower decoration 230 or the upper decoration 250, and the fixing frame 210 may be simultaneously fastened to the lower decoration 230 and the upper decoration 250 by the fastening means coupling the lower decoration 230 and the upper decoration 250 to each other.
Holes and protrusions may be formed at the upper decoration 250 and the lower decoration 230 such that the upper decoration 250 and the lower decoration 230 are coupled to each other by the fastening means.
Specifically, at least one decoration hole 256 through which a fastening means such as a screw 257 passes may be formed vertically through the upper decoration 250, and a coupling protrusion 258 may be formed at the lower part of the decoration hole 256 by protruding downward therefrom.
The coupling protrusion 258 may be configured to have a cylindrical shape having a hollow inner part such that the screw passes through the coupling protrusion 258.
A coupling tab 234 may be formed at the lower decoration 230 such that the fastening means such as a screw passes through or is screwed to the coupling tab. Such a coupling tab 234 may be formed by protruding upward from the upper surface of the lower decoration 230.
In addition, a fixing hole 216 through which the fastening means such as a screw passes may be formed vertically through the fixing frame 210. Of course, the coupling protrusion 258 or the coupling tab 234 may pass through or be received in such a fixing hole 216.
Additionally, the coupling protrusion 258 and the coupling tab 234 may be formed to have sizes or diameters corresponding to each other such that the coupling protrusion 258 and the coupling tab 234 are in contact with each other, or may be formed to have diameters different from each other such that the coupling protrusion 258 and the coupling tab 234 are installed to doubly overlap each other inside and outside.
A fastening hook 260 and a fastening hole 220 may be formed at the upper decoration 250 and the fixing frame 210, respectively, the fastening hook 260 and the fastening hole 220 being configured to have shapes corresponding to each other and being fastened to each other. Furthermore, the hook hole 112 may be formed in the casing body 110 such that the fastening hook 260 passes through or is fastened to the hook hole 112.
Specifically, at least one fastening hook 260 may be formed at the upper decoration 250. That is, multiple fastening hooks 260 may be formed on an edge of the lower surface of the upper decoration 250 by protruding downward therefrom.
In addition, multiple fastening holes 220 may be formed in the fixing frame 210 such that the fastening hooks 260 are fitted to and coupled to the fastening holes.
The fastening hooks 260 and the fastening holes 220 may be formed at positions vertically corresponding to each other, and may have shapes corresponding to each other to be fastened to each other. Accordingly, when the fastening hooks 260 are inserted to the fastening holes 220, respectively, the fastening hooks 260 may be prevented from being removed from the fastening holes 220.
Meanwhile, the upper end of the casing body 110 may be bent inward, and the hook hole 112 through which the fastening hook 260 passes may be formed in the upper end of the casing body 110.
Accordingly, when the fastening hook 260 of the upper decoration 250 may be fastened to the fastening hole 220 of the fixing frame 210 by passing through the hook hole 112 of the casing body 110 from the upper side thereof, the casing cover 200 may be coupled to and fixed to the upper end of the casing body 110.
A casing coupling end 114 may be formed at the casing body 110 by protruding therefrom toward the rear side of the refrigerating compartment door 32. The casing coupling end 114 may be a part allowing the casing body 110 to be coupled to the rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door 32.
Accordingly, a casing coupling part 32 a may be formed at the rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door 32, and may have a shape corresponding to the shape of the casing coupling end 114 to be fastened to the casing coupling end 114.
Each of the casing coupling end 114 and the casing coupling part 32 a may be configured to have a hook shape and to be fastened to each other by one touch.
A wire guide 400 may be formed in the refrigerating compartment door 32, and may be covered by a wire cover 410.
More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the wire guide 400 having a predetermined size may be formed at the upper end part of the refrigerating compartment door 32 by being depressed therefrom. Such a wire guide 400 may be a part through which a wire allowing power to be supplied to the fan motor 300 passes.
In addition, the wire cover 410 may be fastened to the wire guide 400 to cover the wire guide 400, and may function to cover the wire such that the wire passing through the wire guide 400 is not exposed to the outside.
The wire cover 410 and the installation state thereof are illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, respectively. That is, in FIG. 7, a partial enlarged view illustrating a state in which the wire cover 410 is separated from the fixing frame 210 is illustrated, and in FIG. 8, a partial side sectional view illustrating a state in which the wire cover 410 is coupled to the upper decoration 250 is illustrated.
As illustrated in these drawings, the wire cover 410 may be configured to have a shape corresponding to the shape of the upper end of the refrigerating compartment door 32. That is, as illustrated in the drawings, the side section of the wire cover 410 may be configured to have an L shape corresponding to the protruding shape of the upper part of the refrigerating compartment door 32.
In addition, cover hooks 412 may be provided at the front end (a right end in FIGS. 7 and 8) of the wire cover 410 such that the cover hooks are fitted and coupled to the refrigerating compartment door 32. Of course, although not illustrated in detail, hook holes to which the cover hooks 412 are fastened may be required to be formed in the rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door 32.
A coupling rib 414 may be formed at a rear end (a left end in FIGS. 7 and 8) of the wire cover 410 by protruding rearward (to a left side in FIGS. 7 and 8) therefrom. That is, the coupling rib 414 may be formed to have thickness smaller than the thickness of the wire cover 410, and may be a part fitted to the upper decoration 250.
A cover seating end 270 in which the rear end (the left end in FIGS. 7 and 8) of the wire cover 410 sits may be formed at a front end (a right end in FIGS. 7 and 8) of the upper decoration 250.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, the cover seating end 270 may be formed to have a predetermined depth by being depressed from the upper surface of the upper decoration 250.
In addition, a rib hole 272 to which the coupling rib 414 is inserted may be foiled at the left end of the cover seating end 270 (in FIGS. 7 and 8) by passing horizontally therethrough.
Accordingly, the right end of the wire cover 410 (in FIGS. 7 and 8) may be coupled to the rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door 32, and the left end of the wire cover 410 (in FIGS. 7 and 8) may be fitted to and coupled to the upper decoration 250.
Hereinafter, the flowing state of cold air in the refrigerator having the above configuration according to the present disclosure will be described.
First, cold air inside the refrigerating compartment may be supplied into the blocking casing 100 by the fan motor 300. That is, when the fan motor 300 is operated by power, the cold air of the inside of the refrigerating compartment may be introduced into the blocking casing 100 through the upper side of the blocking casing 100.
The cold air introduced into the blocking casing 100 by the fan motor 300 may be introduced thereinto first by passing through the vent hole 252 of the upper decoration 250, and the cold air blowing by passing through the fan motor 300 may pass consecutively through the installation hole 214 of the fixing frame 210 and the through hole 232 of the lower decoration 230, and may be introduced into the blocking casing 100.
The cold air introduced into the blocking casing 100 may cool food stored in the door basket 35.
Then, when the home bar door 80 is opened, the cold air inside the blocking casing 100 may escape to the outside of the refrigerator, and thus an air temperature inside the blocking casing 100 may increase.
Of course, when the home bar door 80 is opened, the fan motor 300 may be controlled not to be operated. That is, the fan motor 300 may be controlled to be operated only when the home bar door 80 is closed.
In addition, the fan motor 300 may detect the temperature of the inside of the blocking casing 100, and may be controlled to be operated only when the detected temperature reaches a preset temperature or more.
Accordingly, in the refrigerator of the present disclosure, even when the home bar door 80 of the refrigerator is opened, the cold air inside the refrigerating compartment, due to the blocking casing 100, may be prevented from being discharged to the outside through the home bar.
The technical scope of the present disclosure may not be limited to the embodiment illustrated above, and within the technical scope as described above, many other modifications based on the present disclosure will be possible for those skilled in the art.
For example, in the embodiment described above, the fastening hook 260 may be formed at the upper decoration 250, and the fastening hole 220 to which the fastening hook 260 is fitted and fastened may be formed in the fixing frame 210, but the reverse is also possible. That is, the fastening hook 260 may be provided at the fixing frame 210, and the fastening hole 220 may be formed in the upper decoration 250.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body that defines a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment;

a refrigerator door that is rotatably disposed at a front side of the main body and configured to open and close the refrigerating compartment;

a home bar door disposed at the refrigerator door and configured to be opened from and closed relative to the refrigerator door, wherein a size of the home bar door is less than a size of the refrigerator door;

a door basket disposed at a rear surface of the refrigerator door; and

a blocking casing that is disposed at the rear surface of the refrigerator door and covers a least a portion of the door basket.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising:

a fan motor disposed at the blocking casing and configured to supply cold air in the refrigerating compartment into the blocking casing.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the fan motor is disposed at an upper surface of the blocking casing.

4. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the blocking casing comprises:

a casing body that covers a rear part of the door basket and lateral sides of the door basket; and

a casing cover that covers an upper part of the casing body.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the fan motor is disposed at the casing cover.

6. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the casing cover comprises:

a fixing frame that supports the fan motor;

a lower decoration that is disposed at a lower side of the fixing frame and defines a lower exterior of the casing cover; and

an upper decoration that is disposed at an upper side of the fixing frame and defines an upper exterior of the casing cover.

7. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the fixing frame defines an installation depression that is recessed from an upper surface of the fixing frame and receives the fan motor.

8. The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the fixing frame further defines an installation hole inside the installation depression, the installation hole vertically passing through the fixing frame and being configured to discharge the cold air blown by the fan motor into the casing body.

9. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the upper decoration defines a vent hole configured to introduce the cold air in the refrigerating compartment to the fan motor, the vent hole vertically passing through the upper decoration.

10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the upper decoration comprises at least one vent rib that extends across the vent hole.

11. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the lower decoration defines a through hole that vertically passes through the lower decoration and is configured to guide the cold air from the fan motor into the casing body.

12. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the upper decoration defines at least one decoration hole configured to receive a screw.

13. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the upper decoration and the lower decoration are coupled to each other by a fastener.

14. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the lower decoration is configured to receive the screw through the fixing frame.

15. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the upper decoration comprises a fastening hook, and the fixing frame defines a fastening hole coupled to the fastening hook.

16. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the casing body defines a hook hole that receives the fastening hook.

17. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the fastening hook passes through the fastening hole and is coupled to the hook hole.

18. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein the door basket is one of a plurality of door baskets that are disposed at the rear surface of the refrigerator door and spaced apart from one another, and

wherein the blocking casing vertically extends and covers the plurality of door baskets.

19. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the lower decoration comprises a coupling tab that protrudes upward from an upper surface of the lower decoration, and

wherein the fixing frame defines a fixing hole that receives the coupling tab.

20. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the upper decoration comprises a coupling protrusion that protrudes downward from a lower surface of the upper decoration, and

wherein the fixing frame defines a fixing hole that receives the coupling protrusion.