EP2235456B1 - Refrigerator - Google Patents
Refrigerator Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2235456B1 EP2235456B1 EP08872167.5A EP08872167A EP2235456B1 EP 2235456 B1 EP2235456 B1 EP 2235456B1 EP 08872167 A EP08872167 A EP 08872167A EP 2235456 B1 EP2235456 B1 EP 2235456B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- volume control
- ice bank
- side surfaces
- guide portion
- guide
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Not-in-force
Links
- 230000008014 freezing Effects 0.000 description 40
- 238000007710 freezing Methods 0.000 description 40
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000002452 interceptive effect Effects 0.000 description 4
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 3
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 235000013361 beverage Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 230000004308 accommodation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006835 compression Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000012780 transparent material Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D23/00—General constructional features
- F25D23/02—Doors; Covers
- F25D23/04—Doors; Covers with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D25/00—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25C—PRODUCING, WORKING OR HANDLING ICE
- F25C5/00—Working or handling ice
- F25C5/18—Storing ice
- F25C5/182—Ice bins therefor
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D23/00—General constructional features
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D25/00—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled
- F25D25/02—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled by shelves
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2323/00—General constructional features not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F25D2323/02—Details of doors or covers not otherwise covered
- F25D2323/023—Door in door constructions
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2325/00—Charging, supporting or discharging the articles to be cooled, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F25D2325/021—Shelves with several possible configurations
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D25/00—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled
- F25D25/02—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled by shelves
- F25D25/024—Slidable shelves
- F25D25/025—Drawers
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to an ice bank for a refrigerator capable of storing ice pieces therein.
- a refrigerator serves to freshly store food items for a long time in a frozen state or in a cooled state.
- the refrigerator is provided with a refrigerator body divided into a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber.
- the refrigerator body is provided with a freezing chamber door and a refrigerating chamber door through which the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber are opened or closed.
- the freezing chamber door and the refrigerating chamber door are respectively installed at one side of the refrigerator body, such that one ends thereof are rotatable in back and forth directions of the refrigerator body centering around another ends thereof.
- supplementary storage chambers for storing and drawing out food items without opening the freezing chamber door or the refrigerating chamber door.
- the home bar is composed of a home bar housing disposed on a rear surface of the freezing chamber door or the refrigerating chamber door with a storage space, and a home bar door for opening and closing the storage space.
- the home bar door serves to open or close an opening formed as a part of the freezing chamber door or the refrigerating chamber door corresponding to the home bar housing is cut out.
- the home bar door is installed such that an upper end thereof is rotatable in up and down directions centering around a lower end thereof.
- the freezing chamber is provided with an ice-making device for making ice pieces. And, the freezing chamber may also be provided with an ice bank for storing ice pieces made by the ice-making device.
- a refrigerator according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in WO02007/094554 .
- the conventional ice bank has the following problems.
- the freezing chamber has to be opened by rotating the freezing chamber door. This may cause a difficulty in drawing out the ice bank.
- ice pieces in the ice bank may be soaked with odor of other food items stored in the freezing chamber.
- the ice-making device since the ice bank is provided in the refrigerating chamber with a limited volume, the ice-making device has to make ice pieces a plurality of times when a large amount of ice pieces are required in summer, for example.
- the ice bank comprises a body portion formed in a box shape having opened upper and lower surfaces; and a volume expansion container inserted into the body portion so as to be vertically moveable along an inner surface of the body portion, and forming an ice storage space having an opened upper surface.
- the volume control unit comprises volume control grooves formed, in a volume control direction of the ice bank, at one of inner side surfaces of the body portion and outer side surfaces of the volume expansion container; volume control protrusions formed at another of the inner side surfaces of the body portion and the outer side surfaces of the volume expansion container; and a locking unit for restricting a relative motion of the volume control grooves with respect to the volume control protrusions step by step.
- the locking unit comprises locking grooves formed at one of the volume control grooves and the volume control protrusions in a volume control direction of the ice bank; and locking protrusions locked by the locking grooves step by step.
- the guide unit comprises a first guide portion fixed in the opening, for guiding the ice bank to downward slantly move toward the opening; and a second guide portion configured to be introduced into or drawn out of the opening under guide of the first guide portion, for mounting the ice bank in a drawing manner.
- the refrigerator according to the present invention has the following advantages.
- a volume of the ice bank is varied according to a user's necessity. This may solve a user's inconvenience to make ice pieces a plurality of times, for example, in summer when a large amount of ice pieces are required.
- ice pieces stored in the ice bank are taken out through the home bar. This may enable the ice bank to be drawn out of the refrigerator in a state that the door is not opened. Accordingly, a user can easily take ice pieces out of the refrigerator.
- the ice bank is drawn out of the refrigerator through the home bar by downward slantly moving. This may prevent food items stored in the home bar from being drawn out with interfering with the ice bank, or prevent the ice bank from being drawn out with interfering with ice pieces stored therein.
- the ice bank is installed at a predetermined space on a rear surface of the freezing chamber door. This may prevent the ice pieces stored in the ice bank from being soaked with odor of food items stored in the ice storage space of the refrigerator. Accordingly, a user may use the ice pieces in a sanitary and comfortable manner.
- FIG. 1 is a view showing appearance of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a view showing inside of the refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
- the refrigerator body 10 is provided with a freezing chamber 11 and a refrigerating chamber 13 therein.
- the freezing chamber 11 and the refrigerating chamber 13 are disposed at left and right sides of the refrigerator body 10, respectively.
- a freezing chamber door 11 a and a refrigerating chamber door 13a are installed at the refrigerator body 10, such that one ends thereof are rotatable in back and forth directions centering around anther ends thereof.
- the freezing chamber door 11a and the refrigerating chamber door 13a serve to open or close the freezing chamber 11 and the refrigerating chamber 13, respectively.
- Supporting side walls 11b and 13b are provided at two ends on rear surfaces of the freezing chamber door 11 a and the refrigerating chamber door 13a.
- the supporting side walls 11b and 13b are formed as parts of door liners that form appearance of the rear surfaces of the freezing chamber door 11 a and the refrigerating chamber door 13a are backward protruding by a predetermined height.
- a plurality of fixing protrusions are provided on surfaces of the supporting side walls 11b and 13b facing each other.
- a plurality of door baskets 14 are provided on rear surfaces of the freezing chamber door 11 a and the refrigerating chamber door 13a between the supporting side walls 11b and 13b.
- Accommodation spaces for accommodating food items are formed in the door baskets 14.
- the door baskets 14 are detachably mounted to the rear surfaces of the freezing chamber door 11 a and the refrigerating chamber door 13a.
- Home bars 15 and 17 are provided at the freezing chamber door 11 a and the refrigerating chamber door 13a, respectively.
- the home bars 15 and 17 serve to draw out food items such as beverage, from the refrigerator, without opening the refrigerating chamber door 13a and the freezing chamber door 11a.
- the home bars 15 and 17 are composed of home bar housings 15a and 17a, and home bar doors 15b and 17b, respectively.
- the home bar housings 15a and 17a are formed to have polygonal shapes that upper surfaces thereof, and rear surfaces adhered to the rear surface of the freezing chamber door 11 a or the refrigerating chamber door 13a are opened.
- the home bar housings 15a and 17a are provided on the rear surface of the freezing chamber door 11 a and the refrigerating chamber door 13a between the supporting side walls 11b and 13b.
- the home bar housings 15a and 17a are provided with storage spaces 15s and 17s for storing beverage, etc. therein.
- openings 15c and 17c are formed.
- the opening 15c of the freezing chamber door 11 a is communicated with the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a.
- food items are received into or drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a, or an ice bank 100 (refer to FIG. 3 ) installed at the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a is drawn out.
- the opening 17c of the refrigerating chamber door 13a is communicated with the storage space 17s of the home bar housing 17a. Through the opening 17c, food items are received into or drawn out of the storage space 17s of the home bar housing 17a.
- the home bar doors 15b and 17b are installed at front surfaces of the freezing chamber door 11 a and the refrigerating chamber door 13a, such that upper ends thereof are rotatable in up and down directions centering around lower ends thereof.
- the home bar doors 15b and 17b serve to open or close the openings 15c and 17c, respectively.
- the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a is opened or closed by the home bar door 15b of the freezing chamber door 11a.
- An ice-making device 22 for making ice pieces may be provided above the home bar housing 15a on the rear surface of the freezing chamber door 11 a.
- a water box 21 for storing water to be supplied to the ice-making device 22 may be mounted above the ice-making device 22.
- ice pieces made by the ice-making device 22 are transferred to the home bar housing 15a, and stored in the ice bank 100 (refer to FIG. 3 ) installed at the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a.
- the positions of the ice-making device 22 and the water box 21 may be changed.
- FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line I-I in FIG. 1
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a mounted state of an ice bank of FIG. 3
- FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the ice bank of FIG. 4 and a second guide portion.
- the ice bank 100 is installed at the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a, so as to be drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a through the opening 15c.
- the ice bank 100 comprises a body portion 110 formed in a hexahedron shape having opened upper and lower surfaces; and a volume expansion container 120 inserted into the body portion 110 so as to be vertically moveable along an inner surface of the body portion 110, and forming an ice storage space 100s having an opened upper surface.
- one surface of the ice bank 100 is formed of a transparent or a semi-transparent material such that ice pieces stored in the ice storage space 100s can be recognized from outside.
- a handgrip 101 may be provided at the ice bank 100 between a front surface of the body portion 110 and a front surface of the volume expansion container 120.
- the handgrip 101 may be formed to be concaved from a lower end of the front surface of the volume expansion container 120 toward a rear surface of the volume expansion container 120 by a predetermined height.
- the front surface of the ice bank 100 indicates one surface of the ice bank 100 viewed from a front surface of the freezing chamber door 11a, i.e., one surface of the ice bank 100 viewed when the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a is opened by the home bar door 15b.
- the ice bank 100 is installed at the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a by a guide unit.
- the guide unit includes a first guide portion 140 fixed in the opening 15c for guiding the ice bank 100 to downward slantly move toward the opening 15c; and a second guide portion 150 drawn out of the opening 15c under guide of the first guide portion 140 for mounting the ice bank 100 in a drawing manner.
- the first guide portion 140 guides the second guide portion 150 having the ice bank 100 mounted thereto to downward slantly move toward the opening 15c, the opened front surface of the first guide portion 140.
- the first guide portion 140 prevents ice pieces stored in the ice storage space 100s of the ice bank 100 from being locked by the rear surface of the freezing chamber door 11 a adjacent to the opening 15c, in the process that the ice bank 100 and the second guide portion 150 are drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a.
- one pair of guide slots 141 are provided at both side surfaces of the first guide portion 140.
- One pair of guide protrusions 151 are protruding from both side surfaces of the second guide portion 150.
- the guide protrusions 151 serve to guide the second guide portion 150 to be drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a through the opening 15c in a state that the ice bank 100 is mounted to the second guide portion 150.
- the guide protrusions 151 perform a sliding motion along the guide slots 141 in an inserted state into the guide slots 141 of the first guide portion 140.
- the guide protrusions 151 are composed of a first guide protrusion 152 and a second guide protrusion 153.
- the first guide protrusion 152 is protruding from upper middle portions of both sides of the second guide portion 150, respectively.
- the second guide protrusion 153 is protruding from rear middle portions of both sides of the second guide portion 150, respectively, with a lower height than the first guide protrusion 152. More concretely, the first guide protrusion 152 and the second guide protrusion 153 are spacing from each other by a predetermined distance in a direction that the ice bank 100 and the second guide portion 150 are drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a through the opening 15c.
- the reason is in order to allow the ice bank 100 and the second guide portion 150 to maintain a horizontal state when accommodated in the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a.
- the first guide portion 140 serves to guide the second guide portion 150 drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a in a state that the ice bank 100 is mounted to the second guide portion 150.
- the first guide portion 140 is formed in a hexahedron shape having opened front, rear, and lower surfaces.
- the second guide portion 150 is installed in the first guide portion 40 so as to be drawn out in a front direction.
- An ice transfer opening 144 is provided on an upper surface of the first guide portion 140.
- the ice transfer opening 144 serves as a passage through which ice pieces made by the ice-making device 22 are supplied to the ice storage space 100s of the ice bank 100.
- the ice transfer opening 144 is formed as an upper surface of the first guide portion 140 is opened.
- the ice transfer opening 144 is formed in a rectangular shape having a size equal to or less than an opened upper portion of the ice bank 100, i.e., an inlet of the ice storage space 100s.
- An ice transfer guide portion 145 is provided on an upper surface of the first guide portion 140 corresponding to the edge of the ice transfer opening 144.
- the ice transfer guide portion 145 is formed in a hopper shape that two side surfaces thereof are downward slanted toward the ice transfer opening 144.
- the ice transfer guide portion 145 serves to guide ice pieces made by the ice-making device 22 so as to be supplied to the ice storage space 100s of the ice bank 100 through the ice transfer opening 144.
- Fixing grooves 147 are formed on both side surfaces of the first guide portion 140.
- the fixing grooves 147 serve to fix the first guide portion 140.
- a fixing protrusion (not shown) disposed at the supporting side wall 11 b of the freezing chamber door 11 a, and protruding to the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a.
- the guide slots 141 are composed of a first guide slot 142 along which the first guide protrusion 152 inserted therein perform a sliding motion, and a second guide slot 143 along which the second guide protrusion 153 inserted therein perform a sliding motion.
- the first guide slot 142 is composed of a first horizontal section 142a, an inclined section 142b, and a second horizontal section 142c.
- the first horizontal section 142a is horizontally extending by a predetermined length, from upper middle portions of both side surfaces of the first guide portion 140, respectively, toward a direction that the second guide portion 150 having the ice bank 100 mounted thereto is drawn out, i.e., toward front ends of both side surfaces of the first guide portion 140.
- the inclined section 142b is downward slantly extending by a predetermined length, from a front end of the first horizontal section 142a, to a direction that the second guide portion 150 having the ice bank 100 mounted thereto is drawn out.
- the second horizontal section 142c is horizontally extending by a predetermined length, from a front end of the inclined section 142b, to a direction that the second guide portion 150 having the ice bank 100 mounted thereto is drawn out.
- a front end of the second horizontal section 142c is respectively located at middle portions of front ends of both side surfaces of the first guide portion 140.
- the second guide slot 143 is composed of a first horizontal section 143a, an inclined section 143b, and a second horizontal section 143c.
- the first horizontal section 143a is horizontally extending by a predetermined length, from rear middle portions of both side surfaces of the first guide portion 140, respectively, toward a direction that the second guide portion 150 having the ice bank 100 mounted thereto is drawn out, i.e., toward front ends of both side surfaces of the first guide portion 140.
- the inclined section 143b is downward slantly extending by a predetermined length, from a front end of the first horizontal section 143a, to a direction that the second guide portion 150 having the ice bank 100 mounted thereto is drawn out.
- the second horizontal section 143c is horizontally extending by a predetermined length, from a front end of the inclined section 143b, to a direction that the second guide portion 150 having the ice bank 100 mounted thereto is drawn out.
- a front end of the second horizontal section 143c is located at lower front ends of both side surfaces of the first guide portion 140, respectively.
- the first guide protrusion 152 and the second guide protrusion 153 are located at a rear end of the first horizontal section 142a of the first guide slot 142, and a rear end of the first horizontal section 143a of the second guide slot 143, respectively.
- the ice bank 100 and the second guide portion 150 in a horizontal state with respect to each other are disposed to be adjacent to the ice transfer opening 144 of the first guide portion 140 therebelow, and to an upper end of the opening 15c.
- the first guide protrusion 152 and the second guide protrusion 153 slide along the inclined section 142b of the first guide slot 142 and the inclined section 143b of the second guide slot 143, respectively.
- the second guide portion 150 is downward slantly moved toward the opening 15c.
- upper surfaces of the ice bank 100 and the second guide portion 150 are downward spacing, by a predetermined distance, from the upper end of the ice transfer opening 144 of the first guide portion 140 and the opening 15c.
- first guide protrusion 152 and the second guide protrusion 153 are positioned on a front end of the second horizontal section 142c of the first guide slot 142, and on a front end of the second horizontal section 143c of the second guide slot 143, respectively, front ends of the second guide portion 150 and the ice bank 100 mounted to the second guide portion 150 are partially drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a through the opening 15c.
- the ice bank 100 mounted to the second guide portion 150 is guided by the first guide portion 140.
- the ice bank 100 is directly guided by the first guide portion 140 without being mounted to the second guide portion 150.
- front ends of the guide slots 141 of the first guide portion 140 i.e., the second horizontal sections 142c and 143c are formed to be outwardly opened through front ends of both side surfaces of the first guide portion 140.
- a process for coupling the second guide portion 150 and the ice bank 100 will be explained in more detail with reference to FIG. 5 .
- the ice bank 100 comprises a body portion 110 formed in a box shape having opened upper and lower surfaces; and a volume expansion container 120 inserted into the body portion 110 so as to be vertically moveable along an inner surface of the body portion 110, and forming an ice storage space 100s having an opened upper surface.
- the second guide portion 150 is formed in a hexahedron shape of which upper, lower, and front surfaces are opened in correspondence to the body portion 110.
- the second guide portion 150 having the ice bank 100 mounted thereto is drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a, through the opening 15c under guide of the first guide portion 140. And, the ice bank 100 is drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a, through the opening 15c under guide of the second guide portion 150.
- Locking ribs 115 are provided on a front surface of the ice bank 100. And, interworking protrusions 113 are provided at upper rear portions of both side surfaces of the ice bank 100.
- Supporting portions 155 for supporting the ice bank 100 are extending from lower ends of both side surfaces of the second guide portion 150 in a thickness direction of the body portion 110.
- Interworking ribs 154 are extending from upper front ends of both side surfaces of the second guide portion 150, by a predetermined length, so as to face each other in a thickness direction of the body portion 110.
- the locking ribs 115 are downward extending from lower front ends of the ice bank 100 by a predetermined length, and are extending in right and left directions of the front surface of the ice bank 100.
- the interworking protrusions 113 are upward protruding, by a predetermined height, from upper rear ends of both side surfaces of the ice bank 100.
- the locking ribs 115 and the interworking protrusions 113 serve to move the second guide portion 150 by interworking with the ice bank 100 that moves in a direction to be drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a through the opening 15c.
- the locking ribs 115 and the interworking protrusions 113 are adhered to front ends of both side surfaces of the second guide portion 150, and rear ends of the interworking ribs 154 of the second guide portion 150, respectively.
- Inclined portions 111 are provided at lower rear ends of both side surfaces of the body portion 110.
- the inclined portions 111 are downward slanted toward a direction that the ice bank 100 is drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a through the opening 15c.
- the inclined portions 111 serve to detach the ice bank 100 having been drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a through the opening 15c, from the second guide portion 150, by upward slantly moving the ice bank 100 with a mounted state to the second guide portion 150.
- the locking ribs 115 push a front end of a bottom surface of the second guide portion 150. This allows the second guide portion 150 to be accommodated in the ice bank 100 by interworking with the ice bank 100.
- the interworking protrusions 113 are adhered to rear ends of the interworking ribs 154 to push the interworking ribs 154. This allows the second guide portion 150 to be drawn out of the ice bank 100 by interworking with the ice bank 100.
- the second guide portion 150 interworks with the ice bank 100 by the locking ribs 115, and is accommodated in the ice bank 100 under guide of the first guide portion 140.
- the second guide portion 150 interworks with the ice bank 100 as a rear surface thereof is pushed by a rear surface of the ice bank 100.
- volume control unit 130 for changing a volume of the ice bank 100 step by step.
- FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the ice bank and the second guide portion of FIG. 5 .
- the volume control unit 130 controls a volume of the ice bank 100 by restricting a relative motion of the volume expansion container 120 with respect to the body portion 110 step by step.
- the volume control unit 130 includes volume control grooves 131 formed at one of inner side surfaces of the body portion 110 and outer side surfaces of the volume expansion container 120; volume control protrusions 132 formed at another of the inner side surfaces of the body portion 110 and the outer side surfaces of the volume expansion container 120; and a locking unit 133 and 134 for restricting a relative motion of the volume control grooves 131 and the volume control protrusions 132 step by step.
- the volume control grooves 131 are formed at the volume expansion container 120, whereas the volume control protrusions 132 are formed at the body portion 110.
- the positions of the volume control grooves 131 and the volume control protrusions 132 may be interchanged to each other.
- the volume control grooves 131 are formed at outer side surfaces of the volume expansion container 120 in a consecutive manner from an upper end to a lower end of the volume expansion container 120. That is, the volume control grooves 131 are formed in a volume control direction of the ice bank 100.
- the volume control grooves 131 may be formed by partially reducing a thickness of both side surfaces of the volume expansion container 120. However, in order to prevent lowering of a strength of the ice bank 100 stored in a lower temperature, it is preferable to inwardly curve parts of both side surfaces of the volume expansion container 120.
- the volume control grooves 131 are formed such that upper ends thereof are closed. The reason is in order to prevent separation of the body portion 110 from the volume expansion container 120, occurring as the volume control protrusions 132 moving along the volume control grooves 131 are detached from an upper end of the volume expansion container 120 when a volume of the ice bank 100 is to be maximized.
- the volume control protrusions 132 are formed at the inner side surfaces of the body portion 110 in correspondence to the volume control grooves 131.
- the volume control protrusions 132 are preferably formed at lower ends of the inner side surfaces of the body portion 110.
- the locking unit includes locking grooves 133 formed at one of the volume control grooves 131 and the volume control protrusions 132 in a volume control direction of the ice bank 100, and locking protrusions 134 formed at another of the volume control grooves 131 and the volume control protrusions 132 and locked by the locking grooves 133 step by step.
- the locking grooves 133 are provided at the volume control grooves 131 with a predetermined gap therebetween in plurality in a volume control direction of the ice bank 100. And, the locking protrusions 134 are formed at the volume control protrusions 132.
- the positions of the locking grooves 133 and the locking protrusions 134 may be interchanged to each other.
- the locking grooves 133 are formed on either inner surfaces of the volume control grooves 131, or both side surfaces of the volume control grooves 131. And, the locking grooves 133 are formed so as to be opened in a direction that the ice bank 100 is drawn out.
- the locking protrusions 134 are formed on side surfaces of the volume control protrusions 132 in correspondence to the locking grooves 133.
- the locking protrusions 134 are formed so as to be elastically supported in a direction perpendicular to a volume control direction of the ice bank 100.
- the locking protrusions 134 are implemented as plate springs supported by inner side walls of the volume control protrusions 132.
- the locking protrusions 134 may be configured so as to be supported by compression springs, etc.
- the locking groove 133 is formed such that inner side surfaces thereof are inclined in a volume control direction of the ice bank 100. The reason is in order to guide motion of the locking protrusions 134.
- an upper side of the locking grooves 133 is upward slantly formed toward an upper surface of the volume expansion container 120, whereas a lower side of the locking grooves 133 is downward slantly formed toward a lower surface of the volume expansion container 120.
- FIGS. 7 to 9 are views showing processes for drawing the ice bank out, and for controlling a volume of the ice bank in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
- the home bar door 15b of the home bar 15 is opened to open the opening 15c. Then, the ice bank 100 is pulled out of the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a, i.e., in a drawing direction.
- the second guide portion 150 having the ice bank 100 mounted thereto is also moved in the drawing direction by friction to the ice bank 100.
- the ice bank 100 and the second guide portion 150 are moved under guide of the guide protrusion 151 of the second guide portion 150, and the guide slot 141 of the first guide portion 140.
- the second guide portion 150 is horizontally moved in a drawing direction, then is downward slantly moved, and then is horizontally moved, again. Accordingly, even if ice pieces excessively stored in the ice storage space 100s of the ice bank 100 are partially protruding toward an upper side, the ice bank 100 can be drawn out without interfering with the freezing chamber door 11 a.
- the second guide portion 150 is not moved any longer in the drawing direction.
- the ice bank 100 is moved in the drawing direction until the interworking protrusions 113 are adhered to rear ends of the interworking ribs 154 of the second guide portion 150.
- the interworking protrusions 113 are adhered to the rear ends of the interworking ribs 154, only a part of a front end of the ice bank 100 is drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a through the opening 15c.
- the ice bank 100 is moved so that its front end is upward slanted in the drawing direction. This causes the ice bank 100 to be detached from the second guide portion 150, and to be completely drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a.
- the inclined portions 111 serve to prevent the ice bank 100 from interfering with the second guide portion 150 when being separated from the second guide portion 150.
- FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing an ice bank and a second guide portion according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
- the refrigerator according to the second embodiment is the same as that according to the first embodiment, except for locking unit 233 and 234 of a volume control unit 230.
- the volume control unit 230 includes volume control grooves 231 formed at one of inner side surfaces of a body portion 210 and outer side surfaces of a volume expansion container 220; volume control protrusions 232 formed at another of the inner side surfaces of the body portion 210 and the outer side surfaces of the volume expansion container 220; and a locking unit 233 and 234 for restricting a relative motion of the volume control grooves 231 and the volume control protrusions 232 step by step.
- the volume control grooves 231 are formed at outer side surfaces of the volume expansion container 220 in a consecutive manner from an upper end to a lower end of the volume expansion container 220. That is, the volume control grooves 231 are formed in a volume control direction of the ice bank 200.
- the volume control grooves 231 are formed as parts of both side surfaces of the volume expansion container 220 are inwardly curved.
- the volume control protrusions 232 are formed at the inner side surfaces of the body portion 210 in correspondence to the volume control grooves 231.
- the volume control protrusions 232 are preferably formed at lower ends of the inner side surfaces of the body portion 210.
- the locking unit includes locking grooves 233 formed at one of the volume control grooves 231 and the volume control protrusions 232 with a sectional surface of a sine wave in a volume control direction of the ice bank 200, and locking protrusions 234 formed at another of the volume control grooves 231 and the volume control protrusions 232 with a sectional surface of a sine wave.
- the locking grooves 233 are consecutively formed in upper and lower directions of the volume expansion container 220. This allows a volume of the ice bank 200 to be variably controlled.
- the locking protrusions 234 are provided in plurality in number in correspondence to the locking grooves 233 formed in consecutive sine waves. This allows a coupling force between the body portion 210 and the volume expansion container 220 to be increased.
- the locking protrusions 234 are preferably formed so as to be elastically supported in a direction perpendicular to a volume control direction of the ice bank 200.
- FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing an ice bank and a second guide portion according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
- the volume control unit 330 includes a first controller 331 formed at one of inner side surfaces of a body portion 310 and outer side surfaces of a volume expansion container 320, and having a sectional surface of a sine wave in a volume control direction of the ice bank 300; and a second controller 332 formed at another of the inner side surfaces of the body portion 310 and the outer side surfaces of the volume expansion container 320 so as to be engaged with the first controller 331, and having a sectional surface of a sine wave in the volume control direction of the ice bank 300.
- the volume control unit 330 is formed at the inner side surface of the body portion 310, and the outer side surface of the volume expansion container 320 corresponding to each other.
- the volume control unit 330 is formed to have a sectional surface of a sine wave in a volume control direction of the ice bank 300.
- the body portion 310 and the volume expansion container 320 are coupled to each other, and the body portion 310 and the volume expansion container 320 perform a relative motion with respect to each other along the sectional surfaces of a sine wave.
- a predetermined air gap is preferably formed between the inner side surfaces of the body portion 310 and the outer side surfaces of the volume expansion container 320.
- FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing an ice bank and the second guide portion according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
- a volume control unit 430 may be implemented as the volume control unit according to the first embodiment or the second embodiment.
- the volume control unit 430 includes volume control grooves 431 formed at one of inner side surfaces of a body portion 410 and outer side surfaces of a volume expansion container 420, volume control protrusions 432 formed at another of the inner side surfaces of the body portion 410 and the outer side surfaces of the volume expansion container 420, and a locking unit 433 and 434 for restricting a relative motion of the volume control grooves 431 and the volume control protrusions 432 step by step.
- guide ribs 435 are formed at the inner side surfaces of the body portion 410 in a volume control direction of the ice bank 400. And, guide grooves 436 for guiding the guide ribs 435 are formed at the outer side surfaces of the volume expansion container 420.
- the reason is, in order to prevent a phenomenon that the volume control protrusions 432 are fitted into the volume control grooves 431 not to be moved due to a motion between the body portion 410 and the volume expansion container 420, in the case that an inner surface of the body portion 410 is spacing from an outer surface of the volume expansion container 420 due to a tolerance, etc. when a volume of the ice bank 400 is to be changed.
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Description
- The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to an ice bank for a refrigerator capable of storing ice pieces therein.
- Generally, a refrigerator serves to freshly store food items for a long time in a frozen state or in a cooled state.
- The refrigerator is provided with a refrigerator body divided into a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber. The refrigerator body is provided with a freezing chamber door and a refrigerating chamber door through which the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber are opened or closed. The freezing chamber door and the refrigerating chamber door are respectively installed at one side of the refrigerator body, such that one ends thereof are rotatable in back and forth directions of the refrigerator body centering around another ends thereof.
- At each one side of the freezing chamber door and the refrigerating chamber door, provided are supplementary storage chambers (hereinafter, will be referred to as home bars) for storing and drawing out food items without opening the freezing chamber door or the refrigerating chamber door.
- The home bar is composed of a home bar housing disposed on a rear surface of the freezing chamber door or the refrigerating chamber door with a storage space, and a home bar door for opening and closing the storage space.
- The home bar door serves to open or close an opening formed as a part of the freezing chamber door or the refrigerating chamber door corresponding to the home bar housing is cut out. The home bar door is installed such that an upper end thereof is rotatable in up and down directions centering around a lower end thereof.
- The freezing chamber is provided with an ice-making device for making ice pieces. And, the freezing chamber may also be provided with an ice bank for storing ice pieces made by the ice-making device. A refrigerator according to the preamble of
claim 1 is disclosed inWO02007/094554 - Firstly, in order to draw out the ice bank for storing ice pieces made by the ice-making device, the freezing chamber has to be opened by rotating the freezing chamber door. This may cause a difficulty in drawing out the ice bank.
- Secondly, once the freezing chamber is opened in order to draw out the ice bank, cool air inside the freezing chamber is leaked out. As cool air inside the freezing chamber is unnecessarily leaked out, power consumption of the refrigerator is increased.
- Thirdly, since the ice bank is accommodated in the freezing chamber, ice pieces in the ice bank may be soaked with odor of other food items stored in the freezing chamber.
- Fourthly, since the ice bank is provided in the refrigerating chamber with a limited volume, the ice-making device has to make ice pieces a plurality of times when a large amount of ice pieces are required in summer, for example.
- Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator capable of easily drawing out ice pieces, and controlling an amount of ice pieces to be stored according to a user's necessity.
- To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a refrigerator according to
claim 1. - The ice bank comprises a body portion formed in a box shape having opened upper and lower surfaces; and a volume expansion container inserted into the body portion so as to be vertically moveable along an inner surface of the body portion, and forming an ice storage space having an opened upper surface.
- The volume control unit comprises volume control grooves formed, in a volume control direction of the ice bank, at one of inner side surfaces of the body portion and outer side surfaces of the volume expansion container; volume control protrusions formed at another of the inner side surfaces of the body portion and the outer side surfaces of the volume expansion container; and a locking unit for restricting a relative motion of the volume control grooves with respect to the volume control protrusions step by step.
- The locking unit comprises locking grooves formed at one of the volume control grooves and the volume control protrusions in a volume control direction of the ice bank; and locking protrusions locked by the locking grooves step by step.
- The guide unit comprises a first guide portion fixed in the opening, for guiding the ice bank to downward slantly move toward the opening; and a second guide portion configured to be introduced into or drawn out of the opening under guide of the first guide portion, for mounting the ice bank in a drawing manner.
- The refrigerator according to the present invention has the following advantages.
- A volume of the ice bank is varied according to a user's necessity. This may solve a user's inconvenience to make ice pieces a plurality of times, for example, in summer when a large amount of ice pieces are required.
- Also, ice pieces stored in the ice bank are taken out through the home bar. This may enable the ice bank to be drawn out of the refrigerator in a state that the door is not opened. Accordingly, a user can easily take ice pieces out of the refrigerator.
- Furthermore, the ice bank is drawn out of the refrigerator through the home bar by downward slantly moving. This may prevent food items stored in the home bar from being drawn out with interfering with the ice bank, or prevent the ice bank from being drawn out with interfering with ice pieces stored therein.
- Furthermore, the ice bank is installed at a predetermined space on a rear surface of the freezing chamber door. This may prevent the ice pieces stored in the ice bank from being soaked with odor of food items stored in the ice storage space of the refrigerator. Accordingly, a user may use the ice pieces in a sanitary and comfortable manner.
-
FIG. 1 is a view showing appearance of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a view showing inside of the refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line I-I inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a mounted state of an ice bank ofFIG. 3 ; -
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the ice bank ofFIG. 4 and a second guide portion; -
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the ice bank and the second guide portion ofFIG. 5 ; -
FIGS. 7 to 9 are views showing processes for drawing the ice bank out, and controlling a volume of the ice bank according to the first embodiment of the present invention -
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing an ice bank and a second guide portion according to a second embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing an ice bank and a second guide portion according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and -
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing an ice bank and a second guide portion according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. - Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
- Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail.
-
FIG. 1 is a view showing appearance of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 2 is a view showing inside of the refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention. - Referring to
FIGS. 1 and2 , therefrigerator body 10 is provided with afreezing chamber 11 and a refrigeratingchamber 13 therein. Thefreezing chamber 11 and the refrigeratingchamber 13 are disposed at left and right sides of therefrigerator body 10, respectively. Afreezing chamber door 11 a and a refrigeratingchamber door 13a are installed at therefrigerator body 10, such that one ends thereof are rotatable in back and forth directions centering around anther ends thereof. Thefreezing chamber door 11a and the refrigeratingchamber door 13a serve to open or close thefreezing chamber 11 and the refrigeratingchamber 13, respectively. - Supporting
side walls freezing chamber door 11 a and the refrigeratingchamber door 13a. - The supporting
side walls freezing chamber door 11 a and the refrigeratingchamber door 13a are backward protruding by a predetermined height. - A plurality of fixing protrusions (not shown) are provided on surfaces of the supporting
side walls - A plurality of
door baskets 14 are provided on rear surfaces of thefreezing chamber door 11 a and the refrigeratingchamber door 13a between the supportingside walls - Accommodation spaces for accommodating food items are formed in the
door baskets 14. - The
door baskets 14 are detachably mounted to the rear surfaces of thefreezing chamber door 11 a and the refrigeratingchamber door 13a. -
Home bars freezing chamber door 11 a and the refrigeratingchamber door 13a, respectively. Thehome bars chamber door 13a and thefreezing chamber door 11a. Thehome bars home bar housings home bar doors - The
home bar housings freezing chamber door 11 a or the refrigeratingchamber door 13a are opened. Thehome bar housings freezing chamber door 11 a and the refrigeratingchamber door 13a between the supportingside walls home bar housings storage spaces 15s and 17s for storing beverage, etc. therein. - As parts of the freezing
chamber door 11 a and the refrigeratingchamber door 13a are cut out,openings 15c and 17c are formed. Here, theopening 15c of the freezingchamber door 11 a is communicated with thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a. Through theopening 15c, food items are received into or drawn out of thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a, or an ice bank 100 (refer toFIG. 3 ) installed at thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a is drawn out. - The opening 17c of the refrigerating
chamber door 13a is communicated with the storage space 17s of thehome bar housing 17a. Through the opening 17c, food items are received into or drawn out of the storage space 17s of thehome bar housing 17a. - The
home bar doors chamber door 11 a and the refrigeratingchamber door 13a, such that upper ends thereof are rotatable in up and down directions centering around lower ends thereof. Thehome bar doors openings 15c and 17c, respectively. - The
storage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a is opened or closed by thehome bar door 15b of the freezingchamber door 11a. - An ice-making
device 22 for making ice pieces may be provided above thehome bar housing 15a on the rear surface of the freezingchamber door 11 a. - A
water box 21 for storing water to be supplied to the ice-makingdevice 22 may be mounted above the ice-makingdevice 22. - Here, ice pieces made by the ice-making
device 22 are transferred to thehome bar housing 15a, and stored in the ice bank 100 (refer toFIG. 3 ) installed at thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a. - When the ice pieces made by the ice-making
device 22 are to be transferred to theice bank 100, the positions of the ice-makingdevice 22 and thewater box 21 may be changed. - Hereinafter, the
ice bank 100 will be explained in more detail. -
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line I-I inFIG. 1 ,FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a mounted state of an ice bank ofFIG. 3 , andFIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the ice bank ofFIG. 4 and a second guide portion. - Referring to
FIGS. 3 to 5 , theice bank 100 is installed at thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a, so as to be drawn out of thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a through theopening 15c. Theice bank 100 comprises abody portion 110 formed in a hexahedron shape having opened upper and lower surfaces; and avolume expansion container 120 inserted into thebody portion 110 so as to be vertically moveable along an inner surface of thebody portion 110, and forming anice storage space 100s having an opened upper surface. - Preferably, one surface of the
ice bank 100 is formed of a transparent or a semi-transparent material such that ice pieces stored in theice storage space 100s can be recognized from outside. - A
handgrip 101 may be provided at theice bank 100 between a front surface of thebody portion 110 and a front surface of thevolume expansion container 120. Thehandgrip 101 may be formed to be concaved from a lower end of the front surface of thevolume expansion container 120 toward a rear surface of thevolume expansion container 120 by a predetermined height. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the front surface of theice bank 100 indicates one surface of theice bank 100 viewed from a front surface of the freezingchamber door 11a, i.e., one surface of theice bank 100 viewed when thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a is opened by thehome bar door 15b. - The
ice bank 100 is installed at thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a by a guide unit. - The guide unit includes a
first guide portion 140 fixed in theopening 15c for guiding theice bank 100 to downward slantly move toward theopening 15c; and asecond guide portion 150 drawn out of theopening 15c under guide of thefirst guide portion 140 for mounting theice bank 100 in a drawing manner. - A process for coupling the
first guide portion 140 and thesecond guide portion 150 with each other will be explained in more detail. - The
first guide portion 140 guides thesecond guide portion 150 having theice bank 100 mounted thereto to downward slantly move toward theopening 15c, the opened front surface of thefirst guide portion 140. - The
first guide portion 140 prevents ice pieces stored in theice storage space 100s of theice bank 100 from being locked by the rear surface of the freezingchamber door 11 a adjacent to theopening 15c, in the process that theice bank 100 and thesecond guide portion 150 are drawn out of thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a. - In order to guide the
ice bank 100 and thesecond guide portion 150 to downward slantly move toward theopening 15c, one pair ofguide slots 141 are provided at both side surfaces of thefirst guide portion 140. - One pair of
guide protrusions 151 are protruding from both side surfaces of thesecond guide portion 150. - The guide protrusions 151 serve to guide the
second guide portion 150 to be drawn out of thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a through theopening 15c in a state that theice bank 100 is mounted to thesecond guide portion 150. - The guide protrusions 151 perform a sliding motion along the
guide slots 141 in an inserted state into theguide slots 141 of thefirst guide portion 140. - The guide protrusions 151 are composed of a
first guide protrusion 152 and asecond guide protrusion 153. Thefirst guide protrusion 152 is protruding from upper middle portions of both sides of thesecond guide portion 150, respectively. - The
second guide protrusion 153 is protruding from rear middle portions of both sides of thesecond guide portion 150, respectively, with a lower height than thefirst guide protrusion 152. More concretely, thefirst guide protrusion 152 and thesecond guide protrusion 153 are spacing from each other by a predetermined distance in a direction that theice bank 100 and thesecond guide portion 150 are drawn out of thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a through theopening 15c. - The reason is in order to allow the
ice bank 100 and thesecond guide portion 150 to maintain a horizontal state when accommodated in thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a. - The
first guide portion 140 serves to guide thesecond guide portion 150 drawn out of thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a in a state that theice bank 100 is mounted to thesecond guide portion 150. - The
first guide portion 140 is formed in a hexahedron shape having opened front, rear, and lower surfaces. Thesecond guide portion 150 is installed in the first guide portion 40 so as to be drawn out in a front direction. - An ice transfer opening 144 is provided on an upper surface of the
first guide portion 140. The ice transfer opening 144 serves as a passage through which ice pieces made by the ice-makingdevice 22 are supplied to theice storage space 100s of theice bank 100. The ice transfer opening 144 is formed as an upper surface of thefirst guide portion 140 is opened. The ice transfer opening 144 is formed in a rectangular shape having a size equal to or less than an opened upper portion of theice bank 100, i.e., an inlet of theice storage space 100s. - An ice
transfer guide portion 145 is provided on an upper surface of thefirst guide portion 140 corresponding to the edge of theice transfer opening 144. The icetransfer guide portion 145 is formed in a hopper shape that two side surfaces thereof are downward slanted toward theice transfer opening 144. The icetransfer guide portion 145 serves to guide ice pieces made by the ice-makingdevice 22 so as to be supplied to theice storage space 100s of theice bank 100 through theice transfer opening 144. - Fixing
grooves 147 are formed on both side surfaces of thefirst guide portion 140. The fixinggrooves 147 serve to fix thefirst guide portion 140. To the fixing groove, inserted is a fixing protrusion (not shown) disposed at the supportingside wall 11 b of the freezingchamber door 11 a, and protruding to thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a. - The
guide slots 141 are composed of afirst guide slot 142 along which thefirst guide protrusion 152 inserted therein perform a sliding motion, and asecond guide slot 143 along which thesecond guide protrusion 153 inserted therein perform a sliding motion. - The
first guide slot 142 is composed of a firsthorizontal section 142a, aninclined section 142b, and a secondhorizontal section 142c. - The first
horizontal section 142a is horizontally extending by a predetermined length, from upper middle portions of both side surfaces of thefirst guide portion 140, respectively, toward a direction that thesecond guide portion 150 having theice bank 100 mounted thereto is drawn out, i.e., toward front ends of both side surfaces of thefirst guide portion 140. - The
inclined section 142b is downward slantly extending by a predetermined length, from a front end of the firsthorizontal section 142a, to a direction that thesecond guide portion 150 having theice bank 100 mounted thereto is drawn out. - The second
horizontal section 142c is horizontally extending by a predetermined length, from a front end of theinclined section 142b, to a direction that thesecond guide portion 150 having theice bank 100 mounted thereto is drawn out. A front end of the secondhorizontal section 142c is respectively located at middle portions of front ends of both side surfaces of thefirst guide portion 140. - The
second guide slot 143 is composed of a firsthorizontal section 143a, aninclined section 143b, and a secondhorizontal section 143c. - The first
horizontal section 143a is horizontally extending by a predetermined length, from rear middle portions of both side surfaces of thefirst guide portion 140, respectively, toward a direction that thesecond guide portion 150 having theice bank 100 mounted thereto is drawn out, i.e., toward front ends of both side surfaces of thefirst guide portion 140. - The
inclined section 143b is downward slantly extending by a predetermined length, from a front end of the firsthorizontal section 143a, to a direction that thesecond guide portion 150 having theice bank 100 mounted thereto is drawn out. - The second
horizontal section 143c is horizontally extending by a predetermined length, from a front end of theinclined section 143b, to a direction that thesecond guide portion 150 having theice bank 100 mounted thereto is drawn out. A front end of the secondhorizontal section 143c is located at lower front ends of both side surfaces of thefirst guide portion 140, respectively. - Accordingly, when the
second guide portion 150 having theice bank 100 mounted thereto is located in thefirst guide portion 140, i.e., when thesecond guide portion 150 is accommodated in thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a, thefirst guide protrusion 152 and thesecond guide protrusion 153 are located at a rear end of the firsthorizontal section 142a of thefirst guide slot 142, and a rear end of the firsthorizontal section 143a of thesecond guide slot 143, respectively. - Here, the
ice bank 100 and thesecond guide portion 150 in a horizontal state with respect to each other are disposed to be adjacent to the ice transfer opening 144 of thefirst guide portion 140 therebelow, and to an upper end of theopening 15c. - Then, once the
second guide portion 150 having theice bank 100 mounted thereto is moved towards theopening 15c, thefirst guide protrusion 152 and thesecond guide protrusion 153 slide along theinclined section 142b of thefirst guide slot 142 and theinclined section 143b of thesecond guide slot 143, respectively. - Accordingly, the
second guide portion 150 is downward slantly moved toward theopening 15c. Here, upper surfaces of theice bank 100 and thesecond guide portion 150 are downward spacing, by a predetermined distance, from the upper end of the ice transfer opening 144 of thefirst guide portion 140 and theopening 15c. - When the
second guide portion 150 having theice bank 100 mounted thereto continues to move toward theopening 15c, thefirst guide protrusion 152 and thesecond guide protrusion 153 slide along the secondhorizontal section 142c of thefirst guide slot 142, and the secondhorizontal section 143c of thesecond guide slot 143. - Once the
first guide protrusion 152 and thesecond guide protrusion 153 are positioned on a front end of the secondhorizontal section 142c of thefirst guide slot 142, and on a front end of the secondhorizontal section 143c of thesecond guide slot 143, respectively, front ends of thesecond guide portion 150 and theice bank 100 mounted to thesecond guide portion 150 are partially drawn out of thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a through theopening 15c. - In the present invention, the
ice bank 100 mounted to thesecond guide portion 150 is guided by thefirst guide portion 140. - However, it may be configured that the
ice bank 100 is directly guided by thefirst guide portion 140 without being mounted to thesecond guide portion 150. - In this case, in order to draw the
ice bank 100 out of thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a, front ends of theguide slots 141 of thefirst guide portion 140, i.e., the secondhorizontal sections first guide portion 140. - A process for coupling the
second guide portion 150 and theice bank 100 will be explained in more detail with reference toFIG. 5 . - Referring to
FIG. 5 , theice bank 100 comprises abody portion 110 formed in a box shape having opened upper and lower surfaces; and avolume expansion container 120 inserted into thebody portion 110 so as to be vertically moveable along an inner surface of thebody portion 110, and forming anice storage space 100s having an opened upper surface. - The
second guide portion 150 is formed in a hexahedron shape of which upper, lower, and front surfaces are opened in correspondence to thebody portion 110. - The
second guide portion 150 having theice bank 100 mounted thereto is drawn out of thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a, through theopening 15c under guide of thefirst guide portion 140. And, theice bank 100 is drawn out of thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a, through theopening 15c under guide of thesecond guide portion 150. - Locking
ribs 115 are provided on a front surface of theice bank 100. And, interworkingprotrusions 113 are provided at upper rear portions of both side surfaces of theice bank 100. - Supporting
portions 155 for supporting theice bank 100 are extending from lower ends of both side surfaces of thesecond guide portion 150 in a thickness direction of thebody portion 110. Interworkingribs 154 are extending from upper front ends of both side surfaces of thesecond guide portion 150, by a predetermined length, so as to face each other in a thickness direction of thebody portion 110. - The locking
ribs 115 are downward extending from lower front ends of theice bank 100 by a predetermined length, and are extending in right and left directions of the front surface of theice bank 100. - The interworking
protrusions 113 are upward protruding, by a predetermined height, from upper rear ends of both side surfaces of theice bank 100. - The locking
ribs 115 and the interworkingprotrusions 113 serve to move thesecond guide portion 150 by interworking with theice bank 100 that moves in a direction to be drawn out of thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a through theopening 15c. - For this, the locking
ribs 115 and the interworkingprotrusions 113 are adhered to front ends of both side surfaces of thesecond guide portion 150, and rear ends of theinterworking ribs 154 of thesecond guide portion 150, respectively. -
Inclined portions 111 are provided at lower rear ends of both side surfaces of thebody portion 110. - The
inclined portions 111 are downward slanted toward a direction that theice bank 100 is drawn out of thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a through theopening 15c. Theinclined portions 111 serve to detach theice bank 100 having been drawn out of thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a through theopening 15c, from thesecond guide portion 150, by upward slantly moving theice bank 100 with a mounted state to thesecond guide portion 150. - Once the
ice bank 100 is moved in a direction to be accommodated in thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a, the lockingribs 115 push a front end of a bottom surface of thesecond guide portion 150. This allows thesecond guide portion 150 to be accommodated in theice bank 100 by interworking with theice bank 100. - Then, when the
ice bank 100 is moved in a direction to be drawn out of thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a through theopening 15c, the interworkingprotrusions 113 are adhered to rear ends of theinterworking ribs 154 to push theinterworking ribs 154. This allows thesecond guide portion 150 to be drawn out of theice bank 100 by interworking with theice bank 100. - In the present invention, when the
ice bank 100 is moved in a direction to be accommodated in thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a, thesecond guide portion 150 interworks with theice bank 100 by the lockingribs 115, and is accommodated in theice bank 100 under guide of thefirst guide portion 140. - It may be also configured that when the
ice bank 100 is moved in a direction to be accommodated in thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a, thesecond guide portion 150 interworks with theice bank 100 as a rear surface thereof is pushed by a rear surface of theice bank 100. - Hereinafter, will be explained a
volume control unit 130 for changing a volume of theice bank 100 step by step. -
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the ice bank and the second guide portion ofFIG. 5 . - Referring to
FIG. 6 , thevolume control unit 130 controls a volume of theice bank 100 by restricting a relative motion of thevolume expansion container 120 with respect to thebody portion 110 step by step. - The
volume control unit 130 includesvolume control grooves 131 formed at one of inner side surfaces of thebody portion 110 and outer side surfaces of thevolume expansion container 120;volume control protrusions 132 formed at another of the inner side surfaces of thebody portion 110 and the outer side surfaces of thevolume expansion container 120; and alocking unit volume control grooves 131 and thevolume control protrusions 132 step by step. - Referring to
FIG. 6 , thevolume control grooves 131 are formed at thevolume expansion container 120, whereas thevolume control protrusions 132 are formed at thebody portion 110. However, the positions of thevolume control grooves 131 and thevolume control protrusions 132 may be interchanged to each other. - The
volume control grooves 131 are formed at outer side surfaces of thevolume expansion container 120 in a consecutive manner from an upper end to a lower end of thevolume expansion container 120. That is, thevolume control grooves 131 are formed in a volume control direction of theice bank 100. - The
volume control grooves 131 may be formed by partially reducing a thickness of both side surfaces of thevolume expansion container 120. However, in order to prevent lowering of a strength of theice bank 100 stored in a lower temperature, it is preferable to inwardly curve parts of both side surfaces of thevolume expansion container 120. - Preferably, the
volume control grooves 131 are formed such that upper ends thereof are closed. The reason is in order to prevent separation of thebody portion 110 from thevolume expansion container 120, occurring as thevolume control protrusions 132 moving along thevolume control grooves 131 are detached from an upper end of thevolume expansion container 120 when a volume of theice bank 100 is to be maximized. - The
volume control protrusions 132 are formed at the inner side surfaces of thebody portion 110 in correspondence to thevolume control grooves 131. - In order to maximize a volume of the
ice bank 100, thevolume control protrusions 132 are preferably formed at lower ends of the inner side surfaces of thebody portion 110. - The locking unit includes locking
grooves 133 formed at one of thevolume control grooves 131 and thevolume control protrusions 132 in a volume control direction of theice bank 100, and lockingprotrusions 134 formed at another of thevolume control grooves 131 and thevolume control protrusions 132 and locked by the lockinggrooves 133 step by step. - Referring to
FIG. 6 , the lockinggrooves 133 are provided at thevolume control grooves 131 with a predetermined gap therebetween in plurality in a volume control direction of theice bank 100. And, the lockingprotrusions 134 are formed at thevolume control protrusions 132. - However, the positions of the locking
grooves 133 and the lockingprotrusions 134 may be interchanged to each other. - The locking
grooves 133 are formed on either inner surfaces of thevolume control grooves 131, or both side surfaces of thevolume control grooves 131. And, the lockinggrooves 133 are formed so as to be opened in a direction that theice bank 100 is drawn out. - The locking
protrusions 134 are formed on side surfaces of thevolume control protrusions 132 in correspondence to the lockinggrooves 133. - The locking
protrusions 134 are formed so as to be elastically supported in a direction perpendicular to a volume control direction of theice bank 100. - In the present invention, the locking
protrusions 134 are implemented as plate springs supported by inner side walls of thevolume control protrusions 132. However, the lockingprotrusions 134 may be configured so as to be supported by compression springs, etc. - The locking
groove 133 is formed such that inner side surfaces thereof are inclined in a volume control direction of theice bank 100. The reason is in order to guide motion of the lockingprotrusions 134. - Accordingly, an upper side of the locking
grooves 133 is upward slantly formed toward an upper surface of thevolume expansion container 120, whereas a lower side of the lockinggrooves 133 is downward slantly formed toward a lower surface of thevolume expansion container 120. - Hereinafter, will be explained processed for drawing the
ice bank 100 out of thestorage space 15s in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention. -
FIGS. 7 to 9 are views showing processes for drawing the ice bank out, and for controlling a volume of the ice bank in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention. - Referring to
FIG. 7 , in order to use ice pieces stored in theice storage space 100s of theice bank 100, thehome bar door 15b of thehome bar 15 is opened to open theopening 15c. Then, theice bank 100 is pulled out of thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a, i.e., in a drawing direction. - Here, the
second guide portion 150 having theice bank 100 mounted thereto is also moved in the drawing direction by friction to theice bank 100. Theice bank 100 and thesecond guide portion 150 are moved under guide of theguide protrusion 151 of thesecond guide portion 150, and theguide slot 141 of thefirst guide portion 140. - More concretely, the
second guide portion 150 is horizontally moved in a drawing direction, then is downward slantly moved, and then is horizontally moved, again. Accordingly, even if ice pieces excessively stored in theice storage space 100s of theice bank 100 are partially protruding toward an upper side, theice bank 100 can be drawn out without interfering with the freezingchamber door 11 a. - When the
guide protrusions 151 are located at front ends of theguide slots 141, thesecond guide portion 150 is not moved any longer in the drawing direction. - As shown in
FIG. 9 , when theice bank 100 is continuously pulled in the drawing direction, only theice bank 100 is moved in the drawing direction to be drawn out of thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a through theopening 15c. - Here, the
ice bank 100 is moved in the drawing direction until the interworkingprotrusions 113 are adhered to rear ends of theinterworking ribs 154 of thesecond guide portion 150. In a state that the interworkingprotrusions 113 are adhered to the rear ends of theinterworking ribs 154, only a part of a front end of theice bank 100 is drawn out of thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a through theopening 15c. - Under this state, the
ice bank 100 is moved so that its front end is upward slanted in the drawing direction. This causes theice bank 100 to be detached from thesecond guide portion 150, and to be completely drawn out of thestorage space 15s of thehome bar housing 15a. Here, theinclined portions 111 serve to prevent theice bank 100 from interfering with thesecond guide portion 150 when being separated from thesecond guide portion 150. - Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the attached drawings. Detailed explanations for the same structures as those of the first embodiment will be omitted.
-
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing an ice bank and a second guide portion according to a second embodiment of the present invention. - The refrigerator according to the second embodiment is the same as that according to the first embodiment, except for locking
unit - The volume control unit 230 includes
volume control grooves 231 formed at one of inner side surfaces of abody portion 210 and outer side surfaces of avolume expansion container 220;volume control protrusions 232 formed at another of the inner side surfaces of thebody portion 210 and the outer side surfaces of thevolume expansion container 220; and alocking unit volume control grooves 231 and thevolume control protrusions 232 step by step. - The
volume control grooves 231 are formed at outer side surfaces of thevolume expansion container 220 in a consecutive manner from an upper end to a lower end of thevolume expansion container 220. That is, thevolume control grooves 231 are formed in a volume control direction of theice bank 200. - The
volume control grooves 231 are formed as parts of both side surfaces of thevolume expansion container 220 are inwardly curved. - The
volume control protrusions 232 are formed at the inner side surfaces of thebody portion 210 in correspondence to thevolume control grooves 231. - In order to maximize a volume of the
ice bank 200, thevolume control protrusions 232 are preferably formed at lower ends of the inner side surfaces of thebody portion 210. - The locking unit includes locking
grooves 233 formed at one of thevolume control grooves 231 and thevolume control protrusions 232 with a sectional surface of a sine wave in a volume control direction of theice bank 200, and lockingprotrusions 234 formed at another of thevolume control grooves 231 and thevolume control protrusions 232 with a sectional surface of a sine wave. - In the present invention, the locking
grooves 233 are consecutively formed in upper and lower directions of thevolume expansion container 220. This allows a volume of theice bank 200 to be variably controlled. - The locking
protrusions 234 are provided in plurality in number in correspondence to the lockinggrooves 233 formed in consecutive sine waves. This allows a coupling force between thebody portion 210 and thevolume expansion container 220 to be increased. - Like in the first embodiment, the locking
protrusions 234 are preferably formed so as to be elastically supported in a direction perpendicular to a volume control direction of theice bank 200. - Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the attached drawings. Detailed explanations for the same structures as those of the first embodiment will be omitted.
-
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing an ice bank and a second guide portion according to a third embodiment of the present invention. - Referring to
FIG. 11 , the volume control unit 330 includes afirst controller 331 formed at one of inner side surfaces of abody portion 310 and outer side surfaces of avolume expansion container 320, and having a sectional surface of a sine wave in a volume control direction of theice bank 300; and asecond controller 332 formed at another of the inner side surfaces of thebody portion 310 and the outer side surfaces of thevolume expansion container 320 so as to be engaged with thefirst controller 331, and having a sectional surface of a sine wave in the volume control direction of theice bank 300. - The volume control unit 330 is formed at the inner side surface of the
body portion 310, and the outer side surface of thevolume expansion container 320 corresponding to each other. The volume control unit 330 is formed to have a sectional surface of a sine wave in a volume control direction of theice bank 300. - As the
first controller 331 and thesecond controller 332 are engaged with each other, thebody portion 310 and thevolume expansion container 320 are coupled to each other, and thebody portion 310 and thevolume expansion container 320 perform a relative motion with respect to each other along the sectional surfaces of a sine wave. - For the relative motion of the
body portion 310 and thevolume expansion container 320 with respect to each other, a predetermined air gap is preferably formed between the inner side surfaces of thebody portion 310 and the outer side surfaces of thevolume expansion container 320. - Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the attached drawings. Detailed explanations for the same structures as those of the first embodiment will be omitted.
-
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing an ice bank and the second guide portion according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. - Referring to
FIG. 12 , a volume control unit 430 may be implemented as the volume control unit according to the first embodiment or the second embodiment. - The volume control unit 430 includes
volume control grooves 431 formed at one of inner side surfaces of abody portion 410 and outer side surfaces of avolume expansion container 420,volume control protrusions 432 formed at another of the inner side surfaces of thebody portion 410 and the outer side surfaces of thevolume expansion container 420, and a locking unit 433 and 434 for restricting a relative motion of thevolume control grooves 431 and thevolume control protrusions 432 step by step. - Referring to
FIG. 12 , guideribs 435 are formed at the inner side surfaces of thebody portion 410 in a volume control direction of theice bank 400. And, guidegrooves 436 for guiding theguide ribs 435 are formed at the outer side surfaces of thevolume expansion container 420. - The reason is, in order to prevent a phenomenon that the
volume control protrusions 432 are fitted into thevolume control grooves 431 not to be moved due to a motion between thebody portion 410 and thevolume expansion container 420, in the case that an inner surface of thebody portion 410 is spacing from an outer surface of thevolume expansion container 420 due to a tolerance, etc. when a volume of theice bank 400 is to be changed. - It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (13)
- A refrigerator, comprising:an opening (15c) disposed at one side of a door;an ice bank (100) disposed on a rear surface of the door, and configured to be drawn out through the opening, for storing ice pieces;a guide unit for guiding the ice bank (100) to be drawn out; characterized bya volume control unit (130) for changing a volume of the ice bank (100) step by step,wherein the ice bank (100) comprises:a body portion (110, 210, 310, 410) formed in a box shape having opened upper and lower surfaces; anda volume expansion container (120, 220, 320, 420) inserted into the body portion (110, 210, 310, 410) so as to be vertically moveable along an inner surface of the body portion, and forming an ice storage space having an opened upper surface, and wherein the volume control unit (130, 230, 330, 430) comprises:volume control grooves (131, 231, 331, 431) formed in a volume control direction of the ice bank (100), at one of inner side surfaces of the body portion and outer side surfaces of the volume expansion container;volume control protrusions (132, 232, 332, 432) formed at another of the inner side surfaces of the body portion and the outer side surfaces of the volume expansion container in correspondence to the volume control grooves (131, 231, 331, 431), the volume control protrusions (132, 232, 332, 432) being inserted into the volume control grooves (131, 231, 331, 431) to be movable in the volume control direction of the ice bank (100); anda locking unit (133, 134) (233, 234) (331, 332) (433, 434) for restricting a relative motion of the volume control grooves (131, 231, 331, 431) with respect to the volume control protrusions (132, 232, 332, 432) step by step.
- The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the ice bank is provided with a handgrip (101) concaved at a lower front end of the volume expansion container by predetermined height toward a rear surface of the volume expansion container, and formed between a front surface of the body portion and a front surface of the volume expansion container.
- The refrigerator of claim 1 or 2, wherein the locking unit comprises:locking grooves (133, 233, 433) formed at one of the volume control grooves and the volume control protrusions in a volume control direction of the ice bank (100); andlocking protrusions (134, 234, 434) formed at another of the volume control grooves and the volume control protrusions, and locked by the locking grooves step by step, andwherein the locking protrusion is formed of a material with elasticity, the locking protrusion is inserted into the volume control protrusion so as to be elastically supported in a direction perpendicular to the volume control direction of the ice bank (100).
- The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the locking groove (133, 233, 433) is formed at one surface of both side surfaces of the volume control groove so as to be opened in a direction that the ice bank is drawn out, and
wherein the locking protrusion (134, 234, 434) is provided at a side surface of the volume control protrusion in correspondence to the locking groove. - The refrigerator of claim 3 or 4, wherein
the locking groove (133, 233, 433) is formed such that its inner side surfaces are inclined in the volume control direction of the ice bank (100). - The refrigerator of any one of claim 1 to 5, wherein the locking unit comprises:locking grooves (133, 233, 433) formed at one of the volume control grooves and the volume control protrusions, and having a sectional surface of a sine wave in a volume control direction of the ice bank; andlocking protrusions (134, 234, 434) formed at another of the volume control grooves and the volume control protrusions in correspondence to the locking grooves.
- The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the locking groove (133, 233, 433) is formed at one surface of both side surfaces of the volume control groove so as to be opened in a direction that the ice bank is drawn out, and
wherein the locking protrusion (134, 234, 434) is provided at a side surface of the volume control protrusion in correspondence to the locking groove. - The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 7,
wherein a guide ribs (435) are formed at the inner side surfaces of the body portion (410) in a volume control direction of the ice bank (400), and
guide grooves (436) for guiding the guide ribs (435) are formed at the outer side surfaces of the volume expansion container (420). - The refrigerator of claim 1 or 2, wherein the volume control unit (130) comprises:a first controller (331) formed at one of inner side surfaces of the body portion and outer side surfaces of the volume expansion container, and having a sectional surface of a sine wave in a volume control direction of the ice bank; anda second controller (332) formed at another of the inner side surfaces of the body portion and the outer side surfaces of the volume expansion container so as to be engaged with the first controller, and having a sectional surface of a sine wave in the volume control direction of the ice bank.
- The refrigerator of claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide unit comprises:a first guide portion (140) fixed in the opening, for guiding the ice bank to downward slantly move toward the opening; anda second guide portion (150) configured to be drawn out of the opening under guide of the first guide portion, for mounting the ice bank in a drawing manner.
- The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein one pair of guide protrusions (151) formed at one of outer side surfaces of the second guide portion and inner side surfaces of the first guide portion perform a sliding motion in an inserted state into one pair of guide slots (142) formed at another of the outer side surfaces of the second guide portion and the inner side surfaces of the first guide portion.
- The refrigerator of claim 10 or 11, wherein the second guide portion is formed in a hexahedron shape of which upper, lower, and front surfaces are opened in correspondence to the body portion, and
wherein the second guide portion guides the ice bank to be introduced into or drawn out of the opening. - The refrigerator of claim 10 or 11, wherein the second guide portion comprises:supporting portions (155) extending from lower ends of both side surfaces of the second guide portion in a thickness direction of both side surfaces of the body portion, for supporting the ice bank; andone pair of interworking ribs (154) formed at upper front ends of both side surfaces of the second guide portion, and extending from both side surfaces of the body portion in a thickness direction,wherein one pair of interworking protrusions (113) are formed at upper rear ends of both side surfaces of the body portion, such that the second guide portion is drawn out by interworking therewith when the ice bank is drawn out.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP16197191.6A EP3153803B1 (en) | 2008-02-05 | 2008-12-18 | Refrigerator |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR1020080011952A KR100965361B1 (en) | 2008-02-05 | 2008-02-05 | Refrigerator |
PCT/KR2008/007520 WO2009099270A2 (en) | 2008-02-05 | 2008-12-18 | Refrigerator |
Related Child Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP16197191.6A Division EP3153803B1 (en) | 2008-02-05 | 2008-12-18 | Refrigerator |
EP16197191.6A Division-Into EP3153803B1 (en) | 2008-02-05 | 2008-12-18 | Refrigerator |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2235456A2 EP2235456A2 (en) | 2010-10-06 |
EP2235456A4 EP2235456A4 (en) | 2016-02-24 |
EP2235456B1 true EP2235456B1 (en) | 2016-12-14 |
Family
ID=40952546
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP16197191.6A Not-in-force EP3153803B1 (en) | 2008-02-05 | 2008-12-18 | Refrigerator |
EP08872167.5A Not-in-force EP2235456B1 (en) | 2008-02-05 | 2008-12-18 | Refrigerator |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP16197191.6A Not-in-force EP3153803B1 (en) | 2008-02-05 | 2008-12-18 | Refrigerator |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20110005262A1 (en) |
EP (2) | EP3153803B1 (en) |
KR (1) | KR100965361B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN101925789B (en) |
ES (1) | ES2611078T3 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2009099270A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
KR20120040891A (en) * | 2010-10-20 | 2012-04-30 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Refrigerator |
KR102373219B1 (en) * | 2015-12-10 | 2022-03-17 | 삼성전자주식회사 | Refrigerator |
CN113571894B (en) * | 2021-09-26 | 2021-11-26 | 南通安荣智能科技有限公司 | Marine antenna housing convenient to maintain |
Family Cites Families (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4269039A (en) * | 1979-09-13 | 1981-05-26 | Whirlpool Corporation | Ice receptacle support |
US4735470A (en) * | 1986-03-28 | 1988-04-05 | General Electric Company | Refrigerator including a secondary food storage arrangement |
WO1994024008A1 (en) * | 1991-10-18 | 1994-10-27 | Ab Cerbo-Hertila | A telescopic package |
US5641217A (en) * | 1995-08-02 | 1997-06-24 | Sub-Zero Freezer Company, Inc. | Slide shelf system for a deli/crisper drawer |
CN2531325Y (en) * | 2002-02-21 | 2003-01-15 | 青岛市家用电器研究所 | Ice-storing box of ice machine capable of adjusting ice capacity |
CN2559295Y (en) * | 2002-07-22 | 2003-07-09 | 青岛市家用电器研究所 | Ice making machine for drinking water |
KR101035032B1 (en) * | 2003-12-11 | 2011-05-19 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Volume changeable ice storage box for refrigerator |
JP2006214615A (en) * | 2005-02-01 | 2006-08-17 | Toshiba Corp | Refrigerator |
KR100844625B1 (en) * | 2005-09-16 | 2008-07-07 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Storage container of refrigerator ice making machine and method of operating refrigerator with the same |
KR20070041011A (en) * | 2005-10-13 | 2007-04-18 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Storage container of refrigerator ice making machine |
US7475562B2 (en) * | 2005-12-29 | 2009-01-13 | Maytag Corporation | Ice storage drawer for a bottom mount refrigerator |
KR100756463B1 (en) * | 2006-02-17 | 2007-09-07 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Ice-making device for refrigerator |
EP1984682B1 (en) * | 2006-02-17 | 2015-09-16 | LG Electronics Inc. | Ice-making device for refrigerator and refrigerator having the same |
JP4857449B2 (en) * | 2006-07-03 | 2012-01-18 | 発明テクノ株式会社 | Telescopic joint box |
KR100760403B1 (en) * | 2006-09-07 | 2007-09-19 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | A drawing/accepting device of ice-bank for refrigerator |
KR20080065418A (en) * | 2007-01-09 | 2008-07-14 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | An ice bank for refrigerator |
-
2008
- 2008-02-05 KR KR1020080011952A patent/KR100965361B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2008-12-18 WO PCT/KR2008/007520 patent/WO2009099270A2/en active Application Filing
- 2008-12-18 EP EP16197191.6A patent/EP3153803B1/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2008-12-18 US US12/865,916 patent/US20110005262A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2008-12-18 EP EP08872167.5A patent/EP2235456B1/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2008-12-18 ES ES08872167.5T patent/ES2611078T3/en active Active
- 2008-12-18 CN CN200880125460XA patent/CN101925789B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
None * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN101925789A (en) | 2010-12-22 |
WO2009099270A2 (en) | 2009-08-13 |
WO2009099270A3 (en) | 2009-10-01 |
EP3153803A1 (en) | 2017-04-12 |
ES2611078T3 (en) | 2017-05-04 |
CN101925789B (en) | 2012-01-25 |
US20110005262A1 (en) | 2011-01-13 |
KR100965361B1 (en) | 2010-06-22 |
EP2235456A2 (en) | 2010-10-06 |
KR20090085974A (en) | 2009-08-10 |
EP3153803B1 (en) | 2018-08-15 |
EP2235456A4 (en) | 2016-02-24 |
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