ES2555779T3 - Fixing device ice bank for refrigerator and a refrigerator that includes it - Google Patents

Abstract

A refrigerator including an ice bank fixing device, the ice bank fixing device including: a first coupling piece formed in an ice bank (60); a second coupling piece configured to hold the ice bank (60) in a mounted position on a rear side of a refrigerator door (50) by an interlocking movement with the first coupling piece; and an elastic element that applies an elastic force to the first coupling part to rotate the first coupling part (71) for coupling with the second coupling part (57), the second coupling part (57) including recesses formed in brackets. (56) extending backwards from both sides of the rear side of the refrigerator door, the first coupling part (71) being able to rotate in the ice bank, the refrigerator door (50) including said supports (56) formed on both sides of its rear side, the second coupling piece (57) being formed on opposite front surfaces of the supports, the ice bank (60) including a rotation space (67) that allows the rotation of the first piece of coupling, the first coupling piece including an end extending from a center of rotation of the first coupling piece for coupling with the second coupling piece (57) and a lever (75) therein. another end to drive the first coupling piece, the lever (75) being curved from the rear end of the first coupling piece (71) away from the ice bank so as to be positioned outside the rotation space (67).

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Fixing device for the ice bank for a frigonfico and a frigonfico that includes it Technical field

The embodiments refer to a phyphonophic including the ice bank fixing device.

Background of the invention

In general, fryphonphics are used to keep food at a low temperature. Such a frigonphic includes a body in which a storage chamber is formed, and a door mounted on the body to open / close the storage chamber.

An ice-forming device and an ice bank can be arranged in the storage chamber to make and store ice. The ice bank includes an ice cart lever and an ice cart engine. The ice cart lever is moved by the ice cart engine to move the ice stored in the ice bank to a dispenser.

In this case, the storage capacity of the storage chamber can be reduced due to the ice bank. In addition, ice stored in the ice bank can only be discharged through the dispenser using the ice carriage lever. That is, the user cannot eject the ice directly from the ice bank. A frigonfico including an ice bank is known as US6442954.

Description of the invention

Technical problem

The embodiments provide a frigonphic including the ice bank fixing device so that a frigonphic storage chamber may be less occupied by an ice bank.

The embodiments also provide a frigonphic including the ice bank fixing device that allows the user to automatically or manually take ice from an ice bank.

Technical solution

The solution to the problem is a frigonphic according to claim 1.

Advantageous effects

According to the embodiments, the ice bank is mounted on the back side of the refrigerator door so that the ice bank can take up less space in a storage chamber of the refrigerator, and thus more food can be stored in the storage chamber .

In addition, the ice bank can be assembled and disassembled from the refrigerator door more easily due to the ice bank fixing device, and thus the user can automatically take ice from the ice bank through a dispenser or manually from the ice bank. ice after disassembling the ice bank on the back side of the refrigerator door.

Brief description of the drawings

The embodiments can be understood more clearly from the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating an ice bank disassembled from a phyton door according to a first embodiment.

Figures 2 to 4 are seen to explain how the ice bank is disassembled from the door of the frigonfico.

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating an ice bank disassembled from a phyton door according to a second embodiment, which is not part of the present invention.

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating an ice bank disassembled from a phyton door according to a third embodiment, which is not part of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a perspective view illustrating an ice bank disassembled from a phyton door according to a fourth embodiment, which is not part of the present invention.

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Figure 8 is a perspective view illustrating an ice bank disassembled from a phyton door according to a fifth embodiment, which is not part of the present invention.

Invention mode

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present description, of which examples are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating an ice bank 60 disassembled from a refrigerator door 50 according to a first embodiment, and Figures 2 to 4 are seen to explain how the ice bank 60 is disassembled from the refrigerator door fifty.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the refrigerator door 50 of the present embodiment includes a dispenser 51. The dispenser 51 allows the user to drink water or ice without opening the refrigerator door 50 (ie, without opening a storage space of a frigonfico).

An outer door 53 has been formed in an outer front portion of the frigonphic door 50. A door liner 55 is coupled to an inner surface of the outer door 53 to form the rear side of the frigonphic door 50. Brackets 56 they are formed on both sides of the rear side of the refrigerator door 50. The supports 56 extend towards the back of the door liner 55 and have a vertically elongated shape.

At least one pair of second coupling parts 57 is formed on opposite front surfaces of the supports 56. The second coupling parts 57 are formed to receive first coupling parts 71 (described below). The second coupling pieces 57 are formed in corresponding positions of the opposite front surfaces of the supports 56. The second coupling pieces 57 can be recesses formed on the opposite front surfaces of the supports 56.

A receiving surface 58 has been formed on the rear side of the refrigerator door 50. The receiving surface 58 has been formed extending a portion of the door lining 55 located between the supports 56 backwards. The receiving surface 58 extends further back that supports 56.

The receiving surface 58 includes an opening 59. The ice stored in an ice storage space 60S (described later) of the ice bank 60 is supported on the dispenser 51 through the opening 59.

The ice bank 60 and an ice-forming device 40 are detachably coupled to the rear side of the refrigerator door 50. The ice-forming device 40 is arranged on top of the ice bank 60.

When the ice bank 60 is coupled to the rear side of the refrigerator door 50, both sides of the ice bank 60 make tight contact with the opposite front surfaces of the supports 56, and a lower surface of the ice bank 60 makes contact with the receiving surface 58. Therefore, the ice bank 60 can first be fixed in the lateral direction with the supports 56.

The ice produced by the ice-forming device 40 is stored in the ice storage space 60S of the ice bank 60. The ice storage space 60S has an open upper portion.

The ice stored in the ice storage space 60S of the ice bank 60 is carried to the dispenser 51 and discharged to the user through the dispenser 51.

In detail, the ice bank 60 includes an ice outlet 63 on a lower surface for discharging ice. The ice outlet 63 has been formed in a position corresponding to the position of the opening 59 of the receiving surface 58. An ice crusher 61 is arranged in the ice bank 60 to crush the ice stored in the ice storage space 60S in fragments having a predetermined size and to bring the crushed ice to the dispenser 51. The ice crusher 61 is arranged above and near the ice outlet 63.

An ice crusher motor (not shown) moves the ice crusher 61. The ice crusher motor is arranged on one side of the ice crusher 61. Alternatively, the ice crusher motor can be arranged at the frigonphic door 50 and connect to the ice crusher 61 through an additional articulated element.

The ice outlet 63 is closed or opened according to the operation of the ice crusher 61. In detail, when the ice crusher 61 operates, the ice stored in the ice storage space 60S is carried to the dispenser 51 through the outlet of ice 63 and the opening 59. When the ice crusher 61 does not operate, the ice crusher 61 substantially closes the ice outlet 63.

Ice crusher 61 includes a window 65. Window 65 has been formed of a transparent material or

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semitransparent. Therefore, the user can check the amount of ice stored in the ice storage space 60S through the window 65.

Rotation spaces 67 are formed on both sides of the ice bank 60 to allow rotation of the first coupling pieces 71. The rotation spaces 67 can be recesses formed on both sides of the ice bank 60.

The number of the first coupling parts 71 of the ice bank 60 is at least two (one pair), and the first coupling parts 71 are rotatably arranged in the rotation spaces 67, respectively. When the ice bank 60 is mounted on the rear side of the refrigerator door 50, the first coupling parts 71 are coupled to the second coupling parts 57 so that the ice bank 60 can be stably locked on the rear side from the door of frigonfico 50.

Both ends of each of the first coupling parts 71 can be rotated about an axis 71H that is arranged vertically in the rotation space 67. Alternatively, the axes may be integrally formed in the first coupling parts 71, respectively, and the introduction holes can be formed in the ice bank 60 to receive the shafts.

Coupling tabs 73 extend outward from the front ends of the first coupling pieces 71 that are adjacent to the rear side of the phyton door 50. The coupling tab 73 can be inserted into the second coupling parts 57 by rotating the first coupling parts 71 around the axles 71H. Grinding surfaces 74 are formed on the outer surfaces of the coupling tongues 73, respectively. When the ice bank 60 is coupled to the rear side of the refrigerator door 50, the coupling tongue 73 can be inserted gently into the second coupling parts 57 due to the grinding surfaces 74. The grinding surfaces 74 may have a Round shape.

The levers 75 are formed at rear ends of the first coupling parts 71. The user can pull the levers 75 to rotate the first coupling parts 71 on the axes 71 H. For example, the levers 75 may be curved from the ends rear of the first coupling parts 71 moving away from the ice bank 60 so that they are positioned outside the rotation spaces 67. When the ice bank 60 is coupled to the phygonphic door 50, the levers 75 protrude out of the bank of ice 60 so that the user can pull the levers 75.

Torsion springs 77 are arranged on axes 71H, respectively. One end of the torsion spring 77 is supported on one side of the ice bank 60, and the other end of the torsion spring 77 is supported on one side of the first coupling part 71. When the first coupling part 71 is coupled to the second coupling part 57, the torsion spring 77 elastically pushes the coupling tongue 73 for rotation to the second coupling part 57. For example, one end of the torsion spring 77 can be supported by the roof of the rotation space 67 , and the other end of the torsion spring 77 can be supported by the front end of the first coupling piece 71.

Next, an ice bank fixing device, a frigonphic including the ice bank fixing device, and how the ice bank 60 is mounted / disassembled in / from the frigonphic will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing.

With reference to Figure 2, when the ice bank 60 is coupled to the rear side of the refrigerator door 50, the coupling tabs 73 are inserted into the second coupling pieces 57. The coupling tabs 73 can be stably kept in the second coupling parts 57 due to the torsion springs 77.

Therefore, the ice bank 60 does not unintentionally separate from the rear side of the refrigerator door 50.

In this state, when the user manipulates the dispenser 51, the ice crusher 61 operates to discharge ice stored in the ice storage space 60S of the ice bank 60 outside through the dispenser 51. Therefore, the user can drink ice without opening the door of frigonfico 50.

Meanwhile, the ice bank 60 can be disassembled from the refrigerator door 50 by unhooking the first coupling parts 71 from the second coupling parts 57 as shown in Figure 3. In detail, the user pulls the levers 75 away from them. of the ice bank 60. That is, the user pulls the levers 75 to rotate the first right coupling piece 71 to the left and the first left coupling piece 71 to the right around the axes 71H, respectively. Then, the coupling tabs 73 are disengaged from the second coupling parts 57, and thus the first coupling parts 71 are disengaged from the second coupling parts 57.

In this state, the ice bank 60 can be removed from the rear side of the refrigerator door 50 by pulling the

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ice bank 60 moving away from the rear side of the refrigerator door 50 as shown in figure 4. Therefore, the user can take ice directly from the ice storage space 60S of the ice bank 60.

After disassembling the ice bank 60 from the refrigerator door 50, the first coupling parts 71 can rotate to their original positions by releasing the levers 75. Since the ice outlet 63 of the ice bank 60 is shielded by the crusher of ice 61, ice is not undesirably discharged through the ice outlet 63.

Meanwhile, the disassembled ice bank 60 can be reassembled on the rear side of the refrigerator door 50 by repeating the procedures described above in reverse order. In this case, do not pull the levers 75.

In the present embodiment, the ice bank 60 is mounted directly on the rear side of the refrigerator door 50. However, other structures can be used to mount the ice bank 60 on the refrigerator door 50. For example, an additional housing element can be arranged on the rear side of the refrigerator door 50, and the ice bank 60 and the ice-forming device 40 can be mounted on the housing element.

In addition, the second coupling parts 57 are formed in the refrigerator door 50, and the first coupling parts 71 are formed in the ice bank 60 in the present embodiment. However, the second coupling pieces 57 can be formed in the ice bank 60, and the first coupling pieces 71 can be formed in the phyton gate 50.

Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating an ice bank 60 disassembled from a refrigerator door 50 according to a second embodiment, which is not part of the present invention.

With reference to FIG. 5, an ice bank fixing device of the present embodiment includes a plurality of coupling projections 81 formed in the phyton gate 50 and a plurality of projection introduction holes 82 formed in the ice bank 60 for coupling with coupling projections 81.

In detail, the coupling projections 81 are formed in supports 56. The coupling projections 81 can be arranged vertically in the supports 56. The projection introduction holes 82 are formed in the ice bank 60 in positions corresponding to those of the coupling projections 81.

When the ice bank 60 is mounted on the frigonphic door 50, the coupling projections 81 are inserted into the projection introduction holes 82 so that the ice bank 60 can be completely fixed to the frigonphic door 50.

In the present embodiment, the coupling projections 81 are formed in the refrigerator door 50, and the projection introduction holes 82 are formed in the ice bank 60. However, the coupling projections 81 can be formed in the bank of ice 60, and the projection introduction holes 82 can be formed in the phyton door 50.

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating an ice bank 60 disassembled from a refrigerator door 50 according to a third embodiment, which is not part of the present invention.

With reference to Figure 6, an ice bank fixing device of the present embodiment includes a plurality of first coupling parts 85 formed in the ice bank 60, and a plurality of second coupling parts 86 formed in supports 56 of the frigonphic door 50 for coupling with the first coupling piece 85 by sliding.

In detail, the first coupling parts 85 may have a horizontally elongated shape and be arranged in a vertical direction. The second coupling parts 86 may have a horizontally elongated recessed shape and be arranged in a vertical direction.

Therefore, the first coupling pieces 85 can slide to the second coupling piece 86 by pushing the ice bank 60 towards the phyton door 50 after aligning the first coupling pieces 85 with the second coupling parts 86. Of this shape, the ice bank 60 can be coupled to the phyton door 50.

The first coupling parts 85 have a size corresponding to that of the second coupling parts 86, and the first and second coupling parts 85 and 86 are arranged in a vertical direction. Therefore, after coupling the ice bank 60 to the refrigerator door 50, the ice bank 60 does not easily exit the refrigerator door 50 when the refrigerator door 50 opens and closes.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating an ice bank 60 disassembled from a phyton door 50 according to a fourth embodiment, which is not part of the present invention.

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With reference to FIG. 7, an ice bank fixing device of the present embodiment includes at least one magnetic element 91 disposed in the ice bank 60 and a metallic element 92 disposed in the frigonphic door 50 for engagement with the element magnetic 91.

In detail, the magnetic element 91 can be arranged in at least a portion of the ice bank 60. In Figure 7, for example, two magnetic elements 91 are arranged on the bottom and front surfaces of the ice bank 60. The metal element 92 is arranged in a position corresponding to that of the magnetic element 91.

According to the present embodiment, a structure for mounting the ice bank 60 on the frigonphic door 50 is not exposed to the outside to improve aesthetics.

When the ice bank 60 is mounted on the frigonphic door 50, the ice bank 60 makes contact with a door liner 55 of the frigonphic door 50. Thus, in the case where the door liner 55 is formed of a material to which the magnetic element 91 can be magnetically joined, the metallic element 92 can be omitted in the phytonic door 50.

Alternatively, the metallic element 92 can be arranged on a lower surface of an ice-forming device 40. In this case, the magnetic element 91 can be arranged on an upper portion of the ice bank 60. Therefore, the door of Frigonphic 50 can be placed on a receiving surface 58 and held firmly in said position by the magnetic force between the metallic element 92 of the ice-forming device 40 and the magnetic element 91 of the ice bank 60.

Figure 8 is a perspective view illustrating an ice bank 60 disassembled from a refrigerator door 50 according to a fifth embodiment, which is not part of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 8, an ice bank fixing device of the present embodiment includes a retaining hook 95 formed in the ice bank 60 and a retaining slot 96 formed in the refrigerator door 50 to receive the hook retention 95. The retention hook 95 can be formed on a front side of the ice bank 60 for easy coupling with the retention slot 96.

The retention hook 95 can be attached to the retention slot 96 by pushing the retention hook 95 against the retention slot 96, and the retention hook 95 can be released from the retention slot 96 by pushing again the retention hook 95 against the retaining groove 96. Since this coupling structure is known, its detailed description will be omitted.

Meanwhile, alternatively, the retaining groove 96 can be formed in the ice bank 60, and the retaining hook 95 can be formed in the refrigerator door 50.

Industrial applicability

According to the embodiments, an ice bank can be detachably mounted on a frigonphic door using the ice bank fixing device. Therefore, the user can automatically take ice from the ice bank through a dispenser or manually from the ice bank after disassembling the ice bank from the back side of the phyton door, and thus the refrigerator including the fixing device Ice bank can be used in various industrial fields.

Claims (3)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 1. A frigonfico including an ice bank fixing device, including the ice bank fixing device: a first coupling piece formed in an ice bank (60); a second coupling piece configured to hold the ice bank (60) in a position mounted on a rear side of a frigonphic door (50) by an interlocking movement with the first coupling piece; Y an elastic element that applies an elastic force to the first coupling part to rotate the first coupling part (71) for coupling with the second coupling part (57), including the second coupling piece (57) recesses formed in supports (56) that extend backwards on both sides of the rear side of the phygonphic door, the first coupling piece (71) can rotate in the ice bank, the refrigerator door (50) including said supports (56) formed on both sides of its rear side, the second coupling part (57) being formed on opposite front surfaces of the supports, the ice bank (60) including a rotation space (67) which allows the rotation of the first coupling piece, the first coupling piece including an end extending from a rotation center of the first coupling coupling piece with the second coupling piece (57) and a lever (75) at its other end to handle the first coupling piece, the lever (75) being curved from the rear end of the first coupling piece (71) away from the ice bank so that it is placed outside the rotation space (67). 2. A frigonph according to claim 1, wherein the ice bank fixing device further includes an axis (71H) in which the first coupling piece rotates, and the first coupling piece includes an end extending away from the axis and can be inserted in the second coupling piece. 3. A frigonph according to claim 1, wherein the second coupling piece is a portion of a door liner (55) that forms a rear side of the frigonphic door.