JP2005061756A - Water supply device of refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a refrigerator having a sanitary and easily handling water supply tank and a water supply device of the refrigerator; to provide a refrigerator having a grip of the water supply tank of a simple constitution having a water supply tank grip also serving as a cap (a lid) of a water supply port of the water supply tank and a water supply device of the refrigerator; to provide a sanitary refrigerator superior in cleaning performance and a water supply device of the refrigerator; and to provide a refrigerator superior in design and a water supply device of the refrigerator. <P>SOLUTION: This water supply device has the water supply tank arranged in a refrigerator body, and storing water, the lid detachably arranged on a water supply tank upper surface, and having a recessed part recessed on the water supply tank side, the water supply port arranged in the lid, and opening in the water supply tank, and the grip detachably installed so as to block up the water supply port, and having a grip part projecting in the radial direction more than an outer diameter of the water supply port. The grip is stored in the recessed part. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a water supply apparatus having a handle shape on an upper surface of a water supply tank.

  FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional water tank of a refrigerator, and FIGS. 11 and 12 are perspective views of the water tank of a conventional refrigerator. In FIG. 10, there are provided a bore portion 8 a and a handle shape portion 8 b that are shaped to go through the lid 8 on the upper surface of the water supply tank 7. In FIG. 11, there is a water supply lid 10 that closes the water supply port 9 provided on the upper surface of the water supply tank 7, and it is designed to be removed by putting a finger in the recesses 10 a and 10 b of the lid 10 and rotating it. In FIG. 12, a water supply port 9 is provided on the upper surface of the water supply tank 7, a handle 11 integrated with a lid 10 of the water supply port 9 is provided, and the water supply port lid 10 provided on the handle 11 is connected to the water supply port 9. After the insertion, the handle 11 is rotated 90 degrees so that the handle 11 is fitted to the main body of the water supply tank 7 and the water supply port lid 10 closes the water supply port 9. (For example, see Patent Document 1)

JP-A-9-126609

  In the conventional water supply tank of the refrigerator, it is difficult to form the cut-out portion 8a and the handle-shaped portion 8b in one part on the lid 8 of the water supply tank 7 with the structure of the shape of the upper surface of the water supply tank as shown in FIG. It is necessary to make up parts. In the case of two parts, not only the number of parts is increased, but if the adhesive surface is insufficient, dirt or the like may enter, which is not good in terms of cost and hygiene. If an attempt was made to configure with one part, the mold for forming the shape of the lid 8 would be complicated, increasing costs. Furthermore, since the handle-shaped portion 8b covers the punch-shaped portion 8a, the cleanability when the recess due to the punch is soiled is poor, which is a sanitary problem.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 11, there is a water supply lid 10 that closes the water supply port 9 provided in the lid 8 on the upper surface of the water supply tank, and in the specification that puts a finger into the concave portions 10a and 10b and removes the concave portion 10a It is difficult to remove the lid 10 of the water supply port 9 because the tip of the finger is put in 10b and pinched.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 12, in the specification in which the water supply port 9 is provided in the lid 8 on the upper surface of the water supply tank and the handle 11 integrated with the cover 10 of the water supply port 9 closes the water supply port 9, it is integrated with the lid 10 of the water supply port 9. Since the handle 11 has a complicated structure, it is difficult to set it to the main body of the water supply tank 7, and there is a possibility that it will come off if it is not set properly. Moreover, since the handle part 11 protrudes from the upper surface of the lid 8 of the water supply tank 7, it does not look good and sometimes interferes with surrounding parts.

  An object of this invention is to obtain the refrigerator and the water supply apparatus of a refrigerator provided with the water supply tank which is hygienic and easy to handle. It is another object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator and a water supply device for a refrigerator having a water tank handle with a simple structure in which the water tank handle also serves as a cap (lid) for the water supply port of the water tank. Moreover, it aims at obtaining the hygienic refrigerator with good cleaning property, and the water supply apparatus of a refrigerator. Moreover, it aims at obtaining the refrigerator and the water supply apparatus of a refrigerator with good design property.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and is disposed in the refrigerator main body, and is provided in a water supply tank for storing water, and is detachably provided on the upper surface of the water supply tank, and is recessed on the water supply tank side. A lid having a recess, a water supply opening provided in the cover and opening in the water supply tank, and a protrusion that is detachably attached so as to close the water supply opening and protrudes in the radial direction from the outer diameter of the water supply opening And a handle portion configured to be housed in the recess.

  As described above, the present invention relates to a water supply apparatus having a handle shape on the upper surface of a water supply tank, the handle portion does not protrude from the upper surface of the water supply tank, and has a simple structure and a clean design. The lid can be easily removed and easily removed. Since the handle has a structure in which the handle is hooked when the handle is put on the handle, the handle is not detached while the cover is held. Further, the water level in the water supply tank can be seen from the recess on the upper surface of the water supply tank. In addition, when the handle is removed, the lid portion has a simple shape without a complicated shape and is easy to clean.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a refrigerator with an automatic ice making machine representing Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In the figure, the refrigerator main body 100 has storage rooms arranged in the order of the refrigerator compartment 1, the vegetable compartment 2 and the freezer compartment 3 from the top, and the water supply tank 4 is arranged in the partition wall 101 at the bottom of the refrigerator compartment 1. ing. Since the water supply tank 4 is housed in the partition wall 101, only the lid 5 provided on the upper surface is opened. Therefore, when the water supply tank 4 is taken out, the cover 5 or the upper surface of the main body of the water supply tank 4 is provided. A handle is required. Here, the water in the water supply tank 4 disposed in the partition wall 101 of the refrigerator compartment 1 is disposed in the freezer compartment 3 through the vegetable compartment 2 through the water receiving portion 104 and the water supply pipe 106 by the pump 4a. A predetermined amount is supplied to the ice tray 105.

  2A and 2B are views for explaining the structure of the lid for the water tank of the refrigerator representing the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2A is a top view and FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view. A recess 5a is provided in the lid 5 that is detachably fixed to the upper surface of the water supply tank 4, and a water supply port 5b is provided in the recess 5a. The handle 6 also serving as a cap (plug) for the water supply port 5b is attached to the lid 5, so that the water supply tank 4 can be taken out by holding the handle 6.

  3A and 3B are diagrams illustrating a state in which a handle is attached to the lid for the water supply tank of the refrigerator representing the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3A is a plan view and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view. In the figure, the convex part 6c of the cap part 6a protruding to the lid 5 side of the handle 6 is inserted and mounted in alignment with the concave part 5c provided in the water supply port 5b of the lid 5, and the handle part 6d of the handle 6 is rotated ( (The direction of A in the figure, the direction of right rotation), the convex portion 6 c is hooked on the bottom of the water supply port 5 b of the lid 5, and the handle 6 is held by the lid 5. By holding the handle 6 on the lid 5, the water supply port 5 b of the lid 5 is covered with the cap portion 6 a of the handle 6, and intrusion of dust and the like is suppressed.

  Further, a protruding claw 6b is provided on the handle portion 6d far from the center of the rotation axis of the handle 6, a notch hole 5d is provided in the lid 5, and the claw 6b is notched when the handle 6 is rotated in the A direction. The handle 6 is securely held by the lid 5 by being caught in the hole 5d. Furthermore, when the convex shape 5e is provided in the part of the lid 5 far from the rotation axis of the handle 6, and the handle 6 rotates in the A direction and rotates to the final mounting position, the handle portion 6d of the handle 6 has the lid 5 It will be over the convex shape 5e and lightly locked. Further, by providing the convex shape 5f, even when the handle 6 rotates in the direction opposite to the A direction, it becomes a stopper so that the convex portion 6c of the handle 6 is not easily caught.

  Therefore, the lid 5 and the handle 6 can be easily attached, and the handle 6 is not easily detached from the lid 5. Further, since the handle 6 also serves as the cap of the water supply port 5b of the lid 5, a low-cost water supply tank can be obtained with a simple configuration. In addition, since the handle 5 can be removed by removing the handle 6 from the lid 5, it is easy to clean the dust accumulated in the recess 5c of the lid 5, and no sanitary problems occur.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a lid of a water supply tank of another refrigerator representing the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a plan view illustrating a state in which the handle 6 is attached to the lid 5. In the present embodiment, the tab 6b of the handle 6 is provided at a portion farthest from the rotation axis of the handle portion 6d. The lid 5 is provided with a claw recess 5g for inserting the claw 6b of the handle 6 and a hooking hole 5d for hooking the claw 6b so that the claw 6b does not come off the cover 5 when the handle 6 is rotated. ing. Accordingly, when the handle 6 is rotated after the claw 6b is inserted into the claw recess 5g, the claw 6b is hooked into the hooking hole 5d. Therefore, if the lid 5 is rotated even a little, the handle 6 is connected to the cap portion 6a and the claw 6a. 6b holds the lid 5 so that the handle 6 is not detached from the lid 5. Therefore, since the handle 6 is held in the water supply tank 4, holding the handle 6 makes it possible to easily take out the water supply tank 4 from the refrigerator body.

  5 is a view showing a lid of a water supply tank of the refrigerator representing Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 5 (a) is a plan view of the handle 6 inserted into the lid 5, and FIG. 5 (b) is a handle. It is a top view at the time of rotating 6 a little. Here, the same parts as those in FIGS. In the figure, when the handle 6 is inserted into the lid 5 (FIG. 5A), when the water supply tank 4 is lifted, a hand is put into the concave portion 5a of the lid 5, but the convex portion 6c of the handle 6 is replaced with the concave portion 5c of the lid 5. In the state inserted into the recess, the recess clearance between the recess 5a and the handle 6 has a width dimension of only 5ax. The recess gap 5ax is set to be narrower than the finger of the hand. When the finger is inserted into the recess gap 5ax to hold the handle 6, the handle 6 rotates and protrudes toward the lid 5 of the handle 6. The handle 6 is held by the lid 5 because the portion 6c rotates in the recess 5c provided in the water supply port 5b of the lid 5 so that the hook 6aa in the figure is hooked (in the state shown in FIG. 5B). Thus, by having the handle 6, the water supply tank 4 can be taken out.

  Here, when the handle 6 is in a position where it is removed from the lid 5, the recess clearance 5a is narrow so that it cannot be securely held in the hand. If a hand is to be put in the recess gap 5a, the wall surface of the lid recess 5a becomes a slope 5h in the vicinity of the hand (finger) insertion portion entrance of the recess gap 5a as shown in the ZZ cross-sectional view of FIG. Therefore, as the hand is inserted into the recess gap 5a, the handle 6 rotates so that the convex portion 6c of the handle 6 is hooked on the bottom of the water supply port 5b of the lid 5 so that the handle 6 is hooked on the lid 5 and held. Become. Therefore, in the state where the hand is inserted into the recess 5 a and the handle 6 is held, the handle 6 does not come off the lid 5. That is, the handle 6 does not come off from the water supply tank 4.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the water tank 4 that is disposed in the refrigerator main body, stores water, and is detachably provided on the upper surface of the water tank 4 and has a recess that is recessed on the water tank 4 side. 5, provided in the recess 5 a of the lid 5, and removably attached to close the water supply port 5 b and the water supply port 5 b opened in the water supply tank 4, and projecting in the radial direction from the outer diameter of the water supply port 5 b A handle 6 having a handle portion 6d, and at least a part of the handle 6 is accommodated in the recess 5a, so that the protruding amount of the handle is small and does not get in the way. Opening and closing can be done easily by rotating the handle. In addition, a refrigerator water supply device and a refrigerator that have a simpler structure and lower costs than the case where a cap for the water supply port is provided separately can be obtained.

  Further, since the handle 6 is accommodated in the recess 5a so as not to protrude from the upper surface of the lid 5, the handle does not protrude from the water supply tank.

  Further, the handle 6 is provided with a cap portion 6a for closing the water supply port 5a, and the handle portion 6d is rotated so that the cap portion 6a is caught in the water supply port 5b in the water supply port 5b so that the handle 6 does not come off from the lid 5. In this way, the water supply port can be plugged with a simple structure, making it easy for the user to use. Further, since the vicinity of the water supply port 5b of the lid 5 is made of a light transmitting material so that the state where the cap 6a that closes the water supply port 5b is hooked on the water supply port 5b can be seen, the user can prevent the handle from coming off the cover. It is easy to check and you can handle the water supply tank with a handle.

  FIGS. 6A and 6B are diagrams illustrating a processing range of the refrigerator and handle of the refrigerator representing the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6A is a plan view and FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view. In the figure, the shaded area represents the embossed area that has been subjected to embossing with fine dents and protrusions, and it is possible to improve the design, such as making it difficult to see the inner shape of the reinforcing ribs, etc. However, the concave portion 5a is left in a clear state (transparent) without being subjected to the texture processing. The recessed portion 5a is recessed deeper than the full water line 4a of the water supply tank 4 to make it clear and further cleared, so that the water level is applied to the recessed portion 5a when the water is filled up to the full water line 4a, and the full water position can be easily recognized. It becomes like this. Here, even when the lower end of the concave portion 5a is higher than the full water position and the water level does not reach the concave portion 5a, the user can see where the water level is because the concave portion 5a is clear (transparent).

  Further, when the handle 6 is rotated in the direction to remove it from the lid 5, the lid 6 is rotated by placing a finger on the stepped portion (thickness portion) 6 g of the handle 6 or by placing a finger on the finger-hanging recess 6 d provided on the handle 6. . In order to make it easier to hook a finger, it is also effective to make the finger-hanging concave portion 6d a through hole, to make the stepped portion 6g higher, or to make the concave portion 5j of the lid larger.

  As described above, the lid 5 and the handle 6 are subjected to graining having fine dents and protrusions, so that the design of the entire water supply tank is improved. Moreover, since the recessed part 5a of the cover 5 is comprised with the light transmissive material, the user can confirm the water level in a water supply tank easily.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining the structure of the lid of the water tank of the refrigerator that represents Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 7A is a plan view and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view. In the figure, the same parts as those in the first embodiment and FIGS. 1 to 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted. In this Embodiment, compared with Embodiment 1, the position of the water supply port 5b and the shape of the handle 6 are changed. In the present embodiment, the water supply port 5b of the lid 5 is at the substantially central portion of the lid 5 of the water supply tank 4, and the handle 6 is also provided with a cap portion 6a at the center of gravity at the substantially central position. Since the convex part 6c of 6a is hooked with the projection part 5k provided in the water supply port 5b of the lid 5, the handle 6 is held at the substantially central part of the water supply tank 4, and the balance when the handle 6 is held is improved. The water supply tank 4 can be taken out in a stable state, and the handle 6 can be easily attached and detached.

  Moreover, FIG. 8 is a figure showing another water supply tank of the refrigerator showing Embodiment 2 of this invention, Fig.8 (a) is a top view, FIG.8 (b) is sectional drawing. In the figure, a water supply port 5 b is provided at a substantially central portion of the lid 5 of the water supply tank 4, and a handle 6 has a circular shape larger than the cap portion 6 a, and the water supply port 5 b of the cover 5 of the water supply tank 4 The screw part 6m provided in the cap part 6a of the handle 6 is fitted to the provided screw part 5m. Therefore, as with the configuration of FIG. 7, the handle 6 can be held at the center of gravity in the substantially central portion of the water supply tank, so that it is easy to hold, structurally simple, and has a good design.

  As described above, the water supply port 5b provided in the water supply tank 4 is provided at a substantially central position of the lid 5, and the fitting between the water supply port 5b and the cap 6a is a screw type, so that the handle is difficult to come off from the water supply port. The user can handle the water tank with a handle in peace.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another water supply tank of the refrigerator representing the second embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, a handle 6 is provided on the upper surface of the water supply tank 4, and the handle 6 can be rotated by an angle θ about the ends 6e and 6f. When lifting the water supply tank 4, the handle 6 carries the water supply tank 4 by rotating the handle 6 to a position where the angle θ is approximately 90 degrees (substantially vertical) with respect to the upper surface of the water supply tank 4 and holding the handle 6. Can do. When it is not necessary to hold the handle 6, the handle 6 can be stored in the recess 6 p so as not to protrude from the lid 5 on the upper surface of the water supply tank 4 by tilting (rotating) the handle 6 approximately 90 degrees in the direction of B. In the state in which 6 is stored, the cap 6q provided on the handle 6 closes the water supply port 5b provided on the lid 5 on the upper surface of the water supply tank 4. At this time, when the position of the cap portion is obstructive when the handle 6 is held, the position of the cap portion 6q and the water supply port 5b may be changed to a position that does not interfere.

  As a result, except when the water supply tank 4 is lifted, the handle 6 is stored in the lid 5 so that the handle 6 does not get in the way, and dust and the like do not enter the water supply tank, so that the design is improved. . Further, since the water supply port 5b of the water supply tank 4 can be opened only when the handle 6 is lifted, the handle 6 is accommodated in the lid 5 except when the user wants to supply water or carry it, and the cap portion 6q of the handle 6 As a result, the water supply port 5b of the lid 5 can be closed, so that dust, food juice and the like do not enter the water supply tank 4, and a safe and highly reliable water supply device and refrigerator free from sanitary problems can be obtained.

  In the present embodiment, a water supply tank 4 that is disposed in the refrigerator main body 100 and stores water, and a lid 5 that is detachably provided on the upper surface of the water supply tank 4 and has a recess 5a recessed on the water supply tank 4 side, When the water supply port 5b provided in the recess 5a of the lid 5 and the water supply tank 4 are stored in the refrigerator main body 100, the water supply port 5b is stored in the recess 5a of the lid 5 and the water supply tank 4 is taken out. Since the handle 6 protruding from the recess 5b of the lid 5 is provided, the handle and the cap can be used with a simple configuration, and a low-cost refrigerator can be obtained. Further, since the handle 6 is U-shaped and the handle 6 is caused to reach approximately 90 degrees in a state where the water supply tank 4 is installed on a horizontal plane, it is easy to hold the handle while having a simple configuration.

It is sectional drawing of the refrigerator with an automatic ice maker showing Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the lid | cover for the water supply tank of the refrigerator showing Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure showing the state which attaches a handle to the lid | cover for water supply tanks of the refrigerator showing Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure showing the cover of the water supply tank of another refrigerator showing Embodiment 1 of this invention. The top view of the water supply apparatus represented about the 1st Example in this invention. It is a figure showing the lid | cover of a refrigerator and the embossing range of a handle showing Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the cover of the water supply tank of the refrigerator showing Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a figure showing another water supply tank of the refrigerator showing Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a perspective view of another water supply tank of the refrigerator showing Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the water supply tank of the conventional refrigerator. It is a perspective view of the water supply tank of the conventional refrigerator. It is a perspective view of the water supply tank of the conventional refrigerator.

Explanation of symbols

  1 refrigerator compartment, 2 vegetable compartment, 3 freezer compartment, 4 water supply tank, 4a full water line, 5 lid, 5a recess, 5b water inlet, 5c recess, 5d notch, 5e, 5f convex shape, 5g recess, 5h slope, 5i plane part, 5j concave part, 6 handle, 6a cap part, 6aa hook part, 6b claw, 6c convex part, 6d handle part, 6e, 6f end part, 7 water supply tank, 7a water supply port, 8 lid, 8a bore shape, 8b handle part, 9 water supply port, 10 water supply port lid, 10a, 10b recess, 11 handle, 100 refrigerator main body, 101 partition wall, 105 ice tray, 106 water supply pipe.

Claims (9)

A water supply tank that is disposed in the refrigerator main body, stores water, is detachably provided on the upper surface of the water supply tank, has a recessed portion that is recessed on the water supply tank side, is provided on the lid, and is provided in the water supply tank. An open water supply opening, and a handle that is detachably attached so as to close the water supply opening and has a handle portion that protrudes in a radial direction from the outer diameter of the water supply opening, and the handle is housed in the recess A water supply device for a refrigerator characterized by being made. A water supply device for a refrigerator, wherein the handle is housed in the recess so as not to protrude from the upper surface of the lid. A cap portion for closing the water supply port is provided in the handle, and the handle portion is rotated so that the cap portion is caught in the water supply port in the water supply port so that the handle does not come off from the lid. The water supply apparatus of the refrigerator of Claim 1 or Claim 2. The water supply device for a refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the vicinity of the water supply port is used as a light-transmitting material so that a state in which a cap that closes the water supply port is caught by the water supply port can be seen. The water supply device for a refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the lid is subjected to a graining process having a fine dent or protrusion. The water supply device for a refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the water level in the water supply tank can be confirmed by using the concave portion of the lid as a light transmitting material. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a water supply port of the water supply tank is provided at a substantially central position of the lid, and the fitting of the water supply port and the cap is a screw type. Water supply equipment. A water supply tank that is disposed in the refrigerator main body, stores water, is detachably provided on the upper surface of the water supply tank, has a lid having a recess recessed on the side of the water supply tank, a water supply port provided in the lid, When the water supply tank is stored in the refrigerator body, the water supply tank is stored in the recess of the lid to close the water supply port, and when the water supply tank is taken out, the handle protrudes from the recess of the lid. Refrigerator water supply device. The water supply device for a refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the handle is U-shaped, and the handle is raised up to approximately 90 degrees in a state where the water supply tank is installed on a horizontal plane.

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