KR100221147B1 - Water dispenser of a refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a water dispenser capable of supplying and storing water in a water tank without opening and closing the refrigerator door.

The water dispenser according to the present invention is built-in at a position higher than the water tank 11 of the water dispenser 1 outside the wall of the door 10 of the refrigerator, and the guide grooves 16 are squared on both side walls 35. Water supply box 19 is provided with a water supply hole 18 on the bottom surface, a water supply hose 23 connecting the water supply hole 18 of the water supply box 19 and the water tank 11, and the water supply box It is inserted into the (19) to slide the state while maintaining the seal, and the cold air blocking portion 21 is formed protruding in the lower end of the inner end to open and close the water supply hole (18) and the outer top of both side wall (37) The guide protrusions 24 coupled to the guide grooves 16 are formed of water supply drawers 20 protruding from each other. Therefore, since the number of openings of the refrigerator door can be reduced, power consumption of the refrigerator can be reduced, and maintenance of the water dispense becomes convenient.

Description

Water Dispenser of Refrigerator

The present invention relates to a water dispenser of a refrigerator capable of external water supply, and more particularly to a cold water faucet on the outside of the refrigerator in order to reduce the need to open and close the refrigerator door in order to take out and cool the cold water cooled inside the general refrigerator It relates to a water dispenser of the external water supply for the refrigerator can be easily supplied from the outside without opening the door to the water tank installed on the wall of the refrigerator door through this cold water faucet.

The inherent function of the refrigerator is in the cold storage of drinking water or food. In particular, the drinking water stored in the refrigerator is cooled to a constant temperature of about 4 ℃. Therefore, much of the case of opening and closing the refrigerator door to use the refrigerator can be regarded as related to the use of drinking water refrigerated at an appropriate temperature as above.

Therefore, it is possible to use the stored drinking water normally, but greatly reduce the number of openings and closings of the refrigerator door, thereby preventing the discharge of cold air caused by the opening and closing of the refrigerator door, thereby increasing the cooling efficiency of the refrigerator to the maximum, thereby reducing unnecessary power consumption in the refrigerator. There is a need for measures to reduce this.

In addition, there was a need to prepare a countermeasure that simplifies the complicated cold water drinking procedure that requires opening the refrigerator door and removing the cold water reservoir every time the cold water is used.

The conventional water dispenser has been proposed as a solution to this problem.

As shown in FIG. 1, the water dispenser 101 is of a basic type, which greatly simplifies the procedure for drinking cold water stored in the refrigerator and significantly reduces the number of openings and closings of the refrigerator door. It can be reduced to a considerable level.

Looking at the schematic structure of the water dispenser 101, the water tank 111 is installed inside the refrigerator centered on the refrigerator door 110, and the water discharge unit 116 is formed on the outside.

In the water jetting unit 116, an operating lever 114 for controlling the discharge of cold water supplied through the cold water faucet 113 connected from the water tank 111 through the hose 112, and a cold water faucet ( The drip tray 115 formed in the lower end of the opposite side of 113 is provided.

Therefore, when the cold water is to be stored and used by the water dispenser 101 having such a structure, the user opens the cap 117 of the water tank 111 without storing the water in the container and storing the water in the refrigerator separately. If the refrigerator door 110 is closed after the input, the stored water is cooled to the room temperature of the refrigerating chamber after a predetermined time has elapsed. Then, when the user wants to use the cooled water, the user pushes the operating lever 114 in the direction of the arrow shown by a container such as a cup generally used in homes. Then, the cold water faucet 113 is opened and the cold water stored in the water tank 111 is supplied to the cup 118 through the cold water faucet 113 via the hose 112. After a predetermined amount of cold water is supplied, the cup 118 is pulled out in the opposite direction to the arrow, and the cold water faucet 113 returns to its original position to block the cold water supply from the hose 112.

In addition to the basic type of water dispenser described so far, there has been proposed a water supply refrigerator such as US Pat. No. 5083442.

This water supply refrigerator supplies water to the reservoir inside the refrigerator directly from the outside to purify the water supplied through a separate water purifier, and also makes ice through ice makers.

Therefore, in the case of this refrigerator as well, the cooling water contained in the reservoir is drawn out through the cold water supply unit formed in the wall of the refrigerator door, and the ice produced in the ice maker through the ice chute installed adjacent to the cold water supply port is used. It can be taken out from the outside and used.

Since the water dispensers as mentioned above do not need to open the refrigerator door every time they want to use drinking water, the problem that the cool air of the inside frequently escapes to the outside and the power consumption of the refrigerator is unnecessarily increased is excluded. However, in the case of the basic type of water dispenser, in order to replenish water in the water tank mounted inside the refrigerator, the water tank is opened to separate the water tank, and then the water is filled in and then remounted. Since the refrigerator door must be opened, the loss of cold air is inevitable, and the work for replenishing water is very cumbersome. In addition, the water tank can be opened by opening the cap of the water tank while the water tank is mounted on the wall of the door, but in this case, the refrigerator door must be kept open for a long time until the water replenishing is completed. Could not be prevented from being lost.

On the other hand, in the case of US Pat. No. 4,804,322, since the water used is directly supplied to the inside of the refrigerator through the water inlet, the problem caused by opening the refrigerator door for a long time to replenish the water in the storage tank can be improved. However, since the structure for water supply or other water purification or ice making is very complicated, the manufacturing process is complicated, and thus, the production cost is not only sharp and there is a problem that the plurality of maintenance is very difficult in practical use.

It is therefore an object of the present invention, to solve the problems of the conventional water dispenser as described above, by building a simple structure inside the wall surface of the refrigerator door to the water tank mounted on the inside from the outside of the door without opening the refrigerator door It is to provide a water dispenser of a refrigerator capable of replenishing water so that the water can be replenished.

To this end, the present invention is a water dispenser of the refrigerator, the water container means built in a position higher than the water tank of the water dispenser outside the door wall of the refrigerator, water supply means for connecting the water container means and the water tank and the water supply It is to provide a water dispenser of a refrigerator capable of external water supply is inserted into the container means is formed of a water supply guide means for forming a water supply flow path to facilitate the water supply from the outside.

In another aspect, the present invention is a water supply container means that the water supply vessel is provided with guide grooves on both sides of the wall and the water supply hole on the bottom surface, the water supply delivery means is a water supply hose connecting the water supply hole and the water tank, water supply guide means The water drawer is inserted and slides to maintain the seal, and a cold air blocking portion protrudes from the lower end of the inner end to open and close the water supply hole, and a guide protrusion coupled to the guide groove is formed on the outer upper end of both walls. To provide a water dispenser of a refrigerator capable of water supply.

1 is a side cross-sectional view of a refrigerator door in which a water dispenser of a basic form is installed.

2 is a side cross-sectional view of a refrigerator door in which a water dispenser according to the present invention is installed.

3 is a perspective view showing a water supply drawer of the water dispenser according to the present invention.

4 is an exploded perspective view showing another embodiment of the water drawer of the water dispenser according to the present invention.

5 is a side cross-sectional view showing a normal state of the water dispenser according to the present invention.

6 is a side cross-sectional view showing a water supply state of the water dispenser according to the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

19: water box 20: water drawer

41: bottom plate 101: water dispenser

110: refrigerator door 111: water tank

112: hose 113: cold water faucet

114: operating lever 115: drip tray

116: water jet 117: stopper

118: cup

Now, the water dispenser according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in more detail as follows.

The water dispenser of the present invention, which is indicated by reference numeral 1 in FIG. 2, is generally provided with a water tank 11 on the inside of the refrigerator door 10 and a door wall surface 27 on the outside, similarly to a conventional water dispenser. The water jetting part 16 recessed inward is formed.

In addition, in the water discharge unit 16, a cold water faucet 13 is installed in which the supply of cold water is controlled by an operating lever 14 mounted at an end thereof, and the cold water is supplied from the water tank 11 through the hose 12. It is to supply, and the drip tray 15 is installed on the bottom surface of the water jetting portion (16).

In addition, the water dispenser 1 of the present invention has a built-in water supply box 19 is embedded in the outside of the wall surface of the door 10 of the refrigerator and the water supply to connect the water supply box 19 and the water tank 11 A water supply drawer 20 is inserted into the hose 23 and the water supply box 19.

Here, in order to facilitate the water supply to the water tank 11 through the water supply drawer 20, the water supply box 19 is positioned higher than the water tank 11, the water supply drawer 20 is the water supply (19 It is literally in the form of a drawer so that it slides freely in).

To this end, the water supply box 19 is formed with a space 25 into which the water supply drawer 20 can be inserted. It may be made in any shape as long as it is movable in the direction. That is, the cross-sectional shape may be rectangular, semicircular, or trapezoidal.

In addition, a water supply hole 18 through which the water supply hose 23 is connected in a sealed state is opened at the center of the inner end of the bottom surface 29 of the water supply box 19, and a water supply drawer is provided at the outer end of the bottom surface 29. (20) The support jaw 17 is formed to protrude from the water container 19 due to inadvertent extraction.

The water supply box 19 is also provided with a guide groove 16 in the direction of movement of the water supply drawer 20, ie, horizontally, on both top walls so as to facilitate the introduction of the water supply drawer 20 which is adapted to slide. There is a guide groove 24 is formed in the guide groove 24 protruding from both sides of the outer side of the water supply drawer 20 is engaged with each other by the mutual cooperation of the water supply drawer 20 is stable in the front and rear direction in the water supply 19 Guide them to exercise.

In this way, the water supply drawer 20 is coupled to the water supply drawer 19 by the guide mechanism consisting of the guide groove 16 and the guide protrusion 24 is a water tank ( 11) the front surface and the front surface toward the inner side of the door 10 is open so that it can be guided smoothly. In addition, the water supply drawer 20 has the same shape as the cross-sectional shape of the water supply box 19 so that the water supply drawer 19 and the shape of the bottom surface 41, the user more easily the water supply drawer 20 A handle is formed on a wall surface, ie, a rear surface, facing outward of the door 10 so that the door 10 can be pulled out.

The lower portion of the inner drawer of the water drawer has a cold air blocking portion protruding downward to prevent the cold air conducted through the water supply hose from being lost to the outside through the water supply hole. Not only that, but also to prevent accidental falling out of the water supply hook hanging on the support jaw of the water supply box will also perform.

Here, a cutout portion as shown in FIG. 3 may be formed at the lower portion of both side guide protrusions of the water drawer, and the guide protrusion has elasticity in the transverse direction by the cutout, so when the water drawer is removed from the water drawer. Can be assembled more easily.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the water drawer is inclined to gradually decrease in height from the outside of the door, that is, from the rear to the inside, that is, in order to allow the introduced water to flow more smoothly. In addition, as shown in Figure 4 as another embodiment of the present invention is bent in the V-shape so that the bottom surface of the water supply box and the bottom surface of the water supply drawer to be joined to the bottom plate of the water supply drawer The water injected at both ends flows smoothly to the water supply hole without accumulation.

In addition, the water supply hose connecting the water supply box and the water tank is to be coupled to the water supply hole of the water tank, so that the water supply hose and the water tank can be separated without attaching a connection part with the water supply hole as necessary. It is also possible to attach | attach detachably using a sealing stopper.

Referring to the operation and effects of the water dispenser of the refrigerator capable of water supply according to the present invention configured as described above are as follows.

First, in the normal state, the water drawer is completely inserted into the water supply box so that the cold air blocking portion of the water supply drawer blocks the air hole of the water supply box, thereby preventing the cold air of the water tank from being lost through the water supply hole.

In this mounting state, the water dispenser of the present invention discharges the cold water stored in the water tank through the cold water tap as in the general water dispenser. When drinking water is exhausted after long time use, it is necessary to recharge.In this case, if the water drawer mounted on the top of the water dispenser is removed from the water drawer, the guide protrusions provided on both sides of the water drawer are provided on the upper side walls of the water drawer. It will move along the guide groove.

At this time, the cold air cutout protruding from the lower end of the inclined bottom plate of the water drawer is also pulled out to the rear until the support jaw of the water drawer stops. At the same time, the guide protrusion of the water drawer stops at the end of the guide groove of the water drawer.

When the water drawer is sufficiently drained from the water drawer, that is, when water is poured through the water drawer in the state shown in FIG. 6, the supplied water flows along the inclined bottom plate of the water drawer and is collected in the water supply hole. The water collected in the water supply hole is filled into the water tank along the water supply hose sealedly connected to the water supply hole.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, the bottom plate shape of the water drawer may be V-shaped, so that the water supplied to the water drawer can be collected more reliably into the water supply hole. Since the support jaws are closely aligned with each other, the overflow of the water supply that may occur in the water supply process can be prevented in advance.

After the water tank is sufficiently filled with water, and the water drawer is pushed, the guide protrusion of the water drawer moves along the guide groove of the water drawer to the inside of the door, that is, the front of the water drawer. It moves until it is flush with the outer wall.

When the water drawer is pushed into the water box, the cold air blocking unit at the bottom blocks the water supply hole to prevent the cold air from leaking from the water tank.

On the other hand, the lower portion of the guide protrusions on both sides of the water supply drawer may be provided with a cutout so that the protruding portion of the guide protrusion forms an elastic portion, so that the guide protrusion may move along the guide groove with a constant elasticity.

Therefore, it is possible to easily separate the income and cleaning of the water drawer and to extend the life of the water dispenser. In this regard, the water tank connection part of the water supply hose can be detachably detached by a sealing stopper, so that the water tank can be easily detached at any time, so that the water tank can be kept more clean.

As described above, the present invention provides a water drawer provided at the top of the cold water outlet of the water dispenser without the hassle of opening the refrigerator door and taking out the water tank to refill the water tank to replenish the drinking water in the water dispenser. By draining and pouring water into it, it is possible to simply replenish or fill water in the water tank, thereby reducing the power consumption of the refrigerator, and the water supply structure is very simple, making it convenient to maintain and use the water dispenser. It becomes possible to plan.

While the invention has been shown and described with respect to particular embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as indicated by the appended claims. Anyone can grow up easily.

Claims (12)

A water dispenser of a refrigerator, comprising: a water supply container means built in a position higher than a water tank of the water dispenser outside the door wall surface of the refrigerator, and a water supply passage inserted into the water supply container means to facilitate water supply from the outside Water dispenser of the refrigerator capable of external water supply, characterized in that the water supply guide means for forming a. The water supply container according to claim 1, wherein the water supply container means is opened inward from an outer wall surface to secure a space into which the water supply guide means can be inserted, and a water supply hole is connected to a bottom surface of the water supply hole. The water dispenser of the refrigerator capable of water supply, characterized in that the. The water dispenser of claim 1, wherein the water supply means is a water supply hose sealedly communicating with the water supply hole and coupled to the water supply hole of the water tank. The water supply guide of claim 1, wherein the water supply guide means has an open surface and an upper surface facing the inside of the refrigerator door so as to conform to the water supply container means, and a handle for drawing is formed on a wall facing the outside of the door. The water dispenser of the refrigerator capable of water supply, characterized in that the. The water dispenser of the refrigerator of claim 2 or 4, wherein a cold air cutoff part protrudes from a portion of the water drawer inner side contacting the water supply hole. The water dispenser of claim 2 or 4, wherein a support jaw engaging with the cold air cutoff part protrudes from an outer end of the bottom surface of the water box. The guide protrusion according to claim 2 or 4, wherein guide grooves are horizontally angulated on both side walls of the water supply box, and guide grooves are coupled to the guide grooves on both sides of the water supply drawer to guide the movement of the water supply drawer. The water dispenser of the refrigerator capable of water supply, characterized in that the protrusion is formed. The water dispenser of claim 7, wherein the water drawer has a cutout portion formed under the guide protrusion to give elasticity to the protrusion. The water dispenser of claim 2 or 4, wherein the bottom surface of the water supply box and the bottom plate of the water supply drawer are bent in a V shape to protrude downward. The water dispenser of claim 3, wherein the water supply hose is detachably coupled to an inlet of the water tank by a sealing cap. The water dispenser of claim 4, wherein the bottom plate of the water drawer is inclined so that its height is gradually lowered from the outside to the inside of the door. A water dispenser of a refrigerator, the water dispenser having a built-in position higher than the water tank of the water dispenser outside the door wall surface of the refrigerator, and having guide grooves formed on both side walls and a water supply hole at the bottom thereof. A water supply hose connecting the water supply hole of the bin and the water tank, and inserted into the water supply box so as to slide in a state of maintaining a seal, and a cold air blocking portion protrudes from the lower end of the inner end to open and close the water supply hole, and both wall surfaces. The water dispenser of the refrigerator with external water supply, characterized in that consisting of a water supply drawer is formed with a guide projection coupled to the guide groove on the outer top.

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