KR101035163B1 - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator for improving a structure of a refrigerator water filter to efficiently utilize space in the refrigerator.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a refrigerator includes: a main body forming an appearance; a water filter provided in the main body and configured to purify water introduced into the refrigerator; a filter providing a first rotating center to rotatably couple the water filter. A rotation cover that covers one side of the water filter or the filter head; a cover body providing a second rotational center so that the rotational cover is rotatably coupled, wherein the first rotational center and the second rotational center are mutually The rotation cover and the water filter are disposed at different positions, and the rotation cover is rotated based on different rotation centers, and the rotation cover may rotate at a larger angle than the water filter.

According to the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention, there is an advantage that the storage space in the refrigerator can be secured widely.

Refrigerator, filter assembly, water filter

Description

Refrigerator {Refrigerator}

An embodiment according to the invention relates to a refrigerator.

Refrigerators are generally home appliances that maintain the internal temperature lower than the room temperature, so that food can be stored for a long time in a refrigerated or frozen state.

In general, the refrigerator is composed of a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment, and the inside of the refrigerating compartment stores foods requiring various refrigeration. In addition, in order to take out the food stored in the refrigerator compartment, the refrigerator compartment door should be opened. When the refrigerator compartment door is opened, there is a disadvantage in that cold air is leaked to the outside and hot air is introduced at the same time.

Therefore, a refrigerator having a dispenser is installed and sold on the front of the door of the refrigerator so that water stored in the refrigerator compartment can be taken out without opening the refrigerator compartment door. In addition, the user can conveniently take out water or ice through the dispenser.

On the other hand, recent refrigerators are provided with a water filter assembly in order to purify the water supplied from the outside. The purified water from the purified water filter assembly may be directly supplied to an ice making device to manufacture ice or supplied to a user through the dispenser.

In general, the filter assembly is provided with a water filter for purifying the introduced water and a filter cover for receiving the water filter and preventing foreign matter from accessing the water filter. The filter assembly is mounted inside the refrigerator.

Conventionally, as the filter assembly is mounted inside the refrigerator, there is a problem in that the storage space in the refrigerator is limited by the volume of the filter assembly.

In addition, there is a problem that it is difficult to determine the exact position of the filter and it is difficult to determine whether the filter is completely mounted because the water filter is covered by the filter cover.

In addition, there is a problem that the operation of the hand is limited by the cover in the process of detaching the filter using the user hand. That is, there is a problem that the operating space required for detaching the filter is not sufficiently secured.

Embodiments of the present invention have been proposed to solve the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator in which the space inside the refrigerator is efficiently utilized by improving the cover structure of the refrigerator water filter in detail.

In addition, it is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator that can secure a large storage space by minimizing protrusion of the filter assembly into the refrigerator.

In addition, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that allows the user to easily attach and detach the filter by forming different rotation centers of the water filter and the filter cover.

In the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention according to an embodiment for achieving the object as described above, a main body forming an appearance; provided in the main body, a water filter for purification of water flowing into the refrigerator; A filter head providing a first rotational center to be rotatably coupled; a rotation cover to cover one side of the water filter or the filter head; a cover body providing a second rotational center to be rotatably coupled to the rotation cover; The first rotational center and the second rotational center may be disposed at different positions so that the rotational cover and the water purification filter rotate based on different rotational centers, and the rotational cover may rotate at a larger angle than the water purification filter. It is characterized by being.

In another embodiment, a refrigerator includes: a body provided with an inner case; A water filter mounted on one side of the inner case; A filter head to rotatably couple the water filter; A filter coupling part provided in the filter head and having a first rotation axis for rotating the water filter; And a filter cover covering one side of the water filter, wherein the filter cover includes: a cover body mounted to the inner case; A rotation cover rotatably coupled to the cover body; And a second rotation shaft formed on the rotation cover and disposed at a position spaced apart from the first rotation shaft.

According to the proposed embodiment, there is an advantage that the volume of the filter assembly in the refrigerator can be minimized by allowing the water filter to be embedded in the refrigerator body.

Accordingly, there is an effect that the storage space in the refrigerator can be sufficiently secured.

In addition, since the water filter and the filter cover are rotatably provided based on different rotation centers, the filter operation space is sufficiently secured, so that the user can easily replace the filter.

In addition, since the filter cover is rotated at an angle greater than that of the water filter, the field of view of the portion where the water filter is mounted can be secured, and thus it is easy to determine whether the water filter is completely mounted. .

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings will be described a specific embodiment of the present invention. However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented, and those skilled in the art who understand the spirit of the present invention can easily suggest other embodiments within the scope of the same idea.

1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator provided with a filter assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention includes a main body 10 in which cold air is stored and a refrigerating chamber selectively installed at a front surface of the main body 10 to selectively open and close a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment, respectively. A door 11 and a freezer compartment door 12 are included.

Hereinafter, a side-by-side type refrigerator having a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment provided at left and right will be described as an example. However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited thereto, and it is apparent that the freezer is applicable to both a top mount refrigerator provided with an upper side of the refrigerator compartment or a bottom freezer type refrigerator provided with a freezer compartment below the refrigerator compartment.

In detail, the main body 10 includes a refrigerating chamber 13 in which a storage is stored refrigerated, and a freezing chamber 14 in which the storage is frozen. In addition, the refrigerating chamber 13 and the freezing chamber 14 space may be partitioned by the partition unit 15.

The compartment 15 may be filled with a heat insulator for insulation of the refrigerating chamber 13 and the freezing chamber 14.

In addition, the main body 10 includes an inner case 10a forming an outer appearance of the main body 10. The inner case 10a forms the inner walls of the refrigerating chamber 13 and the freezing chamber 14.

The refrigerator compartment 13 and the freezer compartment 14 may be provided with a plurality of shelves to keep food. In addition, the refrigerator compartment door 11 and the freezer compartment door 12 are provided with a plurality of storage baskets 16 for storing food. Here, the storage basket 16 may be stored in a long storage, such as a bottle.

Meanwhile, the refrigerating chamber 13 is provided with a filter assembly 100 for purifying water supplied from the outside. The filter assembly 100 is mounted to the inner case 10a.

The filter assembly 100 is arranged toward the depth direction of the refrigerating chamber 13, that is, the front and rear sides of the storage chamber. However, the arrangement direction of the filter assembly 100 is not limited to the above direction, and may be arranged in the horizontal direction toward the side of the storage compartment.

2 is a side view illustrating the filter assembly according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of FIG. 1.

2 and 3, the filter assembly 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a water filter 110 to purify water and a filter head detachably coupled to the water filter 110. 112 and a filter cover 120 provided outside the water filter 110 and the filter head 112.

In detail, the filter head 112, an inlet pipe 117 (see FIG. 4) to supply water to the water filter 110, and an outlet pipe 118 through which water purified by the water filter 110 flows out. 4) may be provided.

In addition, in front of the filter head 112, a head front portion 113 that forms the front appearance of the filter head 112 is provided, the filter assembly 100 is provided above the filter head 112 A fixing part 102 is provided to be fixed to the inner wall of the refrigerating chamber 113.

The filter head 112, the head front part 113, and the fixing part 102 may be integrally formed.

The water filter 110 may be coupled to the filter head 112 in a rotating manner. That is, the water filter 110 may be coupled to the filter head 112 by being rotated while being inserted into one end of the filter head 112.

On the other hand, the filter cover 120, the cover body 121 is arranged in the longitudinal direction to the outside of the water filter 110, and the rotation cover 122 is provided to be rotatable on the lower side of the cover body 121. ) Is included.

Here, the rotation cover 122 is provided to surround the lower portion of the water filter 110. Thus, the inner surface of the rotation cover 122 has a shape corresponding to the outer peripheral surface of the water filter 110, it may be formed longer than the length of the water filter 110.

On the other hand, the filter head 112 is formed with a first rotational center 112a that provides a rotational center of the water filter 110. In addition, the cover body 121 is provided with a second rotational center 121a that provides a rotation center of the rotation cover 122.

The first rotational center 112a and the second rotational center 121a are formed at different positions. The second rotational center 121a may be formed at a later side (left side of FIG. 2) than the first rotational center 112a.

As described above, since the water filter 110 and the rotation cover 122 are rotated based on the rotation centers 112a and 121a at different positions, the operation space of the water filter 110 may be more secured. .

In addition, there is an advantage that the field of view of the portion in which the water filter 110 is coupled to the filter head 112 may be further secured.

The rotation centers 112a and 121a will be described in detail later with reference to the accompanying drawings.

On the other hand, the water filter 110 may be mounted to be embedded in the inner case (10a). To this end, the inner case 10a is formed with a recess 10b recessed in a predetermined direction.

The filter assembly 100 may be fixed to the inner case 10a by bonding with a tape or fastening a fastening member (not shown). That is, the fixing part 102 may be bonded to one side of the inner case 10a or fastened by the fastening member.

However, as long as the filter assembly 100 can be fixed to the inner case 10a, the fixing method will not be limited to any one.

In addition, the cover body 121 is coupled to the inner case 10a. The cover body 121 may be coupled to the inner case 10a by an adhesive tape or a fastening member.

As described above, since the water filter 110 is mounted to be embedded in the inner case 10a, the volume of the filter assembly 100 in the refrigerating chamber 13 may be minimized.

In this case, the storage space of the refrigerating compartment 13 may be largely secured.

4 is a perspective view illustrating a mounting structure of a water filter according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III ′ of FIG. 4.

4 and 5, the water filter 110 according to the embodiment of the present invention is rotatably coupled to the filter head 112.

The filter head 112 may be provided with an inlet pipe 117 through which water is supplied to the purified water filter 110 and an outlet pipe 118 through which the purified water from the purified water filter 110 flows out.

In detail, the water filter 110 is inserted into the filter head 112. The filter coupling unit 115 is provided inside the filter head 112 to allow the water filter 110 to be rotatably coupled to the filter head 112.

The filter coupling unit 115 is provided with a first rotating shaft 115a for rotating the water filter 110. The first rotating shaft 115a may be provided at both sides of the filter coupling unit 115.

On the other hand, the filter head 112 is formed with a first rotational center 112a for receiving the first rotational shaft 115a. The first rotational center 112a is recessed in a predetermined direction from one side of the filter head 112.

Accordingly, the first rotation center 112a may be referred to as a "first accommodation groove" or "first insertion groove" of the first rotation shaft 115a. In addition, the first rotation shaft 115a may be referred to as a "first rotation protrusion" inserted into the first rotation center 112a.

The first rotational shaft 115a may be accommodated in the first rotational center 112a and rotated. In this process, the water filter 110 and the filter coupling unit 115 is rotated at the same time.

The water filter 110 may be coupled to the inside of the filter coupling unit 115. In the water filter 110, a fastening part 110b is formed to be coupled to the filter coupling part 115. The fastening part 110b may be formed in the shape of a screw thread.

In addition, the filter coupling portion 115 may be formed with a thread (not shown) corresponding to the fastening portion 110b.

By the above configuration, the water filter 110 may be coupled to or separated from the filter coupling unit 115 by a rotation method.

However, the coupling method of the water filter 110 is not limited thereto, and another method may be applied if the water filter 110 may be detachable from the filter coupling unit 115.

For example, a latch structure that can be engaged or released by a push method may be applied.

On the other hand, the inlet pipe 117 and the outlet pipe 118 is connected to the filter coupling portion 115, the water filter 110 is in communication with the inlet pipe 117 and the outlet pipe 118 is in communication. The ball 110c is formed.

When the water filter 110 is coupled to the filter coupling unit 115, water flowing through the inlet pipe 117 may be introduced into the water filter 110 through the communication hole (110c), the water purification Water purified by the filter 110 may be moved to the outlet pipe 118 through the communication hole (110c).

The filter head 112 may be provided with a first stop protrusion 112c for setting the rotational limit of the water filter 110. The first stop protrusion 112c may be formed at a position spaced a predetermined distance downward from the water filter 110.

The water filter 110 is limited to rotation by the first stop protrusion 112c and may be rotated by an angle of up to α.

6 is a view showing the structure of the filter cover according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV 'of Figure 6, Figure 8 is a cut along the line II-II' of FIG. It is a cross section.

6 to 8, the filter cover 120 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a cover main body 121 coupled to the inner case 10a and a lower side of the cover main body 121. Rotating cover 122 is included to be coupled.

In detail, the cover main body 121 is provided with a second rotational center 121a that provides a rotational center of the rotation cover 122. The second rotating center portion 121a is formed to have a shape recessed inside the cover body 121.

The rotation cover 122 is provided with a second rotation shaft 122a rotatably inserted into the second rotation center portion 121a. The second rotation shaft 122a may have a shape of a protrusion protruding outward from the rotation cover 122 so as to be inserted into the second rotation center 121a.

In summary, the second rotation center 121a may be referred to as a “second insertion groove” or “second accommodation groove” into which the second rotation shaft 122a is inserted, and the second rotation shaft 122a. May be referred to as a "second rotary protrusion" inserted into the second insertion groove.

Of course, the second rotation shaft 122a is a member separate from the first rotation shaft 115a and may be spaced apart from the first rotation shaft 115a by a predetermined distance.

The cover main body 121 may be provided with a second stop protrusion 121c for setting the rotational limit of the rotation cover 122. The second stop protrusion 121c may be formed at a position spaced apart from the rotation cover 122 by a predetermined distance.

The rotation cover 122 is limited to rotation by the second stop protrusion 121c and may be rotated by an angle of maximum β.

The angle of β is formed to be larger than the angle α of FIG. 4. Accordingly, the rotation angle of the rotation cover 122 may be larger than the rotation angle of the water filter 110.

In this case, since the operation space of the water filter 110 is sufficiently secured, the user may easily replace the water filter 110.

On the other hand, in front of the rotation cover 122, a locking hook 125 is provided to be inserted into the cover body 121 in a state in which the rotation cover 122 is closed.

In addition, the cover body 121 is provided with a locking groove 127 into which the locking hook 125 is inserted to be locked.

In detail, the locking hook 125 may have a ring shape. In addition, the engaging hook 125 may be elastically deformed in the process of being inserted into the engaging groove 127.

The locking hook 125 is formed with a bent portion 125a that is bent to form a ring shape, and a pressing portion 125b extending downward from the bent portion 125a.

The locking hook 125 is elastically deformed about the bent portion 125a in the process of being inserted into the locking groove 127, and when fully inserted into the locking groove 127, the locking hook 125 may return to its original position. .

In addition, the pressing unit 125b presses the inner surface of the locking groove 127, and accordingly, the locking portion 127 may be locked inside the locking groove 127.

A detachment process of the water filter assembly 100 according to the above configuration will be described.

The user may pull the locking hook 125 so that the rotation cover 122 is rotated downward. Then, the rotation cover 122 may be rotated by an angle of β.

Thereafter, when the water filter 110 is rotated downward, it may be rotated by an angle of α. In addition, the water filter 110 may be rotated to separate the water filter 110 from the filter coupling unit 115.

As described above, since the rotation center of the rotation cover 122 is formed on the rear side than the rotation center of the water filter 110 and the length of the rotation cover 122 is formed longer than the water filter 110, The rotation radius of the rotation cover 122 is formed larger than the rotation radius of the water filter 110.

In addition, since β is formed larger than α, an operation space required for replacing the purified water filter 110 may be secured.

1 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator provided with a filter assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a side view showing a filter assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II ′ of FIG. 1.

4 is a perspective view showing a mounting structure of the water filter according to the embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III 'of FIG. 4;

6 is a view showing the structure of a filter cover according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV ′ of FIG. 6.

8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II 'of FIG. 2;

Claims (12)

A main body 10 forming an appearance; A water filter 110 provided in the main body 10 for purifying water introduced into the refrigerator; A filter head 112 providing a first rotational center 112a to rotatably couple the water filter 110; A rotation cover 122 covering one side of the water filter 110 or the filter head 112; A cover body 121 is provided to provide a second rotational center 121a to rotatably couple the rotation cover 122. The first rotation center 112a and the second rotation center 121a are disposed at different positions so that the rotation cover 122 and the water filter 110 rotate with respect to different rotation centers 112a and 121a. However, the rotating cover 122, characterized in that the refrigerator can be rotated at an angle larger than the water filter (110). The method of claim 1, The second rotating center (121a) is a refrigerator, characterized in that formed on the rear side of the first rotating center (112a). The method of claim 1, The filter head 112 is provided with a filter coupling unit for detachably coupling the water filter (110). The method of claim 3, wherein The filter coupling unit 115 is formed with a first rotation shaft 115a for rotating the water filter 110, the first rotation shaft 115a is inserted into the first rotation center 112a. . The method of claim 1, And a second rotation shaft (122a) for rotation of the rotation cover (122), and the second rotation shaft (122a) is inserted into the second rotation center (121a). The method of claim 1, Refrigerator having a recessed portion (10b) is formed in the inner surface of the main body to be recessed in one direction for mounting the water filter (110). The method of claim 1, In the rotation cover 122, Refrigerator provided with a hook hook (125) is engaged with the cover body 121 in a state that the rotation cover 122 is closed. A main body 10 provided with an inner case 10a; A water filter 110 mounted on one side of the inner case 10a; A filter head 112 to allow the water filter 110 to be rotatably coupled; A filter coupling part 115 provided at the filter head 112 and having a first rotational axis 115a for rotating the water filter 110; And Includes a filter cover 120 to cover one side of the water filter 110, The filter cover 120, A cover body 121 mounted to the inner case 10a; A rotation cover 122 rotatably coupled to the cover body 121; And And a second rotation shaft (122a) formed on the rotation cover (122) and disposed at a position spaced apart from the first rotation shaft (115a). The method of claim 8, The filter head 112 is formed with a first insertion groove 112a into which the first rotation shaft 115a is inserted, and a second insertion into which the second rotation shaft 122a is inserted into the cover body 121. The refrigerator in which the groove 121a is formed. The method of claim 8, The inner case (10a) is formed with a depression (10b), the refrigerator (10) characterized in that the filter head (112) is fixed. The method of claim 8, The filter head 112 is provided with a first stop projection 112c for setting the rotational limit of the water filter 110, and the cover body 121 is provided with a first limiting the rotational limit of the rotational cover 122. Refrigerator provided with two stop projections 121c. The method of claim 8, The rotating cover 122 is characterized in that the refrigerator can be rotated at a larger rotation angle than the water filter (110).

Images