US20200011584A1

US20200011584A1 - Refrigerator and Support Device for Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: US20200011584A1
Application number: US16/450,145
Authority: US
Inventors: Dong Sun Kim
Original assignee: Daewoo Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: WiniaDaewoo Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-07-03
Filing date: 2019-06-24
Publication date: 2020-01-09
Also published as: KR20200004213A; CN110671862A

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a main body having one or more storage spaces; one or more doors configured to open and close at least one of the one or more storage spaces; a plurality of shelves in the one or more storage spaces; one or more wine shelves in the one or more storage spaces, configured to hold and/or store wine or a beverage; a cool air supply device configured to supply cool air and/or maintain at least one of the one or more storage spaces at a predetermined temperature; and a duct including a first cool air discharge port fixed to a rear face of the one or more storage spaces to receive the cool air from the cool air supply device and discharge the cool air. At least one of the one or more wine shelves includes a body having a size (e.g., a width) smaller than a width of at least one of the plurality of shelves, a space configured to hold and/or store the wine or the beverage, a flow path through which the cool air flows, a cool air inlet connected to the first cool air discharge port and configured to introduce the cool air into the flow path, and a second cool air discharge port configured to discharge the cool air from the flow path to the one or more storage spaces.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to a refrigerator and a shell for the refrigerator.

BACKGROUND

A refrigerator may be a device intended for storing food at a low temperature, and may be configured to freeze or refrigerate the food, depending on the type of food to be stored and/or the duration of storage. To this end, the refrigerator may include a cool air supply device with a cooling cycle implemented. The cool air supply device is configured such that a refrigerant undergoes the process of compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation to generate cool air as the refrigerant circulates in the cooling cycle. The cool air from an evaporator of the cool air supply device is supplied to the storage space of the refrigerator, and the cool air in the storage space of the refrigerator is circulated by convection so that the food in the refrigerator may be stored under the required temperature conditions. Generally, a main body of the refrigerator has a rectangular parallelepiped or cuboid shape, in which a front face is open. The inner part of the main body includes a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber. The front face of the main body is provided with a refrigerating chamber door and a freezing chamber door for selectively shielding the opening(s).
Such refrigerators may be classified into a Top-Mount type, in which the freezing chamber is above the refrigerating chamber, a Bottom-Freezer type, in which the freezing chamber is below the refrigerating chamber, and a Side-By-Side type, in which the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber are side-by-side. Meanwhile, in order to retrieve the food stored in the refrigerator, the user has to open the refrigerating chamber door or the freezing chamber door, whereby relatively warm air from outside the refrigerator may flow into the refrigerating chamber or the freezing chamber. The outside air may cause the temperature in the refrigerator to rise, and the cool air supply device may need to be activated to maintain a proper temperature.
The cool air from such a cool air supply device may be discharged through a multi-duct on the rear wall of the refrigerator and may circulate in the refrigerating chamber. However, in the conventional multi-duct, the cool air is discharged at a predetermined position, irrespective of the location of the food in the refrigerating chamber. Thus, there is a problem in that the cool air may not be efficiently supplied and/or circulated within the refrigerating chamber.
Further, since only cool air is supplied to the cool air discharge port of the multi-duct, there is a disadvantage in that it takes a long time to supply and circulate the cool air throughout the entire refrigerating chamber, and/or to cool the refrigerating chamber to a preset temperature (e.g., 4° C.).

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the disclosure advantageously solve the above problems and provide a refrigerator and a shelf for the refrigerator in which the time for supplying the cool air to and/or circulating the cool air throughout the entire interior of the refrigerator may be shortened.
Further, embodiments of the disclosure provide a refrigerator and a shelf for the refrigerator in which the cool air is efficiently supplied to and/or circulated throughout the entire interior of the refrigerator.
Further, embodiments of the disclosure provide a refrigerator and a shelf for the refrigerator which may increase space utilization in the refrigerator.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising a main body having one or more storage spaces; one or more doors, each configured to open and close at least one of the one or more storage spaces; a plurality of shelves in the one or more storage spaces; one or more wine shelves in the one or more storage spaces, configured to hold and/or store wine or a beverage; a cool air supply device configured to supply cool air and/or maintain at least one of the one or more storage spaces at a predetermined temperature; and a duct (e.g., a multi-duct) including a first cool air discharge port fixed to (e.g., a rear face of) the storage space to receive the cool air from the cool air supply device and discharge the cool air (e.g., directly or indirectly into the storage space), wherein at least one of the one or more wine shelves includes a body having a width smaller than a width of the plurality of shelves (e.g., smaller than a corresponding width of the interior of the refrigerating space), a space configured to hold and/or store the wine or the beverage, a flow path through which the cool air flows (e.g., inside the wine shelf), a cool air inlet (e.g., on one side of the wine shelf body) connected to the first cool air discharge port and configured to introduce the cool air into the flow path, and a second cool air discharge port (e.g., on another side of the wine shelf body) configured to discharge the cool air from the flow path to the one or more storage spaces.
The first cool air discharge port may be on a front face of the duct. The first cool air discharge port may be proximate or adjacent to an edge and/or a first side face of the duct.
Each of the wine shelves may independently be between first and second ones of the plurality of shelves, or above an uppermost one of the plurality of shelves, or below a lowermost one of the plurality of shelves.
A second side face of the body may include a plurality of third cool air discharge ports, and another (e.g., a third) side face of the body may be coupled with the inside face of the storage space.
Each of the plurality of shelves may have a dimension or size (e.g., a width) corresponding to an inner width of at least one of the one or more storage spaces, and the one or more wine shelves may have a dimension or size (e.g., a width) smaller than the inside width of the storage space.
The first cool air discharge port may extend towards the front (e.g., of the refrigerator, or into the corresponding storage space) and may fit into the cool air inlet.
The duct may have a length oriented in the vertical direction, and the plurality of first cool air discharge ports may be along the duct at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction.
The body may have a predetermined thickness and a convex shape (e.g., a lowermost surface of the body is convex).
The wine shelf may be detachably coupled (e.g., to a wall, a rear surface, a shelf, etc.) in the storage space.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shelf (or a set of shelves) for a refrigerator (e.g., for use in a storage space of the refrigerator) and configured to be coupled to a duct (e.g., configured to supply cool air from a cool air supply device in the refrigerator), comprising a plurality of shelves (e.g., storage shelves) having a size corresponding to a width of the storage space; and one or more wine shelves configured to be communicatively coupled to the duct and positioned between adjacent ones of the plurality of the (storage) shelves, above an uppermost one of the plurality of (storage) shelves, or below a lowermost one of the plurality of (storage) shelves, wherein the wine shelf includes a flow path configured to discharge the cool air from the duct to the storage space.
The wine shelf may include a body configured to hold and/or store the wine or the beverage, having a convex shape; a cool air inlet on a rear face of the body, configured to supply the cool air into the body; and a cool air discharge port on a first side face of the body, configured to discharge the cool air from the body.
The body may have an inner part containing the flow path of the cool air.
The body may have another (e.g., a second) side face configured to be coupled with an inside face of the storage space, and a plurality of cool air discharge ports on the first side face of the body.
The cool air discharge port(s) may be configured to supply the cool air to food on one of the plurality of (storage) shelves (e.g., below the wine shelf).
The cool air inlet may have dimensions configured to fit with a discharge port of the duct.
In a refrigerator and a refrigerator shelf according to embodiments of the disclosure, there is an advantage in that a rate of the cool air supplied to the entire interior of the refrigerator may be improved.
Further, there is an effect in that the cool air is efficiently supplied to the entire interior of the refrigerator.
Further, there is an effect in that space utilization in the refrigerator may be increased.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing a general configuration of a refrigerator;

FIG. 2 is a view showing a configuration of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the wine shelves, the rear wall or surface, and the duct in the refrigerator of FIGS. 2-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
Further, in the following description of the disclosure, detailed descriptions of known functions and configurations incorporated herein will be omitted when such descriptions may make the subject matter of the disclosure unclear.
Further, in the following description, it may be understood that the “front” or a “front direction” may be the direction toward the front face or side of the refrigerator (e.g., towards the outer surface of the door[s]), the “rear” or a “rear direction” may be the direction toward a rear face or side of the refrigerator (e.g., towards the side or surface of the refrigerator opposite from the outer surface of the door[s]), and a “left direction” and a “right direction” may be one side direction and the other side direction.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a general construction of a refrigerator. Specifically, a top-mount refrigerator is shown in FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 is for storing food in a low-temperature state, and may include a main body 10 having storage spaces 11 and 12 for one or more foods and at least one door 13 and 14 for opening and closing at least a part of the storage spaces 11 and 12. As an example, the main body 10 may have a refrigerating chamber 11 and a freezing chamber 12 as storage spaces, and a front face of the main body 10 may have a refrigerating chamber door 13 hingedly attached thereto or mounted thereon, configured to selectively close or shield the refrigerating chamber 11, and a freezing chamber door 14 configured to selectively close or shield the freezing chamber 12.
The refrigerator 1 has a structure in which the freezing chamber 12 is above the refrigerating chamber 11, and the cool air generated in the evaporator 17 in the rear of the main body 10 may be discharged into the freezing chamber 12 from the rear face of the freezing chamber 12.
The refrigerator 1 may include a cool air supply device to supply cool air through a cooling or refrigeration cycle to maintain the storage space at a predetermined temperature, and the cool air supply device may include a compressor, an expansion valve, an evaporator, a condenser, and the like.
The compressor and the expansion valve of the cool air supply device may be in the machine room on one side of the refrigerator 1. A refrigerant may be provided to the evaporator located behind the freezing chamber 12 and may generate the cool air by absorbing heat from air passing over the evaporator to evaporate the refrigerant.
The generated cool air may be discharged to the inner space of the freezing chamber 12 by a fan (see, e.g., the circle on the rear wall of the freezing chamber 12 and the fan in FIG. 3 behind a similar or identical location on the rear wall of the freezing chamber 212). In this case, a part of the cool air discharged by the fan may be guided to the refrigerating chamber 11 by a guide plate (not shown). The cool air guided by the guide plate may be supplied to the refrigerating chamber 12 through a cool air supply passage in a barrier defining the refrigerating chamber 11 and the freezing chamber 12 (e.g., at an interface between the refrigerating chamber 11 and the freezing chamber 12).
A plurality of shelves 15, a storage box or drawer, and the like for storing and keeping the food may be in the refrigerating chamber 11 and optionally, in the freezing chamber 12. The rear face of the doors 13 and 14 may include a plurality of shelves, baskets or pockets for storing food. A user may efficiently store the food in the storage space inside the refrigerator using the food storage mechanisms in the storage space such as the shelves 15, the storage box or drawer, the baskets or pockets, and the like.
Further, a wine shelf 15 a for storing wine, a beverage, water and the like may be on one side of the shelf 15. The wine shelf 15 a may be detachable from the shelf 15 and may have a curved or convex shape so that the wine, the beverage and the like may be stored easily.
The refrigerating chamber 11 may include a duct (e.g., a multi-duct, not shown) configured to discharge the cool air at a plurality of points. The multi-duct may be fixed to the rear face of the refrigerating chamber 11 to discharge the cool air through the cool air supply passage to the inside of the refrigerating chamber 11. To this end, a cool air inlet (not shown) may be above the multi-duct to be supplied with the cool air. Further, the multi-duct may have a length in the vertical direction and may discharge the cool air at the plurality of points along the vertical direction (e.g., between the storage drawer and the interface with the freezing chamber 12). Accordingly, the cool air from the cool air supply device may be supplied to the refrigerating chamber 11 through the duct.
The duct may include a fan assembly (not shown in FIG. 1) by which the temperature inside the refrigerating chamber 11 may be uniformly maintained by circulating the cool air inside the refrigerating chamber 11. The temperature inside the refrigerating chamber 11 may quickly achieve an appropriate (e.g., target) temperature using the cool air supplied to the inner part of the refrigerating chamber 11 and distributed by the fan.
FIG. 2 is a view showing a configuration of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator of FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a wine shelf and a duct suitable for the refrigerator of FIGS. 2-3.
Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the refrigerator 200 according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a duct (e.g., a multi-duct) 220, a plurality of shelves 230, and one or more wine shelves 240.
The duct 220 is fixed to a rear face of a refrigerating chamber 211 in a main body 210 of the refrigerator 200, and discharges the cool air into the refrigerating chamber 211. The duct 220 may include a plurality of first cool air discharge ports 221 and a plurality of second cool air discharge ports 222. Specifically, the duct 220 may have a length in the vertical direction and may include a plurality of first cool air discharge ports 221 and a plurality of second cool air discharge ports 222 spaced in the vertical direction and/or along the length of the duct.
The first cool air discharge port(s) 221 may be on the front face of the duct 220 and may extend in the front direction (i.e., towards the door). Specifically, the first cool air discharge port(s) 221 may be proximate or adjacent to a side edge and/or a side face of the duct 220. Accordingly, the cold air flowing in the duct 220 may be discharged to the front of the duct 220. In this embodiment, the duct 220 is in the back of the refrigerating chamber 211 as an example, but the position and shape of the duct 220 are not limited thereto. For example, the duct 220 may be in the freezing chamber 212, or may have a shape and/or a length oriented horizontally (i.e., in the left-right direction). In one embodiment, the refrigerator 200 may include two first cool air discharge ports 221. However, the number of the first cool air discharge ports 221 is not limited thereto. As an example, three or more first cool air discharge ports 221 may be provided on the front face of the duct 220.
The second cool air discharge port(s) 222 may be on the front face or side face of the duct 220. In this case, the second cool air discharge port(s) 222 may be at a position not covered by one of the shelves 230. Thus, the cool air may be discharged from the duct 220 into the refrigerating chamber 211.
A plurality of shelves 230 may be in the refrigerating chamber 211. Specifically, the shelves 230 may be connected to an inside face of the refrigerating chamber 211, optionally at one or more predetermined intervals. Further, the refrigerating chamber 211 may include one or more wine shelves 240. The wine shelf (shelves) 240 may be coupled to and/or communicate with the duct 220, and one or more of the wine shelves 240 may be between two of the plurality of shelves 230. Alternatively, one or more of the wine shelves 240 may be above the uppermost one of the shelves 230 or below the lowermost one of the shelves 230. In this case, wine or a beverage may be stored on one or more of the wine shelves 240.
Specifically, each wine shelf 240 may include a body 241 having a cool air flow path on the inside thereof, a cool air inlet 242 on the rear face of the body 241, and one or more third cool air discharge ports 243 on one side or end of the body 241. In this case, the wine shelf 240 may have a smaller size than the shelf or shelves 230, and when one side or end of the wine shelf 240 is coupled to the inside face (e.g., a side wall) of the refrigerating chamber 211, the other (e.g., opposite) side or end of the wine shelf 240 may not be in contact with another inside face of the refrigerating chamber 211. As an example, one or more of the shelves 230 may have a size corresponding to a width of the inside of the refrigerating chamber 211, and the wine shelf 240 may have a size (e.g., a width and/or length) smaller than the corresponding dimension(s) (i.e., the width and/or length) of the interior of the refrigerating chamber 211.
The body 241 defines a space in which the wine and/or beverage may be placed and/or held, and may include or define a flow path through which the cool air flows on the inside thereof. Specifically, the body 241 may have a predetermined thickness and may serve as a flow path for the cool air. In this case, the body 241 may have a downward convex shape so that the wine and the beverage may be held safely. Further, the side or end of the body 241 opposite from the third cool air discharge port(s) 243 may be coupled to an inside face of the refrigerating chamber 211. As an example, the body 241 may be screwed, clipped or riveted to the inside face of the refrigerating chamber 211 and may be removable from the refrigerating chamber 211.
The cool air inlet 242 may be on one side of the body 241. In this case, the cool air inlet 242 may have a shape corresponding to the first cool air discharge port 221 of the duct 220. Specifically, the cool air inlet 241 may communicate with the first cool air discharge port 221. Thus, the cool air discharged from the duct 220 through the first cool air discharge port 211 may be introduced into the body 241 of the wine shelf 240 in the refrigerating chamber 221 through the cool air inlet 242. In this embodiment, the duct 220 and the wine shelf 240 fit together as an example, but the combination of the duct 220 and the wine shelf 240 is not limited thereto. For example, the duct 220 and the wine shelf 240 may be coupled through a separate coupling member.
One or more third cool air discharge ports 243 may be on one side face of the body 241. The third cool air discharge port(s) 243 may discharge the cool air inside the body 241. Specifically, the third cool air discharge port(s) 243 may discharge the cool air from the flow path inside the body 241 to the refrigerating chamber 211. Thus, the cool air supplied from the duct 220 to the inner part of the body 241 may be discharged from the body 241 through the third cool air discharge ports 243. That is, the inner space of the body 241 of the wine shelf 240 may include or define a flow path for the cool air. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, three third cool air discharge ports 243 are on one side face of the body 241 as an example. However, the number and position of the third cool air discharge ports 243 are not limited thereto. As an example, four or more third cool air discharge ports 243 may be provided on the side face of the body 241. Alternatively, one or more of the third cool air discharge port(s) 243 may be on a lower surface (e.g., the convex surface) of the body 241.
Hereinafter, the operation and effect of the refrigerator 200 having the above-described structure will be described.
First, the duct 220 may be fixed on or to the rear face of the refrigerating chamber 211, and may receive cool air from an evaporator 217. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the cool air from the evaporator 217 is supplied to the duct 220 along a flow path behind one or more of the refrigerating and freezing chambers 211 and 212 as an example. However, according to one or more other embodiments, the refrigerator 200 may be configured such that cool air from the freezing chamber 212 may be supplied to the duct 220. Further, the duct 220 may include a plurality of first cool air discharge ports 221 extending towards the front of the refrigerator 200 (e.g., into the refrigerating chamber 211). In this case, the plurality of first cool air discharge ports 221 may be spaced by a predetermined interval along the vertical direction of the duct 220.
The first cool air discharge port(s) 221 may be coupled to the wine shelf or shelves 240. Specifically, the wine shelves 240 may include a body 241 having an empty inner part, one or more cool air inlets 242 in the body 241 and one or more third cool air discharge ports 243. In this case, one or more wine shelves 240 may be between adjacent ones of the plurality of shelves 230.
The body 241 of the wine shelf 240 may have a cool air inlet 242 on the rear face and a plurality of third cool air discharge ports 243 on one side. Specifically, the cool air inlet 242 of the wine shelf 240 may be coupled to and/or communicate with the first cool air discharge port 221 of the duct 220. In this case, the cool air inlet 242 may fit with the first cool air discharge port 221. Accordingly, the cool air discharged from the duct 220 may be introduced into the body 241 through the cool air inlet 242. Further, the cool air supplied into the body 241 may be discharged through the plurality of third cool air discharge ports 243 on the side face.
As the cool air is discharged from the side face of the wine shelf 240, the cool air may be provided to the food stored on one or more of the shelves 230 below the wine shelf 240.
Further, since the wine shelf 240 includes a flow path for the cool air, it is possible to efficiently supply the cool air to the entire interior of the refrigerator, thereby shortening the time for supplying the cool air to the inside of the refrigerator.
Further, since the wine shelf 240 is detachable from the refrigerating chamber 211, the inner space of the refrigerating chamber 211 may be efficiently used.
Further, since the wine shelf 240 includes a flow path for the cool air, the wine seated in the wine shelf 240 may be cooled more quickly and/or efficiently.
The foregoing detailed description illustrates the disclosure as an example. Further, the foregoing is intended to illustrate and explain embodiments of the disclosure, and the disclosure may be utilized in various other combinations, modifications and environments. That is, it is possible to be changed or modified within the scope of the concept of the disclosure in this specification, the scope of disclosure and the equivalent scope and/or the skill or knowledge of the disclosure. The embodiments described are intended to illustrate the best mode for carrying out the technical idea of the disclosure, and various modifications may be made to the specific applications and uses of the disclosure. Therefore, the detailed description is not intended to limit the disclosure to the disclosed embodiments. Further, the appended claims should be construed to include other embodiments.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body having one or more storage spaces;

one or more doors, each configured to open and close at least one of the one or more storage spaces;

a plurality of shelves in the one or more storage spaces;

one or more wine shelves in the one or more storage spaces, configured to hold and/or store wine or a beverage;

a cool air supply device configured to supply cool air and/or maintain at least one of the one or more storage spaces at a predetermined temperature; and

a duct including a first cool air discharge port fixed to a rear face of one of the one or more storage spaces to receive the cool air from the cool air supply device and discharge the cool air,

wherein at least one of the one or more wine shelves includes a body having a width smaller than a width of the plurality of shelves, a space configured to hold and/or store the wine or the beverage, a flow path through which the cool air flows, a cool air inlet connected to the first cool air discharge port to introduce the cool air into the flow path, and a second cool air discharge port configured to discharge the cool air from the flow path to the one or more storage spaces.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first cool air discharge port is on a front face of the duct.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the first cool air discharge port is proximate or adjacent to an edge and/or a first side face of the duct.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the one or more wine shelves are between adjacent ones of the plurality of shelves, above an uppermost one of the plurality of shelves, or below a lowermost one of the plurality of shelves.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the side face of the body includes a second side face having a plurality of the second cool air discharge ports, and a third side face coupled with an inside face of the one or more storage spaces.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of shelves have a size corresponding to an inside width of at least one of the one or more storage spaces, and the one or more wine shelves have a size smaller than the inside width of the storage space.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first cool air discharge port extends towards a front of the refrigerator and fits into the cool air inlet.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the duct has a length oriented in a vertical direction, and

the plurality of first cool air discharge ports are along the duct at a predetermined interval in the vertical direction.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the body has a predetermined thickness and a convex shape.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the one or more wine shelves are detachable.

11. A set of shelves for a refrigerator, configured to be coupled to a duct, comprising:

a plurality of storage shelves having a size corresponding to a width of an inside of a storage space in the refrigerator; and

one or more wine shelves configured to be communicatively coupled to the duct and positioned between adjacent ones of the plurality of storage shelves, above an uppermost one of the plurality of storage shelves, or below a lowermost one of the plurality of storage shelves,

wherein at least one of the one or more wine shelves includes a flow path configured to discharge cool air from the duct to the storage space.

12. The set of shelves according to claim 11, wherein each of the one or more wine shelves includes:

a body configured to hold the wine or beverage and having a convex shape;

a cool air inlet on a rear face of the body, configured to supply the cool air into the body; and

a cool air discharge port on one side face of the body, configured to discharge the cool air from the body.

13. The set of shelves according to claim 12, wherein the body has an inner part containing a flow path for the cool air.

14. The set of shelves according to claim 12, wherein the body has a second side face configured to be coupled with an inside face of the storage space.

15. The set of shelves according to claim 14, wherein the body includes a plurality of the cool air discharge ports on the first side face of the body.

16. The set of shelves according to claim 12, wherein the cool air discharge port is configured to supply the cool air to food stored on one of the plurality of storage shelves.

17. The set of shelves according to claim 12, wherein the cool air inlet has dimensions configured to fit with a discharge port of the duct.