WO2023033305A1

WO2023033305A1 - Refrigerator and home appliance

Info

Publication number: WO2023033305A1
Application number: PCT/KR2022/007107
Authority: WO
Inventors: 주용우; 박호상; 김태균; 박완수; 신연태
Original assignee: 삼성전자주식회사
Priority date: 2021-09-03
Filing date: 2022-05-18
Publication date: 2023-03-09
Also published as: KR20230034508A

Abstract

A refrigerator may comprise a first refrigerator including a first cabinet, and a second refrigerator including a second cabinet and operating independently from the first refrigerator. A first connector can be installed on the first cabinet and a second connector can be installed on the second cabinet so as to correspond to the first connector. The second connector may be provided to be coupled to the first connector, such that the first cabinet is allowed to move with respect to the second cabinet in a first direction and is restrained from moving with respect to the second cabinet in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, when the second connector is coupled to the first connector.

Description

Refrigerators and Appliances

The present disclosure relates to refrigerators and home appliances, and more particularly, to refrigerators and home appliances including a bracket for maintaining a distance between a pair of refrigerators and home appliances disposed side by side.

A refrigerator is a device that keeps food fresh by including a main body having a storage compartment and a cold air supply system for supplying cold air to the storage compartment. The storage compartment includes a refrigerating compartment maintained at approximately 0 to 5 degrees Celsius to refrigerate food, and a freezer compartment maintained at approximately 0 to 30 degrees Celsius to freeze and store food. In general, the storage compartment is provided so that the front surface is opened for food intake and output, and the open front surface of the storage compartment is opened and closed by a door.

Refrigerators can be classified into types according to the shape of the storage compartment and the door. A TMF (Top Mounted Freezer) type refrigerator in which the storage compartment is partitioned vertically by horizontal partition walls to form a freezing compartment on the upper side and a refrigerating compartment on the lower side, and It can be classified as a BMF (Bottom Mounted Freezer) type refrigerator in which a refrigerating chamber is formed and a freezing chamber is formed on the lower side. In addition, there is a SBS (Side by Side) type refrigerator in which a storage compartment is partitioned left and right by vertical partition walls, a freezing compartment is formed on one side, and a refrigerating compartment is formed on the other side. There is a French Door Refrigerator (FDR) type refrigerator in which a freezing chamber is formed on the lower side and the refrigerating chamber is opened and closed by a pair of doors.

Recently, appearances of various home appliances, including refrigerators, are prepared to have a sense of unity with each other. In this case, a sense of unity and aesthetics can be improved by arranging the plurality of home appliances side by side rather than spaced apart from each other.

However, if the distance between a plurality of home appliances arranged side by side changes from time to time, the effect of improving the sense of unity and aesthetics may deteriorate. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to couple a plurality of home appliances arranged side by side with each other.

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a refrigerator and home appliance including a bracket provided to maintain a distance between a pair of refrigerators and home appliances disposed side by side.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a refrigerator and a home appliance that do not require rear access when either one of a pair of refrigerators and home appliances connected to each other is drawn forward.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a refrigerator and a home appliance including a bracket that allows front and rear movement of the other one of a pair of refrigerators and home appliances connected to each other and limits lateral movement.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a refrigerator and home appliance including a bracket capable of coupling and separating rear ends of a pair of refrigerators and home appliances without a separate fastening member.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigerator includes a first refrigerator including a first cabinet, a second refrigerator including a second cabinet, and provided to operate independently of the first refrigerator, and coupled to the first cabinet. a first connector coupled to the second cabinet and a second connector provided to be coupled to the first connector, wherein the first connector and the second connector are coupled to each other; Movement in a first direction relative to the second cabinet and in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and movement of the second cabinet in the first direction and the second direction relative to the first cabinet are permitted. movement of the first cabinet relative to the second cabinet in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions based on the first connector and the second connector being coupled to each other; Movement of the second cabinet relative to the first cabinet in the third direction may be restricted.

Based on the first and second refrigerators, the first direction is a forward direction, the second direction is a backward direction, and the third direction is a left direction. Or it may be in the right direction.

The first connector and the second connector may be coupled to each other so as to maintain a distance between the first cabinet and the second cabinet in a left-right direction.

The first connector may be coupled to an upper surface of the first cabinet, and the second connector may be coupled to an upper surface of the second cabinet.

The first connector may be coupled to one side of the rear end of the first cabinet, and the second connector may be coupled to the other side of the rear end of the second cabinet to correspond to the first connector.

When the first connector and the second connector are coupled, the first connector is moved relative to the second cabinet in the first direction or in the second direction so that the second connector and the second connector are connected. The second connector may be provided to be separated from the first connector by moving the second cabinet in the first direction or moving in the second direction with respect to the first cabinet.

When the first connector and the second connector are separated, the first connector moves relative to the second cabinet in the first direction or in the second direction so that the second connector is connected to the second connector. The second connector may be coupled to the first connector by moving the second cabinet in the first direction or moving in the second direction with respect to the first cabinet.

The first connector includes a first bracket, the first bracket includes a first guide rib and a second guide rib provided to guide a coupling position of the first bracket to the first cabinet, The first guide rib may limit a movement range of the first bracket in the first direction with respect to the first cabinet by contacting the rear surface of the first cabinet.

The second guide rib may limit a movement range of the first bracket relative to the first cabinet in the third direction by contacting one side surface of the first cabinet.

The second connector includes a second bracket, the second bracket includes a third guide rib and a fourth guide rib provided to guide a coupling position of the second bracket to the second cabinet, The third guide rib may limit a movement range of the second bracket with respect to the second cabinet in the first direction by contacting the rear surface of the second cabinet.

The fourth guide rib moves in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction of the second bracket with respect to the second cabinet by contacting one side surface of the second cabinet facing the one side surface of the first cabinet. range of movement can be limited.

The first connector includes a first bracket including a first interference protrusion, the second connector includes a second bracket, and the second bracket comprises the second bracket relative to the first bracket. It may include a second interference protrusion that restricts the movement of the second bracket in the third direction by being caught on the first interference protrusion when moving in three directions.

The first interference projection and the second interference projection do not interfere with each other based on movement of the first bracket or the second bracket in the first direction or the second direction with respect to the second bracket or the first bracket. Arrangements may be made to avoid it.

The first bracket may include a first groove into which the second interference protrusion is inserted.

The second bracket may include a second groove into which the first interference protrusion is inserted.

The first interference protrusion may be inserted into the second groove, and the second interference protrusion may be provided to be inserted into the first groove.

Movement of the first bracket relative to the second bracket in the third direction may be restricted based on the insertion of the first interference protrusion into the second groove.

Based on the movement of the first bracket relative to the second bracket in the first direction or the second direction, the first interference protrusion is withdrawn from the second groove, and is attached to the second bracket from the first bracket. Movement in the third direction may be allowed.

Movement of the second bracket relative to the first bracket in the third direction may be limited based on the insertion of the second interference protrusion into the first groove.

Based on the movement of the second bracket in the first direction or the second direction with respect to the first bracket, the second interference protrusion is drawn out from the first groove, and is attached to the first bracket of the second bracket. Movement in the third direction may be allowed.

When the first interference projection and the second interference projection interfere with each other, the first interference projection and the second interference projection may be positioned between the side surfaces of the first cabinet and the second cabinet facing each other. can

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a home appliance includes a first home appliance including a first cabinet, a second home appliance including a second cabinet, a first connector extending from the first cabinet, and a first connector extending from the second cabinet. and a second connector extended and coupled to the first connector, wherein the first connector and the second connector are connected to the first cabinet and the second connector based on a coupling between the first connector and the second connector. Movement of the second cabinet in a first direction and in a second direction opposite to the first direction is allowed, and the first connector and the second connector are connected based on the coupling of the first connector and the second connector. Restrict movement of the first cabinet and the second cabinet in a third direction and a fourth direction opposite to the third direction, and the third direction may be perpendicular to the first and second directions. .

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a refrigerator and home appliance including a bracket provided to maintain a gap between a pair of refrigerators and home appliances disposed side by side.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a refrigerator and a home appliance that do not require rear access when either one of a pair of refrigerators and home appliances connected to each other is drawn forward.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a refrigerator and home appliance including a bracket allowing forward and backward movement of the other one of a pair of refrigerators and home appliances connected to each other and limiting lateral movement.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a refrigerator and home appliance including a bracket capable of coupling and separating rear ends of a pair of refrigerators and home appliances without a separate fastening member.

1 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a pair of home appliances are arranged side by side according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part A of FIG. 1 .

3 is a view showing the first bracket and the second bracket shown in FIG. 2 from another angle.

4 is a view showing a state in which the first bracket moves forward in FIG. 2;

5 is a view showing a state in which the second bracket moves forward in FIG. 2;

6 is a front view of a first bracket and a second bracket shown in FIG. 2;

7 is a bottom perspective view of the first bracket shown in FIG. 2;

8 is a bottom perspective view of the second bracket shown in FIG. 2;

9 is a view showing a first bracket and a second bracket in a refrigerator and a home appliance according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a view showing the first bracket and the second bracket shown in FIG. 9 from another angle.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a state in which the first bracket moves forward in FIG. 9 .

12 is a front view of the first bracket and the second bracket shown in FIG. 9;

The embodiments described in this specification and the configurations shown in the drawings are only one preferred example of the disclosed invention, and there may be various modifications that can replace the embodiments and drawings in this specification at the time of filing of the present application.

In addition, the same reference numerals or numerals presented in each drawing in this specification indicate parts or components that perform substantially the same function.

In addition, terms used in this specification are used to describe embodiments, and are not intended to limit and/or limit the disclosed invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this specification, terms such as "include" or "have" are intended to indicate that there is a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, but one or more other features It does not preclude in advance the existence or addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

In addition, terms including ordinal numbers such as “first” and “second” used herein may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms, and the terms It is used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, a first element may be termed a second element, and similarly, a second element may be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The term “and/or” includes any combination of a plurality of related recited items or any one of a plurality of related recited items.

Meanwhile, the terms "front", "rear", "left", and "right" used in the following description are defined based on the drawings, and the shape and location of each component are not limited by these terms.

Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification, up, down, left, right, front, and rear directions are based on directions indicated in each drawing.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a pair of home appliances may be refrigerators 1 and 2 having the same structure and including one

door

30 and 40 . A pair of home appliances is not limited to the type of product. A pair of home appliances may include, for example, a refrigerator and a clothes care machine. A pair of home appliances may include a first refrigerator and a second refrigerator having different structures. Also, the pair of home appliances may include other home appliances other than the refrigerator and the clothes care machine. That is, the type of home appliance is not limited.

Hereinafter, a pair of refrigerators 1 and 2 will be described as an example of a pair of home appliances. The pair of refrigerators 1 and 2 may include a first refrigerator 1 and a second refrigerator 2 . The first refrigerator 1 and the second refrigerator 2 may be provided to operate independently. The first refrigerator 1 may include a first cabinet 10 and a first door 30 rotatably coupled with respect to the first cabinet 10, and the second refrigerator 2 may include a second cabinet (20) and a second door (40) rotatably coupled to the second cabinet (20).

Referring to FIG. 1 , the first refrigerator 1 and the second refrigerator 2 may be arranged side by side. If the first refrigerator 1 and the second refrigerator 2 are simply arranged side by side, the distance between the first refrigerator 1 and the second refrigerator 2 (g, see FIG. 2) may change. This is because the first refrigerator 1 and the second refrigerator 2 are not structurally constrained. When the distance between the first refrigerator (1) and the second refrigerator (2) changes because the first refrigerator (1) and the second refrigerator (2) are not structurally coupled, the pair of refrigerators (1, 2) form a sense of unity. Failure to do so may result in reduced aesthetics and user satisfaction.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the first refrigerator 1 may include the first bracket 100 and the second refrigerator 2 may include the second bracket 200 . In this specification, the first bracket 100 may be referred to as the first connector 100 or the first coupler 100, and the second bracket 200 may be referred to as the second connector 200 or the second coupler 200. can be referred to. When the first bracket 100 is coupled to the second bracket 200, the first refrigerator 1 and the second refrigerator 2 can be structurally paired. Specifically, the distance g between the first refrigerator 1 and the second refrigerator 2 may be maintained. When the distance g between the first refrigerator 1 and the second refrigerator 2 is maintained by structurally pairing the first refrigerator 1 and the second refrigerator 2, the pair of refrigerators 1, 2) can provide a sense of unity in appearance, and furthermore, can improve aesthetics. Also, user satisfaction may be improved.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the first bracket 100 and the second bracket 200 may be separated from each other without a separate fastening member. When the first bracket 100 and the second bracket 200 are separated, the pairing of the first refrigerator 1 and the second refrigerator 2 can be released. That is, the first refrigerator 1 and the second refrigerator 2 can move without interfering with each other. Since the first bracket 100 and the second bracket 200 can be separated without a separate fastening member, only the first refrigerator 1 moves forward for repair or only the second refrigerator 2 moves forward for repair. can move As a result, the time and manpower required for product repair can be significantly reduced.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part A of FIG. 1 . 3 is a view showing the first bracket and the second bracket shown in FIG. 2 from another angle.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 , the first bracket 100 and the second bracket 200 may be coupled to each other. The first bracket 100 and the second bracket 200, when coupled to each other, allow movement in the first and second directions relative to each other, and in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions. It may be provided to limit movement to. Hereinafter, a first direction may indicate a forward direction based on the front of the refrigerator, a second direction may indicate a backward direction based on the rear of the refrigerator, and a third direction may indicate a refrigerator It may indicate a left direction or a right direction based on both sides of .

When the first bracket 100 and the second bracket 200 are coupled, movement of the first bracket 100 relative to the second bracket 200 in the left and right directions is restricted. Specifically, the first bracket 100 is restricted from moving away from the second bracket 200 in the left and right directions. This is because the first interference protrusion 140 and the second interference protrusion 240 come into contact with each other and are caught. Similarly, when the first bracket 100 and the second bracket 200 are coupled, movement of the second bracket 200 in the left and right directions with respect to the first bracket 100 is restricted.

As described above, when the first bracket 100 and the second bracket 200 are coupled to each other, movement in the left and right directions is restricted, so that the first cabinet 10 and the second cabinet 20 can be constrained to each other. there is. Since the first bracket 100 is installed to be fixed to the first cabinet 10 and the second bracket 200 is installed to be fixed to the second cabinet 20, the first bracket 100 and the second bracket 200 Due to the restriction of , the first cabinet 10 and the second cabinet 20 may be restrained. At this time, the movement of the first cabinet 10 and the second cabinet 20 in the left-right direction is restricted, but the movement in the front-back direction is not restricted.

When the first bracket 100 and the second bracket 200 are coupled, the movement of the first bracket 100 relative to the second bracket 200 in forward and backward directions is not restricted. In other words, movement of the first bracket 100 in the forward and backward directions relative to the second bracket 200 is permitted. This is because the first and

second interference projections

140 and 240 are provided to contact each other when moving in the left and right directions, and are provided so as not to interfere with each other when moving in the forward and backward directions. Similarly, when the first bracket 100 and the second bracket 200 are coupled, the movement of the second bracket 200 relative to the first bracket 100 in the front-back direction is not restricted.

4 is a view showing a state in which the first bracket moves forward in FIG. 2; 5 is a view showing a state in which the second bracket moves forward in FIG. 2;

Referring to FIG. 4 , even when the first bracket 100 and the second bracket 200 are coupled, the first bracket 100 can move forward relative to the second bracket 200 . That is, the forward movement of the first bracket 100 relative to the second bracket 200 is not limited.

Referring to FIG. 5 , even when the first bracket 100 and the second bracket 200 are coupled, the second bracket 200 can move forward with respect to the first bracket 100 . That is, the forward movement of the second bracket 200 relative to the first bracket 100 is not restricted.

Conventionally, when structurally combining or separating a pair of home appliances, a separate structure and process such as screw fastening and separation were required. For example, conventionally, in order to connect the rear side of the first home appliance and the rear side of the second home appliance, one side of the bracket is coupled to the rear surface of the first home appliance, and the other side of the bracket is coupled to the rear surface of the second home appliance. bonded to. As a result, the bracket and the rear surface of the first home appliance and the bracket and the rear surface of the second appliance are coupled through a fastening member such as a screw.

Due to the above structure, conventionally, when moving any one of the structurally coupled first and second household appliances forward, it is necessary to approach the first and second household appliances to the rear and separate the fastening member. did. In general, after a pair of home appliances are structurally coupled, access to the rear of the pair of home appliances is very poor because the rear is located in a predetermined closed space. For this reason, after the first home appliance and the second home appliance are all drawn forward, the fastening member has to be separated, and the first home appliance must be replaced or repaired, or the second home appliance must be replaced or repaired.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a process of coupling or separating a separate fastening member may be omitted in combining and separating the first refrigerator 1, which is a first home appliance, and the second refrigerator 2, which is a second home appliance. can As will be described later, when installing the first bracket 100 to the first cabinet 10 and when installing the second bracket 200 to the second cabinet 20, coupling using a fastening member is required. Coupling and separation between the bracket 100 and the second bracket 200 do not require a separate fastening member. That is, the second refrigerator 2 can be positioned next to the first refrigerator 1 so that the lateral movement is restricted without separately coupling the rear of the first refrigerator 1 and the rear of the second refrigerator 2. There is, and the first refrigerator (1) may be located next to the second refrigerator (2). Through this, it is possible to reduce the time and manpower required when arranging and combining the first and second household appliances side by side, as well as when moving one of the first and second household appliances coupled together forward. The time and manpower required can be drastically reduced.

6 is a front view of a first bracket and a second bracket shown in FIG. 2; 7 is a bottom perspective view of the first bracket shown in FIG. 2; 8 is a bottom perspective view of the second bracket shown in FIG. 2;

Hereinafter, structures of the first bracket 100 and the second bracket 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8 .

Referring to FIG. 7 , the first bracket 100 includes a first body 110 provided to be coupled to the upper surface (11, see FIG. 3) of the first cabinet 10, and a first body 110 of the first body 110. It may include a first guide rib 130 and a second guide rib 120 provided to guide a coupling position with respect to the cabinet 10 , and a first interference protrusion 140 . In addition, the first bracket 100 includes a first connection portion 141 connecting the first interference protrusion 140 and the first body 110, the first interference protrusion 140 and the first connection portion 141, and the first connection portion 141. A first groove 150 formed by one body 110 may be included.

The first body 110 may be coupled to the upper surface 11 of the first cabinet 10 . The first body 110 may include first to third fastening holes 111 , 112 , and 113 provided to pass through the first body 110 vertically. A fastening member such as a screw may be fastened to the first to third fastening holes 111, 112, and 113. Specifically, the fastening member (not shown) may be coupled to the upper surface 11 of the first cabinet 10 through the first to third fastening holes 111 , 112 , and 113 . The fastening member passes through the first to third fastening holes 111, 112, and 113 and is coupled to the upper surface 11 of the first cabinet 10, so that the first bracket 100 is attached to the first cabinet 10. Can be installed or combined.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a separate fastening hole may not be provided in the upper surface 11 of the first cabinet 10 . As will be described later, after the first bracket 100 is positioned at a predetermined coupling position using the first guide rib 130 and the second guide rib 120, the fastening member moves through the first fastening hole to the third fastening hole. By passing through (111, 112, 113) and being coupled to the first cabinet (10), the first bracket (100) can be installed in the first cabinet (10).

The first bracket 100 may include a first guide rib 130 and a second guide rib 120 .

The first guide rib 130 may be provided to limit a movement range of the first bracket 100 in the forward and backward directions with respect to the first cabinet 10 . The first guide rib 130 may extend downward to contact the rear surface 13 (see FIG. 3 ) of the first cabinet 10 . When the first guide rib 130 comes into contact with the rear surface 13 of the first cabinet 10, the coupling position of the first bracket 100 in the front-back direction can be determined.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first guide rib 130 may be formed to extend downward from one side of the first body 110 .

The second guide rib 120 may be provided to limit a movement range of the first bracket 100 in the left and right directions with respect to the first cabinet 10 . The second guide rib 120 may extend downward to contact the side surface 12 (see FIG. 3 ) of the first cabinet 10 . When the second guide rib 120 contacts the side surface 12 of the first cabinet 10, the coupling position of the first bracket 100 in the left-right direction can be determined.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second guide rib 120 may be formed by extending downward from one end of the rib connection part 121 extending and bending from the other side of the first body 110 .

When the first guide rib 130 and the second guide rib 120 come into contact with the rear surface 13 and the side surface 12 of the first cabinet 10, the first bracket 100 is positioned in a coupled position. do. When the first bracket 100 is positioned at the coupled position, as described above, the first bracket 100 may be installed to the first cabinet 10 using the fastening member.

The first bracket 100 may include a first interference protrusion 140 . The first interference protrusion 140 may be formed at an end of the first connection portion 141 extending from the first body 110 . The first interference protrusion 140 and the second guide rib 120 may form two parallel surfaces. The first interference protrusion 140 , the first connection portion 141 , and the first body 110 may form a first groove 150 . When the first bracket 100 is installed in the first cabinet 10, the first groove 150 may be opened in the forward and backward directions. The first groove 150 may be provided so that the first body 110 and the first interference protrusion 140 are disposed in the left and right directions when the first bracket 100 is installed in the first cabinet 10 . A second interference protrusion 240 to be described later may be inserted into the first groove 150 .

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the lower surface of the first groove 150 may be provided to be opened. In other words, the first groove 150 and the first interference protrusion 140 may be formed by recessing a part of the lower surface of the first connection part 141 upward.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the second bracket 200 includes a second body 210 provided to be coupled to an upper surface 21 (see FIG. 3 ) of the second cabinet 20 , and a second body 210 of the second body 210 . It may include a third guide rib 230 and a fourth guide rib 220 provided to guide a coupling position with respect to the cabinet 20 , and a second interference protrusion 240 . In addition, the second bracket 200 includes a second connection portion 241 connecting the second interference protrusion 240 and the second body 210, the second interference protrusion 240 and the second connection portion 241, and the second connection portion 241. A second groove 250 formed by the two bodies 210 may be included.

The second body 210 may be coupled to the upper surface 21 of the second cabinet 20 .

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the second body 210 includes a first body portion 211 including a fourth fastening hole 214, a fifth fastening hole 215 and a sixth fastening hole 216 It may include a second body portion 212 including a, and a third body portion 213 connecting the first body portion 211 and the second body portion 212. The first body part 211 and the second body part 212 may be provided to contact the top surface 21 of the second cabinet 20, and the third body part 213 may be of the second cabinet 20. It may be provided to be spaced apart from the upper surface (21).

A fastening member such as a screw may be fastened to the fourth to sixth fastening holes 214 , 215 , and 216 . Specifically, the fastening member (not shown) may be coupled to the upper surface 21 of the second cabinet 20 through the fourth to sixth fastening holes 214 , 215 , and 216 . The second bracket 200 is attached to the second cabinet 20 as the fastening member passes through the fourth to sixth fastening holes 214, 215, and 216 and is coupled to the upper surface 21 of the second cabinet 20. Can be installed or combined.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a separate fastening hole may not be provided on the upper surface 21 of the second cabinet 20 . As will be described later, after the second bracket 200 is positioned at a predetermined coupling position using the third guide rib 230 and the fourth guide rib 220, the fastening member moves through the fourth to sixth fastening holes. The second bracket 200 can be installed in the second cabinet 20 by passing through

points

214 , 215 , and 216 and being coupled to the second cabinet 20 .

The second bracket 200 may include a third guide rib 230 and a fourth guide rib 220 .

The third guide rib 230 may be provided to limit a movement range of the second bracket 200 in the forward and backward directions with respect to the second cabinet 20 . The third guide rib 230 may extend downward to contact the rear surface 23 (see FIG. 3 ) of the second cabinet 20 . When the third guide rib 230 contacts the rear surface 23 of the second cabinet 20, the coupling position of the second bracket 200 in the front-back direction can be determined.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the third guide rib 230 includes a first portion 231 extending downward from one side of the first body portion 211 and one side of the second body portion 212 . It may include a second portion 232 formed by extending downward from.

The fourth guide rib 220 may be provided to limit the movement range of the second bracket 200 in the left and right directions with respect to the second cabinet 20 . The fourth guide rib 220 may extend downward to contact the side surface 22 (see FIG. 3 ) of the second cabinet 20 . When the fourth guide rib 220 contacts the side surface 22 of the second cabinet 20, the coupling position of the second bracket 200 in the left-right direction can be determined.

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the fourth guide rib 220 may be formed to extend downward from one side of the first body portion 211 . The fourth guide rib 220 may be provided to be connected to the first part 231 of the third guide rib 230 .

When the third guide rib 230 and the fourth guide rib 220 come into contact with the rear surface 23 and the side surface 22 of the second cabinet 20, the second bracket 200 is positioned in a coupled position. do. When the second bracket 200 is positioned at the coupled position, as described above, the second bracket 200 can be installed to the first cabinet 20 using the fastening member.

The second bracket 200 may include a second interference protrusion 240 . The second interference protrusion 240 may be formed at an end of the second connection portion 241 extending from the second body 210 . The second interference protrusion 240 and the fourth guide rib 220 may form two parallel surfaces. The second interference protrusion 240 , the second connection portion 241 , and the second body 210 may form a second groove 250 . When the second bracket 200 is installed in the second cabinet 20, the second groove 150 may be opened in the forward and backward directions. The second groove 250 may be provided so that the second body 210 and the second interference protrusion 240 are disposed in the left and right directions when the second bracket 200 is installed in the second cabinet 20 . The first interference protrusion 140 may be inserted into the second groove 250 .

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the upper surface of the second groove 250 may be provided to be open. In other words, the second groove 250 and the second interference protrusion 240 may be formed by partially recessing the upper surface of the second connection portion 241 downward.

Referring to FIG. 6 , in the first bracket 100 and the second bracket 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first interference protrusion 140 and the second interference protrusion 240 form the first cabinet 10. It may be provided to be positioned between the side surface 22 of the second cabinet 20 and the side surface 22 of the second cabinet 20 . Specifically, when the first interference protrusion 140 and the second interference protrusion 240 interfere with each other, the first interference protrusion 140 and the second interference protrusion 240 form the surface of the first cabinet 10 facing each other. It may be located between the side surface 12 and the side surface 22 of the second cabinet 20 (between dotted lines in FIG. 6 ).

According to this structure, when the first bracket 100 and the first cabinet 10 are drawn out or moved forward of the second bracket 200 and the second cabinet 20, the first interference of the first bracket 100 The protrusion 140 and the first connection portion 141 may not interfere with a structure located on the upper surface 21 of the second cabinet 20 .

Similarly, when the second bracket 200 and the second cabinet 20 are drawn out or moved forward of the first bracket 100 and the first cabinet 10, the second interference projection 240 of the second bracket 200 ) and the second connection portion 241 may not interfere with a structure located on the upper surface 21 of the first cabinet 10 .

9 is a view showing a first bracket and a second bracket in a refrigerator and a home appliance according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 10 is a view showing the first bracket and the second bracket shown in FIG. 9 from another angle. FIG. 11 is a view showing a state in which the first bracket moves forward in FIG. 9 . 12 is a front view of the first bracket and the second bracket shown in FIG. 9;

Hereinafter, the first bracket 300 and the second bracket 400 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12 .

Description of the same structure as the first bracket 100 and the second bracket 200 will be omitted.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the first bracket 300 includes the first body 110, the first guide rib 130, and the second guide of the first bracket 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 The first body 310, the first guide rib 330, the second guide rib 320, the rib connection part 321 and the first body 310 identical to the rib 120, the rib connection part 121 and the first connection part 141. A connection part 341 may be included.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the second bracket 400 includes the second body 220, the third guide rib 230, and the fourth guide of the second bracket 200 shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 The rib 220 and the second connection portion 241 may include the same second body 420 , third guide rib 430 , fourth guide rib 420 , and second connection portion 441 .

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the first bracket 300 may include the first interference protrusion 340 . When the first interference protrusion 340 interferes with the second interference protrusion 440, at least a portion (the portion protruding to the right of the right dotted line in FIG. 12) is on the upper side of the upper surface 21 of the second cabinet 20. It can be arranged to be positioned.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the second bracket 400 may include a second interference protrusion 440 having a cylindrical shape. When the second interference protrusion 440 interferes with the first interference protrusion 340, at least a portion (the portion protruding to the left of the left dotted line in FIG. 12) is on the upper side of the upper surface 11 of the first cabinet 10. It can be arranged to be positioned.

According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the second interference protrusion 440 may be provided in a cylindrical shape, and the first interference protrusion 340 is a depression formed in an arc shape to correspond to the second interference protrusion 440. (not shown) may be included. At least a portion of the second interference protrusion 440 may be inserted into the recessed portion. According to this structure, the first interference protrusion 340 and the second interference protrusion 440 can be more stably coupled. Accordingly, when the first cabinet 10 is moved to the right, the second cabinet 20 can stably move to the right together with the first cabinet 10 . Similarly, when the second cabinet 20 is moved to the left, the first cabinet 10 can stably move to the left together with the second cabinet 20 .

Meanwhile, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the

first brackets

100 and 300 may be coupled to one side of the rear end of the first cabinet 10, and the

second brackets

200 and 400 may be coupled to the second cabinet 20. Can be coupled to the other side of the rear end of. Since the

first brackets

100 and 300 and the

second brackets

200 and 400 are coupled to each other, movement in the left and right directions can be restricted so that they do not move away from each other in the left and right directions. On the other hand, even though the

first brackets

100 and 300 and the

second brackets

200 and 400 are coupled to each other, movement in the forward and backward directions may not be restricted. The

first brackets

100 and 300 and the

second brackets

200 and 400 may maintain a left-right distance between the rear side of the first cabinet 10 and the rear side of the second cabinet 20 .

A separate bracket different from the

first brackets

100 and 300 and the

second brackets

200 and 400 may be provided to couple the front side of the first cabinet 10 and the front side of the second cabinet 20 . In addition, a separate bracket may be provided to couple the front surface of the first cabinet 10 and the front surface of the second cabinet 20 . Since these brackets are easily accessible from the front of the first cabinet 10 and the second cabinet 20, even if they are fastened to the first cabinet 10 and the second cabinet 20 by a fastening member, there are many problems when combining or separating them. It does not require time and manpower.

In the above, specific embodiments have been illustrated and described. However, it is not limited to the above embodiments, and those skilled in the art can make various changes without departing from the gist of the technical idea of the disclosure set forth in the claims below. .

Claims

a first refrigerator including a first cabinet;

a second refrigerator including a second cabinet and operated independently of the first refrigerator;

a first connector coupled to the first cabinet; and

a second connector coupled to the second cabinet and coupled to the first connector; including,

movement of the first cabinet in a first direction with respect to the second cabinet and in a second direction opposite to the first direction based on the coupling of the first connector and the second connector; and is allowed to move in the first direction and the second direction with respect to the first cabinet;

Movement of the first cabinet relative to the second cabinet in a third direction perpendicular to the first and second directions based on the first connector and the second connector being coupled to each other; A refrigerator in which movement of a cabinet in the third direction relative to the first cabinet is restricted.
According to claim 1,

Based on the first refrigerator and the second refrigerator,

The first direction is a forward direction,

The second direction is a backward direction,

The third direction is a left direction or a right direction.
According to claim 1,

The refrigerator is provided to maintain a distance between the first cabinet and the second cabinet in a left-right direction by coupling the first connector and the second connector to each other.
According to claim 1,

The first connector is coupled to an upper surface of the first cabinet;

The second connector is coupled to an upper surface of the second cabinet.
According to claim 1,

The first connector is coupled to one side of the rear end of the first cabinet;

The second connector is coupled to the other side of the rear end of the second cabinet to correspond to the first connector.
According to claim 1,

When the first connector and the second connector are coupled,

The first connector is provided to be separated from the second connector by moving the first cabinet in the first direction or in the second direction with respect to the second cabinet;

The second connector is provided to be separated from the first connector by moving the second cabinet in the first direction or in the second direction with respect to the first cabinet.
According to claim 1,

When the first connector and the second connector are separated,

The first connector is provided to be coupled with the second connector by moving the first cabinet in the first direction or moving in the second direction with respect to the second cabinet;

The second connector is provided to be coupled with the first connector by moving the second cabinet in the first direction or moving in the second direction with respect to the first cabinet.
According to claim 1,

The first connector includes a first bracket,

The first bracket includes a first guide rib and a second guide rib provided to guide a coupling position of the first bracket with respect to the first cabinet;

The first guide rib limits a range of movement of the first bracket relative to the first cabinet in the first direction by contacting a rear surface of the first cabinet;

The second guide rib limits a movement range of the first bracket relative to the first cabinet in the third direction by contacting one side surface of the first cabinet.
According to claim 8,

The second connector includes a second bracket,

The second bracket includes a third guide rib and a fourth guide rib provided to guide a coupling position of the second bracket with respect to the second cabinet;

The third guide rib limits a movement range of the second bracket with respect to the second cabinet in the first direction by contacting the rear surface of the second cabinet;

The fourth guide rib moves in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction of the second bracket with respect to the second cabinet by contacting one side surface of the second cabinet facing the one side surface of the first cabinet. Refrigerator that limits the range of movement of the refrigerator.
According to claim 1,

The first connector includes a first bracket including a first interference protrusion,

The second connector includes a second bracket,

The second bracket limits the movement of the second bracket in the third direction by being caught on the first interference protrusion when the second bracket moves in the third direction relative to the first bracket. A refrigerator comprising an interference protrusion.
According to claim 10,

The first interference projection and the second interference projection do not interfere with each other based on movement of the first bracket or the second bracket in the first direction or the second direction with respect to the second bracket or the first bracket. Refrigerator provided.
According to claim 10,

The first bracket includes a first groove into which the second interference protrusion is inserted;

The second bracket includes a second groove into which the first interference protrusion is inserted;

The first interfering protrusion is inserted into the second groove, and the second interfering protrusion is inserted into the first groove.
According to claim 12,

Movement of the first bracket relative to the second bracket in the third direction is restricted based on the insertion of the first interference protrusion into the second groove;

Based on the movement of the first bracket relative to the second bracket in the first direction or the second direction, the first interference protrusion is withdrawn from the second groove, and is attached to the second bracket from the first bracket. A refrigerator that is allowed to move in the third direction relative to the refrigerator.
According to claim 12,

Movement of the second bracket relative to the first bracket in the third direction is restricted based on the insertion of the second interference protrusion into the first groove;

Based on the movement of the second bracket in the first direction or the second direction with respect to the first bracket, the second interference protrusion is drawn out from the first groove, and is attached to the first bracket of the second bracket. Refrigerator allowing movement in the third direction for
According to claim 10,

When the first interference protrusion and the second interference protrusion interfere with each other,

The first and second interference projections are provided to be positioned between side surfaces of the first cabinet and side surfaces of the second cabinet facing each other.