U.S. patent application number 11/257103 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-13 for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Sung-cheul Park.
Application Number | 20060152119 11/257103 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36652586 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060152119 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Park; Sung-cheul |
July 13, 2006 |
Refrigerator
Abstract
A refrigerator includes a main body cabinet having an inner
casing formed with a storage chamber and an outer casing defining
an external appearance of the inner casing. A door assembly is
mounted on the main body cabinet, for opening and closing the
storage chamber, and a rail assembly is provided between the main
body cabinet and the door assembly, for moving the door assembly
slidably relative to the main body cabinet. A support part is
formed on the inner casing of the main body cabinet, for supporting
the rail assembly. The rail assembly includes a guide rail coupled
to the support part, and a slide rail coupled with the guide rail
and the door assembly, being slidably moved relative to the guide
rail. A connection part is provided on the support part, for
maintaining or releasing a connection of the guide rail of the rail
assembly with the support part.
Inventors: |
Park; Sung-cheul; (Gwangiu
city, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
|
Family ID: |
36652586 |
Appl. No.: |
11/257103 |
Filed: |
October 25, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/404 ;
312/333 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/067 20130101;
A47B 2210/17 20130101; F25D 25/025 20130101; F25D 23/021
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/404 ;
312/333 |
International
Class: |
A47B 88/00 20060101
A47B088/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 11, 2005 |
KR |
2005-0002599 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising: a main body cabinet having an inner
casing formed with a storage chamber and an outer casing defining
an external appearance of the inner casing; a door assembly mounted
on the main body cabinet and which opens and closes the storage
chamber; a rail assembly provided between the main body cabinet and
the door assembly, for allowing the door assembly to move slidably
relative to the main body cabinet; a support part formed on the
inner casing of the main body cabinet and which supports the rail
assembly, the rail assembly comprising a guide rail coupled to the
support part, and a slide rail coupled with the guide rail and the
door assembly and being slidably movable relative to the guide
rail; and a connection part provided on the support part and which
maintains or releases a connection of the guide rail of the rail
assembly with the support part.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the connection
part comprises a connection button for maintaining the connection
of the guide rail with the support part, and a disconnection button
for manipulating the connection button to disconnect the guide rail
from the support part.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the connection
button comprises a press part exposed externally from the support
part, an extension part extended from the press part, passing
through the guide rail, and an engagement piece formed on the
extension part, being engaged with an inner side of the support
part.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein a spring member
to press the connection button in the disconnection direction is
provided inside the support part.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the disconnection
button comprises: a support piece supported by the inner side of
the support part; and a manipulation part extended from the support
part, being externally exposed from the support part and pressing
the engagement piece to release an engagement of the engagement
piece and the inner side of the support part.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a support bracket
integrally coupled with the main body cabinet when the main body
cabinet is foamed for molding, supporting the rail assembly, is
mounted on the support part, and the connection part is provided on
the support bracket.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the support
bracket comprises a guide part into which the rail assembly is
guided, and a connection mounting part formed on one area of the
guide part, on which the connection part is mounted.
8. A refrigerator having a main body cabinet including an inner
casing in which a storage chamber is formed and an outer casing
defining an external appearance thereof, being separated from the
inner casing by a space for filling a foaming material, and a door
assembly installed on the main body cabinet, for opening and
closing the storage compartment, the refrigerator comprising: a
support bracket, one side of which is coupled with the inner
casing, and the other side of which is supported by the foaming
material; a rail assembly backwardly inserted into the support
bracket to be connected with the support bracket, and allowing the
door assembly to move slidably relative to the main body cabinet;
and a connection part which maintains or releases a connection of
the rail assembly with the support bracket.
9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the support
bracket comprises a support projection supported by the inner
casing owing to the foaming material.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the rail
assembly comprises a guide rail coupled with the support bracket,
and a slide rail coupled with the guide rail and being slidably
movable.
11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the connection
part comprises a connection button for maintaining a connection of
the guide rail and the support bracket, and a disconnection button
for operating the connection button to disconnect the guide rail
from the support bracket.
12. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the support
bracket comprises a guide part into which the rail assembly is
guided, and a connection mounting part formed on one area of the
guide part, on which the connection part is mounted.
13. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein a support part
supporting an upper part and a lower part of the support bracket is
formed on the inner casing.
14. A refrigerator having a main body cabinet including an inner
casing in which a storage chamber is formed and an outer casing
defining an external appearance thereof, being separated from the
inner casing by a space for filling a foaming material, and a door
assembly installed on the main body cabinet, for opening and
closing the storage compartment, the refrigerator comprising: a
rail assembly coupled with the door assembly, slidably drawing in
and out of the door assembly relative to the storage compartment; a
support bracket coupled with the rail assembly and which supports
the rail assembly; a support part formed on the inner casing and
which supports an upper part and a lower part of the support
bracket; and a connection part which maintains and releases a
connection of the rail assembly and the support bracket, the rail
assembly being backwardly inserted into the support bracket.
15. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein the support
bracket comprises a support projection supported by the inner
casing owning to the foaming material.
16. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein the rail
assembly comprises a guide rail coupled with the support bracket,
and a slide rail coupled with the guide rail and being slidably
movable.
17. The refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein the connection
part comprises a connection button for maintaining a connection of
the guide rail and the support bracket, and a disconnection button
for operating the connection button to disconnect the guide rail
from the support bracket.
18. The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein the support
bracket comprises a guide part into which the rail assembly is
guided, and a connection mounting part formed on one area of the
guide part, on which the connection part is mounted.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from Korean Patent
Application No. 2005-0002599, filed on Jan. 11, 2005, in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a refrigerator and, more
particularly, to a refrigerator having a rail assembly which can be
easily mounted on a storage chamber.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, a refrigerator comprises a main body cabinet
having a storage chamber formed with an opening part in which foods
are stored, a door installed at the main body casing, opening and
closing the opening part, and a freezing system supplying cool air
to the storage chamber.
[0006] The freezing system may employ either a direct cooling
mechanism or an indirect cooling mechanism. Under the direct
cooling mechanism, an evaporator is mounted on an outer
circumference of an internal casing, directly exchanging heat with
the storage chamber, like a kimchi refrigerator, whereas, under the
indirect cooling mechanism, cool air generated around the
evaporator is forcibly blown into the storage chamber by means of a
blowing fan, like a general refrigerator.
[0007] As disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-334652, a conventional
kimchi refrigerator comprises a main body cabinet formed with a
pair of storage chambers, a pair of drawer-type doors each provided
slidably on each storage chamber, opening and closing each storage
chamber, and a storage basket coupled with the drawer-type door,
receiving therein a storage container and the like.
[0008] On inner wall faces of both sides of the storage chamber are
mounted rail assemblies facing oppositely, enabling the storage
basket to be slidably drawn in and out.
[0009] The drawer-type door is integrally coupled with the storage
basket, in front of which a handle is provided so as to allow a
user to hold it.
[0010] With this configuration, the user holds the handle and draws
the drawer-type door slidably out of the storage chamber. At this
time, the rail assemblies make it easy to move the drawer-type door
slidably.
[0011] However, this conventional kimchi refrigerator has required
that a worker first mount rail assemblies on inner wall faces of
the storage chamber and then assemble the rail assemblies with the
drawer-type door. Thus, it is difficult to mount the rail
assemblies through the storage chamber which is narrow in
space.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to
provide a refrigerator in which rail assemblies can be easily
mounted on a storage chamber.
[0013] Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will
be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part,
will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by
practice of the invention.
[0014] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention
are achieved by providing a refrigerator comprising: a main body
cabinet having an inner casing formed with a storage chamber and an
outer casing defining an external appearance of the inner casing; a
door assembly mounted on the main body cabinet and which opens and
closes the storage chamber; a rail assembly provided between the
main body cabinet and the door assembly, for allowing the door
assembly to move slidably relative to the main body cabinet; a
support part formed on the inner casing of the main body cabinet
and which supports the rail assembly, the rail assembly comprising
a guide rail coupled to the support part, and a slide rail coupled
with the guide rail and the door assembly and being slidably
movable relative to the guide rail; and a connection part provided
on the support part and which maintains or releases a connection of
the guide rail of the rail assembly with the support part.
[0015] According to an aspect of the present invention, the
connection part comprises a connection button for maintaining the
connection of the guide rail with the support part, and a
disconnection button for manipulating the connection button to
disconnect the guide rail from the support part.
[0016] According to an aspect of the present invention, the
connection button comprises a press part exposed externally from
the support part, an extension part extended from the press part,
passing through the guide rail, and an engagement piece formed on
the extension part, being engaged with an inner side of the support
part.
[0017] According to an aspect of the present invention, a spring
member to press the connection button in the disconnection
direction is provided inside the support part.
[0018] According to an aspect of the present invention, the
disconnection button comprises a support piece supported by the
inner side of the support part; and a manipulation part extended
from the support part, being externally exposed from the support
part and pressing the engagement piece to release an engagement of
the engagement piece and the inner side of the support part.
[0019] According to an aspect of the present invention, a support
bracket integrally coupled with the main body cabinet when the main
body cabinet is foamed for molding, supporting the rail assembly,
is mounted on the support part, and the connection part is provided
on the support bracket.
[0020] According to an aspect of the present invention, the support
bracket comprises a guide part into which the rail assembly is
guided, and a connection mounting part formed on one area of the
guide part, on which the connection part is mounted.
[0021] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention
are achieved by providing a refrigerator having a main body cabinet
including an inner casing in which a storage chamber is formed and
an outer casing defining an external appearance thereof, being
separated from the inner casing by a space for filling a foaming
material, and a door assembly installed on the main body cabinet,
for opening and closing the storage compartment, the refrigerator
comprising a support bracket, one side of which is coupled with the
inner casing, and the other side of which is supported by the
foaming material; a rail assembly backwardly inserted into the
support bracket to be connected with the support bracket, and
allowing the door assembly to move slidably relative to the main
body cabinet; and a connection part which maintains or releases a
connection of the rail assembly with the support bracket.
[0022] According to an aspect of the present invention, the support
bracket comprises a support projection supported by the inner
casing owing to the foaming material.
[0023] According to an aspect of the present invention, the rail
assembly comprises a guide rail coupled with the support bracket,
and a slide rail coupled with the guide rail and being slidably
movable.
[0024] According to an aspect of the present invention, the
connection part comprises a connection button for maintaining a
connection of the guide rail and the support bracket, and a
disconnection button for operating the connection button to
disconnect the guide rail from the support bracket.
[0025] According to an aspect of the present invention, the support
bracket comprises a guide part into which the rail assembly is
guided, and a connection mounting part formed on one area of the
guide part, on which the connection part is mounted.
[0026] According to an aspect of the present invention, a support
part supporting an upper part and a lower part of the support
bracket is formed on the inner casing.
[0027] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention
are achieved by providing a refrigerator having a main body cabinet
including an inner casing in which a storage chamber is formed and
an outer casing defining an external appearance thereof, being
separated from the inner casing by a space for filling a foaming
material, and a door assembly installed on the main body cabinet,
for opening and closing the storage compartment, the refrigerator
comprising a rail assembly coupled with the door assembly, slidably
drawing in and out of the door assembly relative to the storage
compartment; a support bracket coupled with the rail assembly and
which supports the rail assembly; a support part formed on the
inner casing and which supports an upper part and a lower part of
the support bracket; a connection part which maintains and releases
a connection of the rail assembly and the support bracket, the rail
assembly being backwardly inserted into the support bracket.
[0028] According to an aspect of the present invention, the support
bracket comprises a support projection supported by the inner
casing owning to the foaming material.
[0029] According to an aspect of the present invention, the rail
assembly comprises a guide rail coupled with the support bracket,
and a slide rail coupled with the guide rail and being slidably
movable.
[0030] According to an aspect of the present invention, the
connection part comprises a connection button for maintaining a
connection of the guide rail and the support bracket, and a
disconnection button for operating the connection button to
disconnect the guide rail from the support bracket.
[0031] According to an aspect of the present invention, the support
bracket comprises a guide part into which the rail assembly is
guided, and a connection mounting part formed on one area of the
guide part, on which the connection part is mounted.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0032] The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the present
invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from
the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in
conjunction with the accompany drawings, in which:
[0033] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view illustrating a
refrigerator consistent with the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 2 is a sectional view illustrating the refrigerator
whose rail assembly is coupled with a main body cabinet consistent
with the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the rail assembly
and a support bracket of the refrigerator consistent with the
present invention;
[0036] FIG. 4A is a sectional view illustrating the connected rail
assembly and the support bracket of the refrigerator consistent
with the present invention, whose connection is maintained; and
[0037] FIG. 4B is a sectional view illustrating the disconnected
rail assembly and the support bracket of the refrigerator
consistent with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE, NON-LIMITING EMBODIMENTS OF
THE INVENTION
[0038] Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention will be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings. As depicted in FIGS. 1 through 3, a refrigerator 1
consistent with the present invention comprises a main body cabinet
10 forming a plurality of storage chambers therein, and a plurality
of doors 20 through 23 installed on the main body cabinet 10, for
opening and closing each storage chamber.
[0039] The main body cabinet 10 includes an inner casing 11 forming
the plurality of storage chambers therein, and an outer casing 12
defining an external appearance thereof, in which a foaming
material 15 is filled between the inner casing 11 and the outer
casing 12.
[0040] The storage chambers are composed of a freezing compartment
8 in the left part and a refrigerating compartment 9 in the right
part, which are partitioned by a main partition 13, and a first
auxiliary storage compartment 17 and a second auxiliary storage
compartment 18, which are vertically partitioned by an auxiliary
partition 14.
[0041] Preferably, but not necessarily, the first auxiliary storage
compartment 17 is an auxiliary refrigerating compartment performing
a refrigerating function, to thereby store cold-storage foods
therein. Here, the first auxiliary storage compartment 17 may be an
auxiliary freezing compartment performing a freezing function, to
thereby store frozen foods therein.
[0042] It is also preferable, but not necessary, that the second
auxiliary storage compartment 18 is an auxiliary freezing
compartment performing a freezing function, to thereby store frozen
foods therein. On inner casings 11 of both sides of the second
auxiliary storage compartment 18 are formed a pair of support parts
19 supporting rail assemblies 28 to be described later. Here, the
second auxiliary storage compartment 18 may be an auxiliary
refrigerating compartment performing a refrigerating function, to
thereby store cold-storage foods therein.
[0043] The support part 19 is provided in a pair, being separated
from each other. A support bracket 45 may be integrally combined
when the main body cabinet 10 is molded with the forming material
is installed between the pair of support parts 19. The support part
19 is shaped as if it encompasses an upper part and a lower part of
the support bracket 45, to thereby prevent the support bracket 45
from sagging.
[0044] The support bracket 45 comprises a guide part 46 guiding the
rail assemblies 28 in front and rear directions, and a connection
mounting part 47 formed on one area of the guide part 46 (see FIG.
3), on which a connection part 35 to be described later is mounted.
The support bracket 45 further comprises a support projection 38
which is extended from the guide part 46, passes through the inner
casing 11 of the second auxiliary storage compartment 18, and is
supported by the foaming material 15. Here, it is preferable that
the support bracket 45 is coupled with the rail assemblies 28 and
is strong enough to prevent the rail assemblies 28 from drooping
because of the weight of a second door assembly 23.
[0045] The guide part 46 comprises an insertion part 49 which has a
substantially -shaped section, into which the rail assemblies 28
are inserted, an upper bent part 50 extended downward from an upper
end of the insertion part 49, and a lower bent part 51 extended
upward from a lower end of the insertion part 49. The upper bent
part 50 and the lower bent part 51 can prevent the rail assemblies
28 from being detached from the insertion part 49 of the support
bracket 45.
[0046] The door comprises a freezing compartment door 20 for
opening and closing the freezing compartment 8, a refrigerating
compartment door 21 for opening and closing the refrigerating
compartment, a first door assembly 22 for opening and closing the
first auxiliary storage compartment 17, and a second door assembly
23 for opening and closing the second auxiliary storage compartment
18.
[0047] The freezing compartment door 20 is rotated based on one
side of the main body cabinet 10, thereby rotatably opening and
closing the freezing compartment 8.
[0048] The refrigerating compartment door 21 is rotated based on
the other side of the main body cabinet, thereby rotatably opening
and closing the refrigerating compartment 9.
[0049] The first door assembly 22 is provided in a drawer-type
fashion whereby it is slidably drawn in and out of the first
auxiliary storage compartment 17, thereby opening and closing the
first auxiliary storage compartment 17.
[0050] The second door assembly 23 is provided in a drawer-type
fashion whereby it is slidably drawn in and out of the second
auxiliary storage compartment 18, thereby opening and closing the
second auxiliary storage compartment 18. Here, between the second
door assembly 23 and the inner casing 11 of the second auxiliary
storage compartment 18 are installed the rail assemblies 26
slidably moved relative to the second auxiliary storage compartment
18.
[0051] The second auxiliary door assembly 23 comprises a door panel
24 covering the front of the second auxiliary storage compartment
18, and a support frame 25 coupled to the rear face of the door
panel 24, whereby a storage basket (not shown) is supported.
[0052] The support frame 25 comprises a pair of lateral frames 26
disposed separately on both sides of the door panel 24, with which
the rail assemblies 28 to be described later are coupled, and a
rear frame 27 interconnecting a rear end of each lateral frame
26.
[0053] Each of the rail assemblies 28 comprises a guide rail 29
coupled with each lateral frame 26, being inserted into the
insertion part 49 of the support bracket 45, and a slide rail 30
coupled with the guide rail 29 and the second door assembly 23,
slidably moved relative to the guide rail 29. At this time, the
rail assembly 28 is mounted after being coupled with the second
door assembly and inserted into the support bracket 45 from the
front.
[0054] The slide rail 30 comprises a first slide rail 31 slidably
moved relative to the guide rail 29, and a second slide rail 32
coupled with the second door assembly 23, being slidably moved
relative to the first slide rail 31. Accordingly, when the second
door assembly 23 is drawn out of the second auxiliary storage
compartment 18, the first slide rail 31 is moved forwardly along
the guide rail 29, and the second slide rail 32 can be moved along
the first slide rail 31. It is preferable but not necessary that a
ball bearing (not shown) is coupled between the guide rail 29 and
the first slide rail 31, so as to allow them to contact with each
other by rolling. Also, it is preferable but not necessary that a
ball bearing (not shown) is coupled between the first slide rail 31
and the second slide rail 32, so as to allow them to contact with
each other by rolling.
[0055] The refrigerator 1 further comprises a connection part 35
provided on the support bracket 45, connecting the guide rail 29 to
the support bracket 45 or disconnecting the guide rail 29 from the
support bracket 45.
[0056] The connection part 35 comprises a connection button 36
mounted on the connection mounting part 47 maintaining a connection
of the guide rail 29 and the support bracket 45, and a
disconnection button 37 operating the connection button 36 to
disconnect the guide rail 29 from the support bracket 45.
Accordingly, a worker can assemble the rail assembly 28 to the
support bracket 45 or disassemble the rail assembly 28 from the
support bracket 45, by manipulating the connection part 35, without
difficulty.
[0057] The connection mounting part 47 may be disposed on the upper
front of the guide part 46 of the support bracket 45. Thus, the
worker may manipulate the connection part 35 from the front of the
second auxiliary storage compartment 18 without difficulty. It is
preferable but not necessary that the connection mounting part 47
and the guide part 46 are formed as a single body.
[0058] With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the connection button 36
comprises a press part 38 externally exposed from the connection
mounting part 47, an extension part 39 extended downward from the
press part 38, passing through the guide rail 29, and an engagement
piece 40 formed on the extension part 39, being engaged with the
inner side of the connection mounting part 47. On the inner side of
the connection mounting part 47 is formed a stopper 52 supporting
the engagement piece 40 so as to maintain the connection button 36
as pressed. A spring member 60 to press the connection button 36 in
the disconnection direction may be mounted inside the connection
mounting part 47.
[0059] The press part 38 is exposed through a passing hole 47a
formed on the top face of the connection mounting part 47 so as to
allow the user to press it.
[0060] The extension part 39 is narrower in width than the press
part 38. Accordingly, passing holes 47b and 29b are formed on the
bottom face of the connection mounting part 47 and the guide rail
29, through which the extension part 39 passes when the press part
38 is pressed.
[0061] The engagement piece 40 is upwardly inclined from both sides
of the extension part 39. Here, the guide rail 29 is disconnected
from the support bracket 45 when the engagement piece 40 contacts
the inner top face of the connection mounting part 47 (see FIG.
4B), and the connection of the guide rail 29 with the support
bracket 45 is maintained when the engagement piece 40 is engaged
with the stopper 52 (see FIG. 4A). It is preferred that the
engagement piece 40 is formed with an elastic material, thereby
elastically interacting with the stopper 52.
[0062] The disconnection button 37 comprises a support piece 41
supported by the inner side of the connection mounting part 47, and
a manipulation part 42 extended from the support piece 41 and
externally exposed from the connection mounting part 47.
[0063] The support piece 41 is supported by a rib 53 formed on the
bottom face of the connection mounting part 47.
[0064] The manipulation part 42 is exposed through a passing hole
47c formed on the lateral side of the connection mounting part 47
so as to allow the user to press it. Here, the stopper 52 is
extended inwardly from the passing hole 47c of the connection
mounting part 47. Accordingly, if the manipulation part 42 is
pressed when the engagement piece 40 is stopped by the stopper 52,
it is interlocked with the manipulation part 42, thereby allowing
the engagement piece 40 to be disconnected from the stopper 52.
[0065] The spring member 60 is disposed in the lower side of the
engagement piece 40, pressing the connection button 36 upwardly.
Accordingly, when the user presses the disconnection button 37, the
connection button 36 may be moved to the disconnection direction
owing to the elasticity of the spring member 60.
[0066] With this configuration, assembling and disassembling of the
rail assembly 28 of the refrigerator 1 according to the present
invention to and from the inner casing 11 of the second auxiliary
storage compartment 18 will be described in detail with reference
to FIGS. 4A and 4B.
[0067] A worker couples the second slide rail 32 with the lateral
frame 26 of the second door assembly 23 by means of screws (not
shown), to couple the second door assembly with the rail assembly
28. Then, the worker inserts the rail assembly 28 into the support
bracket 45 mounted on the second auxiliary storage compartment 18.
After finishing the insertion of the guide rail 29 of the rail
assembly 28 into the support bracket 45, the worker presses the
connection button 36 to thereby maintain the connection of the
guide rail 29 and the support bracket 45. At this time, the
extension part 39 of the connection button 36 passes through the
respective passing holes 47b and 29b of the support bracket 45 and
the guide rail 29, and the engagement piece 40 is engaged with the
stopper 52, whereby the movement of the guide rail 29 relative to
the support bracket 45 is stopped.
[0068] To disconnect the second door assembly 23 from the second
auxiliary storage compartment 18, the worker presses the
disconnection button 37, thereby releasing the connection of the
guide rail 29 and the support bracket 35. At this time, as the
engagement piece 40 is disconnected from the stopper 52 by the
disconnection button 37 being pressed, the connection button 36 is
moved upwardly due to the elasticity of the spring member 60.
Accordingly, the guide rail 29 can be moved slidably relative to
the support bracket 45, thereby enabling the second door assembly
23 to be drawn out forwardly.
[0069] With this configuration, the rail assembly can be mounted on
the storage chamber without difficulty.
[0070] In the exemplary embodiment described above, a connection of
the support bracket and the rail assemblies is maintained or
released by the connection part provided in button-type. However,
the connection part may be provided in screws, and the connection
part is not limited in type.
[0071] In the exemplary embodiment described above, the support
bracket and the rail assemblies are connected or disconnected by
the connection part, but the support part and the rail assemblies
may be so provided so as to be interconnected when the rail
assembly is directly connected to the support part, without
mounting the support bracket. In this case, connection of the rail
assembly to the support part may be maintained or released by a
connection part provided on the support part.
[0072] In the above-described exemplary embodiment, the connection
button is pressed by use of the elasticity of the spring member,
but the connection button may be inherently made by using a
material such as rubber.
[0073] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been
described with only reference to the second auxiliary storage
compartment and the second door assembly, but the same description
can be made with reference to the first auxiliary storage
compartment and the first door assembly.
[0074] An exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been
described with reference to a refrigerator having a plurality of
storage compartments, but the same description can be made with
reference to a refrigerator having a single storage
compartment.
[0075] In the exemplary embodiment described above, the first
auxiliary storage compartment and the second auxiliary storage
compartment have been provided as an auxiliary refrigerating
compartment and an auxiliary freezing compartment, but they may be
provided as vegetable compartments in which the storage temperature
of vegetables or fruits cam be maintained, and they may be embodied
in various ways, without limitation.
[0076] As described above, according to the present invention, a
refrigerator capable of easily mounting a rail assembly on the
storage chamber is provided.
[0077] The present invention has been described with reference to a
refrigerator as an example, but it can be applied to all the
products including a kimchi refrigerator, which have a drawer-type
door.
[0078] Although a few exemplary embodiments of the present
invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by
those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these
embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the
invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and
their equivalents.
* * * * *