U.S. patent application number 11/338832 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-31 for slide guide for pushing/drawing box into/out of refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Min Bon Koo.
Application Number | 20060192469 11/338832 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36931408 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060192469 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Koo; Min Bon |
August 31, 2006 |
Slide guide for pushing/drawing box into/out of refrigerator
Abstract
Object of the present invention is to provide a slide guide of a
simple structure for pushing/drawing a box for food into/out of a
refrigerator, for smooth sliding of the box in a refrigerator body.
The slide guide including a rail guide fixedly secured to an inside
of the refrigerator, at least one rolling member rollably mounted
on the rail guide, a slide rail mounted in the rail guide for
making rolling contact with the rail rolling member, to make a
sliding movement, and at least one box rolling member mounted on
the box for holding food, for rolling along the slide rail.
Inventors: |
Koo; Min Bon; (Changwon-si,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FLESHNER & KIM, LLP
P.O. BOX 221200
CHANTILLY
VA
20153
US
|
Assignee: |
LG Electronics Inc.
|
Family ID: |
36931408 |
Appl. No.: |
11/338832 |
Filed: |
January 25, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/330.1 ;
312/401 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 25/025 20130101;
A47B 2210/17 20130101; A47B 88/40 20170101; A47B 88/443
20170101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/330.1 ;
312/401 |
International
Class: |
A47B 88/00 20060101
A47B088/00; A47B 96/04 20060101 A47B096/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 25, 2005 |
KR |
P2005-0015694 |
Feb 25, 2005 |
KR |
P2005-0015696 |
Claims
1. A slide guide for pushing/drawing a box into/out of a
refrigerator comprising: a rail guide fixedly secured to an inside
of the refrigerator; at least one rail rolling member rollably
mounted on the rail guide; a slide rail mounted in the rail guide
for making rolling contact with the rail rolling member, to make a
sliding movement; and at least one box rolling member mounted on
the box for holding food, for rolling along the slide rail.
2. The slide guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rail guide
includes a rail receiving portion of a inwardly recessed groove
shape for receiving the slide rail.
3. The slide guide as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rail guide
further includes a recessed rolling member mounting portion under
the rail receiving portion for receiving and mounting the rail
rolling member therein.
4. The slide guide as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rail rolling
member has a top positioned higher than a lower surface of an
inside of the rail receiving portion.
5. The slide guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slide rail
includes; a rolling member receiving portion of an inwardly
recessed groove for receiving, and enabling the box rolling member
to roll, and a contact portion under the rolling member receiving
portion for seating on the rail rolling member.
6. The slide guide as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rail rolling
member is mounted in the rail receiving portion spaced a distance
from the upper surface and the lower surface of the rail receiving
portion.
7. The slide guide as claimed in claim 6, wherein a plurality of
the rail rolling members are arranged at predetermined intervals
with axes of the rail rolling members arranged on the same
horizontal line.
8. The slide guide as claimed in claim 6, wherein the slide rail
includes a rolling member receiving portion having a `c` section on
a lower side for surrounding, and receiving the rail rolling
member, to seat and support an upper surface of the rolling member
receiving portion thereon.
9. The slide guide as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rolling
member receiving portion of the slide rail has a lower surface
spaced a distance from a lower surface of the rail receiving
portion, and an upper surface spaced a distance from an upper
surface of the rail receiving portion.
10. The slide guide as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of
the box rolling members are mounted to an upper edge of each side
of the box, wherein at least one of the box rolling members is
mounted to be able to contact with an upper surface of the slide
rail, and at least the other one of the box rolling members is
mounted to be able to contact with a lower surface of the slide
rail.
11. The slide guide as claimed in claim 1, further comprising first
drawing out position fixing means for fixing a final drawing out
position of the box with respect to the slide rail.
12. The slide guide as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first
drawing out position fixing means includes; a first stop projected
from the slide rail, and a second stop projected from each side of
the box for being brought into contact with the first stop.
13. The slide guide as claimed in claim 11, wherein the first
drawing out position fixing means is a piece projected from a
surface of the slide rail where the box rolling member is in
contact with, and rolls on, for holding a portion of the box
rolling member, or the box, to limit movement of the box rolling
member.
14. The slide guide as claimed in claim 1, further comprising
second drawing out position fixing means for limiting a drawing out
position of the slide rail with respect to the rail guide.
15. The slide guide as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second
drawing out position fixing means includes; a stopping slot in the
slide rail extended in a lateral direction of the slide rail, and a
stopper projected from the rail guide so as to be placed in the
stopping slot, for being brought into contact with a front end or
rear end of the stopping slot.
16. The slide guide as claimed in claim 14, wherein the second
drawing out position fixing means includes; a stopping slot in the
rail guide extended in a lateral direction of the rail guide, and a
stopper projected from the slide rail so as to be placed in the
stopping slot, for being brought into contact with a front end or
rear end of the stopping slot.
17. The slide guide as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a
plurality of falling off preventive pieces projected from an upper
side and/or lower side of the rail receiving portion for preventing
the slide rail from falling off the rail receiving portion.
18. A slide guide for pushing/drawing a box into/out of a
refrigerator comprising: at least one box rolling member rollably
mounted on a box for holding food; a rail guide fixedly secured to
an inside of the refrigerator, the rail guide having a recessed
groove shape of rail receiving portion, and a rolling member
mounting portion which is recessed downwardly under the rail
receiving portion; at least one rail rolling member rollably
mounted on the rolling member mounting portion of the rail guide,
having a top positioned higher than a lower surface of the rail
receiving portion; and a slide rail mounted in the rail receiving
portion of the rail guide, the slide rail having a rolling member
receiving portion of recessed groove shape for receiving the box
rolling member and enabling the box rolling member to roll, and a
contact portion under the rolling member receiving portion for
making rolling contact with the rail rolling member to make sliding
movement.
19. A slide guide for pushing/drawing a box into/out of a
refrigerator comprising: at least one box rolling member rollably
mounted on a box for holding food; a rail guide fixedly secured to
an inside of the refrigerator, the rail guide having a recessed
groove shape of rail receiving portion; a plurality of rail rolling
members mounted in the rail receiving portion spaced a distance
from an upper surface and a lower surface of the rail receiving
portion respectively; and a slide rail having a box rolling member
receiving portion of a `.OR right.` shaped recessed section for
receiving the box rolling member and enabling the box rolling
member to roll, and a rail rolling member receiving portion of a
`.OR right.` shaped recessed section in a direction opposite to the
box rolling member receiving portion under the box rolling member
receiving portion for surrounding and receiving the rail rolling
members.
20. The slide guide as claimed in claim 19, wherein a plurality of
the box rolling members are mounted to an upper edge of each side
of the box, wherein at least one of the box rolling members is
mounted to be able to contact with an upper surface of the slide
rail, and at least the other one of the box rolling members is
mounted to be able to contact with a lower surface of the slide
rail.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Application
Nos. P2005-15694, and P2005-15696, both filed on Feb. 25, 2005,
which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth
herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to refrigerators, and more
particularly, to a slide guide for pushing/drawing a box for food,
such as vegetable, into/out of a refrigerator.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] In general, the refrigerator, an appliance for storing food
at a low temperature, stores the food at a frozen state or a cold
state depending on kinds of food. Cold air supplied to the
refrigerator is produced by heat exchange action of refrigerant as
the refrigerant is compressed, condensed, expanded, and evaporated
repeatedly, and the cold air supplied thus is delivered throughout
an inside of the refrigerator uniformly by convection, to enable to
store the food at a desired temperature.
[0006] A related art refrigerator will be described with reference
to FIG. 1, briefly.
[0007] Referring to FIG. 1, there is a hexahedral body 10 of the
refrigerator provided with a refrigerating chamber 20 for low
temperature storage of food, and a freezing chamber 30 for frozen
storage of food on an upper side and a lower side thereof,
respectively.
[0008] The refrigerating chamber 20 and the freezing chamber 30,
spaces independent from each other, have fronts to be opened,
respectively. The fronts are opened/closed with refrigerating
chamber doors 22 for the refrigerating chamber 20 on the upper side
of the body 10, and a freezing chamber door 32 for the freezing
chamber 30 on the lower side of the body 10.
[0009] The refrigerating chamber doors 22 are rotatably mounted on
a left side and a right side of the body 10 with hinges at opposite
edges thereof, for selective opening/closing of a front of the
refrigerating chamber 20 by rotating the refrigerating chamber
doors 22 in left/right sides.
[0010] In the refrigerating chamber 20 and in a cavity of the
refrigerating door 22, there are a plurality of boxes 24, shelves,
baskets 28, and so on for holding various sizes, and states of
food.
[0011] Of the boxes 24, a vegetable box 40 for holding vegetable
and fruits are arranged on a lower side of the refrigerating
chamber 20.
[0012] The vegetable box 40 is slidably mounted for pushing into,
and drawing out of the refrigerator. If the vegetable box 40 is
drawn forward, an opened top of the vegetable box 40 is exposed to
an outside of the refrigerator, enabling an easy putting in/taking
out of the food.
[0013] The lower side of the front of the refrigerator body 10,
i.e., the opened front of the freezing chamber 30 is opened/closed
with the freezing chamber door 32, selectively. The freezing
chamber door 32 slides in front/rear directions, to open/close the
opened front of the freezing chamber 30.
[0014] On an upper portion of the freezing chamber door 32, there
is a freezing chamber handle 34 for user's easy opening/closing of
the freezing chamber 30. Accordingly, if the user holds, and pulls
the handle 34 forward, the freezing chamber door 32 is drawn out as
the freezing chamber door 32 is tilted by a certain angle, and slid
forward, and opposite to this, if the freezing chamber door 32 is
pushed backward, the freezing chamber door 32 is pushed in, and
closed.
[0015] In the freezing chamber 30, there are a plurality of boxes,
for holding various kinds of food separately, and there is an ice
maker 36 at one side of the freezing chamber 30.
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram of a related art slide guide
for pushing/drawing boxes, such as the vegetable box 40, into/out
of a refrigerator body.
[0017] As described before, the vegetable box 40 has a cavity
therein for holding the food. On an upper side of the front of the
vegetable box 40, there is a box handle 42 for user's easy holding,
and pushing/drawing in/out of the vegetable box 40.
[0018] The vegetable box 40 is slidably mounted on a two-stage rail
50 on opposite sidewalls of the refrigerating chamber. The two
stage rail 50 is provided with a rail case 52, a rail guide 54, a
first drawing out rail 56, and a second drawing out rail 58.
[0019] The rail case 52 is an injection molding of plastic fixedly
secured to an inside wall of the refrigerating chamber 20, for
receiving the rail guide 54 where a rail is to be placed
therein.
[0020] The rail guide 54 is fixedly secured to an inside of the
rail case 52, for guiding slide of the first drawing out rail 56.
The rail guide 54, the first drawing out rail 56, and the second
drawing out rail 58 are formed of metal, such as stainless steel,
and slide relative to one another.
[0021] In the meantime, the first drawing out rail 56 is on an
inside of the rail guide 54, and, in turn, the second drawing out
rail 58 is on an inside of the first drawing out rail 56. The first
drawing out slides along the rail guide 54 in front/rear
directions, and the second drawing out rail 58 slide along the
first drawing out rail 56.
[0022] Both on upper/lower surfaces of the first drawing out rail
56 in contact with the rail guide 54, and on upper/lower surfaces
of the second drawing out rail 58 in contact with the first drawing
out rail 58, there are a plurality of rolling members 60, such as
bearings, or rolling members, for smooth sliding of the first
drawing out rail 56, and the second drawing out rail 58,
respectively.
[0023] The second drawing out rail 58 is fixedly secured to an
upper side of a side of the vegetable box 40. Therefore, if the
user holds, and pulls the handle 42 on the vegetable box 40 forward
in a state the vegetable box 40 is placed in the refrigerating
chamber 20, at first, the second drawing out rail 58 slides along
the first drawing out rail 56 until the second drawing out rail 58
is drawn out, and, next, the first drawing out rail 56 slides along
the rail guide 54 until the first drawing out rail 56 is drawn out,
thereby drawing out the vegetable box from the refrigerating
chamber.
[0024] However, the related art slide guide for pushing in/drawing
out a box has the following problems.
[0025] First, as described before, the two stage rail 50 for
guiding slide of the vegetable box 40 is provided with the rail
case 52, the rail guide 54, the first drawing out rail 56, and the
second drawing out rail 58, with rolling members on the upper
surface and the lower surface of the first drawing out rail 56, and
the second drawing out rail 58, for the rolling members to slide in
front/rear directions while the rolling members are in contact with
the rail guide 54 and the first drawing out rail 56,
respectively.
[0026] Therefore, there are too many components for the drawing
out/pushing in of the vegetable box 40, with large differences in
kinds and fabricating processes of the components, to require much
time for fabrication of the related art slide guide, leading to
increase a cost, and drop productivity.
[0027] Second, a drawing out distance of the vegetable box 40 is
not so great compared to a number and kinds of components of the
two stage rail 50, i.e., the two stage rail 50 has a low
effectiveness.
[0028] Third, because the second drawing out rails 58, coupled to
the first drawing out rail 56, are fixedly secured to opposite
sides of the vegetable box 40, it is impossible to separate the
vegetable box 40 from the refrigerator fully without releasing the
coupling between the second drawing out rail 58 and the first
drawing out rail 56, forcibly.
[0029] Therefore, if it is intended to replace or repair a damaged
vegetable box, or clean a space the vegetable box is placed
therein, such a work can not be carried out because the vegetable
box can not be separated from the refrigerator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0030] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a slide
guide for pushing/drawing a box into/out of a refrigerator that
substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and
disadvantages of the related art.
[0031] An object of the present invention is to provide a slide
guide of a simple structure for pushing/drawing a box for food
into/out of a refrigerator, for smooth sliding of the box in a
refrigerator body.
[0032] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
slide guide for pushing/drawing a box into/out of a refrigerator,
which enables easy and fill separation and mounting of the box.
[0033] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
slide guide for pushing/drawing a box into/out of a refrigerator,
which enables a long distance drawing out of the box, to make easy
putting in/taking out of food.
[0034] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the
invention will be set forth in part in the description which
follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary
skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be
learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other
advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the
structure particularly pointed out in the written description and
claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
[0035] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, a slide guide for pushing/drawing a box
into/out of a refrigerator includes a rail guide fixedly secured to
an inside of the refrigerator, at least one rolling member rollably
mounted on the rail guide, a slide rail mounted in the rail guide
for making rolling contact with the rail rolling member, to make a
sliding movement, and at least one box rolling member mounted on
the box for holding food, for rolling along the slide rail.
[0036] The slide guide of the present invention permits to secure
an adequate drawing distance of the box for holding food only with
a simple structure of the box, rolling members provided to, for an
example, to a vegetable box, a slide rail, and a rail guide.
[0037] Moreover, the box can be mounted/dismounted to/from the
refrigerator by simple operation of putting/lifting the box rolling
member on/from the slide rail.
[0038] In another aspect of the present invention, a slide guide
for pushing/drawing a box into/out of a refrigerator includes at
least one box rolling member rollably mounted on a box for holding
food, a rail guide fixedly secured to an inside of the
refrigerator, the rail guide having a recessed groove shape of rail
receiving portion, and a rolling member mounting portion which is
recessed downwardly under the rail receiving portion, at least one
rail rolling member rollably mounted on the rolling member mounting
portion of the rail guide, having a top positioned higher than a
lower surface of the rail receiving portion, and a slide rail
mounted in the rail receiving portion of the rail guide, the slide
rail having a rolling member receiving portion of recessed groove
shape for receiving the box rolling member and enabling the box
rolling member to roll, and a contact portion under the rolling
member receiving portion for making rolling contact with the rail
rolling member to make sliding movement.
[0039] In another aspect of the present invention, a slide guide
for pushing/drawing a box into/out of a refrigerator includes at
least one box rolling member rollably mounted on a box for holding
food, a rail guide fixedly secured to an inside of the
refrigerator, the rail guide having a recessed groove shape of rail
receiving portion, a plurality of rail rolling members mounted in
the rail receiving portion spaced a distance from an upper surface
and a lower surface of the rail receiving portion respectively, and
a slide rail having a box rolling member receiving portion of a
`.OR right.` shaped recessed section for receiving the box rolling
member and enabling the box rolling member to roll, and a rail
rolling member receiving portion of a `.OR right.` shaped recessed
section in a direction opposite to the box rolling member receiving
portion under the box rolling member receiving portion for
surrounding and receiving the rail rolling members.
[0040] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description of the present
invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide
further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0041] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the invention. In the drawings;
[0042] FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of a related art
refrigerator, with doors opened;
[0043] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a related art slide guide
for pushing/drawing a box into/out of a refrigerator;
[0044] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a refrigerator
having a slide guide for pushing/drawing a box into/out of a
refrigerator in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
present invention applied thereto, with the box (vegetable box)
drawn out;
[0045] FIG. 4 illustrates a side disassembled view of a slide guide
for pushing/drawing a box into/out of a refrigerator in accordance
with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0046] FIG. 5 illustrates a partial disassembled front view of the
slide guide for pushing/drawing a box into/out of a refrigerator in
FIG. 4;
[0047] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate side views each showing operation
of the slide guide for pushing/drawing a box into/out of a
refrigerator in FIG. 4, wherein FIG. 6 illustrates the box pushed
in the refrigerating chamber fully, and FIG. 7 illustrates the box
drawn out of the refrigerating chamber;
[0048] FIG. 8 illustrates a side disassembled view of a slide guide
for pushing/drawing a box into/out of a refrigerator in accordance
with another preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0049] FIG. 9 illustrates a partial disassembled front view of the
slide guide for pushing/drawing a box into/out of a refrigerator in
FIG. 8; and
[0050] FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate side views each showing operation
of the slide guide for pushing/drawing a box into/out of a
refrigerator in FIG. 8, wherein FIG. 10 illustrates the box pushed
in the refrigerating chamber fully, and FIG. 11 illustrates the box
drawn out of the refrigerating chamber.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0051] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to
refer to the same or like parts.
[0052] Referring to FIG. 3, a refrigerator having a slide guide of
the present invention applied thereto will be described. There is a
refrigerating chamber 20 on an upper side of a refrigerator body
10, having a plurality of shelves 25 and boxes 24 provided thereto.
Of the plurality of boxes 24, on a lower side of the refrigerating
chamber 20, there is a vegetable box 140 provided thereto, for
holding comparatively large vegetables and fruits. In general, the
vegetable box is arranged on the lower side of the refrigerating
chamber 20 where the air is less cold, for preventing the food from
going bad by cold air.
[0053] The vegetable box 140 has a box shape with an opened top, to
form a holding space in state the vegetable box 140 is pushed-in
the refrigerator 20 as the opened top is covered with a box cover
27, enabling to store the vegetables or fruits at a proper
temperature while the vegetables or fruits are influenced from the
cold air in the refrigerating chamber 20, comparatively less.
[0054] The vegetable box 140 slides horizontally in front/rear
directions on a slide guide to be described below if pushed-in or
drawn out of the refrigerating chamber 20.
[0055] The slide guide for pushing/drawing the vegetable box 140
into/out of the refrigerator will be described with reference to
FIGS. 4 to 7, in detail.
[0056] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, there is a rail guide 150 having
two rail rolling members 156 provided thereto fixedly secured to
each sidewall of the refrigerating chamber 20 where the vegetable
box 140 is placed in. There is a slide rail slidably mounted on the
rail guide 150 for sliding a predetermined distance along the rail
guide 150. The slide rail 110 is movably secured to an upper side
of each of opposite sides of the vegetable box 140, to enable
relative movement with respect to the vegetable box 140.
[0057] On a front of the vegetable box 140, there is a vegetable
box door 145 for opening the top and a portion of the front of the
vegetable box 140 by rotating a lower side by a predetermined angle
forward.
[0058] On an upper edge of the vegetable box door 145, there is a
box handle 142 for user's easy holding of the vegetable box door
145, with a button 146 provided thereto for opening/closing of the
vegetable box door 145. The box handle is used, not only for
opening/closing of the box door 145, but also for pushing/drawing
the vegetable box 140 in/out.
[0059] At an upper edge of a rear side of each of opposite sides of
the vegetable box 140, there is a box rolling member 141 secured so
as to be rotatable, freely. The box rolling member 141 rolls on the
slide rail 110 for making smooth slide of the vegetable box
140.
[0060] Upper edges of opposite sides of the vegetable box 140 are
bent outwardly to form `` shapes respectively, so that each of the
bent portions is in contact with the slide rail 110. Moreover,
there is a first stop 143 projected upward from a rear end portion
of the vegetable box 140, more specifically right rear of a portion
of the vegetable box 140 over the box rolling member 141. The first
stop 143 is brought into contact with a second stop 115 at one side
of the slide rail 110 having a shape in conformity with the first
stop 143, selectively.
[0061] As described before, designed to guide sliding of the box
rolling member 141, and, at the same time with this, slide in
front/rear directions guided by the rail guide 150, the slide rail
110 is elongated laterally, and has a length that fixes most of a
drawing out distance of the vegetable box 140.
[0062] It is preferable that the slide rail 110 is formed of metal
which is strong against wear and deformation because the box
rolling member 141 and the rail rolling members 156 roll,
continuously. Moreover, it is preferable that the slide rail 11 is
bent a plurality of times for contact with the box rolling member
141 and the rail rolling members 156.
[0063] The slide rail 110 includes a rolling member receiving
portion 111 and a contact portion 113. The member receiving portion
111 forms an upper portion of the slide rail 110, and has an
inwardly recessed shape, i.e., substantially a groove of a `C`
shape section, for receiving the box rolling member 141.
[0064] Therefore, the box rolling member 141 is in contact with,
and rolls on, a lower surface of the rolling member receiving
portion 111 in a state the box rolling member 141 is received in
the rolling member receiving portion 111, for smooth pushing
in/drawing out of the vegetable box 140.
[0065] The contact portion 113 is placed, and slides, on the rail
rolling members 156 of the rail guide 150. The contact portion 113
is recessed in a `.OR right.` shape section in a direction opposite
to the rolling member receiving portion 111.
[0066] Accordingly, the rolling member receiving portion 111 and
the contact portion 113 form an `S` section substantially on the
whole.
[0067] Of course, since the contact portion 113 is a portion
placed, and rolls, on the rail rolling members 156 of the rail
guide 150, as described before, the contact portion 113 is not
required to have the `.OR right.` shape section, necessarily.
[0068] It is preferable that a lower portion of the contact portion
113 is wider than a width of the rail rolling member 156 for secure
contact with the rail rolling members 156.
[0069] The rolling member receiving portion 111 has a stopping slot
112 elongated in a front/rear direction. The stopping slot 112, for
matching with a stopper 154 at one side of the rail guide 150 to
limit a drawing out distance of the slide rail 110, is extended
from middle to a rear end of the slide rail 110, substantially.
[0070] As described before, the second stop 115 is projected
downwardly from an upper surface of a front of the rolling member
receiving portion 111 in correspondence to the first stop 143 on
the vegetable box 140. The second stop 115 is brought into contact
with the first stop 143 at the time the vegetable box 140 is drawn,
to fix a drawing out position of the vegetable box 140 with respect
to the slide rail 110, and, at the same time with this, serve to
draw out the slide rail 110.
[0071] Because the rail guide 150 is required to be formed in a
comparatively complicate shape so that the rail guide 150 is not
smaller than a size of the slide rail 110 for receiving the slide
rail 110, and is for placing on the rail rolling members 156, it is
preferable that the rail guide 150 is formed of plastic which is
easy to process.
[0072] The rail guide 150 has a `c` shape section substantially, on
the whole. Moreover, the rail guide 150 has a mounting surface 151
on an upper side for secure mounting of the rail guide 150 on a
wall surface of the refrigerating chamber 20, and a screw hole 158
on one side of the mounting surface 151 for pass through of a screw
to fasten the rail guide 150.
[0073] The rail guide 150 includes a rail receiving portion 153 and
a rolling member mounting portion 155. The rail receiving portion
153 receives the slide rail 110, to guide sliding of the slide rail
110. It is preferable that the rail receiving portion 153 has a
size slightly larger than the slide rail 110, for minimizing a loss
of momentum caused by friction with the slide rail 110.
[0074] The stopper 154 is projected from a surface of the rail
receiving portion 153, i.e., a surface adjacent to the slide rail
110, for placing in the stopping slot 112 in the slide rail
110.
[0075] The rail receiving portion 153 has falling off preventive
pieces 157 projected vertically from an upper end and a lower end
of projected surfaces of the rail receiving portion 153 toward an
inner side of the rail receiving portion 153. The falling off
preventive pieces 157 prevent the slide rail 110 in the rail
receiving portion 153 from moving in a lateral direction to help
smooth pushing in/drawing out of the slide rail 110 as well as
prevent the slide rail 110 from falling off the rail receiving
portion 153.
[0076] The rolling member mounting portions 155 of arch shapes are
in a lower surface of an inner side of the rail receiving portion
153. On the rolling member mounting portions 155, the rail rolling
members 156 are mounted. The rolling member mounting portion 155
has a depth of recess enough to position a top of the rail rolling
member 156 slightly higher than the lower surface of the rail
receiving portion 153.
[0077] Accordingly, when the slide rail 110 is mounted in the rail
receiving portion 153, the slide rail 110 is in contact with the
top of the rail rolling member 156, but not with other surfaces of
the rail receiving portion 153.
[0078] The rolling member mounting portions 155 are formed at a
lower side of the rail receiving portion 153 at a predetermined
distance on left/right sides thereof, for receiving the rail
rolling members 156, respectively. Between the rolling member
mounting portions 155, there is a screw hole 158 for fastening a
screw to fasten the rail guide 150.
[0079] Operation of the slide guide for pushing/drawing a box
into/out of a refrigerator of the present invention will be
described with reference to the attached drawings.
[0080] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, in a state the vegetable box 140
is in the refrigerating chamber fully, the slide rail 110 is in the
rail guide 150, fully. In this instance, the box rolling member 141
of the vegetable box 140 is positioned at a rear end portion of the
slide rail 110.
[0081] In the state the vegetable box 140 is in the refrigerating
chamber fully, the opened top of the vegetable box 140 is covered
with the box cover 27. The box cover 27 partitions the
refrigerating chamber 20 in a lateral direction, to serve as a
shelf, and, when the vegetable box 140 is pushed-in, covers the
opened top of the vegetable box 140, isolating the vegetable box
from other space, for fresher storage of the vegetables and
fruits.
[0082] When the user intends to draw out the vegetable box 140, the
user is required to hold the box handle 142 and pulls the vegetable
box 140 forward. Upon pulling the vegetable box 140 forward, the
box rolling member 141 on the vegetable box 140 rolls on the lower
surface of an inner side of the rolling member receiving portion
111 of the slide rail 110.
[0083] The rolling of the box rolling member 141 enables smooth
forward drawing out of the vegetable box 140 along the slide rail
110. When the vegetable box 140 is drawn out by a predetermined
distance guided by the slide rail 110, the first stop 143 on the
vegetable box 140, and the second stop 115 on the slide rail 110
are brought into contact with each other, to finish a first stage
drawing out.
[0084] If the user keeps pulling the box handle 142 in a state the
first stop 143 and the second stop 115 are in contact to each
other, a pulling force is transmitted to the slide rail 110 in the
state the first stop 143 and the second stop 115 are in contact to
each other, leading to start to draw out the slide rail 110.
[0085] In this instance, since an underside of the contact portion
113 of the slide rail 110 is in contact with a top of the rail
rolling members 156 of the rail guide 150, the slide rail 110 is
drawn forward smoothly while the slide rail 110 makes the rail
rolling members 156 to roll.
[0086] When the slide rail 110 is drawn out fully, a rear end of
the stopping slot 112 in the slide rail 110 is held by the stopper
154 on the rail guide 150, such that the slide rail 110 is drawn
out no more, but stopped at the position. Thus, the two stage
drawing out is finished.
[0087] Once the slide rail 110 and the vegetable box 140 are drawn
out fully, most area of the opened top of the vegetable box 140 is
exposed to an outside of the refrigerating chamber, enabling the
user to make easy taking out of food from, putting the food into,
the vegetable box 140.
[0088] Next, when it is intended to put the vegetable box 140 drawn
out thus into the refrigerating chamber, the user holds, and pushes
the box handle 142 backward.
[0089] When the user pushes the vegetable box 140, the box rolling
member 141 of the vegetable box 14 is in contact with, and rolls on
the lower surface of the rolling member receiving portion 111 of
the slide rail 110, to slide the vegetable box 140 backward as the
vegetable box 140 is placed in.
[0090] Then, the lower surface of the contact portion 113 of the
slide rail 110 slides backward while the lower surface of the
contact portion 113 makes the rail rolling member 156 to roll.
[0091] Referring to FIG. 6, when pushing in of the slide rail 110
and the vegetable box 140 is finished, the slide rail 110 is placed
in the rail receiving portion 153 of the rail guide 150 fully, and
the vegetable box 140 is placed in the refrigerating chamber 20
fully, such that the box rolling member 141 is positioned at a rear
end portion of the rolling member receiving portion 111 of the
slide rail 110.
[0092] In this instance, the opened top of the vegetable box 140 is
covered with the box cover 27 fully, enabling to secure an
independent space.
[0093] In the meantime, the vegetable box 140 is separable from the
slide rail 110. That is, referring to FIG. 7, in a state the
vegetable box 140 is drawn to a front most side of the slide rail
110, upon lifting a front portion of the vegetable box 140
slightly, and pulling the vegetable box 140 forward, the engagement
of the first stop 143 on the vegetable box 140 with the second stop
115 on the slide rail 110 is released, enabling to separate the
vegetable box 140 from the slide rail 110, and take out the
vegetable box 140 to an outside of the slide rail 110.
[0094] Thus, the slide guide of the present invention permits to
secure an adequate drawing out distance of the food box only with
simple components of the rolling members, the slide rail, and the
rail guide provided to the box, for an example, the vegetable
box.
[0095] Accordingly, the reduction of a number of components
required for smooth pushing in/drawing out of the box permits to
improves productivity, by enabling to reduce a number of components
and working man-hours, which permits to reduce total time period
and cost required for production of the product.
[0096] Moreover, a structure of the slide guide for pushing/drawing
a box into/out of a refrigerator becomes compact to enable secure
pushing in/drawing out of the box, and the compact structure
enables to reduce factors that cause services, to expect secure
operation and improved durability of the product.
[0097] Furthermore, the possibility of separation/engagement of the
box rolling member on the box from/to the slide rail permits easy
dismounting/mounting of the vegetable box from/to the
refrigerator.
[0098] Next, a slide guide for pushing/drawing a box into/out of a
refrigerator in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the
present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to
11.
[0099] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the slide guide includes at
least one pair of box rolling members 241 rotatably mounted to an
upper edge of each side of a vegetable box 240, a slide rail 210
coupled to the upper edge of each side of the vegetable box 240
such that the box rolling members 241 roll, and slide thereon, and
a rail guide 250 fixedly secured to each inside wall the
refrigerating chamber 20 (see FIG. 3) the vegetable box is to be
received therein, for having the slide rail 210 slidably coupled
thereto. The rail guide 250 is provided with two rail rolling
members 255 for guiding movement of the slide rail 210.
[0100] One of the box rolling members 241 of the vegetable box 240
has a top side exposed to a top side of the vegetable box 240, and
the other one box rolling member 241 has a bottom side exposed to a
lower side of each side of the vegetable box 240.
[0101] That is, the top side and the bottom side of the box rolling
members 241 roll on an upper surface and a lower surface of an
inside of the rail receiving portion 251 of the slide rail 210
respectively.
[0102] The slide rail 210 guides sliding of the box rolling members
241, as well as slides in a front/rear direction guided by the rail
guide 250. The slide rail 210 is elongated in a lateral direction,
and has a length depending on which most of a drawing out distance
of the vegetable box 240 is fixed.
[0103] Moreover, the slide rail 210 has a shape bent a plurality of
times for contact with the box rolling members 241 and the rail
rolling members 255. In more detail, the slide rail 210 includes a
box rolling member receiving portion 211 for receiving the box
rolling members 255, and a rail rolling member receiving portion
212 for receiving the rail rolling members 255.
[0104] The box rolling member receiving portion 211 has a groove of
a `.OR right.` shape substantially with one opened side for
receiving the top edge of the vegetable box 240. The box rolling
member receiving portion 211 has a height slightly greater than a
diameter of the box rolling member 241, so that not only the box
rolling members 241, but also the upper edge of the vegetable box
240 can be placed therein easily.
[0105] The box rolling member receiving portion 211 has a stopper
213 at a rear end portion, projected perpendicular toward the rail
guide 250.
[0106] The box rolling member receiving portion 211 has a falling
off preventive projection 214 at a front end of the lower surface.
The falling off preventive projection 214 is vertically projected
from the lower surface of the box rolling member receiving portion
211, for holding one side of the box rolling member 241 or the
vegetable box 240 at the time of drawing out of the vegetable box
240, thereby preventing the vegetable box 240 from falling off the
slide rail 210.
[0107] The rail rolling member receiving portion 212 has a groove
of a `.OR right.` shape opened in a direction opposite to the box
rolling member receiving portion 211 for receiving the rail rolling
members 255 from an outer side of the slide rail 210. Accordingly,
the box rolling member receiving portion 211 and the rail rolling
member receiving portion 212 form an `S` shape on the whole.
[0108] When the rail rolling members 255 are received in the rail
rolling member receiving portion 212, an inner upper surface of the
rail rolling member receiving portion 212 is in contact with top
sides of the rail rolling members 255, such that the rail rolling
members 255 roll on the rail rolling member receiving portion
212.
[0109] Though the rail rolling member receiving portion 212 is more
or less greater than a diameter of the rail rolling member 255, it
is preferable that the rail rolling member receiving portion 212
has a size in which an underside surface of the rail rolling member
receiving portion 212 is not in contact with the rail receiving
portion 251.
[0110] Moreover, when the slide rail 210 is mounted in the rail
receiving portion 251, the slide rail 210 is supported on the rail
rolling members 255. In this instance, it is preferable that a top
of the slide rail 210 is not in contact with an inner top of the
rail receiving portion 251.
[0111] Since the slide rail 210 keeps in contact with the box
rolling members 241, and the rail rolling members 255 of the rail
guide 250, it is preferable that the slide rail 210 is formed of
metal that is strong against wear and deformation.
[0112] In the meantime, though the rail guide 250 may be formed of
plastic that is easy to process, the rail guide 250 may also be
formed of metal. No limit is imposed on a material of the rail
guide 250.
[0113] The rail guide 250 has a section of a `C` shape
substantially on the whole, with one side flat throughout the side
in contact with an inside wall of the refrigerating chamber 20, and
fastened with screws or the like thereto.
[0114] The rail guide 250 has the rail receiving portion 251 for
surrounding, and receiving the slide rail 210. As described before,
it is preferable that the rail receiving portion 251 has a height
at which a top and a bottom of the slide rail 210 are not in
contact with the upper surface and a lower surface of the rail
receiving portion 251, respectively.
[0115] The rail rolling members 255 on the rail receiving portion
251 have axes arranged on the same horizontal line. The rail
rolling members 255 are arranged at a predetermined distance, and
since the rail rolling members 255 are received in the rail rolling
member receiving portion 212 of the slide rail 210 surrounded
thereby, a rear half of the slide rail 210 does not shake in
up/down directions at the time the slide rail 210 is drawn out.
[0116] The rail receiving portion 251 has a stopping slot 252
extended from a center to a rear end. The stopping slot 252 is
matched with the stopping projection 213 at the time of mounting
the slide rail 210, to limit a pushing in/drawing out distance of
the slide rail 210.
[0117] The operation of the slide guide for pushing/drawing a box
for food into/out of a refrigerator in accordance with another
preferred embodiment of the present invention will be
described.
[0118] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, in a state the vegetable box
240 is placed in the refrigerating chamber fully, the slide rail
210 is in the rail guide 250 fully. Moreover, the box rolling
members 241 of the vegetable box 240 are positioned at the rear end
portion of the slide rail 210.
[0119] In a state the vegetable box 240 is placed in the
refrigerating chamber 20 fully, the opened top of the refrigerating
chamber 20 is covered with the box cover 27. The box cover 27
partitions the refrigerating chamber 20 in a lateral direction, to
serve as a shelf, and, when the vegetable box 240 is pushed-in,
covers the opened top of the vegetable box 240, isolating the
vegetable box from other space, for fresher storage of the
vegetables and fruits.
[0120] When the user intends to draw out the vegetable box 240, the
user is required to hold the box handle 242 and pulls the vegetable
box 240 forward. Upon pulling the vegetable box 240 forward, the
box rolling members 241 on the vegetable box 240 roll on the lower
surface and upper surface of an inner side of the rolling member
receiving portion 211 of the slide rail 210, respectively.
[0121] In more detail, at an initial stage of drawing out of the
vegetable box 240, a front box rolling member 241 is in contact
with, and rolls on, the lower surface of the box rolling member
receiving portion 211, to guide movement of vegetable box 240.
[0122] After the vegetable box 240 is drawn out to a certain
extent, the vegetable box 240 hangs down by food held therein, or
gravity, such that a rear box rolling member 241 is in contact
with, and rolls on, the upper surface of the box rolling member
receiving portion 211, to guide movement of the vegetable box
240.
[0123] Thus, the vegetable box 240 can be drawn smoothly by the
plurality of box rolling members 241 to be brought into contact
with the lower surface or the upper surface of the box rolling
member receiving portion 211, while minimizing up/down movement of
the vegetable box 240.
[0124] The vegetable box 240 is kept drawn guided by the slide rail
210, until the vegetable box 240 is drawn by a predetermined
distance, when the box rolling member 241 or the vegetable box 240
at one side thereof is brought into contact with the falling off
preventive projection 214, to finish a first stage drawing out of
the vegetable box 240.
[0125] If the user keeps drawing the box handle 242 in a state the
vegetable box 240 is held at the falling off preventive projection
214, the falling off preventive projection 214 transmits a pulling
force to the slide rail 210 in a state the falling off preventive
projection 214 is in contact with one side of the rolling member
241 or the vegetable box 240, to start drawing out of the slide
rail 210.
[0126] In this instance, the rail rolling members 255 are in
contact with, and roll on the upper surface of the inside of the
rail rolling member receiving portion 212 in a state the rail
rolling members 255 are received in the rail rolling member
receiving portion 212 of the slide rail 210. Therefore, the slide
rail 210 is supported on the rail rolling members 255 when the
slide rail 210 is mounted in the rail guide 250.
[0127] As the rail rolling members 255 roll, the slide rail 210 is
drawn forward, when the slide rail 210 is only in contact with the
rail rolling members 255, and spaced from a predetermined distance
from the rail guide 250.
[0128] When the slide rail 210 is drawn out fully, the stopper 213
on the slide rail 210 is in contact with a front end of the
stopping slot 252 in the rail guide 250, permitting no more forward
movement of the slide rail 210, to finish the two stage drawing
out.
[0129] Once the slide rail 210 and the vegetable box 240 are drawn
out fully, a most area of the opened top of the vegetable box 240
is exposed to an outside of the refrigerating chamber, enabling the
user to make easy talking out of food from, putting the food into,
the vegetable box 240.
[0130] Next, when it is intended to put the vegetable box 240 drawn
out thus into the refrigerating chamber, the user holds, and pushes
the box handle 42 on the vegetable box 240 backward.
[0131] When the user pushes the vegetable box 240, the box rolling
members 241 of the vegetable box 240 are in contact with, and roll
on the upper surface and the lower surface of the rolling member
receiving portion 211 of the slide rail 210, to slide the vegetable
box 240 backward as the vegetable box 240 is placed in.
[0132] The rail rolling members 255 secured to the rail guide 250
are in contact with, and roll on the upper surface of the rail
rolling member receiving portion 212 in a state the rail rolling
members 255 are received in the rail rolling member receiving
portion 212 of the slide rail 210, to make the slide rail 210 to be
placed in.
[0133] When placing in of the slide rail 210 and the vegetable box
240 is finished, the slide rail 210 is placed in the rail receiving
portion 253 of the rail guide 250 fully, and the vegetable box 240
is placed in the refrigerating chamber 20 fully, such that the box
rolling members 241 are positioned at a rear end portion of the box
rolling member receiving portion 211 of the slide rail 210.
[0134] In this instance, the opened top of the vegetable box 240 is
covered with the box cover 160 fully, enabling to secure an
independent storage space.
[0135] Thus, in the slide guide in accordance with another
preferred embodiment of the present invention, since the slide rail
210 is supported, and slides, on the rail rolling members 255,
while spaced from an inside surface of the rail receiving portion
251 of the rail guide 250, the slide rail 210 is not brought into
contact with the rail guide 250 unnecessarily in a process the
slide rail 210 is drawn out/pushed in. According to this, wear of
the slide rail 210 can be prevented, to improve durability of the
product.
[0136] Moreover, the contact of the slide rail 210 only with the
rail rolling members 255 and the box rolling members 241 enables to
minimize a power loss caused by contact with the rail guide 250 or
the vegetable box 240. Eventually, easy two stage drawing out of
the vegetable box with a smaller power is permitted, to improve
convenience of use.
[0137] Furthermore, alike the foregoing embodiment, by
mounting/dismounting the vegetable box 240 and the box rolling
members 241 to/from the slide rail 210, the vegetable box can be
mounted/dismounted to/from the vegetable box.
[0138] Though the embodiments take the vegetable box 140, or 240 as
a box drawing out in two stages, it is evident that the present
invention is applicable to boxes for holding various kinds of food,
identically, or similarly.
[0139] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the present invention
without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus,
it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications
and variations of this invention provided they come within the
scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *