U.S. patent application number 11/581365 was filed with the patent office on 2007-04-19 for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Bu-kil Jeong, Byung-moo Lee, Jae-sek Oh, Sung-cheul Park.
Application Number | 20070085457 11/581365 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37672203 |
Filed Date | 2007-04-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070085457 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Park; Sung-cheul ; et
al. |
April 19, 2007 |
Refrigerator
Abstract
A refrigerator, with an inner casing forming a drawer type
storage compartment and a drawer unit being received in and
combined with the drawer type storage compartment, the refrigerator
having: at least a pair of rail units provided between the inner
casing and the drawer unit enabling the drawer unit to slide
against the inner casing; a support part positioned at the inner
casing, supporting the rail unit, and preventing the rail unit from
moving upward and downward; and a combining part combining the rail
unit with the support part, the combining part enabling the support
part to move relative to the rail unit in a direction approximately
perpendicular to a surface of the inner casing.
Inventors: |
Park; Sung-cheul;
(Gwangju-city, KR) ; Lee; Byung-moo;
(Gwangju-city, KR) ; Oh; Jae-sek; (Gwangju-city,
KR) ; Jeong; Bu-kil; (Gwangju-city, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STAAS & HALSEY LLP
SUITE 700
1201 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
37672203 |
Appl. No.: |
11/581365 |
Filed: |
October 17, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/402 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 25/025 20130101;
F25D 23/067 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/402 |
International
Class: |
A47B 88/00 20060101
A47B088/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 17, 2005 |
KR |
10-2005-0097639 |
Dec 29, 2005 |
KR |
10-2005-0133858 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator, including an inner casing forming a drawer type
storage compartment and a drawer unit being received in and
combined with the drawer type storage compartment, the refrigerator
comprising: at least a pair of rail units provided between the
inner casing and the drawer unit enabling the drawer unit to slide
against the inner casing; a support part positioned at the inner
casing, supporting the rail unit, and preventing the rail unit from
moving upward and downward; and a combining part combining the rail
unit with the support part, the combining part enabling the support
part to move relative to the rail unit in a direction approximately
perpendicular to a surface of the inner casing.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein: the support part
has a first combining hole positioned thereon; the rail unit has a
second combining hole positioned thereon to correspond to the first
combining hole; and the combining part comprises a screw passed
through the second combining hole and combined with the first
combining hole, the screw comprising a body portion having a thread
to combine with the first combining hole, a head portion radially
extended from an axial direction of the screw, and a rail guide
portion formed between the body portion and the screw head portion
enabling the support part to move relative to the rail unit.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the rail guide
portion has a diameter that is larger than that of the body
portion.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the head portion
comprises an inclined portion with a diameter that progressively
increases from the rail guide portion; and the second combining
hole has a shape corresponding to a shape of the inclined
portion.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the length of the
rail guide portion in the axial direction of the screw is
approximately 1 to 3 mm.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the rail unit
comprises: a guide rail combined with the support part; and a slide
rail combined with the guide rail and the drawer unit, wherein the
slide rail slides against the guide rail, and the second combining
hole is positioned on the guide rail.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the drawer unit
comprises: brackets combined with the pair of rail units,
respectively; and a coupling member connecting the brackets to
maintain an interval between the rail units.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the support part
is a depression positioned on a surface of the inner casing to
receive and support the rail unit, the depression being extended in
a longitudinal direction of the rail unit.
9. A refrigerator, including an inner casing forming a drawer type
storage compartment, an outer casing forming an outer appearance of
the drawer type storage compartment, a foam member disposed between
the inner casing and the outer casing, and a drawer unit being
received in and combined with the drawer type storage compartment,
the refrigerator comprising: at least a pair of rail units provided
between the inner casing and the drawer unit enabling the drawer
unit to slide against the inner casing; rail brackets, provided at
the inner casing and respectively supporting the rail units; and a
plurality of combining members, each having a stable support
section firmly connecting the rail bracket to the inner casing, and
a free support section movably supporting the rail unit in a
direction approximately perpendicular to a surface of the inner
casing, the free support section combining the rail bracket and the
rail unit.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the stable
support section and the free support section form a single body as
the combining member.
11. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the stable
support section and the free support section are formed
independently to be combined detachably with each other to form the
combining member.
12. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein: the inner
casing is provided with a depression portion formed on a surface
thereof; and the rail bracket is received in the depression
portion.
13. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein: the rail
bracket has a first combining hole; the rail unit has a second
combining hole corresponding to the first combining hole; the
stable support section of the combining member comprises a body
portion that combines with the first combining hole; the free
support section of the combining member comprises a rail guide
portion extended from the body portion and being received in the
second combining hole enabling the inner casing, foam member, and
the rail bracket to move relative to the rail unit when the foam
member and inner casing contract; the rail unit comprises a guide
rail combined with the rail bracket, and a slide rail that is
combined with the guide rail and the drawer unit and slides against
the guide rail, the second combining hole being positioned on the
guide rail.
14. The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein the rail
bracket comprises: a plate portion on which the first combining
hole is formed; and a wing portion extended from the plate portion
in the direction approximately perpendicular to the surface of the
inner casing, to support the rail unit.
15. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein the wing
portion is formed to support an upper side and a lower side of the
rail unit.
16. A refrigerator, comprising: an inner casing; a rail unit
provided in the inner casing; and a screw moveably combining the
rail unit with the inner casing, the screw comprising a body
portion connected firmly to the inner casing, a head portion having
a diameter that is larger than that of the body portion, and a rail
guide portion disposed between the body portion and the head
portion and having a diameter that is larger than that of the body
portion and smaller than that of the head portion, to movably
support the rail unit with respect to the inner casing.
17. The refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein: the inner
casing has a first combining hole; the rail unit has a second
combining hole corresponding to the first combining hole; the body
portion has a thread to combine with the first combining hole; and
the rail guide portion is received in the second combining hole and
enables relative movement of the inner casing with respect to the
rail unit in a direction approximately perpendicular to a surface
of the inner casing.
18. The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein: the inner
casing comprises a rail bracket to support the rail unit; and the
first combining hole is positioned on the rail bracket.
19. The refrigerator according to claim 18, wherein: the rail unit
comprises a guide rail connected to the rail bracket, and a slide
rail combined with the guide rail and a drawer unit that moves in
and out of the refrigerator via the rail unit; the slide rail
slides against the guide rail; and the second combining hole is
positioned on the guide rail.
20. A refrigerator, including an inner casing forming a drawer type
storage compartment and a drawer unit being received in and
combined with the drawer type storage compartment, the refrigerator
comprising: a pair of rail units disposed on opposing lateral sides
of the drawer, each rail unit comprising a guide rail having a
plurality of holes, and a slide rail fixedly connected to the
drawer and slidably connected to the guide rail to move the drawer
into and out of the refrigerator; and a plurality of screws
corresponding to the plurality of holes, each screw being inserted
through a corresponding one of the holes, each screw comprising a
guide rail portion, a body portion, axially extending from a first
end of the guide rail portion, having a diameter smaller than that
of the guide rail portion, and being fixedly connected to the inner
casing, and a head portion, axially extending from a second end of
the guide rail portion opposite the first end, and having a
diameter greater than that of the guide rail portion, wherein each
hole has a diameter greater than that of the guide rail portion but
less than that of the head portion, enabling relative movement of
the inner casing with respect to the guide rail in a direction
approximately perpendicular to a surface of the inner casing when
the inner casing contracts due to a temperature reduction of the
refrigerator.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No.10-2005-0097639, filed on Oct. 17, 2005, and Korean
Patent Application No.10-2005-0133858, filed on Dec. 29, 2005, in
the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which
are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more
particularly, to a refrigerator having a drawer type storage
compartment.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In general, the refrigerator is an apparatus for storing
food at a low temperature, and having a main body cabinet in which
one or more storage compartments are formed; doors for
opening/closing the storage compartments, respectively; and a
refrigerating apparatus provided in the main body cabinet for
refrigerating each storage compartment. Food is stored in each
storage compartment.
[0006] The main body cabinet has an inner casing in which a storage
compartment is formed and an outer casing forming an appearance of
the refrigerator. And a space formed between the inner casing and
the outer casing is filled with a foam member.
[0007] Doors are classified into a hinge type door combined
hingeably with the main body cabinet through one side thereof, and
a drawer type door that slides in and out of the storage
compartment. Of these doors, the drawer type door, such as that
disclosed in Korean Patent Application No.10-2003-0081061, has a
door plate provided slidably at each storage compartment to open
and close the storage compartment, rail units, each being provided
between the respective door plate and the inner casing, and a
container basket combined with the door plate and receiving the
food to be stored.
[0008] The rail units are installed opposingly facing both side
walls of the storage compartment (that is, the inner casing), thus
enabling the drawer type door to slide. A combining structure and
an operation of such drawer type door are described with reference
to FIG. 5 as follows.
[0009] Each rail unit 140 has a guide rail 141 combined with a
support section 107 provided in a main body cabinet 101 and one or
more slide rails 142 and 143 that slide along the guide rail 141.
The main body cabinet 101 includes an inner casing 102, an outer
casing (not shown), and a foam member 104 disposed between the
inner casing 102 and the outer casing. The guide rail 141 is
combined with the support section 107 provided in the main body
cabinet 101 by a screw 160, the outermost slide rail 143 (with
respect to the inner casing 102--in other words, the slide rail
closes to the drawer type door) is combined with a side of the
drawer type door. According to such constitution, a user grasps a
handle of the drawer type door and can slidably draw the drawer
type door in and out of the storage compartment. The rail units 140
facilitate a sliding movement of the drawer type door.
[0010] In general, the main body cabinet of the refrigerator is
manufactured at a normal room temperature (approximately 25.degree.
C.). On the other hand, the refrigerator is used in a state that
the storage compartment is maintained at a comparatively low
temperature. Accordingly, once a temperature of the main body
cabinet becomes low, the foam member and the inner casing contract
and the shapes of these members are deformed e.g., from A to A' in
FIG. 5. As an example, when the storage compartment is used as the
freezing compartment, an inner temperature thereof is maintained
generally at -18.degree. C. or below, so that a space between
opposite inner surfaces of the inner casing is increased by 3 to 4
mm due to a contraction of the foam member and the inner
casing.
[0011] In such a refrigerator, accordingly, once the inner casing
is contracted, the rail units combined integrally with the inner
casing are moved together with the inner casing, and so a space
between the rail units combined to opposite sides of the inner
casing becomes wider compared with the space at the normal room
temperature. On the other hand, since the door plate and/or the
combining member connecting a pair of rail units are configured to
have regular intervals and are not influenced by the contraction of
the inner casing and the foam member, the drawer type door unit has
a problem in that a distance between the rail units over their
overall length can not be maintained constantly, and a disposition
shape of the rail units is deformed into a trapezoid shape or a
lozenge shape, and so a sliding movability of the drawer type door
unit decreases.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to
provide a refrigerator that can maintain constantly a space between
the rail units though an inner casing is contracted at a low
temperature.
[0013] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention
can be achieved by providing a refrigerator, with an inner casing
forming a drawer type storage compartment and a drawer unit being
received in and combined with the drawer type storage compartment,
the refrigerator having: at least a pair of rail units provided
between the inner casing and the drawer unit enabling the drawer
unit to slide against the inner casing; a support part positioned
at the inner casing, supporting the rail unit, and preventing the
rail unit from moving upward and downward; and a combining part
combining the rail unit with the support part, the combining part
enabling the support part to move relative to the rail unit in a
direction approximately perpendicular to a surface of the inner
casing.
[0014] According to an aspect of the present invention, the support
part has a first combining hole positioned thereon; the rail unit
has a second combining hole positioned thereon to correspond to the
first combining hole; and the combining part has a screw passed
through the second combining hole and combined with the first
combining hole, the screw having a body portion having a thread to
combine with the first combining hole, a head portion radially
extended from an axial direction of the screw, and a rail guide
portion formed between the body portion and the screw head portion
enabling the support part to move relative to the rail unit.
[0015] According to an aspect of the present invention, the rail
guide portion has a diameter that is larger than that of the body
portion.
[0016] According to an aspect of the present invention, the head
portion has an inclined portion with a diameter that progressively
increases from the rail guide portion; and the second combining
hole has a shape corresponding to a shape of the inclined
portion.
[0017] According to an aspect of the present invention, the length
of the rail guide portion in the axial direction of the screw is
approximately 1 to 3 mm.
[0018] According to an aspect of the present invention, the rail
unit has a guide rail combined with the support part; and a slide
rail combined with the guide rail and the drawer unit, wherein the
slide rail slides against the guide rail, and the second combining
hole is positioned on the guide rail.
[0019] According to an aspect of the present invention, the drawer
unit has brackets combined with the pair of rail units,
respectively; and a coupling member connecting the brackets to
maintain an interval between the rail units.
[0020] According to an aspect of the present invention, the support
part is depress on a surface of the inner casing for receiving and
supporting the rail units and is extended in a longitudinal
direction of the rail unit.
[0021] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention
can be achieved by providing a refrigerator with an inner casing
forming a drawer type storage compartment, an outer casing forming
an outer appearance of the drawer type storage compartment, a foam
member disposed between the inner casing and the outer casing, and
a drawer unit being received in and combined with the drawer type
storage compartment, the refrigerator having: at least a pair of
rail units provided between the inner casing and the drawer unit
enabling the drawer unit to slide against the inner casing; rail
brackets, provided at the inner casing and respectively supporting
the rail units; and a plurality of combining members, each having a
stable support section firmly connecting the rail bracket to the
inner casing, and a free support section movably supporting the
rail unit in a direction approximately perpendicular to a surface
of the inner casing, the free support section combining the rail
bracket and the rail unit.
[0022] According to an aspect of the present invention, the stable
support section and the free support section form a single body as
the combining member.
[0023] According to an aspect of the present invention, the stable
support section and the free support section are formed
independently to be combined detachably with each other to form the
combining member.
[0024] According to an aspect of the present invention, the inner
casing is provided with a depression portion formed on a surface
thereof, and the rail bracket is received in the depression
portion.
[0025] According to the embodiment of the present invention, the
rail bracket has a first combining hole; the rail unit has a second
combining hole corresponding to the first combining hole; the
stable support section of the combining member has a body portion
that combines with the first combining hole; the free support
section of the combining member has a rail guide portion extended
from the body portion and being received in the second combining
hole enabling the inner casing, foam member, and the rail bracket
to move relative to the rail unit when the foam member and inner
casing contract; the rail unit has a guide rail combined with the
rail bracket, and a slide rail that is combined with the guide rail
and the drawer unit and slides against the guide rail, the second
combining hole being positioned on the guide rail.
[0026] According to an aspect of the present invention, the rail
bracket comprises a plate portion on which the first combining hole
is formed and a wing portion extended from the plate portion in the
direction approximately perpendicular to the surface of the inner
casing to support the rail unit.
[0027] According to an aspect of the present invention, the wing
portion is formed to support an upper side and a lower side of the
rail unit.
[0028] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention
can be achieved by providing a refrigerator having: an inner
casing; a rail unit provided in the inner casing; and a screw
moveably combining the rail unit with the inner casing, the screw
having a body portion connected firmly to the inner casing, a head
portion having a diameter that is larger than that of the body
portion, and a rail guide portion disposed between the body portion
and the head portion and having a diameter that is larger than that
of the body portion and smaller than that of the head portion, to
movably support the rail unit with respect to the inner casing.
[0029] According to an aspect of the present invention, the inner
casing has a first combining hole; the rail unit has a second
combining hole corresponding to the first combining hole; the body
portion has a thread to combine with the first combining hole; and
the rail guide portion is received in the second combining hole and
enables relative movement of the inner casing with respect to the
rail unit in a direction approximately perpendicular to a surface
of the inner casing.
[0030] According to an aspect of the present invention, the inner
casing the inner casing has a rail bracket to support the rail
unit; and the first combining hole is positioned on the rail
bracket.
[0031] According to an aspect of the present invention, the rail
unit has a guide rail connected to the rail bracket, and a slide
rail combined with the guide rail and a drawer unit that moves in
and out of the refrigerator via the rail unit; the slide rail
slides against the guide rail; and the second combining hole is
positioned on the guide rail.
[0032] Additional and/or aspects and advantages of the present
invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows
and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be
learned by practice of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0033] The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the prevent
invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from
the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the
accompany drawings, of which:
[0034] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state that a drawer
unit of the refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the
present invention is opened;
[0035] FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing a constitution
of a rail unit and a combining part of FIG. 1;
[0036] FIG. 3A is an exploded view of the combining part of FIG.
2;
[0037] FIG. 3B is a sectional view showing a location of the
combining part and the rail unit under a normal temperature
state;
[0038] FIG. 3C is a sectional view showing a location of the
combining part and the rail unit under a low temperature state;
[0039] FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the refrigerator
according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and
[0040] FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing a combining
state between a combining section and a rail unit of a related
refrigerator.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0041] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the
present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to
like elements throughout. The embodiments are described to explain
the present invention by referring to the figures.
[0042] In the description regarding the embodiment of the present
invention, although a refrigerator comprising a freezing
compartment and a refrigeration compartment is described as one
example, the present invention may also be applicable to various
kinds of refrigerators used for storing foods at a lower
temperature, such as a kimchi refrigerator.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator according to an
embodiment of the present invention has an inner casing 2 forming
storage compartments 21, 22, 23 and 24; an outer casing (not shown)
forming an appearance of the refrigerator; a main body cabinet 1
having a foam member 4 disposed between the inner casing 2 and the
outer casing; drawer unit 30 opening/closing, drawer type storage
compartments 23 and 24 of the storage compartments 21, 22, 23 and
24; rail units 40 provided at opposing sides of the drawer unit 30
and placed between the drawer unit and the inner casing 2,
respectively; a support part 7 provided in the inner casing 2; and
a combining part 50 for combining movably the rail unit 40 with the
support part 7.
[0044] The main body cabinet 1 includes the inner casing 2, forming
a plurality of storage compartments 21, 22, 23 and 24 and the outer
casing, which is spaced apart from the inner casing 2 and forms an
external appearance of the refrigerator. A space between the outer
casing and the inner casing 2 is filled with the foam member 4.
[0045] The storage compartments comprise a freezing compartment 21
and a refrigerating compartment 22 partitioned horizontally by a
main partition 5; and a fist auxiliary storage compartment 23 and a
second auxiliary storage compartment 24 partitioned vertically by
an auxiliary partition 6. The freezing compartment 21 is provided
for storing goods at a temperature below a freezing temperature.
For example, a temperature of the freezing compartment 21 is set in
the range of approximately -18.degree. C. to -25.degree. C. The
refrigerating compartment 22 is provided for storing goods at a
temperature above a freezing temperature. For example, a
temperature of the refrigerating compartment 22 is set in the range
of approximately 0.degree. C. to 10.degree. C.
[0046] The first auxiliary storage compartment 23 may be provided
as an auxiliary refrigerating compartment in which a refrigeration
function is performed to store refrigerated foods. The second
auxiliary storage compartment 24 may be provided as an auxiliary
freezing compartment in which a freezing function is performed to
store frozen foods. Here, the first auxiliary storage compartment
23 and the second auxiliary storage compartment 24 can be used for
other purpose and, according to one embodiment, can be constituted
as a single auxiliary storage compartment.
[0047] Doors are installed at the main body cabinet 1 to close/open
front openings of each of the storage compartments 21, 22, 23 and
24. The door can close/open an opening of each of the storage
compartments 21, 22, 23 and 24 in various manners. For example, a
freezing compartment door 35 and a refrigerating compartment door
36, as shown in FIG. 1, a side of the door can be installed
hingeably at the main body cabinet 1. Also, according to one
embodiment, first auxiliary storage compartment door 32 and a
second auxiliary storage compartment door 38 are drawer type doors
that slide to close/open the respective storage compartments.
[0048] The drawer unit 30, for example, has a door plate 32 for
opening/closing a front opening of the auxiliary storage
compartment 23 and a container basket 30a placed between the rail
units 40 to receive goods to be stored. A handle 34 may be provided
at the door plate 32 for easily opening/closing the drawer unit 30.
According to one embodiment, the door plate 32 and the container
basket 30a are formed integrally with each other. According to
another embodiment, the door plate 32 and the container basket 30a
are provided to be attachable/detachable to each other.
[0049] Each rail unit 40 is provided between the inner casing 2 and
the drawer unit 30 to make the drawer unit 30 slide against the
inner casing 2. As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of rail units 40 are
disposed and spaced apart from each other at a certain interval.
Alternatively, two or more pairs of the rail units may be
provided.
[0050] For example, each rail unit 40 has a guide rail 41 coupled
with the support part 7 and slide rails 42 and 43, which are
combined with the guide rail 41 and the drawer unit 30 and move
slidably against the guide rail 41. According to one embodiment,
the side rails 41, 42, and 43 are separated by rolling elements 44.
The number of the slide rails 42 and 43 can be varied as necessary.
For example, according to one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, in a
case that two slide rails, that is, a first slide rail 42 and a
second slide rail 43 are provided, the slide rails are drawn out
through two steps. That is, when the drawer unit 30 is drawn out,
the first slide rail 42 is drawn out along the guide rail 41, and
then the second slide rail 43 is drawn out along the first slide
rail 42. If three or more slide rails are provided, a draw-out
distance of the drawer unit 30 can be increased in proportion to
the number of the slide rails. According to the embodiment of FIG.
2, slide rail 43, which is the very last to be drawn out, is
coupled with a bracket 31 by a fixing member 33. It will be
understood that embodiments of the present invention are not
limited to successive movements of guide rails 42 an 43. In other
words, guide rails 42 and 43 may move at the same time.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3A, the support part 7 is
formed at the inner casing 2 to support the rail unit 40. The
support part 7 withstands the load of the rail unit 40 and the
drawer unit 30 supported by the rail unit 40, and so the support
section 7 prevents the load of the rail unit 40 and the drawer unit
30 from being applied to combining part 50. Accordingly, the rail
unit 40 can be moved smoothly along a rail guide portion 63 to be
described later.
[0052] The support part 7 can be formed in various shapes. For
example, as shown in FIG. 2, the support part 7 can be formed to be
depressed on the inner casing 2. Alternatively, the support part 7
can be formed to be protruded on the inner casing 2. On the other
hand, it is desirable an internal shape of the support part 7
corresponds to a shape of the guide rail 41. Alternatively the
combining part 50 can withstand directly the load of the rail unit
40 and the drawer unit 30 without the support part 7.
[0053] To prevent a space between the foam member 4 and the rail
unit 40 from being changed when the foam member 4 is contracted at
a lower temperature, the combining part 50 movably combines the
rail unit 40 with the support part 7.
[0054] According to one embodiment, the combining part 50 includes
a plurality of first combining holes or pockets 51 formed on the
support part 7; a plurality of second combining holes 52 formed on
the rail units 40 and corresponding to the first combining holes
51; and a plurality of screws 60, each being passed through the
second combining hole 52 and screw-combined with the first
combining hole 51. The number of the first combining holes 51 and
the second combining holes 52 can be varied as necessary.
[0055] The screw 60 is divided into a body portion 61, a head
portion 62, and the rail guide portion 63.
[0056] The body portion 61 is passed through the second combining
hole 52 and screw-combined with the first combining hole 51. A
thread is formed on an outer circumference surface of the body
portion 61 to screw-combine the body portion 61 with the first
combining hole 51.
[0057] The head portion 62 extends from the screw 60 at one end of
the body portion 61 to prevent the guide rail 41 from being
separated from the support part 7. The head portion 62 can be
formed in various shapes. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the head
portion 62 can be configured with an inclined portion 62a whose
diameter is progressively increased from the rail guide portion 63
toward an end thereof and an stepped portion 62b preventing the
guide rail 41 from being separated from the support part 7. As
shown in FIG. 2, if the inclined portion 62a is formed at the head
portion 62, the guide rail 41 is relatively moved in the direction
opposite to a direction in which the inner casing 2 is contracted,
and so the screw 60 can be moved to its normal position. Also, with
the inclined portion 62a, a support strength for the guide rail 41
can be increased by increasing a contact area between the guide
rail 41 and the screw 60, which enables a reduction in a thickness
of the guide rail 41. Alternatively, the screw 60 can be formed
with only the stepped portion 62b without the inclined portion
62a.
[0058] The rail guide portion 63 is positioned between the body
portion 61 and the head portion 62 so that, when the foam member 4
is contracted, the guide rail 41 can be moved relatively in the
direction opposite to a direction in which the inner casing 2 is
contracted. That is, if inner casing 2 contracts, the guide rail 41
can be maintained in an absolute position. In other words, if inner
casing 2 contracts, guide rail 41 doesn't move with inner casing 2.
According to such a structure, although the foam member 4 is
contracted, a space between the rail units 40 can be maintained
constantly. According to one embodiment, the screw 60 may be formed
such that an outer diameter of the rail guide portion 63 is larger
than that of the body portion 61.
[0059] A length of the rail guide portion 63 can be varied
depending on an amount of contraction of the foam member 4 and the
inner casing 2. For example, in a case that a width of the inner
casing 2 of the freezing compartment 21 is increased by 3-4 mm by a
contraction of the foam member 4 and inner casing 2, the screw 60
can be designed such that a length of the rail guide portion 63 is
1.5 to 2 mm, which is a half of amount of contraction of the foam
member 4 and inner casing 2.
[0060] A coupling member 70 (see FIG. 1) is provided to connect end
portions of a pair of brackets 31 to which the rail units 40 are
combined, and so a distance between the rail units 40 is
maintained. The coupling member 70 can be made of any material that
does not have elasticity. According to such structure, the bracket
31, to which the rail unit 40 is combined by the fixing member 33,
is combined with the door plate 32 through one end thereof, and the
other end of the bracket 31 is coupled with the coupling member 70,
and so a distance between the rail units 40 can be maintained.
[0061] Hereinafter, an operation of the present invention will be
described with reference to FIG. 3B and FIG. 3C.
[0062] First, referring to FIG. 3B, the body portion 61 of the
screw 60 is passed through the second combining hole 52 formed on
the guide rail 41 and combined with the first combining hole 51
formed on the support part 7. At this time, since the rail guide
portion 63 has an outer diameter that is larger than that of the
body portion 61, the rail guide portion 63 is passed through the
second first combining hole 52, but not received in the first
combining hole 51. The second combining hole 52 has a shape
corresponding to a shape of the head portion 62. In this
embodiment, since the screw 60 is further provided with the rail
guide portion 63 between the body portion 61 and the head portion
62, at a normal room temperature, the screw head portion 62
protrudes from a surface of the guide rail 41 as much as a length
of the rail guide portion 63.
[0063] Next, referring to FIG. 3C, in a case that the a cooling
operation for the storage compartments 23 and 24 begins, the foam
member 4 and the inner casing 2 contract, and so a surface of the
inner casing 2 is transferred from a position A (original location)
to a position A'. At this time, since the guide rail 41 has a
movable margin as much as a length of the rail guide portion 63,
the guide rail 41 is not moved according to the contraction of the
inner casing 2, but can be maintained at its original location.
Accordingly, although the inner casing 2 is contracting and a space
between opposite surfaces of the inner casing 2 forming the storage
compartments 23 and 24 is increased when the cooling operation is
performed, a space between a pair of rail units 40 is constantly
maintained, so that a sliding movability of the drawer unit 30 is
enhanced.
[0064] Below, a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of
the present invention is described with reference to FIG. 4.
[0065] FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the refrigerator
according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As
shown in FIG. 4, the refrigerator is provided with a rail bracket
17 that is provided at the inner casing 2 to support the rail unit
40; and a combining member having a stable support section combined
firmly to the rail bracket 17 and a free support section movably
supporting the rail unit 40 in a direction approximately
perpendicular to a surface of the inner casing 2.
[0066] Unlike the support part 7 in the first embodiment, which is
formed as a part of the inner casing 2 and provided to support the
rail unit 40, the rail bracket 17 is provided at the inner casing 2
as a separate member to support the rail unit 40. The rail bracket
17 is made of material such as metal or the like, having a high
strength and rigidity to reinforce a supporting force of the rail
bracket 17 for the rail unit 40 to be supported to the inner casing
2. The rail bracket 17 is received and supported in a depression
portion 2a of the inner casing 2. A surface of the inner casing 2
is concaved to form the depression portion 2a for supporting the
rail bracket 17. A groove 2b is formed on the depression portion 2a
of the inner casing 2 in the direction approximately perpendicular
to the plate surface of the inner casing 2. A protrusion 18a to be
received in the groove 2b is formed on a plate portion 18 of the
rail bracket 17. According to the above structure, the rail bracket
17 is stably supported to the inner casing 2, and so the rail unit
40 can be supported by the rail bracket 17. According to another
embodiment, the depression portion 2a is not formed on the inner
casing 2, and so the rail bracket 17 is supported to the flat plate
surface of the inner casing 2. According to another embodiment, the
rail bracket 17 is combined with or supported to the inner casing 2
through conventional combining means such as the screw and the
like. Alternatively, According to yet another embodiment, the rail
bracket 17 is supported to the inner casing 2 by foaming integrally
when the foam member 4 is foamed.
[0067] A combining pin, a combining bar or other member can be used
as the combining member provided for movably combining the rail
unit 40 with the rail bracket 17. According to one embodiment, the
screw 60 is used as the combining member. The first combining holes
51 are positioned on the rail bracket 17 and the inner casing 2,
and the second combining holes 52 are provided on the rail unit 40
corresponding to the first combining holes 51, respectively. The
body portion 61 of the screw 60, on which the thread is formed for
combining with the first combining hole 51, act as the stable
support section of the combining member, and the rail guide portion
63, extended from the body portion 61 and received in the second
combining hole 52 to enable the rail unit 40 to move when the foam
member 4 contracts, acts as the free support section of the
combining member.
[0068] The rail bracket 17 is provided with the plate portion 18,
on which the first combining holes 51 are positioned, and a wing
portion 19 extended from the plate portion 18 in a direction
approximately perpendicular to the surface of the inner casing 2 to
support the rail unit 40. The wing portion 19 is formed to support
an upper side and a lower side of the rail unit 40. According to
another embodiment, the wing portion 19 is formed to support only a
lower side of the rail unit 40.
[0069] Since the wing portion 19 withstands the load of the rail
unit 40 and the drawer unit 30 supported by the rail unit 40, the
wing portion 19 prevents the load of the rail unit 40 and the
drawer unit 30 from being applied to the screw 60 and the second
combining hole 52, so that the guide rail 41 can be moved smoothly
along the rail guide portion 63.
[0070] In the refrigerators according to embodiments of the present
invention, the rail unit 40 is firmly supported to the inner casing
2 by the support part 7 or to the rail bracket 17 in the
approximately perpendicular direction in which the load of the
drawer unit 30 is applied and is firmly supported to the inner
casing 2 by the combining part 60 in the direction in which the
drawer unit 30 slides. Also, the rail unit 40 is supported movably
to the inner casing 2 by the combining part 60 in the direction
approximately perpendicular to a surface of the inner casing 2.
[0071] In the refrigerator according to the present invention, as
described above, although a space between opposite surfaces of the
inner casing is changed by a contraction of the foam member and
inner casing caused by the low temperature operation of the storage
compartment, a space between the rail units can be constantly
maintained, so that a sliding movability of the drawer unit can be
enhanced when the operation of the storage compartment is carried
out at the low temperature.
[0072] Although a few embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to
the described embodiments. Instead, 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 by the claims and their
equivalents.
* * * * *