U.S. patent application number 11/797490 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-20 for dispenser and refrigerator having the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Jae Koog An, Jong Yeob Kim, Jung Rae Kim.
Application Number | 20070289669 11/797490 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38860421 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070289669 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
An; Jae Koog ; et
al. |
December 20, 2007 |
Dispenser and refrigerator having the same
Abstract
A refrigerator is provided in which, when a structure that
secures space to place a container is provided in a dispenser, an
object can be dispensed from the dispenser regardless of the
position of the structure. The dispenser includes a dispensing port
in which an object is dispensed, a switch installed in the
dispensing port to dispense the object, a support pivotally
installed in the dispensing port and unfoldable from a folded state
to place various vessels thereon, and an access portion of the
support providing access to the switch to activate the switch in
the folded state of the support. The access portion may be a
cut-off portion such that the switch is inserted into the support
to be exposed or an auxiliary switch to transmit force to the
switch when the object is dispensed to indirectly activate the
switch. Moreover, the support may directly access the switch.
Inventors: |
An; Jae Koog; (Gwangju,
KR) ; Kim; Jung Rae; (Seoul, KR) ; Kim; Jong
Yeob; (Gwangju, 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: |
38860421 |
Appl. No.: |
11/797490 |
Filed: |
May 3, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/362 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/126 20130101;
F25C 2400/10 20130101; F25D 23/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/362 |
International
Class: |
B65B 1/04 20060101
B65B001/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 26, 2006 |
KR |
2006-47712 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator including a door, comprising: a dispenser
allowing an object to be dispensed, comprising: a dispensing port
providing an outlet through which the object is dispensed; an
actuating switch installed in the dispensing port allowing a user
to actuate the switch to dispense the object; a support pivotally
installed in the dispensing port and movable from a folded state of
being folded into the dispensing port to an unfolded state of being
pivotally folded away from within the dispensing port; and an
access portion of the support providing access to the actuating
switch to activate the actuating switch by the user in the folded
state of the support.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the access
portion of the support is a cut-off portion such that the actuating
switch is inserted into the cut-off portion of the support to be
exposed when the support is in the folded state.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the access
portion of the support is an auxiliary switch to transmit a force
applied by the user to the actuating switch when the object is
dispensed to indirectly activate the actuating switch.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the auxiliary
switch comprises: an actuating member moved toward the actuating
switch due to an external force applied when the object is
dispensed to activate the actuating switch; and an elastic member
elastically returning the actuating member to an original
position.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein an end of the
actuating member protrudes further forward than a front side of the
support.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the support is
able to be pivoted toward and actuate the actuating switch in the
folded state of being folded into the dispensing port.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the dispenser
further comprises a return device provided at a rear side of the
support to return the support to an original position.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the return device
includes a supporting member contacting the rear side of the
support and an elastic member elastically biasing the supporting
member to the support.
9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a front side of
the support is curved to naturally contact an outer surface of a
circular vessel when the object is being dispensed.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser
further comprises a water tray installed lower than the support to
collect remnant generated when the object is being dispensed, the
water tray protruding further forward than a front side of the
support when the support is in the folded state of being folded
into the dispensing port.
11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein a rear side of
the support comprises a collecting recess to collect remaining
water dropped down on the rear side of the support in the unfolded
state of being pivotally folded away from within the dispensing
port when the object is dispensed.
12. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising an
insulator provided in the support to prevent chilled air from being
lost through the dispensing port.
13. A dispenser installed to a refrigerator to allow an object to
be dispensed, the dispenser comprising: a dispensing port providing
access for a vessel to accommodate an object when the object is
dispensed; an actuating switch installed in the dispensing port
allowing a user to actuate the switch to dispense the object; a
support pivotable in an upward direction and a downward direction,
the support pivotally attached to a lower end of the dispensing
port; and an access portion of the support providing access to the
actuating switch by the user when the support is in a state in
which the support is pivoted in an upward direction.
14. A dispenser installed to a refrigerator, comprising: a
dispensing port; an actuating switch situated within the dispensing
port and capable of being actuated to dispense an object; and a
pivotable support capable of supporting a vessel for receipt of the
object pivotally attached to a lower end of the dispenser, the
pivotable support being pivotable from a substantially vertical
position within the dispensing port to a substantially horizontal
position, the pivotable support having a curved front surface
curved to contact an outer surface of a circular vessel.
15. The dispenser according to claim 14, further comprising a
collecting recess disposed within a rear surface of the support to
collect the object when the object is dispensed.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 2006-47712, filed on May 26, 2006, in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
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 dispenser to allow a user
to take water or ice out of the refrigerator without opening a
door.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A refrigerator is an apparatus to supply chilled air
generated by a refrigerating cycle to a compartment to maintain the
freshness of various food for a long time. Generally, a
refrigerator includes a main body having a compartment to
accommodate food and a door pivotally attached to the main body to
open and close the compartment. Recently, refrigerators have
included a dispenser integrated with the door to allow a user to
conveniently obtain water or ice from the refrigerator without
opening the door and to prevent the chilled air in the compartment
from being lost due to frequent opening and closing of the
door.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a side sectional view illustrating a conventional
refrigerator having a dispenser. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the
dispenser 10 of the conventional refrigerator includes a dispensing
port 11 sunk into a door 1 such that a container C to accommodate
an object to be dispensed is placed in and removed from the
dispensing port 11 for the dispensing of water or ice, and an
actuating lever 12 installed in the dispensing port 11. In the
conventional refrigerator, since the dispensing port 11 of the
dispenser is deep enough to allow the container. C to be placed
therein, the rear side of the door 1, such as portion A in FIG. 1,
considerably protrudes toward a compartment 2, resulting in reduced
accommodating space in the compartment 2 adjacent to the dispenser
10. In consideration of the above-mentioned problem, if the depth
of the dispensing port 11 is reduced, a space in which the
container C is placed may not be guaranteed to fit the container C,
thus inconveniencing a user.
[0007] On the other hand, Korean Patent Publication No. 2005-26740
discloses a refrigerator including a dispenser door that opens and
closes a dispenser case. In the refrigerator, when the dispenser
door is opened, a container to accommodate water is placed on a
surface of the dispenser door facing a dispenser. By using the
dispenser door as disclosed in Korean Pat. Pub. No. 2005-26740,
although the dispenser case does not secure space sufficient enough
to place the container within the case, since the container can be
placed on the surface of the opened dispenser door, the
above-mentioned problem can be somewhat solved. However, in order
to receive an object from the dispenser, since the dispenser door
must be opened, convenience to the user deteriorates.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the
above-mentioned problems, and an aspect of the invention is to
provide a refrigerator in which a space in which a container is
placed when using a dispenser is secured and a rear side of a door
of the refrigerator is protruded into a compartment to a minimal
degree.
[0009] It is another aspect of the invention to provide a
refrigerator in which, when a structure to secure a space in which
a container is placed is provided in a dispenser, an object can be
dispensed from the dispenser without a limit of a position of the
structure.
[0010] Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will
be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part,
will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by
practice of the invention.
[0011] In accordance with one aspect, the present invention
provides a refrigerator including a dispenser allowing an object to
be dispensed without opening a door by a user, including a
dispensing port providing an outlet through which the object is
dispensed, an actuating switch installed in the dispensing port
allowing a user to actuate the switch to dispense the object; a
support pivotally installed in the dispensing port and movable from
folded state of being folded into the dispensing port to an
unfolded state of being pivotally folded away from within the
dispensing port, so as to place various vessels thereon, and an
access portion of the support providing access to the actuating
switch to activate the actuating switch by the user in the folded
state of the support, even when the support is folded into the
dispensing port.
[0012] The access portion of the support is a cut-off portion such
that the actuating switch is inserted into the cut-off portion of
the support to be exposed when the support is in the folded
state.
[0013] The access portion of the support is an auxiliary switch to
transmit a force applied by the user to the actuating switch when
the object is dispensed to indirectly activate the actuating
switch.
[0014] The auxiliary switch includes an actuating member moved
toward the actuating switch due to an external force applied when
the object is dispensed to activate the actuating switch, and an
elastic member elastically returning the actuating member to an
original position. An end of the actuating member protrudes further
forward than a front side of the support.
[0015] The support is able to be pivoted toward and actuate the
actuating switch in the folded state of being folded into the
dispensing port.
[0016] The dispenser further includes a return device provided at a
rear side of the support to return the support to an original
position. The return device includes a supporting member contacting
the rear side of the support and an elastic member elastically
biasing the supporting member to the support.
[0017] A front side of the support is curved to naturally contact
an outer surface of a circular vessel when the object is being
dispensed.
[0018] The dispenser further includes a water tray installed lower
than the support to collect remnant generated when the object is
being dispensed, the water tray protruding further forward than a
front side of the support when the support is in the folded state
of being folded into the dispensing port.
[0019] A rear side of the support includes a collecting recess to
collect remaining water dropped down on the rear side of the
support in the unfolded state of being pivotally folded away from
within the dispensing port and when the object is dispensed.
[0020] The refrigerator further includes an insulator provided in
the support to prevent chilled air from being lost through the
dispensing port.
[0021] The refrigerator may include a main body having an internal
compartment and a chilled air generating portion disposed within
the main body to generate chilled air held within the
compartment.
[0022] The support further includes a locking groove provided at a
rear lower side of the support to maintain the support in an
unfolded state of being pivotally folded away from within the
dispensing port.
[0023] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention
can be achieved by providing a dispenser installed to a
refrigerator to allow an object to be is dispensed without opening
a door by a user, the dispenser including a dispensing port
providing access for a vessel to accommodate an object when the
object is dispensed, an actuating switch installed in the
dispensing port allowing a user to actuate the switch to dispense
the object, a support pivotable in an upward direction and a
downward direction, the support pivotally attached to a lower end
of the dispensing port to open and close the dispensing port; and
an access portion of the support providing access to the actuating
switch by the user when the support is in a state in which the
support is pivoted in an upward direction, thus allowing the user
access to the actuating switch to activate the actuating switch
when the support closes the dispensing port.
[0024] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention
can be achieved by providing a dispenser installed to a
refrigerator, including a dispensing outlet, an actuating switch
capable of being actuated to dispense an object through the
dispensing outlet, a pivotable support capable of supporting a
vessel for receipt of the object through the dispensing outlet
pivotally attached to a lower end of the dispenser, and an
actuating switch access portion of the pivotable support providing
access to the actuating switch. When the pivotable support is in a
substantially vertical position, the actuating switch access
portion provides access by the vessel to the actuating switch.
[0025] Further, the actuating switch access portion of the
pivotable support may be a cut-away portion of the support. The
actuating switch access portion of the support may be an auxiliary
switch in communication with the actuating switch. The actuating
switch access portion of the support may be a cut-away portion of a
rear side of the support, the cut-away portion of the rear side of
the support being in communication with the actuating switch when
the support is in the substantially vertical position.
[0026] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention
can be achieved by providing a dispenser installed to a
refrigerator, including a dispensing port, an actuating switch
situated within the dispensing port and capable of being actuated
to dispense an object, and a pivotable support capable of
supporting a vessel for receipt of the object pivotally attached to
a lower end of the dispenser, the pivotable support being pivotable
from a substantially vertical position within the dispensing port
to a substantially horizontal position, the pivotable support
having a curved front surface curved to contact an outer surface of
a circular vessel.
[0027] The dispenser may include a collecting recess disposed
within a rear surface of the support to collect the object when the
object is dispensed.
[0028] Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will
be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part,
will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice
of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention
will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the
following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings in which:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a side sectional view illustrating a conventional
refrigerator in which a dispenser is installed;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an external
appearance of the refrigerator according to a first embodiment of
the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a side sectional view illustrating a configuration
of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the
present invention;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the dispenser
extracted from FIG. 2 in a state where a support is pivoted
forward;
[0034] FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating a configuration of
the dispenser of the refrigerator according to a second embodiment
of the present invention; and
[0035] FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a configuration of
the dispenser of the refrigerator according to a third embodiment
of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0036] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the
like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to
explain the present invention by referring to the figures.
[0037] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an external
appearance of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the
present invention, FIG. 3 is a side sectional view illustrating a
configuration of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment
of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view
illustrating a dispenser extracted from FIG. 2 in which a support
is pivoted forward.
[0038] As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the refrigerator according
to the embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 20
having a compartment 21 to keep food in custody and at least one
door 30 pivotally attached to the main body 20, which opens and
closes to provide access to the compartment 21. The main body 20
includes an outer shell 22 to form an external surface of the main
body 20 and an inner shell 23 spaced apart from the outer shell 22
to form the compartment therein. Between the outer shell 22 and the
inner shell 23, a refrigerator insulator 24 is foamed to prevent
chilled air from being lost to the outside of the refrigerator.
[0039] The compartment 21 is partitioned into a right side and a
left side by an intermediate partition 25, such that the right side
forms a refrigerator compartment 21a to accommodate and refrigerate
food and the left side forms a freezer compartment 21b to
accommodate and freeze food. At a rear side of the compartment 21
is a chilled air generating room 26, from which chilled air to be
supplied to the compartment 21 is provided. In the chilled air
generating room 26, an evaporator 27 to generate the chilled air by
heat-exchange with ambient air is installed, and a circulation fan
28 to supply the chilled air to the compartment 21 is installed
next to the evaporator 27.
[0040] In a front side of the door 30, a dispenser 100 is installed
to dispense an object, such as water or ice, without a user having
to open the door 30. Although not depicted in the drawings, a water
supply pipe to guide water supplied from a water source to the
dispenser 100 is installed in the door 30. In the freezer
compartment 21b, an ice feeder to feed ice to the dispenser 100 is
installed. The ice feeder includes an ice-making unit 41 to make
ice, an ice cube tray 42 disposed lower than the ice-making unit 41
to accommodate ice cubes made in the ice-making unit 41, a delivery
unit 43 to deliver ice cubes accommodated in the ice cube tray 42,
and a crushing unit 44 to crush ice cubes delivered by the delivery
unit 43 into ice pieces.
[0041] As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the dispenser 100 includes
a dispensing port 110 having an outlet 111 through which an object
is discharged, an actuating switch 120 installed to the dispensing
port 110 for providing the discharge of the object, a support 130
pivotally installed in the dispensing port 110 able to be folded
inward in the dispensing port 110 and to be unfolded down such that
various vessels may be placed thereon, and a water tray 160
installed at a lower side of the support to collect remnant
generated when the object is dispensed. When the object is
dispensed, a container C to accommodate the object is placed in the
dispensing port 110.
[0042] The support 130 is installed to be pivoted about a hinge
shaft 131 installed at a lower end of the dispensing port 110 and
to be pivoted forward from the door 30 from a state of being folded
into the dispensing port 110 such that a rear side 132 of the
support 130 becomes approximately horizontal, thereby allowing
various cups or vessels to be placed on the rear side 132 of the
support 130.
[0043] As such, since the support 130 is provided, the dispensing
port 110 is configured to accommodate the folded support 130 and to
additionally have a space sufficient for access from the outlet
111. Thus, since a rear side of the door 30 does not protrude
toward the compartment 21 in order to form a space where a vessel
may be placed, it is possible to prevent the decrease of an
accommodating space in the compartment 21. Moreover, since, as
illustrated in FIG. 3, a door guard 32 to accommodate articles such
as a milk bottle, a water bottle, or the like can be installed in a
rear side 31 of the door at a rear side of the dispenser 100, the
interior of the compartment 21 can be effectively used.
[0044] Particularly, in the present invention, the support 130
includes an access portion of the support or an access device 140
to allow a user to directly or indirectly approach the actuating
switch 120 to activate the actuating switch 120, even when the
support 130 is folded into the dispensing port 110. The access
device 140 allows the user to activate the actuating switch 120
when the support 130 is not withdrawn from the dispensing port 110
so that the dispenser 100 can be conveniently used without having
to pivot the support 130 when dispensing the object.
[0045] FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate the access device 140, that is, a
cut-off portion 141 formed in the support 130. The cut-off portion
141 is formed at a corresponding position and with a shape
corresponding to the actuating switch 120, such that the actuating
switch 120 is inserted into the cut-off portion 141 and is exposed
when the support 130 is folded into the dispensing port 110. The
cut-off portion 141 is a space defined within a portion of the
support 130 in order to provide access to the actuating switch 120
when the support 130 is in a folded state. Here, the actuating
switch has a sufficient height to pass through the cut-off portion
141 in order to be exposed. Then, the user may pivot the support
130 forward to access the actuating switch 120 to actuate the
actuating switch 120 without opening the dispensing port 110.
[0046] As illustrated in FIG. 2, a front side 133 of the support
130 may have a curved surface 133a such that an outer surface of a
circular vessel naturally contacts the front side 133, and the
water tray 160 disposed lower than the support 130 is preferably
protruded more forward than the front side 133 of the support 130
when the support 130 is folded into the dispensing port 110. As
such, that the water tray 160 that is protruded more forward than
the front side 133 of the support 130 is able to effectively
collect remnants when the object is dispensed in front of the
support 130 folded into the dispensing port 110. Further, the
protruding water tray 160 supports the support 130 when the support
130, as illustrated in FIG. 4, is pivoted and in a horizontal
state.
[0047] Moreover, a dispenser insulator 134 to prevent the chilled
air from being lost through the dispensing port 110 of the
dispenser 100 is preferably provided within the support 130. Thus,
it is possible to employ a thin, inner insulator 33 provided at the
rear side of the dispenser 100 in the door 30 without deteriorating
the insulation effect so that the door 30 can be made thinner and
the accommodating space of the compartment 21 can be more
effectively used.
[0048] Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 4, it is preferred that
at least one collecting recess 132a is formed in the rear side 132
of the support 130. When the support 130 is pivoted to the
horizontal state to provide access for the object to be dispensed,
water dropped down on the rear side 132 of the support 130 is
gathered in the collecting recess 132a to prevent the water on the
rear side 132 of the support 130 from dropping down on an indoor
floor. In this case, the water collected in the collecting recess
132a flows down and is collected into the water tray 160 when the
support 130 is folded into the dispensing port 110 again.
[0049] A locking groove 101 is provided at a rear lower side of the
support 130 to maintain the support 130 in the horizontal state by
locking an end of the support 130 when the support 130 is pivoted
to place a vessel thereon.
[0050] FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating the configuration of
a dispenser of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of
the present invention. Hereinafter, only features peculiar to this
embodiment will be described and same reference numerals are
assigned to components similar to those in the embodiment depicted
in FIG. 3.
[0051] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the support 130 has an auxiliary
switch 142 as an access device 140. The auxiliary switch 142
transmits a force applied by a user when dispensing the object to
the actuating switch 120 such that the actuating switch 120 can be
indirectly actuated. The auxiliary switch 142 includes an actuating
member 142a which moves toward the actuating switch 120 due to an
external force applied when dispensing the object to activate the
actuating switch 120, and an elastic member 142b to elastically
return the actuating member 142a to its original position.
[0052] In this case, an end of the actuating member 142a protrudes
further forward than the front side 133 of the support 130 and the
opposite end thereof contacts the actuating switch 120. By doing
so, since pressing the actuating member 142a can activate the
actuating switch 120, the object can be dispensed without
withdrawing the support 130 from the dispensing port 110.
[0053] FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the configuration of
a dispenser of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of
the present invention. In this embodiment, the support 130 serves
as the access device 140, and the support 130 is installed to pivot
toward the actuating switch 120 when at a state of being folded
into the dispensing port 110. Thus, since the user presses the
support 130 to activate the actuating switch 120, the object can be
dispensed without withdrawing the support 130 from the dispensing
port 110. In this case, a return device 150 is provided at a rear
side of the support 130, in order to return the support 130 to the
original position of the support 130, prior to being depressed,
when external force on the support 130 is removed. The return
device 150 is provided at a rear side 132 of the support 130. As
illustrated in FIG. 6, the return device 150 may include a
supporting member 151 to contact the rear side 132 of the support
130 and an elastic member 152 to elastically bias the supporting
member 151 to the support 130.
[0054] The access device or access portion 140 of the support 130
in FIG. 6 includes a cut-away portion on the rear side 132 of the
support. The cut-away portion is in communication with the
actuating switch 120 when the support 130 is in a substantially
vertical position.
[0055] As described above, the present invention includes an access
device in which a user can access the actuating switch to activate
the actuating switch when the support on which a vessel is placed
is folded into the dispensing port of the dispenser, so that an
object can be conveniently dispensed when the support is unfolded
or folded.
[0056] Moreover, according to the present invention, since the
support on which a vessel is placed is provided, it minimizes the
space that a rear side of a refrigerator door protrudes inward into
the compartment so as to allow for the space required to place a
vessel. Therefore, the accommodating space in the compartment can
be more effectively used.
[0057] Although a few embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled
in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without
departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the
scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *