U.S. patent application number 12/010642 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-28 for refrigerator with regulation members.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Jae Hoon Lim, So Hyun Min, Myung Ju Sim.
Application Number | 20080203878 12/010642 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39715075 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080203878 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lim; Jae Hoon ; et
al. |
August 28, 2008 |
Refrigerator with regulation members
Abstract
Disclosed is a refrigerator including a storage chamber having a
door at a front thereof; a first storage basket provided in a lower
portion of the storage chamber and being opened and closed
integrally with the door; and a second storage basket provided
above the first storage basket in the lower portion of the storage
chamber, wherein the first storage basket is provided with at least
one regulation member to draw the second storage basket into the
storage chamber when the door is closed. Since the storage baskets
are completely drawn into the storage chamber, the refrigerator
improves the convenience of use.
Inventors: |
Lim; Jae Hoon; (Suwon-si,
KR) ; Min; So Hyun; (Gwangju, KR) ; Sim; Myung
Ju; (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: |
39715075 |
Appl. No.: |
12/010642 |
Filed: |
January 28, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/405.1 ;
312/404; 312/408 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 25/025 20130101;
F25D 23/021 20130101; F25D 2500/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/405.1 ;
312/404; 312/408 |
International
Class: |
A47B 96/00 20060101
A47B096/00; A47B 96/06 20060101 A47B096/06; A47B 96/02 20060101
A47B096/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 26, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0019110 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator, comprising: a storage chamber having a door at a
front thereof; a first storage basket provided in a lower portion
of the storage chamber and being opened and closed integrally with
the door; and a second storage basket provided above the first
storage basket in the lower portion of the storage chamber, wherein
the first storage basket is provided with at least one regulation
member to draw the second storage basket into the storage chamber
when the door is closed.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the at least one
regulation member is at least one protrusion contacting the second
storage basket during a drawing of the first storage basket into
the storage chamber.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the at least one
protrusion is formed on an upper end of the first storage basket
and contacts a lower end of the second storage basket.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the first and
second storage baskets are provided with slide rails such that the
first and second storage baskets are slidable into the storage
chamber.
5. A refrigerator, comprising: a storage chamber having a door at a
front thereof; a first storage basket provided in a lower portion
of the storage chamber; and a second storage basket provided above
the first storage basket, wherein the door is provided with at
least one regulation member to draw the second storage basket into
the storage chamber when the door is closed.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the at least one
regulation member is at least one protrusion protruded from a rear
surface of the door.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the at least one
protrusion contacts a front surface of the second storage basket
during a drawing of the door into the storage chamber.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the first and
second storage baskets are provided with slide rails such that the
first and second storage baskets are slidable into the storage
chamber.
9. A refrigerator, comprising: a storage chamber storing foodstuff
to be cooled; and a plurality of storage baskets being drawn into
and out of the storage chamber, a first of the storage baskets
including at least one protrusion extending in a vertical direction
from the first storage basket and contacting a second of the
storage baskets disposed above the first storage basket when the
first storage basket is drawn into the storage chamber.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the storage
baskets each include slide rails slidable at opposing sides of the
storage chamber, the slide rails storing elastic force when the
storage baskets are drawn out of the storage chamber.
11. A refrigerator, comprising: a storage chamber storing foodstuff
to be cooled; at least one storage basket being drawn into and out
of the storage chamber; and a door opening and closing the storage
chamber and including at least one protrusion extending from an
inner surface thereof facing the storage chamber, the protrusion
contacting the at least one storage basket when the door is closed
to drawn the at least one storage basket into the storage
chamber.
12. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the at least
one storage basket includes slide rails slidable at opposing sides
of the storage chamber, the slide rails storing elastic force when
the at least one storage basket is drawn out of the storage
chamber.
13. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the at least
one storage basket includes a first storage basket and a second
storage basket disposed above the first storage basket, the second
storage basket being drawn into the storage chamber by the
protrusion.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 2007-0019110, filed Feb. 26, 2007, in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more
particularly, to a refrigerator provided with regulation members to
regulate a complete drawing of a storage basket into the
refrigerator.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, refrigerators are apparatuses that supply cool
air generated by a refrigeration cycle to maintain the freshness of
various foods stored therein for a long period of time.
Refrigerators of various kinds, including general refrigerators
having a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber, industrial
refrigerators, Kimchi refrigerators to store Kimchi, and wine
refrigerators to store wine, are produced now. Further,
refrigerators having a thawing chamber to thaw frozen or
refrigerated foods have been developed.
[0006] Refrigerators, which are generally used at home, are divided
into a top-mounted freezer type refrigerator, a side-by-side type
refrigerator, and a combination-type refrigerator according to a
disposition of a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber and
the installation structure of doors. In the top-mounted freezer
type refrigerator, a freezing chamber is located at the upper
portion, a refrigerating chamber is located at the lower portion,
and a freezing chamber door and a refrigerating chamber door are
correspondingly disposed at the upper and lower portions.
[0007] In the side-by-side type refrigerator, a freezing chamber
and a refrigerating chamber are located side-by-side and a freezing
chamber door and a refrigerating chamber door are correspondingly
disposed side-by-side. An ice maker to produce ice is provided in
the freezing chamber, and a dispenser to easily discharge ice
produced by the ice maker to the outside of the freezing chamber is
provided in the freezing chamber door. Such a side-by-side type
refrigerator is suitable for satisfying large-capacity
requirements, i.e., large capacities of the freezing and
refrigerating chambers.
[0008] In the combination-type refrigerator, a freezing chamber is
located at a lower portion and a refrigerating chamber is located
at an upper portion. The freezing chamber is opened and closed by a
drawer type freezing chamber door, and the refrigerating chamber is
opened and closed by a pair of refrigerating chamber doors. Since
an ice maker is installed in the refrigerating chamber and a
dispenser is installed in the refrigerating chamber door, the
combination-type refrigerator is advantageous in that water
supplied to the ice maker is not frozen, compared with the
side-by-side type refrigerator, in which the ice maker is installed
in the freezing chamber.
[0009] Korean Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2005-0117536
discloses a combination-type refrigerator. The combination type
refrigerator disclosed in the above Publication includes a
refrigerating chamber located at the upper portion of a main body
and a freezing chamber located at the lower portion of the main
body. The refrigerating chamber is opened and closed by a pair of
refrigerating chamber doors, and the freezing chamber is opened and
closed by a drawer-type freezing chamber door.
[0010] However, since storage baskets of the freezing chamber
closed by the drawer-type freezing chamber door are located in the
lower portion of the above conventional combination-type
refrigerator, this refrigerator causes inconvenience of completely
drawing the storage baskets into the refrigerator to a user.
SUMMARY
[0011] Therefore, one aspect of the embodiments is to provide a
refrigerator, into which storage baskets are completely drawn into,
to improve the convenience of use.
[0012] Additional aspects and/or advantages 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.
[0013] The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing
a refrigerator, including a storage chamber having a door at a
front thereof; a first storage basket provided in a lower portion
of the storage chamber and being opened and closed integrally with
the door; and a second storage basket provided above the first
storage basket in the lower portion of the storage chamber, wherein
the first storage basket is provided with at least one regulation
member to draw the second storage basket into the storage chamber
when the door is closed.
[0014] The at least one regulation member may be at least one
protrusion contacting the second storage basket during a drawing of
the first storage basket into the storage chamber.
[0015] The at least one protrusion may be formed on an upper end of
the first storage basket and may contact a lower end of the second
storage basket.
[0016] The first and second storage baskets may be provided with
slide rails such that the first and second storage baskets are
slidable into the storage chamber.
[0017] The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing
a refrigerator, including a storage chamber having a door at a
front thereof; a first storage basket provided in a lower portion
of the storage chamber; and a second storage basket provided above
the first storage basket, wherein the door is provided with at
least one regulation member to draw the second storage basket into
the storage chamber when the door is closed.
[0018] The at least one regulation member may be at least one
protrusion protruded from a rear surface of the door.
[0019] The at least one protrusion may contact a front surface of
the second storage basket during a drawing of the door into the
storage chamber.
[0020] The first and second storage baskets may be provided with
slide rails such that the first and second storage baskets are
slidable into the storage chamber.
[0021] The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing
a refrigerator, including: a storage chamber storing foodstuff to
be cooled; and a plurality of storage baskets being drawn into and
out of the storage chamber, a first of the storage baskets
including at least one protrusion extending in a vertical direction
from the first storage basket and contacting a second of the
storage baskets disposed above the first storage basket when the
first storage basket is drawn into the storage chamber.
[0022] The storage baskets may each include slide rails slidable at
opposing sides of the storage chamber, the slide rails storing
elastic force when the storage baskets are drawn out of the storage
chamber.
[0023] The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing
a refrigerator, including: a storage chamber storing foodstuff to
be cooled; at least one storage basket being drawn into and out of
the storage chamber; and a door opening and closing the storage
chamber and including at least one protrusion extending from an
inner surface thereof facing the storage chamber, the protrusion
contacting the at least one storage basket when the door is closed
to drawn the at least one storage basket into the storage
chamber.
[0024] The at least one storage basket may include slide rails
slidable at opposing sides of the storage chamber, the slide rails
storing elastic force when the at least one storage basket is drawn
out of the storage chamber.
[0025] The at least one storage basket may include a first storage
basket and a second storage basket disposed above the first storage
basket, the second storage basket being drawn into the storage
chamber by the protrusion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] These and/or other aspects and advantages will become
apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator in accordance
with a first embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a storage chamber of the
refrigerator of FIG. 1;
[0029] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a refrigerator in accordance
with a second embodiment; and
[0030] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a storage chamber of the
refrigerator of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0031] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, an
example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
The embodiments are described below to explain the present
invention by referring to the annexed drawings.
[0032] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator in accordance
with a first embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a
storage chamber of the refrigerator of FIG. 1.
[0033] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a refrigerator 10 in accordance
with the first embodiment includes a storage chamber 20 provided
with doors 50 at a front surface thereof, a plurality of storage
baskets 30 provided in the storage chamber 20, and protrusions 40
formed at any one of the plurality of storage baskets 30 and
serving as regulation members to draw another one of the plurality
of storage baskets 30 into the storage chamber 20.
[0034] The doors 50 are provided on the front surface of a housing
60 forming an external appearance of the refrigerator 10. A user
opens and closes the doors 50, and then put articles into the
refrigerator 10. The doors 50 include first, second, and third
doors 52, 54, and 56.
[0035] The first and second doors 52 and 54 are provided at an
upper portion of the refrigerator 10. Hinges 61 are respectively
provided at corners of the first and second doors 52 and 54.
Accordingly, the first and second doors 52 and 54 are rotated on
the hinges 61 and are able to be opened and closed. A dispenser 62
and a home bar 64 are respectively formed in the first and second
doors 52 and 54.
[0036] The third door 56 is provided at a lower portion of the
refrigerator 10. The third door 56 differs from the first and
second doors 52 and 54, which are rotated on the hinges 61 to be
opened and closed, in that the third door 56 is opened and closed
in a drawer manner along first slide rails 57 formed on both side
surfaces of a first storage basket 31 connected to the third door
56, the first slide rails 57 being engagable with corresponding
rails (not shown) disposed on opposing sides of the storage chamber
20. That is, since the first slide rails 57 are formed on both side
surfaces of the first storage basket 31 connected to the third door
56, as soon as a user opens or closes the third door 56 by pulling
or pushing a handle 58 provided on the front surface of the third
door 56, the first storage basket 31 is opened or closed.
[0037] The storage chamber 20 is a space to receive articles, such
as foods, to be stored. The storage chamber 20 is used as a
refrigerating, freezing, or thawing chamber according to the
operation mode, such as a refrigerating, freezing, or thawing mode.
The storage chamber 20 forms a single space to store a large-sized
article, but is generally divided into a plurality of spaces by the
storage baskets 30 to effectively use the plurality of spaces.
[0038] The storage baskets 30 divide the storage chamber 20 into a
plurality of spaces, and effectively receive articles, such as
foods, to be stored. In this embodiment, the storage baskets 30
include a first storage basket 31 formed integrally with the third
door 56, and a second storage basket 35 provided above the first
storage basket 31.
[0039] The first storage basket 31 is provided in a lower portion
of the storage chamber 20. A front surface of the first storage
basket 31 is connected to the third door 56. Since the front
surface of the first storage basket 31 is connected to the third
door 56, the first storage basket 31 is opened and closed together
with the opening and closing of the third door 56, as described
above. The first slide rails 57 are formed on both side surfaces of
the first storage basket 31. The first slide rails 57 include an
elastic member (not shown), for example. The first slide rails 57
including the elastic member store elastic force when the first
storage basket 31 is opened. The stored elastic force is used to
completely draw the first storage basket 31 into the storage
chamber 20 when the third door 56 is pushed. That is, even though a
user does not completely push the third door 56 to the end, once
the user pushes the third door 56 so that a designated portion of
the first storage basket 31 enters the storage chamber 20, the
first storage basket 31 is completely drawn into the storage
chamber 20 by the elasticity of the first slide rails 57.
[0040] The second storage basket 35 is provided above an upper
surface of the first storage basket 31. Since the second storage
basket 35 is disposed in the storage chamber 20, it is possible to
effectively use the inside of the storage chamber 20. An ice box
(not shown), to which ice produced from an ice maker (not shown)
attached to the upper end of the rear surface of the storage
chamber 20 is supplied, is located in the second storage basket 35
provided above the first storage basket 31. Second slide rails 59
are formed on both side surfaces of the second storage basket 35.
In the same manner as the first slide rails 57, the second slide
rails 59 cause the second storage basket 35 to be completely closed
using elastic force stored when the second storage basket 35 is
opened.
[0041] The protrusions 40, which are formed on upper ends of the
side surfaces of the first storage basket 31, serve as regulation
members to draw the second storage basket 35 into the storage
chamber 20. The protrusions 40 have a designated height (V) such
that upper ends thereof contact a lower end of the second storage
basket 35. The protrusions 40 may be molded integrally with the
first storage basket 31, or be molded separately from the first
storage basket 31 and then fixed to the first storage basket 31.
The protrusions 40 are located at positions near the third door 56
so as not to interfere with the second storage basket 35 when the
first and second storage baskets 31 and 35 are completely opened or
closed. Therefore, during the opening and closing of the second
storage basket 35, the protrusions 40 do not cause any
inconvenience due to the interference with the second storage
basket 35.
[0042] Hereinafter, an operation of the above-described
refrigerator in accordance with the first embodiment will be
described.
[0043] When a user wants to open the third door 56, the user grips
the handle 58 of the third door 56 and pulls the handle 58 forward.
When the third door 56 is pulled forward, the first storage basket
31 fixed integrally to the third door 56 is drawn out of the
storage chamber 20 simultaneously with the opening of the third
door 56.
[0044] When a user wants to draw the second storage basket 35 out
of the storage chamber 20, the user pulls the second storage basket
35 forward under the condition that the third door 56 is opened.
When the second storage basket 35 is pulled forward, the second
storage basket 35 is drawn out of the storage chamber 20 along the
second slide rails 59 formed on both side surfaces of the second
storage basket 35.
[0045] When a user wants to draw the first and second storage
baskets 31 and 35 into the storage chamber 20, the user pushes the
handle 58 of the third door 56 in a direction opposite to the
opening direction of the third door 56. When the third door 56 is
pushed in, the first storage basket 31 fixed to the third door 56
is drawn into the storage chamber 20. When the first storage basket
31 is drawn into the storage chamber 20, the protrusions 40 serving
as regulation members, formed on the upper ends of the side
surfaces of the first storage basket 31 contact the lower ends of
the side surfaces of the second storage basket 35.
[0046] When the user continuously pushes the third door 56 under
the condition that the protrusions 40 contact the lower ends of the
side surfaces of the second storage basket 35, the second storage
basket 35 contacting the protrusions 40 is drawn into the storage
chamber 20.
[0047] When the second storage basket 35 contacting the protrusions
40 reaches a designated point, the second storage basket 35 is
completely drawn into the storage chamber 20 due to the elastic
force stored by the second slide rails 59.
[0048] When the third door 56 is drawn in under the condition that
the protrusions 40 are not provided, the third door 56 is closed,
but the second storage basket 35 is not drawn in any more and is
thus incompletely closed. Therefore, the storage state of articles
received in the second storage basket 35 is poor, and ice produced
from the ice maker (not shown) attached to the upper end of the
rear surface of the storage chamber 20 is not supplied correctly to
the ice box (not shown) provided in the second storage basket 35.
However, when the protrusions 40 are provided, the protrusions 40
push the second storage basket 35 to a position where the second
storage basket 35 can be completely closed by the second slide
rails 59. When the second storage basket 35 is completely drawn in,
ice (not shown) produced from the ice maker is supplied correctly
to the ice box (not shown). Accordingly, the user does not have to
directly push the second storage basket 35 separately from the
third door 56.
[0049] FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively illustrate a refrigerator and a
storage chamber formed therein in accordance with a second
embodiment. Hereinafter, only parts in the second embodiment, which
are different from those in the first embodiment, will be
described. That is, some parts in the second embodiment, which are
substantially the same as those in the first embodiment, are
denoted by the same reference numerals even though they are
depicted in different drawings, and a detailed description thereof
will be thus omitted because it is considered to be unnecessary.
Further, parts in the second embodiment, which are modified from
those in the first embodiment, will be denoted by reference
numerals accompanied by `a`.
[0050] In a refrigerator 10a in accordance with the second
embodiment, protrusions 40a, which are provided on a third door
56a, serve as regulation members.
[0051] The protrusions 40a are formed on an inner surface of the
third door 56a facing toward a storage chamber 20. The protrusions
40a have a protruding length (H) enough to push an opened second
storage basket 35 to move the second storage basket 35 to a point,
to which an elastic force of second slide rails 59 is applied, when
the third door 56a is slidably closed. Two protrusions 40a are
provided such that each of the two protrusions 40a is formed at the
corresponding one of both sides of the third door 56a to correspond
to a width of a front surface of the second storage basket 35.
[0052] Hereinafter, an operation of the above-described
refrigerator in accordance with the second embodiment will be
described.
[0053] When a user pushes the third door 56a in so that the third
door 56a is drawn to a designated distance, the protrusions 40a
formed on the third door 56a contact the front surface of the
second storage basket 35. When the user continuously pushes the
third door 56 under the condition that the protrusions 40a contact
the front surface of the second storage basket 35, the second
storage basket 35 reaches a point to which the elastic force stored
by the second slide rails 59 provided at both side surfaces of the
second storage basket 35 is applied.
[0054] The second storage basket 35, which is moved to the point to
which the elastic force stored by the second slide rails 59 is
applied by the protrusions 40a, is completely drawn into the
storage chamber 20. Accordingly, the user does not have to directly
push the second storage basket 35 to the end of the storage chamber
20.
[0055] Although the above embodiments illustrate the regulation
members formed at both sides of the upper surface of the first
storage basket or both sides of the front surface of the third
door, the positions of the regulation members may be modified
according to lengths of the first and second storage baskets,
etc.
[0056] Further, although the above embodiments illustrate two
storage baskets, the number of the storage baskets may not be
limited thereto.
[0057] As apparent from the above description, the present
embodiments provide a refrigerator in which storage baskets are
completely drawn into a storage chamber, thus improving the
convenience of use.
[0058] Although embodiments 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.
* * * * *