U.S. patent application number 12/792568 was filed with the patent office on 2010-12-09 for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Yong Hun CHANG, Jung Yeon HWANG, Hong Sik KWON, Seon Il YU.
Application Number | 20100307186 12/792568 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43298289 |
Filed Date | 2010-12-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100307186 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KWON; Hong Sik ; et
al. |
December 9, 2010 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
A refrigerator includes a cold air generator configured to
generate cold air. The refrigerator also includes a storage chamber
configured to receive the cold air generated by the cold air
generator, and store at least one food and ice stuffs. Further, the
refrigerator includes a storage chamber door configured to open and
close an access point to the storage chamber. In addition, the
refrigerator includes an inner frame coupled to the storage chamber
and configured to move at least a part of the storage chamber in
forward and backward directions.
Inventors: |
KWON; Hong Sik; (Seoul,
KR) ; CHANG; Yong Hun; (Seoul, KR) ; HWANG;
Jung Yeon; (Seoul, KR) ; YU; Seon Il; (Seoul,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FISH & RICHARDSON P.C. (DC)
P.O. BOX 1022
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55440-1022
US
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
43298289 |
Appl. No.: |
12/792568 |
Filed: |
June 2, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/407 ; 62/441;
62/449 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/028 20130101;
F25D 23/067 20130101; F25D 2323/024 20130101; F25D 25/024
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/407 ; 62/449;
62/441 |
International
Class: |
F25D 17/04 20060101
F25D017/04; F25D 19/00 20060101 F25D019/00; F25D 11/02 20060101
F25D011/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 3, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0049003 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising: a cold air generator configured to
generate cold air; a storage chamber configured to receive the cold
air generated by the cold air generator, and store at least one
food and ice stuffs; a storage chamber door configured to open and
close an access point to the storage chamber; and an inner frame
coupled to the storage chamber and configured to move at least a
part of the storage chamber in forward and backward directions.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: a drawing out
device configured to move the inner frame in connection with
opening and closing of the door.
3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the drawing out device
comprises: a link device connected to the door and the inner
frame.
4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the link device comprises:
a first link connected to the inner frame; and a second link
connected to the door.
5. The refrigerator of claims 1, wherein the inner frame comprises:
an upper surface positioned at upper side from a center of the
refrigerator and slidably connected to a top wall surface of the
storage chamber; and a lower surface positioned at lower side from
the center of the refrigerator and slidably connected to a bottom
wall surface of the storage chamber.
6. The refrigerator of claims 5, wherein the inner frame comprises;
a top sliding unit slidably connected to a ceiling surface of the
storage chamber; and a bottom sliding unit slidably connected to a
bottom surface of the storage chamber.
7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the at least a part of the
storage chamber comprises the plurality of shelves and/or drawers
that are mounted in the inner frame.
8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the storage chamber
comprises at least one of a refrigerating chamber and a freezing
chamber.
9. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: a protector
configured to prevent the refrigerator from falling down when the
inner frame moves in the forward and backward directions.
10. A refrigerator comprising: a cold air generator configured to
generate cold air; a storage chamber having a moving member,
configured to receive the cold air generated by the cold air
generator, and store at least one food and ice stuffs; and a door
configured to open and close the storage chamber, wherein the
moving member is configured to be moved in forward and backward
directions in response to opening and closing of the door.
11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the moving member
comprises: an inner frame configured to be slidably moved in the
forward and backward directions; and a moving structure mounted in
the inner frame, and configured to be moved together with the inner
frame.
12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the moving structure
comprises at least one a shelf and a drawer.
13. The refrigerator of claim 10, further comprising: a drawing out
device configured to move the moving member responsive to opening
and closing of the door.
14. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the drawing out device
comprise a link device connected to the door and the inner
frame.
15. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the storage chamber
comprises at least one of a refrigerating chamber and a freezing
chamber.
16. The refrigerator of claim 10, further comprising: a protector
configured to prevent the refrigerator from falling down when the
moving member moves in the forward and backward directions.
17. The refrigerator of claim 10, further comprising: a motor
configured to provide a driving force to the moving member to move
the moving member in response to opening and closing of the
door.
18. A refrigerator comprising: a cold air generator configured to
generate cold air; a storage chamber having a first moving member
and a second moving member, configured to receive the cold air
generated by the cold air generator, and store at least one food
and ice stuffs; a first door configured to open and close at least
a part of the storage chamber, wherein the first moving member is
configured to be moved in forward and backward directions in
response to opening and closing of the first door; and a second
door configured to open and close at least a part of the storage
chamber, wherein the second moving member is configured to be moved
in forward and backward directions in response to opening and
closing of the second door.
19. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein the first moving member
comprises: a first inner frame configured to be slidably moved in
the forward and backward directions; and a first moving structure
positioned in the first inner frame, and configured to be moved
together with the first inner frame.
20. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein the second moving member
comprises: a second inner frame configured to be slidably moved in
the forward and backward directions; and a second moving structure
positioned in the second inner frame, and configured to be moved
together with the second inner frame.
21. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein the second moving member
is a part of the first moving member.
22. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein the first door is a
refrigerator chamber door and the second door is at least one of a
home bar door and a basket door.
23. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein the first door is a
refrigerator chamber door and the second door is a freezing chamber
door.
24. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein the first and the second
door are independently opened and closed.
25. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein the storage chamber
comprises at least one of a refrigerating chamber and a freezing
chamber.
26. The refrigerator of claim 18, further comprising: a third door
configured to open and close at least a part of the storage
chamber; and a third moving member configured to be moved in
forward and backward directions in response to opening and closing
of the third door.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean
Application No. 10-2009-0049003, filed on Jun. 3, 2009, which is
hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirely.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In general, a refrigerator uses cold air produced as
refrigerant vaporizes and absorbs heat from the air.
[0004] In detail, the refrigerant is compressed at a compressor,
and forwarded to an evaporator via an expansion valve, where the
refrigerant vaporizes. The refrigerant absorbs heat from
surroundings in such a vaporizing process, and cools down
surrounding air to produce the cold air.
[0005] The cold air is forwarded to the refrigerating chamber or
the freezing chamber for maintaining the refrigerating chamber or
the freezing chamber to be below a fixed temperature.
[0006] Depending on arrangement of the refrigerating chamber or the
freezing chamber, in the refrigerators, there are a top mount-type
refrigerator in which the freezing chamber is arranged on the
refrigerating chamber, a bottom freezer type refrigerator in which
the freezing chamber is arranged under the refrigerating chamber,
and a side by side type refrigerator in which the refrigerating
chamber and the freezing chamber are arranged side by side. Above
categorization is just for convenience's sake, but not absolute
ones.
[0007] The bottom freezer type refrigerator has an inside space
partitioned with a barrier, an upper side of which is the
refrigerating chamber and a lower side of which is the freezing
chamber.
[0008] In general, the refrigerating chamber has at least one
refrigerating chamber door rotatably mounted thereto to open/close
the refrigerating chamber, and the freezing chamber has a drawer
structure which is slidably moved back and forth to open/close the
freezing chamber.
[0009] In general, in rear of the freezing chamber and the
refrigerating chamber, there are the evaporators and fans for
blowing the cold air respectively, for generating the cold air
individually to control temperatures of the freezing chamber and
the refrigerating chamber, respectively.
SUMMARY
[0010] In one aspect, a refrigerator includes a cold air generator
configured to generate cold air. The refrigerator also includes a
storage chamber configured to receive the cold air generated by the
cold air generator, and store at least one food and ice stuffs. The
refrigerator further includes a storage chamber door configured to
open and close an access point to the storage chamber. In addition,
the refrigerator includes an inner frame coupled to the storage
chamber and configured to move at least a part of the storage
chamber in forward and backward directions.
[0011] Implementations may include one or more of the following
features. For example, the refrigerator further includes a drawing
out device configured to move the inner frame in connection with
opening and closing of the door. The drawing out device includes a
link device connected to the door and the inner frame. The link
device includes a first link connected to the inner frame and a
second link connected to the door. The inner frame includes an
upper surface positioned at upper side from a center of the
refrigerator and slidably connected to a top wall surface of the
storage chamber and a lower surface positioned at lower side from
the center of the refrigerator and slidably connected to a bottom
wall surface of the storage chamber.
[0012] In some examples, the inner frame includes a top sliding
unit slidably connected to a ceiling surface of the storage chamber
and a bottom sliding unit slidably connected to a bottom surface of
the storage chamber. The at least a part of the storage chamber
comprises the plurality of shelves and/or drawers that are mounted
in the inner frame. The storage chamber includes at least one of a
refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber. The refrigerator
further includes a protector configured to prevent the refrigerator
from falling down when the inner frame moves in the forward and
backward directions.
[0013] In another aspect, a refrigerator includes a cold air
generator configured to generate cold air. The refrigerator also
includes a storage chamber having a moving member, configured to
receive the cold air generated by the cold air generator, and store
at least one food and ice stuffs. The refrigerator further includes
a door configured to open and close the storage chamber, wherein
the moving member is configured to be moved in forward and backward
directions in response to opening and closing of the door.
[0014] Implementations may include one or more of the following
features. For example, the moving member includes an inner frame
configured to be slidably moved in the forward and backward
directions and a moving structure mounted in the inner frame, and
configured to be moved together with the inner frame. The moving
structure includes at least one a shelf and a drawer. The
refrigerator further includes a drawing out device configured to
move the moving member responsive to opening and closing of the
door. The drawing out device includes a link device connected to
the door and the inner frame.
[0015] In some examples, the storage chamber includes at least one
of a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber. The refrigerator
further includes a protector configured to prevent the refrigerator
from falling down when the moving member moves in the forward and
backward directions. The refrigerator further includes a motor
configured to provide a driving force to the moving member to move
the moving member in response to opening and closing of the
door.
[0016] In yet another aspect, a refrigerator includes a cold air
generator configured to generate cold air. The refrigerator also
includes a storage chamber having a first moving member and a
second moving member, configured to receive the cold air generated
by the cold air generator, and store at least one food and ice
stuffs. The refrigerator further includes a first door configured
to open and close at least a part of the storage chamber, wherein
the first moving member is configured to be moved in forward and
backward directions in response to opening and closing of the first
door. In addition, the refrigerator includes a second door
configured to open and close at least a part of the storage
chamber, wherein the second moving member is configured to be moved
in forward and backward directions in response to opening and
closing of the second door.
[0017] Implementations may include one or more of the following
features. For example, the first moving member includes a first
inner frame configured to be slidably moved in the forward and
backward directions and a first moving structure positioned in the
first inner frame, and configured to be moved together with the
first inner frame. The second moving member includes a second inner
frame configured to be slidably moved in the forward and backward
directions and a second moving structure positioned in the second
inner frame, and configured to be moved together with the second
inner frame.
[0018] The second moving member is a part of the first moving
member. The first door is a refrigerator chamber door and the
second door is at least one of a home bar door and a basket door.
The first door is a refrigerator chamber door and the second door
is a freezing chamber door.
[0019] In some examples, the first and the second door are
independently opened and closed. The storage chamber comprises at
least one of a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber. The
refrigerator further includes a third door configured to open and
close at least a part of the storage chamber and a third moving
member configured to be moved in forward and backward directions in
response to opening and closing of the third door.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a view of a refrigerator when a
refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber are opened;
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded perspective view of an inner
frame, shelves and drawers mounted therein;
[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view showing a state in
which a refrigerating chamber door and an inner frame are connected
with a link device in a door closed state; and
[0023] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate perspective views of sliding
structures of the inner frames, respectively.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Reference will now be made in detail to the specific
implementations of the present technology, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings FIGS. 1 to 5. Wherever
possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the
drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
[0025] A refrigerator shown in FIG. 1 is a side by side door type
refrigerator, wherein a freezing chamber 10 is on a left side and a
refrigerating chamber 20 is on a right side.
[0026] The refrigerating chamber 20 and the freezing chamber 10 are
opened/closed by a refrigerating chamber door 21 and a freezing
chamber door 11, respectively. In inside walls of the refrigerating
chamber door 21 and the freezing chamber door 11, there are shelves
and so on for storage, respectively. And, there are an ice maker
mounted to the freezing chamber door 11 and a home bar mounted to
the refrigerating chamber door 21.
[0027] Mounted in spaces of the refrigerating chamber and the
freezing chamber 10, there are storage structures 30 and 40,
respectively. The storage structures and 40 are mounted to be
movable in front/rear directions in the refrigerating chamber 20
and the freezing chamber 10.
[0028] Since it is required to secure spaces for placing the ice
maker or the home bar therein at the time the refrigerating chamber
door 21 and the freezing chamber door 11 are closing, front/rear
direction depths of the storage structures 30 and 40 can be
determined, taking the spaces to be secured into account.
[0029] Each of the storage spaces 30 and 40 includes an inner frame
43 and a plurality of shelves and drawers arranged vertically in
the inner frame 43, as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 1 illustrates a
perspective view showing the storage structures 30 and 40 moved
forward.
[0030] The storage structure will be described in detail with
reference to the storage structure 40 mounted in the refrigerating
chamber 20.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 2, the inner frame 43 includes one pair of
vertical supporting frames 44, a top frame 45 extended from a top
edge of the supporting frames 44 perpendicular thereto, and a
bottom frame 46 extended from a bottom edge of the supporting
frames 44 perpendicular thereto.
[0032] There are a plurality of shelves 41 arranged in a vertical
direction in the one pair of the supporting frames 44, and a drawer
unit 42 having a plurality of drawers provided therein under the
shelves 41.
[0033] As a variation, a plurality of drawers can be provided and
mounted to the inner frame 43, individually.
[0034] The inner frame 43 is housed in the refrigerating chamber
20. Though the inner frame 43 has a height as high as the
refrigerating chamber 20, as a variation, the inner frame 43 can be
fabricated to have a height lower than the refrigerating chamber
20. That is, the inner frame 43 can be fabricated to have a height
to occupy a portion of the refrigerating chamber 20 space, such as
an upper space thereof or a lower space thereof.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 4, the inner frame 43 is mounted to be
slidable along wall surfaces of the refrigerating chamber 20 in
front/rear directions.
[0036] FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate perspective views each showing the
inner frame 43 mounted such that a top surface and a bottom surface
of the inner frame 43 are slidable with respect to a ceiling
surface and a bottom surface of the refrigerating chamber 20,
respectively.
[0037] In detail, the refrigerating chamber 20 has a top sliding
guide 72 mounted to the ceiling surface thereof and the inner frame
43 has a top slider 71 mounted to the top surface thereof slidably
connected to the top sliding guide 72. The top slider 71 and the
top frame 45 of the inner frame 43 together form a top sliding
unit.
[0038] The refrigerating chamber 20 has a bottom slider 82 mounted
on a bottom surface, and to match with this, the inner frame 43 has
a bottom slider 81 mounted to a bottom surface of the inner frame
43. The bottom slider 81 and the bottom frame 46 together form a
bottom sliding unit.
[0039] Owing to above sliding structure, the inner frame 43 can
slide in the refrigerating chamber 20 in front/rear directions.
[0040] In the meantime, there are link devices 60 and 65 mounted to
the refrigerator for making the inner frame 43 to be movable in
front/rear directions interlocked to the opening/closing of the
refrigerating chamber door 21.
[0041] The link device includes a first link 61 or 66 rotatably
connected to the inner frame 43, and a second link 62 or 67
rotatably connected to the refrigerating chamber door 21.
[0042] The link devices 60 and 65 are mounted to a top and a bottom
respectively, wherein the top first link 61 and the top second link
62 are mounted to the top, and the bottom first link 66 and the
bottom second link 67 are mounted to the bottom.
[0043] There can be another means for interlocking the
opening/closing of the refrigerating door 21 with the sliding of
the inner frame 43. For an example, a rack gear can be provided to
the inner frame 43, and a motor can be connected to the rack gear
through a gear. Accordingly, the motor is made to operate as the
door 21 opens, to make the inner frame 43 to slide forward.
[0044] In a state the refrigerating door 21 is closed, the
refrigerator has the inner frame 43 positioned on a rear side of
the refrigerating chamber 20, and the home bar and the shelves
mounted in the inside wall of the refrigerating chamber door 21
positioned in a front side space of the refrigerating chamber 20.
FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view showing arrangement of the
inner frame 43 and the refrigerating chamber door 21 in a state the
refrigerating chamber door 21 is closed.
[0045] In this state, if the refrigerating chamber door 21 is
opened, the inner frame 43 slides forward interlocked with the
opening of the refrigerating chamber door 21. FIG. 1 illustrates a
perspective view showing a state the inner frame 43 is drawn out to
a front side in a state the refrigerating chamber door 21 is
opened, fully.
[0046] In some examples, the inner frame is moved in forward and
backward directions in connection with opening and closing the
refrigerating chamber door 21. In the opening operation, after the
refrigerating chamber door 21 is opened to open the refrigerating
chamber 20 or while the refrigerating chamber door 21 is being
opened, the motor provides a driving force to the rack gear to move
the closing motor in the forward or front direction. In the closing
state, before the refrigerating chamber door 21 is closed to close
the refrigerating chamber 20 or while the refrigerating chamber
door 21 is being closed, the motor provides a driving force to the
rack gear to move the inner frame in the backward or rear
direction.
[0047] In some examples, configuration of the inner frame 43 can be
modified. For example, a plurality of the inner frames could be
mounted in the refrigerating chamber 20. If the refrigerator has
two inner frames, as an example, an upper inner frame may have a
height that corresponds to that of the home bar, and a lower inner
frame may have a height that corresponds to that of the baskets
location. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the refrigerating chamber
door 21 may divide two doors, which are a home bar door 22 and a
basket door 23. In this implementation, a user may independently
open and close the home bar door 22 and the basket door 23. When
the user opens the home bar door 22, the upper inner frame and a
corresponded structure (e.g., a plurality of shelves or draws) that
is mounted in the upper inner frame move in the forward direction
of the refrigerator, and when the user closes the home bar door 22,
the upper inner frame and the corresponded structure move in the
backward direction of the refrigerator. Likewise, when the user
opens the bracket door 23, the lower inner frame and a corresponded
structure that is coupled to the bracket door move in the forward
direction of the refrigerator, and when the user closes the bracket
door 23, the lower inner frame and the corresponded structure move
in the backward direction of the refrigerator.
[0048] Further, in the above implementation, when the user opens
the refrigerating chamber door 21, the inner frame 43 and the
corresponded structure 40 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 move in the
forward direction of the refrigerator, and when the user closes the
refrigerating chamber door 21, the inner frame 43 and the
corresponded structure move 40 in the backward direction of the
refrigerator. In this case, the home bar door 22 and the basket
door 23 may be a part of the refrigerating chamber door 21. Also,
moving structure or structure in connection with the home bar door
22 may be a part of the moving structure 40. Further, moving
structure in connection with the basket door 23 may be a part of
the moving structure 40.
[0049] As a moving structure (i.e., a part of storage chamber) may
be moved in connection with movement of a door, various
modifications are possible. For example, two moving members are
moved in connection with opening and closing the refrigerating
chamber door 21 and the home bar door 22, respectively.
Alternatively, two moving members are moved in connection with
opening and closing opening and closing the refrigerating chamber
door 21 and the basket door 23, respectively. The moving members
may include the inner frame and corresponded structure or
components.
[0050] As an example, the home bar door 22 is a part of the
refrigerating chamber door 21. So, the moving member moved in
connection with the home bar door may be a part of the moving
member moved in connection with the refrigerating chamber door
21.
[0051] It is also available that a plurality of moving members in a
refrigerators that are independently moved in connection with
opening and closing of three or more than three doors.
[0052] Since moving member or members are moved in the forward and
backward directions, the refrigerator may need a protector to
prevent the refrigerator from falling down. For example, when the
moving structure 40 moves in the forward direction of the
refrigerator, a lot of stuffs contained in the storage chamber also
move in the forward direction. Therefore, it may cause to fall the
refrigerator down because a relatively heavy weight was shifted to
the front or forward side within a short period. To avoid falling
down, the refrigerator may keep contacting or connecting an
adjacent thing, such as a wall, when the moving structure 30 or 40
moves in the forward direction. In this implementation, an end of
protector (e.g., a string) is connected to the refrigerator and the
other end of the protector is connected to the wall such that the
refrigerator can't be moved away from the wall.
[0053] As has been described, since the storage structure mounted
in the storage chamber can be movable in front/rear directions,
drawing out/pushing in of a storage object becomes more
convenient.
[0054] It will be understood that various modifications may be made
without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims. For
example, advantageous results still could be achieved if steps of
the disclosed techniques were performed in a different order and/or
if components in the disclosed systems were combined in a different
manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components.
Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the
following claims.
* * * * *