U.S. patent application number 12/865916 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-13 for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Byeong-Gyu Kang, Jae-Youl Lee, Sang-Ho Park.
Application Number | 20110005262 12/865916 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40952546 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110005262 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kang; Byeong-Gyu ; et
al. |
January 13, 2011 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
A refrigerator comprises: an opening disposed at one side of a
door; an ice bank disposed on a rear surface of the door, and
configured to be drawn out through the opening, for storing ice
pieces; a guide unit for guiding the ice bank to be drawn out; and
a volume control unit for changing a volume of the ice bank step by
step. A volume of the ice bank is varied according to users
necessity. This solves a users inconvenience to make ice pieces a
plurality of times, for example, in summer when a large amount of
ice pieces are required.
Inventors: |
Kang; Byeong-Gyu;
(Gyeongsangnam-Do, KR) ; Lee; Jae-Youl;
(Gyeongsangnam-Do, KR) ; Park; Sang-Ho;
(Gyeongsangnam-Do, 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: |
40952546 |
Appl. No.: |
12/865916 |
Filed: |
December 18, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
December 18, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR08/07520 |
371 Date: |
August 3, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/344 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2325/021 20130101;
F25D 23/04 20130101; F25D 25/025 20130101; F25C 5/182 20130101;
F25D 2323/023 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/344 |
International
Class: |
F25C 5/18 20060101
F25C005/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 5, 2008 |
KR |
10-2008-0011952 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator, comprising: an opening disposed at one side of a
door; an ice bank disposed on a rear surface of the door, and
configured to be drawn out through the opening, for storing ice
pieces; a guide unit for guiding the ice bank to be drawn out; and
a volume control unit for changing a volume of the ice bank step by
step.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the ice bank comprises: a
body portion formed in a box shape having opened upper and lower
surfaces; and a volume expansion container inserted into the body
portion so as to be vertically moveable along an inner surface of
the body portion, and forming an ice storage space having an opened
upper surface.
3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the ice bank is provided
with a handgrip concaved at a lower front end of the volume
expansion container by a predetermined height toward a rear surface
of the volume expansion container, and formed between a front
surface of the body portion and a front surface of the volume
expansion container.
4. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the volume control unit
controls a volume of the ice bank by restricting a motion of the
volume expansion container with respect to the body portion step by
step.
5. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the volume control unit
comprises: volume control grooves formed, in a volume control
direction of the ice bank, at one of inner side surfaces of the
body portion and outer side surfaces of the volume expansion
container; volume control protrusions formed at another of the
inner side surfaces of the body portion and the outer side surfaces
of the volume expansion container in correspondence to the volume
control grooves; and a locking unit for restricting a relative
motion of the volume control grooves with respect to the volume
control protrusions step by step.
6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the locking unit comprises:
locking grooves formed at one of the volume control grooves and the
volume control protrusions in a volume control direction of the ice
bank; and locking protrusions formed at another of the volume
control grooves and the volume control protrusions, and locked by
the locking grooves step by step.
7. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the locking groove is
formed at one surface of both side surfaces of the volume control
groove so as to be opened in a direction that the ice bank is drawn
out, and wherein the locking protrusion is provided at a side
surface of the volume control protrusion in correspondence to the
locking groove.
8. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the locking protrusion is
formed so as to be elastically supported in a direction
perpendicular to the volume control direction of the ice bank.
9. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the locking groove is
formed such that its inner side surfaces are inclined in the volume
control direction of the ice bank.
10. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the locking unit
comprises: locking grooves formed at one of the volume control
grooves and the volume control protrusions, and having a sectional
surface of a sine wave in a volume control direction of the ice
bank; and locking protrusions formed at another of the volume
control grooves and the volume control protrusions in
correspondence to the locking grooves.
11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the locking groove is
formed at one surface of both side surfaces of the volume control
groove so as to be opened in a direction that the ice bank is drawn
out, and wherein the locking protrusion is provided at a side
surface of the volume control protrusion in correspondence to the
locking groove.
12. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the locking protrusion is
formed so as to be elastically supported in a direction
perpendicular to the volume control direction of the ice bank.
13. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the volume control unit
comprises: a first controller formed at one of inner side surfaces
of the body portion and outer side surfaces of the volume expansion
container, and having a sectional surface of a sine wave in a
volume control direction of the ice bank; and a second controller
formed at another of the inner side surfaces of the body portion
and the outer side surfaces of the volume expansion container so as
to be engaged with the first controller, and having a sectional
surface of a sine wave in the volume control direction of the ice
bank.
14. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the guide unit comprises:
a first guide portion fixed in the opening, for guiding the ice
bank to downward slantly move toward the opening; and a second
guide portion configured to be drawn out of the opening under guide
of the first guide portion, for mounting the ice bank in a drawing
manner.
15. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein one pair of guide
protrusions formed at one of outer side surfaces of the second
guide portion and inner side surfaces of the first guide portion
perform a sliding motion in an inserted state into one pair of
guide slots formed at another of the outer side surfaces of the
second guide portion and the inner side surfaces of the first guide
portion.
16. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the second guide portion
is formed in a hexahedron shape of which upper, lower, and front
surfaces are opened in correspondence to the body portion, and
wherein the second guide portion guides the ice bank to be
introduced into or drawn out of the opening.
17. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the second guide portion
comprises: supporting portions extending from lower ends of both
side surfaces of the second guide portion in a thickness direction
of both side surfaces of the body portion, for supporting the ice
bank; and one pair of interworking ribs formed at upper front ends
of both side surfaces of the second guide portion, and extending
from both side surfaces of the body portion in a thickness
direction, wherein one pair of interworking protrusions are formed
at upper rear ends of both side surfaces of the body portion, such
that the second guide portion is drawn out by interworking
therewith when the ice bank is drawn out.
18. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein lower rear ends of both
side surfaces of the body portion are formed to be downward slanted
in a direction that the ice bank is drawn out.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more
particularly, to an ice bank for a refrigerator capable of storing
ice pieces therein.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Generally, a refrigerator serves to freshly store food items
for a long time in a frozen state or in a cooled state.
[0003] The refrigerator is provided with a refrigerator body
divided into a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber. The
refrigerator body is provided with a freezing chamber door and a
refrigerating chamber door through which the freezing chamber and
the refrigerating chamber are opened or closed. The freezing
chamber door and the refrigerating chamber door are respectively
installed at one side of the refrigerator body, such that one ends
thereof are rotatable in back and forth directions of the
refrigerator body centering around another ends thereof.
[0004] At each one side of the freezing chamber door and the
refrigerating chamber door, provided are supplementary storage
chambers (hereinafter, will be referred to as home bars) for
storing and drawing out food items without opening the freezing
chamber door or the refrigerating chamber door.
[0005] The home bar is composed of a home bar housing disposed on a
rear surface of the freezing chamber door or the refrigerating
chamber door with a storage space, and a home bar door for opening
and closing the storage space.
[0006] The home bar door serves to open or close an opening formed
as a part of the freezing chamber door or the refrigerating chamber
door corresponding to the home bar housing is cut out. The home bar
door is installed such that an upper end thereof is rotatable in up
and down directions centering around a lower end thereof.
[0007] The freezing chamber is provided with an ice-making device
for making ice pieces. And, the freezing chamber may be also
provided with an ice bank for storing ice pieces made by the
ice-making device. However, the conventional ice bank has the
following problems.
[0008] Firstly, in order to draw out the ice bank for storing ice
pieces made by the ice-making device, the freezing chamber has to
be opened by rotating the freezing chamber door. This may cause a
difficulty in drawing out the ice bank.
[0009] Secondly, once the freezing chamber is opened in order to
draw out the ice bank, cool air inside the freezing chamber is
leaked out. As cool air inside the freezing chamber is
unnecessarily leaked out, power consumption of the refrigerator is
increased.
[0010] Thirdly, since the ice bank is accommodated in the freezing
chamber, ice pieces in the ice bank may be soaked with odor of
other food items stored in the freezing chamber.
[0011] Fourthly, since the ice bank is provided in the
refrigerating chamber with a limited volume, the ice-making device
has to make ice pieces a plurality of times when a large amount of
ice pieces are required in summer, for example.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0012] Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a refrigerator capable of easily drawing out ice pieces,
and controlling an amount of ice pieces to be stored according to a
users necessity.
Technical Solution
[0013] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with
the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly
described herein, there is provided a refrigerator, comprising: an
opening disposed at one side of a door; an ice bank disposed on a
rear surface of the door, and configured to be drawn out through
the opening, for storing ice pieces; a guide unit for guiding the
ice bank to be drawn out; and a volume control unit for changing a
volume of the ice bank step by step.
[0014] The ice bank comprises a body portion formed in a box shape
having opened upper and lower surfaces; and a volume expansion
container inserted into the body portion so as to be vertically
moveable along an inner surface of the body portion, and forming an
ice storage space having an opened upper surface.
[0015] The volume control unit comprises volume control grooves
formed, in a volume control direction of the ice bank, at one of
inner side surfaces of the body portion and outer side surfaces of
the volume expansion container; volume control protrusions formed
at another of the inner side surfaces of the body portion and the
outer side surfaces of the volume expansion container; and a
locking unit for restricting a relative motion of the volume
control grooves with respect to the volume control protrusions step
by step.
[0016] The locking unit comprises locking grooves formed at one of
the volume control grooves and the volume control protrusions in a
volume control direction of the ice bank; and locking protrusions
locked by the locking grooves step by step.
[0017] The guide unit comprises a first guide portion fixed in the
opening, for guiding the ice bank to downward slantly move toward
the opening; and a second guide portion configured to be introduced
into or drawn out of the opening under guide of the first guide
portion, for mounting the ice bank in a drawing manner.
Advantageous Effects
[0018] The refrigerator according to the present invention has the
following advantages.
[0019] A volume of the ice bank is varied according to a users
necessity. This may solve a users inconvenience to make ice pieces
a plurality of times, for example, in summer when a large amount of
ice pieces are required.
[0020] Also, ice pieces stored in the ice bank are take out through
the home bar. This may enable the ice bank to be drawn out of the
refrigerator in a state that the door is not opened. Accordingly, a
user can easily take ice pieces out of the refrigerator.
[0021] Furthermore, the ice bank is drawn out of the refrigerator
through the home bar by downward slantly moving. This may prevent
food items stored in the home bar from being drawn out with
interfering with the ice bank, or prevent the ice bank from being
drawn out with interfering with ice pieces stored therein.
[0022] Futhermore, the ice bank is installed at a predetermined
space on a rear surface of the freezing chamber door. This may
prevent the ice pieces stored in the ice bank from being soaked
with odor of food items stored in the ice storage space of the
refrigerator. Accordingly, a user may use the ice pieces in a
sanitary and comfortable manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is a view showing appearance of a refrigerator
according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a view showing inside of the refrigerator
according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line I-I in FIG.
1;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a mounted state of an
ice bank of FIG. 3;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the ice bank of FIG. 4
and a second guide portion;
[0028] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the ice bank
and the second guide portion of FIG. 5;
[0029] FIGS. 7 to 9 are views showing processes for drawing the ice
bank out, and controlling a volume of the ice bank according to the
first embodiment of the present invention
[0030] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing an ice bank
and a second guide portion according to a second embodiment of the
present invention;
[0031] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing an ice bank
and a second guide portion according to a third embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0032] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing an ice bank
and a second guide portion according to a fourth embodiment of the
present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0033] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0034] Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to a first embodiment
of the present invention will be explained in more detail.
[0035] FIG. 1 is a view showing appearance of a refrigerator
according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
2 is a view showing inside of the refrigerator according to a first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the refrigerator body 10 is
provided with a freezing chamber 11 and a refrigerating chamber 13
therein. The freezing chamber 11 and the refrigerating chamber 13
are disposed at left and right sides of the refrigerator body 10,
respectively. A freezing chamber door 11a and a refrigerating
chamber door 13a are installed at the refrigerator body 10, such
that one ends thereof are rotatable in back and forth directions
centering around anther ends thereof. The freezing chamber door 11a
and the refrigerating chamber door 13a serve to open or close the
freezing chamber 11 and the refrigerating chamber 13,
respectively.
[0037] Supporting side walls 11b and 13b are provided at two ends
on rear surfaces of the freezing chamber door 11a and the
refrigerating chamber door 13a.
[0038] The supporting side walls 11b and 13b are formed as parts of
door liners that form appearance of the rear surfaces of the
freezing chamber door 11a and the refrigerating chamber door 13a
are backward protruding by a predetermined height.
[0039] A plurality of fixing protrusions (not shown) are provided
on surfaces of the supporting side walls 11b and 13b facing each
other.
[0040] A plurality of door baskets 14 are provided on rear surfaces
of the freezing chamber door 11a and the refrigerating chamber door
13a between the supporting side walls 11b and 13b.
[0041] Accommodation spaces for accommodating food items are formed
in the door baskets 14.
[0042] The door baskets 14 are detachably mounted to the rear
surfaces of the freezing chamber door 11a and the refrigerating
chamber door 13a.
[0043] Home bars 15 and 17 are provided at the freezing chamber
door 11a and the refrigerating chamber door 13a, respectively. The
home bars 15 and 17 serve to draw out food items such as beverage,
from the refrigerator, without opening the refrigerating chamber
door 13a and the freezing chamber door 11a. The home bars 15 and 17
are composed of home bar housings 15a and 17a, and home bar doors
15b and 17b, respectively.
[0044] The home bar housings 15a and 17a are formed to have
polygonal shapes that upper surfaces thereof, and rear surfaces
adhered to the rear surface of the freezing chamber door 11a or the
refrigerating chamber door 13a are opened. The home bar housings
15a and 17a are provided on the rear surface of the freezing
chamber door 11a and the refrigerating chamber door 13a between the
supporting side walls 11b and 13b. The home bar housings 15a and
17a are provided with storage spaces 15s and 17s for storing
beverage, etc. therein.
[0045] As parts of the freezing chamber door 11a and the
refrigerating chamber door 13a are cut out, openings 15c and 17c
are formed. Here, the opening 15c of the freezing chamber door 11a
is communicated with the storage space 15s of the home bar housing
15a. Through the opening 15c, food items are received into or drawn
out of the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a, or an ice
bank 100 (refer to FIG. 3) installed at the storage space 15s of
the home bar housing 15a is drawn out.
[0046] The opening 17c of the refrigerating chamber door 13a is
communicated with the storage space 17s of the home bar housing
17a. Through the opening 17c, food items are received into or drawn
out of the storage space 17s of the home bar housing 17a.
[0047] The home bar doors 15b and 17b are installed at front
surfaces of the freezing chamber door 11a and the refrigerating
chamber door 13a, such that upper ends thereof are rotatable in up
and down directions centering around lower ends thereof. The home
bar doors 15b and 17b serve to open or close the openings 15c and
17c, respectively.
[0048] The storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a is opened
or closed by the home bar door 15b of the freezing chamber door
11a.
[0049] An ice-making device 22 for making ice pieces may be
provided above the home bar housing 15a on the rear surface of the
freezing chamber door 11a.
[0050] A water box 21 for storing water to be supplied to the
ice-making device 22 may be mounted above the ice-making device
22.
[0051] Here, ice pieces made by the ice-making device 22 are
transferred to the home bar housing 15a, and stored in the ice bank
100 (refer to FIG. 3) installed at the storage space 15s of the
home bar housing 15a.
[0052] When the ice pieces made by the ice-making device 22 are to
be transferred to the ice bank 100, the positions of the ice-making
device 22 and the water box 21 may be changed.
[0053] Hereinafter, the ice bank 100 will be explained in more
detail.
[0054] FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line I-I in FIG. 1,
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a mounted state of an ice bank
of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the ice bank of
FIG. 4 and a second guide portion.
[0055] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the ice bank 100 is installed at
the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a, so as to be
drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a
through the opening 15c. The ice bank 100 comprises a body portion
110 formed in a hexahedron shape having opened upper and lower
surfaces; and a volume expansion container 120 inserted into the
body portion 110 so as to be vertically moveable along an inner
surface of the body portion 110, and forming an ice storage space
100s having an opened upper surface.
[0056] Preferably, one surface of the ice bank 100 is formed of a
transparent or a semi-transparent material such that ice pieces
stored in the ice storage space 100s can be recognized from
outside.
[0057] A handgrip 101 may be provided at the ice bank 100 between a
front surface of the body portion 110 and a front surface of the
volume expansion container 120. The handgrip 101 may be formed to
be concaved from a lower end of the front surface of the volume
expansion container 120 toward a rear surface of the volume
expansion container 120 by a predetermined height. Hereinafter, it
is assumed that the front surface of the ice bank 100 indicates one
surface of the ice bank 100 viewed from a front surface of the
freezing chamber door 11a, i.e., one surface of the ice bank 100
viewed when the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a is
opened by the home bar door 15b.
[0058] The ice bank 100 is installed at the storage space 15s of
the home bar housing 15a by a guide unit.
[0059] The guide unit includes a first guide portion 140 fixed in
the opening 15c for guiding the ice bank 100 to downward slantly
move toward the opening 15c; and a second guide portion 150 drawn
out of the opening 15c under guide of the first guide portion 140
for mounting the ice bank 100 in a drawing manner.
[0060] A process for coupling the first guide portion 140 and the
second guide portion 150 with each other will be explained in more
detail.
[0061] The first guide portion 140 guides the second guide portion
150 having the ice bank 100 mounted thereto to downward slantly
move toward the opening 15c, the opened front surface of the first
guide portion 140.
[0062] The first guide portion 140 prevents ice pieces stored in
the ice storage space 100s of the ice bank 100 from being locked by
the rear surface of the freezing chamber door 11a adjacent to the
opening 15c, in the process that the ice bank 100 and the second
guide portion 150 are drawn out of the storage space 15s of the
home bar housing 15a.
[0063] In order to guide the ice bank 100 and the second guide
portion 150 to downward slantly move toward the opening 15c, one
pair of guide slots 141 are provided at both side surfaces of the
first guide portion 140.
[0064] One pair of guide protrusions 151 are protruding from both
side surfaces of the second guide portion 150.
[0065] The guide protrusions 151 serve to guide the second guide
portion 150 to be drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home
bar housing 15a through the opening 15c in a state that the ice
bank 100 is mounted to the second guide portion 150.
[0066] The guide protrusions 151 perform a sliding motion along the
guide slots 141 in an inserted state into the guide slots 141 of
the first guide portion 140.
[0067] The guide protrusions 151 are composed of a first guide
protrusion 152 and a second guide protrusion 153. The first guide
protrusion 152 is protruding from upper middle portions of both
sides of the second guide portion 150, respectively.
[0068] The second guide protrusion 153 is protruding from rear
middle portions of both sides of the second guide portion 150,
respectively, with a lower height than the first guide protrusion
152. More concretely, the first guide protrusion 152 and the second
guide protrusion 153 are spacing from each other by a predetermined
distance in a direction that the ice bank 100 and the second guide
portion 150 are drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home bar
housing 15a through the opening 15c.
[0069] The reason is in order to allow the ice bank 100 and the
second guide portion 150 to maintain a horizontal state when
accommodated in the storage space 15s of the home bar housing
15a.
[0070] The first guide portion 140 serves to guide the second guide
portion 150 drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home bar
housing 15a in a state that the ice bank 100 is mounted to the
second guide portion 150.
[0071] The first guide portion 140 is formed in a hexahedron shape
having opened front, rear, and lower surfaces. The second guide
portion 150 is installed in the first guide portion 40 so as to be
drawn out in a front direction.
[0072] An ice transfer opening 144 is provided on an upper surface
of the first guide portion 140. The ice transfer opening 144 serves
as a passage through which ice pieces made by the ice-making device
22 are supplied to the ice storage space 100s of the ice bank 100.
The ice transfer opening 144 is formed as an upper surface of the
first guide portion 140 is opened. The ice transfer opening 144 is
formed in a rectangular shape having a size equal to or less than
an opened upper portion of the ice bank 100, i.e., an inlet of the
ice storage space 100s.
[0073] An ice transfer guide portion 145 is provided on an upper
surface of the first guide portion 140 corresponding to the edge of
the ice transfer opening 144. The ice transfer guide portion 145 is
formed in a hopper shape that two side surfaces thereof are
downward slanted toward the ice transfer opening 144. The ice
transfer guide portion 145 serves to guide ice pieces made by the
ice-making device 22 so as to be supplied to the ice storage space
100s of the ice bank 100 through the ice transfer opening 144.
[0074] Fixing grooves 147 are formed on both side surfaces of the
first guide portion 140. The fixing grooves 147 serve to fix the
first guide portion 140. To the fixing groove, inserted is a fixing
protrusion (not shown) disposed at the supporting side wall 11b of
the freezing chamber door 11a, and protruding to the storage space
15s of the home bar housing 15a.
[0075] The guide slots 141 are composed of a first guide slot 142
along which the first guide protrusion 152 inserted therein perform
a sliding motion, and a second guide slot 143 along which the
second guide protrusion 153 inserted therein perform a sliding
motion.
[0076] The first guide slot 142 is composed of a first horizontal
section 142a, an inclined section 142b, and a second horizontal
section 142c.
[0077] The first horizontal section 142a is horizontally extending
by a predetermined length, from upper middle portions of both side
surfaces of the first guide portion 140, respectively, toward a
direction that the second guide portion 150 having the ice bank 100
mounted thereto is drawn out, i.e., toward front ends of both side
surfaces of the first guide portion 140.
[0078] The inclined section 142b is downward slantly extending by a
predetermined length, from a front end of the first horizontal
section 142a, to a direction that the second guide portion 150
having the ice bank 100 mounted thereto is drawn out.
[0079] The second horizontal section 142c is horizontally extending
by a predetermined length, from a front end of the inclined section
142b, to a direction that the second guide portion 150 having the
ice bank 100 mounted thereto is drawn out. A front end of the
second horizontal section 142c is respectively located at middle
portions of front ends of both side surfaces of the first guide
portion 140.
[0080] The second guide slot 143 is composed of a first horizontal
section 143a, an inclined section 143b, and a second horizontal
section 143c.
[0081] The first horizontal section 143a is horizontally extending
by a predetermined length, from rear middle portions of both side
surfaces of the first guide portion 140, respectively, toward a
direction that the second guide portion 150 having the ice bank 100
mounted thereto is drawn out, i.e., toward front ends of both side
surfaces of the first guide portion 140.
[0082] The inclined section 143b is downward slantly extending by a
predetermined length, from a front end of the first horizontal
section 143a, to a direction that the second guide portion 150
having the ice bank 100 mounted thereto is drawn out.
[0083] The second horizontal section 143c is horizontally extending
by a predetermined length, from a front end of the inclined section
143b, to a direction that the second guide portion 150 having the
ice bank 100 mounted thereto is drawn out. A front end of the
second horizontal section 143c is located at lower front ends of
both side surfaces of the first guide portion 140,
respectively.
[0084] Accordingly, when the second guide portion 150 having the
ice bank 100 mounted thereto is located in the first guide portion
140, i.e., when the second guide portion 150 is accommodated in the
storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a, the first guide
protrusion 152 and the second guide protrusion 153 are located at a
rear end of the first horizontal section 142a of the first guide
slot 142, and a rear end of the first horizontal section 143a of
the second guide slot 143, respectively.
[0085] Here, the ice bank 100 and the second guide portion 150 in a
horizontal state with respect to each other are disposed to be
adjacent to the ice transfer opening 144 of the first guide portion
140 therebelow, and to an upper end of the opening 15c.
[0086] Then, once the second guide portion 150 having the ice bank
100 mounted thereto is moved towards the opening 15c, the first
guide protrusion 152 and the second guide protrusion 153 slide
along the inclined section 142b of the first guide slot 142 and the
inclined section 143b of the second guide slot 143,
respectively.
[0087] Accordingly, the second guide portion 150 is downward
slantly moved toward the opening 15c. Here, upper surfaces of the
ice bank 100 and the second guide portion 150 are downward spacing,
by a predetermined distance, from the upper end of the ice transfer
opening 144 of the first guide portion 140 and the opening 15c.
[0088] When the second guide portion 150 having the ice bank 100
mounted thereto continues to move toward the opening 15c, the first
guide protrusion 152 and the second guide protrusion 153 slide
along the second horizontal section 142c of the first guide slot
142, and the second horizontal section 143c of the second guide
slot 143.
[0089] Once the first guide protrusion 152 and the second guide
protrusion 153 are positioned on a front end of the second
horizontal section 142c of the first guide slot 142, and on a front
end of the second horizontal section 143c of the second guide slot
143, respectively, front ends of the second guide portion 150 and
the ice bank 100 mounted to the second guide portion 150 are
partially drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home bar
housing 15a through the opening 15c.
[0090] In the present invention, the ice bank 100 mounted to the
second guide portion 150 is guided by the first guide portion
140.
[0091] However, it may be configured that the ice bank 100 is
directly guided by the first guide portion 140 without being
mounted to the second guide portion 150.
[0092] In this case, in order to draw the ice bank 100 out of the
storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a, front ends of the
guide slots 141 of the first guide portion 140, i.e., the second
horizontal sections 142c and 143c are formed to be outwardly opened
through front ends of both side surfaces of the first guide portion
140.
[0093] A process for coupling the second guide portion 150 and the
ice bank 100 will be explained in more detail with reference to
FIG. 5.
[0094] Referring to FIG. 5, the ice bank 100 comprises a body
portion 110 formed in a box shape having opened upper and lower
surfaces; and a volume expansion container 120 inserted into the
body portion 110 so as to be vertically moveable along an inner
surface of the body portion 110, and forming an ice storage space
100s having an opened upper surface.
[0095] The second guide portion 150 is formed in a hexahedron shape
of which upper, lower, and front surfaces are opened in
correspondence to the body portion 110.
[0096] The second guide portion 150 having the ice bank 100 mounted
thereto is drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home bar
housing 15a, through the opening 15c under guide of the first guide
portion 140. And, the ice bank 100 is drawn out of the storage
space 15s of the home bar housing 15a, through the opening 15c
under guide of the second guide portion 150.
[0097] Locking ribs 115 are provided on a front surface of the ice
bank 100. And, interworking protrusions 113 are provided at upper
rear portions of both side surfaces of the ice bank 100.
[0098] Supporting portions 155 for supporting the ice bank 100 are
extending from lower ends of both side surfaces of the second guide
portion 150 in a thickness direction of the body portion 110.
Interworking ribs 154 are extending from upper front ends of both
side surfaces of the second guide portion 150, by a predetermined
length, so as to face each other in a thickness direction of the
body portion 110.
[0099] The locking ribs 115 are downward extending from lower front
ends of the ice bank 100 by a predetermined length, and are
extending in right and left directions of the front surface of the
ice bank 100.
[0100] The interworking protrusions 113 are upward protruding, by a
predetermined height, from upper rear ends of both side surfaces of
the ice bank 100.
[0101] The locking ribs 115 and the interworking protrusions 113
serve to move the second guide portion 150 by interworking with the
ice bank 100 that moves in a direction to be drawn out of the
storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a through the opening
15c.
[0102] For this, the locking ribs 115 and the interworking
protrusions 113 are adhered to front ends of both side surfaces of
the second guide portion 150, and rear ends of the interworking
ribs 154 of the second guide portion 150, respectively.
[0103] Inclined portions 111 are provided at lower rear ends of
both side surfaces of the body portion 110.
[0104] The inclined portions 111 are downward slanted toward a
direction that the ice bank 100 is drawn out of the storage space
15s of the home bar housing 15a through the opening 15c. The
inclined portions 111 serve to detach the ice bank 100 having been
drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a
through the opening 15c, from the second guide portion 150, by
upward slantly moving the ice bank 100 with a mounted state to the
second guide portion 150.
[0105] Once the ice bank 100 is moved in a direction to be
accommodated in the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a,
the locking ribs 115 push a front end of a bottom surface of the
second guide portion 150. This allows the second guide portion 150
to be accommodated in the ice bank 100 by interworking with the ice
bank 100.
[0106] Then, when the ice bank 100 is moved in a direction to be
drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home bar housing 15a
through the opening 15c, the interworking protrusions 113 are
adhered to rear ends of the interworking ribs 154 to push the
interworking ribs 154. This allows the second guide portion 150 to
be drawn out of the ice bank 100 by interworking with the ice bank
100.
[0107] In the present invention, when the ice bank 100 is moved in
a direction to be accommodated in the storage space 15s of the home
bar housing 15a, the second guide portion 150 interworks with the
ice bank 100 by the locking ribs 115, and is accommodated in the
ice bank 100 under guide of the first guide portion 140.
[0108] It may be also configured that when the ice bank 100 is
moved in a direction to be accommodated in the storage space 15s of
the home bar housing 15a, the second guide portion 150 interworks
with the ice bank 100 as a rear surface thereof is pushed by a rear
surface of the ice bank 100.
[0109] Hereinafter, will be explained a volume control unit 130 for
changing a volume of the ice bank 100 step by step.
[0110] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the ice bank
and the second guide portion of FIG. 5.
[0111] Referring to FIG. 6, the volume control unit 130 controls a
volume of the ice bank 100 by restricting a relative motion of the
volume expansion container 120 with respect to the body portion 110
step by step.
[0112] The volume control unit 130 includes volume control grooves
131 formed at one of inner side surfaces of the body portion 110
and outer side surfaces of the volume expansion container 120;
volume control protrusions 132 formed at another of the inner side
surfaces of the body portion 110 and the outer side surfaces of the
volume expansion container 120; and a locking unit 133 and 134 for
restricting a relative motion of the volume control grooves 131 and
the volume control protrusions 132 step by step.
[0113] Referring to FIG. 6, the volume control grooves 131 are
formed at the volume expansion container 120, whereas the volume
control protrusions 132 are formed at the body portion 110.
However, the positions of the volume control grooves 131 and the
volume control protrusions 132 may be interchanged to each
other.
[0114] The volume control grooves 131 are formed at outer side
surfaces of the volume expansion container 120 in a consecutive
manner from an upper end to a lower end of the volume expansion
container 120. That is, the volume control grooves 131 are formed
in a volume control direction of the ice bank 100.
[0115] The volume control grooves 131 may be formed by partially
reducing a thickness of both side surfaces of the volume expansion
container 120. However, in order to prevent lowering of a strength
of the ice bank 100 stored in a lower temperature, it is preferable
to inwardly curve parts of both side surfaces of the volume
expansion container 120.
[0116] Preferably, the volume control grooves 131 are formed such
that upper ends thereof are closed. The reason is in order to
prevent separation of the body portion 110 from the volume
expansion container 120, occurring as the volume control
protrusions 132 moving along the volume control grooves 131 are
detached from an upper end of the volume expansion container 120
when a volume of the ice bank 100 is to be maximized.
[0117] The volume control protrusions 132 are formed at the inner
side surfaces of the body portion 110 in correspondence to the
volume control grooves 131.
[0118] In order to maximize a volume of the ice bank 100, the
volume control protrusions 132 are preferably formed at lower ends
of the inner side surfaces of the body portion 110.
[0119] The locking unit includes locking grooves 133 formed at one
of the volume control grooves 131 and the volume control
protrusions 132 in a volume control direction of the ice bank 100,
and locking protrusions 134 formed at another of the volume control
grooves 131 and the volume control protrusions 132 and locked by
the locking grooves 133 step by step.
[0120] Referring to FIG. 6, the locking grooves 133 are provided at
the volume control grooves 131 with a predetermined gap
therebetween in plurality in a volume control direction of the ice
bank 100. And, the locking protrusions 134 are formed at the volume
control protrusions 132.
[0121] However, the positions of the locking grooves 133 and the
locking protrusions 134 may be interchanged to each other.
[0122] The locking grooves 133 are formed on either inner surfaces
of the volume control grooves 131, or both side surfaces of the
volume control grooves 131. And, the locking grooves 133 are formed
so as to be opened in a direction that the ice bank 100 is drawn
out.
[0123] The locking protrusions 134 are formed on side surfaces of
the volume control protrusions 132 in correspondence to the locking
grooves 133.
[0124] The locking protrusions 134 are formed so as to be
elastically supported in a direction perpendicular to a volume
control direction of the ice bank 100.
[0125] In the present invention, the locking protrusions 134 are
implemented as plate springs supported by inner side walls of the
volume control protrusions 132. However, the locking protrusions
134 may be configured so as to be supported by compression springs,
etc.
[0126] The locking groove 133 is formed such that inner side
surfaces thereof are inclined in a volume control direction of the
ice bank 100. The reason is in order to guide motion of the locking
protrusions 134.
[0127] Accordingly, an upper side of the locking grooves 133 is
upward slantly formed toward an upper surface of the volume
expansion container 120, whereas a lower side of the locking
grooves 133 is downward slantly formed toward a lower surface of
the volume expansion container 120.
[0128] Hereinafter, will be explained processed for drawing the ice
bank 100 out of the storage space 15s in the refrigerator according
to the first embodiment of the present invention.
[0129] FIGS. 7 to 9 are views showing processes for drawing the ice
bank out, and for controlling a volume of the ice bank in the
refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0130] Referring to FIG. 7, in order to use ice pieces stored in
the ice storage space 100s of the ice bank 100, the home bar door
15b of the home bar 15 is opened to open the opening 15c. Then, the
ice bank 100 is pulled out of the storage space 15s of the home bar
housing 15a, i.e., in a drawing direction.
[0131] Here, the second guide portion 150 having the ice bank 100
mounted thereto is also moved in the drawing direction by friction
to the ice bank 100. The ice bank 100 and the second guide portion
150 are moved under guide of the guide protrusion 151 of the second
guide portion 150, and the guide slot 141 of the first guide
portion 140.
[0132] More concretely, the second guide portion 150 is
horizontally moved in a drawing direction, then is downward slantly
moved, and then is horizontally moved, again. Accordingly, even if
ice pieces excessively stored in the ice storage space 100s of the
ice bank 100 are partially protruding toward an upper side, the ice
bank 100 can be drawn out without interfering with the freezing
chamber door 11a.
[0133] When the guide protrusions 151 are located at front ends of
the guide slots 141, the second guide portion 150 is not moved any
longer in the drawing direction.
[0134] As shown in FIG. 9, when the ice bank 100 is continuously
pulled in the drawing direction, only the ice bank 100 is moved in
the drawing direction to be drawn out of the storage space 15s of
the home bar housing 15a through the opening 15c.
[0135] Here, the ice bank 100 is moved in the drawing direction
until the interworking protrusions 113 are adhered to rear ends of
the interworking ribs 154 of the second guide portion 150. In a
state that the interworking protrusions 113 are adhered to the rear
ends of the interworking ribs 154, only a part of a front end of
the ice bank 100 is drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home
bar housing 15a through the opening 15c.
[0136] Under this state, the ice bank 100 is moved so that its
front end is upward slanted in the drawing direction. This causes
the ice bank 100 to be detached from the second guide portion 150,
and to be completely drawn out of the storage space 15s of the home
bar housing 15a. Here, the inclined portions 111 serve to prevent
the ice bank 100 from interfering with the second guide portion 150
when being separated from the second guide portion 150.
[0137] Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to a second embodiment
of the present invention will be explained in more detail with
reference to the attached drawings. Detailed explanations for the
same structures as those of the first embodiment will be
omitted.
[0138] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing an ice bank
and a second guide portion according to a second embodiment of the
present invention.
[0139] The refrigerator according to the second embodiment is the
same as that according to the first embodiment, except for locking
unit 233 and 234 of a volume control unit 230.
[0140] The volume control unit 230 includes volume control grooves
231 formed at one of inner side surfaces of a body portion 210 and
outer side surfaces of a volume expansion container 220; volume
control protrusions 232 formed at another of the inner side
surfaces of the body portion 210 and the outer side surfaces of the
volume expansion container 220; and a locking unit 233 and 234 for
restricting a relative motion of the volume control grooves 231 and
the volume control protrusions 232 step by step.
[0141] The volume control grooves 231 are formed at outer side
surfaces of the volume expansion container 220 in a consecutive
manner from an upper end to a lower end of the volume expansion
container 220. That is, the volume control grooves 231 are formed
in a volume control direction of the ice bank 200.
[0142] The volume control grooves 231 are formed as parts of both
side surfaces of the volume expansion container 220 are inwardly
curved.
[0143] The volume control protrusions 232 are formed at the inner
side surfaces of the body portion 210 in correspondence to the
volume control grooves 231.
[0144] In order to maximize a volume of the ice bank 200, the
volume control protrusions 232 are preferably formed at lower ends
of the inner side surfaces of the body portion 210.
[0145] The locking unit includes locking grooves 233 formed at one
of the volume control grooves 231 and the volume control
protrusions 232 with a sectional surface of a sine wave in a volume
control direction of the ice bank 200, and locking protrusions 234
formed at another of the volume control grooves 231 and the volume
control protrusions 232 with a sectional surface of a sine
wave.
[0146] In the present invention, the locking grooves 233 are
consecutively formed in upper and lower directions of the volume
expansion container 220. This allows a volume of the ice bank 200
to be variably controlled.
[0147] The locking protrusions 234 are provided in plurality in
number in correspondence to the locking grooves 233 formed in
consecutive sine waves. This allows a coupling force between the
body portion 210 and the volume expansion container 220 to be
increased.
[0148] Like in the first embodiment, the locking protrusions 234
are preferably formed so as to be elastically supported in a
direction perpendicular to a volume control direction of the ice
bank 200.
[0149] Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to a third embodiment
of the present invention will be explained in more detail with
reference to the attached drawings. Detailed explanations for the
same structures as those of the first embodiment will be
omitted.
[0150] FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing an ice bank
and a second guide portion according to a third embodiment of the
present invention.
[0151] Referring to FIG. 11, the volume control unit 330 includes a
first controller 331 formed at one of inner side surfaces of a body
portion 310 and outer side surfaces of a volume expansion container
320, and having a sectional surface of a sine wave in a volume
control direction of the ice bank 300; and a second controller 332
formed at another of the inner side surfaces of the body portion
310 and the outer side surfaces of the volume expansion container
320 so as to be engaged with the first controller 331, and having a
sectional surface of a sine wave in the volume control direction of
the ice bank 300.
[0152] The volume control unit 330 is formed at the inner side
surface of the body portion 310, and the outer side surface of the
volume expansion container 320 corresponding to each other. The
volume control unit 330 is formed to have a sectional surface of a
sine wave in a volume control direction of the ice bank 300.
[0153] As the first controller 331 and the second controller 332
are engaged with each other, the body portion 310 and the volume
expansion container 320 are coupled to each other, and the body
portion 310 and the volume expansion container 320 perform a
relative motion with respect to each other along the sectional
surfaces of a sine wave.
[0154] For the relative motion of the body portion 310 and the
volume expansion container 320 with respect to each other, a
predetermined air gap is preferably formed between the inner side
surfaces of the body portion 310 and the outer side surfaces of the
volume expansion container 320.
[0155] Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to a fourth embodiment
of the present invention will be explained in more detail with
reference to the attached drawings. Detailed explanations for the
same structures as those of the first embodiment will be
omitted.
[0156] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing an ice bank
and the second guide portion according to a fourth embodiment of
the present invention.
[0157] Referring to FIG. 12, a volume control unit 430 may be
implemented as the volume control unit according to the first
embodiment or the second embodiment.
[0158] The volume control unit 430 includes volume control grooves
431 formed at one of inner side surfaces of a body portion 410 and
outer side surfaces of a volume expansion container 420, volume
control protrusions 432 formed at another of the inner side
surfaces of the body portion 410 and the outer side surfaces of the
volume expansion container 420, and a locking unit 433 and 434 for
restricting a relative motion of the volume control grooves 431 and
the volume control protrusions 432 step by step.
[0159] Referring to FIG. 12, guide ribs 435 are formed at the inner
side surfaces of the body portion 410 in a volume control direction
of the ice bank 400. And, guide grooves 436 for guiding the guide
ribs 435 are formed at the outer side surfaces of the volume
expansion container 420.
[0160] The reason is, in order to prevent a phenomenon that the
volume control protrusions 432 are fitted into the volume control
grooves 431 not to be moved due to a motion between the body
portion 410 and the volume expansion container 420, in the case
that an inner surface of the body portion 410 is spacing from an
outer surface of the volume expansion container 420 due to a
tolerance, etc. when a volume of the ice bank 400 is to be
changed.
[0161] It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that
various modifications and variations can be made in the present
invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the
invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover
modifications and variations of this invention provided they come
within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *