U.S. patent application number 12/933216 was filed with the patent office on 2011-02-03 for refrigerator.
Invention is credited to Do-Hyung Kim.
Application Number | 20110023529 12/933216 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41091097 |
Filed Date | 2011-02-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110023529 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Do-Hyung |
February 3, 2011 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
A refrigerator is disclosed, comprising, a partition member
configured to partition a front opening of a cooling chamber into a
plurality of small openings, and an assembly guide formed between
the partition member and a refrigerator main body and configured to
guide the coupling of the partition member, whereby the partition
member can fast easily be coupled to an accurate position and a
malfunction and a leakage of cold air can be avoided.
Inventors: |
Kim; Do-Hyung;
(Gyeongsangnam-Do, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
41091097 |
Appl. No.: |
12/933216 |
Filed: |
December 30, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
December 30, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR08/07787 |
371 Date: |
September 17, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/441 ;
62/449 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/065 20130101;
F25D 2700/02 20130101; F25D 23/021 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/441 ;
62/449 |
International
Class: |
F25D 11/02 20060101
F25D011/02; F25D 23/02 20060101 F25D023/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 18, 2008 |
KR |
10-2008-0025111 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator main body having a
cooling chamber; a partition member coupled to a front portion of
the cooling chamber and configured to partition a front opening of
the cooling chamber into a plurality of small openings; and an
assembly guide formed between the partition member and the
refrigerator main body and configured to guide the coupling of the
partition to member.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the assembly guide
comprises: a first switch and a second switch both coupled to the
partition member to protrude towards the refrigerator main body and
contacting doors disposed at both sides of the partition member;
and a first switch receiving portion and a second switch receiving
portion formed in the refrigerator main body and each configured to
receive at least one region of the corresponding switch.
3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the partition member is
coupled to the refrigerator main body in a right-and-left
direction.
4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the first switch and the
second switch are all disposed at one end portion of the partition
member.
5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the assembly guide further
comprises: a protrusion protruding from another end portion of the
partition member towards the refrigerator main body; and an
accommodating portion formed in the refrigerator main body to
accommodate the protrusion.
6. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the first switch and the
second switch are disposed at both end portions of the partition
member, respectively.
7. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the first switch receiving
portion and the second switch receiving portion are formed to be
open towards a central portion of the cooling chamber.
8. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the partition member is
coupled to the refrigerator main body in an up-and-down
direction.
9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the first switch and the
second switch are all disposed at one end portion of the partition
member.
10. The refrigerator of claim 9, wherein the assembly guide further
comprises: a protrusion protruding from another end portion of the
partition member towards the refrigerator main body; and an
accommodating portion formed in the refrigerator main body to
accommodate the protrusion.
11. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the first switch and the
second switch are disposed at both end portions of the partition
member, respectively.
12. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the first switch receiving
portion and the second switch receiving portion are formed to be
open towards a central portion of the cooling chamber.
13. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the assembly guide
comprises: a protrusion protruding from the partition member
towards the refrigerator main body; and an accommodating portion
formed in the refrigerator main body to accommodate the
protrusion.
14. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the protrusion is formed
in plurality at both sides of the partition member.
15. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein switches are disposed at
the protrusions to be contactable with doors disposed at both sides
of the partition member.
16. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the protrusion is formed
at one side of the partition member, and a switch contactable with
a door disposed at one side of the partition member is coupled to
another side of the partition member to protrude towards the
refrigerator main body.
17. A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator main body having a
cooling chamber; a partition member coupled to a front portion of
the cooling chamber and configured to partition a front opening of
the cooling chamber into a plurality of small openings; switches
coupled to at least one end portion of the partition member; and
switch receiving portions formed in the refrigerator main body and
each configured to receive at least one region of the corresponding
switch so as to guide the partition member upon coupling the
partition member.
18. The refrigerator of claim 17, further comprising: a protrusion
protruding from at least one end portion of the partition member;
and an accommodating portion formed in the refrigerator main body
to accommodate the protrusion.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more
particularly, a refrigerator configured such that a front opening
of a cooling chamber is partitioned (divided) into a plurality of
small openings, each of which can be individually open and
closed.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] As well known, a refrigerator is an apparatus for freshly
storing foods in a cooling or frozen state. Such refrigerator
includes a main body having a cooling chamber, doors for opening
and closing the cooling chamber, and a refrigeration cycle device
for supplying cold air into the cooling chamber.
[0003] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an exemplary
refrigerator according to the related art. As shown in FIG. 1, the
refrigerator includes a refrigerator main body 10 having a
refrigerating chamber 20 and a freezing chamber 30 therein, and
refrigerating chamber doors 25 and a freezing chamber door 35 for
opening and closing the refrigerating chamber 20 and the freezing
chamber 30, respectively.
[0004] The refrigerating chamber 20 is formed at an upper region of
the refrigerator main body 10, and the refrigerating chamber doors
25 are provided in plurality in number at the front surface of the
refrigerating chamber 20 so as to open and close the refrigerating
chamber 20.
[0005] A dispenser 27 is disposed at one of the refrigerating
chamber doors 25 so as to allow a user to take water or ice
therefrom without opening the refrigerating chamber door 25.
Further, a home bar 28 may be disposed at another one of the
refrigerating chamber doors 25.
[0006] The freezing chamber 30 is formed at a lower region of the
refrigerating main body 10. The freezing chamber 30 is provided
with the freezing chamber door 35 which is slidable in a back and
forth direction of the refrigerator main body 10. A storing
container 37 for keeping foods therein may be disposed in a rear
side of the freezing chamber door 35. The storing container 37 may
be configured to be slidable back and forth integrally with the
freezing chamber door 35.
[0007] However, in the related art refrigerator, the freezing
chamber door 35 is configured to open and close the overall front
opening of the freezing chamber 30, whereby a relatively great loss
of cold air may be caused upon putting food in or taking foods
out.
[0008] Further, upon opening and closing the freezing chamber 30,
the freezing chamber door 35 and the storing container 37
containing foods are integrally slid back and forth. As a result,
the sliding operation of the freezing chamber door 35 may not
smoothly be done due to the load of the freezing chamber door 35
and the storing container 37 containing foods.
[0009] Further, the storing container 37 containing the foods are
extended out of the freezing chamber 30 upon the freezing chamber
door 35 being pulled out, and thereby such foods contact external
air with a relatively high temperature and moisture, which may
badly affect the foods.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Solution
[0010] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
a refrigerator configured such that a front opening of a cooling
chamber is partitioned into a plurality of small openings and a
partition member can be assembled fast and easily.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
refrigerator capable of preventing a malfunction and a leakage of
cold air by facilitating a partition member, configured to
partition a front opening of a cooling chamber door into a
plurality of small openings, to be coupled to a correct
position.
[0012] To achieve the objects in accordance with one aspect of the
present invention, there is provided with a refrigerator including:
a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber; a partition
member coupled to a front portion of the cooling chamber and
configured to partition a front opening of the cooling chamber into
a plurality of small openings; and an assembly guide formed between
the partition member and the refrigerator main body and configured
to guide the coupling of the partition member.
[0013] Here, the assembly guide may include a first switch and a
second switch both coupled to the partition member to protrude
towards the refrigerator main body and contacting doors installed
at both sides of the partition member, and a first switch receiving
portion and a second switch receiving portion formed in the
refrigerator main body and each configured to receive at least one
region of the corresponding switch.
[0014] The partition member may be coupled to the refrigerator main
body in a right-and-left direction.
[0015] The first switch and the second switch may all be disposed
at one end portion of the partition member.
[0016] The assembly guide may further include a protrusion
protruding from another end portion of the partition member towards
the refrigerator main body, and an accommodating portion formed in
the refrigerator main body to accommodate the protrusion.
[0017] The first switch and the second switch may be disposed at
both end portions of the partition member, respectively.
[0018] The first switch receiving portion and the second switch
receiving portion may be formed to be open towards a central
portion of the cooling chamber.
[0019] The partition member may be coupled to the refrigerator main
body in an up-and-down direction.
[0020] The first switch and the second switch may all be disposed
at one end portion of the partition member.
[0021] The assembly guide may further include a protrusion
protruding from another end portion of the partition member towards
the refrigerator main body, and an accommodating portion formed in
the refrigerator main body to accommodate the protrusion.
[0022] The first switch and the second switch may be disposed at
both end portions of the partition member, respectively.
[0023] The first switch receiving portion and the second switch
receiving portion may be formed to be open towards a central
portion of the cooling chamber.
[0024] The assembly guide may include a protrusion protruding from
the partition member towards the refrigerator main body, and an
accommodating portion formed in the refrigerator main body to
accommodate the protrusion.
[0025] The protrusion may be formed in plurality at both sides of
the partition member.
[0026] Switches may be disposed at the protrusions to be
contactable with doors disposed at both sides of the partition
member.
[0027] The protrusion may be formed at one side of the partition
member, and a switch contactable with a door disposed at one side
of the partition member may be coupled to another side of the
partition member to protrude towards the refrigerator main
body.
[0028] In another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a refrigerator including: a refrigerator main body having
a cooling chamber; a partition member coupled to a front portion of
the cooling chamber and configured to partition a front opening of
the cooling chamber into a plurality of small openings; switches
coupled to at least one end portion of the partition member; and
switch receiving portions formed in the refrigerator main body and
each configured to receive at least one region of the corresponding
switch so as to guide the partition member upon coupling the
partition member.
[0029] Here, the refrigerator may further include a protrusion
protruding from at least one end portion of the partition member,
and an accommodating portion formed in the refrigerator main body
to accommodate the protrusion.
Advantageous Effect
[0030] As mentioned above, according to the present invention, at
least one partition member can be disposed at a front portion
(region, area) of a cooling chamber so as to partition a front
opening of the cooling chamber into a plurality of small openings.
Accordingly, such small openings can selectively be open and closed
without opening the overall cooling chamber upon putting foods in
or taking foods out, so as to prevent a loss of cold air. In
addition, the size-reduced doors can facilitate an opening and
closing operation.
[0031] Also, an assembly guide is formed between at least an end
portion of a partition member and a refrigerator main body, so as
to allow a fast and facilitated coupling of the partition
member.
[0032] Further, the assembly guide is formed between the partition
member and the refrigerator main body so as to allow the partition
member to be aligned to a correct position, thereby reducing the
chance of a malfunction being occurred. In addition, the partition
member can correctly be coupled so as to prevent an occurrence of
cold air leakage due to an erroneous assembly.
[0033] Door switches for opening and closing the small openings can
be integrally coupled to an end portion of a partition member so as
to facilitate a fabrication of a refrigerator and reduce a
fabricating cost thereof.
[0034] Door switches are protrudingly coupled to an end portion of
a partition member and switch receiving portions for receiving part
of each door switch are formed in the refrigerator main body, so as
to facilitate assembling of the partition member and the switches,
and allow the partition member to be fast easily coupled to a
correct position. Accordingly, a malfunction of doors for opening
and closing the small openings can be prevented and also an
occurrence of cold air leakage due to an erroneous assembly can be
avoided.
[0035] Also, the configuration, in which door switches are coupled
to an end portion of a partition member, a protrusion is formed at
another end portion of the partition member, and switch receiving
portions and an accommodating portion are formed in a refrigerator
main body, respectively, allows a fast and easy assembling of the
partition member at a correct position.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0036] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an exemplary
refrigerator according to the related art;
[0037] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator in
accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0038] FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2;
[0039] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of door switches of FIG. 3;
[0040] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V in
a coupled state of FIG. 3;
[0041] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator in
accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;
[0042] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a partition member of
FIG. 6 before being coupled;
[0043] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator in
accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;
[0044] FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a partition member of
FIG. 8 before being coupled;
[0045] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator in
accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0046] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI
of FIG. 10.
MODE FOR INVENTION
[0047] Hereinafter, a refrigerator in accordance with the preferred
embodiments of the present invention will be described in more
detail.
[0048] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator in
accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3
is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is an enlarged view
of door switches of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view
taken along the line V-V in a coupled state of FIG. 3. As shown in
FIG. 2, a refrigerator according to the present invention may
include a refrigerator main body 110 having a cooling chamber, a
partition member 150 coupled to a front portion of the cooling
chamber 130 and configured to partition a front opening of the
cooling chamber 130 into a plurality of small openings, and an
assembly guide 170 formed between the partition member 150 and the
refrigerator main body 110 and configured to guide the coupling of
the partition member 150. Here, the cooling chamber may denote both
a refrigerating chamber 120 and a freezing chamber 130. The
partition member 150 may be installed at both the refrigerating
chamber 120 and the freezing chamber 130. Alternatively, the
partition chamber 150 may be installed at one of those chambers.
Hereinafter, it will be described that the partition chamber 150 is
installed at the freezing chamber 130.
[0049] The refrigerator main body 110 may be equipped with an outer
case 112a configuring an outer appearance, and inner cases 112b
disposed inside the outer case 112a to be spaced apart from the
outer case 112a by an interval for filling an insulating material
and configuring the refrigerating chamber 120 and the freezing
chamber 130 therein.
[0050] The refrigerating chamber 120 is formed at an upper region
of the refrigerator main body 110. A pair of refrigerating chamber
doors 125 are installed at the front surface of the refrigerating
chamber 120 to open and close the front opening of the
refrigerating chamber 120. A dispenser 127 is disposed at one of
the refrigerating chamber doors 125 so as to allow a user to take
water or ice therefrom without opening the refrigerating chamber
door 125. Further, a home bar 128 may be disposed at another one of
the refrigerating chamber doors 125.
[0051] The freezing chamber 130 is formed at a lower region of the
refrigerator main body 110. The partition member 150 is coupled to
the front portion of the freezing chamber 130 so as to partition
(divide) the front opening of the freezing chamber 130 into a
plurality of, namely, two small openings. The partition member 150
is coupled to the refrigerator main body 110 in a right-and-left
direction. Thus, the partition member 150 may be configured to
partition the front opening of the freezing chamber 130 such that
an up-and-down width can be relatively narrower than a
right-and-left width, whereby the partitioned small openings can
selectively be open and closed. The selective opening of the small
openings allows preventing of the loss of cold air. Further, since
the freezing chamber door 141 becomes small in size, its opening
and closing operation can easily be performed. Here, the partition
member 150 may be disposed such that two small openings can have
the same size or moved up or down to be rearranged such that the
two small openings can have different sizes.
[0052] Both end portions of the partition member 150 may be
configured to be coupled to the front portion of the refrigerator
main body 110 by screws 154. Here, the partition member 150 may be
coupled to the refrigerator main body 110 by hooks or fixed thereto
by other fixing members. Through holes 152 through which the screws
154 are inserted are formed through both end portions of the
partition member 150. Gaskets 156 contacting with the freezing
chamber door 141, which will be explained later, are disposed at
upper and lower surfaces of the partition member 150,
respectively.
[0053] Two freezing chamber doors 141 for opening and closing the
two small openings partitioned by the partition member 150 are
disposed at the freezing chamber 130. The freezing chamber doors
141 are slidable in a back and forth direction of the refrigerator
main body 110 so as to open and close the small to openings of the
freezing chamber 130.
[0054] A handle 143 may be installed at a front surface of each
freezing chamber door 141. A storing container or storage unit 145
for keeping foods therein may be disposed at a rear side of each
freezing chamber door 141. The storing container or storage unit
145 may be integrally formed with the corresponding freezing
chamber door 141 or independently formed. Rails 147 may be
installed at both sides of each freezing chamber door 141 such that
each freezing chamber door 141 can be slid in a back and forth
direction of the refrigerator main body 110. Holders 133 for
supporting the rails 147 may be installed at both inner walls of
the freezing chamber 130.
[0055] As shown in FIG. 3, the assembly guide 170 may include a
first switch 171 and a second switch 172 coupled to the partition
wall 150 to protrude toward the refrigerator main body 110, and a
first switch receiving portion 181 and a second switch receiving
portion 182 formed in the refrigerator main body 110 to receive at
least one region of each of the first and second switches 171 and
172, respectively. The first switch 171 and the second switch 172
may be installed at one end portion, namely, at a right end portion
of the partition member 150 so as to be contactable with the
respective freezing chamber doors 141 installed at both sides of
the partition member 150.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 4, each of the first switch 171 and the
second switch 172 may be provided with a body 173 formed in a
rectangular parallelepiped shape, and a press button 175 protruded
from a front surface of the body 173. The button 175 is pressurized
and operated by the freezing chamber door 141 when the freezing
chamber door 141 closes the corresponding small opening. The body
173 of the first switch 171 upwardly protrudes from an upper
surface of the partition member 150 and simultaneously protrudes
towards a rear side of the partition member 150, i.e., towards the
freezing chamber 130. The body 173 of the second switch 172
downwardly protrudes from a lower surface of the partition member
150 and simultaneously protrudes towards the freezing chamber
130.
[0057] The refrigerator main body 110, in more detail, the inner
case 112b may be provided with insertion portions 115 recessed such
that both end portions of the partition member 150 can be inserted
therein. A screw coupling member 117 to which the screw 154 can be
coupled may be formed at each insertion portion 115. The first and
second receiving portions 181 and 182 are formed at the inner wall
of the inner case 112b such that one regions of the first and
second switches 171 and 172 can be received therein,
respectively.
[0058] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the first switch receiving
portion 181 may be recessed in the inner wall of the inner case
112b so as to receive one region of the first switch 171, i.e., a
right region of a rear end portion of the first switch 171 in the
drawing. The second switch receiving portion 182 may be recessed in
the inner wall of the inner case 112b so as to receive a right
region of a rear end portion of the second switch 172. The first
and second switch receiving portions 181 and 182 may all be
configured to be open towards a central side of the freezing
chamber 130. Here, the first and second switch receiving portions
181 and 182 may be formed such that an upper surface 183, a lower
surface 185 and a right side surface 187 of the respective first
and second switch receiving portions 181 and 182 can be aligned
respectively with an upper surface, a lower surface and a right
surface of the respective first and second switches 171 and 172.
Accordingly, upon coupling the partition member 150, the partition
member 150, the first switch 171 and the second switch 172 are
inserted in their correct positions, resulting in allowing a fast
and easy coupling of the partition member 150.
[0059] With such configuration, when desiring to couple the
partition member 150 to the refrigerator main body 110, first, the
partition member 150 is horizontally disposed at the front portion
of the freezing chamber 130. Rear end portions of right sides of
the first and second switches 171 and 172 are then placed at each
inlet of the first and second switch receiving portions 181 and 182
to be then pressed backwardly. Accordingly, the first and second
switches 171 and 172 are guided by the first switch receiving
portion 181 and the second switch receiving portion 182 to thusly
be inserted in the corresponding receiving portions, respectively.
While each switch 171 and 172 is inserted, both ends of the
partition member 150 are inserted respectively in the insertion
portions 115 of the inner case 112b. Here, each through hole 152 of
the partition member 150 is communicated with the screw coupling
portion 117 of each insertion hole 115. Thus, when the screws 154
are coupled to the screw coupling portions 117 through the through
holes 152, the partition member 150 is completely coupled to the
refrigerator main body 110.
[0060] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator in
accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, and
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a partition member of FIG. 6
before being coupled. The aforementioned construction and the same
or equivalent components will not be described again for the sake
of brief explanation, and the same reference numerals will be given
therefor. As shown in FIG. 6, a refrigerator according to the
present invention may include a refrigerator main body 110 having a
refrigerating chamber 120 and a freezing chamber 130, a partition
member 210 coupled to a front portion of the freezing chamber 130
and configured to partition a front opening of the freezing chamber
130 into a plurality of small openings, and an assembly guide 230
formed between the partition member 210 and the refrigerator main
body 110 and configured to guide the coupling of the partition
member 210.
[0061] The refrigerating chamber 120 and the freezing chamber 130
are formed in an up-and-down direction of the refrigerator main
body 110. A plurality of refrigerating doors 125 for selectively
opening and closing the refrigerating chamber 120 are installed at
the refrigerating chamber 120.
[0062] The partition member 210 may be coupled to the opening of
the freezing chamber 130 in an up-and-down direction. The partition
member 150 may be configured to partition the front opening of the
freezing chamber 130 such that an up-and-down width can be
relatively wider than a right-and-left width, whereby the
partitioned small openings can selectively be open and closed. The
selective opening of the small openings allows preventing of the
loss of cold air. Further, since freezing chamber doors 141 become
small in size, their opening and closing operation can easily be
performed. Here, the partition member 210 may be disposed such that
two small openings can have the same size or moved up or down to be
rearranged such that the two small openings can have different
sizes.
[0063] Through holes 212 may be formed through both end portions of
the partition member 210 such that the partition member 210 can be
coupled to the front portion of the refrigerator main body 110 by
screws 214. Here, the partition member 210 may be coupled to the
refrigerator main body 110 by hooks or fixed thereto by other
fixing members.
[0064] Two freezing chamber doors 201 for opening and closing the
two small openings partitioned by the partition member 150 are
disposed at the freezing chamber 130. Each of the two freezing
chamber doors 201 may be configured to have an up-and-down width
relatively wider than a right-and-left width so as to correspond to
the size of each small opening. A handle 203 may be attached to the
front surface of each freezing chamber door 201, and a storing
container 205 for keeping foods therein may be formed at a rear
side of each freezing chamber door 201.
[0065] Each freezing chamber door 201 is slidable in a back and
forth direction of the refrigerator main body 110 so as to open and
close the corresponding small to openings of the freezing chamber
130. Rails 207 may be installed at a lower portion of each freezing
chamber door 201 so as to facilitate opening and closing the
freezing chamber doors 201. Holders 193 to which the rails 207 are
engaged to be supported may be installed at a lower surface of the
freezing chamber 130. Here, the respective freezing chamber doors
201 may be rotatably coupled to the refrigerator main body 110.
Alternatively, the freezing chamber doors 201 may be configured
such that one of the two freezing chamber doors 201 is rotatably
coupled to the refrigerator main body 110 and another one may be
slidable back and forth with respect to the refrigerator main body
110.
[0066] Referring to FIG. 7, the assembly guide 230 may include a
first switch 231 and a second switch 232 coupled to the partition
member 210 to protrude towards the refrigerator main body 110, and
a first switch receiving portion 241 and a second switch receiving
portion 232 formed in the refrigerator main body 110 for receive at
least one region of each of the first and second switches 231 and
232, respectively. The first switch 231 and the second switch 232
may be disposed at one end portion, i.e., an upper end portion of
the partition member 210 so as to contactable respectively with the
freezing chamber doors 201 disposed at both sides of the partition
member 210.
[0067] Insertion portions 115 in which both end portions of the
partition member 210 can be inserted may be formed at upper and
lower portions of an edge of the front opening formed at the
freezing chamber 130 of the refrigerator main body 110, namely, of
the inner case 112b. A screw coupling portion 117 to which screws
are coupled may be formed in each insertion portion 115.
[0068] The first switch receiving portion 241 and the second switch
receiving portion 242 may be formed at an inner wall of the inner
case 112b, namely, at the upper portion of the edge of the front
opening formed at the freezing chamber 130 so as to receive one
regions of the first switch 231 and the second switch 232,
respectively. The first switch receiving portion 241 may be formed
to be upwardly recessed so as to guide upper surface and left
surface of the first switch 231. The second switch receiving
portion 242 may be formed to be upwardly recessed so as to guide
upper surface and right surface of the second switch 232.
Alternatively, the first and second switch receiving portions 241
and 242 may be formed to be all downwardly open.
[0069] With such configuration, when coupling the partition member
210 to the refrigerator main body 110, the first switch 231 and the
second switch 232 are guided by the first switch receiving portion
241 and the second switch receiving portion 242. Accordingly, the
partition member 210, the first switch 231 and the second switch
232 can fast easily coupled to correct assembly positions of the
front portion of the freezing chamber 130 of the refrigerator main
body 110.
[0070] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator in
accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, and
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a partition member of FIG. 8
before being coupled. As shown in FIG. 8, a refrigerator according
to the present invention may include a refrigerator main body 110
having a refrigerating chamber 120 and a freezing chamber 130, a
partition member 150 coupled to a front portion of the freezing
chamber 130 and configured to partition a front opening of the
freezing chamber 130 into a plurality of small openings, and an
assembly guide 250 formed between the partition member 150 and the
refrigerator main body 110 and configured to guide the coupling of
the partition member 150.
[0071] The assembly guide 250 may include a first switch 251 and a
second switch 252 coupled to the partition member 150 to protrude
toward the refrigerator main body 110 and contacting freezing
chamber doors 201 at both sides of the partition member 150, and a
first switch receiving portion 261 and a second switch receiving
portion 262 formed in the refrigerator main body 110 so as to
receive at least one regions of the first switch 251 and the second
switch 252, respectively.
[0072] The first switch 251 may be disposed at a right end portion
of the partition member 150 to protrude upwardly. The second switch
252 may be disposed at a right end portion of the partition member
150 to protrude downwardly. Alternatively, the first and second
switches 251 and 251 may be disposed at both sides of the partition
member 150 and configured to all protrude upwardly or downwardly.
Also, the first switch 251 may upwardly protrude from a left end
portion of the partition wall 150 and the second switch 252 may
downwardly protrude from a right end portion of the partition
member 150.
[0073] Insertion portions 115 in which both end portions of the
partition member 150 are inserted may be formed at both sides of
the refrigerator main body 110, namely, the inner case 112b. A
screw coupling portion 117 to which a screw 154 can be coupled may
be formed in each insertion portion 115.
[0074] Referring to FIG. 9, the first switch receiving portion 261
and the second switch receiving portion 262 may be recessed in both
inner walls of the inner case 112b, namely, in right and left side
surfaces of the freezing chamber 130 such that one regions of the
first switch 251 and the second switch 252 can be received,
respectively. The first switch receiving portion 261 may be
recessed to guide an upper surface, a lower surface and a right
surface of the first switch 251, and the second switch receiving
portion 262 may be recessed to guide an upper surface, a lower
surface and a left surface of the second switch 252. The first and
second switch receiving portions 261 and 262 may all be formed to
be open towards a central side of the freezing chamber 130.
Alternatively, the first switch receiving portion 261 may be
configured to guide only the upper surface and the right surface of
the first switch 251 and the second switch receiving portion 262
may be configured to guide only the left surface and the lower
surface of the second switch 252.
[0075] With such configuration, upon coupling the partition member
150 to the refrigerator main body 110, the first switch 251 and the
second switch 252 are guide by the first switch receiving portion
261 and the second switch receiving portion 262, respectively.
Accordingly, the partition member 150, the first switch 251 and the
second switch 252 may fast easily be coupled to correct
positions.
[0076] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator in
accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XI-XI of
FIG. 10. As described above, a refrigerator according to the
present invention may include a refrigerator main body 110 having a
refrigerating chamber 120 and a freezing chamber 130, a partition
member 150 coupled to a front portion of the freezing chamber 130
and configured to partition a front opening of the freezing chamber
130 into a plurality of small openings, and an assembly guide 270
formed between the partition member 150 and the refrigerator main
body 110 and configured to guide the coupling of the partition
member 150.
[0077] As shown in FIG. 10, the partition member 150 may be
disposed at the front portion of the freezing chamber 130 in a
horizontal (right-and-left) direction. Through holes 152 through
which screws 154 are inserted may be formed through both ends of
the partition member 150. Insertion portions 115 in which both end
portions of the partition member 150 are inserted may be formed at
the inner case 112b. A screw coupling portion 117 may be formed in
each insertion portion 115.
[0078] The assembly guide 270 may include a first switch 271 and a
second switch 272 both disposed at one end portion of the partition
member 150, and a protrusion 291 protruded from another end portion
of the partition member 150 towards the refrigerator main body 110,
a first switch receiving portion 281 and a second switch receiving
portion 282 formed in the refrigerator main body 110 for receiving
and guiding the first and second switches 271 and 272,
respectively, and an accommodating portion 293 formed at the
refrigerator main body 110 for accommodating and guiding the
protrusion 291.
[0079] The protrusion 291 may have a rectangular parallelepiped
shape and protrude downwardly. As shown in FIG. 11, the
accommodating portion 293 may be formed at a left wall surface of
the freezing chamber 130 of the refrigerator main body 110, namely,
the inner case 112b so as to guide an upper surface, a lower
surface and a left surface of the protrusion 291. Alternatively,
the accommodating portion 293 may be formed to guide only the left
surface and the lower surface of the protrusion 291. Here, the
positions of the switches 271 and 272 and the protrusion 291 may
flexibly be rearranged.
[0080] With such configuration, upon coupling the partition member
150 to the refrigerator main body 110, the first switch 271 and the
second switch 272 are inserted in the first switch receiving
portion 281 and the second switch receiving portion 282,
respectively, to be guide thereby. Accordingly, the partition
member 150 can fast easily be coupled to a correct position.
[0081] In the aforementioned and illustrated embodiments, a
refrigerator having a refrigerating chamber formed at an upper
region of a refrigerator main body and a freezing chamber at a
lower region thereof has been exemplarily described; however, the
scope of the present invention can be applied to a refrigerator
having refrigerating chamber and freezing chamber at upper and
lower regions or in right and left sides of the refrigerator main
body.
[0082] Further, the assembly guide of the embodiment described in
FIGS. 6 and 7 may be configured to include the protrusion and the
accommodating portion having described in FIGS. 10 and 11.
[0083] Further, the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 11
exemplarily illustrates that the partition member is disposed in a
right-and-left direction of the refrigerator main body; however,
the partition member may be disposed in an up-and-down direction of
the refrigerator main body.
[0084] Also, in the aforementioned and illustrated embodiments, the
switches and the protrusion are formed in a rectangular
parallelepiped shape and the switch receiving portions and the
accommodating portion are recessed in the rectangular
parallelepiped shape to correspond to the shape of the switches and
the protrusion; however, such switches and protrusion may be
configured in other forms.
[0085] As described above, the present invention has been explained
with reference to the embodiments which are merely exemplary. It
will 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.
[0086] 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.
* * * * *