U.S. patent application number 12/805629 was filed with the patent office on 2011-03-24 for water tank for dispenser and refrigerator having the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Jae Koog An, Sang Min Park, Young Gwi Park.
Application Number | 20110067433 12/805629 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43603648 |
Filed Date | 2011-03-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110067433 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
An; Jae Koog ; et
al. |
March 24, 2011 |
Water tank for dispenser and refrigerator having the same
Abstract
A water tank for a dispenser which has a sufficient capacity and
allows a user to easily dispense water, and a refrigerator having
the same. The water tank includes a water storage container to
store water, a filter unit to purify water stored in the water
storage container, and a subsidiary container including a filter
mounting part, on which the filter unit is mounted, and mounted
within the water storage container to divide the inner space of the
water storage container, and the water storage container includes a
protrusion protruded from the lower surface of the water storage
container so as to secure a capacity of the subsidiary
container.
Inventors: |
An; Jae Koog; (Gwangju,
KR) ; Park; Sang Min; (Gwangju, KR) ; Park;
Young Gwi; (Gwangju, KR) |
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
43603648 |
Appl. No.: |
12/805629 |
Filed: |
August 10, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/465 ;
137/544 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2323/121 20130101;
F25D 2500/02 20130101; F25D 23/126 20130101; F25D 2323/122
20130101; Y10T 137/794 20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/465 ;
137/544 |
International
Class: |
F25D 25/00 20060101
F25D025/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 22, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-89519 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising: a freezing chamber; a refrigerating
chamber disposed at a position lower than the freezing chamber; a
water tank provided on a refrigerating chamber door opening and
closing the refrigerating chamber; and a dispenser unit to
discharge water in the water tank to the outside, wherein the water
tank includes a water storage container to store water, a filter
unit to purify water stored in the water storage container, and a
subsidiary container including a filter mounting part, on which the
filter unit is mounted, and mounted within the water storage
container to divide the inner space of the water storage container,
and the water storage container includes a protrusion protruded
outwardly corresponding to the shape of the filter mounting part to
increase a capacity of the subsidiary container.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the filter
mounting part is protruded downwardly from the lower surface of the
subsidiary container, and the protrusion is protruded downwardly
from the lower surface of the water storage container corresponding
to a space in which the filter unit and the filter mounting part
invade the water storage container.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the dispenser
unit is disposed at an upper portion of the refrigerating chamber
door such that a user may dispense water without bending over.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion
guides water purified by the filter unit to the inner space of the
water storage container.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion
filters out foreign substances from water purified by the filter
unit.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the capacity of
the subsidiary container is in the range of 1.5.about.2.5
liters.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein a mounting height
of the dispenser unit is in the range of 0.8.about.1 m from the
mounting surface of the refrigerator.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the filter
mounting part is disposed at a central portion of the subsidiary
container, and the protrusion is disposed at a central portion of
the water storage container.
9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the water tank
further includes a valve member to intermittently discharge
water.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the water tank
further includes a cover member to open and close the upper portion
of the water storage container.
11. A water tank for a dispenser comprising: a water storage
container to store water; a filter unit to purify water stored in
the water storage container; and a subsidiary container including a
filter mounting part, on which the filter unit is mounted, and
mounted within the water storage container to divide the inner
space of the water storage container, wherein the water storage
container includes a capacity securing part protruded from the
lower surface of the water storage container so as to secure a
capacity of the subsidiary container.
12. The water tank according to claim 11, wherein the filter
mounting part is protruded downwardly from the central portion of
the subsidiary container, and the capacity securing part
accommodates the lower portion of the filter mounting part.
13. The water tank according to claim 12, wherein the capacity
securing part guides water purified by the filter unit to the inner
space of the water storage container.
14. The water tank according to claim 12, wherein the capacity
securing part filters out foreign substances from water purified by
the filter unit.
15. The water tank according to claim 12, wherein the capacity of
the subsidiary container is in the range of 1.5.about.2.5
liters.
16. The water tank according to claim 12, wherein a capacity of the
water storage container is in the range of 3.about.4 liters.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 2009-0089519, filed on Sep. 22, 2009 in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] Embodiments relate to a water tank for a dispenser in which
capacity of a subsidiary container is increased, and a refrigerator
having the same.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] In general, refrigerators are apparatuses to store food at a
low temperature, and include a freezing chamber in which food is
stored at a comparatively low temperature, and a refrigerating
chamber in which food is stored at a higher temperature than that
of the freezing chamber.
[0006] Refrigerators having various additional functions have been
developed and produced so as to satisfy customer requirements.
Further, refrigerators having various configurations, each of which
is provided with a dispenser, have also been developed.
[0007] The dispenser is a device to automatically dispense potable
water. The dispenser is connected to a water service pipe or other
water sources to supply potable water to a user, or is provided
with a water tank to supply water in the water tank to the
user.
[0008] In the case of a dispenser by which water in a water tank is
dispensed and then is supplied to a user, if a water tank having an
increased height in order to increase the capacity of the water
tank is manufactured, the position of the dispenser to dispense
water is necessarily lowered, thereby forcing the user to bend over
excessively in order to dispense water.
SUMMARY
[0009] Therefore, it is one aspect to provide a water tank for a
dispenser which secures a sufficient capacity, and a refrigerator
having the same.
[0010] It is another aspect to provide a water tank for a dispenser
which allows a user to easily dispense water, and a refrigerator
having the same.
[0011] Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the
description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the
description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
[0012] In accordance with one aspect, a refrigerator includes a
freezing chamber disposed at a relatively high position, a
refrigerating chamber disposed at a relatively low position, a
water tank provided on a refrigerating chamber door opening and
closing the refrigerating chamber, and a dispenser unit to
discharge water in the water tank to the outside, wherein the water
tank includes a water storage container to store water, a filter
unit to purify water stored in the water storage container, and a
subsidiary container including a filter mounting part, on which the
filter unit is mounted, and mounted within the water storage
container to divide the inner space of the water storage container,
and the water storage container includes a protrusion protruded
outwardly corresponding to the shape of the filter mounting part to
increase a capacity of the subsidiary container.
[0013] The filter mounting part may be protruded downwardly from
the lower surface of the subsidiary container, and the protrusion
may be protruded downwardly from the lower surface of the water
storage container corresponding to a space in which the filter unit
and the filter mounting part invade the water storage
container.
[0014] The dispenser unit may be disposed at the upper portion of
the refrigerating chamber door such that a user may dispense water
without bending over.
[0015] The protrusion may guide water purified by the filter unit
to the inner space of the water storage container.
[0016] The protrusion may filter out foreign substances from water
purified by the filter unit.
[0017] The capacity of the subsidiary container may be in the range
of 1.5.about.2.5 liters.
[0018] A mounting height of the dispenser unit may be in the range
of 0.8.about.1 m from the mounting surface of the refrigerator.
[0019] The filter mounting part may be disposed at the central
portion of the subsidiary container, and the protrusion may be
disposed at the central portion of the water storage container.
[0020] The water tank may further include a valve member to
intermittently discharge water.
[0021] The water tank may further include a cover member to open
and close the upper portion of the water storage container.
[0022] In accordance with a further aspect, a water tank for a
dispenser includes a water storage container to store water, a
filter unit to purify water stored in the water storage container,
and a subsidiary container including a filter mounting part, on
which the filter unit is mounted, and mounted within the water
storage container to divide the inner space of the water storage
container, wherein the water storage container includes a capacity
securing part protruded from the lower surface of the water storage
container so as to secure a capacity of the subsidiary
container.
[0023] The filter mounting part may be protruded downwardly from
the central portion of the subsidiary container, and the capacity
securing part may accommodate the lower portion of the filter
mounting part.
[0024] The capacity securing part may guide water purified by the
filter unit to the inner space of the water storage container.
[0025] The capacity securing part may filter out foreign substances
from water purified by the filter unit.
[0026] The capacity of the subsidiary container may be in the range
of 1.5.about.2.5 liters.
[0027] A capacity of the water storage container may be in the
range of 3.about.4 liters.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more
readily appreciated from the following description of the
embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of
which:
[0029] FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator in accordance with
an embodiment;
[0030] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal-sectional view of the refrigerator
of FIG. 1;
[0031] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating mounting of a water tank on a
refrigerating chamber door;
[0032] FIG. 4 is a detailed longitudinal-sectional view of a
dispenser unit, on which the water tank is mounted;
[0033] FIGS. 5A to 5D are detailed views of the water tank;
[0034] FIG. 6 is a detailed longitudinal-sectional view
illustrating a water flow in the water tank, when water is
dispensed; and
[0035] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a user operation of dispensing
water using the dispenser unit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0036] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments,
examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements
throughout.
[0037] Hereinafter, an embodiment will be described in detail with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0038] FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator in accordance with
an embodiment, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal-sectional view of the
refrigerator of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a view illustrating mounting of a
water tank on a refrigerating chamber door, and FIG. 4 is a
detailed longitudinal-sectional view of a dispenser unit, on which
the water tank is mounted.
[0039] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a refrigerator 1 in accordance
with the embodiment includes a main body 10 having a freezing
chamber 20 and a refrigerating chamber 30, which are divided from
each other by a diaphragm 15.
[0040] Front surfaces of the freezing chamber 20 and the
refrigerating chamber 30 are opened. The freezing chamber 20
disposed at the upper portion of the main body 10 is opened and
closed by a freezing chamber door 40, and the refrigerating chamber
30 disposed at the lower portion of the main body 10 is opened and
closed by a refrigerating chamber door 50.
[0041] At least one rack 25, on which articles to be stored are
put, is provided in the freezing chamber 20, and at least one rack
35, on which articles to be stored are put, is provided in the
refrigerating chamber 30.
[0042] A freezing chamber evaporator 21 to cool the freezing
chamber 20 and a freezing chamber circulation fan 22 to circulate
cool air in the freezing chamber 20 are installed at the rear
region of the inside of the freezing chamber 20. Further, a
refrigerating chamber evaporator 31 to cool the refrigerating
chamber 30 and a refrigerating chamber circulation fan 32 to
circulate cool air in the refrigerating chamber 30 are installed at
the rear region of the inside of the refrigerating chamber 30.
Here, non-described reference numeral 12 represents a compressor to
compress a refrigerant supplied to the freezing chamber evaporator
21 and the refrigerating chamber evaporator 31.
[0043] The freezing chamber door 40 and the refrigerating chamber
door 50 are rotatably connected to the main body 10 such that the
freezing chamber door 40 and the refrigerating chamber door 50 are
rotated right and left to open and close the freezing chamber 20
and the refrigerating chamber 30.
[0044] A plurality of receipt parts 27 and 37 to receive articles
to be stored are respectively formed on the inner surfaces of the
freezing chamber door 40 and the refrigerating chamber door 50.
[0045] The dispositions and structures of the freezing chamber 20
and the refrigerating chamber 30 and the doors 40 and 50 to open
and close the freezing chamber 20 and the refrigerating chamber 30
in this embodiment are only exemplary, and may be variously
modified.
[0046] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a dispenser unit 200 to
intermittently discharge water without opening of the refrigerating
chamber door 50 is provided at the upper portion of the front
surface of the refrigerating chamber door 50, and a water tank 100
to supply water to the dispenser unit 200 is detachably provided at
the upper portion of the rear surface of the refrigerating chamber
door 50.
[0047] The dispenser unit 200 includes a water supply unit 220
installed through the refrigerating chamber door 50, and a lever
unit 240 pressed to discharge water.
[0048] A valve member 190 of the water tank 100 is connected to and
seated on the water supply unit 220. Further, the water supply unit
220 serves as an intermediate between the valve member 190 of the
water tank 100 and the dispenser unit 200.
[0049] The lever unit 240 is pressed by a user so as to discharge
water. An upper end of the lever unit 240 is rotatably hinged to
the water supply unit 220, and a press part 242 having a designated
size, which is pressed by the user using a cup, is formed at a
lower end of the lever unit 240.
[0050] When the user presses the lever unit 240 using a cup, the
lever unit 240 is rotated and thus presses the valve member 190,
and the valve member 190 is opened and thus water in the water tank
100 is dispensed through the front surface of the refrigerating
chamber door 50.
[0051] Further, when force applied to the lever unit 240 is
eliminated, the lever unit 240 is rotated and returned to its
original state, and an elastic spring (not shown) within the valve
member 190 is returned to its original state and thus the valve
member 190 is closed.
[0052] Discharge of water in the water tank 100 may be achieved by
a configuration in which a switch is provided instead of the lever
unit 240 and the valve member 190 is turned on/off according to an
electrical signal based on turning on/off of the switch as well as
the above mechanical configuration using the lever unit 240.
[0053] Hereinafter, the water tank 100 will be described in more
detail.
[0054] FIG. 5A is a detailed perspective view of the water tank,
FIG. 5B is an exploded perspective view of the water tank, FIG. 5C
is a rear view of the water tank, and FIG. 5D is a front view of
the water tank.
[0055] As shown in FIGS. 5A to 5D, the water tank 100 has a
rectangular shape on the whole, and includes a water storage
container 110 forming a space to store water, a filter unit 140 to
purify water stored in the water storage container 110, a
subsidiary container 130 mounted within the water storage container
110 to divide the inner surface of the water storage container 110,
and a cover member 150 to close the upper portion of the water
storage container 110.
[0056] The water storage container 110 is provided with an opening
110a formed at the upper surface thereof, and has a designated
water storage capacity. If the water tank 100 is mounted on the
rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door 50, the water
storage capacity of the water storage container 110 is preferably
in the range of 3-4 liters. Here, in order to prevent the water
storage container 110 from excessively protruding toward the
refrigerating chamber 30, the height and width of the water storage
container 110 may be adjusted. A protrusion 120 is formed on the
lower surface of the central portion of the water storage container
110. The protrusion 120, in connection with the filter unit 140 and
a filter mounting part 135, will be described in detail later.
[0057] The valve member 190 is provided at the front surface of the
lower portion of the water storage container 110. The valve member
190 is connected to the water supply unit 220 of the dispenser unit
200, and serves to intermittently discharge water to the outside.
Discharge of water through the valve member 190 is achieved in
connection with operation of the lever unit 240 in the
above-described manner.
[0058] The subsidiary container 130 is mounted within the water
storage container 110. The subsidiary container 130 serves to
divide the inner space of the water storage container 110 to upper
and lower parts and to store water temporarily and then discharge
water purified by the filter unit 140 to the outside. Therefore,
water introduced into the water storage container 110 is supplied
to a first water storage part 137 divided by the subsidiary
container 130, is purified by passing through the filter unit 140,
and then is stored in a second water storage part 117. The water
storage capacity of the subsidiary container 130 is preferably in
the range of 1.5-2.5 liters. Such a capacity of the subsidiary
container 130 is obtained by extending a conventional subsidiary
container up and down. As the capacity of the subsidiary container
130 is increased, the protrusion 120 of the water storage container
110, which will be described later, is formed.
[0059] The subsidiary container 130 includes the filter mounting
part 135, on which the filter unit 140 is mounted, and the filter
mounting part 135 is a space, into which the filter unit 140 is
inserted. The filter mounting part 135 is protruded downwardly from
the central portion of the subsidiary container 130.
[0060] The filter unit 140 serves to purify water introduced into
the water tank 100, and may employ general filter products, i.e.,
various kinds of filters in a single product type to purify water.
The filter unit 140 purifies water stored in the first water
storage part 137 under the condition that the filter unit 140 is
inserted into the filter mounting part 135 of the subsidiary
container 130, and then discharges the purified water to the
outside.
[0061] The protrusion 120 of the water storage container 110 is
protruded downwardly corresponding to the filter mounting part 135
protruded downwardly, and is stepped from the lower surface of the
water storage container 110.
[0062] The protrusion 120 accommodates the lower portion of the
filter mounting part 135. The protrusion 120 is formed only by a
portion of the lower surface of the water storage container 110
without influence on the entire height of the water storage
container 110 according to extension of the capacity of the
subsidiary container 130 up and down. That is, in order to increase
the capacity of the subsidiary container 130, the space of the
first water storage part 137 of the subsidiary container 130 is
extended up and down, and a portion of the water storage container
110 invaded by the filter unit 140 and the filter mounting part 135
is protruded downwardly and thus forms the protrusion 120. Such a
protrusion 120 may be referred to as a capacity securing part of
the subsidiary container 130, because the protrusion 120 secures
the capacity of the subsidiary container 130, which may be
insufficient.
[0063] The purpose of the formation of the protrusion 120 on the
water storage container 110 is to extend the capacity of the
subsidiary container 130 without increasing the height of a space
of the rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door 50, on which
the water tank 100 is mounted. When the vertical length of the
space of the rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door 50, on
which the water tank 100 is mounted, increases, the dispenser unit
200 is located at a lower position of the refrigerating chamber
door 50 in direct proportion thereto, and thus a user needs to bend
over much more to dispense water using the dispenser unit 200.
[0064] Further, the protrusion 120 guides water purified by the
filter unit 140 such that the purified water is uniformly dispersed
throughout the second water storage part 117 of the water storage
container 110.
[0065] Water is temporarily stored in the protrusion 120, and then
is dispersed to the second water storage part 117. Foreign
substances contained in the water do not escape the protrusion 120,
and are retained in the protrusion 120. Therefore, the protrusion
120 serves to filter out foreign substances from water.
[0066] The cover member 150 is provided on the upper surface of the
water storage container 110. The cover member 150 closes the
opening 110a of the water storage container 110, and prevents
foreign substances from entering the water storage container 110.
The cover member 150 includes an inlet 153, through which water is
injected into the water storage container 110, formed at the
central portion of the cover member 150, and a cap member 155 to
open and close the inlet 153.
[0067] Hereinafter, dispensation of water using the water tank 100
in the refrigerator 1 in accordance with the embodiment of the
present invention will be described.
[0068] FIG. 6 is a detailed longitudinal-sectional view
illustrating a water flow in the water tank, when water is
dispensed, and FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a user operation of
dispensing water using the dispenser unit.
[0069] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, when a user opens the cap
member 155 and then injects water into the first water storage part
137 of the subsidiary container 130 through the inlet 153, water
flows to the filter mounting part 135 protruded downwardly and
passes through the filter part 140, thus being purified.
[0070] The purified water temporarily passes through the protrusion
120, and then is uniformly dispersed throughout the second water
storage part 117. Here, the protrusion 120 serves both to guide the
purified water to the inside of the second storage part 117 and to
filter out foreign substances from the purified water, as described
above.
[0071] Thereafter, when the user presses the lever unit 240 of the
dispenser unit 200 using a cup, the purified water within the
second water storage part 117 of the water storage container 110 is
discharged into the user's cup through the valve member 190. Here,
the dispenser unit 200 is disposed at a position having a height H
from the mounting surface of the refrigerator 1. The height H is a
height, which allows the user to hold out his/her hand to press the
lever unit 240 using the cup without excessive bending over, and is
preferably in the range of 0.8.about.1 m. Thereby, the user may
easily dispense water through the dispenser unit 200.
[0072] In a conventional refrigerator in which a refrigerating
chamber is disposed at the lower portion of a main body, if water
stored in a water tank on the rear surface of a refrigerating
chamber door is dispensed using a dispenser, when the dispenser is
disposed at a proper position for a user, the capacity of the water
tank is insufficient, and when the capacity of the water tank is
much increased, the position of the dispenser is located at a
relatively low position of the refrigerating chamber door, the user
has difficulty in using the dispenser. The water tank 100 in
accordance with the embodiment of the present invention is provided
to solve the above problems.
[0073] The water tank 100 in accordance with the embodiment of the
present invention is disposed at a height that is convenient to use
while having an increased capacity.
[0074] Further, since the dispenser unit 200 is disposed at the
upper portion of the refrigerating chamber door 50, the design of
the refrigerator 1 is improved.
[0075] As is apparent from the above description, in a water tank
for a dispenser and a refrigerator having the same in accordance
with one embodiment of the present invention, a protrusion is
formed on the lower surface of a water storage container, thereby
increasing a capacity of the water tank.
[0076] Further, the total height of the water tank is reduced while
increasing the capacity of the water tank.
[0077] Moreover, a disperser unit is located at a relatively higher
position of a refrigerating chamber according to the reduction of
the height of the water tank, thereby allowing a user to easily
dispense water.
[0078] Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it
would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may
be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles
and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the
claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *