U.S. patent application number 12/973994 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-23 for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Dae Jin CHOI, Gi Yong MOON.
Application Number | 20110146331 12/973994 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44149176 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110146331 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MOON; Gi Yong ; et
al. |
June 23, 2011 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator includes a cabinet,
a refrigerator compartment door, a freezer compartment door, an ice
compartment, a dispenser, a cabinet duct disposed in an inner wall
of the refrigerator compartment. The cabinet duct allows cool air
for making ice to flow therein, and has a cabinet duct opening that
opens toward an inside of the refrigerator compartment and that is
disposed longitudinally in a vertical direction. The refrigerator
also includes an ice compartment duct having an ice compartment
duct opening that is configured to communicate with the cabinet
duct when the refrigerator compartment door is oriented in a closed
position and that is defined longitudinally in a vertical
direction. The ice compartment duct is disposed in a sidewall of
the ice compartment.
Inventors: |
MOON; Gi Yong;
(Gyeongsangnam-do, KR) ; CHOI; Dae Jin;
(Gyeongsangnam-do, KR) |
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
44149176 |
Appl. No.: |
12/973994 |
Filed: |
December 21, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/407 ;
62/449 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 21/04 20130101;
F25C 1/04 20130101; F25D 2317/0664 20130101; F25D 2317/062
20130101; F25D 2317/0666 20130101; F25C 2400/10 20130101; F25D
23/087 20130101; F25D 2317/061 20130101; F25D 2317/067
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/407 ;
62/449 |
International
Class: |
F25D 17/04 20060101
F25D017/04; F25D 23/02 20060101 F25D023/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 23, 2009 |
KR |
10-2009-0129462 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet comprising a refrigerator
compartment and a freezer compartment; a refrigerator compartment
door configured to open and close at least a portion of the
refrigerator compartment; a freezer compartment door configured to
open and close at least a portion of the freezer compartment; an
ice compartment in which an insulation space is defined in the
refrigerator compartment door, the ice compartment comprising an
ice maker configured to make ice; a dispenser through which ice
made within the ice compartment is dispensed, the dispenser being
disposed in the refrigerator compartment door; a cabinet duct
disposed in an inner wall of the refrigerator compartment and
configured to guide cool air, the cabinet duct having a cabinet
duct opening that opens toward an inside of the refrigerator
compartment and that is disposed longitudinally in a vertical
direction; and an ice compartment duct having an ice compartment
duct opening that is configured to communicate with the cabinet
duct when the refrigerator compartment door is oriented in a closed
position and that is defined longitudinally in a vertical
direction, the ice compartment duct being disposed in a sidewall of
the ice compartment.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a
gasket that is disposed on a circumference of the ice compartment
duct opening and that is configured to reduce leakage of cool air
between the cabinet duct and the ice compartment duct.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a duct
cover disposed on the cabinet duct opening and providing a passage
through which cool air flows in and out of the cabinet duct.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the cabinet duct
comprises: a cabinet supply duct configured to guide, to the ice
compartment, cool air from within a heat-exchange chamber
comprising an evaporator; and a cabinet recovery duct configured to
guide, to the freezer compartment, cool air discharged from the ice
compartment.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, further comprising a cool
air inlet disposed at a lower end of the cabinet supply duct and
oriented longitudinally in a vertical direction, and a cool air
outlet disposed at a lower end of the cabinet recovery duct and
oriented longitudinally in a horizontal direction.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein the cool air
inlet communicates with the heat-exchange chamber comprising the
evaporator, and the cool air outlet communicates with the freezer
compartment.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the cabinet duct
comprises a barrier that is disposed along a center of an inside of
the cabinet duct and that partitions the cabinet duct into the
cabinet supply duct and the cabinet recovery duct.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the cabinet
supply duct and the cabinet recovery duct comprise cabinet duct
guide parts that are inclined or rounded to guide movement of cool
air at ends of the cabinet supply duct and the cabinet recovery
duct.
9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the ice
compartment duct has an ice compartment inner opening exposed
toward an inside of the ice compartment and having a vertical
length less than that of the ice compartment duct opening.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the ice
compartment duct has a horizontal width gradually increasing from
the ice compartment duct opening of an outside of the ice
compartment to an ice compartment inner opening exposed toward an
inside of the ice compartment.
11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the ice
compartment duct opening and the ice compartment inner opening have
the same area as each other.
12. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the ice
compartment duct comprises an ice compartment duct guide part that
is inclined or rounded to guide a direction of cool air guided by
the ice compartment duct.
13. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising
heaters disposed around an inlet and outlet of the cabinet duct,
wherein the heaters are disposed in a region except a front end of
the cabinet duct opening.
14. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the cabinet duct
opening has a vertical length greater than that of the ice
maker.
15. The refrigerator according to claim 3, further comprising a
plurality of grills horizontally disposed in an opened cover hole
of the duct cover.
16. The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein a gasket
contacts an outer circumference of the opened cover hole of the
duct cover.
17. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the gasket
further comprises a plurality of reinforcement ribs disposed in a
horizontal direction to allow gasket holes of a central portion of
the gasket to maintain intervals therebetween.
18. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the duct cover
comprises a cover coupling part passing through an inner case
defining an inner sidewall of the refrigerator compartment and
restricted within the ice compartment duct opening.
19. The refrigerator according to claim 2, further comprising a
fixing member that is disposed on a sidewall of the ice
compartment, that sequentially passes through the gasket and door
liners defining the ice compartment, and that is fixed to the ice
compartment duct.
20. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, in the
refrigerator compartment door, a portion at which the ice
compartment is defined has a thickness less than that of a portion
disposed below the ice compartment.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119
and 35 U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0129462
(filed on Dec. 23, 2009), which is hereby incorporated by reference
in its entirety.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Generally, a refrigerator is a home appliance, which stores
foods in a storage space that is covered by a refrigerator door to
keep foods at low temperatures, and enables foods to be stored in a
fresh state by cooling the inside of the storage space using cold
air generated through heat exchange with refrigerant that
circulates through a cooling cycle.
[0004] The inside of the refrigerator may be divided into a
refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment. Receiving
members such as shelves, drawers, and baskets are disposed within
the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment. The
refrigerator compartment and freezer compartment are covered by
doors. The refrigerator is classified into various types according
to positions of the refrigerator compartment and the freezer
compartment and configurations of the doors.
[0005] Due to changes in dietary life and well-being trends,
consumers prefer larger, multi-functional refrigerators, and
various convenient refrigerators have been introduced in the
market.
[0006] For example, the refrigerator may include an ice making
device for making ices. The refrigerator may further include a
dispenser for dispensing the made ices to the outside thereof. The
ice making device may be disposed in a freezer compartment or a
freezer compartment door. Also, the ice making device may be
disposed in a refrigerator compartment or a refrigerator
compartment door, which have an insulation space.
SUMMARY
[0007] In one aspect, a refrigerator includes a cabinet with a
refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment. The
refrigerator also includes a refrigerator compartment door
configured to open and close at least a portion of the refrigerator
compartment and a freezer compartment door configured to open and
close at least a portion of the freezer compartment. The
refrigerator further includes an ice compartment in which an
insulation space is defined in the refrigerator compartment door.
The ice compartment includes an ice maker configured to make ice.
In addition, the refrigerator includes a dispenser through which
ice made within the ice compartment is dispensed. The dispenser is
disposed in the refrigerator compartment door. The refrigerator
also includes a cabinet duct disposed in an inner wall of the
refrigerator compartment and configured to guide cool air. The
cabinet duct has a cabinet duct opening that opens toward an inside
of the refrigerator compartment and that is disposed longitudinally
in a vertical direction. The refrigerator further includes an ice
compartment duct having an ice compartment duct opening that is
configured to communicate with the cabinet duct when the
refrigerator compartment door is oriented in a closed position and
that is defined longitudinally in a vertical direction. The ice
compartment duct is disposed in a sidewall of the ice
compartment.
[0008] Implementations may include one or more of the following
features. For example, the refrigerator may include a gasket that
is disposed on a circumference of the ice compartment duct opening
and that is configured to reduce leakage of cool air between the
cabinet duct and the ice compartment duct. In this example, the
gasket may include a plurality of reinforcement ribs disposed in a
horizontal direction to allow gasket holes of a central portion of
the gasket to maintain intervals therebetween. Further, in this
example, the refrigerator may include a fixing member that is
disposed on a sidewall of the ice compartment, that sequentially
passes through the gasket and door liners defining the ice
compartment, and that is fixed to the ice compartment duct.
[0009] In some implementations, the refrigerator may include a duct
cover disposed on the cabinet duct opening and providing a passage
through which cool air flows in and out of the cabinet duct. In
these implementations, the refrigerator may include a plurality of
grills horizontally disposed in an opened cover hole of the duct
cover and a gasket may contact an outer circumference of the opened
cover hole of the duct cover. In addition, in these
implementations, the duct cover may include a cover coupling part
passing through an inner case defining an inner sidewall of the
refrigerator compartment and restricted within the ice compartment
duct opening.
[0010] In some examples, the cabinet duct may include a cabinet
supply duct configured to guide, to the ice compartment, cool air
from within a heat-exchange chamber comprising an evaporator and a
cabinet recovery duct configured to guide, to the freezer
compartment, cool air discharged from the ice compartment. In these
examples, the refrigerator may include a cool air inlet disposed at
a lower end of the cabinet supply duct and oriented longitudinally
in a vertical direction, and a cool air outlet disposed at a lower
end of the cabinet recovery duct and oriented longitudinally in a
horizontal direction. The cool air inlet may communicate with the
heat-exchange chamber comprising the evaporator, and the cool air
outlet may communicate with the freezer compartment.
[0011] Further, the cabinet duct may include a barrier that is
disposed along a center of an inside of the cabinet duct and that
partitions the cabinet duct into the cabinet supply duct and the
cabinet recovery duct. The cabinet supply duct and the cabinet
recovery duct may include cabinet duct guide parts that are
inclined or rounded to guide movement of cool air at ends of the
cabinet supply duct and the cabinet recovery duct. The ice
compartment duct may have an ice compartment inner opening exposed
toward an inside of the ice compartment and having a vertical
length less than that of the ice compartment duct opening.
[0012] In some implementations, the ice compartment duct may have a
horizontal width gradually increasing from the ice compartment duct
opening of an outside of the ice compartment to an ice compartment
inner opening exposed toward an inside of the ice compartment. In
these implementations, the ice compartment duct opening and the ice
compartment inner opening may have the same area as each other.
[0013] In some examples, the ice compartment duct may include an
ice compartment duct guide part that is inclined or rounded to
guide a direction of cool air guided by the ice compartment duct.
In addition, the refrigerator may include heaters disposed around
an inlet and outlet of the cabinet duct. The heaters may be
disposed in a region except a front end of the cabinet duct
opening.
[0014] Further, the cabinet duct opening may have a vertical length
greater than that of the ice maker. In the refrigerator compartment
door, a portion at which the ice compartment is defined may have a
thickness less than that of a portion disposed below the ice
compartment.
[0015] The details of one or more implementations are set forth in
the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features
will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example refrigerator.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a state in which cool air
flows into/from an example ice compartment.
[0018] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of an example cabinet
duct.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line I-I' of FIG.
2.
[0020] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of an example ice
compartment duct and an example gasket.
[0021] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an example ice compartment
duct disposed in an example ice compartment.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an example refrigerator
compartment door with an example ice compartment door opened.
[0023] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an example refrigerator
compartment door in which an example ice making assembly is removed
from the ice compartment.
[0024] FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective views of the example ice
making assembly.
[0025] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an example ice bin.
[0026] FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the example ice
bin.
[0027] FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view of an example
refrigerator compartment door.
[0028] FIG. 14 is a view of a state in which an example ice maker
is rotated to separate ices therefrom in FIG. 13.
[0029] FIG. 15 is a sectional view of an example refrigerator
compartment door including an example ice compartment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates an example refrigerator, and FIG. 2
illustrates a state in which a portion of an example refrigerator
door is opened.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a refrigerator 1 includes a
cabinet 10 defining an outer appearance thereof and refrigerator
doors 11 and 14 movably connected to the cabinet 10.
[0032] A storage compartment for storing foods is defined inside
the cabinet 10. The storage compartment includes a refrigerator
compartment 102 and a freezer compartment 104 disposed below the
refrigerator compartment 102.
[0033] That is, a bottom freeze type refrigerator in which a
refrigerator compartment is disposed above the freezer compartment
is described as an example. Other configurations or arrangements
may be used.
[0034] The refrigerator doors 11 and 14 include refrigerator
compartment doors 11 opening and closing the refrigerator
compartment 102 and freezer compartment doors 14 opening and
closing the freezer compartment 104.
[0035] The refrigerator compartment doors 11 include a plurality of
doors 12 and 13, which are disposed at left and right sides,
respectively. The plurality of doors 12 and 13 include a first
refrigerator compartment door 12 and a second refrigerator
compartment door 13 disposed at a right side of the first
refrigerator compartment door 12. The first refrigerator
compartment door 12 may be independently movable with respect to
the second refrigerator compartment door 13.
[0036] The freezer compartment doors 14 include a plurality of
doors 15 and 16, which are vertically disposed. The plurality of
doors 15 and 16 include a first freezer compartment door 15 and a
second freezer compartment door 16 disposed below the first freezer
compartment door 15.
[0037] The first and second refrigerator compartment doors 12 and
13 may be rotatably operated, and the first and second freezer
compartment doors 15 and 16 may be slidably operated.
[0038] A dispenser 17 for dispensing water and/or ices is disposed
in one of the first and second refrigerator compartment doors 12
and 13. For example, the dispenser 17 is disposed in the first
refrigerator compartment door 12 in FIG. 1.
[0039] Also, an ice compartment (see reference numeral 120 of FIG.
8) including an ice making assembly (see reference numeral 200 of
FIG. 9) for generating and storing ice is defined in one of the
first and second refrigerator compartment doors 12 and 13.
[0040] In this example, the dispenser 17 and the ice making
assembly may be disposed in the first refrigerator compartment door
12 or the second refrigerator compartment door 13. Thus, it will be
described below that the dispenser 17 and the ice making assembly
are disposed in the refrigerator compartment door 11. Here, the
first refrigerator compartment door 12 and the second refrigerator
compartment door 13 are commonly called the refrigerator
compartment door 11.
[0041] The ice compartment 120 defined in the refrigerator
compartment door 11 has an independent insulation space. The ice
compartment 120 may be opened and closed by an ice compartment door
130. An ice compartment duct 800 (see FIG. 5) is disposed in the
ice compartment 120 to allow air to flow into the inside/outside of
the ice compartment 120. An ice compartment duct opening 832 is
exposed through a surface of the ice compartment 120.
[0042] When the refrigerator compartment door 11 is closed, the ice
compartment duct opening 832 may be defined in a position
corresponding to that of a cabinet duct 700 to communicate with the
cabinet duct 700 disposed in a sidewall of the refrigerator
compartment 102. A gasket 840 is disposed around the ice
compartment duct opening 832 to closely adhere to a cabinet duct
opening 740 defined in an end of the cabinet duct 700.
[0043] FIG. 3 illustrates an example cabinet duct, and FIG. 4 is a
sectional view taken along line I-I' of FIG. 2.
[0044] Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the cabinet duct 700 is disposed
inside the cabinet 10 adjacent to the refrigerator compartment door
11 including the ice compartment 120. The cabinet duct 700 is
covered by a foam insulation material inside the cabinet 10. Only
the cabinet duct opening 740, a cool air inlet 712, and a cool air
outlet 714 are exposed to a space of the inside of the refrigerator
so that the cool air flows therebetween.
[0045] A lower end of the cabinet duct 700 is disposed in the
freezer compartment 104 and a heat-exchange chamber 106 in which an
evaporator is disposed and extends up to the refrigerator
compartment 102 having a height corresponding to that of the ice
compartment 120.
[0046] The cabinet duct 700 includes a cabinet supply duct 710 and
a cabinet recovery duct 720. The cabinet supply duct 710 guides the
cool air within the heat-exchange chamber 106 toward the ice
compartment 120. The cabinet recovery duct 720 guides the cool air
within the ice compartment 120 to the freezer compartment 104.
[0047] The cabinet supply duct 710 and the cabinet recovery duct
720 may have independent passages, respectively. That is, the
cabinet duct 700 includes the cabinet supply duct 710 and the
cabinet recovery duct 720, which are independently provided.
[0048] The cabinet supply duct 710 may be partitioned by a barrier
730 to form the cabinet supply duct 710 and the cabinet recovery
duct 720. The barrier 730 is integrated with the cabinet supply
duct 710 and extends along the cabinet supply duct 710.
[0049] As described above, if the cabinet supply duct 710 includes
passages for supplying and recovering the cool air, the passages
may be removably disposed or integrated with each other.
[0050] The cool air inlet 712 opened longitudinally in a vertical
direction is disposed at a lower end of the cabinet supply duct
710. The cool air inlet 712 is exposed to a sidewall of the
heat-exchange chamber 106. Thus, cool air generated inside the
heat-exchange chamber 106 may be introduced into the cabinet supply
duct 710. At this time, the cool air inlet 712 may be disposed
longitudinally in a vertical direction to secure a sufficient
suction flow rate according to a structural characteristic of the
heat-exchange chamber 106 having a vertically long and narrow
width.
[0051] The cool air outlet 714 opened longitudinally in a
horizontal direction is disposed at a lower end of the cabinet
recovery duct 720. The cool air outlet 714 is exposed to a sidewall
of the freezer compartment 104. Thus, the cool air guided from the
ice compartment 120 is recovered inside the freezer compartment
104. At this time, the cool air outlet 714 may be disposed
longitudinally in a horizontal direction to reduce (e.g., prevent)
the inflow of the cool air from interfering with a receiving member
disposed inside the freezer compartment 104.
[0052] The cabinet duct 700 includes a plurality of fixing members
732 on an outer surface thereof such that the cabinet duct 700 is
stably fixed to the inside of the cabinet 10 without being shaken.
The duct fixing members 732 may be formed of an elastically
deformable material such as rubber.
[0053] The cabinet duct opening 740 opened to communicate with the
ice compartment duct 800 is defined in an upper end of the cabinet
duct 700, i.e., the cabinet supply duct 710 and the cabinet
recovery duct 720. The cabinet duct opening 740 is exposed to the
sidewall of the refrigerator compartment 102. Also, the cabinet
duct opening 740 is defined at a position corresponding to that of
the ice compartment duct opening 832 exposed to the sidewall of the
ice compartment 120.
[0054] The cabinet duct openings 740 having the same configuration
as each other are defined in the cabinet supply duct 710 and the
cabinet recovery duct 720, respectively. Thus, since the cabinet
duct openings 740 have the same structure and configuration as each
other except positions thereof, the cabinet duct openings 740
respectively defined in the cabinet supply duct 710 and the cabinet
recovery duct 720 are designated the same reference numeral.
Hereinafter, the cabinet duct opening 740 defined in the cabinet
supply duct 710 will be described as an example.
[0055] The cabinet duct opening 740 is defined in an upper end of
the cabinet supply duct 710. A cabinet duct guide part 742 for
smoothly guiding the cool air is disposed at an end of the cabinet
supply duct 710.
[0056] The cabinet duct guide part 742 is disposed from a bottom
surface of the cabinet duct 700 up to the cabinet duct opening 740.
The cabinet duct guide part 742 may be rounded or inclined. Thus,
when the cool air is guided to the cabinet duct opening 740 defined
in a direction crossing a cool air passage direction of the cabinet
duct 700, the cool air may flow along the cabinet duct guide part
742.
[0057] The cabinet duct opening 740 is defined longitudinally in a
vertical direction. Also, when the refrigerator compartment door 11
is closed, the cabinet duct opening 740 may communicate with the
ice compartment duct opening 832. The cabinet duct opening 740 has
a vertical length less than a half of a vertical length of the ice
compartment 120 and greater than that of the ice maker 210 (see
FIG. 9) within the ice compartment 120.
[0058] A duct cover 750 is disposed at an upper side of the cabinet
duct opening 740. The duct cover 750 inhibits (e.g., prevents)
foreign substances from being introduced into the cabinet duct
opening 740 and provides an entrance and exit passage of the cool
air. The duct cover 750 includes a circumference part 752 and a
plurality of grills 754. The circumference part 752 is disposed
along the cabinet duct opening 740. The plurality of grills 754
connect the circumference part 752 in a horizontal direction.
[0059] Also, the duct cover 750 further includes a cover coupling
part 756 passing through an inner case 101 defining an inner
sidewall of the cabinet 10 and coupled to the cabinet duct 700. A
sealing member 770 for reducing (e.g., preventing) the cool air
from leaking is further disposed on the outside of the duct cover
750.
[0060] A heating member 760 is further disposed on the outside of
the cabinet duct opening 740. The heating member 760 heats the
outside of the cabinet duct opening 740 to reduce (e.g., prevent)
dew condensation from being generated on the inner case 101
corresponding to the outside of the cabinet duct opening 740.
[0061] The heating member 760 includes a heating wire 762 and an
aluminum foil 764 supporting the heating wire 762 and fixing the
heating member 760. A hole corresponding to the opening 740 of the
cabinet duct opening 740 is defined in the aluminum foil 764 to
allow the heating member 760 to be easily installed.
[0062] The heating wire 762 may be disposed on the outside of a
portion except a front end of the cabinet duct opening 740 adjacent
to an opened front surface of the refrigerator compartment 102.
Thus, the cabinet duct opening 740 may be disposed at the front
most portion of the inside of the cabinet 10 to contact the
sidewall of the slim ice compartment 120.
[0063] FIG. 5 illustrates an example ice compartment duct and an
example gasket, and FIG. 6 illustrates the example ice compartment
duct disposed in the example ice compartment.
[0064] Referring to FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, the refrigerator compartment
door 11 includes an outer case 111 and a door liner 112 coupled to
the outer case 111. The door liner 112 defines a back surface of
the refrigerator compartment door 11.
[0065] The door liner 112 defines the ice compartment 120. The door
liner defining the back surface of the refrigerator compartment
door 11 is depressed to define the ice compartment 120. An ice
compartment duct 800 is disposed in a sidewall of the ice
compartment 120 defined by the door liner 112.
[0066] The ice compartment duct 800 communicates with the cabinet
duct 700 to allow the cool air to come in and out from the
inside/outside of the ice compartment 120. The ice compartment duct
800 may be disposed at a position at which the refrigerator
compartment door 11 contacts the cabinet duct 700 when the
refrigerator compartment door 11 is closed.
[0067] The ice compartment duct 800 includes an ice compartment
supply duct 810 disposed at an upper side of the ice compartment
120 and an ice compartment recovery duct 820 disposed below the ice
compartment supply duct 810. The ice compartment supply duct 810
and the ice compartment recovery duct 820 may be separately
provided and respectively installed in the sidewall of the ice
compartment 120. Also, the ice compartment supply duct 810 and the
ice compartment recovery duct 820 may be integrated with each
other.
[0068] The ice compartment supply duct 810 and the ice compartment
recovery duct 820 have the same structure as each other except
their mounted positions and dispositions. Thus, only the ice
compartment supply duct 810 will now be described.
[0069] The ice compartment supply duct 810 includes the ice
compartment duct opening 832 facing the outside of the ice
compartment 120, an ice compartment inner opening 834 facing the
inside of the ice compartment 120, and an ice compartment duct
guide part 830 connecting the ice compartment duct opening 832 to
the ice compartment inner opening 834.
[0070] The ice compartment duct opening 832 has a size
corresponding to that of the cabinet duct opening 740 and is
defined at a position corresponding to that of the cabinet duct
opening 740. The ice compartment duct opening 832 is defined
longitudinally in a vertical direction. The ice compartment duct
opening 832 may be defined in an outer mounting part 124 disposed
on the door liner 112 outside the ice compartment 120.
[0071] The ice compartment inner opening 834 is defined in an inner
mounting part 122 disposed on the door liner 112 inside the ice
compartment 120. The ice compartment inner opening 834 has a length
less than a vertical length of the ice compartment duct opening 832
and greater than a horizontal length of the ice compartment duct
opening 832. At this time, the ice compartment duct opening 832 and
the ice compartment inner opening 834 have the same opened area as
each other to reduce (e.g., prevent) the cool air supplied through
the ice compartment duct 800 from being lost.
[0072] In the ice compartment duct openings 832, the ice
compartment duct opening 832 of the ice compartment supply duct 810
may be disposed at a position corresponding to that of the ice
maker 210 inside the ice compartment 120. Also, the ice compartment
duct opening 832 of the ice compartment recovery duct 820 may be
disposed at a position corresponding to that of the ice bin 300
(see FIG. 7).
[0073] The ice compartment duct guide part 830 connecting the ice
compartment duct opening 832 to the ice compartment inner opening
843 may be inclined or rounded. The ice compartment duct guide part
830 may have a vertical height gradually decreasing from the ice
compartment duct opening 832 toward the ice compartment inner
opening 834 and a horizontal width gradually increasing from the
ice compartment duct opening 832 toward the ice compartment inner
opening 834.
[0074] The gasket 840 is disposed on the ice compartment duct
opening 832. The gasket 840 reduces (e.g., prevents) the cool air
from leaking between the cabinet duct 700 and the ice compartment
duct 800 when the refrigerator compartment door 11 is closed. The
gasket 840 is fixed to the ice compartment duct 800 by a gasket
fixing member 850.
[0075] The gasket 840 is disposed longitudinally in a vertical
direction, like the ice compartment duct opening 832. The gasket
840 may be formed of an elastic material or have an elastic
structure. When the refrigerator compartment door 11 is closed, the
gasket 840 contacts the circumference part 752 of the duct cover
750. That is, a hollow portion through which the cool air comes in
and out is defined at a center of the gasket 840. Also, a contact
part 844 selectively contacting the circumference 752 of the duct
cover 750 is disposed along a circumference of the hollow
portion.
[0076] A plurality of reinforcement ribs 842 are disposed in the
hollow portion of the gasket 840 in a horizontal direction to
prevent the hollow portion from being constricted or deformed.
Thus, the hollow portion may not be constricted or deformed by the
reinforcement ribs 846 to smoothly guide the cool air even through
an external force is applied to the gasket 840.
[0077] The gasket fixing member 850 is disposed along a
circumference of a lower portion of the gasket 840. The gasket
fixing member 850 passes through the lower portion of the gasket
840 and the door liner 112 and is coupled to the ice compartment
duct opening 832. Thus, the gasket 840 may be maintained in a state
in which it is fixed to the ice compartment duct opening 832, and
also, the position of the gasket 840 may be maintained even when
the gasket 840 contacts the duct cover 750.
[0078] FIG. 7 illustrates an example refrigerator compartment door
with an example ice compartment door opened, and FIG. 8 illustrates
the example refrigerator compartment door in which an example ice
making assembly is removed from the ice compartment.
[0079] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the ice making assembly 200 for
generating and storing the ices is disposed inside the ice
compartment 120. The ice compartment 120 is opened and closed by an
ice compartment door 130. The ice compartment door 130 is rotatably
connected to the door liner 112 by a hinge 139.
[0080] A handle 140 coupled to the door liner 112 in a state where
the ice compartment 120 is closed by the ice compartment door 130
is disposed on the ice compartment door 130. A handle coupling part
128 coupled to a portion of the handle 140 is defined in the door
liner 112. The handle coupling part 128 receives the portion of the
handle 140.
[0081] A receiving member for receiving foods is disposed on the
ice compartment door 130. The receiving member has a basket shape.
The receiving member is detachably disposed on a back surface (a
surface facing the inside of the refrigerator) of the ice
compartment door 130.
[0082] A gasket is disposed around a front surface (a surface
facing the inside of the ice compartment) of the ice compartment
door 130. The gasket may contact an opened front end of the ice
compartment 120 to seal the ice compartment 120.
[0083] The door liner 112 defines the ice compartment 120 and a
back surface of the refrigerator compartment door 11. In the back
surface of the refrigerator compartment door 11 defined by the door
liner 112, a lower side of the ice compartment, i.e., a rear side
of the dispenser 17 further protrudes when compared to a portion at
which the ice compartment is defined. Thus, the refrigerator
compartment door 11 defined by the door liner 112 may have a height
difference. That is, in the total thickness of the refrigerator
compartment door 11, a portion at which the ice compartment 120 is
defined has a thickness less than that of the portion at which the
ice compartment is defined.
[0084] A cool air duct 290 for guiding the cool air passing through
the ice compartment supply duct 810 to the ice making assembly 200
is disposed in the ice compartment 120. The cool air duct 290
includes a passage through which cool air flows, and the cool air
passing through the cool air duct 290 is finally supplied to the
ice making assembly 200. Since the cool air may be concentrated to
the ice making assembly 200 by the cool air duct 290, the ices may
be rapidly generated.
[0085] The refrigerator compartment door 11 includes a first
connector 125 for supplying a power to the ice making assembly 200.
The first connector 125 is exposed to the ice compartment 120. The
refrigerator compartment door 11 includes a water supply pipe 126
for supplying water to the ice making assembly 200.
[0086] The water supply pipe 126 is disposed between the outer case
ill and the door liner 112, and its end passes through the door
liner 112 and is disposed at the ice compartment 120.
[0087] An opening 127 for discharging the ices is defined at the
lower side of the inner sidewall 114 of the door liner 112
constituting the ice compartment 120. An ice duct 150 communicating
with the opening 127 is disposed at the lower side of the ice
compartment 120.
[0088] FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate an example ice making
assembly.
[0089] Referring to FIGS. 7 to 10, the ice making assembly 200
defines a space where ices are generated. The ice making assembly
200 includes an ice maker 210 supporting the generated ices, a
driving source 220 providing a power for automatically rotating the
ice maker 210 to separate the ices from the ice maker 210, a gear
box 224 transmitting the power of the driving source 220 to the ice
maker 210, and a water guider 240 guiding water supplied from the
water supply pipe 126 to the ice maker 210.
[0090] The ice making assembly 200 includes a support mechanism 250
supporting a seat part 215 on which the ice maker 210 is seated, an
ice bin 300 storing ices separated from the ice maker 210, a full
ice sensor 270 for detecting a full ice state of the ice bin 300,
and a motor assembly 280 selectively connected to the ice bin
300.
[0091] An electric wire connected to the motor assembly 280 and an
electric wire connected to the driving source 220 are connected to
a second connector 282. The second connector 282 is removably
connected to the first connector 125.
[0092] In detail, the support mechanism 250 includes a first
support part 252 and a second support part 260 coupled to the first
support part 252.
[0093] The first support part 252 is seated on the ice compartment
120. The motor assembly 280 is installed on the first support part
252. The motor assembly 280 further includes a connection member
284 connected to an ice discharge member 400 (that will be
described later) when the ice bin 300 is disposed. The connection
member 284 may be exposed to a front side through the first support
part 252.
[0094] An ice opening 253 through which the ices discharged from
the ice bin 300 pass is disposed in a bottom surface of the first
support part 252. The ice bin 300 is seated on the first support
part 252. That is, the first support part 252 supports the ice bin
300.
[0095] When the ice bin 300 is seated on the first support part
252, the motor assembly 280 is connected to the ice bin 300. In
this example, the state where the ice bin 300 is seated on the
first support part 252 represents the state where the ice
compartment 120 accommodates the ice bin 300.
[0096] The seat part 215 on which the ice maker 210 is seated is
installed on the second support part 260. A rotation shaft 212 has
one side and the other side, which are respectively connected to
both sides of the ice maker 210. The one side of the rotation shaft
212 is connected to the gear box 224, and the other side of the
rotation shaft 212 is rotatably connected to the seat part 215.
[0097] The full ice sensor 270 is disposed on the second support
part 260 at a position spaced apart from the ice maker 210. The
full ice sensor 270 is disposed below the ice maker 210.
[0098] The full ice sensor 270 includes a transmission part 271
transmitting a signal and a receiving part 272 spaced apart from
the transmission part 271 and receiving the signal from the
transmission part 271.
[0099] The transmission part 271 and the receiving part 272 are
disposed in the inner space of the ice bin 300 when the ice bin 300
is seated on the first support part 252.
[0100] FIG. 11 illustrates an example ice bin.
[0101] Referring to FIG. 11, an opening 310 is defined at an upper
side of the ice bin 300. The ice bin 300 has a front wall 311, a
rear wall 312, and sidewalls 313.
[0102] An inclined guide surface 320 is disposed inside the ice bin
300 to support the stored ices and guide the stored ices such that
the ices are moved downwardly by their own weight.
[0103] An ice storage space 315 in which the ices are stored is
defined by the front wall 311, the rear wall 312, the sidewalls
313, and the inclined guide surface 320.
[0104] The inclined guide surface 320 includes a first inclined
guide surface 321 and a second inclined guide surface 322. The
first inclined guide surface 321 is inclined downwardly from one
wall of the sidewalls 313 toward a central portion. The second
inclined guide surface 322 is inclined downwardly from the other
wall of the sidewalls 313 toward the central portion.
[0105] An ice discharge member 400 is disposed between the first
inclined guide surface 321 and the second inclined guide surface
322 to discharge the ices received in the ice bin 300 to the
outside of the ice bin 300. That is, the first inclined guide
surface 321 and the second inclined guide surface 322 are disposed
at left and right sides of the ice discharge member 400.
[0106] The ice discharge member 400 includes one or more rotation
blades 410 to define a predetermined space 411 in which the ices
may be positioned. The ice discharge member 400 may include a
plurality of rotation blades 410 to easily discharge the ices.
[0107] Hereinafter, the ice discharge member 400 including the
plurality of rotation blades 410 will be described as an
example.
[0108] The ices disposed on the first inclined guide surface 321
and the second inclined guide surface 322 are moved toward the ice
discharge member 400 by their own weight. Then, the ices are
discharged to the outside of the ice bin 300 by an operation of the
ice discharge member 400.
[0109] The ice discharge member 400 is rotatably disposed between
the first inclined guide surface 321 and the second inclined guide
surface 322. Also, a discharge part 500 having a discharge hole 510
in which the ices are finally discharged is disposed between the
first inclined guide surface 321 and the second inclined guide
surface 322.
[0110] The ice discharge member 400 is forwardly/reversely and
rotatably (or rotatable in both directions) disposed on the
discharge part 500.
[0111] When the ice discharge member 400 is rotated in a first
direction, one or more fixed blades 480 interacting with the
rotation blades 410 to crash the ices are disposed at a side of a
lower portion of the ice discharge member 400, i.e., a side of the
discharge part 500.
[0112] The plurality of fixed blades 480 are spaced from each
other, and the rotation blades 410 pass through spaces between the
plurality of fixed blades 480.
[0113] When the ices are compressed by the rotation operations of
the rotation blades 410 in a state where the ices are jammed
between the fixed blades 480 and the rotation blades 410, the ices
are crashed to form ice chips.
[0114] When the ice discharge member 400 is rotated in a second
direction opposite to the first direction, an opening/closing
member 600 selectively communicating with the discharge hole 510
and the ice storage space 315 to discharge ice cubes is disposed at
the side of the lower portion of the ice discharge member 400,
i.e., the side of the discharge part 500.
[0115] An operation restriction part 650 is disposed below the
opening/closing member 600 to restrict an operation range of the
opening/closing member 600, thereby reducing (e.g., preventing) the
ice cubes from being excessively discharged.
[0116] The discharge part 500 has a discharge guide wall 520 having
a configuration corresponding to a rotational track of the rotation
blade 410. The fixed blades 480 are disposed below the discharge
guide wall 520.
[0117] The discharge guide wall 520 reduces (e.g., prevents) the
crushed ice chips from remaining on the discharge part 500. An ice
jam prevention part 330 protruding toward the rotation blade 410 is
disposed on a back surface of the front wall 311 of the ice bin 300
to reduce (e.g., prevent) the ices from being jammed between the
rotation blades 410 and the front wall 311 of the ice bin 300.
[0118] FIG. 12 illustrates the example ice bin.
[0119] Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the plurality of rotation
blades 410 are fixed to a rotation shaft 420. The rotation shaft
420 passes through a support plate 425 and a connection plate 428
connected to the connection member 284 of the motor assembly (see
reference numeral 280 of FIG. 6). The rotation shaft 420 is
horizontally disposed within the ice bin 300.
[0120] An elastic member 429 having a coil spring shape is disposed
between the support plate 425 and the connection plate 428 to
elastically support the connection plate 428. The support plate 425
has an inclined surface 426 to smoothly move the ices disposed on a
lateral surface of the support plate 425 toward the plurality of
rotation blades 410.
[0121] In a state where the plurality of rotation blades 410, the
support plate 425, the connection plate 428, and the elastic member
429 are coupled to the rotation shaft 420, an insertion member 421
is inserted into a front end of the rotation shaft 420.
[0122] The plurality of rotation blades 410 is disposed spaced from
each other in a direction parallel to an extending direction of the
rotation shaft 420.
[0123] The rotation shaft 420 is connected to one side of each of
the plurality of fixed blades 480. That is, the rotation shaft 420
passes through the plurality of fixed blades 480. A through-hole
481 through which the rotation shaft 420 passes is defined in the
respective fixed blades 480.
[0124] Here, the through-hole 481 may have a diameter greater than
that of the rotation shaft 420 such that the fixed blades 480 are
not moved when the rotation shaft 420 is rotated.
[0125] The plurality of rotation blades 410 and the plurality of
fixed blades 480 may be alternately disposed in the direction
parallel to the extending direction of the rotation shaft 420.
[0126] As described above, the other side of each of the plurality
of fixed blades 480 is fixed to a lower side of the discharge guide
wall 520. A fixing member 485 is connected to the other side of the
respective fixed blades 480 and inserted into a groove 521 defined
in the discharge guide wall 520.
[0127] The opening/closing member 600 may be provided in one or
plurality. The opening/closing member 600 is disposed at a lateral
side of the plurality of fixed blades 480.
[0128] The opening/closing member 600 is rotatably disposed on the
discharge part 500. The opening/closing member 600 may be formed of
an elastic material or supported by an elastic member 640 such as a
spring.
[0129] This is done for returning the opening/closing member 600 to
its initial position when a compression effect is released in a
state where an end of the opening/closing member 600 is moved
downwardly by the compression effect due to the ices.
[0130] The ice discharge member 400, the fixed blade 480, and the
opening/closing member 600 are disposed within the ice bin 300, and
then, a front plate 311a constituting the front wall 311 of the ice
bin 300 is disposed.
[0131] A cover member 318 may be disposed at a lower portion of a
front surface of the front plate 311a to reduce (e.g., prevent) the
opening/closing member 600 or the fixed blade 480 from being
exposed to the outside.
[0132] FIG. 13 illustrates an example refrigerator compartment
door, and FIG. 14 illustrates a state in which an example ice maker
is rotated to separate ices therefrom in FIG. 13.
[0133] Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the ice bin 300 is
substantially vertically disposed below the ice maker 210 in a
state where the ice making assembly 200 is disposed within the ice
compartment 120.
[0134] In detail, an inlet 301a of the opening 310 of the ice bin
300 is disposed at a position lower than that of the ice maker 210.
Thus, when the ice compartment door 130 closes the ice compartment
120, the ice bin 300 is not disposed in a region A between the ice
compartment door 130 and the ice maker 210. That is, the ice bin
300 may be disposed in the region A except for the region between
the ice compartment door 130 and the ice maker 210 in an entire
region of the ice compartment 120.
[0135] This is done for a reason that the ice bin 300 does not need
to dispose the ice bin 300 in the region A because the ice maker
210 is tuned over by its rotation operation to separate ices I from
the ice maker 210 due to ice's self-weight, thereby dropping into
the ice bin 300. That is, since the ices I separated from the ice
maker 210 do not pass through the region A, the ice bin need not be
disposed in the region A.
[0136] Thus, since the ice bin 300 is not disposed in the region A,
the ice compartment door 130 may be disposed further adjacent to
the ice maker 210. As a result, a total thickness of the
refrigerator compartment door 11 may be reduced. That is, the
refrigerator compartment door 11 may be slim.
[0137] The plurality of rotation blades 410 may be disposed spaced
from each other in a direction parallel to the extending direction
(front and rear directions) of the rotation shaft 420. The
plurality of rotation blades 410 may be disposed within a range of
a front-rear width W of the ice maker 210.
[0138] Thus, when the ice maker 210 is rotated to separate the ices
I from the ice maker 210, a portion of the plurality of ices
separated from the ice maker 210 directly drops into at least one
rotation blade of the plurality of rotation blades 410. That is,
the ices I separated from the ice maker 210 drop down by their
self-weight, and one or more ices I of the dropping ices directly
contact at least one rotation blade 410.
[0139] At this time, a dropping direction of the ices I separated
from the ice maker 210 crosses the extending direction of the
rotation shaft 420. In another aspect, the dropping direction of
the ices I separated from the ice maker 210 is substantially
parallel to a virtual surface defined when the plurality of
rotation blades 410 is rotated.
[0140] A horizontal distance from the ice compartment door 130 to
the rotation shaft 212 of the ice maker 210 is greater than the
shortest horizontal distance from the ice compartment door 130 to
the discharge hole 510.
[0141] A foam solution is filled between the outer case 111 and the
door liner 112 of the refrigerator compartment door 11 to form a
foam insulation material 115. An insulation material 116 different
from the foam insulation material 115 is attached to the back
surface of the outer case 111 of the refrigerator compartment door
11.
[0142] The insulation material 116 is formed of a material having a
high efficiency when compared to the foam insulation material 115.
For example, a vacuum insulation panel may be used as the
insulation material 116, and the insulation material 116 may be
attached to a region corresponding to the outer case 111 of the ice
compartment 120.
[0143] The vacuum insulation panel includes a core material having
a vacuum state within an envelope material having low gas
permeability. The vacuum insulation panel has superior insulation
performance and relatively thin thickness when compared to
polyurethane or styrofoam.
[0144] Thus, a filling amount of the foam insulation material 115
may be reduced in the region in which the insulation material 116
is attached. As a result, the refrigerator compartment door 11
corresponding to the ice compartment 120 may be slimmer in
thickness.
[0145] Also, an ice compartment door insulation material 134
including a vacuum insulation panel equal to the insulation
material 116 may be attached to the inside of the ice compartment
door 130. The ice compartment door insulation material 134 may be
attached to design the slimmer ice compartment door 130.
[0146] Of course, as necessary, a foam solution together with the
ice compartment door insulation material 134 may be filled in the
ice compartment door 130.
[0147] As described above, in the refrigerator compartment door 11
including the ice compartment door 130, the region in which the ice
compartment is defined may be slimmer due to the structure of the
ice making assembly 200, the insulation material 116, and the ice
compartment door insulation material 134.
[0148] Thus, the width of the sidewall through which the cool air
comes in and out to the inside/outside of the ice compartment 120
may become narrow. In this state, the ice compartment duct opening
832 may be disposed longitudinally in a vertical direction to
secure a sufficient flow amount of the cool air. As a result, when
the refrigerator compartment door 11 is closed, the cabinet duct
openings 740 communicating with each other may be disposed also
longitudinally in a vertical direction.
[0149] An effect of the refrigerator including the above-described
constitutions will be described below.
[0150] When the refrigerator compartment door 11 is closed, the ice
compartment and the cabinet duct 700 communicate with each other to
allow the cool air to flow therebetween. When the refrigerator
compartment door 11 is closed, the gasket 840 contacts the duct
cover 750 to allow the ice compartment duct 800 and the cabinet
duct 700 to communicate with each other without leaking the cool
air.
[0151] In this state, the cool air is supplied to make the ices in
the ice maker 210 or prevent the ices stored in the ice bin 300
from being melted. For this, the cool air generated in the
evaporator within the heat-exchange chamber 106 forcibly blows by a
blow fan, and thus is supplied to the refrigerator compartment 102,
the freezer compartment 104, and ice compartment 120.
[0152] The cool air within the heat-exchange chamber 106 is
introduced into the cabinet supply duct 710 through the cool air
inlet 712 and introduced into the ice compartment supply duct 810
through the cabinet duct opening 740 of the cabinet supply duct 710
and the ice compartment duct opening 832 of the ice compartment
supply duct 810. Also, the cool air is supplied inside the ice
compartment 120 through the ice compartment inner opening 834 of
the ice compartment supply duct 810.
[0153] At this time, the sufficient amount of the cool air passing
through the cabinet duct opening 740 and the ice compartment duct
opening 832, which are disposed longitudinally in the vertical
direction is supplied to the ice maker 210 through the ice
compartment inner opening 834 without being lost.
[0154] The cool air within the ice compartment 120 is discharged
through the ice compartment inner opening 834 of the ice
compartment recovery duct 820. Then, the cool air is introduced
into the cabinet recovery duct 720 via the ice compartment duct
opening 832 of the ice compartment recovery duct 820 and the
cabinet duct opening 740 of the cabinet recovery duct 720.
Thereafter, the cool air is supplied to the freezer compartment 104
through the cool air outlet 714.
[0155] Also, at this time, the sufficient amount of the cool air
passing through the cabinet duct opening 740 and the ice
compartment duct opening 832, which are disposed longitudinally in
the vertical direction is discharged into the freezer compartment
104 from the ice compartment 120 through the ice compartment inner
opening 834 without being lost.
[0156] As described above, the cool air is continuously circulated
through the passage. Thus, a temperature for making the ices in the
ice compartment 120 and a temperature for maintaining the made ice
may be maintained.
[0157] Also, the spaces within the refrigerator are thermally
insulated by the foam insulation material 115 within the
refrigerator compartment door 11. Specifically, a space between the
ice compartment 120 and an external space of the ice compartment
120 may be thermally further insulated by the insulation material
116 having a sheet shape and disposed inside the refrigerator
compartment door 11 corresponding to the region in which the ice
compartment is defined.
[0158] Also, a space between the ice compartment 120 and the
refrigerator compartment 102 may be thermally insulated by the foam
insulation material within the refrigerator compartment door 11
and/or the insulation material 116 having the sheet shape.
[0159] When ices are made in the ice maker 210 within the ice
compartment 120, a portion of the ice maker 210 at which the ices
are made is rotated, and thus, the made ices drop vertically
downward from the ice maker 210. The ices separated from the ice
maker 210 directly drop toward the ice discharge member 400 and
then are piled up a lower space within the ice bin 300.
[0160] When the dispenser 17 is operated to dispense the ices
stored in the ice bin 300, the rotation blades 410 are rotated to
dispense the made ices in the ice cube state that is their original
state. At this time, when the rotation blades 410 is rotated in the
first direction, the ices disposed in the space between the
rotation blades 410 are discharged to the discharge hole 510
through the opening/closing part 600.
[0161] When the rotation blades 410 is rotated in the second
direction, the ices disposed in the space between the rotation
blades 410 are crushed between the fixed blade 480 and the rotation
blade 410, and thus discharged to the discharge hole 510 in the ice
chip state.
[0162] That is, the ice cube state or the ice chip state of the
ices may be determined according to the rotation direction of the
rotation blade 410. The ices discharged to the discharge hole 510
are dispensed to the dispenser 17 via the inlet 152 and the outlet
154 of the ice duct 150.
[0163] FIG. 15 illustrates an example refrigerator compartment door
including an example ice compartment.
[0164] The example refrigerator compartment door and the example
ice compartment shown in FIG. 15 may be similar to the example
refrigerator compartment door and the example ice compartment
described above with respect to FIGS. 1-14, except only for a
structure of an ice compartment duct. Thus, only specific portions
of this example will now be described.
[0165] Hereinafter, portions having the same function as the
previously described embodiment are denoted by the same reference
numeral and its explanation will be omitted.
[0166] Referring to FIG. 15, an ice compartment is defined by a
door liner 112 constituting a back surface of a refrigerator
compartment door 11. An ice duct 900 is disposed inside the door
liner 112 constituting a sidewall of the ice compartment 120.
[0167] When the refrigerator compartment door 11 is closed, the ice
compartment duct 900 may include an ice compartment supply duct 910
communicating with a cabinet supply duct 810 and an ice compartment
recovery duct 920 communicating with the cabinet recovery duct
820.
[0168] A gasket 940 is disposed on an ice compartment duct opening
901 defined in an outer sidewall of the ice compartment 120. The
gasket 940 may be fixed to the ice compartment duct 900 by a gasket
fixing member 950. Also, ice compartment duct cover 970 is disposed
on an ice compartment inner opening 902 defined in an inner
sidewall of the ice compartment 120.
[0169] The ice compartment duct 900 is formed of a material such as
styrofoam or polyurethane. Also, the ice compartment duct 900 is
inserted into the sidewall of the ice compartment 120 in a state
where it includes an ice compartment duct guide part 960 through
which cool air flows therein.
[0170] The ice compartment duct guide part 960 connects the ice
compartment duct opening 901 to the ice compartment inner opening
902. The ice compartment duct guide part 960 has a vertical height
gradually decreasing from the outside of the ice compartment 120 to
the inside of the ice compartment 120 and a horizontal width
gradually increasing from the outside of the ice compartment 120 to
the inside of the ice compartment 120. That is, the ice compartment
duct guide part 960 is inclined or rounded to allow the cool air to
come in and out the inside/outside of the ice compartment 120.
[0171] According to the proposed implementations, the cabinet duct
for supplying the cool air to the ice compartment defined in the
refrigerator compartment door and the openings of the ice
compartment duct corresponding to each other are defined
longitudinally in the vertical direction.
[0172] Thus, when the ice compartment or the refrigerator
compartment door including the ice compartment is slim, the opening
through which the cool air comes in and out is defined
longitudinally in the vertical direction to secure the sufficient
amount of the cool air, thereby improve the cooling efficiency
within the ice compartment.
[0173] Also, since the inside of the ice compartment is inclined
and the ice compartment duct opening is defined longitudinally in
the vertical direction than the ice compartment inner opening of
the inside of the ice compartment, the cool air can smoothly flow
into the ice compartment.
[0174] Thereafter, since the cool air for storing and making the
ices within the ice compartment can be effectively circulated, the
power consumption can be improved.
[0175] Although examples have been described with reference to a
number of illustrative implementations, it should be understood
that numerous other modifications and implementations can be
devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the
spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More
particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in
the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination
arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and
the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in
the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also
be apparent to those skilled in the art.
* * * * *