U.S. patent application number 13/483085 was filed with the patent office on 2012-12-06 for ice making tray and refrigerator comprising the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Sunil CHO, Daesung LEE, Woonkyu SEO.
Application Number | 20120304683 13/483085 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46125152 |
Filed Date | 2012-12-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120304683 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Daesung ; et
al. |
December 6, 2012 |
ICE MAKING TRAY AND REFRIGERATOR COMPRISING THE SAME
Abstract
There is disclosed an ice making tray that is able to perform
ice-making and ice-ejecting conveniently, especially, that has no
concern of ice-making water sparkling when ice-making water is
introduced and of ice escaping when ice is ejected, and a
refrigerant including the same. The ice making tray includes a case
to define an exterior appearance thereof, an ice making part
provided in a lower portion of the case, the ice making part
comprising ice making spaces partitioned by a plurality of
partition walls to accommodate ice-making water, an ice
accommodating part provided in an upper portion of the case to
accommodate ice ejected to a top of the ice making part, and an
opening formed in a predetermined side of the case to introduce the
ice-making water into the case or to discharge the ejected ice, and
the refrigerator includes the ice making tray.
Inventors: |
LEE; Daesung; (Seoul,
KR) ; SEO; Woonkyu; (Seoul, KR) ; CHO;
Sunil; (Seoul, KR) |
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
46125152 |
Appl. No.: |
13/483085 |
Filed: |
May 30, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/340 ;
249/203 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25C 2500/06 20130101;
F25C 1/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/340 ;
249/203 |
International
Class: |
F25C 1/24 20060101
F25C001/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 3, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0054052 |
Claims
1. An ice making tray comprising: a case to define an exterior
appearance thereof; an ice making part provided in a lower portion
of the case, the ice making part comprising ice making spaces
partitioned by a plurality of partition walls to accommodate
ice-making water; an ice accommodating part provided in an upper
portion of the case to accommodate ice ejected to a top of the ice
making part; and an opening formed in a predetermined side of the
case to introduce the ice-making water into the case or to
discharge the ejected ice.
2. The ice making tray according to claim 1, wherein a limit
indication line is marked on the case to indicate a limit point of
the ice-making water.
3. The ice making tray according to claim 2, wherein the limit
indication line is marked on the ice accommodating part.
4. The ice making tray according to claim 2, wherein the ice-making
water is not overflowing the ice making part, when the ice-making
water is introduced to the limit indication line.
5. The ice making tray according to claim 2, wherein the limit
indication line is marked horizontal with respect to the
opening.
6. The ice making tray according to claim 1, further comprising: an
opening and closing member rotatably provided in a predetermined
side of the case to open and close the opening.
7. The ice making tray according to claim 6, wherein the height of
a lower portion of the opening and closing member is larger than
the height of an upper portion of the ice making part.
8. The ice making tray according to claim 1, wherein the
longitudinal length of the opening is larger than the longitudinal
length of the ice making part.
9. The ice making tray according to claim 1, wherein a volume of
the ice accommodating part is larger than a volume of the ice
making part.
10. The ice making tray according to claim 1, wherein the case is
twistable and when the case is twisted, the ice accommodated in the
ice making part is ejected to the ice accommodating part.
11. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet comprising a storage
compartment to store storing objects therein; a door coupled to the
cabinet to open and close the storage compartment; an ice making
tray mounted in the cabinet or the door, wherein the ice making
tray comprises a case to define an exterior appearance thereof; an
ice making part provided in a lower portion of the case, the ice
making part comprising ice making spaces partitioned by a plurality
of partition walls to accommodate ice-making water; an ice
accommodating part provided in an upper portion of the case to
accommodate ice ejected to a top of the ice making part; and an
opening formed in a predetermined side of the case to introduce the
ice-making water into the case or to discharge the ejected ice.
12. The ice making tray according to claim 11, wherein further
comprising: an opening and closing member rotatably provided in a
predetermined side of the case to open and close the opening.
13. The ice making tray according to claim 11, wherein the height
of a lower portion of the opening and closing member is larger than
the height of an upper portion of the ice making part.
14. The ice making tray according to claim 11, wherein a limit
indication line is marked on the ice accommodating part.
15. The ice making tray according to claim 14, wherein the
ice-making water is not overflowing the ice making part, when the
ice-making water is introduced to the limit indication line.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119
from Korean Application No. 10-2011-0054052 filed on Jun. 3, 2011,
the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] Embodiments of the invention relates to an ice making tray
and a refrigerator including the same, more particularly, to an ice
making tray that is able to perform ice-making and ice-ejecting
conveniently, especially, that has no concern of ice-making water
sparkling when ice-making water is introduced and of ice escaping
when ice is ejected, and a refrigerant including the same
[0004] 2. Background
[0005] Refrigerators are electric appliances used for freezing and
refrigerating food stuffs via a refrigerant cycle to preserve the
stored stuffs for a relatively long time. Such a refrigerator
typically includes a cabinet having a storage compartment and a
door rotatably or sliding-movably coupled to the cabinet to open
and close the storage compartment.
[0006] Meanwhile, an ice maker is provided in the storage
compartment or the door to make ice. A top surface of the ice maker
is exposed outside and an internal space of the ice maker is
partitioned off into a plurality of ice-making rooms by a plurality
of partition walls.
[0007] In a conventional refrigerator, ice-making water is supplied
to an ice making tray automatically or supplied to an ice making
tray by a user directly. If the ice making tray receiving the
ice-making water therein is placed in a door, a freezer compartment
or an ice making compartment for a predetermined time period and
the ice-making water is frozen into ice.
[0008] When ejecting the ice, it is typical that an auxiliary ice
ejector is driven to eject the ice or that the ice making tray is
twisted to eject the ice.
[0009] However, when the ice-making water is supplied by the user
directly or automatically, the ice-making water might be spattered.
Even when the ice is ejected by twisting the ice making tray, the
ice might be deviated from a normal ejecting path by the twisting
force.
SUMMARY
[0010] Accordingly, the embodiments may be directed to an ice
making tray and a refrigerator including the same. To solve the
problems, an object of the embodiments may be to provide an ice
making tray that is able to prevent ice-making water supplied
thereto from being spattered and to prevent ejected ice from being
deviated to an unexpected direction suddenly, and a refrigerator
including the same.
[0011] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the embodiments, as embodied and
broadly described herein, an ice making tray includes a case to
define an exterior appearance thereof; an ice making part provided
in a lower portion of the case, the ice making part comprising ice
making spaces partitioned by a plurality of partition walls to
accommodate ice-making water; an ice accommodating part provided in
an upper portion of the case to accommodate ice ejected to a top of
the ice making part; and an opening formed in a predetermined side
of the case to introduce the ice-making water into the case or to
discharge the ejected ice.
[0012] A limit indication line may be marked on the case to
indicate a limit point of the ice-making water.
[0013] The limit indication line may be marked on the ice
accommodating part.
[0014] The ice-making water may not be overflowing the ice making
part, when the ice-making water is introduced to the limit
indication line.
[0015] The limit indication line may be marked horizontal with
respect to the opening.
[0016] The ice making tray may further include an opening and
closing member rotatably provided in a predetermined side of the
case to open and close the opening.
[0017] The height of a lower portion of the opening and closing
member may be larger than the height of an upper portion of the ice
making part.
[0018] The longitudinal length of the opening may be larger than
the longitudinal length of the ice making part.
[0019] A volume of the ice accommodating part may be larger than a
volume of the ice making part.
[0020] The case may be twistable and when the case is twisted, the
ice accommodated in the ice making part may be ejected to the ice
accommodating part.
[0021] In another aspect of the invention, a refrigerator includes
a cabinet comprising a storage compartment to store storing objects
therein; a door coupled to the cabinet to open and close the
storage compartment; an ice making tray mounted in the cabinet or
the door, wherein the ice making tray comprises a case to define an
exterior appearance thereof; an ice making part provided in a lower
portion of the case, the ice making part comprising ice making
spaces partitioned by a plurality of partition walls to accommodate
ice-making water; an ice accommodating part provided in an upper
portion of the case to accommodate ice ejected to a top of the ice
making part; and an opening formed in a predetermined side of the
case to introduce the ice-making water into the case or to
discharge the ejected ice.
[0022] The ice making tray may further include an opening and
closing member rotatably provided in a predetermined side of the
case to open and close the opening.
[0023] The height of a lower portion of the opening and closing
member may be larger than the height of an upper portion of the ice
making part.
[0024] A limit indication line may be marked on the ice
accommodating part.
[0025] The ice-making water may not be overflowing the ice making
part, when the ice-making water is introduced to the limit
indication line.
[0026] As mentioned above, the embodiments have following
advantageous effects. According to the embodiments of the
invention, the user may open the opening and closing member to open
the opening and he or she may supply the ice-making water to the
case. The case includes the airtight closed space and there is no
concern of spattered ice-making water, when the ice making water is
supplied to the case.
[0027] Especially, if directly pouring a conventional ice making
tray to place the ice making tray in a storage compartment, an ice
making compartment or a door, the user has to be careful not to
overturn the conventional ice making tray. However, the only thing
the user has to take care of is closing the opening and closing
member before moving the ice making tray and there is no concern of
the ice making water overflowing accordingly.
[0028] Meanwhile, when the user desires to twist the ice making
tray to eject the ice after the ice making is completed, a top
surface of the conventional ice making tray is exposed and there is
concern of the ejected ice being deviated in an unexpected
direction in the conventional ice making tray. However, in this
case, the ejected ice is collided against the inner wall of the
case to be collected in the ice accommodating part in the ice
making tray according to the embodiment of the invention.
Accordingly, the ice making tray according to the embodiment of the
invention may have an advantage of efficiently collecting the
ejected ice.
[0029] Meanwhile, the limit indication line of the ice making water
supply is provided in the case and the user can adjust the amount
of the supplied ice making water smoothly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] Arrangements and embodiments may be described in detail with
reference to the following drawings in which like reference
numerals refer to like elements and wherein:
[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an ice making tray
according to an embodiment that is mounted to a refrigerator
according to an embodiment;
[0032] FIG. 2(a) is a perspective view illustrating the ice making
tray that is located at a home position;
[0033] FIG. 2(b) is a perspective view illustrating the ice making
tray located at a reverse position;
[0034] FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating the ice making tray
according to the embodiment of the invention;
[0035] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating that ice-making
water is supplied to the ice making tray according to the
embodiment; and
[0036] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating that ice ejected
from the ice making tray is dispensed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0037] An embodiment of the invention will be described in detail
in reference to the accompanying drawings as follows.
[0038] As shown in FIG. 1, a refrigerator according to an
embodiment of the invention includes a cabinet (not shown) having a
storage compartment (not shown) and a door 1 coupled to the cabinet
to open and close the storage compartment.
[0039] The storage compartment may be a freezer compartment or an
ice-making compartment. The door 1 may be a freezer compartment
door or an ice-making compartment door.
[0040] An ice making tray 100 according to an embodiment may be
mounted in the storage compartment or the door 1. When it is
mounted in the door 1, the ice making tray 100 may be insertedly
fitted between door liners 10 provided on both sides of an inner
surface of the door 1.
[0041] In this instance, an ice box 11 may be provided adjacent to
the ice making tray 100 to store ice ejected after made in the ice
making tray 100.
[0042] Front and back portions of the ice making tray 100 are
fitted to inner wall surfaces of the door lines, respectively, to
realize a stable position of the ice making tray 100. A securing
member (not shown) may be provided in each inner wall surface of
the door lines 10 such as a fixing piece for fixing the ice making
tray 100 to the inner wall surface.
[0043] As shown in FIG. 2, the ice making tray 100 according to the
embodiment includes a case 101 formed of a transparent material in
a cube shape, specifically, a rectangular parallelepiped shape to
define an exterior appearance thereof.
[0044] An ice making part 102 consisting of a plurality of ice
making spaces partitioned by a plurality of partition walls may be
provided in a lower portion of the case 101. The ice-making water
is supplied and received in the ice making part 102 and the ice
making tray 100 having the ice making water supplied and received
in the ice making part 102 is preserved in a sub-zero space for a
predetermined time period. After that, ice may be formed in the
shape of the ice making space provided in the ice making part
102.
[0045] It is shown in the drawings that each of the ice making
spaces is rectangular-parallelepiped-shaped and the shape according
to the embodiment is not limited thereto.
[0046] Meanwhile, an ice accommodating part 103 is provided in an
upper portion of the ice making part 102 to accommodate the ice
ejected from the ice making part 102.
[0047] A spatial extent of the ice accommodating part 103 may be
corresponding to back-and-forth and right-and-left breaths of the
ice making part 102.
[0048] Meanwhile, an opening and closing member 110 is rotatably
provided in a side of the case 101 and the opening and closing
member 110 is employed to open and close an opening (111, see FIG.
4) formed in the side of the case 101.
[0049] Accordingly, when the ice making water is supplied, the
opening (111, see FIG. 4) is employed as an inlet. When the ejected
ice is discharged, the opening is employed as an outlet. The
opening and closing member 110 is employed to open and close the
opening 111 when the ice is made or accommodated, except when the
ice making water is supplied or the ice is ejected.
[0050] Meanwhile, a limit indication line 120 is provided on a top
surface of the case 101 to display a limit point of ice making
water introduction. In other words, the limit indication line 120
may be marked on the ice accommodating part 103 and it may be
marked in parallel to the opening 111.
[0051] When a user introduces the ice making water to the limit
indication line 120 after erecting the case 101, the amount of the
ice making water is enough to fill the ice making part 102. In
other words, when supplied to the limit indication line 120, the
ice making water may not overflow the ice making part 102.
[0052] When the user erects the case 101, the limit indication line
120 is marked horizontal with respect to a bottom surface of the
case 101. Accordingly, as the ice making water is introduced into
the case 101, a water level of the ice making water is rising
horizontally with respect to the light indication line 120.
[0053] As shown in FIG. 2(b), when the user turns over and twists
the case 101, holding right and left sides, after the ice is made,
the shape of the case 101 is varied and the ice made in the ice
making part 102 is bouncingly ejected.
[0054] Even when the ice cubes are bounced, the ice cubes are
collided against an inner wall of the case 101 only to be
accommodated by the ice accommodating part 103.
[0055] Accordingly, there is no concern of the ejected ice cubes
being bounced outside the case 101.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 3, seen from the side of the ice making
tray 100, the height of the upper portion possessed by the ice
making part 102 may be smaller than the height of the lower portion
possessed by the opening and closing member 110.
[0057] That is because the ice making water should not overflow
toward the opening (111, see FIG. 4), when the ice making water is
supplied to the ice making tray 100 in a state of the ice making
tray 100 being located at the home position (that is, the ice
making part 102 is located downside and the ice accommodating part
103 is located upside).
[0058] Meanwhile, the volume of the ice accommodating part 103 may
be larger than that of the ice making part 102. That is because
generation of ice jam should be prevented, with securing a
sufficient space for the ice to move in the ice accommodating part
103 freely, when the case 101 is moved in the state of the ice
being made and ejected.
[0059] In addition, the longitudinal length, in other words, the
height of the opening 111 may be larger than the longitudinal
length, in other words, the height of the ice making part 102. That
is because the ice accommodated in the ice accommodating part 103
has to be discharged outside via the opening 111 smoothly.
[0060] In reference to the accompanying drawings, the operation of
the ice making tray according to the embodiment will be described
as follows.
[0061] As shown in FIG. 4, the user erects the case 101 and opens
the opening and closing member 110, to open the opening 111.
[0062] The user introduces ice-making water into the case 101 via
the opening 111.
[0063] In this instance, the water level of the ice making water
may not pass the limit indication line 120.
[0064] When the ice making tray 100 is located at the home position
as shown in FIG. 2(a), all of the ice making water is accommodated
in the ice making part 102.
[0065] The ice making tray 100 having the ice making water
accommodated in the ice making part 102 is mounted in the freezer
compartment, the ice making compartment or the door. In a
predetermined time after that, the ice cubes are formed in the same
shape of the ice making spaces formed in the ice making part
102.
[0066] Once it is checked that the ice making is completed, the
user takes out and twists the ice making tray 100 in different
directions, with holding the tray 100. After that, the ice is
ejected and accommodated in the ice accommodating part 103.
[0067] In this instance, as shown in FIG. 5, the user opens the
opening and closing member 110 to open the opening 111 and tilts
the ice making tray for the opening 111 to be toward a
predetermined target point. After that, the ice cubes are
discharged via the opening 111 and they fall toward the target
point.
* * * * *