U.S. patent application number 14/049755 was filed with the patent office on 2014-05-01 for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG ELECTRONICS INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is LG ELECTRONICS INC.. Invention is credited to Seonkyu KIM, Daesung LEE, Woonkyu SEO.
Application Number | 20140117831 14/049755 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49301348 |
Filed Date | 2014-05-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140117831 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Daesung ; et
al. |
May 1, 2014 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
A refrigerator includes a body having a storage chamber, a
drawer slidably mounted in the storage chamber, the drawer having
an opened top side, and a shelf slidably mounted in the storage
chamber, to selectively close at least a portion of the open top
side of the drawer.
Inventors: |
LEE; Daesung; (Seoul,
KR) ; KIM; Seonkyu; (Seoul, KR) ; SEO;
Woonkyu; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG ELECTRONICS INC. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Seoul
KR
|
Family ID: |
49301348 |
Appl. No.: |
14/049755 |
Filed: |
October 9, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/408 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 25/024 20130101;
F25D 25/025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/408 |
International
Class: |
F25D 25/02 20060101
F25D025/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 29, 2012 |
KR |
10-2012-0120431 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising: a body having a storage chamber; a
drawer slidably mounted in the storage chamber, the drawer having
an opened top side; and a shelf slidably mounted in the storage
chamber, to selectively close at least a portion of the open top
side of the drawer.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising: a
cover mounted to cover the open top side of the drawer, the cover
covering the drawer even when the shelf slides out, thereby keeping
the drawer in a sealed state.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the shelf is
provided, at a front side thereof, with a handle to allow the user
to grasp the handle when sliding at least a portion of the shelf
out of the storage chamber.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the handle is
protruded from an upper surface of the front side of the shelf, to
have an inverted-U shape.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the handle is a
groove formed at an upper surface of the front side of the
shelf.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the shelf is
supported by rail assemblies respectively mounted to opposite side
walls of the storage chamber, to allow the shelf to be pulled
out.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the shelf is
supported by rail assemblies respectively mounted to opposite side
edges of the cover, to allow the shelf to be pulled out.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the shelf is
supported by at least one pair of rollers to roll in guide grooves
provided at opposite side walls of the storage chamber.
9. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the shelf is
provided, at an upper surface of a rear side thereof, with a
tumbling prevention member to prevent an article placed on the
shelf from tumbling down to the cover when the shelf slides
out.
10. A refrigerator comprising: a body having a storage chamber; a
drawer slidably mounted in the storage chamber, the drawer having
an opened top side; a cover mounted to cover the open top side of
the drawer, the cover covering the drawer in a sealed state; and a
shelf slidably mounted over the cover.
11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the shelf is
provided, at an upper surface of a front side thereof, with a
handle having the form of a protrusion or a groove.
12. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the shelf is
slidably supported by rail assemblies mounted to opposite side
walls of the storage chamber or opposite lateral edges of the
cover.
13. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the shelf is
supported by at least one pair of rollers to roll in guide grooves
provided at opposite side walls of the storage chamber.
14. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the shelf is
provided, at an upper surface of a rear side thereof, with a
tumbling prevention member to prevent an article placed on the
shelf from tumbling down to the cover when the shelf slides
out.
15. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein the tumbling
prevention member is provided at the upper surface of the rear edge
of the shelf in the form of a bar.
16. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein the tumbling
prevention member is provided at the upper surface of the rear edge
of the shelf in the form of an upwardly extending plate.
17. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein: the shelf
comprises a rectangular rim, and a plate coupled to the rim at an
inside of the rim; and the plate is made of a transparent or
semitransparent material.
18. The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein: the cover
comprises a rectangular rim, and a plate coupled to the rim at an
inside of the rim; and the plate of the cover is made of a
transparent or semitransparent material.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2012-0120431, filed on Oct. 29, 2012, which is
hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Disclosure
[0003] The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator, and, more
particularly, to a refrigerator provided with a shelf disposed over
a drawer, to be pulled out.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0005] Generally, a refrigerator is an appliance for storing food,
and etc., within a storage chamber in a frozen or refrigerated
state by discharging, into the storage chamber, cold air generated
through a refrigeration cycle constituted by a compressor, a
condenser, an expansion valve, an evaporator, and etc.
[0006] Such a refrigerator generally includes a freezing
compartment for storing food or beverages in a frozen state, and a
refrigerating compartment for storing food or beverages at low
temperature. A Kimchi refrigerator, which stores food such as
Kimchi or vegetables in a fresh state, is another form of
refrigerator.
[0007] At least one of plural doors installed at a refrigerator is
connected to one side of a body, to open or close a front side of
the body through pivotal movement thereof. In addition to such a
door, which pivots about a hinge, a drawer type door may also be
employed. The drawer type door includes a drawer, and a door
mounted to a front side of the drawer, to be pulled out or
retracted in a forward or rearward direction, together with the
drawer.
[0008] Generally, storage compartments of a refrigerator, namely,
freezing and refrigerating compartments, are provided with a
plurality of shelves that vertically divide the freezing and
refrigerating compartments into sections.
[0009] The refrigerating compartment is generally provided with a
vegetable compartment to store vegetables, fruits, or the like in a
space of the refrigerating compartment separate from the remaining
space of the refrigerating compartment.
[0010] The vegetable compartment mainly takes the form of a drawer.
The drawer is sealed by a shelf.
[0011] Such a closable separate compartment having the form of a
drawer may be provided at the freezing compartment. In this case, a
shelf is disposed over the drawer, to close the drawer.
[0012] In order to close the drawer, the shelf is fixed to side
walls of the refrigerating or freezing compartment. For this
reason, there may be a problem in that it may be difficult to
retrieve articles placed on a rear side of the shelf.
[0013] In particular, refrigerators are tending to increase in size
in recent times. Accordingly, when a large number of articles are
placed on the shelf, retrieval of articles disposed at a rear side
of the shelf may become more difficult.
SUMMARY
[0014] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a
refrigerator that substantially obviates one or more problems due
to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
[0015] One object of the present disclosure is to provide a
refrigerator in which a shelf disposed over a drawer may be pulled
out while keeping the drawer in a sealed state.
[0016] Additional advantages, objects, and features will be set
forth in part in the description which follows and in part will
become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon
examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the
invention. The objectives and other advantages may be realized and
attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written
description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
[0017] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in
accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and
broadly described herein, a refrigerator includes a body having a
storage chamber, a drawer slidably mounted in the storage chamber,
the drawer having an opened top side, and a shelf slidably mounted
in the storage chamber, to selectively close at least a portion of
the open top side of the drawer.
[0018] The refrigerator may further include a cover mounted to
cover the open top side of the drawer, the cover covering the
drawer even when the shelf slides out, thereby keeping the drawer
in a sealed state.
[0019] The shelf may be provided, at a front side thereof, with a
handle to allow the user to grasp the handle upon selectively
sliding out of the shelf.
[0020] The handle may be protruded from an upper surface of the
front side of the shelf, to have an inverted-U shape.
[0021] The handle may be a groove formed at an upper surface of the
front side of the shelf.
[0022] The shelf may be supported by rail assemblies respectively
mounted to opposite side walls of the storage chamber, to allow the
shelf to be pulled out.
[0023] The shelf may be supported by rail assemblies respectively
mounted to opposite side edges of the cover, to allow the shelf to
be pulled out.
[0024] The shelf may be supported by at least one pair of rollers
to roll in guide grooves provided at opposite side walls of the
storage chamber.
[0025] The shelf may be provided, at an upper surface of a rear
side thereof, with a tumbling prevention member to prevent an
article placed on the shelf from tumbling down to the cover when
the shelf slides out.
[0026] In another aspect, a refrigerator includes a body having a
storage chamber, a drawer slidably mounted in the storage chamber,
the drawer having an opened top side, a cover mounted to cover the
open top side of the drawer, the cover covering the drawer in a
sealed state, and a shelf slidably mounted over the cover.
[0027] The shelf may be provided, at an upper surface of a front
side thereof, with a handle having the form of a protrusion or a
groove.
[0028] The shelf may be slidably supported by rail assemblies
mounted to opposite side walls of the storage chamber or opposite
lateral edges of the cover.
[0029] The shelf may be supported by at least one pair of rollers
to roll in guide grooves provided at opposite side walls of the
storage chamber.
[0030] The shelf may be provided, at an upper surface of a rear
side thereof, with a tumbling prevention member to prevent an
article placed on the shelf from tumbling down to the cover when
the shelf slides out.
[0031] The tumbling prevention member may be provided at the upper
surface of the rear edge of the shelf in the form of a bar.
[0032] The tumbling prevention member may be provided at the upper
surface of the rear edge of the shelf in the form of an upwardly
extending plate.
[0033] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary
and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of
the disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principle of the invention. In the drawings:
[0035] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an interior of a
refrigerating compartment illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0037] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the multi-duct,
drawers, and shelf assemblies mounted in the refrigerating
compartment according to an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0038] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a pulled-out state
of the shelf disposed over the drawer illustrated in FIG. 3;
[0039] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a handle according
to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0040] FIG. 6 is a front view of an embodiment of the present
invention in which a shelf is supported by rollers;
[0041] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the present
invention in which a shelf is supported by rail assemblies mounted
to an upper surface of a cover; and
[0042] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of
the present invention in which a tumbling prevention member is
provided.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0043] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0044] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator
according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a
perspective view illustrating an interior of a refrigerating
compartment illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0045] The illustrated refrigerator is a bottom freezer type
refrigerator in which a refrigerating compartment is provided at a
top side of the refrigerator, and a freezing compartment is
provided at a bottom side of the refrigerator. However, the present
invention is not limited to such a type.
[0046] That is, the present invention may be applied to a
side-by-side type refrigerator in which a freezing compartment and
a refrigerating compartment are laterally arranged or a top
mounting type refrigerator in which a freezing compartment is
arranged over a refrigerating compartment.
[0047] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the refrigerator includes a
refrigerator body 1 in which a refrigerating compartment 10 and a
freezing compartment are defined as storage compartments. A
refrigerating compartment door 20 and a freezing compartment door
30 are provided at front openings of the refrigerating compartment
10 and freezing compartment, to open or close the refrigerating
compartment 10 and freezing compartment, respectively.
[0048] The refrigerating compartment door 20 may include a pair of
doors pivotably mounted to opposite lateral ends of an opened front
side of the refrigerating compartment 10, respectively. The
freezing compartment door 30 may take the form of a drawer type
door.
[0049] Generally, a plurality of shelves 25 is provided at an
inside of the refrigerating compartment door 20, to receive
articles.
[0050] A drawer 100 is provided at a lower portion of the
refrigerating compartment 10, to define, in the refrigerating
compartment 10, a space separate from the remaining space of the
refrigerating compartment 10 in order to store food.
[0051] Generally, the drawer 100 has an upwardly opened rectangular
parallelepiped box shape.
[0052] The drawer 100 is covered, at an open top side thereof, by a
shelf 120 disposed just over the drawer 100 and, as such, a sealed
space is formed in the drawer 100.
[0053] Vegetables or fruits are mainly stored in the drawer
100.
[0054] One drawer 100 may be provided. Alternatively, a plurality
of drawers may be mounted, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0055] For example, a drawer having a width corresponding to the
width of the refrigerating compartment may be installed. Two
drawers each having a width corresponding to half the width of the
refrigerating compartment may be installed in parallel.
Alternatively, three or more drawers may be installed.
[0056] Each drawer may be covered, at the open top side thereof, by
another drawer or a shelf, to partition the space defined therein
from other spaces.
[0057] Plural shelves 70 and 80 are mounted at an upper portion of
the refrigerating compartment 10. These shelves 70 and 80 define an
upper space of the refrigerating compartment 10, together with the
shelf 120 covering the drawer 100, and support food stored in the
upper space.
[0058] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the shelves 70 and 80 may include
pairs of cantilevers 75 and 85 respectively coupled to opposite
lateral ends of the shelves 70 and 80 while being mounted to two
cantilever mounting rails 50, to be supported by the cantilever
mounting rails 50.
[0059] The first shelf 70, which is disposed at an upper position
in the refrigerating compartment 10, may have a width approximating
the width of the refrigerating compartment 10. On the other hand,
the second shelf 80, which is disposed at a lower position in the
refrigerating compartment 10, may have a width approximating half
the width of the refrigerating compartment 10. In this case, two
second shelves 80 may be installed, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0060] In this case, the first shelf 70 may be supported by the two
cantilever mounting rails 50, as described above. In the case of
each second shelf 80, however, one lateral end of the second shelf
80 is supported by the cantilever mounting rail 50, whereas the
other lateral end of the second shelf 80 is supported by the
cantilever 85, which is mounted to a separate cantilever mounting
rail 45 installed at a middle portion of a rear wall of the
refrigerating compartment 10.
[0061] The first shelf 70 and the two second shelves 80 may be
interchanged in terms of position and level. In addition, the two
second shelves 80 may be mounted at different levels.
[0062] The central cantilever mounting rail 45 may be simply
mounted to the rear wall of the refrigerating compartment 10 as a
separate member. However, it is more preferable to form grooves at
a middle portion of a multi-duct 40 formed with a plurality of cold
air outlet holes 42, and to mount the central cantilever mounting
rail 45 to the multi-duct 40 via the grooves.
[0063] When the central cantilever mounting rail 45 is mounted to
the multi-duct 40, it may be possible not only to efficiently
install the cantilever mounting rails, but also to uniformly supply
cold air to spaces defined by the shelves.
[0064] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the refrigerator according to the
illustrated embodiment of the present invention includes a shelf
120 mounted over the drawer 100 and slidably mounted in the
refrigerating compartment 10, to be independently pulled out
irrespective of pull-out of the drawer 100.
[0065] The shelf 120 completely covers the open top side of the
drawer 100 in a retracted state, to close the drawer 100. In a
pulled-out state, the shelf 120 exposes a rear portion of the open
top side of the drawer 100.
[0066] The drawer 100 may be a single drawer having a width
approximating the width of the refrigerating compartment 10.
Alternatively, two or more drawers, which are laterally arranged,
may be mounted, to be independently pulled out.
[0067] In the case of FIGS. 1 and 2, three drawers 100 are mounted
beneath the shelf 120.
[0068] When a plurality of drawers is mounted, guide members to
guide pull-out of the drawers should be formed among the
drawers.
[0069] When a plurality of drawers is slidably mounted, drawer
mounting members 110, to which the drawers may be mounted, are
provided, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The drawer mounting members 110
may be mounted at opposite side walls of the refrigerating
compartment 10.
[0070] Food articles or containers containing food articles are
placed on the shelf 120. To support the food articles or
containers, the shelf 120 generally includes a rectangular rim, and
a plate coupled to the rim at an inside of the rim.
[0071] The plate may be made of a transparent or semitransparent
material, to allow articles disposed beneath the shelf 120 to be
viewed therethrough.
[0072] The refrigerator according to the illustrated embodiment of
the present invention may further include a cover 140 to cover the
open top side of the drawer 100, in order to keep the inner space
of the drawer 100 in a sealed state even when the shelf 120 is
pulled out.
[0073] The cover 140 is disposed between the shelf 120 and the
drawer 100. The cover 140 may be supported by the drawer mounting
members 110 at the top side of the drawer 100.
[0074] The cover 140 is coupled to upper ends of the drawer
mounting members 110 to be maintained at a fixed position,
irrespective of whether the shelf 120 is pulled out.
[0075] Even when the drawer 100 is pulled out, the cover 140 is
maintained in a fixed state because it is supported by the drawer
mounting members 110.
[0076] Accordingly, even when the shelf 120 is pulled out, the
inner space of the drawer 100 is maintained in a sealed state by
the cover 140, so long as the drawer 100 is not pulled out.
[0077] Similarly to the shelf 120, the cover 140 may include a rim,
and a plate mounted to the rim at an inside of the rim.
[0078] Similarly to the shelf 120, the plate may be made of a
transparent or semitransparent material, to allow the inner space
of the drawer 100 to be viewed therethrough.
[0079] Meanwhile, a handle 122 may be provided at a front side of
the shelf 120, to allow the user to grasp the handle 122 in order
to pull out the shelf 120.
[0080] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the handle 122 may include an
inverted-U-shaped wire member.
[0081] The handle 122 may be centrally disposed on an upper surface
of a front side of the rim of the shelf 120.
[0082] Since the shelf 120 is slidably mounted, the user may easily
pull out the shelf 120 by pulling on the handle 122, and may easily
retract the shelf 120 to an original position thereof by pushing on
the handle 122.
[0083] Opposite lateral ends of the shelf 120 are supported by the
opposite side walls of the refrigerating compartment 10 via rail
assemblies 130, respectively, in order to allow the shelf 120 to be
pulled out.
[0084] Each rail assembly 130 includes a fixed rail mounted to one
side wall of the refrigerating compartment 10, and a movable rail
slidably coupled to the fixed rail while being coupled to one
lateral end of the shelf 120.
[0085] In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the fixed rail is not directly
coupled to the lateral wall of the refrigerating compartment 10,
but is coupled to a rail mounting member 131 fixed to the lateral
wall of the refrigerating compartment 10.
[0086] Upwardly protruded rail coupling portions 123 are formed at
opposite lateral ends of the rim of the shelf 120, respectively,
and, as such, the movable rails (not shown) of the rail assemblies
130 may be coupled to outer surfaces of the corresponding rail
coupling portions 123, respectively.
[0087] The shelf 120 may be pulled out by a length corresponding to
half the length of the shelf 120 in forward and rearward
directions.
[0088] In order to increase a pulled-out length, each rail assembly
130 may further include an intermediate fixed rail disposed between
the fixed rail and the movable rail. Practically, however, the
pulled-out length of the shelf 120 is not so long and, as such, no
intermediate rail may be required in the rail assembly 130.
[0089] Referring to FIG. 2, it may be seen that, since the
pulled-out length of the shelf 120 is not so long, each rail
mounting portion 131, to which the corresponding fixed rail is
mounted, is formed not to extend to a front end of the
corresponding side wall of the refrigerating compartment 10, but to
extend to a middle portion of the side wall.
[0090] Although not shown, the drawer 100 may be mounted to be
pulled out through a configuration in which protrusions (not shown)
formed at opposite lateral sides of the drawer 100 are inserted
into guides (not shown) provided at opposite side walls of the
refrigerating compartment 10, and are guided by the guides.
[0091] Meanwhile, moisture adjusting levers 128 are provided at
opposite portions of the front side of the rim of the shelf 120.
Each moisture adjusting lever 128 adjusts an opening degree of an
air hole formed through the drawer 100, thereby adjusting moisture
in the inner space of the drawer 100.
[0092] That is, the moisture adjusting levers 128 are symmetrically
mounted to respective air holes formed at opposite sides of the
handle 122. Similarly, air holes corresponding to respective air
holes associated with the moisture adjusting levers 128 are formed
through the cover 140.
[0093] Thus, the moisture adjusting levers 128 adjust opening
degrees of the air holes of the shelf 120 communicating with the
air holes of the cover 140, thereby adjusting moisture of the inner
space of the drawer 100.
[0094] Hereinafter, the structures and operations of the shelf and
drawers of the refrigerator according to the illustrated embodiment
of the present invention will be described in more detail with
reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.
[0095] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the multi-duct,
drawers, and shelf assemblies mounted in the refrigerating
compartment according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a pulled-out state of the
shelf disposed over the drawer illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0096] As described above, each rail assembly 130 is mounted
between the corresponding rail mounting member 131 and the
corresponding rail coupling portion 123. Although the rail mounting
member 131 is fixed to the corresponding side wall of the
refrigerating compartment 10, FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a state of
being separated from the side wall of the refrigerating compartment
10.
[0097] The multi-duct 40 is centrally mounted to the rear wall of
the refrigerating compartment 10. The multi-duct 40 extends
downward from a top side of the refrigerating compartment 10 to a
position behind the drawer 100.
[0098] For this reason, the shelf 120 is centrally formed, at a
rear side thereof, with a concave portion 124 conforming to a
profile of the multi-duct 40 in order to prevent the shelf 120 from
interfering with the multi-duct 40.
[0099] Similarly, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the cover 140 is
centrally formed, at a rear side thereof, with a concave portion
144 conforming to the profile of the multi-duct 40.
[0100] As illustrated in FIG. 3, each of the plural drawers 100 is
formed, at a front side thereof, with a handle 102.
[0101] The handle 102 of each drawer 100 may have a structure bent
downward after extending forwardly from an upper end of the front
side of the drawer 100.
[0102] Since the handles 102 of the plural drawers 100 are
forwardly exposed, it may be preferable to form the handles 102
such that the handles 102 have a connected shape with respect to
the other handles 102 to take aesthetics into consideration.
[0103] When the user pulls on the handle 122, to pull out the shelf
120, a rear portion of the cover 140 is exposed, as illustrated in
FIG. 4.
[0104] In this case, the inner space of the drawer 100 is kept in a
sealed state because the cover 140 is fixed to the upper ends of
the drawer mounting members 110.
[0105] Hereinafter, an embodiment, in which the handle 122 of the
shelf 120 has a shape different from the above-described shape,
will be described with reference to FIG. 5.
[0106] Referring to FIG. 5, a drawer assembly formed through
assembly of a drawer 100, drawer mounting members 110, a cover 140,
and a shelf 120 is illustrated. The shelf 120 is illustrated in a
pulled-out state in FIG. 5.
[0107] This embodiment is identical to the above-described
embodiment, except for the shape of a handle 122 of the shelf 120.
Accordingly, only the handle 122 will be described.
[0108] Similarly to the previous case, the handle 122 is formed at
a central portion of the front side of the rim of the shelf
120.
[0109] The handle 122 does not have a protrusion shape, but has a
laterally elongated groove shape.
[0110] In order to form the groove-shaped handle 122, the central
portion of the front rim side of the shelf 120 is thicker than the
remaining portions of the front rim side. A groove is formed to
extend downward from an upper surface of the thicker portion.
[0111] The groove-shaped handle 122 has a size to allow the user to
pull the handle 122 while inserting the fingers into the
groove.
[0112] Hereinafter, an embodiment, in which the shelf 120 is not
supported by the rail assemblies, but is supported by rollers
supported by roller guides, will be described with reference to
FIG. 6.
[0113] FIG. 6 is a front view of a drawer assembly according to an
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 illustrates
cross-sections of roller mounting areas.
[0114] The rail coupling portions 123 and rail mounting members 131
in the previous embodiment are replaced by roller mounting portions
125 and roller guides 133 in the present embodiment. At least one
roller 126 is rotatably mounted to each roller mounting portion 125
at an outside of the roller mounting portion 125.
[0115] In other words, rollers 126 are symmetrically mounted at
opposite lateral sides of the shelf 120. In the present embodiment,
the rollers 126 are arranged in pairs.
[0116] Two or more rollers 126 may be arranged along each roller
guide 133 while being spaced apart from one another by a
predetermined distance and, as such, the shelf 120 may be guided to
be smoothly pulled out or retracted throughout the length thereof
in forward and rearward directions.
[0117] Hereinafter, an embodiment, in which the rail assemblies are
not supported by opposite side walls of the refrigerating
compartment, but are supported by the upper surface of the cover,
will be described with reference to FIG. 7.
[0118] FIG. 7 is a front view of a drawer assembly according to an
embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 illustrates rail
assembly mounting areas through a cross-sectional view.
[0119] In FIG. 7, the structure of each rail assembly is
illustrated in more detail.
[0120] Rail mounting portions 143 are formed to have a concave
structure at opposite lateral sides of the upper surface of the
cover 140, respectively.
[0121] A fixed rail 134 is fitted in each rail mounting portion
143, and is coupled to the cover 140 by screws or the like.
[0122] Movable rails 138, which constitute respective rail
assemblies, are coupled to opposite lateral sides of a lower
surface of the rim of the shelf 120 by screws or the like,
respectively.
[0123] A plurality of ball bearings 135 is interposed between each
fixed rail 134 and the corresponding movable rail 138, to reduce
friction generated between the fixed rail 134 and the movable rail
138. Accordingly, the movable rail 138 may smoothly slide along the
fixed rail 134.
[0124] The plural ball bearings 135 are held in position by a
retainer 136 without being separated from a region between the
fixed rail 134 and the movable rail 138 during rolling.
[0125] In the present embodiment, it is unnecessary to form roller
mounting portions extending upwardly from the upper surface of the
shelf 120 at opposite lateral sides of the shelf 120, for mounting
of rails or rollers.
[0126] In place, the rim of the shelf 120 and the rim of the cover
140 have greater widths than those of the previous embodiments
because the rail assemblies are mounted between the rim of the
shelf 120 and the rim of the cover 140. In this case, accordingly,
the plates of the shelf 120 and cover 140 may have reduced
areas.
[0127] Finally, an embodiment, in which a tumbling prevention
member 150 is provided at a rear end of the shelf 120, will be
described with reference to FIG. 8.
[0128] Since the shelf 120 is pulled out or retracted in a forward
or rearward direction by the user, articles placed on the shelf 120
may fall down due to inertia during pulling out or retraction of
the shelf 120. Articles having a shape with a great height, as
compared to a bottom area, may fall down more easily.
[0129] In particular, when articles placed on the shelf 120 fall
down when pulling out the shelf 120, and then tumble onto the cover
140, the user can retract the shelf 120, only after taking the
articles out of the cover 140.
[0130] In the present embodiment, accordingly, the tumbling
prevention member 150, which extends or protrudes upwardly, is
provided in order to prevent articles placed on a rear portion of
the shelf 120 from tumbling onto the cover 140.
[0131] In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the tumbling prevention member
150 is mounted in the form of a bar on an upper surface of a rear
side of the rim in the shelf 120.
[0132] Since the multi-duct 40, which is forwardly protruded, is
disposed behind the tumbling prevention member 150, the tumbling
prevention member 150 has a curved structure at a central portion
thereof, to prevent the tumbling prevention member 150 from
interfering with the multi-duct 40.
[0133] Although not shown, the tumbling preventing member 150 may
have a plate structure extending upwardly from the upper surface of
the rear side of the rim in the shelf 120.
[0134] In this case, similarly to the above-described case, the
central portion of the tumbling prevention member 150 may have a
curved structure, to prevent the tumbling prevention member 150
from interfering with the multi-duct 40.
[0135] In accordance with the embodiments of the present invention,
it may be possible to provide a refrigerator in which a shelf
disposed over a drawer defined with a sealed storage space may be
pulled out while keeping the storage space in a sealed state,
irrespective of pulling out of the shelf.
[0136] Thus, in accordance with the refrigerator according to the
embodiments of the present invention, there is an effect in that
the shelf disposed over a drawer may be pulled out while keeping
the drawer in a sealed state.
[0137] Since the shelf disposed over the drawer may be pulled out,
there is an effect in that articles placed on the shelf may be
easily retrieved.
[0138] Since a handle is provided at a front side of the drawer,
and opposite lateral sides of the shelf are supported by rails or
rollers, the user may easily and smoothly pull out and retract the
drawer.
[0139] Since a tumbling prevention member is provided at a rear
side of the drawer, it may be possible to prevent articles placed
on the drawer from tumbling down.
[0140] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made without departing from the
spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the
modifications and variations come within the scope of the appended
claims and their equivalents.
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