U.S. patent application number 15/803549 was filed with the patent office on 2018-05-10 for refrigerator.
The applicant listed for this patent is Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Myoung Jin Jang, Jae Bok Lee, Sang Chul Ryu, Jin Kyu Seon.
Application Number | 20180128538 15/803549 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60201464 |
Filed Date | 2018-05-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180128538 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jang; Myoung Jin ; et
al. |
May 10, 2018 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
A refrigerator which allows a height of a shelf to be adjusted
without detaching the shelf from a hanger. The refrigerator
includes a main body, a storage compartment provided in the main
body, a shelf hanger provided at an inner side of the storage
compartment, a moving unit coupled to the shelf hanger to be
movable in a vertical direction, and a shelf supported by the
moving unit. The shelf includes a first shelf detachably coupled to
the moving unit, a second shelf slidably coupled to the first
shelf, a latch device configured to allow the second shelf to be
fixed to or unfixed from the first shelf, and a first elastic
member providing an elastic force to allow the second shelf to be
withdrawn from the first shelf.
Inventors: |
Jang; Myoung Jin;
(Hwaseong-si, KR) ; Ryu; Sang Chul; (Gwangju,
KR) ; Seon; Jin Kyu; (Suwon-si, KR) ; Lee; Jae
Bok; (Seongnam-si, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. |
Gyeonggi-do |
|
KR |
|
|
Family ID: |
60201464 |
Appl. No.: |
15/803549 |
Filed: |
November 3, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47F 5/0093 20130101;
F25D 25/024 20130101; A47B 96/025 20130101; A47B 57/30
20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 25/02 20060101
F25D025/02; A47B 57/30 20060101 A47B057/30; A47B 96/02 20060101
A47B096/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 4, 2016 |
KR |
10-2016-0146459 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising: a main body; a storage compartment
provided in the main body; a shelf hanger provided at an inner side
of the storage compartment; a moving unit coupled to the shelf
hanger to be movable in a vertical direction; and a shelf supported
by the moving unit, wherein the shelf comprises: a first shelf
detachably coupled to the moving unit; a second shelf slidably
coupled to the first shelf; a latch device configured to allow the
second shelf to be fixed to or unfixed from the first shelf; and a
first elastic member providing an elastic force to allow the second
shelf to be withdrawn from the first shelf.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein, when the second shelf is
unfixed from the first shelf, the second shelf is withdrawn from
the first shelf in a frontward direction by the elastic force of
the first elastic member.
3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the shelf further comprises
a damper provided to adjust a withdrawal speed of the second
shelf.
4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the shelf hanger comprises
a plurality of engagement projections supporting the moving unit
such that a height of the moving unit is selectively
adjustable.
5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the moving unit comprises:
an engagement lever engaged with or disengaged from the engagement
projection to allow the moving unit to be fixed to or unfixed from
the shelf hanger; and a second elastic member configured to
elastically bias the engagement lever in one direction in which the
engagement lever is engaged with the engagement projection.
6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the engagement projection
comprises a first inclined portion guiding the engagement lever to
be rotated, and a second inclined portion provided at one end of
the first inclined portion to support the engagement lever.
7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the latch device comprises:
a first latch unit provided on the first shelf; and a second latch
unit provided on the second shelf, wherein the first latch unit and
the second latch unit are fixed or unfixed by pressing.
8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the shelf further comprises
a rail assembly provided to allow the second shelf to be slidably
moved, wherein the rail assembly comprises: a first rail coupled to
the first shelf; a second rail coupled to the second shelf; and a
third rail disposed between the first rail and the second rail to
increase a withdrawal distance of the second shelf.
9. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first shelf comprises a
coupling ring provided to allow the first shelf to be detachably
coupled to the moving unit.
10. A refrigerator comprising: a main body; a storage compartment
formed in the main body; a shelf hanger provided at an inner rear
side of the storage compartment; a moving unit coupled to the shelf
hanger to be movable in a vertical direction; and a shelf coupled
to and supported by the moving unit, wherein the shelf comprises: a
first shelf detachably coupled to the moving unit; a second shelf
slidably coupled to the first shelf; and a closing device
configured to accumulate an elastic force when the second shelf is
withdrawn from the first shelf and to transmit the accumulated
elastic force to the second shelf when the second shelf is inserted
into the first shelf to assist the insertion of the second
shelf.
11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the closing device
comprises: a case; a slider provided to reciprocate in the case;
and an elastic member having opposite ends supported by the slider
and the case.
12. The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the closing device
further comprises a guide rail provided in the case, wherein the
guide rail comprises: a guide portion configured to guide the
slider to reciprocate; and an engagement portion provided at one
end of the guide portion to allow the slider to be rotated and
fixed.
13. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the shelf further
comprises a rail assembly provided to allow the second shelf to be
slidably moved, wherein the rail assembly comprises: a first rail
coupled to the first shelf; a second rail coupled to the second
shelf; and a third rail disposed between the first rail and the
second rail to increase a withdrawal distance of the second
shelf.
14. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the shelf hanger
comprises a plurality of engagement projections supporting the
moving unit such that a height of the moving unit is selectively
adjustable.
15. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the moving unit
comprises: an engagement lever provided to be rotatable and engaged
with or disengaged from the engagement projection in response to
rotation thereof; and an elastic member configured to elastically
bias the engagement lever to allow the engagement lever to be
engaged with the engagement projection.
16. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the engagement projection
comprises: a first inclined portion configured to guide the
engagement lever to be rotated; and a second inclined portion
provided at one end of the first inclined portion to support the
engagement lever.
17. A refrigerator comprising: a main body; a storage compartment
provided in the main body; a shelf hanger provided at an inner side
of the storage compartment; a moving unit coupled to the shelf
hanger to be movable in a vertical direction; and a shelf supported
by the moving unit and configured to be movable in the vertical
direction of the shelf hanger together with the moving unit,
wherein the shelf comprises: a first shelf detachably coupled to
the moving unit; and a second shelf slidably coupled to the first
shelf to be inserted into or withdrawn from the first shelf.
18. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein shelf further comprises a
rail assembly provided to allow the second shelf to be slidably
moved, wherein the rail assembly comprises: a first rail coupled to
the first shelf; a second rail coupled to the second shelf; and a
third rail disposed between the first rail and the second rail to
increase a withdrawal distance of the second shelf.
19. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the shelf further
comprises: a latch device configured to allow the second shelf to
be fixed to or unfixed from the first shelf; and an elastic member
provided with an elastic force to allow the second shelf to be
withdrawn from the first shelf when the second shelf is unfixed
from the first shelf.
20. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the shelf further
comprises a closing device configured to accumulate an elastic
force when the second shelf is withdrawn from the first shelf and
transmit the accumulated elastic force to the second shelf when the
second shelf is inserted into the first shelf to assist the
insertion of the second shelf.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2016-0146459, filed on Nov. 4, 2016 in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a shelf of a
refrigerator.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Generally, a refrigerator is a device for keeping food fresh
using cold air generated in a cooling cycle.
[0004] A shelf capable of vertically partitioning a storage
compartment and having food put thereon may be provided in the
storage compartment of the refrigerator.
[0005] The shelf may be provided such that a height thereof may be
adjusted according to convenience of a user, and may be provided to
be slidable in a front-rear direction.
[0006] In an existing refrigerator, when a user desires to adjust a
height of a shelf, the shelf should be completely separated from a
hanger provided on a rear wall of a storage compartment. During the
process of separating the shelf from the hanger, food put on the
shelf may fall into the storage compartment. Therefore, a user must
take all the food put on the shelf out of the refrigerator before
adjusting the height of the shelf, and put the food on the shelf
again after the height of the shelf is adjusted. In addition, there
is an inconvenience in that an operation of mounting the shelf,
such as an operation for leveling the shelf and the like, should be
performed whenever the height of the shelf is adjusted.
[0007] Further, even in the case of a shelf which is slidable in
the front-rear direction, since the shelf is not completely
withdrawn in the frontward direction, it is inconvenient for a user
to take out food and the like put on the shelf.
SUMMARY
[0008] Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to
provide a refrigerator which allows a height of a shelf to be
adjusted without detaching the shelf from a hanger.
[0009] It is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a
refrigerator only requiring a switching operation when a shelf is
moved downward without requiring a separate switching operation
when the shelf is moved upward.
[0010] It is still another aspect of the present disclosure to
provide a refrigerator including a shelf having an improved
withdrawal distance through a sliding method.
[0011] It is yet another aspect of the present disclosure to
provide a refrigerator including a shelf capable of being
automatically withdrawn from a storage compartment by only a simple
operation.
[0012] It is yet another aspect of the present disclosure to
provide a refrigerator including a shelf which is automatically
retracted into a storage compartment even when the shelf is not
pushed all the way into the storage compartment.
[0013] Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in
part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious
from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
disclosure.
[0014] In accordance with an aspect of disclosure, a refrigerator
includes a main body, a storage compartment provided in the main
body, a shelf hanger provided at an inner side of the storage
compartment, a moving unit coupled to the shelf hanger to be
movable in a vertical direction, and a shelf supported by the
moving unit, wherein the shelf includes a first shelf detachably
coupled to the moving unit, a second shelf slidably coupled to the
first shelf, a latch device configured to allow the second shelf to
be fixed to or unfixed from the first shelf, and a first elastic
member providing an elastic force to allow the second shelf to be
withdrawn from the first shelf.
[0015] When the second shelf is unfixed from the first shelf, the
second shelf may be withdrawn from the first shelf in a frontward
direction by the elastic force of the first elastic member.
[0016] The shelf may further include a damper provided to adjust a
withdrawal speed of the second shelf.
[0017] The shelf hanger may include a plurality of engagement
projections supporting the moving unit such that a height of the
moving unit is selectively adjustable.
[0018] The moving unit may include an engagement lever engaged with
or disengaged from the engagement projection to allow the moving
unit to be fixed to or unfixed from the shelf hanger, and a second
elastic member configured to elastically bias the engagement lever
in one direction in which the engagement lever is engaged with the
engagement projection.
[0019] The engagement projection may include a first inclined
portion guiding the engagement lever to be rotated, and a second
inclined portion provided at one end of the first inclined portion
to support the engagement lever.
[0020] The latch device may include a first latch unit provided on
the first shelf and a second latch unit provided on the second
shelf, wherein the first latch unit and the second latch unit may
be fixed or unfixed by pressing.
[0021] The shelf may further include a rail assembly provided to
allow the second shelf to be slidably moved, wherein the rail
assembly may include a first rail coupled to the first shelf, a
second rail coupled to the second shelf, and a third rail disposed
between the first rail and the second rail to increase a withdrawal
distance of the second shelf.
[0022] The first shelf may include a coupling ring provided to
allow the first shelf to be detachably coupled to the moving
unit.
[0023] In accordance with an aspect of disclosure, a refrigerator
includes a main body, a storage compartment formed in the main
body, a shelf hanger provided at an inner rear side of the storage
compartment, a moving unit coupled to the shelf hanger to be
movable in a vertical direction, and a shelf coupled to and
supported by the moving unit, wherein the shelf includes a first
shelf detachably coupled to the moving unit, a second shelf
slidably coupled to the first shelf, and a closing device
configured to accumulate an elastic force when the second shelf is
withdrawn from the first shelf and to transmit the accumulated
elastic force to the second shelf when the second shelf is inserted
into the first shelf to assist the insertion of the second
shelf.
[0024] The closing device may include a case, a slider provided to
reciprocate in the case, and an elastic member having opposite ends
supported by the slider and the case.
[0025] The closing device may further include a guide rail provided
in the case, wherein the guide rail may include a guide portion
configured to guide the slider to reciprocate, and an engagement
portion provided at one end of the guide portion to allow the
slider to be rotated and fixed.
[0026] The shelf may further include a rail assembly provided to
allow the second shelf to be slidably moved, wherein the rail
assembly may include a first rail coupled to the first shelf, a
second rail coupled to the second shelf, and a third rail disposed
between the first rail and the second rail to increase a withdrawal
distance of the second shelf.
[0027] The shelf hanger may include a plurality of engagement
projections supporting the moving unit such that a height of the
moving unit is selectively adjustable.
[0028] The moving unit may include an engagement lever provided to
be rotatable and engaged with or disengaged from the engagement
projection in response to rotation thereof, and an elastic member
configured to elastically bias the engagement lever to allow the
engagement lever to be engaged with the engagement projection.
[0029] The engagement projection may include a first inclined
portion configured to guide the engagement lever to be rotated, and
a second inclined portion provided at one end of the first inclined
portion to support the engagement lever.
[0030] In accordance with an aspect of disclosure, a refrigerator
includes a main body, a storage compartment provided in the main
body, a shelf hanger provided at an inner side of the storage
compartment, a moving unit coupled to the shelf hanger to be
movable in a vertical direction, and a shelf supported by the
moving unit and configured to be movable in the vertical direction
of the shelf hanger together with the moving unit, wherein the
shelf includes a first shelf detachably coupled to the moving unit,
and a second shelf slidably coupled to the first shelf to be
inserted into or withdrawn from the first shelf.
[0031] The shelf may further include a rail assembly provided to
allow the second shelf to be slidably moved, wherein the rail
assembly may include a first rail coupled to the first shelf, a
second rail coupled to the second shelf, and a third rail disposed
between the first rail and the second rail to increase a withdrawal
distance of the second shelf.
[0032] The shelf may further include a latch device configured to
allow the second shelf to be fixed to or unfixed from the first
shelf, and an elastic member provided with an elastic force to
allow the second shelf to be withdrawn from the first shelf when
the second shelf is unfixed from the first shelf.
[0033] The shelf may further include a closing device configured to
accumulate an elastic force when the second shelf is withdrawn from
the first shelf and transmit the accumulated elastic force to the
second shelf when the second shelf is inserted into the first shelf
to assist the insertion of the second shelf.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0034] These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become
apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings of which:
[0035] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an interior of a refrigerator
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0036] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a shelf coupling structure of
the refrigerator of FIG. 1.
[0037] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a state in which a second
shelf is withdrawn from a first shelf in the shelf of the
refrigerator of FIG. 1.
[0038] FIG. 4 is an exploded view illustrating the shelf hanger and
the moving unit in the refrigerator of FIG. 1.
[0039] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state in which the moving
unit is coupled to the shelf hanger in the refrigerator of FIG.
1.
[0040] FIGS. 6 and 7 are views for describing an operation of
moving the moving unit of FIG. 5 upward.
[0041] FIGS. 8 and 9 are views for describing an operation of
moving the moving unit of FIG. 7 downward.
[0042] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the shelf of the refrigerator
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0043] FIGS. 11 to 13 are views for describing an operation of
withdrawing the second shelf from the shelf in FIG. 10.
[0044] FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a closing device and a rail
assembly in a shelf of a refrigerator according to another
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0045] FIGS. 15 to 20 are views for describing an operation of the
closing device of FIG. 14.
[0046] FIGS. 21 to 23 are views for describing an operation of
separating the shelf from the moving unit in the refrigerator in
FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0047] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the
present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to
like elements throughout.
[0048] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an interior of a refrigerator
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerator 1 may include a main
body 10 having a plurality of storage compartments 21 and 22 formed
to be partitioned from each other, doors 31 and 32 provided in
front sides the plurality of storage compartments 21 and 22 to open
and close the storage compartments 21 and 22, a cold air supply
device (not shown) configured to supply cold air into the storage
compartments 21 and 22, and a machine room (not shown) provided at
a lower rear side of the main body 10 to allow electrical
components, such as a compressor and the like, to be installed
therein.
[0050] In addition, the refrigerator of the embodiment includes a
refrigeration cycle composed of the compressor, a condenser, an
expander, and an evaporator to generate the cold air discharged
through the cold air supply device (not shown).
[0051] The main body 10 includes an inner case 11 and an outer case
13, and an insulating material is foamed into and filled in a gap
between the inner case 11 and the outer case 13 to maintain heat
insulation therebetween.
[0052] In addition, the main body 10 includes an upper wall 16, a
lower wall (not shown), a left side wall 17, a right side wall 18,
and a rear wall 19. In addition, the main body 10 includes an
intermediate partition wall 20 which is laterally disposed for
partitioning the storage compartments 21 and 22.
[0053] The storage compartments 21 and 22 include the first storage
compartment 21 provided above the intermediate partition wall 20
and the second storage compartment provided under the intermediate
partition wall 20. The first storage compartment 21 may be
configured as a refrigerating compartment in which a temperature is
slightly above a freezing temperature, and the second storage
compartment 22 may be configured as a freezing compartment in which
a temperature is kept below the freezing temperature.
[0054] The doors 31, 32, and 35 are provided in front of the first
storage compartment 21 and the second storage compartment 22 for
opening and closing the storage compartments 21 and 22. The doors
31, 32, and 35 may include a pair of rotary-type doors 31 and 32
which are rotatable to open and close left and right sides of the
first storage compartment 21 and a drawer-type door 35 which is
slidable to open and close the second storage compartment 22.
[0055] The pair of rotary-type doors 31 and 32 are hinge-coupled to
the left and right side portions of the main body 10, and the
drawer-type door 35 is coupled to the main body 10 to be slidably
inserted into and withdrawn from the main body 10.
[0056] Since the first storage compartment 21 is not divided by a
separate heat insulating partition wall, the first storage
compartment 21 is provided with a relatively large storage space,
and a filler device 37 is provided in and seals a gap between the
pair of rotary-type doors 31 and 32 that open and close the
relatively large storage space.
[0057] An ice-making chamber separated from the first storage
compartment 21 by an insulation wall is formed, for example, in the
vicinity of an upper corner of a left side wall, of the first
storage compartment 21, and an ice maker 50 for making ice may be
installed in the ice making chamber.
[0058] In addition, a plurality of shelves on which food or the
like to be stored are placed may be provided in an upper space of
the first storage compartment 21, and an airtight container 70 may
be provided in a lower space of the first storage compartment 21 to
hermetically store food so that the relatively large storage space
in the first storage compartment 21 may be efficiently used.
[0059] A shelf hanger 80 may be installed on the rear wall 19 of
the first storage compartment 21. A moving unit 90 may be coupled
to the shelf hanger 80 to be movable in a vertical direction. A
shelf 100 may be coupled to and supported by the moving unit 90.
The shelf 100 may be detachably coupled to the moving unit 90.
[0060] The shelf 100 in a state of being coupled to the moving unit
90 may be vertically moved with the moving unit 90. That is, a
height of the shelf 100 may be adjusted without detaching the shelf
100 from the shelf hanger 80. A detailed description thereof will
be given below.
[0061] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a shelf coupling structure of
the refrigerator of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a
state in which a second shelf is withdrawn from a first shelf in
the shelf of the refrigerator of FIG. 1.
[0062] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shelf 100 may be coupled to
the shelf hanger 80 by being supported by the moving unit 90. The
shelf 100 may be detachably coupled to the moving unit 90, and the
moving unit 90 may be coupled to the shelf hanger 80 to be movable
in the vertical direction. Therefore, the shelf 100 may be moved in
the vertical direction of the shelf hanger 80 by moving the moving
unit 90 in the vertical direction.
[0063] The shelf 100 may be provided to be slidable in a front-rear
direction.
[0064] The shelf 100 may include a first shelf 110 and a second
shelf 120. The second shelf 120 may be inserted into or withdrawn
from the first shelf 110 in a sliding manner. The shelf 100 may
include a rail assembly 130, and, in comparison to a conventional
configuration, a withdrawal distance of the shelf may be improved
through the rail assembly. A detailed description thereof will be
given below.
[0065] Each of the first shelf 110 and the second shelf 120 may
include an opening in an approximately rectangular shape. Since the
first shelf 110 is not a structure on which food and the like are
placed, a separate transparent member may not be provided in the
opening. On the other hand, the second shelf 120 may include a
transparent member 121 provided to close the opening because the
second shelf 120 has a structure on which food, an airtight
container, and the like are placed. The transparent member 121 may
include a glass material.
[0066] A user may visually check what food is stored under the
shelf 100 through the transparent member 121 without withdrawing
the second shelf 120 in the frontward direction.
[0067] The shelf 100 may include a push preventing protrusion 122.
The push preventing protrusion 122 may be provided to protrude
upward from the second shelf 120. A pair of push preventing
protrusions 122 may be provided on rear corners of the second shelf
120. When the second shelf 120 is withdrawn in the frontward
direction, the push preventing protrusion 122 may prevent food and
the like put on the second shelf 120 from being forced past a rear
side of the second shelf 120 due to inertia.
[0068] The second shelf 120 may include a strength reinforcing
member 124. The strength reinforcing member 124 may be provided at
a front lower portion of the second shelf 120. The second shelf 120
may be damaged when the second shelf 120 is withdrawn from the
first shelf 110 because strength of the front portion of the second
shelf 120 is weak. The strength reinforcing member 124 may be
provided at the front lower portion of the second shelf 120 to
prevent such damage.
[0069] FIG. 4 is an exploded view illustrating the shelf hanger and
the moving unit in the refrigerator of FIG. 1.
[0070] Hereinafter, configurations of the shelf hanger 80 and the
moving unit 90 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
4.
[0071] The shelf hanger 80 may include a first frame 81 and a
second frame 82. Each of the first frame 81 and the second frame 82
may include a fastening groove, and the first frame 81 and the
second frame 82 may be coupled by fastening a fastening member (not
shown) to the fastening grooves.
[0072] The shelf hanger 80 may include a plurality of engagement
projections 83 provided in the vertical direction. The moving unit
90 may be supported by any one engagement projection 83 of the
plurality of engagement projections. The moving unit 90 may be
selectively engaged with any one of the plurality of engagement
projections to adjust the height of the shelf in the vertical
direction.
[0073] The shelf hanger 80 may include a guide groove 84 extending
in the vertical direction. The guide groove 84 may be formed by
coupling the first frame 81 and the second frame 82. A first roller
92 of the moving unit 90 may not be deviated from the shelf hanger
80 by the guide groove 84. To this end, the guide groove 84 may be
provided to have a transverse width smaller than that of the first
roller 92, which will be described below, and larger than a
diameter of a first fastening member 93.
[0074] The moving unit 90 may include a body part 91, the first
roller 92, a second roller 94, an engagement lever 96, a second
elastic member 99, and a switching bar 98.
[0075] The first roller 92 and the second roller 94 may assist
movement of the moving unit 90 in the vertical direction of the
shelf hanger 80. When the moving unit 90 is moved in the vertical
direction, the first roller 92 and the second roller 94 come into
contact with the shelf hanger 80 and are rotated so that a
frictional force can be reduced and the moving unit 90 can be
stably moved.
[0076] A plurality of first rollers 92 and second rollers 94 may be
provided. According to the present embodiment, a pair of first
rollers 92 and a pair of second rollers 94 may be provided.
[0077] The first roller 92 may be coupled to the body part 91 by
fastening the first fastening member 93 to the body part 91.
Similarly, the second roller 94 may be coupled to the body part 91
by fastening a second fastening member 95 to the body part 91. In
this case, the first fastening member 93 and the second fastening
member 95 couple the first roller 92 and the second roller 94 to
the body part 91 and also function as rotational axes of the first
roller 92 and the second roller 94.
[0078] The engagement lever 96 may be coupled to the body part 91
via a third fastening member 97. Like the first roller 92 and the
second roller 94, the engagement lever 96 may be rotated with
respect to the third fastening member 97, which acts as a rotation
axis thereof. The second elastic member 99 may be provided between
the engagement lever 96 and the body part 91 to elastically bias
the engagement lever 96 in one direction. In the embodiment, a
torsion spring may be provided as the second elastic member 99.
However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
[0079] The moving unit 90 may further include the switching bar 98.
The switching bar 98 may be provided between moving units provided
on left and right sides of the shelf 100. The switching bar 98 may
be provided to be rotated with the engagement lever 96. Due to the
above configuration, the user may rotate the switching bar 98 to
rotate the engagement lever 96 without directly rotating the
engagement lever 96. That is, the switching bar 98 may be provided
to rotate the engagement lever 96.
[0080] The shelf 100 may be coupled to the moving unit 90, and food
and the like may be put on the shelf 100. At this time, weight may
not be uniformly distributed on each of the moving units provided
on the left and left sides of the shelf 100. To compensate for
this, the switching bar 98 may be provided between the moving
units. That is, the switching bar 98 may rotate the engagement
lever 96 and also reinforce a structure of the moving unit 90.
[0081] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state in which the moving
unit is coupled to the shelf hanger in the refrigerator of FIG. 1.
FIGS. 6 and 7 are views for describing an operation of moving the
moving unit of FIG. 5 upward, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are views for
describing an operation of moving the moving unit of FIG. 7
downward.
[0082] A vertical height adjustment operation of the moving unit 90
will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9
below.
[0083] The moving unit 90 may be fixed to the shelf hanger 80 by
engaging the engagement lever 96 with the engagement projection 83
of the shelf hanger 80. Further, the moving unit 90 may be unfixed
by disengaging the engagement lever 96 from the engagement
projection 83. The engagement and disengagement of the engagement
lever 96 and the engagement projection 83 may be adjusted by
rotating the engagement lever 96. The second elastic member 99 may
elastically bias the engagement lever 96 in one direction, and the
engagement lever 96 may be rotated in the other direction to
disengage the engagement lever 96 from the engagement projection
83.
[0084] According to the spirit of the present disclosure, when the
moving unit 90 is moved upward, a separate switching operation of
the user is not required. Conversely, when the moving unit 90 is
moved downward, it is necessary for the user to rotate the
switching bar 98.
[0085] When the moving unit 90 is moved upward, the engagement
lever 96 is gradually rotated in the other direction by a first
inclined portion 83a of the engagement projection 83. That is, even
when the user simply lifts the shelf 100 without rotating the
switching bar 98, the engagement lever 96 and the switching bar 98
are rotated in the other direction by the first inclined portion
83a.
[0086] When the moving unit 90 is continuously moved upward, the
engagement lever 96 is gradually rotated in the other direction at
the first inclined portion 83a and is then rotated in the one
direction again at a second inclined portion 83b provided at one
end of the first inclined portion 83a by an elastic force of the
second elastic member 99. As the engagement lever 96 is rotated in
the one direction at the second inclined portion 83b, the
engagement lever 96 is engaged with the engagement projection 83
and the moving unit 90 is fixed to the shelf hanger 80.
[0087] When the moving unit 90 is moved downward, unlike the case
in which the moving unit is moved upward, the engagement lever 96
is not rotated in the other direction even when the user exerts a
downward force on the moving unit 90. The reason for this is that
since a downward force is already being exerted on the moving unit
90 by the shelf 100, food placed on the shelf 100, and a weight of
the moving unit 90, the moving unit 90 may not support the shelf
100 when the engagement lever 96 is rotated in the other
direction.
[0088] Accordingly, the user may rotate the switching bar 98
forward to artificially rotate the engagement lever 96 in the other
direction. That is, the engagement lever 96 is disengaged from the
engagement projection 83 to unfix the moving unit 90 fixed to the
shelf hanger from the shelf hanger 80. When the moving unit 90 is
unfixed, the user may move a location of the shelf 100 downward to
adjust the height thereof to be lower without needing to
continuously rotate the switching bar 98.
[0089] Unlike a conventional shelf, the shelf of the present
disclosure has an advantage in that the height of the shelf may be
adjusted without detaching the shelf from the shelf hanger so that
the height of the shelf may be adjusted without taking food placed
on the shelf out of the refrigerator or moving the food in the
refrigerator. In addition, since a separate switching operation,
which is inconvenient due to food placed on the shelf, is not
required when the shelf is moved upward, the user may conveniently
adjust the height of the shelf. That is, according to the spirit of
the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a shelf which
improves user convenience.
[0090] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the shelf of the refrigerator
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIGS. 11
to 13 are views for describing an operation of withdrawing the
second shelf from the shelf in FIG. 10.
[0091] A configuration of the shelf 100 will be described in detail
below.
[0092] As described above, the shelf 100 may include the first
shelf 110 and the second shelf 120 which is slidably coupled to the
first shelf 110. The shelf 100 may further include the rail
assembly 130 in which the second shelf 120 is slidably provided in
the first shelf 110.
[0093] The rail assembly 130 may include a first rail 131 coupled
to the first shelf 110, a second rail 132 coupled to the second
shelf 120, and a third rail 133 provided between the first rail 131
and the second rail 132.
[0094] The first rail 131 may include a first coupling protrusion
131a protruding downward from a lower surface thereof to be coupled
to the first shelf 110. The first coupling protrusion 131a may be
fitted into a first coupling recess 112 provided in the first shelf
110.
[0095] The second rail 132 may include a second coupling protrusion
32a protruding upward from an upper surface thereof to be coupled
to the second shelf 120. The second coupling protrusion 132a may be
insertion-coupled to a second coupling recess 125 provided in the
second shelf 120.
[0096] The third rail 133 may be provided between the first rail
131 and the second rail 132 to increase a withdrawal distance of
the second rail 132. The first rail 131 may be fixed to the first
shelf 110 and the second rail 132 may be inserted into the first
rail or withdrawn from the first rail 131 in the frontward
direction. In this case, by providing the third rail 133, a
frontward withdrawal distance of the second rail 132 may be
extended by a portion of a length of the third rail 133. Due to the
above, the withdrawal distance of the second shelf 120 may be
increased, and the user may easily withdraw food placed on the
second shelf 120 without bending his/her waist.
[0097] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the
shelf 100 may further include a latch device 140 provided so that
the second shelf 120 is fixed to or unfixed from the first shelf
110, a first elastic member 126 providing an elastic force in one
direction to allow the second shelf 120 to be withdrawn from the
first shelf 110, and a damper 143 provided for adjusting a
withdrawal speed of the second shelf 120.
[0098] The latch device 140 may include a first latch unit 141
provided on the first shelf 110 and a second latch unit 142
provided on the second shelf 120.
[0099] The first latch unit 141 and the second latch unit 142 may
be fixed or unfixed by pressing. When the first latch unit 141 and
the second latch unit 142 are fixed, even though the first elastic
member 126 applies the elastic force to withdraw the second shelf
120 from the first shelf 110, the second shelf 120 is not
withdrawn. When the first latch unit 141 and the second latch unit
142 are unfixed, the second shelf 120 may be withdrawn from the
first shelf 110 by the elastic force of the first elastic member
126. In this case, the damper 143 may adjust the withdrawal speed
of the second shelf 120 to prevent the food placed on the second
shelf 120 from falling off the second shelf 120 due to the second
shelf 120 being rapidly withdrawn.
[0100] One end of the first elastic member 126 may be supported by
one side of the second shelf 120, and the other end thereof may be
supported by a support wall 113 provided at the first shelf 110.
With the above structure, the first elastic member 126 may provide
the elastic force to allow the second shelf 120 to be moved away
from the first shelf 110. That is, the first elastic member 126 may
elastically bias the second shelf 120 in one direction in which the
second shelf 120 is withdrawn from the first shelf 110.
[0101] The damper 143 may be provided on the first shelf 110. The
damper 143 may have a gear shape. A pair of dampers 143 may be
provided to adjust the withdrawal speed of the second shelf 120.
The damper 143 may be fixed to an inner wall of the first shelf
110.
[0102] The second shelf 120 may include a saw-toothed rail 123
configured to correspond to the damper 143 having the gear shape.
The saw-toothed rail 123 may be arranged to be engaged with the
damper 143. A length of the saw-toothed rail 123 may be formed to
be greater than or equal to the withdrawal distance of the second
shelf 120 so that the damper 143 may adjust the withdrawal speed of
the second shelf 120 when the second shelf 120 is withdrawn.
[0103] A withdraw operation of the second shelf 120 will be
described with reference to FIG. 11 to FIG. 13. The user may push
the second shelf 120 in the rearward direction to unfix the latch
device 140 when the user desires to withdraw the second shelf 120
from the first shelf 110. Since this is an operation for releasing
the fixation of the first latch unit 141 and the second latch unit
142, simply slightly pushing the second shelf 120 is
sufficient.
[0104] When the first latch unit 141 and the second latch unit 142
are unfixed, the second shelf 120 may be withdrawn from the first
shelf 110 in the frontward direction by the elastic force of the
first elastic member 126. In this case, the withdrawal speed of the
second shelf 120 may be adjusted through the damper 143 provided on
the first shelf 110 and the saw-toothed rail 123 provided on the
second shelf 120, as described above. In other words, the damper
143 and the saw-toothed rail 123 may prevent the rapid withdrawal
of the second shelf 120 from the first shelf 110.
[0105] Meanwhile, the user may push the withdrawn second shelf 120
in the rearward direction to re-insert the second shelf into the
first shelf 110. A state in which the second shelf 120 is fixed to
the first shelf 110 may be maintained by inserting the second shelf
120 into the first shelf until the first latch unit 141 and the
second latch unit 142 are fixed again.
[0106] In the shelf 100 according to one embodiment of the present
disclosure, as described above, when the second shelf 120 is only
slightly pushed in the rearward direction, the second shelf 120 may
be automatically withdrawn by the elastic force of the first
elastic member 126. Further, the second shelf 120 may be withdrawn
at a proper speed due to the damper 143. Due to the above, the user
may conveniently withdraw the second shelf 120 and the user's
convenience may be improved.
[0107] FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a closing device and a rail
assembly in a shelf of a refrigerator according to another
embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIGS. 15 to 20 are views
for describing an operation of the closing device of FIG. 14.
[0108] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a
shelf 100 may include a closing device 150. The shelf 100 may not
include the latch device 140 and the first elastic member 126 and
may include a closing device 150.
[0109] The closing device 150 may be provided to assist the user
when a second shelf 120 is inserted into a first shelf 110.
Specifically, when the user inserts the second shelf 120 into the
first shelf 110, the second shelf 120 may be inserted into the
first shelf 110 by the closing device 150 without the second shelf
120 being completely inserted into the first shelf.
[0110] A detailed configuration of the closing device 150 will be
given below.
[0111] The closing device 150 may include a case 151, a slider 152
provided to reciprocate in the case 151, a connector 153 provided
for connecting the slider 152 and a second rail 132, a third
elastic member 154 accumulating an elastic force when the second
shelf 120 is withdrawn and providing the accumulated elastic force
to the second shelf 120 when the second shelf 120 is inserted, and
a guide rail 157.
[0112] The case 151 may be coupled to the first rail 131. The case
151 may be fixed together with the first rail 131 to the first
shelf 110.
[0113] The guide rail 157 may be provided on the case 151 to allow
the slider 152 to reciprocate. The guide rail 157 may include a
guide portion 155 for guiding the slider 152 to reciprocate and an
engagement portion 156 provided at one end of the guide portion 155
to allow the slider 152 to be rotated and fixed.
[0114] The third elastic member 154 may be provided to provide the
slider 152 with an elastic force. One end of the third elastic
member 154 may be supported by the slider 152, and the other end
thereof may be supported by one side of the case 151.
[0115] The connector 153 may be coupled to one side of the second
rail 132. The connector 153 may be detachably coupled to the slider
152. Specifically, the connector 153 may be insertion-coupled to
and detached from a fitting groove 152a provided in the slider
152.
[0116] An operation of the closing apparatus according to the
present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to
20.
[0117] When the second shelf 120 is inserted into the first shelf
110, the third elastic member 154 is not in a stretched state and
therefore may not provide an elastic force to the slider 152.
[0118] When the user withdraws the second shelf 120 from the first
shelf 110, the second rail 132, the connector 153 coupled to the
second rail 132, and the slider 152 insertion-coupled to the
connector 153 may be moved along the guide portion 155, as shown in
FIG. 16. In this case, the third elastic member 154 is stretched
and accumulates an elastic force.
[0119] When the second shelf 120 is continuously withdrawn, the
slider 152 may pass the guide portion 155 and then be engaged with
the engagement portion 156. A protrusion of the slider 152 is
engaged with the engagement portion 156 when the slider 152 is
rotated at the engagement portion 156. In this case, a fitting
coupling between the slider 152 and the connector 153 is released
due to the rotation of the slider 152. In other words, the slider
152 is engaged with the engagement portion 156, and the connector
153 is separated from the slider 152 and then moved together with
the second rail 132 and the second shelf 120.
[0120] When the user pushes the second shelf 120 in the rearward
direction to insert the second shelf 120 into the first shelf, the
connector 153 and the slider 152 are insertion-coupled to each
other again and the slider 152 is rotated. That is, the engagement
between the slider 152 and the engagement portion 156 is released,
and the second shelf 120 may be automatically inserted into the
first shelf due to the accumulated elastic force of the third
elastic member 154. Therefore, according to the present embodiment,
when the second shelf 120 is inserted into the first shelf, the
user may automatically insert the second shelf into the first shelf
through the closing device 150 without completely inserting the
second shelf 120 into the first shelf. In other words, since the
automatic insertion is possible, the user's convenience may be
improved.
[0121] FIGS. 21 to 23 are views for describing an operation of
separating the shelf from the moving unit in the refrigerator in
FIG. 1.
[0122] As shown in FIGS. 21 to 23, the shelf 100 according to the
spirit of the present disclosure may be detachably coupled to the
moving unit 90.
[0123] The first shelf 110 may include a coupling ring 111. The
coupling ring 111 may be provided at a rear end of the first shelf
110.
[0124] When the first shelf 110 is coupled to the moving unit 90,
the shelf 100 is not separated from the moving unit 90 even though
a force is applied in the vertical direction. In other words, the
shelf 100 may be fixed to the moving unit 90.
[0125] When the user desires to detach the shelf 100 from the
moving unit 90, the user may hold a front end of the shelf 100 and
lift the shelf 100 obliquely, as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, to
separate the shelf 100 from the moving unit 90. In other words, the
shelf 100 may be separated from the moving unit 90 by obliquely
lifting the shelf 100 to release a coupling between the coupling
ring 111 and the moving unit 90.
[0126] According to the present disclosure, when the user desires
to separate the shelf 100, it is possible to separate the shelf 100
from the shelf hanger 80 through the above-described operations. In
addition, when the user desires to adjust the height of the shelf
100, the shelf 100 can be moved upward or downward by simply
lifting the shelf 100 upward or rotating the switching bar 98
without separating the shelf 100 from the shelf hanger 80.
[0127] As is apparent from the above description, it is possible to
provide a refrigerator which allows a height of a shelf to be
adjusted without detaching the shelf from a hanger.
[0128] According to the spirit of the present disclosure, it is
possible to provide a refrigerator only requiring a switching
operation when a shelf is moved downward, without requiring a
separate switching operation when the shelf is moved upward.
[0129] According to the spirit of the present disclosure, it is
possible to provide a refrigerator including the shelf having an
improved withdrawal distance through a sliding method.
[0130] According to the spirit of the present disclosure, it is
possible to provide a refrigerator including a shelf which can be
automatically withdrawn by a simple operation.
[0131] According to the spirit of the present disclosure, it is
possible to provide a refrigerator including a shelf which is
automatically retracted into a storage compartment even when the
shelf is not pushed all the way into the storage compartment.
[0132] The present disclosure has been shown and described with
reference to the specific embodiments. However, the present
disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and one skilled
in the art to which the present disclosure pertains should
understood that the present disclosure may be variously modified
and embodied without departing from the gist of the technical
spirit of the disclosure defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *