U.S. patent number RE46,029 [Application Number 14/247,467] was granted by the patent office on 2016-06-14 for refrigerator with receiving box.
This patent grant is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. The grantee listed for this patent is SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Gi Joong Jeong, Jeong Man Nam.
United States Patent |
RE46,029 |
Nam , et al. |
June 14, 2016 |
Refrigerator with receiving box
Abstract
A refrigerator having an improved receiving box in contact with
a cover. The refrigerator includes a first receiving box, and a
cover installed to come into contact with the first receiving box
and adapted to be pivotally rotated as the first receiving box is
pulled out or pushed in. The first receiving box includes a
sidewall having a downwardly-inclined slope with respect to a front
of the first receiving box. The cover is pivotally rotated downward
by movement of the cover on the downwardly-inclined slope when the
first receiving box is pulled out and is pivotally rotated upward
when the first receiving box is pushed in. With this configuration,
the refrigerator has the effect of allowing a user to easily move
food stored in a plurality of receiving spaces from one receiving
space to another.
Inventors: |
Nam; Jeong Man (Gwangju,
KR), Jeong; Gi Joong (Gwnagju, KR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. |
Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do |
N/A |
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
(Suwon-Si, KR)
|
Family
ID: |
40790977 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/247,467 |
Filed: |
April 8, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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Reissue of: |
12379119 |
Feb 12, 2009 |
8152255 |
Apr 10, 2012 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Mar 6, 2008 [KR] |
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10-2008-0020888 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D
25/025 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
96/04 (20060101); F25D 25/02 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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2 417 671 |
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Mar 2006 |
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GB |
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51-196348 |
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Aug 1993 |
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JP |
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10-122738 |
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May 1998 |
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JP |
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2005-249385 |
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Sep 2005 |
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JP |
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2006-78168 |
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Mar 2006 |
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JP |
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10-2006-0062149 |
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Jun 2006 |
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JP |
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10-2006-0075816 |
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Jul 2006 |
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JP |
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2007-24339 |
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Feb 2007 |
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JP |
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10-2006-0062149 |
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Jun 2006 |
|
KR |
|
10-2006-0075816 |
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Jul 2006 |
|
KR |
|
10-2007-0065710 |
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Jun 2007 |
|
KR |
|
WO 2007/036736 |
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Apr 2007 |
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WO |
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WO 2007/036736 |
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Apr 2007 |
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WO |
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Other References
Extended European Search Report dated Jul. 6, 2011, issued in
European Patent Application No. 09153417.2 cited by
applicant.
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Primary Examiner: Clarke; Sara
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Staas & Halsey LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A refrigerator, comprising: a body defining a storage
compartment .[.to hold foodstuff to be cooled.].; a receiving box
installed in the storage compartment and configured to be pulled
out from and pushed into the storage compartment and including at
least one sidewall having a downwardly-inclined slope .[.inclined
downwardly.]. with respect to a front of the receiving box and an
upwardly-inclined slope .[.inclined upwardly.]. with respect to the
front of the receiving box and provided in front of the
downwardly-inclined slope, the downwardly-inclined slope being
provided on a rear portion of the sidewall of the receiving box; an
auxiliary receiving box configured to be pulled out .[.at an upper
side of.]. .Iadd.above .Iaddend.the receiving box when the
receiving box is pulled out; and a cover installed to come into
contact with and cover the receiving box and adapted to be
pivotally rotated as the receiving box is pulled out or pushed in,
the cover being pivotally rotated downward by movement of the cover
on the downwardly-inclined slope when the receiving box is pulled
out and being pivotally rotated upward when the receiving box is
pushed in, wherein the cover is rotated upward by movement of the
cover on the upwardly-inclined slope when the receiving box is
pulled out and is pivotally rotated downward when the receiving box
is pushed in, and the cover is pivotally rotated downward when the
auxiliary receiving box is pulled out when the receiving box is
also pulled out.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the at least one
sidewall further includes a horizontal plane provided between the
upwardly-inclined slope and the downwardly-inclined slope to keep
the cover in the upwardly pivotally rotated state.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the cover
includes a downwardly-protruding rolling frictional portion in
contact with the receiving box.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the rolling
frictional portion includes a roller to cause rolling friction
between the cover and the receiving box.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the receiving box
is able to be pulled out from the body in a sliding manner, and the
receiving box is provided with a three-section telescopic slide
rail.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the body is
provided with a guide member to permit sliding of the auxiliary
receiving box, the guide member being provided with a roller to
facilitate smooth sliding of the auxiliary receiving box.
7. A refrigerator, comprising: a body defining a storage
compartment .[.to hold foodstuff to be cooled.].; .[.first and
second.]. receiving boxes stacked in the body one above another to
allow the .[.first and second.]. receiving boxes to be pulled out
respectively from the storage compartment, .Iadd.one of
.Iaddend.the .[.first.]. receiving .[.box.]. .Iadd.boxes
.Iaddend.including at least one sidewall having an
upwardly-inclined slope .[.inclined upwardly.]. with respect to a
front of the .[.first.]. .Iadd.one of the .Iaddend.receiving
.[.box.]. .Iadd.boxes .Iaddend.and a downwardly-inclined slope
.[.inclined downwardly.]. with respect to the front of the
.[.first.]. .Iadd.one of the .Iaddend.receiving .[.box.].
.Iadd.boxes.Iaddend., the downwardly-inclined slope being provided
on a rear portion of the sidewall of the .[.first.]. .Iadd.one of
the .Iaddend.receiving .[.box.]. .Iadd.boxes.Iaddend.; and a cover
installed between the .[.first.]. receiving .[.box and the second
receiving box.]. .Iadd.boxes .Iaddend.and configured to open or
close a top of the .[.first.]. .Iadd.one of the .Iaddend.receiving
.[.box.]. .Iadd.boxes.Iaddend., the cover being pivotally rotated
upward by movement of the cover on the upwardly-inclined slope when
the .[.first.]. .Iadd.one of the .Iaddend.receiving .[.box.].
.Iadd.boxes .Iaddend.is pulled out and being pivotally rotated
downward by movement of the cover on the downwardly- inclined slope
when .Iadd.an other of .Iaddend.the .[.second.]. receiving
.[.box.]. .Iadd.boxes .Iaddend.is pulled out .[.when the receiving
box is also pulled out.]., to permit the .[.second.]. .Iadd.other
of the .Iaddend.receiving .[.box.]. .Iadd.boxes .Iaddend.to be
pulled out in a state in which the .[.first.]. .Iadd.one of the
.Iaddend.receiving .[.box.]. .Iadd.boxes .Iaddend.is also pulled
out.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the at least one
sidewall further includes a horizontal plane provided between the
upwardly-inclined slope and the downwardly-inclined slope.
9. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the .[.first.].
.Iadd.one of the .Iaddend.receiving .[.box.]. .Iadd.boxes
.Iaddend.has a longer pull-out distance than a pull-out distance of
the .[.second.]. .Iadd.other of the .Iaddend.receiving .[.box to
easily move food stored in the first receiving box to the second
receiving box and vice versa after both the first and second
receiving boxes are pulled out.]. .Iadd.boxes.Iaddend..
10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, further comprising a
three-section telescopic slide rail provided between the
.[.first.]. .Iadd.one of the .Iaddend.receiving .[.box.].
.Iadd.boxes .Iaddend.and the body .[.to increase the pull-out
distance of the first receiving box.]..
11. A refrigerator, comprising: a storage compartment .[.to hold
foodstuff.].; a first receiving box located in .[.a lower region
of.]. the storage compartment; a second receiving box located
.Iadd.above the first receiving box .Iaddend.in .[.an upper region
of.]. the storage compartment; and a cover disposed between the
first receiving box and the second receiving box and configured to
open or close at least a part of a top of the first receiving box,
wherein the first receiving box is provided on a rear portion
thereof with a downwardly-inclined slope inclined downwardly with
respect to a front.Iadd.-to-rear direction .Iaddend.of the first
receiving box, the downwardly-inclined slope enabling the cover to
be pivotally rotated downward to permit the second receiving box to
be opened in an open state of the first receiving box.Iadd., the
rear portion being a portion of the first receiving box behind a
midpoint of the first receiving box in the front-to-rear direction
of the first receiving box.Iaddend..
.Iadd.12. A refrigerator, comprising: a storage compartment; a
drawer located in the storage compartment; another drawer located
above the drawer in the storage compartment; and a cover to cover
at least a front part of a top of the drawer when the drawer is in
a pushed in state, wherein the drawer is provided with a slope
configured to accommodate at least a part of the cover when the
drawer is in a pulled out state, wherein the slope is formed on at
least one sidewall of the drawer and includes a slope
downwardly-inclined and a slope upwardly-inclined, the slope
downwardly-inclined being provided on a portion of the sidewall
behind a midpoint of the sidewall in a front-to-rear direction of
the sidewall and configured to enable the cover to be rotated
downwards such that the cover does not interfere with pulling out
of the another drawer above the drawer..Iaddend.
.Iadd.13. The refrigerator according to claim 12, further
comprising a shelf located above the drawer in the storage
compartment, and wherein the shelf is provided to cover a rear
portion of the cover at the top of the drawer when the drawer is in
a pushed in state..Iaddend.
.Iadd.14. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the at
least one sidewall further includes a horizontal plane provided
between the slope upwardly-inclined and the slope
downwardly-inclined slope..Iaddend.
.Iadd.15. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the cover
includes a downwardly-protruding portion in contact with the
drawer..Iaddend.
.Iadd.16. The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein the
downwardly-protruding portion includes a roller to cause rolling
friction between the cover and the drawer..Iaddend.
.Iadd.17. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the
drawer is configured to be pulled out from the body in a sliding
manner, and the drawer is provided with a telescopic slide
rail..Iaddend.
.Iadd.18. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the
drawer has a longer pull-out distance than a pull-out distance of
the another drawer..Iaddend.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application .[.claims the.]. .Iadd.is a broadening reissue
application of U.S. Pat. No. 8,152,255, which claims the benefit of
U.S. application Ser. No. 12/379,119, filed with the U.S. Patent
Trademark Office on Feb. 12, 2009 and issued as U.S. Pat. No.
8,152,255 on Apr. 10, 2012, and earlier priority .Iaddend.benefit
of Korean Patent Application No. .[.2008-0020888.].
.Iadd.10-2008-0020888.Iaddend., filed on Mar. 6, 2008 in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and, more
particularly, to a refrigerator, which can prevent receiving boxes
stacked above one mother from interfering with each other when the
receiving boxes are opened together.
2. Description of the Related Art
A refrigerator is an apparatus to keep food fresh using a
temperature difference that occurs when a refrigerant circulating
in a refrigeration cycle undergoes phase transition via repeated
compression, condensation, and expansion thereof.
The interior of the refrigerator is generally divided into a
freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment, according to
an interior temperature thereof. The freezing compartment generally
maintains a temperature band of -12.degree. C..about.24.degree. C.,
and the refrigerating compartment generally maintains a temperature
band of 0.degree. C..about.7.degree. C. In particular, the
refrigerating compartment contains a separate space to maintain an
appropriate interior temperature and humidity well suited to
storage of vegetables, fruits, etc. Specifically, a separate
receiving box is provided in the refrigerating compartment, and a
temperature and humidity of the receiving box are adjustable.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a receiving box installed
in a conventional refrigerator.
As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of shelves 2 is installed in a
refrigerating compartment 1. The shelves 2 serve to divide the
interior of the refrigerating compartment 1 into several regions,
allowing several kinds of food to be sorted and stored in the
respective regions of the refrigerating compartment 1. In
particular, receiving boxes 3 and 4 are installed in lower regions
of the refrigerating compartment 1 and can serve to separately
store food that must be kept fresh. The receiving boxes 3 and 4 are
stacked above one another. Here, a lower one of the receiving boxes
is referred to as a first receiving box 3, and an upper one of the
receiving boxes is referred to as a second receiving box 4.
To maximize utilization of the interior space of the refrigerating
compartment 1, the first receiving box 3 and second receiving box 4
are arranged stepwise. Specifically, the first receiving box 3
protrudes forward relative to the second receiving box 4. More
specifically, for food storage in the refrigerating compartment 1,
in addition to the plurality of shelves 2, a refrigerating
compartment door 6 is provided with racks 7 to receive containers,
such as bottles. In light of the racks 7 occupying a predetermined
interior space of the refrigerating compartment 1 when the
refrigerating compartment door 6 is closed, the first receiving box
3 and second receiving box 4 must be arranged stepwise, to prevent
the racks 7 from interfering with the receiving boxes 3 and 4 and
also, to increase utilization of the interior space of the
refrigerating compartment 1.
Although a top of the second receiving box 4 is able to be closed
by the shelf 2 immediately thereabove, closing a top of the first
receiving box 3 necessitates a separate cover 5 in addition to the
shelf 2 thereabove. The cover 5 is used to close a specific portion
of the first receiving box 3 which protrudes forward relative to
the second receiving box 4 and thus, is still opened after the
remaining portion of the first receiving box 3 is closed by the
shelf 2. The cover 5 is coupled to the shelf 2 by means of hinges.
A related technology is disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-Open
Publication No. 10-2007-0065710.
However, in the arrangement of stacking the first receiving box 3
and second receiving box 4 above one another as shown in FIG. 1,
simultaneously opening the first receiving box 3 and second
receiving box 4 is problematic. As disclosed in the above-mentioned
Patent Laid-Open Publication, when the first receiving box 3 is
opened, the cover 5 is obliquely lifted upward along a frictional
surface of the first receiving box 3. Accordingly, when opening the
second receiving box 4, the second receiving box 4 collides with
the upwardly-inclined cover 5 and cannot be opened. In conclusion,
it is impossible to open both the first receiving box 3 and second
receiving box 4 simultaneously. This makes it difficult to move
food stored in the first receiving box 3 to the second receiving
box 4, and vice versa, resulting in inconvenience of use.
SUMMARY
Accordingly, it is an aspect of the embodiment to provide a
refrigerator in which a receiving box in contact with a cover is
improved to allow all receiving boxes stacked above one another to
be opened successively.
Additional aspects and/or advantages 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
invention.
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the above and/or
other aspects can be achieved by the provision of a refrigerator,
including: a body defining a storage compartment to hold foodstuff
to be cooled; a receiving box installed in the storage compartment
and configured to be pulled out from and pushed into the storage
compartment and including at least one sidewall having a
downwardly-inclined slope inclined downwardly with respect to a
front of the receiving box; and a cover installed to come into
contact with and cover the receiving box and adapted to be
pivotally rotated as the receiving box is pulled out or pushed in,
the cover being pivotally rotated downward by movement of the cover
on the downwardly-inclined slope when the receiving box is pulled
out and being pivotally rotated upward when the receiving box is
pushed in.
The at least one sidewall may further include an upwardly-inclined
slope inclined upwardly with respect to the front of the receiving
box and provided in front of the downwardly-inclined slope, the
cover being pivotally rotated upward by movement of the cover on
the upwardly-inclined slope when the receiving box is pulled out
and being pivotally rotated downward when the receiving box is
pushed in.
The at least one sidewall may further include a horizontal plane
provided between the upwardly-inclined slope and the
downwardly-inclined slope to keep the cover in the upwardly
pivotally rotated state.
The cover may include a downwardly-protruding rolling frictional
portion in contact with the receiving box.
The rolling frictional portion may include a roller to cause
rolling friction between the cover and the receiving box.
The receiving box may be pulled out from the body in a sliding
manner, and the receiving box may be provided with a three-section
telescopic slide rail.
The refrigerator may further include a auxiliary receiving box
configured to be pulled out at an upper side of the receiving box
when the receiving box is pulled out.
The body may be provided with a guide member to permit sliding of
the auxiliary receiving box, the guide member being provided with a
roller to facilitate smooth sliding of the second receiving
box.
The downwardly-inclined slope may be provided on a rear portion of
the sidewall of the receiving box.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is
provided a refrigerator, including: a body defining a storage
compartment to hold foodstuff to be cooled; first and second
receiving boxes stacked in the body one above another to allow the
first and second receiving boxes to be pulled out respectively from
the storage compartment, the first receiving box including at least
one sidewall having an upwardly-inclined slope inclined upwardly
with respect to a front of the first receiving box and a
downwardly-inclined slope inclined downwardly with respect to the
front of the first receiving box; and a cover installed between the
first receiving box and the second receiving box and configured to
open or close a top of the first receiving box, the cover being
pivotally rotated upward by movement of the cover on the
upwardly-inclined slope when the first receiving box is pulled out
and being pivotally rotated downward by movement of the cover on
the downwardly-inclined slope, to permit the second receiving box
to be pulled out in a state in which the first receiving box is
pulled out.
The upwardly-inclined slope may be provided in front of the
downwardly-inclined slope, and the at least one sidewall may
further include a horizontal plane provided between the
upwardly-inclined slope and the downwardly-inclined slope.
The first receiving box may have a longer pull-out distance than a
pull-out distance of the second receiving box to easily move food
stored in the first receiving box to the second receiving box and
vice versa after both the first and second receiving boxes are
pulled out.
The refrigerator may further include a three-section telescopic
slide rail provided between the first receiving box and the body to
increase the pull-out distance of the first receiving box.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is
provided a refrigerator, including: a body defining a storage
compartment to hold the foodstuff to be cooled; a first receiving
box configured to be pulled out from the storage compartment; at
least one second receiving box positioned above the first receiving
box and configured to be pulled out from the storage compartment,
and a cover configured to open or close a part of a top of the
first receiving box, the cover being pivotally rotated with respect
to a pulling-out of the first receiving box, the cover avoiding a
pull-out path of the at least one second receiving box when the at
least one second receiving box is pulled out from the body while
the first receiving box is pulled out from the body.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, there
is provided a receiving box of a refrigerator having a storage
compartment to hold foodstuff to be cooled, including: a receiving
box body capable of being pulled out from the storage compartment
of the refrigerator and including an upwardly-inclined slope
inclined upwardly with respect to a front of the receiving box body
and a downwardly-inclined slope inclined downwardly with respect to
the front of the receiving box body at least one side of the
receiving box body.
The receiving box may be a lower receiving box, and the
refrigerator may include at least one upper receiving box
positioned above the lower receiving box and a cover, the cover
covering the front of the lower receiving box when the lower
receiving box is completely pushed into the storage compartment of
the refrigerator and being pivotally rotated upward along the
upwardly-inclined slope and downward along the downwardly-inclined
slope when the lower receiving box is pulled out from the storage
compartment of the refrigerator.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, there
is provided a refrigerator, including: a storage compartment to
hold foodstuff to be cooled; a first receiving box located in a
lower region of the storage compartment; a second receiving box
located in an upper region of the storage compartment; and a cover
disposed between the first receiving box and the second receiving
box and configured to open or close at least a part of a top of the
first receiving box, wherein the first receiving box is provided on
a rear portion thereof with a downwardly-inclined slope inclined
downwardly with respect to a front of the first receiving box, the
downwardly-inclined slope enabling the cover to be pivotally
rotated downward to permit the second receiving box to be opened in
an open state of the first receiving box.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the invention, there
is provided a refrigerator, including: a storage compartment to
hold foodstuff to be cooled; a receiving box provided in the
storage compartment and having an open top; and a cover located
above the receiving box and configured to open or close the top of
the receiving box, wherein the cover includes a pivotally rotatable
first cover, the first cover including a rolling frictional portion
to come into contact with the receiving box and the receiving box
including a sidewall corresponding to the rolling frictional
portion, and the sidewall is provided on a rear portion thereof
with a slope to permit the first cover to be pivotally rotated
downward.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and/or other aspects and advantages of the embodiments will
become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, of which:
FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating a receiving box installed
in a conventional refrigerator;
FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating an external appearance of a
refrigerator in accordance with the present embodiment;
FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating configuration of the
refrigerator in accordance with the present embodiment;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a first receiving box in
accordance with the present embodiment;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a second receiving box in
accordance with the present embodiment; and
FIGS. 6 to 8 are side views illustrating operation of the first and
second receiving boxes in accordance with the present
embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT
Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiment, examples of
which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like
reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The
embodiments are described below to explain the present invention by
referring to the figures.
FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating an external appearance of a
refrigerator in accordance with the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a
sectional view illustrating configuration of the refrigerator in
accordance with the present embodiment.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the refrigerator in accordance with the
present embodiment includes a body 10 having a storage compartment
11 in which food is stored, doors 20 to open or close the storage
compartment 11, and first and second receiving boxes 30 and 40,
each of which provides an independent storage space to more
efficiently keep food, such as vegetables, fruits, etc., fresh by
preventing dehydration thereof. .Iadd.The first and second
receiving boxes 30 and 40 may be drawers, for example a drawer and
another drawer..Iaddend.
The body 10 includes an outer shell 12 defining an outer surface
thereof, and an inner shell 13 spaced apart from the outer shell 12
by a predetermined distance and defining the storage compartment 11
therein. An insulating material 14 is formed in a space between the
outer shell 12 and the inner shell 13 to prevent thermal
conduction.
The refrigerator shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 is a so-called French-type
refrigerator. The storage compartment 11 is divided into upper and
lower sections by an intermediate partition 19, an upper section
serving as a refrigerating compartment 11a for the refrigeration
and storage of food, and a lower section serving as a freezing
compartment 11b for the freezing and storage of food. The doors 20
include two refrigerating compartment doors 20a that may be
hingedly coupled to the body 10 to open or close the refrigerating
compartment 11a via pivotal rotation thereof, and a single freezing
compartment door 20b slidably installed to the body 10 to open or
close the freezing compartment 11b via forward and rearward
movement thereof.
Evaporators 15 and 16 are installed in a rear region of the storage
compartment 11 to produce cold air to be supplied into the storage
compartment 11 via heat exchange with the surrounding air.
Circulating fans 17 and 18 to circulate the interior air of the
storage compartment 11 are installed near the respective
evaporators 15 and 16.
A plurality of shelves 22 is installed in the storage compartment
11 to sort and store various kinds of food thereon. The plurality
of shelves 22 is spaced apart from one another by a predetermined
distance. Also, a plurality of racks 21 to store bottles, etc. is
installed at inner walls of the refrigerating doors 20 used to open
or close the storage compartment 11. The plurality of racks 21 is
also spaced apart from one another by a predetermined distance.
Each rack 21 protrudes from the inner wall of the corresponding
door 20 into the storage compartment 11. Therefore, when the door
20 is closed, the rack 21 occupies a predetermined interior space
of the storage compartment 11. Therefore, to maximize utilization
of the interior space of the refrigerating compartment 11a, the
first and second receiving boxes 30 and 40 provided in the
refrigerating compartment 11a are arranged stepwise. Specifically,
the first receiving box 30 is installed underneath a first shelf
22a, and the second receiving box 40 is installed underneath a
second shelf 22b. In this case, a front end of the first receiving
box 30 is introduced into a space below the rack 21, and a front
end of the second receiving box 40 is arranged to face the rack
21.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the first receiving box
in accordance with the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 4, the first receiving box 30 is installed
slidably underneath the first shelf 22a. Both wall surfaces of the
refrigerating compartment 11a (see FIG. 2), adjacent to both
sidewalls 31 of the first receiving box 30, are provided with rail
fixing members 36, each of which can be used to install a
three-section telescopic slide rail 37. One surface of the
three-section telescopic slide rail 37 is attached to the
corresponding sidewall 31 of the first receiving box 30, and the
other surface of the rail 37 is attached to the rail fixing member
36. As compared to the use of a conventional two-section telescopic
slide rail, the three-section telescopic slide rail 37 of the
present embodiment has an effect of increasing a pull-out distance
of the first receiving box 30. However, the embodiment is not
limited to the use of either a three-section or a two-section
telescopic rail, but may include any type of singular or multiple
sectional rail system.
When the first receiving box 30 is pulled out, food can be put into
and stored in the first receiving box 30 through an open top of the
first receiving box 30. Then, when the first receiving box 30 is
pushed in, a part of the open top of the first receiving box 30 is
closed by the first shelf 22a, and the remaining open top of the
first receiving box is closed by a cover 50. Specifically, as shown
in FIG. 3, since the first receiving box 30 protrudes forward
relative to the second receiving box 40 to achieve maximum space
utilization, the first receiving box 30 cannot be closed completely
by only the first shelf 22a. Accordingly, the cover 50 is provided
at the top of the first receiving box 30 to completely close the
first receiving box 30, allowing the first receiving box 30 to
define an independent receiving space.
The cover 50 is hingedly coupled to the first shelf 22a to carry
out pivotal rotation. A front end 51 of the cover 50 is a free end,
and a rear end 52 of the cover 50 is hingedly coupled to the first
shelf 22a. Accordingly, the rear end 52 of the cover 50 is a fixed
end to allow the cover 50 to pivotally rotate about the rear end
52. At least one rolling frictional portion 53 protrudes downward
from at least one side end of a lower surface of the cover 50. The
rolling frictional portion 53 comes into contact with the first
receiving box 30, causing rolling friction. The first receiving box
30 is formed, at an upper surface of either sidewall 31 thereof,
with a seating recess 32 such that the rolling frictional portion
53 is seated therein. The rolling frictional portion 53 causes
friction with the first receiving box 30 when the first receiving
box 30 is pulled out or pushed in. To achieve rolling friction
between the rolling frictional portion 53 and the first receiving
box 30, the rolling frictional portion 53 is provided with a roller
54, to allow the rolling frictional portion 53 to smoothly roll on
the first receiving box 30. However, instead of providing the
roller 54, the rolling frictional portion 53 may be configured to
cause sliding friction relative to the first receiving box 30. That
is to say, there is no problem to practice the present embodiment
even when no roller is present. In the present embodiment, the
reason the rolling frictional portion 53 is provided with the
roller 54 to cause rolling friction is only for the purpose of
reducing noise caused when the first receiving box 30 is pulled out
or pushed in.
The upper surface of the sidewall 31 of the first receiving box 30,
which comes into contact with the rolling frictional portion 53, is
longitudinally formed with different several slopes. Specifically,
the upper surface of the sidewall 31 includes an upwardly-inclined
slope 33 extending rearward from the seating recess 32, a
horizontal plane 34 extending rearward from the upwardly-inclined
slope 33, and a downwardly-inclined slope 35 extending rearward
from the horizontal plane 34. With this configuration, when the
first receiving box 30 is pulled out or pushed in, the cover 50 can
carry out rotational reciprocating motion while the rolling
frictional portion 53 causes rolling friction with the first
receiving box 30. Specifically, when the first receiving box 30 is
pulled out, the rolling frictional portion 53 of the cover 50 first
rolls on the upwardly-inclined slope 33 provided at the upper
surface of the at least one sidewall 31 of the first receiving box
30, causing the front end 51 of the cover 50 to be pivotally
rotated and lifted upward. Then, as the rolling frictional portion
53 rolls on the downwardly-inclined slope 35 provided at the upper
surface of the sidewall 31, the front end 51 of the cover 51 is
pivotally rotated downward.
When the first receiving box 30 is pushed in, the front end 51 of
the cover 50 is pivotally rotated and lifted upward as the rolling
frictional portion 53 rolls on the downwardly-inclined slope 35,
and then is rotated downward as the rolling frictional portion 53
rolls on the upwardly-inclined slope 33.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the second receiving box
in accordance with the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 5, the second receiving box 40 may include two
receiving boxes arranged in parallel underneath the second shelf
22b. The two second receiving boxes 40 can be pulled out or pushed
in as the boxes 40 slide forward or rearward by guide members 41,
which are installed at both sides and at the center of the second
shelf 22b. In this case, the guide members 41 are provided with
rollers 42, respectively, to achieve smooth sliding of the second
receiving boxes 40. Each second receiving box 40 has an open top,
such that food, etc. can be put into the second receiving box 40
after the second receiving box 40 is pulled out. Once the second
receiving box 40 is again pushed in, the top of the second
receiving box 40 is closed by the second shelf 22b, allowing the
second receiving box 40 to define an independent receiving
space.
Hereinafter, operation of the first and second receiving boxes for
the refrigerator in accordance with the present embodiment will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
FIGS. 6 to 8 are side views illustrating operation of the first and
second receiving boxes in accordance with the present
embodiment.
When a user initially pulls out the first receiving box 30, as
shown in FIG. 6, each rolling frictional portion 53 of the cover 50
first rolls on the upwardly-inclined slope 33 of the first
receiving box 30. In this case, since the rear end 52 of the cover
50 is hingedly coupled to enable pivotal rotation of the cover 50,
the front end 51 of the cover 50 is pivotally rotated and lifted
upward during rolling of the rolling frictional portion 53 on the
upwardly-inclined slopes 33. Thereby, the front end 51 of the cover
50 is spaced apart from the first receiving box 30, providing a
wide open space between the cover 50 and the first receiving box
30. Consequently, there is provided a wide space for entrance/exit
of food into or from the first receiving box 30, allowing the user
to easily put in or take out food.
As the user continuously pulls out the first receiving box 30, as
shown in FIG. 7, the rolling frictional portion 53 rolls on the
horizontal plane 34. During rolling of the rolling frictional
portion 53 on the horizontal plane 34, the front end 51 of the
cover 50 is continuously kept at a position spaced apart from the
first receiving box 30, providing the entrance/exit of food into or
from the first receiving box 30.
Finally, when the user completely pulls out the first receiving box
30, as shown in FIG. 8, the rolling frictional portion 53 rolls on
the downwardly-inclined slope 35. During rolling of the rolling
frictional portion 53 on the downwardly-inclined slope 35, the
front end 51 of the cover 50 is pivotally rotated downward.
Specifically, the front end 51 of the cover 50 is tilted toward the
first receiving box 30 or is brought into contact with the first
receiving box 30. Thus, the cover 50 does not interfere with a
pull-out path of the second receiving box 40. As a result, the
second receiving box 40 can be pulled out even after the first
receiving box 30 is pulled out.
In conclusion, the user can easily interchange food stored in the
first receiving box 30 with food stored in the second receiving box
40 in a state wherein both the first and second receiving boxes 30
and 40 are pulled out together.
As apparent from the above description, the present embodiment
provides a refrigerator, in which food stored in a plurality of
receiving spaces can be easily moved from one receiving space to
another. This has the effect of improving convenience of use of the
receiving spaces, resulting in high consumer satisfaction.
Further, as a result of providing a first receiving box with a
three-section telescopic slide rail, the first receiving box can
achieve an increased pull-out distance. This has the effect of
allowing a user to easily identify food stored in the first
receiving box and achieving convenient storage.
Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the receiving box
is provided with a roller or three-section telescopic slide rail,
and can achieve comfortable sliding operation thereof.
Although the embodiment has been shown and described, it would be
appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in
this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of
the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and
their equivalents.
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