US20070085457A1 - Refrigerator - Google Patents
Refrigerator Download PDFInfo
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- US20070085457A1 US20070085457A1 US11/581,365 US58136506A US2007085457A1 US 20070085457 A1 US20070085457 A1 US 20070085457A1 US 58136506 A US58136506 A US 58136506A US 2007085457 A1 US2007085457 A1 US 2007085457A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- rail
- inner casing
- unit
- combining
- drawer
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D25/00—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled
- F25D25/02—Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled by shelves
- F25D25/024—Slidable shelves
- F25D25/025—Drawers
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D23/00—General constructional features
- F25D23/06—Walls
- F25D23/065—Details
- F25D23/067—Supporting elements
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator having a drawer type storage compartment.
- the main body cabinet of the refrigerator is manufactured at a normal room temperature (approximately 25° C.).
- the refrigerator is used in a state that the storage compartment is maintained at a comparatively low temperature. Accordingly, once a temperature of the main body cabinet becomes low, the foam member and the inner casing contract and the shapes of these members are deformed e.g., from A to A′ in FIG. 5 .
- an inner temperature thereof is maintained generally at ⁇ 18° C. or below, so that a space between opposite inner surfaces of the inner casing is increased by 3 to 4 mm due to a contraction of the foam member and the inner casing.
- the head portion has an inclined portion with a diameter that progressively increases from the rail guide portion; and the second combining hole has a shape corresponding to a shape of the inclined portion.
- the length of the rail guide portion in the axial direction of the screw is approximately 1 to 3 mm.
- the drawer unit has brackets combined with the pair of rail units, respectively; and a coupling member connecting the brackets to maintain an interval between the rail units.
- the support part is depress on a surface of the inner casing for receiving and supporting the rail units and is extended in a longitudinal direction of the rail unit.
- a refrigerator with an inner casing forming a drawer type storage compartment, an outer casing forming an outer appearance of the drawer type storage compartment, a foam member disposed between the inner casing and the outer casing, and a drawer unit being received in and combined with the drawer type storage compartment
- the refrigerator having: at least a pair of rail units provided between the inner casing and the drawer unit enabling the drawer unit to slide against the inner casing; rail brackets, provided at the inner casing and respectively supporting the rail units; and a plurality of combining members, each having a stable support section firmly connecting the rail bracket to the inner casing, and a free support section movably supporting the rail unit in a direction approximately perpendicular to a surface of the inner casing, the free support section combining the rail bracket and the rail unit.
- FIG. 3C is a sectional view showing a location of the combining part and the rail unit under a low temperature state
- Each rail unit 40 is provided between the inner casing 2 and the drawer unit 30 to make the drawer unit 30 slide against the inner casing 2 . As shown in FIG. 1 , a pair of rail units 40 are disposed and spaced apart from each other at a certain interval. Alternatively, two or more pairs of the rail units may be provided.
- each rail unit 40 has a guide rail 41 coupled with the support part 7 and slide rails 42 and 43 , which are combined with the guide rail 41 and the drawer unit 30 and move slidably against the guide rail 41 .
- the side rails 41 , 42 , and 43 are separated by rolling elements 44 .
- the number of the slide rails 42 and 43 can be varied as necessary. For example, according to one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2 , in a case that two slide rails, that is, a first slide rail 42 and a second slide rail 43 are provided, the slide rails are drawn out through two steps.
- the body portion 61 of the screw 60 is passed through the second combining hole 52 formed on the guide rail 41 and combined with the first combining hole 51 formed on the support part 7 .
- the rail guide portion 63 has an outer diameter that is larger than that of the body portion 61 , the rail guide portion 63 is passed through the second first combining hole 52 , but not received in the first combining hole 51 .
- the second combining hole 52 has a shape corresponding to a shape of the head portion 62 .
- the inner casing 2 is contracting and a space between opposite surfaces of the inner casing 2 forming the storage compartments 23 and 24 is increased when the cooling operation is performed, a space between a pair of rail units 40 is constantly maintained, so that a sliding movability of the drawer unit 30 is enhanced.
- the body portion 61 of the screw 60 on which the thread is formed for combining with the first combining hole 51 , act as the stable support section of the combining member, and the rail guide portion 63 , extended from the body portion 61 and received in the second combining hole 52 to enable the rail unit 40 to move when the foam member 4 contracts, acts as the free support section of the combining member.
- the rail unit 40 is firmly supported to the inner casing 2 by the support part 7 or to the rail bracket 17 in the approximately perpendicular direction in which the load of the drawer unit 30 is applied and is firmly supported to the inner casing 2 by the combining part 60 in the direction in which the drawer unit 30 slides. Also, the rail unit 40 is supported movably to the inner casing 2 by the combining part 60 in the direction approximately perpendicular to a surface of the inner casing 2 .
- a space between opposite surfaces of the inner casing is changed by a contraction of the foam member and inner casing caused by the low temperature operation of the storage compartment, a space between the rail units can be constantly maintained, so that a sliding movability of the drawer unit can be enhanced when the operation of the storage compartment is carried out at the low temperature.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Refrigerator Housings (AREA)
Abstract
A refrigerator, with an inner casing forming a drawer type storage compartment and a drawer unit being received in and combined with the drawer type storage compartment, the refrigerator having: at least a pair of rail units provided between the inner casing and the drawer unit enabling the drawer unit to slide against the inner casing; a support part positioned at the inner casing, supporting the rail unit, and preventing the rail unit from moving upward and downward; and a combining part combining the rail unit with the support part, the combining part enabling the support part to move relative to the rail unit in a direction approximately perpendicular to a surface of the inner casing.
Description
- This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2005-0097639, filed on Oct. 17, 2005, and Korean Patent Application No.10-2005-0133858, filed on Dec. 29, 2005, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator having a drawer type storage compartment.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- In general, the refrigerator is an apparatus for storing food at a low temperature, and having a main body cabinet in which one or more storage compartments are formed; doors for opening/closing the storage compartments, respectively; and a refrigerating apparatus provided in the main body cabinet for refrigerating each storage compartment. Food is stored in each storage compartment.
- The main body cabinet has an inner casing in which a storage compartment is formed and an outer casing forming an appearance of the refrigerator. And a space formed between the inner casing and the outer casing is filled with a foam member.
- Doors are classified into a hinge type door combined hingeably with the main body cabinet through one side thereof, and a drawer type door that slides in and out of the storage compartment. Of these doors, the drawer type door, such as that disclosed in Korean Patent Application No.10-2003-0081061, has a door plate provided slidably at each storage compartment to open and close the storage compartment, rail units, each being provided between the respective door plate and the inner casing, and a container basket combined with the door plate and receiving the food to be stored.
- The rail units are installed opposingly facing both side walls of the storage compartment (that is, the inner casing), thus enabling the drawer type door to slide. A combining structure and an operation of such drawer type door are described with reference to
FIG. 5 as follows. - Each
rail unit 140 has aguide rail 141 combined with asupport section 107 provided in amain body cabinet 101 and one ormore slide rails guide rail 141. Themain body cabinet 101 includes aninner casing 102, an outer casing (not shown), and afoam member 104 disposed between theinner casing 102 and the outer casing. Theguide rail 141 is combined with thesupport section 107 provided in themain body cabinet 101 by ascrew 160, the outermost slide rail 143 (with respect to theinner casing 102—in other words, the slide rail closes to the drawer type door) is combined with a side of the drawer type door. According to such constitution, a user grasps a handle of the drawer type door and can slidably draw the drawer type door in and out of the storage compartment. Therail units 140 facilitate a sliding movement of the drawer type door. - In general, the main body cabinet of the refrigerator is manufactured at a normal room temperature (approximately 25° C.). On the other hand, the refrigerator is used in a state that the storage compartment is maintained at a comparatively low temperature. Accordingly, once a temperature of the main body cabinet becomes low, the foam member and the inner casing contract and the shapes of these members are deformed e.g., from A to A′ in
FIG. 5 . As an example, when the storage compartment is used as the freezing compartment, an inner temperature thereof is maintained generally at −18° C. or below, so that a space between opposite inner surfaces of the inner casing is increased by 3 to 4 mm due to a contraction of the foam member and the inner casing. - In such a refrigerator, accordingly, once the inner casing is contracted, the rail units combined integrally with the inner casing are moved together with the inner casing, and so a space between the rail units combined to opposite sides of the inner casing becomes wider compared with the space at the normal room temperature. On the other hand, since the door plate and/or the combining member connecting a pair of rail units are configured to have regular intervals and are not influenced by the contraction of the inner casing and the foam member, the drawer type door unit has a problem in that a distance between the rail units over their overall length can not be maintained constantly, and a disposition shape of the rail units is deformed into a trapezoid shape or a lozenge shape, and so a sliding movability of the drawer type door unit decreases.
- Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a refrigerator that can maintain constantly a space between the rail units though an inner casing is contracted at a low temperature.
- The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention can be achieved by providing a refrigerator, with an inner casing forming a drawer type storage compartment and a drawer unit being received in and combined with the drawer type storage compartment, the refrigerator having: at least a pair of rail units provided between the inner casing and the drawer unit enabling the drawer unit to slide against the inner casing; a support part positioned at the inner casing, supporting the rail unit, and preventing the rail unit from moving upward and downward; and a combining part combining the rail unit with the support part, the combining part enabling the support part to move relative to the rail unit in a direction approximately perpendicular to a surface of the inner casing.
- According to an aspect of the present invention, the support part has a first combining hole positioned thereon; the rail unit has a second combining hole positioned thereon to correspond to the first combining hole; and the combining part has a screw passed through the second combining hole and combined with the first combining hole, the screw having a body portion having a thread to combine with the first combining hole, a head portion radially extended from an axial direction of the screw, and a rail guide portion formed between the body portion and the screw head portion enabling the support part to move relative to the rail unit.
- According to an aspect of the present invention, the rail guide portion has a diameter that is larger than that of the body portion.
- According to an aspect of the present invention, the head portion has an inclined portion with a diameter that progressively increases from the rail guide portion; and the second combining hole has a shape corresponding to a shape of the inclined portion.
- According to an aspect of the present invention, the length of the rail guide portion in the axial direction of the screw is approximately 1 to 3 mm.
- According to an aspect of the present invention, the rail unit has a guide rail combined with the support part; and a slide rail combined with the guide rail and the drawer unit, wherein the slide rail slides against the guide rail, and the second combining hole is positioned on the guide rail.
- According to an aspect of the present invention, the drawer unit has brackets combined with the pair of rail units, respectively; and a coupling member connecting the brackets to maintain an interval between the rail units.
- According to an aspect of the present invention, the support part is depress on a surface of the inner casing for receiving and supporting the rail units and is extended in a longitudinal direction of the rail unit.
- The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention can be achieved by providing a refrigerator with an inner casing forming a drawer type storage compartment, an outer casing forming an outer appearance of the drawer type storage compartment, a foam member disposed between the inner casing and the outer casing, and a drawer unit being received in and combined with the drawer type storage compartment, the refrigerator having: at least a pair of rail units provided between the inner casing and the drawer unit enabling the drawer unit to slide against the inner casing; rail brackets, provided at the inner casing and respectively supporting the rail units; and a plurality of combining members, each having a stable support section firmly connecting the rail bracket to the inner casing, and a free support section movably supporting the rail unit in a direction approximately perpendicular to a surface of the inner casing, the free support section combining the rail bracket and the rail unit.
- According to an aspect of the present invention, the stable support section and the free support section form a single body as the combining member.
- According to an aspect of the present invention, the stable support section and the free support section are formed independently to be combined detachably with each other to form the combining member.
- According to an aspect of the present invention, the inner casing is provided with a depression portion formed on a surface thereof, and the rail bracket is received in the depression portion.
- According to the embodiment of the present invention, the rail bracket has a first combining hole; the rail unit has a second combining hole corresponding to the first combining hole; the stable support section of the combining member has a body portion that combines with the first combining hole; the free support section of the combining member has a rail guide portion extended from the body portion and being received in the second combining hole enabling the inner casing, foam member, and the rail bracket to move relative to the rail unit when the foam member and inner casing contract; the rail unit has a guide rail combined with the rail bracket, and a slide rail that is combined with the guide rail and the drawer unit and slides against the guide rail, the second combining hole being positioned on the guide rail.
- According to an aspect of the present invention, the rail bracket comprises a plate portion on which the first combining hole is formed and a wing portion extended from the plate portion in the direction approximately perpendicular to the surface of the inner casing to support the rail unit.
- According to an aspect of the present invention, the wing portion is formed to support an upper side and a lower side of the rail unit.
- The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention can be achieved by providing a refrigerator having: an inner casing; a rail unit provided in the inner casing; and a screw moveably combining the rail unit with the inner casing, the screw having a body portion connected firmly to the inner casing, a head portion having a diameter that is larger than that of the body portion, and a rail guide portion disposed between the body portion and the head portion and having a diameter that is larger than that of the body portion and smaller than that of the head portion, to movably support the rail unit with respect to the inner casing.
- According to an aspect of the present invention, the inner casing has a first combining hole; the rail unit has a second combining hole corresponding to the first combining hole; the body portion has a thread to combine with the first combining hole; and the rail guide portion is received in the second combining hole and enables relative movement of the inner casing with respect to the rail unit in a direction approximately perpendicular to a surface of the inner casing.
- According to an aspect of the present invention, the inner casing the inner casing has a rail bracket to support the rail unit; and the first combining hole is positioned on the rail bracket.
- According to an aspect of the present invention, the rail unit has a guide rail connected to the rail bracket, and a slide rail combined with the guide rail and a drawer unit that moves in and out of the refrigerator via the rail unit; the slide rail slides against the guide rail; and the second combining hole is positioned on the guide rail.
- Additional and/or aspects and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in part in the description that follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
- The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the prevent invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompany drawings, of which:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state that a drawer unit of the refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention is opened; -
FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing a constitution of a rail unit and a combining part ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3A is an exploded view of the combining part ofFIG. 2 ; -
FIG. 3B is a sectional view showing a location of the combining part and the rail unit under a normal temperature state; -
FIG. 3C is a sectional view showing a location of the combining part and the rail unit under a low temperature state; -
FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating the refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention; and -
FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing a combining state between a combining section and a rail unit of a related refrigerator. - Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The embodiments are described to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.
- In the description regarding the embodiment of the present invention, although a refrigerator comprising a freezing compartment and a refrigeration compartment is described as one example, the present invention may also be applicable to various kinds of refrigerators used for storing foods at a lower temperature, such as a kimchi refrigerator.
- Referring to
FIG. 1 , the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention has aninner casing 2 formingstorage compartments main body cabinet 1 having afoam member 4 disposed between theinner casing 2 and the outer casing;drawer unit 30 opening/closing, drawer type storage compartments 23 and 24 of the storage compartments 21, 22, 23 and 24;rail units 40 provided at opposing sides of thedrawer unit 30 and placed between the drawer unit and theinner casing 2, respectively; a support part 7 provided in theinner casing 2; and a combiningpart 50 for combining movably therail unit 40 with the support part 7. - The
main body cabinet 1 includes theinner casing 2, forming a plurality of storage compartments 21, 22, 23 and 24 and the outer casing, which is spaced apart from theinner casing 2 and forms an external appearance of the refrigerator. A space between the outer casing and theinner casing 2 is filled with thefoam member 4. - The storage compartments comprise a freezing
compartment 21 and arefrigerating compartment 22 partitioned horizontally by amain partition 5; and a fistauxiliary storage compartment 23 and a secondauxiliary storage compartment 24 partitioned vertically by anauxiliary partition 6. The freezingcompartment 21 is provided for storing goods at a temperature below a freezing temperature. For example, a temperature of the freezingcompartment 21 is set in the range of approximately −18° C. to −25° C. Therefrigerating compartment 22 is provided for storing goods at a temperature above a freezing temperature. For example, a temperature of therefrigerating compartment 22 is set in the range of approximately 0° C. to 10° C. - The first
auxiliary storage compartment 23 may be provided as an auxiliary refrigerating compartment in which a refrigeration function is performed to store refrigerated foods. The secondauxiliary storage compartment 24 may be provided as an auxiliary freezing compartment in which a freezing function is performed to store frozen foods. Here, the firstauxiliary storage compartment 23 and the secondauxiliary storage compartment 24 can be used for other purpose and, according to one embodiment, can be constituted as a single auxiliary storage compartment. - Doors are installed at the
main body cabinet 1 to close/open front openings of each of the storage compartments 21, 22, 23 and 24. The door can close/open an opening of each of the storage compartments 21, 22, 23 and 24 in various manners. For example, a freezingcompartment door 35 and arefrigerating compartment door 36, as shown inFIG. 1 , a side of the door can be installed hingeably at themain body cabinet 1. Also, according to one embodiment, first auxiliarystorage compartment door 32 and a second auxiliarystorage compartment door 38 are drawer type doors that slide to close/open the respective storage compartments. - The
drawer unit 30, for example, has adoor plate 32 for opening/closing a front opening of theauxiliary storage compartment 23 and acontainer basket 30 a placed between therail units 40 to receive goods to be stored. Ahandle 34 may be provided at thedoor plate 32 for easily opening/closing thedrawer unit 30. According to one embodiment, thedoor plate 32 and thecontainer basket 30 a are formed integrally with each other. According to another embodiment, thedoor plate 32 and thecontainer basket 30 a are provided to be attachable/detachable to each other. - Each
rail unit 40 is provided between theinner casing 2 and thedrawer unit 30 to make thedrawer unit 30 slide against theinner casing 2. As shown inFIG. 1 , a pair ofrail units 40 are disposed and spaced apart from each other at a certain interval. Alternatively, two or more pairs of the rail units may be provided. - For example, each
rail unit 40 has aguide rail 41 coupled with the support part 7 andslide rails guide rail 41 and thedrawer unit 30 and move slidably against theguide rail 41. According to one embodiment, the side rails 41, 42, and 43 are separated by rollingelements 44. The number of the slide rails 42 and 43 can be varied as necessary. For example, according to one embodiment, as shown inFIG. 2 , in a case that two slide rails, that is, afirst slide rail 42 and asecond slide rail 43 are provided, the slide rails are drawn out through two steps. That is, when thedrawer unit 30 is drawn out, thefirst slide rail 42 is drawn out along theguide rail 41, and then thesecond slide rail 43 is drawn out along thefirst slide rail 42. If three or more slide rails are provided, a draw-out distance of thedrawer unit 30 can be increased in proportion to the number of the slide rails. According to the embodiment ofFIG. 2 ,slide rail 43, which is the very last to be drawn out, is coupled with abracket 31 by a fixingmember 33. It will be understood that embodiments of the present invention are not limited to successive movements ofguide rails 42 an 43. In other words,guide rails - Referring to
FIG. 2 andFIG. 3A , the support part 7 is formed at theinner casing 2 to support therail unit 40. The support part 7 withstands the load of therail unit 40 and thedrawer unit 30 supported by therail unit 40, and so the support section 7 prevents the load of therail unit 40 and thedrawer unit 30 from being applied to combiningpart 50. Accordingly, therail unit 40 can be moved smoothly along arail guide portion 63 to be described later. - The support part 7 can be formed in various shapes. For example, as shown in
FIG. 2 , the support part 7 can be formed to be depressed on theinner casing 2. Alternatively, the support part 7 can be formed to be protruded on theinner casing 2. On the other hand, it is desirable an internal shape of the support part 7 corresponds to a shape of theguide rail 41. Alternatively the combiningpart 50 can withstand directly the load of therail unit 40 and thedrawer unit 30 without the support part 7. - To prevent a space between the
foam member 4 and therail unit 40 from being changed when thefoam member 4 is contracted at a lower temperature, the combiningpart 50 movably combines therail unit 40 with the support part 7. - According to one embodiment, the combining
part 50 includes a plurality of first combining holes or pockets 51 formed on the support part 7; a plurality of second combining holes 52 formed on therail units 40 and corresponding to the first combiningholes 51; and a plurality ofscrews 60, each being passed through the second combininghole 52 and screw-combined with the first combininghole 51. The number of the first combiningholes 51 and the second combining holes 52 can be varied as necessary. - The
screw 60 is divided into abody portion 61, ahead portion 62, and therail guide portion 63. - The
body portion 61 is passed through the second combininghole 52 and screw-combined with the first combininghole 51. A thread is formed on an outer circumference surface of thebody portion 61 to screw-combine thebody portion 61 with the first combininghole 51. - The
head portion 62 extends from thescrew 60 at one end of thebody portion 61 to prevent theguide rail 41 from being separated from the support part 7. Thehead portion 62 can be formed in various shapes. For example, as shown inFIG. 2 , thehead portion 62 can be configured with aninclined portion 62 a whose diameter is progressively increased from therail guide portion 63 toward an end thereof and an steppedportion 62 b preventing theguide rail 41 from being separated from the support part 7. As shown inFIG. 2 , if theinclined portion 62 a is formed at thehead portion 62, theguide rail 41 is relatively moved in the direction opposite to a direction in which theinner casing 2 is contracted, and so thescrew 60 can be moved to its normal position. Also, with theinclined portion 62 a, a support strength for theguide rail 41 can be increased by increasing a contact area between theguide rail 41 and thescrew 60, which enables a reduction in a thickness of theguide rail 41. Alternatively, thescrew 60 can be formed with only the steppedportion 62 b without theinclined portion 62 a. - The
rail guide portion 63 is positioned between thebody portion 61 and thehead portion 62 so that, when thefoam member 4 is contracted, theguide rail 41 can be moved relatively in the direction opposite to a direction in which theinner casing 2 is contracted. That is, ifinner casing 2 contracts, theguide rail 41 can be maintained in an absolute position. In other words, ifinner casing 2 contracts,guide rail 41 doesn't move withinner casing 2. According to such a structure, although thefoam member 4 is contracted, a space between therail units 40 can be maintained constantly. According to one embodiment, thescrew 60 may be formed such that an outer diameter of therail guide portion 63 is larger than that of thebody portion 61. - A length of the
rail guide portion 63 can be varied depending on an amount of contraction of thefoam member 4 and theinner casing 2. For example, in a case that a width of theinner casing 2 of the freezingcompartment 21 is increased by 3-4 mm by a contraction of thefoam member 4 andinner casing 2, thescrew 60 can be designed such that a length of therail guide portion 63 is 1.5 to 2 mm, which is a half of amount of contraction of thefoam member 4 andinner casing 2. - A coupling member 70 (see
FIG. 1 ) is provided to connect end portions of a pair ofbrackets 31 to which therail units 40 are combined, and so a distance between therail units 40 is maintained. Thecoupling member 70 can be made of any material that does not have elasticity. According to such structure, thebracket 31, to which therail unit 40 is combined by the fixingmember 33, is combined with thedoor plate 32 through one end thereof, and the other end of thebracket 31 is coupled with thecoupling member 70, and so a distance between therail units 40 can be maintained. - Hereinafter, an operation of the present invention will be described with reference to
FIG. 3B andFIG. 3C . - First, referring to
FIG. 3B , thebody portion 61 of thescrew 60 is passed through the second combininghole 52 formed on theguide rail 41 and combined with the first combininghole 51 formed on the support part 7. At this time, since therail guide portion 63 has an outer diameter that is larger than that of thebody portion 61, therail guide portion 63 is passed through the second first combininghole 52, but not received in the first combininghole 51. The second combininghole 52 has a shape corresponding to a shape of thehead portion 62. In this embodiment, since thescrew 60 is further provided with therail guide portion 63 between thebody portion 61 and thehead portion 62, at a normal room temperature, thescrew head portion 62 protrudes from a surface of theguide rail 41 as much as a length of therail guide portion 63. - Next, referring to
FIG. 3C , in a case that the a cooling operation for the storage compartments 23 and 24 begins, thefoam member 4 and theinner casing 2 contract, and so a surface of theinner casing 2 is transferred from a position A (original location) to a position A′. At this time, since theguide rail 41 has a movable margin as much as a length of therail guide portion 63, theguide rail 41 is not moved according to the contraction of theinner casing 2, but can be maintained at its original location. Accordingly, although theinner casing 2 is contracting and a space between opposite surfaces of theinner casing 2 forming the storage compartments 23 and 24 is increased when the cooling operation is performed, a space between a pair ofrail units 40 is constantly maintained, so that a sliding movability of thedrawer unit 30 is enhanced. - Below, a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to
FIG. 4 . -
FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the refrigerator according to the second embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIG. 4 , the refrigerator is provided with a rail bracket 17 that is provided at theinner casing 2 to support therail unit 40; and a combining member having a stable support section combined firmly to the rail bracket 17 and a free support section movably supporting therail unit 40 in a direction approximately perpendicular to a surface of theinner casing 2. - Unlike the support part 7 in the first embodiment, which is formed as a part of the
inner casing 2 and provided to support therail unit 40, the rail bracket 17 is provided at theinner casing 2 as a separate member to support therail unit 40. The rail bracket 17 is made of material such as metal or the like, having a high strength and rigidity to reinforce a supporting force of the rail bracket 17 for therail unit 40 to be supported to theinner casing 2. The rail bracket 17 is received and supported in adepression portion 2 a of theinner casing 2. A surface of theinner casing 2 is concaved to form thedepression portion 2 a for supporting the rail bracket 17. Agroove 2 b is formed on thedepression portion 2 a of theinner casing 2 in the direction approximately perpendicular to the plate surface of theinner casing 2. Aprotrusion 18 a to be received in thegroove 2 b is formed on aplate portion 18 of the rail bracket 17. According to the above structure, the rail bracket 17 is stably supported to theinner casing 2, and so therail unit 40 can be supported by the rail bracket 17. According to another embodiment, thedepression portion 2 a is not formed on theinner casing 2, and so the rail bracket 17 is supported to the flat plate surface of theinner casing 2. According to another embodiment, the rail bracket 17 is combined with or supported to theinner casing 2 through conventional combining means such as the screw and the like. Alternatively, According to yet another embodiment, the rail bracket 17 is supported to theinner casing 2 by foaming integrally when thefoam member 4 is foamed. - A combining pin, a combining bar or other member can be used as the combining member provided for movably combining the
rail unit 40 with the rail bracket 17. According to one embodiment, thescrew 60 is used as the combining member. The first combining holes 51 are positioned on the rail bracket 17 and theinner casing 2, and the second combining holes 52 are provided on therail unit 40 corresponding to the first combiningholes 51, respectively. Thebody portion 61 of thescrew 60, on which the thread is formed for combining with the first combininghole 51, act as the stable support section of the combining member, and therail guide portion 63, extended from thebody portion 61 and received in the second combininghole 52 to enable therail unit 40 to move when thefoam member 4 contracts, acts as the free support section of the combining member. - The rail bracket 17 is provided with the
plate portion 18, on which the first combiningholes 51 are positioned, and awing portion 19 extended from theplate portion 18 in a direction approximately perpendicular to the surface of theinner casing 2 to support therail unit 40. Thewing portion 19 is formed to support an upper side and a lower side of therail unit 40. According to another embodiment, thewing portion 19 is formed to support only a lower side of therail unit 40. - Since the
wing portion 19 withstands the load of therail unit 40 and thedrawer unit 30 supported by therail unit 40, thewing portion 19 prevents the load of therail unit 40 and thedrawer unit 30 from being applied to thescrew 60 and the second combininghole 52, so that theguide rail 41 can be moved smoothly along therail guide portion 63. - In the refrigerators according to embodiments of the present invention, the
rail unit 40 is firmly supported to theinner casing 2 by the support part 7 or to the rail bracket 17 in the approximately perpendicular direction in which the load of thedrawer unit 30 is applied and is firmly supported to theinner casing 2 by the combiningpart 60 in the direction in which thedrawer unit 30 slides. Also, therail unit 40 is supported movably to theinner casing 2 by the combiningpart 60 in the direction approximately perpendicular to a surface of theinner casing 2. - In the refrigerator according to the present invention, as described above, although a space between opposite surfaces of the inner casing is changed by a contraction of the foam member and inner casing caused by the low temperature operation of the storage compartment, a space between the rail units can be constantly maintained, so that a sliding movability of the drawer unit can be enhanced when the operation of the storage compartment is carried out at the low temperature.
- Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Instead, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.
Claims (20)
1. A refrigerator, including an inner casing forming a drawer type storage compartment and a drawer unit being received in and combined with the drawer type storage compartment, the refrigerator comprising:
at least a pair of rail units provided between the inner casing and the drawer unit enabling the drawer unit to slide against the inner casing;
a support part positioned at the inner casing, supporting the rail unit, and preventing the rail unit from moving upward and downward; and
a combining part combining the rail unit with the support part, the combining part enabling the support part to move relative to the rail unit in a direction approximately perpendicular to a surface of the inner casing.
2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein:
the support part has a first combining hole positioned thereon;
the rail unit has a second combining hole positioned thereon to correspond to the first combining hole; and
the combining part comprises a screw passed through the second combining hole and combined with the first combining hole, the screw comprising
a body portion having a thread to combine with the first combining hole,
a head portion radially extended from an axial direction of the screw, and
a rail guide portion formed between the body portion and the screw head portion enabling the support part to move relative to the rail unit.
3. The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein the rail guide portion has a diameter that is larger than that of the body portion.
4. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the head portion comprises an inclined portion with a diameter that progressively increases from the rail guide portion; and
the second combining hole has a shape corresponding to a shape of the inclined portion.
5. The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein the length of the rail guide portion in the axial direction of the screw is approximately 1 to 3 mm.
6. The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein the rail unit comprises:
a guide rail combined with the support part; and
a slide rail combined with the guide rail and the drawer unit,
wherein the slide rail slides against the guide rail, and the second combining hole is positioned on the guide rail.
7. The refrigerator according to claim 6 , wherein the drawer unit comprises:
brackets combined with the pair of rail units, respectively; and
a coupling member connecting the brackets to maintain an interval between the rail units.
8. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the support part is a depression positioned on a surface of the inner casing to receive and support the rail unit, the depression being extended in a longitudinal direction of the rail unit.
9. A refrigerator, including an inner casing forming a drawer type storage compartment, an outer casing forming an outer appearance of the drawer type storage compartment, a foam member disposed between the inner casing and the outer casing, and a drawer unit being received in and combined with the drawer type storage compartment, the refrigerator comprising:
at least a pair of rail units provided between the inner casing and the drawer unit enabling the drawer unit to slide against the inner casing;
rail brackets, provided at the inner casing and respectively supporting the rail units; and
a plurality of combining members, each having
a stable support section firmly connecting the rail bracket to the inner casing, and
a free support section movably supporting the rail unit in a direction approximately perpendicular to a surface of the inner casing, the free support section combining the rail bracket and the rail unit.
10. The refrigerator according to claim 9 , wherein the stable support section and the free support section form a single body as the combining member.
11. The refrigerator according to claim 9 , wherein the stable support section and the free support section are formed independently to be combined detachably with each other to form the combining member.
12. The refrigerator according to claim 9 , wherein:
the inner casing is provided with a depression portion formed on a surface thereof; and
the rail bracket is received in the depression portion.
13. The refrigerator according to claim 9 , wherein:
the rail bracket has a first combining hole;
the rail unit has a second combining hole corresponding to the first combining hole;
the stable support section of the combining member comprises a body portion that combines with the first combining hole;
the free support section of the combining member comprises a rail guide portion extended from the body portion and being received in the second combining hole enabling the inner casing, foam member, and the rail bracket to move relative to the rail unit when the foam member and inner casing contract;
the rail unit comprises
a guide rail combined with the rail bracket, and
a slide rail that is combined with the guide rail and the drawer unit and slides against the guide rail, the second combining hole being positioned on the guide rail.
14. The refrigerator according to claim 13 , wherein the rail bracket comprises:
a plate portion on which the first combining hole is formed; and
a wing portion extended from the plate portion in the direction approximately perpendicular to the surface of the inner casing, to support the rail unit.
15. The refrigerator according to claim 14 , wherein the wing portion is formed to support an upper side and a lower side of the rail unit.
16. A refrigerator, comprising:
an inner casing;
a rail unit provided in the inner casing; and
a screw moveably combining the rail unit with the inner casing, the screw comprising
a body portion connected firmly to the inner casing,
a head portion having a diameter that is larger than that of the body portion, and
a rail guide portion disposed between the body portion and the head portion and having a diameter that is larger than that of the body portion and smaller than that of the head portion, to movably support the rail unit with respect to the inner casing.
17. The refrigerator according to claim 16 , wherein:
the inner casing has a first combining hole;
the rail unit has a second combining hole corresponding to the first combining hole;
the body portion has a thread to combine with the first combining hole; and
the rail guide portion is received in the second combining hole and enables relative movement of the inner casing with respect to the rail unit in a direction approximately perpendicular to a surface of the inner casing.
18. The refrigerator according to claim 17 , wherein:
the inner casing comprises a rail bracket to support the rail unit; and
the first combining hole is positioned on the rail bracket.
19. The refrigerator according to claim 18 , wherein:
the rail unit comprises
a guide rail connected to the rail bracket, and
a slide rail combined with the guide rail and a drawer unit that moves in and out of the refrigerator via the rail unit;
the slide rail slides against the guide rail; and
the second combining hole is positioned on the guide rail.
20. A refrigerator, including an inner casing forming a drawer type storage compartment and a drawer unit being received in and combined with the drawer type storage compartment, the refrigerator comprising:
a pair of rail units disposed on opposing lateral sides of the drawer, each rail unit comprising
a guide rail having a plurality of holes, and
a slide rail fixedly connected to the drawer and slidably connected to the guide rail to move the drawer into and out of the refrigerator; and
a plurality of screws corresponding to the plurality of holes, each screw being inserted through a corresponding one of the holes, each screw comprising
a guide rail portion,
a body portion, axially extending from a first end of the guide rail portion, having a diameter smaller than that of the guide rail portion, and being fixedly connected to the inner casing, and
a head portion, axially extending from a second end of the guide rail portion opposite the first end, and having a diameter greater than that of the guide rail portion,
wherein each hole has a diameter greater than that of the guide rail portion but less than that of the head portion, enabling relative movement of the inner casing with respect to the guide rail in a direction approximately perpendicular to a surface of the inner casing when the inner casing contracts due to a temperature reduction of the refrigerator.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR20050097639 | 2005-10-17 | ||
KR10-2005-0097639 | 2005-10-17 | ||
KR1020050133858A KR20070042059A (en) | 2005-10-17 | 2005-12-29 | Refrigerator |
KR10-2005-0133858 | 2005-12-29 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20070085457A1 true US20070085457A1 (en) | 2007-04-19 |
Family
ID=37672203
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/581,365 Abandoned US20070085457A1 (en) | 2005-10-17 | 2006-10-17 | Refrigerator |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20070085457A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1775536A3 (en) |
Cited By (10)
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US20080315743A1 (en) * | 2007-06-20 | 2008-12-25 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Refrigerator |
US20090167130A1 (en) * | 2007-12-28 | 2009-07-02 | Bagawathkumar Chellappan | A dual drawer bottom mount freezer and mullion |
US20110309732A1 (en) * | 2008-02-29 | 2011-12-22 | Panasonic Corporation | Rail device and refrigerator using the same |
US20140015394A1 (en) * | 2012-07-12 | 2014-01-16 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator and manufacturing method thereof |
US8894167B2 (en) * | 2012-10-30 | 2014-11-25 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Refrigerator |
US20180352952A1 (en) * | 2014-12-10 | 2018-12-13 | Shane MILES | Drawers and components for drawers |
US20190301790A1 (en) * | 2018-03-28 | 2019-10-03 | Bsh-Hausgeraete Gmbh | Household appliance with an alignment contour provided on a wall element |
US20190301789A1 (en) * | 2018-03-30 | 2019-10-03 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Refrigerator |
US10962278B2 (en) * | 2018-04-30 | 2021-03-30 | Prince Castle LLC | Mounting systems for refrigeration devices |
US20220187009A1 (en) * | 2019-05-03 | 2022-06-16 | Electrolux Do Brasil S.A. | Refrigerating apparatus |
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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DE202006010107U1 (en) | 2006-03-29 | 2007-08-09 | Liebherr-Hausgeräte Ochsenhausen GmbH | Cooling or freezing apparatus has cooling or freezing compartment for receiving cooling or freezing goods especially for receiving wild, as well as holder, where cooling goods are directly or indirectly attached to holder |
DE202007013358U1 (en) | 2007-05-30 | 2008-11-20 | Liebherr-Hausgeräte Ochsenhausen GmbH | Fridge and / or freezer |
DE102008016861A1 (en) | 2008-04-02 | 2009-10-08 | BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH | Refrigeration unit with removable module |
CN101603761B (en) * | 2008-06-12 | 2014-04-02 | 海尔集团公司 | Refrigeration equipment and case manufacturing method thereof |
CN102261802B (en) * | 2010-05-28 | 2015-11-25 | 博西华家用电器有限公司 | Storage unit and there are the household electrical appliance of storage unit |
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US8029081B2 (en) * | 2007-06-20 | 2011-10-04 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Refrigerator |
US20080315743A1 (en) * | 2007-06-20 | 2008-12-25 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Refrigerator |
US20090167130A1 (en) * | 2007-12-28 | 2009-07-02 | Bagawathkumar Chellappan | A dual drawer bottom mount freezer and mullion |
US9332840B2 (en) * | 2008-02-29 | 2016-05-10 | Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. | Rail device and refrigerator using the same |
US20110309732A1 (en) * | 2008-02-29 | 2011-12-22 | Panasonic Corporation | Rail device and refrigerator using the same |
US9970703B2 (en) | 2012-07-12 | 2018-05-15 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator and manufacturing method thereof |
US9429357B2 (en) * | 2012-07-12 | 2016-08-30 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator and manufacturing method thereof |
US20140015394A1 (en) * | 2012-07-12 | 2014-01-16 | Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. | Refrigerator and manufacturing method thereof |
US8894167B2 (en) * | 2012-10-30 | 2014-11-25 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Refrigerator |
US20180352952A1 (en) * | 2014-12-10 | 2018-12-13 | Shane MILES | Drawers and components for drawers |
US10588410B2 (en) * | 2014-12-10 | 2020-03-17 | Shane MILES | Drawers and components for drawers |
US20190301790A1 (en) * | 2018-03-28 | 2019-10-03 | Bsh-Hausgeraete Gmbh | Household appliance with an alignment contour provided on a wall element |
US10823493B2 (en) * | 2018-03-28 | 2020-11-03 | Bsh Hausgeraete Gmbh | Household appliance with an alignment contour provided on a wall element |
US20190301789A1 (en) * | 2018-03-30 | 2019-10-03 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Refrigerator |
US10648727B2 (en) * | 2018-03-30 | 2020-05-12 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Refrigerator |
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US10962278B2 (en) * | 2018-04-30 | 2021-03-30 | Prince Castle LLC | Mounting systems for refrigeration devices |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1775536A3 (en) | 2013-01-23 |
EP1775536A2 (en) | 2007-04-18 |
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Legal Events
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., KOREA, REPUBLIC OF Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:PARK, SUNG-CHEUL;LEE, BYUNG-MOO;OH, JAE-SEK;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:018431/0841 Effective date: 20061013 |
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STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |