Storage box assembly and refrigerator including the same

The storage box assembly includes a storage box, a box cover seated on a top surface of the storage box, a housing which accommodates the storage box, and an auto closing unit which connects a bottom portion of the storage box with the housing to automatically close the storage box. Here, top ends of both sides of the storage box and bottom ends of both sides of the box cover slant downward toward the rear to be engaged with one another.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0168616 filed on Nov. 28, 2014, whose entire disclosure is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

A storage box assembly and a refrigerator including the same are disclosed herein.

Refrigerators are home appliances used to keep food refrigerated or frozen for a long time. Refrigerators have been enlarged and have become multifunctional according to a change in dietary life and consumers' diversified tastes. As refrigerators have been enlarged, a plurality of storage spaces are divided and formed in a compartment. Further, to keep food stored in each storage space fresh, an airtight function is necessary to prevent outdoor air penetration.

In the case of a storage space which accommodates a storage box having a drawer shape, a cover member covering an open top surface of the storage box is separated from the storage box to allow the storage box to be withdrawn smoothly. Further, when the storage box is completely inserted into the storage space, the cover member creates a seal with the top surface of the storage box to provide an airtight function inside the storage box.

Korean Patent Publication No. 2008-0125370 (hereinafter, referred to as a cited reference), filed by the applicant of the present disclosure, has been developed to provide aspects described above. However, when a drawer is withdrawn, the drawer cover repetitively tilts forward and backward. During a process of withdrawing the drawer, a front end of the drawer cover contacts a top surface of the drawer resulting in a frictional force.

Further, a front drawer protrusion located close to a front of the drawer may be damaged or may be covered with foreign substances when the drawer is withdrawn completely. Due to the configuration, the drawer cover while seated on the top surface of the drawer generates noise when the drawer is withdrawn. When a user does not completely close the drawer, the top surface of the drawer may not be in completely close contact with the drawer cover to prevent a good seal for air tightness.

The above reference is incorporated by reference herein where appropriate for appropriate teachings of additional or alternative details, features and/or technical background.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 and 2are perspective views of a refrigerator including a storage box assembly20according to an embodiment. The storage box assembly20may be installed inside at least one of a refrigerating compartment or a freezer compartment. The storage box assembly20may be installed in different types of refrigerators including but not limited to a bottom-freezer type refrigerator, a French door type refrigerator, a side-by-side type refrigerator or a top-mount type refrigerator.

The French door may correspond to a pair of pivoting doors which open and close a single storage space. A left door and a right door are pivotably connected to a left edge and a right edge of a refrigerator body and may entirely or partially open the storage space. The bottom-freezer type refrigerator may be a refrigerator where a freezer compartment is disposed below a refrigerating compartment. The side-by-side type refrigerator may be a refrigerator in which a freezer compartment and a refrigerating compartment are adjacently disposed left and right. The top-mount type refrigerator may be a refrigerator in which a freezer compartment is disposed above a refrigerating compartment. A refrigerator1having the storage box assembly20may include a cabinet10having a storage room therein and a door11which opens and closes the storage room. The storage room may include a refrigerating compartment101and a freezer compartment102. The door11may include a refrigerating compartment door111which opens and closes the refrigerating compartment101and a freezer compartment door112which opens and closes the freezer compartment102. The refrigerating compartment door111is provided with a French door and the freezer compartment door112is provided with a drawer type door. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The freezer compartment door112, as shown in the drawings, may be provided as a drawer type door or may be provided as a pivoting door like the refrigerating compartment door111.

The storage box assembly20may be provided in at least one of the refrigerating compartment101or the freezer compartment102. As shown, a pair of storage box assemblies20are disposed in the width direction of the refrigerating compartment101and are provided as a single module. However, the single storage box assembly20may be installed in at least one of a refrigerating compartment or a freezer compartment of a side-by-side type refrigerator.

The refrigerating compartment door111may include a left refrigerating compartment door and a right refrigerating compartment door and an ice-making room114may be provided in a rear side of one of a pair of refrigerating compartment doors. A dispenser12for allowing ice or water to be extracted may be provided at a front side of the refrigerating compartment door in which the ice-making room114is provided. Ice formed at the ice-making room114may be extracted through the dispenser12without opening the refrigerating compartment door. A plurality of door baskets113may be mounted on a rear side of the refrigerating compartment door111and may be detachably mounted on the refrigerating compartment door111.

A plurality of shelves103may be vertically arranged at certain intervals inside the refrigerating compartment101. At least some of the plurality of shelves103may be slidably withdrawn forward. A storage table100may be horizontally mounted at a point spaced downward at a certain interval from a lowest one of the plurality of shelves103. The storage table100may be fixedly mounted in the refrigerating compartment101or may be mounted to be slidably withdrawn forward like the other shelves103.

The storage box assembly20may be installed directly below the storage table100. When a width of the refrigerating compartment101is large enough, a pair of storage box assemblies may be disposed left and right, respectively. Alternatively, when a width of a compartment is relatively small like a side-by-side type refrigerator, a single box assembly may be mounted.

FIG. 3is a perspective view illustrating an exterior of the storage box assembly20according to an embodiment.FIG. 4is an exploded perspective view of the storage box assembly20. As shown inFIG. 3, the storage box assembly20may be disposed below the storage table100and the storage table100may include a frame100aand a panel100bcoupled with a top surface of the frame100a. The panel100bmay include a transparent glass panel or a plastic panel.

The storage box assembly20may include a storage box21in which food is stored, a housing22in which the storage box21is accommodated to be withdrawable forward, a box cover23which is disposed on a top surface of the housing22and seals an open top surface of the storage box21, and an auto closing unit40which connects a bottom surface of the storage box21with a bottom surface of the housing22to allow the storage box21to be automatically closed.

The housing22may include a base plate26on which the auto closing unit40is mounted and an upright side wall24connected to left and right edges of the base plate26. When the two storage box assemblies20are installed left and right, three upright side walls may be installed at the left edge, the right edge, and the center of the base plate26. In the case of the side wall located in the center, guide members may be needed to guide the insertion and withdrawal of the storage box21on both left and right sides. The auto closing unit or the auto latching mechanism40may be mounted in the center of the bottom surface of the storage box21or may be mounted on a left edge and a right edge of the bottom surface.

When the storage box21is withdrawn forward, the box cover23moves upward and is separate from the top surface of the storage box21. When the storage box21is completely inserted into the housing22, the box cover23moves downward to completely close or to be in full contact with the top surface of the storage box21. When the box cover23moves upward or downward, a front end and a rear end of the box cover23simultaneously move upward and downward of the same height. Since the box cover23does not tilt forward or backward while moving upward or downward, the front end or rear end of the box cover23are not in contact with the top surface of the storage box21.

FIG. 5is a perspective view of the storage box21for the storage box assembly20according to an embodiment. The storage box21includes a bottom portion or panel211, a front portion or panel212which extends upward from a front end of the bottom portion211, side portions or panels213which extend upward from a left end and a right end of the bottom portion211, and a rear portion or panel214which extends upward from a rear end of the bottom portion211.

The top surface of the storage box21is open to allow a user to store food in the storage box21through an opening. The front portion212includes a handle formed therein to allow the user to withdraw the storage box21using a hand. The auto closing unit40may be installed at the left edge and right edge of the bottom portion211or in the center of the bottom surface and may be installed in the rear end of the bottom portion211.

A rail or a rail portion215may extend in a direction of the movement of the rail at a bottom end on an outside of the side portion213and a box roller216may be installed at a bottom corner at a rear end on the outside of the side portion213. Functions of the rail portion215and the box roller216will be described below. A lifting member25may be mounted on a top edge of the side portion213. The lifting member or lifter25lifts the box cover23when the storage box21is withdrawn forward. In detail, the lifting member25may include a front lifter251disposed approximately at a center of the side portion213or at a point slightly slanting backward from the center and a rear lifter252disposed in the rear end of the side portion213. Similarly, the lifting member25may be provided on the opposite side portion or panel.

The center of the side portion213means a portion through which a vertical plane which may divide equally the side portion213into a front and a rear portions. The front lifter251may be disposed at the point which slightly slants backward from the center. In more detail, the front lifter251may be disposed at a point in which the front lifter251is not exposed outward even when the storage box21is maximally withdrawn forward. That is, the center of the side portion213or the point which slightly slants backward or offset from the center may be defined as a point in which the front lifter251is not externally exposed at a point where the storage box cannot be withdrawn further.

A height of the front lifter251which protrudes upward from the top surface or edge of the storage box21is identical to a height of the rear lifter252while a width of the rear lift252forward and backward may be larger than a width of the front lift251forward and backward. A reason thereof will be described below with reference to the drawings. Here, the widths of the lifts251and252forward and backward mean widths which extend in a direction of the front and rear of the storage box21.

A top front corner and a top rear corner of each of the front lifter251and the rear lifter252may be rounded at a certain curvature to minimize a frictional force which occurs at a surface in contact with the box cover23. A distance between the front lifter251and the rear lifter252may be a distance to prevent the box cover23from slanting or moving forward or backward while the storage box21is being withdrawn.

For example, when the front lifter251and the rear lifter252are disposed in the rear of the point, which divides equally the box cover23into the front and rear and the distance between the lifts251and252is too small, a moment may occur at the box cover23when the storage box21is being withdrawn or inserted. As the box cover23slants forward or backward, the front end or rear end of the box cover23may be in contact with the top surface of the storage box21and may generate a noise while the storage box21is moving.

The side portion213of the storage box21inclines to allow a height thereof to be reduced toward the rear. A top surface of the side portion213inclines downward toward the rear. In other words, the vertical height of the front portion212may be greater than a vertical height of rear portion214. The front lifter251and the rear lifter252protrude in a direction which vertically intersects at the top surface of the side portion213. Accordingly, each of the front lifter251and the rear lifter252is at a certain angle φ to a vertical plane V. Tilt angles of the front lifter251and the rear lifter252to the vertical V may be identical to a tilt angle of the top surface of the side portion213to a horizontal. In other words, the lifters protrude perpendicularly to the inclined angle of the top surface or edge of the side portion213, but is at angle φ relative to the vertical plane V.

As described above, since the top surface or top edge of the side portion213of the storage box21is formed to slant downward, due to a vector component which operates on the slanting top surface of the storage box21, a force necessary for withdrawing the storage box21is smaller than when the top surface of the storage box21is level. Additionally, compared with a case in which the storage box21and the box cover23are in horizontal contact with each other, contact performance is better when the storage box21and the box cover23are in contact with each other in a slanting state. In an aspect of a sealing force, it is more advantageous to be in contact in the slanting state.

FIG. 6is a perspective view illustrating an outer surface of the side wall24constituting the storage box assembly20according to an embodiment.FIG. 7is a perspective view illustrating an inner surface of the side wall24. The side wall24constituting the storage box assembly20stands upright on an edge of a side of the base plate26. Also, the storage table100is seated on a top surface of the side wall24and the storage box21is accommodated inside a space defined by the housing22and the storage table100. The box cover23moves upward and downward while the storage box21is being inserted or withdrawn but moves upward only to a height not to interfere with the storage table100to prevent a noise from being generated when the storage table100and the box cover23collide with each other.

The side wall24may include a wall body241having an approximate rectangular shape, a rail guide rib243which protrudes from a bottom inside of the wall body241to form a rail guide or a rail guide portion244, and a guide roller201provided at the bottom inside of the wall body241. The rail guide rib243protrudes from a side facing the side portion213of the storage box21. A pair of ribs extend forward and backward from points spaced at a certain interval to certain lengths, thereby forming the rail guide portion244therein. The rail guide portion244accommodates the rail portion215which protrudes from the side of the storage box21.

The guide roller201is disposed in front of the rail guide rib243, and in particular, in front of a lower guide rib, i.e., a lower one of the pair of ribs constituting the rail guide rib243. A bottom surface of the rail portion215is seated on the guide roller201. When the storage box21is inserted into or withdrawn from the housing22, the rail portion215moves into the rail guide portion244or is withdrawn from the rail guide portion244while being seated on the guide roller201. As the storage box21moves, the guide roller201rotates forward and backward, and the box roller216mounted on a rear bottom end of the side portion213of the storage box21moves forward and backward along the rail guide portion244. For the side wall24standing upright at the center of the base plate26and supporting two storage boxes, the rail guide portion244and the guide roller201may be provided at both the inside and outside of the side wall24.

The pair of ribs constituting the rail guide rib243are mutually connected at rear ends thereof, thereby forming a rear end of the rail guide portion244to be blocked. A front end of the rail guide portion244is open to guide the rail portion215into the rail guide portion244and the rear end is blocked to limit the insertion of the storage box21. When the box roller216of the storage box21is in contact with the rear end of the rail guide portion244, the storage box21is maximally inserted into the space defined by the housing22and the storage table100.

A part of a rear area of the rail guide portion244slants downward from a horizontal plane at a certain angle θ in such a way that the storage box21may be automatically inserted into the housing22after being inserted to a certain distance. A slanting portion or rib244aslants downward to the rear end may be formed at a point on a rear side of the rail guide portion244and may slant downward within a range from about 4.5° to about 5.5°. The slanting portion244amay be designed to slant downward at about 5.1°. When the box roller216moves backward along the rail guide portion244and enters the slanting portion244a, the rear end of the storage box21slants downward. As a result thereof, rear surfaces of left and right edges of the front portion212of the storage box21are in close contact with the entire surface of the side wall24.

A hinge groove242is depressed at a certain depth in the top surface of the side wall24and a cover hinge235(refer toFIG. 8) of the box cover23is disposed in the hinge groove242. The hinge groove242may include a front hinge groove242aformed adjacent to a front end of the side wall24and a rear hinge groove242bformed adjacent to a rear end of the side wall24. The front hinge groove242aand the rear hinge groove242bmay have the same depth.

FIG. 8is a top perspective view of the box cover23constituting the storage box assembly20according to an embodiment.FIG. 9is a bottom perspective view of the box cover23.FIG. 10is a side view of the box cover23. The box cover23includes a cover or cover body231having an approximate quadrilateral shape, a front or front portion232which extends downward from a front end of the cover body231, sides or side233which extend downward from left and right edges of the cover body231, and a rear portion234which extends downward from a rear or rear end of the cover body231.

The side portion233of the box cover23slants downward toward a rear thereof to be in precisely close contact with the top surface of the storage box21. A height of a front end of the side portion233of the box cover23is smaller than a height of a rear end. Cover hinges235protrude from both side portions233of the box cover23. The cover hinges235each include a front hinge235awhich protrudes from the front end of the box cover23and a rear hinge235bwhich protrudes from the rear end of the box cover23. The front and rear hinges may be protrusions, and the protrusions may be rollers or pins. The front hinge235ais seated in the front hinge groove242aof the side wall24and the rear hinge235bis seated in the rear hinge groove242bof the side wall24.

The rear hinge235bis located higher than the front hinge235aby a certain length h. This is because the depths of the front hinge groove242aand the rear hinge groove242bare identical but the rear end of the storage box21is lower than the front end. In other words, due to the slanting portion244adefined in the rear of the rail guide portion244formed on the side wall24, the rear end of the storage box21is lower than the front end while the storage box21is being completely inserted into the housing22. To allow a bottom surface of the box cover23to be in completely close contact with the top surface of the storage box21, it is necessary that the rear end of the box cover23is located lower than the front end. Accordingly, it is necessary to form the box cover23to slightly slant downward toward the rear by forming the rear hinge235bat a point higher than the front hinge235a.

When the rear hinge groove242bis deeper than the front hinge groove242a, it is possible to form the front hinge235aand the rear hinge235bat the same height. At a point in time when the box roller216of the storage box21moves out of the slanting portion244aand enters the leveled rail guide portion244, the top surface of the box cover23becomes level.

Cover rails or flanges236extend from bottoms of both sides of the box cover23with certain widths from the front end of the box cover23to the rear end. Each of the cover rails236also included a lift groove237. In detail, the lift groove237is a depressed portion formed to allow the lifting member25to be seated therein and may include a front lift groove237ainto which a protruding portion of the front lifter251is inserted, and a rear lifter groove237binto which a protruding portion of the rear lifter252is inserted.

The front lift groove237ais rounded convex upward and the protruding portion of the front lift251is inserted into a groove formed below the front lift groove237a. The rear lift groove237bis formed at a rear end of the cover rail236in an upward-stepped shape. In detail, unlike the front lift groove237a, the rear lift groove237bhas a stepped shape having an open rear end instead of being convexly stepped upward and bent or rounded downward. Since the cover rail236has a stepped shape which is bent upward and extends to the rear end of the box cover23, the rear end of the rear lift groove237bis open.

The rear lift groove237bmay have a size to partially accommodate the rear lifter252. Since the rear end of the cover rail236partially covers a top surface of the rear lifter252, even when the storage box21is strongly pushed, it is possible to prevent the rear end of the cover rail236from colliding with the rear lifter252and being damaged. A gasket groove238is depressed in the bottom surface of the box cover23and a gasket27is inserted into the gasket groove238.

FIG. 11is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a portion taken along line I-I shown inFIG. 3. The side wall24stands straight at the edge of the side of the base plate26and the storage table100is seated on the top surface of the side wall24. The frame100aconstituting the storage table100is seated on the top surface of the side wall24and the panel100bis seated on and coupled with the frame100a.

A flange217horizontally bent outward from the storage box21is formed at a top end of the storage box21and is in close contact with the cover rail236of the box cover23. The cover rail236is seated on the flange217. The gasket27mounted on the bottom surface of the box cover23is in close contact with the flange217to completely seal an inner space of the storage box21.

FIG. 12is a side view of the storage box assembly20in a state in which the storage box21is completely inserted into the housing22.FIG. 13is a side view of the storage box assembly20in a state in which the storage box21is maximally withdrawn from the housing22.

When the storage box21is completely inserted into the housing22, the front lifter251is accommodated in the front lift groove237aand the rear lifter252is accommodated in the rear lift groove237b.

The width of the front lifter251may be smaller than the width of the rear lifter252to allow the rear lifter252to pass the front lift groove237awithout fitting into the front lift groove237awhile the storage box21is withdrawn forward. When the rear lifter252fits into the front lifter groove237a, the rear lifter252may collide with the box cover23and may generate a noise while the storage box21is being withdrawn. In addition, the storage box21may be held for a while and unable to be withdrawn in such a way that the user has to pull the storage box21with much force. To prevent such a phenomenon, the width of the rear lifter252may be at least greater than the width of a bottom end of the front lift groove237ain such a way that the rear lifter252may smoothly pass the front lift groove237a.

Front top corners and rear top corners of the lifters251and252are also formed to be rounded to allow the lifters251and252to move out of the lift grooves237aand237bwithout a noise and to minimize friction. When the storage box21is completely inserted into the housing22, it is maintained that the cover hinge235is seated in the hinge groove242of the side wall24. In this state, it is maintained that the top surface of the box cover23slants downward from a horizontal H to the rear at a certain angle θ.

Referring toFIG. 13, when the storage box21is withdrawn forward, the front lifter251and the rear lifter252move out of the front lift groove237aand the rear lift groove237b, respectively. Top surfaces of the lifters251and252move forward while being in contact with bottom surfaces of the cover rails236of the box cover23. When the storage box21is withdrawn forward, the cover rail236and the flange217of the storage box21are spaced from each other at a certain distance d. The distance d corresponds to a height of the lifting member25protruding from the top surface of the storage box21. When the storage box21is withdrawn, the cover hinge235is certainly spaced from a bottom of the hinge groove242at a certain distance d.

When the box roller216moves along the slanting portion244a, the top surface of the box cover23is maintained as slanting downward from the horizontal H. At a point in time when the box roller216moves out of the slanting portion244a, the top surface of the box cover23becomes level. When the storage box21is maximally withdrawn from the housing22, the front lifter251is covered by the box cover23and is not exposed outward. The front lifter251is not exposed outward even when the storage box21is maximally withdrawn, which may prevent the front lifter251from being damaged or foreign substances from being held by the front lifter251.

FIG. 14is an exploded perspective view of the auto closing unit or module40, or latching mechanism, constituting the storage box assembly20.FIG. 15is a top view of the auto closing unit40. The auto closing unit40may include a slide base41fixed to the bottom surface of the housing22, a latch head42pivotably coupled with a top surface of the slide base41by a hinge axis or shaft47, a latch body43pivotably connected with the latch head52, a spring46coupled with the latch body43, and a holding member48fixed to the rear end of the bottom portion211of the storage box21.

The holding member48slidably moves over the top surface of the slide base41according to forward and backward movement of the storage box21. The latch body43may include a first body44multi-joint-coupled with the latch head42and a second body45connected with the first body44. The spring46is put on the first body44.

When the storage box21is completely inserted into the housing22, as shown inFIG. 15, the holding member48is maintained as being held by the latch head42. A combination of the latch head42, the hinge axis47, the latch body43, and the spring46may be designated as a latch member. The auto closing unit40may be defined to include the slide base41, the latch member disposed on the slide base41, and the holding member48fixed to the storage box21and selectively coupled with the latch member.

Referring toFIG. 15, the holding member48may include a bracket481fixed to the rear end of the bottom portion211or the rear portion214of the storage box21, a pair of guide ribs482which extend from a rear surface of the bracket481, and a hook483which extends from the rear surface of the bracket481corresponding to a space between the pair of guide ribs482. A latch groove483ais depressed in one side of the hook483.

The slide base41protrudes at a height corresponding to a distance between the bottom surface of the housing22and the bottom portion211of the storage box21and includes a sliding surface411on the top surface. The guide rib482of the holding member48slides forward and backward while being in contact with the sliding surface411.

An n-shaped partitioning rib412may be formed on the top surface of the slide base41, an inside of the partitioning rib412may be defined as a latch accommodating portion413, and an outside thereof may be defined as the sliding surface411. Also, a front end of the latch accommodating portion413is open to allow the hook483to be inserted therein. Also, one side of the partitioning rib412is stepped to form a holding lip414.

The latch head42constituting the latch member includes a hinge hole423through which the hinge axis47penetrates. Also, the latch head42includes a holding protrusion421which extends to a certain length from the hinge hole423and is inserted into the latch groove483aformed at the hook483. The latch head42further includes a latch body connecting portion422which extends to a certain length from the hinge hole423in a direction which intersects with or is orthogonal to an extension direction of the holding protrusion421.

A latch body contact surface425smoothly rounded at a certain curvature is formed at an end of the latch body connecting portion422. A guide protrusion424may protrude from one side of the holding protrusion421. The latch body connecting portion422and the holding protrusion421may be connected to each other by a holding plate426. According to a configuration described above, the latch head42pivots on the hinge axis47clockwise or counterclockwise and the latch member pivots clockwise or counterclockwise interlocking with the rotation of the latch head42.

A stopper427protrudes from an outer circumferential surface of the latch head42, and in particular, from a corner area at which the holding protrusion421and the latch body connecting portion422intersect with each other. When the latch head42pivots clockwise and the stopper427is held by the holding lip414of the partitioning rib412, the rotation of the latch head42is stopped.

The latch body43, as described above, may include the first body44in surface contact with the latch body connecting portion422and the second body45rockably connected with the first body44. The first body44may include a joint head441and a joint cylinder442. The joint head441has a semicircular shaped cross section, and a circumferential surface thereof is in surface contact with the latch body contact surface425of the latch body connecting portion422. When the latch head42pivots, the first body44pivots while the circumferential surface of the joint head441is being in contact with the latch body contact surface425. The joint cylinder442may extend to a certain length from the joint head441and may have a hollow cylindrical shape. However, the joint cylinder442may have a polyprism shape.

The second body45may include a supporting boss454having a bar shape, a supporting portion451formed at an end of the supporting boss454, and a pressurized portion452which extends parallel to the supporting boss454in the same direction at an edge of the supporting portion451. In detail, the supporting portion451is a portion in surface contact with a corner area of the partitioning rib412and may include a curved portion451ain close contact with the corner area of the partitioning rib412and a linear portion451bwhich linearly extends from the curved portion451a.

Due to a structure described above, when the first body44pivots, the curved portion451apivots while being in close contact with the corner area of the partitioning rib412. The latch body43may pivot until the linear portion451bbecomes in contact with the partitioning rib412.

The pressurized portion452is a portion pressurized by the hook483when the storage box21is inserted. A pair of interfering protrusions453may extend from an end of the pressurized portion452and an interfering groove455may be formed therebetween. The holding plate426of the latch head42is inserted into the interfering groove455. Since the holding plate426is maintained being inserted into the interfering groove455at all times, a phenomenon in which the latch body43is separated from the latch head42while the latch body43and the latch head42are pivoting does not occur.

In the case of the auto closing unit40having the configuration described above, as shown inFIG. 15, when the storage box21is completely inserted into the housing22, the hook483is held by the latch member, thereby completely closing the storage box21at all times. In this state, the supporting boss454is slightly out of the joint cylinder442.

FIG. 16is a plan view of the auto closing unit40when the storage box21is initially withdrawn. When the storage box21starts being withdrawn from the housing22, the holding member48moves together with the storage box21as a single body. The hook483pulls the holding protrusion421of the latch head42forward and pivots the latch head42on the hinge axis47clockwise.

As the latch head42pivots clockwise, the latch body43pivots on the supporting portion451counterclockwise. The latch body43pivots counterclockwise while being in close contact with the corner area of the partitioning rib412. The latch head42continuously pivots in such a way that the latch body connecting portion422and the latch body43become in alignment with each other. In this state, the stopper427of the latch head42is held by the holding lip414of the partitioning rib412and simultaneously the linear portion451bof the supporting portion451is in close contact with a linear area of the partitioning rib412, thereby preventing the latch head42from pivoting.

In this state, the spring46is compressed to a minimal length. In other words, a restoring force stored in the spring46becomes a maximum. The holding protrusion421is already separated from the latch groove483aof the hook483. Accordingly, when the storage box21is withdrawn forward, the holding member48is released from the latch member. As the storage box21is withdrawn further, the end of the guide ribs482no longer overlaps with side block41due to the bracket481being coupled to the bottom portion211or rear portion214.

When the user pulls the storage box21back to insert the storage box21into the housing22, the hook483becomes closer to the latch member. Also, when the hook483pushes the pressurized portion452, the latch head42pivots counterclockwise and the latch body43pivots clockwise. Then, the latch member in a linear state becomes bent at the joint head441. The spring46also starts to elongate to an original position.

When bent states of the latch head42and the latch body43exceed a certain point in time, due to the restoring force of the spring46, it automatically becomes the state shown inFIG. 15even when a force of pushing the storage box21is removed. The storage box21is automatically completely closed due to the restoring force of the spring46. Accordingly, when the user removes a closing force before the storage box21is completely pushed into the housing22, the storage box21is completely closed, thereby providing a sealing force of the storage box21.

As can be appreciated, a width of a rear lifter which lifts a box cover disposed on a top surface of a storage box is larger than a width of a front lifter, thereby preventing a phenomenon in which the rear lifter is held by a front lift groove to make a noise or to be damaged and smoothly withdrawing the storage box.

Even when the storage box is maximally withdrawn, the front lift is not exposed outward, thereby preventing the front lift from being damaged or preventing foreign substances from being held by the front lift.

An auto closing unit or auto latching mechanism is mounted between a bottom surface of the storage box and a housing, thereby completely inserting the storage box into the housing even when a user does not completely push the storage box.

A link constituting the auto closing unit vertically protrudes, thereby smoothly performing an auto closing function even when an assembling tolerance occurs between the bottom surface of the storage box and a bottom of the housing.

A storage box assembly according to an embodiment may include a housing including: a base plate; and side walls which stand straight at side edges of the base plate, each side wall comprising a front hinge groove and a rear hinge groove on a top surface thereof; a storage box accommodated in the housing, the storage box including: side surfaces of which upper ends are respectively slanted downward toward a rear end of the storage box; and front lifts and rear lifts protruding from the upper ends of the side surfaces, respectively; and a box cover covering a top surface of the storage box, the box cover including: both side surfaces of which bottom ends are slanted to be in close contact with the upper ends of the both side surfaces of the storage box, respectively; front and rear hinges which protrude from the both side surfaces and are seated in the front hinge groove and the rear hinge groove, respectively; cover rails which are bent at the bottom ends of the both side surfaces thereof to be in contact with the upper ends of the side surfaces of the box cover; and front and rear lift grooves which are respectively formed by depressing the cover rail upward at predetermined positions of the cover rail, and into which the front lift and the rear lift are respectively inserted when the storage box is completely received in the housing; and an auto closing unit disposed in a center of a bottom portion of the storage box and a center of a bottom portion of the housing, wherein the auto closing unit comprises: a holding member fixed to the bottom portion of the storage box; a slide base fixed to the bottom portion of the housing; a partitioning rib which surrounds a top surface of the slide base; and a latch member pivotably connected to the top surface of the slide base corresponding to an inner space of the partitioning rib and selectively connected to the holding member. A refrigerator according to an embodiment may include the storage box assembly described above.