Abstract:
The embodiment relates to a refrigerator. A dispenser is not exposed to the outside when the dispenser is not used, such that the design of the refrigerator can be upgraded and the injection of foreign materials into the dispenser is blocked, such that sanitary conditions can be improved.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims benefits of priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2009-0041167 (filed on May 12, 2009), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The embodiment relates to a refrigerator. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Generally, a refrigerator is home appliance that stores foods in a refrigerating or freezing state. The refrigerator is home appliance that drives a freezing cycle by electronic parts included therein and cools a storage space therein by directly/indirectly using a cool air generated by the freezing cycle. 
         [0006]    Many efforts to develop technologies for a large-sized and multi-functional refrigerator have been made in recent. Further, many investments have been made to improve a design of a refrigerator. Many users are tending to prefer products wherein an external appearance of a refrigerator is gracefully designed. In particular, the users are tending to prefer products that the front surface of the refrigerator is smoothly treated and a border line between doors is not exposed. For this reason, a refrigerator wherein doors separately provided to be protruded at the front surface of the doors are removed and the handle portion is exposed to the outside is being launched in the market. 
         [0007]    A need exists for a refrigerator in which a dispenser structure for dispensing water/ice, which is provided at the front surface of the refrigerator, is not exposed to the outside, according to the consumer preference. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention proposes to achieve the above object. It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator in which a dispenser structure is provided at the front surface of a refrigerator door and is not exposed to the outside when the dispenser structure is not used. 
         [0009]    To achieve the above object, there is provided a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, including: a storage chamber that is maintained at temperature lower than external temperature; a storage chamber door that selectively opens and closes the storage chamber; and a dispenser assembly that is provided at the storage chamber door, wherein the dispenser assembly includes: a housing that is depressed to receive a container and has an opening part formed at the front surface thereof; a dispenser door that is rotatably provided at the front surface of the housing and is rotated into the housing to open the opening part; and a dispensing part that is provided at a predetermined surface of the housing to dispense water or ice. 
         [0010]    There is provided a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention, including: a main body including a storage chamber; a storage chamber door that selectively opens and closes the storage chamber; and a dispenser assembly that is provided at the storage chamber door, wherein the dispenser assembly includes: a housing that is depressed to receive a container and has an opening part formed at the front surface thereof; a dispenser door that selectively opens and closes the opening part; a dispensing part that is provided at a predetermined surface of the housing to dispense water or ice wherein the front surface of the dispenser door and the front surface of the storage chamber door become coplanar in a state where the dispenser door shields the opening part. 
         [0011]    With the refrigerator having the above-mentioned configuration according to the embodiment of the present invention, the dispenser is not exposed to the outside when the dispenser provided at the refrigerator door is not used, such that the front surface of the refrigerator door forms a single smooth surface, making it possible to make the external appearance of the refrigerator graceful. 
         [0012]    In addition, the dispenser is shielded by the dispenser door in the state where the dispenser is not used, such that the injection of foreign materials into the dispenser can be prevented, making it possible to keep the dispenser clean. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is an exterior perspective view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention and is a diagram showing a state where a dispenser function is not used; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exterior perspective view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention and is a diagram showing a state where a dispenser function is used; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of A portion of  FIG. 2  and is a diagram showing a dispenser assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of B portion of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line II-II′ of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a configuration that automatically elevates a dispenser door according to the second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a dispenser assembly of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 10  is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line III-III′ of  FIG. 9 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 11  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV′ of  FIG. 9 ; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing an automatic rotating structure of a dispenser door according to the third embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The spirit of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and the accompanying drawings. However, it is noted that the present invention is limited only by the appended claims corresponding to the right scope of the present invention. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is an exterior perspective view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention and is a diagram showing a state where a dispenser function is not used,  FIG. 2  is an exterior perspective view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention and is a diagram showing a state where a dispenser function is used, and  FIG. 3  is an enlarged perspective view of A portion of  FIG. 2  and is a diagram showing a dispenser assembly according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , the refrigerator  10  according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the main body  11  having a storage space provided therein, the door for selectively opening and closing the storage space, and the freezing cycle. 
         [0028]    In detail, the freezing cycle includes a compressor, a condenser, an expander, and an evaporator. A portion of the freezing cycle is received in a machine room included in the main body  11 . 
         [0029]    It is noted that the embodiment describes, by way of example, a case where a refrigerating chamber door is five but is not limited thereto. 
         [0030]    In more detail, in the embodiment, the door may include a pair of upper doors  12  that opens and closes the storage chamber provided at a relatively upper side of the main body  11 , a middle door  13  that opens and closes the storage chamber provided at a lower side of the storage chamber opened and closed by the upper door  12 , and a lower door  14  that opens and closes the storage chamber provided at a lower side of the storage chamber opened and closed by the middle door  13 . Each door may be provided with handles  121  and  141 . 
         [0031]    In addition, the upper door  12  may be french doors that are rotatably connected with edges of both sides of the main body  11  and the storage chamber, which is selectively opened and closed by the upper door  12 , may be a refrigerating chamber having a single space. 
         [0032]    Further, the middle door  13  may be proved in a rotating type or a drawing type and the storage chamber, which is opened and closed by the middle door  13 , may be a refrigerating chamber or a freezing chamber. 
         [0033]    Moreover, the lower door  14  may be proved in a rotating type or a drawing type and the storage chamber, which is opened and closed by the lower door  14 , may be a freezing chamber. 
         [0034]    Also, any one of the pair of upper doors  12  may be provided with a display unit  20 . The display unit  20  may include at least a screen unit  21  that confirms an operation state of the refrigerator and outputs images and a button unit  22  that dispenses ice and water or inputs instructions for opening and closing a dispenser door to be described below. 
         [0035]    Moreover, a lower side of the display unit  20  is provided with a dispenser assembly  30  that dispenses water or ice. A rear surface of the upper door  12 , which is provided with the dispenser assembly  30 , is mounted with an ice making assembly, making it possible to dispense ice, which is made and stored in the ice making assembly, through a dispenser assembly  30 . Herein, the ice making assembly is mounted inside the storage chamber that is opened and closed by the upper door  12  and the rear surface of the upper door  12  may be provided with a discharge duct structure that guides the ice dispensing. 
         [0036]    Meanwhile, the dispenser assembly  30  includes a housing  31  that is depressed backward at a predetermined depth and can receive a container, an ice chute  34  that is extended downward from the upper surface of the housing  31 , an ice chute  34  that guides the ice dispensing, a faucet  36  that is protruded downward from the front of the ice chute and dispenses water, a dispensing button  35  that is extended from the rear surface of the housing  31  and is pressed to a container such as a cup to dispense water or ice, a tray  33  that is removably provided at the bottom surface of the housing  30  and stores residual water, and a dispenser door  32  that is rotatably provided at the front surface of the housing  31  and selectively shields the internal structure of the housing  31 . 
         [0037]    In detail, a locker  321  is protruded at the edge of the rear surface of the dispenser door  32 , such that the dispenser door  32  can be inserted into the front surface of the housing  31 . The dispenser door  32  has a structure that left and right edges of the dispenser door  32  are rotatably connected with the housing  31 , but is not limited thereto. In other words, a rotation central shaft of the dispenser door  32  may be formed at the upper end portion or the lower end portion. 
         [0038]      FIG. 4  is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the upper door  12  includes a door cover  122  that forms a front external appearance, a door liner  123  that is attached to the rear surface of the door cover  122 , and an insulating layer  124  that is filled between the door cover  122  and the door liner  123 . The housing  31  of the dispenser assembly  30  is depressed at a predetermined depth between the door cover  122  and the door liner  123 . A connection portion of the door cover  122  and the housing  31  is formed with a locking hole  125  into which the locker  321  is inserted. The locking hole  125  is formed at a front edge portion of the housing  31  or may be formed on the door cover  122 . The locker  321  may be a switch that is inserted into the locking hole  125  by a pressing and releasing action onto the dispenser door  32  or is out of the locking hole  125 . 
         [0040]    In detail, the switch structure applied to the structure of the locker  321  and the locking hole  125  has been frequently applied to the existing refrigerator home bar door. In other words, the switch structure means a structure that the locker  321  is maintained at the state of being inserted into the locking hole  125  when the dispenser door  32  is closed and the locker  321  is out of the locking hole  125  to open the dispenser door  32  by a pressing and releasing action onto the dispenser door  32  in the state where the dispenser door  32  is closed. In order to apply the function to the dispenser door  32 , the rotating shaft  322  of the dispenser door  32  should be mounted a torsion spring or a hydraulic damper that generates predetermined repulsive force or elastic force to the rotating shaft  322  of the dispenser door  32 . 
         [0041]    Further, the button unit  22  of the display unit  20  may be separately provided with the input button that inputs instructions to automatically open and close the dispenser door  32 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to a second embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 6  is an enlarged perspective view of a B portion of  FIG. 5 . 
         [0043]    In the refrigerator  10  according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the description of the configuration having the same reference numerals as the first embodiment will be omitted. The dispenser assembly  40  includes a housing  41 , an ice chute  44 , a faucet  46 , and a dispensing button  45 , likewise the first embodiment. 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the dispenser assembly  40  according to the second embodiment selectively opens and closes the housing  41  of the dispenser assembly  40  by slidably moving the dispenser door  42 . 
         [0045]    In detail, the dispenser door  42  slidably moves up and down to selectively shield the internal configuration of the housing  41 . A handle  421  is protruded at the front surface of the dispenser door  42 , such that the user can be gripped. 
         [0046]      FIG. 7  is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line II-II′ of  FIG. 6 . 
         [0047]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , a slide rib  422  is protruded at both sides of the dispenser door  42  and is extended by a length of the dispenser door  42 . The door cover  122  (or the housing  41 ) is formed with a slide groove  126  that receives the slide rib  422 . The dispenser door  42  is inserted into the rear surface of the door cover  122  while it descends. The front opening part of the housing  41  is gradually exposed to the outside. The front surface of the dispenser door  42  and the front surface of the door cover become coplanar in a state where the dispenser door  42  completely shields the housing  41 . 
         [0048]    Meanwhile, the dispenser door  42  can automatically move up and down. This configuration is shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a configuration that automatically elevates a dispenser door according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the slide rib  422  of the dispenser door  42  is formed with the rack  423  and the rack  423  is engaged with a pinion P. The pinion P rotates forward and backward by a motor M. The motor M and the pinion P are mounted at the rear of the door cover  122 , such that they are not exposed to the outside. A separate input button is provided at the button unit  22  of the display unit  20  and the motor M can rotate forward or backward by an operation of pressing the input button. 
         [0051]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view showing a dispenser assembly of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 10  is a transverse cross-sectional view taken along line of  FIG. 9 , and  FIG. 11  is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV′ of  FIG. 9 . 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIGS. 9 to 11 , a dispenser assembly  50  of a refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention includes a housing  51 , a dispenser door  52  that selectively shields the front opening part of the housing  51 , an ice chute  54 , a faucet  56 , a dispensing button  55 , and a tray  53 . 
         [0053]    In detail, a discharge duct  125  is connected with the upper side of the ice chute  54  and the discharge duct  125  communicates with the ice making assembly (not shown) through the insulating layer  124  and the door liner  123 . 
         [0054]    In addition, the dispenser door  52  is provided to be rotatable in front and rear directions using a side edge as a rotating shaft  522 . Herein, the dispenser door  52  rotates based on the longitudinal rotating shaft likewise the first embodiment. However, the fact that the dispenser door  52  rotates into the housing  51  is different from the first embodiment. The housing  51  has a transverse cross section structure in a fan shape unlike the first and second embodiments. 
         [0055]    Further, the upper surface portion of the housing  51 , which corresponds to a portion where the ice chute  54  and the faucet  56  are formed, is formed at a position more depressed to the upper side from a horizontal surface formed along the rotation trace of the upper surface portion of the dispenser door  52 . Therefore, the interference phenomenon of the ice chute  54  and the faucet  56  is prevented while the dispenser door  52  rotates. In the same viewpoint, the dispensing button  55  is formed at a place that is out the outside from the rotation trace of the dispenser door  52 . 
         [0056]    In summary, the front opening part of the housing  51  is formed to have the same standard as the dispenser door  52  but the upper surface and rear surface of the housing  51  are formed to be larger than the rotation trace of the dispenser door  52 . Therefore, the front surface of the dispenser door  52  and the front surface of the door cover  122  become coplanar in a state where the dispenser door  52  completely shields the housing  51 . 
         [0057]    As shown, when the front surface of the dispenser door  52  is pressed, the dispenser door  52  rotates backward based on the rotating shaft  522 . The inside of the housing  51  is exposed to the outside while the dispenser door  52  rotates backward. 
         [0058]    At this time, the rotating shaft  522  is provided with members such as the torsion spring or the hydraulic damper, such that when a force pushing the dispenser door  52  is removed, the dispenser door automatically rotates forward, the dispenser door  52  can shield the housing  51 . 
         [0059]    As another method, a locker structure according to the first embodiment is protruded the rear surface of the dispenser door  52  and the surface of the housing  51  contacting the locker structure may be formed with the locking hole. In other words, if the dispenser door  52  is pushed until the dispenser door  52  is closely attached to the front surface portion of the housing  51 , the locker is inserted into the locking hole such that the housing  51  is maintained, in a state opened to the outside. In this state, the locker is separated from the locking hole by the slight pressing and releasing action onto the dispenser door  52  and the dispenser door  52  rotates forward by the repulsive force or the elastic force generated from the torsion spring or the hydraulic damper provided at the rotating shaft  522 , making it possible to shield the housing  51 . 
         [0060]    As yet another method, a structure that the dispenser door  52  automatically rotates by power can be proposed. This example is shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0061]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view showing an automatic rotating structure of a dispenser door according to the third embodiment. 
         [0062]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , a gear assembly G is connected with the rotating shaft  522  of the dispenser door  52  and the motor M is connected with the gear assembly G. The gear assembly G and the motor M are installed at the rear of the door cover  122 , such that they are not exposed to the outside. The button part  22  of the display unit  20  is provided with a separate input button. 
         [0063]    With this structure, if the user presses the input button, the motor M rotates to rotate the dispenser door  52  backward, thereby exposing the inside of the housing  51 . In this state, the user positions the container such as a cup at the lower side of the ice chute  54  or the faucet  56 , thereby receiving water or ice. Thereafter, if the input button is pressed again, the motor M rotates backward to rotate the dispenser  52  forward, thereby shielding the front opening part of the housing  51 .