Patent Publication Number: US-10309715-B2

Title: Refrigerator

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A refrigerator is an apparatus aimed at the low-temperature storage of food and is configured for the cold storage or freezing storage of food. To this end, the refrigerator may include a cooling apparatus in which a cooling or refrigeration cycle has been implemented. The cooling apparatus is configured so that a refrigerant undergoes a compression-condensation-expansion-evaporation process. Cool air is generated as the refrigerant circulates in the cooling cycle. The cool air generated by the evaporator of the cooling apparatus is supplied to the storage space of the refrigerator. Food within the refrigerator may be stored under a required temperature condition as the cool air supplied to the storage space of the refrigerator is circulated by convection current. In general, the main body of the refrigerator has a rectangular shape having an open front, and the inside of the main body includes a cold room and a freezing room. Furthermore, a cold room door and freezing room door for selectively closing or shielding a corresponding opening is provided at the front of the main body. 
     The refrigerator may be basically divided into a top-mount type in which the freezing room is above the cold room, a bottom freezer type in which the freezing room is below the cold room, and a side-by-side type in which the freezing room and the cold room are laterally adjacent to one another and partitioned depending on the location of the freezing room and the cold room. 
     A handle capable of being held by a user is in or on the door of the refrigerator, and thus a user can open and shut the door of the refrigerator. In general, the handle of the door of the refrigerator extends from the front of the door so that the user can hold the handle. There is a danger that the handle may be damaged due to a collision or impact when the refrigerator is packaged and/or carried because the handle extends from the refrigerator as described above. 
     In a conventional technology, in order to solve this problem, the handle is packaged and carried separately when from the door, and a service technician or consumer directly assembles the handle after the refrigerator is delivered. 
     When assembling the handle and the door, the service technician or user may apply excessive force to the handle and the door when a plurality of screws are fixed to the door and the handle, or the handle is inserted into and/or fixed to a fastening hole in the door. Accordingly, when the handle and the door are assembled, a problem involving a defective handle, damage to the handle, or the damage to the door attributable to erroneous assembly may occur. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENT 
     Patent Document 
     Patent Document: Korean Utility Model No. 20-0194914 (Jun. 26, 2000) 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a refrigerator having a low risk to the handle of the door when the refrigerator is packaged and shipped. 
     Furthermore, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a refrigerator in which a door handle can be accurately fixed at its intended position when the handle is installed. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there may be provided a refrigerator, including a main body having a storage space configured to store food, a door configured to selectively open and shield or close the storage space of the main body and including a first accommodation groove on one side and/or end of the door and a second accommodation groove on another other side and/or end of the door, and a handle in or on a front side of the door configured to be held by a user and including a first portion rotatably fixed to a pivot in the first accommodation groove and a second portion in or withdrawn from the second accommodation groove by rotation of the first portion, wherein the second portion is configured to be fixed or attached to a fixing member in the second accommodation groove when the second portion is withdrawn from the second accommodation groove. 
     Furthermore, the storage space may include a cold room and a freezing room, the door may include a cold room door, the refrigerator further includes a freezing room door, the cold room door includes the handle, and the freezing room door includes a similar or functionally identical handle. 
     Furthermore, the first accommodation groove may be adjacent or near to the upper or lower side or end of the main body, and the second accommodation groove may be adjacent or near to the center of the main body (e.g., along a height of the main body). 
     Furthermore, the first portion may comprise a first end and/or side of the handle, the second portion may comprise a second end and/or side of the handle (e.g., an opposite end and/or side), the first accommodation groove may comprise a space into which the first portion is insertable and rotatable, and the second accommodation groove may comprise a space in which the second portion is insertable. 
     Furthermore, the pivot may be horizontal and may intersect the first accommodation groove, and the fixing member may extend from an inside surface of the second accommodation groove and have an end extending beyond the front side of the refrigerator. 
     Furthermore, the second portion may be movable when the second portion surrounds the fixing member, and the second portion may be fixed to the end of the fixing member extending beyond the front of the refrigerator by a fastening member when the second portion is withdrawn from the second accommodation groove. 
     Furthermore, the second portion may include at least two fastening holes configured to be fixed or attached to the fixing member and spaced apart from each other, one of the fastening holes may couple the second portion and the fixing member when the second portion is in the second accommodation groove, and another one of the fastening holes may couple the second portion and the fixing member when the second portion is withdrawn from the second accommodation groove. 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a refrigerator configured to store food at low temperature, including a main body having a storage space configured to store food, a door configured to selectively open and shield or close the storage space of the main body, and a handle having a first end and/or side rotatably fixed to the door and a second end and/or side adjacent or near to or distant from the front side of the door. The handle is in a first state when the second end and/or side is adjacent or near to the front of the door and a second state when the second end and/or side is far or away from the front side of the door. When the refrigerator is packaged and shipped, the handle is in the first state, and when the refrigerator is installed or in use, the handle is in the second state and is fixed to the door. 
     Furthermore, the first end and/or side of the handle may be connected to a pivot in a first accommodation groove on or in a first section of the door, and the second end and/or side of the handle may be in or withdrawn from a second accommodation groove on or in a second section of the door. 
     Furthermore, the second end and/or side may include a guide extending toward the door, the second accommodation groove includes a space in which the guide is movable, and the guide is fixed or attached to a fixing member extending from an inside surface of the second accommodation groove by a fastening member in the second state. 
     Furthermore, an end of the fixing member extends beyond the front side of the door, and the fastening member is coupled to the end of the fixing member. 
     Furthermore, the handle may be fixed to the door when the handle is in the first state. 
     Furthermore, the storage space may include a cold room and a freezing room, the door may include a cold room door, the refrigerator may further include a freezing room door, the cold room door may include the handle, the freezing room door may have a second handle having a first end and/or side rotatably fixed to the freezing room door and a second end and/or side adjacent or near to or distant from a front side of the freezing room door, wherein the second handle is in the first state when the second end and/or side thereof is adjacent or near to the front side of the freezing room door and in the second state when the second end and/or side thereof is far or away from the front side of the freezing room door, and the first end may be adjacent or near to the upper or lower side or end of the main body. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present disclosure will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the handle of the refrigerator of  FIG. 1  inserted into a door. 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a handle as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the handle as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. 
     In addition, in the description of the present disclosure, the detailed description of known functions and configurations incorporated herein may be omitted if they would unnecessarily obscure features of the subject matter of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing the handle of the refrigerator of  FIG. 1  inserted into a door.  FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a handle as shown in  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a handle as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the refrigerator  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is for keeping food in a low-temperature state. The refrigerator  1  may include a main body  10  configured to have a storage space for food therein, a door  20  in front of the main body  10  configured to rotatably move and selectively open and close or shield the storage space, and a handle  50  in or on the front of the door  20  and capable of being held by a user. 
     In one embodiment, a top-mount refrigerator  1  in which a freezing room is over a cold room is illustrated, but the spirit of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The present disclosure may also be applied to bottom freezer type and side-by-side type refrigerators. 
     Specifically, the main body  10  includes one or more storage spaces for food, and has an open front that is selectively shielded by the door  20 . In this case, the front of the main body  10  means an open surface that can be shielded by the door  20 . Furthermore, the main body  10  may include the cold room including a cool space and the freezing room including a freezing space, depending on the temperature or the room and/or space. In this case, both the cool space and the freezing space have open fronts and may be selectively shielded by separate doors  20 . 
     The door  20  selectively shields the storage space of the main body  10 , and one or more doors may be coupled to the main body  10 . Specifically, the door  20  may include a cold room door  22  and freezing room door  24 , each fixed or attached to one side of the main body  10  in such a way as to rotatably move and be capable of selectively opening and shielding or closing a corresponding room. Furthermore, a plurality of baskets  26  capable of accommodating food may be in or on the back of the door  20 . A user can efficiently keep food in the storage space within the refrigerator using the food storage devices therein, such as a shelf, a storage box, or the basket  26 . 
     Furthermore, the handle  50  capable of being held by a user may be in or on the front of the door  20  so that the user can selectively shield the door  20 . A first accommodation groove  202  and second accommodation groove  204  to be coupled to the handle  50  may be in the door  20 . The first accommodation groove  202  and the second accommodation groove  204  may be in each of the cold room door  22  and the freezing room door  24 . 
     The handle  50  may be in or on the front of each of the cold room door  22  and the freezing room door  24  so that a user can hold the handle  50 . One end and/or side of the handle  50  may be rotatably fixed to the door  20 , and another end and/or side of the handle  50  may become closer or distant from the front of the door  20 , depending on the rotation of the one end and/or side. The handle  50  may include a first portion  52  forming the one end and/or side of the handle  50  and a second portion  54  forming the other end and/or side of the handle  50 , and may further include a guide  56  extending from the second portion  54  to the door  20 . 
     The first portion  52  may be partially inserted and rotatably fixed to and/or in the first accommodation groove  202 , and the second portion  54  may be inserted into or withdrawn from the second accommodation groove  204  in response to the rotation of the first portion  52 . Specifically, the guide  56  extending from the second portion  54  may be inserted into or withdrawn from the second accommodation groove  204 . As described above, the second portion  54  of the handle  50  is inserted into or withdrawn from the door  20  by the rotation of the first portion  52 , and thus the other end and/or side of the handle  50  can be adjacent or near to the front of the door  20  or extended in front of the door  20 , with an interval between the two positions. 
     Furthermore, a hollow portion  502  may be in the second portion  54 , by which the second portion may be inserted into or withdrawn from the second accommodation groove  204 . A fixing member  206  extending from the door  20  may be in the hollow portion  502 . 
     Furthermore, the second portion  54  may include at least two fastening holes  504   a  and  504   b , spaced apart from each other so that the second portion  54  can be adjustably fixed to the fixing member  206  extending from the door  10 . The fastening holes  504   a  and  504   b  are in the bottom of the hollow portion  502  of the second portion  54 , so a fastening member  60  can be inserted into the fastening hole. In this case, the first fastening hole  504   a  may be relatively close to the second accommodation groove  204 , and the second fastening hole  504   b  may be relatively close to the handle  50 . 
     The fastening member  60  is fixed to and/or secured in (i) one of the fastening holes  504   a  and  504   b  of the second portion  54  and (ii) the fixing member  206 , thereby being capable of fixing the position of the second portion  54  as inserted or withdrawn. Various coupling means, such as a bolt, may be used as the fastening member  60 . In one embodiment, a bolt is illustrated. 
     The first accommodation groove  202  and the second accommodation groove  204  are grooves or depressions in which to mount the handle  50  on the door  20 . The first portion  52  of the handle  50  may be received in the first accommodation groove  202 . The second portion  54  of the handle  50  may be received in the second accommodation groove  204 . The first accommodation groove  202  and the second accommodation groove  204  may be on a straight line along the length of the refrigerator  1 . In one embodiment, an upward direction and a downward direction may be related to the upper side and the lower side of the handle shown in  FIG. 3 . The upward and downward directions may be vertical directions, and the left and right directions as shown in  FIG. 3  may be horizontal directions. Furthermore, the first accommodation groove  202  and the second accommodation groove  204  receive the first portion  52  and second portion  54  of the handle  50 , respectively. The distance from the first accommodation groove  202  to the second accommodation groove  204  may correspond to the distance from the first portion  52  of the handle  50  to the second portion  54 . 
     Furthermore, the first accommodation groove  202  may be adjacent or near to the upper or lower side or end of the main body  10 , and the second accommodation groove  204  may be adjacent or near to the center of the main body  10  (e.g., along the height of the refrigerator  1 ). Specifically, the first accommodation groove  202  in the cold room door  22  may be adjacent or near to the lower side or end of the main body  10 , and the second accommodation groove  204  may be adjacent or near to the center of the main body  10 . Likewise, the first accommodation groove  202  in the freezing room door  24  may be adjacent or near to the upper side or end of the main body  10 , and the second accommodation groove  204  may be adjacent or near to the center of the main body  10 . Accordingly, the second portions  54  of the handles  50  in the cold room door  22  and the freezing room door  24 , respectively, may face or be adjacent to each other. Accordingly, when a user holds the handle  50 , a portion held by the user extends in front of the door and may be at or near the center of the main body  10 , so the user can easily hold the extended portion of the handle  50 . However, the spirit of the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the first accommodation groove  202  may be on or in the upper side or end of each of the cold room door  22  and the freezing room door  24 , and the second accommodation groove  204  may be on or in the lower side or end of each of the cold room door  22  and the freezing room door  24 . The locations of the first accommodation groove  202  and the second accommodation groove  204  are not limited thereto, and may vary depending on the type of refrigerator and the environment of the user. 
     The first accommodation groove  202  may include a first space into which the first portion  52  is insertable and in which the first portion  52  rotates. Furthermore, a pivot  203  providing a rotation axis for the first portion  52  may be in the first accommodation groove  202 . 
     The pivot  203  may be horizontal and may intersect the internal space of the first accommodation groove  202 . For example, the pivot  203  may horizontally intersect the center of the internal space of the first accommodation groove  202 . The location of the pivot  203  is not limited to the center of the internal space of the first accommodation groove  202 , and may be at a location where the first portion  52  can rotate without interference with the inside surface of the first accommodation groove  202 . 
     The second accommodation groove  204  may include a second space into which the second portion  54  is insertable and from which the second portion  54  can be withdrawn. Specifically, the second accommodation groove  204  may be configured to allow the guide  56  extending from the second portion  54  to the front of the door  10  to move (e.g., rotate). When the second portion  54  is inserted into the second accommodation groove  204 , the second portion  54  may be inserted by the rotation of the first portion  52 . Accordingly, the second portion  54  is not inserted in a straight line in response to the rotation of the first portion  52 , but may be inserted into the second accommodation groove  204  in the form of a curved or diagonal line (e.g., an arc) according to the turning radius of the second portion  52 . The second accommodation groove  204  may include a space configured to receive the second portion  54  that is inserted in a diagonal or curved direction. The second accommodation groove  204  may have a greater width or height than the second portion  54  inserted into the second accommodation groove  204  and may include an empty space or cavity. 
     In this case, a protrusion  205  may extend along the front of the door  10  in the upper part of the second accommodation groove  204 . If the front of the door  10  includes a large hole or opening at the surface of the second accommodation groove  204 , a malfunction problem may occur because foreign substances may accumulate within the second accommodation groove  204 . Accordingly, the protrusion  205  may block the front of the empty space in the second accommodation groove  204 . The protrusion  205  may have a length and location that does not interfere with the second portion  54  when the second portion  54  is inserted into or withdrawn from the second accommodation groove  204 . However, the embodiments are not limited to the protrusion  205  shown, and the protrusion  205  may not be required. 
     Furthermore, the fixing member  206  for fixing or attaching the second portion  54  may be in the second accommodation groove  204 . The fixing member  206  extends from the inside surface of the second accommodation groove  204 , and may extend beyond a front surface of the refrigerator  1 . The second portion  54  inserted into or withdrawn from the second accommodation groove  204  may be fixed or attached to the fixing member  206 . Alternatively, the second portion  54  may be held in place by the guide  56  and/or fastening member  60  passing through the fastening hole  207  in the fixing member  206 . In order to fix or secure the position of the second portion  54 , the fixing member  206  may include a fastening hole  207  configured to fasten or secure the fastening member  60  when inserted through a fastening hole  504   a  or  504   b  in the second portion  54 . 
     The fastening hole  207  may be at the end of the fixing member  206  that extends beyond the front surface of the door  20 . 
     An operation and effects of the refrigerator  1  configured as described above according to an embodiment of the present disclosure are described below. 
     The handle may have a first portion rotatably fixed to the door and a second portion adjacent or near to or distant from a front side of the door. The refrigerator  1  according to one embodiment may be in a first state when the second portion  54  of the handle  50  is adjacent or near to the front side of the door  20 , and may be in a second state when the second portion  54  is farther from the front of the door. Furthermore, when the refrigerator  1  is packaged and/or shipped, the handle  50  is in the first state. When the refrigerator  1  is installed or in use, the handle  50  is in the second state and may be fixed to the door  20 . 
     An end of the first portion  52  of the handle  50  is inserted into the first accommodation groove  202 . The pivot  203  in the first accommodation groove  202  may be connected to the center of the end of first portion  52  inserted into the first accommodation groove  202 . Accordingly, the first portion  52  can rotate around the pivot  203 . In this case, the direction in which the first portion  52  rotates may be in one direction along a curved line (e.g., an arc some distance from the pivot  203 ), for example from the upper side to the lower side, from the first accommodation hole  202  to the second accommodation hole  204 , etc. When the first portion  52  rotates downward (e.g., toward the refrigerator  1 ), the second portion  54  is inserted into the second accommodation hole  204 . When the first portion  52  rotates upward (e.g., away from the refrigerator  1 ), the second portion  54  may be withdrawn from the second accommodation hole  204 . This may correspond to the driving of the first portion  52  and the second portion  54 . The insertion or withdrawal of the second portion  54  is not limited by the rotation of the first portion  52 , but the first portion  52  may be rotated by the insertion or withdrawal of the second portion  54 . Specifically, in order to insert or withdraw the second portion  54 , the first portion  52  may be rotated. For example, in order to insert or withdraw the second portion  204 , a user may push or pull the second portion  204  (e.g., after removal of the fastening member  60  from the fastening holes  504   a - b ). The second portion  204  may be inserted or withdrawn by a force when the user pushes or pulls the second portion  204 , thus rotating the first portion  202  around the pivot  203 . 
     The second portion  54  may move when it surrounds the fixing member  206 . Specifically, when the fixing member  206  is placed in the cavity of the second portion  54 , the second portion  54  may be inserted or withdrawn. The cavity in the second portion  54  may extend beyond the front of the door  10 , and thus the second portion  54  may move when the hollow portion surrounds the end of the fixing member  206  having the fastening hole  207  therein. Accordingly, the second portion  54  may be fixed, attached or secured to the end of the fixing member  206  by the fastening member  60  when the second portion  54  has been withdrawn from or inserted into the second accommodation groove  204 . 
     The second portion  54  may be in the first state (e.g., the inserted state) or the second state (e.g., the withdrawn state) by inserting the fastening member  60  first into the first fastening hole  504   a  or the second fastening hole  504   b  in the second portion  54 , then into the fastening hole  207  in the fixing member  206 . Specifically, the second fastening hole  504   b  may be used to fix or attach the second portion  54  and the fixing member  206  in the first state (i.e., when the second portion  54  has been inserted into the second accommodation groove  204 ). The first fastening hole  504   a  may be used to fix or attach the second portion  54  and the fixing member  206  in the second state (i.e., when the second portion  54  has been withdrawn from the second accommodation groove  204 ). 
     When the handle  50  is to be inserted, the fastening member  60  is not in the fastening hole  207  (although an end of the fastening member  60  farthest from the guide  56  may be in the second fastening hole  504   b ), a push force is applied to the second portion  54 , the first portion  52  rotates, the second portion  54  is inserted into the second accommodation groove  204 , the fastening member  60  is passed through or threaded into the second fastening hole  504   b  in the second portion  54 , and then into and/or through the fastening hole  207  in the fixing member  206 , thereby fixing, attaching or securing the second portion  54  in the second accommodation groove  204  (the first state). 
     Likewise, when the handle  50  is to be withdrawn, the fastening member  60  is not in the fastening hole  207  (although an end of the fastening member  60  farthest from the guide  56  may be in the first fastening hole  504   a ), a pull force is applied to the second portion  52 , the first portion  52  rotates, the second portion  54  is withdrawn from the second accommodation groove  204 , the fastening member  60  is passed through or threaded into the first fastening hole  504   a  in the second portion  54 , and then into and/or through the fastening hole  207  in the fixing member  206 , thereby thus fixing, attaching or securing the second portion  54  to the door when withdrawn from the second accommodation groove  204  (the second state). 
     In the example in which the guide  56  and the fastening member  60  together comprise a bolt with a hexagonal head, each of the fastening holes  207  and  504   a - b  may be threaded to match or mate with the fastening member  60 . Alternatively, either (i) the fastening hole  207  may be threaded to match or mate with the fastening member  60 , and the fastening holes  504   a - b  may be smooth, cylindrical openings through the second portion  54  having a diameter slightly greater than that of the fastening member  60 , or (ii) the fastening holes  504   a - b  may be threaded to match or mate with the fastening member  60 , and the fastening hole  207  may be a smooth, cylindrical opening through the fixing member  206  having a diameter slightly greater than that of the fastening member  60 . Thus, at least one of the fastening holes  207  and  504   a - b  may be threaded to match or mate with the fastening member  60  when the guide  56  and the fastening member  60  together comprise a bolt with a head. 
     In this case, each of the first fastening hole  504   a  and the second fastening hole  504   b  may independently pass through the second portion  54  at an angle such that the fastening member  60  may be inserted into the fastening hole  207  when the second portion  54  is inserted into or withdrawn from the second accommodation groove  204 . For example, the fastening member  60  may be attached to the second portion  54  using the first fastening hole  504   a  when the second portion  54  has been withdrawn from the second accommodation groove  204 . When the second portion  54  has been withdrawn from the second accommodation groove  204 , parts of the second portion  54  entering the accommodation groove  204  are horizontal or parallel with the fixing member  206 . For this reason, the axis along the depth of the first fastening hole  504   a  may be at an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the direction in which the fixing member  206  is oriented. 
     In contrast, the fastening member  60  may be attached to the second portion  54  using the second fastening hole  504   b  when the second portion  54  has been inserted into the second accommodation groove  204 . When the second portion  54  is inserted into the second accommodation groove  204 , the second portion  54  may move a curved line (e.g., an arc) by the rotation of the first portion  52 . Accordingly, the axis along the depth of the second fastening hole  504   b  may have an angle bent slightly right or left (e.g., 75° to 85°) with respect to the direction in which the fixing member  206  is oriented, so the fastening member  60  may be easily fixed to the second fastening hole  504   b.    
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, when the refrigerator  1  is packaged and shipped, the handle  50  is inserted into the door  20  as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . Accordingly, the depth and/or distance of the handle  50  from the main body  10  can be reduced. Accordingly, when the refrigerator  1  is shipped, the handle  50  can be safely delivered without being damaged. When the delivery is complete, the handle  50  may be pulled away from the door  20  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 . If the handle  50  is to be withdrawn, when a service technician or user pulls the second portion  54 , the first portion  52  rotates from the pulling force, and thus the second portion  54  may be withdrawn. The location or position of the handle  50  may be fixed or attached using the fastening member  60  when the second portion  54  has been withdrawn. As described above, the withdrawn state of the handle  50  is easily fixed or secured using the fastening member  60  after pulling out the inserted second portion  54 . Accordingly, since assembly becomes simpler, the risk of damage may be reduced when a service technician or a user directly assembles the handle  50 . 
     In accordance with the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, there is an advantage in that the refrigerator may be shipped without the handle of the door of the refrigerator being damaged when the refrigerator is packaged and shipped. 
     Furthermore, there is an effect in that the handle can be precisely fixed or attached when the refrigerator is installed. 
     Although the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has been described in detail, this is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present disclosure and various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the essential characteristics of the present disclosure. Therefore, the embodiments described in the present disclosure are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, but are intended to illustrate and not limit the scope of the present disclosure. The scope of protection of the present disclosure should be construed according to the following claims, and all technical ideas which are equivalent or equivalent thereto should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present disclosure.