Patent Publication Number: US-2009230832-A1

Title: Refrigerator having drawer

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Applications No. 10-2008-0024550 filed in Korea on Mar. 17, 2008 and No. 10-2008-0053331 filed in Korea on Jun. 5, 2008, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a refrigerator and, more particularly, to a refrigerator having a drawer accommodated in a cooling chamber such that it can be drawn out and storing storage items. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     In general, a refrigerator is a device including a cooling chamber to keep food items or the like at storage at a low temperature. The cooling chamber of the refrigerator may be divided into a freezing chamber maintaining a below-zero temperature and a refrigerating chamber maintaining an above-zero temperature according to the maintaining temperature. 
     The cooling chamber of the refrigerator includes a drawer that can be moved forward and backward of the refrigerator while accommodating storage objects such as vegetables or the like. In order to enhance space utilization of the drawer, a separation plate may be installed to divide internal space of the drawer. 
     In the related art refrigerator, grasped portions are formed at both upper portions of the drawer and grasping portions formed at both upper portions of the separation plate. The separation plate and the drawer are combined such that the grasping portions grasp the grasped portions. 
     In such a combined state, the separation plate is moved within the drawer with the grasping portions grasping the grasped portions to thereby variably divide the internal space of the drawer into desired spaces suitably. 
     However, according to the related art, only in the state that the separation plate and the drawer are combined at the grasping portions and grasped portions, the separation plate is moved, so the separation plate may be arbitrarily released. Then the user should combine the separation plate, and the grasping portions and/or the grasped portions may be damaged in the releasing and re-combining process. 
     In addition, because there is no means for restricting the volume of the space divided by the separation plate into a certain range, an additional configuration should be formed to obtain UL authentication and domestic requirements safety authentication. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Therefore, in order to address the above matters, the various features described herein have been conceived. One aspect of the exemplary embodiments is to provide a refrigerator having a drawer with a structure in which a separation plate is not arbitrarily released from a drawer body. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator having a drawer maintaining the volume separated by a separation plate suitably for UL authentication and domestic requirements security authentication without having any configuration in addition to a structure for preventing the separation plate from being arbitrarily released. 
     This specification provides a refrigerator having a drawer including: a cooling chamber; a drawer body disposed to be movable in the cooling chamber and having a receiving space for receiving a storage object; a separation plate for variably dividing the receiving space of the drawer body while being moved in the drawer body; and a release preventing unit including a slot formed at the drawer body along a movement path of the separation plate and a holder combined with the slot. 
     The holder may include a holder connection part extending from the separation plate to penetrate the slot; and a holder cover disposed at an end portion of the holder connection part and preventing the holder from being released from the slot. 
     The holder cover may include at least one extending portion contacting with a lower surface of the peripheral portion of the slot of the drawer body. 
     The width of the holder cover may be larger by a certain size than that of the slot. 
     The holder may further include: a coupling member for coupling the holder and the holder connection part. 
     The coupling member may penetrate the holder cover and the holder connection part along the direction in which the slot is formed. 
     The holder may include at least one hook extending from the separation plate. 
     A head portion of the hook contacts with a lower surface of the peripheral portion of the slot after penetrating the slot. 
     A plurality of hooks are provided, and the respective head portions of the plurality of hooks have such an expelling shape that they face the lower surface of the peripheral portion of the slot. 
     The slot may have a certain length in the direction of the movement path of the separation plate at a central portion of the drawer body so that the volume of the receiving space divided by the separation plate can be maintained within a certain range. 
     The slot may have such a length that the volume of the receiving space divided by the separation plate does not exceed 60 liter. 
     The slot may be formed on the lower surface of the drawer body, and a water leakage preventing rib is formed to be protruded toward the interior of the drawer body at the circumference of the slot. 
     As described above, the refrigerator having a drawer according to the present invention has the following advantages. 
     First, because the release preventing unit including the slot and holder are provided, the separation plate cannot be arbitrarily released from the drawer body. Thus, the separation plate can be stably moved to variably divide the receiving space in the drawer body. 
     Second, because through holes formed at the holder cover and the holder connection part are formed along the formation direction of the slot, the coupling member can be allowed to easily penetrate the through holes by using the space of the slot, and thus, the release preventing unit can be easily coupled. 
     Third, because the movement of the separation plate is restricted by forming the slot with a length within a certain range, the volume of the space divided by the separation plate can be in conformity with the UL and domestic requirements safety standards. 
     The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a refrigerator having a drawer according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing drawer that can be separated in  FIG. 1 , 
       FIG,  3  is a sectional view taken along line  1 - 1  in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a release preventing unit applied for the refrigerator having a drawer according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view showing a configuration before the release preventing unit applied for the refrigerator having a drawer is coupled according to a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view showing a configuration that the release preventing unit of  FIG. 5  is being coupled; 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view showing a configuration after the release preventing unit of  FIG. 5  is coupled; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a separated drawer of the refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along line II-II in  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A refrigerator having a drawer according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a refrigerator having a drawer according to a first embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing drawer that can be separated in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along line I-I in  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a release preventing unit applied for the refrigerator having a drawer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a refrigerator  10  according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes main body comprised of a storage chamber  11  and a door  12  for opening and closing the storage chamber  11 , and a refrigerating cycle (not shown) for generating cold air supplied to the storage chamber  11 . 
     Here, the main body forms an external appearance of the refrigerator  10  with a substantially cubic shape, and the main body includes the storage chamber  11  and the door  12  for opening and closing the storage chamber  11 . 
     The storage chamber  11  includes a refrigerating chamber  11   a  for keeping food items in storage at a low temperature of about 1° C. below zero to 3° C. above zero and a freezing chamber  11   b  for freezing food items at 20° C. to 16° C. below zero to keep them in storage. 
     The refrigerating chamber  11   a  and the freezing chamber  11   b  are formed with one side thereof opened to allow the storage items to be taken in or out, and the opened side is closed by the door  12 . The door  12  includes a refrigerating chamber door  12   a  and a freezing chamber door  12   b.    
     The positions of the refrigerating chamber  11   a  and the freezing chamber  11   b  and the form of the door  12  may vary according to types of refrigerators. 
       FIG. 1  shows an example that the refrigerating chamber  11   a  is provided at an upper portion, the freezing chamber  11   b  is provided at a lower portion, the refrigerating chamber door  12   a  is provided to be rotated in both directions at the front side of the refrigerating chamber  11   a,  and the freezing chamber door  12   b  is drawn out to the front side of the main body. 
     Meanwhile, the refrigerator  10  may include receiving units  16  in various forms to receive storage items. 
     The receiving units  16  are provided in the refrigerating chamber  11   a,  the freezing chamber  11   b,  the refrigerating chamber door  12   a,  and the freezing chamber door  12   b.    
     The receiving units  16  may include a shelf  16   a  horizontally installed to allow storage items to be put thereon and received therein, a door basket  16   b  installed on the rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door  12   a  to receive food items or the like, and a drawer  100  coupled with the freezing chamber door  12   b  and taken in or out together with the freezing chamber door  12   b.    
     The refrigerator  10  may include a dispenser  13 , a home bar  14 , or the like, for the user convenience. 
     The dispenser  13  is generally provided on the front side of the door  12  to allow the user to take ice or water stored in the storage chamber  11  without having to open the door  12 . 
     The home bar  14  is generally provided at the front side of the door  12  like the dispenser  13 , and allowing frequently taken storage items to be taken out without opening the door  12 . 
     A lighting device  15  may be further provided within the storage chamber  11  to illuminate the interior of the storage chamber  12  to facilitate checking of storage items. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the refrigerator  100  includes a drawer body  110  disposed to be movable within the refrigerator and receiving storage objects such as vegetables, a separation plate  150 , and a release preventing unit  200 . 
     The drawer body  110  forms a space for receiving the storage object therein. A plurality of cold air introducing holes  111  may be formed to allow cold air introduced into the refrigerator to be introduced into the receiving space. 
     Reference numeral  113  is a support, and a plurality of supports are formed on the lower end of the drawer body  110  and support the drawer body  110  such that the drawer body  110  maintains a stable posture. 
     The separation plate  150  variably divides the receiving space of the drawer body  110  while being moved within the drawer body  110 . In detail, the separation plate  150  divides the receiving space of the drawer body  110  into two parts while being moved along a lengthwise direction of the drawer body  110 . 
     Here, the single separation plate  150  is applied to the drawer  100 , but this is merely illustrative and a plurality of separation plates may be provided according to a necessity of dividing the space. 
     Reference numeral  151  denotes cold air flow holes formed on the separation plate  150 , allowing a cold air flow in the storage space. 
     When the separation plate  150  is moved to divide the space in the drawer body  110 , some parts guide the movement of the separation plate  150  to allow the separation plate  150  to be stably moved. 
     In detail, at least one guide protrusion  112  is formed along a movement path of the separation plate  150  on the bottom surface of the drawer body  110 . A guide recess  152  is formed on the separation plate  150  such that it corresponds to the guide protrusion  112 . 
     With such configuration, the separation plate  150  can be moved with the guide recess  152  engaged with the guide protrusion  112 , so the separation plate  150  can be stably moved. 
     In addition, grasped portions  120  and  130  are formed on upper end portion of the drawer body  110 . The grasped portions  120  and  130  may be formed to be thicker than other portions of the drawer body  110 . Grasping portions  160  and  170  are formed on the separation plate  150  such that they correspond to the grasped portions  120  and  130 . The grasping portions  160  and  170  may have a hook-like shape to cover the grasped portions  120  and  130 . 
     With such a configuration, the separation plate  150  may be moved with the grasped portions  120  and  130  engaged with the grasping portions  160  and  170 , so the separation plate  150  can be stably moved, and when the separation plate  150  is moved, it cannot be arbitrarily released. 
     In this embodiment, the release preventing unit  200  is disposed, so that the separation plate  150  can be moved in the drawer body  110  and its arbitrary releasing can be prevented. This will now be described in detail. 
     The release preventing unit  200  includes a slot  210  formed on the drawer body  110  along the movement path of the separation plate  150  and a holder  220  combined with the slot  210 . 
     The slot  210  is formed on the drawer body  110  along the movement path of the separation plate  150 , and because the separation plate  150  can be moved to both end portions of the drawer body  110 , the slot  210  can be also formed to extend to both end portions of the drawer body  110 . 
     The holder  220  includes a holder connection part  230  and a holder cover  250 . 
     The holder connection part  230  extends fro the separation plate  150  and penetrates through the slot  210 . The holder connection part  230  may be smaller than the width of the slot  210  so allow the separation plate  150  to be smoothly moved. 
     Reference numeral  231  is a through hole formed on the holder connection part  230 . 
     The holder cover  250  is disposed at an end portion of the holder connection part  230  to prevent the holder  220  from being released from the slot  210 . 
     In detail, the holder cover  250  includes a holder connection part mounting portion  251  on which the holder connection part  230  is mounted, and first and second extending portions  257  and  256  extending in a widthwise direction of the slot  210  from the holder connection part mounting portion  251 . First and second support plates  252  and  253  are formed at front and rear sides of the holder connection part mounting portion  251  along the direction in which the slot  210  is formed. The first and second support plates  252  and  253  include first and second through holes  254  and  255  formed at mutually corresponding positions. 
     The first and second extending portions  257  and  256  are portions contacting with the peripheral portions of the slot  210  of the drawer body  110 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the first and second extending portions  257  and  255  contact with the peripheral portions of the slot  210 , an upward movement of the separation plate  150  can be restricted. Thus, the separation plate  150  cannot be arbitrarily released from the drawer body  110 . 
     Namely, with the first and second extending portions  257  and  256 , the holder cover  250  may have a width larger by a certain size than that of the slot  210 , so that the separation plate  150  can be prevented from being released arbitrarily. 
     Here, both the first and second extending portions  257  and  256  are applied, but this is merely illustrative and only one extending portion may be applied or more extending portions may be applied. 
     The holder  220  may further include a holder coupling bolt  240  and a holder coupling nut  241 , coupling members for coupling the holder cover  250  and the holder connection part  230 . 
     After the holder connection part  230  penetrates the slot  210 , the holder coupling bolt  240  sequentially penetrates the first through hole  254 , the connection part through hole  231  and the second through hole  255 . Thereafter, the holder coupling nut  241  is coupled to an end of the holder coupling bolt  240  to couple the holder cover  250  and the holder connection part  230 . 
     Here, the first through hole  254 , the connection part through hole  231  and the second through hole  255  may be formed along the direction in which the slot  210  is formed. Then, the holder coupling bolt  240  can couple the holder cover  250  and the holder connection part  230  along the formation direction of the slot  210 , so the coupling member can be easily coupled by using the space of the slot  210 . 
     Here, the holder coupling bolt  240  and the holder coupling nut  241  are proposed as the coupling members for coupling the holder cover  250  and the holder connection part  230 , but this is merely illustrative, and a screw or the like penetrating the holder cover  250  and the holder connection part  230  may be applied. Of course, the holder cover  250  and the holder connection part  230  may be coupled by welding, bonding, or the like. 
     According to the refrigerator  100  having the drawer according to the first embodiment of the present invention, because of the presence of the release preventing unit  200  including the slot  210  and the holder  220 , the separation plate  150  cannot be arbitrarily released from the drawer body  110 . Thus, the separation plate  150  can be stably moved to variably divide the receiving space in the drawer body  110 . 
     A refrigerator having a drawer according to another embodiment of the present invention will now be described. In the following description, any contents and explanations that have already been made for the first embodiment will be omitted for the sake of brevity. 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view showing a configuration before the release preventing-unit applied for the refrigerator having a drawer is coupled according to a second embodiment of the present invention,  FIG. 6  is a sectional view showing a configuration that the release preventing unit of  FIG. 5  is being coupled, and  FIG. 7  is a sectional view showing a configuration after the release preventing unit of  FIG. 5  is coupled. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 5 to 7 , in the second embodiment of the present invention, a holder  320  includes first and second hooks  321  and  322  extending from the separation plate  150 . 
     A head portion of the first hook  321  is formed to contact with the peripheral portion of the slot  210  after penetrating the slot  210 . 
     Here, the holder  320  may have one hook or a plurality of hooks as described above. 
     In this embodiment, the head portions of the first and second hooks  321  and  322  may be formed in the opposite direction to face the peripheral portions of the slot  210 . 
     The operation of the holder  320  will now be described. 
     First,  FIG. 4  shows a state before the first hook  321  and the second hook  322  are coupled with the slot  210 . 
     In this state, when the separation plate  150  is lowered, the first and second hooks  321  and  322  are inserted into the slot  210 , and accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the head portions of the first and second hooks  321  and  322  are pressed while contacting with inner walls of the slot  210  so as to be deformed to be close to each other. 
     Thereafter, as shown in  FIG. 6 , when the separation plate is continuously lowered and the head portions of the first and second hooks  321  and  322  completely penetrate through the slot  210 , the first and second hooks  321  and  322  are restored to their original state according to a restoration force of the first and second hooks  321  and  322 . Then, the head portions of the first and second hooks  321  and  322  are disposed to contact with the peripheral portions of the slot  210 , so the separation plate  150  can be prevented from being arbitrarily released. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view showing a separated drawer of the refrigerator according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 9  is a sectional view taken along line II-II in  FIG. 8 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 8 , a slot  410  is formed on a lower surface of the drawer body  110 . The slot  410  has a certain length in a lengthwise direction on the lower surface and is positioned at the center of the drawer body  110 . 
     Here, preferably, the certain length is a length allowing the separation plate  150  to be moved within a range that the volume of the receiving space divided by the separation plate  150  does not exceed 60 liter, the UL and domestic requirements safety authentication standards. 
     With reference to  FIG. 9 , in the third embodiment of the present invention, a water leakage preventing rib  420  is formed to be protruded toward the interior of the drawer body  110  at the circumference of the slot  410  formed on the lower surface of the drawer body  110 . 
     The water leakage preventing rib  420  prevents condensed water condensed at an inner surface of the drawer body  110  from flowing out through the slot  410  formed on the lower surface of the drawer body  110 . 
     As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalents of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.