Patent Publication Number: US-10775096-B2

Title: Refrigerator

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     This application is related to and claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0169658, filed on Dec. 13, 2016, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a refrigerator including a vacuum packing device. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In general, a refrigerator is one of household appliances including a storage compartment configured to store food and a cold air supply device configured to supply cold air to the storage compartment to freshly store the food. 
     The storage compartment can include a freezer compartment maintained at a temperature lower than or equal to the freezing point and a refrigerator compartment maintained at a temperature relatively higher than the temperature of the freezer compartment. 
     Meanwhile, when food stored in the refrigerator compartment is stored for a long time, freshness of the food can be degraded. Accordingly, although a method of storing and freezing food in the freezer compartment can be used to store the food for a long time, flavor of the food can be degraded when the food is stored in the freezer compartment. 
     Accordingly, a method of storing vacuum packaged food using a vacuum packing device configured to remove air causing food decomposition has been used. 
     SUMMARY 
     To address the above-discussed deficiencies, it is a primary object to provide a refrigerator including a vacuum packing device. 
     It is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a refrigerator including a vacuum packing device directly connected to a vinyl pack without a separate hose and configured to remove air in the vinyl pack. 
     It is still another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a refrigerator including a vacuum packing device operated only by a contact with a vinyl pack so as to be conveniently used. 
     It is yet another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a refrigerator including a vacuum packing device configured to prevent a foreign substance in a vinyl pack from being introduced into a vacuum pump with air. 
     Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigerator includes a body and a vacuum packing device provided in the body and configured to suction air in a vinyl pack having a check valve, wherein the vacuum packing device includes a vacuum pump provided to suction the air, a switch module provided to control an operation of the vacuum pump, a suction head including a first path directly connected to the check valve and configured to suction the air, and a chamber including a first opening connected to the first path and provided to collect a foreign substance suctioned through the suction head. 
     The switch module may include a button configured to pass through the first path and protrude to an outside of the suction head, the vacuum pump may be provided to operate when the button is pressed. 
     The vacuum packing device may further include a tube configured to connect the chamber and the vacuum pump while forming a second path. 
     The chamber may further include a second opening connected to the tube, and the second opening is provided at a higher level than the first opening. 
     The first opening and the second opening may be respectively formed in one surface of the chamber and the other surface thereof opposite the one surface. 
     The switch module may further include an elastic member configured to elastically bias the button to protrude to the outside of the suction head. 
     The refrigerator may further include a door including a dispenser provided to supply water, and rotatably coupled to the body, wherein the vacuum packing device may be provided at one side of the dispenser. 
     A diameter of the first path may be provided to be greater than a diameter of the button so that the air flows in a space between the first path and the button. 
     The suction head may be detachably coupled to the chamber so that the foreign substance is removable in the chamber. 
     The suction head may include a material having elasticity and may be provided to be forcibly insertion-coupled to the chamber. 
     The vacuum packing device may further include an inner case in which the vacuum pump, the chamber, and the switch module are disposed, and an outer case in which the inner case and the suction head are disposed, wherein the outer case may include a cover door provided to be slidable in front of the suction head. 
     The vacuum packing device may further include a support member provided to fix the inner case to an inner side of the outer case, and the support member may include brackets provided on both sides of the support member, and an elastic member disposed between the brackets and the inner case. 
     The switch module may include a button disposed outside the vacuum packing device and provided to turn the vacuum pump on and off. 
     The tube may include an inlet into which the air is introduced and an outlet from which the air is discharged, and a first direction in which the air is introduced into the inlet may be opposite a second direction in which the air is discharged from the outlet. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigerator includes a body, a door rotatably coupled to the body, and a vacuum packing device provided in the door configured to suction air in a vinyl pack having a check valve, wherein the vacuum packing device includes a vacuum pump, a suction head configured to suction the air in the vinyl pack, and a chamber including a first opening connected to the suction head so that the air introduced through the suction head flows in the suction head, and a second opening connected to the vacuum pump to discharge the air introduced into the first opening and provided at a higher level than the first opening. 
     The suction head may be provided to be directly connected to the check valve. 
     The vacuum packing device may further include a switch module including a button configured to pass through the suction head and protrude to an outside of the suction head. 
     The vacuum pump may be provided to operate when the button is pressed. 
     The door may further include a dispenser provided to supply water to an outside of the door, and the suction head may be disposed on the dispenser. 
     In accordance with still another aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigerator includes a vacuum packing device provided to suction air in the vinyl pack, wherein the vacuum packing device includes a vacuum pump, a suction head directly connected to the vinyl pack and provided to suction the air, and switch module including a button configured to pass through the suction head and protrude to an outside of the suction head, and provided to operate the vacuum pump when the button is pressed. 
     Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like. 
     Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts: 
         FIG. 1  is a view illustrating an exterior of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged view illustrating a portion at which a vacuum packing device is provided in the refrigerator in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a view in which a cover door of the vacuum packing device illustrated in  FIG. 2  is open; 
         FIG. 4  is a view illustrating the vacuum packing device in the refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the vacuum packing device illustrated in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a view illustrating a vinyl pack in the refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the vacuum packing device in the refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a view in which the vacuum packing device illustrated in  FIG. 7  suctions air in the vinyl pack; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional perspective view of the vacuum packing device in the refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  is a view illustrating an exterior of a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 11  is a view illustrating an exterior of a refrigerator according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 through 11 , discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged system or device. 
     Further, identical symbols or numbers in the drawings of the present disclosure denote components or elements configured to perform substantially identical functions. 
     Further, terms used herein are for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and are not intended to limit to the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should be further understood that the terms “include,” “including,” “have,” and/or “having” specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     Further, it should be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements are not limited by the terms, and the terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed as a second element, and similarly, a second element could be termed as a first element without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes combinations of one or more of a plurality of associated listed items or any and all items among the plurality of associated listed items. 
     Hereinafter, the embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a view illustrating an exterior of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a refrigerator  1  may include body  10  and upper and lower doors  21  and  22  rotatably coupled to the body  10 . 
     A storage compartment (not shown) may be provided in the body  10  and may include a refrigerator compartment (not shown) and a freezer compartment (not shown). 
     The upper door  21  may be provided to open and close the freezer compartment, and the lower door  22  may be provided to open and close the refrigerator compartment. 
     A display  21 B may be provided on the upper door  21 . The display  21 B may display a temperature and various states of the refrigerator  1 . 
     A handle portion  21 A may be provided on a lower portion of the upper door  21  to open and close the upper door  21 . Likewise, a handle portion  22 A may be provided on an upper portion of the lower door  22  to open and close the lower door  22 . 
     A vacuum packing device  100  may be provided in the lower door  22 . The vacuum packing device  100  may be provided at a side of the handle portion  22 A. However, the above is only one example, and the vacuum packing device  100  may be provided in the upper door  21 . Alternatively, the vacuum packing device  100  may be provided at another location of the lower door  22 . In addition, the vacuum packing device  100  may be mounted on various refrigerators including the refrigerator shown in  FIG. 1 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the vacuum packing device  100  may be applied to a three-door or four-door French door refrigerator (FDR) type refrigerator in which a refrigerator compartment is provided in an upper portion thereof, a freezer compartment is provided in a lower portion thereof, and the refrigerator compartment opens in a lateral direction toward both sides thereof. Such a structure will be described below. 
       FIG. 2  is an enlarged view illustrating a portion at which a vacuum packing device is provided in the refrigerator in  FIG. 1 , and  FIG. 3  is a view in which a cover door of the vacuum packing device illustrated in  FIG. 2  is open. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the vacuum packing device  100  may be disposed on a front surface of the lower door  22  so that a part thereof is exposed. Specifically, an outer case  170  of the vacuum packing device  100  may be disposed on an upper portion of the front surface of the lower door  22  so that a part of the outer case  170  is exposed to the outside. 
     The vacuum packing device  100  may include a cover door  173  provided to be slidable on a first outer case  171 . The cover door  173  may form a part of an exterior of the lower door  22 . The cover door  173  may be provided to cover a suction head  110  so that the suction head  110  of the vacuum packing device  100  is not visible from the outside when a user does not use the vacuum packing device  100 . Since the cover door  173  is provided to be slidable on the first outer case  171 , the user may expose the suction head  110  to the outside of the lower door  22  by gripping and sliding a cover door handle  173 A provided on the cover door  173  when the vacuum packing device  100  is used. 
     As described above, according to an aspect of the present disclosure, the vacuum packing device  100  is provided with the cover door  173  so as not to spoil the beauty of the refrigerator. That is, although the vacuum packing device  100  is provided in the door, an exterior of the refrigerator  1  is not affected by the vacuum packing device  100  because the vacuum packing device  100  is not a disadvantageous factor during design. 
     Further, according to the aspect of the present disclosure, the vacuum packing device  100  may be used without opening the refrigerator door. Conventionally, since a vacuum packing device is provided in a refrigerator home-bar, loss of cold air occurs during vacuum-packing. As described above, according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, since the vacuum packing device  100  is provided to be operated without opening the refrigerator door, the loss of cold air does not occur. 
       FIG. 4  is a view illustrating the vacuum packing device in the refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 5  is an exploded perspective view of the vacuum packing device illustrated in  FIG. 4 . 
     Hereinafter, a configuration of the vacuum packing device  100  will be described in detail. 
     The outer case  170  is shown by a dotted line in  FIG. 3  for convenience of description. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the vacuum packing device  100  may include the outer case  170  forming an exterior of the vacuum packing device  100 . 
     The outer case  170  may include the first outer case  171  and a second outer case  172 . 
     The first outer case  171  may form a front surface of the outer case  170 , and the second outer case  172  may form a rear surface of the outer case  170 . 
     The cover door  173  may be coupled to the first outer case  171  to be slidable. The cover door  173  may be provided in front of the suction head  110 . Accordingly, the suction head  110  may be exposed to an outside of the outer case  170  by sliding. 
     The cover door handle  173 A may be provided on one side of the cover door  173 . A user may grip the cover door handle  173 A and slide the cover door  173 . 
     The vacuum packing device  100  may include the suction head  110 , a chamber  120 , a vacuum pump  130 , and a switch module  140 . 
     The suction head  110  may come into direct contact with a vinyl pack  200  (see  FIG. 6 ) and may be provided to suction air in the vinyl pack  200 . That is, the suction head  110  may be connected to a check valve  210  of the vinyl pack  200  without a separate connection member, such as a hose, to suction the air in the vinyl pack  200 . Such a connection will be described below. 
     The suction head  110  may include a suction port  111  through which air is suctioned, a discharge port  114  through which the air suctioned into the suction port  111  is discharged, and a first path  113  provided between the suction port  111  and the discharge port  114 . 
     The suction port  111  may be provided to correspond to an opening and closing hole  211  of the vinyl pack  200 . The suction head  110  may suction the air in the vinyl pack  200  through the opening and closing hole  211  and the suction port  111 . 
     The suction head  110  may include a coupler  112  provided to be insertion-coupled to the chamber  120 . The suction head  110  may be formed of a flexible material. Accordingly, the coupler  112  may be forcibly insertion-coupled to the chamber  120  even when a diameter of the coupler  112  is provided to be larger than that of an insertion port  121 A of the chamber  120 . 
     The chamber  120  may include a chamber body  121 , a chamber plate  122  coupled to the chamber body  121  and forming a rear wall of the chamber  120 , and a sealing member  123  provided to seal a gap between the chamber body  121  and the chamber plate  122 . 
     The chamber body  121  may include the insertion port  121 A into which the coupler  112  of the suction head  110  is inserted. The insertion port  121 A may be formed in a front surface of the chamber body  121 . 
     A fixing portion may be provided in the chamber body  121 . The fixing portion may form a space into which the coupler  112  is inserted. The insertion port  121 A may be provided in a front surface of the fixing portion, and a first opening  121 B may be provided in a rear surface of the fixing portion. 
     A rear surface of the chamber body  121  may be open. The chamber  120  may include the chamber plate  122  provided to cover the open rear surface of the chamber body  121 . However, the chamber  120  is not limited thereto, and the chamber body  121  and the chamber plate  122  may be integrally formed to form the chamber  120 . 
     The chamber plate  122  may include a second opening  122 A and a third opening  122 B provided behind the second opening  122 A. 
     The second opening  122 A may be provided to correspond to an inlet  151  of a tube  150 . The third opening  122 B may be provided so that a button  141  of the switch module  140  is inserted thereinto. 
     The sealing member  123  may be provided to seal the gap between the chamber body  121  and the chamber plate  122 . When the chamber plate  122  is coupled to the chamber body  121 , a suction force of the vacuum packing device  100  may be lowered due to the gap between the chamber body  121  and the chamber plate  122 . The sealing member  123  may be provided to seal the gap. Since the sealing member  123  is provided, air may be prevented from leaking through an edge of a rear surface of the chamber  120  even when the chamber body  121  and the chamber plate  122  are not integrally formed. 
     Meanwhile, since the chamber  120  is divided into the chamber body  121  and the chamber plate  122  which are detachable, a user may easily remove a foreign substance in the chamber  120 . That is, the chamber plate  122  may be separated from the chamber body  121  to remove the foreign substance in the chamber  120 . A removal of a foreign substance will be described in detail below. 
     The vacuum pump  130  may be provided to suction air. A type of the vacuum pump  130  has no limitation. That is, as long as a pump is provided to suction air, there is no limitation on a type or shape of the pump. 
     The switch module  140  may be provided to control an operation of the vacuum pump  130 . 
     The switch module  140  may include the button  141 , an elastic member  142 , and a switch  143 . 
     The button  141  may be provided to have a bar shape. The button  141  may be provided to pass through the first path  113  and protrude to an outside of the suction head  110 . The button  141  may be provided to have length longer than a length in a front-rear direction of the chamber  120 . 
     The button  141  may include an engaging portion  141 A provided so that the first elastic member  142  is engaged therewith. A diameter of the engaging portion  141 A may be provided to be greater than that of the remaining portion of the button  141 . 
     The switch  143  may be provided to operate the vacuum pump  130  when pressed. That is, the switch  143  may be provided to operate the vacuum pump  130  when being pressed by the button  141 . When the button  141  does not press the switch  143 , the vacuum pump  130  may be provided to stop the operation thereof. 
     The first elastic member  142  may be disposed between the button  141  and the switch  143 . One end of the first elastic member  142  may be supported by the engaging portion  141 A of the button  141 , and the other end of the first elastic member  142  may be supported by the switch  143 . The first elastic member  142  elastically biases the button  141  so that one end of the button  141  protrudes to an outside of the suction port  111 . Accordingly, when a user does not press the one end of the button  141  with a force greater than or equal to an elastic restoring force of the first elastic member  142 , the one end of the button may protrude to the outside of the suction port  111  due to the elastic restoring force of the first elastic member  142 . 
     The vacuum packing device  100  may further include the tube  150  provided to connect the chamber  120  and the vacuum pump  130 . 
     The tube  150  may include the inlet  151  into which air is introduced, an outlet  152  from which the air is discharged, and a second path  153  provided between the inlet  151  and the outlet  152 . 
     The inlet  151  may be connected to the second opening  122 A of the chamber plate  122 . 
     A first direction in which the air is introduced into the inlet  151  may be opposite a second direction in which the air is discharged from the outlet  152 . 
     The vacuum packing device  100  may include the chamber  120 , the vacuum pump  130 , the switch module  140 , and an inner case  160  in which the tube  150  is disposed. 
     The inner case  160  may include a first inner case  161  and a second inner case  162 . 
     The first inner case  161  may form a rear surface of the inner case  160 . 
     The second inner case  162  may include an opening  162 A provided to allow a part of the chamber  120  to pass therethrough, and a first supporter  163  and a second supporter  164  provided at both sides of the opening  162 A. 
     An opening  163 A may be provided in a front surface of the first supporter  163 , and an opening  164 A may be provided in a front surface of the second supporter  164 . 
     A second elastic member  168  may be inserted into the opening  163 A of the first supporter  163 , and a third elastic member  169  may be inserted into the opening  164 A of the second supporter  164 . 
     The vacuum packing device  100  may further include a support member  165  coupled to the inner case  160  and provided to fix the inner case  160  to one side of the outer case  170 . 
     A first bracket  166  and a second bracket  167  may be provided on both sides of support member  165 . 
     The second elastic member  168  may be coupled to the first bracket  166 , and the third elastic member  169  may be coupled to the second bracket  167 . 
     That is, one end of the second elastic member  168  may be supported by the first supporter  163 , and the other end of the second elastic member  168  may be supported by the first bracket  166 . Likewise, one end of the third elastic member  169  may be supported by the second supporter  164 , and the other end of the third elastic member  169  may be supported by the second bracket  167 . 
     A method in which the support member  165  fixes the inner case  160  to one inner side of the outer case  170  will be described below. 
       FIG. 6  is a view illustrating a vinyl pack in the refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the vinyl pack  200  may include the check valve  210  and a zipper  212 . 
     The vinyl pack  200  may be sealed and opened by the zipper  212  provided on an upper end thereof. After putting food in the vinyl pack  200  when the vinyl pack  200  is open, the vinyl pack  200  may be sealed using the zipper  212 . When the vinyl pack  200  is sealed, a flow of air between an inside and an outside of the vinyl pack  200  may be prevented. 
     However, although the vinyl pack  200  is sealed, some air may remain in the vinyl pack  200 . The air may be in contact with the food so that the food may rot. The vacuum packing device  100  may suction the air in the vinyl pack  200  so that the air in the vinyl pack  200  may be removed, as will be described below. Accordingly, most air in contact with the food may not remain in the vinyl pack  200  so that freshness of the food may be maintained for a long time when the vinyl pack  200  in the above state is stored in a refrigerator. 
     The vinyl pack  200  may include the check valve  210 . The check valve  210  may be provided such that air flows in one direction. That is, since the check valve  210  is provided, the air in the vinyl pack  200  may leak to an outside of the opening and closing hole  211 . However, air outside the vinyl pack  200  is prevented from being introduced into the opening and closing hole  211 . 
     Meanwhile, the vinyl pack  200  in  FIG. 6  is only one example, and the vinyl pack  200  is not limited thereto. That is, the vinyl pack has no limitation on a material or a size thereof. Further, the vinyl pack is not limited to a vinyl material due to the name thereof. In addition, a location of the zipper  212  and a location of the check valve  210  may be changed. In addition, the check valve  210  has no limitation on a structure thereof. 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view illustrating the vacuum packing device in the refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 8  is a view in which the vacuum packing device illustrated in  FIG. 7  suctions air in the vinyl pack. 
     Hereinafter, an operation of the vacuum packing device will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , a state in which the button  141  protrudes to the outside of the suction port  111  may be maintained before the vacuum packing device  100  operates. This is because the button  141  receives an elastic force from the first elastic member  142  to protrude to the outside of the suction port  111 . 
     The button  141  may pass through the suction port  111 , the first path  113 , the discharge port  114 , and the first opening  121 B. Further, the button  141  may pass through the third opening  122 B. Since the button  141  may be provided in the bar shape, centers of the third opening  122 B, the discharge port  114 , the first opening  121 B, and the suction port  111  may be provided to match each other such that the first opening  121 B and the third opening  122 B are axially aligned. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , when a user desires to remove air in the vinyl pack  200 , the check valve  210  may be brought into contact with the suction head  110  after the vinyl pack  200  is sealed by the zipper  212 . Specifically, the opening and closing hole  211  of the check valve  210  is brought into contact with the button  141  so that the vinyl pack  200  is directly connected to the suction head  110 . 
     In this case, the button  141  configured to protrude to the outside of the suction port  111  may be inserted into the suction port  111 . Since the button  141  is inserted into the suction port  111 , the switch  143  may operate the vacuum pump  130 . 
     When the vacuum pump  130  operates, the vacuum pump  130  starts to suction air. Accordingly, the vacuum pump  130  may suction air from the tube  150  connected to the vacuum pump  130 , the chamber  120  connected to the tube  150 , and the suction head  110  connected to the chamber  120 . 
     That is, the air in the vinyl pack  200  starts to be suctioned through the suction port  111  and may be introduced into the chamber  120  through the first path  113  and the first opening  121 B. As shown in  FIG. 8 , when a foreign substance in the vinyl pack  200  is suctioned into the chamber  120  with the air, the foreign substance is collected in the chamber  120 . This is because the second opening  122 A is provided at a higher level than the first opening  121 B. According to the aspect of the present disclosure, the second opening  122 A of the chamber  120  may be provided at a higher level than the first opening  121 B. Accordingly, as described above, the foreign substance suctioned through the suction head  110  is not introduced into the vacuum pump  130  through the tube  150  and collected in the chamber  120 . This is because the possibility of performance degradation or failure of the vacuum pump  130  may be increased when the foreign substance is introduced into the vacuum pump  130 . 
     When the second opening  122 A is located at the higher level than the first opening  121 B, a large suction force sufficient to draw the foreign substance from the first opening  121 B to the second opening  122 A is necessary for the foreign substance to be introduced into the second opening  122 A. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the vacuum pump  130  needs only a suction force which suctions the air in the vinyl pack  200 . Accordingly, since the vacuum pump  130  doesn&#39;t have the above large suction force, the foreign substance may be prevented from being introduced into the vacuum pump  130  through the second opening  122 A. 
     Accordingly, after the air and the foreign substance in the vinyl pack  200  pass through the first path  113  and reach the chamber  120  through the suction port  111 , the foreign substance may remain in the chamber  120  and the air may pass through the second opening  122 A and the second path  153  to be suctioned into the vacuum pump  130 . The air suctioned into the vacuum pump  130  may leak to the outside of the door through a gap in the inner case  160  and the outer case  170 . 
     A user may vacuum-pack the vinyl pack  200  by separating the vacuum pump  130  from the suction head  110  after the vacuum pump  130  completely suctions the air in the vinyl pack  200 . Further, the check valve  210  is separated from the suction head  110  and does not press the button  141  anymore. Accordingly, the button  141  protrudes to the outside of the suction port  111  due to the elastic force of the first elastic member  142  and may be restored to an original state thereof as shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional perspective view of the vacuum packing device in the refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Hereinafter, a method in which the support member  165  fixes the inner case  160  to the one side of the outer case  170  will be described in detail. Further, a method of disassembling the vacuum packing device  100  to remove a foreign substance in the chamber  120  will be described in detail. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the first supporter  163  and the second supporter  164  may be provided in the second inner case  162 . Further, the first bracket  166  and the second bracket  167  may be provided on the support member  165 . In this case, the second elastic member  168  may be disposed between the first bracket  166  and the first supporter  163 , and the third elastic member  169  may be disposed between the second bracket  167  and the second supporter  164 . 
     Accordingly, each of the second elastic member  168  and the third elastic member  169  may provide an elastic force in a direction in which a distance between the support member  165  and the inner case  160  increases. 
     In this case, a part of the support member  165  may pass through the opening part  162 A of the second inner case  162 , and the first bracket  166  and the second bracket  167  may come into contact with and be supported by the first outer case  171 . That is, the support member  165  may not pass through the first outer case  171  because the first and second brackets  166  and  167  come into contact with the first outer case  171 . 
     Meanwhile, the inner case  160  may receive a force in a direction away from the support member  165  due to the elastic forces of the second elastic member  168  and the third elastic member  169 . Accordingly, the inner case  160  is moved by the elastic forces until the inner case  160  comes into contact with the rear surface of the outer case  170  and is not moved anymore after a rear surface thereof comes in contact with the rear surface of the outer case  170 . Accordingly, the inner case  160  may be fixed by the support member  165  and the second and third elastic members  168  and  169  so that a state in which the rear surface of the inner case  160  is in contact with the rear surface of the outer case  170  is maintained. Accordingly, a state in which the inner case  160  is fixed in the outer case  170  may be maintained without a separate coupling member. 
     In order to remove a foreign substance in the chamber  120 , the first outer case  171  may be separated from the second outer case  172 . When the first outer case  171  is separated from the second outer case  172 , the support member  165  is also separated therefrom, and the inner case  160  may be withdrawn from the outer case  170 . After the inner case  160  is withdrawn from the outer case  170 , the first inner case  161  and the second inner case  162  are separated from each other, and the chamber  120  in the inner case  160  may be withdrawn from an inside of the first inner case  161  and the second inner case  162 . The chamber plate  122  may be separated from the chamber  120  and an inside of the chamber  120  may be cleaned. 
     Meanwhile, when the chamber body  121  and the chamber plate  122  are integrally formed to form the chamber  120  without being separated from each other, the inside of the chamber  120  may be cleaned through the insertion port  121 A by separating the suction head  110 , which is formed of the flexible material and forcibly insertion-coupled to the chamber  120 , from the chamber  120 . 
       FIG. 10  is a view illustrating an exterior of a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Hereinafter, a case in which a vacuum packing device is installed in a refrigerator door provided with a dispenser will be described. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , a refrigerator  1  may include a body  10 , and doors  11 A,  11 B,  12 A, and  12 B rotatably coupled to the body  10 . 
     Refrigerator compartment doors  11 A and  11 B may be provided to open and close a refrigerator compartment (not shown). Freezer compartment doors  12 A and  12 B may be provided to open and close a freezer compartment (not shown). Further, refrigerator compartment handles  11 C and  11 D may be provided on the refrigerator compartment doors  11 A and  11 B, and freezer compartment handles  12 C and  12 D may be provided on the freezer compartment doors  12 A and  12 B. 
     A dispenser  30  capable of dispensing ice and water to the outside without the refrigerator compartment door  11 A being opened may be provided in the refrigerator compartment door  11 A. A lever  31  capable of selecting whether ice is dispensed may be provided in the dispenser  30 . 
     In this case, according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a vacuum packing device  100  may be disposed at one side of the dispenser  30 . Specifically, parts of a cover door  173  and an outer case  170  may be disposed to be exposed at the one side of the dispenser  30 . 
     Generally, the dispenser  30  is disposed at a location at which a hand of a user can easily touch the dispenser  30  so that the user can conveniently receive water or ice. Since the vacuum packing device  100  is disposed at the one side of the dispenser  30 , a user may also remove air in a vinyl pack  200  at a location at which the hand of the user can conveniently touch the vacuum packing device  100 . Accordingly, convenience for the user can be improved. 
       FIG. 11  is a view illustrating an exterior of a refrigerator according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , a switch module  140  may be provided with a button  141  separately provided on an outside of a vacuum packing device  100 . The button  141  may be provided to turn a vacuum pump  130  on and off, and the vacuum pump  130  may be turned on and off in various ways. For example, the vacuum pump  130  may be provided to turn on and operate when the button  141  is pressed, and may be provided to turn off and stop when the button  141  is pressed again. Otherwise, the vacuum pump  130  may be provided to operate only while a user presses the button  141 . 
     The button  141  may be disposed at one side of a refrigerator compartment door  11 A. For example, the button  141  may be disposed at one side of a dispenser  30 . A location at which the button  141  is disposed is not limited, and the button  141  may be preferably disposed adjacent to the vacuum packing device  100  for convenience of the user. 
     As is apparent from the above description, a refrigerator including a vacuum packing device can be provided. 
     A refrigerator including a vacuum packing device directly connected to a vinyl pack without a separate hose and configured to remove air in the vinyl pack can be provided. 
     A refrigerator including a vacuum packing device operated only by a contact with a vinyl pack and ensuring ease of use can be provided. 
     A refrigerator including a vacuum packing device configured to prevent a foreign substance in a vinyl pack from being suctioned into a vacuum pump with air can be provided. 
     Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made to the embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, and the scope of the disclosure is defined in the claims and their equivalents. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described with an exemplary embodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.