Patent Publication Number: US-11391508-B2

Title: Refrigerator

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U. S. C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0167388 Filed on Dec. 21, 2018, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator having shelves enhanced to be easily accessible. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Refrigerators are home appliances equipped with a main body having a storage chamber, a cold air supplier for supplying cold air to the storage chamber and a door for opening or closing the storage chamber to keep food fresh. 
     A plurality of shelves are provided in the storage chamber to allow food items to be stacked and stored thereon. 
     When a shelf is fixed in the storage chamber, it is not easy for the user to access the shelf. For this reason, shelves that may be pulled out forward or folded in its front portion for easy access is used. 
     Although such shelves make it easy to access food kept thereon as compared with the fixed shelf in the storage chamber, reaching food stored in the back of the shelves still is not easy. 
     In addition, a rotary shelf may be provided to enable all food items stored thereon to be reachable always at the front of the shelf. 
     In this case, however, the rotary shelf needs a space for rotation, which may not be used to store food items and may take over the space for food storage. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, a refrigerator includes a main body; and a storage chamber provided inside the main body to have an open front and a shelf unit, wherein the shelf unit includes a first shelf arranged in a front portion of the storage chamber to be moved forward or backward in the storage chamber; a second shelf arranged behind the first shelf; and a guide unit arranged to guide the first shelf to be moved to the left or right while the first and second shelves are moved forward. 
     The shelf unit may include a pair of first supporting members coupled onto either side on the bottom of the second shelf to support the first and second shelves from underneath the first and second shelves, and moved forward or backward along with the first and second shelves. 
     The shelf unit may include a plurality of second supporting members coupled onto the bottom of the first shelf to support the first shelf from underneath the first shelf, and moved to the left or right along with the first shelf. 
     The guide unit may include guides coupled onto a top surface of the back of the plurality of second supporting members, and guide rails arranged on the bottom of front portions of the first and second shelves to guide the guides to be moved left or right. 
     The guide rail arranged at the first shelf may include a catching bar arranged in a center portion of the guide rail to limit a distance moved by the guide to the left or right. 
     The shelf unit may include a pair of brackets coupled on either side of the first and second shelves to support the first and second shelves, and a pair of connecting rods coupled between the pair of brackets to prevent twisting of the first and second shelves. 
     The pair of connecting rods may include a first connecting rod coupled to back portions of the pair of brackets and a second connecting rod coupled to center portions of the pair of brackets. 
     The pair of first supporting members may be coupled with respective stoppers, the stoppers limiting a distance moved forward by the first and second shelves by being caught by the second connecting rod, so as for the first shelf to be moved to the left or right. 
     The bracket may include a sliding guide guiding the first and second shelves to be moved forward or backward, and the first and second shelves may include sliding rails arranged on either side of the first and second shelves to be moved forward or backward along with the sliding guide. 
     The bracket may include a guide guiding the first and second shelves to be moved forward or backward, and the first and second shelves may include guide rails arranged on either side of the first and second shelves for the guide to be moved forward or backward. 
     The shelf unit may include coupling members coupled onto either side on the bottom of the first shelf and including a guide unit coupler to which the guide unit is coupled. 
     The guide unit may include a first guide rail coupled to the guide unit coupler, and a second guide rail coupled onto the bottom of a front portion of the second shelf to guide the first guide rail to be moved left or right. 
     The guide unit may include a third guide rail arranged in a rear portion of the first shelf, and a guide arranged on a top surface of the front of the second shelf to guide the third guide rail to be moved left or right. 
     The shelf unit may include a pair of brackets coupled on either side of the first and second shelves to support the first and second shelves, and a pair of connecting rods coupled between the pair of brackets to prevent twisting of the first and second shelves. 
     The second shelf may be coupled with stoppers on either side on the bottom of the second shelf, the stoppers limiting a distance moved forward by the first and second shelves by being caught by one of the pair of connecting rods, which is in the front, so as for the first shelf to be moved to the left or right. 
     In accordance with another embodiment of the disclosure, a refrigerator including a main body; and a storage chamber provided inside the main body to have an open front and a shelf unit, wherein the shelf unit includes a first shelf arranged in a front portion of the storage chamber to be moved forward or backward in the storage chamber a second shelf arranged behind the first shelf to be moved forward or backward; a third shelf arranged next to the first and second shelves to be moved forward or backward in the storage chamber; and a guide unit arranged to guide the first shelf to be rotated to be in front of the third shelf while the first and second shelves are moved forward. 
     The guide unit may include a rotation shaft allowing the first shelf to be rotationally coupled with the second shelf, a coupler coupled onto the bottom of a front portion of the second shelf, a receiver rotationally receiving the rotation shaft, and a guide hole guiding the first shelf to be rotated around the rotation shaft. 
     The first shelf may include a guide projection protruding from the bottom of a rear portion of the first shelf to be inserted to the guide hole and guided along the guide hole, allowing the first shelf to be rotated around the rotation shaft. 
     The shelf unit may include a guide member including a stopper projection arranged to protrude from the bottom of a rear portion of the second shelf and a stopper projection guide hole, to which the stopper projection is inserted, guiding the first and second shelves to be moved forward or backward, the stopper projection guide hole limiting a distance moved forward by the stopper projection so as for the first shelf to be moved forward as far as the first shelf is able to rotate. 
     The shelf unit may include a fixing member coupled to the first shelf to be moved back and forth to fix the first shelf after the first shelf is rotated and located in front of the third shelf, and a fixing member fixing groove arranged at the front end of the third shelf for the fixing member to be inserted and fixed to the fixing member fixing groove. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing in detail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a refrigerator, according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a shelf unit, according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view of the bottom of a shelf unit, according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a shelf unit, according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a shelf unit, according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a view illustrating how a second support unit of a shelf unit is combined with a first shelf and a guide is combined with a guide rail, according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a side cross-sectional view of a shelf unit, according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  shows a shelf unit with a left shelf moved forward, according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  is a plan view of the bottom of a shelf unit with a left shelf moved forward, according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  shows a first shelf moved to the right from a left shelf moved forward, according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  is a plan view of the bottom of a shelf unit with a first shelf moved to the right from a left shelf moved forward, according to an embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a shelf unit, according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 13  is a plan view of the bottom of a shelf unit, according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 14  is an exploded perspective view of a shelf unit, according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a shelf unit, according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 16  shows a shelf unit with a guide unit and a coupling unit separated therefrom, according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 17  is a side cross-sectional view of a shelf unit, according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 18  shows a shelf unit with a right shelf moved forward, according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 19  is a plan view of the bottom of a shelf unit with a right shelf moved forward, according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 20  shows a first shelf moved to the left from a right shelf moved forward, according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 21  is a plan view of the bottom of a shelf unit with a first shelf moved to the left from a right shelf moved forward, according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 22  is a perspective view of a shelf unit, according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 23  is a plan view of the bottom of a shelf unit, according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 24  is an exploded perspective view of a shelf unit, according to other embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 25  shows a shelf unit with a guide member and a guide unit separated therefrom, according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 26  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a shelf unit, according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 27  shows a shelf unit with first and second shelves moved forward, according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 28  is a plan view of the bottom of a shelf unit with first and second shelves moved forward, according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 29  shows a first shelf moved forward and rotated around a rotation shaft, according to another embodiment of the disclosure; 
         FIG. 30  is a plan view of the bottom of a shelf unit a first shelf moved forward and rotated around a rotation shaft, according to another embodiment of the disclosure; and 
         FIG. 31  shows a first shelf rotated and then fixed by a fixing member, according to another embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments and features as described and illustrated in the disclosure are merely examples, and there may be various modifications replacing the embodiments and drawings at the time of filing this application. 
     Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like parts or components. 
     The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the disclosure. It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. 
     The terms including ordinal numbers like “first” and “second” may be used to explain various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The terms are only for the purpose of distinguishing a component from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Descriptions shall be understood as to include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items when the items are described by using the conjunctive term “˜and/or˜,” or the like. 
     The terms “front”, “rear”, “upper”, “lower”, “top”, and “bottom” as herein used are defined with respect to the drawings, but the terms may not restrict the shape and position of the respective components. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings. 
     The disclosure provides a refrigerator having a shelf that may be moved along two paths to improve accessibility to the shelf. 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a refrigerator, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a refrigerator may include a main body  10 , a storage chamber  20  with multiple chambers provided inside the main body  10  to have open front, and a door  30  to open or close the open front of the storage chamber  20 . 
     The main body  10  may include an inner casing (not shown) defining the storage chamber  20 , an outer casing (not shown) defining the exterior, and a cold air supply (not shown) for supplying cold air to the storage chamber  20 . 
     The cold air supply may include a compressor (not shown), a condenser (not shown), an expansion valve (not shown), an evaporator (not shown), a blower fan (not shown), a cold air duct (not shown), etc., and there may be an insulation (not shown) foamed between the inner casing (not shown) and the outer casing (not shown) of the main body  10  to prevent the cold air from leaking out from the storage chamber  20 . A machine room (not shown) where the compressor for compressing refrigerants and the condenser for condensing the compressed refrigerants are installed may be contained in a lower portion of the back of the main body  10 . 
     The storage chamber  20  is divided by partition walls  17  into multiple chambers including a top chamber  21 , a middle chamber  23 , and a bottom chamber  25  from top to bottom, each chamber keeping groceries cool or frozen as required. The top chamber  21  may include a plurality of shelf units  100  to divide the top chamber  21  into multiple compartments, and a plurality of containers  27  to store groceries or some other items. The top chamber  1  may be opened or closed by a dual-type door  31  pivotally mounted on the main body  10 , and the middle chamber  23  and the bottom chamber  25  may be opened or closed by a drawer-type door  33  that may slide against the main body  10 . 
     The dual-type door  31  may include a plurality of door guards  35  on the rear side of the dual-type door  31  to contain food items. The drawer-type door  33  may include a handle  37  arranged on the front surface to be gripped by the user. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a shelf unit, according to an embodiment of the disclosure,  FIG. 3  is a plan view of the bottom of a shelf unit, according to an embodiment of the disclosure,  FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of a shelf unit, according to an embodiment of the disclosure,  FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a shelf unit, according to an embodiment of the disclosure,  FIG. 6  is a view illustrating how a second support unit of a shelf unit is combined with a first shelf and a guide is combined with a guide rail, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and  FIG. 7  is a side cross-sectional view of a shelf unit, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 2 to 7 , a shelf unit  100  may include a pair of shelves  110  arranged on the left and right inside the storage chamber  20 , and a pair of brackets  140  coupled onto either side of each of the shelves  110  to support the shelf  110  (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     The pair of the shelves  110  provided on the left and right of the storage chamber  20  have the same structure, so hereinafter, only one of the shelves  110 , e.g., the shelf  110  on the left of the storage chamber  20  will be brought to focus as an example. 
     The shelf  110  provided on the left or right of the storage chamber  20  may include a first shelf  120  arranged in the front and a second shelf  130  arranged behind the first shelf  120 . 
     The brackets  140  may be coupled onto either side of the first and second shelves  120  and  130 , in which case the bracket  140  coupled onto the left side of the first and second shelves  120  and  130  may be fixed to an inner wall of the storage chamber  20 . 
     As for the shelf  110  provided on the right inside the storage chamber  20 , the bracket  140  coupled onto the right side of the first and second shelves  120  and  130  may be fixed to an inner wall of the storage chamber  20 . 
     The shelf  110  may be coupled with the brackets  140  to be moved forward or backward, allowing the user to easily take out a food item on the shelf  110 . 
     The brackets  140  may include sliding guides  141  to guide the shelf  110  to be moved forward or backward. The shelf  110  may include sliding rails  111  arranged on either side of the shelf  110  and moved forward or backward along the sliding guides  141  of the brackets  140 . The sliding guides  141  of the brackets  140  are received in sliding rails  111  arranged on either side of the shelf  110 , and the shelf  110  array be moved forward or backward with the aid of the sliding rails  111  that are moved forward or backward along the sliding guides  141 . 
     A pair of connecting rods  150  may be provided between the pair of brackets  140  coupled onto either side of the shelf  110 . The pair of connecting rods  150  may prevent twisting of the shelf  110  when the shelf  110  is moved forward or backward. The pair of connecting rods  150  may include a first connecting rod  151  coupled onto back portions of the pair of brackets  140  and a second connecting rod  153  coupled onto center portions of the pair of the brackets  140 . 
     The shelf unit  100  may include a pair of first supporting members  160  coupled to either side on the bottom of the second shelf  130  to support the shelf  110  from underneath the shelf  110 . The first supporting members  160  coupled onto either side on the bottom of the second shelf  130  may extend forward from the second shelf  130  to support the bottom of the first shelf  120 . The first supporting members  160  supporting the entire shelf  110  from underneath the shelf  110  may be moved forward or backward along with the shelf  110 . 
     Stoppers  180  may be coupled onto the respective back portions of the pair of first supporting members  160 . The stoppers  180  may limit a distance moved forward by the shelf  110  by being caught by the second connecting rod  153  while the shelf  110  is moving forward. The shelf  110  moving forward may be moved as far as the first shelf  120  is able to move to the left or right. While an example of the first shelf  120  is given as being forward or backward, and left or right, the present invention is not limited to any particular movement and can be moved in various directions. 
     After the shelf  110  is moved forward as far as the limited distance in the forward direction until the stopper  180  is caught by the second connecting rod  153 , the first shelf  120  may be freely moved to the left or right. 
     The shelf unit  100  may include a plurality of second supporting members  170  coupled onto the bottom of the first shelf  120  to support the shelf  120 . Although there are three second supporting members  170  shown in  FIG. 3 , embodiments of the disclosure are not limited thereto. The plurality of supporting members  170  may be moved to the left or right along with the first shelf  120 . 
     The shelf unit  100  may include a guide unit  190  for the first shelf  120  to be moved to the left or right from the second shelf  130 . The guide unit  190  may include guides  191  coupled onto the respective top surfaces in the back of the second supporting members  170 , and guide rails  193  each provided on the bottom of the front of each of the first and second shelves  120  and  130  to guide the guide  191  to be moved to the left or right. The first and second shelves  120  and  130  may be coupled by the guide unit  190  and moved forward or backward together. The guide rails  193  may be provided on the respective front and bottom of the first and second shelves  120  and  130 . 
     With this structure, when one of the left and right shelves in the storage chamber  20  is moved forward, the guide rail  193  provided on the front and bottom of the second shelf  130  of the shelf  110  and the guide rail  193  provided on the front and bottom of the first shelf  120  of the other shelf that is not moved forward may be connected (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     When the guide rails  193  of the left and right shelves  110  are connected, the first shelf  120  of the shelf  110  that is moved forward may be moved to the left or right by the guide  191  guided to the left or right along with the guide rails  193 . 
     Of the guide rails  193  provided on the respective front and bottom of the first and second shelves  120  and  130 , the guide rail  193  on the front and bottom of the first shelf  120  may be provided with a catching bar  195 . The catching bar  195  is provided in a center portion of the guide rail  193  to catch the guide  191  moving to the left or right, thereby limiting the motion of the guide  191 . The distance moved by the first shelf  120  to the left or right may be limited. 
       FIG. 8  shows a shelf unit with a left shelf moved forward, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and  FIG. 9  is a plan view of the bottom of a shelf unit with a left shelf moved forward, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the left shelf  110  may be moved forward with the aid of the sliding guides  141  arranged in the brackets  140  and the sliding rails  111  arranged on either side of the shelf  110  (also see  FIG. 5 ). 
     The stoppers  180  may limit a distance moved forward by the shelf  110  by being caught by the second connecting rod  153  when the left shelf  110  is moved forward. When the left shelf  110  is moved forward as far as the distance limited by the stopper  180 , the guide rail  193  arranged at the second shelf  130  of the left shelf  110  and the guide rail  193  arranged at the first shelf  120  of the right shelf  110  may be connected. 
       FIG. 10  shows a first shelf moved to the right from a left shelf moved forward, according to an embodiment of the disclosure, and  FIG. 11  is a plan view of the bottom of a shelf unit with a first shelf moved to the right from a left shelf moved forward, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the first shelf  120  of the left shelf  110  moved forward may be moved by the guide unit  190  to the right (also see  FIG. 7 ). The guide  191  moved to the right along the connected guide rails  193  may be moved to the right by a limited distance by being caught by the catching bar  195 . By moving the first shelf  120  of the left shelf  110  moved forward to the right, the user may easily reach and take oust a food item stacked and stored on the second shelf  130 . 
       FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a shelf unit, according to another embodiment of the disclosure,  FIG. 13  is a plan view of the bottom of a shelf unit, according to another embodiment of the disclosure,  FIG. 14  is an exploded perspective view of a shelf unit, according to another embodiment of the disclosure,  FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a shelf unit, according to another embodiment of the disclosure,  FIG. 16  shows a shelf unit with a guide unit and a coupling unit separated therefrom, according to another embodiment of the disclosure, and  FIG. 17  is a side cross-sectional view of a shelf unit, according to another embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 12 to 17 , a shelf unit  200  may include a pair of shelves  210  arranged on the left and right inside the storage chamber  20 , and a pair of brackets  240  coupled onto either side of each of the shelves  210  to support the shelf  210 . 
     The pair of the shelves  210  provided on the left and right of the storage chamber  20  have the same structure, so hereinafter, only one of the shelves  210 , e.g., the shelf  210  on the left of the storage chamber  20  will be brought to focus as an example. 
     Each shelf  210  provided on the left or right of the storage chamber  20  may include a first shelf  220  arranged in the front and a second shelf  230  arranged behind the first shelf  220 . 
     Brackets  240  may be coupled onto either side of the first and second shelves  220  and  230 , in which case the bracket  240  coupled onto the right side of the first and second shelves  220  and  230  may be fixed to an inner wall of the storage chamber  20 . As for the shelf  210  provided on the left inside the storage chamber  20 , the bracket  240  coupled onto the left side of the first and second shelves  220  and  230  may be fixed to an inner wall of the storage chamber  20 . 
     The shelf  210  may be coupled with the brackets  240  to be moved forward or backward, allowing the user to easily take out a food item on the shelf  210 . 
     The brackets  240  may include sliding guides  241  to guide the shelf  210  to be moved forward or backward. The shelf  210  may include sliding rails  211  arranged on either side of the shelf  210  and moved forward or backward along the sliding guides  241  of the brackets  240 . The sliding guides  241  of the brackets  240  are received in sliding rails  211  arranged on either side of the shelf  210 , and the shelf  210  may be moved forward or backward with the aid of the sliding rails  211  that are moved forward or backward along the sliding guides  241 . 
     A pair of connecting rods  250  may be provided between the pair of brackets  240  coupled onto either side of the shelf  210 . The pair of connecting rods  250  may prevent twisting of the shelf  210  when the shelf  210  is moved forward or backward. The pair of connecting rods  250  may include a first connecting rod  251  coupled onto back portions of the pair of brackets  240  and a second connecting rod  253  coupled to the pair of brackets  240  in front of the first connecting rod  251 . 
     The shelf unit  200  may include coupling members  260  coupled onto either side on the bottom of the first shelf  220 . A front portion of the coupling member  260  may be coupled onto the bottom of the first shelf  220  and a rear portion of the coupling member  260  may extend to the bottom of the second shelf  230 . The coupling member  260  may include a guide unit coupler  261  arranged in the rear portion extending to the bottom of the second shelf  230  to be coupled with a guide unit  280  which will be described later. 
     Stoppers  270  may be coupled onto the back portions of both sides of the second shelf  230 . The stoppers  270  may limit a distance moved forward by the shelf  210  by being caught by the second connecting rod  253  while the shelf  210  is moving forward. The shelf  210  moving forward may be moved as far as the first shelf  220  is able to move to the left or right. After the shelf  210  is moved forward as far as the limited distance in the forward direction until the stopper  270  is caught by the second connecting rod  253 , the first shelf  220  may be freely moved to the left or right. 
     The shelf unit  200  may include the guide unit  280  for the first shelf  220  to be moved to the left or right from the second shelf  230 . The guide unit  280  may include a first guide rail  281  coupled to the guide unit coupler  261  of the coupling member  260  and a second guide rail  283  coupled onto the bottom of the front portion of the second shelf  230 . The first guide rail  281  may be movable in the left-right direction along the second guide rail  283 . Accordingly, the first shelf  220  may be moved by the guide unit  280  to the left and right from the second shelf  230 . 
     The guide unit  280  may include a third guide rail  285  arranged on the rear of the first shelf  220 , and a guide  287  arranged on the top surface of the front of the second shelf  230  to guide the third guide rail  285  to be moved to the left or right. The first and second shelves  220  and  230  may be coupled by the guide unit  280 . As the first and second shelves  220  and  230  may be coupled by the guide unit  280 , they may be moved forward or backward together. 
       FIG. 18  shows a shelf unit with a right shelf moved forward, according to another embodiment of the disclosure, and  FIG. 19  is a plan view of the bottom of a shelf unit with a right shelf moved forward, according to another embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 18 and 19 , the right shelf  210  may be moved forward with the aid of the sliding guides  241  arranged in the brackets  240  and the sliding rails  211  arranged on either side of the shelf  210  (also see  FIG. 15 ). 
     The stoppers  270  may limit a distance moved forward by the shelf  210  by being caught by the second connecting rod  253  when the right shelf  210  is moved forward. When the right shelf  210  is moved forward as far as the distance limited by the stopper  270 , the first shelf  220  of the right shelf  210  may be in a position to be freely moved to the left. 
       FIG. 20  shows a first shelf moved to the left from a right shelf moved forward, according to another embodiment of the disclosure, and  FIG. 21  is a plan view of the bottom of a shelf unit with a first shelf moved to the left from a right shelf moved forward, according to another embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 20 and 21 , the first shelf  220  of the right shelf  210  moved forward may be moved by the guide unit  280  to the left (also see  FIG. 16 ). 
     By moving the first shelf  220  of the right shelf  210  moved forward to the left, the user may easily reach and take out a food item stacked and stored on the second shelf  230 . 
       FIG. 22  is a perspective view of a shelf unit, according to another embodiment of the disclosure,  FIG. 23  is a plan view of the bottom of a shelf unit, according to another embodiment of the disclosure,  FIG. 24  is an exploded perspective view of a shelf unit, according to another embodiment of the disclosure,  FIG. 25  shows a shelf unit with a guide member and a guide unit separated therefrom, according to another embodiment of the disclosure, and  FIG. 26  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a shelf unit, according to another embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 22 to 26 , a shelf unit  300  may include a shelf  310  arranged in the storage chamber  20 , and brackets  350  coupled onto either side of the shelf  310  to support the shelf  310 . 
     The shelf  310  may include a first shelf  320  arranged on a front right in the storage chamber  20 , a second shelf  330  arranged behind the first shelf  320 , and a third shelf  340  arranged on the left in the storage chamber  20 . 
     Brackets  350  may be coupled onto either side of the first and second shelves  320  and  330  and onto either side of the third shelf  340 , in which case the bracket  350  coupled onto the right side of the first and second shelves  320  and  330  may be fixed to an inner wall of the storage chamber  20 . The bracket  350  coupled onto the left side of the third shelf  340  may be fixed to an inner wall of the storage chamber  20 . 
     The first and second shelves  320  and  330  may be moved forward or backward, allowing the user to easily take out a food item on the first and second shelves  320  and  330 . 
     The brackets  350  coupled onto either side of the first and second shelves  320  and  330  may include a guide member  360  for guiding the first and second shelves  320  and  330  to be moved forward or backward. 
     The guide member  360  may include sliding rails  361  for guiding the first and second shelves  320  and  330  to be moved forward or backward. The first and second shelves  320  and  330  may include sliding guides  311  arranged on either side of the first and second shelves  320  and  330  to be moved forward or backward along the sliding rails  361  arranged in the guide member  360 . The sliding guides  311  of the first and second shelves  320  and  330  may be received in the sliding rails  361  arranged in the guide member  360 , and the first and second shelves  330  may be moved forward or backward by the sliding guides  311  that are moved forward or backward along the sliding rails  361 . 
     The first shelf  320  may be rotationally coupled to the second shelf  330 . A first rotation hole  321  may be arranged on the rear left of the first shelf  320 , and a second rotation hole  331  may be arranged on the front left of the second shelf  330  coupled with the first shelf  320 . The first and second shelves  320  and  330  may be coupled to be rotated by a rotation shaft S rotationally inserted to the first and second rotation holes  321  and  331 . 
     The second shelf  330  may include stopper projections  333  arranged to protrude from bottom of a rear portion of the second shelf  330 . The guide member  360  may include stopper projection guide holes  363  for receiving the stopper projections and guiding the stopper projections  333  to be moved back and forth. The stopper projection guide holes  363  may limit a distance moved forward by the first shelf  320  while guiding the stopper projections  333  to be moved back and forth. The stopper projection  333  moved along the stopper projection guide hole  363  may be moved forward until reaching the end of the stopper projection guide hole  363 . Once the stopper projection  333  arrives at the end of the stopper projection guide hole  363  where the stopper projection  333  is not able to move further forward, the first shelf  320  may be in a position to be freely rotated around the rotation shaft S. 
     A pair of connecting rods  370  may be provided between the pair of brackets  350  coupled onto either side of the first and second shelves  320  and  330 . The pair of connecting rods  370  may prevent twisting of the first and second shelves  320  and  330  when the first and second shelves  320  and  330  is moved forward or backward. The pair of connecting rods  370  may include a first connecting rod  371  coupled onto back portions of the pair of brackets  350  and a second connecting rod  373  coupled to the pair of brackets  240  in front of the first connecting rod  371 . 
     The first shelf  320  may include a fixing projection  323  arranged at the rear end of the first shelf  320  to have the first shelf  320  fixed to the second shelf  330 . The second shelf  330  may include a first shelf fixing groove  335  arranged at the front end of the second shelf  330  to receive and fix the fixing projection  323  to the second shelf  330 . 
     The shelf unit  300  may include a guide unit  380  for guiding the first shelf  320  to be rotated around the rotation shaft S. The guide unit  380  may include the rotation shaft S for the first shelf  320  to be rotationally coupled with the second shelf  330 , a coupler  381  coupled onto the bottom of a front portion of the second shelf  330 , a receiver  383  to rotationally receive the rotation shaft S, and a guide hole  385  to guide the first shelf  320  to be rotated around the rotation shaft S. Of the guide unit  380 , other parts than the coupler  381  may be placed on the bottom of a rear portion of the first shelf  320 . On the bottom of the rear portion of the first shelf  320  where the other parts of the guide unit  380  than the coupler  381 , there may be a guide projection  325  guided along the guide hole  385  for the first shelf  320  to be rotated around the rotation shaft S. 
     The first shelf  320  may include a fixing member  327  for fixing the first shelf  320  after the first shelf  320  is rotated around the rotation shaft S. The fixing member  327  may be arranged on the bottom of the first shelf  320  to be moved back and forth. At the front end of the third shelf  340  with which the first shelf  320  comes into contact after the first shelf  320  is rotated around the rotation axis  5 , there may be a fixing member fixing groove  341  to which the fixing member  327  is inserted and fixed. 
       FIG. 27  shows a shelf unit with first and second shelves moved forward, according to another embodiment of the disclosure, and  FIG. 28  is a plan view of the bottom of a shelf unit with first and second shelves moved forward, according to another embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 27 and 28 , the first and second shelves  320  and  330  may be moved forward with the aid of the sliding rails  361  arranged in the guide member  360  and sliding guides  311  arranged on either side of the first and second shelves  320  and  330  (also see  FIG. 26 ). 
     When the first and second shelves  320  and  330  are moved forward, the stopper projection  333  is moved to the end of the stopper projection guide hole  363  and stopped at the end, thereby limiting the distance moved forward by the first and second shelves  320  and  330 . When the first and second shelves  320  and  330  are moved forward as far as the distance limited by the stopper projection  333  and the stopper projection guide hole  363 , the first shelf  320  may be in a position to be freely rotated around the rotation shaft S. 
       FIG. 29  shows a first shelf moved forward and rotated around a rotation shaft, according to another embodiment of the disclosure,  FIG. 30  is a plan view of the bottom of a shelf unit with a first shelf moved forward and rotated around a rotation shaft, according to another embodiment of the disclosure, and  FIG. 31  shows a first shelf rotated and then fixed by a fixing member, according to another embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 29 and 30 , the first shelf  320  moved forward may be rotated around the rotation shaft S with the aid of the guide unit  380 . When the first shelf  320  is rotated around the rotation shaft S, the guide projection  325  of the first shelf  320  may be guided along the guide hole  385 . 
       FIG. 31  shows a first shelf rotated and then fixed by a fixing member inserted to a fixing member fixing groove, according to another embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 31 , after the first shelf  320  is rotated by the guide unit  380  around the rotation shaft S, the fixing member  327  may be inserted to the fixing member fixing groove  341  by pulling the fixing member  327  backward. Once the first shelf  320  is fixed, the user may easily reach and take out a food item stacked and stored on the second shelf  230 . 
     According to embodiments of the disclosure, accessibility to shelves may be improved. 
     Several embodiments have been described above, but a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate that various modifications can be made without departing the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, it will be apparent to those ordinary skilled in the art that the true scope of technical protection is only defined by the following claims.