Patent Publication Number: US-9429355-B2

Title: Refrigerator

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
     This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from Korean Application Nos. 10-2011-0118955 filed on Nov. 15, 2011 and 10-2011-0120774 filed on Nov. 18, 2011, whose entire disclosures are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Embodiments as broadly described herein may relate to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator that may store items in an internal compartment, closable by an internal door. 
     2. Background 
     A refrigerator may store items at a temperature lowered by cold air generated by a freezing cycle including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator. Such a refrigerator may include a freezer compartment for storing items in a frozen state therein and a refrigerator compartment for storing items at a relatively low temperature. A Kimchi refrigerator may preserve items such as Kimchi and vegetables in a fresh state. One or more doors may be connected to a predetermined portion of a case of the refrigerator by a hinge to rotate to open and close a front of the case. Additionally, a drawer type door may be coupled to a front of a drawer that is slidably received in the case. A plurality of shelves may be provided in the various compartments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements wherein: 
       Arrangements and embodiments may be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a refrigerator in accordance with one embodiment as broadly described herein; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the refrigerator shown in  FIG. 1 , with a first storage chamber open; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the refrigerator shown in  FIG. 1 , with a second storage chamber open; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear perspective view of a door of the refrigerator shown in  FIG. 2 , with a storage assembly removed; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a storage assembly of the door of the refrigerator shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the storage assembly shown in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a moving basket of the storage assembly, in accordance with an embodiment as broadly described herein; 
         FIG. 8A  is an exploded perspective view and  FIG. 8B  is an assembled perspective view of a connection state of an operation device of the moving basket shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIGS. 9 and 10  are perspective views illustrating a movement state of the moving basket shown in  FIG. 7 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a front view of a refrigerator in accordance with another embodiment as broadly described herein; 
         FIG. 12  is a front view of the refrigerator shown in  FIG. 11 , with its doors open; 
         FIG. 13  is a front perspective view of a storage assembly of the refrigerator shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  in accordance with another embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  is a rear perspective view of the storage assembly shown in  FIG. 13 ; 
         FIGS. 15 and 16  illustrate a state in which a cover of the storage assembly shown in  FIG. 13  is open; 
         FIG. 17  illustrates a state in which a sub-basket of the storage assembly shown in  FIG. 13  is moved and overlapped with a top surface of a main-basket; 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a modified example of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 ; and 
         FIG. 19  illustrates a state in which a sub-basket of the storage assembly as shown in  FIG. 18  is moved and overlapped with a top surface of a main-basket. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Exemplary embodiments will be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings as follows. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a refrigerator  1  as embodied and broadly described herein may include a cabinet  10  in which a storage chamber is formed and doors  20  and  30  for opening and closing the storage chamber. The storage chamber may include, for example, a freezer compartment  102  and a refrigerator compartment  104 , arranged, for example, side by side, and partitioned by a partition. The doors  20  and  30  may include a freezer door  20  for opening and closing the freezer compartment  102  and a refrigerator door  30  for opening and closing the refrigerator compartment  104 . 
     A storage assembly  40  may be provided on a rear (i.e., interior facing) surface of the refrigerator door  30 . The storage assembly  40  may include a storage case  41  detachably coupled to the rear surface of the refrigerator door  30 . In a state in which the refrigerator door  30  is closed against the refrigerator compartment  104 , the storage case  41  may be positioned in the refrigerator compartment  104 . In this embodiment, the refrigerator compartment  104  may be referred to as a first storage chamber and the space formed by the storage case  41  may be referred to as a second storage chamber  405 . Accordingly, the refrigerator door  30  may close the first storage chamber  104  and the second storage chamber  405  may then be positioned in the first storage chamber  104 . 
     The refrigerator door  30  may include a first door  310  for opening and closing the first storage chamber  104  and a second door  340  rotatably coupled to the first door  310  for opening and closing the second storage chamber  405 . The first and second doors  310  and  340  may be pivotally installed by a hinge assembly including a first hinge  301  for connecting the first door  310  to the cabinet  10  and a second hinge  302  for connecting the second door  340  to the first door  310 . 
     An opening  316  may be formed in the first door  310  to provide for access to the interior of the second storage chamber  405 . The size of the opening  316  formed in the first door  310  may correspond to the size of the open front face of the storage assembly  40 . Accordingly, when the second door  340  pivots with respect to the first door  310  while the first door  310  is in a closed position against the first storage chamber  104 , the opening  316  may be uncovered to provide access to the second storage chamber  405 . 
     A latch hook  341  may be provided at a rear surface of the second door  340  to couple and latch the second door to the first door  310 . A latch slot  317  may be formed in the first door  310  to couple the latch hook  341  thereto. The positions of the latch hook  341  and the latch slot  317  may be reversed. 
     When the first door  310  is closed against the first storage chamber  104  and the second door  340  is closed against the first door  310 , and a front surface of the second door  340  is pushed, the coupling between the latch hook  341  and the latch slot  317  may be released to allow the second door  340  to pivot and provide access to the second storage chamber  405 . 
     A seal  319  may be provided at the rear surface of the first door  310  to prevent outflow of cold air from the inside the first storage chamber  104 . A magnet may be provided in the seal  319  and the front surface of the cabinet  10  so that the magnetic attraction of the magnet may maintain the closed state of the first door  310  against the first storage chamber  104 . 
     A grip  313 , or handle, may be formed in the front surface of the refrigerator and freezer doors  30  and  20 . The grip  313  may be formed, for example, horizontally with respect to the refrigerator and freezer doors  30  and  20 , and may be, for example, pocket-shaped to be held by the user easily. The grips  313  formed in the refrigerator and freezer doors  30  and  20 , respectively, may be connected with each other for overall design uniformity. 
     The grips  313  may be positioned at an appropriate grasping height, such as, for example, approximately at a center of the overall height of the refrigerator and freezer doors  30  and  20 . The grips  313  may be positioned at a lower end of the opening, namely, a lower end of the second door  340 . Specifically, when closed, right and left ends of the second door  340  may be located at the same positions as right and left ends of the first door  310 . Upper and lower ends of the second door  340  may be positioned at the same positions as an upper end of the first door  310  and the grips  313 , respectively. Accordingly, as seen from the front in the state in which the second door  340  is closed, an outline of the second door  340  is not exposed. The second door  340  may be hidden by the shapes/contours of the first door  310  and the grips  313 . Such a visual effect may improve/enhance a front design of the refrigerator  1 . Other handle/grip arrangements may also be appropriate. 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a rear, or interior facing, surface of the refrigerator door  30 , in a state in which a storage assembly according to an embodiment as broadly described herein has been detached. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a lateral surface of the first door  310  may be stepped. Specifically, the first door  310  may include a first portion  311  and a second portion  312  that extends upward from the first portion  311 . The second portion  312  may be thinner than the first portion  311  to at least partially accommodate the thickness of the second floor  340 . The opening  316  may be formed in the second portion  312  of the first door  310 , and the second door  340  may be connected with the second portion  312  to open and close the opening  316  and the second storage chamber  405 . 
     The grip  313  may be formed on the first portion  311  and may extend upward from an upper surface of the first portion  311 . To allow the user to grasp the grip  313 , the grip  313  may be spaced apart a predetermined distance from a front surface of the second portion  312  and a lower surface of the second door  340 . In other words, a vertical length of the second door  340  may be smaller than that of the second portion  312  to provide a space for access to the grip  313 . When the user pulls the grip  313 , the first door  310  may be pivoted to open the first storage chamber  104 . 
     The first door  310  may include an outer case  321  and a door liner  322  coupled to the outer case  321  and facing the interior of the first storage chamber  104  when the first door  310  is in the closed position. The door liner  322  may include a plurality of dikes  323  extending longitudinally in a vertical direction and spaced apart horizontally. A plurality of first couplers  330  and  331  may be arranged a predetermined distance apart in a vertical direction along the dikes  323 . The storage assembly  40  and the one or more baskets may be at least partially positioned between the dikes  323 . 
     Each of the first couplers  330  and  331  may include a first projection  333  and a second projection  334  spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other in a front-and-rear direction so that a predetermined space  335 , that is, a predetermined distance, is formed between the first projection  333  and the second projection  334 . The first projection  333  may be positioned adjacent to the opening  316  of the first door  310 . A distance between the first projection  333  and the opening  316  may be less than a distance between the second projection  334  and the opening  316 . 
     The storage assembly  40  may be mounted in a predetermined position on the rear surface of the first door  310 , corresponding to the opening  316 . The storage assembly  40  will be described in detail as follows, referring to  FIG. 5 , which is a perspective view of the storage assembly, and  FIG. 6 , which is an exploded perspective view of the storage assembly. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the storage assembly  40  may include a storage case  41  and a plurality of baskets  42  and  50  arranged in the storage case  41  in a vertical direction, spaced apart a predetermined distance. The baskets  42  and  50  may be positioned in the storage case  41  to be accessible via the opening  316  when the second door  340  is open. 
     The plurality of baskets  42  and  50  may include, for example, an upper basket  42  and a moving basket  50  arranged below the upper basket  42 , the moving basket  50  being movable in a vertical direction. 
     The upper basket  42  may be arranged in an upper end area of the storage case  41  and may partially define an upper area of the storage case  41 . The upper basket  42  may be detachably provided in the storage case  41  and may include a basket tray  421  receiving storage items thereon and a basket cover  422  pivotally provided in the basket tray  421 . Accordingly, the upper basket  42  may be accessed by pivoting the basket cover  422  when the first door  310  is open. Such an upper basket  42  may be used as, for example, a dairy corner in which dairy items are stored. 
     The moving basket  50  may be mounted in a rail assembly  43  provided along right and left ends of the storage case  41 . The moving basket  50  may slide in a vertical direction in an inner space of the storage case  41  when mounted in the rail assembly  43 . The moving basket  50  may include an operation mechanism  60  that may selectively restrict operation of the storage case  41  and the rail assembly  43  to fix the moving basket  50  at a desired height. The structure of the moving basket  50  will be described in detail as follows. 
     The storage case  41  may form the second storage chamber  405  with the upper basket  42  fixed therein. The open front surface of the storage case  41  may correspond to the opening  316 . 
     The inner space of the storage case  41  may be divided into upper and lower spaces with respect to the moving basket  50 . Storage rooms may be formed in the upper and lower spaces divided with respect to the moving basket  50 . As the moving basket  50  moves, the distance between a bottom surface of the storage case  41  and the moving basket  50  may be adjusted and a space proportion inside the storage case  41  may be adjusted. 
     At least one cold air hole  411  may be formed in a rear surface of the storage case  41  to supply cold air to the inner space of the storage case  41  from the interior of the refrigerator. A case door  412  may open and close the at least one cold air hole  411 . 
     A fixing part  413 , or fixing bracket  413 , may project forward from each front end of lateral surfaces of the storage case  41 . A plurality of fixing parts  413 , or fixing brackets  413 , may project forward from the right and left lateral surfaces, specifically, from upper and lower ends of each of the right and left lateral surfaces. A second coupler  414  may be formed in an outer surface of each fixing part  413  and may be coupled to the first couplers  330  and  331  to mount the storage case  41 . 
     Upper and lower ends of the rail assembly  43  may be connected with the fixing parts  413  formed in the upper and lower ends of the storage case  41 . 
     The rail assembly  43  may be positioned at a front end of the storage case  41  and may be arranged to connect to the fixing parts  413  positioned at the upper and lower ends of the storage case  41 . When mounting the storage case  41 , the rail assembly  43  may be arranged on the rear surface of the first door  310 . When viewed from the front of the first door  310 , the rail assembly  43  may be hidden and unseen. 
     In particular, the rail assembly  43  may be positioned at right and left sides of the storage case  41 , at an outside of the right and left ends of the opening  316 , so that the rail assembly  43  is covered by the opening  316  and not exposed via the opening  316  when viewed from the front. 
     The rail assembly  43  may be injection-molded of a plastic material. The rail assembly  43  may include a rail cover  431  connecting and extending between the fixing parts  413  and a rail  432  mounted on the rail cover  431 . The rail cover  431  may provide a mounting position of the rail  432  and couple the rail  432  thereto. 
     The rail  432  may be formed of metal and may enable the stable mounting of the moving basket  50 . The rail  432  may receive a roller  415  provided in the moving basket  50  to guide the movement of the moving basket  50  when the moving basket  50  is moving. The rail cover  431  and the rail  432  provided in the rail assembly may be integrally formed or they may be molded of one material as a single part. 
     A plurality of adjusting holes  433  may be formed along a longitudinal direction of the rail  432  and the operation mechanism  60  may be partially restricted by one of the adjusting holes  433  to fix the moving basket  50  at a desired height. 
     The operation mechanism  60  may be connected to a bottom of the moving basket  50  and may include an operation lever  61  and a restricting member  62  in communication with the operation lever  61 , such that the user may fix the moving basket  50  at a desired height according to the operation of the operation lever  61  exposed via the opening  316 . 
     The moving basket  50  may define a predetermined space that is recessed in a downward direction. The moving basket  50  may include a main-basket  51  moving along the rail  432  in a vertical direction and a drawer  52  provided underneath the main-basket  51 , the drawer  52  being slidable inward and outward with respect to the main-basket  51 . A guide member  70  may be provided on the main-basket  51  to guide the inward and outward sliding-movement of the drawer  52  and the operation mechanism  60  may be coupled to the guide member  70 . 
     The structure of the moving basket  50  and the operation mechanism  60  will now be described in detail with respect to  FIGS. 7 and 8A-8B . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8A-8B , the recessed may be formed in the main-basket  51  and the drawer  52  may be positioned below main-basket  51 . The guide member  70  may be mounted on left and right lateral surfaces of the main-basket  51 . The drawer  52  may be coupled to the main basket  51  by the guide member  70  and may be movable outward (rightward, as shown in  FIG. 7 ) by the guide member  70 . Accordingly, the user may slide the drawer  52  outward via the opening  316  when the second door  340  is open. The drawer  52  may be completely accommodated in the lower area of the moving basket  50 , below the main-basket  51 , when it is moved inward. 
     The guide member  70  may be coupled to the right and left lateral surfaces of the main-basket  51 . The guide member  70  may include a guide  71  guiding the drawer  52  and an extension  72  extending perpendicular from a front end of the guide  71 . The guide  71  may include a guide groove  711  formed therein to receive a guide rib  521  of the drawer  52 . Outer surfaces of the guides  71  may be fixed to respective lateral surfaces of the main-basket  51 . 
     The extension  72  may extend from the front end of the guide  71  in an upward direction and may be exposed via right and left sides of the front surface of the storage case  41 . The extension  72  may extend to an upper end of the main-basket  51  and may include a pair of rollers  415 , spaced apart a predetermined vertical distance from each other, to enable stable vertical movement of the moving basket  50 . 
     The operation mechanism  60  may be coupled to the guide member  70  provided at each of right and left lateral surfaces of the main-basket  51 . The operation mechanism  60  may include the operation lever  61  and a restricting lever  62 . The operation lever  61  may be pivotally coupled to a first rotation projection  712  projected from the guide  71  and an operation tab  614 , operable by the user may be exposed through a first through-opening  713  of the guide  71 . The operation tab  614  may extend obliquely via the first through-part  713  in downward and forward directions, such that the user may push the operation tab  614  via the opening  316 . 
     A contacting part  615  of the operation lever  61  may extend upwardly to contact the restricting lever  62 . The contacting part  615  may press an activating part  621  of the restricting lever  62  when the operation lever  61  is pivoted. 
     The restricting lever  62  may be pivotally coupled to a second rotation projection  721  formed in the extension  72  of the guide member  70 . An elastic member  63  may be provided on the second rotation projection  721  to allow the activating part  621  to maintain contact with the contacting part  615 . The restricting lever  62  may be returned to an initial position by a restoring force of the elastic member  63  after it is rotated. 
     A restricting part  622  of the restricting lever  62  may extend at an incline in forward and downward directions. The restricting part  622  may pass through a second through-part  722  formed in the extension  72 . The restricting part  622  is extension  72  and be inserted in the rail  432  to fix the moving basket  50  in a particular position. A restricting groove  623  may be formed in an end of the restricting part  622  and hooked to a lower end of a selected adjusting hole  433  in the rail  432  to support the moving basket  50 . 
     Operation of the moving basket having the structure described above will now be described in detail. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9 and 10 , the second storage chamber  405  provided in the storage case  41  may be exposed via the opening  316  when the second door  340  is open relative to the first door  310 . The user may place items in the storage case  41  via the opening  316 . 
     The inner space of the storage case  41  may be partitioned into upper and lower spaces with respect to the moving basket  50 . Accordingly, the moving basket  50  may be moved upward as shown in  FIG. 9  to provide a lower space under the moving basket  50  that is sufficiently tall to accommodate relatively tall items in the lower space. 
     When tall items are stored in the main-basket  51 , the moving basket  50  may be moved downward as shown in  FIG. 10  to provide a sufficiently tall upper space. The user may move the moving basket  50  to adjust a space proportion inside the storage case  41 . 
     The moving basket  50  is movable in up-and-down direction when mounted in the storage case  41 . To move the moving basket  50 , the operation mechanism  60  may be operated to selectively fix the moving basket  50  at a desired position. The operation lever  61  of the operation mechanism  60  may be exposed via the opening  316  when the second door  340  is open for manipulation by the user. The moving basket  50  may be fixed to a predetermined position on the rail  432  by the operation of the operation lever  61 . More specifically, when the moving basket  50  is secured at a predetermined position and the user pushes the operation lever  61 , the moving basket  50  may be released from and move vertically along the rail  432 . 
     In other words, when the operation lever  61  is pushed, the operation lever  61  is pivoted and the contacting part  615  pushes the activating part  621  of the restricting lever  62 , to pivot the restricting lever  62 . The restricting part  622  is released from the adjusting hole  433  by the rotation of the restricting lever  62  and restriction between the restricting lever  62  and the rail  432  is released. Accordingly, the moving basket  50  may be moved along the rail  432  smoothly by the rollers  415 . 
     After the user moves the moving basket  50  to a desired height, the user may remove the force applied to the operation lever  61  and the operation lever  61  may be restored by the elastic member  63 , with the restricting groove  623  at the end of the restricting part  622  fitted into a new adjusting hole  433  of the rail  432  at the new height. 
     When the second door  340  is open, the drawer  52  mounted in the moving basket  50  may be exposed via the opening  316  and the user may move the drawer  52  outward to store items in the drawer  52 . 
     After moving the moving basket  50  and/or the storing items in the second storage chamber  405  provided in the storage case  41 , the second door  340  may be closed to close the opening  316 . 
       FIG. 11  is a front view of a refrigerator according to another embodiment and  FIG. 12  is a front view of the refrigerator shown in  FIG. 11  with its door(s) open. 
     The refrigerator  810  shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  may include an outer case  812  for defining an overall exterior appearance, and an inner case  814  for defining a storage chamber in which items may be stored, namely, a freezer compartment  832  and a refrigerator compartment  822 . A predetermined space may be formed between the outer case  812  and the inner case  814  and a passage where cold air is circulated may be formed in the space. 
     The refrigerator  810  may include a freezer door  830  for opening and closing the freezer compartment  832  and a refrigerator door  820  for opening and closing the refrigerator compartment  822 . Ends of the freezer and refrigerator doors  830  and  820  may be pivotally coupled to the case of the refrigerator  810 , for example, by hinges. In certain embodiments, a plurality of freezer doors and refrigerator doors may be provided. That is, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the refrigerator doors  820  and the freezer doors  830  may pivot forward from two opposite edges of the refrigerator  810 . 
     A barrier  816  may be installed between the freezer compartment  832  and the refrigerator compartment  822  to partition the storage chamber into the freezer compartment  832  and the refrigerator compartment  822 . The barrier  816  may have a predetermined thickness and may be formed in the inner case  814 . The barrier  816  may extend horizontally and the freezer compartment  832  and the refrigerator compartment  822  may be partitioned vertically with respect to the barrier  816 . Other arrangements may also be appropriate. 
     A partition wall  818  may also be installed in the freezer compartment  832  to partition the freezer compartment  832  into two partitioned spaces. The partition wall  818  may be vertically installed in the inner case  814  to form two side by side partitioned freezer compartments  832 . Accordingly, the freezer doors  830  may open or close the freezer compartments separately. 
     In the exemplary refrigerator  810  shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the refrigerator compartment  822  does not include a partition wall to partition the refrigerator compartment  822  into right and left spaces. However, a partition wall similar to the partition wall  818  provided in the freezer compartment  832  may be installed in the refrigerator compartment. 
     An inner door  870  may be installed in the refrigerator door  820  (that is, one or both of the refrigerator doors  820 ). The inner door  870  may be installed each of the two refrigerator doors  820  or it may be installed only in one of the refrigerator doors  820  as shown in  FIG. 12 . In certain embodiments, the inner door  870  may be installed on one or more of the freezer doors  830 . The inner door  870  may be closer to the refrigerator compartment  822  than the refrigerator door  820 . Accordingly, when the user opens only the refrigerator door  820  while the inner door  870  remains closed, the user may access items stored in a storage chamber provided in the inner door  870 . 
     In certain embodiments, a shelf, a drawer, a basket and the like may be arranged in each of the freezer and refrigerator compartments  832  and  822 . One or more drawers  840  movable inward and outward may be installed in the freezer compartment  832  and items may be stored in the drawer  840 . A cover may be arranged on a front surface of the drawer  840  to preserve cold air in the freezer compartment  832  even when the freezer door  830  is open. A plurality of drawers  840  may be arranged in the freezer compartment  832  and the plurality of the drawers  840  may be arranged side by side with respect to the partition wall  818 , and vertically along each side of the partition wall  818 . 
     Auxiliary baskets  880  may be pivotally coupled to the inner door  870 . Both ends of the auxiliary basket  880  may be fixed to the inner door  870  and a lower surface of the auxiliary basket  880  may be open. Accordingly, when the auxiliary basket  880  is moved upwardly, tall items may be stored in the auxiliary basket  880 . When the auxiliary basket  880  is moved downwardly, smaller items may be stored in the auxiliary basket  880 . 
     Meanwhile, a main-basket  872  may be fixed in the inner door  870  and arranged below the auxiliary basket  880 , such that the main-basket  870  may be overlapped with or spaced apart a predetermined distance from the auxiliary basket  880  as the auxiliary basket  880  is moved. 
     A light source  8150  may be installed in the freezer compartment  832  and/or the refrigerator compartment  822  to irradiate light. When the user opens the freezer door  830  or the refrigerator door  820 , the light source  8150  may be put into operation. The light source  8150  may emit light toward a rear area of the freezer compartment  832  and/or the refrigerator compartment  822  (i.e., an interior area of the freezer and/or refrigerator compartment). 
       FIG. 13  is a partial perspective view of the refrigerator shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , as seen from the front, and  FIG. 14  is a partial perspective view, as seen from the rear. 
     In this embodiment the refrigerator may include an inner door  870  pivotally installed in a refrigerator door  820  or freezer door  830  and a main-basket  872  and an auxiliary basket  880  coupled to the inner door  870 . In  FIGS. 13 and 14 , only two lateral frames of the inner door  870  are cut-away and illustrated, simply for ease of explanation and illustration. A side of the inner door  870  may be arranged adjacent to the pivoting hinge of the refrigerator door  820  or the freezer door  830  to enable the inner door  870  to pivot on the same axis as the refrigerator door  820  or the freezer door  830 . 
     Although  FIG. 12  shows that the inner door  870  is installed in the refrigerator door  820 , it is well understood that the inner door may also installed in the freezer door  830  in a similar manner. Thus, the configuration of the inner door  870  installed in the refrigerator door  830  will not be described separately. 
     Also, for ease of explanation, the freezer and refrigerator doors  830  and  820  will hereafter be referred to as an outer door. 
     The main-basket  872  may be fixed in the inner door  870 , without being adjustable in height/installation position. In contrast, the auxiliary basket  880  may be movably installed in the inner door  870  in a vertical direction. 
     A first fixing part  890  may couple the auxiliary basket  880  to the inner door  870  and a second fixing part  876  may couple the main-basket  872  to the inner door  870 . The first fixing part  890  may allow the auxiliary basket  880  to move vertically with respect to the inner door  870  and the second fixing part  876  may fix the main-basket  872  at a predetermined position on the inner door  870 . 
     The first fixing part  890  may connect two opposite ends of the auxiliary basket  880  to the inner door  870 . Accordingly, two first fixing parts  890  may be formed in a predetermined shape corresponding to the two opposite ends of the auxiliary basket  880 . 
     In certain embodiments, the first fixing part  890  may be arranged in front of a storage space formed in the auxiliary basket  880 . The storage space may refer to an inner space of the auxiliary basket  880  that is approximately a rectangular parallelepiped, with an open top, so that items may be placed in or taken out via the open top. 
     Arranging the first fixing part  890  in front of the storage space allows the user to move the auxiliary basket  880  along an upward and downward direction easily, seeing the inner door  870 , while not having to actually open the inner door  870 . 
     In other words, when the user opens only the outer door, and not the inner door  870 , the user may see the first fixing part  890  arranged in front and the storage space of the auxiliary basket  880  arranged behind the first fixing part  890  (in a direction in which the user views the freezer or refrigerator compartment from the outside). 
     The second fixing part  876  may include an accommodation space  877  for partially accommodating the first fixing part  890 . The accommodation space  877  may have an approximately rectangular-parallelepiped-shape, as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     The second fixing part  876  may include a first fixing piece  878  and a second fixing piece  879  each having a plate shape to separately connect the main-basket  872  to the inner door  870 . Accordingly, the accommodation space  877  may be formed between the first fixing piece  878  and the second fixing piece  879 , which may be spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other as shown in  FIG. 13 . 
     In certain embodiments, the height of the first fixing piece  878  may be different from that of the second fixing piece  879 . For example, the first fixing piece  878  may be installed at an outside of the second fixing piece  879  and the first fixing piece  878  may be higher than the second fixing piece. The first fixing part  890  may include various components, projected inwardly, which may limit the moving range of the auxiliary basket  880  as it moves toward the top surface of the main-basket  872 . In other words, the height of the second fixing piece  879  may be less than that of the first fixing piece  878 , due to the limitation of the inwardly projected components provided in the first fixing part  890 . 
     Like the first fixing part  890 , a pair of second fixing parts  876  may connect two opposite ends of the main-basket  872  to the inner door  870 . Accordingly, two second fixing parts  876  may be provided in symmetry with the two opposite ends of the main-basket  872 . 
     In certain embodiments the auxiliary basket  880  may extend beyond the main-basket  872 , and the sub-basket  880  may move downwardly to the same height as the main-basket  872 . As the auxiliary basket  880  is connected to the inner door  870  by the first fixing part  890  and the main-basket  872  is connected to the inner door  870  by the second fixing part  876 , the auxiliary basket  880  cannot move below the main-basket  872 . 
     Rather, in certain embodiments, the lowest height of the auxiliary basket  880  moving downwardly may be to the position of the main-basket  872 . When the auxiliary basket  880  is moved to the lowest limit, the bottom surface of the auxiliary basket  880  may contact the bottom surface of the main-basket  872 , such that the main-basket  872  and the auxiliary basket  880  overlap each other, and the auxiliary basket  880  is essentially nested within the main basket  872 . 
     Items with a high frequency of use such as, for example, water and other beverages, various healthy foods or side dishes may be stored in the main-basket  872  that forms the storage space of the inner door  870 . Accordingly, when storing items such as tall beverage bottles, the auxiliary basket  880  may be moved vertically so that the main-basket  872  and the auxiliary basket  880  may be overlapped with each other to accommodate the tall item. When storing short items such as side dishes, the auxiliary basket  880  may be moved upward and two shelves may be installed to store various items. 
     Bottom surfaces of the auxiliary basket  880  and the main-basket  872  may be closed so that, when they overlap as shown in  FIG. 17 , the storage space formed by the auxiliary basket  880  and the storage space formed by the main-basket  872  correspond with each other and items may be substantially placed only in the auxiliary basket  880 . 
     In this instance, when the auxiliary basket  880  and the main-basket  872  are overlapped with each other (i.e., the auxiliary basket  880  is positioned within the main basket  872 ) as shown in  FIG. 17 , a single storage space may be formed. 
     In contrast, when the auxiliary basket  880  and the main-basket  872  are spaced apart from each other, items may be stored in the auxiliary basket  880  and the main-basket  872  independently. 
       FIGS. 15 and 16  illustrate a first coupling part in detail, with the cover open.  FIG. 15  shows a hook engaged in a groove of a first guide member and  FIG. 16  shows the hook pivoted in a clockwise direction and not engaged the groove of the first guide member. 
     The first fixing part  890  may include a first guide member  892  and a second guide member  894  installed on the inner door  870 , and a movable member  893  that is movable between the first guide member  892  and the second guide member  894 . The movable member  893  may be installed in the auxiliary basket  880 , different from the first guide member  892  and the second guide member  894 . 
     The first guide member  892  and the second guide member  894  may extend longitudinally along a vertical surface of the inner door  870 . The auxiliary basket  880  may be movable to a predetermined extendible range of the first and second guide members  892  and  894 . 
     The movable member  893  may include a supporting piece  893   b  having two sides supported by the first and second guide members  894 , respectively. The supporting piece  893   b  may ascend/descend vertically between the first and second guide members  892  and  894  in the space formed between the first and second guide members  892  and  894 . The supporting piece  893   b  may be formed in a rectangular bar shape to enable the sides thereof to maintain surface contact with and be supported by the first and second guide members  892  and  894 . 
     A first bent piece  893   a  may extend toward the second guide member  894  from an end of the supporting piece  893   a  and a second bent piece  893   b  may extend toward the first guide member from the other end of the supporting piece  893   b . The first bent piece  893   a  and the second bent piece  893   c  may extend in opposite directions from different positions so that the first bent piece  893   a , the supporting piece  893   b  and the second bent piece  893   c  may form a   shape. The first bent piece  893   a  and the second bent piece  893   c  may extend in different directions with respect to the supporting piece  893   b , providing for the stable coupling of the supporting piece  893   b  between the first guide member  892  and the second guide member  894 . 
     The first guide member  892  may be, for example, a rack having a plurality of grooves formed therein. The plurality of the grooves may be formed in the first guide member  892  linearly, spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other, and the first guide member  892  may extend longitudinally in a vertical direction of the inner door  870 . 
     An extended piece  895  may be provided in a connecting portion between the second bent piece  893   c  and the auxiliary basket  880  to space the auxiliary basket  880  apart a predetermined distance from the extended piece  895 . A recessed part  895   a  may be formed as a recess in the extended piece  895  having a predetermined depth and a cover  899  may cover the recessed part  895   a . The recessed part  895   a  may be formed adjacent to a portion facing the first guide member  892  or to the second bent piece  893   c . A hook  897  may be installed in the recessed part  895   a  to be securely hooked to one of the grooves. 
     An elastic member  896  may be provided at an end of the hook  897  to elastically support the hook  897  coupled by a pivot. The elastic member  896  may have a restoring force with respect to a compressive force. When the user rotates the hook  897  in a clockwise direction in the state shown in  FIG. 15 , the elastic member  896  may be compressed as shown in  FIG. 16  and the hook  897  may be rotated in a clockwise direction. Once the force applied by the user is removed, the hook  897  may be rotated in a counter-clockwise direction by the restoring force of the elastic member  896  as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
     When the elastic member  896  is compressed sufficiently as shown in  FIG. 15 , the hook  897  may be inserted in one of the grooves provided in the first guide member  892  and the position of the auxiliary basket  880  may be fixed. In contrast, to change the position of the auxiliary basket  880  the user may rotate the hook  897  in a clock-wise direction and the hook  897  may be detached from the groove, to adjust the auxiliary basket  880  to a desired height. 
     Different from what is shown in  FIG. 15 , the elastic member  896  may be a leaf spring or coil spring that is able to generate a restoring force with respect to a compressive force. 
     A seating protrusion may be formed opposite the elastic member  896  with respect to the hook  897 , to limit a rotational passage of the hook  897 . The seating protrusion may have a surface that is able to maintain surface-contact with the hook  897 . When the hook  897  is contacting the seating protrusion, the counter-clockwise direction rotation of the hook  897  is limited and the hook  897  is stopped. In other words, the hook  897  would be rotated in the counter-clockwise direction by the restoring force of the elastic member  896  continuously. However, the hook  897  is not rotated in the counter-clockwise direction a predetermined angle or more, because of the seating protrusion. 
     The first fixing part  890  may also include an operation piece  898  for rotating the hook  897  about the axis. The operating piece  898  may extend from the hook  897  and the user may hold and move the operating piece  898  to rotate the hook  897 . 
     The operating piece  898  may be exposed to provide access to the user even when the cover  899  is installed. The user may operate the operating piece  898  in a state in which the cover  899  closes the recessed part  895   a , which may improve user convenience. 
     The cover  899  may extend across the recessed part  895   a  to prevent the hook  897  and the elastic member  896  from being exposed to the outside. 
       FIG. 18  is a perspective view of a modification the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 13 to 17 , seen from the front.  FIG. 19  illustrates a state in which an auxiliary basket shown in  FIG. 18  is moved to a top surface of a main-basket to be overlapped with, or contained within the confines of, the main-basket. 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , a bottom surface of the auxiliary basket  880  is open, different from the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 13 to 17  described above. Other components of this embodiment are the same as or similar to the corresponding components of the embodiment described above, except the shape of the auxiliary basket  880 . The bottom surface of the main-basket  872  is closed in this embodiment, similar to the embodiment described above. 
     When the bottom surface of the auxiliary basket  880  is open, the height of the auxiliary basket  880  may be adjusted and the items stored in the main-basket  872  may be stored stably. When the items stored in the main-basket  872  are tall bottles such as beverage bottles and the tall bottles are accommodated only in the main-basket, the bottles may shake or move out of the main-basket  872 . In this instance, when the auxiliary basket  880  is moved upwardly from the main-basket  872 , a middle area of a beverage bottle may be supported by the auxiliary basket  880  and the beverage bottle may be prevented from falling from the inner door  870 . 
     In contrast, when the beverage bottle stored in the main-basket  872  is taken out, the auxiliary basket  880  may be moved downwardly and then the beverage bottle may be taken out of the main-basket  872 . When the auxiliary basket  880  is moved downwardly, the exposed space of the bottle may be increased and the bottle may be more easily accessible. The structure of the auxiliary basket  880  that generates the upward and downward movement is essentially the same as the structure of the auxiliary basket according to the embodiment described above. 
     In other words, in this embodiment, the auxiliary basket  880  may be accommodated in the main-basket  872  and overlap the main-basket. In this instance, the structure shown in  FIG. 19  is formed. 
     A refrigerator is provided including a moving basket provided in a first door, the moving basket being vertically movable in a storage assembly opened and closed by a second door, with an adjustable height by an operation device, to utilize an internal space of the storage assembly efficiently. 
     A refrigerator is provided that is able to utilize a predetermined space installed in an internal door provided in a freezer or refrigerator compartment. 
     A refrigerator as embodied and broadly described herein may include a cabinet for defining a first storage chamber; a first door for opening and closing the first storage chamber; a storage case coupled to the first door, the storage case for defining a second storage chamber to store foods therein; an opening formed through the first door, in communication with an open front of the second storage chamber; a second door for opening and closing the second storage chamber, connected with the first door; a moving basket provided in the storage case, the moving basket that is movable along the storage case in a vertical direction; a rail provided in the second storage chamber, the rail extended in a vertical direction to guide the movement of the moving basket; and an operation mechanism provided in the moving basket to enable the moving basket to be restricted to the rail by a user&#39;s operation, wherein the operation mechanism is partially exposed via the opening to be operated by the user after the user opens the second door. 
     The moving basket may partition an inner space of the storage case into upper and lower spaces. 
     A plurality of rails may be provided in right and left sides of the storage case. 
     The rail may be arranged closer to the right and left sides than the opening and it may be hidden by both sides of the opening, see in the front. 
     The rail may be provided in a front end of the storage case, corresponding to a rear surface of the first door. 
     A roller may be accommodated in the rail in the moving basket. 
     The operation mechanism may be provided in each of the sides of the moving basket corresponding to the rail. The operation mechanism may include an operation lever provided in the moving basket, the operation lever rotated by the user&#39;s operation; a restricting member rotated in communication with the rotation of the operation lever, the restricting member inserted in a plurality of adjusting grooves formed in the rail to restrict the moving basket; and an elastic member provided in the restricting member, the elastic member restituted to an initial position after the restricting member or the operation lever is operated. 
     The moving basket may include a drawer installed via the opening; and a guide member for guiding inward and outward movement of the drawer. 
     The moving basket may include a moving main-basket for partitioning an inner space of the storage case, the moving main-basket in which foods are accommodated; a drawer accommodated in the moving main-basket, the drawer movable outwardly with respect to the opening; and a guide member coupled to the moving main-basket, the guide member for guiding the inward and outward sliding movement of the drawer. 
     A plurality of adjusting grooves may be formed in the rail, spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other in a vertical direction and an operation mechanism may be provided in the guide member. The operation mechanism may be inserted in the adjusting groove by the user&#39;s operation to fix the moving basket. 
     A roller may be provided in the guide member to be inserted in the rail to guide the movement of the moving basket. 
     An upper basket may be provided in the storage case to open and close a top surface of the storage case and the upper basket may be open toward the opening to provide a storage space independent from the second storage chamber. 
     The upper basket may include a basket tray mounted in the storage case, the basket tray for defining a storage space where foods are stored; and a basket cover pivotally coupled to the basket tray, the basket cover for opening and closing the storage space of the basket tray. 
     The upper basket cover may be rotated in a state where the first door is open. 
     In another embodiment as broadly described herein, a refrigerator may include an inner door pivotally mounted in an outer door for opening and closing a freezer compartment or a refrigerator compartment; a sub-basket coupled to the inner door, with being movable vertically; a first fixing part for fixing the sub-basket to the inner door, wherein the first fixing part includes a first guide member and a second guide member installed in the inner door and a movable member movably provided between the first guide member and the second guide member, and the first fixing part is arranged in front of a storage space provided in the sub-basket to store foods therein, 
     The movable member may include a supporting piece comprising both sides supported by the first guide member and the second guide member, respectively; and a first bent piece extended toward the second guide member from the supporting piece. 
     The movable member may further include a second bent piece extended toward the first guide member from the supporting piece. 
     The first guide member may be a rack having a plurality of grooves formed therein, and a hook may be installed in the movable member to be hooked to one of the plurality of the grooves. 
     The refrigerator may further include a main-basket fixed to the inner door; and a second fixing part for fixing the main-basket to the inner door, wherein the main-basket may be installed below the sub-basket and an accommodation space may be provided in the second fixing part to accommodate the movable member. 
     The second fixing part may include a first fixing piece and a second fixing piece for connecting the main-basket to the inner door, and the accommodation space may be a predetermined space formed between the first fixing piece and the second fixing piece spaced apart from each other. 
     The sub-basket may be movable downwardly to the same height as the main-basket. 
     The sub-basket and the main-basket may be overlapped with each other when the sub-basket is moved downwardly to the same height as the main-basket. 
     A bottom surface of the sub-basket may be open. 
     In a refrigerator as embodied and broadly described herein, the moving basket accessible to the inside of the storage case when the second door is open may be movable vertically in the storage case so that a height proportion of the upper and lower spaces with respect to the moving basket in the storage case may be adjusted. 
     As a result, the user may adjust the inner space of the second storage chamber provided in the storage case appropriately to store various foods having various heights. Accordingly, space efficiency and a storage ability may be enhanced. 
     Furthermore, as the moving basket may be movable along the rail provided in the storage case and it may be movable vertically in the storage case, the storage space may be adjusted freely in a state in which foods are stored in the second storage chamber. 
     Additionally, as the rail for guiding the vertical movement of the moving basket may be provided in the front end of the storage case, outside of the opening and not exposed to the outside when the second door is open, the inner structure of the storage case may be simplified and storage space may be maximized. Still further, the storage space may be adjustable while the moving basket is mounted, without having to detach the moving basket for adjustment. The operation mechanism may be exposed via the opening when the second door is open and the user may operate the operation mechanism via the opening, so that the vertical height of the moving basket may be easily adjusted. As a result, the user can move the moving basket in a vertical direction more conveniently and adjust the space of the second storage chamber. 
     Any reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,” etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of such phrases in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with any embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the purview of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other ones of the embodiments. 
     Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.