Patent Abstract:
There is provided a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a storage space receiving food, a door, and a dispensing apparatus. The door selectively opens and closes the storage space. The dispensing apparatus dispenses contents stored in the storage space without opening the door. The dispensing apparatus substantially protrudes from an outer surface of the door. According to the refrigerator, since the internal structure of the door is simplified, fabrication of the refrigerator becomes easy. In addition, the internal space of the refrigerator is enlarged and a user can use a container of various sizes and shapes. Furthermore, the thickness of the door is prevented from becoming thin, thereby reducing a heat loss in the refrigerator.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator, a door for a refrigerator, and a dispensing apparatus for a refrigerator that enable to obtain contents easily. 
         [0002]    A refrigerator is widely used as a cooling apparatus. The refrigerator is divided into a freezing chamber and a chilling chamber. The chilling chamber is maintained at from 3° C. to 4° C. so as to store foods and vegetables for a long time. The freezing chamber is maintained at below zero so as to store meats and foods in frozen state. 
         [0003]    Recently, the refrigerator includes various functions for offering convenience to a user, for example, an ice-maker, a water storage tank for cold water, a dispenser, or the like. The ice-maker automatically performs sequential process for ice-making such that a user can obtain ice without particular manipulation. The dispenser allows a user to obtain ice or water outside the refrigerator. The ice-maker making ice in the refrigerator, the water storage tank, and the dispenser properly dispensing ice or cold water to the outside are already well-known, and thus description thereof will not be given. 
         [0004]    A related art dispenser includes a receiving space for a container filled with water or ice dispensed from the dispenser. Here, the receiving space is formed in a recessed portion of a door of the refrigerator. Therefore, the dispenser always occupies a certain space even when it is not used, thereby limiting the use of an internal space of the door. Also, since the dispenser occupies the internal space of the door, the door itself becomes thin and a large amount of heat is lost. Additionally, interference occurs between components inside the door, making fabrication of the refrigerator difficult. 
         [0005]    In addition, if the dispenser protrudes more from an inner surface of the door, the dispenser occupies an internal space of the refrigerator, thereby reducing the internal space of the refrigerator. 
         [0006]    Furthermore, since a container having a volume or a length greater than the receiving space cannot be used for obtaining water or ice from the dispenser, there is a limitation on the size of the container. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Embodiments provide a refrigerator, a door for a refrigerator, and a dispensing apparatus for a refrigerator capable of increasing an internal space of a refrigerator, obtaining a thickness of a door to reduce a heat loss, preventing interference between components inside a door, and enabling a user to easily obtain contents discharged from a dispensing apparatus regardless of the size and length of a container. 
         [0008]    In an embodiment, there is provided a refrigerator, including: a storage space receiving food; a door selectively opening and closing the storage space; and a dispensing apparatus dispensing contents stored in the storage space without opening the door, wherein the dispensing apparatus substantially protrudes from an outer surface of the door. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment, there is provided a door for a refrigerator, the door including: an outer surface defining an exterior; a body protruding from the outer surface and providing a space the outer surface the body; and a nozzle and/or a chute received in the space and discharging contents through the outer surface. 
         [0010]    In a further environment, there is provided a dispensing apparatus for a refrigerator, the dispensing apparatus including: a dispensing unit protruding from an outer surface of a door of the refrigerator and discharging contents out of the refrigerator; and a body unit covering the discharge unit except a bottom surface of the discharge unit. 
         [0011]    According to the present invention, an internal space formed in a recessed portion of a door can be used as an internal space of a refrigerator, and a user can conveniently obtain ice and water regardless of the size and kind of a container. In addition, the thickness of the door can be obtained, reducing a heat loss. Furthermore, since interference between components inside the door can be prevented, the refrigerator can be fabricated more easily. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are bottom views for illustrating arrangements of a nozzle and a chute of the dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a view of a base unit of a dispensing apparatus attached to and detached from a front surface of a door. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are views of an auxiliary tray according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0016]    Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a refrigerator. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a refrigerator  1  according to embodiments is a side by side type refrigerator with a chilling chamber and a freezing chamber and their doors disposed at right and left sides, respectively. Of course, the freezing chamber and the chilling chamber may be variously configured by a person with ordinary skill in the art. For example, first and second chilling chambers may be disposed at both sides of an upper portion and a freezing chamber may be disposed at a lower portion. Alternatively, a single freezing chamber or a single chilling chamber may be provided in a refrigerator. 
         [0019]    A dispensing apparatus  40  for discharging predetermined food such as water or ice is formed on a front surface of a door  30  of the freezing chamber. The dispensing apparatus  40  protrudes from the front surface of the door  30 . The dispensing apparatus  40  may be formed on a door of a chilling chamber, not the door  30  of the freezing chamber. 
         [0020]    Such a structure can decrease the thickness of the door  30  and enlarge a space of the freezing chamber, compared with when the dispensing apparatus  40  is formed in a concave portion of the door  30 . In addition, a receiving space for water or ice is not formed in a concave portion of the door  30 . That is, the receiving space is separated from other surfaces of the door  30  and does not form a step area extending from an outer surface of the door  30 . 
         [0021]    The dispensing apparatus  40  allows a user to obtain water or ice. The dispensing apparatus  40  may include a chute  46  for obtaining ice and a nozzle  48  for obtaining drinks. The chute  46  and the nozzle  48  protrude from an outer surface of the door  30 . That is, when the outer surface of the freezing door  30  extends from an edge of a portion where the dispensing apparatus  40  is disposed to form a virtual surface corresponding to the dispensing apparatus  40 , the chute  46  and the nozzle  48  are disposed over the virtual surface. 
         [0022]    The configuration of the dispensing apparatus  40  will be described in more detail. 
         [0023]    A body  42  is provided in the dispensing apparatus  40 . The body  42  has a predetermined size and protrudes from the front surface of the door  30 . A display unit  44  is disposed on a front surface of the body  42 . 
         [0024]    The display unit  44  displays operations of the dispensing apparatus  40 . The display unit  44  may include a touch screen, or the like so as to control the operation of the dispensing apparatus  40 . A manipulation button may be formed around the display unit  44 . The display unit  44  may be detached from the dispensing apparatus  40 . The display unit  44  may be detachably formed on the body  42  of the dispensing apparatus  40 . For example, the display unit  44  may include a magnet or have a linkage structure so as to be attached to and detached from the body  42 . Therefore, a user can easily operate the dispensing apparatus  40  without limitation on place. If the display unit  44  controls the operation of the dispensing apparatus  40 , the display unit  44  can serve as a remote controller. 
         [0025]    The chute  46  for ice and the nozzle  48  for drinks may be disposed under the body  42 . Ice made by an ice-making apparatus in the door  30  is guided to the chute  46  along a predetermined guide, and a user can obtain ice outside the door  30  through the chute  46 . The nozzle  48  is connected to a water storage tank provided in the refrigerator  1 . Therefore, a user can obtain drinks outside the door  30  through the nozzle  48 . 
         [0026]    Meanwhile, the chute  46  and the nozzle  48  may be arranged in various forms under the body  42 . This will be described with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0027]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are bottom views for illustrating arrangements of the nozzle  48  and the chute  46  of the dispensing apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the chute  46  and the nozzle  48  are arranged in series with the door  30  under the body  42 . That is, the nozzle  48  and the chute  46  may be sequentially arranged outside the door  30 . Alternatively, the chute  46  and the nozzle  48  may be sequentially arranged outside the door  30 . In other words, the chute  46  and the nozzle  48  are arranged in forward and backward direction with respect to the front surface of the door  30 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the chute  46  and the nozzle  48  are arranged parallel to each other under the body  42 . That is, the nozzle  48  and the chute  46  may be arranged parallel to each other outside the door  30 . In other words, the nozzle  48  and the chute  46  are arranged in a right and left direction with respect to the front surface of the door  30 . 
         [0030]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , again, a button unit  50  is disposed under the chute  46  and the nozzle  48 . The button unit  50  controls opening and closing of the chute  46  and the nozzle  48 . The button unit  50  may control such that the chute  46  and the nozzle  48  are opened at the same time. For example, the chute  46  and the nozzle  48  may be selectively opened depending on the degree of press of the button unit  50  such that water is discharged by short press and ice is discharged by long press. Alternatively, the button unit  50  may include a chute button and a nozzle button individually provided to respectively open the chute  46  and the nozzle  48 . The chute button and the nozzle button selectively open the chute  46  and the nozzle  48 , respectively. This configuration may be more useful in the case of the parallel arrangement of the chute  46  and the nozzle  48  in the right and left direction. Furthermore, both ice and water may be discharged by pressing the button unit  50  longer. 
         [0031]    The dispensing apparatus  40  may further include a base unit  60 . The base unit  60  supports a container for receiving ice and drinks discharged through the chute  46  and the nozzle  48  of the dispensing apparatus  40 . 
         [0032]    The base unit  60  has a flat upper surface such that the container for receiving ice and drinks is seated thereon. A water collection tray may be disposed on the upper surface of the base unit  60  to receive residual water from the chute  46  and the nozzle  48  of the dispensing apparatus  40 . 
         [0033]    The base unit  60  may move vertically on the front surface of the door  30  using various configurations such that the height of the base unit  60  can be adjusted depending on the size and length of the container. For example, a guide groove may he formed in the door  30  and a guide protrusion may be formed at one side of the base unit  60 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , such that the guide protrusion can be inserted into the guide groove and move. After the guide protrusion is inserted into the guide groove, they may be supported by a frictional force. 
         [0034]    The base unit  60  may be detached from the door  30  such that a user can attach and detach the base unit  60  if necessary. 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  is a view of the base unit  60  of the dispensing apparatus  40  attached to and detached from the front surface of the door  30 . 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , a latch groove  34  may be formed in the door  30  and a latching protrusion  64  to be inserted into the latch groove  34  may be formed on the base unit  60 . An auxiliary tray  66  may be disposed at one side of the base unit  60  to enlarge an upper surface of the base unit  60 . The auxiliary tray  66  enlarges an area of the upper surface of the base unit  60  so as to apply a larger container to the dispensing apparatus  40 . 
         [0037]    Various configurations may be employed as the auxiliary tray  66  by those skilled in the art. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 5 and 6  are views of the auxiliary tray  66  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0039]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a sliding guide  67  may be disposed at one side of the base unit  60 , and the auxiliary tray  66  may protrude in a forward direction of the door  30 . Here, the upper surface of the base unit  60  may have the same height as an upper surface of the auxiliary tray  66  that slides and protrudes. 
         [0040]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a hinge  68  may be rotatably disposed between the auxiliary tray  66  and the base unit  60 . 
         [0041]    Hereinafter, operations of the refrigerator  1  having the dispensing apparatus  40 , the door  30  for the refrigerator  1 , and the dispensing apparatus  40  for the refrigerator  1  will be described in detail. 
         [0042]    A user places the container for receiving water or ice under the body  42  of the dispensing apparatus  40  in order to obtain the water or ice from the dispensing apparatus  40 . 
         [0043]    When a user pushes the button for operating the chute  46  of the dispensing apparatus  40 , an outlet of the chute  46  is opened and ice flows from the ice-making unit into the container. On the other hand, when a user pushes the button for operating the nozzle  48 , an outlet of the nozzle  48  is opened and drinks flow from the water container into the container. 
         [0044]    When a user pushes the buttons for operating the chute  46  and the nozzle  48  at the same time in order to obtain both ice and water from the dispensing apparatus  40 , the outlets of the chute  46  and the nozzle  48  are opened, and ice and water flow into the container at the same time. Of course, the configuration and operation of the button unit  50  may include various modified examples as described above. 
         [0045]    Meanwhile, a user may hold the container with hands when water or ice flows into the container from the dispensing apparatus  40 , while the base unit  60  of the dispensing apparatus  40  may support the container. 
         [0046]    Alternatively, the base unit  60  is detachable from the door  30 , and if the container is larger than a space between the body  42  of the dispensing apparatus and the base unit  60 , the base unit  60  may be detached and the container may be applied to the dispensing apparatus  40 . 
         [0047]    Alternatively, the base unit  60  may slide along the guide groove formed in the door  30  to adjust an interval between the body  42  of the dispensing apparatus  40  and the base unit  60 . Therefore, if the container is large, the space between the body  42  and the base unit  60  can be enlarged by moving the base unit  60 . 
         [0048]    The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0049]    A dispensing apparatus is added to an inner surface consecutive with other portion of a door and a body is attached to an outer surface of the door and has the same shape as other portions of up and down, and right and left sides. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, even though the outer surface of the door where the body is placed is recessed in an inward direction of the door to a predetermined depth, this is included in the sprit of the present invention provided that the substantial portion of the body protrudes in an outward direction of the door. 
         [0050]    In this case, the outer surface of the door corresponding to the body in a forward and backward direction may extend to the base unit in an up and down direction for mounting the container. 
         [0051]    In addition, the body including the chute and the nozzle may be separately mounted on the door. 
         [0052]    It is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
         [0053]    According to the present disclosure, the internal structure of a refrigerator door is simplified, and the refrigerator can be easily fabricated. Also, the internal space of the refrigerator is enlarged and a user can use a container of various sizes and shapes. Furthermore, the door is prevented from becoming thin, reducing a heat loss.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5