Patent Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cold air generator configured to generate cold air. The refrigerator also includes a first storage chamber configured to receive the cold air generated by the cold air generator. The refrigerator further includes a first storage chamber door configured to open and close an access point to the first storage chamber and configured to store at least one of food and ice stuffs. In addition, the refrigerator includes a second storage chamber, having a container and positioned on the first storage chamber, wherein the second storage chamber is configured to be movable in front and rear directions.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of priority to Korean Application No. 10-2009-0049002, filed on Jun. 3, 2009, which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference it its entirely. 
     FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to refrigerators. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In general, a refrigerator uses cold air produced as refrigerant vaporizes and absorbs heat from the air. 
     In detail, the refrigerant is compressed at a compressor, and forwarded to an evaporator via an expansion valve, where the refrigerant vaporizes. The refrigerant absorbs heat from surroundings in such a vaporizing process, to cool down surrounding air to produce the cold air. 
     The cold air is forwarded to the refrigerating chamber or the freezing chamber for maintaining the refrigerating chamber or the freezing chamber to be below a fixed temperature. 
     Depending on arrangement of the refrigerating chamber or the freezing chamber, in the refrigerators, there are a top mount-type refrigerator in which the freezing chamber is arranged on the refrigerating chamber, a bottom freezer type refrigerator in which the freezing chamber is arranged under the refrigerating chamber, and a side by side type refrigerator in which the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber are arranged side by side. Above sorting is just for convenience&#39;s sake, but not absolute ones. 
     The bottom freezer type refrigerator has an inside space partitioned with a barrier an upper side of which is the refrigerating chamber and a lower side of which is the freezing chamber. 
     In general, the refrigerating chamber has at least one refrigerating chamber door rotatably mounted thereto to open/close the refrigerating chamber, and the freezing chamber has a drawer structure which is slidably move back and forth to open/close the freezing chamber. 
     In general, in rear of the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber, there are the evaporators and fans for blowing the cold air respectively, for generating the cold air individually to control temperatures of the freezing chamber and the refrigerating chamber, respectively. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, a refrigerator includes a cold air generator configured to generate cold air. The refrigerator also includes a first storage chamber configured to receive the cold air generated by the cold air generator. The refrigerator further includes a first storage chamber door configured to open and close an access point to the first storage chamber and configured to store at least one of food and ice stuffs. In addition, the refrigerator includes a second storage chamber, having a container and positioned on the first storage chamber, wherein the second storage chamber is configured to be movable in front and rear directions. 
     Implementations may includes one or more of the following features. For example, the container is configured to be movable up and down. The container is configured to move down with no electrical driving force. The second storage chamber is configured to slidably move in front and rear directions. The refrigerator further includes a moving up and down support connected to the container and configured to support the container when the container moves up and down from a top of the first storage chamber. 
     The refrigerator further includes a speed reducing device mounted to the moving up and down support and configured to reduce a moving down speed of the container. The refrigerator further includes a first slider mounted to the moving up and down support, and configured to slide along a first sliding guide. 
     In some examples, the refrigerator further includes a drawing out plate slidably connected to the second storage chamber. The refrigerator further includes a second slider mounted to the drawing out plate and configured to be slidable along a second sliding guide. The refrigerator further includes a stopper connected to the second sliding guide and configured to prevent the container from moving beyond the stopper in a reversal direction. The refrigerator further includes a second storage chamber door configured to open and close the second storage chamber. 
     In some implementations, the refrigerator further includes a link rotatably connected to the second storage chamber door and a rack connected to the link and configured to rotate to expose the container of the second storage chamber. The first storage chamber is at least one of a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber. The refrigerator further includes a compressor positioned in a rear part of the second storage chamber and configured to compress the refrigerant. 
     The second storage chamber is supplied with the cold air generated by the cold air generator. The refrigerator further includes a motor configured to move the second storage chamber in response to a command. 
     In another aspect, a refrigerator includes a cold air generator configured to generate cold air. The refrigerator also includes a first storage chamber configured to receive the cold air generated by the cold air generator. The refrigerator further includes a storage chamber door configured to open and close at least the first storage chamber and configured to store at least one of food and ice stuffs. In addition, the refrigerator includes a second storage chamber, having a container and positioned on the first storage chamber, wherein the container is configured to be movable in front and rear directions. 
     Implementations may includes one or more of the following features. For example, the container is configured to be movable up and down. The refrigerator further includes a drawing out plate slidably connected to the second storage chamber. The refrigerator further includes a slider mounted to the drawing out plate and configured to be slidable along a sliding guide. The refrigerator further includes a stopper connected to a sliding guide and configured to prevent the container from moving in a reversal movement. 
     In some examples, the first storage chamber is at least one of a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber. The refrigerator further includes a compressor positioned in a rear part of the second storage chamber and configured to compress the refrigerant. The second storage chamber receives the cold air generated by the cold air generator. The storage chamber door is configured to open and close the second storage chamber. The second storage chamber having the container is configured to move in front and rear directions. 
     In yet another aspect, a refrigerator includes a cold air generator configured to generate cold air. The refrigerator also includes a first storage chamber configured to receive the cold air generated by the cold air generator. The refrigerator further includes a storage chamber door configured to open and close at least the first storage chamber and configured to store at least one of food and ice stuffs. In addition, the refrigerator includes a second storage chamber, having a container and positioned on the first storage chamber, wherein the container is configured to be movable up and down. 
     Implementations may include one or more of the following features. For example, the container is configured to be movable in front and rear directions. The refrigerator further includes a moving up and down support connected to the container and configured to support the container when the container moves up and down. The refrigerator further includes a speed reducing device mounted to the moving up and down support and configured to reduce a moving down speed of the container. 
     In some examples, the refrigerator further includes a storage chamber door configured to open and close the second storage chamber. The first storage chamber is at least one of a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber. The refrigerator further includes a compressor positioned in a rear part of the second storage chamber and configured to compress the refrigerant. The storage chamber door is configured to open and close the second storage chamber. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a view of a refrigerator; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of the refrigerator in  FIG. 1 , with a storage chamber thereof opened; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of the storage chamber; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates partial perspective view of a container, and a second sliding guide; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of an up/down moving structure of the container; and 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective view of a refrigerator in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the specific implementation of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the refrigerator  100  includes a refrigerating chamber opened/closed by a refrigerating chamber door  21  and a freezing chamber opened/closed by a freezing chamber door  11 , arranged side by side in a length. Besides the refrigerating chamber or the freezing chamber, there is a storage chamber  116   a  provided as a separate storage space (see  FIG. 3 ). 
     The storage chamber  116   a  is positioned on the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates when a container  120  is drawn forward and moved down. As shown in  FIG. 2 , there is a storage chamber door  110  has a rotatably supported upper side to make a lower side to open rotatably. 
     A drawing out/pushing structure of the container  120  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 . 
     The storage chamber door  110  is an upper side hinged on a frame of the storage chamber  116   a.    
     The storage chamber door  110  has a structure in which an upper side thereof is rotatably fixed to enable a lower side thereof to open rotatably. 
     The storage chamber door  110  is rotatably coupled to a link  144 . The link  144  is connected to a rack  141  mounted in the frame of the storage chamber  116   a  so as to be movable in front/rear directions. The rack  141  is engaged with a gear  142 , and the gear  142  is connected to a rotation shaft of a motor  143 . 
     If the gear  142  rotates following rotation of the motor  143 , the rack  141  moves forward. In this instance, the link  144  coupled to the rack  141  pushes and opens the storage chamber door  110 . 
     The motor  143  is put into operation in response to a signal from a switch (not shown). The switch can be mounted to anywhere on an outside surface of the refrigerator  100 . The motor  143  is put into operation as the user presses the switch to open the door  110 . 
     The rack  141  has a drawing out projection for pushing a rear side of the container  120  to push the container  120  forward. According to this, as the storage chamber door  110  is opened by the motor  143 , the container  120  is drawn out. The drawing out projection  141   a  is positioned to push out the container  120  in a range in which the opening of the storage chamber door  110  and the drawing out of the container  120  do not interfere each the other. 
     There is one pair of second sliding guides  114  on opposite sides of the storage chamber  116   a.    
     Each of the second sliding guides  114  has a second slider  117  sildably mounted thereto. There is a drawing out plate  151  connected between the one pair of the second sliders  117 . According to this, the drawing out plate  151  is slidable in front/rear directions. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , there is a moving up/down support  152  connected to an underside of the drawing out plate  151 . The moving up/down support  152  has an upper side leaned backward such that the moving up/down support  152  is mounted in a tilted position. According to this, the moving up/down support  152  has a sloped front surface. 
     There is a first sliding guide  153  mounted on a front surface of the moving up/down support  152 . 
     There is a first slider  122  mounted to the container  120  so as to be slidable along the first sliding guide  153 . Accordingly, following sliding of the first slider  122 , the container  120  moves up/down. 
     The first slider  122  is slidably mounted to the first sliding guide  153  such that the container  120  moves down by gravity. 
     There is a speed reducing device for reducing a speed of the container  120 . The speed reducing device includes a rack gear  122   a  on one side of the first slider  122 , a reducer  154  connected to the rack gear  122   a . The reducer  154  is a rotatable body having friction. At the time the rotatable body is rotated by the rack gear  122   a , the speed is reduced by the friction. 
     If the container  120  is pushed up, the container  120  moves up/down. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , there is a brake for preventing the container  120  from moving backward in a state the container  120  is drawn out of the storage chamber  116   a.    
     The brake includes a stopping recess  117   a  in a front portion of the second slider  117  and a stopper  118  connected to the second sliding guide  114  with a hinge. The stopper  118  has a front end shaped to be placed in the stopping recess  117   a , and connected to the second sliding guide  114  hinged with a torsion spring. It is designed that a rear end  118   b  of the stopper  118  is pushed by a pushing bracket  121  connected to the container  120  at the time the container  120  moves up/down. Accordingly, a brake applied state is released as a front end  118 a of the stopper  118  moves away from the stopping recess  117   a  following the rear end  118   b  being pushed by the pushing bracket  121 . 
     In  FIG. 4 , the stopper  118  is maintained to be in a state the front end  118   a  thereof is always in a sliding groove  114   a  of the second sliding guide  114 . In a state the stopper  118  is maintained thus, the stopper  118  is rotated as a front portion of the second slider  117  pushes down the front end  118   a  of the stopper  118  during the container  120  is drawn out until the second slider  117  reaches to the stopping recess  117   a  when the stopper  118  rotates in an opposite direction by restoring force of the torsion spring, placing the front end  118   a  of the stopper  118  in the stopping recess  117   a  of the second slider, thereby braking the second slider  117 . 
     Further, in  FIG. 3 , there is a machinery room  116   b  in rear of the storage chamber  116   a  for mounting compressor and the like therein. 
     In order to provide the machinery room  116   b , there is a vertical partition  115  connected to a rear side ceiling of the storage chamber  116   a . And, at a lower end of the vertical partition, there is a horizontal partition  113  connected thereto. Between a front end  118   a  of the horizontal partition  113  and a bottom surface of the storage chamber  116   a , there is a tilted partition  112  mounted in a tilted position. 
     Above partitions separate the machinery room  116   b  from the storage chamber  116   a.    
     The drawing out plate  151  is placed on the horizontal partition  113  when the container  120  is positioned in the storage chamber  116   a.    
     In the foregoing implementation, the storage chamber  116   a  is provided as a space separate from the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber, and the door thereof may be also provided separately. 
     The container can be mounted together with other shelves or drawers in the low temperature storage chamber which is supplied with the cold air for storing food at a low temperature. Different from the foregoing implementation, no storage space is provided separately, but the foregoing container structure can be mounted in an upper side of the refrigerating chamber or the freezing chamber. Such an implementation is shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     In this implementation, no storage chamber  116   a  is provided separately. The container drawing out/pushing in structure and the container moving up/down structure are provided in an upper space of the refrigerating chamber or the freezing chamber. That is, the container structure  220  is mounted in the upper side of the refrigerating chamber or the freezing chamber. 
     In detail, in the implementation, the container  220  drawing out/pushing structure and the container moving up/down structure are provided to an upper side of the freezing chamber. That is, the drawing out plate (not shown) is mounted to the upper side space of the freezing chamber so as to be drawing out/pushing in alike the foregoing implementation. And, the moving up/down support  252  is mounted coupled to the drawing out plate. The container  220  is mounted so as to be movable along a front surface of the moving up/down support. 
     The drawing out/pushing structure of the drawing out plate and the moving up/down structure of the container  220  are identical to the foregoing implementation. For an example, the sliding guide  253  is mounted to the moving up/down support and the slider  222  which is slidable along the sliding guide  253  is mounted to the container. 
     However, different from the foregoing implementation is that, since no storage chamber door is provided in this implementation separately, there are neither link  144 , nor rack  141  and motor  143  and so on for automatic opening of the door. 
     After opening the freezing chamber door  211  and releasing hold of the container after drawing out the container  220  forward, the container  220  moves down by gravity. 
     In the implementations, by enlarging a storage space of the refrigerator, more food can be stored at a low temperature. 
     Since the container has a structure of being drawn out and moved down, even if the storage space is enlarge by making the refrigerator taller, convenience of use can be maintained. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present disclosure covers the modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5