Abstract:
Provided is a refrigerator including a plurality of drawers that partitions a space of a storage chamber and can be selectively withdrawn. In this refrigerator, a user can efficiently utilize the storage space of the storage chamber, and a desired drawer can be opened to easily store and dispense foods.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Embodiments relate to refrigerator. 
         [0002]    Generally, a refrigerator includes a plurality of storage compartments for receiving foods to store the foods in freezing or refrigeration state. One surface of each of the storage compartments is opened to receive and dispense the foods. 
         [0003]    A door selectively covering the storage compartment is provided in a front direction of the storage compartment. A storage box for storing the foods may be provided inside the door. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one state in which a refrigerator door is opened according to an embodiment. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the other state in which a refrigerator door is opened according to an embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an upper drawer hooked on a manipulation member according to an embodiment. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a configuration of a manipulation member according to an embodiment. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of  FIG. 5 . 
           [0010]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are cross-sectional views illustrating an operation of a manipulation member according to an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0011]    In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific preferred embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that logical structural, mechanical, electrical, and chemical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the appended claims. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment. 
         [0013]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a refrigerator  1  according to this embodiment includes a main body  10  defining a refrigerator compartment  11  and a freezer compartment and having an opened front surface and doors  13  and  100  provided on the front surface of the main body  10  and rotatably coupled to the main body  10 . 
         [0014]    The doors  13  and  100  include a refrigerator compartment door  13  for selectively covering the refrigerator compartment  11  and a freezer compartment door  100  for selectively covering the freezer compartment. Here, the refrigerator compartment door  13  is provided on an upper portion of the main body  10 , and the freezer compartment door  100  is provided on a lower portion of the main body  10 . 
         [0015]    A bottom freezer type refrigerator in which a freezer compartment is disposed under a refrigerator compartment is described in this embodiment as an example. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this embodiment. For example, a refrigerator according to this embodiment may be applied to following various refrigerators: a top mount type refrigerator in which a refrigerator compartment is disposed under a freezer compartment; and a side by side type refrigerator in which a refrigerator compartment and a freezer compartment are disposed in left and right sides, respectively. 
         [0016]    In detail, the refrigerator compartment door  13  is provided in plurality at both upper sides of the main body  10  and rotatably coupled with respect to both ends of the main body  10 . Here, a hinge shaft (not shown) that defines a rotation center may be inserted in a side of the refrigerator compartment door  13 . 
         [0017]    The freezer compartment door  100  is coupled to a lower portion of the main body  10 . The freezer compartment door  14  may have a drawer-type shape and be withdrawable to the outside. 
         [0018]    An ice-making device  30  that makes ice using supplied water is provided on a back surface of the refrigerator compartment door  13 . The ice-making device  30  includes a cool air supply part  32  and a cool air exhaust part  34  through which the cool air is supplied or exhausted into/from the freezer compartment. 
         [0019]    A cool air duct  20  through which the cool air flows is provided inside a surface of main body  10 . The cool air duct  20  includes a supply duct  22  through which the cool air is supplied into the cool air supply part  32  and an exhaust duct  24  through which the cool air exhausted from the cool air exhaust part  34  flows. 
         [0020]    One side of the supply duct  22  and one side of the exhaust duct  24  are connected to one side of the freezer compartment. At least portion of the cool air generated by an evaporator  15  is supplied into the ice-making device  30  through the supply duct  22 . The cool air circulating in the ice-making device  30  is exhausted through the exhaust duct  24 , and then may be introduced into the freezer compartment. 
         [0021]    A plurality of door baskets  15  for receiving the foods may be provided on the back surface of the refrigerator compartment door  13 . The plurality of door baskets  15  may be disposed spaced from each other along a length direction of the door  13 . Hereinafter, configurations of the freezer compartment and the freezer compartment door  100  will be described with reference to accompanying drawings. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of one state in which a refrigerator door is opened according to an embodiment, and FIG. is a perspective view of the other state in which a refrigerator door is opened according to an embodiment. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a freezer compartment door  100  according to this embodiment includes a door frame  102  defining an outer appearance of a rear surface of the freezer compartment door  100  and a manipulation member  120  moveably provided on the door frame  102 . 
         [0024]    The door frame  102  is disposed on an upper portion of a back surface  100   a  of the freezer compartment door  100  and may be horizontally disposed. 
         [0025]    A guide groove  104  for guiding a movement of the manipulation member  120  is disposed in the door frame  102 . The guide groove  104  is depressed from a top surface and a bottom surface of the door frame  102 . 
         [0026]    A plurality of drawers  130  and  140  withdrawable in front direction is provided in the freezer compartment. The drawers  130  and  140  are divided into an upper drawer  130  defining an upper storage space  12   a  of the freezer compartment and a lower drawer  140  defining a lower storage space  12   b.    
         [0027]    In a state where the drawers  130  and  140  are inserted, the upper storage space  12   a  and the lower storage space  12   b  define the freezer compartment. 
         [0028]    The lower drawer  140  is coupled to the rear surface of the freezer compartment door  100 . When the freezer compartment door  100  is inserted or withdrawn, the lower drawer  140  is inserted or withdrawn together with the freezer compartment door  100 . 
         [0029]    A movement guide  142  for guiding the insertion or withdrawal of the lower drawer  140  is provided on at least side of the lower drawer  140 . The movement guide  142  may be movable along a guide rail (not shown) provided inside the main body  10 . That is, the lower drawer  140  may be easily inserted or withdrawn due to the guide of the guide rail. 
         [0030]    The upper drawer  130  may be selectively coupled to the refrigerator door  100  according to the manipulation of the manipulation member  120 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 2  is a view of a state in which the upper drawer  130  is coupled to the refrigerator door  100 , and thus, the upper drawer  130  is withdrawn forwardly together with the refrigerator door  100 .  FIG. 2  is a view of a state in which the upper drawer  130  is separated from the refrigerator door  100 , and thus, only the refrigerator door  100  is withdrawn forwardly. 
         [0032]    Hereinafter, configurations of the manipulation member  120  and the upper drawer  130  will be described with reference to accompanying drawings. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an upper drawer hooked on a manipulation member according to an embodiment, and  FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a configuration of a manipulation member according to an embodiment.  FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of  FIG. 5 . 
         [0034]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 to 6 , the manipulation member  120  according to this embodiment is moveable along an outer surface of the door frame  102 . When the manipulation member  120  is moved, the upper drawer  130  is selectively hooked on the manipulation member  120 . 
         [0035]    In detail, the upper drawer  130  includes an upper end frame  131  defining an upper end portion of the upper drawer  130  and a hook jaw  135  extending upwardly from the upper end frame  131  and hooked on the manipulation member  120 . 
         [0036]    The upper end frame  131  includes a depression portion  132  depressed downwardly by a predetermined distance and a plurality of inclined surfaces  133  inclined in both side directions of the depression portion  132 . 
         [0037]    Since the depression portion  132  is disposed at an approximately central portion of the upper end frame  131 , the upper end frame  131  has a shape depressed from both side portions of the upper end frame  131  toward the central portion. The inclined surfaces  133  extend from both side portions  131   a  of the upper end frame  131  to the depression portion  132 . Each of the inclined surfaces  133  has a downwardly inclined shape. 
         [0038]    Here, the both side portions  131   a  denote portions that are disposed at both sides of the depression portion  132  and have flat upper surfaces, respectively. 
         [0039]    The hook jaw  135  is disposed on a front surface portion of the upper frame  131 . In further detail, the hook jaw  135  is disposed in a front direction of the depression portion  132  and extends upwardly from a lower end of the depression portion  132 . In other words, the hook jaw  135  connects the plurality of inclined surfaces  133  to each other. 
         [0040]    The guide groove  104  is disposed in a top surface of the door frame  102 . The guide groove  104  receives at least portion of the manipulation member  120  to guide the movement of the manipulation member  120 . 
         [0041]    The manipulation member  120  may be moveable horizontally along the guide groove  104 . The manipulation member  120  includes a body part  121  defining a body thereof, a handle  128  protruding from a side of the body part  121 , and a hook protrusion  150  hooked with the upper drawer  130 . 
         [0042]    The body part  121  has an approximately U-shape. A rear surface of the body part  121  is depressingly rounded toward a front surface. A guide protrusion  125  moveably inserted into the guide groove  104  is disposed on the body part  121 . The guide protrusion  125  may be provided in plurality and inserted into the top surface and the bottom surface of the door frame  102 . 
         [0043]    A receiving part  122  for receiving the door frame  102  in a state where the body part  121  is coupled to the door frame  102  is disposed on an inner surface of the body part  121 . That is, the receiving part  122  surrounds the door frame  102 . 
         [0044]    The manipulable handle  128  is provided on a front surface of the body part  121 . The user can move the handle  128  in left and right directions in a state where the user grasps the handle  128 . 
         [0045]    The hook protrusion  150  capable of being hooked with the upper drawer  130  is provided on a lower portion of the body part  121 . 
         [0046]    The hook protrusion  150  may be movable in upward and downward directions. For this, a movement space  137  having a predetermined size is defined inside the body part  121  to allow the hook protrusion  150  to be moved therein. 
         [0047]    As described in  FIG. 6 , the hook protrusion  150  is elastically supported to a side of the receiving part  122  by an elastic member  138 . In other words, the elastic member  138  is disposed inside the movement space  138  and connects the hook protrusion  150  to the body part  121 . 
         [0048]    Although not shown, a plurality of elastic members  138  may be provided on an upper side of the hook protrusion  150 . 
         [0049]    Coupling parts  139  for coupling the elastic member  138  to the receiving part  122  and the hook protrusion  150  are provided on both sides of the elastic member  138 . 
         [0050]    In a state where the elastic member  138  is tensioned, the hook protrusion  150  may protrude downwardly from the body part  121  to hook the hook protrusion  150  on the upper drawer  130 . In a state where the elastic member  138  is compressed, the hook protrusion  150  is moved inside the movement space  137  to release the hook protrusion  150  from the upper drawer  130 . 
         [0051]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are cross-sectional views illustrating an operation of a manipulation member according to an embodiment. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the hook and the release between the upper drawer  130  and the refrigerator door  100  according to the movement of the manipulation member  120  will be described. 
         [0053]      FIG. 7  is a view of a state in which the refrigerator door  100  and the upper drawer  130  are hooked with each other. In detail, the upper drawer  130  is hooked on the refrigerator door  100  when the hook protrusion  150  is disposed in a rear direction of the hook jaw  135 . 
         [0054]    At this time, the depression portion  132  is disposed on a lower side of the manipulation member  120 , and the hook protrusion  150  interferences with a rear surface of the hook jaw  135  in a state where the hook protrusion  150  protrudes downwardly. Thus, a rear movement of the upper drawer  130  is limited by the hook protrusion  150 , and it is maintained in a state where the upper drawer  130  is coupled to the refrigerator door  100 . 
         [0055]    In this state, the upper drawer  130  and the refrigerator door  100  may be integrally movable. Thus, in case where the user pulls out the foods stored in the upper drawer  130 , i.e., in case where the user withdraws the upper drawer  130 , the manipulation member  120  is moved to position the manipulation member  120  at an upper side of the depression portion  132 , thereby withdrawing the refrigerator door  100  (See  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0056]      FIG. 8  is a view of a state in which a hook between the refrigerator door  100  and the upper drawer  130  is released. In detail, when the manipulation member  120  is moved in both side directions of the depression portion  132 , the upper drawer  130  may be released from the refrigerator door  100 . 
         [0057]    In a state where the manipulation member  120  is disposed at a position as shown in  FIG. 7 , when the manipulation member  120  is moved in the left or right direction, the hook protrusion  150  is moved in the both side portions  131   a  of the upper frame  131  along the inclined surface  133 . 
         [0058]    Although the manipulation member  120  is moved in the left direction to release the hook thereof in  FIG. 8 , but the manipulation member  120  may be moved in the right direction to release the hook thereof. 
         [0059]    In this process, the elastic member  138  is compressed, and the hook protrusion  150  is moved in an upper direction, i.e., toward the movement space  137 . 
         [0060]    When a bottom surface of the hook protrusion  150  is disposed on top surfaces of the both side portions  131   a,  the hook protrusion  150  is released from the hook jaw  135 . Then, the upper drawer  130  may be released from the refrigerator door  100 . 
         [0061]    Thus, in case where the user pulls out the foods stored in the lower drawer  140 , i.e., in case where the user withdraws the lower drawer  140 , the manipulation member  120  is moved to position the manipulation member  120  at an upper side of the both side portions  131   a,  thereby withdrawing the refrigerator door  100 . 
         [0062]    As a result, only the lower drawer  140  is withdrawn without withdrawing the upper drawer  130 . Thus, since the storage space  12   b  of the lower drawer  140  is opened, the foods stored in the lower drawer  140  can be withdrawn (See  FIG. 3 ). 
         [0063]    According to the above-described constitutions, since the user can selectively open the upper drawer or the lower drawer by manipulating the manipulation member, the foods can be easily dispensed and stored. 
         [0064]    Also, since the plurality of drawers is provided in the freezer compartment, the storage space of the freezer compartment can be efficiently utilized.