Abstract:
A shelf for a refrigerator includes a shelf body for compartmentalizing a receiving space in a refrigerator, a space portion cut out at a certain portion of the shelf body, and an open/close plate rotatably mounted in the space portion. The open/close plate is configured to swing out of the way to open the space portion of the shelf body when a tall storage item is stored in the refrigerator.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a shelf for a refrigerator and, more particularly, to a shelf for a refrigerator suitable to secure a space for receiving a tall stuff in a refrigerator. 
   2. Description of the Background Art 
   In general, a refrigerator, storing frozen stuffs and refrigerated stuffs, is widely adopted for a home use and an industrial use. 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a refrigerator in accordance with a conventional art. 
   As shown in  FIG. 1 , a refrigerator  1  includes a freezing chamber  3  formed at either side of an upper portion and a lower portion thereof and having a receiving space for storing a frozen stuff; a refrigerating chamber  5  compartmented by a wall from the freezing chamber  3 ; a freezing chamber door  8  and a refrigerating chamber door  9  opened and closed forwardly of the freezing chamber  3  and the refrigerating chamber  5 ; a cooling air supply unit (not shown) for supplying cooling air to the freezing chamber  3  and the refrigerating chamber  5 ; a plurality of shelves  7  mounted in the freezing chamber  3  and the refrigerating chamber  5  and compartmenting the receiving space for receiving frozen stuffs and refrigerated stuffs. 
   The shelf  7  has a cantilever shape formed of a plate with a predetermined thickness, being extended from a rear wall of the freezing chamber  3  and the refrigerating chamber  5  toward the doors  8  and  9 . The shelf is detachably fixed at a shelf holder  10  installed at the rear wall of the freezing chamber  3  and the refrigerating chamber  5 . 
   That is, the shelf  7  is detachably fixed at the freezing chamber  3  and the refrigerating chamber  5  to allow a user to enlarge or reduce the space (C) between the shelves  7  according to the size of storage stuff stored in the freezing chamber  3  and the refrigerating chamber  5 , in order to receive more storage stuffs into the freezing chamber  3  and the refrigerating chamber  5 . 
   However, the conventional refrigerator has the following problems. 
   That is, as shown in  FIG. 2 , in the conventional refrigerator  1 , if a tall storage stuff  11  is received thereinto, in order to secure a receiving space for the storage stuff  11 , the shelf  7  is separated from the freezing chamber  3  or from the refrigerating chamber  5  and stores the storage stuff  11 . 
   At this time, since the shelf  7  can not be mounted at the space where the storage stuff  11  is placed, a receiving space is failed to be secured around the storage stuff  11 , resulting a problem that it is not possible to store more storage stuffs. 
   In addition, when the tall storage stuff  11  is intended to be stored, other storage stuffs which have been already received on the shelf should be all removed therefrom and the shelf  7  should be separated from the freezing chamber  3  and the refrigerating chamber  5 , so that operation for storing the storage stuff  11  is complicate and hard. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a shelf for a refrigerator suitable for securing a receiving space for receiving a tall storage stuff by allow a receiving space of upper/lower sides compartmented by shelves in a refrigerator to communicate at a certain portion thereof. 
   To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided a shelf for a refrigerator including: A shelf body for compartmenting a receiving space in a refrigerator to receive a storage stuff and having a space portion cut out as large as a certain area at a certain portion; and an open/close plate rotatably mounted at the space portion of the shelf body and opening the space portion of the shelf body when a tall storage stuff is received. 
   The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
     In the drawings: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing a refrigerator in accordance with a conventional art; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing how a tall storage stuff is stored in the refrigerator in accordance with the conventional art; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a shelf for a refrigerator in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective-exploded view showing a shelf for a refrigerator in accordance with the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view showing how an open/close plate of the shelf is positioned at a lower portion of the shelf body in accordance with the present invention; and 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view showing how a tall storage stuff is stored in a refrigerator with the shelves in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
     FIG. 3  is a perspective view showing a shelf for a refrigerator in accordance with the present invention, and  FIG. 4  is a perspective-exploded view showing a shelf for a refrigerator in accordance with the present invention. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3 , refrigerator shelves  7  and  30  for compartmenting a receiving space  22  in a refrigerator are formed as a plate with a certain thickness extended forwardly from a rear wall of the refrigerator so as to receive a storage stuff thereon, and detachably fixed at fixing slots  25  of a shelf holder  23  installed at the rear wall of the refrigerator so as to enlarge or reduce the space between shelves depending on the size of a received storage stuff, thereby suitably controlling the receiving space  22 . 
   The shelf for a refrigerator in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIG. 4 . 
   As shown in  FIG. 4 , the refrigerator shelf  30  in accordance with the present invention includes a shelf body  31  compartmenting a receiving space  22  of the refrigerator  1  to receive storage stuffs and having a space portion  33  cut out as wide as a certain area at a predetermined portion thereof; an open/close plate  35  rotatably mounted at a space portion  33  of the shelf body  31  and opening the space portion  33  of the shelf body  31  when a tall storage stuff is received; and a hinge unit  40  formed between the shelf body  31  and the open/close plate  35  and rotatably supporting the open/close plate  35 . 
   The space portion  33  of the shelf body  31  is not limited in its horizontal width or vertical width but is preferred to be formed smaller than the half of the overall width of the shelf body  31  and provided at one of both sides of the shelf body  31 . 
   The open/close plate  35  is formed as a plate with the same thickness as that of the shelf body  31  and with the same area as that of the space portion  33  of the shelf body  31 . 
   The hinge unit  40  includes a hinge shaft  41  engaged at one side of the shelf body  31  and a hinge ring  71  rotatably inserted into the hinge shaft  41  and formed at one side of the open/close plate  35 . 
   The hinge shaft  41  includes an upper side support portion  45  fixed at one lower surface of the shelf body  31 ; a rod portion  43  formed at a lower side of the upper side support portion  45  and having a certain length; a lower side support portion  47  formed at an end of the rod portion and preventing the hinge ring  71  from releasing; and a central support portion  49  integrally formed at an outer circumferential surface of the center of the rod portion  43  to compartment the rod portion  43  to an upper portion and a lower portion, and having at least one or more slots  51  formed in the circumferential direction so that the hinge ring  75  can be positioned and supported at the upper side of the rod portion  43  when the open/close plate  35  is positioned at the space portion  33  of the shelf body  31 . 
   The upper side support portion  45 , the rod portion  43  and the lower side support portion  47  of the hinge shaft  41  can be fixed by welding or by bonding, or can be fixed with means such as an engagement bolt, without being limited thereto. 
   The hinge ring  71  includes a connection portion  73  attached to the open/close plate  35  and formed with a slope; an annular ring portion  75  fixed at one end of the connection portion  73  and having an inner diameter corresponding to an outer diameter of the rod portion  43  of the hinge shaft  41 , and at least one or more protrusions  77  protruded from the inner circumferential surface of the ring portion  75 , formed with a size corresponding to the slot  51  of the central support portion  49 , and formed to be movable vertically penetrating the slot  51 . 
   As for the hinge ring  71 , the inner diameter of the ring portion  75  is at least greater than the outer diameter of the rod portion  43  but smaller than the outer diameter of the central support portion  49 , and the radial width of the protrusion  77  is formed as wide as a difference between a radius of the rod portion  43  and a radius of the central support portion  49 . 
   Meanwhile, in order to support a load of a storage stuff mounted on the upper surface of the open/close plate  35 , step portions  70  and  72  is preferably formed at a left corner of a front end of the margin of the shelf body  31  and at a right corner of a front end of the margin of the open/close plate  35 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 4 , the step portion  70  can be formed in a stair form and not limited in its shape so long as it can support the load of the open/close plate. 
   The operation of the shelf for a refrigerator constructed as described above will now be explained. 
   First, referring to a state that the open/close plate  35  is installed, the protrusion  77  of the hinge ring  71  is positioned at an upper side of the central support portion  49  of the hinge shaft  41 , and the shelf body  31  and the open/close plate  35  are leveled with each other, so that the upper surface of the open/close plate  35  and the upper surface of the shelf body  31  have the same height. Accordingly, the shelf  30  is maintained at the same height and thus a storage stuff can be stably received on the shelf  30 . 
   Meanwhile, If a tall storage stuff is desired to be received into the receiving space  22  of the refrigerator  1 , the open/close plate  35  is rotated centering around the hinge shaft  41  clockwise (in view of  FIG. 4 ) in a state that the open/close plate  35  is mounted at the shelf body  31 . Then, the protrusion  77  of the hinge ring  71  supported at the upper portion of the central support portion  49  of the hinge shaft  41  corresponds to the position of the slot  51  of the central support portion  49 , so that the hinge ring  71  can be moved downwardly. 
   At this time, when the hinge ring  71  is lowered downwardly, the hinge ring  71  is positioned at the upper surface of the lower side support portion  47  and the open/close plate  35  is positioned at a lower side than the shelf body  31 . 
   At this time, as shown in  FIG. 5 , when the open/close plate  35  is rotated counterclockwise centering around the rod portion  43  of the hinge shaft  41  to move the open/close plate  35  lower side of the shelf body  31 , the space portion  33  of the shelf body  31  is opened, allowing the upper side and the lower side of the receiving space to communicate with each other. 
   Accordingly, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the tall storage stuff  11  can be received passing through the space portion  33  of the shelf body  31 . 
   Meanwhile, if the entire upper surface of the shelf  30  is desired to be used, the open/close plate  35  positioned at the rear lower side of the shelf body  31  is rotated clockwise and the hinge ring  75  is moved upwardly of the hinge shaft  43  by letting the protrusion  77  of the hinge ring  71  and the slot  51  formed at the central support portion  49  of the hinge shaft  41  to come to the same position, and then, the hinge ring  75  is rotated counterclockwise. Then, the protrusion  77  of the hinge ring  71  is supported at the upper surface of the central support portion  49 . At this time, the open/close plate  35  closes the space portion  33  of the shelf body  31  and the upper surface of the open/close plate  35  and the upper surface of the shelf body  31  are leveled, so that the entire upper surface of the shelf  30  can be used. 
   In addition, as the step portion  70  formed at the left corner of the front end of the margin of the shelf body  31  and the step portion  72  formed at the right corner of the front end of the margin of the open/close plate  35  are insertedly joined to each other, the storage stuff received at the upper surface of the shelf  30  can be more stably supported. 
   As so far described, the shelf for a refrigerator of the present invention has the following advantages. 
   That is, since the space portion of the shelf body is selectively opened to receive a tall storage stuff and closed to utilize the entire space of the shelf, the receiving space inside the refrigerator can be effectively used. 
   In addition, since the open/close plate is positioned at a lower space of the shelf body by being supported by the hinge shaft, it is not necessary to provide a separate receiving unit for keeping the open/close plate or separately keep the open/close plate outside the refrigerator, accomplishing convenience in use. 
   As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the appended claims.