Patent Description:
A typical refrigerator is a home appliance for storing food at a low temperature, and may be divided into a refrigerator space and a freezer space according to the temperature of the food stored inside the refrigerator. In general, it is common to maintain the temperature of <NUM> to <NUM> in a refrigerator space, and it is common to maintain the temperature of about -<NUM> in a freezer space.

However, the appropriate temperature range may vary depending on the type of food to be stored. For example, the appropriate temperature range for storage of alcoholic beverages such as wine is <NUM> to <NUM>, for storage of kimchi, fruits and vegetables is <NUM> to <NUM>, and in case of storage of meat and fish, the appropriate temperature range may be varied, such as -<NUM>.

In addition, various refrigerators are appearing according to various lifestyles and uses of modern people. For example, kimchi refrigerators, wine refrigerators, rice refrigerators, cosmetics refrigerators, and even tabletop refrigerators are appearing.

Meanwhile, a refrigerator having such various temperatures and uses may be implemented by allocating predetermined spaces inside the refrigerator.

For example, in the form of<CIT>, a method of implementing independent cooling by providing a plurality of evaporators under a single cooling cycle system and arranging the plurality of evaporators in a plurality of spaces is proposed. However, in the system, there is a risk of various problems such as controlling the circulation direction of the refrigerant and the generation of noise as the cooling cycle becomes complicated, and there is a disadvantage in that the cost of a device increases excessively.

In the above method, separately controlled spaces are fixed in a refrigerator. However, if a separately controlled space is separated and used as a separate refrigerator, its effectiveness may be further increased.

In addition, in the case of separately provided in the form of a separate small refrigerator in response to the various uses as described above, when its utilization is lowered, the inconvenience of occupying space may be caused.

<CIT> relates to a refrigerating refrigerator which can easily obtain a freezing function by a small refrigerator using a thermoelectric element which can be stored in a large refrigerator. <CIT> relates to a refrigerator including a space, capable of quickly freezing food, separated from a refrigeration or freezing chamber.

An aspect provides a refrigerator that independently controls the temperature of a predetermined area inside the refrigerator.

An aspect provides a refrigerator in which a separated area may operate independently even when the independently controlled area is separated.

An aspect provides a refrigerator that has a structure that stably supplies power from a main body when an independently controlled area is coupled to the main body.

According to another aspect, the first heat pump module may include a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator.

According to another aspect, the second heat pump module may be a thermoelectric element.

According to another aspect, the independent power supply part may be a battery.

According to another aspect, the independent power supply part may be electrically connected to the main body power supply part to receive power.

According to another aspect, the independent power supply part may be electrically connected to the main body power supply part through a power cable disposed on a side of the first cooling space of the main body.

According to another aspect, the power cable may be built in a cable box that is disposed in the main body but not to invade the first cooling space, and in response to a surface of the cable box being opened and closed toward the first cooling space, the cable box may communicate with the first cooling space.

According to another aspect, the cable box may include a first area in which a power cable terminal enters and exits configured to directly communicate with the first cooling space in response to the surface of the cable box being opened and closed, and a second area in which the power cable enters and exits configured not to communicate with the first cooling space.

According to another aspect, the power cable may be an automatic reel type, the power cable wound and built in the second area may be drawn out in response to a withdrawal of the power cable terminal, and a length exposed to the first cooling space may change.

According to another aspect, the power cable may be electrically connected to the main body power supply part, and the power cable terminal may be connected to the independent power supply part of the independent refrigerator to electrically connect the main body power supply part and the independent power supply part.

According to another aspect, the cable box may further include a cable box door that moves between the first area and the second area and closes or opens the first area with respect to the first cooling space. According to another aspect, the control panel may be powered by an articulated cable that has one side connected to the control panel and the other side connected to the independent power supply part, and as a multi-joint type, the articulated cable may be freely deformable while maintaining a predetermined curvature within a preset direction and a preset angle range in response on a withdrawal of the storage compartment.

According to another aspect, the first cooling space may include a refrigerator space and a freezer space.

According to another aspect, the independent refrigerator may be disposed in the refrigerator space.

According to another aspect, the independent refrigerator may be disposed in the freezer space.

According to another aspect, the storage compartment may include a swing bar that is disposed in a width direction of the storage compartment and rotates around a virtual axis parallel to the width direction of the storage compartment.

According to another aspect, the swing bar may include a beverage holder with semicircular repeating grooves.

According to another aspect, the swing bar may be installed at a predetermined distance from the sliding door.

According to example embodiments, the independent refrigerator may operate independently in a temperature range different from the internal temperature of the refrigerator.

According to example embodiments, when the independent refrigerator is disposed inside the refrigerator, the independent refrigerator may be electrically connected to the main body of the refrigerator to share power.

According to example embodiments, the independent refrigerator may operate as an independent individual refrigerator even if the independent refrigerator is separated from the refrigerator.

According to example embodiments, inside of the independent refrigerator may be used for various purposes through the swing bar installed in the independent refrigerator.

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain embodiments will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments disclosed in the present specification will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, but identical or similar elements are denoted by the same reference numerals regardless of drawing numbers, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. The suffixes "module" and "unit" for components used in the following description are given or used interchangeably in consideration of only the ease of preparation of the specification, and do not have meanings or roles that are distinguished from each other. In addition, in describing the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, when it is determined that a detailed description of related known technologies may obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the accompanying drawings are for easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, but the technical idea disclosed in the present specification is not limited by the accompanying drawings, and it should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, or substitutes included in the scope of the present disclosure.

Terms including an ordinal number such as first and second may be used to describe various elements, but the elements are not limited by the terms. These terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another component.

When a component is referred to as being "coupled" or "connected" to another component, it should be understood that it may be directly coupled or connected to the other component, but other components may exist in the middle. On the other hand, when a component is referred to as being "directly coupled" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there is no other component in the middle.

Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In the present application, terms such as "comprise" or "have" are intended to designate the presence of features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, but it is to be understood that it does not preclude in advance the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

<FIG> is view illustrating a state in which a door <NUM> of a refrigerator <NUM> according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure is opened, and <FIG> is a view illustrating an internal structure of a first cooling space <NUM> after the door <NUM> of the refrigerator <NUM> according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure is removed.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the refrigerator <NUM> according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may include a main body <NUM> having a rectangular parallelepiped shape of the refrigerator <NUM>, and the door <NUM> of the refrigerator <NUM> that selectively opens and closes the first cooling space <NUM> of the main body <NUM> of the front of the main body <NUM>. The first cooling space <NUM> according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may include a refrigerator space 111a and a freezer space 111b. The refrigerator <NUM> according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure has a bottom freezer structure in which the refrigerator space 111a is provided at an upper portion and the freezer space 111b is provided at a lower portion. The refrigerator space 111a and the freezer space 111b may each include the door <NUM> that is a double-door-type, which rotates and opens based on hinges of both ends. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the refrigerator <NUM> having the bottom freezer structure, and if the refrigerator <NUM> has a structure wherein an independent refrigerator <NUM> is installed in the refrigerator space 111a or the freezer space 111b, it may be the refrigerator <NUM> having a side-by-side structure in which the refrigerator space 111a and the freezer space 111b are respectively disposed on the left and right, or may be the refrigerator <NUM> having a top mount structure in which the freezer space 111b is disposed above the refrigerator space 111a.

The main body <NUM> of the refrigerator <NUM> according to an example embodiment may include an outer case <NUM> constituting the exterior and an inner case <NUM> that is installed to be spaced apart from the outer case <NUM> by a predetermined distance and forms the refrigerator space 111a and the freezer space 111b. The space between the outer case <NUM> and the inner case <NUM> is filled with a heat insulating material to thermally separate the refrigerator space 111a and the freezer space 111b from the external space of the refrigerator <NUM>.

A shelf <NUM> and a drawer <NUM> may be disposed in the refrigerator space 111a and the freezer space 111b according to an example embodiment to increase space utilization efficiency, and the shelf <NUM> and the drawer <NUM> may be disposed to be guided along rails disposed on the left and right. A door basket <NUM> may be installed inside on the door <NUM> of the refrigerator space 111a and the door <NUM> of the freezer space 111b as shown, so that the door basket <NUM> may be formed to be suitable for storing containers such as beverage bottles.

A machine room isolated from the freezer space 111b is located at a rear lower portion of the freezer space 111b according to an example embodiment, and a first heat pump module (not shown) may be disposed in the machine room to operate the refrigerator <NUM> according to an example embodiment. The first heat pump module may refer to a refrigeration cooling cycle device using a refrigerant, and may include a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve and an evaporator.

The first heat pump module according to an example embodiment is powered by a main body power supply part (not illustrated) connected to the main body <NUM>. The main body power supply part may be power supplied to a home through a power plug (for example, <NUM> to 220V power), and in addition to supplying power to the entire operation of the refrigerator <NUM>, power may also be supplied to the independent refrigerator <NUM>, which will be described later.

<FIG> is a view exemplarily illustrating a form in which the independent refrigerator <NUM> according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure is installed in the refrigerator <NUM>, and <FIG> is a view illustrating a state in which the independent refrigerator <NUM> according an example embodiment of the present disclosure is separated.

The independent refrigerator <NUM> according to an example embodiment may be disposed in the freezer space 111b and used together as described above, but in order to facilitate understanding of the present disclosure, a case where the independent refrigerator <NUM> is disposed and used in the refrigerator space 111a will be mainly described.

The independent refrigerator <NUM> according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may be installed in the refrigerator space 111a of the refrigerator <NUM> and used together, or may be separated and used as a separate independent small refrigerator. The independent refrigerator <NUM> may be formed as an insulated space independent of the refrigerator space 111a. The independent refrigerator <NUM> may include a second heat pump module <NUM> (see <FIG>) and an independent power supply part <NUM> (see <FIG>). Through this, when the independent refrigerator <NUM> is mounted and used in the refrigerator space 111a, the independent refrigerator <NUM> may operate at a temperature in a range different from the temperature of the refrigerator space 111a, and when separated from the refrigerator <NUM>, the independent refrigerator <NUM> may operate as a fully independent small refrigerator.

The independent power supply part <NUM> of the independent refrigerator <NUM> according to an example embodiment may be of a power supply method using a power plug, or the independent power supply part <NUM> may be a built-in battery. Like the first heap pump module, the second heat pump module <NUM> may refer to a refrigeration cooling cycle device using a refrigerant, or may refer to a cooling device using a thermoelectric element. Further, in describing the refrigerator <NUM> according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, for better understanding, a case where the independent power supply part <NUM> is a battery and the second heat pump module <NUM> is a thermoelectric element will be described as an example embodiment.

In the independent refrigerator <NUM> according to an example embodiment, the independent refrigerator <NUM> itself may be detachably attached to a portion of the refrigerator space 111a in a sliding form. However, it is not necessarily limited to a method of detaching by a sliding method, and a method for a user to conveniently separate the independent refrigerator <NUM> from and couple to the refrigerator <NUM> may be applied without limitation. When the independent refrigerator <NUM> is mounted in the refrigerator space 111a, power of the independent refrigerator <NUM> may be electrically connected to the main body power supply part to operate the independent refrigerator <NUM>.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the independent refrigerator <NUM> according an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

The independent refrigerator <NUM> according to an example embodiment may include an outer housing <NUM>, an inner housing <NUM> and a storage compartment <NUM>. The outer housing <NUM> and the inner housing <NUM> according to the example embodiment may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance to form a space. The space formed by the outer housing <NUM> and the inner housing <NUM> being spaced apart may be filled with an insulating material to thermally separate a second cooling space of the inner housing <NUM> from the refrigerator space 111a.

The outer housing <NUM> according to an example embodiment may form an external shape when the independent refrigerator <NUM> is separated from the refrigerator <NUM>. In the second cooling space of the inner housing <NUM> according to an example embodiment, the storage compartment <NUM> may be disposed to enter and exit. The storage compartment <NUM> may be a sliding type that opens and closes.

The independent refrigerator <NUM> according to the invention further include a sliding door <NUM> and a control panel <NUM>. The sliding door <NUM> is disposed on one surface of the storage compartment <NUM> and seal the second cooling space together with the inner housing <NUM>. The control panel <NUM> is disposed on the sliding door <NUM>, and the independent refrigerator <NUM> is controlled and the state of the independent refrigerator <NUM> may be identified through the control panel <NUM>.

The control panel <NUM> according to an example embodiment may be in the form of a touch display panel. An operation mode of the independent refrigerator <NUM> may be set through the control panel <NUM>. For example, the independent refrigerator <NUM> may be set to be in a beverage storage mode for mainly storing alcoholic beverages or beverages, a vegetable storage mode for storing kimchi, fruits or vegetables, or a meat/fish storage mode for storing meat or fish. The beverage storage mode may be set to operate the independent refrigerator <NUM> in the temperature range of about <NUM> to <NUM>, the vegetable storage mode may be set to operate in the temperature range of about <NUM> to <NUM>, and the meat/fish storage mode may be set to operate at -<NUM>. The above temperature ranges are exemplary and the present disclosure is not limited to the numerical ranges, and the example embodiments are meaningful that a user may easily set the temperature of the independent refrigerator <NUM> to operate within a preset temperature range by selecting an operation mode. In addition, the independent refrigerator <NUM> may be set to be at a fixed temperature that is a specific temperature arbitrarily set by a user through operation on the control panel <NUM>, or the independent refrigerator <NUM> may be set to operate in an airtight storage mode so that odors inside the independent refrigerator <NUM> do not leak. For example, for the meat/fish storage mode, the airtight storage mode may be activated simultaneously to prevent leakage of odors. In addition, the control panel <NUM> may display and control various information related to the independent refrigerator <NUM>, such as a battery charge state and the remaining amount of the battery.

The second heat pump module <NUM> and the independent power supply part <NUM> may be disposed in a space between the outer housing <NUM> and the inner housing <NUM> according to an example embodiment. As described above, the second heat pump module <NUM> may refer to a refrigeration cooling cycle device using a refrigerant like the first heat pump module, or may refer to a cooling device using a thermoelectric element. Meanwhile, in the refrigerator <NUM> according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure, a battery may be used as the independent power supply part <NUM>, and a thermoelectric element may be used as the second heat pump module <NUM>.

(a) of <FIG> is a view illustrating an articulated cable for supplying power to a control panel of an independent refrigerator according an example embodiment of the present disclosure, and (b) of <FIG> is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the articulated cable is installed in the independent refrigerator <NUM>.

Since the independent refrigerator <NUM> according to an example embodiment may be controlled by the control panel <NUM> formed on a surface of the storage compartment <NUM>, and the control panel <NUM> displays various information of the independent refrigerator <NUM>, power supply may be required. However, since the distance between the control panel <NUM> receiving power and the power supply point changes as the storage compartment <NUM> moves in a sliding type, a fixed power supply line may be easily disconnected. Accordingly, the control panel <NUM> of the independent refrigerator <NUM> according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may receive power through an articulated cable <NUM>.

The articulated cable <NUM> according to an example embodiment has one end connected to the control panel <NUM> and the other end connected to the independent power supply part <NUM>. As a multi-joint shape, the articulated cable <NUM> may be deformed while maintaining a predetermined curvature within the preset direction and a preset angle range according to the entry and exit of the storage compartment <NUM>. Since the articulated cable <NUM> is deformed while maintaining the predetermined curvature within the preset direction and the preset angle range, a power cable connected to the control panel <NUM> may be prevented from being deformed beyond the elastic limit, and disconnection may be prevented.

(a) of <FIG> of <FIG> are views illustrating various examples of utilization of the independent refrigerator <NUM> according an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

A swing bar <NUM> may be disposed inside the independent refrigerator <NUM> according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. The swing bar <NUM> according to the example embodiment of the present disclosure may be disposed to cross the storage compartment <NUM> in the width direction, and may be rotatable with respect to an arbitrary axis formed in parallel with the width direction of the storage compartment <NUM>, and the swing bar <NUM> may be disposed to be spaced from the sliding door <NUM> by a predetermined distance.

The swing bar <NUM> according to an example embodiment may have a beverage holder <NUM> formed with semicircular grooves in a shape to easily mount a wine bottle as shown in (a) of <FIG>. As shown in (b) of <FIG>, when the swing bar <NUM> rotates toward the sliding door <NUM>, the swing bar <NUM> may be disposed but not to interfere with the utilization of the entire space of the storage compartment <NUM>. When the swing bar <NUM> is disposed as shown in (c) and (d) of <FIG>, the swing bar <NUM> may be utilized for the purpose of dividing the space of the storage compartment <NUM> according to the arrangement shape.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a location where a cable box <NUM> is located in the refrigerator <NUM> according an example embodiment of the present disclosure, (a) of <FIG> is a view illustrating a closed state of a cable box door of a cable box according an example embodiment of the present disclosure, and (b) of <FIG> is a view illustrating an open state of the cable box door of the cable box according an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG> to <FIG> of <FIG>, the cable box <NUM> according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may be formed to communicate with the first cooling space <NUM> of the main body <NUM>. As described above, as the first cooling space <NUM> of the present disclosure may include the refrigerator space 111a and the freezer space 111b, the cable box <NUM> according to an example embodiment may be formed in the refrigerator space 111a or the freezer space 111b. Further, in order to facilitate understanding of the present disclosure, a case in which the cable box <NUM> is also formed in the refrigerator space 111a will be described as an example embodiment, based on the case in which the independent refrigerator <NUM> is disposed in the refrigerator space 111a.

The cable box <NUM> according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may be disposed on the main body <NUM> but not to invade the first cooling space <NUM>. The cable box <NUM> according to an example embodiment may be disposed in the space between the outer case <NUM> and the inner case <NUM> of the main body <NUM> of the refrigerator, and may be formed so that one surface opens and closes toward the first cooling space <NUM>, and thus the cable box <NUM> may communicate with the first cooling space <NUM>.

The cable box <NUM> according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure may include a first area <NUM> (see <FIG>) and a second area <NUM> (see <FIG>). The first area <NUM> of the cable box <NUM> according to an example embodiment may directly communicate with the refrigerator space 111a of the refrigerator <NUM> and may be opened and closed by a cable box door <NUM>. A power cable terminal 151a may be disposed in the first area <NUM>, and when the cable box door <NUM> is opened, the power cable terminal 151a may be exposed to be connected to the independent power supply part <NUM>. In the second area <NUM> according to an example embodiment, a cable of a power cable <NUM> may be stored, and the second area <NUM> may not directly communicate with the refrigerator space 111a of the refrigerator <NUM>. The power cable <NUM> may be an automatic reel type and the wound power cable <NUM> may be built in the second area <NUM>. As the power cable terminal 151a is withdrawn, the power cable <NUM> wound in the second area <NUM> may be drawn out and the length of the power cable <NUM> exposed to the refrigerator space 111a may be adjusted.

<FIG> is an exploded perspective view of the cable box <NUM> according an example embodiment of the present disclosure, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of the cable box <NUM> according an example embodiment of the present disclosure.

The cable box <NUM> according to the example embodiment of the present disclosure may include a cable outer housing <NUM>, a separation bracket <NUM>, the cable box door <NUM> and a cable inner housing <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the cable outer housing <NUM> according to an example embodiment may be formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape with one surface open. In order to help the understanding of the present disclosure, a rectangular parallelepiped shape is described, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto and a structure that may form a space inside may be applied without limitation.

The cable outer housing <NUM> according to an example embodiment may pass through a portion of the inner case <NUM> of the main body <NUM> to be disposed in a space between the outer case <NUM> and the inner case <NUM>, and an open surface of the cable outer housing <NUM> may be aligned with a hole formed in the inner case <NUM>.

The separation bracket <NUM> according to an example embodiment may form the first area <NUM> and the second area <NUM> of the cable box <NUM> by the separation bracket <NUM> being inserted into the cable outer housing <NUM> to divide the space of the cable outer housing <NUM>. The separation bracket <NUM> closes the second area <NUM> with respect to the refrigerator space 111a to prevent foreign substances from entering from the refrigerator space 111a, and thus breakdown or a malfunction of the refrigerator <NUM> may be prevented.

The cable inner housing <NUM> according to an example embodiment may be coupled to the open surface of the cable outer housing <NUM>, but the first area <NUM> of the cable box <NUM> may be opened and the second area <NUM> may be closed. The cable inner housing <NUM> may be aligned with the surface of the inner case <NUM> of the main body <NUM>.

The cable box door <NUM> according to an example embodiment may be disposed between the cable outer housing <NUM> and the cable inner housing <NUM>, and may reciprocate while sliding in the first area <NUM> and the second area <NUM> of the cable box <NUM>. More specifically, when the cable box door <NUM> is located in the first area <NUM>, the cable box <NUM> may be closed and separated from the refrigerator space 111a, and when the cable box door <NUM> is positioned in the second area <NUM>, the first area <NUM> of the cable box <NUM> may communicate with the refrigerator space 111a.

The power cable <NUM> of the cable box <NUM> according to an example embodiment is drawn out so that the power cable terminal 151a may be electrically connected to the independent power supply part <NUM> of the independent refrigerator <NUM> to receive power from the main body power supply part. While the independent power supply part <NUM> according to an example embodiment is connected to the main body power supply part, the independent refrigerator <NUM> may be operated with the power supplied from the main body power supply part, and the independent power supply part <NUM> (for example, a battery) may be charged.

Claim 1:
A refrigerator comprising:
a main body (<NUM>) comprising a first cooling space (<NUM>);
a door (<NUM>) that selectively seals the first cooling space (<NUM>) of the main body (<NUM>);
a first heat pump module built in the main body (<NUM>) and configured to cool the first cooling space (<NUM>);
an independent refrigerator (<NUM>) that is detachably disposed in the first cooling space (<NUM>) sealed by the door (<NUM>) and forms an insulating space independent of the first cooling space (<NUM>);
a second heat pump module (<NUM>) built in the independent refrigerator (<NUM>) to cool a second cooling space of the independent refrigerator (<NUM>);
a main body power supply part that is built in the main body (<NUM>) and supplies power; and
an independent power supply part (<NUM>) built in the independent refrigerator (<NUM>),
wherein the independent refrigerator (<NUM>) comprises:
an outer housing (<NUM>) forming an external shape of the independent refrigerator (<NUM>);
an inner housing (<NUM>) forming the second cooling space of the independent refrigerator (<NUM>); and
a storage compartment (<NUM>) that enters and exits the inner housing (<NUM>), and
wherein the second heat pump module (<NUM>) is disposed in a space between the outer housing (<NUM>) and the inner housing (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the independent refrigerator (<NUM>) further comprises a sliding door (<NUM>) that is disposed on a surface of the storage compartment (<NUM>) and seals the second cooling space together with the inner housing (<NUM>),
wherein the sliding door (<NUM>) comprises a control panel (<NUM>) configured to control the independent refrigerator (<NUM>) and display information of the independent refrigerator (<NUM>).