Patent Description:
In general, a refrigerator is a device that stores food fresh at a low temperature by supplying low temperature cold air to a storage compartment in which food is stored.

The refrigerator may be classified according to the shape of a storage compartment and a door, and thus the refrigerator may be classified into a top mounted freezer (TMF) type in which a storage compartment is divided up and down by a horizontal partition to form a freezing compartment on the upper side and a refrigerating compartment on the lower side, and a bottom mounted freezer (BMF) type refrigerator in which a refrigerating compartment is formed in the upper side and a freezing compartment is formed in the lower side. Further, the refrigerator may include a side by side (SBS) type refrigerator in which a storage compartment is partitioned left and right by a vertical partition, and a freezing compartment is formed on one side, and a refrigerating compartment is formed on the other side, and a French door refrigerator (FDR) in which a storage compartment is divided up and down by a horizontal partition, a refrigerating compartment is formed on the upper side, a freezing compartment is formed on the lower side, and the refrigerating compartment on the upper side is opened and closed by a pair of doors.

The refrigerator may include an ice maker configured to manufacture ice, a dispenser provided to extract water from the front of the door without opening the door, and a water supply system configured to supply water to the ice maker and/or the dispenser.

The water supply system may be provided with a water supply assembly including a filter, a water tank, and a valve. The water supply system may purify water supplied from an external water supply source, and supply the purified water to the ice maker, the water tank and/or the dispenser through the valve. <CIT> is directed to a refrigerator comprising a water supply and a filter device. <CIT> relates to a water purifier including filters for filtering impurities contained in tap water.

Therefore, it is an aspect of the disclosure to provide a refrigerator capable of efficiently using a space of a storage compartment.

It is another aspect of the disclosure to provide a refrigerator including a water supply assembly having improved usability.

It is another aspect of the disclosure to provide a refrigerator capable of effectively managing water that may be generated upon replacing a filter.

It is another aspect of the disclosure to provide a refrigerator capable of minimizing a decrease in a flow rate of a water supply assembly.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, a refrigerator includes a main body including a storage compartment, and a water supply assembly disposed in the storage compartment. The water supply assembly includes a first filter mounting portion provided to allow a first filter to be mounted thereon, and a second filter mounting portion provided to allow a second filter to be mounted thereon, the second filter mounting portion being positioned above the first filter mounting portion and including a residual water guide configured to guide residual water in the second filter mounting portion to the first filter mounting portion. The residual water guide extends from the second filter mounting portion toward the first filter mounting portion along a direction in which the second filter is separable from the second filter mounting portion.

The water supply assembly may further include a ventilation hole formed between the first filter mounting portion and the second filter mounting portion.

The ventilation hole may extend along a direction in which the second filter is separable from the second filter mounting portion.

The residual water guide may be a first residual water guide, and the water supply assembly may further include a third filter mounting portion provided to allow a third filter to be mounted thereon, located above the second filter mounting portion, and including a second residual water guide configured to guide residual water in the third filter mounting portion to the second filter mounting portion.

The water supply assembly may be configured to guide water supplied from a water supply source to the second filter and the third filter in parallel, and configured to guide water, which passes through the second filter and the third filter, to the first filter.

The refrigerator may further include an ice maker, and the water supply assembly may further include a water tank, and a valve configured to distribute water, which passes through the first filter, to the water tank or the ice maker.

The water tank may include a water tank inlet connected to the valve, a water tank outlet configured to discharge water that flows from the water tank inlet, and a water tank pipe connected to the water tank inlet and provided to extend toward a side opposite to a side on which the water tank outlet is disposed.

The first filter mounting portion and the second filter mounting portion may be configured so that, when the first filter is mounted on the first filter mounting portion and the second filter is mounted on the second filter mounting portion, the first filter and the second filter may longitudinally extend in a same direction, and the water tank may be provided to extend in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the first filter and the second filter longitudinally extend.

The water supply assembly may further include a residual water tray disposed under the first filter mounting portion.

The water supply assembly may further include a first filter separating portion through which the first filter is passable to be mounted on the first filter mounting portion and, after being mounted on the first filter mounting portion, is passable to be separated from the water supply assembly, and the residual water tray may be configured to be withdrawn from the water supply assembly through the first filter separating portion.

The residual water tray may be mountable in the water supply assembly, and the water supply assembly may further include a tray guide configured to guide a movement of the residual water tray while the residual water tray is being mounted in the water supply assembly.

The second filter mounting portion may include a guide inclined portion formed to be inclined downward in a direction that the second filter is separable from the second filter mounting portion.

The refrigerator may further include a storage box disposed inside the main body, and the water supply assembly may be formed to extend along one side and a rear side of the storage box.

The water supply assembly may be configured to allow a portion of the first filter and a portion of the second filter to be exposed from the storage box when the storage compartment is opened.

The water supply assembly may further include a head to which the second filter is coupleable while mounted on the second filter mounting portion, and from which the second filter is separable, and the residual water may be generated from the second filter or the head upon the second filter being separated from the head.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a refrigerator includes a main body including a storage compartment, and a water supply assembly disposed in the storage compartment. The water supply assembly includes a first head to which a first filter is coupleable and from which the first filter is separable, a first filter mounting portion provided to allow the first filter to be mounted thereon so as to be coupled to the first head, a second head to which a second filter is coupleable and from which the second filter is separable, and a second filter mounting portion provided to allow the second filter to be mounted thereon so as to be coupled to the second head, wherein the second filter mounting portion comprises a guide inclined portion formed to be inclined downward in a direction that the second filter is separable from the second filter mounting portion, so as to guide residual water in the second head, generated when the second filter is separated from the second head, to the first filter mounting portion.

The second filter mounting portion includes a residual water guide provided to extend toward the first filter mounting portion. The residual water guide extends in the direction that the second filter is separable from the second filter mounting portion, to guide residual water in the second filter mounting portion generated when the second filter is separated from the second header, to the first filter mounting portion.

The water supply assembly may include a residual water tray disposed under the first filter mounting portion.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a refrigerator includes a main body including a storage compartment, and a water supply assembly disposed in the storage compartment. The water supply assembly includes a first filter mounting portion provided to allow a first filter to be mounted thereon, a second filter mounting portion provided to allow a second filter to be mounted thereon, and a third filter mounting portion provided to allow a third filter to be mounted thereon. The water supply assembly is configured to guide water supplied from a water supply source to the second filter and the third filter in parallel, and configured to guide water, which passes through the second filter and the third filter, to the first filter.

As is apparent from the above description, the refrigerator may minimize the space occupied by the water supply system, thereby efficiently using the space in the storage compartment.

The refrigerator may include the residual water tray configured to collect water that may be generated upon replacing the filter, and thus it is possible facilitate maintenance and repair of the water supply system.

The refrigerator may be provided with a water drop guide provided in the filter mounting portion, and thus the refrigerator may effectively manage water that may be generated upon replacing the filter.

The refrigerator may supply water to the second and third filters in parallel, and the refrigerator may allow the water, which passes through the second and third filters, to pass through the first filter, thereby minimizing a decrease in the flow rate.

These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:.

Embodiments described in the disclosure and configurations shown in the drawings are merely examples of the embodiments of the disclosure, and may be modified in various different ways at the time of filing of the present application to replace the embodiments and drawings of the disclosure.

In addition, the same reference numerals or signs shown in the drawings of the disclosure indicate elements or components performing substantially the same function.

Also, the terms used herein are used to describe the embodiments and are not intended to limit and / or restrict the disclosure. The singular forms "a," "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this disclosure, the terms "including", "having", and the like are used to specify features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more of the features, elements, steps, operations, elements, components, or combinations thereof.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, third, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, but elements are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, without departing from the scope of the disclosure, a first element may be termed as a second element, and a second element may be termed as a first element. The term of "and / or" includes a plurality of combinations of relevant items or any one item among a plurality of relevant items.

The terms "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "left", "right" and the like used below are defined based on the drawings, and the shape and position of each component are not limited by this term.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a refrigerator <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure may include a main body <NUM>, a plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> formed inside the main body <NUM>, and a plurality of doors <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> configured to open and close the plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The main body <NUM> may include a plurality of inner cases <NUM> and <NUM> and an outer case <NUM> disposed on the outside of the plurality of inner cases to form an exterior of the refrigerator <NUM>. Between the plurality of inner cases <NUM>, and <NUM> and the outer case <NUM>, an insulating material (not shown) may be foamed and filled to prevent cold air of the plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> from leaking to the outside of the refrigerator <NUM>.

The plurality of inner cases <NUM> and <NUM> may include a first inner case <NUM> and a second inner case <NUM> adjacent in a left and right direction Y of the refrigerator <NUM>. The first inner case <NUM> may be disposed on the left side of a partition wall <NUM> in the left and right direction Y of the refrigerator <NUM>, and the second inner case <NUM> may be disposed on the right side of the partition wall <NUM> in the left and right direction Y of the refrigerator <NUM>. Between the first inner case <NUM> and the second inner case <NUM>, an insulating material (not shown) may be foamed and filled to prevent the heat exchange between the freezing compartment <NUM> and a plurality of the refrigerating compartment <NUM> and <NUM>.

The plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may include the freezing compartment <NUM> provided in the inside of the main body <NUM>. The plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may include the freezing compartment <NUM> provided in the inside of the first inner case <NUM>.

The plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may further include the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM> provided in the inside of the main body <NUM> so as to be adjacent to the freezing compartment <NUM> in the left and right direction Y of the refrigerator <NUM>. Particularly, the plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may further include the plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM> provided in the inside of the second inner case <NUM>. The plurality of refrigerating compartments <NUM> and <NUM> may include a first refrigerating compartment <NUM> and a second refrigerating compartment <NUM>. The first refrigerating compartment <NUM> and the second refrigerating compartment <NUM> may be disposed adjacent to each other in an up and down direction Z of the refrigerator. The first refrigerating compartment <NUM> and the second refrigerating compartment <NUM> may be divided in the up and down direction Z of the refrigerator <NUM> by a divider <NUM> so as to communicate with each other. Particularly, the first refrigerating compartment <NUM> may be disposed above the divider <NUM> in the up and down direction Z of the refrigerator <NUM>, and the second refrigerating compartment <NUM> may be disposed below the divider <NUM> in the up and down direction Z of the refrigerator <NUM>.

The plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may include an open front surface. A plurality of shelves <NUM> and/or a storage box <NUM> may be provided in the plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to store food.

The storage box <NUM> may be configured to place and store food therein. The storage box <NUM> may be located in the second refrigerating compartment <NUM>. The storage box <NUM> may be withdrawn from the second refrigerating compartment <NUM> or may be inserted into the second refrigerating compartment <NUM>. The storage box <NUM> may be configured to be movable in a front and rear direction X of the refrigerator <NUM>. The storage box <NUM> may slide with respect to the second refrigerating compartment <NUM>.

The storage box <NUM> may include an assembly receiver <NUM> formed in a shape and size corresponding to a water supply assembly <NUM>. The assembly receiver <NUM> may be recessed in one side and a rear side of the storage box <NUM>.

The storage box <NUM> may include a plurality of holes <NUM> formed on at least one surface facing the water supply assembly <NUM> upon being mounted to the second refrigerating compartment <NUM> together with the water supply assembly <NUM>. The plurality of holes <NUM> may be configured to transmit cold air from the second refrigerating compartment <NUM> to the water supply assembly <NUM>.

The plurality of doors <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be rotatably installed on the main body <NUM> to open and close the open front surfaces of the plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The plurality of doors <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> may include a freezing compartment door <NUM> rotatably installed on the main body <NUM> to open and close the freezing compartment <NUM>, a first refrigerating compartment door <NUM> rotatably installed on the main body <NUM> to open and close the first refrigerating compartment <NUM>, and a second refrigerating compartment door <NUM> rotatably installed on the main body <NUM> to open and close the second refrigerating compartment <NUM>.

A plurality of door guards <NUM> may be provided on a rear surface of the plurality of doors <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to store food or the like.

A dispenser <NUM> may be provided on at least one of the plurality of doors <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to allow a user to take out water or ice from the outside. Particularly, the dispenser <NUM> may be provided on the freezing compartment door <NUM>.

The refrigerator <NUM> may further include a cold air supply device configured to supply cold air to the plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The cold air supply device may include a compressor, a condenser, an expansion valve, and an evaporator. The compressor configured to compress a refrigerant and the condenser configured to condense the compressed refrigerant may be installed in a machine room provided below the rear of the plurality of storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The water supply assembly <NUM> may be disposed in the storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. Particularly, the water supply assembly <NUM> may be disposed in the second refrigerating compartment <NUM>. However, the location of the water supply assembly <NUM> is not limited thereto.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a water supply assembly and a storage box shown in <FIG> separated from each other. <FIG> is a view illustrating an inside of the water supply assembly shown in <FIG>. <FIG> is a sectional view taken along a line A-A' of <FIG>. <FIG> is an enlarged view illustrating a side surface of a second filter separated from a second head shown in <FIG>. <FIG> is a view illustrating an inside of a water tank shown in <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, the water supply assembly <NUM> may include a plurality of filters <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> configured to purify the water supplied from an external water supply source <NUM> (refer to <FIG>), a water tank <NUM> configured to store some of water purified by the plurality of filters <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and a valve <NUM> configured to distribute the water purified by the plurality of filters <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to the dispenser <NUM>, and an ice maker <NUM>. The plurality of filters <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the water tank <NUM>, and the valve <NUM> may be accommodated in a case <NUM>. As the plurality of filters <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, the water tank <NUM>, and the valve <NUM> are accommodated in the case <NUM> and then modularized, the water supply assembly <NUM> may be provided compactly, and thus it is possible to minimize a space occupied by the water assembly in the storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The case <NUM> may extend along one surface and the rear surface of the storage box <NUM>. The case <NUM> may be located on the right and rear sides of the storage box <NUM>. The case <NUM> may have the letter "L" shape. As the case <NUM> is formed to correspond to the assembly receiver <NUM> of the storage box <NUM>, it is possible to minimize the space occupied by the water supply assembly <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure in the storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The case <NUM> may include a plurality of holes <NUM> formed to communicate with the second storage compartment <NUM>. The cold air of the second storage compartment <NUM> may flow into the case <NUM> through the plurality of holes <NUM>.

The case <NUM> may include a case fixer <NUM> to be fixed to the main body <NUM> through a fastening member (not shown). The case fixer <NUM> may be provided to face one side of the inner case <NUM> of the main body <NUM> and/or the rear surface of the inner case <NUM> of the main body <NUM>.

One surface of the case <NUM> may be open. A cover <NUM> may be detachably mounted on an open side of the case <NUM>. The cover <NUM> may include a cover mounting portion 103d to be coupled to the case <NUM> through a fastening member (not shown). Alternatively, the case <NUM> and the cover <NUM> may be integrally formed with each other.

Referring to <FIG>, in response to mounting the cover <NUM> to the case <NUM>, a first case portion 101a of the case <NUM> and a first cover portion 103a of the cover <NUM> may form a first filter mounting portion 101a and 103a. The first filter mounting portions 101a and 103a may be formed to allow a first filter <NUM> to be mounted thereto. The first filter mounting portions 101a and 103a may be provided in a shape and size corresponding to the first filter <NUM>.

A first head <NUM> to which the first filter <NUM> is coupled may be provided at one end of the first filter mounting portions 101a and 103a. The first filter <NUM> may be detachably coupled to the first head <NUM>. The first head <NUM> may include a first head inlet 106a and a first head outlet 106b. In response to mounting the first filter <NUM> to the first head <NUM>, water may flow into the first filter <NUM> through the first head inlet 106a, and water, which is purified by the first filter <NUM>, may be discharged from the first filter <NUM> through the first head outlet 106b.

Referring to <FIG>, a second case portion 101b of the case <NUM> and a second cover portion 103b of the case <NUM> may form a second mounting portion 101b and 103b in response to mounting the cover <NUM> to the case <NUM>. The second filter mounting portions 101b and 103b may be formed to allow the second filter <NUM> to be mounted thereto. The second filter mounting portions 101b and 103b may be provided in a shape and size corresponding to the second filter <NUM>. The second filter mounting portions 101b and 103b is positioned above the first filter mounting portions 101a and 103a.

A second head <NUM> to which the second filter <NUM> is coupled may be provided at one end of the second filter mounting portions 101b and 103b. The second filter <NUM> may be detachably coupled to the second head <NUM>. The second head <NUM> may include a second head inlet 107a and a second head outlet 107b. In response to mounting the second filter <NUM> to the second head <NUM>, water may flow into the second filter <NUM> through the second head inlet 107a, and water, which is purified by the second filter <NUM>, may be discharged from the second filter <NUM> through the second head outlet 107b.

First ventilation holes 101ba and 103ba may be formed between the first filter mounting portions 101a and 103a and the second filter mounting portions 101b and 103b. The first ventilation holes 101ba and 103ba may include a first a (1a) ventilation hole 101ba formed between the first case portion 101a and the second case portion 101b, and a first b (1b) ventilation hole 103ba formed between the first cover portion 103a and the second cover portion 103b.

The first ventilation holes 101ba and 103ba are formed to allow cold air from the second refrigerating compartment <NUM> to flow into the case <NUM>. Water on an outer surface of the first filter <NUM> may be dried by the first ventilation holes 101ba and 103ba. The first ventilation holes 101ba and 103ba may extend along a direction in which the second filter <NUM> is separated. Accordingly, residual water, which is generated upon separating the second filter <NUM>, may be dried by the first ventilation holes 101ba and 103ba.

The second filter mounting portions 101b and 103b includes first residual water guides 101bb and 103bb. The first residual water guides 101bb and 103bb may include a first a (1a) residual water guide 101bb formed in the second case portion 101b and a first b (1b) residual water guide 103bb formed in the second cover portion 103b. The first residual water guides 101bb and 103bb guide residual water to the first filter mounting portions 101a and 103a. The first residual water guides 101bb and 103bb extend toward the first filter mounting portions 101a and 103a. The first residual water guides 101bb and 103bb extend along the direction in which the second filter <NUM> is separated.

The first residual water guides 101bb and 103bb may guide residual water, which is generated in the second filter <NUM> and/or the second head <NUM> upon separating the second filter <NUM> from the second head <NUM> and then remains in the second filter mounting portion 101b and 103b, to the first filter mounting portion 101a and 103a. Residual water guided to the first filter mounting portion 101a and 103a may be directly collected in a residual water tray <NUM> or may flow down along the outer surface of the first filter and then collected in the residual water tray <NUM>. By the configuration, the water supply assembly <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure may prevent contamination by residual water generated upon replacing the second filter <NUM> and maintain a clean state.

The second filter mounting portions 101b and 103b may include a first guide inclined portion 109a formed to incline downward in the direction in which the second filter <NUM> is separated from the second filter mounting portions 101b and 103b. The first guide inclined portion 109a may be disposed under the second head <NUM>. The first guide inclined portion 109a may be formed to protrude further in a direction, in which the second filter <NUM> is separated, than the second head <NUM>. Residual water, which is generated in the second head <NUM> upon separating the second filter <NUM> from the second head <NUM>, may be moved to the first filter mounting portion 101a and 103a along the first guide inclined portion 109a, and the water passing through the first filter mounting portion 101a and 103a may be collected in the residual water tray <NUM>. By the configuration, the water supply assembly <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure may prevent contamination by residual water generated upon separating the second filter <NUM> from the second head <NUM> and maintain a clean state.

Referring to <FIG>, a third case portion 101c of the case <NUM> and a third cover portion 103c of the case <NUM> may form third mounting portions 101c and 103c in response to mounting the cover <NUM> to the case <NUM>. The third mounting portions 101c and 103c may be formed to allow the third filter <NUM> to be mounted thereto. The third mounting portions 101c and 103c may be provided in a shape and size corresponding to the third filter <NUM>. The third mounting portions 101c and 103c may be positioned above the second filter mounting portions 101b and 103b.

A third head <NUM> to which the third filter <NUM> is coupled may be provided at one end of the third filter mounting portions 101c and 103c. Because the configuration of the third head <NUM> is the same as that of the second head <NUM>, detailed descriptions are omitted.

Second ventilation holes 101ca and 103ca may be formed between the second filter mounting portions 101b and 103b and the third filter mounting portions 101c and 103c. The second ventilation holes 101ca and 103ca include a second ventilation hole 101ca formed between the second case portion 101b and the third case portion 101c, and a second ventilation hole 103ca formed between the second cover portion 103b and the third cover portion 103c.

The second ventilation holes 101ca and 103ca are formed to allow cold air from the second refrigerating compartment <NUM> to flow into the case <NUM>. Water on an outer surface of the second filter <NUM> may be dried by the second ventilation holes 101ca and 103ca. The second ventilation holes 101ca and 103ca may extend along a direction in which the third filter <NUM> is separated. Accordingly, residual water, which is generated upon separating the third filter <NUM>, may be dried by the second ventilation holes 101ca and 103ca.

The third filter mounting portions 101c and 103c may include second residual water guides 101cb and 103cb. The second residual water guides 101cb and 103cb may include a second a (2a) residual water guide 101cb formed in the third case portion 101c and a second b (2b) residual water guide 103cb formed in the third cover portion 103c. The second residual water guides 101cb and 103cb may guide residual water to the second filter mounting portions 101b and 103b. The second residual water guides 101cb and 103cb may extend toward the second filter mounting portions 101b and 103b. The second residual water guides 101cb and 103cb may extend along a direction in which the third filter <NUM> is separated.

The second residual water guides 101cb and 103cb may guide residual water, which is generated in the third filter <NUM> and/or the third head <NUM> upon separating the third filter <NUM> from the third head <NUM> and then remains in the third filter mounting portion 101c and 103c, to the second filter mounting portion 101b and 103b. Residual water guided to the second filter mounting portion 101b and 103b may be directly collected in the residual water tray <NUM> or may flow down along the outer surface of the second filter <NUM> and the first filter <NUM> and then collected in the residual water tray <NUM>. By the configuration, the water supply assembly <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure may prevent contamination by residual water generated upon replacing the third filter <NUM> and maintain a clean state.

The third filter mounting portions 101c and 103c may include a second guide inclined portion 109b formed to incline downward in the direction in which the third filter <NUM> is separated from the third filter mounting portions 101c and 103c. The second guide inclined portion 109b may be disposed under the third head <NUM>. Because the configuration of the second guide inclined portion 109b is the same as that of the first guide inclined portion 109a, a detailed description will be omitted.

The plurality of filters <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> include the first filter <NUM>, the second filter <NUM> positioned above the first filter <NUM>, and the third filter <NUM> positioned above the second filter <NUM>. The plurality of filters <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be disposed along the up and down direction. The first filter <NUM>, the second filter <NUM>, and the third filter <NUM> may be disposed to extend in a substantially horizontal direction. The first filter <NUM>, the second filter <NUM>, and the third filter <NUM> may all extend in the same direction.

The plurality of filters <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be provided in such a way that at least a portion of the filters <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> is exposed from one side of the storage box <NUM> in response to opening the second refrigerating compartment <NUM>. A portion of the plurality of filters <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be exposed from the right side of the storage box <NUM>. When replacing the plurality of filters <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, a user may open the second refrigerating compartment <NUM> and then easily separate the plurality of filters <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> exposed on one side of the storage box <NUM>, from the assembly <NUM>.

Particularly, the first filter <NUM> may include a first filter handle 111a. The first filter handle 111a may be provided to be exposed through a first filter separating portion 100a upon mounting the first filter <NUM> to the water supply assembly <NUM>. A user may separate the first filter <NUM> from the water supply assembly <NUM> by a motion in which the user holds, rotates and pulls the first filter handle 111a.

The second filter <NUM> may include a second filter handle 112a. The second filter handle 112a may be provided to be exposed through a second filter separating portion 100b upon mounting the second filter <NUM> to the water supply assembly <NUM>. A user may separate the second filter <NUM> from the water supply assembly <NUM> by a motion in which the user holds, rotates and pulls the second filter handle 112a.

The third filter <NUM> may include a third filter handle 113a. The third filter handle 113a may be provided to be exposed through a third filter separating portion 100c upon mounting the third filter <NUM> to the water supply assembly <NUM>. A user may separate the third filter <NUM> from the water supply assembly <NUM> by a motion in which the user holds, rotates and pulls the third filter handle 113a.

The water tank <NUM> may store water purified by the plurality of filters <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The water tank <NUM> may extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plurality of filters <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The plurality of filters <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may extend approximately along the front and rear direction from one side of the storage box <NUM>, and the water tank <NUM> may extend approximately along the left and right direction from the rear surface of the storage box <NUM>. According to this arrangement, the water supply assembly <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure may minimize the space occupied in the storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and thus the storage compartments <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be efficiently used.

Referring to <FIG>, the water tank <NUM> may include a water tank inlet <NUM> connected to the valve <NUM>, a water tank outlet <NUM> connected to the dispenser <NUM>, and a water tank pipe <NUM> connected to the water tank inlet <NUM>.

The water tank pipe <NUM> may be configured to guide water flowing through the water tank inlet <NUM> to the other side opposite to one side where the water tank outlet <NUM> is disposed.

The valve <NUM> may be configured to distribute water, which is purified by passing through the plurality of filters <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, to the water tank <NUM> or the ice maker <NUM>. Particularly, the valve <NUM> may be positioned at a branch point of a flow path through which water passing through the first filter <NUM> flows to the water tank <NUM> and the ice maker <NUM>. The valve <NUM> may be disposed adjacent to the water tank <NUM>. The valve <NUM> may be located at the rear side of the storage box <NUM>.

The water supply assembly <NUM> may include the residual water tray <NUM>. The residual water tray <NUM> may be disposed under the first filter mounting portions 101a and 103a. The residual water tray <NUM> may collect residual water that may be generated upon separating the first filter <NUM> from the first head <NUM>. The residual water tray <NUM> may collect residual water that may be generated upon separating the second filter <NUM> from the second head <NUM>. The residual water tray <NUM> may collect residual water that may be generated upon separating the third filter <NUM> from the third head <NUM>. By the residual water tray <NUM>, the water supply assembly <NUM> may be maintained in a clean state of use.

The residual water tray <NUM> may be taken out of the case <NUM> through the first filter separating portion 100a. The residual water tray <NUM> may be formed to have a width smaller than a radius of the first filter <NUM>. By this configuration, the water supply assembly <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure may have a relatively simple configuration because the residual water tray <NUM> is configured to be inserted into or taken out through the first filter separating portion 100a.

The water supply assembly <NUM> may include tray guides 105a and 105b configured to guide a movement of the residual water tray <NUM> in response to mounting the residual water tray <NUM>. The tray guides 105a and 105b may include a first tray guide 105a formed on the case <NUM> and a second tray guide 105b formed on the cover <NUM>.

The residual water tray <NUM> may include tray alignment portions 141a and 141b formed to be guided by the tray guides 105a and 105b. The tray alignment portions 141a and 141b include a first tray alignment portion 141a guided by the first tray guide 105a and a second tray alignment portion 141b guided by the second tray guide 105b.

By this configuration, in response to being mounted to the inside of the case <NUM> and the cover <NUM>, the residual water tray <NUM> may be guided to a position for collecting residual water that may be generated in the plurality of filters <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> and/or the plurality of heads <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating an internal state in which a first filter is separated and the second filter is being separated in the water supply assembly shown in <FIG>. <FIG> is a view illustrating an internal state in which the first filter is mounted and the second filter is being separated in the water supply assembly illustrated in <FIG>. <FIG> is a view illustrating an inside of the water supply assembly in which a residual water tray is separated from the water supply assembly show in <FIG>.

An operation of the water supply assembly <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure will be described with reference to <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, residual water, which is generated in the second filter <NUM> and/or the second head <NUM> upon separating the second filter <NUM> from the second head <NUM> while the first filter <NUM> is separated from the first head <NUM>, may pass through the first filter mounting portions 101a and 103a along the first residual water guides 101bb and 103bb, and then collected in the residual water tray <NUM>. Particularly, the residual water, which is generated from the second header <NUM> in the process of removing the second filter <NUM>, may be directly guided to the residual water tray <NUM> by the first residual water guides 101bb and 103bb. Further, referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, residual water generated in the second head <NUM> may be directly guided to the residual water tray <NUM> by the first guide inclined portion 109a.

Referring to <FIG>, residual water, which is generated in the second filter <NUM> and/or the second head <NUM> upon separating the second filter <NUM> from the second head <NUM> while the first filter <NUM> is mounted to the first head <NUM>, may be guided to the first filter <NUM> along the first residual water guides 101bb and 103bb. The residual water falling into the first filter <NUM> may flow down the outer surface of the first filter <NUM> and then be collected in the residual water tray <NUM>. Particularly, the residual water, which is generated from the second filter <NUM> in the process of separating the second filter <NUM>, may be guided to the first filter <NUM> by the first residual water guides 101bb and 103bb, and then flow down to the residual water tray <NUM>. In addition, residual water generated from the second head <NUM> may be guided to the first filter <NUM> by the first guide inclined portion 109a and then flow down to the residual water tray <NUM>. That is, the water supply assembly <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure may effectively collect residual water, which is generated upon separating the second filter <NUM> while the first filter <NUM> is not separated, to the residual water tray <NUM>.

For convenience of description, the case in which the second filter <NUM> is separated from the second head <NUM>, has been described, but in a case in which the third filter <NUM> is separated from the third head <NUM>, it is possible to effectively collect residual water, which is generated from the third filter <NUM> and the third head <NUM>, to the residual water tray <NUM> through the above mentioned operation.

<FIG> is a diagram schematically illustrating a water supply line of the water supply assembly show in <FIG>.

A water supply line of the refrigerator <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure will be described with reference to <FIG>. First, water supplied from the external water supply source <NUM> may be supplied to the second filter <NUM> and the third filter <NUM> in parallel. Water purified by the second filter <NUM> and the third filter <NUM> may be supplied to the first filter <NUM>.

In a conventional manner, as the water supplied from the external water supply source <NUM> sequentially passes through a plurality of filters, a flow rate may be lost. That is, in the conventional manner, all of the plurality of filters is connected in series. However, in the water supply assembly <NUM> of the refrigerator <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the water supplied from the external water supply source <NUM> may be simultaneously supplied to the second filter <NUM> and the third filter <NUM>, and then delivered to the first filter <NUM>. Therefore, it is possible to minimize the loss of flow rate. That is, in the water supply assembly <NUM> of the refrigerator <NUM> according to an embodiment of the disclosure, the second filter <NUM> and the third filter <NUM> may be connected in parallel.

Thereafter, the water purified by the first filter <NUM> may be delivered to the valve <NUM>. Part of the water delivered to the valve <NUM> may be supplied to the ice maker <NUM>, and the remaining part may be delivered to the water tank <NUM>. Water stored in the water tank <NUM> may be supplied to the dispenser <NUM> as needed. Water supplied to the dispenser <NUM> may be precooled in the water tank <NUM>.

<FIG> is a view illustrating a water supply assembly according to another embodiment of the disclosure.

A water supply assembly <NUM> according to another embodiment of the disclosure will be described with reference to <FIG>. However, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components as those of the water supply assembly <NUM> according to the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, and detailed descriptions may be omitted.

Referring to <FIG>, in the water supply assembly <NUM>, components related to the third filter <NUM> may be omitted in comparison with the water supply assembly <NUM> according to an embodiment illustrated in <FIG>. That is, while the water supply assembly <NUM> according to an embodiment shown in <FIG> includes three filters <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, the water supply assembly <NUM> according to another embodiment shown in <FIG> may include only two filters <NUM> and <NUM>. The components related to the first filter <NUM> and the second filter <NUM> of the water supply assembly <NUM> according to another embodiment shown in <FIG> may be the same as components related to the first filter <NUM> and the second filter <NUM> of the water supply assembly <NUM> according to an embodiment shown in <FIG>, and thus detailed descriptions are omitted.

Accordingly, a case <NUM> of the water supply assembly <NUM> according to another embodiment shown in <FIG> may be reduced in size than the case <NUM> of the water supply assembly <NUM> according to an embodiment shown in <FIG>. Accordingly, the water supply assembly <NUM> according to another embodiment shown in <FIG> may be configured to be more compact than the water supply assembly <NUM> according to an embodiment shown in <FIG>, and thus it is possible to more effectively use the space of the storage compartment <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A refrigerator (<NUM>) comprising:
a main body (<NUM>) comprising a storage compartment (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>); and
a water supply assembly (<NUM>, <NUM>) disposed in the storage compartment (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>),
wherein the water supply assembly (<NUM>) comprises
a first filter mounting portion (101a, 103a) provided to allow a first filter (<NUM>) to be mounted thereon, characterized in further comprising
a second filter mounting portion (101b, 103b) provided to allow a second filter (<NUM>) to be mounted thereon, wherein the second filter mounting portion (101b, 103b) is positioned above the first filter mounting portion (101a, 103a) and comprises a residual water guide (101bb, 101cb, 103bb, 103cb) configured to guide residual water from the second filter mounting portion (101b, 103b) to the first filter mounting portion (101a, 103a), when the second filter (<NUM>) is separated from the a second filter mounting portion (101b, 103b),
wherein the residual water guide (101bb, 101cb, 103bb, 103cb) extends from the second filter mounting portion (101b, 103b) toward the first filter mounting portion (101a, 103a) along a direction in which the second filter (<NUM>) is separable from the second filter mounting portion (101b, 103b).