Patent ID: 7823755

Claim:
A duct cap assembly for a refrigerator, comprising: a duct cap configured to open and close an ice duct formed in the refrigerator; an opening and closing mechanism configured to open and close the duct cap; and a damper assembly connected to one of the duct cap or the opening and closing mechanism so as to delay a closing operation of the duct cap upon initiation of a closing operation, wherein the damper assembly comprises: a cylinder having a plurality of inner-diameter regions, each inner-diameter region having a different diameter; a packing holder movably installed within the cylinder, the packing holder comprising an inner holder and an outer holder; a connecting rod having a first end connected to the outer holder and a second end that is connected to the one of the duct cap or the opening and closing mechanism; and packing positioned between the inner and outer holders of the packing holder such that a first side of the packing facing the open end of the cylinder is positioned against the outer holder and a second side of the packing facing a closed end of the cylinder is positioned against the inner holder, wherein the outer holder comprises at least one insertion rib configured to be inserted into an annular recess formed in the first side of the packing so as to fix the packing in position between the inner and outer holders, wherein the packing comprises: a first section that extends from the first side thereof to an intermediate portion of the packing; and a second section that extends from the intermediate portion of the packing to the second side thereof, wherein the first section has a substantially constant diameter that is substantially equal to that of the first holder, and the second section has an inclined outer circumference such that a diameter thereof is greater than that of the second holder and extends outside of an outer circumference of the packing holder.