Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02717884 2012-10-23
REFRIGERATOR
[Technical Field]
The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, a
refrigerator configured such that a front opening of a cooling chamber is
partitioned
(divided) into a plurality of small openings, each of which can be
individually open and
closed.
[Background Art]
As well known, a refrigerator is an apparatus for freshly storing foods in a
cooling
lo or frozen state. Such refrigerator includes a main body having a cooling
chamber, doors
for opening and closing the cooling chamber, and a refrigeration cycle device
for
supplying cold air into the cooling chamber.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an exemplary refrigerator according to
the
related art. As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator includes a refrigerator main
body 10
having a refrigerating chamber 20 and a freezing chamber 30 therein, and
refrigerating
chamber doors 25 and a freezing chamber door 35 for opening and closing the
refrigerating chamber 20 and freezing chamber 30, respectively.
The refrigerating chamber 20 is formed at an upper region of the refrigerator
main body 10, and the refrigerating chamber doors 25 are provided in plurality
in
number at the front surface of the refrigerating chamber 20 so as to open and
close the
refrigerating chamber 20.
A dispenser 27 is disposed at one of the refrigerating chamber doors 25 so as
to
allow a user to take water or ice therefrom without opening the refrigerating
chamber
door 25. Further, a home bar 28 may be disposed at another one of the
refrigerating
chamber doors 25.
The freezing chamber 30 is formed at a lower region of the refrigerating main
body 10. The freezing chamber 30 is provided with the freezing chamber door 35
which
is slidable in a back and forth direction of the refrigerator main body 10. A
storing
container 37 for keeping foods therein may be disposed in a rear side of the
freezing
chamber door 35. The storing container 37 may be configured to be slidable
back and
forth integrally with the freezing chamber door 35.
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However, in the related art refrigerator, the freezing chamber door 35 is
configured to open and close the overall front opening of the freezing chamber
30,
whereby a relatively great loss of cold air may be caused upon putting food in
or taking
foods out.
Further, upon opening and closing the freezing chamber 30, the freezing
chamber door 35 and the storing container 37 containing foods are integrally
slid back
and forth. As a result, the sliding operation of the freezing chamber door 35
may not
smoothly be done due to the load of the freezing chamber door 35 and the
storing
container 37 containing foods.
Further, the storing container 37 containing the foods are extended out of the
freezing chamber 30 upon the freezing chamber door 35 being pulled out, and
thereby
such foods contact external air with a relatively high temperature and
moisture, which
may badly affect the foods.
[Disclosure]
[Technical Solution]
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a refrigerator is configured
such
that a front opening of a cooling chamber is partitioned into a plurality of
small openings
and a partition member can be assembled fast and easily.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a
refrigerator capable of preventing a malfunction and a leakage of cold air by
facilitating
a partition member, configured to partition a front opening of a cooling
chamber door
into a plurality of small openings, to be coupled to a correct position.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a
refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a refrigerator main body having a
freezing
chamber partitioned from a refrigerating chamber by a mullion. The
refrigerator also
includes at least a partition member coupled to a front portion of the
freezing chamber
and configured to partition a front opening of the freezing chamber into a
plurality of
small openings, at least two freezing chamber doors configured to open or
close the
small openings, respectively, and rails disposed between each freezing chamber
door
and the refrigerator main body and configured to slidably support the freezing
chamber
doors, respectively.
The refrigerator further includes an assembly guide formed
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between the partition member and the refrigerator main body and configured to
guide
the coupling of the partition member. The assembly guide includes a first
switch and a
second switch both coupled to the partition member to protrude towards the
refrigerator
main body and contacting doors disposed at both sides of the partition member.
A first
s
switch receiving portion and a second switch receiving portion are formed in
the
refrigerator main body and each configured to receive at least one region of
the first and
second switch, respectively.
The partition member may be coupled to the refrigerator main body in a right-
and-left direction.
The first switch and the second switch may be all disposed at one end
portion of the partition member.
The assembly guide may further include a protrusion protruding from another
end
portion of the partition member towards the refrigerator main body, and an
accommodating portion formed in the refrigerator main body to accommodate the
protrusion.
The first switch and the second switch may be disposed at both end portions of
the partition member, respectively.
The first switch receiving portion and the second switch receiving portion may
be
formed to be open towards a central portion of the freezing chamber.
The partition member may be coupled to the refrigerator main body in an up-and-
down direction.
The first switch and the second switch may be all disposed at one end portion
of
the partition member.
The assembly guide may further include a protrusion protruding from another
end
portion of the partition member towards the refrigerator main body, and an
accommodating portion formed in the refrigerator main body to accommodate the
protrusion.
The first switch and the second switch may be disposed at both end portions of
the partition member, respectively.
The first switch receiving portion and the second switch receiving portion may
be
formed to be open towards a central portion of the freezing chamber.
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In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a
refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a refrigerator main body having a
freezing
chamber partitioned from a refrigerating chamber by a mullion. The
refrigerator also
includes at least a partition member coupled to a front portion of the
freezing chamber
s and configured to partition a front opening of the freezing chamber into
a plurality of
small openings, at least two freezing chamber doors configured to open or
close the
small openings, respectively, and rails disposed between each freezing chamber
door
and the refrigerator main body and configured to slidably support the freezing
chamber
doors, respectively. The refrigerator further includes an assembly guide
formed
lo between the partition member and the refrigerator main body and
configured to guide
the coupling of the partition member. The assembly guide includes a protrusion
protruding from the partition member towards the refrigerator main body, and
an
accommodating portion formed in the refrigerator main body to accommodate the
protrusion.
15 The protrusion may be formed in plurality at both sides of the partition
member.
Switches may be disposed at the protrusions to be contactable with doors
disposed at both sides of the partition member.
The protrusion may be formed at one side of the partition member, and a switch
contactable with a door disposed at one side of the partition member is
coupled to
20 another side of the partition member to protrude towards the
refrigerator main body.
In accordance with aspects of the invention, at least one partition member may
be disposed at a front portion (region, area) of a cooling chamber so as to
partition a
front opening of the cooling chamber into a plurality of small openings.
Accordingly,
such small openings may selectively be opened and closed without opening the
overall
25 cooling chamber upon putting foods in or taking foods out, so as to
prevent a loss of
cold air. In addition, the size-reduced doors can facilitate an opening and
closing
operation.
Also, an assembly guide may be formed between at least an end portion of a
partition member and a refrigerator main body, so as to allow a fast and
facilitated
30 coupling of the partition member.
The assembly guide may be formed between the partition member and the
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refrigerator main body so as to allow the partition member to be aligned to a
correct
position, thereby reducing the chance of a malfunction being occurred. In
addition, the
partition member may be correctly coupled so as to prevent an occurrence of
cold air
leakage due to an erroneous assembly.
Door switches for opening and closing the small openings may be integrally
coupled to an end portion of a partition member so as to facilitate a
fabrication of a
refrigerator and reduce a fabricating cost thereof.
Door switches may be protrudingly coupled to an end portion of a partition
member and switch receiving portions for receiving part of each door switch
are formed
lo
in the refrigerator main body, so as to facilitate assembling of the partition
member and
the switches, and allow the partition member to be fast easily coupled to a
correct
position. Accordingly, a malfunction of doors for opening and closing the
small openings
can be prevented and also an occurrence of cold air leakage due to an
erroneous
assembly can be avoided.
Also, the configuration, in which door switches are coupled to an end portion
of a
partition member, a protrusion is formed at another end portion of the
partition member,
and switch receiving portions and an accommodating portion are formed in a
refrigerator main body, respectively, allows a fast and easy assembling of the
partition
member at a correct position.
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[Description of Drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an exemplary refrigerator according to
the
related art;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator in accordance with a first
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of door switches of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V - V in a coupled state
of
FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator in accordance with a
second
embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a partition member of FIG. 6 before being
coupled;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator in accordance with a
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third embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a partition member of FIG. 8 before being
coupled;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator in accordance with a
fourth
s embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X I -X I of FIG. 10.
[Mode for Invention]
Hereinafter, a refrigerator in accordance with the preferred embodiments of
the
present invention will be described in more detail.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator in accordance with a first
embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of
FIG. 2, FIG.
4 is an enlarged view of door switches of FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a cross-
sectional view
taken along the line V -V in a coupled state of FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 2, a
refrigerator
according to the present invention may include a refrigerator main body 110
having a
cooling chamber, a partition member 150 coupled to a front portion of the
cooling
chamber 130 and configured to partition a front opening of the cooling chamber
130 into
a plurality of small openings, and an assembly guide 170 formed between the
partition
member 150 and the refrigerator main body 110 and configured to guide the
coupling of
the partition member 150. Here, the cooling chamber may denote both a
refrigerating
chamber 120 and a freezing chamber 130. The partition member 150 may be
installed
at both the refrigerating chamber 120 and the freezing chamber 130.
Alternatively, the
partition member 150 may be installed at one of those chambers. Hereinafter,
it will be
described that the partition member 150 is installed at the freezing chamber
130.
The refrigerator main body 110 may be equipped with an outer case 112a
configuring an outer appearance, and inner cases 112b disposed inside the
outer
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case 112a to be spaced apart from the outer case 112a by an interval for
filling an
insulating material and configuring the refrigerating chamber 120 and the
freezing
chamber 130 therein.
The refrigerating chamber 120 is formed at an upper region of the
refrigerator main body 110. A pair of refrigerating chamber doors 125 are
installed
at the front surface of the refrigerating chamber 120 to open and close the
front
opening of the refrigerating chamber 120. A dispenser 127 is disposed at one
of
the refrigerating chamber doors 125 so as to allow a user to take water or ice
therefrom without opening the refrigerating chamber door 125. Further, a home
bar 128 may be disposed at another one of the refrigerating chamber doors 125.
The freezing chamber 130 is formed at a lower region of the refrigerator
main body 110. The partition member 150 is coupled to the front portion of the
freezing chamber 130 so as to partition (divide) the front opening of the
freezing
chamber 130 into a plurality of, namely, two small openings. The partition
member
150 is coupled to the refrigerator main body 110 in a right-and-left
direction. Thus,
the partition member 150 may be configured to partition the front opening of
the
freezing chamber 130 such that an up-and-down width can be relatively narrower
than a right-and-left width, whereby the partitioned small openings can
selectively
be open and closed. The selective opening of the small openings allows
preventing of the loss of cold air. Further, since the freezing chamber door
141
becomes small in size, its opening and closing operation can easily be
performed.
Here, the partition member 150 may be disposed such that two small openings
can have the same size or moved up or down to be rearranged such that the two
small openings can have different sizes.
Both end portions of the partition member 150 may be configured to be
coupled to the front portion of the refrigerator main body 110 by screws 154.
Here,
the partition member 150 may be coupled to the refrigerator main body 110 by
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hooks or fixed thereto by other fixing members. Through holes 152 through
which
the screws 154 are inserted are formed through both end portions of the
partition
member 150. Gaskets 156 contacting with the freezing chamber door 141, which
will be explained later, are disposed at upper and lower surfaces of the
partition
member 150, respectively.
Two freezing chamber doors 141 for opening and closing the two small
openings partitioned by the partition member 150 are disposed at the freezing
chamber 130. The freezing chamber doors 141 are slidable in a back and forth
direction of the refrigerator main body 110 so as to open and close the small
openings of the freezing chamber 130.
A handle 143 may be installed at a front surface of each freezing chamber
door 141. A storing container or storage unit 145 for keeping foods therein
may be
disposed at a rear side of each freezing chamber door 141. The storing
container
or storage unit 145 may be integrally formed with the corresponding freezing
chamber door 141 or independently formed. Rails 147 may be installed at both
sides of each freezing chamber door 141 such that each freezing chamber door
141 can be slid in a back and forth direction of the refrigerator main body
110.
Holders 133 for supporting the rails 147 may be installed at both inner walls
of the
freezing chamber 130.
As shown in FIG. 3, the assembly guide 170 may include a first switch 171
and a second switch 172 coupled to the partition wall 150 to protrude toward
the
refrigerator main body 110, and a first switch receiving portion 181 and a
second
switch receiving portion 182 formed in the refrigerator main body 110 to
receive at
least one region of each of the first and second switches 171 and 172,
respectively.
The first switch 171 and the second switch 172 may be installed at one end
portion, namely, at a right end portion of the partition member 150 so as to
be
contactable with the respective freezing chamber doors 141 installed at both
sides
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of the partition member 150.
As shown in FIG. 4, each of the first switch 171 and the second switch 172
may be provided with a body 173 formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape,
and a press button 175 protruded from a front surface of the body 173. The
button
175 is pressurized and operated by the freezing chamber door 141 when the
freezing chamber door 141 closes the corresponding small opening. The body 173
of the first switch 171 upwardly protrudes from an upper surface of the
partition
member 150 and simultaneously protrudes towards a rear side of the partition
member 150, i.e., towards the freezing chamber 130. The body 173 of the second
switch 172 downwardly protrudes from a lower surface of the partition member
150 and simultaneously protrudes towards the freezing chamber 130.
The refrigerator main body 110, in more detail, the inner case 112b may
be provided with insertion portions 115 recessed such that both end portions
of the
partition member 150 can be inserted therein. A screw coupling member 117 to
which the screw 154 can be coupled may be formed at each insertion portion
115.
The first and second receiving portions 181 and 182 are formed at the inner
wall of
the inner case 112b such that one regions of the first and second switches 171
and 172 can be received therein, respectively.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the first switch receiving portion 181 may be
recessed in the inner wall of the inner case 112b so as to receive one region
of the
first switch 171, i.e., a right region of a rear end portion of the first
switch 171 in
the drawing. The second switch receiving portion 182 may be recessed in the
inner wall of the inner case 112b so as to receive a right region of a rear
end
portion of the second switch 172. The first and second switch receiving
portions
181 and 182 may all be configured to be open towards a central side of the
freezing chamber 130. Here, the first and second switch receiving portions 181
and 182 may be formed such that an upper surface 183, a lower surface 185 and
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a right side surface 187 of the respective first and second switch receiving
portions
181 and 182 can be aligned respectively with an upper surface, a lower surface
and a right surface of the respective first and second switches 171 and 172.
Accordingly, upon coupling the partition member 150, the partition member 150,
the first switch 171 and the second switch 172 are inserted in their correct
positions, resulting in allowing a fast and easy coupling of the partition
member
150.
With such configuration, when desiring to couple the partition member 150
to the refrigerator main body 110, first, the partition member 150 is
horizontally
disposed at the front portion of the freezing chamber 130. Rear end portions
of
right sides of the first and second switches 171 and 172 are then placed at
each
inlet of the first and second switch receiving portions 181 and 182 to be then
pressed backwardly. Accordingly, the first and second switches 171 and 172 are
guided by the first switch receiving portion 181 and the second switch
receiving
portion 182 to thusly be inserted in the corresponding receiving portions,
respectively. While each switch 171 and 172 is inserted, both ends of the
partition
member 150 are inserted respectively in the insertion portions 115 of the
inner
case 112b. Here, each through hole 152 of the partition member 150 is
communicated with the screw coupling portion 117 of each insertion hole 115.
Thus, when the screws 154 are coupled to the screw coupling portions 117
through the through holes 152, the partition member 150 is completely coupled
to
the refrigerator main body 110.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator in accordance with a
second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view
showing a partition member of FIG. 6 before being coupled. The aforementioned
construction and the same or equivalent components will not be described again
for the sake of brief explanation, and the same reference numerals will be
given
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therefor. As shown in FIG. 6, a refrigerator according to the present
invention may
include a refrigerator main body 110 having a refrigerating chamber 120 and a
freezing chamber 130, a partition member 210 coupled to a front portion of the
freezing chamber 130 and configured to partition a front opening of the
freezing
chamber 130 into a plurality of small openings, and an assembly guide 230
formed
between the partition member 210 and the refrigerator main body 110 and
configured to guide the coupling of the partition member 210.
The refrigerating chamber 120 and the freezing chamber 130 are formed
in an up-and-down direction of the refrigerator main body 110. A plurality of
io refrigerating doors 125 for selectively opening and closing the
refrigerating
chamber 120 are installed at the refrigerating chamber 120.
The partition member 210 may be coupled to the opening of the freezing
chamber 130 in an up-and-down direction. The partition member 150 may be
configured to partition the front opening of the freezing chamber 130 such
that an
is up-and-down width can be relatively wider than a right-and-left width,
whereby the
partitioned small openings can selectively be open and closed. The selective
opening of the small openings allows preventing of the loss of cold air.
Further,
since freezing chamber doors 141 become small in size, their opening and
closing
operation can easily be performed. Here, the partition member 210 may be
20 disposed such that two small openings can have the same size or moved up
or
down to be rearranged such that the two small openings can have different
sizes.
Through holes 212 may be formed through both end portions of the
partition member 210 such that the partition member 210 can be coupled to the
front portion of the refrigerator main body 110 by screws 214. Here, the
partition
25 member 210 may be coupled to the refrigerator main body 110 by hooks or
fixed
thereto by other fixing members.
Two freezing chamber doors 201 for opening and closing the two small
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openings partitioned by the partition member 150 are disposed at the freezing
chamber 130. Each of the two freezing chamber doors 201 may be configured to
have an up-and-down width relatively wider than a right-and-left width so as
to
correspond to the size of each small opening. A handle 203 may be attached to
the front surface of each freezing chamber door 201, and a storing container
205
for keeping foods therein may be formed at a rear side of each freezing
chamber
door 201.
Each freezing chamber door 201 is slidable in a back and forth direction of
the refrigerator main body 110 so as to open and close the corresponding small
openings of the freezing chamber 130. Rails 207 may be installed at a lower
portion of each freezing chamber door 201 so as to facilitate opening and
closing
the freezing chamber doors 201. Holders 193 to which the rails 207 are engaged
to be supported may be installed at a lower surface of the freezing chamber
130.
Here, the respective freezing chamber doors 201 may be rotatably coupled to
the
refrigerator main body 110. Alternatively, the freezing chamber doors 201 may
be
configured such that one of the two freezing chamber doors 201 is rotatably
coupled to the refrigerator main body 110 and another one may be slidable back
and forth with respect to the refrigerator main body 110.
Referring to FIG. 7, the assembly guide 230 may include a first switch 231
and a second switch 232 coupled to the partition member 210 to protrude
towards
the refrigerator main body 110, and a first switch receiving portion 241 and a
second switch receiving portion 232 formed in the refrigerator main body 110
for
receive at least one region of each of the first and second switches 231 and
232,
respectively. The first switch 231 and the second switch 232 may be disposed
at
one end portion, i.e., an upper end portion of the partition member 210 so as
to
contactable respectively with the freezing chamber doors 201 disposed at both
sides of the partition member 210.
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Insertion portions 115 in which both end portions of the partition member
210 can be inserted may be formed at upper and lower portions of an edge of
the
front opening formed at the freezing chamber 130 of the refrigerator main body
110, namely, of the inner case 112b. A screw coupling portion 117 to which
screws
are coupled may be formed in each insertion portion 115.
The first switch receiving portion 241 and the second switch receiving
portion 242 may be formed at an inner wall of the inner case 112b, namely, at
the
upper portion of the edge of the front opening formed at the freezing chamber
130
so as to receive one regions of the first switch 231 and the second switch
232,
respectively. The first switch receiving portion 241 may be formed to be
upwardly
recessed so as to guide upper surface and left surface of the first switch
231. The
second switch receiving portion 242 may be formed to be upwardly recessed so
as to guide upper surface and right surface of the second switch 232.
Alternatively,
the first and second switch receiving portions 241 and 242 may be formed to be
all
downwardly open.
With such configuration, when coupling the partition member 210 to the
refrigerator main body 110, the first switch 231 and the second switch 232 are
guided by the first switch receiving portion 241 and the second switch
receiving
portion 242. Accordingly, the partition member 210, the first switch 231 and
the
second switch 232 can fast easily coupled to correct assembly positions of the
front portion of the freezing chamber 130 of the refrigerator main body 110.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator in accordance with a
third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view
showing a partition member of FIG. 8 before being coupled. As shown in FIG. 8,
a
refrigerator according to the present invention may include a refrigerator
main
body 110 having a refrigerating chamber 120 and a freezing chamber 130, a
partition member 150 coupled to a front portion of the freezing chamber 130
and
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configured to partition a front opening of the freezing chamber 130 into a
plurality
of small openings, and an assembly guide 250 formed between the partition
member 150 and the refrigerator main body 110 and configured to guide the
coupling of the partition member 150.
The assembly guide 250 may include a first switch 251 and a second
switch 252 coupled to the partition member 150 to protrude toward the
refrigerator
main body 110 and contacting freezing chamber doors 201 at both sides of the
partition member 150, and a first switch receiving portion 261 and a second
switch
receiving portion 262 formed in the refrigerator main body 110 so as to
receive at
least one regions of the first switch 251 and the second switch 252,
respectively.
The first switch 251 may be disposed at a right end portion of the partition
member 150 to protrude upwardly. The second switch 252 may be disposed at a
right end portion of the partition member 150 to protrude downwardly.
Alternatively,
the first and second switches 251 and 251 may be disposed at both sides of the
partition member 150 and configured to all protrude upwardly or downwardly.
Also,
the first switch 251 may upwardly protrude from a left end portion of the
partition
wall 150 and the second switch 252 may downwardly protrude from a right end
portion of the partition member 150.
Insertion portions 115 in which both end portions of the partition member
150 are inserted may be formed at both sides of the refrigerator main body
110,
namely, the inner case 112b. A screw coupling portion 117 to which a screw 154
can be coupled may be formed in each insertion portion 115.
Referring to FIG. 9, the first switch receiving portion 261 and the second
switch receiving portion 262 may be recessed in both inner walls of the inner
case
112b, namely, in right and left side surfaces of the freezing chamber 130 such
that
one regions of the first switch 251 and the second switch 252 can be received,
respectively. The first switch receiving portion 261 may be recessed to guide
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upper surface, a lower surface and a right surface of the first switch 251,
and the
second switch receiving portion 262 may be recessed to guide an upper surface,
a
lower surface and a left surface of the second switch 252. The first and
second
switch receiving portions 261 and 262 may all be formed to be open towards a
central side of the freezing chamber 130. Alternatively, the first switch
receiving
portion 261 may be configured to guide only the upper surface and the right
surface of the first switch 251 and the second switch receiving portion 262
may be
configured to guide only the left surface and the lower surface of the second
switch 252.
With such configuration, upon coupling the partition member 150 to the
refrigerator main body 110, the first switch 251 and the second switch 252 are
guide by the first switch receiving portion 261 and the second switch
receiving
portion 262, respectively. Accordingly, the partition member 150, the first
switch
251 and the second switch 252 may fast easily be coupled to correct positions.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a refrigerator in accordance with a
fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional
view
taken along the line X I-X I of FIG. 10. As described above, a refrigerator
according to the present invention may include a refrigerator main body 110
having a refrigerating chamber 120 and a freezing chamber 130, a partition
member 150 coupled to a front portion of the freezing chamber 130 and
configured to partition a front opening of the freezing chamber 130 into a
plurality
of small openings, and an assembly guide 270 formed between the partition
member 150 and the refrigerator main body 110 and configured to guide the
coupling of the partition member 150.
As shown in FIG. 10, the partition member 150 may be disposed at the
front portion of the freezing chamber 130 in a horizontal (right-and-left)
direction.
Through holes 152 through which screws 154 are inserted may be formed through
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both ends of the partition member 150. Insertion portions 115 in which both
end
portions of the partition member 150 are inserted may be formed at the inner
case
112b. A screw coupling portion 117 may be formed in each insertion portion
115.
The assembly guide 270 may include a first switch 271 and a second
switch 272 both disposed at one end portion of the partition member 150, and a
protrusion 291 protruded from another end portion of the partition member 150
towards the refrigerator main body 110, a first switch receiving portion 281
and a
second switch receiving portion 282 formed in the refrigerator main body 110
for
receiving and guiding the first and second switches 271 and 272, respectively,
and
an accommodating portion 293 formed at the refrigerator main body 110 for
accommodating and guiding the protrusion 291.
The protrusion 291 may have a rectangular parallelepiped shape and
protrude downwardly. As shown in FIG. 11, the accommodating portion 293 may
be formed at a left wall surface of the freezing chamber 130 of the
refrigerator
main body 110, namely, the inner case 112b so as to guide an upper surface, a
lower surface and a left surface of the protrusion 291. Alternatively, the
accommodating portion 293 may be formed to guide only the left surface and the
lower surface of the protrusion 291. Here, the positions of the switches 271
and
272 and the protrusion 291 may flexibly be rearranged.
With such configuration, upon coupling the partition member 150 to the
refrigerator main body 110, the first switch 271 and the second switch 272 are
inserted in the first switch receiving portion 281 and the second switch
receiving
portion 282, respectively, to be guide thereby. Accordingly, the partition
member
150 can fast easily be coupled to a correct position.
In the aforementioned and illustrated embodiments, a refrigerator having a
refrigerating chamber formed at an upper region of a refrigerator main body
and a
freezing chamber at a lower region thereof has been exemplarily described;
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CA 02717884 2012-10-23
however, the scope of the present invention can be applied to a refrigerator
having
refrigerating chamber and freezing chamber at upper and lower regions or in
right and
left sides of the refrigerator main body.
Further, the assembly guide of the embodiment described in FIGS. 6 and 7 may
be configured to include the protrusion and the accommodating portion having
described in FIGS. 10 and 11.
Further, the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 11 exemplarily illustrates
that
the partition member is disposed in a right-and-left direction of the
refrigerator main
body; however, the partition member may be disposed in an up-and-down
direction of
the refrigerator main body.
Also, in the aforementioned and illustrated embodiments, the switches and
protrusion are formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape and the switch
receiving
portions and the accommodating portion are recessed in the rectangular
parallelepiped
shape to correspond to the shape of the switches and the protrusion; however,
such
switches and protrusion may be configured in other forms.
While specific embodiments of the invention have been described and
illustrated,
such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only and
not as
limiting the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying
claims.
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