Refrigerator with removable water tank

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10337789-B2
Application number	US-201514953646-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2015
Priority date	Jan 9, 2015
Publication date	Jul 2, 2019
Grant date	Jul 2, 2019

Abstract

A refrigerator is described. The refrigerator includes a cabinet that defines a storage compartment. The refrigerator further includes a door. The refrigerator further includes a water tank that is located at an inside of the door and that is configured to supply water. The water tank includes a storage unit that is configured to store water. The water tank further includes a valve that is configured to supply water stored in the storage unit. The water tank further includes a cover. The cover includes a cover support part that protrudes to a side of the storage unit and that is configured to be supported by an upper side of the storage unit. The cover further includes a gasket that comprises a protrusion that protrudes toward an inside wall of the storage unit at the side toward which the cover support part protrudes.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet that defines a storage compartment;
a door that is configured to open and close the storage compartment; and
a water tank that is detachably mounted on the door and that comprises:
a handle that is configured for a user to grasp;
a storage unit that is configured to store water, that defines an opening, that is rotatably coupled to the handle, and that comprises:
a first wall that faces an inner surface of the door based on the water tank being mounted on the door;
a second wall provided opposite to the first wall; and
a shaft coupled to the handle and located closer to the first wall than the second wall,
wherein the handle extends from the shaft toward the second wall;

a valve that is configured to selectively dispense water, that is mounted on lower portion of the storage unit, that is located below the shaft, and that is located closer to the first wall than the second wall; and
a cover that is detachably coupled to the storage unit and that is configured to cover the opening.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the storage unit further comprises:
side walls that are located between the first wall and the second wall; and
stepped surfaces that protrude outside of the side walls;
wherein the handle is coupled to a part of the storage unit other than the stepped surfaces and is configured to stop rotating based on contacting the stepped surfaces.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2 , comprising:
a cover support part that protrudes to a side of the storage unit and that is configured to be supported by an upper side of the storage unit; and
a gasket that comprises a protrusion that protrudes toward an inside wall of the storage unit at the side toward which the cover support part protrudes,
wherein the protrusion comprises contact parts that are configured to contact the inside wall of the storage compartment,
wherein the protrusion defines a recess that is located between the contact parts,
wherein the cover defines a hollow part, and
wherein the gasket further comprises a body that is located in the hollow part and that is connected to the protrusion.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the cover comprises:
a main cover; and
an auxiliary cover that is configured to fasten to a lower part of the main cover,
wherein the hollow part is defined by the main cover and the auxiliary cover.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4 , wherein the main cover includes the cover support part.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 4 , wherein:
the main cover includes a hook hole, and
the auxiliary cover includes a hook that is configured to fasten to the hook hole.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6 , wherein:
the main cover includes additional hook holes around a circumference of the main cover, and
the auxiliary cover includes additional hooks that are each configured to fasten to a respective additional hook hole.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 6 , wherein the hollow part comprises:
a first rib and a second rib that each protrude downward from the main cover; and
a third rib and a fourth rib that each protrude upward from the auxiliary cover.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8 , wherein:
the second rib is longer than the first rib, and
the fourth rib is longer than the third rib.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 8 , wherein the cover support part is about perpendicular to the first rib and the second rib.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 8 , wherein the first rib and the third rib align vertically and the second rib and the fourth rib are adjacent based on the hook being fastened to the hook hole.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 8 , wherein:
the hook hole is located at the second rib, and
the hook is located at the fourth rib.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 8 , wherein:
the first rib and the third rib define a through port, and
the protrusion is configured to protrude through the through port.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein:
the cover further comprises an insertion part that is configured to be inserted into the storage unit, and
the insertion part further defines the hollow part.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 14 , wherein:
the insertion part defines a through port and a hollow part that communicates with the through port, and
the protrusion is configured to protrude through the through port.

16. The refrigerator according to of claim 3 , wherein the gasket is made of a rubber material.

17. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the storage unit and an inner wall of the door define a storage space that is configured to hold water.

18. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein:
the protrusion is located in part between the storage unit and the cover and in part between an inner wall of the door and the cover, and
the protrusion is configured to contact the inner wall of the door, is configured to create a water-tight seal between the inner wall of the door and the cover and between the storage unit and the cover, and is configured prevent rattling of the cover by dampening a force created during opening or closing of the door.

19. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the protrusion comprises contact parts that are configured to create a water-tight seal between the storage compartment and the cover by contacting the inside wall of the storage compartment.

20. The refrigerator according to claim 19 , wherein the protrusion comprises two contact parts.

21. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet that defines a storage compartment;
a door that is configured to open and close the storage compartment; and
a water tank that is located at an inside of the door and that is configured to supply water, the water tank comprising:
a storage unit that is configured to store water;
a valve that is configured to supply water stored in the storage unit; and
a cover that is configured to open and close the storage unit and that defines a hollow part, the cover comprising:
a cover support part that protrudes to a side of the storage unit and that is configured to be supported by an upper side of the storage unit; and
a gasket comprising:
a protrusion (i) that protrudes toward an inside wall of the storage unit at the side toward which the cover support part protrudes, (ii) that includes contact parts that are configured to contact the inside wall of the storage compartment, and (iii) that defines a recess that is located between the contact parts; and
a body that is located in the hollow part and that is connected to the protrusion.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Park Jisu

Classifications

• F25D11/02

  with cooling compartments at different temperatures · CPC title

• F25D23/126 Primary

  Water cooler · CPC title

• F25D2323/122

  the refrigerator is characterised by a water tank for the water/ice dispenser · CPC title

• F25D2323/021

  French doors · CPC title

• F25D23/025 Primary

  Secondary closures · CPC title