Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11041673-B2
Application number	US-202016863769-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 30, 2020
Priority date	Apr 15, 2016
Publication date	Jun 22, 2021
Grant date	Jun 22, 2021

Abstract

A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a cabinet; a door; a shelf supporting arm; a shelf assembly; and a withdrawing mechanism for allowing a shelf to be withdrawn forward when the door is pivoted, wherein the withdrawing mechanism includes a sliding member, a link member, and a connector for selectively connecting the slide member and the shelf. The connector includes: a connecting unit selectively inserted into a receiving groove formed in the sliding member and having a first inclined face formed on one side thereof; and an actuation unit having a second inclined face formed on one end thereof to contact the first inclined face, wherein when the actuation unit moves toward the rear side of the cabinet, the second inclined face moves along the first inclined face so that the connecting unit moves to be separated from the groove.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet that defines a storage space;
a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage space;
a shelf assembly comprising a shelf support arm fixed to an inside of the cabinet, and a shelf that is slidably connected to the shelf support arm; and
a withdrawing mechanism configured to allow the shelf to be withdrawn forward based on the door being opened, the withdrawing mechanism comprising:
a sliding member that is disposed at a side surface of the cabinet, that is configured to move in a front-rear direction of the cabinet, and that defines a receiving groove,
a link that connects the door to the sliding member and that is configured to causes the sliding member to move in the front-rear direction based on movement of the door, the link having a front end connected to the door and a rear end connected to the sliding member, and
a connector that connects the sliding member to the shelf, the connector comprising:
a connecting unit that is configured to selectively insert into the receiving groove and that is configured to move in a lateral direction of the cabinet,
a guide that defines a receiving space configured to receive the connecting unit and that is configured to guide the connecting unit to move into or away from the receiving groove, and
an actuating unit that is configured to insert the connecting unit into the receiving space of the guide and that is configured to move in the front-rear direction.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the connecting unit includes a first inclined surface, and
wherein the actuating unit includes a second inclined surface configured to contact the first inclined surface.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the connecting unit comprises:
a body portion having a first end configured to insert into the receiving groove;
a contact portion that is disposed at a bottom surface of the body portion and that defines the first inclined surface; and
an elastic member configured to apply force to the body portion toward the receiving groove, the elastic member having a first end that is in contact with a second end of the body portion and a second end that is fixed to an inner side of the guide defining the receiving space.

4. The refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein the actuating unit comprises:
a movable portion configured to move in the front-rear direction; and
a guide portion fixed to the shelf and configured to guide movement of the movable portion.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4 , wherein the movable portion comprises:
a pressing portion configured to be gripped by a user;
an extending portion that extends rearward from the pressing portion; and
a protruding portion that is disposed at a rear end of the extending portion and that defines the second inclined surface.

6. The refrigerator of claim 5 , wherein the guide portion comprises a cover portion that surrounds the extending portion and that is configured to guide movement of the extending portion in the front-rear direction, and
wherein the guide portion defines a rear receiving space at a rear end of the cover portion, the rear receiving space receiving the contact portion.

7. The refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein the protruding portion is configured to, based on the movable portion moving in the front-rear direction, move along the first inclined surface in a state in which the contact portion moves laterally in the rear receiving space.

8. The refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein the body portion is configured to, based on the movable portion moving rearward, move in a direction that compresses the elastic member and separate from the receiving groove in a state in which the protruding portion moves relative to the contact portion.

9. The refrigerator of claim 8 , wherein the elastic member is configured to, based on the movable portion moving forward, apply force to the body portion toward the receiving groove.

10. The refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein the connecting unit further comprises an extending part that protrudes from a side surface of the body portion and that is surrounded by the elastic member.

11. The refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the guide comprises:
a lower housing that seats the connecting unit; and
an upper housing that covers the lower housing and the connecting unit, and
wherein the receiving space is defined between the lower housing and the upper housing.

12. The refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the connecting unit is configured to, based on the actuating unit moving toward a rear surface of the cabinet, move away from the receiving groove in a state in which the second inclined surface moves along the first inclined surface.

13. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the cabinet comprises an outer cabinet and an inner cabinet that is positioned inside of the outer cabinet and that defines the storage space, and
wherein the shelf support arm is fixed to a rear surface of the inner cabinet.

14. The refrigerator of claim 13 , wherein the inner cabinet defines a guide slit at a position corresponding to a position of the shelf, the guide slit having a predetermined length in a longitudinal direction of the shelf, and
wherein the connecting unit is configured to pass through the guide slit to insert into the receiving groove.

15. The refrigerator of claim 14 , wherein the predetermined length of the guide slit is less than a length of the shelf in the longitudinal direction.

16. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the link is spaced apart from the shelf and disposed vertically above the shelf.

17. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the withdrawing mechanism further comprises:
an outer casing disposed at the inside of the cabinet;
an inner casing that is spaced apart from the outer casing in the lateral direction and that faces a side of the shelf, and
wherein the sliding member is disposed between the outer casing and the inner casing.

18. The refrigerator of claim 17 , wherein the inner casing defines a guide slit at a position corresponding to a position of the shelf, the guide slit extending in the front-rear direction, and
wherein the connecting unit is configured to pass through the guide slit to insert into the receiving groove.

19. The refrigerator of claim 17 , wherein the inner casing comprises a link cover portion that extends from an upper side of the inner casing and that is disposed vertically above the shelf, and
wherein the front end of the link protrudes through the link cover portion to connect to the door.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kwon Hyokku
• Yu Seonil

Classifications

• F25D2201/00

  Insulation · CPC title

• F25D25/024 Primary

  Slidable shelves · CPC title

• F25D25/02

  by shelves · CPC title

• F25D25/00 Primary

  Charging, supporting, and discharging the articles to be cooled · CPC title

• F25D23/062

  defining a cabinet · CPC title