Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11828514-B2
Application number	US-202217717942-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 11, 2022
Priority date	Apr 19, 2021
Publication date	Nov 28, 2023
Grant date	Nov 28, 2023

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage space, a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage space, and an evaporator configured to generate cold air. The refrigerator also includes a first ice maker provided in the door, a second ice maker provided in the storage space and configured to be covered by the door when the door is closed, a first cold air guide configured to guide the cold air to the first ice maker, and a second cold air guide configured to guide the cold air to the second ice maker.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet defining a storage space;
a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage space;
a first ice maker provided in the door;
a second ice maker provided in the storage space and configured, based on the door being closed, to be covered by the door;
an evaporator configured to generate cold air;
a first cold air guide configured to guide the cold air to the first ice maker; and
a second cold air guide configured to guide the cold air to the second ice maker,
wherein, based on the door being closed, the first ice maker and the second ice maker are spaced apart from and face each other in a front-rear direction, and an ice maker cooling space is defined between the first ice maker and the second ice maker, and
wherein the refrigerator further includes a third cold air guide configured to guide the cold air to the ice maker cooling space.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein a vertical position of the second ice maker overlaps with a vertical position of the first ice maker.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the third cold air guide is configured to guide the cold air in a forward direction past the second ice maker and in a downward direction toward the ice maker cooling space.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising a grille pan that is provided rearward of the second ice maker and forms a rear surface of the storage space, the grille pan being configured to guide the cold air from the evaporator to the storage space.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4 , wherein the grille pan includes a first discharge port configured to guide the cold air to the first cold air guide and a second discharge port configured to guide the cold air to the second cold air guide.

6. The refrigerator of claim 5 , further comprising a distribution duct that branches the cold air from the second discharge port to the second cold air guide and to the third cold air guide.

7. The refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein a discharge opening of the third cold air guide is oriented toward the first ice maker.

8. The refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein a discharge opening of the third cold air guide is positioned between the first ice maker and the second ice maker based on the door being closed.

9. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the second ice maker includes an upper cover that defines at least a portion of the third cold air guide.

10. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the second ice maker includes a front cover that defines at least a portion of the ice maker cooling space.

11. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the first cold air guide and the third cold air guide bypass the second ice maker.

12. The refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein the first cold air guide bypasses the ice maker cooling space.

13. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the door includes a dispenser configured to discharge ice made in the first ice maker to an outside of the refrigerator.

14. The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising an ice bin that is provided below the second ice maker and configured to receive ice made in the second ice maker.

15. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the first ice maker is a twist type ice maker and the second ice maker is a spherical ice maker.

16. The refrigerator of claim 15 , wherein the second ice maker is configured to make an ice piece having a larger volume than an ice piece made in the first ice maker.

17. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the first ice maker has a first rotation shaft that extends horizontally in a left-right direction, and wherein the second ice maker has a second rotation shaft that extends horizontally in the left-right direction.

18. The refrigerator of claim 14 , further comprising an ice bank that is configured to receive ice made in the first ice maker,
wherein the ice maker cooling space is defined between the ice bin and the ice bank.

19. The refrigerator of claim 4 , wherein the grille pan includes a third discharge port that is provided vertically lower than the second ice maker.

20. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet defining a storage space;
a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage space;
a first ice maker provided in the door;
a second ice maker provided in the storage space and configured, based on the door being closed, to be covered by the door,
an evaporator configured to generate cold air; and
a cold air guide configured to guide the cold air to a space between the first ice maker and the second ice maker,
wherein, based on the door being closed, the first ice maker and the second ice maker are spaced apart from and face each other in a front-rear direction, and
wherein the cold air guide bypasses the second ice maker.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Hong Jinil
• Kim Nayoung
• Choo Ayoung

Classifications

• F25D2317/067

  characterised by air ducts · CPC title

• F25D2317/063

  with air guides · CPC title

• F25D2317/061

  through special compartments · CPC title

• F25D17/065 Primary

  with compartments at different temperatures · CPC title

• F25C2305/0221

  rotating ice mould · CPC title