Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12031772-B2
Application number	US-202017441782-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 23, 2020
Priority date	Mar 22, 2019
Publication date	Jul 9, 2024
Grant date	Jul 9, 2024

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator including a separate deep-freezing space partitioned in a storage space of the refrigerator, wherein the structure of a guide rail for pushing in or pulling out a deep-freezing compartment door when a deep-freezing compartment forming the deep-freezing space is opened/closed can be simplified, and the pull-out distance of the deep-freezing compartment door can be ensured.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A refrigerator, comprising:
a freezer space that defines a storage space;
a deep freezing portion disposed in the freezer space and defining a deep-freezing space that is partitioned from the storage space, the deep-freezing space being configured to maintain a temperature that is lower than a temperature of the storage space; and
a grill fan assembly disposed in the freezer space and defining a rear surface of the storage space,
wherein the deep freezing portion comprises:
a housing that has an opening at a front surface thereof and defines the deep-freezing space,
a guide rail disposed at a lower part of an outer portion of the housing and extending along a longitudinal direction of the housing,
a guide member configured to move along the guide rail, and
a door coupled to the guide member and configured to open and close a front surface of the housing,

wherein a length of the guide rail is longer than a length of the deep-freezing space,
wherein the deep freezing portion further comprises a rail cover coupled to the guide rail and configured to support the guide member,
wherein the guide rail is recessed from an outer lower surface of the housing and defines an opening at a side of the outer portion of the housing,
wherein a first end of the guide member is coupled to the door and a second end of the guide member is configured to, based on the door closing the front surface of the housing, be disposed behind the deep-freezing space,
wherein the second end of the guide member is configured to, based on the door closing the front surface of the housing, protrude from a rear end of the guide rail, and
wherein the grill fan assembly defines a recess that is configured to accommodate the rear end of the guide rail.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the guide rail extends from the front surface of the housing towards a rear surface of the housing.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein a front end of the guide rail is configured to be in communication with the rear end of the guide rail.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the guide rail comprises a stopper disposed at a movement path of the guide member and wherein the guide member comprises an engaging member that is configured to, based on the engaging member contacting the stopper, limit a movement distance of the guide member.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4 , wherein the guide member further comprises a roller rotatably coupled to the guide member and wherein the engaging member is disposed at the guide member facing the front surface of the housing in front of the roller in the guide member.

6. The refrigerator of claim 5 , wherein the first end of the guide member is coupled to the door and the roller is disposed at the second end of the guide member.

7. The refrigerator of claim 5 ,
wherein the guide member has a rod shape, comprises an upper side and a lower side that are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance,
wherein the engaging member is disposed under the upper side of the guide member, and
wherein the lower side of the guide member extends further along the longitudinal direction of the housing from the door than the upper side of the guide member, and the roller is disposed at an extending portion of the lower side of the guide member.

8. The refrigerator of claim 7 , wherein the stopper of the guide rail is disposed between the upper side and the lower side of the guide member.

9. The refrigerator of claim 4 ,
wherein the guide rail further comprises a rib that protrudes from an upper surface of the guide rail, and
wherein the rib is configured to contact the guide member and support rotation of the guide member in the direction of gravity.

10. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the rail cover is configured to cover the guide rail that defines the opening at the side of the outer portion of the housing, and a front end of the guide rail is configured to be communication with the rear end of the guide rail, and the guide rail is configured to move the guide member.

11. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the second end of the guide member is configured to, based on the door closing the front surface of the housing, be disposed behind a rear end of the rail cover.

12. The refrigerator of claim 1 ,
wherein the rail cover comprises a fixer, and
wherein the fixer is configured to couple the rail cover to the housing.

13. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein a length of the rail cover is shorter than a length of the guide rail.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Song Seongmin
• Chu Yunsu

Classifications

• A47B88/402

  Profiles or supporting structures for supporting single drawers · CPC title

• A47B2210/175

  Refrigerators or freezers · CPC title

• F25D23/067

  Supporting elements · CPC title

• F25D11/04

  specially adapted for storing deep-frozen articles (F25D11/02 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F25D11/02

  with cooling compartments at different temperatures · CPC title