Refrigerator and method of replacing water tank for refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016131417-A1
Application number	US-201514588860-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 2, 2015
Priority date	Nov 6, 2014
Publication date	May 12, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A refrigerator equipped with a water tank that is easily accessible to a user and a method of using the same. A water dispenser is installed on the front side of a refrigerator. A water tank coupled to the water dispenser is detachably installed on a lower inner inside of a refrigerator door such that a user can conveniently observe the state of the water tank and access the water tank for maintenance and refill.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
a refrigerating chamber configured to store items placed therein; a refrigerator door for the refrigerating chamber; a dispenser unit coupled to the refrigerator door and configured to dispense drinking water; and a water tank configured to store and supply water to the dispenser unit, wherein the water tank is detachably coupled to an inner side of the refrigerator door; a water outflow line coupled to the dispenser unit and configured to supply water thereto; a first coupling member comprising: a first end coupled to a water outflow groove formed on the water tank; and a second end coupled to the water outflow line; a water supply line coupled to a water supply source and configured to supply water from the dispenser unit; and a second coupling member comprising: a first end having a water supply nozzle made of a flexible material; and a second end coupled to the water supply line, wherein the water supply nozzle is coupled to a water supply groove formed in the water tank.

2 . The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising:
a water tank fixing member coupled at a lower inner of the refrigerator door,
wherein the water tank is coupled to the refrigerator door via the water tank fixing member.

3 . The refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein an inner circumferential surface of the water tank fixing member is conformal to an outer circumferential surface of the water tank.

4 . The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising:
a water tank door operable to cover the water tank,
wherein the water tank door is made of a transparent material wherein the water tank is visible through the water tank door.

5 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the water tank is made of a transparent material and is installed on an accommodating drawer mounted on the inner side of the refrigerator door.

6 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a water drain bolt coupled to a water drain groove formed at one end of the water tank.

7 . The refrigerator of claim 1 further comprising:
a sterilizing unit disposed proximate to the water tank and comprising an ultraviolet ray lamp.

8 . A method of replacing a water tank for a refrigerator, the method comprising:
separating a water tank installed at a lower inner side of a refrigerator door, wherein the refrigerator door is coupled to the refrigerator door via a water tank fixing member; detaching the water tank by pulling the water tank in a direction toward a water drain bolt coupled to the water tank; cleaning the water tank; inserting a water supply nozzle into the cleaned water tank; coupling the water tank to the first and the second coupling members by pushing the cleaned water tank into the first and second coupling members; and fitting and coupling the water tank into the water tank fixing member.

Assignees

• Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corp

Inventors

• Yang Sung Jin

Classifications

• B67D1/0009

  the beverage being stored in an intermediate container connected to a supply · CPC title

• B67D1/07

  Cleaning beverage-dispensing apparatus {(B67D1/0834, B67D1/0837 take precedence)} · CPC title

• F25D2323/122

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

• F25D23/04

  with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners · CPC title

• B67D2001/075

  Sanitising or sterilising the apparatus · CPC title