Storage container and refrigerator having the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9527638-B2
Application number	US-201414467329-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2014
Priority date	Aug 30, 2013
Publication date	Dec 27, 2016
Grant date	Dec 27, 2016

Abstract

A storage container includes an inflow hole and an outflow hole through which cold air flows, and deodorizing filters for removing odorous materials are mounted in the inflow hole and the outflow hole. Therefore, when foods containing odor-causing materials are put in the storage container to be stored in a storage compartment, the odor-causing materials are prevented from spreading inside the storage compartment, thereby fundamentally removing odors from the storage compartment. In addition, the cold air of the storage compartment continuously flows in and out of the storage container through the inflow hole and the outflow hole, and therefore foods stored in the storage container may be kept fresh.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A storage container comprising:
a lower case whose upper surface is opened;
an upper case detachably coupled to an upper portion of the lower case to cover the opened upper surface of the lower case, and coupled to the upper portion of the lower case to form an inner storage space together with the lower case;
at least one inflow hole that is provided in at least one of the lower case and the upper case to enable outside air to flow into the inner storage space;
at least one outflow hole that is provided in at least one of the lower case and the upper case to enable air of the inner storage space to flow out of the inner storage space; and
a plurality of deodorizing filters that are respectively mounted in each of the at least one inflow hole and the at least one outflow hole,
wherein the at least one inflow hole and the at least one outflow hole are respectively formed at a rear side of the at least one of the lower case and the upper case and a front side thereof, or respectively formed at both sides of the at least one of the lower case and the upper case so that the at least one inflow hole and the at least one outflow hole face each other.

2. The storage container according to claim 1 , wherein a gap between the lower case and the upper case is sealed so that the outside air flows into and out of the storage space only through the at least one inflow hole and the at least one outflow hole.

3. The storage container according to claim 1 , wherein the deodorizing filters are detachably mounted in each of the at least one inflow hole and the at least one outflow hole.

4. The storage container according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one inflow hole and the at least one outflow hole are formed on both side walls of the lower case in such a manner that an upper end of each of the at least one inflow hole and the at least one outflow hole is opened, so that the deodorizing filters are mounted to travel downward from above through the opened upper end.

5. The storage container according to claim 4 , wherein the deodorizing filters are fitted into both of the side walls of the lower case.

6. The storage container according to claim 5 , wherein the deodorizing filters include coupling grooves into which the lower case is fitted.

7. The storage container according to claim 4 , wherein an elastic hook is provided in each of the deodorizing filters, a latching hole in which the elastic hook is inserted is provided on both of the side walls of the lower case, and the elastic hook is inserted into and fixed to the latching hole, so that the deodorizing filters are fixed when mounted.

8. The storage container according to claim 1 , wherein a handle unit is respectively formed in a front wall of the lower case and a rear wall thereof.

9. The storage container according to claim 1 , wherein the deodorizing filters include activated carbon having a plurality of pores that adsorbs odorous materials, and a catalyst that is impregnated in the activated carbon to help chemical adsorption of the odorous materials.

10. The container according to claim 9 , wherein the catalyst includes a catalyst that is specialized in adsorption of acidic and basic odors.

11. A storage container for use in a refrigerator having a main body, a storage compartment, and a door, the storage container comprising:
a lower case whose upper surface is opened;
an upper case detachably coupled to an upper portion of the lower case to cover the opened upper surface of the lower case, and coupled to the upper portion of the lower case to form an inner storage space together with the lower case;
at least one ventilation hole that is provided in at least one of the lower case and the upper case to enable outside air to flow into and out of the inner storage space; and
at least one deodorizing filter that is mounted in the at least one ventilation hole to prevent odors of foods received in the inner storage space of the storage container from spreading outside the inner storage space.

12. A refrigerator comprising:
a main body;
a storage compartment that is formed inside the main body;
a door that opens and closes the storage compartment; and
a storage container that is received in the storage compartment,
wherein the storage container comprises
a lower case and an upper case which form an inner storage space and are detachably coupled to each other;
at least one ventilation hole that is formed in at least one of the lower case and the upper case to enable cold air of the storage compartment to flow into and out of the inner storage space; and
at least one deodorizing filter that is mounted in the at least one ventilation hole to prevent odors of foods received in the inner storage space of the storage container from spreading to the storage compartment.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one deodorizing filter is detachably mounted in the at least one ventilation hole.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 12 , wherein the at least one ventilation hole includes at least one inflow hole through which cold air of the storage compartment flows into the inner storage space of the storage container, and at least one outflow hole through which air of the inner storage space of the storage container flows out into the storage compartment.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 12 , wherein
the lower case comprises a front wall, a rear wall, both side walls, and a bottom portion,
the at least one ventilation hole is formed on each of the side walls, and
a handle is formed on each of the front wall and the rear wall.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yoo Chae Hyun
• Kang Wan Ku
• Lee Jong Ho
• Kim Dae Yun
• Lee Jea Won
• Lee Jee Hoon

Classifications

• B65D51/1616 Primary

  by means of a filter · CPC title

• F25D2317/0664

  from the side · CPC title

• F25D2317/0654

  through the side · CPC title

• F25D2317/0415

  by deodorizing · CPC title

• B65D25/2802

  fixed, i.e. non-swingable, handles (B65D25/2867, B65D25/2882 take precedence) · CPC title