Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9803915-B2
Application number	US-201514983852-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2015
Priority date	Dec 31, 2014
Publication date	Oct 31, 2017
Grant date	Oct 31, 2017

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a movable body that is located in a case that defines a storage compartment. The refrigerator further includes a shelf that is connected to the movable body via a connection member. The refrigerator further includes a guard that is configured to surround an edge of the shelf, that is larger than the shelf, and that includes a protrusion member that protrudes toward the movable body. The movable body includes a guide rail that is configured to guide the protrusion member during sliding.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a shelf that is configured to move towards a front of the refrigerator and a rear of the refrigerator and that is located in a case that defines a storage compartment;
a guard that is configured to prevent articles on the shelf from falling off the shelf; and
an interlocking mechanism that is connected to the shelf and the guard, that is configured to move the guard towards a front upper portion of the refrigerator based on the shelf moving towards the front of the refrigerator, and that comprises:
a first gear that is located at the shelf and that extends towards the front of the refrigerator and towards the rear of the refrigerator;
a second gear that is configured to engage the first gear;
a third gear that is configured to engage the second gear; and
a fourth gear that is configured to engage the third gear and that is connected to the guard.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the fourth gear is a linear gear.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein the fourth gear is curved.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the third gear is greater than a diameter of the second gear.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the first gear is a linear gear.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising a guide rail that is configured to guide at least one of the fourth gear or the guard.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising a gear box that is located in the case and that defines a gear receiving space that is configured to receive the first gear, the second gear, the third gear, and the fourth gear.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the second gear and the third gear are rotatably connected to at least one of the gear box or the case.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the shelf and at least one of the gear box or the inner case define a gap that is configured to receive the guard.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein a front end part of the guard and a front end of the shelf define a gap.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising:
another shelf that is located at a side of the shelf,
wherein the other shelf and the shelf define a gap that is configured to receive the guard.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a movable body that is located in the case and that is connected to the shelf via a connection member,
wherein an edge of the shelf and the movable body define a gap that is configured to receive the guard.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 12 , wherein:
the guard includes a protrusion member that protrudes towards the movable body, and
the movable body includes a guide rail that is configured to guide the protrusion member during sliding.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 13 , wherein the guide rail extends in an inclined direction towards a front upper portion of the refrigerator.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 13 , wherein:
the guide rail comprises a plurality of guide rail parts that are spaced apart from each other towards the front of the refrigerator and towards the rear of the refrigerator, and
the protrusion member comprises a plurality of protrusion member parts that are located at the guard and that are spaced apart from each other towards the front of the refrigerator and towards the rear of the refrigerator.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 15 , wherein:
the plurality of guide rail parts includes two guide rail parts, and
the plurality of protrusion member parts includes two protrusion member parts.

17. The refrigerator according to claim 15 , further comprising:
a movable body guide that is located in the case and that is configured to guide the movable body during sliding towards the front of the refrigerator and towards the rear of the refrigerator,
wherein a first contact area that is defined between the protrusion member and the guide rail is smaller than a second contact area that is defined between the movable body and the movable body guide.

18. A refrigerator comprising:
a shelf that is configured to move towards a front of the refrigerator and a rear of the refrigerator and that is located in a case that defines a storage compartment;
a guard that is configured to prevent articles on the shelf from falling off the shelf and that is configured to surround a perimeter of the shelf, wherein a perimeter of the guard is larger than the perimeter of the shelf; and
an interlocking mechanism that is connected to the shelf and the guard and that is configured to move the guard towards a front upper portion of the refrigerator based on the shelf moving towards the front of the refrigerator.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Park Junsoo
• Ku Jiyeong
• Lee Jiyoon
• Yoon Jiyoung

Classifications

• F25D2325/021

  Shelves with several possible configurations · CPC title

• F25D23/067

  Supporting elements · CPC title

• F25D25/024 Primary

  Slidable shelves · CPC title

• F25D23/062

  defining a cabinet · CPC title