Patent Application
20240077251
This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0111050, filed on Sep. 1, 2022, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator, and more specifically, to a refrigerator including a roller type drawer.
A refrigerator is a home appliance for supplying cold air generated by the circulation of refrigerant to a storage compartment to keep various types of storage objects fresh for a long time.
Various storage members such as a shelf for supporting storage objects or a drawer including a storage space sufficient for storing the storage objects may be disposed inside the storage compartment.
For example, a drawer may be a rail type drawer that is drawn in and drawn out in a front-rear direction or a roller type drawer that performs a rolling operation to be drawn in and drawn out in the front-rear direction.
Meanwhile, since an inner volume of the storage compartment becomes large according to the trend of a large refrigerator, a size of the drawer may also become large.
When the size of the drawer increases, an amount of storage objects to be stored also increases as much as it increases, thereby increasing a load of the drawer.
When the load acting on the drawer increases, particularly, a roller type drawer may have an increased load applied to the roller.
When the load applied to the roller increases as described above, there is a problem that stress on the roller increases, resulting in the occurrence of damage to the roller or the occurrence of cracking or tearing in a portion on which the roller is mounted.
The present disclosure is directed to providing a roller type drawer of which strength is reinforced to reduce damage to a roller part and a storage part into which the roller part is inserted that may occur when a load acting on the drawer increases.
In addition, the present disclosure is also directed to providing a roller type drawer in which the occurrence of cracking or tearing in a boundary surface forming a boundary between the drawer and a storage part can be reduced.
In addition, the present disclosure is also directed to providing a roller type drawer in which the beauty of a design can be improved because a strength reinforcing structure is not exposed from a front surface of the refrigerator.
Objects of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described objects, and other objects and advantages of the present disclosure that are not mentioned can be understood by the following description and will be more clearly understood by embodiments of the present disclosure. In addition, it will be able to be easily seen that the objects and advantages of the present disclosure may be achieved by devices and combinations thereof that are described in the claims.
In a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, one or more protruding ribs which extend along an outer perimeter surface of a storage part and of which at least portions extend in a horizontal direction are disposed at an outer side of the storage part.
Specifically, since the one or more protruding ribs extending along the outer perimeter surface of the storage part in the horizontal direction are disposed at the outer side of the storage part, it is possible to block or distribute a load acting on a drawer in a vertical direction as much as possible.
The refrigerator includes a storage compartment, and a drawer including a pair of roller parts disposed on both sides thereof to be drawn in and out from the storage compartment in a front-rear direction, wherein the drawer includes a storage part into which the roller part is inserted, and one or more protruding ribs which extend along an outer perimeter surface of the storage part and of which at least portions extend in a horizontal direction are disposed at an outer side of the storage part.
In addition, in the refrigerator according to the present disclosure, the drawer may include a body portion and a front surface portion disposed in front of the body portion, the front surface portion may include a side protrusion protruding outward of a side surface of the body portion, the storage part may include a boundary surface forming a boundary between the side surface of the body portion and a rear surface of the side protrusion, and the boundary surface may include a curved surface.
In addition, in the refrigerator according to the present disclosure, the protruding rib may protrude outward from the storage part so as not to exceed an outermost surface of the side protrusion.
In a refrigerator according to the present disclosure, by forming one or more protruding ribs of which at least portions extend in a horizontal direction along an outer perimeter surface of a storage part into which a roller part is inserted, it is possible to block or distribute a load acting on a drawer in a vertical direction as much as possible.
Therefore, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of damage to the roller part or the occurrence of cracking or tearing in the storage part.
In addition, in the refrigerator according to the present disclosure, since a boundary surface of a storage part, which forms a boundary between a side surface of a body part and a rear surface of a side protrusion, includes a curved surface, it is possible to increase an area of the boundary surface, thereby distributing a load applied to the boundary surface as much as possible.
Therefore, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of cracking or tearing in the boundary surface vulnerable to cracking or tearing.
In addition, in the refrigerator according to the present disclosure, since the protruding rib protrudes outward from the storage part so as not to exceed an outermost surface of a side protrusion, a user cannot recognize the protruding rib, which is a strength reinforcing structure, from a front surface of the refrigerator.
Therefore, it is possible to increase the strength of the storage part while improving the beauty of a design without exposure of the strength reinforcing structure from the front surface of the refrigerator.
Specific effects together with the above-described effects are described with a description of the above detailed description for carrying out the disclosure.
The above-described objects, features, and advantages will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and thus those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains will be able to easily carry out the technical spirit of the present disclosure. In describing the present disclosure, when it is determined that a detailed description of the known technology related to the present disclosure may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar components.
Although the terms first, second, and the like are used to describe various components, it goes without saying that these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one component from another component, and unless otherwise stated, it goes without saying that the first component may also be the second component.
Throughout the specification, unless otherwise stated, each component may be singular or plural.
Hereinafter, the arrangement of an arbitrary component on an “upper portion (or lower portion)” of a component or “above (or under)” the component may not only mean that the arbitrary component is disposed in contact with an upper surface (or a lower surface) of the component, but also mean that other components may be interposed between the component and the arbitrary component disposed above (or under) the component.
In addition, when a certain component is described as being “connected,” “coupled,” or “joined” to another component, the components may be directly connected or joined, but it should be understood that other components may be “interposed” between the components, or the components may be “connected,” “coupled,” or “joined” through another component.
The singular expression used herein includes the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the application, terms such as “composed of” or “comprising” should not be construed as necessarily including all of the various components or operations described in the specification and should be construed as not including some of the components or some of the operations or further including additional components or operations.
In addition, the singular expression used herein includes the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the application, terms such as “composed of” or “comprising” should not be construed as necessarily including all of the various components or operations described in the specification and should be construed as not including some of the components or some of the operations or further including additional components or operations.
Throughout the specification, when “A and/or B” is described, this means A, B, or A and B unless otherwise specified, and when “C to D” is described, this means C or more and D or less unless otherwise specified.
Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to some embodiments of the present disclosure will be described.
Referring to
The cabinet 2 may be a box type with the open front surface and divided into one or more storage spaces to include a refrigerating compartment and/or a freezing compartment.
For example, an upper storage space of the cabinet 2 may be opened or closed by a pair of first doors 11 that are pivotal doors using hinges.
A storage compartment 3, which is a lower storage space of the cabinet 2, may be opened or closed by the second door 12 that is a drawer type door drawn in and out in a front-rear direction.
A first drawer 100 and a second drawer 200 for storing storage objects may be disposed in two stages on a rear surface of the second door 12.
When the second door 12 is drawn in and out in the front-rear direction, the first drawer 100 and the second drawer 200 may move together in conjunction with a movement of the second door 12.
For example, the second drawer 200 may be fixed to a rear surface of the second door 12 to move depending on the movement of the second door 12.
The first drawer 100 may be disposed above the second drawer 200 to cover an upper portion of the second drawer 200 in a state in which the second door 12 is closed and open the upper portion of the second drawer 200 in a state in which the second door 12 is open.
The second drawer 200 may include a second body part 210 with an open upper portion to store storage objects and a flange part 220 formed to protrude outward along an edge portion of an upper surface thereof.
The first drawer 100 may include a first body part 110 with an open upper portion to store storage objects and a first front part 120 disposed in front of the first body part 110.
The first front part 120 may include a side protrusion 121 protruding outward from a side surface of the first body part 110.
Therefore, when viewed from a front surface of the refrigerator 1, the first body part 110 may not be visually recognized because the first body part 110 is covered by the side protrusion 121 of the first front part 120.
A pair of lower accommodation parts 130 and a pair of lower roller parts 300 inserted into the lower accommodation parts 130 may be disposed in lower regions of both sides of the front of the first drawer 100.
The lower roller part 300 including a roller may perform a rolling operation of the roller along the flange part 220 of the second drawer 200 positioned thereunder.
In this case, the flange part 220 may have a region recessed inward along a line along which the roller of the lower roller part 300 moves.
Therefore, the first drawer 100 may be drawn in and out in the front-rear direction by the interaction between the lower roller part 300 and the flange part 220.
In addition, the second drawer 200 may also be drawn in and out in the front-rear direction by the interaction between the lower roller part 300 and the flange part 220.
A pair of upper accommodation parts 140 and a pair of upper roller parts 400 inserted into the upper accommodation parts 140 may be disposed in upper regions of both sides of the rear of the second drawer 200.
The upper roller part 400 including a roller may perform a rolling operation of the roller along guide rails 500 disposed at both sides thereof.
Further referring to
Since the stopper part 141 may be coupled by being latched by the guide rail 500 upon reaching the limit line, the stopper part 141 may receive a continuous impact.
Therefore, a rib pattern part 142 including a plurality of ribs for supporting each inner surface may be formed inside the stopper part 141 to reinforce strength.
Hereinafter, the lower roller part 300 and the lower accommodation part 130 will be described in more detail with reference to
The lower roller part 300 may include a lower roller 310 capable of performing a rolling operation and a lower roller cover 320 for accommodating the lower roller 310 so that the lower roller 310 may rotate.
A rotational shaft 311 may be formed to protrude from both side surfaces of a central portion of the lower roller 310.
The lower roller cover 320 may include an upper surface portion 321 and a pair of bent portions 322 bent downward along both side surfaces of the upper surface portion 321.
Therefore, the lower roller cover 320 may be formed to provide an insertion space of which a lower portion, a front surface, and a rear surface are open so that an upper region of the lower roller 310 may be fixedly inserted into the lower roller cover 320 upward from a lower side.
An insertion hole 3222 into which the rotational shaft 311 of the lower roller 310 may be inserted to rotate may be formed in both side surfaces of the lower roller cover 320.
The lower roller 310 may be fixed to the lower roller cover 320 so that the rotational shaft 311 is pressed by the insertion hole 3222 to rotate.
A pair of support parts 3223 extending in a horizontal direction may be disposed on both side surfaces of the insertion hole 3222.
Since at least a portion of the support part 3223 may be in contact with a lower surface of the lower accommodation part 130 to support the lower accommodation part 130, the support part 3223 may serve to actually support a load acting on the first drawer 100.
Therefore, a plurality of reinforcing ribs 3224 formed to be spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction may be disposed on a lower portion of the support part 3223 to distribute a load applied to the support part 3223.
A latching part 3221 protruding outward may be formed on one side surface of the lower roller cover 320.
The latching part 3221 may be formed to be spaced a predetermined distance from an upper region of the insertion hole.
The latching part 3221 may be coupled by latching to a latching groove 132 of the lower accommodation part 130 to be described below so that the lower roller part 300 may be actually fastened to the lower accommodation part 130.
Therefore, the latching part 3221 may serve to check and adjust a position for fastening between the lower roller part 300 and the lower accommodation part 130.
In order for the latching part 3221 to be easily coupled to the latching groove 132, the latching part 3221 may be formed in a hemispherical shape, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
The latching part 3221 may be formed on one side surface of the bent portion 322 positioned outside so that a worker who assembles the lower roller part 300 may recognize the latching part 3221.
Meanwhile, the lower accommodation part 130 may be formed to provide an insertion space with a lower open portion so that the upper region of the lower roller part 300 may be fixedly inserted upward from the lower side.
For example, the lower accommodation part 130 may be formed to protrude from the first body part 110 to form a boundary between the side surface of the first body part 110 and the rear surface of the side protrusion 121.
Therefore, one side surface of the lower accommodation part 130 may be formed as the side surface of the first body part 110, and a front surface thereof may be formed as the rear surface of the side protrusion 121.
As described above, the lower accommodation part 130 may include a boundary surface 133 forming the boundary between the side surface of the first body part 110 and the rear surface of the side protrusion 121.
In this case, the boundary surface 133 may be formed to include a curved surface formed to be rounded.
When a load is applied to the first drawer 100, the boundary surface 133 forming the boundary between the side surface of the first body part 110 and the rear surface of the side protrusion 121 may be particularly vulnerable to cracking and tearing.
Therefore, in the refrigerator 1 according to the present disclosure, since the boundary surface 133 of the lower accommodation part 130, which forms the boundary between the side surface of the first body part 110 and the rear surface of the side protrusion 121, may include the curved surface to increase the area of the boundary surface 133, the load applied to the boundary surface 133 may be distributed as much as possible.
Therefore, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of cracking or tearing in the boundary surface 133 vulnerable to cracking or tearing.
In this case, since a lowermost end of the boundary surface 133 forming the boundary with the rear surface of the side protrusion 121 is formed to start from an outermost surface 121a of the side protrusion 121 to increase the area of the boundary surface 133 as much as possible, the load applied to the boundary surface 133 may be distributed as much as possible.
The latching groove 132 coupled by being latched by the latching part 3221 of the lower roller part 300 may be formed on the side surface of the lower accommodation part 130.
The latching groove 132 may be formed in a position and a shape corresponding to the latching part 3221 when the lower roller part 300 is fixedly inserted into the latching groove 132.
A guide part 111 for guiding the insertion of the lower roller part 300 may be formed on the side surface of the first body part 110 forming the one side surface of the lower accommodation part 130.
The guide part 111 may be formed in a long bar shape extending and protruding in the vertical direction, and a plurality of guide parts 111 may be formed and disposed to be spaced apart from each other.
When one side of the lower roller part 300 is fixed by coupling the latching groove 132 to the latching part 3221, the other side of the lower roller part 300 is pressed by the guide part 111 so that the lower roller part 300 may be strongly fixed to the lower accommodation part 130.
In addition, an extension 134 extending downward may be formed on the side surface of the first body part 110 on which the lower accommodation part 130 is positioned.
The extension 134 may guide the insertion of the lower roller part 300 from the outside and prevent the lower roller part 300 from being separated inward.
One or more protruding ribs 131 which extend along an outer perimeter surface of the lower accommodation part 130 and of which at least portions extend in the horizontal direction may be disposed at an outer side of the lower accommodation part 130.
The protruding rib 131 may be formed to continuously extend along the outer perimeter surface of the lower accommodation part 130 so that one end of the protruding rib 131 is in contact with the side surface of the first body part 110 and the other end thereof is in contact with the rear surface of the side protrusion 121.
As described above, according to the present disclosure, since the protruding rib 131 extending in the horizontal direction may block or distribute the load acting on the first drawer 100 in the vertical direction as much as possible, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of damage to the lower roller part 300 or the occurrence of cracking or tearing in the lower accommodation part 130.
In this case, a plurality of protruding ribs 131 may be provided, and the plurality of protruding ribs 131 may be disposed to be spaced a predetermined distance from each other.
Therefore, there is an advantageous effect that, since the load applied to the lower accommodation part 130 is divided by the plurality of protruding ribs 131 as much as possible, it is possible to block or distribute the load.
In the present disclosure, the protruding rib 131 is illustrated as including three protruding ribs such as a first protruding rib 1311, a second protruding rib 1312, and a third protruding rib 1313, but this is exemplary, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
The first protruding rib 1311 may be formed to extend along a height at which at least a portion overlaps the latching groove 132.
In addition, the first protruding rib 1311 may be formed so that at least a portion is spaced a predetermined distance from the latching groove 132 to extend along the shape of the latching groove 132.
Since the latching groove 132 of the lower accommodation part 130 is formed as a through hole, when a large load is applied to the lower accommodation part 130, cracking or tearing may occur based on a region around the latching groove 132 or a phenomenon in which the lower accommodation part 130 widens may occur more easily.
Therefore, by forming the first protruding rib 1311 for reinforcing strength based on the region around the latching groove 132, it is possible to reduce damage to the region around the latching groove 132.
In addition, by forming the latching groove 132 and the first protruding rib 1311 to be spaced a predetermined distance from each other, it is possible to prevent interference between the latching part 3221 passing through the latching groove 132 and the first protruding rib 1311.
The second protruding rib 1312 may be disposed to be spaced apart from a lower portion of the first protruding rib 1311.
Based on the lower roller part 300 inserted into the lower accommodation part 130, at least a portion of the second protruding rib 1312 may be formed to extend along the insertion hole 3222 and the shape of the support part 3223 of the lower roller part 300.
For example, at least a portion of the support part 3223 of the lower roller part 300 for supporting the lower portion of the lower accommodation part 130 may support a lower portion of the second protruding rib 1312.
To this end, some regions of the second protruding rib 1312 may be formed to form a lowermost end of the lower accommodation part 130.
Therefore, the support part 3223 may support the lower accommodation part 130 in the form of being in contact with and supporting some regions of the lower surface of the lower accommodation part 130 and some regions of the second protruding rib 1312.
As described above, by supporting at least a portion of the second protruding rib 1312 by the support part 3223, the second protruding rib 1312 can distribute a load applicable to a boundary between the support part 3223 and the lower accommodation part 130, thereby reducing cracking and tearing.
The third protruding rib 1313 may be disposed to be spaced a predetermined distance from the first protruding rib 1311.
Since the third protruding rib 1313 is relatively positioned in the upper region of the lower accommodation part 130, the load applied to the lower accommodation part 130 can be entirely distributed in a balanced manner.
The protruding ribs 131 may be formed to protrude outward from the lower accommodation part 130 so as not to exceed the outermost surface of the side protrusion 121.
In the refrigerator 1 according to the present disclosure, since the protruding ribs 131 protrude outward from the lower accommodation part 130 so as not to exceed the outermost surface of the side protrusion 121, a user may not recognize the protruding rib 131, which is a strength reinforcing structure, from the front surface of the refrigerator.
Therefore, it is possible to increase the strength of the storage part while improving the beauty of a design without exposure of the strength reinforcing structure from the front surface of the refrigerator.
Hereinafter, another embodiment of the refrigerator 1 according to the present disclosure will be described.
One or more protruding ribs 131 may be formed to extend discontinuously along the outer perimeter surface of the lower accommodation part 130.
For example, referring to
Likewise, a plurality of second protruding ribs 1312 (1312′ and 1312″) may be provided and disposed to be spaced a predetermined distance 1312a from each other in the left-right direction, and a plurality of third protruding ribs 1313 (1313′ and 1313″) may also be provided and disposed to be spaced a predetermined distance 1313a from each other in the left-right direction.
In this case, spaces 1311a, 1312a, and 1313a of the respective protruding ribs, which are separated in the left-right direction, may be disposed to overlap each other in the vertical direction.
However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and as illustrated in
Since each of the plurality of protruding ribs is formed to have one of the spaces 1311a, 1312a, and 1313a separated in the left-right direction, it is possible to increase flexibility of the lower accommodation part 130 in the separated spaces 1311a, 1312a, and 1313a, thereby reducing damage to the lower accommodation part 130 due to an impact.
That is, when the plurality of protruding ribs have the separated spaces 1311a, 1312a, and 1313a in the left-right direction, not only the strength of the lower accommodation part 130 can be reinforced by the protruding rib itself, but also flexibility in the separated spaces can also be secured, thereby further reducing the damage to the lower accommodation part 130.
Meanwhile, although not illustrated in the drawing, each of the first protruding rib 1311, the second protruding rib 1312, and the third protruding rib 1313 may be formed to extend in the vertical direction rather than extending in the left-right direction.
That is, since the first protruding rib 1311, the second protruding rib 1312, and the third protruding rib 1313 are formed to extend in parallel with a direction of a vertical load applied to the lower accommodation part 130, it is possible to reduce the damage to the lower accommodation part 130.
In this case, the first protruding rib 1311, the second protruding rib 1312, and the third protruding rib 1313 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction.
In addition, even in this case, each of the first protruding rib 1311, the second protruding rib 1312, and the third protruding rib 1313 may be formed as a plurality of protruding ribs.
Therefore, the plurality of first protruding ribs may be formed to be spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, the plurality of second protruding ribs may be formed to be spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction, and the plurality of third protruding ribs may be formed to be spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction.
In addition, one or more protruding ribs 131 may be formed to extend along an inner perimeter surface of the lower accommodation part 130 rather than the outer perimeter surface thereof.
For example,
The one or more protruding ribs 131 which extend along the inner perimeter surface of the lower accommodation part 130 and of which at least portions extend in the horizontal direction may be disposed at an inner side of the lower accommodation part 130.
For example, the first protruding rib 1311, the second protruding rib 1312, and the third protruding rib 1313 may protrude inward of the lower accommodation part 130 and extend in the left-right direction and may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction.
In this case, each of the first protruding rib 1311, the second protruding rib 1312, and the third protruding rib 1313 may be formed as a plurality of protruding ribs.
Therefore, the plurality of first protruding ribs 1311 may be disposed to be spaced a predetermined distance from each other in the left-right direction, and the plurality of second protruding ribs 1312 and the plurality of third protruding ribs 1313 may also be applied in the same manner.
In this case, a first recess 1311b having a shape recessed inward from the lower accommodation part 130 may be formed in the outer perimeter surface of the lower accommodation part 130 corresponding to the first protruding rib 1311.
Likewise, a second recess 1312b having a shape recessed inward of the lower accommodation part 130 may be formed in the outer perimeter surface of the lower accommodation part 130 corresponding to the second protruding rib 1312, and a third recess 1313b having a shape recessed inward of the lower accommodation part 130 may be formed in the outer perimeter surface of the lower accommodation part 130 corresponding to the third protruding rib 1313.
As described above, since the protruding rib 131 is formed to protrude inward, the protruding rib 131 may not only serve to reinforce the strength of the lower accommodation part 130, but also serve to increase a fastening strength by pressing the lower roller part 300 stored in the lower accommodation part 130.
In addition, since one or more recesses 1311b, 1312b, and 1313b are formed on the outer perimeter surface of the lower accommodation part 130, it is possible to additionally reinforce the strength of the lower accommodation part 130 in the recess region compared to a planar perimeter surface.
Referring to
For example, one or more protruding ribs 131 which extend along the outer perimeter surface of the lower accommodation part 130 and of which at least portions extend in the horizontal direction may be disposed at the outer side of the lower accommodation part 130.
In the present disclosure, the protruding rib 131 is illustrated as including three protruding ribs such as the first protruding rib 1311, the second protruding rib 1312, and the third protruding rib 1313, but this is exemplary, and the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
In this case, a fourth protruding rib 1314 extending in the vertical direction intersecting a direction in which the first protruding rib 1311, the second protruding rib 1312, and the third protruding rib 1313 extend may be additionally disposed.
Referring to
Therefore, the fourth protruding rib 1314 may connect the second protruding rib 1312 to the first protruding rib 1311 in the vertical direction and connect the first protruding rib 1311 to the third protruding rib 1313 in the vertical direction.
Therefore, since the entirety of the plurality of protruding ribs 131 may be formed to have a lattice shape, it is possible to distribute loads applied in the left-right direction and the vertical direction.
In addition, lattice-shaped patterns formed by the plurality of protruding ribs 131 may be formed to include an open portion 135a in which the outer surface of the lower accommodation part 130 is open and/or a closed portion 135b in which the outer surface of the lower accommodation part 130 is closed without being open.
In this case, a reinforcing support surface 1315 formed in the form of a surface extending in the vertical direction to close an inside of the lattice pattern may be formed in a region corresponding to the closed portion 135b, thereby further reinforcing the entire strength of the protruding rib 131.
In addition, as illustrated in
Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to the exemplary drawings, the present disclosure is not limited by the embodiments and drawings disclosed in the specification, and it is apparent that various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical spirit of the present disclosure. In addition, even when the operational effects according to the configuration of the present disclosure have not been explicitly described in the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, it goes without saying that the effects predictable by the corresponding configuration should also be recognized.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2022-0111050 | Sep 2022 | KR | national |
