# US 11,079,169 B2 · Refrigerator

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- Number: US 11,079,169 B2
- Document ID: US11079169B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/698,297
- Filed: 2017-09-07
- Published: 2018-03-29
- Granted: 2021-08-03
- Earliest claimed: 2016-09-26
- Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Jeong Hyun Lee; Yang-Yeol Gu; Hyung Bum Lee; Nam Gu Choi
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11079169B2

## CPC

- F25D 23/126: {Water cooler}
- F25D 23/02: Doors; Covers (F25D23/08 takes precedence {locks or fastenings E05B65/0042})
- F25D 23/028: {Details}
- F25D 2323/122: the refrigerator is characterised by a water tank for the water/ice dispenser
- F25D 2331/806: Dispensers
- F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B)

## Abstract

A refrigerator includes a main body having a storage compartment, a door to open or close the storage compartment, and a dispenser provided on the door and configured to supply water to the outside of the main body, wherein the door includes, a door plate, and a door cap coupled to a lower end portion of the door plate and having a water collecting part to collect residual water of the dispenser.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A refrigerator, comprising:
a main body having a storage compartment;
a door to open or close the storage compartment; and
a dispenser provided at a lower end portion of the door to supply water to an outside of the main body, and including a dispensing space,
wherein the door includes:
a door plate forming a front surface of the door and side surfaces of the door, and including:
a front cover portion recessed from the outer surface of the door plate to cover a front surface of the dispenser,
an opening extending through the front cover portion from a bottom end of the door plate to expose at least a portion of the dispenser through the opening in the front cover portion; and
a support member provided at a rear portion of the bottom end portion of the door plate;
a handle mounted on the door plate; and
a door cap coupled to the bottom end of the door plate to form the dispensing space, coupled to the support member to support the door plate, and including a water collecting part recessed from an upper surface of the door cap to collect residual water of the dispenser, and
wherein the dispenser includes a dispenser cover coupled to a rear of the front cover portion to cover a rear of the dispenser.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein:
the dispenser has a discharge part; and
the front cover portion includes the opening.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein:
the discharge part includes a lever to operate the dispenser to discharge water; and
at least a portion of the lever is exposed to the outside of the door through the opening.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the dispenser cover is further configured to be coupled to the support member in a snap-fit manner.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the door cap is configured to be coupled to the support member in a snap-fit manner.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the support member includes at least one first coupling portion coupled to the dispenser cover, and at least one second coupling portion coupled to the door cap.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the water collecting part is attachable to or detachable from the door cap.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The refrigerator of claim 7, wherein the door cap is provided to correspond to a shape of the water collecting part and further includes a seating portion on which the water collecting part is seated.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the dispenser includes a reinforcing plate in contact with a portion of a rear surface of the door plate and provided to support the portion of the rear surface of the door plate.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the door cap is provided below the bottom end of the door plate.