Dispenser and refrigerator fitted with the same

#This application claims the benefit of the Korean Application Nos. P2002-21030 filed on Apr. 17, 2002, and P2002-24813 filed on May 6, 2002, which are hereby incorporated by reference.

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing water or ice cubes to a cup inserted thereto, and a refrigerator fitted with the same in an outside surface thereof.

#The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention:

#In the drawings:

#FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a refrigerator fitted with a dispenser;

#Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In describing the embodiments of the present invention, the same parts will be given the same names and reference symbols, and repetitive description of which will be omitted.

#Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the dispenser includes a dispenser casing 10 having view securing means, at least one lever 20, and a device 30 for dispensing water or ice cubes.

#The dispenser casing 10 is recessed from an outside surface of one side of the refrigerator, for an example, the door 50, to form a cup receiving space 11 therein. The dispenser casing 10 is fabricated as a body separate from the door 50 and fitted to the door 50. However, the dispenser casing 10 is not limited to one fabricated separate from the door 50 and fitted to the door 50, but the dispenser casing 10 can be fabricated as one unit with the door 50. That is, if a part of the outside surface of the door 50 is recessed to form the cup receiving space, the separate fabrication and fitting of the dispenser casing 10 to the door 50 is not required.