Refrigerator

A refrigerator having a storage chamber, a door mounted at a front side of the storage chamber, a first storage unit inserted and withdrawn in association with the operation of the door, and a second storage unit seated on an upper part of the first storage unit to operate in a rolling motion, wherein the first and second storage unit are equipped with a roller device to enable the rolling motion of the second storage unit on the first storage unit, the roller device comprising:

• first front roller members mounted to a frontal region on both sides of the second storage unit;
• first roller supporting parts provided at the first storage unit to support a rolling motion of the first front roller members thereon;
• a protrusion extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the second storage unit and configured to prevent the front roller members from laterally leaving the first roller supporting surfaces;
• second rear roller members mounted to the first storage unit to share the load of the second storage unit together with the first front roller members during insertion and withdrawal of the second storage unit;
• second roller supporting parts formed at the second storage unit to support a rolling motion of the second rear roller members thereon;
• third roller members provided on both sides of the second storage unit to move along guide surfaces provided on an interior of the storage chamber as the second storage unit is being inserted and withdrawn, the third roller members being configured to support a rear end of the second storage unit;
• buffer members formed at a rear end of the first roller members to restrict the rolling motion of the first front roller members;
• and
• a buffer projection at a front part of the first roller supporting surfaces configured to restrict a forward movement of the second storage unit during the rolling motion of the second storage unit,
• wherein the buffer members are positioned on the first roller supporting parts such that the buffer members are spaced a predetermined distance from the respective first front roller members when the door is in a closed position, the predetermined distance being configured so that when the door is pulled out up to the predetermined distance, the first storage unit crosses a plane of an opening of the storage chamber to be accessible by a user as the second storage remains in the storage chamber, and when the door is pulled out more than the predetermined distance, the second storage unit crosses the plane of the opening of the storage chamber to be accessible by the user.

A refrigerator comprising:

• a storage chamber;
• a door mounted at a front side of the storage chamber;
• a first storage unit inserted and withdrawn in association with the operation of the door;
• a second storage unit seated on an upper part of the first storage unit to operate in a rolling motion;
• a roller device provided to the first and second storage units to enable the rolling motion of the second storage unit on the first storage unit;
• and
• a rail device provided to both sides of the first storage unit to enable insertion and withdrawal of the first storage unit, wherein the roller device comprises first roller members mounted to a frontal region of both sides of the second storage unit, first roller supporting parts formed at the first storage unit to support a rolling motion of the first roller members thereon, second roller members mounted to the first storage unit to share the load of the second storage unit together with the first roller members during insertion and withdrawal of the second storage unit, and second roller supporting parts formed at the second storage unit to support a rolling motion of the second roller member thereon, the rail device comprises rail housings mounted on both sides of an interior cabinet of the storage chamber and each equipped with a rack gear, static rails received in the rail housings, movable rails slid relative to the static rails, rail covers fixed to the movable rails while mounting the first storage unit, and pinion gears meshed with the rack gears and fixed to the movable rails, and a plurality of gear teeth formed at a rear end of each of the rack gears have a progressively decreasing height than the other gear teeth and have any one of semicircular, triangular and cut shape.

A refrigerator comprising:

• a main body having a storage chamber;
• a door slidably mounted to the main body;
• a first storage unit movable in association with closing and opening operations of the door, each of side walls of the first storage unit having a first roller supporting surface;
• a second storage unit having front roller members located at a front region of the second storage unit, the front roller members seated on the first roller supporting surfaces of the first storage unit to enable rolling movement thereof, and a protrusion extending downwardly from a bottom surface of the second storage unit configured to prevent the front roller members from laterally leaving the first roller supporting surfaces;
• and
• a buffer projection at a front part of the first roller supporting surfaces configured to restrict a forward movement of the second storage unit during the rolling motion of the second storage unit,
• wherein, when the first storage unit is moved from a partially opened position to a fully opened position, a rear region of the first roller supporting surfaces of the side walls of the first storage unit includes a stopper member adapted to engage with the second storage unit so as to partially pull out the second storage unit from the storage chamber,
• wherein the second storage unit further includes rear roller members provided on both sides of the second storage unit to move along guide surfaces formed on an interior of the storage chamber as the second storage unit is being inserted and withdrawn, the rear roller members being configured to support a rear end of the second storage unit, and
• wherein the stopper member is positioned on the first roller supporting surfaces such that the stopper member is spaced a predetermined distance from the respective front roller member when the door is in a closed position, the predetermined distance being configured so that when the door is pulled out up to the predetermined distance, the first storage unit crosses a plane of an opening of the storage chamber to be accessible by a user as the second storage remains in the storage chamber, and when the door is pulled out more than the predetermined distance, the second storage unit crosses the plane of the opening of the storage chamber to be accessible by the user.