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US 9,429,355 B2Granted
Refrigerator
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorsWoonkyu Seo, Seonkyu Kim, Seungjin Yoon, Jungyeon Hwang, Daesung Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include a moving basket installed in a storage case provided in a door or main body of the refrigerator. The moving basket may be vertically movable within the storage case. A height of the moving basket may be adjustable by an operation mechanism, to efficiently utilize an inner space of the storage assembly.
Claims17
A refrigerator comprising:
- a cabinet that defines a first storage chamber;
- and
- a main door coupled to the cabinet, wherein the main door includes:
- a first door having an outer portion defined to be opposite the cabinet and an inner portion defined to be opposite the outer portion, and an opening that passes through the inner portion and the outer portion:
- a storage case coupled to an interior side of the first door, that defines a second storage chamber, wherein the opening, which is formed through the first door, is in communication with an open front of the second storage chamber;
- a first basket coupled to the first door so as to be vertically movable, the first basket having a storage space to receive and store food therein, wherein the first basket, which is provided in the storage case, is vertically movable within the storage case;
- an operating portion configured to vertically move the first basket;
- a coupling portion configured to couple the first basket to the first door, wherein the coupling portion is provided at the outer portion of the first door, wherein the coupling portion maintains a distance between the first basket and the first door constant while the first basket moves vertically, wherein the operation portion is positioned closer to a user than the storage space of the first basket such that the user operates the operating portion by passing through the opening, but not passing through the storage space of the first basket, wherein the coupling portion is positioned closer to a user than the storage space of the first basket such that the operation portion and the coupling portion are connected to each other at an outer portion of the storage space of the first basket without passing through the storage space of the first basket;
- a second door coupled to the first door at a position corresponding to the open front of the second storage chamber to open and close the second storage chamber;
- and
- at least one rail that extends vertically in the second storage chamber to guide movement of the first basket, wherein, in a first mode of the main door, the first storage chamber is accessible using the first door and the second storage chamber is inaccessible, and in a second mode of the main door, the second storage chamber is accessible using the second door and the first storage chamber is inaccessible, and wherein the operation portion is partially exposed via the opening in the first door such that a user can operate the operation portion via the opening in the first door when the second door is rotated away from the first door in the second mode, wherein the first basket includes:
- a moving basket, in which storage items are received;
- a drawer slidably coupled at a bottom of the moving basket and movable inwardly and outwardly via the opening in the first door;
- and
- a guide member that guides the inward and outward movement of the drawer.
12 more elements
A refrigerator, comprising:
- a cabinet that defines a main storage space;
- and
- a main door coupled to the cabinet, wherein the main door includes an outer door and an inner door, the inner door including an outer portion defined to be opposite the cabinet and an inner portion defined to be opposite the outer portion, and an opening that passes through the inner portion and the outer portion, and wherein the inner door further includes:
- a first basket coupled to the inner door so as to be vertically movable, the first basket having a basket storage space to receive and store food therein, wherein the first basket, which is coupled to the inner door, is movable vertically along the inner door;
- an operating portion configured to vertically move the first basket;
- a second basket fixed to the inner door, wherein, in a nested mode, the first basket is slidably positioned at a same height as the second basket such that the first and second baskets overlap each other when the first basket is moved downward to the same height as the second basket;
- a first coupling portion configured to couple the first basket to the inner door, wherein the coupling portion is provided at the outer portion of the inner door, wherein the first coupling portion maintains a distance between the first basket and the inner door constant while the first basket moves vertically, wherein the operation portion is positioned closer to a user than the basket storage space such that the user operates the operating portion by passing through the opening, but not passing through the basket storage space, wherein the first coupling portion is positioned closer to a user than the basket storage space such that the operation portion and the first coupling portion are connected to each other at an outer portion of the basket storage space without passing through the basket storage space, and wherein, the first coupling portion includes:
- a first guide member and a second guide member that extend vertically along an installation surface of the inner door;
- and
- a movable member received between the first guide member and the second guide member such that the first and second guide members guide movement of the moveable member, wherein the first coupling portion is arranged in front of the basket storage space provided when the inner door is closed against the cabinet and the outer door is rotated away from the inner door to provide access to the basket storage space, and wherein the operation portion is partially exposed via the opening in the inner door such that a user can operate the operation portion via the opening in the inner door when the outer door is rotated away from the inner door.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.