Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a main body, a first storage chamber including a first storage space, a second storage chamber including a second storage space, a machinery chamber, a first door to selectively open and close the first storage space, a second door to selectively open and close the second storage space, a storage container received in the second storage chamber, a cover to open and close the storage container, and a hanger to support the storage container. The hanger is comprised of frames defining a quadrangular form to receive and support the storage container at an inner side of the hanger, and the frames are respectively arranged, at opposite sides thereof, with slide rails so that the hanger is slidably moved relative to the second storage chamber.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0095007 filed on Sep. 30, 2010 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a refrigerator equipped with a door to open and close a storage chamber in a drawer manner.

2. Description of the Related Art

A Kimchi refrigerator as an apparatus manufactured to preserve Kimchi is formed to enable a temperature of a storage space therein to be controlled so that Kimchi may be ripened and stored through maintenance of the temperature at 0-5° C.

In recent years, the Kimchi refrigerator may independently control a temperature of each storage space formed therein, thereby being used to store various kinds of food such as vegetables, fruits, and meats, as well as Kimchi.

Such a Kimchi refrigerator is classified into a stand type kimchi refrigerator and a chest type kimchi refrigerator, wherein the stand type kimchi refrigerator includes a hinge type door to open and close a storage space opened at a front thereof by pivoting the door in left and right directions and a drawer type door to open and close a storage space by extraction and retraction of the door in forward and backward directions, and the chest type kimchi refrigerator has a structure to open and close a storage space opened at an upper side thereof by pivoting the door in up and down directions.

In the case of a drawer type door included in a general stand type kimchi refrigerator, a drawer is provided at a back surface of the door while being provided therein with a container to store Kimchi.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide an improved refrigerator in which cold air may be smoothly transferred to a container to store food.

It is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide an improved refrigerator so that it is more convenient to take food out of or put food into the refrigerator.

It is a further aspect of the present disclosure to provide an improved refrigerator having a structure capable of achieving an enhancement in efficiency of space utilization within a storage chamber.

Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigerator includes a main body, a first storage chamber provided at an upper portion of the main body, the first storage chamber including a first storage space opened at a front thereof, a second storage chamber provided at a lower portion of the first storage chamber, the second storage chamber including a second storage space opened at a front thereof, a machinery chamber provided at a rear of the second storage chamber, the machinery chamber including components such as a condenser and a compressor to supply cold air to the first and second storage spaces, a first door pivotally provided at a front surface of the first storage chamber to selectively open and close the first storage space, a second door provided at a front surface of the second storage chamber to selectively open and close the second storage space in the same manner as extraction and retraction of a drawer, a storage container received in the second storage chamber, a cover to open and close the storage container, and a hanger coupled to a back surface of the second door to support the storage container, wherein the hanger includes frames defining a quadrangular form opened at upper and lower portions thereof to receive and support the storage container at an inner side of the hanger so that cold air being supplied to the second storage chamber is directly transferred to the storage container, and the frames are respectively arranged, at opposite sides thereof, with slide rails to connect the hanger and the second storage chamber so that the hanger is slidably moved relative to the second storage chamber.

The cover may be supported by a front surface of the main body in a state in which the storage container is opened so as to allow the opened state of the storage container to be maintained by a predetermined angle formed between the cover and the storage container.

The cover may be supported by a stopper in a state in which the storage container is opened so as to allow the opened state of the storage container to be maintained by a predetermined angle formed between the cover and the storage container.

Each frame may be provided, at an upper end thereof, with a support portion bent outwards, and the storage container may be provided, at an outer surface thereof, with a flange portion protruding from the outer surface so that the storage container is supported by the support portions.

The flange portion may be provided, at a lower end thereof, with first protrusions, and the support portions may be provided with first receiving grooves having a shape corresponding to the first protrusion so that the first protrusions are coupled to the corresponding first receiving grooves.

The flange portion may be provided, at an upper portion thereof, with at least one locking unit so as to adhere the cover to an upper portion of the storage container. The locking unit may include a guide portion which protrudes from an outer surface of the storage container, and a rotational member which has one end pivotally coupled with the guide portion and the other end to press the upper portion of the storage container.

The storage container may be coupled, on an outer surface thereof, with an auxiliary cooling member to uniformly transfer cold air inside the storage container, and the auxiliary cooling member may be bent at both ends thereof to surround the outer surface of the storage container.

The storage container may be formed, on a lower end thereof, with a strength reinforcement rib to reinforce the storage container.

The storage container may be arranged, at a rear thereof, with a shield member to prevent exposure of the hanger and the second storage chamber.

The shield member may include a shield plate, a flange formed around an outer periphery of the shield plate, and second protrusions protruding from a lower portion of the flange.

The hanger may be provided with second receiving grooves having a shape corresponding to the second protrusion so that the second protrusions are coupled to the corresponding second receiving grooves so as to support the shield member.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigerator includes a main body, a storage chamber provided at a lower portion of the main body, the storage chamber including a storage space opened at a front thereof, a door provided at a front surface of the storage chamber to selectively open and close the storage space in the same manner as extraction and retraction of a drawer, a hanger coupled to a back surface of the door, and a storage container provided to store food while being supported by the hanger, wherein the hanger is comprised of frames defining a quadrangular form opened at upper and lower portions thereof to receive and support the storage container at an inner side of the hanger, the frames are respectively arranged, at opposite sides thereof, with slide rails to connect the hanger and the storage chamber so that the hanger is slidably moved relative to the storage chamber, the storage container is coupled, on an outer surface thereof, with an auxiliary cooling member to uniformly transfer cold air inside the storage container, and the auxiliary cooling member is bent at both ends thereof to surround the outer surface of the storage container.

The storage container may be formed, on a lower end thereof, with a strength reinforcement rib to reinforce the storage container.

The length of the door to be extracted may be greater than a longitudinal width of the storage container.

Each slide rail may include a first fixed rail provided on a side wall of the storage chamber, a second fixed rail provided at a side surface of the hanger, and a moving rail coupled between the first and second fixed rails to slidably move along the first and second fixed rails.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigerator includes a main body, a storage chamber provided at a lower portion of the main body, the storage chamber including a storage space opened at a front thereof, a door provided at a front surface of the storage chamber to selectively open and close the storage space in the same manner as extraction and retraction of a drawer, a hanger coupled to a back surface of the door while being comprised of frames defining a quadrangular form opened at upper and lower portions thereof, and a storage container provided to store food while being supported by the hanger, a cover to open and close the storage container, a shield member arranged at a rear of the storage container to prevent exposure of the hanger and the storage chamber, first fixed rails provided on opposite side walls of the storage chamber, second fixed rails provided at opposite side surfaces of the frames, and moving rails respectively coupled between the respective first and second fixed rails to slidably move along the first and second fixed rails.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view illustrating a lower portion of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the storage container and the hanger separated from FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along line I-I of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an expanded perspective view illustrating ‘A’ portion of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a top view illustrating a state in which a cover of the storage container shown in FIG. 1 is opened;

FIG. 8 is a right side view illustrating an appearance supported by the main body in the state opening the cover of the storage container; and

FIG. 9 is a right side view illustrating an appearance supported by a stopper in the state opening the cover of the storage container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view illustrating a lower portion of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the refrigerator includes a main body 100 defining an external appearance of the refrigerator, upper and lower storage chambers 110 and 130 provided within the main body 100, an upper door 120 provided at a front surface of the upper storage chamber 110 to selectively open and close the upper storage chamber 110, and a lower door 140 provided at a front surface of the lower storage chamber 130 to selectively open and close the lower storage chamber 130.

The lower storage chamber 130 is provided, on inner side surfaces thereof, with first fixed rails 350, respectively, so that the lower door 140 opens and closes the lower storage chamber 130 while slidably moving forward and backward.

An evaporator 131 through which refrigerant flows is installed at the lower storage chamber 130 so as to maintain the inside of the lower storage chamber 130 at a low temperature.

The evaporator 131 is configured in the form of a direct cooling type refrigerant pipe, as shown in FIG. 1, and serves to supply cold air to a lower surface and side surfaces of a storage container 210 through heat exchange with ambient air.

The upper door 120 is pivotally mounted at one side of the upper storage chamber 110, whereas the lower door 140 is arranged to open and close the lower storage chamber 130 in the same manner as extraction and retraction of a drawer.

Also, the upper door 120 is provided, at a front surface thereof, with an operation panel 122 to select the kind, ripening time, temperature condition, etc. of food stored in the upper and lower storage chambers 110 and 130.

A machinery chamber 400 is provided at a lower portion of the main body 100 and a rear of the storage container 210. The machinery chamber 400 is arranged with components such as a compressor 410 to compress refrigerant and a condenser (not shown) to condense the refrigerant supplied from the compressor 410, while being separately divided from the lower storage chamber 130.

The lower door 140 is coupled, at a back surface thereof, with a hanger 310 constituted of frames. The hanger 310 is coupled with the storage container 210 and a shield member 280.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the storage container and the hanger separated from FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view taken along line I-I of FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is an expanded perspective view illustrating ‘A’ portion of FIG. 4. FIG. 7 is a top view illustrating a state in which a cover of the storage container shown in FIG. 1 is opened.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 7, the storage container 210 includes a container body 212 to receive food, and a cover 214 coupled to an upper portion of the container body 212.

The container body 212 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and is provided therein with a storage space 213 to store food.

The container body 212 is formed, on side surfaces thereof, with flange portions 218, respectively. Each flange portion 218 protrudes by predetermined thickness and length capable of withstanding a load of the storage container 210, in which food is received, in order to support the storage container 210 at the hanger 310.

The flange portions 218 may also be formed on all the side surfaces of the container body 212, or may also be formed only on the opposite side surfaces of the container body 212. That is, the flange portions 218 may also be formed only on the opposite side surfaces of the container body 212 where the container body 212 is supported by the hanger 310.

The flange portion 218 reinforces the container body 212 while allowing the storage container 210 to be supported at the hanger 310. Thus, it may be possible to prevent the storage container 210 from drooping downward in a state in which food is received therein.

Further, each flange portion 218 may also be used as a handle when the storage container 210 is moved.

The flange portions 218 are formed, at lower ends thereof, with first protrusions 222. Each first protrusion 222 protrudes downward from the lower end of the flange portion 218 by a predetermined length. One or more first protrusions 222 may be formed at each portion where the flange portions 218 come into contact with the hanger 310, namely, at the lower ends of the flange portions 218 respectively formed at the opposite side surfaces of the container body 212.

The first protrusions 222 are respectively coupled with corresponding first receiving grooves 316 described below to prevent movement of the storage container 210 in a state in which the storage container 210 is supported at the hanger 310.

The flange portions 218 are provided, at upper ends thereof, with locking units 240. Each locking unit 240 includes a rotational member 242 and guide portions 244 so as to improve sealing-tightness of the storage container 210 by enhancement of coupling force between the container body 212 and the cover 214.

Each guide portion 244 includes a pair of guide protrusions 245 which protrude from the side surface of the container body 212. A distance between the guide protrusions 245 is equal to or smaller than a diameter of a rotational shaft 246 provided at the rotational member 242, and exposed ends of the guide protrusions 245 are bent to face each other. In accordance with such a configuration, the rotational shaft 246 may operate without departing from the guide protrusions 245 during rotation of the rotational shaft 246 fastened to the guide protrusions 245.

Each rotational member 242 includes the rotational shaft 246 coupled with the corresponding guide protrusions 245. The rotational shaft 246 has a circular bar shape provided at one end of the rotational member 242 and is fitted between the guide protrusions 245. Thus, the rotational member 242 is fixed to rotate about the rotational shaft 246 with respect to the container body 212.

The rotational member 242 is provided, at the other end thereof, with a bent portion 243 so as to be adhered to the container body 212 by downwardly pressing the cover 214.

The cover 214 is rotatably coupled to the upper portion of the container body 212, and has a shape corresponding to the container body 212 to cover the upper portion of the container body 212.

The cover 214 is formed, at an upper surface thereof, with a handle portion 216 recessed by a predetermined depth so that a user may rotate the cover 214 using the recessed handle portion 216.

The container body 212 is formed, on a bottom thereof, with strength reinforcement ribs 272. Each strength reinforcement rib 272 protrudes from the bottom of the container body 212 to the inside thereof by a predetermined length so as to reinforce the container body 212 together with the flange portions 218. Accordingly, when food is stored within the container body 212, it may possible to prevent the container body 212 from drooping downward by a load of the food or from being deformed.

The strength reinforcement ribs 272 may not necessarily be formed only on the bottom of the container body 212. The strength reinforcement ribs 272 may also be formed on side surfaces of the container body 212 besides the bottom of the container body 212 according to a storage volume of the storage container 210.

The container body 212 is coupled, on an outer surface thereof, with an auxiliary cooling member 250. The auxiliary cooling member 250 serves to uniformly maintain temperature distribution between upper and lower sides of the storage space 213 in order to uniformly ripen food such as Kimchi received in the storage space 213. The auxiliary cooling member 250 is bent at both ends thereof to surround outer side surfaces of the container body 212. In this case, bent ends of the auxiliary cooling member 250 are coupled to surround the opposite side surfaces of the container body 212, and a portion between the bent ends is coupled to surround a lower surface of the container body 212.

Although not shown, the auxiliary cooling member 250 may be formed as a quadrangle shape corresponding to the shape of the container body 212 so that the quadrangular auxiliary cooling member 250 is coupled to completely surround the outer surface of the container body 212 while fitting the auxiliary cooling member 250 toward an upper end of the container body 212 from a lower end of the container body 212.

The auxiliary cooling member 250 may be made of a material, such as aluminum or an aluminum alloy, having a high heat transfer rate.

The storage container 210 is arranged, at a rear thereof, with the shield member 280.

The shield member 280 includes a shield plate 282, a flange 284, and second protrusions 286 so that the hanger 310, rails 330, 340, and 350 (see FIG. 1), or one portion of the lower storage chamber 130 is not exposed to the outside when the lower storage chamber 130 is opened.

The flange 284 is integrally formed around an outer periphery of the shield plate 282 while protruding from the shield plate 282 by a predetermined length so that the shield member 280 may be supported at the hanger 310.

The second protrusions 286 are formed at a lower end of the flange 284. Each second protrusion 286 protrudes downward from the lower end of the flange 284 by a predetermined length. One or more second protrusions 286 may be formed at a lower end of each portion where the flange 284 comes into contact with the hanger 310.

The second protrusions 286 are respectively coupled with corresponding second receiving grooves 318 described below to prevent movement of the shield member 280 in a state in which the shield member 280 is supported at the hanger 310.

The hanger 310 to support the storage container 210 includes side frames 312 and a rear frame 314.

The side frames 312 are respectively coupled at opposite sides in the back surface of the lower door 140. The rear frame 314 is connected to respective ends of the side frames 312 to prevent application of torsion to the side frames 312.

Since the lower door 140, side frames 312, and rear frame 314 define a substantially quadrangular form through a coupled relationship thereof, the storage container 210 may be reliably seated.

Each side frame 312 is provided, at an upper end thereof, with a support portion 320 bent outwards. Since the support portion 320 serves to seat the corresponding flange portion 218 formed on the container body 212, the bent length of the support portion 320 may vary according to a volume of the container body 212.

The support portion 320 also functions to reinforce bending rigidity of the side frame 312. In other words, since the support portion 320 is formed to be bent outwards from the side frame 312, bending rigidity of the side frame 312 is increased beyond that of a side frame without having a bent portion.

Each support portion 320 is provided with the first receiving grooves 316 and the second receiving groove 318. Each first receiving groove 316 has a shape corresponding to the first protrusion 222 to couple with the corresponding first protrusion 222 formed at the flange portion 218. On the other hand, each second receiving groove 318 has a shape corresponding to the second protrusion 286 to couple with the corresponding second protrusion 286 formed at the shield member 280.

Movement of the storage container 210 and the shield member 280 which are supported at the hanger 310 is limited to left and right directions by the side frames 312 coupled at the opposite sides in the back surface of the lower door 140. When the storage container 210 and the shield member 280 are supported at the support portions 320, movement of the storage container 210 and the shield member 280 at the support portions 320 of the side frames 312 is limited to directions in which the lower door 140 is moved forward and backward by the first or second receiving grooves 316 or 318 coupled with the corresponding first or second protrusions 222 or 286.

Meanwhile, each side frame 312 and the rear frame 314 are manufactured using a metal plate, etc., and may be integrally formed.

As such, since the storage container 210 in which food is received is directly coupled to the hanger 310, cold air supplied from the lower storage chamber 130 in which the storage container 210 is placed may be directly transferred to the storage container 210. As a result, heat transfer efficiency is increased, thereby uniformly maintaining temperature distribution between the upper and lower sides of the storage container 210.

The side frames 312 are respectively coupled, on outer side surfaces thereof, with second fixed rails 330. Each second fixed rail 330 is coupled with the corresponding first fixed rail 350 coupled on the inner side surface of the lower storage chamber 130 through a corresponding moving rail 340. Each moving rail 340 is interposed between the first and second fixed rails 350 and 330 while slidably moving along the first and second fixed rails 350 and 330, so that the lower door 140 may selectively open and close the lower storage chamber 130 in the same manner as extraction and retraction of the drawer.

Each first fixed rail 350 may be provided with a hooking unit (not shown) to limit a length of the lower door 140 to be extracted.

FIG. 8 is a right side view illustrating an appearance supported by the main body in the state opening the cover of the storage container. FIG. 9 is a right side view illustrating an appearance supported by a stopper in the state opening the cover of the storage container.

As shown in FIG. 8, since the length of the lower door 140 extracted from the lower storage chamber 130 is greater than a longitudinal length of the storage container 210, the cover 214 may be supported by the front surface of the upper door 120 in the main body 100 in the state opening the upper portion of the storage container 210. In this case, an angle α between the cover 214 and the storage container 210 may be equal to or more than 90°.

Accordingly, a user extracts the lower door 140, and then releases each locking unit 240. Subsequently, a user rotates the cover 214 toward the upper door 120 to open the cover 214 so that the cover 214 is supported by the front surface of the upper door 120 in the state opening the upper portion of the storage container 210. In this state, a user may put food into or take food out of the storage container 210 opened at the upper portion thereof.

Meanwhile, the cover 214 may also enable the opened state of the storage container to be maintained using an additional stopper.

That is, when the angle α between the cover 214 and the storage container 210 is less than 90°, the cover 214 may be closed by gravity. To prevent the cover 214 from being closed, the stopper 291 is interposed between the storage container 210 and the cover 214 so that a predetermined angle α may be formed between the cover 214 and the storage container 210 to maintain the opened state of the storage container 210, as shown in FIG. 9.

The stopper 291 may be provided at one side of the storage container 210 to place the stopper 291 between the storage container 210 and the cover 214 and maintain the opened state of the cover 214 in a state in which the cover 214 is rotated by a user.

As such, a user may open and close only the cover 214 of the storage container 210 coupled to the hanger 310 without separation of the storage container 210 from the hanger 310, thereby conveniently taking food out of or putting food into the storage container 210.

As is apparent from the above description, since cold air is smoothly transferred to the container to store food, the food may be preserved for a long time.

Also, since cold air is directly transferred to the container to store food, heat transfer efficiency may be increased, thereby saving energy to operate the refrigerator.

In addition, in accordance with the refrigerator according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the container to store food need not be extracted from the drawer in order to take food out of or put food into the container, thereby improving convenience in use.

Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body;

a first storage chamber provided at an upper portion of the main body, the first storage chamber comprising a first storage space opened at a front thereof;

a second storage chamber provided at a lower portion of the first storage chamber, the second storage chamber comprising a second storage space opened at a front thereof;

a machinery chamber provided at a rear of the second storage chamber, the machinery chamber comprising components to supply cold air to the first and second storage spaces;

a first door pivotally provided at a front surface of the first storage chamber to selectively open and close the first storage space;

a second door provided at a front surface of the second storage chamber to selectively open and close the second storage space in the same manner as extraction and retraction of a drawer;

a storage container received in the second storage chamber;

a cover to open and close the storage container; and

a hanger coupled to a back surface of the second door to support the storage container,

wherein the hanger is comprised of frames defining a quadrangular form opened at upper and lower portions thereof to receive and support the storage container at an inner side of the hanger so that cold air being supplied to the second storage chamber is directly transferred to the storage container, and

the frames are respectively arranged, at opposite sides thereof, with slide rails to connect the hanger and the second storage chamber so that the hanger is slidably moved relative to the second storage chamber.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the cover is supported by a front surface of the main body in a state in which the storage container is opened so as to allow the opened state of the storage container to be maintained by a predetermined angle formed between the cover and the storage container.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the cover is supported by a stopper in a state in which the storage container is opened so as to allow the opened state of the storage container to be maintained by a predetermined angle formed between the cover and the storage container.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

each frame is provided, at an upper end thereof, with a support portion bent outwards; and

the storage container is provided, at an outer surface thereof, with a flange portion protruding from the outer surface so that the storage container is supported by the support portions.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the flange portion is provided, at a lower end thereof, with first protrusions, and the support portions are provided with first receiving grooves having a shape corresponding to the first protrusion so that the first protrusions are coupled to the corresponding first receiving grooves.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein:

the flange portion is provided, at an upper portion thereof, with at least one locking unit so as to adhere the cover to an upper portion of the storage container; and

the locking unit comprises a guide portion which protrudes from an outer surface of the storage container, and a rotational member which has one end pivotally coupled with the guide portion and the other end to press the upper portion of the storage container.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein:

the storage container is coupled, on an outer surface thereof, with an auxiliary cooling member to uniformly transfer cold air inside the storage container; and

the auxiliary cooling member is bent at both ends thereof to surround the outer surface of the storage container.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the storage container is formed, on a lower end thereof, with a strength reinforcement rib to reinforce the storage container.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the storage container is arranged, at a rear thereof, with a shield member to prevent exposure of the hanger and the second storage chamber.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the shield member comprises a shield plate, a flange formed around an outer periphery of the shield plate, and second protrusions protruding from a lower portion of the flange.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the hanger is provided with second receiving grooves having a shape corresponding to the second protrusion so that the second protrusions are coupled to the corresponding second receiving grooves so as to support the shield member.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the cover includes a recessed handle portion formed at an upper surface of the cover, and

the cover being opened via the recessed handle portion without removing the storage container from the refrigerator.

13. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body;

a storage chamber provided at a lower portion of the main body, the storage chamber comprising a storage space opened at a front thereof;

a door provided at a front surface of the storage chamber to selectively open and close the storage space in the same manner as extraction and retraction of a drawer;

a hanger coupled to a back surface of the door; and

a storage container provided to store food while being supported by the hanger, wherein:

the hanger is comprised of frames defining a quadrangular form opened at upper and lower portions thereof to receive and support the storage container at an inner side of the hanger, and the frames are respectively arranged, at opposite sides thereof, with slide rails to connect the hanger and the storage chamber so that the hanger is slidably moved relative to the storage chamber; and

the storage container is coupled, on an outer surface thereof, with an auxiliary cooling member to uniformly transfer cold air inside the storage container, and the auxiliary cooling member is bent at both ends thereof to surround the outer surface of the storage container.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein the storage container is formed, on a lower end thereof, with a strength reinforcement rib to reinforce the storage container.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein the length of the door to be extracted is greater than a longitudinal width of the storage container.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein each of the slide rails comprises:

a first fixed rail provided on a side wall of the storage chamber;

a second fixed rail provided at a side surface of the hanger; and

a moving rail coupled between the first and second fixed rails to slidably move along the first and second fixed rails.

17. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body;

a storage chamber provided at a lower portion of the main body, the storage chamber comprising a storage space opened at a front thereof;

a door provided at a front surface of the storage chamber to selectively open and close the storage space in the same manner as extraction and retraction of a drawer;

a hanger coupled to a back surface of the door while being comprised of frames defining a quadrangular form opened at upper and lower portions thereof;

a storage container provided to store food while being supported by the hanger;

a cover to open and close the storage container;

a shield member arranged at a rear of the storage container to prevent exposure of the hanger and the storage chamber;

first fixed rails provided on opposite side walls of the storage chamber;

second fixed rails provided at opposite side surfaces of the frames; and

moving rails respectively coupled between the respective first and second fixed rails to slidably move along the first and second fixed rails.