ICE-MAKING APPARATUS WITH ANTI-CONTAMINATION STRUCTURE

Abstract

There is provided an ice-making apparatus with an anti-contamination structure, wherein the apparatus includes: a housing having an ice-storage chamber defined therein; a pivotally-movable door having an elongate top end, wherein an elongate clearance is defined between an elongate top end of the door and a front wall of the housing; an elongate contaminant-guide plate disposed below the elongate clearance, wherein the elongate contaminant-guide plate has opposing first and second side ends, and the housing has opposing first and second side walls, wherein the opposing first and/or second side ends are disposed at or adjacent to the opposing first and/or second side walls respectively; and first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes defined in the opposing first and/or second side walls respectively, wherein the elongate contaminant-guide plate is constructed to receive contaminants falling down from the elongate clearance and to guide the contaminants toward the first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0167259, filed on Dec. 9, 2016, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Present Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to an ice-making apparatus with an anti-contamination structure, and, more particularly, to an anti-contamination structure configured to prevent contaminants from entering an ice storage chamber of an ice-making apparatus.

Discussion of Related Art

The ice-making apparatus cools water to produce ice, and may be classified into residential and commercial types.

The ice-making apparatus has an ice-storage chamber defined therein to store produced ices therein. A user easily extract the ices as needed from the chamber.

The ices produced in the ice-making apparatus may be used for various purposes. It is an important task to keep sanitary condition of the ice-storage chamber clean or non-contaminated.

It should be understood that the foregoing description in this background section is merely for the purpose of promoting an understanding of the background of the present disclosure and is not to be construed as an admission that the foregoing description is considered as a prior art as known to those skilled in the art.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify all key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used alone as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

The present disclosure is to provide an anti-contamination structure configured to prevent contaminants from entering an ice storage chamber of an ice-making apparatus, thereby to keep sanitary condition of the ice-storage chamber clean or non-contaminated.

In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an ice-making apparatus with an anti-contamination structure, wherein the apparatus includes: a housing having an ice-storage chamber defined therein, and a front wall having a front opening partially defined therein; a pivotally-movable door having an elongate top end, wherein the pivotally-movable door is constructed to pivotally move around the elongate top end thereof to open or close the front opening, wherein an elongate clearance is defined between the elongate top end and the front wall; an elongate contaminant-guide plate disposed below the elongate clearance, wherein the elongate contaminant-guide plate has opposing first and second side ends, and the housing has opposing first and second side walls, wherein the opposing first and/or second side ends are disposed at or adjacent to the opposing first and/or second side walls respectively; and first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes defined in the opposing first and/or second side walls respectively, wherein the elongate contaminant-guide plate is constructed to receive contaminants falling down from the elongate clearance and to guide the contaminants toward the first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes, wherein each of the first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes is constructed to discharge the contaminants out of the housing.

In one implementation, the front wall has upper and lower portions, wherein the upper portion is tilted, wherein the upper portion has the front opening at least partially defined therein, wherein the elongate clearance is disposed at a higher level than the ice-storage chamber.

In one implementation, the elongate contaminant-guide plate extends in a downward inclined manner toward the first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes.

In one implementation, the opposing first and/or second side walls have first and second contaminant-receiving chambers defined therein respectively, wherein the first and/or second contaminant-receiving chambers are constructed to receive the contaminants from the elongate contaminant-guide plate, wherein the first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes communicate with the first and/or second contaminant-receiving chambers respectively, wherein the first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes receive the contaminants from the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers respectively and discharge the contaminants out of the housing.

In one implementation, the opposing first and second side walls have first and second pivotal axial protrusions extending inwardly therefrom respectively, wherein the pivotally-movable door has first and second pivotal axial grooves defined in first and second opposing side ends of the elongate top end thereof, wherein the first and second pivotal axial protrusions are rotatably inserted into the first and second pivotal axial grooves respectively, wherein the first and/or second contaminant-receiving chambers are partially defined in the first and/or second pivotal axial protrusions respectively; or the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers are defined in the opposing first and/or second side walls respectively while the first and/or second contaminant-receiving chambers level-correspond to the first and/or second pivotal axial protrusions respectively.

In one implementation, the opposing first and/or second side ends of the elongate contaminant-guide plate extends into the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers respectively.

In one implementation, the opposing first and/or second side walls have first and/or second contaminant downward channels defined in outer face portions thereof respectively, wherein the first and/or second contaminant downward channels communicate with the first and second contaminant-discharge holes respectively, wherein the first and/or second contaminant downward channels are constructed to allow downward movement of the contaminants along the opposing first and/or second side walls respectively.

In one implementation, the first and/or second contaminant downward channels extend downwardly from the first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes respectively, wherein first and/or contaminant containers are disposed on outer faces of the first and second side walls respectively, wherein the first and/or contaminant containers communicates the first and/or second contaminant downward channels respectively, wherein the first and/or contaminant containers are constructed to contain therein the contaminants, wherein the first and/or contaminant containers are removable from the outer faces of the first and second side walls respectively.

In one implementation, the opposing first and/or second side walls has first and/or second guide channels defined therein, wherein upper ends of the first and/or second guide channels communicate with the first and second contaminant-discharge holes respectively, wherein the apparatus further includes an ice-making water discharge channel used to discharge water used in ice-making, wherein each of lower ends of the first and/or second guide channels communicates with the ice-making water discharge channel, wherein the contaminants are discharged from the first and second contaminant-discharge holes to the first and/or second guide channels and then to the ice-making water discharge channel.

According to the above-mentioned ice-making apparatus with the anti-contamination structure, when the ice produced in the ice-making apparatus is stored, unhygienic contaminants may be effectively prevented from entering the ice-storage chamber in which the ice is stored.

In particular, in accordance with the present disclosure, via the elongate contaminant-guide plate for preventing the falling-down of the contaminants into the ice-storage chamber through the elongate clearance defined between the pivotally-movable door and the housing of the ice-making apparatus, and via the first and second contaminant-discharge holes for discharging the contaminants guided along the elongate contaminant-guide plate out of the housing, contamination of the ice stored in the ice-storage chamber may be effectively suppressed.

In addition, in accordance with the present disclosure, via the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers defined in the opposing first and second side walls of the housing, secondary contamination of the ice-storage chamber may prevented, which otherwise occur due to the falling down of the contaminants through a gap between the plate and each side wall in an event of an absence of the contaminant-receiving chamber.

Furthermore, in accordance with the present disclosure, via the first and/or second contaminant downward channels or the first and/or second guide channel defined in the outer face portions of the opposing first and second side walls of the housing respectively, the present disclosure can effectively manage and remove contaminants discharged through the first and second contaminant-discharge holes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing an appearance of a housing of an ice-making apparatus with an anti-contamination structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a state in which a guide channel is provided in the ice-making apparatus with an anti-contamination structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a view showing a state in which a guide channel is connected to an ice-making water discharge channel in an ice-making apparatus with an anti-contamination structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a state in which a pivotally-movable door is opened in an ice-making apparatus with an anti-contamination structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a view showing an elongate contaminant-guide plate extending tiltedly downwardly in the ice-making apparatus with an anti-contamination structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view of a portion A in the ice-making apparatus with an anti-contamination structure as shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a view showing a cut portion taken along a line B-B in the ice-making apparatus with an anti-contamination structure as shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a view showing a cut portion taken along a line C-C in the ice-making apparatus with an anti-contamination structure as shown in FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS

Examples of various embodiments are illustrated and described further below. It will be understood that the description herein is not intended to limit the claims to the specific embodiments described. On the contrary, it is intended to cover plate alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

It will be understood that, although the terms “first”, “second”, “third”, and so on may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section described below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “connected to”, or “coupled to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, connected to, or coupled to the other element or layer, or one or more intervening elements or layers may be present. In addition, it will also be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “between” two elements or layers, it can be the only element or layer between the two elements or layers, or one or more intervening elements or layers may also be present.

Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “under,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of explanation to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element s or feature s as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or in operation, in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” or “under” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example terms “below” and “under” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented for example, rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations, and the spatially relative descriptors used herein should be interpreted accordingly.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a” and “an” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes”, and “including” when used in this specification, specify the presence of the stated features, integers, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, operations, elements, components, and/or portions thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Expression such as “at least one of” when preceding a list of elements may modify the entire list of elements and may not modify the individual elements of the list.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this inventive concept belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. The present disclosure may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well-known process structures and/or processes have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 4 and 6 to 8, an ice-making apparatus with an anti-contamination structure includes a housing 110 having an ice-storage chamber 119 defined therein and a front wall 112 having a front opening 111 partially defined therein; a pivotally-movable door 120 having an elongate top end portion 122, wherein the pivotally-movable door 120 is constructed to pivotally move around the elongate top end portion 122 thereof to open or close the front opening 111, wherein an elongate clearance 128 is defined between the elongate top end portion 122 and the front wall 112; an elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 disposed below the elongate clearance 128, wherein the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 has opposing first and second side ends 142, and the housing 110 has opposing first and second side walls 115, wherein the opposing first and/or second side ends 142 are disposed at or adjacent to the opposing first and second side walls 115 respectively; and first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes 165 defined in the opposing first and/or second side walls 115 respectively, wherein the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 is constructed to receive contaminants falling down from the elongate clearance 128 and to guide the contaminants toward the first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes 165, wherein each of the first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes 165 is constructed to discharge the contaminants out of the housing 110.

More specifically, the housing 110 may have the ice-storage chamber 119 defined therein and have the front wall 112 having the front opening 111 partially defined therein.

The housing 110 defines an appearance of the ice-making apparatus 100. In the present disclosure, the front wall 112 defines a front portion of the housing 110. The housing 110 houses a cooling system, a control system, and a water circulation system. Meanwhile, the shape of the housing 110 may vary. In an embodiment, the housing 110 is formed to have the shape of a column having a rectangular cross section.

In addition, the ice-storage chamber 119 in which the ices generated by the cooling system is stored is provided in the housing 110. FIG. 1 shows an exterior view of the housing 110 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 illustrates the ice-storage chamber 119.

In the present disclosure, the front opening 111 is formed in the front wall 112. The front opening 111 may have various sizes and shapes. In an embodiment, the front opening 111 is formed to have a width substantially equal to a width of the housing 110. The front opening 111 may be partially vertically defined in the front wall 112.

FIG. 1 shows the front opening 111, which is closed by the pivotally-movable door 120. FIG. 4 shows that the front opening 111 is in an open state. Through the front opening 111, the user of the ice-making apparatus 100 can take out the ices from the ice-storage chamber 119.

On the other hand, the pivotally-movable door 120 is located in the front opening 111 and is provided to be pivotable about the elongate top end portion 122 to open and close the front opening 111.

The pivotally-movable door 120 is controlled to open and close the front opening 111. The elongate top end portion 122 acts a pivotal axis so that the pivotally movable door 120 pivotally moves about the elongate top end portion 122.

The shape of the pivotally-movable door 120 substantially corresponds to the shape of the front opening 111. Accordingly, the opening and closing of the front opening 111 is controlled based on the pivotal state of the pivotally-movable door 120.

The elongate clearance 128 is defined between the elongate top end portion 122 and the front wall 112. The elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 is disposed below the elongate clearance 128. The elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 has opposing first and second side ends 142. The housing 110 has opposing first and second side walls 115. The opposing first and/or second side ends 142 are disposed at or adjacent to the opposing first and second side walls 115 respectively. The elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 is constructed to receive contaminants falling down from the elongate clearance 128 and to guide the contaminants towards opposing first and/or second side walls 115 of the housing 110.

In order that the pivotally-movable door 120 is pivotable about the elongate top end portion 122, in embodiments, the elongate clearance 128 is defined between the elongate top end portion 122 and the front wall 112. In other words, the elongate clearance 128 is inevitable since the pivotally-movable door 120 is pivotally coupled, as a separate component from the housing 110, to the housing 110.

FIG. 1 shows a location of the elongate clearance 128. The elongate clearance 128 is formed above the elongate top end portion 122 of the pivotally-movable door 120. The contaminants outside the housing 110 may be introduced into the housing 110 through the elongate clearance 128.

In addition, when the pivotally-movable door 120 pivotally moves to open the front opening 111, a water droplet condensed on the pivotally-movable door 120 may move along an outer surface of the pivotally-movable door 120 toward the clearance 128.

An unhygienic contaminant may be present on the outer surface of the pivotally-movable door 120. The water droplet present on the outer surface of the pivotally-movable door 120 may move toward the elongate clearance 128 while the contaminant is contained in the droplet. Thereafter, when the droplet falls into the ice-storage chamber 119, the hygiene of the ices therein greatly decreases.

Thus, according to the present disclosure, the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 is positioned below the elongate clearance 128. The elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 may be coupled to the housing 110 such that the plate 140 is positioned below the elongate clearance 128. This configuration is shown in FIG. 4.

Furthermore, preferably, the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 may extend in a width direction of the housing 110. The opposing first and/or second side ends 142 of the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 may be disposed at or adjacent to the opposing first and/or second side walls 115 of the housing 110 respectively.

In order for the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 to accommodate contaminants falling from above, the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 may be formed to have an elongate concave shape. The housing 110 may preferably have the opposing first and second side walls 115.

The opposing first and/or second side ends 142 of the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 may be disposed at or adjacent to the opposing first and/or second side walls 115 of the housing 110 respectively.

Accordingly, contaminated water containing various contaminants falling from the elongate clearance 128 is collected by the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140. Then, the contaminated water may flow along the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 to the opposing first and/or second side walls 115 of the housing 110.

Referring to FIG. 4, in one embodiment, the opposing first and second side ends 142 of the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 are disposed to face the opposing first and/or second side walls 115 of the housing 110 respectively. Thus, the contaminated water containing various contaminants falling from the elongate clearance 128 is collected by the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140. Then, the contaminated water may flow along the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 to the opposing first and second side walls 115 of the housing 110. Thus, the contaminant introduced into the housing 110 through the elongate clearance 128 cannot reach the ice-storage chamber 119.

The first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes 165 may be defined in the opposing first and/or second side walls 115 respectively. Each of the first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes 165 may be constructed to discharge the contaminants out of the housing 110. Each of the first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes 165 may be constructed to receive the contaminants from the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 and to discharge the contaminants out of the housing 110. In embodiments, each of the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 may serve as a discharge channel for discharging the contaminant to the outside of the housing 110. The shape of each of the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 may vary. The first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 may preferably be adjacent to the opposing first and second side ends 142 of the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140, respectively. Thus, the contaminants guided along the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 may be discharged completely through the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 out of the housing 110.

Referring to FIG. 6, a portion of one of the opposing first and second side walls 115 having the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 defined therein is shown. The first or second contaminant-discharge holes 165 defined adjacent to the opposing first or second side ends 142 of the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 respectively allows communication between an interior space in the housing 110 and an exterior space to the housing 110.

In FIGS. 7 to 8, one of the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 and corresponding one of the opposing first and second side ends 142 of the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 are shown. This is merely according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not limited to this. The positions of the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 and the opposing first and second side ends 142 may vary.

According to the present disclosure, in order to prevent the contaminant from entering the ice-storage chamber 119 through the elongate clearance 128, which is formed between the pivotally-movable door 120 and the housing 110, the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 may be used to prevent the contaminant flowing through the elongate clearance 128 from falling into the ice-storage chamber 119. In this connection, the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 may be used to guide the contaminant to the opposing first and/or second side walls 115 of the housing 110, in which the contaminant may be discharged through the first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes 165 through the housing 110.

Thus, according to the present disclosure, the contaminant will be prevented from entering the ice-storage chamber 119 through the elongate clearance 128, which is formed between the pivotally-movable door 120 and the housing 110, thereby to suppress the contamination of the ices in the ice-storage chamber 119. In particular, the contaminated water present on the outer surface of the pivotally-movable door 120 and containing the contaminants therein may be effectively be prevented from entering the ice-storage chamber 119.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 4, in the ice-making apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, an upper portion of the front wall 112 may be inclined. The front opening 111 may define at least a portion of the inclined upper portion. The elongate clearance 128 is located above the ice-storage chamber 119.

The front wall 112 of the housing 110 may be provided in various shapes. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the upper portion of the front wall 112 of the housing 110 is inclined. Referring to FIG. 1, the upper portion of the front wall 112 of the housing 110 is inclined while a lower portion of the front wall 112 of the housing 110 extends vertically.

A portion of the inclined wall corresponds to the front opening 111. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, a lower portion of the inclined wall defines the front opening 111. The present disclosure is not limited to this. The configuration of the front wall 112 may vary.

As the front opening 111 is provided as a portion of the inclined wall, the ice-storage chamber 119 is located below the elongate clearance 128. Even when the front opening 111 is oriented in a perpendicular manner to the ground, there is a possibility that the contaminant will enter the ice-storage chamber 119. However, when the elongate clearance 128 is located above the ice-storage chamber 119, the anti-contaminant structure according to the present disclosure is particularly important.

In embodiments, the contaminant introduced through the elongate clearance 128 into the housing 110 will fall down and then directly enter the ice-storage chamber 119, which can greatly reduce the hygiene of the ice-storage chamber 119. Therefore, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the sanitary level of the ice-making apparatus 100 can be greatly improved by preventing the contaminant falling down through the elongate clearance 128 from entering the ice-storage chamber 119.

FIG. 4 illustrates a structure in which the elongate clearance 128 formed between the pivotally-movable door 120 and the housing 110 is located above the ice-storage chamber 119. In this case, the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 prevents the contaminant falling through the elongate clearance 128 from reaching the ice-storage chamber 119. Further, the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 may be defined in the first and side walls of the housing 110 respectively, thereby to discharge the contaminant out of the housing 110.

Referring to FIG. 5, in the ice-making apparatus with an anti-contamination structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 may extend in a downwardly inclined manner toward the first or second contaminant-discharge holes 165.

The elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 guides the contaminant dropped from the elongate clearance 128 to the opposing first or second side walls 115 of the housing 110. In this regard, in order to facilitate the guide of the contaminant, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 may extend in a downwardly inclined manner toward the first or second contaminant-discharge holes 165.

The embodiment in which the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 extends in a downwardly inclined manner toward the first or second contaminant-discharge holes 165 is shown in FIG. 5. More specifically, in FIG. 5, the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 has a highest point in a longitudinal center thereof and a lowest point at each of the opposing first and second side ends 142.

Accordingly, the contaminant collected by the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 may be moved toward the opposing first and/or second side ends 142 due to gravity. Thus, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the discharge of the contaminant may be facilitated.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, in the ice-making apparatus with an anti-contamination structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the housing 110 has first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160. The first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 are defined within the opposing first and second side walls 115 respectively. The first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 may be configured to receive the contaminants from the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140. The first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 may communicate with the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 respectively, Thus, the contaminants that have received in the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 may be discharged through the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 respectively out of the housing 110.

Specifically, each of the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 defines a space in which the contaminant transferred by the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 is retained before being discharged through the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165. If an amount of the contaminant from the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 exceeds an allowable amount of contaminant to be discharged through the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165, an excessive contaminant may fall again into the ice-storage chamber 119. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 are provided to prevent the excessive contaminants from entering the ice-storage chamber 119.

Each of the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 need not necessarily define a closed space. In one embodiment, each of the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 has a step, a shoulder, or a blocking structure constructed to prevent movement of the contaminants toward the ice-storage chamber 119. Thus, the contaminants received in each of the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 may not fall into the ice-storage chamber 119.

Furthermore, the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 are defined within the opposing first and second side walls 115 of the housing 110 respectively. Preferably, the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 are positioned immediately below the opposing first and second side ends 142 of the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 respectively. Thus, the contaminants guided along the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 flows into each of the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160.

The first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 allow fluid-communications between the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 and an exterior space to the housing 110 respectively. Accordingly, the contaminants present in each of the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 may be safely discharged through each of the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 out of the housing 110.

In FIG. 1, the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 and the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 are not shown. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion “A” in FIG. 1. FIG. 6 shows a state in which first or second pivotal axial protrusions 117 as will be described below is partially removed from the portion A. In FIG. 6, a position and shape of the first or second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 and the corresponding first or second contaminant-discharge holes 165 are partially shown.

Referring to FIG. 6, in an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 faces each of the opposing first and second side ends 142 of the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140. Each of the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 receives the contaminant from the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140. Then, each of the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 delivers the contaminants to each of the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165.

A position and shape of each of the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 relative to each of the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 may vary. In one embodiment, each of the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 is disposed immediately below each of the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 so that all contaminants within each of the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 are discharged through each of the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165.

An example of a position and shape of each of the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 and each of the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 is shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 7 shows a cut portion taken along a line B-B of the ice-making apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 6. Particularly, FIG. 7 shows each of the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 as viewed from an inside of the housing 110.

Referring to FIG. 7, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the opposing first and second side ends 142 of the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 are each close to opposing first and second side walls 115 of the housing 110.

The opposing first and second side ends 142 of the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 extend downwardly into the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160, respectively. Immediately below a bottom of each of the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160, each of the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 is defined. Each of the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 may be communicated with each of the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 and may be structurally partially defined across the bottom of each of the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160.

FIG. 8 is a cut portion taken along a line C-C of the ice-making apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 6. Particularly, each of the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 is shown as viewed from a front of the ice-making apparatus 100.

FIG. 8 illustrates a shape of each of the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 are defined within an outermost edge portion of each of the opposing first and second side walls 115 of the housing 110. Each of the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 is not visible in FIG. 1 showing the appearance of the housing 110.

In FIG. 8, shapes of and a relative positional relationship between each of the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160, each of the opposing first and second side ends 142 of the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140, and each of the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 are shown in accordance with one embodiment.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, by defining the first and/or second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 in the opposing first and/or second side walls 115 of the housing 110 respectively, a portion of the contaminants guided along the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 may be efficiently prevented from entering the ice-storage chamber 119. Further, by discharging the contaminants within the first and/or second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 through the first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes 165 respectively, the contaminants may be effectively discharged even in an event of a rapid increase of the contaminants.

Referring FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, in the ice-making apparatus with the anti-contamination structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the first and second pivotal axial protrusions 117 may extend inwardly from inner faces of the opposing first and second side walls 115 respectively. The first and second pivotal axial protrusions 117 may be inserted into first and second pivotal axial grooves respectively defined in both opposing side end portions of the elongate top end portion 122 of the pivotally-movable door 120. The first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 may be adjacent to the first and second pivotal axial protrusions 117 respectively.

More specifically, the first and second pivotal axial protrusions 117 may extend inwardly from inner faces of the opposing first and second side walls 115 respectively so as to be rotatably inserted into first and second pivotal axial grooves respectively defined in both opposing side end portions of the elongate top end portion 122 of the pivotally-movable door 120. Thus, the first and second pivotal axial protrusions 117 may act as a pivotal axis for the pivotally-movable door 120.

Alternatively, the first and second pivotal axial protrusions 117 may extend outwardly from the both opposing side end portions of the elongate top end portion 122 of the pivotally-movable door 120. The opposing first and second side walls 115 may have first and second pivotal axial grooves respectively defined therein. Thus, the first and second pivotal axial protrusions 117 may be respectively rotatably inserted into the first and second pivotal axial grooves.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the first and second pivotal axial protrusions 117 are projected out of the housing 110 such that a pivotal axis of the pivotally-movable door 120 is positioned out of the front opening 111. This ensures that the pivotal movement of the pivotally-movable door 120 is not interfered by the housing 110.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first and/or second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 may be defined within the opposing first and/or second side walls 115 of the housing 110 respectively while the first and/or second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 may level-correspond to the first and/or second pivotal axial protrusions 117 respectively. Thus, the first and/or second pivotal axial protrusions 117 may have a lower level than the elongate clearance 128. The elongate clearance 128 may be defined between the elongate top end portion 122 of the pivotally-movable door 120 and the housing 110. In this connection, the elongate top end portion 122 may be disposed below the elongate clearance 128.

Alternatively, the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 may be at least partially defined in the first and second pivotal axial protrusions 117 respectively. Thus, a space size of each of the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 may further increase.

Furthermore, since each of the first and second pivotal axial protrusions 117 has a lower level than the elongate clearance 128, each of the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 may be easily defined relative to the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140. Referring to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, it is shown that the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 may be at least partially defined in the first and second pivotal axial protrusions 117 respectively.

Referring to FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, as for the ice-making apparatus with the anti-contamination structure, the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 may have the opposing first and second side ends 142 which extend downwardly into the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 respectively. This may facilitate the guide of the contaminants into each of the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160.

More specifically, the opposing first and second side ends 142 of the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 are adjacent to the opposing first and second side walls 115 of the housing 110 respectively. The opposing first and second side ends 142 of the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 may be inserted into the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 defined in the opposing first and second side walls 115 of the housing 110 respectively.

Accordingly, the contaminant moved along the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 directly moves into the first and/or second contaminant-receiving chambers 160. In embodiments, between the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 and the first and/or second contaminant-receiving chambers 160, the contaminant does not fall down toward the ice-storage chamber 119. This is due to an absence of a gap between the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 and the first and/or second contaminant-receiving chambers 160. This leads to an improvement in the hygiene of the ice-storage chamber 119. FIG. 6 to FIG. 8 illustrate the configuration that the opposing first and second side ends 142 of the elongate contaminant-guide plate 140 are inserted into the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers 160 defined in the opposing first and second side walls 115 of the housing 110 respectively.

Referring to FIG. 1, as for the ice-making apparatus with an anti-contamination structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the housing 110 includes first and second contaminant downward channels 182. The first and/or second contaminant downward channels 182 may be defined on outer face portions of the opposing first and second side walls 115 respectively. The first and/or second contaminant downward channels 182 extend downwardly from the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 respectively. The first and/or second contaminant downward channels 182 communicate with the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 respectively. Accordingly, the contaminants discharged from the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 may move downward along the first and/or second contaminant downward channels 182 respectively.

Specifically, the first and second contaminant downward channels 182 are defined in the outer face portions of the opposing first and second side walls 115 of the housing 110 respectively. Each of the first and/or second contaminant downward channels 182 may be implemented as an elongate groove. Upper ends of the first and/or second contaminant downward channels 182 may communicate with the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 respectively. Thus, the contaminants discharged from the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 may be moved downwards along the first and/or second contaminant downward channels 182 respectively.

Particularly, when the contaminated water residing in the pivotally-movable door 120 and containing the contaminants is discharged through the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165, the contaminated water flows downwardly along the first and second contaminant downward channels 182. In this embodiment of the present disclosure, this can facilitate management of the contaminated water discharged outside the housing 110.

FIG. 1 shows the appearance of the housing 110 with the first and/or second contaminant downward channels 182 defined therein. The first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 are not visible in FIG. 1. It may be appreciated that the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 may be disposed at the upper ends of the first and/or second contaminant downward channels 182 respectively. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure as shown in FIG. 1, each of the first and second contaminant downward channels 182 may be configured to allow the contaminants discharged from the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 to be guided to a lowest level of the housing 110.

Referring to FIG. 1, as for the ice-making apparatus with an anti-contamination structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first and second contaminant downward channels 182 may extend from the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 respectively downwardly toward the lowest level of the housing. First and/or second contaminant container 185 may be disposed on outer faces of the opposing first and second side walls 115 respectively. The first and/or second contaminant container 185 may be removable from the opposing first and/or second side walls 115 respectively. The first and/or second contaminant container 185 may be in communication with the first and/or second contaminant downward channels 182 respectively. The first and/or second contaminant container 185 may be configured to store therein the contaminants guided along the first and/or second contaminant downward channels 182 respectively.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the first and/or second contaminant container 185 may be provided to enhance the management function, including removal of the contaminant. The first and second contaminant downward channels 182 may extend from the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 respectively downwardly toward the lowest level of the housing 110. In this connection, each of the first and/or second contaminant downward channels 182 may extend vertically or in an angled manner relative to a horizontal direction.

FIG. 1 shows that the first and second contaminant downward channels 182 extend from the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 respectively in a vertical manner. In this connection, an oil container may be disposed at each of lower ends of the first and/or second contaminant downward channels 182. The oil container may be configured to collect the contaminant from the first and/or second contaminant downward channels 182.

FIG. 1 shows that the first and second contaminant downward channels 182 extend from the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 respectively in a vertical manner. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In this connection, the oil container may be disposed at each of the lower ends of the first and/or second contaminant downward channels 182. The oil container may be configured to collect the contaminant from the first and/or second contaminant downward channels 182. The oil container may be inserted into each of the opposing first and second side walls 115 or may be formed to protrude outwardly from each of the opposing first and second side walls 115.

In one embodiment, the oil container may be removable from each of the opposing first and second side walls 115. The contaminants stored in the oil container are eventually removed. In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the oil container is provided to be detachable or removable from each of the opposing first and second side walls 115 to improve the convenience of removal of the contaminants. Coupling between the oil container and each of the opposing first and second side walls 115 may be accomplished in a variety of ways. In one example, the oil container may be hook-coupled to each of the opposing first and second side walls 115. In another example, the oil container may be coupled to each of the opposing first and second side walls 115 via a bracket.

Referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, as for the ice-making apparatus with an anti-contamination structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, in the outer face portion of each of the opposing first and second side walls 115, a guide channel 192 may be defined, which extends from each of the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 and communicates with an ice-making water discharge channel 195. Thus, the contaminants discharged through the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 may move along the guide channel 192 and then enter the ice-making water discharge channel 195. The ice-making water discharge channel 195 may refer to a channel used to discharge water used in ice-making.

In one embodiment, instead of or in addition to each of the first and/or second contaminant downward channels 182, the guide channel 192 may be provided. The guide channel 192 may be implemented as a guide pipe.

One end of the guide channel 192 communicates with each of the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165. The other end of the guide channel 192 communicates with the ice-making water discharge channel 195 of the ice-making apparatus 100.

The ice-making apparatus 100 may generate ices using water. For ice-making, water used therein may be drained periodically and fresh water may be supplied to produce ices. Further, water used for cleaning the inside of the ice-making apparatus 100 may be discharged through the ice-making water discharge channel 195.

Thus, the guide channel 192 communicates with the ice-making water discharge channel 195, which discharges water to the outside of the housing 110 during operation of the ice-making apparatus 100. Thus, as the contaminant is removed through the ice-making water discharge channel 195, this embodiment is particularly advantageous in terms of the management of the ice-making apparatus 100.

The position of the ice-making water discharge channel 195 may vary depending on the type of the ice-making apparatus 100. FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which the ice-making water discharge channel 195 is provided at a lower position of a rear wall of the housing 110 of the ice-making apparatus 100. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. FIG. 3 show that the guide channel 192 is connected to the ice-making water discharge channel 195.

In one embodiment, one end of the guide channel 192 communicates with each of the first and second contaminant-discharge holes 165 as shown in FIG. 2, while, as shown in FIG. 3, the other end of the guide channel 192 extends to the ice-making water discharge channel 195. Thus, the contaminants guided along the guide channel 192 is eventually discharged through the ice-making water discharge channel 195 out of the housing 110.

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. It will be appreciated that the disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms.

Accordingly, it should be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and not restrictive. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description. It is intended that the present disclosure cover the modifications and variations of this disclosure provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. An ice-making apparatus with an anti-contamination structure, wherein the apparatus includes:

a housing having an ice-storage chamber defined therein, and a front wall having a front opening partially defined therein;

a pivotally-movable door having an elongate top end, wherein the pivotally-movable door is constructed to pivotally move around the elongate top end thereof to open or close the front opening, wherein an elongate clearance is defined between the elongate top end and the front wall;

an elongate contaminant-guide plate disposed below the elongate clearance, wherein the elongate contaminant-guide plate has opposing first and second side ends, and the housing has opposing first and second side walls, wherein the opposing first and/or second side ends are disposed at or adjacent to the opposing first and/or second side walls respectively; and

first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes defined in the opposing first and/or second side walls respectively,

wherein the elongate contaminant-guide plate is constructed to receive contaminants falling down from the elongate clearance and to guide the contaminants toward the first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes, wherein each of the first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes is constructed to discharge the contaminants out of the housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the front wall has upper and lower portions, wherein the upper portion is tilted, wherein the upper portion has the front opening at least partially defined therein, wherein the elongate clearance is disposed at a higher level than the ice-storage chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elongate contaminant-guide plate extends in a downward inclined manner toward the first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the opposing first and/or second side walls have first and second contaminant-receiving chambers defined therein respectively, wherein the first and/or second contaminant-receiving chambers are constructed to receive the contaminants from the elongate contaminant-guide plate,

wherein the first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes communicate with the first and/or second contaminant-receiving chambers respectively,

wherein the first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes receive the contaminants from the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers respectively and discharge the contaminants out of the housing.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the opposing first and second side walls have first and second pivotal axial protrusions extending inwardly therefrom respectively, wherein the pivotally-movable door has first and second pivotal axial grooves defined in first and second opposing side ends of the elongate top end thereof, wherein the first and second pivotal axial protrusions are rotatably inserted into the first and second pivotal axial grooves respectively,

wherein the first and/or second contaminant-receiving chambers are partially defined in the first and/or second pivotal axial protrusions respectively; or the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers are defined in the opposing first and/or second side walls respectively while the first and/or second contaminant-receiving chambers level-correspond to the first and/or second pivotal axial protrusions respectively.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the opposing first and/or second side ends of the elongate contaminant-guide plate extends into the first and second contaminant-receiving chambers respectively.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the opposing first and/or second side walls have first and/or second contaminant downward channels defined in outer face portions thereof respectively, wherein the first and/or second contaminant downward channels communicate with the first and second contaminant-discharge holes respectively, wherein the first and/or second contaminant downward channels are constructed to allow downward movement of the contaminants along the opposing first and/or second side walls respectively.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the first and/or second contaminant downward channels extend downwardly from the first and/or second contaminant-discharge holes respectively, wherein first and/or contaminant containers are disposed on outer faces of the first and second side walls respectively, wherein the first and/or contaminant containers communicates the first and/or second contaminant downward channels respectively, wherein the first and/or contaminant containers are constructed to contain therein the contaminants, wherein the first and/or contaminant containers are removable from the outer faces of the first and second side walls respectively.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the opposing first and/or second side walls has first and/or second guide channels defined therein, wherein upper ends of the first and/or second guide channels communicate with the first and second contaminant-discharge holes respectively, wherein the apparatus further includes an ice-making water discharge channel used to discharge water used in ice-making, wherein each of lower ends of the first and/or second guide channels communicates with the ice-making water discharge channel, wherein the contaminants are discharged from the first and second contaminant-discharge holes to the first and/or second guide channels and then to the ice-making water discharge channel.