Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a main body; a first storage chamber installed in the upper region of the main body and having an opened upper surface; a second storage chamber installed below the first storage chamber in the main body and having an opened front surface; a first door to open and close the upper surface of the first storage chamber; a second door rotatably connected to the front surface of the main body to open and close the front surface of the second storage chamber, and at least one tray installed in the second storage chamber so that the tray can be drawn forward out of the second storage chamber when goods to be stored are mounted on the tray.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0006573, filed Jan. 21, 2006, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator which has an increased capacity without increasing the size of the refrigerator, and easily stores goods.

2. Description of the Related Art

Korean Utility Model Publication No. 20-0321175 discloses a slidably-opened Kimchi refrigerator, as shown in FIG. 1. The refrigerator comprises upper storage chambers 1 and 2, each having an opened upper surface, and a lower storage chamber 6 accessed by opening the refrigerator from the front to access an opened top surface of the lower storage chamber 6. The opened upper surfaces of upper storage chambers 1 and 2 are opened and closed by rotating upper doors 3 and 4, and the lower storage chamber 6 is opened and closed by a slidable storage box 5, which can be drawn forward. The slidable storage box 5 comprises a storage box portion 5a having an opened upper surface and supported by rails, and a lower door 5b installed on the front surface of the storage box portion 5a for opening and closing the lower storage chamber 6.

In the above refrigerator, goods to be stored are collected in the upper storage chambers 1 and 2 by opening the upper doors 3 and 4, and goods to be stored are collected in the lower storage chamber 6 by drawing the slidable storage box 5 out of the lower storage chamber 6.

Since the slidable storage box 5 comprises the storage box portion 5a and the lower door 5b, which are connected to each other, when a user wants to put goods into the slidable storage box 5, the user first draws the slidable storage box 5 forward from the lower storage chamber 6 and then puts the goods into the storage box portion 5a through the opened top surface thereof. Thus when the user wants to take the goods out of the slidable storage box 5, the user first draws the slidable storage box 5 forward from the lower storage chamber 6 and then takes the goods out of the storage box portion 5a through the opened top surface thereof, thus being inconvenient when the goods are collected in the refrigerator.

Since the width of the slidable storage box 5 approximately coincides with the width of the front portion of a main body of the refrigerator, the refrigerator comprises a machinery chamber (not shown) installed behind the box 5 in the rear of the lower storage chamber 6 for containing a compressor and a condenser therein. Accordingly, the main body of the conventional refrigerator has a large volume and the length of the lower storage chamber 6 cannot be increased. Further, the conventional refrigerator has a small capacity due to the slidable storage box 5 being contained in the lower storage chamber 6.

In a top-opened refrigerator (not shown) having a deep storage chamber, a plurality of boxes for containing goods to be stored are vertically stacked in the storage chamber. Accordingly, when a user wants to take a lower box out of the storage chamber, the user first takes the upper box out of the storage chamber and then takes the lower box out of the storage chamber, which is inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention to provide a refrigerator, in which goods to be stored are easily put into and taken out of storage chambers.

It is another aspect of the present invention to provide a refrigerator which has an increased capacity without increasing the size of a main body.

The foregoing and/or other aspects and/or advantages may be achieved by providing a refrigerator comprising a main body; a first storage chamber installed in an upper region of the main body and having an opened upper surface; a second storage chamber installed below the first storage chamber in the main body and having an opened front surface; a first door to open and close the upper surface of the first storage chamber; and a second door rotatably connected to a front surface of the main body to open and close the front surface of the second storage chamber.

The refrigerator may further comprise a tray installed in the second storage chamber to be drawn forward out of the second storage chamber when goods are mounted on the tray. The tray may have a flat plate shape, and be supported by guide rails formed on both side surfaces of the second storage chamber. A plurality of the trays may be vertically stacked.

The refrigerator may further comprise a third storage chamber installed at one side of the first storage chamber in the upper region of the main body and having an opened upper surface; a third door to open and close the upper surface of the third storage chamber; and a machinery chamber installed below the third storage chamber in the main body. The depth of the third storage chamber may be larger than that of the first storage chamber.

The foregoing and/or other aspects may also be achieved by providing a refrigerator comprising a main body; a first storage chamber installed in an upper region of the main body and having an opened upper surface; a first door to open and close the upper surface of the first storage chamber; a second storage chamber installed below the first storage chamber in the main body and having an opened front surface; a second door rotatably connected to a front surface of the main body to open and close the front surface of the second storage chamber; a third storage chamber installed at a side of the first storage chamber in the upper region of the main body and having an opened upper surface; a third door to open and close the upper surface of the third storage chamber; and a machinery chamber installed below the third storage chamber in the main body.

The refrigerator may further comprise a fourth storage chamber installed at the other side of the first storage chamber opposite to the third storage chamber and having an opened upper surface; and a fourth door to open and close the upper surface of the fourth storage chamber.

The depth of the third storage chamber may be larger than that of the first storage chamber, and the depth of the fourth storage chamber may be larger than that of the third storage chamber.

The foregoing and/or other aspects may also be achieved by providing a refrigerator comprising a main body; a first storage chamber installed in the main body and having an opened front surface; a first door rotatably connected to a front surface of the main body to open and close the front surface of the first storage chamber; a second storage chamber installed at a side of the first storage chamber in the main body and having an opened upper surface; a second door to open and close the upper surface of the second storage chamber; and a machinery chamber installed below the second storage chamber in the main body.

The foregoing and/or other aspects may also be achieved by providing a refrigerator comprising a main body; a first storage chamber installed in an upper region of the main body and having an opened upper surface; a second storage chamber installed below the first storage chamber in the main body and having an opened front surface; a first door to open and close the upper surface of the first storage chamber; a second door rotatably connected to a front surface of the main body to open and close the front surface of the second storage chamber; a plurality of evaporators respectively installed in the first and second storage chambers; and a controller to independently control the evaporators.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

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

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional refrigerator;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a refrigerator in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the installation structure of trays of the refrigerator in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV′ of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V′ of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a refrigerator in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to explain the present invention by referring to the annexed drawings.

FIGS. 2 to 5 illustrate a refrigerator in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, the refrigerator of the first embodiment comprises a first storage chamber 11 installed in one side of the upper region of a main body 10 and having an opened upper surface, a second storage chamber 12 installed below the first storage chamber 11 in the main body 10 and having an opened front surface, a third storage chamber 13 installed in the other side of the upper region of the main body 10 and having an opened upper surface, and a machinery chamber 14 installed below the third storage chamber 13 in the main body 10.

A first door 15 to open and close the opened upper surface of the first storage chamber 11 and a third door 17 to open and close the opened upper surface of the third storage chamber 13 are respectively installed at the upper surface of the main body 10. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, rear ends of the first door 15 and the second door 17 are connected to the main body 10 by hinge units 18 so that the first door 15 and the second door 17 can be vertically rotated. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, a second door 16 to open and close the opened front surface of the second storage chamber 12 is installed at the front surface of the main body 10. The right end of the second door 16 is rotatably connected to the main body 10 so that the second door 16 can be horizontally rotated. However, the lower end of the second door 16 instead may be rotatably connected to the main body 10 so that the second door 16 can be vertically rotated.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the main body 10 includes an outer case 21, inner cases 22, 23 and 24 installed in the outer case 21 for respectively defining the storage chambers 11, 12 and 13, and a foam insulating material 25 filling spaces between the outer case 21 and the inner cases 22, 23 and 24. The doors 15, 16 and 17 have the same heat insulating structure as that of the main body 10. Evaporators 26a, 26b and 26c, which are made of a refrigerant pipe, for respectively cooling the storage chambers 11, 12 and 13 are installed on the outer surfaces of the inner cases 22, 23 and 24. The evaporators 26a, 26b and 26c are independently controlled by a controller (not shown) so that the storage chambers 11, 12 and 13 can be selectively cooled.

As shown in FIG. 5, a compressor 27 to compress a refrigerant, a condenser 28 to condense the compressed refrigerant, a cooling fan 29, and a control unit 30 are installed in the machinery chamber 14. The rear surface of the machinery chamber 14 is closed by a machinery chamber cover 31, through which a plurality of air circulating holes are formed.

As shown in FIG. 4, the first storage chamber 11 has a depth so that goods to be stored can be easily put into the first storage chamber 11 by opening the first door 15. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an upper tray 33 and a lower tray 34, which can be slidably drawn forward when goods to be stored are mounted on the upper tray 33 and the lower tray 34, are installed in the second storage chamber 12 having the opened front surface. Alternatively, one tray may be installed in the second storage chamber 12, or three or more trays may be installed in the second storage chamber 12.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper and lower trays 33 and 34 have a flat plate shape, and both ends of the upper and lower trays 33 and 34 are respectively supported by guide rails 35 connected to both side surfaces of the second storage chamber 12. Handle grips 33a and 34a are respectively formed at the front ends of the upper and lower trays 33 and 34. Goods to be stored can be vertically stacked in the second storage chamber 12 using the upper and lower trays 33 and 34. The upper and lower trays 33 and 34 are drawn forward by pulling the handle grips 33a and 34a when the second door 16 is opened. In FIG. 3, the guide rails 35 are connected to both side surfaces of the second storage chamber 12. However, the guide rails may be replaced with a plurality of grooves or a plurality of rollers or the like formed at the side surfaces of the second storage chamber 12.

The upper and lower trays 33 and 34 have a flat plate shape and are drawn forward, and thus serve to easily mount goods to be stored. That is, since frames are not formed at the edges of the upper and lower trays 33 and 34, the goods can be taken forward or sideways as well as upward from the upper and lower trays 33 and 34. Also, when the upper and lower trays 33 and 34 are drawn forward from the second storage chamber 12, the goods are easily taken out of the upper and lower trays 33 and 34. The above configuration of the upper and lower trays 33 and 34 increases the capacity of the second storage chamber 12 to contain goods to be stored, as compared to the conventional slidable storage box.

As shown in FIG. 5, the third storage chamber 13 has a larger depth than that of the first storage chamber 11 so that goods to be stored can be vertically stacked in the third storage chamber 13. Due to the above configuration of the third storage chamber 13, goods to be frequently taken out of the refrigerator are stored in the first or second storage chamber 11 or 12, and goods to be stored for a long time are stored in the third storage chamber 13.

Since the machinery chamber 14 is disposed below the third storage chamber 13, the machinery chamber 14 can easily secure a space and the posterior width of the second and third storage chambers 12 and 13 can be increased. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the volume of the main body 10 and increase the inner storage space in the main body 10.

FIG. 6 illustrates a refrigerator in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. The refrigerator of the second embodiment further comprises a fourth storage chamber 41 installed at the side of the first storage chamber 11 opposite to the third storage chamber 13 and having an opened upper surface, and a fourth door 42 to open and close the opened upper surface of the fourth storage chamber 41. The constitution of the refrigerator of the second embodiment except for the fourth storage chamber 41 and the fourth door 42 is substantially the same as that of the refrigerator of the first embodiment, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The depth of the third storage chamber 13 is larger than that of the first storage chamber 11, and the depth of the fourth storage chamber 41 is larger than that of the third storage chamber 13. The addition of the fourth storage chamber 41 broadens the storage space of the refrigerator. The fourth storage chamber 41, which has a large depth and the opened upper surface, easily collects goods, which need to be stored for a long time.

As apparent from the above description, the embodiments of the present invention provide a refrigerator, in which a door and trays of a second storage chamber are provided separately and the trays having a flat plate shape are slidably drawn forward from the second storage chamber, thus easily collecting goods to be stored and being conveniently used, as compared to the conventional refrigerator.

Since frames are not formed at the edges of the trays, the refrigerator of the present invention increases the volume of the storage chamber, as compared to the conventional slidably-opened refrigerator.

Since a machinery chamber is located below a third storage chamber, a space to install the machinery chamber is easily secured, respective storage chambers are effectively disposed, and the posterior width of the storage chambers is increased. Accordingly, the refrigerator of the embodiments of the present invention has a large capacity and reduces the volume of a main body.

Although embodiments of the invention 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 invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body;

a first storage chamber installed in an upper region of the main body and having an opened upper surface;

a second storage chamber installed below the first storage chamber in the main body and having an opened front surface;

a first door to open and close the upper surface of the first storage chamber; and

a second door rotatably connected to a front surface of the main body to open and close the front surface of the second storage chamber.

2. The refrigerator as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a tray installed in the second storage chamber to be drawn forward out of the second storage chamber when goods are mounted on the tray.

3. The refrigerator as set forth in claim 2, wherein the tray has a flat plate shape.

4. The refrigerator as set forth in claim 3 further comprising, a plurality of guide rails respectively formed on side surfaces of the second storage chamber to support the tray.

5. The refrigerator as set forth in claim 4, wherein a plurality of the trays are vertically stacked.

6. The refrigerator as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a third storage chamber installed at a side of the first storage chamber in the upper region of the main body and having an opened upper surface;

a third door to open and close the upper surface of the third storage chamber; and

a machinery chamber installed below the third storage chamber in the main body.

7. The refrigerator as set forth claim 6, wherein a depth of the third storage chamber is greater than a depth of the first storage chamber.

8. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body;

a first storage chamber installed in an upper region of the main body and having an opened upper surface;

a first door to open and close the upper surface of the first storage chamber;

a second storage chamber installed below the first storage chamber in the main body and having an opened front surface;

a second door rotatably connected to a front surface of the main body to open and close the front surface of the second storage chamber;

a third storage chamber installed at a side of the first storage chamber in the upper region of the main body and having an opened upper surface;

a third door to open and close the upper surface of the third storage chamber; and

a machinery chamber installed below the third storage chamber in the main body.

9. The refrigerator as set forth in claim 8, further comprising a tray installed in the second storage chamber to be drawn forward out of the second storage chamber when stored goods are stored are mounted on the tray.

10. The refrigerator as set forth in claim 9, wherein a depth of the third storage chamber is greater than a depth of the first storage chamber.

11. The refrigerator as set forth in claim 9, further comprising:

a fourth storage chamber installed at a side of the first storage chamber opposite to the third storage chamber and having an opened upper surface; and

a fourth door to open and close the upper surface of the fourth storage chamber.

12. The refrigerator as set forth in claim 11, wherein a depth of the third storage chamber is greater than a depth of the first storage chamber, and a depth of the fourth storage chamber is greater than the depth of the third storage chamber.

13. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body;

a first storage chamber installed in the main body and having an opened front surface;

a first door rotatably connected to a front surface of the main body to open and close the front surface of the first storage chamber;

a second storage chamber installed at a side of the first storage chamber in the main body and having an opened upper surface;

a second door to open and close the upper surface of the second storage chamber; and

a machinery chamber installed below the second storage chamber in the main body.

14. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body;

a first storage chamber installed in an upper region of the main body and having an opened upper surface;

a second storage chamber installed below the first storage chamber in the main body and having an opened front surface;

a first door to open and close the upper surface of the first storage chamber;

a second door rotatably connected to a front surface of the main body to open and close the front surface of the second storage chamber;

a plurality of evaporators respectively installed in the first and second storage chambers; and

a controller to independently control the evaporators.

15. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body;

a first storage chamber in the main body;

a second storage chamber below the first storage chamber and having an opened front surface; and

a door to rotate and thereby selectively open or close the second storage chamber.

16. The refrigerator as set forth in claim 15, further comprising a tray within the second storage chamber and accessible without movement thereof in an open state of the second storage chamber.

17. The refrigerator as set forth in claim 16, wherein a width of the tray is smaller than a width of a front of the main body.

18. The refrigerator as set forth in claim 15, further comprising a third storage chamber adjacent the first storage chamber and to a side of the second storage having a smaller depth than the first storage chamber, and a machinery chamber below the third storage chamber.