Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator having a water supply device integrally formed with a rear surface of a storage chamber thereof. The refrigerator includes a storage chamber door to open and close a storage chamber, a dispenser mounted to the storage chamber door, and a water supply device separably connected to a rear surface of the storage chamber door adjacent to the dispenser, so as to supply water to the dispenser.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2009-0084326, filed on Sep. 8, 2009 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Embodiments relate to a refrigerator capable of improving sanitation and space efficiency by structuring a water supply device integrally with a rear surface of a door of a storage chamber.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a refrigerator refers to an apparatus to store food at a low temperature and, more specifically, to store food in a freezing state or a refrigerating state according to the type of food to be stored.

Recently, refrigerators have been equipped with a dispenser, that is, a device to allow a user to take out water or ice stored in the refrigerator, from the outside without having to open a door of the refrigerator, thereby improving user convenience. Also, an ice making unit may be further provided, which is supplied with water from the outside and makes ice to be taken out through the dispenser.

The dispenser and the ice making unit require supply of water from the outside in order to operate. To this end, the refrigerator is connected with a water supply source. Water in the water supply source is supplied to the refrigerator, being diverged through a valve. Part of the water is diverged at the valve and supplied to the ice making unit and another part of the water is supplied to a water tank. The water tank is connected through a supply pipe to the dispenser mounted on a front of the door of the refrigerator.

However, in general, the ice making unit is generally mounted in a freezing chamber, the water tank is mounted in a refrigerating chamber, and the dispenser is mounted to a door of the freezing chamber. Therefore, installation of the supply pipe that supplies water to those parts becomes complicated. Accordingly, the total length of the supply pipe should be increased, which complicates the manufacturing process and deteriorates sanitation.

SUMMARY

Therefore, it is an aspect to provide a refrigerator having a water supply device, integrally formed with a rear surface of a refrigerating chamber door, accordingly simplifying the structure and reducing manufacturing costs.

It is another aspect to provide a refrigerator having improved sanitation by enabling separation of the water supply device from the refrigerating chamber door such that a filter assembly, a water tank assembly and a supply pipe may be cleaned or replaced.

Additional aspects of the invention 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 invention.

The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing a refrigerator including a storage chamber door to open and close a storage chamber, a dispenser mounted to the storage chamber door, and a water supply device separably connected to a rear surface of the storage chamber door adjacent to the dispenser, to supply water to the dispenser.

The water supply device may further include a case having a receiving part to receive a water tank assembly, and the case may be separably connected to the rear surface of the door.

The case may further include a hook part formed on both sides of the receiving part and separably engaged with the rear surface of the door.

The door may include a supporting projection formed on the rear surface thereof to support a door guard, and the hook parts may be separably engaged with the supporting projections.

The case may further include a cover member allowing the components mounted in the receiving part to be unseen from the outside. The case may include a first case having a first path a second case having a second path that forms an inner passage for water through connection with the first path. The case may include an LED lamp displaying the state of water stored in the water tank assembly.

The water tank assembly may include a connector connected to an external water supply source, and a water tank separably connected with the connector. The water tank may include a tank body storing water, and a tank cover separably connected to an upper part of the tank body.

The tank body may be made of a transparent material.

The water supply device may further include a filter assembly received in the receiving part of the case to clean the water supplied from the external water supply source and supply the cleaned water to the water tank assembly.

The filter assembly may include a connector connected to an external water supply source, and a water cleaning filter separably connected with the connector.

The refrigerator may further include an ice making device mounted in the storage chamber to produce ice, wherein the water supply device may further include a control valve supplying the water passed through the filter assembly selectively to the ice making device or to the water tank assembly.

The water supply device may further include a shielding member connected to the case to surround the control valve, so as to shield noise.

The water supply device may further include a supply pipe connect the water supply device from the rear surface of the storage chamber door to the dispenser or to the external water supply source.

A receiving part may be formed at the storage chamber door to secure a space in a foamed material so that the supply pipe is connected to the external water supply source or the dispenser in the space.

The refrigerator may further include a hinge unit pivotably supporting the storage chamber door, wherein the receiving part may be disposed adjacent to the hinge unit.

The receiving part may have a pipe form having a greater diameter than the supply pipe.

The foregoing and/or other aspects may also be achieved by providing a refrigerator including refrigerator having a main body; a refrigerating chamber disposed at an upper part of the main body; a freezing chamber disposed at a lower part of the main body, further includes a refrigerating chamber door opening and closing the refrigerating chamber, a water tank assembly separably connected to a rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door to store water, and a dispenser formed on a front of the refrigerating chamber door to allow a user to take out the water stored in the water tank assembly.

The water tank assembly may include a connector connected to an external water supply source, and a water tank separably connected with the connector.

The refrigerator may further include a case to receive the water tank assembly, and the case may be separably connected with the rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door.

The refrigerator may further include a filter assembly received in the case to clean the water supplied from the external water supply source, a supply pipe disposed in a foamed material filling an inside of the refrigerating chamber door to connect the filter assembly to the water supply source, and a receiving part formed in the refrigerating chamber door to receive the supply pipe so that the supply pipe is movable in the foamed material.

The refrigerator may further include a supply pipe disposed in a foamed material filling an inside of the refrigerating chamber door to connect the water tank assembly to the dispenser, and a receiving part formed at the dispenser to receive the supply pipe so that the supply pipe is movable in the foamed material.

In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator includes a main body, a refrigerating chamber disposed at an upper part of the main body, a refrigerating chamber door connected to the main body to open and close the refrigerating chamber, an ice making device mounted in the refrigerating chamber to produce ice, a dispenser mounted on a front of the refrigerating chamber door, and a water supply device removably connected to a rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door to supply water from an external water supply source selectively to the ice making device or the dispenser.

The water supply device may include a filter assembly supplied with water from the external water supply source to clean the water, a water tank assembly storing the water cleaned by the filter assembly, a control valve controlling supply of water to the ice making device or to the water tank assembly, and a case receiving the filter assembly, the water tank assembly and the control valve, being separably connected to the rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door.

The refrigerator may further include a first supply pipe connecting the filter assembly to the water supply source, a second supply pipe connecting the filter assembly to the control valve, a third supply pipe connecting the control valve to the water tank assembly, a fourth supply pipe connecting the control valve to the ice making device that produces ice, and a fifth supply pipe connecting the water tank assembly to the dispenser through which water is taken out.

The case may include a first case having a first path, and a second path having a second path that forms an inner passage for water through connection with the first path.

The fifth supply pipe may be movable within the refrigerating chamber door.

As described above, in the refrigerator according to the embodiments the water supply device, which conventionally has a complicated structure, may be simplified in structure, accordingly reducing the manufacturing costs. In addition, the filter assembly, the water tank assembly and the supply pipe may be cleaned or replaced by separating the water supply device from the refrigerating chamber door. Accordingly, the water supply device may be maintained in a sanitary state.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects 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 front perspective view showing the exterior appearance of a refrigerator according to one embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an inner structure of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a water supply device of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the water supply device, as seen from the front of a refrigerating chamber door;

FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C are views illustrating the processes of assembling or disassembling a connector and a water cleaning filter according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a water tank according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of an LED lamp according to the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the connection relationships of the water supply device with a water supply source and a dispenser, according to the embodiment of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a water supply device of a refrigerator according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

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

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view showing the exterior appearance of a refrigerator according to one embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing an inner structure of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a main body 10 of the refrigerator includes a refrigerating chamber 20 and a freezing chamber 30 as storage spaces. The refrigerating chamber 20 and the freezing chamber 30 are separated upward and downward by a partition 40 within the main body 10. In this embodiment, the refrigerating chamber 20 is disposed at an upper part of the main body 10 and the freezing chamber 30 is disposed at a lower part thereof. However, embodiments are not limited to such a structure and may be structured in a reverse manner or applied to a side-by-side refrigerator.

The refrigerating chamber 20 and the freezing chamber 30 are opened toward the front of the main body 10. The opened front sides of the chambers 20 and 30 are opened and closed by doors 50 and 60, respectively. Especially, the refrigerating chamber 20 is opened and closed by a pair of the refrigerating chamber doors 50. The refrigerating chamber doors 50 are pivotably supported by hinge units 70 mounted at upper and lower both sides of the front of the main body 10.

A door handle 80 is formed at a leading end of a front side of each refrigerating chamber door 50. A user grips the handle 80 and applies a force to open and close the refrigerating chamber door 50. The freezing chamber door 60 also has a door handle 90 at an upper front part thereof. The freezing chamber door 60 may be withdrawn like a drawer from the freezing chamber 30.

Additionally, an ice making chamber 100 to produce ice is mounted at an upper inside of the refrigerating chamber 20. The ice making chamber 100 is at a relatively low temperature as compared to the refrigerating chamber 20, and therefore is isolated by a dedicated adiabatic partition 100a.

An ice making device 110 which actually produces ice is provided in the ice making chamber 100. The ice making device 110 receives supplied water in an ice making tray 111 and freezes the water using the low inner temperature of the ice making chamber 100. An ice storage unit 112 is disposed at a lower part of the ice making device 110 to store the ice produced by the ice making device 110. The ice produced at the ice making device 110 may be transferred to the ice storage unit 112 by various methods.

The produced ice is temporarily stored in the ice storage unit 112 and transferred by an ice transfer unit 113. The ice storage unit 112 is fluidly communicated with an ice discharge duct 114 formed through the refrigerating chamber door 50 and the adiabatic partition 100a. The ice discharge duct 114 is selectively opened and closed, thereby transferring the ice to a dispenser 200 installed at the refrigerating chamber door 50. More specifically, the ice discharge duct 114 is formed at the refrigerating chamber door 50 to fluidly communicate with the dispenser 200 in an outward direction. Also, the ice discharge duct 114 is fluidly communicated with the ice storage unit 112 through the adiabatic partition 100a of the ice making chamber 100, in an inward direction.

The dispenser 200 enables the user to take out water or ice without opening the refrigerating chamber door 50. That is, the dispenser 200 has the structure to take out water and ice. For example, the dispenser 200 may include an operation button, or an operation lever exposed to the front of the refrigerating chamber door 50 to be input with signals regarding opening and closing of a discharge port that discharges the water or ice therethrough.

Water supply from the outside is required for the operations of the dispenser 200 and the ice making device 110. To this end, a water supply device 300 is formed integrally with a rear surface 50a of the refrigerating chamber door 50 and connected to an external water supply source such as a water tap.

Hereinafter, the water supply device of the refrigerator according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5.

Although the water supply device of this embodiment is disposed at the rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door, the water supply device may be formed at a rear surface of a freezing chamber door by properly modifying the structure so that water in the water supply device does not freeze by using an adiabatic member.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a water supply device of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the water supply device, as seen from the front of a refrigerating chamber door.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the water supply device 300 includes a case 400, a filter assembly 500, a water tank assembly 600, a control valve 700, and a supply pipe 800.

The case 400 is mounted along a guide rail 51 formed on the rear surface 50a of the refrigerating chamber door 50. Thus, since the case 400 is mounted adjacent to the dispenser 200 and the ice making device 110, the total length of the supply pipe 800 including by first to fifth supply pipes P1, P2, P3, P4 and P5 may be reduced.

The case 400 includes a receiving part 410 that receives the filter assembly 500, the water tank assembly 600 and the control valve 700, and a hook part 420 formed on a lateral side of the receiving part 410 to be separably connected to the rear surface 50a of the refrigerating chamber door 50. The water supply device 300 also includes frames 300a, which connect the water tank assembly 600 and the filter assembly 500 to the case 400.

The receiving part 410 may be depressed by a predetermined depth inwardly so as to receive the filter assembly 500, the water tank assembly 600 and the control valve 700. The receiving part 410 may include an upper receiving part 411 receiving the filter assembly 500 and the water tank assembly 600, and a lower receiving part 412 receiving the control valve 700.

The upper receiving part 411 may be larger than the lower receiving part 412 in order to receive the filter assembly 500 and the water tank assembly 600. A shielding cover 412a may be connected to the lower receiving part 412 to shield noise generated by the operation of the control valve 700.

The hook part 420 may be formed on both sides of the upper receiving part 411. The guide rail 51 is mounted at the rear surface 50a of the refrigerating chamber door 50, and supporting projections 51a are formed on both inner sides of the guide rail 51 to support a door guard (not shown). The hook parts 420 are structured so that the case 400 is inserted between both sides of the guide rail 51 while being supported by the supporting projections 51a formed at both sides to support the door guard (not shown). Thus, the water supply device 300 is connected to the rear surface 50a through the supporting projections 51a adapted to support the door guard (not shown), thereby achieving an economical structure.

The filter assembly 500 is disposed in the upper receiving part 411 of the case 400. The filter assembly 500 cleans water supplied from the external water supply source through the first supply pipe P1, so that the water becomes drinkable for the user. The filter assembly 500 includes a connector 510 and a water cleaning filter 520.

FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C are views illustrating the processes of assembling or disassembling the connector and the water cleaning filter according to the embodiment of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C, the connector 510 includes an inlet 511 connected to the first supply pipe P1 to guide water into the water cleaning filter 520, and an outlet 512 connected to the second supply pipe P2 to guide the water outward to the control valve 700. The connector 510 further includes a first port 513 through which the water flowing in through the inlet 511 is moved to the water cleaning filter 520, and a second port 514 through which the water is moved from the water cleaning filter 520 to the outlet 512.

The first port 513 and the second port 514 are hollow. Therefore, a sealing member 515 may be provided in a part of an inner wall of each of the first and the second ports 513 and 514, thereby preventing leakage of water. In addition, the first and the second ports 513 and 514 include a first hook 513a and a second hook 514a, respectively, which are made of an elastic material and separably connected to the air cleaning filters 520.

The water cleaning filter 520 includes a filter housing 521, a first guide 522 protruded from the filter housing 521 to be connected to the first port 513, a second guide 523 protruded from the filter housing 521 to be connected to the second port 514, a connection guide 524 connected to the first and the second guides 522 and 523, and a filter element (not shown) disposed at the filter housing 521 and made of a non-woven fabric or a reverse osmosis membrane.

The first guide 522 and the second guide 523 are protruded in a pipe form and inserted in the first port 513 and the second port 514, respectively. The first and the second guides 522 and 523 include a first locking projection 522a and a second locking projection 523a, respectively. The first locking projection 522a is engaged with the first hook 513a of the first port 513 and the second locking projection 523a is engaged with the second hook 514a of the second port 514.

More specifically, the first and the second locking projections 522a and 523a are protruded outward from parts of the first and the second guides 522 and 523, and separably engaged with the first and the second hooks 513a and 514a.

The connection guide 524 may have a push stick form which is hollow through the center and be mounted to the first and the second guides 522 and 523. That is, the connection guide 524 is a hard bar having a donut-like sectional shape. When the connection guide 524 is pushed toward the connector 510, the first and the second hooks 513a and 514a made of an elastic material are pushed and therefore released from the first and the second locking projections 522a and 523a. According to this, the air cleaning filter 520 may be conveniently connected with and released from the connector 510 even in a narrow space, as shown in FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C.

The control valve 700 is formed in the lower receiving part 410 of the case 400. The water passed through the filter assembly 500 is cleaned and supplied to the control valve 700 through the second supply pipe P2. The water supplied from the second supply pipe P2 is divergently supplied to the third and the fourth supply pipes P3 and P4 by the control valve 700.

The control valve 700 may include a pair of solenoid valves (not shown) formed therein so that the water supplied through the second supply pipe P2 is selectively supplied to the third and the fourth supply pipes P3 and P4 or interrupted. The water supplied to the third supply pipe P3 is supplied to the water tank assembly 600 and then to the dispenser 200, whereas the water supplied to the fourth supply pipe P4 is supplied to the ice making device 110 to become ice.

As described above, the control valve 700 may shield noise using the shielding cover 412a covering the lower receiving part 410.

The water tank assembly 600 is formed in the upper receiving part 410 of the case 400. The water tank assembly 600 may be disposed at a lower part of the filter assembly 500. The water tank assembly 600 receives the water flowing into the control valve 700 through the third supply pipe P3 and stores the water at lower than a predetermined temperature. That is, the water tank assembly 600 preserves a predetermined amount of water in a refrigerated state and supplies the water to the dispenser 200 so that the user is supplied with cool water. That is, a predetermined amount of the water cleaned through the filter assembly 500 may always be supplied to and stored in the water tank assembly 600.

The water tank assembly 600 may include a connector 610 and a water tank 620 separably connected to the connector 610. Although not shown, the connector 610 includes an inlet connected to the third supply pipe P3 to guide water into the water tank 620, and an outlet connected to the fifth supply pipe P5 to guide the water out to the dispenser 200.

Although not shown, the case 400 may further include a cover member allowing the components mounted in the receiving part 410 to be hidden from view from the outside. Therefore, the water supply device 300 is not exposed to the outside by the cover member, thereby improving the aesthetics of the refrigerating chamber door 50.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the water tank 620 according to the above embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6, the water tank 620 may include a tank body 621, and a tank cover 622 connected to an upper part of the tank body 621. The tank body 621 has small locking parts 621a protruded on an outer circumference thereof. The tank cover 622 has a cover part 622a covering the tank body 621, connection parts 622b for connection with the tank body 621, and a locking projection 622c protruded from an inner surface of each of the connection parts 622b and elastically engaged with and released from the locking parts 621a of the tank body 621.

According to the above-structured water tank 620, the tank body 621 is connected to the tank cover 622 as follows. The locking projections 622c protruded from the inner surfaces of the connection parts 622b disposed opposite to each other are pressed toward the tank body 621, and therefore elastically engaged with the locking parts 621a. Accordingly, the tank cover 622 is connected to the tank body 621. When a force is applied to the connection parts 622b in a direction opposite to the tank body 621, the locking parts 621a and the locking projections 622c are released from each other. Thus, the water tank 620 may be conveniently separated and cleaned, thereby maintaining sanitation of the water tank 620.

The water tank 620 is made of a transparent material so that the user easily checks the state of water in the water tank 620.

In addition, the case 400 disposed adjacent to the water tank 620 may include an LED lamp 900 displaying the water state to inform the user of the cleaning period. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the LED lamp 900.

Referring to FIG. 7, the LED lamp 900 emits red light when the water has remained in the water tank 620 for 7 days or longer, or emits blue light when the water has remained in the water tank 620 for less than 7 days.

If the user does not clean the water tank 620 although the red light is on, the LED lamp 900 flashes the red light to warn the user of the state of the water tank 620. In addition, if the user does not press a reset button even after cleaning the water tank 620, the LED lamp 900 also flashes.

When the user cleans the water tank 620 in the state where the red light is on and presses the reset button, the LED lamp 900 emits blue light. Thus, the user is able to easily recognize the cleaning period through the state of the LED lamp 900 and the sanitary state in the water tank 620.

Next, the processes of supplying the water supplied from the water supply source through a plurality of the supply pipes to the dispenser and the ice making device will be described in detail.

The first supply pipe P1 is provided to guide the water from the water supply source to the water supply device 300. The first supply pipe P1 is connected to the filter assembly 500 mounted at the rear surface 50a of the refrigerating chamber door 50, by passing through an upper surface 50b of the refrigerating chamber door 50.

The water guided into the filter assembly 500 is moved through the second supply pipe P2 disposed at a lower part of the first supply pipe P1. The second supply pipe P2 is connected to the control valve 700 at the opposite side to where the filter assembly 500 is connected.

The water flows into the control valve 700 and is moved divergently to the third and the fourth supply pipes P3 and P4. In other words, part of the water moved along the second supply pipe P2 flows to the third supply pipe P3 and the other part flows to the fourth supply pipe P4.

The third supply pipe P3 is connected to the ice making device 110. The ice making device 110 produces ice from the water cleaned by the filter assembly 500 to be used by the user. The ice is supplied to the user through the dispenser 200.

The fourth supply pipe P4 is connected to the water tank assembly 600. The water tank assembly 600 preserves a predetermined amount of water in a refrigerated state while supplying the cool water to the dispenser 200 for the user. The fifth supply pipe P5 is mounted at a part of the water tank assembly 600 discharging the water from the water tank assembly 600.

The fifth supply pipe P5 is connected to the dispenser 200 at the rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door. The water discharged from the water tank assembly 600 is transferred to the dispenser 200 through the fifth supply pipe P5 and supplied to the user through the dispenser 200.

Hereinafter, the connection between the first supply pipe P1 and the water supply source will be explained with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the connection of the water supply device with the water supply source and the dispenser, according to the embodiment of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIG. 8, the hinge units 70 are mounted to the upper surface 50b of the refrigerating chamber door 50 to enable opening and closing of the refrigerating chamber door 50. An insertion hole 50c is formed by penetrating a part of the upper surface 50b of the refrigerating chamber door 50, in order for connection of the hinge units 70.

A foam 50d fills an inner side 500a of the refrigerating chamber door 50. A first receiving hole H1 is formed in the refrigerating chamber door 50 disposed adjacent to the insertion hole 50c so that the first supply pipe P1 may move within the refrigerating chamber door 50. That is, the first receiving hole H1 forms a path allowing the first supply pipe P1 to be movable from the rear surface 50a to the upper surface 50b of the refrigerating chamber door 50.

The first receiving hole H1 may have a pipe form having a greater diameter than the first supply pipe P1. Thus, since the first supply pipe P1 of the water supply device 300 connected to the water supply source is not fixed by the foam 50d of the refrigerating chamber door 50, replacement of the first supply pipe P1 may be performed with ease.

Next, the connection between the fifth supply pipe P5 and the dispenser 200 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 8, the water tank assembly 600 has the fifth supply pipe P5 at the part discharging the water. The fifth supply pipe P5 is connected to the dispenser 200 to supply the water for the user.

More specifically, the dispenser 200 includes a dispenser base 200a depressed by a predetermined depth inwardly from the front of the refrigerating chamber door 50. In the dispenser base 200a, a second receiving part H2 is formed in the foamed material 50d for connection of the fifth supply pipe P5.

Therefore, when the fifth supply pipe P5 having a pipe form formed at the dispenser base 200a is inserted in the second receiving hole H2, water may be supplied from the fifth supply pipe P5 to the dispenser 200.

Because the second receiving hole H2 is formed in the foam 50d filling the refrigerating chamber door 50 at a predetermined interval from the fifth supply pipe P5, the fifth supply pipe P5 may freely move, not fixed by the foam 50d. Therefore, cleaning or replacement of the fifth supply pipe P5 may be conveniently performed, consequently improving the sanitation of the fifth supply pipe P5.

Another embodiment will now be described with reference to FIG. 9. The same elements as in the previous embodiment will be cited by the same reference numerals and will not be explained again. FIG. 9 shows a water supply device according to another embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 9, the water supply device 300′ includes a case 400′, the filter assembly 500, the water tank assembly 600, the control valve 700, and supply pipes P1′, P2′, P3′, P4′ and P5′.

The case 300′ includes a first case 430′ including a first path 430′a, and a second case 440 including a second path 440′a connected to the first path 430′a, thereby forming an inner passage for water.

The water from the water supply source may be supplied to the filter assembly 500 through the first supply pipe P1′. The second supply pipe P2′ is connected to the inner passage formed through connection between the first and the second cases 430′ and 440′, so that the water may be supplied from the filter assembly 500 to the control valve 700. In addition, the third and the fourth supply pipes P3′ and P4′ are connected to the inner passage, so that the water may be supplied from the control valve 700 to the water tank assembly 600 and the ice making device 110. Furthermore, the fifth supply pipe P5′ is connected to the inner passage, so that the water may be supplied from the water tank assembly 600 to the dispenser (not shown).

According to this, since the first and the second cases 430 and 440 are connected to form the inner passage allowing passage of the water, the total length of the supply pipes P1′ to P5′ is reduced. Also, unwanted bending of the supply pipes P1′ to P5′ caused due to an insufficient installation space may be prevented.

Furthermore, since the size of the inner passage formed by connection between the first and the second paths 430′a and 440′a is variable, a speed of the water flow from the point of passing through the filter assembly 500 to the point of reaching the water tank assembly 600 may be controlled.

As described above, the refrigerator according to the embodiment has a water supply device integrally formed with a rear surface of a refrigerating chamber door, accordingly improving the sanitation, space efficiency and material utilization efficiency.

Although a few embodiments 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 storage chamber door to open and close a storage chamber;

a dispenser mounted to the storage chamber door; and

a water supply device separably connected to a rear surface of the storage chamber door adjacent to the dispenser, to supply water to the dispenser.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 2 further comprising a water tank assembly, wherein the water supply device further comprises a case having a receiving part to receive the water tank assembly, and

the case is separably connected to the rear surface of the storage chamber door.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the case further comprises a hook part formed on both sides of the receiving part and separably engaged with the rear surface of the storage chamber door.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the storage chamber door comprises a plurality of supporting projections formed on the rear surface thereof to support a door guard, and

the hook parts are separably engaged with the supporting projections.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the case further comprises a cover member allowing the components mounted in the receiving part to be hidden from view from the outside.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the case comprises a first case having a first path a second case having a second path that forms an inner passage for the water through connection with the first path.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the case comprises an LED lamp displaying the state of water stored in the water tank assembly.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the water tank assembly comprises a connector connected to an external water supply source, and a water tank separably connected with the connector.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the water tank comprises a tank body storing water, and a tank cover separably connected to an upper part of the tank body.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the tank body is made of a transparent material.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the water supply device further comprises a filter assembly received in the receiving part of the case to clean the water supplied from the external water supply source and supply the cleaned water to the water tank assembly.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein the filter assembly comprises a connector connected to an external water supply source, and a water cleaning filter separably connected with the connector.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 11, further comprising an ice making device mounted in the storage chamber to produce ice,

wherein the water supply device further comprises a control valve supplying the water passed through the filter assembly selectively to the ice making device or to the water tank assembly.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 13, wherein the water supply device further comprises a shielding member connected to the case to surround the control valve, so as to shield noise.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the water supply device further comprises a supply pipe connecting the water supply device from the rear surface of the storage chamber door to the dispenser or to the external water supply source.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 15, further comprising a receiving part formed at the storage chamber door; and a foam,

wherein the receiving part secures a space in the foam so that the supply pipe is connected to the external water supply source or the dispenser in the space.

17. The refrigerator according to claim 16, further comprising a hinge unit pivotably supporting the storage chamber door,

wherein the receiving part is disposed adjacent to the hinge unit.

18. The refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein the receiving part has a pipe form having a greater diameter than the supply pipe.

19. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body;

a refrigerating chamber disposed at an upper part of the main body;

a freezing chamber disposed at a lower part of the main body, the refrigerator comprising:

a refrigerating chamber door opening and closing the refrigerating chamber;

a water tank assembly separably connected to a rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door to store water; and

a dispenser formed on a front of the refrigerating chamber door to allow a user to take out the water stored in the water tank assembly.

20. The refrigerator according to claim 19, wherein the water tank assembly comprises a connector connected to an external water supply source, and a water tank separably connected with the connector.

21. The refrigerator according to claim 19, further comprising:

a case to receive the water tank assembly,

wherein the case is separably connected with the rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door.

22. The refrigerator according to claim 21, further comprising:

a filter assembly received in the case to clean the water supplied from the external water supply source;

a foam;

a supply pipe disposed in the foam, the foam to fill an inside of the refrigerating chamber door to connect the filter assembly to the water supply source; and

a receiving part formed in the refrigerating chamber door to receive the supply pipe so that the supply pipe is movable in the foam.

23. The refrigerator according to claim 19, further comprising:

a supply pipe disposed in a foamed material filling an inside of the refrigerating chamber door to connect the water tank assembly to the dispenser; and

a receiving part formed at the dispenser to receive the supply pipe so that the supply pipe is movable in the foamed material.

24. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body;

a refrigerating chamber disposed at an upper part of the main body;

a refrigerating chamber door connected to the main body to open and close the refrigerating chamber;

an ice making device mounted in the refrigerating chamber to produce ice;

a dispenser mounted on a front of the refrigerating chamber door; and

a water supply device removably connected to a rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door to supply water from an external water supply source selectively to the ice making device or the dispenser.

25. The refrigerator according to claim 24, wherein the water supply device comprises:

a filter assembly supplied with water from the external water supply source to clean the water;

a water tank assembly storing the water cleaned by the filter assembly;

a control valve controlling supply of water to the ice making device or to the water tank assembly; and

a case receiving the filter assembly, the water tank assembly and the control valve, being separably connected to the rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door.

26. The refrigerator according to claim 25, further comprising:

a first supply pipe connecting the filter assembly to the water supply source;

a second supply pipe connecting the filter assembly to the control valve;

a third supply pipe connecting the control valve to the water tank assembly;

a fourth supply pipe connecting the control valve to the ice making device that produces ice; and

a fifth supply pipe connecting the water tank assembly to the dispenser through which the water is taken out.

27. The refrigerator according to claim 26, wherein the case comprises a first case having a first path, and a second case having a second path that forms an inner passage for water through connection with the first path.

28. The refrigerator according to claim 26, wherein the first supply pipe and the fifth supply pipe are movable within the refrigerating chamber door.