REFRIGERATOR

- Panasonic

A refrigerator (100) includes: a storage compartment formed inside of a heat-insulating main body (101) and having an opening in a front face; a pull-out door (201) which opens and closes the opening in the front face of the storage compartment; and a rail device (202) which makes a container (206) provided inside of the storage compartment movable forward and backward as the pull-out door (201) opens and closes, in which the rail device (202) includes: a fixed rail (221) fixed with respect to the storage compartment; and a movable rail (222, 223) connected to the pull-out door (201), movable forward and backward along the fixed rail (221), provided below a center of the pull-out door (201) in a vertical direction, and which supports the container (206), and the pull-out door (201) includes a supporting unit (301, 303) which supports the container (206).

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Description
TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to refrigerators, and particularly relates to a refrigerator having a pull-out structure including a pull-out storage compartment.

BACKGROUND ART

Conventionally, a pull-out storage compartment is often provided at a lower part of a refrigerator in consideration with usability and so that the items can be stored in the back without wasting space. For such a pull-out storage compartment, it is necessary that a container can be smoothly set into or removed from the storage compartment, that food can be easily placed to or removed from the storage compartment, and that a container placed inside the storage compartment can be easily attached and detached.

In view of the problem, techniques for improving the convenience of the pull-out storage compartment have been disclosed (for example, see the patent literature 1 or the patent literature 2).

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a side cross-section of a conventional refrigerator 500.

The conventional refrigerator 500 in FIG. 9 includes a vegetable compartment 510 and a freezer compartment 520 as the storage compartments in a heat-insulating main body 501. A container 550 provided inside the vegetable compartment 510 is supported by two rail devices 540 connected to the pull-out door 530 of the vegetable compartment 510. The container 550 provided inside the freezer compartment 520 is also supported by two rail devices 540 connected to the pull-out door 530 of the freezer compartment 520.

This structure allows the vegetable compartment 510 and the freezer compartment 520 to be pull-out storage compartments capable of pushed into and pulled out of the heat-insulating main body 501. As described above, the container 550 is supported by the two rail devices 540, and the container 550 is pushed into or pulled out of the vegetable compartment 510 or the freezer compartment 520, which makes the refrigerator more convenient.

CITATION LIST

  • [Patent Literature 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-177653
  • [Patent Literature 2] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-214642

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

In recent years, there is a trend of increasing an inner volume that can be actually used for storing items, by changing arrangement of the components of the refrigerator, for example.

However, the container provided inside the conventional pull-out storage compartment is supported only by the rail device. Accordingly, when the inner volume of the container increases, the pull-out door is distorted due to deformation of the rail device. This causes a problem that the cooling capability is not secured.

Stated differently, when the inner volume of the container increases, the amount of the items stored in the container increases, which increases load. If the pull-out door is open in this state, a large amount of load is exerted on the rail device, and particularly stress on the end of the rail device at which the rail device is attached to the pull-out door increases.

When the pull-out door is open to the maximum, only the rail device supports the container which moves in connection with the opening movement of the pull-out door. Furthermore, the pull-out door in which foam insulation is provided inside is connected to the end of the rail device. Accordingly, the load of the pull-out door is exerted on the end of the rail device, in addition to the load of the container. In addition, a vacuum heat-insulating material is sometimes buried in the pull-out door in order to save energy. This further increases the load on the rail device.

Accordingly, the rail device is deformed by the movement for opening and closing the pull-out door for a long period of time. With this, even if the pull-out door closes the opening of the vegetable compartment or the freezer compartment, there is a possibility that the pull-out door closing the opening is distorted with respect to the opening, or the opening is not sealed by the sealing part of the pull-out door. As a result, there is a possibility that the cold air inside the compartment leaks, making it unable to cool the compartment to a predetermined temperature.

The present invention is conceived in order to solve the problems described above, and it has been an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator having a pull-out storage compartment, capable of reducing the deformation of the rail device, and securing cooling capability, while securing large actual storage capacity in a pull-out storage compartment.

Solution to Problem

In order to solve the problems described above, the refrigerator according to an aspect of the present invention includes a heat-insulating main body having an inner casing, an outer casing, and a heat-insulating material filled between the inner casing and the outer casing; a storage compartment formed inside of the heat-insulating main body and having an opening in a front face; a pull-out door which opens and closes the opening on the front face of the storage compartment; and a rail device which makes a container provided inside of the storage compartment movable forward and backward as the pull-out door opens and closes, in which the rail device includes: a fixed rail fixed with respect to the storage compartment; and a movable rail connected to the pull-out door, movable forward and backward along the fixed rail, provided below a center of the pull-out door in a vertical direction, and which supports the container, and the pull-out door includes a supporting unit which supports the container.

With this, the movable rail for supporting the container is provided below the center of the pull-out door in the vertical direction. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the size and capacity of the container supported by the rail device. Since the pull-out door has a supporting unit for supporting the container, the container is supported not only by the rail device but also by the supporting unit. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the distortion of the pull-out door due to the deformation of the rail device, thereby securing the cooling capacity.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The refrigerator according to the present invention can reduce the distortion caused by the deformation of the rail device and secure the cooling capacity, while securing the large actual storage volume in the pull-out storage compartment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rail device of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the pull-out door and the rail device are connected by a door frame in the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the main section illustrating the rail device 202 according to the embodiment of the present invention supporting the container 206.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the rail device 202 according to the embodiment of the present invention supporting the container 206.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state, from the back, in which the container is provided between the rail devices of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8A is an enlarged view of the major part illustrating an arrangement in the rail device and the container in the refrigerator in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8B is an enlarged view of the major part illustrating an arrangement of the rail device and the container in the refrigerator in the variation 1 of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8C is an enlarged view of the major part illustrating an arrangement of the rail device and the container in the refrigerator in the variation 2 of the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a conventional refrigerator.

 DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The refrigerator according to the present invention includes a heat-insulating main body having an inner casing, an outer casing, and a heat-insulating material filled between the inner casing and the outer casing; a storage compartment formed inside of the heat-insulating main body and having an opening in a front face; a pull-out door which opens and closes the opening on the front face of the storage compartment; and a rail device which makes a container provided inside of the storage compartment movable forward and backward as the pull-out door opens and closes, in which the rail device includes: a fixed rail fixed with respect to the storage compartment; and a movable rail connected to the pull-out door, movable forward and backward along the fixed rail, provided below a center of the pull-out door in a vertical direction, and which supports the container, and the pull-out door includes a supporting unit which supports the container.

Accordingly, the movable rail for supporting the container is provided below the center of the pull-out door in the vertical direction. Thus, it is possible to increase the size and volume of the container supported by the rail device by supporting the lateral ends of the bottom of the container, for example. The pull-out door further includes a supporting unit for supporting the container. Thus, it is possible to disperse the load on the movable rail by supporting the container not only by the rail device, but also by the supporting unit. With this, in the pull-out storage compartment, it is possible to reduce the distortion in the pull-out door due to the deformation of the rail device and secure the cooling capacity, while securing the large actual storage volume.

It is preferable that the supporting unit is provided on an inner board of the pull-out door, and fixes a flange portion of a front face of the container.

With this, the load on the pull-out door side of the rail device is supported by the flange portion of the container. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the moment exerted on the rail device effectively, reducing the distortion of the pull-out door due to the deformation of the rail device.

It is preferable that the supporting unit includes a first fixing part projecting upward for fixing the flange portion inserted from above.

With this, the user can insert the container with respect to the rail device from above. It also prevents the rail device from bowing, which causes the pull-out door to open outward. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the distortion of the pull-out door due to the deformation of the rail device.

It is preferable that the supporting unit includes a second fixing part which abuts an upper surface of the flange portion to regulate an upward movement of the flange portion.

With this, it is possible to prevent the container from moving upward when opening and closing the pull-out door.

It is preferable that the supporting unit further includes a second fixing part which abuts an upper surface of the flange portion to regulate an upward movement of the flange portion.

With this, the user can insert the container with respect to the rail device from above. This prevents the rail device from bowing, which leads to the opening movement of the pull-out door outward. In addition, it is also possible to prevent the pull-out door from moving upward when opening and closing the pull-out door. With this, the container can be attached and detached using both the first fixing part and the second fixing part, and the container is strongly fixed. It is also possible to increase the strength of the rail device supporting the load of the storage items stored in the container, preventing the rail device from bowing when the pull-out door is pulled out. Accordingly, the pull-out door can be pushed and pulled smoothly.

It is preferable that the first fixing part is formed separately from the inner board, and the second fixing part is formed integrally with the inner board.

With this, it is possible to reduce the number of components for the pull-out door as much as possible, to connect the rail device and the pull-out door, and to reduce the distortion of the pull-out door caused by the deformation of the rail device.

It is preferable that the refrigerator further includes a door frame on the part of the pull-out door below the center in the vertical direction, extending from the pull-out door toward the back, in which the movable rail is connected to the pull-out door with the door frame provided in between and supports the container with the door frame provided in between.

With this, the pull-out door and the door frame supporting the container allow dispersion of load on the end part of the rail device on the pull-out door side. Accordingly, in the pull-out storage compartment, it is possible to reduce the distortion of the pull-out door due to the deformation of the rail device, secure the strength, and secure the cooling capability, while securing a large actual storage volume in the pull-out storage compartment.

It is preferable that the container includes a projection on a side face part, which is supported by the door frame.

With this, the load on the pull-out door side of the rail device is dispersed on the door frame side, effectively reducing the moment on the rail device, and reducing the distortion of the pull-out door due to the deformation of the rail device.

It is preferable that the projection is formed on a back part of the side face part of the container.

With this, it is possible to disperse the load on the end portion of the rail device on the pull-out door side to the back part of the door frame, which is in a position farther from the end portion on the pull-out door side.

It is preferable that the projection is provided leaning downward toward the back when the container is supported by the movable rail through the door frame.

With this, even if the load is exerted on the pull-out door side, it is possible to fix the container such that the container is not easily detached from the door frame, and to prevent the container from moving upward when opening and closing the pull-out door.

The following shall describe an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that, the embodiment is not intended to limit the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment includes side-by-side doors in the upper part, and storage compartments partitioned inside a heat-insulating main body 101 which separates the outside and the inside of the refrigerator 100 in heat-insulating state.

The storage compartments partitioned in the refrigerator 100 may be referred to as a refrigerator compartment 102, an ice compartment 105, a switchable compartment 106 a temperature of which can be switched, a vegetable compartment 103, a freezer compartment 104, and others, depending on the function (cooling temperature).

On a front opening of refrigerator compartment 102 in the uppermost part of the refrigerator 100, a rotating heat-insulating door 107 in which a foam insulator such as urethane is filled by foaming, and the refrigerator compartment 102 is a storage space having shelves.

Furthermore, the ice compartment 105, the switchable compartment 106, the vegetable compartment 103, and the freezer compartment 104 which are provided below the refrigerator compartment 102 are pull-out storage spaces. More specifically, a pull-out door 201 which opens and closes an opening in the front face of the storage compartment is provided for each of the storage compartment.

The heat-insulating main body 101 is a cuboidal body formed by filling a heat-insulating material such as hard-foamed urethane between an outer casing 112 made of metal and an inner casing 110 made of resin, and has an opening on at least one side. The heat-insulating main body 101 has a function of blocking the heat entering from the outer atmosphere (outer air) toward the inside of the heat-insulating main body 101.

The refrigerator compartment 102 is a storage compartment for refrigeration in which a temperature is maintained to a low temperature with which the stored items are not frozen. More specifically, the lowest temperature is usually set to 1 to 5° C.

The vegetable compartment 103 is a storage compartment provided at the lowermost part of the heat-insulating main body 101, and is a storage compartment mainly for storing vegetables in refrigeration. The temperature of the vegetable compartment 103 is set to be identical to or slightly higher than the refrigerator compartment 102. More specifically, the lowest temperature is 2 to 7° C. Note that, the lower the temperature is, the longer the freshness of the green leaves can be preserved.

The freezer compartment 104 is a storage compartment with a temperature set to a freezing temperature zone. More specifically, the temperature of the freezer compartment 104 is usually set to −22 to −18° C.; however, a lower temperature, for example, −30 to −25° C. may be set for improving the freezing storage state.

The ice compartment 105 is a storage compartment in which an ice maker (not illustrated) is provided inside, and is a compartment for storing the ice made by the ice maker. The temperature of the ice compartment 105 is set to be substantially equal to the freezer compartment 104.

The temperature of the switchable compartment 106 may be switched from a refrigeration temperature zone to the freezing temperature zone suitable for the usage, by using the operation board attached to the refrigerator 100.

A partition 108 (see FIG. 2) is provided between the temperature zones in the heat-insulating main body 101 in order to partition multiple different temperature zones.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, and illustrates a cross-section along the line A-A′ in FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the rail device 202 is provided for each of the pull-out storage compartments (in FIG. 2, the vegetable compartment 103 and the freezer compartment 104) among the storage compartments included in the refrigerator 100. The rail device connects the pull-out door 201 and the heat-insulating main body 101 in an expandable and contractable manner, and allows the container 206 provided inside of the storage compartment to move forward and backward along with closing and opening the pull-out door 201.

Here, the pull-out door 201 is a board-shaped member capable of opening and closing the opening of the storage compartment, and has insulation property. The pull-out door 201 includes a gasket 207 at the periphery on the back side. The gasket 207 is closely attached to the heat-insulating main body 101 when the pull-out door 201 closes the opening of the storage compartment, and prevents the cold air from leaking.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rail device 202 in the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the rail device 202 includes three rails layered in three stages; namely, a cabinet rail 221 which is a fixed rail, a middle rail 222 which is a movable rail, and a top rail 223. More specifically, the middle rail 222 can move along the cabinet rail 221 fixed with respect to the storage compartment, and the top rail 223 can move along the middle rail 222. Accordingly, the rail device 202 can expand and contract as a whole.

Note that, the fixed rail and the movable rail are supported by rotation supporting members (not illustrated), and the rail device 202 is fixed to the inner wall of the inner casing 110 with the fixed rail and the movable rail set in advance.

More specifically, the cabinet rail 221 is fixed to the inner casing 110 of the heat-insulating main body 101 through the rail attachment part 224. Furthermore, the top rail 223 is connected to the pull-out door 201, and the top rail 223 and the middle rail 222 move forward and backward along the cabinet rail 221. Accordingly, the pull-out door 201 can be pulled out or pushed back to the heat-insulating main body 101 along the orbit of the rail device 202 contracting and expanding.

Next, the structure of the rail device 202 connected to the pull-out door 201 for supporting the container 206 shall be described in detail.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the pull-out door 201 and the rail device 202 are connected by the door frame 205 of the refrigerator 100 in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the main section illustrating a state in which the rail device 202 supports the container 206 in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view illustrating a state in which the rail device 202 supports the container 206 in the embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in these diagrams, the pull-out door 201 includes an inner board 211, which configures the pull-out door 201, covering the back surface of the heat-insulating main body. The door frame 205 extending toward the back from the inner board 211 of the pull-out door 201 is provided below the center of the pull-out door 201 in the vertical direction.

The inner board 211 is one of the members composing the pull-out door 201, and is a tabular member formed by vacuum molding.

The door frame 205 is directly fixed to the inner board 211, perpendicular to the pull-out door 201, and is connected to the top rail 223, using screws or others. In other words, the top rail 223 is connected to the pull-out door 201 with the door frame 205 provided in between. With this, the pull-out door 201 can be pulled out or pushed back horizontally while maintaining its vertically upright state, with the expansion and contraction function of the rail device 202.

The top rail 223 and the middle rail 222 which are movable rails are provided below the center of the pull-out door 201 in the vertical direction, and support the container 206 with the door frame 205 provided in between. More specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 5, a gap portion formed on the sides of the lower part of the container 206 is inserted between a pair of movable rails so as to place the container 206 on the movable rails for supporting the container 206.

Here, the stress that occurs when pushing and pulling the pull-out door 201, particularly by holding a top end portion of the pull-out door 201 concentrates on a base end portion (back end portion) of the top rail 223. In order to reduce the concentration of the stress, first fixing parts 301 which fix the container 206 to the pull-out door 201 are provided at both lateral ends of the inner board 211 of the pull-out door 201.

The first fixing part 301 is provided at a position at which a substantial L-shaped front flange portion 206a formed at an upper opening part of the container 206 when the container 206 is placed on the rail device 202. In other words, the first fixing part 301 is a member projecting upward for fixing the front flange portion 206a inserted from above. The front flange portion 206a is inserted into the first fixing part 301 from above and fixed.

The first fixing part 301 is a metal member, and is fixed to a tabular metal plate (not illustrated) fixed in the foaming insulation material on the back of the inner board 211 by screws or others through the inner board 211. Subsequently, the front flange portion 206a is inserted into the first fixing part 301 from above and is fixed. More specifically, the first fixing part 301 is formed separately from the inner board 211.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the door frame 205 includes a bent part 241 which is an end of the door frame 205 on one side, bent along the inner board 211 of the pull-out door 201, and the bent part 241 is fixed to a tabular metal plate (not illustrated) fixed in the foam heat-insulating material on the back of the inner board 211 by screws and others.

As described above, fixing the front flange portion 206a of the container 206 to the first fixing part 301 provided at the upper part of the inner board 211 of the pull-out door 201 compensates the insufficient strength on the attachment part of the rail device and the pull-out door 201 attached with respect to a lower part of the pull-out door 201, thereby allowing opening and closing the pull-out door smoothly.

The pull-out door 201 further includes a second fixing part 303 which is a floating prevention member having a projected form which abuts the periphery 304 forming the upper opening of the container 206, preventing the front flange part 206a floating upward.

More specifically, the second fixing part 303 is a part abutting the upper surface of the front flange portion 206a and for regulating the movement of the front flange portion 206a upward. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the second fixing part 303 is provided between the first fixing parts 301 provided on both of the lateral sides. Furthermore, the second fixing part 303 is formed integrally with the inner board 211.

As described above, the pull-out door 201 includes the first fixing part 301 and the second fixing part 303 provided on the inner board 211 of the pull-out door 201 as a part supporting the container 206, and fixes the front flange portion 206a provided at the front face of the container 206.

As described above, when the removable container 206 is attached from above the pull-out door 201, the front flange portion 206a is inserted into the first fixing part 301 as described above, and the peripheral part 304 forming the upper opening of the container 206 abuts the second fixing part 303 from below. More specifically, the first fixing part 301 supports and fixes the front part of the container 206 from below, and the second fixing part 303 supports and fixes the front part of the container 206 from above, thereby fixing the container 206 to the inner board 211. With this, the upper part of the container 206 is supported by the inner board 211 and fixed. Accordingly, it is possible to fill insufficient strength at the attachment part of the rail device 202 and the pull-out door 201 attached with respect to the lower part of the pull-out door 201, allowing opening the closing the pull-out door 201 smoothly.

Furthermore, even when the pull-out door 201 is pulled out or pushed back by holding the pull-out door 201, the stress is not concentrated on the attachment part of the top rail 223, but is dispersed to the parts connected through the bend part 241 and the door frame 205. Thus, it is possible to increase the strength of attachment between the pull-out door 201 and the top rail 223 as a whole. This is particularly effective in the case of the embodiment, in which the top rail 223 is attached to the lower part of the pull-out door 201.

If the pull-out door 201 is opened and closed forward and backward with the rail device 202 provided below the center of the pull-out door 201 in the vertical direction as illustrated in the embodiment, using the door frame 205 having a minimum strength necessary when the rail device 202 is attached near the center of the pull-out door 201 in the vertical direction, the door frame 205 or the inner board 211 is deformed due to the insufficient strength of the door frame 205 on a side fixed to the pull-out door 201. As a result, the gasket 207 provided on the pull-out door 201 is detached from the heat-insulating main body 101, causing a gap. This may lead to defect of the quality of the refrigerator such as frost inside.

Here, if the attachment part of the pull-out door 201 and the top rail 223 is in a lower part of the pull-out door 201, the moment on the attachment part is relatively large when the pull-out door 201 is pulled out or pushed by holding the upper part. However, in the embodiment, the first fixing part 301 or the second fixing part 303, or both the first fixing part 301 and the second fixing part 303 are provided above the attachment part so as to fix the container 206. Accordingly, the moment on the attachment part is small, protecting the attachment part of the top rail 223 from being broken. More specifically, in the embodiment, by providing the pull-out door 201 with the first fixing part 301 and/or the second fixing part 303, it is possible to set a supporting point of the tension in an upper part.

Furthermore, as described above, the first fixing part 301 and the inner board 211 are made of separate material, and the second fixing part 303 is formed integrally with the inner board 211. For this reason, by forming the first fixing part 301 forming the fixed structure of the front flange portion 206a in the container 206 with a metal component separate from the inner board 211, it is possible to maintain the container 206 fixed with the movable pull-out door 201, even if items are stored in the container 206. Furthermore, the number of components is reduced by forming the second fixing part 303 integrally with the inner board 211.

Furthermore, in a step part 262 formed under the both sides of the container 206 (see FIG. 7), two projections integrally formed with the container 206 are formed. More specifically, the container 206 includes a front projection 206b formed in the front side part of the container 206 and a back projection 206c formed at the back side part of the container 206. Here, the back projection 206c is provided leaning downward toward the back.

Furthermore, the front projection and the back projection are inserted to the front fixing hole 205a and the back fixing hole 205b formed in the door frame 205, respectively. With this, the container 206 is supported by the door frame 205. More specifically, the front fixing hole 205a may be a cutout, and the front projection 206b is inserted into the front fixing hole 205a for positioning, and the back projection 206c is inserted to the back fixing hole 205b formed at the back part of the door frame 205.

As such, by setting the shape of the back projection 206c leaning downward toward the back of the door frame 205, it is possible to prevent the back projection 206c from dislocated from the back fixed hole 205b easily, and prevent the container 206 from floating upward when opening and closing the pull-out door 201.

More specifically, as described above, by fixing the back projection 206c to the door frame 205 at the back with the front flange portion 206a of the container 206 fixed to the pull-out door 201, it is possible to compensate the insufficient strength of the attachment part of the rail device 202 and the pull-out door 201, allowing smooth opening and closing of the pull-out door.

More specifically, since the moment exerted on the attachment part is small, it is possible to protect the attachment part of the top rail 223 or the attachment part of the rail fixing part from being broken. More specifically, in this embodiment, the front flange portion 206a of the container 206 is fixed to the pull-out door 201 provided with the first fixing part 301 and/or the second fixing part 303, and the back projection 206c of the container 206 is inserted and fixed to the back fixing hole 205b provided in the door frame 205. With this, the position of the supporting point of the tension is set to be behind the pull-out door 201.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating, from the back, a state in which the container 206 is provided between the rail devices 202 of the refrigerator 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, the container 206 is a container for housing vegetables, drinks filled in plastic bottles, and frozen food, and is a casing made of resin having an opening on an upper side. The container 206 has a step part 262 having a gap inward at the both sides of the lower part. More specifically, the container 206 has a narrow-width part 261 in the lower part, in which the lateral width is narrow. The container 206 is supported by the top rail 223 when the narrow-width part 261 is provided between two top rails 223, and the step part 262 is placed on the upper surface of the door frame 205.

As described above, the top rails 223 are provided at the corners of the lower part of the pull-out door 201. This allows suppressing the height of the narrow-width part 261 which has to be narrow in the container 206 as low as possible. Accordingly, a shape which makes the storage volume as large as possible can be used for the container 206.

Next, the description shall be made with reference to the positional relationship between the rail device 202 and the container 206 with the container 206 placed on the rail device 202.

FIG. 8A is an enlarged view of the major part illustrating an arrangement of the rail device 202 and the container 206 in the refrigerator 100 in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8B is an enlarged view of the major part illustrating an arrangement of the rail device 202 and the container 206 in the refrigerator 100 in the variation 1 of the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8C is an enlarged view of the major part illustrating an arrangement of the rail device 202 and the container 206 in the refrigerator 100 in the variation 2 of the embodiment of the present invention.

In the embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 8A, the container 206 includes a narrow-width part 261 having a narrow width such that the step part 262 provided inward at the sides of the lower part. The step part 262 of the container 206 is placed on the top rail 223 of the rail device 202.

Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 8B and FIG. 8C, the side surface of the container 206 may be substantially straight without providing the step part 262, and the rail device 202 may be supported on the lateral sides of the bottom of the container 206 (see FIG. 8B). Alternatively, the rail device 202 may be supported below the lateral sides of the bottom of the container 206 (see FIG. 8C).

Note that, the diagrams illustrate the positional relationship between the rail device 202 and the container 206, and the door frame 205 is omitted from the illustration.

As described above, the refrigerator according to the present invention has been described based on the embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited by the embodiment.

The embodiment is only an exemplary embodiment of the present invention that has been described in detail above, and those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the present invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The refrigerator according to the present invention can secure an actual large storage space. Therefore, the refrigerator may be used as a refrigerator having pull-out storage compartments, and may also be used as a unit kitchen having drawers.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

  • 100, 500 Refrigerator
  • 101, 501 Heat-insulating main body
  • 102 Refrigerator compartment
  • 103, 510 Vegetable compartment
  • 104, 520 Freezer compartment
  • 105 Ice compartment
  • 106 Switchable compartment
  • 107 Heat-insulating door
  • 108 Partition
  • 110 Inner casing
  • 111 Heat-insulating material
  • 112 Outer casing
  • 201, 530 Pull-out door
  • 202, 540 Rail device
  • 205 Door frame
  • 205a Front fixing hole
  • 205b Back fixing hole
  • 206, 550 Container
  • 206a Front flange portion
  • 206b Front projection
  • 206c Back projection
  • 207 Gasket
  • 211 Inner board
  • 221 Cabinet rail
  • 222 Middle rail
  • 223 Top rail
  • 224 Rail attachment part
  • 241 Bent part
  • 261 Narrow-width part
  • 262 Step part
  • 301 First fixing part
  • 303 Second fixing part
  • 304 Peripheral part

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a heat-insulating main body having an inner casing, an outer casing, and a heat-insulating material filled between the inner casing and the outer casing;
a storage compartment formed inside of the heat-insulating main body and having an opening in a front face;
a pull-out door which opens and closes the opening on the front face of the storage compartment; and
a rail device which makes a container provided inside of the storage compartment movable forward and backward as the pull-out door opens and closes,
wherein the rail device includes:
a fixed rail fixed with respect to the storage compartment; and
a movable rail connected to the pull-out door, movable forward and backward along the fixed rail, provided below a center of the pull-out door in a vertical direction, and which supports the container, and
the pull-out door includes
a supporting unit configured to support the container.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1,

wherein the supporting unit is provided on an inner board of the pull-out door, and fixes a flange portion of a front face of the container.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2,

wherein the supporting unit includes a first fixing part projecting upward for fixing the flange portion inserted from above.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 2,

wherein the supporting unit includes a second fixing part which abuts an upper surface of the flange portion to regulate an upward movement of the flange portion.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 3,

wherein the supporting unit further includes a second fixing part which abuts an upper surface of the flange portion to regulate an upward movement of the flange portion.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5,

wherein the first fixing part is formed separately from the inner board, and
the second fixing part is formed integrally with the inner board.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising

a door frame on the part of the pull-out door below the center in the vertical direction, extending from the pull-out door toward the back,
wherein the movable rail is connected to the pull-out door with the door frame provided in between and supports the container with the door frame provided in between.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7,

wherein the container includes a projection on a side face part, which is supported by the door frame.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8,

wherein the projection is formed on a back part of the side face part of the container.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9,

wherein the projection is provided leaning downward toward the back when the container is supported by the movable rail through the door frame.
Patent History
Publication number: 20120306338
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 7, 2011
Publication Date: Dec 6, 2012
Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION (Kadoma-shi, Osaka)
Inventors: Shinya Nagahata (Shiga), Itsuo Tanaka (Shiga)
Application Number: 13/578,429
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Having Article Support (312/405.1)
International Classification: F25D 25/00 (20060101); F25D 23/02 (20060101);