REFRIGERATOR

Abstract

A refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a main body including a storage compartment, a plurality of storage containers installed in the storage compartment and positioned side by side from left to right, a support plate installed between the plurality of storage containers, a cover covering opened upper surfaces of the plurality of storage containers, a sliding shelf slidably installed on the cover, and a shelf support positioned at an upper surface of the support plate. The refrigerator can prevent deformation due to sagging of the sliding shelf even if items with large size and weight are placed on the sliding shelf, and smoothly achieve a sliding operation of the shelf.

Description

This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0041842 filed on Apr. 6, 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes as if fully set forth herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a refrigerator capable of preventing deformation due to sagging of a sliding shelf even if items with large size and weight are placed on the sliding shelf, and smoothly achieving a sliding operation of the sliding shelf.

BACKGROUND

In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance for storing food in a refrigerated or frozen state in a storage compartment opened and closed by a door. The refrigerator may generally include a refrigerator compartment for storing food in a refrigerated state at a low temperature and a freezer compartment for freezing and storing food in a frozen state.

Refrigerators that have been recently released have a tendency to provide a refrigerator compartment, that is used relatively more frequently than a freezer compartment, at an upper portion of a main body and to provide the freezer compartment, that is used relatively less than the refrigerator compartment, at a lower portion of the main body. In particular, a French door refrigerators, in which a refrigerator compartment is opened and closed by two pivot doors that are respectively hinged and coupled to the left and right sides of a main body and are arranged side by side from left to right, and a freezer compartment is opened and closed by a drawer door slidably installed, have been recently in the spotlight.

Such a refrigerator may have a vegetable compartment to separately store vegetables or fruits that must be kept fresh. In the refrigerator, a plurality of shelves may be installed in a storage compartment so as to partition the storage compartment in an up-down direction, and hence various types of foods, food materials, etc. can be stored in partitioned spaces.

Among the plurality of shelves installed in the storage compartment, a shelf positioned directly above the vegetable compartment may be slidably installed so as to be pulled out forward. A shelf positioned on the slidable shelf may be detachably installed, and thus may be detached when the storage compartment needs to be widely used.

With regard to the refrigerator, a related art refrigerator is disclosed in Korean Patent No. 10-1995427.

The related art refrigerator includes a main body having a storage compartment, a drawer that is installed in the storage compartment, has an upper opening, and is provided to be pulled out, a shelf mounted to be pulled out while selectively closing at least a portion of the upper opening of the drawer, and a cover that is disposed to overlap the shelf, is mounted to cover the upper opening of the drawer, and covers and closes the drawer even when the shelf is pulled out. A handle that can be gripped to selectively pull out the shelf is provided at a front portion of the shelf. The shelf includes a fall prevention portion that is provided at an upper surface of a read end and prevents storage items, that has been positioned on the shelf when the shelf is pulled out, from falling behind the shelf. A portion of the cover is formed of a transparent or translucent material so that items stored in the drawer under the shelf are visible.

However, the related art refrigerator has a problem in that the shelf (particularly, a center portion of the shelf) is deformed since the pull-out shelf sags downward when items with large size and weight are placed and stored in the pull-out shelf.

Further, the related art refrigerator has a problem in that an obstacle occurs in a sliding operation of the pull-out shelf when items with large size and weight are placed and stored in the pull-out shelf.

Further, the related art refrigerator has a problem in that the disassembly and assembly of the cover are poor since the cover is mounted over the entire left-right width of the main body to cover upper portions of several drawers.

Further, the related art refrigerator has a problem in that it is difficult to disassembly and assembly the pull-out shelf.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT

[Patent Document]

(Patent document 1) Korean Patent No. 10-1995427 B1

SUMMARY

An object of the present disclosure is to address the above-described and other needs and/or problems. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a refrigerator capable of preventing deformation due to sagging of a sliding shelf even if items with large size and weight are placed on the sliding shelf and smoothly achieving a sliding operation of the sliding shelf.

In order to achieve the above-described and other objects of the present disclosure, in one aspect, there is provided a refrigerator comprising a main body including a storage compartment; a plurality of storage containers installed in the storage compartment and positioned side by side from left to right; a support plate installed between the plurality of storage containers; a cover covering opened upper surfaces of the plurality of storage containers; a sliding shelf slidably installed on the cover; and a shelf support positioned at an upper surface of the support plate.

The shelf support may be a roller that contacts a lower surface of the sliding shelf and performs a rolling motion.

The refrigerator may further comprise an auxiliary roller at the lower surface of the sliding shelf. The auxiliary roller may contact the upper surface of the support plate and perform a rolling motion.

The refrigerator may further comprise rail members respectively fixed to inner surfaces of left and right side walls of the main body, the rail members each having a rail groove. A rail roller may be installed at a front portion of the rail groove. Guide rollers may be respectively positioned on both sides of a rear portion of the sliding shelf. The guide rollers may be coupled to the rail grooves. Guide portions may be respectively formed on both sides of a front portion of the sliding shelf. The guide portions may be coupled to the rail rollers. A cutting portion may be formed at an upper front portion of the rail member. The cutting portion may communicate with the rail groove. An upper portion of the cutting portion may be opened.

The storage compartment may include two storage compartments. The cover may include two covers. One side of the cover may be supported by the main body, and another side of the cover may be supported by the support plate.

Edges at both ends of a rear portion of the cover may be chamfered.

The refrigerator according to the present disclosure has the following advantages.

The refrigerator according to the present disclosure has an advantage of preventing deformation due to sagging of the sliding shelf since the shelf support supports the sliding shelf even if items with large size and weight are placed on the sliding shelf.

The refrigerator according to the present disclosure has an advantage of smoothly achieving a sliding operation of the sliding shelf through the rolling motion of the shelf support even if items with large size and weight are placed on the sliding shelf.

The refrigerator according to the present disclosure has an advantage of improving the disassembly and assembly of the cover since not one cover but the plurality of separately divided covers are respectively installed on the plurality of storage containers.

The refrigerator according to the present disclosure has an advantage of improving the disassembly and assembly of the sliding shelf since the sliding shelf can be easily mounted and removed through the cutting portion.

The refrigerator according to the present disclosure has an advantage of avoiding interference of the rail member when the cover is disassembled from the main body by pulling out the cover forward and then lifting the cover.

The refrigerator according to the present disclosure has an advantage in that the support plate modularized with the shelf support can partition an installation space of the storage compartment and at the same support the sliding shelf.

Additional scope of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description given blow. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples such as preferred embodiments of the present disclosure are given merely by way of example, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of the disclosure, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure.

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

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the inside of a refrigerator by removing a door of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a part of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator by removing a sliding shelf from FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator by removing a storage container from FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator by removing a cover from FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a separated perspective view illustrating a sliding shelf and a rail member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 9(a) to 9(c) are cross-sectional views schematically illustrating a process of disassembling a sliding shelf according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. It will be noted that a detailed description of known arts will be omitted if it is determined that the detailed description of the known arts can obscure the embodiments of the disclosure. The accompanying drawings are used to help easily understand various technical features and it should be understood that embodiments presented herein are not limited by the accompanying drawings. As such, the present disclosure should be construed to extend to any alterations, equivalents and substitutes in addition to those which are particularly set out in the accompanying drawings.

The terms disclosed herein are used to merely refer to a specific embodiment and does not intend to limit the present disclosure. A singular expression can include a plural expression as long as it does not have an apparently different meaning in context. In the present disclosure, terms “include” and “have” should be understood to be intended to designate that illustrated features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof are present and not to preclude the existence of one or more different features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts or combinations thereof, or the possibility of the addition thereof.

When any component is described as “being connected” or “being coupled” to other component, this should be understood to mean that another component may exist between them, although any component may be directly connected or coupled to the other component. In contrast, when any component is described as “being directly connected” or “being directly coupled” to other component, this should be understood to mean that no component exists between them.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the inside of a refrigerator by removing a door of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a part of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator by removing a sliding shelf from FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator by removing a storage container from FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator by removing a cover from FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a cover according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a separated perspective view illustrating a sliding shelf and a rail member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIGS. 9(a) to 9(c) are cross-sectional views schematically illustrating a process of disassembling a sliding shelf according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a main body 100 may form an appearance of a refrigerator. The main body 100 may have an overall rectangular parallelepiped box shape.

The main body 100 may include storage compartments 101 and 103. The storage compartments 101 and 103 may be formed inside the main body 100. The storage compartments 101 and 103 may store food, food materials, etc. Front surfaces of the storage compartments 101 and 103 may be opened.

The plurality of storage compartments 101 and 103 may be provided. For example, the two storage compartments 101 and 103 are provided, but the number of storage compartments may be changed, if necessary or desired. The storage compartments 101 and 103 may include a first storage compartment 101 and a second storage compartment 103.

The first storage compartment 101 may be positioned on the second storage compartment 103. The first storage compartment 101 and the second storage compartment 103 may differ in their condition (e.g., temperature, etc.). The first storage compartment 101 may be referred to as a “refrigerator compartment”, and the second storage compartment 103 may be referred to as a “freezer compartment”.

The refrigerator compartment 101 may be a storage compartment for storing food in a refrigerated state at a low temperature. Here, the “low temperature” may be a temperature lower than an external temperature of the refrigerator and higher than zero degrees Celsius. For example, the “low temperature” may be 0 to 10° C.

The refrigerator compartment 101 may generally be used by users relatively more than the freezer compartment 103. In order to eliminate discomfort such as having the users bend their backs when the users use the refrigerator compartment 101, the refrigerator compartment 101 is positioned at an upper portion of the main body 100, and thus user convenience can be increased.

The freezer compartment 103 may freeze food and store the frozen food in a frozen state. The freezer compartment 103 may be used relatively less than the refrigerator compartment 101.

Doors 110 and 120 may be respectively installed at front surfaces of the storage compartments 101 and 103, and the storage compartments 101 and 103 may be selectively opened and closed by the doors 110 and 120. The plurality of doors 110 and 120 may be provided. For example, the doors 110 and 120 may include a first door 110 and a second door 120. The first door 110 may open and close the first storage compartment 101, and the second door 120 may open and close the second storage compartment 103. The first door 110 may be referred to as a “refrigerator compartment door”, and the second door 120 may be referred to as a “freezer compartment door”.

Some of the storage compartments 101 and 103 may be opened and closed by a pivot door, and other of the storage compartments 101 and 103 may be opened and closed by a drawer type door.

For example, the refrigerator compartment door 110 for opening and closing the refrigerator compartment 101 may be a two-door type hinged pivot door. For example, the freezer compartment door 120 for opening and closing the freezer compartment 103 may be a drawer type door that slides forward and rearward (or in a front-rear direction).

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4, a storage container 200 may be installed in the storage compartments 101 and 103.

The storage container 200 may be a box type container with an open top surface. The plurality of storage containers 200 may be provided. The storage containers 200 may be installed in the refrigerator compartment 101. The plurality of storage containers 200 may be arranged side by side from left to right to keep vegetables and fruits fresh.

The plurality of storage containers 200 may include, for example, two storage containers 200. The storage containers 200 may be mounted on a moving tray 210 and may be pulled in and out of the refrigerator compartment 101. The moving tray 210 may be slidably installed in the refrigerator compartment 101. The plurality of moving trays 210 may be provided. For example, the moving trays 210 may include a left moving tray 210 and a right moving tray 210.

A support plate 300 may be installed between the two storage containers 200. The support plate 300 may be installed in the refrigerator compartment 101. The support plate 300 may partition a space in which the two storage containers 200 are installed. The support plate 300 may guide the moving tray 210. The support plate 300 may support a cover 220.

The support plate 300 may be installed between the two storage containers 200. Referring to FIG. 6, the support plate 300 may form an overall plate shape. The support plate 300 may include a support plate rail 310. The support plate rail 310 may form a lower portion of the support plate 300. The support plate rails 310 may be formed on one surface and other surface of the support plate 300, respectively. The support plate 300 may include a support plate roller 320. The support plate roller 320 may be positioned at a front end of the support plate rail 310.

A tray roller (not shown) may be provided on the moving tray 210. The tray roller (not shown) may act in correspondence to the support plate rail 310. The tray roller (not shown) may be positioned on both sides of a rear portion of the moving tray 210. A tray rail (not shown) may be formed on a front portion of the tray roller (not shown).

The plurality of support plate rails 310 may be provided. For example, the support plate rails 310 may include a left support plate rail 310 and a right support plate rail 310. The plurality of support plate rollers 320 may be provided. For example, the support plate rollers 320 may include a left support plate roller 320 and a right support plate roller 320.

A right tray roller (not shown) and a right tray rail (not shown) of the left moving tray 210 may be supported and coupled to the left support plate rail 310 and the left support plate roller 320, respectively. A left tray roller (not shown) and a left tray rail (not shown) of the right moving tray 210 may be supported and coupled to the right support plate rail 310 and the right support plate roller 320, respectively.

The left tray roller (not shown) and the left tray rail (not shown) of the left moving tray 210 may be supported and coupled to a side rail 130 of the left side installed in an inner surface of a left wall of the main body 100 and a side roller 140 of the left side provided at a front portion of the side rail 130 of the left side.

The right tray roller (not shown) and the right tray rail (not shown) of the right moving tray 210 may be supported and coupled to a side rail 130 of the right side installed in an inner surface of a right wall of the main body 100 and a side roller 140 of the right side provided at a front portion of the side rail 130 of the right side.

Thus, the left moving tray 210 and the right moving tray 210 may slide forward and rearward and may be pulled in and out of the refrigerator compartment 101.

The two tray rollers (not shown) of the left moving tray 210 may be coupled to the corresponding support plate rail 310 and the corresponding side rail 130 of the left side in a manner enabling a rolling motion. The two tray rollers (not shown) of the right moving tray 210 may be coupled to the corresponding support plate rail 310 and the corresponding side rail 130 of the right side in a manner enabling a rolling motion.

The left support plate roller 320 and the side roller 140 of the left side may be coupled to the two tray rollers (not shown) of the left moving tray 210 corresponding thereto in a manner enabling a rolling motion. The right support plate roller 320 and the side roller 140 of the right side may be coupled to the two tray rollers (not shown) of the right moving tray 210 corresponding thereto in a manner enabling a rolling motion.

Thus, the left storage container 200 and the right storage container 200 that are accommodated and mounted in the left moving tray 210 and the right moving tray 210 may be pulled in and out of the refrigerator compartment 101 by the sliding of the left moving tray 210 and the right moving tray 210.

A shelf support 330 may be provided on an upper surface of the support plate 300. The shelf support 330 may be installed on the upper surface of the support plate 300. The shelf support 330 may be positioned at a front portion of the support plate 300. The shelf support 330 may form a shape upward protruding from the upper surface of the support plate 300. For example, the shelf support 330 may be a roller. The shelf support 330 may be rotatably coupled to the support plate 300.

The shelf support 330 may be positioned between the support plate 300 and a sliding shelf 170. The shelf support 330 may support a lower surface of the sliding shelf 170. The shelf support 330 can prevent deformation due to sagging of the sliding shelf 170. The shelf support 330 can allow a sliding operation of the sliding shelf 170 to be smoothly performed.

The covers 220 may be fixed and installed on the upper portions of the two storage containers 200 side by side from left to right.

The cover 220 may cover the storage container 200. The cover 220 may include a plate shaped member 221 and an edge portion 223. The plate shaped member 221 may be surrounded by the edge portion 223. The plate shaped member 221 may be formed of a transparent material.

One side of the cover 220 may be supported by a first cover support 150 formed on the inner surface of the main body 100. Other side of the cover 220 may be supported by a second cover support 340 formed on the support plate 300. The plurality of covers 220 may be provided. For example, the covers 220 may include a left cover 220 and a right cover 220.

A left end of the left cover 220 may be inserted between the left first cover support 150, that protrudes from the inner surface of the left wall of the main body 100 toward the right side, and a left rail member 400 and may be supported by the left first cover support 150.

A right end of the left cover 220 may be inserted in a cover groove 350 formed on the upper left surface of the support plate 300 and may be supported by the left second cover support 340 that protrudes from the upper left surface of the support plate 300 toward the left side.

A right end of the right cover 220 may be inserted between the right first cover support 150, that protrudes from the inner surface of the right wall of the main body 100 toward the left side, and a right rail member 400 and may be supported by the right first cover support 150.

A left end of the right cover 220 may be inserted in a cover groove 350 formed on the upper right surface of the support plate 300 and may be supported by the right second cover support 340 that protrudes from the upper right surface of the support plate 300 toward the right side.

The two covers 220 may be disposed side by side from left to right and may cover the opened upper surfaces of the left and right storage containers 200, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 7, both rear edges of the cover 220 may be chamfered. For example, a chamfer portion 225 may be formed at the rear left end of the left cover 220, and a chamfer portion 225 may be formed at the rear right end of the right cover 220.

When the cover 220 is pulled out to the front side and then is lifted and disassembled within the main body 100, the chamfer portion 225 can prevent interference between the cover 220 and the rail member 400.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 8, the shelves 160 and 170 may be installed in the main body 100.

The shelves 160 and 170 may be installed to store various types of foods, food materials, etc. in partitioned spaces. The shelves 160 and 170 may be installed in the inner surface of the main body 100 to partition the storage compartments 101 and 103 along the up-down direction.

The shelves 160 and 170 may be installed in the refrigerator compartment 101 and may partition the refrigerator compartment 101. The plurality of shelves 160 and 170 may be provided. For example, the shelves 160 and 170 may include a fixed shelf 160 and a sliding shelf 170.

The fixed shelf 160 may be fixed and installed on a shelf bracket fixedly installed on an inner surface of a rear wall of the main body 100. The number of fixed shelves 160 may be adjusted and installed, if necessary or desired. For example, the fixed shelves 160 may be installed in a two-story form, and each story may have two fixed shelves 160 that are installed side by side from left to right.

When the user wants to widely use the refrigerator compartment 101, the fixed shelf 160 may be detached from the refrigerator compartment 101.

The sliding shelf 170 may be installed below the fixed shelf 160.

The sliding shelf 170 may be installed on the inner surfaces of both walls of the main body 100 so as to be able to slide forward and rearward. The sliding shelf 170 may be pulled in and out of the refrigerator compartment 101. The sliding shelf 170 may include a center panel 171 and an outer frame 173. The outer frame 173 may surround the central panel 171. The center panel 171 may be formed of a transparent material.

The sliding shelf 170 may be disposed directly above the cover 220.

The lower surface of the sliding shelf 170 may be supported by the shelf support 330 installed on the upper surface of the support plate 300.

A pair of guide rollers 175 may be positioned at rear portions of both sides of the sliding shelf 170. A pair of guide portions 177 may be positioned at front portions of the pair of guide rollers 175.

The sliding shelf 170 may be provided with an auxiliary roller 178.

The auxiliary roller 178 may protrude downward from a rear lower surface of the sliding shelf 170. The auxiliary roller 178 may be rotatably installed on the sliding shelf 170. The auxiliary roller 178 may perform a rolling motion in contact with the upper surface of the support plate 300 when the sliding shelf 170 is pulled out. The auxiliary roller 178 may facilitate the sliding operation of the sliding shelf 170 together with the shelf support 330.

The rail member 400 may be installed in the main body 100. The plurality of rail members 400 may be provided. For example, the plurality of rail members 400 may be respectively fixed and installed on inner surfaces of left and right side walls of the main body 100.

The rail member 400 may be installed on the left end of the left cover 220. The rail member 400 may be installed on the right end of the right cover 220. The two rail members 400 may form a symmetrical shape. The two rail members 400 may face each other.

The sliding shelf 170 may slide on the rail member 400.

The rail member 400 may be formed to be elongated in the front-rear direction. A rail groove 410 may be formed in the rail member 400. The two rail grooves 410 respectively formed in the two rail members 400 may face each other. The two rail grooves 410 respectively formed in the two rail members 400 may be opened in a direction facing each other.

The rail groove 410 may be formed to be elongated in the front-rear direction. For example, a longitudinal direction of the rail groove 410 may be parallel to a longitudinal direction of the rail member 400.

A left guide roller 175 of the sliding shelf 170 may be coupled to the rail groove 410 of the left rail member 400 in a manner enabling a rolling motion. A right guide roller 175 of the sliding shelf 170 may be coupled to the rail groove 410 of the right rail member 400 in a manner enabling a rolling motion. The sliding shelf 170 may slide on the rail member 400.

A rail roller 420 may be installed at a front portion of the rail groove 410.

The rail roller 420 may support the components.

The rail roller 420 of the left rail member 400 may support a left guide portion 177 of the sliding shelf 170. The rail roller 420 of the right rail member 400 may support a right guide portion 177 of the sliding shelf 170. The rail roller 420 may perform a rolling motion according to the movement of the sliding shelf 170.

A stepped stopper 179 may be formed at a front end and a rear end of the guide portion 177. When the sliding shelf 170 is pulled out, the stopper 179 and the rail roller 420 may contact each other at a predetermined position to constrain each other, and thus a pull-out distance of the sliding shelf 170 may be limited.

A cutting portion 430 may be formed in the rail member 400.

The cutting portion 430 may be formed on the upper front portion of the rail member 400. The cutting portion 430 may communicate with the rail groove 410. An upper part of the cutting portion 430 may be opened. The cutting portion 430 formed in the left rail member 400 may be opened to the right side. The cutting portion 430 formed in the right rail member 400 may be opened to the left side.

The cutting portion 430 may be configured to easily remove the sliding shelf 170 or easily mount the removed sliding shelf 170 in a state in which the sliding shelf 170 is pulled out to the maximum.

Referring to (a) of FIG. 9, the guide roller 175 may be positioned at the rear portion of the rail groove 410. Referring to (b) of FIG. 9, the sliding shelf 170 may be pulled out forward until the stopper 179 and the rail roller 420 are engaged with each other. Referring to (c) of FIG. 9, when the sliding shelf 170 is further pulled out forward while the front portion of the sliding shelf 170 is lifted upward, the guide roller 175 may move along an inclined surface formed on an upper surface inside the rail groove 410 and may come out to the outside through the cutting portion 430. Hence, the sliding shelf 170 can be easily separated from the main body 100.

When the front portion of the separated sliding shelf 170 is slantingly highly lifted and is lowered while the sliding shelf 170 is pushed to the rail groove 410 through the cutting portion 430, the guide roller 175 may enter the rail groove 410 along the inclined surface formed on the upper surface inside the rail groove 410. Hence, the sliding shelf 170 can be easily mounted on the main body 100.

Although the embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, numerous other modifications and embodiments may be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the scope of the principles of the present disclosure. In particular, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the present disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art. The scope of the present disclosure should be determined by rational interpretation of the appended claims, and all modifications within an equivalent scope of the present disclosure are included in the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body including a storage compartment;

a plurality of storage containers installed in the storage compartment and positioned side by side from left to right;

a support plate installed between the plurality of storage containers;

a cover covering opened upper surfaces of the plurality of storage containers;

a sliding shelf slidably installed on the cover; and

a shelf support positioned at an upper surface of the support plate.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the shelf support is a roller that contacts a lower surface of the sliding shelf and performs a rolling motion.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2, further comprising an auxiliary roller at the lower surface of the sliding shelf,

wherein the auxiliary roller contacts the upper surface of the support plate and performs a rolling motion.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising rail members respectively fixed to inner surfaces of left and right side walls of the main body, the rail members each having a rail groove,

wherein a rail roller is installed at a front portion of the rail groove,

wherein guide rollers are respectively positioned on both sides of a rear portion of the sliding shelf,

wherein the guide rollers are coupled to the rail grooves,

wherein guide portions are respectively formed on both sides of a front portion of the sliding shelf,

wherein the guide portions are coupled to the rail rollers,

wherein a cutting portion is formed at an upper front portion of the rail member,

wherein the cutting portion communicates with the rail groove, and

wherein an upper portion of the cutting portion is opened.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the storage compartment includes two storage compartments,

wherein the cover includes two covers,

wherein one side of the cover is supported by the main body, and

wherein another side of the cover is supported by the support plate.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein edges at both ends of a rear portion of the cover are chamfered.