REFRIGERATOR

Abstract

 Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cabinet in which a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, each of which has an opened front surface, are defined, and a door configured to open and close the refrigerating compartment. The refrigerating compartment door includes a first door rotatably mounted on the cabinet, and a second door provided in front of the first door and configured to rotate in the same direction as the first door so as to open and close at least a portion of a front surface of the first door. The first door includes an ice-making chamber which is provided in a rear surface of the first door and in which an ice maker is accommodated, a door storage portion provided in a front surface of the first door to define a food storage space and opened and closed by the second door, and a supply duct configured to allow the ice-making chamber to communicate with the door storage portion and supply cold air of the ice-making chamber to the door storage portion.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator.

[0002] In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance for storing foods in an internal storage space, which is shield by a door, at a low temperature by low temperature air. For this, the refrigerator cools the inside of the storage space using cool air generated by heat-exchanging with a refrigerant that circulates a cooling cycle to store the foods in an optimum state.

[0003] In recent years, refrigerators have become increasingly multi-functional with changes of dietary lives and gentrification of products, and refrigerators having various structures and convenience devices for convenience of users and for efficient use of internal spaces have been released.

[0004] Representatively, a refrigerator may be provided with an ice maker that automatically makes and stores ice. In addition, a refrigerator provided with a dispenser that allows the ice made in the ice maker to be taken out to the outside is being developed.

SUMMARY

[0005] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a refrigerator in which a storage space that is opened and closed by a second door and an ice-making chamber are efficiently disposed in a first door.

[0006] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a refrigerator in which a storage space that is visible through a second door, a dispenser, and an ice maker are efficiently disposed in a first door.

[0007] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a refrigerator in which an ice-making chamber and a door storage portion are independently provided in a refrigerating or freezing compartment door, and cold air is efficiently supplied to the ice-making chamber and the door storage portion.

[0008] At least one of these objects is solved by the features of the independent claim.

[0009] According to one aspect, a refrigerator includes: a cabinet in which a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment, each of which has an opened front surface, are defined; and a door configured to open and close at least one of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment. The refrigerating compartment door includes: a first door rotatably mounted on the cabinet; and a second door provided in front of the first door and configured to rotate in the same direction as the first door so as to open and close at least a portion of a front surface of the first door. The first door includes: an ice-making chamber which is provided in a rear surface of the first door and in which an ice maker is accommodated; a door storage portion provided in a front surface of the first door to define a food storage space and opened and closed by the second door; and a supply duct configured to allow the ice-making chamber to communicate with the door storage portion and supply cold air of the ice-making chamber to the door storage portion.

[0010] According to a further aspect, a refrigerator includes: a cabinet in which a refrigerating compartment is defined; and a refrigerating compartment door configured to open and/or close the refrigerating compartment. The refrigerating compartment door includes: a first door rotatably mounted on or to the cabinet; and a second door provided or rotatably mounted in front of the first door. The first door includes: an ice-making chamber which is provided in the first door (e.g. in a rear surface of the first door) and in which an ice maker is accommodated; a door storage portion provided in or at a front surface of the first door (e.g. to define a food storage space) and configured to be opened and/or closed by the second door; and a supply duct connected to the door storage portion in order to supply cold air to the door storage portion, e.g. from the ice-making chamber and/or from an ice-making chamber supply duct. The refrigerator may further include a freezing compartment defined in the cabinet and a freezing compartment door configured to open and/or close the freezing compartment.

[0011] According to a further aspect, a refrigerator includes: a cabinet in which a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment are defined; and a door configured to open and/or close at least one of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment. The door includes: a first door rotatably mounted on or to the cabinet; and a second door provided or rotatably mounted in front of the first door. The first door includes: an ice-making chamber which is provided in the first door (e.g. in a rear surface of the first door) and in which an ice maker is accommodated; a door storage portion provided in or at a front surface of the first door (e.g. to define a food storage space) and configured to be opened and/or closed by the second door; and a supply duct connected to the door storage portion in order to supply cold air to the door storage portion, e.g. from the ice-making chamber and/or from an ice-making chamber supply duct.

[0012] The refrigerator according to any one of these aspects may include one or more of the following features:
The freezing compartment may be defined below the refrigerating compartment.

[0013] The first door may be configured to open and/or close the refrigerating compartment and/or the freezing compartment.

[0014] The door storage portion may be defined between the first door and the second door. A space for storing food, i.e. a food storing space, may be defined between the first door and the second door as the door storage portion. For instance, baskets and/or shelves may be mounted on a front surface of the first door The second door may be rotatably mounted to the cabinet and/or to the first door. The second door may be configured to rotate in the same direction as the first door and/or to open and/or close at least a portion of a front surface of the first door.

[0015] The door storage portion may be cooled. The supply duct may be formed in the first door. The supply duct may connect the ice-making chamber and/or an ice-making chamber duct (for supplying cold air to the ice-making chamber) to the door storage portion in order to supply the cold air to the door storage portion. Thus, the supply duct may be configured to establish a fluid connection between the ice-making chamber and/or an ice-making chamber duct and the door storage portion. The supply duct may end on or be connected to the front surface of the first door and/or in the door storage portion. The supply duct may have an inlet provided on the front surface of the first door and/or in the door storage portion.

[0016] The ice-making chamber may include an inlet through which the cold air is supplied into the ice-making chamber. The supply duct may be connected to the inlet of the ice-making chamber.

[0017] A damper configured to open and/or close the supply duct may be provided in the first door and/or between the ice-making chamber and the door storage portion and/or in or at the supply duct, so that the cold air is selectively supplied to the door storage portion. The damper may be provided between the supply duct and the inlet of the ice-making chamber.

[0018] The first door may include a discharge duct configured to allow the door storage portion to communicate with the ice-making chamber below the supply duct and/or configured to discharge the cold air of the door storage portion to the ice-making chamber. The discharge duct may connect the door storage portion to the ice-making chamber. The discharge duct may connect the door storage portion and the ice-making chamber. The discharge duct may be arranged below the supply duct in the first door.

[0019] The ice-making chamber may include: an inlet through which the cold air is supplied into the ice-making chamber; and/or an outlet through which air of the ice-making chamber is discharged toward the cabinet. The discharge duct may be opened at a position adjacent to the outlet so that the air discharged through the discharge duct is directed toward the cabinet through the outlet. The inlet may be provided at an upper end of the ice-making chamber. The outlet may be provided at a lower end of the ice-making chamber.

[0020] The ice-making chamber may include an outlet to discharge air from the ice-making chamber, e.g. to an ice-making chamber return duct and/or toward the cabinet. The discharge duct of the first door may end or open in the ice-making chamber at a position adjacent to the outlet of the ice-making chamber. Thus, the air discharged through the discharge duct may be guided out of the ice-making chamber through the outlet, e.g. toward the cabinet.

[0021] The refrigerator, e.g. the cabinet, may include an evaporator configured to generate cold air. The cabinet may include further a blowing fan configured to supply the cold air of the evaporator. The refrigerator, e.g. the cabinet, may include a cabinet duct configured to guide a flow of the cold air between the evaporator and the first door. The evaporator and/or the blowing fan may be arranged in or at or adj acent to the freezing compartment.

[0022] The first door may include: an ice-making chamber duct configured to communicate with the cabinet duct in a state in which the first door is closed and supply the cold air to the ice-making chamber. The supply duct may be connected to the ice-making chamber duct and/or to the ice-making chamber. The ice-making chamber duct may be connected to the cabinet duct and/or to the ice-making chamber. The ice-making chamber duct may be connected to and/or between the cabinet duct and the ice-making chamber.

[0023] The cabinet duct may include: a cabinet supply duct to supply the cold air from the evaporator to the first door; and/or a cabinet return duct to discharge air from the first door. The discharge duct may be configured to communicate with the cabinet return duct. The discharge duct may be connected to the cabinet return duct in a state in which the first door is closed.

[0024] The ice-making chamber duct may include: an ice-making chamber supply duct (e.g. connected to the cabinet duct, in particular to the cabinet supply duct, in a state in which the first door is closed) to supply the cold air to the ice-making chamber; and/or an ice-making chamber return duct (e.g. connected to the cabinet duct, in particular to the cabinet return duct, in a state in which the first door is closed) to discharge air of the ice-making chamber. The ice-making chamber return duct may be connected to the outlet of the ice-making chamber. The ice-making chamber supply duct may be connected to the inlet of the ice-making chamber. The supply duct may be connected to the ice-making chamber supply duct.

[0025] The cabinet return duct may communicate with or may be connected to the ice-making chamber return duct, e.g. at a return duct outlet. That is, the ice-making chamber return duct may be connected between the outlet of the ice-making chamber and the return duct outlet. The return duct outlet may be provided at a lower end of the first door, e.g. at a lateral side (side in front-rear direction) of the first door. The discharge duct for discharging air from the door storage portion may be connected to the return duct outlet.

[0026] The cabinet supply duct may communicate with or may be connected to the ice-making chamber supply duct, e.g. at a supply duct inlet. That is, the ice-making chamber supply duct may be connected between the inlet of the ice-making chamber and the supply duct inlet. The supply duct inlet may be provided at a lower end of the first door, e.g. at a lateral side (side in front-rear direction) of the first door.

[0027] A discharge duct configured to discharge air of the door storage portion may be provided in the first door. The supply duct may be configured to communicate with the ice-making chamber supply duct, and/or the discharge duct may be configured to communicate with the ice-making chamber return duct.

[0028] A discharge duct configured to discharge air of the door storage portion may be provided in the first door. The discharge duct may be opened toward an outlet-side of the ice-making chamber return duct.

[0029] The refrigerator may include: a dispenser provided in or at the front surface of the first door, e.g. in or below the door storage portion, to dispense water and/or ice. The dispenser may communicate with the ice-making chamber so as to dispense ice from the ice-making chamber. The first door may include: a dispenser provided in or at the front surface of the first door to communicate with the ice-making chamber so as to dispense ice of the ice-making chamber; and a discharge duct configured to discharge air of the door storage portion, wherein the discharge duct may be connected to the ice-making chamber return duct via the dispenser.

[0030] A dispenser configured to communicate with the ice-making chamber so as to dispense ice may be provided in or at a front surface of the first door. The dispenser may be provided below the door storage portion.

[0031] The second door may be configured to shield (or open and/or close) the door storage portion and the dispenser at the same time. That is, the second door may be configured to open and/or close the door storage portion and a portion of the front surface of the first door where the dispenser is disposed. The second door may have the same size as the first door.

[0032] The second door may be configured to shield (or open and/or close) the door storage portion, while exposing a portion of the front surface of the first door where the dispenser is provided. The second door may have a smaller size than the first door.

[0033] The second door may be provided with a panel assembly that overlaps at least a partial area of the door storage portion and/or the dispenser. The panel assembly may be transparent so that a rear side of the second door and/or the front surface of the first door and/or the door storage portion and/or the dispenser is visible.

[0034] A display may be provided between the door storage portion and the dispenser. The display may be visualized or visible through the panel assembly.

[0035] A door light that is turned on and off by user's manipulation to selectively brighten the inside of the door storage portion may be provided on the first door and/or the second door.

[0036] A protrusion further protruding forward than the door storage portion may be disposed at a lower portion of the first door. The dispenser may be provided in the protrusion.

[0037] The first door may include a discharge duct configured to allow the door storage portion to communicate with the ice-making chamber above the protrusion and/or configured to discharge the cold air of the door storage portion to the ice-making chamber.

[0038] The door storage portion may be provided in front of the ice-making chamber to at least partially overlap the ice-making chamber.

[0039] A rear surface of the second door may be recessed to define at least a portion of the door storage portion.

[0040] An ice-making chamber door configured to shield an opened rear surface of the ice-making chamber may be provided. The ice-making chamber may be provided to be surrounded by an insulating material.

[0041] The door storage portion may be disposed in a closed space between the first door and the second door in a state in which the second door is closed.

[0042] The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] 

FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a state in which a door of the refrigerator is opened.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a cold air flow state between a cabinet and an ice-making chamber.

FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating a state in which a second door of the refrigerator is opened.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the refrigerating compartment door with the second door opened when viewed from one side.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the refrigerating compartment door with the second door opened when viewed from the other side.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an arrangement of a cold air passage of the first door according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an arrangement of a cold air passage of a first door according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1 according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1 according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a front view illustrating a state in which a door of the refrigerator is opened.

FIG. 14 is a front view illustrating a state in which a second door of the refrigerator is opened.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a refrigerating compartment door of the refrigerator is opened.

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 11 according to a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 12 according to a fifth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0044] Hereinafter, detailed embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is limited to the embodiments in which the spirit of the present invention is proposed, and other degenerate idea or other embodiments included in the scope of the present invention may be easily proposed by addition, changes, deletions, etc. of other elements.

[0045] In the description of the elements of the present invention, the terms first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used. These terms are only used to distinguish the component from other components, and the essence, sequence, or order of the corresponding component is not limited by the term. It should be understood that when an element is described as being "connected," "coupled", or "joined" to another element, the former may be directly connected or jointed to the latter or may be "connected", coupled" or "joined" to the latter with a third component interposed therebetween.

[0046] Prior to a description, directions are defined. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a direction facing a front surface of the door illustrated in FIG. 1 may be defined as a front direction, a direction facing a cabinet with respect to the front surface of the door will be defined as a rear direction, a direction facing a bottom surface on which the refrigerator is installed will be defined as a downward direction (i.e. direction of gravity), and a direction that is away from the bottom surface will be defined as an upward direction.

[0047] FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment. Also, FIG. 2 is a front view illustrating a state in which a door of the refrigerator is opened. In addition, FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a cold air flow state between a cabinet and an ice-making chamber. In addition, FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating a state in which a second door of the refrigerator is opened.

[0048] As illustrated in the drawings, a refrigerator 1 according to a first embodiment may include a cabinet 10 in which a storage space is defined, and a door that opens and closes the storage space.

[0049] For example, the storage space may be divided vertically, and a refrigerating compartment 11 may be provided at an upper side, and a freezing compartment 12 may be provided at a lower side. Each of the refrigerating compartment 11 and the freezing compartment 12 may be maintained at a set temperature by supplying cold air generated by an evaporator 14. As an example, the evaporator 14 may be provided in the freezing compartment 12, and the cold air may be supplied to the refrigerating compartment 11 and the freezing compartment 12 by driving a blowing fan 16 provided in the freezing compartment 12.

[0050] Although in embodiments described in this disclosure, a refrigerator is exemplified having a refrigerating compartment 11 over a freezing compartment 12, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The present disclosure may also be applied to a refrigerator having only a refrigerating compartment 11. Likewise, although in embodiments described in this disclosure, a refrigerator is exemplified having two refrigerating compartment doors 21 (i.e. side by side) and/or two freezing compartment doors 22, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The present disclosure may also be applied to a refrigerator having only one refrigerating compartment door 21 and optionally, if a freezing compartment 12 is provided, one freezing compartment door 22.

[0051] Likewise although in embodiments described in this disclosure, the invention is described with a refrigerating compartment door 21 of the refrigerator, the invention may also be applied to a freezing compartment door.

[0052] In addition, the cabinet 10 may be provided with a cabinet duct 15 that supplies the cold air to the ice-making chamber 50, which will be described below. The cabinet duct 15 may be provided to guide a flow of the cold air between the evaporator 14 and the refrigerating compartment door 21 in which the ice-making chamber 50 is provided.

[0053] For example, an ice-making chamber duct 55 may be provided inside the refrigerating compartment door 21, and a cabinet duct 15 may be provided in the cabinet 10, and thus, in a state in which the refrigerating compartment door 21 is closed, cold air generated in the evaporator 14 may be supplied to the ice-making chamber 50, and heat-exchanged air of the ice-making chamber may be discharged to the freezing compartment 12.

[0054] The ice-making chamber duct 55 may include an ice-making chamber supply duct 551 that supplies cold air to the ice-making chamber 50 and an ice-making chamber return duct 552 that discharges air from the ice-making chamber 50. The ice-making chamber supply duct 551 may connect a supply duct inlet 555 opened on an outer surface of the refrigerating compartment door 21 to an inlet 553 opened within the ice-making chamber 50. In addition, the ice-making chamber return duct 552 may connect the return duct outlet 556 opened to the outer surface of the refrigerating compartment door 21 to an outlet 554 opened within the ice-making chamber 50.

[0055] The cabinet duct 15 may include a cabinet supply duct 151 that supplies the cold air and a cabinet return duct 152 that collects the cold air. The cabinet supply duct 151 may connect the cabinet supply outlet 153 opened on the side surface of the refrigerating compartment 11 and the cabinet supply inlet 155 provided in a space in which the evaporator 14 is disposed. In addition, the cabinet return duct 152 may connect the cabinet return inlet 154 opened to the side surface of the refrigerating compartment 11 to the cabinet return outlet 156 opened to the freezing compartment 12.

[0056] When the refrigerating compartment door 21 is closed, the supply duct inlet 555 and the cabinet supply outlet 153 may communicate with each other to supply the cold air of the evaporator 14 to the ice-making chamber 50. In addition, the return duct outlet 556 and the cabinet return inlet 154 may communicate with each other to discharge the air heat-exchanged in the ice-making chamber 50 to the freezing compartment 12.

[0057] A passage of the cold air supplied to the ice-making chamber 50 may not be limited to the above-described examples and may be provided in various manners. For example, the evaporator may be further provided in the refrigerating compartment 11, and the passage may be configured to supply the cold air of the evaporator disposed in the refrigerating compartment 11 to the ice-making chamber 50.

[0058] The door 20 may include a refrigerating compartment door 21 that opens and closes the refrigerating compartment 11 and a freezing compartment door 22 that opens and closes the freezing compartment 12. A pair of the refrigerating compartment door 21 and the freezing compartment door 22 may be provided at each of both left and right sides to open and close the refrigerating compartment 11 or the freezing compartment 12.

[0059] At least one of the doors 20 may have a double door structure constituted by a first door 40 and a second door 30. The first door 40 may be called an inner door, and the second door 30 may be called an outer door. In addition to the refrigerator 1 having the structure provided as an example, the door may be applied to various types of refrigerators having the double door structure. As another example, the present disclosure may be applied to a refrigerator having a structure in which a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment are disposed at left and right sides and a refrigerator having a structure in which a freezing compartment is provided at a lower side, and a refrigerating compartment is provided at an upper side.

[0060] Upper and lower ends of the first door 40 may be axially coupled to the cabinet 10 by a hinge device 131. Thus, the first door 40 may be rotatably mounted on the cabinet 10. Also, the first door 40 may open and close the refrigerating compartment 11 by the rotation thereof. In addition, the second door 30 may be rotatably mounted on the first door 40. The second door 30 may be provided in front of the first door 40 and may rotate to shield a front surface of the first door 40.

[0061] When the door storage portion and the dispenser 43 are disposed in the first door 40, the second door 30 may shield the door storage portion 42 and the dispenser 43. That is, when the second door 30 is closed, the door storage portion 42 and the dispenser 43 may not be visible to providing a simple and neat appearance by the second door 30. At the same time, when the second door 30 is opened, auxiliary storage of food may be possible through the door storage portion 42, and water or ice may be dispensed through the dispenser 43. Thus, the refrigerator 1 may simultaneously improve the outer appearance and usability.

[0062] The second door 30 may be configured so that a rear side of the second door 30, that is, the door storage portion 42, is visible. A see-through portion 321 capable of seeing the rear side may be provided on at least a portion of the front surface of the second door 30. When the door storage portion 42 and the dispenser 43, which will be described below, are disposed in the first door 40, the door storage portion 42 and the dispenser 43 may be seen through the see-through portion 321 without opening the second door 30. The see-through portion 321 may be provided by a panel assembly 32 that defines a front surface of the second door 30.

[0063] As an example, the second door 30 may include the panel assembly 32 provided by a combination of a plurality of transparent plates 322, 323, and 324. As an example, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the transparent plates 322, 323, and 324 may be made of tempered glass or insulating glass and may be spaced apart from each other in a front and rear direction. In addition, the first door 40 may be provided with a door light 46 that illuminates the door storage portion 42. As the door light 46 is turned on and off, the rear side of the second door 30 may become bright and may be visualized through the see-through portion 321. The door light 46 may be provided within the door storage portion 42. Also, the door light 46 may be provided on the second door 30. The door light 46 may be turned on and off by user's manipulation or may be turned on and off by detecting user's proximity.

[0064] For example, a transparent display may be provided between the plurality of transparent plates 322, 323, and 324 to enable a screen output. Thus, both transparency and screen display of the door storage portion 42 may be possible through the second door 30. Here, the transparent display may be disposed on only one of the refrigerating compartment doors disposed 21 at both left and right sides.

[0065] In addition, the second door 30 may not include the panel assembly 32. The second door 30 may be configured so that an insulating material is entirely filled into the second door as illustrated in FIG. 11, and the door accommodation portion 42 is not seen from the outside.

[0066] This double door structure may be applied to the refrigerating compartment door 21. In addition, each of the pair of refrigerating compartment doors 21 may be configured as the double door structure.

[0067] For example, the refrigerating compartment door 21 may be constituted by a left door 21a and a right door 21b. In addition, the left door 21a may be constituted by a first door 40 and a second door 30. In addition, an ice-making chamber 50 may be provided in the rear surface of the first door 40, and the door storage portion 42 and the dispenser 43 may be provided in the front surface of the first door 40. In addition, the second door 30 may open and close the door storage portion 42 and the dispenser 43.

[0068] The right door 21b may be constituted by a first door 40b and a second door 30b. In addition, the first door 40b may be provided with a door storage portion 42b. Also, the second door 30b may open and close the door storage portion 42b.

[0069] Here, the door storage portion 42b of the right door 21b may have a longer vertical length and deeper recessed structure compared to the door storage portion 42 of the left door 21a. In addition, see-through portions 321 and 321b may be provided in both the second doors 30 and 30b, respectively, and thus, even when the second doors 30 and 30b are closed, both the door storage portions 42 and 42b and the dispenser 43 may be seen through the see-through portions 321 and 321b.

[0070] The ice-making chamber 50 and the dispenser 43 may be provided in one door of the left door 21a and the right door 21b. Hereinafter, the structure in which the ice-making chamber 50 and the dispenser 43 are provided in the left door 21a of the refrigerating compartment door 21 will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. For convenience of explanation, hereinafter, the left door 21a may be referred to as the refrigerating compartment door 21.

[0071] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating the refrigerating compartment door with the second door opened when viewed from one side. In addition, FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the refrigerating compartment door with the second door opened when viewed from the other side.

[0072] As illustrated in the drawings, the ice-making chamber 50 may be provided in the refrigerating compartment door 21. The ice-making chamber 50 may be provided in the first door 40. The ice-making chamber 50 may be recessed from the rear surface of the first door 40 to define an ice-making space 500. In addition, an ice maker 53 may be provided inside the ice-making chamber 50. An ice bank 54 may be further provided inside the ice-making chamber 50. The ice bank 54 may be disposed below the ice maker 53 to store ice transferred from the ice maker 53. In addition, the ice bank 54 may communicate with the dispenser 43 through an ice chute.

[0073] In addition, an ice-making chamber door 51 may be provided on a rear surface of an opening of the ice-making chamber 50 to open and close the ice-making chamber 50. The ice-making chamber 50 and the ice-making chamber door 51 may be made of an insulating material to insulate the refrigerating compartment 11 from the door storage portion 42 of the first door 40.

[0074] The door storage portion 42 may be disposed on the front surface of the first door 40. The door storage portion 42 may be recessed from the front surface of the first door 40. The door storage portion 42 may be called a door storage space. The door storage portion 42 may be provided with a plurality of storage members 421. As an example, the storage member 421 may be a basket.

[0075] The first door 40 may include a door body 41 filled with an insulating material 413 therein. The door body 41 may include a door case 411 defining a front surface thereof and a door liner 412 forming a rear surface thereof. In addition, the door storage portion 42 that is opened forward may be provided in the door case 411. In addition, the ice-making chamber 50 that is opened backward may be provided in the door liner 412.

[0076] Thus, the insides of the door storage portion 42 and the ice-making chamber 50 may be insulated. The insulating material 413 inside the first door 40 may be provided by injecting a foaming liquid. In addition, an additional insulating material having insulating performance that is superior to that of the insulating material 413 may be disposed between the ice-making chamber 50 and the door storage portion 42. As an example, the additional insulating material may be a vacuum insulating material.

[0077] In addition, cold air may be supplied to the door storage portion 42 and the ice-making chamber 50. As an example, the door storage portion 42 may communicate with the ice-making chamber 50 to supply the cold air thereto. In addition, the ice-making chamber 50 may communicate with a space in which the evaporator 14 is disposed so that the cold air is supplied.

[0078] The first door 40 may be provided with the dispenser 43 that dispenses water or ice. The dispenser 43 may be provided at a lower portion of the first door 40. The door storage portion 42 may be provided at an upper portion of the first door 40, and the dispenser 43 may be provided below the door storage portion 42.

[0079] The door storage portion 42 may be disposed in front of the ice-making chamber 50 in the first door 40 to at least partially overlap the ice-making chamber 50. In addition, the dispenser 43 may be disposed below the ice-making chamber 50.

[0080] The dispenser 43 may communicate with the ice-making chamber 50, and ice inside the ice-making chamber 50 may be taken out through the dispenser 43. In addition, purified water may be dispensed through the dispenser 43. For this, the dispenser 43 may include a water dispensing portion 433 and an ice dispensing portion 432.

[0081] In detail, the dispenser 43 may include a dispenser recess portion 431 that is recessed from the front surface of the first door 40. The dispenser recess portion 431 may be disposed below the water dispensing portion 433 and the ice dispensing portion 432. In addition, a manipulation member 434 may be provided in the dispenser recess portion 431 to manipulate a dispensing operation for water or ice. The dispenser recess portion 431 may be a portion of the door storage portion 42.

[0082] A user may manipulate the manipulation member 434 in a state in which a cup or container is disposed in the dispenser recess portion 431 to dispense water or ice through the ice dispensing portion 433 and the ice dispensing portion 432.

[0083] In addition, the dispenser 43 may be shielded by the second door 30. In addition, the dispenser 43 may be selectively visible through the transparent panel assembly 32.

[0084] The second door 30 may be provided with a filter 442, a water tank 441, and a valve 443. In addition, the filter 442, the water tank 441, and the valve 443 may be connected to an external water supply source through a tube 44 and may be connected to the dispenser 43 and the ice maker 53. The filter 442 may purify water supplied to the dispenser 43 and the ice maker 53. In addition, the water tank 441 may store the water purified by the filter 442. In addition, the valve 443 may be connected to the water tank 441 to operate so as to selectively supply water to the dispenser 43 and the ice maker 53.

[0085] The filter 442, the water tank 441, and the valve 443 may be provided at the lower portion of the first door 40 and may be disposed behind the dispenser recess portion 431. In addition, the filter 442, the water tank 441, and the valve 443 may be mounted at the lower portion of the first door 40 and shielded by the cover 444. The filter 442, the water tank 441, and the valve 443 may be mounted on the cover 444 and configured to be separated together when the cover 444 is separated.

[0086] A display 435 may be further provided on the first door 40. The display 435 may display an operation state of the refrigerator 1 including the dispenser 43. The display 435 may be provided above the dispenser 43. The display 435 may be disposed between the door storage portion 42 and the dispenser 43. The display 435 may shield a portion of the dispenser 43. The water dispensing portion 433 and the ice dispensing portion 432 may be disposed on a bottom surface of the display 435. In addition, the display 435 may be shielded by the second door 30. In addition, the display 435 may be selectively visible through the panel assembly 32.

[0087] The door storage portion 42 may be depressed from the front surface of the first door 40. In addition, the door storage portion 42 may be defined as an entire opened space in the front surface of the first door 40, which is opened and closed by the second door 30.

[0088] In this case, at least one of the storage member 421, the dispenser 43, or the display 435 may be provided inside the door storage portion 42. Here, the door storage portion 42 and the ice-making chamber 50 may be separated by the insulating material 413 in the first door 40 to define independent spaces.

[0089] The front surface of the first door 40 may be opened and closed by the second door 30. The second door 30 may define the front surface of the refrigerating compartment door 21 in a closed state. In addition, the second door 30 may shield the door storage portion 42, the dispenser 43, and the display 435 of the first door 40.

[0090] The second door 30 may include a door frame 31 defining a perimeter thereof, and the panel assembly 32 mounted on the door frame 31. The door frame 31 may have an opening that is penetrated to communicate with the door accommodation portion, and the panel assembly 32 may shield the opening. In addition, the insulating material 311 may be filled into the door frame 31 disposed along a circumference of the panel assembly 32.

[0091] In addition, the panel assembly 32 may overlap at least a portion of the door storage portion 42. In addition, the panel assembly 32 may overlap at least portions of the door storage portion 42 and the display 435.

[0092] Thus, when the door light 46 is turned on, the door storage portion 42 and the dispenser 43 may be seen from the outside through the see-through portion 321. In addition, when the display 435 is turned on, a state of the display 435 may be checked through the see-through portion 321.

[0093] In order to cool the ice-making chamber 50 and the door storage portion 42, the cold air may be supplied to each space.

[0094] Hereinafter, the structure in which the cold air is supplied to the ice-making chamber and the door storage portion will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0095] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating an arrangement of a cold air passage of the first door according to the first embodiment. In addition, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0096] As illustrated in the drawings, the first door 40 may include the ice-making chamber supply duct 551 and an ice-making chamber return duct 552. The ice-making chamber supply duct 551 and the ice-making chamber return duct 552 may be disposed inside one surface of the first door 40.

[0097] One end of the ice-making chamber supply duct 551 may be opened at an upper portion of the ice-making chamber 50 to provide an ice-making chamber cold air inlet 553, and the other end may be opened to an outer surface of the first door 40 to communicate with a cabinet supply duct 151. In addition, one end of the ice-making chamber return duct 552 may be opened at a lower portion of the ice-making chamber 50 to provide an ice-making chamber cold air outlet 554, and the other end may be opened to an outer surface of the first door 40 to communicate with a cabinet return duct 152.

[0098] Thus, the cold air generated in the evaporator 14 may be supplied to the ice-making chamber 50 through the cabinet supply duct 151 and air heat-exchanged in the ice-making chamber may be disposed toward the freezing compartment 12 or the evaporator 14 through the ice-making chamber return duct 552 and the cabinet return duct 152. In this way, cooling of the ice-making chamber 50 and ice-making operation may be performed through circulation of the cold air between the space in which the evaporator 14 is disposed at one side of the cabinet 10 and the ice-making chamber 50.

[0099] In addition, the cabinet 10 may be provided with separate cold air ducts 451 and 452 that communicate with the ice-making chamber supply duct 551 and the ice-making chamber return duct 552. In addition, in a state in which the second door 30 is closed, the door storage portion 42 and the ice-making chamber duct 55 may be configured to communicate with each other so as to supply and collect the cold air.

[0100] The first door 40 may include a supply duct 451 and an discharge duct 452.

[0101] As an example, the supply duct 451 may be provided at the upper portion of the first door 40 and may communicate with the ice-making chamber supply duct 551. In addition, the supply duct 451 may be opened and closed by a damper. Thus, some of the cold air supplied to the ice-making chamber 50 may flow into the supply duct 451 when the damper 453 is opened and may be supplied to the door storage portion 42 through the inlet 553.

[0102] The supply duct 451 may be opened at the upper portion of the door storage portion 42 and may define an inlet 451a. The inlet 451a may be provided at an upper end or top surface of the door storage portion 42. Thus, the inlet 451a may extend in a left and right direction of the door storage portion 42. Thus, the cold air of the ice-making chamber 50, which is introduced through the supply duct 451 may be supplied from the upper end of the door storage portion 42 through the inlet 451a.

[0103] The supply duct 451 may be directly connected to the ice-making chamber 50 rather than the ice-making chamber supply duct 551. In addition, if necessary, the supply duct 451 may be further provided with a storage portion fan to enable forced supply of the cold air to the door storage portion 42. In addition, the supply duct 451 may be provided by branching the ice-making chamber supply duct 551. A temperature of the door compartment 42 may be adjusted by controlling an amount of cold air supplied into the door storage portion 42 through an operation of the damper 453 or the storage portion fan. In addition, the ice-making chamber 50 and the door storage portion 42 may be controlled to different temperatures.

[0104] The discharge duct 452 may be provided at a lower portion of the door storage portion 42 to discharge the cold air of the door storage portion 42. The discharge duct 452 may be provided below the supply duct 451. The discharge duct 452 may be provided at a position corresponding to the lower portion of the ice-making chamber 50. The discharge duct 452 may be disposed above the dispenser 43.

[0105] An outlet 452a may be provided at an end of the discharge duct 452, and the outlet 452a may be exposed to the door storage portion 42. Thus, the door storage portion 42 may communicate with the inside of the ice-making chamber 50 through the discharge duct 452. In addition, the other end of the discharge duct 452 may directly or indirectly communicate with the ice-making chamber return duct 552. Thus, the air that cools the door storage portion 42 may be guided to the discharge duct 452 through the inlet of the discharge duct 452. In addition, the cold air passing through the discharge duct 452 may pass through the ice-making chamber return duct 552 and be directed to the evaporator.

[0106] The discharge duct 452 may communicate with the ice-making chamber 50. Thus, the cold air discharged through the discharge duct 452 may be discharged to the ice-making chamber return duct 552 via the ice-making chamber 50. Here, the outlet of the discharge duct 452 may be disposed at a position corresponding to an entrance of the ice-making chamber return duct 552, that is, an ice-making chamber cold air outlet 554 to substantially minimize an impact of a temperature change in the ice-making chamber 50. In addition, a damper 453 that opens and closes the discharge duct 452 may be further provided on the discharge duct 452.

[0107] The supply duct 451 and the discharge duct 452 may be embedded in an insulating material 413 forming the first door 30. The supply duct 451 and the discharge duct 452 may be molded separately and then mounted on the first door 30.

[0108] Due to this arrangement of the cabinet duct 15 and the ice-making chamber duct 55, the cold air supplied from the evaporator 14 may be supplied to the ice-making chamber 50. In addition, some of the cold air supplied through the ice-making chamber supply duct 551 may be supplied to the door storage portion 42 through the supply duct 451.

[0109] The cold air introduced into the door accommodation portion 42 may flow along a rear surface of the second door 30. Here, the rear surface of the second door 30 may be a rear surface of the panel assembly 32 or the plate 324.

[0110] In addition, the air in the door storage portion 42 may be discharged through the discharge duct 452 and the ice-making chamber return duct 552 and may be discharged into the space, in which the evaporator 14 is disposed, through the ice-making chamber return duct 552.

[0111] In addition to the foregoing embodiment, various embodiments may be exemplified. Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, since configurations that are not described below are the same as those of the above-described embodiments, detailed descriptions and illustrations thereof will be omitted to prevent duplication of description, and the same reference numerals will be used for description. That is, hereinafter, only the configurations that are different from those of the above-described embodiment will be described in detail. In addition, configurations that are not shown may refer to the above-described embodiments.

[0112] FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an arrangement of a cold air passage of a first door according to a second embodiment. In addition, FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1 according to the second embodiment.

[0113] As illustrated in the drawings, in a refrigerator 1 according to a second embodiment, a first door 40c may be provided with an ice-making chamber supply duct 551 and an ice-making chamber return duct 552, and thus, cold air of an evaporator 14 may be supplied to an ice-making chamber 50 to cool the ice-making chamber 50, thereby performing an ice-making operation.

[0114] In addition, an insulating material 413 may be filled into a first door 40c, and the ice-making chamber may be surrounded by the insulating material 413. Thus, the door storage portion 42 and the ice-making chamber 50 may be separated from each other by the insulating material 413 and thus be insulated from each other.

[0115] The first door 40c may be provided with a supply duct 451. The supply duct 451 may be provided at an upper portion of the first door 40c to communicate with the ice-making chamber supply duct 551. The supply duct 451 may be opened at an upper portion of the door storage portion 42 and may form an inlet 451a. Thus, cold air inside the refrigerating compartment 11 may be supplied to the door storage portion 42 through the supply duct 451 and the inlet 451a. In addition, the damper 453 may be provided inside the supply duct 451 to selectively guide air flowing through the ice-making chamber supply duct 551 to the supply duct 451.

[0116] The first door 30 may be provided with the discharge duct 454 that discharges the air heat-exchanged in the door storage portion 42. The discharge duct 454 may be provided at the lower portion of the first door 30. The discharge duct 454 may be provided at one side of the dispenser 43. As an example, the discharge duct 454 may be disposed in the dispenser recess portion 431.

[0117] An outlet 454a may be disposed at one opened end of the discharge duct 454. In addition, the outlet 454 may be provided in the dispenser recess portion 431. In addition, the other end of the discharge duct 454 may communicate with the ice-making chamber return duct 552.

[0118] An end of the discharge duct 454 may extend from the ice-making chamber return duct 552 at an outlet of the ice-making chamber return duct 552, that is, at a position adjacent to the return duct outlet 556. That is, the discharge duct 454 may extend to a position at which the outlet is adjacent to the return duct outlet 556. The discharge duct 454 may extend backwardly or laterally from one side of the dispenser recess portion 431 to communicate with the ice-making chamber return duct 552.

[0119] Thus, the cold air supplied from the evaporator 14 may be supplied to the ice-making chamber 50 through the ice-making chamber supply duct 551 and the ice-making chamber cold air inlet 553, and the air of the ice-making chamber 50 may be discharged toward the space, in which the evaporator 14 is disposed, through the ice-making chamber cold air outlet 554 and the ice-making chamber return duct 552.

[0120] In addition, some of the cold air supplied through the ice-making chamber supply duct 551 may be introduced into the supply duct 451 according to an operation of the damper 453. In addition, the cold air may be supplied into the door storage portion 42 through the inlet 451a via the supply duct 451.

[0121] The cold air introduced into the door storage portion 42 may flow downward and may flow up to the dispenser recess portion 431. That is, the air flowing up to the lower portion of the first door 30 may pass through the discharge duct 454 through the outlet 454a. In addition, the air passing through the discharge duct 454 may be discharged into the space, in which the evaporator 14 is disposed, through the ice-making chamber return duct 552.

[0122] In addition, the second door 30 may be provided in front of the first door 40c, and the second door 30 may shield the door storage portion 42, the display 435, and the dispenser 43. The second door 30 may include a transparent panel assembly 32, and a see-through portion 321 may be provided. Therefore, even when the second door 30 is closed, when the door light 46 is turned on, the door storage portion 42 and the dispenser 43 may be visible through the see-through portion 321.

[0123] The second door 30 may not include the panel assembly 32. The second door 30 may be configured so that an insulating material is entirely filled into the second door as illustrated in FIG. 11, and the door accommodation portion 42 is not seen from the outside.

[0124] The second door 30 may not include the panel assembly 32. The second door 30 may be configured so that an insulating material is entirely filled into the second door as illustrated in FIG. 11, and the door accommodation portion 42 is not seen from the outside.

[0125] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1 according to a third embodiment.

[0126] As illustrated in the drawing, a refrigerator according to a third embodiment may include a cabinet 10 in which a storage space 11 is defined, and a door that opens and closes the storage space 11.

[0127] The door may have a double door structure. The door may include a first door 40d that opens and closes the storage space 11, and a second door 30d that opens and closes the first door 40d at a front side. The storage space 11 may be a refrigerating compartment.

[0128] The first door 40d may be the same as that of the foregoing second embodiment. In addition, the first door 40d may be the same as that of the foregoing first embodiment.

[0129] The first door 40d may have a door storage portion 42 in a front surface thereof and an ice-making chamber 50 in a rear surface thereof. An insulating material 413 may be provided inside the first door 40d, and the front door storage portion 42 and the rear ice-making chamber 50 may be insulated from each other by the insulating material 413. In addition, a dispenser 43 may be provided in the front surface of the first door 40d.

[0130] The first door 40d may be provided with the supply duct 451 to communicate with the ice-making chamber supply duct 551. Thus, cold air inside the storage space 11 may be supplied to the door storage portion 42 through the supply duct 451 and the inlet 451a. In addition, the damper 453 may be provided inside the supply duct 451 to selectively guide air flowing through the ice-making chamber supply duct 551 to the supply duct 451.

[0131] The first door 30 may be provided with the discharge duct 454, and an outlet 454a may be disposed at an opened end of the discharge duct 454. In addition, the other end of the discharge duct 454 may communicate with the ice-making chamber return duct 552.

[0132] The discharge duct 454 may be provided at the lower portion of the first door 30. The discharge duct 454 may be provided at one side of the dispenser 43. For example, the discharge duct 454 may be provided in the dispenser recess portion 431, and the outlet 454a may be provided in the dispenser recess portion 431.

[0133] An end of the discharge duct 454 may extend from the ice-making chamber return duct 552 at an outlet of the ice-making chamber return duct 552, that is, at a position adjacent to the return duct outlet 556. That is, the discharge duct 454 may extend to a position at which the outlet is adjacent to the return duct outlet 556. The discharge duct 454 may extend backwardly or laterally from one side of the dispenser recess portion 431 to communicate with the ice-making chamber return duct 552.

[0134] Some of the cold air supplied through the ice-making chamber supply duct 551 may be introduced into the supply duct 451 according to an operation of the damper 453. In addition, the cold air may be supplied into the door storage portion 42 through the inlet 451a via the supply duct 451.

[0135] The cold air introduced into the door storage portion 42 may flow downward and may flow up to the dispenser recess portion 431. That is, the air flowing up to the lower portion of the first door 30 may pass through the discharge duct 454 through the outlet 454a. In addition, the air passing through the discharge duct 454 may be discharged into the space, in which the evaporator 14 is disposed, through the ice-making chamber return duct 552.

[0136] In addition, the second door 30d may be provided in front of the first door 40c, and the second door 30d may shield the door storage portion 42, the display 435, and the dispenser 43.

[0137] The front surface of the second door 30d may be defined by a door panel 32d. The door panel 32d may be made of various materials such as glass, metal, plastic, and a composite material. In addition, the insulating material 311 may be filled into the second door 30d. Thus, the door storage portion 42 may be thermally insulated by the insulating material 31. In addition, the cold air introduced into the door storage portion 42 may move along the rear surface 33 of the second door 30d.

[0138] Thus, the door storage portion 42 may be thermally insulated from the rear ice-making compartment 50 by the insulation material 413 of the first door 40d and may be thermally insulated from front external air by the insulation material 311 of the second door 30d. The cold air supplied into the door storage portion 42 may flow between the second door 30d and the first door 40d. In addition, the inside of the door storage portion 42 may be maintained at a set temperature by the supplied cold air.

[0139] FIG. 12 is a front view of a refrigerator according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 13 is a front view illustrating a state in which a door of the refrigerator is opened. In addition, FIG. 14 is a front view illustrating a state in which a second door of the refrigerator is opened. In addition, FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a refrigerating compartment door of the refrigerator is opened.

[0140] As illustrated in the drawings, a refrigerator 1d according to a fourth embodiment may be provided with a refrigerating compartment 11 and a freezing compartment 12, which are disposed at upper and lower portions of a cabinet 10, respectively, and may have a structure that opens and closes the refrigerating compartment 11 and the freezing compartment 12 by a refrigerating compartment door 21 and a freezing compartment door 22. A pair of refrigerating compartment door 21 and freezing compartment door 22 may be disposed at both left and right sides and may rotate to open and close the refrigerating compartment 11 and the freezing compartment 12.

[0141] At least one of the refrigerating compartment doors 21 may have a double door structure. In detail, the refrigerating compartment door 21 may include a left door 21d and a right door 21b, which are disposed on both left and right sides. In addition, each of the left door 21d and the right door 21b may have the double door structure.

[0142] For example, the right door 21b may include a first door 40b that shields the refrigerating compartment 11, and a second door 30b that opens and closes a door storage portion 42b provided in the first door 40b. The door storage portion 42b may be disposed on the right door 21b, and the door storage portion 42b may extend from an upper portion up to a lower portion of the first door 40b. In addition, the door storage portion 42b of the right door 21b may be provided to pass through the first door 40b and communicate with the refrigerating compartment 11. The second door 30b may shield an entire front surface of the first door 40b and may open and close the door storage portion 42b. In addition, the second door 30b may be provided with a transparent panel assembly 32b, and a see-through portion 321b may be provided to see the inside of the door storage portion 42b.

[0143] The left door 21d may include a first door 70 that shields the refrigerating compartment 11 and a second door 60 that opens and closes the door storage portion 72 provided in the first door 70. The left door 21d may be provided with an ice-making chamber 50, a dispenser 73, and a door storage portion 72. In addition, the second door 60 may be provided with a transparent panel assembly 62, and a see-through portion 621 may be provided to see the inside of the door storage portion 72.

[0144] Looking at the left door 21d in more detail, the ice-making chamber 50 may be provided in a rear surface of the first door 70. The ice-making chamber 50 may be disposed between the refrigerating compartment 11 and the door storage portion 72 and may be partitioned into a space independent of the refrigerating compartment 11 and the door storage portion 72 by an insulating material 713 disposed inside the first door 70. An ice maker 53 may be provided inside the ice-making chamber 50. In addition, an ice bank 54 in which ice transferred from the ice maker 53 is stored may be further provided inside the ice-making chamber 50. The ice-making chamber 50 may be provided with an ice-making chamber door 51 that opens and closes the ice-making chamber 50.

[0145] In addition, a dispenser 73 may be provided in a front surface of the first door 70. The dispenser 73 may be capable of dispensing water or ice. The dispenser 73 may not be shielded by the second door 60 and may be configured to be always exposed.

[0146] The dispenser 73 may be provided at a lower portion of the first door 70. The dispenser 73 may be disposed below the door storage portion 72 and may be provided at a lower portion of the first door 70. A protrusion 714 further protruding forward than the door storage portion 72 may be disposed on the lower portion of the first door 70. In addition, the dispenser may be provided on a front surface of the protrusion 714 to define a portion of an outer appearance of the front surface of the refrigerating compartment door 21.

[0147] In addition, a display 735 exposed to the outside may be further provided on the front surface of the first door 70. The display 735 may also be provided together with a portion of the dispenser 73.

[0148] The second door 60 may be provided in a size less than that of the first door 70 and may shield a portion of the first door 70. As an example, the second door 60 may be disposed above the protrusion 714 and be rotatably mounted on the first door 70 to open and close the door storage portion 72. The second door 60 may form the same plane as the front surface of the protrusion 714 in a closed state.

[0149] That is, the second door 60 and the door storage portion 72 may be disposed above the dispenser 73. When the second door 60 is closed, the front surface of the second door 60 may define the same plane as the front of the dispenser 73.

[0150] The second door 60 may include a door frame 61 defining a perimeter of the second door 60, and the panel assembly 62 mounted at an opened center of the door frame 61. The panel assembly 62 may be constituted by a plurality of transparent plates so that the door storage portion 72 is selectively seen.

[0151] An upper portion of the first door 70 on which the second door 60 is disposed may be provided to be stepped. In addition, the ice-making chamber 50 may be provided at the upper portion of the first door 70 to protrude further backward than the lower portion of the first door 70. In addition, the door storage portion 72 may be disposed in front of the ice-making chamber 50 and may at least partially overlap the ice-making chamber 50.

[0152] Hereinafter, a structure in which cold air is supplied from the refrigerating compartment door 21 to the ice-making chamber 50 and the door storage portion 72 having the above structure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0153] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 12 according to a fourth embodiment.

[0154] As illustrated in the drawing, the first door 70 may be provided with the ice-making chamber supply duct 551 and an ice-making chamber return duct 552. In addition, the cabinet duct 15 and the ice-making chamber duct 55 may be connected to each other.

[0155] The cold air may be supplied to the ice-making chamber 50 through an ice-making chamber cold air inlet 553 disposed at one end of the ice-making chamber supply duct 551. In addition, air in the ice-making chamber 50 may be collected toward an evaporator 14 through the ice-making chamber cold air outlet 554 disposed at one end of the ice-making chamber return duct 552. Thus, the cold air may be circulated between a space in which the evaporator 14 at one side of the cabinet 10 is disposed and the ice-making chamber 50, and the inside of the ice-making chamber 50 may be cooled to a temperature at which an ice-making operation is possible.

[0156] The first door 70 may include a supply duct 751 and an discharge duct 752. The Ice-making chamber 50 and the door storage portion 72 may communicate with each other through the supply duct 751 and the discharge duct 752, and the door storage portion 72 may be cooled the circulation of the cold air. Here, an amount of cold air supplied to the door storage portion 72 may be adjusted according to the opening and closing of the damper 753 provided in the supply duct 751, and the door storage portion 72 may be cooled to a set temperature. Here, the temperature of the door storage portion 72 may be different from that of each of the ice-making chamber 50 and the refrigerating compartment 11.

[0157] The supply duct 751 may be provided at the upper portion of the first door 70 to allow the door storage portion 72 to communicate with the ice-making chamber 50. The supply duct 751 may be opened at the upper portion of the door storage portion 72 and may define an inlet 751a. The inlet 751a may be provided at an upper end or top surface of the door storage portion 72. Thus, the inlet 751a may extend in a left and right direction of the door storage portion 72. Thus, the cold air of the ice-making chamber 50, which is introduced through the supply duct 751 may be supplied from the upper end of the door storage portion 72 through the inlet 751a.

[0158] The discharge duct 752 may be provided at the lower part of the door storage portion 72 and may define an outlet 752a. The outlet 752a may be provided at a lower end of the door storage portion 72. In addition, the discharge duct 752 may communicate with the door storage portion 72 and the ice-making chamber 50 to discharge air of the door storage portion 72 to the ice-making chamber 50. The discharge duct 752 may be disposed at a position corresponding to the lower portion of the ice-making chamber 50.

[0159] The discharge duct 752 may be provided above the dispenser 73. Thus, an interference with the dispenser 73 due to the arrangement of the discharge duct 752 may be prevented.

[0160] The discharge duct 752 may communicate directly or indirectly with the ice-making chamber return duct 552. Thus, the air that cools the door storage portion 72 may be discharged to the discharge duct 752 through the outlet 752a. In addition, the cold air of the discharge duct 752 may be discharged toward the evaporator 14 through the ice-making chamber return duct 552. Thus, the air heat-exchanged in the door storage portion 72 may be discharged through the ice-making chamber return duct 552 without substantially affecting the temperature of the ice-making chamber 50.

[0161] As described above, the door storage portion 72 may be cooled by branching some of the cold air supplied from the evaporator 14 to the ice-making chamber 50 through the supply duct 751. In addition, the air inside the door storage portion 72 may be collected to the space, in which the evaporator 14 is disposed, at one side of the cabinet 10 through the discharge duct 752 and the ice-making chamber discharge duct 752.

[0162] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 12 according to a fifth embodiment.

[0163] As illustrated in the drawing, a refrigerator 1f according to a fifth embodiment may include a cabinet 10 in which a storage space 11 is defined, and a door that opens and closes the storage space 11.

[0164] The door may have a double door structure. The door may include a first door 70 that opens and closes the storage space 11, and a second door 60e that opens and closes the door storage portion 72 of the first door 470 at a front side. The storage space 11 may be a refrigerating compartment. The first door 70 may be the same as that of the foregoing fourth embodiment.

[0165] The first door 70 may have a door storage portion 72 in a front surface thereof and an ice-making chamber 50 in a rear surface thereof. An insulating material 713 may be provided inside the first door 70, and the front door storage portion 42 and the rear ice-making chamber 50 may be insulated from each other by the insulating material 713.

[0166] The first door 70 may be provided with an ice-making chamber supply duct 551 and an ice-making chamber return duct 552. In addition, the cabinet duct 15 and the ice-making chamber duct 55 may be connected to each other.

[0167] The cold air may be supplied to the ice-making chamber 50 through an ice-making chamber cold air inlet 553 disposed at one end of the ice-making chamber supply duct 551. In addition, air in the ice-making chamber 50 may be collected toward an evaporator 14 through the ice-making chamber cold air outlet 554 disposed at one end of the ice-making chamber return duct 552. Thus, the cold air may be circulated between a space in which the evaporator 14 at one side of the cabinet 10 is disposed and the ice-making chamber 50, and the inside of the ice-making chamber 50 may be cooled to a temperature at which an ice-making operation is possible.

[0168] The first door 70 may include a supply duct 751 and an discharge duct 752. The Ice-making chamber 50 and the door storage portion 72 may communicate with each other through the supply duct 751 and the discharge duct 752, and the door storage portion 72 may be cooled the circulation of the cold air. Here, an amount of cold air supplied to the door storage portion 72 may be adjusted according to the opening and closing of the damper 753 provided in the supply duct 751, and the door storage portion 72 may be cooled to a set temperature. Here, the temperature of the door storage portion 72 may be different from that of each of the ice-making chamber 50 and the refrigerating compartment 11.

[0169] The supply duct 751 may be provided at the upper portion of the first door 70 to allow the door storage portion 72 to communicate with the ice-making chamber 50. The supply duct 751 may be opened at the upper portion of the door storage portion 72 and may define an inlet 751a. The inlet 751a may be provided at an upper end or top surface of the door storage portion 72. Thus, the inlet 751a may extend in a left and right direction of the door storage portion 72. Thus, the cold air of the ice-making chamber 50, which is introduced through the supply duct 751 may be supplied from the upper end of the door storage portion 72 through the inlet 751a.

[0170] The discharge duct 752 may be provided at the lower part of the door storage portion 72 and may define an outlet 752a. The outlet 752a may be provided at a lower end of the door storage portion 72. In addition, the discharge duct 752 may communicate with the door storage portion 72 and the ice-making chamber 50 to discharge air of the door storage portion 72 to the ice-making chamber 50. The discharge duct 752 may be disposed at a position corresponding to the lower portion of the ice-making chamber 50.

[0171] The discharge duct 752 may be provided above the dispenser 73. Thus, an interference with the dispenser 73 due to the arrangement of the discharge duct 752 may be prevented.

[0172] The discharge duct 752 may communicate directly or indirectly with the ice-making chamber return duct 552. Thus, the air that cools the door storage portion 72 may be discharged to the discharge duct 752 through the outlet 752a. In addition, the cold air of the discharge duct 752 may be discharged toward the evaporator 14 through the ice-making chamber return duct 552. Thus, the air heat-exchanged in the door storage portion 72 may be discharged through the ice-making chamber return duct 552 without substantially affecting the temperature of the ice-making chamber 50.

[0173] As described above, the door storage portion 72 may be cooled by branching some of the cold air supplied from the evaporator 14 to the ice-making chamber 50 through the supply duct 751. In addition, the air inside the door storage portion 72 may be collected to the space, in which the evaporator 14 is disposed, at one side of the cabinet 10 through the discharge duct 752 and the ice-making chamber discharge duct 752.

[0174] The second door 60e may be provided in front of the first door 70 and may be rotatably mounted on the first door 70. The second door 60e may shield the door storage portion and may have the same plane as a lower portion of the first door 70 in a closed state. In addition, the second door 60e may be disposed above the dispenser 73. The door storage portion 42 may be opened and closed. The front outer appearance of the refrigerator 1f may be defined when the second door 60e is closed.

[0175] The front surface of the second door 60e may be defined by the door panel 62e. The door panel 62e may be made of various materials such as glass, metal, plastic, and a composite material. In addition, the insulating material 611 may be filled into the second door 60e. Thus, the door storage portion 72 may be thermally insulated by the insulating material 611. In addition, the cold air introduced into the door storage portion 72 may move along the rear surface 63 of the second door 60e.

[0176] Thus, the door storage portion 72 may be thermally insulated from the rear ice-making compartment 50 by the insulation material 713 of the first door 70 and may be thermally insulated from front external air by the insulation material 611 of the second door 60e. The cold air supplied into the door storage portion 72 may flow between the second door 60e and the first door 70. In addition, the inside of the door storage portion 42 may be maintained at a set temperature by the supplied cold air.

[0177] The following effects may be expected in the refrigerator according to the proposed embodiments of the present invention.

[0178] The refrigerator according to the embodiments of the present invention may have the structure in which the ice-making chamber is provided in the rear surface of the first door, the door storage portion and the dispenser are provided in the front surface of the first door, and the door storage portion is shielded by the second door.

[0179] Therefore, there may be the advantage that the door storage space, the ice-making chamber, and the dispenser are efficiently disposed in one door, and the convenience of use is improved.

[0180] In addition, there may be the advantage that, when the second door is closed, the door storage portion and the dispenser are not exposed to the outside to more neatly improve the appearance while maintaining the convenience of use.

[0181] In addition, there may be the advantage that, even when the second door is closed, the door storage portion is selectively visualized through the see-through portion of the second door by the user's manipulation to more improve the convenience of use.

[0182] In addition, there may be the advantage that the door storage portion is cooled using the cold air supplied to the ice-making chamber to enable the efficient supply of the cold air. In addition, there may be the advantage that the independent cooling of the door storage portion and the ice-making chamber is possible while simplifying the passage structure inside the door.

[0183] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the 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.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet (10) in which a refrigerating compartment (11) is defined; and

a refrigerating compartment door (21) configured to open and close the refrigerating compartment (11), wherein the refrigerating compartment door (21) comprises a first door (40) rotatably mounted to the cabinet (10) and a second door (30) rotatably provided in front of the first door (40);

wherein the first door (40) comprises:

an ice-making chamber (50) which is provided in the first door (40) and in which an ice maker (53) is accommodated;

an ice-making chamber duct (55) to supply cold air to the ice-making chamber (50);

a door storage portion (42) provided at a front surface of the first door (40) to define a food storage space and configured to be opened and/or closed by the second door (30); and

a supply duct (451) connecting the ice-making chamber (50) and/or the ice-making chamber duct (55) to the door storage portion (42) in order to supply the cold air to the door storage portion (42).

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein a damper (453) configured to open and/or close the supply duct (451) is provided in the first door (40) and/or between the ice-making chamber (50) and the door storage portion (42) so that the cold air can be selectively supplied to the door storage portion (42).

3. The refrigerator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first door (40) comprises a discharge duct (452) connecting the door storage portion (42) to the ice-making chamber (50) in order to discharge air from the door storage portion (42) into the ice-making chamber (50).

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the ice-making chamber (50) comprises an outlet (554) to discharge air from the ice-making chamber (50),
wherein the discharge duct (452) of the first door (40) opens in the ice-making chamber (50) at a position adjacent to or facing the outlet (554) of the ice-making chamber (50) so that the air discharged through the discharge duct (452) is guided out of the ice-making chamber (50) through the outlet (554).

5. The refrigerator according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the supply duct (451) is provided at an upper end of the door storage portion (42) and/or at an upper end of the first door (40); and/or

wherein the supply duct (451) communicates with an upper end of the ice-making chamber (50); and/or

wherein the discharge duct (454) is provided at a lower end of the door storage portion (42) and/or at a lower end of the first door (40); and/or

wherein the discharge duct (452) is connected to a lower end of the ice-making chamber (50).

6. The refrigerator according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising

an evaporator (14) configured to generate cold air;

a blowing fan (16) configured to generate a flow of the cold air; and

a cabinet duct (15) configured to guide the flow of the cold air from the evaporator (14) to the first door (40),

wherein the ice-making chamber duct (55) is configured to communicate with the cabinet duct (15) in a state in which the first door (40) is closed in order to supply the cold air to the ice-making chamber (50) and/or to the supply duct (451).

7. The refrigerator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ice-making chamber duct (55) comprises:

an ice-making chamber supply duct (551) to supply the cold air to the ice-making chamber (50); and/or

an ice-making chamber return duct (552) to discharge air from the ice-making chamber (50).

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein the ice-making chamber supply duct (551) is provided at an upper end of the ice-making chamber (50) and/or the ice-making chamber return duct (551) is provided at a lower end of the ice-making chamber (50).

9. The refrigerator according to claim 7 or 8, further comprising:

a dispenser (43) provided at the front surface of the first door (40) and communicating with the ice-making chamber (50) so as to dispense ice from the ice-making chamber (50); and

a discharge duct (452) for discharging air from the door storage portion (42),

wherein the discharge duct (451) is connected to the ice-making chamber return duct (552) via the dispenser (43).

10. The refrigerator according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 8, further comprising:

a dispenser (43) provided at the front surface of the first door (40) and communicating with the ice-making chamber (50) from the ice-making chamber (50);

wherein the dispenser (43) is provided below the door storage portion (42).

11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the second door (30) is configured to shield the door storage portion (42) and the dispenser (43); or
wherein the second door (30) is configured to shield the door storage portion (42), while exposing a portion of the front surface of the first door (40) where the dispenser (43) is provided.

12. The refrigerator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second door (30) includes a panel assembly (32) that is transparent so that the door storage portion (42) is visible.

13. The refrigerator according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 11, wherein the second door (30) is filled with an insulating material.

14. The refrigerator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the door storage portion (42) is provided in front of the ice-making chamber (50) to at least partially overlap the ice-making chamber (50).

15. The refrigerator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein an ice-making chamber door (51) is provided and configured to open and/or close an open rear surface of the ice-making chamber (50), and
the ice-making chamber door (51) is filled with an insulating material.

Drawing