REFRIGERATOR

Abstract

 A refrigerator which allows a height of a shelf to be adjusted without detaching the shelf from a hanger. The refrigerator includes a main body, a storage compartment provided in the main body, a shelf hanger provided at an inner side of the storage compartment, a moving unit coupled to the shelf hanger to be movable in a vertical direction, and a shelf supported by the moving unit. The shelf includes a first shelf detachably coupled to the moving unit, a second shelf slidably coupled to the first shelf, a latch device configured to allow the second shelf to be fixed to or unfixed from the first shelf, and a first elastic member providing an elastic force to allow the second shelf to be withdrawn from the first shelf.

Description

[0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a shelf of a refrigerator.

[0002] Generally, a refrigerator is a device for keeping food fresh using cold air generated in a cooling cycle.

[0003] A shelf capable of vertically partitioning a storage compartment and having food put thereon may be provided in the storage compartment of the refrigerator.

[0004] The shelf may be provided such that a height thereof may be adjusted according to convenience of a user, and may be provided to be slidable in a front-rear direction.

[0005] In an existing refrigerator, when a user desires to adjust a height of a shelf, the shelf should be completely separated from a hanger provided on a rear wall of a storage compartment. During the process of separating the shelf from the hanger, food put on the shelf may fall into the storage compartment. Therefore, a user must take all the food put on the shelf out of the refrigerator before adjusting the height of the shelf, and put the food on the shelf again after the height of the shelf is adjusted. In addition, there is an inconvenience in that an operation of mounting the shelf, such as an operation for leveling the shelf and the like, should be performed whenever the height of the shelf is adjusted.

[0006] Further, even in the case of a shelf which is slidable in the front-rear direction, since the shelf is not completely withdrawn in the frontward direction, it is inconvenient for a user to take out food and the like put on the shelf.

[0007] Therefore, it is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a refrigerator which allows a height of a shelf to be adjusted without detaching the shelf from a hanger.

[0008] It is another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a refrigerator only requiring a switching operation when a shelf is moved downward without requiring a separate switching operation when the shelf is moved upward.

[0009] It is still another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a refrigerator including a shelf having an improved withdrawal distance through a sliding method.

[0010] It is yet aspect of the present disclosure to provide a refrigerator including a shelf capable of being automatically withdrawn from a storage compartment by only a simple operation.

[0011] It is yet another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a refrigerator including a shelf which is automatically retracted into a storage compartment even when the shelf is not pushed all the way into the storage compartment.

[0012] Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.

[0013] In accordance with an aspect of disclosure, a refrigerator includes a main body, a storage compartment provided in the main body, a shelf hanger provided at an inner side of the storage compartment, a moving unit coupled to the shelf hanger to be movable in a vertical direction, and a shelf supported by the moving unit, wherein the shelf includes a first shelf detachably coupled to the moving unit, a second shelf slidably coupled to the first shelf, a latch device configured to allow the second shelf to be fixed to or unfixed from the first shelf, and a first elastic member providing an elastic force to allow the second shelf to be withdrawn from the first shelf.

[0014] When the second shelf is unfixed from the first shelf, the second shelf may be withdrawn from the first shelf in a frontward direction by the elastic force of the first elastic member.

[0015] The shelf may further include a damper provided to adjust a withdrawal speed of the second shelf.

[0016] The shelf hanger may include a plurality of engagement projections supporting the moving unit such that a height of the moving unit is selectively adjustable.

[0017] The moving unit may include an engagement lever engaged with or disengaged from the engagement projection to allow the moving unit to be fixed to or unfixed from the shelf hanger, and a second elastic member configured to elastically bias the engagement lever in one direction in which the engagement lever is engaged with the engagement projection.

[0018] The engagement projection may include a first inclined portion guiding the engagement lever to be rotated, and a second inclined portion provided at one end of the first inclined portion to support the engagement lever.

[0019] The latch device may include a first latch unit provided on the first shelf and a second latch unit provided on the second shelf, wherein the first latch unit and the second latch unit may be fixed or unfixed by pressing.

[0020] The shelf may further include a rail assembly provided to allow the second shelf to be slidably moved, wherein the rail assembly may include a first rail coupled to the first shelf, a second rail coupled to the second shelf, and a third rail disposed between the first rail and the second rail to increase a withdrawal distance of the second shelf.

[0021] The first shelf may include a coupling ring provided to allow the first shelf to be detachably coupled to the moving unit.

[0022] In accordance with an aspect of disclosure, a refrigerator includes a main body, a storage compartment formed in the main body, a shelf hanger provided at an inner rear side of the storage compartment, a moving unit coupled to the shelf hanger to be movable in a vertical direction, and a shelf coupled to and supported by the moving unit, wherein the shelf includes a first shelf detachably coupled to the moving unit, a second shelf slidably coupled to the first shelf, and a closing device configured to accumulate an elastic force when the second shelf is withdrawn from the first shelf and to transmit the accumulated elastic force to the second shelf when the second shelf is inserted into the first shelf to assist the insertion of the second shelf.

[0023] The closing device may include a case, a slider provided to reciprocate in the case, and an elastic member having opposite ends supported by the slider and the case.

[0024] The closing device may further include a guide rail provided in the case, wherein the guide rail may include a guide portion configured to guide the slider to reciprocate, and an engagement portion provided at one end of the guide portion to allow the slider to be rotated and fixed.

[0025] The shelf may further include a rail assembly provided to allow the second shelf to be slidably moved, wherein the rail assembly may include a first rail coupled to the first shelf, a second rail coupled to the second shelf, and a third rail disposed between the first rail and the second rail to increase a withdrawal distance of the second shelf.

[0026] The shelf hanger may include a plurality of engagement projections supporting the moving unit such that a height of the moving unit is selectively adjustable.

[0027] The moving unit may include an engagement lever provided to be rotatable and engaged with or disengaged from the engagement projection in response to rotation thereof, and an elastic member configured to elastically bias the engagement lever to allow the engagement lever to be engaged with the engagement projection.

[0028] The engagement projection may include a first inclined portion configured to guide the engagement lever to be rotated, and a second inclined portion provided at one end of the first inclined portion to support the engagement lever.

[0029] In accordance with an aspect of disclosure, a refrigerator includes a main body, a storage compartment provided in the main body, a shelf hanger provided at an inner side of the storage compartment, a moving unit coupled to the shelf hanger to be movable in a vertical direction, and a shelf supported by the moving unit and configured to be movable in the vertical direction of the shelf hanger together with the moving unit, wherein the shelf includes a first shelf detachably coupled to the moving unit, and a second shelf slidably coupled to the first shelf to be inserted into or withdrawn from the first shelf.

[0030] The shelf may further include a rail assembly provided to allow the second shelf to be slidably moved, wherein the rail assembly may include a first rail coupled to the first shelf, a second rail coupled to the second shelf, and a third rail disposed between the first rail and the second rail to increase a withdrawal distance of the second shelf.

[0031] The shelf may further include a latch device configured to allow the second shelf to be fixed to or unfixed from the first shelf, and an elastic member provided with an elastic force to allow the second shelf to be withdrawn from the first shelf when the second shelf is unfixed from the first shelf.

[0032] The shelf may further include a closing device configured to accumulate an elastic force when the second shelf is withdrawn from the first shelf and transmit the accumulated elastic force to the second shelf when the second shelf is inserted into the first shelf to assist the insertion of the second shelf.

[0033] These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

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

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a shelf coupling structure of the refrigerator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a state in which a second shelf is withdrawn from a first shelf in the shelf of the refrigerator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view illustrating the shelf hanger and the moving unit in the refrigerator of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state in which the moving unit is coupled to the shelf hanger in the refrigerator of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views for describing an operation of moving the moving unit of FIG. 5 upward.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are views for describing an operation of moving the moving unit of FIG. 7 downward.

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the shelf of the refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 11 to 13 are views for describing an operation of withdrawing the second shelf from the shelf in FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a closing device and a rail assembly in a shelf of a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 15 to 20 are views for describing an operation of the closing device of FIG. 14.

FIGS. 21 to 23 are views for describing an operation of separating the shelf from the moving unit in the refrigerator in FIG. 1.

[0034] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[0035] FIG. 1 is a view illustrating an interior of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0036] Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerator 1 may include a main body 10 having a plurality of storage compartments 21 and 22 formed to be partitioned from each other, doors 31 and 32 provided in front sides the plurality of storage compartments 21 and 22 to open and close the storage compartments 21 and 22, a cold air supply device (not shown) configured to supply cold air into the storage compartments 21 and 22, and a machine room (not shown) provided at a lower rear side of the main body 10 to allow electrical components, such as a compressor and the like, to be installed therein.

[0037] In addition, the refrigerator of the embodiment includes a refrigeration cycle composed of the compressor, a condenser, an expander, and an evaporator to generate the cold air discharged through the cold air supply device (not shown).

[0038] The main body 10 includes an inner case 11 and an outer case 13, and an insulating material is foamed into and filled in a gap between the inner case 11 and the outer case 13 to maintain heat insulation therebetween.

[0039] In addition, the main body 10 includes an upper wall 16, a lower wall (not shown), a left side wall 17, a right side wall 18, and a rear wall 19. In addition, the main body 10 includes an intermediate partition wall 20 which is laterally disposed for partitioning the storage compartments 21 and 22.

[0040] The storage compartments 21 and 22 include the first storage compartment 21 provided above the intermediate partition wall 20 and the second storage compartment provided under the intermediate partition wall 20. The first storage compartment 21 may be configured as a refrigerating compartment in which a temperature is slightly above a freezing temperature, and the second storage compartment 22 may be configured as a freezing compartment in which a temperature is kept below the freezing temperature.

[0041] The doors 31, 32, and 35 are provided in front of the first storage compartment 21 and the second storage compartment 22 for opening and closing the storage compartments 21 and 22. The doors 31, 32, and 35 may include a pair of rotary-type doors 31 and 32 which are rotatable to open and close left and right sides of the first storage compartment 21 and a drawer-type door 35 which is slidable to open and close the second storage compartment 22.

[0042] The pair of rotary-type doors 31 and 32 are hinge-coupled to the left and right side portions of the main body 10, and the drawer-type door 35 is coupled to the main body 10 to be slidably inserted into and withdrawn from the main body 10.

[0043] Since the first storage compartment 21 is not divided by a separate heat insulating partition wall, the first storage compartment 21 is provided with a relatively large storage space, and a filler device 37 is provided in and seals a gap between the pair of rotary-type doors 31 and 32 that open and close the relatively large storage space.

[0044] An ice-making chamber separated from the first storage compartment 21 by an insulation wall is formed, for example, in the vicinity of an upper corner of a left side wall, of the first storage compartment 21, and an ice maker 50 for making ice may be installed in the ice making chamber.

[0045] In addition, a plurality of shelves on which food or the like to be stored are placed may be provided in an upper space of the first storage compartment 21, and an airtight container 70 may be provided in a lower space of the first storage compartment 21 to hermetically store food so that the relatively large storage space in the first storage compartment 21 may be efficiently used.

[0046] A shelf hanger 80 may be installed on the rear wall 19 of the first storage compartment 21. A moving unit 90 may be coupled to the shelf hanger 80 to be moveable in a vertical direction. A shelf 100 may be coupled to and supported by the moving unit 90. The shelf 100 may be detachably coupled to the moving unit 90.

[0047] The shelf 100 in a state of being coupled to the moving unit 90 may be vertically moved with the moving unit 90. That is, a height of the shelf 100 may be adjusted without detaching the shelf 100 from the shelf hanger 80. A detailed description thereof will be given below.

[0048] FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a shelf coupling structure of the refrigerator of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a state in which a second shelf is withdrawn from a first shelf in the shelf of the refrigerator of FIG. 1.

[0049] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shelf 100 may be coupled to the shelf hanger 80 by being supported by the moving unit 90. The shelf 100 may be detachably coupled to the moving unit 90, and the moving unit 90 may be coupled to the shelf hanger 80 to be moveable in the vertical direction. Therefore, the shelf 100 may be moved in the vertical direction of the shelf hanger 80 by moving the moving unit 90 in the vertical direction.

[0050] The shelf 100 may be provided to be slidable in a front-rear direction.

[0051] The shelf 100 may include a first shelf 110 and a second shelf 120. The second shelf 120 may be inserted into or withdrawn from the first shelf 110 in a sliding manner. The shelf 100 may include a rail assembly 130, and, in comparison to a conventional configuration, a withdrawal distance of the shelf may be improved through the rail assembly. A detailed description thereof will be given below.

[0052] Each of the first shelf 110 and the second shelf 120 may include an opening in an approximately rectangular shape. Since the first shelf 110 is not a structure on which food and the like are placed, a separate transparent member need not be provided in the opening. On the other hand, the second shelf 120 may include a transparent member 121 provided to close the opening because the second shelf 120 has a structure on which food, an airtight container, and the like are placed. The transparent member 121 may include a glass material.

[0053] A user may visually check what food is stored under the shelf 100 through the transparent member 121 without withdrawing the second shelf 120 in the frontward direction.

[0054] The shelf 100 may include a push preventing protrusion 122. The push preventing protrusion 122 may be provided to protrude upward from the second shelf 120. A pair of push preventing protrusions 122 may be provided on rear corners of the second shelf 120. When the second shelf 120 is withdrawn in the frontward direction, the push preventing protrusion 122 may prevent food and the like put on the second shelf 120 from being forced past a rear side of the second shelf 120 due to inertia.

[0055] The second shelf 120 may include a strength reinforcing member 124. The strength reinforcing member 124 may be provided at a front lower portion of the second shelf 120. The second shelf 120 may be damaged when the second shelf 120 is withdrawn from the first shelf 110 because strength of the front portion of the second shelf 120 is weak. The strength reinforcing member 124 may be provided at the front lower portion of the second shelf 120 to prevent such damage.

[0056] FIG. 4 is an exploded view illustrating the shelf hanger and the moving unit in the refrigerator of FIG. 1.

[0057] Hereinafter, configurations of the shelf hanger 80 and the moving unit 90 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4.

[0058] The shelf hanger 80 may include a first frame 81 and a second frame 82. Each of the first frame 81 and the second frame 82 may include a fastening groove, and the first frame 81 and the second frame 82 may be coupled by fastening a fastening member (not shown) to the fastening grooves.

[0059] The shelf hanger 80 may include a plurality of engagement projections 83 provided in the vertical direction. The moving unit 90 may be supported by any one engagement projection 83 of the plurality of engagement projections. The moving unit 90 may be selectively engaged with any one of the plurality of engagement projections to adjust the height of the shelf in the vertical direction.

[0060] The shelf hanger 80 may include a guide groove 84 extending in the vertical direction. The guide groove 84 may be formed by coupling the first frame 81 and the second frame 82. A first roller 92 of the moving unit 90 may not be deviated from the shelf hanger 80 by the guide groove 84. To this end, the guide groove 84 may be provided to have a transverse width smaller than that of the first roller 92, which will be described below, and larger than a diameter of a first fastening member 93.

[0061] The moving unit 90 may include a body part 91, the first roller 92, a second roller 94, an engagement lever 96, a second elastic member 99, and a switching bar 98.

[0062] The first roller 92 and the second roller 94 may assist movement of the moving unit 90 in the vertical direction of the shelf hanger 80. When the moving unit 90 is moved in the vertical direction, the first roller 92 and the second roller 94 come into contact with the shelf hanger 80 and are rotated so that a frictional force can be reduced and the moving unit 90 can be stably moved.

[0063] A plurality of first rollers 92 and second rollers 94 may be provided. According to the present embodiment, a pair of first rollers 92 and a pair of second rollers 94 may be provided.

[0064] The first roller 92 may be coupled to the body part 91 by fastening the first fastening member 93 to the body part 91. Similarly, the second roller 94 may be coupled to the body part 91 by fastening a second fastening member 95 to the body part 91. In this case, the first fastening member 93 and the second fastening member 95 couple the first roller 92 and the second roller 94 to the body part 91 and also function as rotational axes of the first roller 92 and the second roller 94.

[0065] The engagement lever 96 may be coupled to the body part 91 via a third fastening member 97. Like the first roller 92 and the second roller 94, the engagement lever 96 may be rotated with respect to the third fastening member 97, which acts as a rotation axis thereof. The second elastic member 99 may be provided between the engagement lever 96 and the body part 91 to elastically bias the engagement lever 96 in one direction. In the embodiment, a torsion spring may be provided as the second elastic member 99. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

[0066] The moving unit 90 may further include the switching bar 98. The switching bar 98 may be provided between moving units provided on left and right sides of the shelf 100. The switching bar 98 may be provided to be rotated with the engagement lever 96. Due to the above configuration, the user may rotate the switching bar 98 to rotate the engagement lever 96 without directly rotating the engagement lever 96. That is, the switching bar 98 may be provided to rotate the engagement lever 96.

[0067] The shelf 100 may be coupled to the moving unit 90, and food and the like may be put on the shelf 100. At this time, weight may not be uniformly distributed on each of the moving units provided on the left and left sides of the shelf 100. To compensate for this, the switching bar 98 may be provided between the moving units. That is, the switching bar 98 may rotate the engagement lever 96 and also reinforce a structure of the moving unit 90.

[0068] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state in which the moving unit is coupled to the shelf hanger in the refrigerator of FIG. 1. FIGS. 6 and 7 are views for describing an operation of moving the moving unit of FIG. 5 upward, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are views for describing an operation of moving the moving unit of FIG. 7 downward.

[0069] A vertical height adjustment operation of the moving unit 90 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9 below.

[0070] The moving unit 90 may be fixed to the shelf hanger 80 by engaging the engagement lever 96 with the engagement projection 83 of the shelf hanger 80. Further, the moving unit 90 may be unfixed by disengaging the engagement lever 96 from the engagement projection 83. The engagement and disengagement of the engagement lever 96 and the engagement projection 83 may be adjusted by rotating the engagement lever 96. The second elastic member 99 may elastically bias the engagement lever 96 in one direction, and the engagement lever 96 may be rotated in the other direction to disengage the engagement lever 96 from the engagement projection 83.

[0071] According to the spirit of the present disclosure, when the moving unit 90 is moved upward, a separate switching operation of the user is not required. Conversely, when the moving unit 90 is moved downward, it is necessary for the user to rotate the switching bar 98.

[0072] When the moving unit 90 is moved upward, the engagement lever 96 is gradually rotated in the other direction by a first inclined portion 83a of the engagement projection 83. That is, even when the user simply lifts the shelf 100 without rotating the switching bar 98, the engagement lever 96 and the switching bar 98 are rotated in the other direction by the first inclined portion 83a.

[0073] When the moving unit 90 is continuously moved upward, the engagement lever 96 is gradually rotated in the other direction at the first inclined portion 83a and is then rotated in the one direction again at a second inclined portion 83b provided at one end of the first inclined portion 83a by an elastic force of the second elastic member 99. As the engagement lever 96 is rotated in the one direction at the second inclined portion 83b, the engagement lever 96 is engaged with the engagement projection 83 and the moving unit 90 is fixed to the shelf hanger 80.

[0074] When the moving unit 90 is moved downward, unlike the case in which the moving unit is moved upward, the engagement lever 96 is not rotated in the other direction even when the user exerts a downward force on the moving unit 90. The reason for this is that since a downward force is already being exerted on the moving unit 90 by the shelf 100, food placed on the shelf 100, and a weight of the moving unit 90, the moving unit 90 may not support the shelf 100 when the engagement lever 96 is rotated in the other direction.

[0075] Accordingly, the user may rotate the switching bar 98 forward to artificially rotate the engagement lever 96 in the other direction. That is, the engagement lever 96 is disengaged from the engagement projection 83 to unfix the moving unit 90 fixed to the shelf hanger from the shelf hanger 80. When the moving unit 90 is unfixed, the user may move a location of the shelf 100 downward to adjust the height thereof to be lower without needing to continuously rotate the switching bar 98.

[0076] Unlike a conventional shelf, the shelf of the present disclosure has an advantage in that the height of the shelf may be adjusted without detaching the shelf from the shelf hanger so that the height of the shelf may be adjusted without taking food placed on the shelf out of the refrigerator or moving the food in the refrigerator. In addition, since a separate switching operation, which is inconvenient due to food placed on the shelf, is not required when the shelf is moved upward, the user may conveniently adjust the height of the shelf. That is, according to the spirit of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a shelf which improves user convenience.

[0077] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the shelf of the refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIGS. 11 to 13 are views for describing an operation of withdrawing the second shelf from the shelf in FIG. 10.

[0078] A configuration of the shelf 100 will be described in detail below.

[0079] As described above, the shelf 100 may include the first shelf 110 and the second shelf 120 which is slidably coupled to the first shelf 110. The shelf 100 may further include the rail assembly 130 in which the second shelf 120 is slidably provided in the first shelf 110.

[0080] The rail assembly 130 may include a first rail 131 coupled to the first shelf 110, a second rail 132 coupled to the second shelf 120, and a third rail 133 provided between the first rail 131 and the second rail 132.

[0081] The first rail 131 may include a first coupling protrusion 131a protruding downward from a lower surface thereof to be coupled to the first shelf 110. The first coupling protrusion 131a may be fitted into a first coupling recess m2 provided in the first shelf 110.

[0082] The second rail 132 may include a second coupling protrusion 32a protruding upward from an upper surface thereof to be coupled to the second shelf 120. The second coupling protrusion 132a may be insertion-coupled to a second coupling recess 125 provided in the second shelf 120.

[0083] The third rail 133 may be provided between the first rail 131 and the second rail 132 to increase a withdrawal distance of the second rail 132. The first rail 131 may be fixed to the first shelf 110 and the second rail 132 may be inserted into the first rail or withdrawn from the first rail 131 in the frontward direction. In this case, by providing the third rail 133, a frontward withdrawal distance of the second rail 132 may be extended by a portion of a length of the third rail 133. Due to the above, the withdrawal distance of the second shelf 120 may be increased, and the user may easily withdraw food placed on the second shelf 120 without bending his/her waist.

[0084] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the shelf 100 may further include a latch device 140 provided so that the second shelf 120 is fixed to or unfixed from the first shelf 110, a first elastic member 126 providing an elastic force in one direction to allow the second shelf 120 to be withdrawn from the first shelf 110, and a damper 143 provided for adjusting a withdrawal speed of the second shelf 120.

[0085] The latch device 140 may include a first latch unit 141 provided on the first shelf 110 and a second latch unit 142 provided on the second shelf 120.

[0086] The first latch unit 141 and the second latch unit 142 may be fixed or unfixed by pressing. When the first latch unit 141 and the second latch unit 142 are fixed, even though the first elastic member 126 applies the elastic force to withdraw the second shelf 120 from the first shelf 110, the second shelf 120 is not withdrawn. When the first latch unit 141 and the second latch unit 142 are unfixed, the second shelf 120 may be withdrawn from the first shelf 110 by the elastic force of the first elastic member 126. In this case, the damper 143 may adjust the withdrawal speed of the second shelf 120 to prevent the food placed on the second shelf 120 from falling off the second shelf 120 due to the second shelf 120 being rapidly withdrawn.

[0087] One end of the first elastic member 126 may be supported by one side of the second shelf 120, and the other end thereof may be supported by a support wall 113 provided at the first shelf 110. With the above structure, the first elastic member 126 may provide the elastic force to allow the second shelf 120 to be moved away from the first shelf 110. That is, the first elastic member 126 may elastically bias the second shelf 120 in one direction in which the second shelf 120 is withdrawn from the first shelf 110.

[0088] The damper 143 may be provided on the first shelf 110. The damper 143 may have a gear shape. A pair of dampers 143 may be provided to adjust the withdrawal speed of the second shelf 120. The damper 143 may be fixed to an inner wall of the first shelf 110.

[0089] The second shelf 120 may include a saw-toothed rail 123 configured to correspond to the damper 143 having the gear shape. The saw-toothed rail 123 may be arranged to be engaged with the damper 143. A length of the saw-toothed rail 123 may be formed to be greater than or equal to the withdrawal distance of the second shelf 120 so that the damper 143 may adjust the withdrawal speed of the second shelf 120 when the second shelf 120 is withdrawn.

[0090] A withdraw operation of the second shelf 120 will be described with reference to FIG. 11 to FIG. 13. The user may push the second shelf 120 in the rearward direction to unfix the latch device 140 when the user desires to withdraw the second shelf 120 from the first shelf 110. Since this is an operation for releasing the fixation of the first latch unit 141 and the second latch unit 142, simply slightly pushing the second shelf 120 is sufficient.

[0091] When the first latch unit 141 and the second latch unit 142 are unfixed, the second shelf 120 may be withdrawn from the first shelf 110 in the frontward direction by the elastic force of the first elastic member 126. In this case, the withdrawal speed of the second shelf 120 may be adjusted through the damper 143 provided on the first shelf 110 and the saw-toothed rail 123 provided on the second shelf 120, as described above. In other words, the damper 143 and the saw-toothed rail 123 may prevent the rapid withdrawal of the second shelf 120 from the first shelf 110.

[0092] Meanwhile, the user may push the withdrawn second shelf 120 in the rearward direction to re-insert the second shelf into the first shelf 110. A state in which the second shelf 120 is fixed to the first shelf 110 may be maintained by inserting the second shelf 120 into the first shelf until the first latch unit 141 and the second latch unit 142 are fixed again.

[0093] In the shelf 100 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, as described above, when the second shelf 120 is only slightly pushed in the rearward direction, the second shelf 120 may be automatically withdrawn by the elastic force of the first elastic member 126. Further, the second shelf 120 may be withdrawn at a proper speed due to the damper 143. Due to the above, the user may conveniently withdraw the second shelf 120 and the user's convenience may be improved.

[0094] FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a closing device and a rail assembly in a shelf of a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIGS. 15 to 20 are views for describing an operation of the closing device of FIG. 14.

[0095] According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a shelf 100 may include a closing device 150. The shelf 100 may not include the latch device 140 and the first elastic member 126 and may include a closing device 150.

[0096] The closing device 150 may be provided to assist the user when a second shelf 120 is inserted into a first shelf 110. Specifically, when the user inserts the second shelf 120 into the first shelf 110, the second shelf 120 may be inserted into the first shelf 110 by the closing device 150 without the second shelf 120 being completely inserted into the first shelf.

[0097] A detailed configuration of the closing device 150 will be given below.

[0098] The closing device 150 may include a case 151, a slider 152 provided to reciprocate in the case 151, a connector 153 provided for connecting the slider 152 and a second rail 132, a third elastic member 154 accumulating an elastic force when the second shelf 120 is withdrawn and providing the accumulated elastic force to the second shelf 120 when the second shelf 120 is inserted, and a guide rail 157.

[0099] The case 151 may be coupled to the first rail 131. The case 151 may be fixed together with the first rail 131 to the first shelf 110.

[0100] The guide rail 157 may be provided on the case 151 to allow the slider 152 to reciprocate. The guide rail 157 may include a guide portion 155 for guiding the slider 152 to reciprocate and an engagement portion 156 provided at one end of the guide portion 155 to allow the slider 152 to be rotated and fixed.

[0101] The third elastic member 154 may be provided to provide the slider 152 with an elastic force. One end of the third elastic member 154 may be supported by the slider 152, and the other end thereof may be supported by one side of the case 151.

[0102] The connector 153 may be coupled to one side of the second rail 132. The connector 153 may be detachably coupled to the slider 152. Specifically, the connector 153 may be insertion-coupled to and detached from a fitting groove 152a provided in the slider 152.

[0103] An operation of the closing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 15 to 20.

[0104] When the second shelf 120 is inserted into the first shelf 110, the third elastic member 154 is not in a stretched state and therefore may not provide an elastic force to the slider 152.

[0105] When the user withdraws the second shelf 120 from the first shelf 110, the second rail 132, the connector 153 coupled to the second rail 132, and the slider 152 insertion-coupled to the connector 153 may be moved along the guide portion 155, as shown in FIG. 16. In this case, the third elastic member 154 is stretched and accumulates an elastic force.

[0106] When the second shelf 120 is continuously withdrawn, the slider 152 may pass the guide portion 155 and then be engaged with the engagement portion 156. A protrusion of the slider 152 is engaged with the engagement portion 156 when the slider 152 is rotated at the engagement portion 156. In this case, a fitting coupling between the slider 152 and the connector 153 is released due to the rotation of the slider 152. In other words, the slider 152 is engaged with the engagement portion 156, and the connector 153 is separated from the slider 152 and then moved together with the second rail 132 and the second shelf 120.

[0107] When the user pushes the second shelf 120 in the rearward direction to insert the second shelf 120 into the first shelf, the connector 153 and the slider 152 are insertion-coupled to each other again and the slider 152 is rotated. That is, the engagement between the slider 152 and the engagement portion 156 is released, and the second shelf 120 may be automatically inserted into the first shelf due to the accumulated elastic force of the third elastic member 154. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, when the second shelf 120 is inserted into the first shelf, the user may automatically insert the second shelf into the first shelf through the closing device 150 without completely inserting the second shelf 120 into the first shelf. In other words, since the automatic insertion is possible, the user's convenience may be improved.

[0108] FIGS. 21 to 23 are views for describing an operation of separating the shelf from the moving unit in the refrigerator in FIG. 1.

[0109] As shown in FIGS. 21 to 23, the shelf 100 according to the spirit of the present disclosure may be detachably coupled to the moving unit 90.

[0110] The first shelf 110 may include a coupling ring 111. The coupling ring 111 may be provided at a rear end of the first shelf 110.

[0111] When the first shelf 110 is coupled to the moving unit 90, the shelf 100 is not separated from the moving unit 90 even though a force is applied in the vertical direction. In other words, the shelf 100 may be fixed to the moving unit 90.

[0112] When the user desires to detach the shelf 100 from the moving unit 90, the user may hold a front end of the shelf 100 and lift the shelf 100 obliquely, as shown in FIGS. 22 and 23, to separate the shelf 100 from the moving unit 90. In other words, the shelf 100 may be separated from the moving unit 90 by obliquely lifting the shelf 100 to release a coupling between the coupling ring 111 and the moving unit 90.

[0113] According to the present disclosure, when the user desires to separate the shelf 100, it is possible to separate the shelf 100 from the shelf hanger 80 through the above-described operations. In addition, when the user desires to adjust the height of the shelf 100, the shelf 100 can be moved upward or downward by simply lifting the shelf 100 upward or rotating the switching bar 98 without separating the shelf 100 from the shelf hanger 80.

[0114] As is apparent from the above description, it is possible to provide a refrigerator which allows a height of a shelf to be adjusted without detaching the shelf from a hanger.

[0115] According to the spirit of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a refrigerator only requiring a switching operation when a shelf is moved downward, without requiring a separate switching operation when the shelf is moved upward.

[0116] According to the spirit of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a refrigerator including the shelf having an improved withdrawal distance through a sliding method.

[0117] According to the spirit of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a refrigerator including a shelf which can be automatically withdrawn by a simple operation.

[0118] According to the spirit of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a refrigerator including a shelf which is automatically retracted into a storage compartment even when the shelf is not pushed all the way into the storage compartment.

[0119] The present disclosure has been shown and described with reference to the specific embodiments. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, and one skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains should understood that the present disclosure may be variously modified and embodied without departing from the gist of the the disclosure defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body;

a storage compartment provided in the main body;

a shelf hanger provided at an inner side of the storage compartment;

a moving unit coupled to the shelf hanger and capable of moving in a vertical direction; and

a shelf supported by the moving unit,

wherein the shelf comprises:

a first shelf detachably coupled to the moving unit;

a second shelf slidably coupled to the first shelf;

a latch device configured to allow the second shelf to be fixed to or unfixed from the first shelf; and

a first elastic member providing an elastic force to allow the second shelf to be withdrawn from the first shelf.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein, when the second shelf is unfixed from the first shelf, the second shelf is withdrawn from the first shelf in a frontward direction by the elastic force of the first elastic member.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1 or 2, wherein the shelf further comprises a damper provided to adjust a withdrawal speed of the second shelf.

4. The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shelf hanger comprises a plurality of engagement projections supporting the moving unit such that a height of the moving unit is selectively adjustable.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the moving unit comprises:

an engagement lever engaged with or disengaged from the engagement projection to allow the moving unit to be fixed to or unfixed from the shelf hanger; and

a second elastic member configured to elastically bias the engagement lever in one direction in which the engagement lever is engaged with the engagement projection.

6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the engagement projection comprises a first inclined portion guiding the engagement lever to be rotated, and a second inclined portion provided at one end of the first inclined portion to support the engagement lever.

7. The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the latch device comprises:

a first latch unit provided on the first shelf; and

a second latch unit provided on the second shelf,

wherein the first latch unit and the second latch unit are fixed or unfixed by pressing.

8. The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the shelf further comprises a rail assembly provided to allow the second shelf to be slidably moved,
wherein the rail assembly comprises:

a first rail coupled to the first shelf;

a second rail coupled to the second shelf; and

a third rail disposed between the first rail and the second rail to increase a withdrawal distance of the second shelf.

9. The refrigerator of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first shelf comprises a coupling ring provided to allow the first shelf to be detachably coupled to the moving unit.

Drawing