REFRIGERATOR

• US 20150059399A1
• Filed: 08/26/2014
• Published: 03/05/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: PARK, Jiyoung, KIM, Hyunjung, LEE, Boram, HWANG, Jungyeon, LEE, Eunjoo, CHOI, Kyukwan
• Granted Patent: US 10,465,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/441
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/045 Air flow control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 17/065 with compartments at different temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/068 Arrangements for circulating fluids through the insulating material
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/069 Cooling space dividing partitions
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/061 through special compartments
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/0667 from the refrigerator
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/025 Drawers

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment that is positioned vertically below the first storage compartment, a first mullion that partitions the first storage compartment from the second storage compartment, an access cover configured to open or close the access hole, a reception drawer configured to be received into the second storage compartment and including a reception door configured to open and close the second storage compartment and a reception box provided in a rear surface of the reception door, and a cover member configured to cover at least a portion of a top surface of the reception box. The first mullion defines an access hole that allows fluid communication between the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet defining a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment that is positioned vertically below the first storage compartment;

a first mullion that partitions the first storage compartment from the second storage compartment, the first mullion defining an access hole that allows fluid communication between the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment;

an access cover configured to open or close the access hole;

a reception drawer configured to be received into the second storage compartment and comprising a reception door configured to open and close the second storage compartment and a reception box provided in a rear surface of the reception door; and

a cover member configured to cover at least a portion of a top surface of the reception box.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the access hole is defined at a position that is nearer to a front end of the mullion than a rear end of the mullion.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, further comprising one or more storage boxes disposed on a top surface of the first mullion,

wherein the one or more storage boxes are positioned rearward of the access hole.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the access cover is configured to slide forward or backward to open or close the access hole, respectively.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the mullion includes a cover accommodation groove configured to receive the access cover when the access cover slidably moves in a backward direction.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the access cover is configured to open or close the access hole by vertically rotating with respect to a rear end of the access cover.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the access cover is transparent.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a first cooling chamber defined at a rear side of the second storage compartment and configured to supply cool air into the second storage compartment, wherein the reception box comprises:

an insulation wall that defines an exterior of the reception box;

a refrigerating space defined inside the insulation wall;

a freezing space defined inside the insulation wall, the freezing space being defined at a rear side of the refrigerating space; and

a partition wall that partitions the refrigerating space from the freezing space,

wherein the reception box is configured to, when the reception door is in a closed position, allow fluid communication between the freezing space and the first cooling chamber.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the access hole is positioned to correspond to the refrigerating space of the reception box when the reception door is in the closed position.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the cover member is configured to cover a top surface of the freezing space of the reception box.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the cover member is slidably coupled to an upper end of the reception box.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein the cover member is rotatably coupled to an upper end of a rear surface of the reception box.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the insulation wall comprises:

a first insulation wall defining the freezing space; and

a second insulation wall defining the refrigerating space,

wherein the first insulation wall has a thickness greater than a thickness of the second insulation wall.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 8, further comprising a first cool air grille that partitions the second storage compartment from the first cooling chamber,

wherein a cool air discharge hole and a cooling air collection hole through which the cool air passes are respectively defined in the first cooling grille.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 14, wherein the reception drawer is configured such that, when the reception door is in a fully closed position, a rear surface of the insulation wall defining the freezing space is in close contact the first cool air grille,

wherein a cool air discharge hole and a cool air collection hole are respectively defined in the rear surface of the insulation wall, and

wherein the cool air discharge hole and the cool air collection hole of the insulation wall are in fluidic communication with the cool air discharge hole and the cool air collection hole of the first cool air grille, respectively.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 8, further comprising a first evaporator and a first cooling fan that are disposed in the first cooling chamber.

17. The refrigerator according to claim 8, further comprising:

a third storage compartment defined below the second storage compartment;

a second mullion that partitions the second storage compartment from the third storage compartment;

a second cooling chamber defined at a rear side of the third storage compartment;

a second cool air grille that partitions the third storage compartment from the second cooling chamber;

a reception member accommodated in the third storage compartment; and

a second evaporator and a second cooling fan that are disposed in the second cooling chamber.

18. The refrigerator according to claim 17, further comprising a first cool air grille that partitions the second storage compartment from the first cooling chamber,

wherein a cool air discharge hole and a cooling air collection hole through which the cool air passes are respectively defined in the first cooling grille,

wherein the second mullion defines a communication hole at a position corresponding to a top surface of the second cooling chamber, the communication hole allowing fluidic communication between the first and second cooling chambers,

wherein cool air in the second cooling chamber is supplied into the first cooling chamber through the communication hole, and

wherein the cool air supplied into the first cooling chamber is supplied into the freezing space of the reception box through the first cool air grille.

19. The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein the first storage compartment comprises a refrigerating compartment, and the third storage compartment comprises a freezing compartment.

20. The refrigerator according to claim 19, wherein the second storage compartment comprises an additional refrigerating compartment or an additional freezing compartment.