REFRIGERATOR

• US 20150115790A1
• Filed: 10/27/2014
• Published: 04/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: OGG, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 10,677,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 312/404
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/021 Sliding doors
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/069 Cooling space dividing partitions
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2317/062 along the inside of doors
• 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 receiving drawer configured to be received into the second storage compartment, a mullion that partitions the first storage compartment from the second storage compartment, and an access cover configured to selectively open or close the access hole. The receiving drawer includes a receiving door configured to open and close the second storage compartment and a receiving box provided on a back surface of the receiving door. The mullion defines an access hole that allows fluid communication between the first and second storage compartments.

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 receiving drawer configured to be received into the second storage compartment, the receiving drawer comprising a receiving door configured to open and close the second storage compartment and a receiving box provided on a back surface of the receiving door;

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

an access cover configured to selectively open or close the access hole.

2. 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.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the access cover is configured to vertically rotate about a rear end thereof to open or close the access hole.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the mullion includes a cover accommodation groove configured to receive the access cover when the access cover slidably moves in a backward direction.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein a top surface of the mullion includes a stepped portion configured to accommodate the access cover.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the cabinet further defines a third storage compartment that is positioned vertically below the second storage compartment, wherein the first and second storage compartments are refrigerating compartments, and

wherein the third storage compartment is a freezing compartment.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, further comprising an additional mullion that partitions the second storage compartment from the third storage compartment.

21. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the access hole is positioned closer to a front end of the mullion than a back end of the mullion.

22. The refrigerator according to claim 21, further comprising at least one storage box placed on a top surface of the mullion,

wherein the at least one storage box is positioned rearward of the access hole.

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

24. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein a top surface of the mullion includes a stepped portion configured to accommodate the access cover.

8. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet defining a storage space; and

a multi drawer assembly accommodated within the storage space and configured to slidably move forward or backward relative to the storage space,

wherein the multi drawer assembly comprises;

a main drawer assembly configured to slidably move relative to the storage space and comprising a main door that is configured to selectively open or close a front opening of the storage space, and

a sub drawer assembly provided within the main drawer assembly and configured to slidably move relative to the main drawer assembly, the sub drawer assembly comprising a sub door that is configured to move forward or backward relative to the main door,

wherein the main door includes a sub door seat part that is recessed relative to a front surface of the main door to seat the sub door therein.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the main drawer assembly comprises:

a main box coupled to a rear side of the main door; and

a sub box accommodation part extending rearward from a back surface of the sub door seat part.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein the sub drawer assembly further comprises a sub box coupled to a rear side of the sub door and configured to be accommodated within the sub box accommodation part.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein a handle is disposed on each of the front surface of the main door below the sub door seat part and a front surface of the sub door.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 10, further comprising:

a handle part disposed on a top surface of the sub door and recessed downward from a top surface of the sub door seat part;

a door locking part disposed on the handle part and passing through the sub door to protrude rearward from a back surface of the sub door; and

a hook groove that is recessed rearward from a front surface of the sub door part and configured to receive an end of the door locking part.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 12, wherein the door locking part comprises:

a grasp portion placed on the handle part;

an arm extending rearward from the grasp portion to pass through the sub door, the arm being configured to rotate about a rotation shaft that is positioned along a length of the arm; and

a hook end disposed on an end of the arm, the hook end being configured to be inserted into the hook groove.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 12, further comprising a handle disposed on a front surface of the sub door.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 9, further comprising an inner drawer assembly disposed on a rear side of the sub box accommodation part, the inner drawer assembly configured to slidably move forward or backward within the storage space,

wherein the inner drawer assembly comprises:

an inner door, and

an inner box coupled to a rear side of the inner door.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 15, wherein the inner door is rotatably coupled to a front surface of the inner box.

17. The refrigerator according to claim 9, wherein a cool air hole is defined in at least one side of top and bottom surfaces, left and right surfaces, and a back surface of the sub box accommodation part.

18. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein when the sub door is seated in the sub door seat part, a front surface of the sub door is flush with the front surface of the main door.

19. The refrigerator according to claim 18, wherein when the sub door is seated in the sub door seat part, both side surfaces of the sub door are flush with both side surfaces of the main door, respectively.

20. The refrigerator according to claim 18, wherein when the sub door is seated in the sub door seat part, a top surface of the sub door is flush with a top surface of the main door.