Refrigeration – Cooled enclosure – With particular internal element support
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-12
2004-02-24
Jones, Melvin (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Cooled enclosure
With particular internal element support
C062S440000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06694771
ABSTRACT:
This application claims the benefit of the Korean Application Nos. P2001-55224, filed on Sep. 7, 2001; P2001-55966, filed on Sep. 11, 2001; P2001-56888, filed on Sep. 14, 2001; P2001-56889, filed on Sep. 14, 2001; and P2001-56907, filed on Sep. 14, 2001, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to refrigerators. More particularly, the present invention relates to refrigerators having can receiving devices.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Generally, a refrigerator includes a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment that are maintained at constant, low temperatures. To accomplish this, a refrigerator operates along a refrigerating cycle by the action of a compressor, a condenser, capillaries, and an evaporator. A refrigerant at low temperature and low pressure passes through refrigerant pipes. The refrigerant evaporates, removing heat, and thus cooling, the air surrounding the evaporator. The cooled air is supplied to the freezing compartment and to the refrigerating compartment to cool them.
Most refrigerators have front doors that enable opening and closing of the freezing compartment and/or the refrigerating room. Often, such doors have interior can-receiving devices for storing cans. The structure and operation of a typical door having a can-receiving device is explained with reference to FIG.
1
. As shown, a refrigerator door
1
includes an outer case
2
and an inner case
3
that is fastened to the outer case
2
. While not shown, between the outer case
2
and the inner case
3
is an insulation material, typically polyurethane.
Still referring to
FIG. 1
, the inner case
3
has a plurality of projecting ribs
4
a
,
4
b
, and
4
c
that define predetermined spaces between those ribs. The rib
4
c
is at the center of the inner case
3
, the rib
4
a
is on the left, and the rib
4
b
is on the right. Beneficially, the ribs
4
a
,
4
b
, and
4
c
are integral parts of the inner case
3
.
A can-receiving space
10
is formed by a support member
6
that is installed between ribs
4
a
and
4
c
. Additionally, a stop member
7
is installed below the support member
6
.
The support member-
6
includes a longitudinally extending bar
6
a
that is fixed in position by upper and lower transverse bars
6
b
and
6
c
, and which extends between rib
4
a
and rib
4
c
. The bar
6
a
is for guiding and retaining cans in the can-receiving space
10
. The stop member
7
is a bar that extends between rib
4
a
and rib
4
c
that stops cans from dropping through the can receiving space
10
. The ribs
4
a
and
4
c
have fastening holes
5
a
,
5
b
, and
5
c
for retaining the support member
6
and the stop member
7
.
Referring now to
FIG. 2
, a side cut-away view of
FIG. 1
, the longitudinal bar
6
a
and the interior wall of the inner case
3
form a can inlet
8
and a can outlet
9
. The can outlet
9
is partially blocked by the stop member
7
. Accordingly, a can
11
put through the inlet
8
drops freely through the can receiving space
10
until it is stopped by the stop member
7
. When desired, a user can remove the can
11
from the outlet
9
.
While generally successful, the can-receiving assembly described above has problems. First, to install the support member
6
and the stop member
7
, a plurality of fastening holes
5
a
to
5
c
are formed on ribs
4
a
and
4
c
. Since the fastening holes pass through a wall of the inner case
3
, the insulation material between the inner case
3
and the outer case
2
can come out of the fastening holes.
Second, to insert the support member
6
and the stop member
7
into the fastening holes
5
a
to
5
c
, a space wider than the support member
6
and the stop member
7
should be temporarily formed between the ribs
4
a
and
4
c
. To do so, the space between the ribs
4
a
and
4
c
should be expanded by flexing the ribs
4
a
and
4
c
. However, because those ribs are hard, this can be difficult to do.
Third, a can
11
dropped into the can-receiving assembly can strike the stop member
7
and the inner case
3
with great impact. Thus, the inner case
3
may be damaged and significant noise can be generated.
Fourth, it is relatively difficult for a user to remove a can
11
due to the structure of the stop member
7
. As shown in
FIG. 3
, to remove a can
11
, the user should hold the can
11
in one hand while lifting all of the other cans with the other hand. In other words, a user should use both hands to remove a can
11
. This is inconvenient. Also, a user must push their hand into a narrow space below the stop member
7
. This is also inconvenient.
FIG. 4
illustrates another type of can-receiving apparatus. That apparatus is designed to attach with a shelf in the refrigerator. As shown, the can-receiving apparatus takes the form of a receptacle
20
having a rear can inlet
21
and a front can outlet
22
. Hooks
24
are used to fixing the receptacle
20
to the shelf. The hooks
24
, which are located -on the front and rear of the receptacle
20
, include hook grooves
24
a
for grabbing a shelf. The front of the receptacle
20
includes a support guide
23
for preventing cans from freely dropping out of the can outlet
22
.
The receptacle
20
beneficially hangs down from the shelf at an incline such that a can placed in the inlet
21
rolls down to the outlet
22
where it is stopped by the support guide
23
.
While generally successful, the can-receiving apparatus of
FIG. 4
has a significant problem in that it does not easily accommodate cans of different sizes. This is primarily because the receptacle
20
has a constant width W. Thus, if the length of the can is longer than the width of the receptacle
20
, the corresponding can cannot be received in the receptacle. Additionally, if a can is shorter than the width W, the can is liable to turn in the receptacle and jam its operation.
Therefore, a new can-receiving apparatus would be beneficial.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a can-receiving apparatus for a refrigerator that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a can-receiving apparatus for a refrigerator that avoids leakage of door insulation material and that enables easy installation.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a can-receiving apparatus for a refrigerator that can minimize door damage and noise caused by dropping cans.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a can-receiving apparatus for a refrigerator that enables easy can removal.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a can-receiving apparatus for a refrigerator that can accommodate cans of diverse sizes.
Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a can-receiving assembly for a refrigerator includes an inner case having spaced apart ribs that project from an inner wall of the inner case, a support member installed between the ribs and spaced apart from the inner wall such that a can-receiving space is formed, a stop member installed between the ribs and below the support member for stopping cans from dropping through the can-receiving space, and a fastening member installed on the ribs and dimension to receive the support member and the stop member such that those members are indirectly fastened to the ribs.
In another aspect of the present inve
Kim Dae Yeon
Kim Hyun Gyo
Seon Young Chul
LG Electronics Inc.
McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP
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