IP Library Granted Patent US 12,710,214
Granted Patent B2
US 12,710,214 · App. 18/762,962 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Refrigerator

Inventors: Minkyu Oh (Seoul, KR); Heayoun Sul (Seoul, KR); Hyoungkeun Lim (Seoul, KR); Jeehoon Choi (Seoul, KR)
Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
F25D17/062F25B21/02F25D23/006F25B2321/023F25B2321/0251F25D2317/066F25D2317/0671
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,710,214
App. No.
18/762,962
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A refrigerator includes: an inner case having a storage chamber; a thermoelectric module including a thermoelectric element and a cooling sink; a fan configured to circulate air, to the storage chamber; a fan cover configured to cover the fan and having an upper discharge hole, a lower discharge hole, and an inner suction hole formed between the upper discharge hole and the lower discharge hole; a first receiving member disposed in the storage chamber; and a second receiving member disposed over the first receiving member to be spaced apart from the first receiving member. At least a portion of each of the inner suction hole and the lower discharge hole faces a portion between the first receiving member and the second receiving member, and at least a portion of the upper discharge hole faces a portion between a top surface of the storage chamber and the second receiving member.

Claims (50)

1 . A thermoelectric refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet including an outer cabinet and a back plate;

an inner case having a storage chamber defined therein and disposed in the cabinet adjacent to the back plate;

a door configured to open and close the storage chamber;

a thermoelectric module provided adjacent to the storage chamber and configured to cool the storage chamber;

a heat dissipation cover provided at a rear of the inner case;

a rear heat dissipation channel defined between the back plate and the heat dissipation cover;

a lower heat dissipation channel communicating with the rear heat dissipation channel and defined between the inner case and a lower end of the outer cabinet; and

an outlet disposed at a front of the lower heat dissipation channel and opened forward of the outer cabinet, the outlet being configured to discharge air passing through the lower heat dissipation channel.

2 . The thermoelectric refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric module includes a thermoelectric element, a heat sink, and a cooling sink that are arranged in a line.

3 . The thermoelectric refrigerator of claim 2 , further comprising:

a heat dissipation fan that faces to the heat sink; and

a cooling fan that faces to the cooling sink.

4 . The thermoelectric refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein the heat dissipation cover includes at least one outer hole which faces the heat dissipation fan.

5 . The thermoelectric refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein the heat sink and the heat dissipation fan are disposed in the rear heat dissipation channel.

6 . The thermoelectric refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the thermoelectric module further includes a module frame that defines a space that accommodates the thermoelectric element,

wherein the module frame comprises a first fastening portion that is coupled to the inner case and configured to fix the module frame on the inner case in a state in which the thermoelectric element is accommodated in the module frame,

wherein the inner case comprises a second fastening portion located at a position corresponding to the first fastening portion, and

wherein the first fastening portion and the second fastening portion are coupled to each other.

7 . The thermoelectric refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein the first fastening portion extends outward from a perimeter of the module frame.

8 . The thermoelectric refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein the first fastening portion has a shape corresponding to the second fastening portion.

9 . The thermoelectric refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the thermoelectric module further includes a module frame that defines a space that accommodates the thermoelectric element,

wherein the module frame comprises a plurality of first fastening portions that are coupled to the inner case and configured to fix the module frame on the inner case in a state in which the thermoelectric element is accommodated in the module frame,

wherein the inner case comprises a plurality of second fastening portions coupled to the plurality of first fastening portions, respectively, and

wherein each of the plurality of second fastening portions is positioned to correspond to one of the plurality of first fastening portions.

10 . The thermoelectric refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of the cooling fan is protruded toward an inside of the inner case, and

wherein the heat dissipation fan is disposed in a space between the cabinet and the inner case.

11 . The thermoelectric refrigerator of claim 3 , further comprising a storage container disposed in the storage chamber,

wherein the cooling fan does not face the storage container.

12 . The thermoelectric refrigerator of claim 11 , further comprising:

a fan cover that covers the cooling fan and has a discharge hole through which air heat exchanged with the cooling sink is discharged into the storage chamber,

wherein the air discharged from the discharge hole flows across an upper surface of the storage container.

13 . The thermoelectric refrigerator of claim 12 , wherein the fan cover is disposed on the inner case to form a portion of the storage chamber, is configured to cover the cooling fan and the cooling sink, and includes a fan accommodation part to accommodate the cooling fan, and the fan accommodation part protrudes toward the storage chamber based on the inner case.

14 . The thermoelectric refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising:

a cabinet bottom located inside the cabinet and configured to support the inner case from below,

wherein the lower heat dissipation channel is defined between the cabinet bottom and the lower end of the outer cabinet.

15 . The thermoelectric refrigerator of claim 14 ,

wherein the outlet is positioned between the door and the lower end of the outer cabinet, and

wherein the door is spaced above the cabinet bottom.

16 . The thermoelectric refrigerator of claim 15 , further comprising a heat dissipation fan and a heat sink,

wherein, based on the heat dissipation fan being driven, the air suctioned through at least one outer hole of the heat dissipation cover is guided into the rear heat dissipation channel, the air heated by exchanging heat with the heat sink is guided into the lower heat dissipation channel along the rear heat dissipation channel, and the air guided into the lower heat dissipation channel flows along the lower heat dissipation channel and is discharged to the outlet.

17 . The thermoelectric refrigerator of claim 15 , further comprising:

a drain pipe that communicates with the storage chamber and is connected to a lower portion of the inner case; and

a tray configured to receive water dropped from the drain pipe and positioned below the drain pipe, the tray is arranged between the cabinet bottom and the lower end of the outer cabinet.

18 . The thermoelectric refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein the cooling fan comprises a fan cover configured to cover the cooling fan and having an upper discharge hole, a lower discharge hole, and an inner suction hole formed between the upper discharge hole and the lower discharge hole.

19 . The thermoelectric refrigerator of claim 18 , further comprising:

a first receiving member disposed in the storage chamber; and

a second receiving member disposed over the first receiving member to be spaced apart from the first receiving member,

wherein at least a portion of each of the inner suction hole and the lower discharge hole faces a portion between the first receiving member and the second receiving member, and

wherein at least a portion of the upper discharge hole faces a portion between a top surface of the storage chamber and the second receiving member.