IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,740,331
Granted Patent B2
US 7,740,331 · App. 11/502,407 · Granted Jun 22, 2010

Refrigerator receptacle

Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,740,331
App. No.
11/502,407
Granted
Jun 22, 2010
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed is a refrigerator receptacle including a first tray adapted to move into/out of a storage space like a drawer, a reception space being defined in the first tray, the reception space having an upward opening; a second tray adapted to move in an inward/outward movement direction of the first tray, a reception space being defined in the second tray, the reception space having an upward opening; a guide member for guiding movement of the second tray, an insertion groove being formed on the guide member, an upper end of both lateral surfaces of the first tray being inserted into the insertion groove; and a fastener extending through one of the first tray and the guide member so as to be fastened to other of the first tray and the guide member.

Claims (19)

1. A refrigerator receptacle, comprising:

a first tray having a plurality of lateral surfaces and adapted to move into and out of a storage space like a drawer, a first reception space being defined in the first tray, the first reception space having an upwardly extending opening;

a second tray adapted to move in an inward and outward movement direction of the first tray, a second reception space being defined in the second tray, the second reception space having an upwardly extending opening;

a plurality of guide members that guides movement of the second tray, an insertion groove being formed on each of the plurality of guide members, an upper end of each of the plurality of lateral surfaces of the first tray being inserted into the insertion groove of a respective one of the plurality of guide members, wherein the insertion grooves are each formed by an insertion rib that extends downward from a bottom surface of the respective guide member, wherein elongated insertion protrusions are formed vertically on each of the plurality of lateral surfaces of the first tray and insertion slots corresponding to the insertion protrusions are formed on the insertion ribs of the plurality of guide members so that the insertion protrusions are inserted into the insertion slots, wherein the insertion protrusions protrude toward each other from an inner side of each of the plurality of lateral surfaces of the first tray and the insertion slots are formed by vertically removing portions of the insertion ribs of the plurality of guide members, and wherein fastening protrusions are formed on a rear end of the first tray and fastening hooks are formed on a rear end of the plurality of guide members corresponding to the fastening protrusions so that the fastening protrusions and the fastening hooks engage with each other; and

a plurality of fasteners, each extending through one of the first tray and a respective one of the plurality of guide members so as to be fastened to the other of the first tray and the respective guide member;

wherein the fastening protrusions extend at a downward angle in a backward direction from a rear end of the upper end of each of the plurality of lateral surfaces of the first tray, and the fastening hooks have a U-shaped configuration with an upwardly extending opening so as to engage with the fastening protrusions, each of the fastening hooks comprising:

an extension portion that extends a predetermined distance downward from a rear end of a bottom surface of the respective guide member;

a horizontal portion that extends a predetermined distance horizontally from a leading end of the extension portion toward a front end of the respective guide member; and

a latching portion that extends a predetermined distance upward from a leading end of the horizontal portion.

2. The refrigerator receptacle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the respective fastener extends through a through-hole formed on a leading end of each guide member so that the respective fastener is fastened to a fastening hole formed on the upper end of the respective one of the plurality of lateral surfaces of the first tray.

3. The refrigerator receptacle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first tray is configured to be positioned on a rear surface of a door that selectively exposes and covers the storage space.

4. The refrigerator receptacle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of guide members further comprises a guide slot configured to receive a guide rib of a respective one of a plurality of lateral surfaces of the second tray.

5. A refrigerator comprising the refrigerator receptacle as claimed in claim 1 .

6. A refrigerator receptacle, comprising:

a first tray having a plurality of lateral surfaces and adapted to move into and out of a storage space like a drawer, a first reception space being defined in the first tray, the first reception space having an upwardly extending opening;

a second tray having a plurality of second lateral surfaces and adapted to move in an inward and outward movement direction of the first tray, a second reception space being defined in the second tray, the second reception space having an upwardly extending opening, the second tray including guide ribs positioned on a top of both second lateral surfaces;

a plurality of guide members that guides movement of the second tray, an insertion groove being formed on each of the plurality of guide members, an upper end of each of the plurality of lateral surfaces of the first tray being inserted into the insertion groove of a respective one of the plurality of guide members, wherein the insertion grooves are each formed by an insertion rib that extends downward from a bottom surface of the respective guide member, wherein elongated insertion protrusions are formed vertically on each of the plurality of lateral surfaces of the first tray and insertion slots corresponding to the insertion protrusions are formed on the insertion ribs of the plurality of guide members so that the insertion protrusions are inserted into the insertion slots, wherein the insertion protrusions protrude toward each other from an inner side of each of the plurality of lateral surfaces of the first tray and the insertion slots are formed by vertically removing portions of the insertion ribs of the plurality of guide members, and wherein fastening protrusions are formed on a rear end of the first tray and fastening hooks are formed on a rear end of the plurality of guide members corresponding to the fastening protrusions so that the fastening protrusions and the fastening hooks engage with each other; and

a plurality of fasteners, each extending through one of the first tray and a respective one of the plurality of guide members so as to be fastened to the other of the first tray and the respective guide member;

wherein the first tray further comprises at least one latching protrusion that extends in an upward direction from at least one of the plurality of lateral surfaces, the at least one latching protrusion limiting a range of movement of the second tray by engaging with at least one stopper provided on one of the guide ribs of the second tray.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 11, 2006
From: KOO, MIN BON
To: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
Reel/Frame 018172/0782 →
Priority Claims (4)
KR 10-2005-0073956 · Aug 11, 2005 · national
KR 10-2005-0073957 · Aug 11, 2005 · national
KR 10-2005-0073958 · Aug 11, 2005 · national
KR 10-2005-0073984 · Aug 11, 2005 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070035221A1 · Feb 15, 2007