Refrigerator
A refrigerator includes a rack gear assembly on a lower surface of a drawer, and the rack gear assembly has a first rack member and a second rack member moved forward sequentially while moving forward such that an opening distance of the drawer is maximized. In addition, a noise reduction part is provided between a stopper member and a confining protrusion part constituting the rack gear assembly. Accordingly, although the stopper member collides with the confining protrusion part, impact noise is reduced and damage caused by the collision is prevented.
1. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet having an opening to access a storage chamber provided within the cabinet;
a drawer including a front panel and a storage bin coupled to a rear of the front panel, the drawer being coupled to the cabinet such that drawer moves between a first position in which the front panel closes the opening of the cabinet and the storage bin is received in the storage chamber, and a second position in which the front panel is spaced away from the opening of the cabinet and at least a portion of the storage bin is positioned outside of the storage chamber;
a pinion positioned at a lower surface the storage chamber of the cabinet; and
a rack gear assembly coupled to the storage bin such that the drawer is moved based on a rotation of the pinion,
wherein the rack gear assembly includes:
a first rack having a first rack gear and a second rack having a second rack gear, the first rack gear and the second rack gear engaging the pinion;
a protrusion provided in the storage chamber;
a stopper frame provided in the second rack and including an extension that contacts the protrusion to limit a backward movement of the second rack; and
a pad positioned in a contact area between the stopper frame and the protrusion.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein
the protrusion protrudes upward from the lower surface of the storage chamber of the cabinet, and
the extension of the stopper frame includes a confining hook that contacts a front surface of the protrusion when the second rack travels a prescribed distance backwards.
3. The refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein a hole is provided at the lower surface of the storage chamber of the cabinet, and
the protrusion extends through the hole at the lower surface of the storage chamber such that an upper portion of the protrusion is exposed to an interior of the storage chamber.
4. The refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein
a cavity is formed on the lower surface of the storage chamber of the cabinet, the cavity being at least partially covered by a cover plate, and
the hole at the lower surface of storage chamber of the cabinet is formed in the cover plate.
5. The refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein an elastic member is provided in the hole such that the protrusion is configured to move upward or downward.
6. The refrigerator of claim 5 , wherein
the protrusion is a body having a closed upper surface and an open lower end, and
the elastic member passes through the open lower end of the protrusion such that a portion of the elastic member is received within the protrusion.
7. The refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein the elastic member is a coil spring.
8. The refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein
a spring engagement protrusion is provided in an interior of the protrusion, and
an upper end of the elastic member is coupled to the spring engagement protrusion.
9. The refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein
a front surface of the protrusion is configured to have a flat region, and
the confining hook of the stopper frame contacts the flat portions to limit a movement of the stopper frame.
10. The refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein
a width of the hole at the lower surface of the storage chamber is larger than an outer width of the protrusion,
a combination end protrudes from an outer surface of the protrusion, and
a confining plate is provided on the lower surface of the storage chamber of the cabinet, the confining plate having a protrusion through hole through which the protrusion passes and being positioned to cover a gap between the protrusion and the hole at the lower surface of the storage chamber.
11. The refrigerator of claim 10 , wherein a guide boss is provided on a lower surface of the confining plate, the guide boss guiding a vertical movement of the combination end of the protrusion.
12. The refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein
the combination end is provided on opposite sides of the protrusion, and
a plurality of the guide bosses are provided on the lower surface of the confining plate to face the opposite sides of the protrusion.
13. The refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the pad is provided on at least one of the confining hook or the protrusion.
14. The refrigerator of claim 13 , wherein the pad is made of a cushioning material.
15. The refrigerator of claim 13 , wherein the pad is made of a rubber material.
16. The refrigerator of claim 13 , wherein the pad is provided on the confining hook of the stopper frame and covers a surface of the confining hook that contacts the protrusion when the second rack travels the prescribed distance backwards.
17. The refrigerator of claim 13 , wherein the pad is provided on the protrusion and covers a surface of the protrusion that contacts the stopper frame when the second rack travels the prescribed distance backwards.
18. The refrigerator of claim 17 , wherein
a fitting groove is provided on the surface of the protrusion, and
a fitting protrusion is provided on the pad and is configured to be fitted into the fitting groove.
19. The refrigerator of claim 18 , wherein the fitting groove has a trapezium structure and gradually extends to opposite sides thereof.
20. The refrigerator of claim 18 , wherein the fitting groove is configured to be open at an upper end of the protrusion, and the fitting protrusion is configured to be vertically fitted into the fitting groove.