IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,474,109
Granted Patent B2
US 12,474,109 · App. 18/216,971 · Granted Nov 18, 2025

Refrigerator

Inventors: Seungmin Lee (Suwon-si, KR); Jeongman Nam (Suwon-si, KR); Sangchul Ryu (Suwon-si, KR)
Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
F25D21/14F25D11/02F25D2321/143F25D2321/1441
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,474,109
App. No.
18/216,971
Granted
Nov 18, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A refrigerator includes: an inner case defining a storage room; an outer case coupled to an outer side of the inner case; an insulator between the inner case and the outer case; an evaporator disposed on a rear inner surface of the inner case; and a drain device disposed below the evaporator and configured to drain defrost water falling from the evaporator, wherein the drain device may include: an upper insulator disposed on the rear inner surface of the inner case; a drain housing disposed below the upper insulator and through with the defrost water is drained; and a middle insulator disposed on a lower portion of the upper insulator, such that the drain housing is between the upper insulator and the middle insulator, the middle insulator including a fixing portion to which the drain housing is fixed.

Claims (67)

1 . A refrigerator comprising:

an inner case defining a storage room;

an outer case coupled to an outer side of the inner case;

an insulator between the inner case and the outer case;

an evaporator disposed on a rear inner surface of the inner case; and

a drain device disposed below the evaporator and configured to drain defrost water falling from the evaporator,

wherein the drain device comprises:

an upper insulator disposed on the rear inner surface of the inner case;

a drain housing disposed below the upper insulator and through with the defrost water is drained, the drain housing comprising an extension portion extending from an upper portion of at least one side of the drain housing, the extension portion comprising at least one fixing hole thereon; and

a middle insulator disposed on a lower portion of the upper insulator, such that the drain housing is between the upper insulator and the middle insulator, the middle insulator comprising a fixing portion that penetrates the at least one fixing hole and to which the drain housing is fixed.

2 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the fixing portion comprises:

a rib provided in an upper portion of the middle insulator and a rectangular shape; and

a plurality of fixing protrusions protruding from an upper portion of the rib toward the upper insulator.

3 . The refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the middle insulator comprises an accommodating portion in which the drain housing is accommodated, and

wherein the fixing portion is provided at an upper edge of the accommodating portion.

4 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the upper insulator presses the upper portion of the drain housing disposed between the upper insulator and the middle insulator such that the drain housing contacts the middle insulator.

5 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the fixing portion comprises a fixing rib integrally formed with an upper portion of the middle insulator, the fixing rib having rectangular shape and protruding toward the upper insulator.

6 . The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the fixing portion comprises:

a plurality of fixing protrusions protruding from at least one surface of upper surfaces of the middle insulator toward the upper insulator; and

a fixing rib integrally formed with the middle insulator in a remaining upper surface of the middle insulator and protrudes toward the upper insulator.

7 . The refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein the drain housing has a rectangular trough shape of which an upper side is open,

wherein the drain housing further comprises a bending portion,

wherein the at least one fixing hole comprises a plurality of fixing holes provided at locations corresponding to the plurality of fixing protrusions in the extension portion,

wherein the plurality of fixing protrusions penetrate the plurality of fixing holes,

wherein the bending portion is provided at a location corresponding to the fixing rib, and

wherein the fixing rib is inserted in the bending portion.

8 . The refrigerator of claim 7 , wherein the upper insulator comprises a plurality of fixing grooves and an inserting groove,

wherein the plurality of fixing grooves are provided in the lower portion of the upper insulator to correspond to the plurality of fixing holes,

wherein the plurality of fixing protrusions are fixed to the plurality of fixing grooves, and

wherein the inserting groove is provided in the lower portion of the upper insulator to correspond to the fixing rib, and the fixing rib is inserted in and fixed to the inserting groove.

9 . A refrigerator comprising:

an inner case defining a storage room;

an outer case coupled to an outer side of the inner case;

an insulator between the inner case and the outer case;

an evaporator disposed on a rear inner surface of the inner case; and

a drain device disposed below the evaporator and configured to drain defrost water falling from the evaporator,

wherein the drain device comprises:

an upper insulator disposed on the rear inner surface of the inner case;

a drain housing disposed below the upper insulator and through with the defrost water is drained; and

a middle insulator disposed on a lower portion of the upper insulator, such that the drain housing is between the upper insulator and the middle insulator, the middle insulator comprising a fixing portion to which the drain housing is fixed,

wherein the fixing portion comprises:

a rib provided in an upper portion of the middle insulator and a rectangular shape; and

a plurality of fixing protrusions protruding from an upper portion of the rib toward the upper insulator,

wherein the middle insulator comprises an accommodating portion in which the drain housing is accommodated,

wherein the fixing portion is provided at an upper edge of the accommodating portion,

wherein the drain housing has a rectangular trough shape and an upper side of the drain housing opens, and

wherein the drain housing comprises an extension portion extending from an upper portion of each of four sides of the drain housing to correspond to the rib.

10 . The refrigerator of claim 9 , wherein the extension portion comprises a plurality of fixing holes which the plurality of fixing protrusions penetrate and are fixed to.

11 . The refrigerator of claim 10 , wherein the upper insulator comprises a plurality of fixing grooves provided in the lower portion of the upper insulator to correspond to the plurality of fixing holes, and

wherein the plurality of fixing protrusions are fixed to the plurality of fixing grooves.

12 . The refrigerator of claim 9 , wherein the extension portion is inclined such that the defrost water flows to inside of the drain housing.

13 . A refrigerator comprising:

an inner case defining a storage room;

an outer case coupled to an outer side of the inner case;

an insulator between the inner case and the outer case;

an evaporator disposed on a rear inner surface of the inner case; and

a drain device disposed below the evaporator and configured to drain defrost water falling from the evaporator,

wherein the drain device comprises:

an upper insulator disposed on the rear inner surface of the inner case;

a drain housing disposed below the upper insulator and through with the defrost water is drained; and

a middle insulator disposed on a lower portion of the upper insulator, such that the drain housing is between the upper insulator and the middle insulator, the middle insulator comprising a fixing portion to which the drain housing is fixed,

wherein the fixing portion comprises a fixing rib integrally formed with an upper portion of the middle insulator, the fixing rib having rectangular shape and protruding toward the upper insulator,

wherein the drain housing has a rectangular trough shape of which an upper side is open, and

wherein the drain housing comprises a bending portion extending from an upper portion of each of four sides of the drain housing to correspond to the fixing rib.

14 . The refrigerator of claim 13 , wherein the bending portion has a bent shape of which a lower side is open such that the fixing rib is inserted in and fixed to the bending portion.

15 . The refrigerator of claim 14 , wherein the upper insulator includes an inserting groove provided in the lower portion of the upper insulator to correspond to the fixing rib, and

wherein the fixing rib is inserted in and fixed to the inserting groove.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2023
From: LEE, SEUNGMIN; NAM, JEONGMAN; RYU, SANGCHUL
To: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 064131/0552 →
Priority Claims (1)
KR 10-2021-0018800 · Feb 10, 2021 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTKR2021019200 · Dec 16, 2021
Related Publication 20230341170A1 · Oct 26, 2023
References Cited (33)
US 10161668B2 · Sim et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10852049B2 · Yi et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11060787B2 · Seo · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 11353255B2 · Hwang et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220221215A1 · Kang et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
CN 105222480A · 2016 [cited by applicant]
JP 62206371A · 1987 [cited by applicant]
JP 6392186U · 1988 [cited by applicant]
JP 6249568A · 1994 [cited by applicant]
JP 7239169A · 1995 [cited by applicant]
JP 11132625A · 1999 [cited by applicant]
JP 11132640A · 1999 [cited by applicant]
JP H11132640A · 1999 [cited by examiner]
JP 11173743A · 1999 [cited by applicant]
JP 200224927A · 2002 [cited by applicant]
JP 201311392A · 2013 [cited by applicant]
KR 200111200Y1 · 1996 [cited by applicant]
KR 1019970011728A · 1997 [cited by applicant]
KR 19980029531U · 1998 [cited by examiner]
KR 200158929Y1 · 1999 [cited by applicant]
KR 2020000011267U · 2000 [cited by applicant]
KR 200267946Y1 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
KR 100759045B1 · 2007 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020100107171A · 2010 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020120013658A · 2012 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020150124111A · 2015 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020170093581A · 2017 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020180112267A · 2018 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020190070791A · 2019 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020200050113A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
KR 1020200076466A · 2020 [cited by applicant]
Communication issued on May 7, 2024 by the European Patent Office for European Patent Application No. 21925927.2. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report (PCT/ISA/210) issued by the International Searching Authority on Apr. 14, 2022 in corresponding International Application No. PCT/KR2021/019200. [cited by applicant]