Dispenser and refrigerator having the same

Abstract

A dispenser and a refrigerator with the same are provided, the dispenser comprising a dispenser housing with an accommodating space therein, and a water supply unit disposed in the accommodating space, and implemented to adjust at least one of height and direction thereof, whereby the position of water outlet can be varied so as to facilitate a water reception.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to a dispenser and a refrigerator having the same, and particularly, to a dispenser capable of easily catching water and a refrigerator having the same.BACKGROUND ART[0002]In general, a refrigerator is an apparatus for storing foods or the like in a cooling chamber configured therein under a lower temperature. Such refrigerator includes a refrigerator main body having a cooling chamber therein, a door for opening / closing the cooling chamber, and a refrigerating cycle for supplying cold air to the cooling chamber.[0003]The refrigerating cycle is typically implemented as a vapor compression refrigerating cycle including a compressor for compressing a refrigerant, a condenser for condensing the compressed refrigerant, an expander for expanding the condensed refrigerant, and an evaporator for adsorbing and evaporating peripheral latent heat.[0004]In addition, the refrigerator may be provided with a dispenser for supplying purified water...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0029]As described above, the present invention facilitates to receive water by allowing a position of a nozzle to be varied.

[0030]The present invention can also adjust a water outlet direction by rotating the nozzle with respect to a dispenser housing, which makes it convenient to receive water outside an accommodating space of the dispenser housing.

[0031]The present invention also allows extension and retraction of the nozzle with respect to the dispenser housing, such that water of the dispenser can easily be supplied at a position spaced apart from the dispenser without any additional operation such as separately connecting a tube.

[0032]The present invention implements protrusion and protrusion receiving portion capable of being engaged with each other, formed at a portion coupled to the nozzle of the dispenser housing, thereby allowing the coupled state between the nozzle and the dispenser to be stably maintained.

[0033]Also, the present invention is provided with a winding unit on which a flexible tube is wound, such that the flexible tube can be rolled or unrolled, without being entangled, in cooperation with the movement of the nozzle. In particular, an elastic member for applying an elastic force to the winding unit to restore it to its original position is further provided, and accordingly, the flexible tube is automatically retracted and aligned inside the dispenser in cooperation with the nozzle being restored to its original position. Therefore, no operation for aligning the flexible tube is required, resulting in improvement of convenience of use.

Problems solved by technology

However, in the related art refrigerator, since the nozzle is fixed to a housing of the dispenser, it may be impossible or difficult to adjust a direction to supply water via the nozzle.

Furthermore, it is difficult to catch a relatively much amount of water in a container greater than an inner space of the dispenser housing, which causes a user's inconvenience.

Images