refrigerator

Abstract

We will provide a refrigerator with improved convenience. [Solution] The refrigerator of the embodiment has a storage chamber and a container. The storage chamber has an opening. The container is provided in the storage chamber so as to be removable from the opening. The container has a first protrusion that protrudes downward from the bottom surface of the container, a second protrusion that protrudes more from the bottom surface than the first protrusion, and a third protrusion that protrudes less from the bottom surface as it approaches the first protrusion. The first region where the first protrusion is provided is located closer to the center of the container than the second region where the second protrusion is provided. The third region where the third protrusion is provided is located between the first region and the second region.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a refrigerator.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is a refrigerator having a container for storing items in a storage compartment. The container provided in the storage compartment of the refrigerator is, for example, formed of resin and is often provided so as to be pullable out from the opening of the storage compartment together with a door for opening and closing the storage compartment.

[0003] In the refrigerator as described above, when the bottom surface of the container is deformed due to the weight of the stored items, the bottom surface of the container comes into contact with the bottom surface of the storage compartment, making it difficult to pull out the container, which may reduce convenience. Also, when a reinforcing member formed of metal or the like is attached to the container to prevent deformation of the container, it may become difficult to clean between the container and the reinforcing member, etc., which may reduce convenience.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a refrigerator with improved convenience.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The refrigerator of the embodiment comprises a storage chamber and a container. The storage chamber has an opening. The container is provided in the storage chamber so as to be removable from the opening. The container has a first protrusion projecting downward from the bottom surface of the container, a second protrusion that protrudes more from the bottom surface than the first protrusion, and a third protrusion that protrudes less from the bottom surface as it approaches the first protrusion. The first region where the first protrusion is provided is located closer to the center of the container than the second region where the second protrusion is provided. The third region where the third protrusion is provided is located between the first region and the second region. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] A cross-sectional view showing a refrigerator according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] A cross-sectional view showing the container of a refrigerator according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] A cross-sectional view showing the container of a refrigerator according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] A bottom view showing the container of a refrigerator according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] A schematic diagram showing the amount of deformation in the container of the refrigerator according to this embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The refrigerator of this embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having the same or similar functions will be denoted by the same reference numerals. Duplication of these components may be omitted.

[0009] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment. Figures 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views showing the container 40 of the refrigerator 1. Figure 4 is a bottom view showing the container 40.

[0010] In this embodiment, the vertical direction in the refrigerator 1 is defined as "upward direction Z," the vertically upward direction is defined as "upward Z1" in the upward direction Z, and the vertically downward direction is defined as "downward Z2" in the upward direction Z. Furthermore, the left-right direction as seen from the user standing in front of the refrigerator 1 is defined as "width direction Y," the rightward direction is defined as "rightward Y1" in the width direction Y, and the leftward direction is defined as "leftward Y2" in the width direction Y. In addition, the direction perpendicular to the upward direction Z and the width direction Y is defined as "depth direction X," the direction closer to the user standing in front of the refrigerator 1 as seen from the refrigerator 1 is defined as "front X1" in the depth direction X, and the direction further away is defined as "rear X2" in the depth direction X.

[0011] Refrigerator 1 comprises, for example, a casing 10 and a number of doors 20. The enclosure 10 has an upper wall 10a, a lower wall 10b, a left side wall 10c, a right side wall 10d, and a rear wall 10e. The upper wall 10a and the lower wall 10b extend approximately horizontally. The left side wall 10c and the right side wall 10d rise upward Z1 from the left and right ends (right Y1 and left Y2) of the lower wall 10b and connect to the left and right ends of the upper wall 10a. The rear wall 10e rises upward Z1 from the rear X2 end of the lower wall 10b and connects to the rear end of the upper wall 10a.

[0012] The housing 10 includes an inner box 10i that forms the inner surface of the housing 10, an outer box 10j located outside the inner box 10i and forming the outer surface of the housing 10, and a foamed insulation material 10k provided between the inner box 10i and the outer box 10j, and has thermal insulation properties.

[0013] The inner box 10i is a component that forms the inner surface of the housing 10, and is made of, for example, synthetic resin. The outer casing 10j is a component that forms the outer surface of the housing 10, and is made of metal, for example. The outer casing 10j is formed to be slightly larger than the inner casing 10i and is positioned outside the inner casing 10i.

[0014] The outer casing 10j is a roughly rectangular parallelepiped that forms the outer surface of the housing 10, excluding the front X1. However, a recess is formed at the rear X2 of the lower end Z2 of the outer casing 10j to form a machine room for housing the compressor 61 and the like, which will be described later.

[0015] The foamed heat insulating material 10k is a heat insulating material made of a foam such as foamed urethane, and is filled between the inner box 10i and the outer box 10j. A heat insulating material different from the foamed heat insulating material 10k, such as a vacuum heat insulating material, may be provided between the inner box 10i and the outer box 10j.

[0016] Inside the housing 10, a plurality of storage chambers 11 are formed. The plurality of storage chambers 11 include, for example, a refrigerating chamber 11A, a chilled chamber 11Aa, a vegetable chamber 11B, an ice making chamber (not shown), a small freezing chamber 11D, and a main freezing chamber 11E.

[0017] In the present embodiment, among the plurality of storage chambers 11, the refrigerating chamber 11A is arranged at the uppermost Z1. The vegetable chamber 11B is arranged below the refrigerating chamber 11A at Z2. The ice making chamber and the small freezing chamber 11D are arranged below the vegetable chamber 11B at Z2. The main freezing chamber 11E is arranged below the ice making chamber and the small freezing chamber 11D at Z2. Also, the small freezing chamber 11D is arranged to the right of the ice making chamber at Y1. However, the arrangement of the storage chambers 11 is not limited to the above example. The housing 10 has an opening at the front X1 of each storage chamber 11 that enables the entry and exit of foodstuffs and the like into and from each storage chamber 11.

[0018] The housing 10 has a first partition portion 15 and a second partition portion 16. The first partition portion 15 and the second partition portion 16 are, for example, partition walls each extending substantially in the horizontal direction. The first partition portion 15 is located between the refrigerating chamber 11A (chilled chamber 11Aa) and the vegetable chamber 11B, and partitions between the refrigerating chamber 11A (chilled chamber 11Aa) and the vegetable chamber 11B.

[0019] The second partition portion 16 is located between the vegetable chamber 11B and the ice making chamber and the small freezing chamber 11D, and partitions between the vegetable chamber 11B and the ice making chamber and the small freezing chamber 11D. The second partition portion 16 includes, for example, a foamed heat insulating material and has heat insulating properties. The first partition portion 15 is formed of, for example, a synthetic resin or the like and has less heat insulating properties than the second partition portion 16.

[0020] The chilled chamber 11Aa is provided below Z2, a part of the refrigerator chamber 11A. The chilled chamber 11Aa is at least partially partitioned from the refrigerator chamber 11A by, for example, shelves, walls, etc. The chilled chamber 11Aa is located below Z2 than the refrigerator chamber 11A, where cold air can easily flow in, and is located near the refrigerating cooler 62A described later compared to the refrigerator chamber 11A, so that it is cooled to a temperature lower than that of the refrigerator chamber 11A.

[0021] Note that the refrigerator 1 may have, instead of the chilled chamber 11Aa, a partial chamber cooled to a partial temperature range (about -4°C to -2°C), or a temperature-switchable chamber whose temperature can be switched in a plurality of temperature ranges.

[0022] The temperature inside the vegetable chamber 11B is maintained at a higher temperature than that of the refrigerator chamber 11A. The temperatures inside the ice-making chamber, the small freezing chamber 11D, and the main freezing chamber 11E are maintained at temperatures that can freeze stored items.

[0023] The openings of the plurality of storage chambers 11 are covered so as to be openable and closable by a plurality of doors 20. The plurality of doors 20 include, for example, left and right refrigerator chamber doors 20A that close the opening of the refrigerator chamber 11A, a vegetable chamber door 20B that closes the opening of the vegetable chamber 11B, an ice-making chamber door (not shown) that closes the opening of the ice-making chamber, a small freezing chamber door 20D that closes the opening of the small freezing chamber 11D, and a main freezing chamber door 20E that closes the opening of the main freezing chamber 11E.

[0024] In the present embodiment, the left and right refrigerator chamber doors 20A constitute, for example, French doors (butterfly doors). Also, each of the vegetable chamber door 20B, the ice-making chamber door, the small freezing chamber door 20D, and the main freezing chamber door 20E is a drawer door that can be pulled out in front X1 of the refrigerator 1.

[0025] The refrigerator 1 includes, for example, a plurality of shelves 30, a plurality of containers 40, a flow path forming component 50, a cooling device 60, and a control device 17. The plurality of shelves 30 are provided, for example, in the refrigerator chamber 11A and are shelves on which stored items can be placed.

[0026] Multiple containers 40 are provided inside multiple storage compartments 11 to hold stored items. The containers 40 include, for example, two-tiered first chilled compartment containers 41 and second chilled compartment containers 42 provided in the chilled compartment 11Aa, two-tiered first vegetable compartment containers 43 and second vegetable compartment containers 44 provided in the vegetable compartment 11B, two-tiered first small freezer compartment containers 45 and second small freezer compartment containers 46 provided in the small freezer compartment 11D, and three-tiered first main freezer compartment containers 47, second main freezer compartment containers 48 and third main freezer compartment containers 49 provided in the main freezer compartment 11E. The number of containers 40 provided inside the storage compartments 11 is not limited to the above example. Multiple containers 40 may also include ice-making compartment containers (not shown) provided in the ice-making compartment.

[0027] The vegetable compartment 11B, the small freezer compartment 11D, and the main freezer compartment 11E are each provided with guide rails for moving containers 40 located within them in the depth direction X. Guide rails for moving containers 40 in the depth direction X may also be provided inside the chiller compartment 11Aa and the ice maker compartment.

[0028] The flow path forming component 50 includes a refrigeration duct component 51 and a freezing duct component 52, and is a member that forms a duct space D, which is a passage through which cold air flows. The refrigeration duct component 51 is installed inside the housing 10 and extends vertically Z along the rear wall 10e.

[0029] The refrigeration duct component 51 forms a duct space D1(D), which is a passage through which cold air flows, near the rear wall 10e of the housing 10. The duct component is not limited to a cylindrical component, but may include a component that, in cooperation with other components (e.g., the rear wall 10e), defines at least a part of the passage for cold air. For example, the refrigeration duct component 51 in this embodiment is a cover that is attached to the rear wall 10e of the housing 10 and forms a duct space D1 between itself and the rear wall 10e of the housing 10.

[0030] The refrigeration duct component 52 is installed inside the housing 10 and extends vertically Z along the rear wall 10e. The refrigeration duct component 52 forms a duct space D2(D), which is a passage through which cold air flows, near the rear wall 10e of the housing 10.

[0031] The cooling system 60 includes, for example, a compressor 61, a refrigeration cooler 62A, a freezing cooler 62B, a refrigerator fan 63A, and a freezing fan 63B.

[0032] The refrigeration cooler 62A and the refrigerator fan 63A are located in the duct space D1. The refrigeration cooler 62A is supplied with refrigerant compressed by the compressor 61, which cools the air flowing through the duct space D1.

[0033] When the refrigerator fan 63A is driven, the cold air cooled by the refrigerator cooler 62A is sent to the refrigerator compartment 11A and the chilled compartment 11Aa via the duct space D1. A portion of the cold air that has passed through the refrigerator compartment 11A or the chilled compartment 11Aa flows into the vegetable compartment 11B. The cold air that has been heated in one or more of the refrigerator compartment 11A, the chilled compartment 11Aa, and the vegetable compartment 11B returns to the duct space D1 and is cooled again by the refrigerator cooler 62A.

[0034] The refrigeration cooler 62B and the refrigeration fan 63B are located in the duct space D2. The refrigeration cooler 62B is supplied with refrigerant compressed by the compressor 61 to cool the air flowing through the duct space D2.

[0035] When the freezer fan 63B is driven, the cold air cooled by the refrigeration cooler 62B is supplied to the freezer compartments (ice maker compartment, small freezer compartment 11D, main freezer compartment 11E) via the duct space D2, and the air heated in the freezer compartments returns to the duct space D2 and is cooled again by the refrigeration cooler 62B.

[0036] The control device (control board) 17 is provided on the upper surface of the upper wall 10a. A recess is formed at the rear X2 of the upper surface of the upper wall 10a, with a recess downward Z2. The control device 17 is provided in this recess. The control device 17 is a control device capable of controlling part or all of the refrigerator 1. The control device 17 consists of a computer including a microcontroller and a timer for time measurement, etc. For example, the control device 17 controls the compressor 61, the refrigerator compartment fan 63A, and the freezer compartment fan 63B, which are connected to the control device 17 by wire or wireless.

[0037] The control device 17 may be a software function unit implemented by a computer program executed by one or more hardware processors, such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), or it may be implemented by hardware (e.g., circuitry) such as an LSI (Large Scale Integration), ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or PLD (Programmable Logic Device). All or part of the control device 17 may be implemented by a combination of software function units and hardware.

[0038] Next, the details of the first main freezer compartment container 47 will be described. The first main freezer compartment container 47 is one of the multiple containers 40 that contains the stored items to be stored in the main freezer compartment 11E. In this embodiment, the first main freezer compartment container 47 is stacked in three layers, together with the second main freezer compartment container 48 and the third main freezer compartment container 49, which are located above Z1 above the first main freezer compartment container 47. In the following description, the first main freezer compartment container 47 will also be simply referred to as "main freezer compartment container 47".

[0039] The main freezer compartment container 47 is formed by a rear surface 410 facing the rear wall 10e of the housing 10, a right side surface 420 facing the right side wall 10d, a left side surface 430 facing the left side wall 10c, a bottom surface 440 facing the bottom wall 10b, and a front surface 450 facing the main freezer compartment door 20E. The main freezer compartment container 47 can accommodate stored items in the storage space enclosed by the rear surface 410, the right side surface 420, the left side surface 430, the bottom surface 440, and the front surface 450.

[0040] The main freezer compartment container 47 is pulled out from the opening of the main freezer compartment 11E together with the main freezer compartment door 20E, and is positioned to be movable in the depth direction X relative to the main freezer compartment door 20E along a guide rail provided inside the main freezer compartment 11E.

[0041] As shown in Figure 2, a cold air outlet 52a and a cold air return port 52b, formed by the refrigeration duct component 52, are located at the rear X2 and above Z1 of the rear surface 410. The cold air outlet 52a is an opening in the refrigeration duct component 52 through which cold air cooled by the refrigeration cooler 62B is supplied from the duct space D2 to the main freezer chamber 11E. The cold air return port 52b is an opening in the refrigeration duct component 52 through which air heated in the freezer chamber (e.g., the main freezer chamber 11E) returns to the duct space D2.

[0042] A pair of cold air outlets 52a are provided on both the right (Y1) and left (Y2) sides of the rear X2 of the main freezer container 47. A cold air return outlet 52b is provided between the pair of cold air outlets 52a in the width direction Y.

[0043] Multiple openings 411 are provided on the rear surface 410. Additionally, a pair of recesses 412 are provided at the upper end of the rear surface 410 at positions corresponding to the pair of cold air outlets 52a, and a protrusion 413 is provided at a position corresponding to the cold air return port 52b.

[0044] The recess 412 is a portion recessed downward Z2 at the upper end of the rear surface 410. The convex portion 413 is provided between the pair of recesses 412 in the width direction Y and protrudes upward Z1 above the recesses 412.

[0045] The rear surface 410 has a recess 412 at a position corresponding to the cold air outlet 52a. As a result, most of the cold air outlet 52a is exposed and not covered by the rear surface 410. In addition, the protrusion 413 provided at a position corresponding to the cold air return port 52b covers at least a portion of the cold air return port 52b from the front X1.

[0046] Multiple openings 411 are provided in the intermediate portion of the rear surface 410 in the vertical direction Z, and are openings that penetrate the rear surface 410 in the depth direction X. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the rear surface 410 has 14 elongated openings 411 extending in the vertical direction Z, arranged in the width direction Y.

[0047] The cold air supplied to the main freezer compartment 11E from the pair of cold air outlets 52a passes through the pair of recesses 412 corresponding to the pair of cold air outlets 52a and is supplied into the interior of the main freezer compartment container 47. This cools the stored items contained in the main freezer compartment container 47.

[0048] The air heated in the main freezer compartment container 47 returns to the duct space D2 through the cold air return port 52b. At this time, the air returning from inside the main freezer compartment container 47 to the cold air return port 52b is sent to the rear X2 of the rear surface 410 via multiple openings 411 and is drawn into the cold air return port 52b. This allows the air heated in the main freezer compartment container 47 to be efficiently drawn into the cold air return port 52b, and the cold air supplied from the cold air outlet 52a to be efficiently circulated inside the main freezer compartment container 47.

[0049] The main freezer container 47 has multiple reinforcing ribs (protrusions) that project downward Z2 from the bottom surface 440. These multiple reinforcing ribs that project downward Z2 from the bottom surface 440 are reinforcing members that improve the strength of the bottom surface 440.

[0050] In this embodiment, the lower surface of the bottom surface 440 is provided with a first protrusion 441, a second protrusion 442, a third protrusion 443, and a fourth protrusion 444 as reinforcing ribs to reinforce the bottom surface 440.

[0051] As shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4, the bottom surface 440 is formed with a first region R1 where the first protrusion 441 is provided, a second region R2 where the second protrusion 442 is provided, a third region R3 where the third protrusion 443 is provided, and a fourth region R4 where the fourth protrusion 444 is provided.

[0052] The first region R1 is positioned closer to the central axis O (center) of the main freezer container 47 than the second region R2. The central axis O of the main freezer container 47 is an axis that passes through the center in the width direction Y of the main freezer container 47 and extends in the vertical direction Z, passing through the center in the width direction Y and depth direction X of the bottom surface 440. The central axis O does not need to pass through the exact center of the bottom surface 440.

[0053] In this embodiment, the first region R1 is the region through which the central axis O passes on the bottom surface 440. The second region R2 is located further away from the central axis O (outside) than the first region R1. The third region R3 is located between the first region R1 and the second region R2.

[0054] As shown in Figure 4, when viewed from below Z2, the first region R1 is a circular region centered on the central axis O. The third region R3 is an annular region centered on the central axis O, and surrounds the first region R1 in the depth direction X and the width direction Y. The first region R1 and the third region R3 are not limited to circular or annular regions, but may also be polygonal regions such as rhombuses or hexagons when viewed from below Z2.

[0055] The fourth region R4 is located between the second region R2 and the third region R3. In this embodiment, a portion of the front X1 and rear X2 of the third region R3 is in contact with the second region R2. Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in Figure 3, there is a portion outside the front X1 and rear X2 of the third region R3 where the fourth region R4 is not located.

[0056] In this embodiment, the outer shapes of the second region R2 and the fourth region R4 are rectangular when viewed from below Z2. The outer shapes of the second region R2 and the fourth region R4 are not limited to rectangular, but may be elliptical or the like.

[0057] In this way, the base surface 440 is formed with a first region R1 located in the central part of the base surface 440, a third region R3 located outside the first region R1, a fourth region R4 located outside the third region R3, and a second region R2 located outside either the third region R3 or the fourth region R4.

[0058] The amount of protrusion of the second protrusion 442 provided in the second region R2 is greater than the amount of protrusion of the first protrusion 441 provided in the first region R1. The "amount of protrusion" for the first protrusion 441, second protrusion 442, third protrusion 443, and fourth protrusion 444 is the distance from the bottom surface 440 to the lower end of each protrusion, and indicates the height of each protrusion in the vertical direction Z. The second protrusion 442 is a reinforcing rib that is taller than the first protrusion 441. The amount of protrusion of the third protrusion 443 decreases as it approaches the first protrusion 441. The amount of protrusion of the fourth protrusion 444 is the same as the amount of protrusion of the second protrusion 442.

[0059] In this embodiment, the first protrusion 441, the second protrusion 442, the third protrusion 443, and the fourth protrusion 444 are reinforcing ribs provided in a grid pattern on the bottom surface 440. The first region R1, the second region R2, the third region R3, and the fourth region R4 are each provided in a grid pattern with the first protrusion 441, the second protrusion 442, the third protrusion 443, and the fourth protrusion 444.

[0060] Furthermore, the third region R3, which is located closer to the central axis O (inward) than the second region R2, has third protrusions 443 more densely arranged than the second protrusions 442 provided in the second region R2. The distance (pitch) between adjacent third protrusions 443 in the grid-like arrangement is smaller than the distance between adjacent second protrusions 442 in the grid-like arrangement.

[0061] In this embodiment, the pitch of the first protrusion 441 and the fourth protrusion 444 in the first region R1 and the fourth region R4 is equivalent to the pitch of the third protrusion 443. As shown in Figure 4, the first protrusion 441, the third protrusion 443 and the fourth protrusion 444 are formed by a grid-like reinforcing rib that is more densely arranged than the second protrusion 442. Of these grid-like reinforcing ribs, the portion with a protrusion amount equivalent to that of the second protrusion 442 is the fourth protrusion 444, the portion with a smaller protrusion amount than the fourth protrusion 444 is the first protrusion 441, and the portion with a protrusion amount that decreases as it approaches the first protrusion 441 is the third protrusion 443.

[0062] In the following description, the amount of protrusion of the first protrusion 441 will be referred to as the "first protrusion amount," and the amount of protrusion of the second protrusion 442 will be referred to as the "second protrusion amount." In this embodiment, the amount of protrusion of the fourth protrusion 444 is equivalent to the second protrusion amount described above.

[0063] Furthermore, in the third protrusion 443, the protrusion amount of the outermost part is equal to that of the second protrusion, and the protrusion amount of the innermost part is equal to that of the first protrusion. The third protrusion 443 is a protrusion in which the protrusion amount gradually decreases from the second protrusion to the first protrusion as it moves from the second protrusion 442 (or the fourth protrusion 444) toward the first protrusion 441.

[0064] The amount of protrusion of the third ridge 443 is not limited to the above. For example, the third ridge 443 may be formed such that the amount of protrusion of the portion adjacent to the first ridge 441 is slightly smaller than the amount of the first protrusion, or it may be formed so that it is slightly larger than the amount of the first protrusion. Also, the third ridge 443 may be formed such that the amount of protrusion of the portion adjacent to the second ridge 442 is slightly smaller than the amount of the second protrusion.

[0065] Furthermore, in this embodiment, some of the multiple second protrusions 442 arranged in a grid pattern in the outermost second region R2 are reinforcing ribs that are continuous with the fourth protrusion 444 or third protrusion 443, which are located inside the second protrusion 442. For example, the pitch of the second protrusions 442 is twice the pitch of the fourth protrusion 444 or third protrusion 443.

[0066] The first protrusion 441, the second protrusion 442, the third protrusion 443, and the fourth protrusion 444 reinforce the bottom surface 440 of the main freezer container 47 and prevent deformation of the bottom surface 440 due to the stored items contained in the main freezer container 47.

[0067] Even when the bottom surface 440 is reinforced by each protrusion, there is still a possibility that the bottom surface 440 may deform slightly. When the bottom surface 440 deforms, the central part of the bottom surface 440 is the most susceptible to deformation. In this embodiment, the main freezer container 47 has a first protrusion 441 provided in the first region R1 in the central part of the bottom surface 440, and the amount of protrusion of the second protrusion 442 provided in the second region R2, which is located outside the first region R1, is smaller than the amount of protrusion of the second protrusion 442. As a result, even when the bottom surface 440 deforms, it is possible to suppress the first protrusion 441, which is provided in the central part (first region R1) of the bottom surface 440 that is most susceptible to deformation, from coming into contact with the bottom wall 10b.

[0068] By preventing the lower end of the deformed main freezer container 47 from contacting the lower wall 10b, it is possible to prevent the lower end of the main freezer container 47 from contacting the lower wall 10b when pulling the main freezer container 47 out of the main freezer compartment 11E. This prevents the main freezer container 47 from being difficult to pull out due to contact with the lower wall 10b, and prevents damage to the main freezer container 47 and the lower wall 10b, thereby improving the convenience of the refrigerator 1.

[0069] The main freezer compartment container 47 is formed, for example, by injection molding using a resin material. The first protrusion 441, the second protrusion 442, the third protrusion 443, and the fourth protrusion 444 are formed integrally with the bottom surface 440.

[0070] When a container is reinforced with a separate reinforcing member made of metal or the like, it may be difficult to clean the space between the reinforcing member and the container when cleaning the container. The main freezer compartment container 47, which is reinforced with a reinforcing member (first protrusion 441, second protrusion 442, third protrusion 443, and fourth protrusion 444) formed integrally with the bottom surface 440, can be reinforced without using a separate reinforcing member. Therefore, there is no need to clean the space between the reinforcing member and the container, and cleaning and washing can be easily performed. Thus, the convenience of the refrigerator 1 can be improved compared to when the container has a separate reinforcing member.

[0071] Furthermore, as described above, the central portion of the base surface 440, located near the central axis O, is the most susceptible to deformation. Therefore, by providing the third protrusion 443 in the third region R3, which is located closer to the central axis O than the second region R2, more densely than the second protrusion 442 in the second region R2, deformation of the base surface 440 can be effectively suppressed.

[0072] As shown in Figure 3, the bottom surface of the main freezer chamber 11E, formed by the lower wall 10b, includes a first bottom 101, a second bottom 102, and a third bottom 103.

[0073] The first bottom 101 forms the bottom surface at the rear X2 of the main freezer chamber 11E. The second bottom 102 is located above the first bottom 101 Z1 and is located on the opening side (front X1) of the main freezer chamber 11E. The third bottom 103 is located between the first bottom 101 and the second bottom 102 and slopes downward Z2 toward the first bottom 101.

[0074] Figure 3 shows the main freezer container 47 when the main freezer door 20E is closed. When viewed from the vertical direction Z, in the main freezer container 47 with the main freezer door 20E closed, at least a portion of the first region R1 is positioned to overlap with the first bottom 101, at least a portion of the second region R2 is positioned to overlap with the second bottom 102, and at least a portion of the third region R3 is positioned to overlap with the third bottom 103. In other words, when the main freezer door 20E is closed, in the vertical direction Z, at least a portion of the first bottom 101 faces the first region R1, at least a portion of the second bottom 102 faces the second region R2, and at least a portion of the third bottom 103 faces the third region R3.

[0075] As shown in Figure 3, in the space formed between the bottom surface 440 and the lower wall 10b, the first space S1 is the space formed between the first region R1 and the first bottom 101. Since the first space S1 is formed between the first region R1, where the first protrusion 441 has a smaller protrusion than the second protrusion 442, and the first bottom 101, which is located below the second bottom 102 in Z2, it is a wider space than the second space S2 formed between the second region R2 and the second bottom 102.

[0076] Furthermore, the third space S3 is the space formed between the third region R3 and the third bottom 103. The third space S3 is formed between the third region R3, which is provided with a third protrusion 443 whose protrusion decreases in amount as it approaches the first protrusion 441, and the third bottom 103 which slopes downward Z2 as it approaches the first bottom 101, and is a space that narrows as it approaches the front X1.

[0077] A portion of the cold air supplied from the cold air outlet 52a flows into the space between the bottom surface 440 and the lower wall 10b. At this time, the cold air flows into the first space S1 formed above the first bottom 101 which is recessed downward Z2, allowing more cold air to be stored in the space below the bottom surface 440 Z2.

[0078] Furthermore, because the second space S2 located in front of the first space S1 X1 is narrower than the first space S1, the cold air stored in the first space S1 is less likely to leak out to the opening side of the main freezer chamber 11E. In this way, a large amount of cold air can be stored in the first space S1 for a long period of time, thus enabling high-quality freezing even during periods of intermittent freezing operation.

[0079] Furthermore, since the third space S3, which is provided between the first space S1 and the second space S2, narrows as it moves towards the front X1, the path through which cold air escapes from the first space S1 to the front X1 can be effectively narrowed, and cold air leakage when the main freezer door 20E is half open can be suitably suppressed.

[0080] Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the amount of deformation in the container 40. The lower end line B1 shown in Figure 5 is the line that indicates the lowest part Z2 of the container 40 (main freezer compartment container 47) in this embodiment, and is, for example, the line connecting the lower ends of the first protrusion 441, the second protrusion 442, and the third protrusion 443.

[0081] The lower end line B2 is a line extending the lower end of the second protrusion 442 rearward X2, and for example, it is the line indicating the lowest part Z2 of the container when a reinforcing rib having the amount of protrusion of the second protrusion 442 is provided over the depth direction X relative to the bottom surface of the container.

[0082] In this embodiment, the difference H1 between the protrusion amounts of the first protrusion 441 and the second protrusion 442 is smaller than the distance H2 in the vertical direction Z from the first bottom 101 to the second bottom 102. The difference H1 between the protrusion amounts of the first protrusion 441 and the second protrusion 442 is the difference between the first and second protrusion amounts described above. The distance H2 is the depth of the recess that is recessed downward Z2 on the bottom surface (e.g., the lower wall 10b) of the storage chamber 11.

[0083] The deformed lower end line B11 shows an example of the lower end line B1 being deformed downward Z2 by the storage of the contents. The deformed lower end line B11 schematically shows the lowest Z2 portion of the container 40 that has been deformed by the weight of the contents when the container 40 in this embodiment is filled with contents.

[0084] The deformed lower end line B21 shows an example of the lower end line B2 that has been deformed downward Z2 due to the storage of goods. The deformed lower end line B21 schematically shows the lowest Z2 part of the container that has been deformed by the weight of the stored goods in a container in which a reinforcing rib having a protrusion amount of the second protrusion portion 442 is provided along the depth direction X.

[0085] The second protrusion 442 forms the lowest part of the container 40. Therefore, the second protrusion 442 is provided with a protrusion that does not come into contact with the bottom surface of the storage chamber 11. Furthermore, the second region R2, which is located outside the easily deformable first region R1 and third region R3, is provided with a second protrusion 442 that protrudes more than the first protrusion 441 and third protrusion 443, so the second region R2 is less prone to deformation compared to the first region R1 and third region R3.

[0086] The deformed lower end line B21 protrudes Z2 below the second bottom 102 in X2 behind the second region R2. Therefore, when the container is pulled out of the storage chamber, the lower end of the container indicated by the deformed lower end line B21 catches on the second bottom 102. In this embodiment, each protrusion of the container 40 is provided with a protrusion amount such that it does not catch on the second bottom 102 when the container 40 is pulled out of the storage chamber 11, even if the bottom surface 440 is deformed.

[0087] For example, by moving the lower end line B2 shown in Figure 5 upward Z1 by an amount equivalent to the depth H2 of the recess in the bottom surface of the storage chamber 11, the deformed lower end line B21 can be moved downward Z2 below the second bottom 102, preventing the deformed lower end line B21 from getting caught on the second bottom 102 when the deformed container is pulled out. However, when uniformly moving the lower end line B2, which indicates the bottom of the container, upward Z1, there is a risk that the capacity of the container will decrease, and if the amount of protrusion of the reinforcing ribs of the container is uniformly reduced, there is a risk that the overall strength of the bottom surface of the container will decrease.

[0088] In this embodiment, the container 40 has a first protrusion 441 in a first region R1 located on the inside (towards the central axis O) where the bottom surface 440 is easily deformed, and the protrusion amount is smaller than that of the second protrusion 442 provided in the second region R2 which is outside the first region R1. As a result, the container 40 in this embodiment can suppress a decrease in the capacity of the container 40 and a significant decrease in the strength of the bottom surface 440, while preventing the lower end of the deformed container 40 from coming into contact with the bottom surface of the storage chamber 11, compared to cases where the bottom surface of the container is uniformly moved upward Z1 or where the protrusion amount of the reinforcing ribs that reinforce the bottom surface of the container is uniformly reduced.

[0089] Here, we will explain the case where the amount of protrusion of the first protrusion provided in the first region R1 is reduced by an amount equivalent to the depth H2 of the recess, compared to the amount of protrusion of the second protrusion provided in the second region R2. In this case, considering the reduction in strength of the first protrusion, the amount of deformation of the lower end of the container with the protrusion reduced by an amount equivalent to the depth H2 is greater than the amount of deformation of the lower end of the container before the reduction by an amount equivalent to the depth H2.

[0090] Therefore, if the protrusion of the first ridge is reduced by an amount equivalent to the depth H2 of the recess relative to the second ridge, the lower end of the deformed container may be located below the second bottom 102 Z2, and the lower end of the container may get caught on the second bottom 102 when the container is pulled out of the storage chamber 11.

[0091] As described above, in this embodiment, the difference H1 between the protrusion amount of the first protrusion 441 and the second protrusion 442 is smaller than the depth H2 of the recess in the bottom surface of the storage chamber 11. This allows the first protrusion 441 to be formed with a protrusion amount that has sufficient strength while ensuring a sufficient distance from the lower end of the first protrusion 441 to the bottom surface of the storage chamber 11, and even if the bottom surface 440 deforms, it is possible to effectively prevent the lower end of the container 40 (for example, the first protrusion 441) from getting caught on the second bottom 102 when the container 40 is pulled out of the storage chamber 11.

[0092] In this embodiment, the refrigerator 1 comprises a storage chamber 11 having an opening, and a container 40 provided in the storage chamber 11 so as to be retractable from the opening. The container 40 has a first protrusion 441 projecting downward Z2 from the bottom surface 440 of the container 40, a second protrusion 442 that protrudes more from the bottom surface 440 than the first protrusion 441, and a third protrusion 443 that protrudes less from the bottom surface 440 as it approaches the first protrusion 441. The first region R1 where the first protrusion 441 is provided is located closer to the center of the container 40 (towards the central axis O) than the second region R2 where the second protrusion 442 is provided. The third region R3 where the third protrusion 443 is provided is located between the first region R1 and the second region R2.

[0093] With this configuration, the bottom surface 440 of the container 40, which is provided to be pullable from the opening of the storage chamber 11, is reinforced by the first protrusion 441, the second protrusion 442, and the third protrusion 443, thereby suppressing deformation of the bottom surface 440. Furthermore, even if the bottom surface 440 deforms, by reducing the amount of protrusion of the first protrusion 441 provided in the first region R1 of the central part of the bottom surface 440, it is possible to suppress the central part of the bottom surface 440, which is the most easily deformed part of the bottom surface 440, from coming into contact with the bottom surface of the storage chamber 11. As a result, the operation of pulling out the container 40 from the storage chamber 11 is not hindered by deformation of the bottom surface 440, and a refrigerator 1 with improved convenience can be provided.

[0094] In the above embodiment, the first protrusion 441, the second protrusion 442, the third protrusion 443, and the fourth protrusion 444 are provided on the main freezer container 47, but the first protrusion 441, the second protrusion 442, the third protrusion 443, and the fourth protrusion 444 may be provided on, for example, the first chilled container 41, the first vegetable container 43, or the first small freezer container 45.

[0095] In addition to the main freezer compartment container 47, the containers 40 located near the bottom of each storage compartment 11 of the refrigerator 1 are also provided with a first protrusion 441, a second protrusion 442, a third protrusion 443, and a fourth protrusion 444. This suppresses deformation of the container 40 and prevents contact between the lower end of the container 40 and the bottom of the storage compartment 11 even if the container 40 is deformed, thereby improving convenience.

[0096] In the above embodiment, the container 40 has a first protrusion 441, a second protrusion 442, a third protrusion 443, and a fourth protrusion 444, but the configuration of the container is not limited thereto. For example, the container may have a first protrusion 441, a second protrusion 442, and a third protrusion 443. In this case, for example, the region where the fourth region R4 in the above embodiment is located may be included in the third region R3, and the third protrusion 443 may be provided therein.

[0097] In the above embodiment, the first protrusion 441, the second protrusion 442, the third protrusion 443, and the fourth protrusion 444 are provided continuously and form a grid-like reinforcing rib, but the form of the protrusions (first protrusion, second protrusion, third protrusion, fourth protrusion) provided on the container is not limited thereto. The protrusions provided on the container may be formed by dividing a part of them by providing notches, or they may be provided in a structure other than a grid, such as a honeycomb structure.

[0098] While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be carried out in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0099] 1...Refrigerator, 11...Storage compartment, 101...First bottom, 102...Second bottom, 103...Third bottom, 40...Container, 440...Bottom surface of container, 441...First protrusion, 442...Second protrusion, 443...Third protrusion, R1...First region, R2...Second region, R3...Third region, O...Central axis, Z...Vertical direction, Z1...Upward, Z2...Downward

Claims

1. A storage room having an opening, A container provided in the storage chamber that can be pulled out from the opening, Equipped with, The aforementioned container is The first protrusion extends downward from the bottom surface of the container, A second protrusion, the amount of which it protrudes from the bottom surface is greater than that of the first protrusion, A third protrusion, the amount of protrusion from the bottom surface decreasing as it approaches the first protrusion, It has, The first region where the first protrusion is provided is located closer to the center of the container than the second region where the second protrusion is provided. The third region on which the third protrusion is provided is located between the first region and the second region. refrigerator.

2. The third region is provided with the third protrusions more densely than the second protrusions provided in the second region. The refrigerator according to claim 1.

3. The bottom surface of the storage chamber is The first bottom and, A second bottom is provided on the opening side of the first bottom and is located above the first bottom, Includes, The first region is positioned so as to overlap with the first bottom when viewed from above. A refrigerator according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The bottom surface of the storage chamber includes a third bottom provided between the first bottom and the second bottom, which slopes downward toward the first bottom. The third region is positioned so as to overlap with the third bottom when viewed from the vertical direction. The refrigerator according to claim 3.

5. The difference in the amount of protrusion between the first protrusion and the second protrusion is smaller than the distance in the vertical direction from the first bottom to the second bottom. The refrigerator according to claim 3.

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