REFRIGERATOR WITH A STORAGE COMPARTMENT AND A RECEIVING BOX

Abstract

A refrigerator has a cabinet with a storage compartment. A door is provided for opening and closing the storage compartment. A receiving box has a box body provided with a receiving space and a cover for selectively opening and closing the receiving space. A tray is removably placed in the receiving space. The tray may be formed with a plurality of receiving cells.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising: a cabinet formed with a storage compartment; a door for selectively opening and closing said storage compartment; and a receiving box having a box body formed with a receiving space, a cover configured for selectively opening and closing said receiving space, and a tray removably disposed in said receiving space.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said tray is formed with plurality of receiving cells.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein said tray is formed with more than two receiving cells and said receiving cells include mutually identical cells and mutually different cells.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein said tray is formed with more than two receiving cells, and at least some receiving cells are identical to one another in shape and some receiving cells are different from each other in shape.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein said tray is formed with more than two receiving cells, and at least some receiving cells are identical to one another in size and some receiving cells are different from each other in size.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said tray is formed with first receiving cells and second receiving cells having upwardly open openings, wherein said openings of said first receiving cells extend in a horizontal plane, and said openings of said second receiving cells extend in an inclined plane.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein said second receiving cells are located in front of said first receiving cells.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said tray is formed with at least one receiving cell having an upward opening that extends in a downwardly inclined plane.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said tray is formed with at least one receiving cell configured for receiving a rod-shaped or tube-shaped object to be stored upright.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said tray is formed with at least one receiving cell configured for receiving and storing an upright sheet-shaped object.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said tray is formed with a plurality of receiving cells distributed in an array.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said tray comprises a front portion and a rear portion, and wherein a height of said front portion is less than a height of said rear portion.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said cover is formed with a storage portion configured for receiving and storing an upright sheet-shaped object.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said receiving box is disposed in said storage compartment and/or on said door.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said receiving box is mounted on said door.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said receiving box comprises a seal ring located between said box body and said cover.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a refrigerator according to some embodiments of the present invention;

[0033] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a cover of a receiving box of the refrigerator in FIG. 1;

[0034] FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded view of the receiving box of the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1;

[0035] FIG. 4 is a schematic partial, enlarged diagram of the cover of the receiving box in FIG. 2;

[0036] FIG. 5 is a schematic partial, enlarged diagram of the box body of the receiving box in FIG. 2;

[0037] FIG. 6 is a schematic partial assembly diagram of a door of the refrigerator in FIG. 1; and

[0038] FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of the receiving box in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, in particular, to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, an aspect of the present invention relates to a refrigerator 10, including: a cabinet 12 or housing 12 provided with a storage compartment 14; a door 16 is provided for opening and closing the storage compartment 14; and a receiving box 18 including a box body 22 provided with a receiving space 20, a cover 24 capable of opening and closing the receiving space 20, and a tray 64 removably placed in the receiving space 20.

[0040] The receiving box 18 thus provides the refrigerator 10 with a closed independent space, so as to meet the need of storing objects such as face masks, facial masks, eye masks, antipyretic pastes, lipsticks, and drugs in a low-temperature closed environment in daily life.

[0041] The refrigerator 10 may be of any suitable type. It will be understood that the cabinet 12, the storage compartment 14, and the door 16 may include any suitable shape, structure, etc.

[0042] The tray 64 removably placed in the receiving space 20 facilitates flexible use of the receiving space 20 of the receiving box 18. When not needed, the tray 64 may be removed from the receiving space 20; and during use of the tray 64, an object is placed in the tray 64 before the tray 64 is placed in the receiving space 20, or the tray 64 is placed in the receiving space 20 before an object is placed in the tray 64.

[0043] The tray 64 may include any suitable shape, structure, etc. to receive the object. In some embodiments, the tray 64 includes a plurality of receiving cells 78.

[0044] The plurality of receiving cells 78 may indicate more than one receiving cell 78. In some embodiments, the tray 64 includes more than two receiving cells 78, and the receiving cells 78 are identical to and/or different from each other. The more than two receiving cells 78 facilitate division of a storage space of the tray 64 to receive identical and/or different objects.

[0045] In some embodiments, the tray 64 includes more than two receiving cells 78, and the receiving cells 78 are identical to and/or different from each other in shape. The more than two receiving cells 78 facilitate division of a storage space of the tray 64 to receive objects of identical and/or different shapes.

[0046] In some embodiments, the tray 64 includes more than two receiving cells 78, and the receiving cells 78 are identical to and/or different from each other in size. The more than two receiving cells 78 facilitate division of a storage space of the tray 64 to receive objects of identical and/or different sizes.

[0047] The opening of the receiving cell 78 may be upward, forward, etc., and may be located in a horizontal plane, an inclined plane, a curved plane, etc. In some embodiments, the tray 64 includes first receiving cells 70 and second receiving cells 72 having upward openings, where the openings of the first receiving cells 70 are located in a horizontal plane, and the openings of the second receiving cells 72 are located in an inclined plane. In this way, the first receiving cells 70 and the second receiving cells 72 can respectively store objects of different heights, avoiding mutual shield and obstruction among the objects. The receiving cells 78 may include the first receiving cells 70 and the second receiving cells 72.

[0048] The first receiving cells 70 and the second receiving cells 72 may be arranged in any suitable manner. In some embodiments, the second receiving cells 72 are located in front of the first receiving cells 70. In this way, the first receiving cells 70 and the second receiving cells 72 can respectively store objects of different heights, avoiding the second receiving cells 72 from shielding and obstructing the first receiving cells 70 and the objects received therein. The “front” and “rear” mentioned herein are indicated with respect to a distance to a user. For example, in comparison, a shorter distance to the user indicates “front” while a farther distance to the user indicates “rear”.

[0049] In some embodiments, the tray 64 includes at least one receiving cell 72 having an upward opening located in a downward inclined plane. In this way, the receiving cell 72 can receive an object from above. The receiving cell 72 having an upward opening located in a downward inclined plane may be an example of the second receiving cell 72, and thus the same reference numeral is used. There may also be examples of the second receiving cell 72 that have other opening directions and inclination directions. The “above” and “below” herein are indicated with respect to the ground where the refrigerator 10 is mounted. For example, in comparison, a shorter distance to the ground indicates “below” while a farther distance to the ground indicates “above”.

[0050] In some embodiments, the tray 64 includes at least one receiving cell 74 configured to be suitable for receiving a rod-like or tube-like object stored upright. Examples of the rod-like or tube-like object include but are not limited to lipsticks and drugs. The receiving cell 74 may be one or more of the first receiving cells 70 and the second receiving cells 72. That is, one or more of the first receiving cells 70 and the second receiving cells 72 can be used for receiving the rod-like or tube-like object stored upright.

[0051] In some embodiments, the tray 64 includes at least one receiving cell 76 configured to be suitable for an upright sheet-like object. Examples of the sheet-like object include but are not limited to antipyretic pastes, facial masks, and eye masks. The receiving cell 76 may be one or more of the first receiving cells 70 and the second receiving cells 72. That is, one or more of the first receiving cells 70 and the second receiving cells 72 can be used for receiving the upright sheet-like object.

[0052] The plurality of receiving cells 78 may be distributed and arranged in any suitable manner. In some embodiments, the tray 64 includes a plurality of receiving cells 77 distributed in an array. The receiving cells 77 distributed in an array may store objects in an array distribution, which facilitates rational space use. The receiving cells 77 distributed in an array may be a component of at least one of the first receiving cells 70 and the second receiving cells 72. In other words, at least one of the first receiving cells 70 and the second receiving cells 72 includes the plurality of receiving cells 77 distributed in an array.

[0053] The tray 64 facilitates division of the receiving space 20. In some embodiments, the tray 64 includes a front portion 66 and a rear portion 68, and the height of the front portion 66 is less than that of the rear portion 68. In this way, the front portion 66 and the rear portion 68 can respectively store objects of different heights, avoiding the front portion 66 from shielding and obstructing the rear portion 68 and the objects received therein.

[0054] Referring to FIG. 2, the cover 24 may take any suitable shape, structure, etc. In some embodiments, the cover 24 includes a storage portion 26 configured to be suitable for storing an upright sheet-like object. In this way, it facilitates meeting the need of storing sheet-like objects such as facial masks and antipyretic pastes in a low-temperature closed environment in daily life.

[0055] The receiving box 18 may be located at any suitable position in the refrigerator 10. In some embodiments, the receiving box 18 is located in the storage compartment 14 and/or on the door 16. Correspondingly, the refrigerator 10 may store objects by means of the separate closed space provided by the receiving box 18 in the storage compartment 14 and/or on the door 16.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 6, the receiving box 18 may be mounted on the door 16. The receiving box 18 mounted on the door 16 facilitates effective use of the space of the door 16, and the object can be conveniently taken out from and placed in the receiving box 18. The receiving box 18 and the door 16 may include lugs 17 and bosses 19 or other shapes and structures which are releasably combined with each other. The door 16 may include door shelves 21 located above and below the receiving box 18, and the door shelf 21 has an upward opening to hold an object that does not need to be placed in a closed space. When the cover 24 is opened, the box body 22 can be opened forward.

[0057] Continuously referring to FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the receiving box 18 includes a seal ring 62 located between the box body 22 and the cover 24. The seal ring 62 facilitates the receiving box 18 to provide a sealed space therein to avoid interference of smells of objects inside and outside the receiving box 18. For example, the smell of an odorous object such as durian in the receiving box 18 may be prevented from leaking.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, another aspect of the embodiments of the present invention relates to a refrigerator 10, including: a cabinet 12 provided with a storage compartment 14; a door 16 capable of opening and closing the storage compartment 14; and a receiving box 18 having an elongated storage portion 26 which is configured to be suitable for receiving an upright sheet-like object.

[0059] The sheet-like object such as the facial mask, eye mask and antipyretic paste can be stored in the storage portion 26 upright with the edge supported at the bottom of the storage portion 26, and the sheet-like object can also be tilted against the upper edge of the surrounding wall of the storage portion 26 to be placed upright, which not only facilitates saving space but also facilitates searching as compared with the arrangement that the sheet-like object has to lie down and be randomly placed.

[0060] The refrigerator 10 may be of any suitable type. The cabinet 12, the storage compartment 14, and the door 16 may include any suitable shape, structure, etc.

[0061] The thickness of the storage portion 26 may be set to be suitable for storage of a single sheet-like object or a plurality of sheet-like objects of the same or different thicknesses. In some embodiments, the thickness of the storage portion 26 is between 10 millimeters and 30 millimeters, in particular, between 10 millimeters and 26 millimeters.

[0062] The depth of the storage portion 26 may be set to be suitable for storage of a single sheet-like object or a plurality of sheet-like objects of the same or different heights. In some embodiments, the depth of the storage portion 26 is between 40 millimeters and 100 millimeters, in particular, between 50 millimeters and 90 millimeters.

[0063] The width of the storage portion 26 may be set to be suitable for storage of a single sheet-like object or a plurality of sheet-like objects of the same or different widths. In some embodiments, the width of the storage portion 26 is greater than 150 millimeters, in particular, greater than 200 millimeters.

[0064] The receiving box 18 may include any suitable shape, structure, etc. In some embodiments, the receiving box 18 includes a box body 22 provided with a receiving space 20 and a cover 24 capable of opening and closing the receiving space 20. In this way, the refrigerator 10 can provide a closed independent space through the receiving box 18, so as to meet the need of storing sheet-like objects in a low-temperature closed environment in daily life.

[0065] As shown in FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the receiving box 18 includes a seal ring 62 located between the box body 22 and the cover 24. The seal ring 62 facilitates the receiving box 18 to provide a sealed space therein to avoid interference of smells of objects inside and outside the receiving box 18.

[0066] The storage portion 26 may be located in any suitable shape, structure, etc. of the receiving box 18. In some embodiments, the cover 24 includes the storage portion 26. The sheet-like object is stored in the storage portion 26 of the cover 24, which facilitates saving space and searching.

[0067] The cover 24 of the receiving box 18 may include any suitable shape, structure, etc. In some embodiments, the cover 24 includes a cover body 28 and a support wall 32 extending from the inner side 30 of the cover body 28 to the receiving space 20, and the support wall 32 forms the bottom wall of the storage portion 26. The support wall 32 provides support for the object in the storage portion 26, avoiding the object from falling down.

[0068] The support wall 32 may be disposed relative to any suitable position of the cover body 28. In some embodiments, the support wall 32 is disposed along the edge of the cover body 28. In this way, it is ensured that there is less restriction to the size of the sheet-like object stored in the storage portion 26 in the up-down direction.

[0069] The support wall 32 matches the receiving space 20 in any suitable shape, structure, etc. In some embodiments, the support wall 32 extends into the receiving space 20, and a front portion 36 of a bottom wall 34 of the receiving space 20 is provided with a step 38 corresponding to the support wall 32. The support wall 32 extends into the receiving space 20, which facilitates the receiving box 18 to provide a closed space for the object in the storage portion 26. The step 38 provides support for the support wall 32.

[0070] The correspondence between the width of the support wall 32 and the width of the cover 24 may be set as needed. In some embodiments, two ends of the support wall 32 are connected to two sides of the cover 24. In this way, the support wall 32 extends along the full width of the cover 24, thereby ensuring that there is less restriction to the size of the sheet-like object stored in the storage portion 26 in the width direction. The distance between two ends 44 of a storage space 42 of the storage portion 26 may be the width of the storage portion 26.

[0071] The support wall 32 may be substantially in the shape of a thin plate, and the thickness, width, etc. thereof may be set as needed. In some embodiments, the support wall 32 has a pair of end portions 40 at which the width is reduced. In this way, it facilitates avoiding interference between the end portions 40 and other structures of the receiving box 18.

[0072] The correspondence between the width of the support wall 32 and the width of the receiving space 20 may be set as needed. In some embodiments, the width of the support wall 32 is less than 30% of the width of the receiving space 20. In this way, it facilitates avoiding interference between the object in the storage portion 26 and the object in the receiving space 20 and exceeding of the load capacity of the cover 24.

[0073] The storage portion 26 may store the object in any suitable shape, structure, etc. In some embodiments, the depths of two ends 44 of the storage space 42 of the storage portion 26 in a direction perpendicular to the cover body 28 are less than those of the remaining portions. In this way, it facilitates preventing interference between the two ends 44 and other structures of the receiving box 18.

[0074] The cover 24 may include any other suitable shape, structure, etc. In some embodiments, the cover 24 includes an upper flange 48 extending from an upper end 46 of the cover body 28 to the receiving space 20, and the width of the support wall 32 in the direction perpendicular to the cover body 28 is not greater than the width of the upper flange 48. The upper flange 48 and the support wall 32 facilitate the receiving box 18 to provide the closed space. The distance between the upper flange 48 and the support wall 32 may be the depth of the storage portion 26.

[0075] The relationship between the depth of the storage portion 26 and the depth of the receiving space 20 may be set as needed. In some embodiments, the depth of the storage portion 26 in the direction perpendicular to the cover body 28 is not greater than 15% of the depth of the receiving space 20. In this way, it facilitates avoiding interference between the object in the storage portion 26 and the object in the receiving space 20 and exceeding of the load capacity of the cover 24.

[0076] In some embodiments, a depth ratio of the storage portion 26 to the receiving space 20 is 2%-10%. In this way, it facilitates avoiding interference between the object in the storage portion 26 and the object in the receiving space 20 and exceeding of the load capacity of the cover 24.

[0077] The storage portion 26 may include any suitable shape, structure, etc. In some embodiments, the cover 24 includes the cover body 28, a guard bar 50 extending from the cover body 28 and spaced apart from the cover body 28, and the support wall 32 extending from the cover body 28 and spaced apart from the guard bar 50, and the cover body 28. The guard bar 50, and the support wall 32 define the storage portion 26. The guard bar 50 may be at least partially opposite to the cover body 28; the support wall 32 may be located at the lower part of the cover body 28; the cover body 28, the guard bar 50, and the support wall 32 provide support for the object in the storage portion 26 from three directions; and the object is placed in the storage portion 26 from above and below the guard bar 50 to be located among the cover body 28, the guard bar 50, and the support wall 32. The distance between the cover body 28 and the guard bar 50 may be the thickness of the storage portion 26.

[0078] The cover 24 and the box body 22 may include any suitable shape, structure, etc. for combination with each other. In some embodiments, the cover 24 and the box body 22 include combination mechanisms 52 for releasable combination with each other. The combination mechanism 52 may include an elastic buckle, etc. The release and combination of the combination mechanisms 52 facilitate the cover 24 to be opened and closed with respect to the cover body 22.

[0079] The cover 24 and the box body 22 may move relative to each other in the opening-closing process. In some embodiments, the cover 24 and the box body 22 include movement mechanisms 54 for movable combination with each other. The movement mechanisms 54 facilitate relative movement between the cover 24 and the box body 22 in the opening-closing process.

[0080] The movement mechanism 54 may include any suitable shape, structure, etc. Also referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, in some embodiments, the movement mechanism 54 includes a pivot 56 and a shaft hole 58 which are rotatably fit. The pivot 56 and the shaft hole 58 may be respectively located on the cover 24 and the box body 22, so that the cover 24 and the box body 22 rotate relative to each other for opening and closing.

[0081] When the combination mechanisms 52 are released, the cover 24 can be automatically dropped and opened with respect to the box body 22 by means of the movement mechanisms 54.

[0082] The receiving box 18 may include any other suitable shape, structure, etc. Continuously referring to FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the receiving box 18 includes rubber pads 60 provided on the box body 22 and adjacent to the cover 24. The rubber pads 60 facilitate controlling the opening degree of the cover 24, for example, between 0-90°. When the cover 24 is opened to a certain degree, the rubber pads 60 provide support for the cover 24, stop movement of the cover 24, prevent the cover 24 from falling off, etc. As shown in FIG. 5, the box body 22 may include combination portions 61 combined with the rubber pads 50. The combination portion 61 may include a receiving hole and other shapes and structures.

[0083] FIG. 7 shows a state in which the cover 24 is opened to a certain degree and then supported. In this state, the sheet-like object may be placed in and taken out from the storage portion 26 of the cover 24, and the object may also be placed in and taken out from the receiving space 20, a tray 64, and the receiving cell 78 of the box body 22.

[0084] The receiving box 18 may be located at any suitable position in the refrigerator 10. In some embodiments, the receiving box 18 is located in the storage compartment 14 and/or on the door 16. Correspondingly, the refrigerator 10 may store objects by means of the separate closed space provided by the receiving box 18 in the storage compartment 14 and/or on the door 16.

[0085] The various specific implementations described above and shown in the accompanying drawings are only used to illustrate the present invention, but are not all of the present invention. Any variation made by a person of ordinary skill in the art to the present invention within the scope of the basic technical concept of the present invention shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0086] If technical conditions permit, the subject matter claimed by any independent claim in the present application can be combined with a single subject matter or a combination of a plurality of subject matters claimed by any dependent claims to form a novel subject matter.