Water tank assembly for use in a refrigerator

Abstract

The present invention relates a water tank assembly for use in a refrigerator comprising a compartment for fresh food, a water dispenser and/or an ice making apparatus, two side by side extendable drawers in the compartment, a lower plate underside of the extendable drawers and two outer guiding members for slidably supporting the extendable drawers respectively from their outer sides. The water tank assembly comprises a water tank. The water tank assembly of the present invention further comprises a casing for installation between the extendable drawers and onto the lower plate, wherein the water tank is disposed into the casing.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising: a compartment for refrigerating fresh food; a water dispenser and/or an ice making apparatus; two extendable drawers which are disposed side by side into the compartment; a lower plate which is arranged underside of the two extendable drawers, a set of two outer guiding members adapted to slidably support the two extendable drawers respectively from their outer sides, and a water tank assembly comprising: a water tank which is adapted to replenish the water dispenser and/or the ice making apparatus; a casing which is adapted for installation between the two extendable drawers and onto the lower plate, wherein the water tank is disposed into the casing, a set of two inner guiding members adapted to slidably support the two extendable drawers respectively from their inner sides, wherein the set of two inner guiding members are respectively identical to the set of two outer guiding members, and a pair of first attachment means each adapted to detachably attach one inner guiding member of the set of two inner guiding members to a side of the casing opposite from a side wall of an adjacent one of the two extendable drawers.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising two inner recesses each adapted to accommodate one inner guiding member, wherein the two inner recesses are formed into a left side section and a right side section of the casing respectively.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, further comprising a cavity which is adapted to accommodate the water tank, wherein the cavity is formed into the casing at a position above the two inner recesses.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the casing comprises a second attachment means which is adapted to attach a left side section, a right side section and the water tank together, wherein the left side section and the right side section of the casing jointly enclose the water tank.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a third attachment means which is adapted to detachably attach the casing to the lower plate.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a decorative cover which is adapted to conceal a front of the casing and a fourth attachment means which is adapted to detachably attach the decorative cover to a left side section and a right side section of the casing.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a supply means which is adapted to connect the water tank to an external water source.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a pair of fastening means each adapted to detachably attach one outer guiding member to a respective side wall of the compartment, wherein the water tank is further adapted to replenish the water dispenser and/or the ice making apparatus.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, further comprising an inner lining which defines side walls of the compartment and two outer recesses each adapted to accommodate the one outer guiding member, wherein the two outer recesses are formed into the opposite sides of the inner lining respectively.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 8, further comprising a shelf which is adapted to cover an area above the two extendable drawers, wherein the shelf is releasably disposed into the compartment.

11. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the two extendable drawers are configured to slide over the set of two inner guiding members coupled to sides of the casing.

Description

(1) Additional features and additional advantageous effects of the water tank assembly and the refrigerator of the present invention will become more apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1is a schematic partial perspective view of a refrigerator which has a water tank assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2is a schematic exploded partial perspective view of the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3is another schematic exploded partial perspective view of the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4is a schematic enlarged perspective view of the inner guiding member of FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5is another schematic enlarged perspective view of the inner guiding member of FIG. 3;

(7) FIG. 6is a schematic enlarged partial perspective view of the water tank assembly of FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 7is a schematic partial front view of the refrigerator of FIG. 1;

(9) FIG. 8is a schematic enlarged sectional partial view of the water tank assembly and the lower plate of FIG. 7, taken along the line A-A;

(10) FIG. 9is a schematic enlarged view of the detail B of FIG. 8;

(11) FIG. 10is a schematic enlarged sectional partial view of the refrigerator of FIG. 7, taken along the line A-A.

(12) The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features. 1. Water tank assembly 2. Refrigerator 3. Compartment 4. Extendable drawer 5. Lower plate 6. Outer guiding member 6 Inner guiding member 7. Water tank 7a. Supply means 7b. Conduit 7c. Inlet 7d. Outlet 8. Casing 8a. Left side section 8b. Right side section 9. 1.sup.st Attachment means 9a. Snap-in claw 9b. 1.sup.st snap-in indent 10. Inner recess 11. Cavity 12. 2.sup.nd Attachment means 12a. Screw hole 12b. Screw 13. 3.sup.rd Attachment means 13a. Hook 13b. Hook hole 14. Decorative cover 15. 4.sup.th Attachment means 16. Fastening means 16a. 2.sup.nd snap-in indent 17. Side wall 18. Inner lining 19. Outer recess 20. Shelf

(13) The water tank assembly (1) is suitable for use in the refrigerator (2) (FIG. 1).

(14) The refrigerator (2) comprises a compartment (3) for refrigerating the fresh food and a water dispenser (not shown) and/or an ice making apparatus (not shown).

(15) The water tank assembly (1) comprises a water tank (7) which is adapted to replenish the water dispenser and/or the ice making apparatus of the refrigerator (2) (FIG. 2).

(16) The refrigerator (2) of the present invention further comprises two extendable drawers (4) which are disposed side by side into the compartment (3), a lower plate (5) which is arranged underside of the extendable drawers (4), a first set of two outer guiding members (6) which are adapted to slidably support the extendable drawers (4) respectively from their outer sides, a pair of fastening means (16) each adapted to detachably attach one outer guiding member (6) to the respective side wall (17) of the compartment (3). In the refrigerator (2) of the present invention the region that is located above the lower plate (5) and in between the extendable drawers (4) is adapted for the installation of the water tank assembly (1) (FIGS. 1 to 3).

(17) The water tank assembly (1) of the present invention comprises a casing (8) which is adapted for installation into the region between the extendable drawers (4) and onto the lower plate (5), wherein the water tank (7) is disposed into the casing (8); a second set of two inner guiding members (6) which are adapted to slidably support the extendable drawers (4) respectively from their inner sides, wherein the inner guiding members (6) are respectively identical to the outer guiding members (6) and a pair of first attachment means (9) each adapted to detachably attach one inner guiding member (6) to the respective side of the casing (8) (FIGS. 1 to 3).

(18) In an embodiment, the water tank assembly (1) comprises two inner recesses (10) each adapted to accommodate one inner guiding member (6). In this embodiment, the two inner recesses (10) are formed into the left side section (8a) and the right side section (8b) of the casing (8) respectively (FIG. 2 and FIG. 3).

(19) In another embodiment, the first attachment means (9) comprises one or more snap-in claws (9a) and one or more first snap-in indents (9b) (FIGS. 4 to 6).

(20) In another embodiment, the water tank assembly (1) comprises a cavity (11) which is adapted to accommodate the water tank (7). In this embodiment, the cavity (11) is formed into the casing (8) at a position above both inner recesses (10) (FIG. 2).

(21) In another embodiment, the casing (8) comprises a second attachment means (12) which is adapted to attach the left side section (8a), the right side section (8b) and the water tank (7) together, wherein the left side section (8a) and the right side section (8b) jointly enclose the water tank (7) (FIG. 6).

(22) In another embodiment, the second attachment means (12) comprises one or more screw holes (12a) and one or more screws (12b) (FIG. 2).

(23) In another embodiment, the water tank assembly (1) comprises a third attachment means (13) which is adapted to detachably attach the casing (8) to the lower plate (5) (FIG. 8).

(24) In another embodiment, the third attachment means (13) comprises one or more hooks (13a) and one or more hook holes (13b) (FIG. 9).

(25) In another embodiment, the water tank assembly (1) comprises a decorative cover (14) which is adapted to conceal the front of the casing (8) and a fourth attachment means (15) which is adapted to detachably attach the decorative cover (14) to the the left side section (8a) and the right side section (8b) of the casing (8) (FIG. 6).

(26) In another embodiment, the water tank assembly (1) further comprises an illuminating device (not shown). In this embodiment, the illuminating device is disposed onto the casing (8) so as to illuminate the adjacent extendable drawers (4).

(27) In another embodiment, the water tank assembly (1) comprises a supply means (7a) which is adapted to connect the water tank (7) to the mains. In this embodiment, the supply means (7a) comprises conduits (7b) which are connected to the inlet (7c) and the outlet (7d) of the water tank (7) (FIG. 10).

(28) In another embodiment, the refrigerator (2) comprises an inner lining (18) which defines the side walls (17) of the compartment (3) and two outer recesses (19) each adapted to accommodate one outer guiding member (6), wherein the two outer recesses (19) are formed into the opposite sides of the inner lining (18) respectively (FIG. 3).

(29) In another embodiment, the fastening means (16) comprises one or more snap-in claws (9a) and one or more 2.sup.nd snap-in indents (16a) (FIG. 1).

(30) In another embodiment, the refrigerator (1) comprises a shelf (20) which is adapted to cover the area above extendable drawers (4), wherein the shelf (20) is releasably disposed into the compartment (3) (FIG. 3).

(31) A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the space utilization in the refrigerator (2) has been improved by way of installing the water tank assembly (1) into the region in between the extendable drawers (4) and onto the lower plate (5) (FIG. 1). Thereby, the dead space between the extendable drawers (4) has been effectively exploited. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the functionality of the water tank assembly (1) has been improved by way of adapting the casing (8) so as to bear the adjacent extendable drawers (4) (FIG. 3). Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the outer/inner guiding members (6,6) of the extendable drawers (4) can be more flexibly used. In particular, the outer/inner guiding members (6,6) can be selectively attached to the side walls (17) of the compartment (3) or to the left/right side sections (8a, 8b) of the casing (8) during the assembly (FIG. 2). Thereby, the production and assembly costs can be further reduced. Other advantageous effects of the present invention can be taken from the above described embodiments.