REFRIGERATOR INCLUDING DOOR OPEN MODULE

Abstract

The refrigerator according to the present invention includes the multi-stage rack-and-pinion assembly including at least three gear racks that are sequentially retracted and extended in the front-rear direction, thereby securing the sufficient extension distance of the drawer assembly even within the narrow storage compartment of the refrigerator.

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet including one or more storage compartments; a drawer assembly configured to open and close a front surface of the storage compartment; and a door open module which is disposed in the storage compartment and opens the drawer assembly, wherein the door open module includes: a multi-stage rack-and-pinion assembly including a plurality of gear racks configured to retract and extend in a first direction; and a gear assembly configured to transmit a driving force of a driving unit to the rack-and-pinion assembly, and the gear assembly is disposed at one side of the rack-and-pinion assembly corresponding to a second direction intersecting the first direction.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the gear assembly includes a contact gear that meshes with the rack-and-pinion assembly, and the contact gear meshes with one side of the rack-and-pinion assembly.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the contact gear is positioned in a central region of the rack-and-pinion assembly in the front-rear direction.

4. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the plurality of gear racks include a first gear rack, a second gear rack, and a third gear rack, the first gear rack is positioned closest to the contact gear, and the third gear rack is positioned farthest from the contact gear.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4, wherein the first gear rack includes a first pinion gear whose one side meshes with the second gear rack, the second gear rack includes a second pinion gear whose one side and the other side mesh with the first gear rack and the third gear rack, respectively, and the first pinion gear and the second pinion gear are positioned to be biased to one side of the rack-and-pinion assembly adjacent to the contact gear.

6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the door open module further includes a support gear rack meshed with the other side of the first pinion gear, and the support gear rack is positioned in front of the contact gear.

7. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the first pinion gear and the second pinion gear are positioned in front of the contact gear.

8. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the first pinion gear and the second pinion gear are disposed to overlap each other in the second direction.

9. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the contact gear is positioned on the same layer as the first pinion gear and the second pinion gear in the vertical direction.

10. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the contact gear, the first pinion gear, and the second pinion gear are disposed to overlap each other in the second direction.

11. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the contact gear is disposed on a different layer from the first pinion gear in a vertical direction, and at least a portion of the contact gear is positioned on the same layer as the second pinion gear in the vertical direction.

12. A refrigerator comprising: a cabinet including one or more storage compartments; a drawer assembly configured to open and close a front surface of the storage compartment; and a door open module which is disposed in the storage compartment and opens the drawer assembly, wherein the door open module includes a multi-stage rack-and-pinion assembly including a first gear rack, a second gear rack, and a third gear rack that retracts and extends in a front-rear direction, the first gear rack includes a first pinion gear meshed with one side surface of the second gear rack, and the second gear rack includes a second pinion gear meshed with one side surface of the first gear rack and one side surface of the third gear rack.

13. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the door open module includes: a driving unit; a contact gear configured to transmit a driving force of the driving unit to the rack-and-pinion assembly; and a support gear rack meshed with the first pinion gear, and the contact gear meshes with one side surface of the first gear rack.

14. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein a maximum extension distance increases in the order of the first gear rack, the second gear rack, and the third gear rack.

15. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein a length of the rack-and-pinion assembly in the first direction corresponds to the sum of: a first distance (A) between a rear end of the first gear rack and a center of the contact gear in a state in which the gear racks are fully extended; a second distance (B) between the center of the contact gear and a center of the first pinion gear in a state in which the gear racks are not extended; a third distance (C) between a front end of the support gear rack and the center of the first pinion gear in a state in which the gear racks are fully extended; and a distance (L2) that is twice a maximum movable distance (L) of the first gear rack.

16. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the maximum movable distance (L) of the first gear rack is equal to a first extension distance (S1) of the first gear rack.

17. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein, when front ends of the first gear rack, the second gear rack, and the third gear rack coincide in a state in which the rack-and-pinion assembly is not driven, in the state in which the gear racks are fully extended, a second extension distance (S2) of the second gear rack, which is extended farther than the front end of the first gear rack, is equal to the first extension distance (S1).

18. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein, in the state in which the gear racks are fully extended, a third extension distance (S3) of the third gear rack, which is extended farther than the front end of the second gear rack, is equal to the first extension distance (S1).

19. The refrigerator of claim 16, wherein, in a state in which the rack-and-pinion assembly is not driven, a front end of the first gear rack and a front end of the second gear rack are positioned behind a front end of the third gear rack.

20. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein, in a state in which the rack-and-pinion assembly is not driven, the contact gear is positioned in a center region of the first gear rack in a front-rear direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0060] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a refrigerator in a closed state of a door.

[0061] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the refrigerator in an opened state of a lower door.

[0062] FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the interior of a storage compartment on which a door open module is mounted in a state in which the lower door is removed.

[0063] FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the storage compartment with an upper surface and one side surface removed, illustrating a storage unit of a door mounted on a bracket member in a retracted state within the storage compartment.

[0064] FIG. 5 is a view illustrating the storage compartment with the upper surface and one side surface removed, illustrating the storage unit of the door mounted on the bracket member in an extended state to the outside of the storage compartment along a rail assembly.

[0065] FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the door open module and the rail assembly before being extended.

[0066] FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the door open module and rail assembly in a fully extended state.

[0067] FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a driving assembly, a rack-and-pinion assembly, and a locking assembly, which constitute the door open module in a disengaged state.

[0068] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the driving assembly.

[0069] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of a rack-and-pinion assembly.

[0070] FIG. 11 is a front cross-sectional view illustrating an engaging relationship between the gear racks and pinion gears of a first rack-and-pinion assembly and a driving assembly.

[0071] FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional perspective view illustrating the connection relationship between the gear racks and the pinion gears constituting the first rack-and-pinion assembly and the driving assembly.

[0072] FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a back surface of a locking assembly fastened to a hook catch member according to one embodiment.

[0073] FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the locking assembly.

[0074] FIG. 15 is a view illustrating a bracket member and rail assembly mounted on a door unit of a door with the storage unit of the door removed, and a door open module disposed thereunder.

[0075] FIG. 16 is a view illustrating a bracket member and rail assembly mounted on the door unit of the door with the storage unit of the door mounted, and the door open module disposed thereunder.

[0076] FIG. 17 is a view illustrating each gear rack of the rack-and-pinion assembly according to one embodiment both in a non-extended state and in a fully extended state.

[0077] FIGS. 18 to 20 are plan views illustrating each gear rack of a rack-and-pinion assembly according to another embodiment mounted within a driving assembly in a non-extended state, a state in which first and second gear racks are fully extended, and a state in which a third gear rack is fully extended.

[0078] FIG. 21 is an exploded perspective view of components constituting the rack-and-pinion assembly according to FIG. 18.

[0079] FIG. 22 is a front cross-sectional view of the rack-and-pinion assembly according to FIG. 18 in a state of being cut in a left-right direction.

[0080] FIGS. 23 to 25 are perspective views illustrating each gear rack of a rack-and-pinion assembly according to another embodiment mounted within a driving assembly in a non-extended state, a state in which first and second gear racks are fully extended, and a state in which a third gear rack is fully extended.

[0081] FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a support gear rack, and FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view along line 27-27 of FIG. 26.

[0082] FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the first gear rack coupled to FIG. 26, and FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view along line 29-29 in FIG. 28.

[0083] FIG. 30 is a perspective view of the second gear rack coupled to FIG. 28, and FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view along line 31-31 in FIG. 30.

[0084] FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the third gear rack coupled to FIG. 30, and FIG. 33 is a cross-sectional view along line 33-33 in FIG. 32.

[0085] FIGS. 34 to 36 are views illustrating each gear rack of a rack-and-pinion assembly according to still another embodiment mounted within a driving assembly in a non-extended state, a state in which first and second gear racks are fully extended, and a state in which a third gear rack is fully extended.

[0086] FIG. 37 is an exploded perspective view of components constituting the rack-and-pinion assembly according to FIG. 34.

[0087] FIG. 38 is a front cross-sectional view of the rack-and-pinion assembly according to FIG. 34 in a state of being cut in a left-right direction.

[0088] FIG. 39 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating the door and the door open module before the door open module is driven and an enlarged view of some regions.

[0089] FIG. 40 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating the door and the door open module in a state in which the door open module is driven so that the rack-and-pinion assembly is initially in contact with a pressing part of the door and an enlarged view of some regions.

[0090] FIG. 41 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating the door and the door open module in a state in which the door open module is driven so that the rack-and-pinion assembly pushes the pressing part of the door a predetermined distance and an enlarged view of some regions.

[0091] FIG. 42 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating the door and the door open module in a state in which the door open module is driven to fully open the door and an enlarged view of some regions.

[0092] FIG. 43 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating the door and the door open module in a state in which the door moves rearward a predetermined distance as the door open module is driven so that the door automatically closes and an enlarged view of some regions.

[0093] FIG. 44 is a view illustrating a state before a door open module, a rail assembly, and a bracket member are extended according to another embodiment of the present specification.

[0094] FIG. 45 is a view illustrating a door open module, a rail assembly, and a bracket member in a fully extended state according to another embodiment of the present specification.

[0095] FIG. 46 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating the door and the door open module before the door open module is driven according to another embodiment of the present specification and an enlarged view of some regions.

[0096] FIG. 47 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating the door and the door open module in a state in which the door open module is driven to fully open the door according to another embodiment of the present specification and an enlarged view of some regions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0097] The above-described objects, features, and advantages will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and thus those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains will be able to easily carry out the technical spirit of the present disclosure. In describing the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of the known technology related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same or similar components.

[0098] Although first, second, etc. are used to describe various components, these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one component from another, and unless otherwise stated, it is obvious that a first component may be a second component.

[0099] Throughout the specification, unless otherwise stated, each component may be singular or plural.

[0100] Hereinafter, the arrangement of an arbitrary component on an upper portion (or lower portion) of a component or above (or under) the component may not only mean that the arbitrary component is disposed in contact with an upper surface (or a lower surface) of the component, but also mean that other components may be interposed between the component and the arbitrary component disposed above (or under) the component.

[0101] In addition, when a first component is described as being connected, coupled, or joined to a second component, the components may be directly connected or joined, but it should be understood that a third component may be interposed between the components, or the components may be connected, coupled, or joined through the third component.

[0102] In addition, throughout the specification, the terms engage and disengage are used to describe the connection and disconnection between components. However, these terms are not limited thereto and may be interchangeably used with other similar terms, such as connect and disconnect, or couple and uncouple. And, throughout this specification, the term mesh with is used to define a functional connection between gear components. It is to be understood that this term is not intended to be limiting and may include other forms of connection, such as those described by the terms engages with, connects to, or is coupled with.

[0103] The singular expression used herein includes the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the application, terms such as composed of or comprising should not be construed as necessarily including all of the various components or operations described in the specification and should be construed as not including some of the components or some of the operations or further including additional components or operations.

[0104] Throughout the specification, when A and/or B is described, this means A, B, or A and B unless otherwise specified, and when C to D is described, this means C or more and D or less unless otherwise specified.

[0105] Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to some embodiments of the present invention will be described.

[0106] A structure of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[Structure of refrigerator]

[0107] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exterior of a refrigerator 1 may be formed by a cabinet 2 including one or more storage compartments, which are storage spaces of products, and a plurality of doors 20 capable of opening and closing a front opening of the cabinet 2. The cabinet 2 may include an outer case 12 and an inner case 11 coupled to the inside of the outer case 12. An insulating region filled with an insulation material may be formed between the inner case 11 and the outer case 12, and various types of ducts related to a cooling system may pass through the insulating region.

[0108] The inner case 11 may be divided into separate spaces to include a plurality of storage compartments. For example, the storage compartment may include a first storage compartment 14, a second storage compartment 15, and a third storage compartment 16. The first storage compartment 14 may be disposed at an upper end of the storage compartment, the second storage compartment 15 may be disposed at a middle end thereof, and the third storage compartment 16 may be disposed at a lower end thereof. In the present specification, an example in which three storage compartments are stacked in a vertical direction will be described, but the number and positions of the storage compartments are not limited thereto. For example, the first storage compartment 14 may serve as a refrigerator, the second storage compartment 15 may serve as a switching compartment that may be used as a refrigerator, a freezer, or a separate storage compartment with a desired temperature according to user settings, and the third storage compartment 16 may serve as a freezer, but the functions of each storage compartment are not limited thereto.

[0109] The first storage compartment 14 may be opened and closed by a first door 21. The first door 21 may be provided as a pair, each of which may be a rotary door that is configured to engage with each of one side and the other side of the cabinet 2 constituting the first storage compartment 14 by a hinge and rotate. A handle may be formed on each of the first doors 21 so that the user can easily open and close them. In addition, a dispenser 13 that may allow the user to take out water or ice without opening the first door 21 may be disposed on one first door 21.

[0110] The third storage compartment 16 may be opened and closed by a third door 23. The third door 23 may be a drawer-type door that may be opened and closed by being retracted and extended in a front-rear direction. In the present specification, the front-rear direction is a direction with respect to the front and rear of the refrigerator 1, and a left-right direction is a direction with respect to two sides of the refrigerator 1. The front of the refrigerator 1 is a direction in which the user uses the refrigerator 1. The third door 23 may include a door unit 210 covering a front surface of the third storage compartment 16 and a storage unit 220 provided behind the door unit 210 and accommodated in the third storage compartment 16. A handle may be formed on the door unit 210 so that the user can easily open and close it. The third door 23 including the door unit 210 and the storage unit 220 may be referred to as a drawer assembly or an auto drawer.

[0111] The storage unit 220 may be formed in the form of a basket having a storage space that stores stored items such as food. The storage unit 220 may be formed in a separate form so as to be disengaged from the door unit 210. For example, the storage unit 220 may be fixed to the door unit 210 by being fastened to or seated on a separate connecting member, such as a bracket member to be described below, but is not limited thereto, and the storage unit 220 may be directly fastened and fixed to the door unit 210. Since the storage unit 220 is configured to disengage from the door unit 210 in this way, the user can easily disengage and clean the storage unit 220. The storage unit 220 of the third door 23 described in the present specification may be referred to as the first storage unit 220. A second storage unit 230 may be additionally disposed in the third storage compartment 16. The second storage unit 230 may be disposed on the first storage unit 220. The door unit 210 may be formed to a size that substantially covers the front surfaces of the first storage unit 220 and the second storage unit 230. For example, the second storage unit 230 may be retracted and extended in the front-rear direction without depending on the movement of the first storage unit 220. For example, the second storage unit 230 may be retracted and extended in the front-rear direction by rolling along upper edge surfaces of both sides of the first storage unit 220.

[0112] The second storage compartment 15 may be opened and closed by a second door 22. The second door 22 may be a drawer-type door that may be opened and closed by being retracted and extended in the front-rear direction. For example, the second door 22 may also include a door unit covering the front surface of the second storage compartment 15 and a storage unit provided behind the door unit and accommodated in the second storage compartment 15 in the same manner as the third door 23, but is not limited thereto. The second door 22 including the door unit and the storage unit may also be referred to as a drawer assembly or an auto drawer. Since a machine compartment may be disposed behind a lower region of the third storage compartment 16, a width of the lower region of the third storage compartment 16 in the front-rear direction may be reduced. Accordingly, the width of the second storage compartment 15 in the front-rear direction may be formed to be larger than the width of the lower region of the third storage compartment 16 in which the machine compartment 17 is disposed in the front-rear direction. A handle may be formed on the second door 22 so that the user can easily open and close them. The above opening and closing method of each door 20 is not limited by the drawings, and the rotary door and the drawer-type door may be changed in different ways as needed.

[Rail Assembly, Bracket Member, and Door Open Module]

[0113] Hereinafter, a rail assembly 70, a bracket member 80, and a door open module 30 disposed in the storage compartment according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with further reference to FIGS. 3 to 7. An example in which the storage compartment to be described below is the third storage compartment 16 will be described, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and when the first storage compartment 14 and the second storage compartment 15 are opened and closed in a drawer-type door manner, the following description may also be applied to the first storage compartment 14 and the second storage compartment 15. For convenience of description, the third storage compartment 16 is referred to as the storage compartment 16, and the third door 23 is referred to as the door 23. In addition, as described above, the third door 23 may be referred to as a drawer assembly or an auto drawer.

[0114] The storage compartment 16 may be defined by a bottom surface 164 forming a lower surface, a first side surface 162a and a second side surface 162b forming both side surfaces, respectively, and a rear surface 163. An upper surface of the storage compartment 16 may be formed by a barrier that divides the second storage compartment 15 and the third storage compartment 16. A machine compartment 17 may be positioned behind the storage compartment 16. Specifically, the machine compartment 17 in which refrigeration system-related components such as a compressor are disposed may be positioned outside the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16. Accordingly, the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 that overlaps the machine compartment 17 in the front-rear direction may be formed to have a narrower width in the front-rear direction than the other rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 that does not overlap the machine compartment 17 in the front-rear direction. For example, the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 that overlaps in the front-rear direction may be formed to have an inclined surface that moves forward as it goes toward the bottom surface 164, in other words, the rear surface 163 of the st

[0115] A pair of rail assemblies 70 may be disposed on both side surfaces of the storage compartment 16, respectively. The rail assembly 70 may be a multi-stage rail assembly whose length is extendable and retractable. The rail assembly 70 may guide the movement of the door 20 in the front-rear direction. For example, a first rail assembly 71 may be disposed on a first side surface 162a of the storage compartment 16, and a second rail assembly 72 may be disposed on the second side surface 162b of the storage compartment 16. The first rail assembly 71 may be fixed to the first side surface 162a of the storage compartment 16 by a separately provided storage compartment connecting member 18. One side of the storage compartment connecting member 18 may provide a seating space in which the first rail assembly 71 may be seated and may be fastened to the first rail assembly 71. The other side of the storage compartment connecting member 18 may be fastened to the first side surface 162a of the storage compartment 16.

[0116] The first rail assembly 71 may include a plurality of rail units to be extended in multiple stages. For example, the first rail assembly 71 may be a three-stage rail assembly including three rail units composed of a first rail unit 710, a second rail unit 720, and a third rail unit 730. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the first rail assembly 71 may include two rail units or four or more rail units. In a state in which the rail units of the first rail assembly 71 are not extended, a length of the first rail unit 710 may substantially correspond to a length of the first rail assembly 71.

[0117] When the rail units of the first rail assembly 71 are extended, in a state in which the first rail unit 710 is fixed, a portion of the second rail unit 720 may be extended farther forward than the first rail unit 710, and a portion of the third rail unit 730 may be extended farther forward than the second rail unit 720. One or more rail fixing parts 711 may be formed on one side of the first rail unit 710. The rail fixing parts 711 may fixedly fasten the first rail assembly 71 to the storage compartment connecting member 18. For example, the rail fixing part 711 may be formed in the shape of a plate with a predetermined area and bent upward, thereby increasing a fastening area and increasing a fastening force.

[0118] In the same manner, the second rail assembly 72 may be fixed to the second side surface 162b of the storage compartment 16 by the separately provided storage compartment connecting member 18. In addition, the second rail assembly 72 may be disposed to face the first rail assembly 71, and the first and second rail assemblies 71 and 72 may be symmetrically formed. The description of the first rail assembly 71 may be applied to the second rail assembly 72 in the same manner.

[0119] The bracket member 80 may be disposed on each rail assembly 70. A first bracket member 81 may be disposed in the first rail assembly 71, and a second bracket member 82 may be disposed in the second rail assembly 72. The first bracket member 81 may include a bracket body 810 that extends in one direction. The bracket body 810 may be fastened to the third rail unit 730 that protrude the farthest forward among the rail units of the first rail assembly 71. Accordingly, the first bracket member 81 may be restrained by the retraction and extension operation of the third rail unit 730 and may move forward and rearward. A bracket bent portion 811 bent and extended downward may be formed at the front of the bracket body 810. A sensor portion 830 may be disposed on the bracket bent portion 811. A sensor for detecting whether the door 20 is extended or retracted may be disposed on the sensor portion 830. The sensor portion 830 may transmit a sensing signal to a controller disposed within the refrigerator 1. A front extension 820 bent and extended downward from the bracket body 810 may be formed in front of the bracket bent portion 811. The front extension 820 may be formed in a plate shape facing forward with a predetermined area and disposed at a front end of the first bracket member 81. The front extension 820 may be a portion that fixedly fastens the first bracket member 81 to the door 20.

[0120] In the same manner, the second bracket member 82 may be fastened to the second rail assembly 72. In addition, the second bracket member 82 may be disposed to face the first bracket member 81, and the first and second bracket members 81 and 82 may be symmetrically formed. The description of the first bracket member 81 may be applied to the second bracket member 82 in the same manner.

[0121] As described above, the rail assembly 70 and the bracket member 80 may be fastened to the door 20 and retracted and extended in the front-rear direction according to the movement of the door 20 in the front-rear direction. In the case of a manual open mode in which the user manually controls the retraction and extension operation of the door 20, the rail units of the rail assembly 70 may be retracted and extended in the front-rear direction without the driving motor applying a separate driving force to the rail assembly 70. However, in the case of the automatic open mode in which the retraction and extension operation of the door 20 is automatically controlled, since the driving force generated by the driving motor is not directly applied to the rail assembly 70, a method of indirectly applying the driving force to control the retraction and extension operation of the rail assembly 70 needs to be implemented.

[0122] The door open module 30 is not directly engaged with the rail assembly 70 to provide the driving force for retracting and extending the rail units, but may indirectly apply the driving force to control the retraction and extension of the rail units of the rail assembly 70. The door open module 30 may be disposed to be spaced a predetermined distance from the rail assembly 70 and the bracket member 80 without being directly engaged with the rail assembly 70 and the bracket member 80. The door open module 30 may push and move the door 20 forward and pull and move the door 20 rearward. Accordingly, the door 20 may be moved to be retracted and extended in the front-rear direction by the door open module 30. The door open module 30 may include one or more multi-stage rack-and-pinion assemblies 50, one or more driving assemblies 40 for driving the rack-and-pinion assembly 50, and the locking assembly 60 configured to engage with and disengage from the door 20.

[0123] For example, the driving assembly 40 may include a pair of the first driving assembly 41 and the second driving assembly 42. The rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may include a pair of a first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and a second rack-and-pinion assembly 52. The first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 may be mounted on the first driving assembly 41 to receive a driving force from the first driving assembly 41. In addition, the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 may be mounted on the second driving assembly 42 to receive a driving force from the second driving assembly 42. The first driving assembly 41 and the second driving assembly 42 may be disposed to be biased to the first side surface 162a and the second side surface 162b of the storage compartment 16, respectively.

[0124] The first driving assembly 41 and the second driving assembly 42 may be disposed at positions and in shapes that are symmetrical with respect to the center of the storage compartment 16. The first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 may also be disposed at positions and in shapes that are symmetrical with respect to the center of the storage compartment 16. In this way, since the door open module 30 according to the present invention is implemented to have a dual module structure including a pair of driving assemblies 40 and a pair of rack-and-pinion assemblies 50, it is possible to provide a strong door retraction and extension force, enabling the door to be opened smoothly even in a high negative pressure environment such as a freezer. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the door open module 30 may include one driving assembly 40 and one rack-and-pinion assembly 50. In this case, the driving assembly 40 and the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may be preferably disposed in a central region of the storage compartment 16.

[0125] One side and the other side of the locking assembly 60 may be engaged with the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52, respectively. For example, the locking assembly 60 may include a pushing member 630 that extends in the left-right direction of the storage compartment 16. A pair of connecting members 612 may be disposed to be engaged with one side and the other side of the pushing member 630. A pair of sliding racks 611 fastened to the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52, respectively, may be engaged with the pair of connecting members 612, respectively. As the locking assembly 60 engages with the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 in this way, the locking assembly 60 may be restrained by the movements of the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 in the front-rear direction and moved together.

[0126] The pushing member 630 may be configured to push a rear surface of the storage unit 220. As the pushing member 630 of the locking assembly 60 pushes the rear surface of the storage unit 220 in this way, the storage unit 220 may be restrained by the forward movement of the locking assembly 60 and moved forward together. In addition, a switchable hook member 620 may be disposed on the pushing member 630 to engage with and disengage from the storage unit 220. In a state in which the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 engages with the storage unit 220, the storage unit 220 may be restrained by both the forward movement and rearward movement of the locking assembly 60 and moved together. In other words, a case in which the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 is engaged with the storage unit 220, does not necessarily define that the hook member 620 is always in contact with the storage unit 200, and may include a state in which the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 is temporarily separated or not in contact with the storage unit 200 while the storage unit 220 is restrained by the movement of the locking assembly. In addition, in a state in which the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 is disengaged from the storage unit 220, the storage unit 220 may move freely regardless of the locking assembly 60 even in a state in which the locking assembly 60 is not driven. The detailed description of each assembly constituting the door open module 30 will be described below.

[0127] The driving assembly 40 and the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may be disposed below the storage unit 220. In the closed state of the door 20, the driving assembly 40 and the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may be disposed to overlap the storage unit 220 in the vertical direction. The locking assembly 60 except for some components may be disposed on the rear of the storage unit 220. A sliding rack 611 of the locking assembly 60 may be disposed below the storage unit 220, and the pushing member 630 and the hook member 620 may be disposed behind the storage unit 220.

[0128] The door open module 30 may be disposed in a lower region of the storage compartment 16. For example, the door open module 30 may be disposed on the bottom surface 164 that is a lower inner surface of the storage compartment 16. The bottom surface 164 of the storage compartment 16 may be formed by the inner case 11, and a space between the bottom surface 164 and the outer case 12 disposed below the bottom surface 164 may be an insulation space in which an insulation material is disposed. The door open module 30 may be positioned above the bottom surface 164 so as not to intrude into the insulation space. A groove 165 in which the driving assembly 40 of the door open module may be seated may be formed on the bottom surface 164 of the storage compartment 16. The groove 165 may be preferably formed to have a smaller thickness than the vertical thickness of the driving assembly 40. Accordingly, the groove 165 can stably seat the driving assembly 40 on the bottom surface 164 while minimizing a reduction in the insulation space below the bottom surface 164 of the storage compartment 16. In this way, since the door open module 30 according to the present invention may be disposed in the lower region of the storage compartment 16 and disposed above rather than below the lower inner surface of the storage compartment 16, it is possible to reduce the door open module 30 from intruding into the insulation space, thereby maintaining the insulation performance of the refrigerator and increasing energy efficiency.

[Driving Assembly, Rack-and-Pinion Assembly, and Locking Assembly]

[0129] Hereinafter, the driving assembly 40, the rack-and-pinion assembly 50, and the locking assembly 60 included in the door open module 30 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with further reference to FIGS. 8 to 14 and 26 to 33. FIGS. 26 to 33 are perspective or cross-sectional views without a gear assembly 430 for convenience of description.

[0130] Referring to FIG. 9, the driving assembly 40 may be composed of the pair of the first driving assembly 41 and the second driving assembly 42. Since the first driving assembly 41 and the second driving assembly 42 may be formed to have symmetrical shapes, the description based on the first driving assembly 41 may be applied to the second driving assembly 42 in the same manner.

[0131] The first driving assembly 41 may include a first case 410 forming an upper outer surface and a second case 420 that stores various related components and forms a lower surface. The second case 420 may be formed to have a thickness that is sufficient to accommodate Accordingly, since the gear assembly 430 can the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 and the gear assembly 430. The second case 420 may include a first seating portion 421 in which the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may be stored and seated and a second seating portion 422 in which the gear assembly 430 may be stored and seated. Referring to FIGS. 26 and 27, the first seating portion 421 may extend in the front-rear direction and have an open front surface to allow the gear rack of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 to be extended forward.

[0132] The gear assembly 430 may include a plurality of gears. For example, the plurality of gears may be circular gears disposed to be meshed with each other. The plurality of gears forming the gear assembly 430 may be rotated about a rotational axis extending in the vertical direction. Accordingly, since the gear assembly 430 can minimize the increase in thickness in the vertical direction, it can be advantageous in using the space of the storage compartment 16. Among the gears of the gear assembly 430, the gear meshed with the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may be a pinion gear. In this case, among the gears of the gear assembly 430, the gear meshed with the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may be referred to as a pinion gear 431. Accordingly, when the gear assemblies 430 are driven, the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may be driven in a rack-and-pinion driving manner by the pinion gear included in the gear assembly 430.

[0133] A driving unit 440 may be disposed in the second case 420. For example, the driving unit 440 may be seated in a storage space that is open downward in the second case 420. The driving unit 440 may be engaged with one of the gears of the gear assembly 430 to provide a driving force. The driving unit 440 may be a driving motor. A driving force of the driving unit 440 may be transmitted to the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 through the gear assembly 430 and transmitted to the storage unit 220 and the rail assembly 70 through the rack-and-pinion assembly 50. A lower cover 450 that may store the driving unit 440 and protect the exterior of the driving unit 440 may be disposed below the second case 420.

[0134] The first case 410 may be disposed to cover an upper surface of the second case 420 to protect the gear assembly 430 and the rack-and-pinion assembly 50. In the first case 410, an opening extension 411 that is open in the vertical direction may extend in the front-rear direction to guide the movement of the gear rack of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50. The opening extension 411 may allow the gear rack of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 to be extended forward because a front surface of the first case 410 is also open.

[0135] Further referring to FIGS. 26 and 27, a support gear rack 500 in which a support gear rack tooth profile 501 having a plurality of tooth profiles is formed may be disposed on an inner surface of the second case 420, which forms the first seating portion 421. The support gear rack 500 may be formed integrally with the inner surface of the second case 420, but is not limited thereto, and may also be formed as a separate component from the second case 420 and fixedly fastened to the inner surface of the second case 420. The support gear rack 500 may provide a support surface on which the pinion gear of the gear rack of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 seated on the first seating portion 421 may engage and move. A plurality of fastening members 451 that may fix the driving assembly 40 to the bottom surface 164 of the storage compartment 16 may be disposed on an outer surface of the second case 420. In this case, the fastening member 451 may be provided in the form of a buffer member capable of canceling out vibration of the driving assembly 40. For example, the buffer member may be formed of rubber, but is not limited thereto.

[0136] The first seating portions 421 formed on each of the first driving assembly 41 and the second driving assembly 42 may be disposed adjacent to a center of the storage compartment 16. Accordingly, the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 formed on the first seating portions 421 of the first driving assembly 41 and the second driving assembly 42, respectively, may be disposed close to each other toward the center of the storage compartment 16. In addition, the second seating portions 422 formed on the first driving assembly 41 and the second driving assembly 42, respectively, may be disclosed adjacent to the first side surface 162a and the second side surface 162b of the storage compartment 16, respectively. Accordingly, the gear assemblies 430 disposed on the second seating portions 422 of the first driving assembly 41 and the second driving assembly 42 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other toward both side surfaces of the storage compartment 16.

[0137] Referring to FIGS. 10 and 12, the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may be composed of the pair of the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52. Since the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 may be formed to have symmetrical shapes, the description based on the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 may be applied to the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 in the same manner.

[0138] The first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 may be a multi-stage rack-and-pinion assembly including a plurality of gear racks. The present invention is described based on the three-stage rack-and-pinion assembly including three gear racks, but is not limited thereto, and the rack-and-pinion assembly may include four or more gear racks. That is, the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 according to the present invention may include three or more gear racks. Here, the three or more gear racks may be gear racks that are moved in a retractable and extendable manner in the front-rear direction and may mean excluding gear racks that are fixed without being moved.

[0139] As the number of gear racks increases, the gear racks may be mounted within the storage compartment 16 with a short length in the front-rear direction, while also increasing the total extension distance that the gear rack is extended from the storage compartment 16. As described above, when the machine compartment 17 is disposed behind the storage compartment 16, the length of the storage compartment 16 in the front-rear direction can be shortened compared to other storage compartment. Accordingly, since the multi-stage rack-and-pinion assembly 50 according to the present invention includes three or more gear racks, the extension distance of the door can be significantly extended so that the storage unit 220 of the door 20 may be completely exposed to the outside even when the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is disposed within the storage compartment 16 having a narrow width in the front-rear direction. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and when the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is disposed in the storage compartment 16 having a sufficient length in the front-rear direction, the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may be disposed as a two-stage rack-and-pinion assembly 50 including two gear racks.

[0140] The first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 may include a first gear rack 510, a second gear rack 520, and a third gear rack 530. The first gear rack 510 may be formed in a shape that extends in one direction and has open front and upper surfaces. Further referring to FIGS. 28 and 29, the first gear rack 510 may be seated on the first seating portion 421 of the second case 420 and stored within the second case 420. The first gear rack 510 may have a storage space 514 that may store the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530, and the storage space 514 may be formed by a pair of support walls 513 formed at both sides of the first gear rack 510.

[0141] A first external tooth profile 511a in a sawtooth shape may be formed on one side surface of the support wall 513. For example, the first external tooth profile 511a may be formed to have a length about half of the total length of the support wall 513 in the front-rear direction. The first external tooth profile 511a may be formed on an outer surface of the support wall 513 facing the gear assembly 430 to be meshed with the pinion gear of the gear assembly 430. Accordingly, when the gear assembly 430 is driven, the first gear rack 510 may be extended forward by the rack-and-pinion driving method along the first external tooth profile 511a meshed with the gear assembly 430. The first gear rack 510 may include a first pinion gear 512. The first pinion gear 512 may be formed on the support wall 513 on which the first external tooth profile 511a is formed. The first pinion gear 512 may be disposed near a central region of the first gear rack 510 and positioned in front of the first external tooth profile 511a.

[0142] The support gear rack 500 may be positioned in front of the gear assembly 430 in a state in which the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is seated in the second case 420 of the driving assembly 40. The support gear rack 500 may be formed to have a length that is substantially half of a length of the first gear rack 510 in the front-rear direction. When the gear assembly 430 is driven, the first pinion gear 512 may move forward along the support gear rack 500 while meshed with the support gear rack tooth profile 501 of the support gear rack 500. Accordingly, the first gear rack 510 may be extended forward.

[0143] A first internal tooth profile 511b in a sawtooth shape may be formed on the other side surface of the support wall 513 on which the first external tooth profile 511a is formed. For example, the first internal tooth profile 511b may be formed to have a length that is about half of the total length of the support wall 513 in the front-rear direction. The first internal tooth profile 511b may be formed on the inner surface of the support wall 513 to be meshed with the second pinion gear 522 of the second gear rack 520 stored in the storage space 514 of the first gear rack 510. The first internal tooth profile 511b may be formed on the support wall 513 on which the first pinion gear 512 is formed. The first internal tooth profile 511b may be positioned in front of the first pinion gear 512.

[0144] Further referring to FIGS. 30 and 31, the second gear rack 520 may be disposed in the storage space 514 of the first gear rack 510. The second gear rack 520 may be formed to extend in one direction. Generally, the second gear rack 520 may be formed to have a long rod shape. The second gear rack 520 may be formed to be shorter than the length of the first gear rack 510 in the front-rear direction. The second gear rack 520 may include a second tooth profile 521 formed along a surface facing the first pinion gear 512. The second tooth profile 521 may be formed to be meshed with the first pinion gear 512. The second gear rack 520 may include a second pinion gear 522 disposed on one side on which the second tooth profile 521 is formed.

[0145] When the first gear rack 510 is extended forward, the second gear rack 520 meshed with the first pinion gear 512 may be extended forward by the rack-and-pinion driving method with the first pinion gear 512. During the rotation of the first pinion gear 512, the second gear rack 520 may move forward while being meshed with both the first pinion gear 512 and the first internal tooth profile 511b via its second pinion gear 522. In this case, the second pinion gear 522 may also move forward. Accordingly, when the first gear rack 510 is extended, the second gear rack 520 may be extended forward by the rack-and-pinion driving method along the first internal tooth profile 511b meshed with the second pinion gear 522. A second rack cover 523 that covers a lower surface of the second gear rack 520 may be disposed on the lower surface of the second gear rack 520.

[0146] Further referring to FIGS. 32 and 33, the third gear rack 530 may be disposed in the storage space 514 of the first gear rack 510. The third gear rack 530 may be formed to extend in one direction. Generally, the third gear rack 530 may be formed to have a long rod shape. The third gear rack 530 may be formed to be shorter than the length of the first gear rack 510 in the front-rear direction. In addition, the third gear rack 530 may be formed to have substantially the same length as the second gear rack 520 in the front-rear direction. The third gear rack 530 may include a third tooth profile 531 formed along a surface facing the second pinion gear 522. The third tooth profile 531 may be formed to be meshed with the second pinion gear 522. When the second gear rack 520 is extended forward, the third gear rack 530 meshed with the second pinion gear 522 may be extended forward by the rack-and-pinion driving method with the second pinion gear 522. Accordingly, during the rotation of the second pinion gear 522, the third gear rack 530 may move forward while being meshed with the second pinion gear 522.

[0147] A portion of the third gear rack 530 may be formed to protrude outward from an upper surface of the first gear rack 510. For example, a protrusion 533 protruding a predetermined height may be formed on an upper surface of the third gear rack 530 that extends in one direction. The protrusion 533 may be formed to substantially correspond to the length of the third gear rack 530 in the front-rear direction. In addition, a step portion 534 protruding upward by a predetermined height from the upper surface of the protrusion 533 may be formed on an upper surface of the protrusion 533. The step portion 534 may be formed to have a shorter length in the front-rear direction than the protrusion 533, and the step portion 534 may be positioned behind the protrusion 533.

[0148] The upper surface of the first gear rack 510 may be covered by the rack cover. For example, the rack cover may be provided as a pair of first rack cover 540a and a second rack cover 540b. The first rack cover 540a and the second rack cover 540b may be disposed to cover the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 and disposed to be spaced a predetermined distance from each other so that the protrusion 533 and the step portion 534 of the third gear rack 530 may protrude upward. An opening guide portion 541 may be formed between the first rack cover 540a and the second rack cover 540b disposed to be spaced a predetermined distance from each other. The opening guide portion 541 may be formed to extend in the vertical direction to be penetrated in the vertical direction and open at front and rear ends. Accordingly, the protrusion 533 and the step portion 534 of the third gear rack 530 may slide in the front-rear direction along the opening guide portion 541.

[0149] A rack guide member 532 may be disposed on the third gear rack 530. For example, the rack guide member 532 may be fixedly fastened to the step portion 534 of the third gear rack 530. For example, the rack guide member 532 may be fastened by engaging with an upper surface of the step portion 534. In this case, the rack guide member 532 may be fixedly fastened to the step portion 534 by a plurality of fastening members. For example, the rack guide member 532 may include a rack guide neck portion 5321 and a rack guide head portion 5322. One side of the rack guide neck portion 5321 may be fastened to the step portion 534, and a rack guide head portion 5322 may be disposed on the other side of the rack guide neck portion 5321. Accordingly, when the rack guide member 532 is fastened to the step portion 534, the rack guide neck portion 5321 and the rack guide head portion 5322 may be sequentially disposed on the step portion 534. Lengths of the rack guide neck portion 5321 and the rack guide head portion 5322 in the front-rear direction may be formed to be substantially the same as a length of the step portion 534 in the front-rear direction. A width of the rack guide head portion 5322 in the left-right direction may be formed to be narrower than a width of the rack guide neck portion 5321 in the left-right direction. Accordingly, the rack guide head portion 5322 may be formed to protrude outward from the rack guide neck portion 5321 in the left-right direction. A width of the rack guide neck portion 5321 in the left-right direction may be formed to be substantially the same as a width of the step portion 534 in the left-right direction.

[0150] When the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is driven, the first gear rack 510 may protrude forward by the shortest distance, the second gear rack 520 may protrude forward farther than the first gear rack 510, and the third gear rack 530 may protrude forward farther than the second gear rack 520 with respect to a front end portion of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50. A moving speed of the gear rack may increase in the order of the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530. In addition, since a movement distance of the gear rack and an extension force of the gear rack are inversely proportional, the extension force may increase in the order of the third gear rack 530, the second gear rack 520, and the first gear rack 510. In this case, the gear rack that protrudes first with respect to the front end portion of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may be the first gear rack 510. This will be described in detail below.

[0151] As described above, rotational axes of the pinion gears of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may extend in the vertical direction of the storage compartment 16 in the same direction as the rotational axis of the gear assembly 430. Accordingly, the pinion gears may not rotate in an upright vertical orientation, but in the horizontal direction, lying parallel to the bottom surface 164 of the storage compartment 16. This may be described with reference to FIGS. 22, 32, and 33. Since the thickness of the pinion gears lying horizontally is relatively smaller than that of the pinion gears in the upright vertical position, the total thickness of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 in the vertical direction may also be reduced. Accordingly, according to the present invention, since the rotational axis of the pinion gear of the door open module 30 driven by the rack-and-pinion driving method is disposed to extend in the vertical direction of the storage compartment 16, it is possible to reduce the thickness of the door open module 30 in the vertical direction, thereby increasing the space utilization of the storage compartment 16.

[0152] In addition, the pinion gears and the gear racks according to the present invention may be disposed to be meshed in the left-right direction rather than the vertical direction of the storage compartment 16, that is, in the horizontal direction rather than the vertical direction, of the storage compartment 16. According to the present invention, since no other components that directly apply load to the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 in the horizontal direction are provided, it is possible to reduce the misalignment or clearance between the pinion gears and gear racks.

[0153] Further referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the locking assembly 60 may include a locking assembly extension bar 610 extending in the left-right direction. That is, the locking assembly extension bar 610 may extend in a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction in which the gear racks of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 are retracted or extended. For example, the locking assembly extension bar 610 may have a bar shape with an open rear surface. For example, the locking assembly extension bar 610 may have a front surface formed in a plate shape extending in the left-right direction and upper and lower surfaces formed to be bent rearward at the upper and lower edges of the front surface. In this case, both side surfaces and the rear surface of the locking assembly extension bar 610 may be formed to be open. Accordingly, a bending groove 6101 may be formed within the locking assembly extension bar 610. The locking assembly extension bar 610 may serve as a base member that fastens and supports related components positioned at both sides in order to synchronize the operations of the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52.

[0154] The locking assembly 60 may include a pair of sliding racks 611 disposed at one side and the other side of the locking assembly extension bar 610. The sliding rack 611 may be formed to extend in the front-rear direction so as to be orthogonal to a direction in which the locking assembly extension bar 610 extends. The sliding rack 611 may be fixedly fastened to the third gear rack 530 of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50. For example, the sliding rack 611 may be fastened to the rack guide member 532 disposed on the third gear rack 530. The sliding rack 611 may be formed to have a storage space in which the rack guide member 532 is accommodated. In addition, a rear surface of the sliding rack 611 may be open, and a lower surface thereof may also be formed to have an open region extending in the front-rear direction. The sliding rack 611 may accommodate a rack guide head portion 5322 of the rack guide member 532, and the rack guide neck portion 5321 may protrude to an open region of a lower surface of the sliding rack 611.

[0155] When the rack guide member 532 is fastened to the sliding rack 611, the rack guide member 532 may be inserted forward from the open rear surface of the sliding rack 611 in a sliding manner. An internal storage space of the sliding rack 611 may be formed in a shape engaging with the rack guide head portion 5322. Accordingly, in this case, the rack guide head portion 5322 may be supported by a non-open lower surface of the sliding rack 611. The sliding rack 611 may be formed to extend farther in the front-rear direction than the rack guide member 532. In a state in which the sliding rack 611 and the rack guide member 532 are fastened, the sliding rack 611 may slide in the front-rear direction along the rack guide head portion 5322 of the rack guide member 532. Accordingly, the sliding rack 611 may move in the front-rear direction while depending on the movement of the third gear rack 530 in the front-rear direction.

[0156] In order to enable the rack guide member 532 to slide in the front-rear direction while inserted into the sliding rack 611, a gap having a predetermined distance may be present between the rack guide member 532 and the sliding rack 611. For example, in a state in which the rack guide member 532 is in close contact with the rear of the sliding rack 611, a front sliding gap 6111 having a predetermined distance may be formed between a front end portion 5323 of the rack guide member 532 and a front end portion 6113 of the sliding rack 611. That is, the front sliding gap 6111 may be defined as a distance between a front surface of the front end portion 5323 of the rack guide member 532 and a rear surface of the front end portion 6113 of the sliding rack 611. Due to the front sliding gap 6111, the movement of each gear rack of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 and the movement of the pushing member 630 may be carried out with a predetermined time difference, which will be described in detail below. A time difference that occurs between the movement of each gear rack of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 and the movement of the pushing member 630 may be proportional to a distance of the front sliding gap 6111.

[0157] An upward protruding uneven portion 6117 may be formed at the rear of an upper surface of the sliding rack 611. One or more fastening posts 6118 may be formed on the uneven portion 6117. For example, the fastening post 6118 may be fastened to the connecting member 612 by a screw-coupling method using a separately provided fastening member 650. A plurality of opening holes 6113 may be formed in the sliding rack 611. The plurality of opening holes 6113 may be disposed in the front-rear direction so as to pass through the upper surface of the sliding rack 611. Since the sliding rack 611 is formed to have the opening holes 6113, the sliding rack 611 can be easily formed using an injection molding method.

[0158] The open rear surface of each sliding rack 611 may be closed by a closure member 613. The closure member 613 may be formed so that a portion thereof is fixedly inserted forward from the rear surface of the sliding rack 611. A hole 6131 may be formed to vertically pass through the closure member 613. The closure member 613 may be fixedly fastened to the sliding rack 611 by a separately provided fastening member 652 that passes through the hole 6131. For example, the fastening member 652 may be inserted from a lower side of the closure member 613 and may pass through a portion of a lower surface of a rear region of the uneven portion 6117 of the sliding rack 611, thereby fastening the closure member 613 and the sliding rack 611. In consideration of the moving direction of the locking assembly 60 moving in the front-rear direction, the sliding rack 611 and the closure member 613 may be fastened in the vertical direction. In this way, by arranging the moving direction and the fastening direction perpendicular to each other, the fastening force between the sliding rack 611 and the closure member 613 can be reduced from weakening even when repetitive movements in the front-rear direction occur.

[0159] As described above, after the rack guide member 532 is inserted into the sliding rack 611, the closure member 613 may be fastened to the sliding rack 611 to finish the rear surface of the sliding rack 611. Accordingly, when the rack guide member 532 moves in the front-rear direction along the sliding rack 611, the forward movement of the front end portion 5323 of the rack guide member 532 may be constrained by the front end portion 6113 of the sliding rack 611, and the rearward movement thereof may be constrained by a front end portion of the closure member 613 that closes a rear end portion of the sliding rack 611. That is, the closure member 613 can prevent the rack guide member 532 from moving rearward.

[0160] When the rack guide member 532 moves forward in this manner, a gap may be formed between the rear end portion of the rack guide member 532 and the rear end portion of the sliding rack 611. Further referring to FIGS. 39 to 43, which will be described below, a rear sliding gap 6112 may be formed between the rear end portion of the rack guide member 532 and the rear end portion of the sliding rack 611. The rear sliding gap 6112 may increase by an amount corresponding to the decrease in the front sliding gap 6111. Accordingly, the front sliding gap 6111 and the rear sliding gap 6112 may be inversely proportional. Since the rear end portion of the sliding rack 611 is closed by the closure member 613, the rear sliding gap 6112 may be defined as a distance between the front end portion of the closure member 613 and the rear end portion of the rack guide member 532.

[0161] The locking assembly 60 may include a pair of connecting members 612 disposed at one side and the other side of the locking assembly extension bar 610, respectively, to allow the sliding rack 611 to engage with the locking assembly extension bar 610. For example, each connecting member 612 may be inserted into the open rear and both side surfaces of the locking assembly extension bar 610 and seated on an inner surface of the locking assembly extension bar 610. A plurality of fastening holes 615 may be formed in a front surface of the locking assembly extension bar 610. In addition, a plurality of fastening holes 6121 may be formed in a front surface of the connecting member 612 stored in the locking assembly extension bar 610. After positioning the connecting member 612 so that the fastening hole 6121 of the connecting member 612 corresponds to the fastening hole 615 of the locking assembly extension bar 610, the connecting member 612 may be fixed to the inside of the locking assembly extension bar 610 using a separately provided fastening member 651. The connecting member 612 fixed to the locking assembly extension bar 610 may be formed so that a portion thereof protrudes to the side and rear surfaces of the locking assembly extension bar 610. Accordingly, in a state in which the connecting member 612 is fastened to the locking assembly extension bar 610, both side regions of the locking assembly extension bar 610 excluding the central region may be formed to surround a portion of the connecting member 612. The portion of the connecting member 612 may be inserted into a bent groove 6101 formed within the locking assembly extension bar 610.

[0162] Each connecting member 612 may be fastened to the sliding rack 611. In consideration of the moving direction of the locking assembly 60 moving in the front-rear direction, the sliding rack 611 and the connecting member 612 may be fastened in the vertical direction. By making the moving direction and the fastening direction perpendicular to each other, a fastening force between the sliding rack 611 and the connecting member 612 can be reduced from weakening even when the repeated forward and rearward movements occur. For example, portions of the connecting members 612 protruding from both side surfaces of the locking assembly extension bar 610 may be fastened to the sliding racks 611. The uneven portion 6117 and the fastening post 6118 of the sliding rack 611 may be inserted from a lower surface of one end of the connecting member 612. A fastening hole into which the separately provided fastening member 650 may be inserted may be formed in an upper surface of the connecting member 6112 corresponding to the fastening post 6118. In this way, in a state in which the fastening post 6118 of the sliding rack 611 is inserted into the connecting member 612, the fastening post 6118 of the sliding rack 611 may be fastened to the connecting member 612 by the screw-coupling method using the separately provided fastening member 650.

[0163] The pair of sliding racks 611 described above may be formed in the same shape. That is, the pair of sliding racks 611 may be interchanged so that there is no problem in implementing the function even when their positions are swapped. Likewise, the pair of closure members 613 and the pair of connecting members 612 may also be formed in the same shape. Accordingly, according to the present invention, components of the same shape can be mass-produced, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and simplifying assembly and maintenance between the components.

[0164] The locking assembly 60 may include the pushing member 630. The pushing member 630 may extend in the left-right direction, which is the same as the extension direction of the locking assembly extension bar 610. The pushing member 630 may be formed to have substantially the same length in the left-right direction as the locking assembly extension bar 610. The pushing member 630 may be formed to surround the front and upper surfaces of the locking assembly extension bar 610.

[0165] For example, the pushing member 630 may include a pushing portion 631 extending upward and facing forward. The pushing portion 631 may push a front object, for example, the storage unit 220. The pushing portion 631 may be formed to have the shape of a plate having a predetermined area to be in surface contact with the pushed object such as the storage unit 220. For example, the pushing portion 631 may be formed to extend in the left-right and vertical directions, and a length in the left-right direction may be formed to be larger than a length in the vertical direction.

[0166] A pushing member bent portion 632 that is bent forward may be formed at a lower end portion of the pushing portion 631, and a pushing member fastening portion 634 that is bent downward and extended may be formed at a front end portion of the pushing member bent portion 632. The pushing member bent portion 632 of the pushing member 630 may be seated on the locking assembly extension bar 610, and the pushing member fastening portion 634 may be fastened to an front outer surface of the locking assembly extension bar 610. A plurality of fastening holes may be formed in a front surface of the pushing member fastening portion 634. As the fastening holes formed in the front surface of the pushing member fastening portion 634 may be aligned to correspond to the fastening holes 615 of the locking assembly extension bar 610 and the fastening holes 6121 of the connecting member 612, the pushing member fastening portion 634, the locking assembly extension bar 610, and the connecting member 612 may be fixedly fastened by the fastening member 651 separately provided to pass through the fastening holes.

[0167] Since the pushing portion 631 of the pushing member 630 pushes an object forward, a repulsive force applied to the pushing member 630 may be applied rearward. Accordingly, since the pushing member fastening portion 634 is fastened to the front outer surface of the locking assembly extension bar 610, the fastening between the pushing member 630 and the locking assembly extension bar 610 can be prevented from loosening due to the repulsive force applied to the pushing member 630. A plurality of reinforcing ribs 633 may be formed on the pushing member bent portion 632 to reinforce the strength of the pushing member 630.

[0168] A hook member fixing portion 621 may be formed on the pushing member 630. A portion of the pushing portion 631 may be removed from the central region of the pushing member 630, and the hook member fixing portion 621 may be formed in the region in which the pushing portion 631 has been removed in this way. Accordingly, a pair of pushing portions 631 may be disposed at both sides of the hook member fixing portion 621 with respect to the hook member fixing portion 621. A pair of rotational shafts 6211 may be formed on the hook member fixing portion 621. For example, the pair of rotational shafts 6211 may be formed to protrude rearward from rear surfaces of the pair of pushing portions 631 disposed at both sides of the hook member fixing portion 621, respectively. The pair of rotational shafts 6211 may be disposed adjacent to the hook member fixing portion 621. A through hole 6215 may be formed in each rotational shaft portion 6211. The pair of rotational shafts 6211 may be disposed so that the through holes 6215 face each other. The rotational shaft portion 6211 may be fastened to the hook member 620 to provide a rotational axis around which the hook member 620 rotates.

[0169] The locking assembly 60 may include the hook member 620. The hook member 620 may be positioned in the central region of the pushing member 630. For example, the hook member 620 may be disposed on the hook member fixing portion 621. Accordingly, in a state in which the hook member 620 is disposed on the pushing member 630, the pushing members 631 may be positioned at both sides of the hook member 620, respectively. FIG. 13 illustrates an example in which one hook member 620 is positioned in the central region of the pushing member 630, and the pair of pushing members 631 are positioned at both sides of the hook member 620, offset toward each side of the locking assembly extension bar 610, respectively, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as another example, one pushing member 631 is positioned in the central region of the pushing member 630, and the pair of hook members 620 are positioned at both sides of the pushing member 631 to be biased to one side and the other side of the pushing member 630. In addition, the number and positions of hook members 620 and pushing members 631 are not limited thereto. For example, one hook member 620 and one pushing portion 631 may be provided, or a pair of hook members 620 and a pair of pushing portions 631 may be provided. In addition, three or more hook members 620 or three or more pushing portions 631 may be provided. In addition, the arrangement may be variously modified, such as alternatively arranging the hook member 620 and the pushing portion 631.

[0170] The hook member 620 may be operated to engage with and disengage from a front object such as the storage unit 220. The hook member 620 may include a hook head portion 6222 substantially fastened when the hook is engaged, and a hook tail portion 6221 extending downward from the hook head portion 6222. The hook head portion 6222 may be engaged with and disengaged from a front object of the hook member 620, such as the storage unit 220, in a hook-coupling manner. The hook head portion 6222 may be formed to have an inward curved surface to increase a hook-coupling force with the object to be hook-coupled. A head bent portion 6225 bent inward may be formed at the end of the hook head portion 6222.

[0171] The hook tail portion 6221 of the hook member 620 may be formed to extend downward from a lower surface of the hook head portion 6222. A tail bent portion 6224 bent forward at a predetermined angle may be formed at a lower end of the hook tail portion 6221. The hook tail portion 6221 having such a shape is in contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 and can achieve smooth contact and release with the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16.

[0172] One or more reinforcing ribs 6228 may be formed on the rear surface, that is, the outer surface, of the hook member 620. The reinforcing ribs 6228 may be formed on the hook head portion 6222 and the hook tail portion 6221, and the reinforcing ribs 6228 formed on the hook head portion 6222 and the hook tail portion 6221 may be formed to extend continuously in the vertical direction. Since the hook member 620 engages with an object and provides a force to retract the object, the rigidity of the hook member 620 can be reinforced due to the presence of the reinforcing ribs 6228.

[0173] A pair of connecting portions 6223 may be formed on a front inner surface of the hook member 620. That is, the pair of connecting portions 6223 may be formed on surfaces opposite to the surfaces on which the reinforcing ribs 6228 are formed. For example, the pair of connecting portions 6223 may be formed to protrude forward from one surface, that is, the inner surface, of the hook tail portion 6221. The pair of connecting portions 6223 may be disposed to face each other at a predetermined distance. A through hole may be formed in each of the pair of connecting portions 6223, and the pair of connecting portions 6223 may be disposed so that the through holes face each other. The connecting portion 6223 of the hook member 620 engages with the rotational shaft portion 6211 of the hook member fixing portion 621, and the connecting portion 6223 and the rotational shaft portion 6211 may be engaged by a separately provided fastening pin 624. For example, the through hole of the connecting portion 6223 may be disposed to be aligned with the through hole 6215 of the rotational shaft portion 6211, and the fastening pin 624 may fix the hook member 620 to the pushing member 630 by passing through the through hole of the connecting portion 6223 and the through hole 6215 of the rotational shaft portion 6211 in the left-right direction.

[0174] An elastic member 623 for providing an elastic force to the hook member 620 may be fastened to the connecting portion 6223 and the rotational shaft portion 6211 together with the fastening pin 624. The elastic member 623 may be disposed between the pair of connecting portions 6223 disposed to be spaced apart from each other. Accordingly, the fastening pin 624 passing through the through hole 6215 of the rotational shaft portion 6211 and the through hole of the connecting portion 6223 from one side may pass through the elastic member 623 and then pass through the through hole of the connecting portion 6223 and the through hole 6215 of the rotational shaft portion 6211 positioned at the other side.

[0175] For example, the elastic member 623 may be a spring. Specifically, the clastic member 623 may be a torsion spring. The torsion spring stores energy using torsional deformation and releases the energy. The torsion spring may operate when a torsional force is applied around its axis. Accordingly, the torsion spring may store elastic energy upon rotation or twisting and restore by releasing the stored elastic energy. The torsion spring is wound in a spiral shape and may be twisted by supports engaged with both ends. That is, the torsion spring may be twisted by receiving force through a rotational motion and may store energy through the torsional deformation. Accordingly, the hook member 620 can be capable of rotational motion to allow for restoration in an opposite direction by the elastic member 623 during the rotational motion in one direction.

[0176] For example, the elastic member 623 may include a coil portion 6231 and a pair of leg portions 6232a and 6232b protruding outward from both sides of the coil portion 6231, respectively. The coil portion 6231 may be configured in a spirally wound coil shape and may store energy through clastic deformation when receiving a torsional load. The fastening pin 624 may pass through the coil portion 6231. The pair of leg portions 6232a and 6232b may be composed of a first leg portion 6232a and a second leg portion 6232b, which extend from both ends of the coil portion 6231, and engaged with external components to transmit a rotational motion or perform a fixing function. The first leg portion 6232a and the second leg portion 6232b may be designed at specific angles and manufactured in various shapes depending on the intended use.

[0177] For example, the leg portions 6232a and 6232b may be formed in a straight shape, but are not limited thereto, and may also be formed in a curved shape. FIG. 14 illustrates the clastic member 623 before deformation. The first leg portion 6232a may be formed to extend from the coil portion 6231 in one direction, and the second leg portion 6232b may be formed to extend from the coil portion 6231 in the other direction, which is a direction opposite to the one direction. In a state in which no external force is applied to the clastic member 623, the first leg portion 6232a and the second leg portion 6232b may extend in parallel in different directions. When a user applies an external force to the first leg portion 6232a and presses the first leg portion 6232a at a predetermined angle, an angle between the first leg portion 6232a and the second leg portion 6232b decreases. In this way, as the external force is applied to the first leg portion 6232a, the coil portion 6231 is compressed and twisted to store elastic energy. The amount of accumulated elastic energy may be proportional to the degree of deformation of the first leg portion 6232a.

[0178] That is, when the external force is applied to the leg portions 6232a and 6232b, the coil portion 6231 may store clastic energy through torsional deformation, and, when the external force is removed, release the stored elastic energy using a restoring force. The elastic member 623 engages with an external component through the leg portions 6232a and 6232b, and when a rotational motion is applied in a specific direction, the coil portion 6231 twists and stores energy. After the external force is removed, the coil portion 6231 may restore to its original state and releases torque, which is a rotational force, through the leg portions 6232a and 6232b. In this way, according to the present invention, by providing the torsion spring including the leg portions 6232a and 6232b extending from both ends of the coil portion 6231, stable energy storage and release during rotational motion is enabled, and high durability and efficiency can be provided in various application environments.

[0179] For example, further referring to FIG. 39, when the elastic member 623 is coupled between the hook member 620 and the pushing member 630, one of the leg portions 6232a and 6232b, for example, the first leg portion 6232a, may be fastened while pressed at a predetermined angle. The first leg portion 6323a of the elastic member 623 may be in contact with the hook member 620, and the second leg portion 6323b may come into contact with the rear surface of the pushing member 630. In this case, since the elastic member 623 has stored clastic energy of a predetermined size before being in contact with the hook member 620, when an external force is not applied to the hook member 620 to oppose the restoring force of the clastic member 623, the hook member 620 is rotated forward by the restoring force of the clastic member 623.

[0180] The hook member 620 may be rotated by circular motion at a predetermined angle using the connecting portion 6223 engaged with the rotational shaft portion 6211 as the rotational axis. In a closed state of the door 20, that is, a state in which the locking assembly 60 fully moves rearward, the rear surface of the hook tail portion 6221 of the hook member 620 may be in contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16. In this case, since the rear surface of the hook tail portion 6221 of the hook member 620 is pressed forward by the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16, the hook head portion 6222 positioned at an upper end of the hook tail portion 6221 with respect to the rotational axis of the hook member 620 may rotate rearward about the rotational axis. That is, the end portions of the hook head portion 6222 and the hook tail portion 6221, which are positioned in opposite directions with respect to the rotational axis of the hook member 620, rotate in opposite directions. Accordingly, the hook head portion 6222 may maintain a state in which the hook-coupling with the front object, such as the storage unit 220, is released.

[0181] In this way, in a state in which the hook member 620 is in contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16, the stored restoring energy is retained due to the torsional deformation of the clastic member 623. Thereafter, when the locking assembly 60 moves forward, the hook tail portion 6221 of the hook member 620 is released from the contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16, and the hook head portion 6222 may rotate forward about the rotational axis of the connecting portion 6223 due to the restoring energy of the clastic member 623. Accordingly, the hook head portion 6222 may be hook-coupled with a front object to be hook-coupled, such as the storage unit 220.

[0182] The locking assembly 60 described above may synchronize the operations of the pair of driving assemblies 40 and the pair of rack-and-pinion assemblies 50 positioned at both sides thereof. Accordingly, even when one of the pair of driving assemblies 40 fails or stops operating, when the other normal driving assembly 40 is driven, the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 fastened to the driving assembly 40 that has stopped operating may be controlled to be normally retracted or extended by the synchronization performed by the locking assembly 60.

[Engaging Structure of Door Open Module, Rail Assembly, Bracket Member, and Door]

[0183] Hereinafter, the engaging structure of the door open module 30, the rail assembly 70, the bracket member 80, and the door 20 will be described with further reference to FIGS. 15 and 16. Referring to FIG. 15, the door 20 may include the door unit 210 that opens and closes the entire surface of the cabinet 2. The door unit 210 may include a door frame 211 forming an actual exterior of the door 20, and a door liner 212 positioned behind the door frame 211 and engaged with the bracket member 80. A door dike 216 may be formed along the circumference of a rear surface of the door liner 212. The door dike 216 may protrude rearward from the door liner 212 to be inserted into the storage compartment 16.

[0184] A door recess 217 having a recessed shape may be formed in the rear surface of the door liner 212 corresponding to the inside of the door dike 216. Bracket connecting portions 214 engaged with the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82, respectively, may be formed in the door recess 217. The bracket connecting portion 214 may be formed to protrude a predetermined thickness rearward to facilitate connection with the bracket member 80. The bracket member 80 may be fastened to a rear outer side of the bracket connecting portion 214 or inserted into an insertion space formed on a rear inner side of the bracket connecting portion 214 and fastened to the rear inner side, and such a fastening method is not particularly limited. As the door unit 210 and the bracket member 80 are fastened in this way, the movement and operation of the door 20, the bracket member 80, and the rail assembly 70 may be synchronized. A gasket part 213 disposed along the outer circumference of the door dike 216 may be formed on the rear surface of the door liner 212. The gasket part 213 may be in contact with the cabinet 2 to seal a space between the door 20 and the cabinet 2, thereby reducing the leakage of cold air.

[0185] The pair of first pressing parts 215 may be disposed in a lower region of the door liner 212. The pair of pressing parts 215 may be disposed at positions overlapping the first driving assembly 41 and the second driving assembly 42, respectively, in the front-rear direction. The first pressing part 215 may be disposed at positions overlapping the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 mounted on the first driving assembly 41 and the second driving assembly 42, respectively, in the front-rear direction. Specifically, when the first gear rack 510 of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 protrudes forward, the first gear rack 510 is in contact with the first pressing part 215 to push the first pressing part 215 forward.

[0186] For example, the first pressing part 215 may be formed on the door dike 216. For example, the first pressing part 215 may be formed to surround an upper surface, rear surface, and lower surface of the door dike 216 and fixed to the door dike 216. In this case, the first pressing part 215 may be fixed to the door dike 216 by a method such as fitting or hook-coupling or by a separate fastening member. The first pressing part 215 may be formed of a plastic material having high impact resistance and may include, for example, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic, but is not limited thereto. The first pressing part 215 has been described as a separate member from the door dike 216 of the door liner 212, but is not limited thereto.

[0187] In another embodiment, the first pressing part 215 may be formed integrally with the door liner 212. For example, a shape corresponding to the first pressing part 215 may be formed integrally with the door liner 212 on a rear surface of the door liner 212. In addition, the first pressing part 215 may be molded and formed integrally with the door dike 216. In addition, the first pressing part 215 may not be separately molded in the door dike 216, and in this case, the first pressing part 215 may be defined conceptually as a surface in contact with the gear rack of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50.

[0188] Referring to FIGS. 13 and 16, a hook catch member 221 may be disposed on the rear surface of the storage unit 220. As the hook member 620 rotates in circular motion about a rotational axis in the left-right direction, the hook member 620 may be fastened with the hook catch member 221. The hook catch member 221 may be formed in a shape that is easily hook-coupled to and released from the hook-coupling of the hook head portion 6222 of the hook member 620. The hook catch member 221 may be positioned in the lower region of the storage unit 220. Since the lower region of the storage unit 220 is formed to have a forward-inclined slope, the hook catch member 221 may be formed to protrude rearward with a predetermined width. The hook catch member 221 may be formed to correspond to the inclined surface of the rear surface of the storage unit 220 and fastened to the rear surface of the storage unit 220. For example, the hook catch member 221 may be fixed to the rear surface of the storage unit 220 in a form that surrounds portions of the rear surface and lower surface of the storage unit 220 in addition to corners of the rear surface and the lower surface of the storage unit 220. For example, the hook catch member 221 may be formed to extend in the left-right direction. The length of the hook catch member 221 in the left-right direction may be formed to be substantially the same as the length of the pushing member 630 in the left-right direction.

[0189] A slot 2211, which is an open region into which a portion of the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 may be inserted, may be formed in a rear surface of the hook catch member 221. When the hook member 620 fixed to the hook member fixing portion 621 rotates forward about the rotational axis, the hook head portion 6222 may be inserted into the slot 2211. A rear surface of the slot 2211 may be finished by a catch portion 2212. In this way, the catch portion 2212 formed on the rear surface of the slot 2211 may be substantially hook-coupled with the hook head portion 6222. Second pressing parts 222 may be formed on both side surfaces of the slot 2211 and the catch portion 2212. The second pressing part 222 may be pushed forward by the pushing portion 631 of the pushing member 630. The rear surface of the hook catch member 221 pushed by the pushing member 630 may be defined as the second pressing part 222.

[0190] In this way, as the hook catch member 221 is formed in the lower region of the storage unit 220 with a slope, the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 may also be formed adjacent to the lower region of the storage unit 220 with a slope. For example, the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 positioned behind the storage unit 220 may not be disposed behind the rearmost surface of the storage unit 220, but may be disposed to vertically overlap the slope of the lower region of the storage unit 220. Accordingly, since a width of the door open module 30 including the locking assembly 60 in the front-rear direction can be reduced, it is possible to increase the space utilization of the narrow storage compartment 16.

[0191] According to the present invention, the refrigerator 1 can quickly implement a manual open mode without a time difference in a closed state of the door 23 because the hook member 620 is disengaged from the door 23 in the closed state of the door 23. In the present invention, the manual open mode is a mode in which the hook member 620 and the door 23 are disengaged and the door open module 30 is not operated, allowing the door 23 to be opened and closed manually by the user. The automatic open mode is a mode in which the hook member 620 and the door 23 are engaged and the door 23 is opened by the operation of the door open module 30, meaning a mode in which the door 23 can be opened and closed automatically. That is, according to the present invention, the hook member 620 may be disengaged from the door 23 without separate control by a controller of the refrigerator, enabling automatic switching to the manual open mode. Accordingly, since the door 23 switches to the manual open mode simultaneously with the closing of the door, the user can very quickly open and close the door 23 in the manual open mode.

[0192] When the door 23 opened in the automatic open mode is closed, the door 23 may automatically switch to the manual open mode. In addition, when the door open module 30 operates to automatically open the door 23, the door 23 may switch to the automatic open mode to open and close the door 23, and when the door 23 is fully closed, the door 23 may automatically switch back to the manual open mode. In addition, the door 23 opened and closed in the manual open mode will remain in the manual open mode unless a separate switching to the automatic open mode is made.

[Gear Rack Extension Mechanism of Rack-and-Pinion Assembly]

[0193] Hereinafter, the gear rack extension mechanism of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 according to various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with further reference to FIGS. 17 to 38.

[0194] FIG. 17 is a view illustrating each gear rack of the rack-and-pinion assembly according to one embodiment both in a non-extended state and in a fully extended state. In the embodiment according to FIG. 17, for example, the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530, which are retracted and extended in the front-rear direction, have substantially the same length. Accordingly, in a state in which the gear racks of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 are not extended, the front end portions of the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530 may be disposed on the same line. In addition, a front end portion of the second case 420 that stores the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may be disposed on the same line as the front end portions of the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530.

[0195] As described above, the first gear rack 510 of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may include the first external tooth profile 511a, the first internal tooth profile 511b, and the first pinion gear 512, the second gear rack 520 may include the second tooth profile 521 and the second pinion gear 522, and the third gear rack 530 may include the third tooth profile 531. The contact gear 431 of the gear assembly 430 may be disposed to mesh with the first external tooth profile 511a, the first pinion gear 512 may be disposed to mesh with the second tooth profile 521, and the second pinion gear 522 may be disposed to mesh with the first external tooth profile 511a and the third tooth profile 531.

[0196] The gear assembly 430 including a plurality of gears disposed to mesh with each other is disposed to mesh with the gears of the driving unit 440, thereby receiving the rotational force of the driving unit 440. The gear assembly 430 that receives the rotational force from the driving unit 440 may transmit the rotational force to each gear rack through the contact gear 431. The rotational force generated from the driving unit 440 may be distributed, with the same torque, to each of the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530 through the gear assembly 430. When the same torque is provided to each gear rack, the magnitude of the extension force may be inversely proportional to a transmission distance of each gear rack. The transmission distance may be defined as a vertical distance, which is a separation distance in the vertical direction from the rotational axis of the contact gear 431 to a point at which the force is applied. The first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530 may be disposed to be spaced apart sequentially from the contact gear 431 in that order. That is, the first gear rack 510 may be positioned closest to the contact gear 431, and the third gear rack 530 may be positioned farthest from the contact gear 431. Accordingly, the magnitude of the extension force may decrease in the order of the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530. In this way, the plurality of gear racks included in the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may be extended forward along a straight path based on the received torque.

[0197] In a state in which the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530 are fully extended, the maximum extension distance that the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 can achieve may be described as follows.

[0198] A direction in which the plurality of gear racks are retracted or extended may be defined as a first direction. In a state in which the door open module 30 is mounted within the storage compartment 16, the first direction may be a direction in which the door 23 is retracted or extended, that is, the front-rear direction of the storage compartment 16. In addition, a direction intersecting the first direction may be defined as a second direction. For example, the second direction may be a direction orthogonal to the first direction. In a state in which the door open module 30 is mounted on the lower surface within the storage compartment 16, the second direction may be a left-right direction of the storage compartment 16. In addition, in a state in which the door open module 30 is mounted on the side surface within the storage compartment 16, the second direction may be a vertical direction of the storage compartment 16.

[0199] The plurality of gear racks may be retracted or extended in the first direction of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50, and the contact gear 431 may be disposed in the second direction. The contact gear 431 may be a driving force gear that directly meshes with the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 of the gear assembly 430 and transmits the driving force of the driving unit 440. Accordingly, the gear assembly 430 may also be disposed at one side of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 corresponding to the second direction. In addition, the driving unit 440, which engages with the gear assembly 430 and provides the driving force, may also be disposed at one side of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 corresponding to the second direction. This may be described with further reference to FIGS. 18 to 34.

[0200] Generally, the storage compartment 16 of the refrigerator 1 is typically designed so that a width in the front-rear direction is narrower than a width in the left-right direction. Accordingly, when the gear assembly 430 or the driving unit 440 that meshes with the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is disposed in the front-rear direction in which the gear racks of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 are retracted or extended, a space of the storage chamber 16 in the front-rear direction is occupied to that extent, thereby reducing an internal volume in the front-rear direction.

[0201] In addition, when the gear assembly 430 or the driving unit 440 that meshes with the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is disposed in the front-rear direction in which the gear racks of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 are retracted or extended, the length of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 in the front-rear direction is inevitably reduced by the amount corresponding to the space occupied by the gear assembly 430 or the driving unit 440. When the length of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 in the front-rear direction is shortened in this way, the lengths of the gear racks included in the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 in the front-rear direction also become shorter, which can ultimately lead to a reduction in the maximum extension distance.

[0202] In this way, in the door open module 30 according to the present invention, it is possible to minimize the length of the door open module in the front-rear direction by arranging the gear assembly 430, which transmits the driving force of the driving unit 440, at one side of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 corresponding to the second direction intersecting the first direction in which the plurality of gear racks are retracted or extended. Accordingly, by maximizing the lengths of the plurality of gear racks included in the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 in the front-rear direction, it is possible to secure a sufficient door extension distance even within the narrow storage compartment of the refrigerator.

[0203] For example, the gear assembly 430 may be positioned between the front and rear ends of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50. In addition, the driving unit 440 may also be positioned between the front and rear ends of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50. Accordingly, the length of the door open module 30 in the front-rear direction may substantially correspond to the length of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 in the front-rear direction. Accordingly, in the door open module 30 according to the present invention, it is possible to maximize the length of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 in the front-rear direction even within the narrow storage compartment of the refrigerator.

[0204] The door open module 30 according to the present invention may be of a unidirectional type in which the gear assembly 430 and the driving unit 440 are disposed at only one side of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50. Accordingly, the contact gear 431 of the gear assembly 430 that meshes with the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may also be disposed at only one side of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50. In the case of a bidirectional door open module in which the gear assembly 430 or the driving unit 440 are disposed at both sides of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50, the gear assembly 430 and the driving unit 440 occupy spaces at both sides in the left-right direction, which can increase the overall size of the door open module 30. In addition, the number of components increases, and a connection relationship between the gear assembly 430 and the driving unit 440 that transmit the driving force may become more complex.

[0205] Accordingly, in the door open module 30 according to the present invention, by arranging the gear assembly 430 and the driving unit 440 at one side of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50, it is possible to reduce the number of components and simplify the connection relationship for the driving force transmission mechanism. In addition, the door open module 30 according to the present invention may transmit the driving force of the driving unit 440 through the gear assembly 430 disposed at one side of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50, it is possible to simplify the driving force transmission mechanism and effectively convert the rated torque of the driving unit into a linear extension force of the gear rack, thereby increasing a door extension force.

[0206] Meanwhile, the contact gear 431 may be positioned in the central region of the door open module 30 in the front-rear direction. The term central region as used herein may be a center line of the door open module 30 in the front-rear direction, but is not limited thereto, and may include a portion up to a predetermined distance in the front-rear direction in addition to the center line. For example, the door open module 30 may be equally divided into a front region, a central region, and a rear region in the front-rear direction, and the central region may be a predetermined space region between the front region and the rear region. In addition, when the contact gear 431 is positioned in the central region in the front-rear direction of the door open module 30 it may mean that the rotational axis of the contact gear 431 coincides with the center line of the door open module 30, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and it may mean that at least a portion of the contact gear 431 overlaps the center line of the door open module 30 or is disposed to overlap the central region. The terms center line and central region, which will be described below, may be construed as having the same meaning. The contact gear 431 may be fixedly stored in the second case 420. Accordingly, the contact gear 431 may be positioned in the central region in the front-rear direction of the second case 420.

[0207] In addition, in a state in which the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is stored in the second case 420 before being extended forward, the contact gear 431 may be positioned in the central region in the front-rear direction of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50. For example, in a state in which the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is stored in the second case 420 before being extended forward, the contact gear 431 may be positioned to mesh with a front region of the first external tooth profile 511a. In addition, after the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is extended, the contact gear 431 may be positioned in a rear region of the first external tooth profile 511a. Accordingly, the final extension distance of the first gear rack 510 that is extended forward while meshing with the contact gear 431 may be about half the length of the first gear rack 510 in the front-rear direction or may be slightly shorter than half the length.

[0208] When the contact gear 431 is positioned in the front region of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 in the front-rear direction, the final extension distance of the first gear rack 510 that is extended forward while meshing with the contact gear 431 may approximately correspond to the total length of the first gear rack 510 in the front-rear direction. However, when the region corresponding to the entire length of the first gear rack 510 is extended outward from the second case 420, there will be almost no support region for supporting the first gear rack 510, which can weaken the strength of the first gear rack 510 or cause sagging. This can be an even greater problem when the door open module 30 is disposed on the side surface of the storage compartment 16.

[0209] In order to solve such a problem, when the contact gear 431 is positioned in the front region of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 in the front-rear direction, only a portion of the first gear rack 510 may be extended forward. In this case, a rear end portion of the first gear rack 510 remaining within the second case 420 may substantially reinforce the strength of the first gear rack 510 and prevent sagging of the first gear rack 510. However, in this case, the length of the rear end portion of the second gear rack 520, which does not mesh with the contact gear 431 and thus does not substantially contribute to the extension distance of the first gear rack 510, increases, which can be disadvantageous in terms of increased material costs and space utilization.

[0210] In addition, when the contact gear 431 is positioned in the rear region of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 in the front-rear direction, the strength reinforcement and sagging issues of the first gear rack 510 can be resolved, but there is a problem that the length of the first gear rack 510 extended forward becomes excessively short.

[0211] As described above, in the door open module 30 according to the present invention, by positioning the contact gear 431 of the gear assembly 430 that meshes with the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 in the central region of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 in the front-rear direction, the first gear rack 510 that meshes with the contact gear 431 may be partially extended. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize the length of the rear end portion of the first gear rack 510, which does not mesh with the contact gear 431 in a state in which the first gear rack 510 is fully extended and thus does not substantially contribute to the extension distance, thereby further simplifying the structure. In addition, since the remaining portions of the first gear rack 510 not extended to the outside can serve as supports that substantially reinforce the strength of the gear rack and prevent sagging of the gear rack, the strength of the gear rack can be reinforced and the sagging issue can be resolved compared to when the first gear rack is fully extended.

[0212] The first gear rack 510 may include the first pinion gear 512 that has one side meshed with the second tooth profile 521 of the second gear rack 520 and the other end meshed with the support gear rack tooth profile 501 of the support gear rack 500. The first pinion gear 512 may be positioned approximately in the central region of the first gear rack 510. However, in order to prevent interference with the contact gear 431 in a state in which the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is stored in the second case 420 before being extended forward, the first pinion gear 512 may be positioned in front of the contact gear 431 at a fixed distance. Accordingly, the first pinion gear 512 may be positioned slightly in front of the center line of the first gear rack 510.

[0213] In addition, the second gear rack 520 may include the second pinion gear 522 whose one and the other sides mesh with the first internal tooth profile 511b of the first gear rack 510 and the third tooth profile 531 of the third gear rack 530, respectively. The second pinion gear 522 may be positioned approximately in a central region of the second gear rack 520. However, in order to prevent interference with the contact gear 431 in a state in which the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is stored in the second case 420 before being extended forward, the second pinion gear 522 may be positioned in front of the contact gear 431 at a fixed distance. Accordingly, the second pinion gear 522 may be positioned slightly in front of a center line of the second gear rack 520.

[0214] The first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522 may each be provided as a single gear. Accordingly, the first pinion gear 512 may mesh with only one side surface of the second gear rack 520. To this end, the second tooth profile 521 that meshes with the first pinion gear 512 may be formed on only the one side surface of the second gear rack 520. In addition, the second pinion gear 522 may mesh with only one side surface of the first gear rack 510 and one side surface of the third gear rack 530. To this end, the first internal tooth profile 511b and the third internal tooth profile 531, which mesh with the second pinion gear 522, may be formed only on one side surface of the first gear rack 510 and one side surface of the third gear rack 530, respectively. Accordingly, the first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522 may be positioned to be biased to one side of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 adjacent to the contact gear 431.

[0215] In this way, in the door open module 30 according to the present invention, by arranging the pinion gears for extending the multi-stage rack-and-pinion assembly on one side surface of the gear rack meshed with the pinion gears, it is possible to effectively implement the telescopic multi-structure even with fewer components, thereby enhancing product reliability.

[0216] Meanwhile, when the plurality of gear racks of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 are extended in the first direction, the maximum extension distance may be described as follows. The maximum extension distance may increase in the order of the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530.

[0217] In a state in which the plurality of gear racks are fully extended, a distance between the rear end of the first gear rack 510 and the center of the contact gear 431 may be defined as a first distance A. In this case, in consideration of the thickness of the second case 420, the first distance A may be defined as a distance between the rear end of the second case 420 and the center of the contact gear 431. The first distance A may be a safety distance to prevent the contact gear 431 from disengaging.

[0218] In a state in which the plurality of gear racks are not extended, a distance between the center of the contact gear 431 and the center of the first pinion gear 512 may be defined as a second distance B. The second distance B may be a safety distance to prevent interference between the contact gear 431 and the first pinion gear 512.

[0219] In addition, in a state in which the plurality of gear racks are fully extended, a distance between the front end of the support gear rack 500 and the center of the first pinion gear 512 may be defined as a third distance C. In this case, in consideration of a distance between the front end of the support gear rack 500 and the front end of the second case 420, the first distance A may be defined as a distance between the front end of the second case 420 and the center of the contact gear 431. The third distance C may be a safety distance to prevent the first pinion gear 512 from disengaging.

[0220] The maximum movable distance of the first gear rack 510 may be defined as L. In this case, a maximum movable distance L of the first gear rack 510 may correspond to a length of the first external tooth profile 511a meshed with the contact gear 431 in the front-rear direction. Since the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530 are disposed to be meshed by the first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522, the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530 move simultaneously. Accordingly, the maximum movable distance L of the first gear rack 510 may be equal to a maximum movable distance of the second gear rack 520 and a maximum movable distance of the first pinion gear 512.

[0221] In consideration of the above descriptions, a length M of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 in the first direction may be defined as follows:

[00001]$M=A+B+C+2L$

[0222] That is, the length M of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 in the first direction may correspond to the sum of the first distance A, the second distance B, the third distance C, and a distance L2 that is twice the maximum movable distance L of the first gear rack.

[0223] When the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is driven and the plurality of gear racks are fully extended, the maximum movable distance L of the first gear rack 510 may be equal to a first extension distance S1 of the first gear rack 510. In addition, a second extension distance S2 of the second gear rack 520, which is extended farther than the front end of the first gear rack 510, may be equal to the first extension distance S1. In addition, a third extension distance S3 of the second gear rack 530, which is extended farther than the front end of the second gear rack 520, may be equal to the first extension distance S1. This may be defined as follows:

[00002]$\begin{array}{c}S1=S2=S3\\ S1+S2+S3=3L\end{array}$

[0224] For example, in the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 according to the present invention, it can be confirmed that the plurality of gear racks may be extended to a length corresponding to about 150% of the length of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 in the front-rear direction when the plurality of gear racks are fully extended.

[0225] As described above, in the door open module 30 according to the present invention, since the plurality of gear racks included in the multi-stage rack-and-pinion assembly 50 and retracted and extended in the front-rear direction may be sequentially extended, the maximum extension distance in a state in which the plurality of gear racks are fully extended may be larger than the length of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 in the front-rear direction in a state in which the gear racks are not extended.

[0226] Accordingly, in the door open module 30 according to the present invention, by including the multi-stage rack-and-pinion assembly including at least three gear racks that are sequentially retracted and extended in the front-rear directions, it is possible to secure a sufficient door extension distance even within the narrow storage compartment of the refrigerator.

[0227] A rack-and-pinion assembly according to another embodiment will be described with further reference to FIGS. 18 to 33. FIGS. 18 to 20 are plan views illustrating each gear rack of a rack-and-pinion assembly according to another embodiment mounted within a driving assembly in a non-extended state, a state in which first and second gear racks are fully extended, and a state in which a third gear rack is fully extended. In addition, FIGS. 23 to 25 are perspective views respectively illustrating gear racks of a rack-and-pinion assembly mounted within a driving assembly according to another embodiment in a state in which the gear racks are not extended, the first and second gear racks are fully extended, and the third gear rack is fully extended and for convenience of description, the gear assembly 430 is excluded from the drawings.

[0228] The second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 may be formed to have lengths in the front-rear direction different from the length of the first gear rack 510. For example, the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 may be formed to be smaller than the length of the first gear rack 510 in the front-rear direction. Accordingly, before the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is driven, the front ends of the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 may be positioned behind the front end of the first gear rack 510.

[0229] In the above embodiment, in a state in which the plurality of gear racks are fully extended, the rear end of the first gear rack 510 and the center of the contact gear 431 may substantially coincide. In this case, this description may be provided without considering any difference in distance resulting from the thickness of individual components or from assembly tolerances during the manufacturing process. Accordingly, in a state in which the plurality of gear racks are fully extended, the first distance A between the rear end of the first gear rack 510 and the center of the contact gear 431 may be ignored. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize the length of the rear end portion of the first gear rack 510, which does not mesh with the contact gear 431 in a state in which the first gear rack 510 is fully extended and thus does not substantially contribute to the extension distance, thereby further simplifying the structure.

[0230] In addition, in the above embodiment, in a state in which the plurality of gear racks are fully extended, the front end of the support gear rack 500 and the center of the first pinion gear 512 may substantially coincide. In this case, this description may be provided without considering any distance variations resulting from the thickness of individual components or from assembly tolerances during the manufacturing process. In addition, in a state in which the plurality of gear racks are fully extended, the third distance C between the front end of the support gear rack 500 and the center of the first pinion gear 512 may be ignored. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize the length of the rear end portion of the first gear rack 510, which does not mesh with the contact gear 431 in a state in which the first gear rack 510 is fully extended and thus does not substantially contribute to the extension distance, thereby further simplifying the structure.

[0231] That is, in a state in which the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is stored in the second case 420 before being extended forward, the first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522 may be disposed at the same position in the front-rear direction. That is, the first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522 may be disposed to overlap each other in the second direction. In this case, the first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522 may be disposed on different layers to avoid interference. For example, referring to FIG. 22, when the door open module 30 is disposed on the lower inner surface of the storage compartment 16, the first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522 may be disposed on different layers in the vertical direction of the storage compartment 16. In addition, when the door open module 30 is disposed on the side surface of the storage compartment 16, the first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522 may be disposed on different layers in the left-right direction of the storage compartment 16.

[0232] The third gear rack 530 may include an inlet 535 into which a portion of the second pinion gear 522 may be seated and disposed inward from the third gear rack 530. For example, in a state in which the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 are disposed, the inlet 535 that is inward inserted by a predetermined distance may be formed in a lower region of the third gear rack 530. The third tooth profile 531 may be formed on a surface of the inlet 535 facing the second pinion gear 522. The inlet 535 may be formed to overlap the protrusion 533 of the third gear rack 530 in the vertical direction. Accordingly, a portion of the second pinion gear 522 may be disposed to overlap the third gear rack 530 vertically at the inlet 535.

[0233] In addition, the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530, which are disposed within the first gear rack 510, may be formed to have different shapes. For example, the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 may be formed to have asymmetrical shapes in the left-right direction. Accordingly, the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 may be disposed to have various engaging structures while increasing mutual facing areas. Accordingly, in the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 according to the present invention, the plurality of gear racks may be engaged to have a more compact structure, thereby enhancing the space utilization of the storage compartment.

[0234] The first pinion gear 512 and second pinion gear 522 may be positioned in front of the contact gear 431. For example, referring to FIGS. 21, 26, and 27, the support gear rack tooth profile 501 meshed with the first pinion gear 512 may be positioned in front of the contact gear 431. That is, the support gear rack tooth profile 501 and the contact gear 431 may be disposed to overlap each other in the first direction and not to overlap each other in the second direction.

[0235] Accordingly, referring to FIGS. 22, 32, and 33, at least a portion of the contact gear 431 may be disposed on the same layer as the first pinion gear 512 and second pinion gear 522 in the vertical direction. That is, an upper region of the contact gear 431 may be disposed on the same layer as the first pinion gear 512 in the vertical direction, and a lower region of the contact gear 431 may be disposed on the same layer as the second pinion gear 522 in the vertical direction. In this way, since the first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522 are positioned in front of the contact gear 431, even when the thickness of the contact gear 431 in the vertical direction increases, interference with the first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522 does not need to be considered, and thus the thickness of the door open module 30 in the vertical direction can be reduced. That is, since the contact gear 431 having a predetermined thickness may be disposed between the upper and lower surfaces of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50, the thickness of the door open module 30 in the vertical direction does not increase, and the door open module 30 may be implemented as compact as possible.

[0236] As described above, since the lengths of the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 in the front-rear direction are formed to be smaller than the length of the first gear rack 510 in the front-rear direction, in a state in which the gear racks are fully extended, the second extension distance S2 of the second gear rack 520, which is extended farther than the front end of the first gear rack 510, may be shorter than the first extension distance S1. However, since the third gear rack 530 is reduced to the same length as the second gear rack 520, the third extension distance S3 of the third gear rack 530, which is extended farther than the front end of the second gear rack 520, may be equal to the first extension distance S1.

[0237] According to the rack-and-pinion assembly 50, since the first distance A and the third distance C can be eliminated or minimized, the length M of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 in the first direction can also be reduced, thereby improving the space utilization within the narrow storage compartment of the refrigerator.

[0238] Since the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530 are meshed, when the driving unit 440 is operated, the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530 may move simultaneously. In this case, in the case of the plurality of gear racks, since the lengths of at least some of the gear racks in the front-rear direction are set differently, the gear racks that actually contribute to opening the door 20 may differ during each stage of opening the door 20.

[0239] When the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 begins operating, the first gear rack 510 may first protrude beyond the front outer side of the second case 420. In this case, the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 may also be extended forward as the first gear rack 510 moves, but since the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 are shorter than the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 may take longer to protrude beyond the front outer side of the second case 420 than the first gear rack 510. Referring to FIG. 19, even after the first gear rack 510 is fully extended, the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 may be extended to protrude farther forward than the first gear rack 510. FIG. 19 illustrates the first gear rack 510 and the second gear rack 520 that are fully extended forward. Referring to FIG. 20, even after the second gear rack 520 is fully extended, the third gear rack 530 may be extended to protrude farther forward than the second gear rack 520.

[0240] A rack-and-pinion assembly according to still another embodiment will be described with further reference to FIGS. 34 to 38. FIGS. 34 to 36 are views illustrating each gear rack of a rack-and-pinion assembly according to still another embodiment mounted within a driving assembly in a non-extended state, a state in which first and second gear racks are fully extended, and a state in which a third gear rack is fully extended. The overlapping description with the above embodiments will be omitted, and differences will be mainly described.

[0241] The second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 may be formed to be smaller than the length of the first gear rack 510 in the front-rear direction. Accordingly, before the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is driven, the front ends of the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 may be positioned behind the front end of the first gear rack 510.

[0242] In a state in which the plurality of gear racks are fully extended, the rear end of the first gear rack 510 and the center of the contact gear 431 may substantially coincide. In this case, this description may be provided without considering any distance variations resulting from the thickness of individual components or from assembly tolerances during the manufacturing process. Accordingly, in a state in which the plurality of gear racks are fully extended, the first distance A between the rear end of the first gear rack 510 and the center of the contact gear 431 may be ignored. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize the length of the rear end portion of the first gear rack 510, which does not mesh with the contact gear 431 in a state in which the first gear rack 510 is fully extended and thus does not substantially contribute to the extension distance, thereby further simplifying the structure.

[0243] In addition, in the above embodiment, in a state in which the plurality of gear racks are fully extended, the front end of the support gear rack 500 and the center of the first pinion gear 512 may substantially coincide. In this case, this description may be provided without considering any distance variations resulting from the thickness of individual components or from assembly tolerances during the manufacturing process. In addition, in a state in which the plurality of gear racks are fully extended, the third distance C between the front end of the support gear rack 500 and the center of the first pinion gear 512 may be ignored. Accordingly, it is possible to minimize the length of the rear end portion of the first gear rack 510, which does not mesh with the contact gear 431 in a state in which the first gear rack 510 is fully extended and thus does not substantially contribute to the extension distance, thereby further simplifying the structure.

[0244] In a state in which the plurality of gear racks are not extended, the first pinion gear 512 and the second pinion gear 522 may be disposed to overlap the contact gear 431 in the second direction. For example, the centers of the first pinion gear 512, the second pinion gear 522, and the contact gear 431 may be positioned at the same position in the first direction. Accordingly, the second distance B, which is the distance between the center of the contact gear 431 and the center of the first pinion gear 512, can be eliminated.

[0245] For example, referring to FIG. 37, the rear region of the support gear rack tooth profile 501 meshed with the first pinion gear 512 may be disposed to overlap the contact gear 431 in the second direction. Accordingly, the contact gear 431 and the support gear tooth profile 501 may be disposed so that portions thereof overlap each other in the second direction without overlapping each other in the first direction. Referring to FIG. 38, the contact gear 431 may be disposed on a different layer from the first pinion gear 512. However, a portion of the contact gear 431 may be disposed on the same layer as the second pinion gear 522 in the vertical direction. For example, the upper region of the contact gear 431 may be disposed on the same layer as the second pinion gear 522, and the first pinion gear 512 may be disposed above the contact gear 431 and the second pinion gear 522.

[0246] As described above, since the lengths of the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 in the front-rear direction are formed to be smaller than the length of the first gear rack 510 in the front-rear direction, in a state in which the gear racks are fully extended, the second extension distance S2 of the second gear rack 520, which is extended farther than the front end of the first gear rack 510, may be shorter than the first extension distance S1. However, since the third gear rack 530 is reduced to the same length as the second gear rack 520, the third extension distance S3 of the third gear rack 530, which is extended farther than the front end of the second gear rack 520, may be equal to the first extension distance S1.

[0247] In the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 according to one embodiment, since the first distance A, the second distance B, and the third distance C can be eliminated or minimized, the length M of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 in the first direction can further be reduced, thereby enhancing the space utilization within the narrow storage compartment of the refrigerator.

[Operation of the Door Open Module and Retraction and Extension Operation of Door]

[0248] Hereinafter, the operation of the door open module 30 and the retraction and extension operation of the door 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with further reference to FIGS. 39 to 43.

[0249] FIG. 39 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the door 20 and the door open module 30 before the door open module 30 is driven. That is, FIG. 39 illustrates the door 20 being fully closed and the storage unit 220 being also fully stored in the storage compartment 16. In this case, the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is also in a pre-operation state, and the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 mounted on the driving assembly 40 also remain unextended forward. Accordingly, the first pressing part 215 of the door 20 and the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may remain spaced a predetermined distance from each other without making contact. In addition, the second pressing part 222 of the storage unit 220 and the pushing member 630 of the locking assembly 60 may also remain spaced a predetermined distance from each other without making contact. Since the locking assembly 60 has been fully moved rearward, the rear surface of the hook member 620 may remain in a state of being tilted backward while being in close contact with the rear surface of the storage compartment 16. Accordingly, the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 may remain disengaged from the hook catch member 221 of the storage unit 220. Accordingly, in a state in which the door 20 is fully closed and the storage unit 220 is fully stored in the storage compartment 16, the storage unit 220 of the door 20 and the door open module 30 remain disengaged.

[0250] In this way, in a state in which the storage unit 220 and the door open module 30 are disengaged, the user can easily retract or extend the door 20 using the manual open mode. That is, according to the present invention, in a state in which the storage unit 220 is retracted, the hook member 620 and the storage unit 220 may be automatically disengaged, and thus the user does not need to separately switch to the manual open mode. Accordingly, in the manual open mode, the door 20 may be moved in the front-rear direction along the rail assembly 70 by the user in a state in which the door open module 30 is not driven.

[0251] Accordingly, according to the present invention, by including the locking assembly 60 provided with the hook member 620, which engages with the storage unit 220 during the forward or rearward movement operation of the door 20 and disengaged from the storage unit 220 in the closed state of the door 20, the manual extension mode can be implemented quickly and easily without separate manipulation in the closed state of the door 20.

[0252] In addition, since switching between the automatic open mode and the manual open mode is smoothly performed, the user can easily and smoothly extend the door without a separate command to switch to the manual open mode, thereby maximizing the convenience of use.

[0253] In addition, according to the present invention, in the manual open mode, the door 20 may be retracted or extended by only the guide performed by the rail assembly 70 while not fastened state to the door open module 30. Accordingly, when the door 20 is manually retracted or extended, there is no need to forcibly or passively drive the door open module 30, and thus it is possible to solve the problem of a counter-electromotive force of the door open module 30 that may occur during the manual retraction and extension operation.

[0254] In addition, according to the present invention, in the manual open mode, the door 20 may be retracted or extended by only the guide performed by the rail assembly 70 while not fastened to the door open module 30, and thus it is possible to minimize the resistance or inconvenience felt by the user when retracting or extending the door 20, thereby improving the use experience of the user.

[0255] Before the operation of the door open module 30 begins, the storage unit 220 and the door open module 30 may remain in a non-contact state. That is, the door open module 30 does not support the load of the storage unit 220, and the load of the storage unit 220 may be supported by the rail assembly 70. For example, a pair of rail assemblies 70 disposed at both sides of the storage unit 220 may support lower surfaces of both edges of the storage unit 220. Accordingly, the plurality of gear racks and the plurality of pinion gears of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may not be in contact with the lower surface of the storage unit 220. The lower surface of the storage unit 220 and the upper surface of the door open module 30 may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined clearance space CS.

[0256] In this way, according to the present invention, the load of the storage unit 220 is not supported by the door open module 30, but rather, may be supported by the rail assemblies 70 disposed on the side surfaces of the door 20. Accordingly, the door open module 30 that provides a direct driving force can be prevented from being damaged by the load of the storage unit 220, and the door open module 30 can be operated stably regardless of the magnitude of the load of the storage unit 220.

[0257] FIGS. 40 and 41 are side cross-sectional views illustrating the door 20 and the door open module 30 in a state in which the door open module 30 is driven so that the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is in contact with the first pressing part 215 of the door 20. FIG. 40 illustrates the moment when the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is first in contact with the first pressing part 215 of the door 23, and FIG. 41 illustrates the state in which the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is in contact with the first pressing part 215 of the door 23 and is pressed by a predetermined distance.

[0258] When the user executes the automatic open mode, the door 20 may move in the front-rear direction along the rail assemblies 70 by driving the door open module 30. In order to execute the automatic open mode, the refrigerator 1 may have a separate button for implementing the automatic open mode, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the automatic open mode may be executed by various method, such as by a sensor such as a motion detection sensor or a sound detection sensor, by a voice command of the user, or by an input from a mobile device such as mobile phone or remote controller.

[0259] As the automatic open mode is executed, when the door open module 30 begins operating, the gear rack of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 starts extending forward due to the driving of the driving assembly 40. When the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 starts extending, the first gear rack 510 may be first extended outward. The extension distance of the first gear rack 510 is shorter than those of the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530, but an extension force thereof may be greater than those of the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530. Since a scaling pressure between the gasket part 213 of the door 20 and the cabinet 2 is high in the closed state of the door 20, a large initial force may be required to disengage the door 20 from the cabinet 2. Accordingly, by allowing the first gear rack 510 with the greatest extension force to push the first pressing part 215 of the door unit 210 positioned at the front of the door 20, it is possible to effectively overcome the sealing pressure between the gasket part 213 and the cabinet 2. In this case, pushing the rear surface of the door unit 210 positioned at the front of the door 20 can be more effective in effectively overcoming the scaling pressure between the gasket part 213 and the cabinet 2 than pushing the storage unit 220 positioned at the rear of the door 20.

[0260] In this way, according to the present invention, when the door open module 30 moves the door 20 forward in a state in which the door 20 is fully moved rearward, the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may push the rear surface of the door unit 210 to release the contact between the door unit 210 and the cabinet 2. In this case, since the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may allow the gear rack, which extends the shortest distance forward among the plurality of gear racks, to push the rear surface of the door unit 210, the gear rack with the greatest extension force may push the rear surface of the door unit 210, and thus it is possible to effectively overcome the door sealing pressure between the cabinet 2 and the gasket part 213 of the door 20 with the driving force of the door open module 30.

[0261] While the first gear rack 510 of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is pushing the rear surface of the door unit 210, the storage unit 220 and the door open module 30 may remain in a non-contact state. The pushing member 630 of the locking assembly 60 may be in a state before pushing the second pressing part 222 of the storage unit 220, and the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 may be in a state before being engaged with the hook catch member 221 of the storage unit 220. That is, the hook member 620 may still be in contact with the rear surface of the storage compartment 16. Referring to FIG. 20, the rack guide member 532 may also move forward by a predetermined distance in response to the driving of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50. The hook member 620 may be rotated in synchronization with the forward movement of the sliding rack 611. In addition, the sliding rack 611 may move forward when the rack guide member 532 stored within the sliding rack 611 start pushing the sliding rack 611 forward. In this case, since a predetermined clearance distance is present between a front end of the sliding rack 611 in which the rack guide member 532 is stored and the front end of the rack guide member 532, even when the rack guide member 532 moves forward, the hook member 620 may not be rotated until the front end of the sliding rack 611 is pushed forward.

[0262] Accordingly, FIG. 40 illustrates a state in which the first gear rack 510 of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is in contact with the first pressing part 215, but the rack guide member 532 has not yet pushed the sliding rack 611 forward. Accordingly, a state in which the hook member 620 and the catch portion 2212 are not fastened is illustrated. Meanwhile, FIG. 41 illustrates a state in which the first gear rack 510 of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is in contact with the first pressing part 215 and then pushes the first pressing part 215 forward by a predetermined distance. In this case, since the front end portion of the rack guide member 532 has already been in contact with the rear surface of the front end portion of the sliding rack 611, the forward movement of the sliding rack 611 may also be synchronized with the forward movement of the rack guide member 532. In this way, as the sliding rack 611 moves forward, the hook member 620 may also move forward. Accordingly, since the hook member 620 may be released from the contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16, the hook member 620 may rotate forward to be hook-coupled with the catch portion 2212.

[0263] As the locking assembly 60 moves forward, the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 may also move forward, thereby releasing the hook member 620 from contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16. In this way, when the contact between the hook member 620 and the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 is released, the hook member 620 may rotate forward along the rotational axis and may be hook-coupled with the hook catch member 221 disposed on the rear surface of the storage unit 220. That is, the storage unit 220 and the door open module 30 may remain engaged in a state in which the storage unit 220 is spaced a predetermined distance from the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16. In this way, the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 may be engaged with the storage unit 220 while the door 20 moves forward or rearward and disengaged from the storage unit 220 in a closed state of the door 20. During the forward and rearward movement of the door 20, the clearance space CS between the lower surface of the storage unit 220 and the upper surface of the door open module 30 may be continuously maintained.

[0264] FIG. 42 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating the door 20 and the door open module 30 in a state in which the door open module 30 is driven and the door 20 is fully opened. After the first gear rack 510 of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 pushes the first pressing part 215 of the door unit 210 to release the contact between the gasket part 213 of the door 20 and the cabinet 2, the contact between the first gear rack 510 and the first pressing part 215 is released, thereby increasing the clearance distance therebetween. Meanwhile, after the first gear rack 510 of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 pushes the first pressing part 215 positioned on the rear surface of the door unit 210, the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530 of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may be operated to be extended farther forward than the first gear rack 510.

[0265] Since the sliding rack 611 of the locking assembly 60 engages with the third gear rack 530, the pushing member 630 of the locking assembly 60 may be in contact with the second pressing part 222 positioned on the rear surface of the storage unit 220 to push the second pressing part 222 forward. That is, as the third gear rack 530 is extended, the locking assembly 60 also moves forward while pushing the rear surface of the storage unit 220. The hook member 620 hook-coupled to the catch portion 2212 may also move forward together with the movement of the storage unit 220. When the door 23 moves forward, the hook member 620 does not substantially contribute to the forward movement of the door 23, and thus the hook member 620 may move forward while being spaced a predetermined distance from the catch portion 2212.

[0266] FIG. 43 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating the door and the door open module in a state in which the door has moved rearward by a predetermined distance due to the door open module being driven to automatically close the door. In a state in which the door 20 is fully opened, the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 may remain fastened to the hook catch member 221 of the storage unit 220. In this case, when the door 20 is closed, the driving assembly 40 may be driven by changing a rotational direction of the motor so that the gear racks of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 are retracted. Accordingly, the locking assembly 60 constrained by the movement of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may move rearward. In this case, since the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 is fastened with the catch portion 2212 of the hook catch member 221 of the storage unit 220, the locking assembly 60 may pull the storage unit 220 rearward. Accordingly, the storage unit 220 may move into the storage compartment 16 while depending on the rearward movement of the locking assembly 60.

[0267] Accordingly, the door open module 30 may move the storage unit 220 forward by pushing the rear surface of the storage unit 220 and move the storage unit 220 rearward by pulling the rear surface of the storage unit 220. That is, the door open module 30 may push and pull the storage unit 220 while engaged with the storage unit 220.

[0268] In this way, according to the present invention, since the door open module 30 disposed on the lower inner surface of the storage compartment 16 may move the door 20 forward and rearward by pushing and pulling the door 20, the door 20 may be retraced or extended without the gear rack or pinion gear of the door open module 30 being directly fastened to the door 20.

[0269] In addition, according to the present invention, since the door open module 30 disposed on the lower inner surface of the storage compartment 16 may move the door 20 forward and rearward by pushing and pulling the door 20, the load of the door 20 is not directly applied to the door open module 30, thereby reducing the misalignment of the gear rack and pinion gear of the door open module 30 or the occurrence of clearance.

[0270] In addition, according to the present invention, since the door open module 30 disposed on the lower inner surface of the storage compartment 16 may move the door 20 forward and rearward by pushing and pulling the door 20, even when the door 20 and the door open module 30 is misaligned due to the tilting of the door 20, the door 20 can be stably retracted or extended without affecting the driving of the door open module 30.

[0271] In addition, according to the present invention, since the pushing member 630 of the door open module 30 may move the door 20 forward by pushing the rear surface of the storage unit 220 positioned at the rear of the door 20, the door open module 30 may move the door 20 forward only by pushing the rear surface of the storage unit 220 while being not directly fastened to the door 20.

[0272] In addition, according to the present invention, even when the storage unit 220 of the door 20 slightly tilts during the process of moving in the front-rear direction, such a phenomenon can be resolved by naturally aligning the storage unit 220 during the process of the door open module 30 pushing the storage unit 220.

[0273] One embodiment in which the door open module 30 is disposed on the lower inner surface of the storage compartment 16 has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and in other embodiments, the door open module 30 may be disposed on the side surface of the storage compartment 16. Hereinafter, another embodiment in which the door open module 30 is disposed on the side surface of the storage compartment 16 will be described with reference to FIGS. 44 to 47. Since the above descriptions of the door open module 30 may be applied to other embodiments, which will be described below, in the same manner, overlapping descriptions will be omitted.

[0274] FIG. 44 is a view illustrating a state before a door open module, a rail assembly, and a bracket member are extended according to another embodiment of the present specification, and FIG. 45 is a view illustrating a door open module, a rail assembly, and a bracket member in a fully extended state according to another embodiment of the present specification.

[0275] A pair of rail assemblies 70 may be disposed on both side surfaces of the storage compartment 16, respectively. The first rail assembly 71 may be fixed to the first side surface 162a of the storage compartment 16 by a separately provided storage compartment connecting member 18. One side of the storage compartment connecting member 18 may provide a seating space in which the first rail assembly 71 may be seated and may be fastened to the first rail assembly 71. The other side of the storage compartment connecting member 18 may be fastened to the first side surface 162a of the storage compartment 16. For example, the rail assembly seating part 18 that provides a seating space in which the first rail assembly 71 may be stored and seated may be formed on one side of the storage compartment connecting member 18. The rail assembly seating part 18 may be formed so that the storage compartment 16 is open in the inward and front directions. The storage compartment connecting member 18 may include an adjustment gear rack 182 forming a lower surface of the rail assembly seating part 18. The adjustment gear rack 182 may include an adjustment gear rack tooth profile 183 that is fixed to the rail assembly seating part 18 and formed to extend in the front-rear direction. The adjustment gear rack tooth profile 183 may be formed to face upward. The adjustment gear rack tooth profile 183 may be meshed with an adjustment pinion gear 85 of an adjustment unit 83.

[0276] In the same manner, the second rail assembly 72 may be fixed to the second side surface 162b of the storage compartment 16 by the separately provided storage compartment connecting member 18. In addition, the second rail assembly 72 may be disposed to face the first rail assembly 71, and the first and second rail assemblies 71 and 72 may be formed symmetrically.

[0277] A first bracket member 81 may be disposed in the first rail assembly 71, and a second bracket member 82 may be disposed in the second rail assembly 72. The first bracket member 81 may include a bracket body 810 that extends in one direction. A bracket bent portion 811 bent and extended downward may be formed at the front of the bracket body 810. A front extension 820 bent and extended downward from the bracket body 810 may be formed at the front of the bracket bent portion 811. Pressing parts 822 may be disposed on the front extension 820. Each pressing part 822 may be disposed at positions overlapping the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 mounted on the first driving assembly 41 and the second driving assembly 42, respectively, in the front-rear direction. When the gear rack of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is extended forward, a pressing member 532 positioned on the front end portion of the gear rack may be in contact with the pressing part 822 to press and push the pressing part 822 forward. The pressing part 822 may be fastened to one side of the front extension 820. The pressing part 822 may be disposed on the rear surface of the door unit 210. For example, the pressing part 822 may also be fastened to the rear surface of the door unit 210 while fastened to the bracket member 80. Alternatively, the pressing part 822 may be fastened to the rear surface of the door unit 210 without being fastened to the bracket member 80.

[0278] Since the pressing member 532, which engages with one of the plurality of gear racks of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50, pushes the rear surface of the door unit 210 positioned at the front of the door 20, the pressing member 532 may transmit a force to push the rear surface of the door unit 210 that is greater than a force to push other components positioned far from the door unit 210. In the same manner, the second bracket member 82 may be fastened to the second rail assembly 72. In addition, the second bracket member 82 may be disposed to face the first bracket member 81, and the first and second bracket members 81 and 82 may be formed symmetrically.

[0279] The bracket member 80 may include a bracket extension bar 840 extending in the left-right direction of the storage compartment 60 so that one side and the other side are engaged with the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82, respectively. The bracket extension bar 840 may be formed to be engaged with the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82 and may synchronize movements when the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82 move in the front-rear direction.

[0280] Meanwhile, the bracket member 80 may include an adjustment unit 83 extending in the left-right direction of the storage compartment 60 so that one side and the other side are engaged with the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82, respectively. The adjustment unit 83 may generally include an adjustment shaft 84 having the bar shape that extends in one direction, and a pair of adjustment pinion gears 85 formed on both ends of the adjustment shaft 84, respectively. The adjustment pinion gear 85 may be engaged with the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82 to be rotatable about a rotational axis extending in the left-right direction. Each adjustment pinion gear 85 may be disposed to be meshed with the adjustment gear rack tooth profile 183 formed on the adjustment gear rack 182 of the storage compartment connecting member 18 to allow the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82 to be moved in the front-rear direction along the adjustment gear rack 182 by the rack-and-pinion driving method. In this way, the movements of the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82 in the front-rear direction may be synchronized by the rack-and-pinion driving method using the adjustment unit 83.

[0281] One side and the other side of the locking assembly 60 may be engaged with the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52, respectively. The locking assembly 60 may include a locking assembly extension bar 610 that extends in the left-right direction of the storage compartment 16. A pair of sliding racks 611 fastened to the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 may be engaged with one side and the other side of the locking assembly extension bar 610, respectively. As the locking assembly 60 engages with the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 in this way, the locking assembly 60 may also move while depending on the movements of the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 in the front-rear direction.

[0282] One or more pushing members 630 that push and move the door 20 forward may be disposed on the locking assembly extension bar 610. As the pushing member 630 of the locking assembly 60 pushes the door 20 forward in this way, the storage unit 220 may also move forward while depending on the forward movement of the locking assembly 60. For example, the pushing member 630 may push a rear surface of the bracket extension bar 840 forward. As described above, since one side and the other side of the bracket extension bar 840 are engaged with the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82, respectively, when the pushing member 630 pushes the rear surface of the bracket extension bar 840 forward, the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82 are also pushed forward. Accordingly, the door 20 fixed to the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82 may move forward. Accordingly, even when the pushing member 630 does not directly push the door 20, the pushing member 630 may indirectly push the door 20 by pushing the rear surface of the bracket member 80.

[0283] In addition, the switchable hook member 620 may be disposed to engage with and disengage from the bracket member 80 and the locking assembly 60 on the locking assembly extension bar 610. For example, the hook member 620 may be engaged with and disengaged from the bracket extension bar 840 of the bracket member 80. In a state in which the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 engages with the bracket extension bar 840, the storage unit 220 supported by the bracket member 80 may also move while depending on not only the forward movement but also the rearward movement of the locking assembly 60. In addition, in a state in which the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 is disengaged from the bracket extension bar 840, the storage unit 220 can move freely regardless of the locking assembly 60 even in a state in which the locking assembly 60 is in a pre-operational state.

[0284] FIG. 46 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating the door and the door open module before the door open module is driven and an enlarged view of some regions according to another embodiment of the present specification, and FIG. 47 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating the door and the door open module in a state in which the door open module is driven to fully open the door and an enlarged view of some regions according to another embodiment of the present specification.

[0285] Hereinafter, the operation of the door open module 30 and the retraction and extension operation of the door 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with further reference to FIGS. 46 and 47.

[0286] FIG. 46 illustrates the door 20 being fully closed and the storage unit 220 being also fully stored in the storage compartment 16. Since the locking assembly 60 is fully moved rearward, as the rear surface of the hook member 620 is in close contact with a stopper 166 formed on the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16, the locking assembly 60 remains tilted rearward. Accordingly, the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 may remain in a disengaged state from the bracket extension bar 840. Accordingly, in a state in which the door 20 is fully closed and the storage unit 220 is fully stored in the storage compartment 16, the bracket extension bar 840 and the door open module 30 may remain in a disengaged state.

[0287] In this way, in a state in which the bracket extension bar 840 and the door open module 30 are disengaged, the user can easily retract or extend the door 20 in the manual open mode. That is, according to the present invention, in a state in which the storage unit 220 is retracted, the hook member 620 and the bracket extension bar 840 may be automatically disengaged, and thus the user does not need to separately switch to the manual open mode. Accordingly, in the manual open mode, the door 20 may be moved in the front-rear direction along the rail assemblies 70 by the user in a state in which the door open module 30 is not driven.

[0288] Accordingly, according to the present invention, by including the locking assembly 60 provided with the hook member 620 that engages with the bracket member 80 during the forward or rearward movement of the door 20 and disengages from the bracket member 80 in the closed state of the door 20, the manual extension mode can be implemented quickly and easily without a separate manipulation in the closed state of the door 20. In another embodiment, the hook member 620 may be hook-coupled with the rear surface of the storage unit 220 rather than the bracket member 80. Accordingly, the locking assembly 60 provided with the hook member 620 may be engaged with the storage unit 220 during the forward or rearward movement of the door 20 and disengaged from the storage unit 220 in the closed state of the door 20. In this case, since the storage unit 220 and the bracket member 80 may move together in a synchronized manner, the same movement mechanism in the front-rear direction can be obtained through the hook-coupling with the storage unit 220 or the bracket member 80.

[0289] Before the operation of the door open module 30 begins, the storage unit 220 and the door open module 30 may remain in a non-contact state. That is, the door open module 30 does not support the load of the storage unit 220, and the load of the storage unit 220 may be supported by the rail assembly 70. For example, a pair of rail assemblies 70 disposed at both sides of the storage unit 220 may support the lower surfaces of both edges of the storage unit 220. Accordingly, the bottom surface 164 of the storage compartment 16 may not be in contact with the lower surface of the storage unit 220. The lower surface of the storage unit 220 and the bottom surface 164 of the storage compartment 16 may be spaced apart from each other by the predetermined clearance space CS.

[0290] When the user executes the automatic open mode, the door 20 may move in the front-rear direction along the rail assemblies 70 by driving the door open module 30. In order to execute the automatic open mode, the refrigerator 1 may have a separate button for implementing the automatic open mode, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the automatic open mode may be executed by various methods, such as by a sensor such as a motion detection sensor or a sound detection sensor, by a voice command of the user, or by an input from a mobile device such as mobile phone or remote controller.

[0291] As the door open module 30 is driven and the locking assembly 60 moves forward, the pushing member 630 of the locking assembly 60 may come into contact with the rear surface of the bracket extension bar 840 to push the bracket extension bar 840 forward. As the locking assembly 60 moves forward, the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 may also move forward, thereby releasing the hook member 620 from contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16. In this way, when the contact between the hook member 620 and the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 is released, the hook member 620 may rotate forward along the rotational axis and may be fastened to the bracket extension bar 840 in a hook-coupling manner.

[0292] In the opened state of the door 20, the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 may remain fastened to the bracket extension bar 840. In this case, when the door 20 is closed, the driving assembly 40 may be driven by changing a rotational direction of the motor so that the gear racks of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 are retracted. Accordingly, the locking assembly 60 constrained by the movement of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may move rearward. In this case, since the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 is fastened to the bracket extension bar 840 of the bracket member 80, the locking assembly 60 may pull the bracket extension bar 840 rearward. Accordingly, the storage unit 220 engaged with the bracket member 80 may move into the storage compartment 16 while depending on the rearward movement of the locking assembly 60.

[0293] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to exemplary drawings, the present invention is not limited by the embodiments and drawings disclosed in the specification, and it is apparent that various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention. In addition, even when the operational effects according to the configuration of the present invention have not been explicitly described in the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it goes without saying that the effects predictable by the corresponding configuration should be recognized.