Refrigerator with height adjustable shelf

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a height adjustable shelf. The refrigerator according to the present invention comprises a shelf 200 with a pair of guide protrusions 210 formed on each of both side surfaces of the shelf; and a plurality of guide grooves 240 formed in each of both side surfaces of a refrigerator storage space at the same interval as the guide protrusions, wherein the guide protrusions are guided along the guide grooves, respectively. Each of the guide grooves 240 includes an upper end portion 242 in which the guide protrusion is seated and supported, a lower end portion 244 in which the guide protrusion is seated and supported, the lower end portion being in a lower position than the upper end portion, and a connecting portion 248 formed to connect the upper and lower end portions. The guide protrusions 210 are supported in any ones of the upper end portions 242 and the lower end portions 244, so that the height of the shelf 200 can be adjusted.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator capable of efficiently using a food storage space or facilitating putting and taking foods in and out of the refrigerator by providing a height adjustable shelf. [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0004] In general, a refrigerator is an electric home appliance capable of keeping foods in a frozen or refrigerated state by supplying a storage space in the refrigerator with cold air generated through phase change of refrigerant. Recently, the refrigerator tends to be enlarged according to a variety of life patterns and a consumers' trend. [0005] Further, in order to effectively use a storage space for storing foods, a plurality of shelves are installed in a refrigerator at regular intervals. For example, the shelves are supported on supports which are installed at the same heights on both side surfaces of the storage space in the ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016] Accordingly, the present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems in the prior art. An object of the present invention is to provide a shelf height adjuster capable of adjusting a height of a shelf smoothly even in a state where foods are put on the shelf by configuring the shelf to be smoothly moved upward and downward.

[0017] Another object of the present invention is to make it easy to take out foods stored in the rear of a shelf by dividing the shelf itself into front and rear halves and making it possible to adjust their heights.

Problems solved by technology

By supporting the shelves using desired supports out of a plurality of the supports for supporting the shelves, it is possible to change the installation positions of the shelves according to users' preference, but there is limitation of the position change.

However, although the above prior art so configured makes it possible to adjust the height of the shelf, there are the following problems.

In the above prior art, it is possible to lift the shelf without separating the shelf from the refrigerator, but it is impossible to lower the shelf.

That is, since the shelf must be mounted again after it is completely separated from the refrigerator in order to lower the shelf, it is very cumbersome.

Further, even in the above prior art, in a case where a plenty of foods are stored on the whole of the shelf, like a fixed shelf, it is not easy to take out the foods stored in the rear of the shelf.

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