WO2009014365A2

WO2009014365A2 - Ice making device and refrigerator therewith

Info

Publication number: WO2009014365A2
Application number: PCT/KR2008/004273
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tae Hee Lee; Hong Hee Park; Joon Hwan Oh; Young Jin Kim
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2007-07-24
Filing date: 2008-07-22
Publication date: 2009-01-29
Anticipated expiration: 2010-01-24
Also published as: KR101351039B1; KR20090010713A; WO2009014365A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to an ice making device and a refrigerator therewith, more particularly, to an ice making device and a refrigerator therewith which enables to secure product reliability and convenience of use of a new type of ice making device.

Description

Description ICE MAKING DEVICE AND REFRIGERATOR THEREWITH

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an ice making device and a refrigerator therewith, more particularly, to an ice making device and a refrigerator therewith which enables to secure product reliability and convenience of use of a new type of ice making device.

Background Art [2] In general, starting from the refrigerators, water purifiers, automatic vending machines, and ice makers use ice making devices each of which produces ice by cooling water filled in a container below a freezing point.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[3] The ice making device itself or the ice making device is applied to the refrigerators or so on, it is required that the ice making device has, not only an adequate ice making performance, but also a product reliability that can satisfy user's expectations.

[4] For an example, if the ice making device has a cover for protecting an ice making tray, it is required that the cover is not fallen off by an external impact easily, and if the cover is designed to be closed or opened easily, it is required that operation of the closure or opening is reliable, and the operation is convenient for user. If the ice making device requires a safety device, it is preferable that the safety device is applicable to the ice making device easily, and operation of the safety device is reliable.

[5] Accordingly, development of an ice making device that can satisfy above requirements is necessary. Technical Solution

[6] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an ice making device and a refrigerator therewith.

[7] An object of the present invention is to provide an ice making device and a refrigerator therewith which enables to secure product reliability and convenience of use of a new type of ice making device.

[8] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. [9] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, an ice making device includes a case having an inside space and an opening, an ice making container in the case for having water supplied thereto and forming ice, an opening/closing member for opening/closing the opening in the case, at least one locking slot provided to one of one side of the case and one side of the opening/closing member, and an operation member provided to the other one of one side of the case and one side of the opening/ closing member for locking at the locking slot or release from the locking at the locking slot.

[10] The operation member includes a slide member slidably mounted thereto, and at least one latch on one side of the slide member for locking at the locking slot.

[11] The operation member further includes an operation lever on the other side of the slide member for making the slide member to slide to make the latch to release the locking.

[12] The ice making device further includes a rotation shaft rotatably mounted to one side of the opening/closing member, and a rotation lever on one side of the rotation shaft such that the rotation lever is rotated by the rotation shaft to make the operation member to be operated.

[13] The ice making device further includes a handle for rotating the rotation shaft.

[14] The operation member includes a slide member slidable by the rotation lever, at least one latch on one side of the slide member for locking at the locking slot, and moving means on the other side of the slide member for converting a rotating motion of the rotation lever into a linear motion of the slide member.

[15] The moving means includes a projected portion projected to a predetermined thickness, and a sloped surface at the projected portion so as to be able to contact with the rotation lever for making the slide member to slide at the time the rotation lever rotates.

[16] The moving means includes a projected step projected from the other side of the slide member, and a cam rotatable with rotation of the rotation lever for pushing the projected step to make the slide member to slide.

[17] The operation member includes a swing member rotatable by the rotation lever, at least one latch on one side of the swing member for locking at the locking slot, and a rotation portion on the other side of the swing member so as to be rotatable by the rotation lever to make the latch to swing.

[18] The operation member further includes a rotation center of the rotation portion, and a rotation supporting portion for supporting rotation of the rotation portion.

[19] The ice making device further includes an elastic member for providing elastic force to the operation of the operation member. [20] The ice making device further includes a guide member for guiding the slide of the slide member.

[21] The ice making device further includes a guide member for guiding the swing of the latch.

[22] The ice making device further includes at least one sliding guide provided to one of the operation member and the guide member, and at least one guide slot provided to the other one of the operation member and the guide member for guiding the sliding guide.

[23] The ice making device further includes at least one guide slot in the guide member for guiding the swing of the latch.

[24] The latch includes a hooking portion projected upward or downward so that the hooking portion can hook the locking slot, and a supporting portion extended from the slide member to a predetermined length for supporting the hooking portion.

[25] The latch includes a hooking portion projected upward or downward so that the hooking portion can hook the locking slot, and a supporting portion extended from the swing member to a predetermined length for supporting the hooking portion.

[26] The locking slot includes a recessed portion recessed inwardly, and a hole in an inner side of the recessed portion for holding the hooking portion.

[27] The ice making device further includes a sloped portion with a slope at an upper or lower surface of the recessed portion for making the hooking portion of the opening/ closing member to slide thereon and placed in and held at the hole when the opening/ closing member is closed.

[28] The ice making device further includes at least one safety switch in the locking slot for being turned on/off by the latch in response to opening/closing operation of the opening/closing member.

[29] In another aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator includes a body having a freezing chamber, a door for opening/closing the freezing chamber, and an ice making device mounted to the freezing chamber or the door including a case having an inside space and an opening, an ice making container in the case for having water supplied thereto and forming ice, an opening/closing member for opening/closing the opening in the case, at least one locking slot provided to one of one side of the case and one side of the opening/closing member, and an operation member provided to the other one of one side of the case and one side of the opening/closing member for locking at the locking slot or release from the locking at the locking slot.

[30] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. Advantageous Effects

[31] As has been described, the ice making device and a refrigerator therewith of the present invention has advantages in that product reliability and user's convenience on the new type of ice making device can be secured.

Brief Description of the Drawings [32] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings: [33] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[34] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an ice making device mounted to the refrigerator in FIG. 1. [35] FIGS. 3 to 5 are side views of an ice making devices in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating operations of the ice making device. [36] FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating an ice making device in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. [37] FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of an ice making devices in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating operations of the ice making device. [38] FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective views of an ice making devices in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating operations of the ice making device. [39] FIGS. 11 and 12 are perspective views of an ice making devices in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating operations of the ice making device.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [40] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. [41] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [42] Referring to FIG. 1, the refrigerator includes a body 10, a cooling chamber 11 in the body 10, and a door 20 for opening and closing the cooling chamber 11. [43] The refrigerator also includes an ice making device 1 mounted on an inside surface of the door 20. [44] Though FIG. 1 illustrates a case the ice making device 1 is mounted to an opening/ closing member 20 as one embodiment, the ice making device 1 is not required to mount to the opening/closing member 20 necessarily, but may be mounted to an inside of the cooling chamber 11.

[45] Ice making devices in accordance with embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 12.

[46] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an ice making device mounted to the refrigerator in FIG. 1.

[47] Referring to FIG. 2, the ice making device 1 includes a case 100 having an inside space with a front opening, an ice making container 110 mounted in the space, and an opening/closing member 200 for opening/closing the opening in the case 100.

[48] The ice making container 110 has cavities of a predetermined size for filling water therein to be cooled with cold air from the cooling chamber.

[49] The ice formed in the ice making container 100 is transferred to a pail 120 of a predetermined size under the ice making container 100, and the ice gathered in the pail 120 may be supplied to a dispenser (not shown) or scooped by the user.

[50] The ice making device also has a locking device for locking the opening/closing member 200 to the case 100. The locking device locks the opening/closing member 200 to the case 100 to close the opening, or release the locking device to open the opening.

[51] The locking device will be described in more detail.

[52] FIGS. 3 to 5 are side views of an ice making devices in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating operations of the ice making device.

[53] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the locking device for the ice making device of the present invention includes an operation member 300 and a locking slot 400.

[54] Though the locking device in FIGS. 3 to 5 shows the operation member 300 mounted to the opening/closing member 200, and the locking slot 400 formed in the case 100, the operation member 300 may be mounted to the case 100, and the locking slot 400 may be formed in the opening/closing member 200.

[55] The operation member 300 may be placed in or removed from the locking slot 400 through predetermined actions, for opening/closing member 200 to open/close the opening in the case 100.

[56] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the operation member 300 includes a slide member 310 slidably mounted to one side of the opening/closing member 200 for moving up/down direction, and a latch 320 at one side of the slide member 310.

[57] The slide member 310 slides in the up/down direction guided by a guide member

500, and the latch 320 projected from the one side of the slide member 310 toward the locking slot 400 for being placed in the locking slot 400 to make the locking. [58] The latch 320 works as the slide member 310 slides. In more detail, if the slide member 310 moves upward, the latch 320 moves upward together with the slide member 310 so as to be in a state in which the latch 320 can be placed in the locking slot 400, freely.

[59] If the slide member 310 moves downward, the latch 320 also moves downward together with the slide member 310 so as to be in a state in which the latch 320 is held at a lower end of the locking slot 400, thereby making the locking. In this instance, if the slice member 310 moves upward again together with the latch 320, the locking is released.

[60] In the meantime, the operation member 300 also includes an operation lever 330 for sliding the slide member in the up/down direction. The opening/closing member 200 has a handle 210.

[61] Therefore, by holding the handle 210 and operating the operation lever 330, the user can make the slide member 310 to slide such that the latch 320 is locked in the locking slot 400.

[62] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the guide member 500 has a guide slot

510, the slide member 310 has a sliding guide 311, and the ice making device is mounted in a state the sliding guide 311 is placed in the guide slot 510.

[63] If the slide member 310 slides, the sliding guide 311 moves up/down along the guide slot 510. As the sliding guide 311 moves along the guide slot 510, the sliding guide 311 guides the slide member 310 to slide in the up/down direction.

[64] In the meantime, the slide member 310 has a hook 312, the opening/closing member

200 has a holding member 215 at one side, and an elastic member 350 is mounted with opposite ends thereof fixed to the hook 312 and the holding member 215, respectively.

[65] The elastic member 350 provides a restoring force for restoring the slide member 310 to an original position when the slide member 310 is moved.

[66] In the meantime, the latch 320 includes a supporting portion 321 extended from one side of the slide member 310, and a hooking portion 322 which is an end portion with a downward projection for being held at the lower end of the locking slot 400.

[67] It is preferable that the hooking portion 322 has a portion to be brought into contact with the locking slot 400 formed vertical substantially, so that vertical surfaces of the locking slot 400 and the hooking portion 322 are in close contact to each other when the hooking portion 322 is held at the lower end of the locking slot 400 at the time the opening/closing member 200 closes the opening in the case 100.

[68] It is preferable that the supporting portion 321 has a length formed appropriately such that the supporting portion does not move when the opening/closing member 200 closes the opening of the case 100.

[69] The locking slot 400 has a hole 410 so that the latch 320 is placed therein/moved away therefrom, the hole 410 is formed in a front of the case 100. [70] The hole 410 is formed in an inner surface of a recess portion 420 recessed in the front of the case 100. The recess portion 420 has a sloped portion 421 sloped at a predetermined angle at a lower end thereof. [71] The sloped portion 421 permits a low edge portion of the hooking portion 322 of the latch 320 to rise riding on the sloped surface and be placed in the hole 410, easily. [72] In the meantime, the locking slot 400 has a safety device therein, operated by the latch 320 following opening and closing of the opening/closing member 200 and required for a new concept ice making device. [73] That is, in a process for transferring the ice, though, in the related art, the ice making container is twisted, an underside of the ice making container is heated, or the ice is scooped from a container with an ejector, in the new concept ice making device, a surface of the ice making container is made conductive electrically, so that the ice is transferred as the ice making container generates heat momentarily with a current flowing therethrough momentarily. [74] Because the new concept ice making device is electrically conductive, the user is vulnerable to an electric shock. The safety device is for protecting the user from such an electric shock. [75] The safety device in FIGS. 3 to 5 is a power source cutoff device which can cutoff the power connected to the ice making container, and includes a first switch 610 and a second switch 620. [76] When the opening/closing member 102 closes the opening of the case 101, the latch

320 presses down the first switch 610 and the second switch 620, to make the current to flow to the ice making container 110. [77] The first switch 610 and the second switch 620 is mounted perpendicular to each other substantially, with the first switch 610 in close contact with an end of the hooking portion 322 of the latch 320, and the second switch 620 in close contact with a lower end of the hooking portion 322 of the latch 320. [78] A pressing down portion 630 is rotatably mounted for supplementing a pressing down action of the latch 320 on the first switch 610. [79] If the user opens the opening/closing member 200, the first switch 610 and the second switch 620 are released from the pressing down in the process the latch 320 is moved away from the locking slot 400, to cut off the current to the ice making container 110. [80] The operation of the ice making device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. [81] A locking process will be described.

[82] Referring to FIG. 5, in a state the opening/closing member 200 opens the opening in the case 100, the user holds the handle 210 and pushes the opening/closing member

200 to put the opening/closing member 200 in close contact with the opening in the case 100. [83] In this instance, if the user pushes up the operation lever 330 and puts the opening/ closing member 200 in close contact with the opening in the case 100, the slide member 310 slides up to lift the latch 320. [84] In this state, if the opening/closing member 200 is in close contact with the opening, the latch 320 is placed in the hole 410 in the locking slot 400 to become a state shown in FIG. 4. [85] Then, if the user releases the user's hold on the operation lever 330, the slide member

310 slides down again together with the latch 320 by the restoring force of the elastic member 350. In this instance, the hooking portion 322 is held at the lower end of the hole 410 in the locking slot 400, to make the locking. [86] If the user closes the opening/closing member 200 without lifting the operation lever

330, the end portion of the hooking portion 322 of the latch 320 moves along the sloped portion 421 of the locking slot 400, when the slide member 310 also slides upward, automatically. [87] If the hooking portion 322 is placed in the hole 410, the hooking portion 322 is held at the lower end of the hole 410 by the restoring force of the elastic member 350, to make the locking. [88] In the meantime, in a case the locking is released, the user lifts the operation lever

330 upward in a locked state shown in FIG. 3. [89] Then, the slide member 310 slides up together with the latch 320, such that the hooking portion 322 of the latch 320 is released from the hole 410, to become a state as shown in FIG. 4, and by pulling the handle 210 to open the opening/closing member

200 to open the opening as shown in FIG. 5, to release the locking. [90] Since the operation of the safety device at the time of the locking and release of the locking has been described already, detailed description of the operation will be omitted. [91] The ice making device having a locking device in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6. [92] The ice making device in FIG. 6 is identical to the ice making device shown in FIGS.

3 to 5 in view of elements thereof. [93] That is, the ice making device includes the operation member 300 and the locking slot 400, the operation member 300 includes the slide member 310 and the latch 320, and the locking slot 400 includes the hole 410, the recess portion 420, and the sloped portion 421. [94] The ice making device further includes a guide member 500 for guiding slide of the slide member 310, and an operation lever 330 for making the slide member 310 to slide.

[95] The guide member 500 has a guide slot 510 for guiding slide of the sliding guide 311 on the slide member 310 placed therein.

[96] The slide member 310 has a hook 312, the opening/closing member 200 has a holding member 215, and an elastic member 350 is mounted with opposite ends thereof fixed to the hook 312 and the holding member 215 respectively, for providing a restoring force for the sliding movement of the slide member 310.

[97] In the meantime, the latch 320 in the FIG. 6 has a hooking portion 322 facing upward which is a direction opposite to the hooking portion in FIGS. 3 to 5. Accordingly, a direction of operation at the time of locking and releasing is opposite to the embodiment in FIGS. 3 to 5.

[98] That is, in the embodiment in FIG. 6, the latch 320 includes the supporting portion

321 and the hooking portion 322, wherein the hooking portion 322 is projected upward so that the hooking portion 322 is held at an upper end of the locking slot 400.

[99] The sloped portion 421 of the locking slot 400 is formed at an upper portion of the recess portion 420. Therefore, the hooking portion 322 of the latch 320 moves down along the sloped portion 421, and the slide member 310 slide downward.

[100] If the hooking portion 322 is placed in the hole 410, the portion projected upward from the hooking portion 322 is held at the upper end of the hole 410, to make the locking.

[101] It is preferable that the locking portion 322 has a portion to be brought into contact with the locking slot 400 formed vertical substantially, so that vertical surfaces of the locking slot 400 and the hooking portion 322 are in close contact to each other when the hooking portion 322 is held at the lower end of the locking slot 400 at the time the opening/closing member 200 closes the opening in the case 100.

[102] It is preferable that the supporting portion has a length formed appropriately such that the supporting member 321 does not move when the opening/closing member 200 closes the opening in the case 100.

[103] In the meantime, the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 also has a safety device in the locking slot 400, which is identical to the safety device in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 substantially, a detailed description of the safety device will be omitted.

[104] The operation of the ice making device of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is opposite to a case of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 to 5.

[105] That is, at the time of locking, the user pulls down the operation lever 330 to make the slide member 310 to slide down together with the latch 320 such that the hooking portion 322 is placed in the hole 410.

[106] If the user releases user s hold on the operation lever 330, the slide member 310 slides up together with the latch 320 by the restoring force of the elastic member 350 such that the hooking portion 322 is held at the upper end of the hole 410, to make the locking. [107] By the way, it is made that even if the operation lever 330 is not pulled down, the hooking portion 322 can move down along the sloped portion 421 to make the slide member 310 to slide down and be placed in the hole 410, automatically. [108] If it is intended to release the locking, the user pulls the operation level 330 down such that the hooking portion 322 is released from the upper end of the hole 410, and then, pulls the opening/closing member 200 forward for the hooking portion 322 to be moved away from the hole 410, to release the locking. [109] FIGS. 7 and 8 are perspective views of an ice making devices in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating operations of the ice making device. [110] Another ice making device of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. [I l l] The operation member of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 has a system different from the operation members shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 and 6. [112] Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the operation member has a handle 210 connected to a rotation shaft 212 such that the handle is rotatable. That is, by rotating the handle 210, the rotation shaft 212 can be rotated. The rotation shaft 212 has a rotation lever 214. [113] A reference numeral 213 denotes a bearing for supporting rotation of the rotation shaft 212. A reference numeral 211 denotes is a seating recess for seating the handle

210 therein. [114] In the meantime, referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, the operation member 300 includes a slide member 310, a latch 320 and moving means. [115] The slide member 310 is slidable guided by a guide member 500, wherein the slide member 310 has a sliding guide 311, and the guide member 500 has a guide slot 510 such that the sliding guide 311 is placed in and slide along the guide slot 510. [116] Because the latch 320 is identical to the one shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 substantially, detailed description of the latch 320 will be omitted. [117] The moving means is mounted to the slide member 310 and operated by the rotation lever 214 to make the slide member 310 to slide. As one example of the moving means, FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a projected portion 341. [118] The projected portion 341 is projected from one side of the slide member 310 by a predetermined thickness, with a sloped surface at a lower end, to which the rotation lever 214 is adjacent or in contact. [119] If the rotation lever 214 rotates in a direction of a solid line arrow shown in FIG. 7, pressing the sloped surface 341a of the projected portion 341, the slide member 310 slides in a direction of a dashed line arrow. [120] Together with the sliding of the slide member 310, the latch 320 also moves either to lock or release the locking. Since detailed description of the locking and release of the locking is identical to FIGS. 3 to 5, the description will be omitted. [121] The operation of the ice making device of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 will be described. [122] If the user holds and pulls the handle 210, the handle 210 rotates, and the rotation shaft 212 rotates the rotation lever 214 as the rotation shaft 212 rotates. [123] The rotation lever 214 becomes to press the sloped surface 341a of the projection

341, to make the slide member 310 to slide together with the latch 320. That is, a state in FIG. 7 becomes a state in FIG. 8. [124] If the user releases user s hold on the handle 210, the slide member 310 slides to an original position again to rotate the rotation lever 214 to an original position too by the restoring force of the elastic member 350, rotating the rotation shaft 212 in an opposite direction to restore the handle 210 to an original position. That is, a state shown in

FIG.8 becomes a state shown in FIG. 7. [125] FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective views of an ice making devices in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating operations of the ice making device. [126] An ice making device in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. [127] Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the operation member 300 includes a slide member 310, a latch 320, and moving means. [128] The slide member 310 is slidable guided by a guide member 500, wherein the slide member 310 has a sliding guide 311, and the guide member 500 has a guide slot 510 such that the sliding guide 311 is placed in and slide along the guide slot 510. [129] Because the latch 320 is identical to the one shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 substantially, detailed description of the latch 320 will be omitted. [130] The moving means is mounted to the slide member 310 and operated by the rotation lever 214 to make the slide member 310 to slide. As another example of the moving means, FIGS. 9 and 10 illustrate a projected step 342 and a cam 343.

[131] The projected step 342 is projected from one side of the slide member 310 to a predetermined thickness, with the cam 343 rotatably mounted to an underside. The cam 343 has one projected side, and the rotation lever 214 is adjacent or in contact to the one projected side. [132] If the rotation lever 214 rotates in a direction of a solid line arrow shown in FIG. 9, the cam 343 rotates to push out the projected step 342, when the projected step 342 being pushed out thus makes the slide member 310 to slide. [133] Together with the sliding of the slide member 310, the latch 320 also moves either to lock or release the locking. Since detailed description of the locking and release of the locking is identical to FIGS. 3 to 5, the description will be omitted. [134] The operation of the ice making device of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 will be described. [135] If the user holds and pulls the handle 210, the handle 210 rotates, and the rotation shaft 212 rotates the rotation lever 214 as the rotation shaft 212 rotates. [136] The rotation lever 214 presses the projected portion on one side of the cam 343 to make the cam 343 to rotate, the cam 343 rotated thus pushes out the projected step 342 to make the slide member 310 to slide together with the latch 320. That is, a state in

FIG. 9 becomes a state in FIG. 10. [137] If the user releases user s hold on the handle 210, the slide member 310 slides to an original position again to rotate the rotation lever 214 to an original position too by the restoring force of the elastic member 350, rotating the rotation shaft 212 in an opposite direction to restore the handle 210 to an original position. That is, a state shown in

FIG.10 becomes a state shown in FIG. 9. [138] FIGS. 11 and 12 are perspective views of an ice making devices in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating operations of the ice making device. [139] The ice making devices in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described, with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. [140] Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the operation member 300 includes a swing member

360, a latch 320, and a rotation portion 346. [141] The swing member 360 is rotated by the rotation portion 346 for swinging the latch

320. In this instance, the latch 320 swings guided by a guide slot 510 in a guide member 500. [142] Because the latch 320 is identical to the latch shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 substantially, detailed description of the latch 320 will be omitted. [143] The rotation portion 346 at one side of the swing member 360 is operated by the rotation lever 214 to make the swing member 360 to swing, wherein the rotation portion 346 has one side adjacent or in contact to the rotation lever 214, and the other side forming a rotation center 345 which is a center of rotation of the rotation portion

346.

[144] The rotation center 345 is rotatably supported on a rotation supporting portion 344. [145] If the rotation lever 214 rotates in a solid line arrow direction shown in FIG. 11, the rotation portion 346 rotates around the rotation center 345 such that the latch 320 swings in a dashed line arrow. [146] The swing member 360 has a hook at one side and the opening/closing member 200 has a holding portion 215 at one side for holding opposite ends of an elastic member 350 so that the elastic member 350 provides an elastic force to the operation of the swing member 360.

[147] Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, though the swing member 360, the latch 320, the rotation portion 346, the rotation center 345, the rotation supporting portion 344, and the elastic member 350 may be mounted in symmetry with respect to the handle 210 substantially, they may be mounted only one side.

[148] The operation of the ice making device will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.

[149] If the user holds and pulls the handle 210, the handle 210 rotates together with the rotation shaft 212, and the rotation shaft 212 rotates the rotation lever 214.

[150] The rotation lever 214 rotated thus rotates the rotation portion 346, and the rotation portion 356 swings the swing member 360 while the rotation portion rotates around the rotation center 345, to make the latch 320 to swing. That is, a state in FIG. 11 becomes a state in FIG. 12.

[151] If the user releases user s hold on the handle 210, the swing member 360 swings to an original position again to rotate the rotation lever 214 to an original position too by the restoring force of the elastic member 350, rotating the rotation shaft 212 in an opposite direction to restore the handle 210 to an original position. That is, a state shown in FIG.12 becomes a state shown in FIG. 11.

[152] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

[1] An ice making device comprising; a case having an inside space and an opening; an ice making container in the case for having water supplied thereto and forming ice; an opening/closing member for opening/closing the opening in the case; at least one locking slot provided to one of one side of the case and one side of the opening/closing member; and an operation member provided to the other one of one side of the case and one side of the opening/closing member for locking at the locking slot or release from the locking at the locking slot.

[2] The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operation member includes; a slide member slidably mounted thereto, and at least one latch on one side of the slide member for locking at the locking slot.

[3] The device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the operation member further includes; an operation lever on the other side of the slide member for making the slide member to slide to make the latch to release the locking.

[4] The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a rotation shaft rotatably mounted to one side of the opening/closing member, and a rotation lever on one side of the rotation shaft such that the rotation lever is rotated by the rotation shaft to make the operation member to be operated.

[5] The device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a handle for rotating the rotation shaft.

[6] The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the operation member includes; a slide member slidable by the rotation lever, at least one latch on one side of the slide member for locking at the locking slot, and moving means on the other side of the slide member for converting a rotating motion of the rotation lever into a linear motion of the slide member.

[7] The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the moving means includes; a projected portion projected to a predetermined thickness, and a sloped surface at the projected portion so as to be able to contact with the rotation lever for making the slide member to slide at the time the rotation lever rotates.

[8] The device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the moving means includes; a projected step projected from the other side of the slide member, and a cam rotatable with rotation of the rotation lever for pushing the projected step to make the slide member to slide.

[9] The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the operation member includes; a swing member rotatable by the rotation lever, at least one latch on one side of the swing member for locking at the locking slot, and a rotation portion on the other side of the swing member so as to be rotatable by the rotation lever to make the latch to swing.

[10] The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the operation member further includes; a rotation center of the rotation portion, and a rotation supporting portion for supporting rotation of the rotation portion.

[11] The device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an elastic member for providing elastic force to the operation of the operation member.

[12] The device as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a guide member for guiding the slide of the slide member.

[13] The device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a guide member for guiding the swing of the latch.

[14] The device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: at least one sliding guide provided to one of the operation member and the guide member, and at least one guide slot provided to the other one of the operation member and the guide member for guiding the sliding guide.

[15] The device as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: at least one guide slot in the guide member for guiding the swing of the latch.

[16] The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the latch includes; a hooking portion projected upward or downward so that the hooking portion can hook the locking slot, and a supporting portion extended from the slide member to a predetermined length for supporting the hooking portion.

[17] The device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the latch includes; a hooking portion projected upward or downward so that the hooking portion can hook the locking slot, and a supporting portion extended from the swing member to a predetermined length for supporting the hooking portion.

[18] The device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the locking slot includes; a recessed portion recessed inwardly, and a hole in an inner side of the recessed portion for holding the hooking portion.

[19] The device as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a sloped portion with a slope at an upper or lower surface of the recessed portion for making the hooking portion of the opening/closing member to slide thereon and placed in and held at the hole when the opening/closing member is closed.

[20] The device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising at least one safety switch in the locking slot for being turned on/off by the latch in response to opening/ closing operation of the opening/closing member.

[21] A refrigerator comprising: a body having a freezing chamber; a door for opening/closing the freezing chamber; and an ice making device mounted to the freezing chamber or the door including a case having an inside space and an opening, an ice making container in the case for having water supplied thereto and forming ice, an opening/closing member for opening/closing the opening in the case, at least one locking slot provided to one of one side of the case and one side of the opening/closing member, and an operation member provided to the other one of one side of the case and one side of the opening/closing member for locking at the locking slot or release from the locking at the locking slot.

[22] The refrigerator as claimed in claim 21, wherein the operation member includes; a slide member slidably mounted thereto, at least one latch on one side of the slide member for locking at the locking slot, an operation lever on the other side of the slide member for making the slide member to slide, and an elastic member mounted to the slide member for restoring the slide member to an original position in a case force applied to the operation lever is removed.

[23] The refrigerator as claimed in claim 21, wherein the operation member includes; a rotation shaft rotatably mounted to one side of the opening/closing member, a rotation lever connected to the rotation shaft for causing rotation of the rotation shaft, a slide member slidable by the rotation lever, and moving means mounted to the rotation lever so as to be brought into contact with the slide member for converting rotation of the rotation lever into linear motion of the slide member.

[24] The device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the moving means includes; a projected portion projected from the slide member, and a sloped surface at the projected portion so as to be able to contact with the rotation lever for making the slide member to slide at the time the rotation lever rotates.

[25] The device as claimed in claim 21, wherein the moving means includes; a projected step projected from the other side of the slide member, and a cam rotatable with rotation of the rotation lever for pushing the projected step to make the slide member to slide.