초록 ▼

A refrigerator has a cold water storage vessel mounted on an interior side of a door of the refrigerator. The vessel has a valve for opening and closing a water outlet thereof. A manually actuable lever mounted on the door is actuable by a user to discharge water. By actuating the lever, a magnetic

A refrigerator has a cold water storage vessel mounted on an interior side of a door of the refrigerator. The vessel has a valve for opening and closing a water outlet thereof. A manually actuable lever mounted on the door is actuable by a user to discharge water. By actuating the lever, a magnetic force causes the valve to open. The magnetic force can be imposed by a first permanent magnet which is caused to approach a second permanent magnet disposed on the valve to repel the second magnet and thereby open the valve. Alternatively, a permanent magnet disposed on the valve can be repelled by a magnetic force of a stationary electromagnet which is energized by actuation of the lever.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A refrigerator comprising:a housing;a door swingably mounted on the housing;a cylinder mounted on and projecting through the door and including an external end for dispensing water, and an internal end having a mounting part;a water storage vessel mounted on an inner side

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A refrigerator comprising:a housing;a door swingably mounted on the housing;a cylinder mounted on and projecting through the door and including an external end for dispensing water, and an internal end having a mounting part;a water storage vessel mounted on an inner side of the door and connected to the mounting part, whereby the vessel is able to supply water to the cylinder;a slide member slidably disposed within the cylinder;a first magnetic member disposed at one end of the slide member;an operational shaft mounted for up and down movement at a lower end of the water storage vessel for opening the water storage vessel in response to upward movement of the shaft;a second magnetic member mounted on the shaft for raising the shaft in response to the first magnetic member being moved into proximity to the second magnetic member; anda manually actuable water discharge lever operably connected to the slide member for displacing the slide member inwardly and causing the first magnetic member to move into the proximity of the second magnetic member.