초록 ▼

A dispenser and a refrigerator including the same are disclosed. The dispenser includes a first section of ice discharge duct that receives ice supplied from an ice supplier, a second section of ice discharge duct that receives the ice guided by the first section, and a third section of ice discharg

A dispenser and a refrigerator including the same are disclosed. The dispenser includes a first section of ice discharge duct that receives ice supplied from an ice supplier, a second section of ice discharge duct that receives the ice guided by the first section, and a third section of ice discharge duct that receives the ice guided by the second section. The third section guides the ice through an outlet positioned in front of a surface of a door of the refrigerator. The dispenser also includes a first coupling mechanism located at the second section and a second coupling mechanism located at the third section. The first and second coupling mechanisms are configured to engage and disengage with each other to enable removal of the third section from the second section and attachment of the third section to the second section.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A refrigerator dispenser comprising: a first section of ice discharge duct that defines a first portion of an ice flow passage configured to receive ice supplied from an ice supplier and guide the ice, at least a portion of the first section of ice discharge duct being positioned behind a surface

1. A refrigerator dispenser comprising: a first section of ice discharge duct that defines a first portion of an ice flow passage configured to receive ice supplied from an ice supplier and guide the ice, at least a portion of the first section of ice discharge duct being positioned behind a surface of a door of a refrigerator;a second section of ice discharge duct that is configured to receive the ice guided by the first portion of the ice flow passage defined by the first section of ice discharge duct and further guide the ice along a second portion of the ice flow passage, at least a portion of the second section of ice discharge duct being positioned in front of the surface of the door of the refrigerator;a third section of ice discharge duct that is configured to receive the ice guided by the second portion of the ice flow passage defined by the second section of ice discharge duct and further guide the ice along a third portion of the ice flow passage through an outlet of the third section of ice discharge duct that is positioned in front of the surface of the door of the refrigerator and configured to guide the ice to a position outside of the ice flow passage in front of the surface of the door of the refrigerator; anda first coupling mechanism located at the second section of ice discharge duct and a second coupling mechanism located at the third section of ice discharge duct, the first and second coupling mechanisms being configured to engage and disengage with each other to enable removal of the third section of ice discharge duct from the second section of ice discharge duct and attachment of the third section of ice discharge duct to the second section of ice discharge duct. 2. The dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising a button and tray combination device that is configured to control the dispenser to dispense ice through the outlet of the third section of ice discharge duct and that is configured to receive and store residual content discharged from the outlet of the third section of ice discharge duct after a container used in actuating the button and tray combination device is moved from beneath the outlet of the third section of ice discharge duct. 3. The dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising: a door handle provided below the outlet of the third section of ice discharge duct; anda tray secured to the door handle and positioned to receive ice dispensed from the outlet of the third section of ice discharge duct. 4. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the first section of ice discharge duct is embedded in a refrigerator door and the second section of ice discharge duct is configured to move from a stored position in which an outlet of the second section of ice discharge duct is positioned behind a surface of the refrigerator door to an operable position in which the outlet of the second section of ice discharge duct is positioned in front of the surface of the refrigerator door. 5. The dispenser according to claim 4, further comprising: a fixed guide that is attached to the first section of ice discharge duct, positioned within the first section of ice discharge duct, and configured to guide the content to the second section of ice discharge duct. 6. The dispenser according to claim 5, wherein the second section of ice discharge duct comprises a moving body rotatable or slidable with respect to the refrigerator door such that the moving body is configured move from a stored position in which a portion of the moving body is positioned behind the surface of the refrigerator door to an operable position in which the portion of the moving body is positioned in front of the surface of the refrigerator door, the moving body including a seat configured to receive the third section of ice discharge duct when the third section of ice discharge duct is attached to the second section of ice discharge duct. 7. The dispenser according to claim 6, further comprising: a discharger arranged between the fixed guide and the supplier, the discharger including a member configured to open and close the discharger to selectively supply content from the supplier to the fixed guide. 8. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the first section of ice discharge duct is embedded in a refrigerator door, the dispenser defines, in front of the surface of the refrigerator door, a dispensing area configured to receive a container, and the first section of ice discharge duct, the second section of ice discharge duct, and the third section of the ice discharge duct are configured to guide content to the dispensing area. 9. The dispenser according to claim 8, wherein the second section of ice discharge duct includes a seat configured to receive the third section of ice discharge duct when the third section of ice discharge duct is attached to the second section of ice discharge duct. 10. The dispenser according to claim 9, further comprising: a discharger arranged between the second section of ice discharge duct and the supplier, the discharger including a member configured to open and close the discharger to selectively supply content from the supplier to the second section of ice discharge duct. 11. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the second section of ice discharge duct is coupled to a surface of the door of the refrigerator such that the second section of ice discharge duct is positioned outside of the surface of the door on a side opposite of a compartment opened and closed by the door. 12. The dispenser according to claim 11, wherein the second section of ice discharge duct includes a seat configured to receive the third section of ice discharge duct when the third section of ice discharge duct is attached to the second section of ice discharge duct. 13. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein: the first coupling mechanism comprises a slide groove; andthe second coupling mechanism comprises a slide fit that is configured to engage with the slide groove such that the slide fit slides along the slide groove. 14. The dispenser according to claim 13, wherein: the slide fit comprises a slide rail, and a hook provided at an end of the slide rail; andthe slide groove comprises a first groove configured to engage with the slide rail and an engagement groove provided at an end of the first groove and configured to engage with the hook. 15. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein: the first coupling mechanism comprises a female thread; andthe second coupling mechanism comprises a male thread configured to engage with the female thread to attach the third section of ice discharge duct to the second section of ice discharge duct. 16. The dispenser according to claim 1, wherein: the first coupling mechanism comprises a swing groove configured to guide the third section of ice discharge duct along a spiral path of a predetermined angle; andthe second coupling mechanism comprises a swing protrusion configured to engage with the swing groove such that the swing protrusion rotates spirally along the spiral path. 17. The dispenser according to claim 16, wherein the swing groove comprises: a spiral groove configured to receive the swing protrusion and guide the swing protrusion along the spiral path; anda stopper configured to engage with swing protrusion to attach the third section of ice discharge duct to the second section of ice discharge duct. 18. The dispenser according to claim 1, further comprising: a coupling protrusion provided at one of the second section of ice discharge duct and the door; anda coupling groove provided at the other of the second section of ice discharge duct and the door, the coupling groove being configured to engage with the coupling protrusion,wherein the second section of ice discharge duct is removable from and replaceable to the refrigerator door. 19. A refrigerator comprising: a refrigerator body defining a cooling compartment;a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the cooling compartment;a first section of ice discharge duct that defines a first portion of an ice flow passage configured to receive ice supplied from an ice supplier and guide the ice, at least a portion of the first section of ice discharge duct being positioned behind a surface of the door;a second section of ice discharge duct that is configured to receive the ice guided by the first portion of the ice flow passage defined by the first section of ice discharge duct and further guide the ice along a second portion of the ice flow passage, at least a portion of the second section of ice discharge duct being positioned in front of the surface of the door;a third section of ice discharge duct that is configured to receive the ice guided by the second portion of the ice flow passage defined by the second section of ice discharge duct and further guide the ice along a third portion of the ice flow passage through an outlet of the third section of ice discharge duct that is positioned in front of the surface of the door and configured to guide the ice to a position outside of the ice flow passage in front of the surface of the door; anda first coupling mechanism located at the second section of ice discharge duct and a second coupling mechanism located at the third section of ice discharge duct, the first and second coupling mechanisms being configured to engage and disengage with each other to enable removal of the third section of ice discharge duct from the second section of ice discharge duct and attachment of the third section of ice discharge duct to the second section of ice discharge duct. 20. The refrigerator according to claim 19, wherein: the first coupling mechanism comprises a slide groove;the second coupling mechanism comprises a slide fit that is configured to engage with the slide groove such that the slide fit slides along the slide groove;the slide fit comprises a slide rail, and a hook provided at an end of the slide rail; andthe slide groove comprises a first groove configured to engage with the slide rail and an engagement groove provided at an end of the first groove and configured to engage with the hook. 21. The refrigerator according to claim 19, wherein: the first coupling mechanism comprises a female thread; andthe second coupling mechanism comprises a male thread configured to engage with the female thread to attach the third section of ice discharge duct to the second section of ice discharge duct. 22. The refrigerator according to claim 19, wherein: the first coupling mechanism comprises a swing groove configured to guide the third section of ice discharge duct along a spiral path of a predetermined angle; andthe second coupling mechanism comprises a swing protrusion configured to engage with the swing groove such that the swing protrusion rotates spirally along the spiral path, andthe swing groove comprises: a spiral groove configured to receive the swing protrusion and guide the swing protrusion along the spiral path; anda stopper configured to engage with swing protrusion to attach the third section of ice discharge duct to the second section of ice discharge duct. 23. The refrigerator according to claim 19, further comprising: a door handle provided below the outlet of the third section of ice discharge duct; anda tray secured to the door handle and positioned to receive ice dispensed from the outlet of the third section of ice discharge duct,wherein the tray is secured between the surface of the door and the door handle. 24. The refrigerator according to claim 23, wherein at least a portion of the tray is mounted to the door handle in a manner such that the portion of the tray may be removed from the door handle by lifting the tray in a vertical direction.