초록 ▼

A refrigerator having an operation lever for a dispenser includes first and second levers interconnected to perform respectively different functions. At least one of the first and second levers is moved relative to the other one. Accordingly, the operability and the aesthetic appearance of the refri

A refrigerator having an operation lever for a dispenser includes first and second levers interconnected to perform respectively different functions. At least one of the first and second levers is moved relative to the other one. Accordingly, the operability and the aesthetic appearance of the refrigerator may be improved.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An operation lever for a dispenser of a refrigerator, comprising: a first lever comprising a lower portion, first and second protrusions extending from opposite ends of an upper side of the lower portion, and a cut part formed between the first and second protrusions;a second lever disposed withi

1. An operation lever for a dispenser of a refrigerator, comprising: a first lever comprising a lower portion, first and second protrusions extending from opposite ends of an upper side of the lower portion, and a cut part formed between the first and second protrusions;a second lever disposed within the cut part of the first lever between the first and second protrusions, such that the first lever and the second lever are interconnected to press a first switch and a second switch, respectively; anda rotational shaft to which each of the second lever, an end portion of the first protrusion, and an end portion of the second protrusion is rotatably connected, wherein an interconnection of the first lever and the second lever provides operation of the first lever without moving the second lever upon only the first lever being operated to press the first switch, and provides the second lever being moved along with the first lever upon the second lever being operated to press the second switch,the end portions of the first and second protrusions are end portions of the first lever,the second lever is formed relatively smaller than the first lever and is disposed in front of the first lever,the cut part is opened to one side,the first lever further comprises a locking protrusion formed along an inner edge of the cut part to be supported by a supporting part recessed along an edge of the second lever,the locking protrusion is formed along a surface of the first protrusion facing the second protrusion, along a surface of the second protrusion facing the first protrusion, and along an edge of the lower portion of the first lever facing the cut part, andthe interconnection comprises the locking protrusion and the supporting part. 2. An operation lever for a dispenser of a refrigerator, comprising: a rotational shaft;a first lever having a cut part formed on an upper portion of the first lever, the cut part forming an open upper side of the first lever and being between two opposite upper end portions of the first lever, and the first lever being rotatably connected to the rotational shaft at the upper end portions of the first lever;a second lever formed relatively smaller than the first lever, disposed within the cut part of the first lever and rotatably connected to the rotational shaft between the opposite ends of the upper portion of the first lever so as to be rotated along with the first lever;a first elastic member elastically supporting the first lever so that the first lever is returned to an initial position after being rotated;a second elastic member elastically supporting the second lever so as to restrict rotation of the second lever while the first lever is rotating; anda rotational shaft to which each of the second lever and the two upper end portions is rotatably connected, whereinthe cut part is opened to one side,the first lever further comprises a locking protrusion formed along an inner edge of the cut part to be supported by a supporting part recessed along an edge of the second lever,the locking protrusion is formed along a surface of a first of the two upper end portions facing a second of the two upper end portions, along a surface of the second of the two upper end portions facing the first of the two upper end portions, and along an edge of the lower portion of the first lever facing the cut part, andan interconnection between the first lever and the second lever comprises the locking protrusion and the supporting part. 3. A refrigerator, comprising: a main body equipped with a storage chamber;a door opening and closing the storage chamber;a dispenser formed at one side of the door to enable taking-out of beverage and ice from outside;first and second switches formed at one side of the dispenser for taking-out of the beverage and ice; andan operation lever pressing the first and second switches, and including: a first lever comprising a lower portion, first and second protrusions extending from opposite ends of an upper side of the lower portion, and a cut part formed between the first and second protrusions;a second lever disposed within the cut part of the first lever between the first and second protrusions, the first lever and second lever being interconnected to press the first switch and the second switch, respectively; anda rotational shaft to which each of the second lever, an end portion of the first protrusion, and an end portion of the second protrusion is rotatably connected, wherein an interconnection of the first lever and the second lever provides operation of the first lever without moving the second lever upon only the first lever being operated to press the first switch, and provides the second lever being moved along with the first lever upon the second lever being operated to press the second switch,the end portions of the first and second protrusions are end portions of the first lever,the second lever is formed relatively smaller than the first lever and is disposed in front of the first lever,the cut part is opened to one side,the first lever further comprises a locking protrusion formed along an inner edge of the cut part to be supported by a supporting part recessed along an edge of the second lever,the locking protrusion is formed along a surface of the first protrusion facing the second protrusion, along a surface of the second protrusion facing the first protrusion, and along an edge of the lower portion of the first lever facing the cut part, andthe interconnection comprises the locking protrusion and the supporting part. 4. A refrigerator comprising: a main body equipped with a storage chamber;a door opening and closing the storage chamber;a taking-out space disposed at one side of the door;an ice discharging pipe and an intake port disposed at an upper part of the taking-out space to discharge ice and beverage, respectively;a first lever rotatably mounted in the taking-out space to press a first switch formed at one side of the taking-out space and thereby to discharge beverage to the intake port, the first lever comprising a lower portion, first and second protrusions extending from opposite ends of an upper side of the lower portion, and a cut part formed between the first and second protrusions;a second lever mounted at a lower part of the ice discharging pipe and moved in an up and down direction to press a second switch formed at one side of the ice discharging pipe and thereby to supply ice to the ice discharging pipe; anda rotational shaft to which each of the second lever, an end portion of the first protrusion, and an end portion of the second protrusion is rotatably connected, wherein the first lever selectively operates to perform a first function without movement of the second lever, or to perform a second function with simultaneous movement of the first and second levers, the simultaneous movement provided by an interconnection between the first lever and the second lever,the end portions of the first and second protrusions are end portions of the first lever,the second lever is formed relatively smaller than the first lever and is disposed in front of the first lever,the cut part is opened to one side,the first lever further comprises a locking protrusion formed along an inner edge of the cut part to be supported by a supporting part recessed along an edge of the second lever,the locking protrusion formed along a surface of the first protrusion facing the second protrusion, along with a surface of the second protrusion facing the first protrusion, and along an edge of the lower portion of the first lever facing the cut part, andthe interconnection comprises the locking protrusion and the supporting part. 5. An operation lever for a dispenser of a refrigerator, comprising: a first lever comprising a lower portion, first and second protrusions extending from opposite ends of an upper side of the lower portion, and a cut part formed between the first andsecond protrusions; anda second lever disposed within the cut part of the first lever between the first and second protrusions; anda rotational shaft to which each of the second lever, an end portion of the first protrusion, and an end portion of the second protrusion is rotatably connected, wherein the first lever selectively operates to perform a first function without movement of the second lever, or to perform a second function with simultaneous movement of the first and second levers, the simultaneous movement provided by an interconnection between the first lever and the second lever,the end portions of the first and second protrusions are end portions of the first lever,the second lever is formed relatively smaller than the first lever and is disposed in front of the first lever,the cut part is opened to one side,the first lever further comprises a locking protrusion formed along an inner edge of the cut part to be supported by a supporting part recessed along an edge of the second lever,the locking protrusion formed along a surface of the first protrusion facing the second protrusion, along a surface of the second protrusion facing the first protrusion, and along an edge of the lower portion of the first lever facing the cut part, andthe interconnection comprises the locking protrusion and the supporting part. 6. The operation lever according to claim 1, further comprising: a first elastic member elastically supporting the first lever to return the first lever to an initial position after being rotated; anda second elastic member elastically supporting the second lever in an opposite direction to the rotational direction of the first lever to restrict rotation of the second lever while the first lever is rotating. 7. The refrigerator according to claim 3, further comprising: a first elastic member returning the first lever in a rotated state to an initial state; anda second elastic member restricting rotation of the second lever during rotation of the first lever, and returning the second lever in a rotated state to an initial state, wherein the first lever is disposed at a rear part of the second lever to be rotated along with the second lever when the second lever rotates. 8. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein the ice discharging pipe has a connection groove for one end of the second lever to reciprocate therein, and the connection groove has an elastic member to return the second lever in a moved state to an initial position. 9. The refrigerator according to claim 8, wherein the second lever comprises: a push part formed at one end thereof to push the second lever; anda connection part formed at the other end thereof to be movably inserted in the connection groove and supported by a lower edge of the connection groove. 10. The operation lever according to claim 5 wherein the first lever presses a first switch, and the second lever presses a second switch. 11. The operation lever according to claim 5, wherein the first function is to dispense a beverage, and the second function is to dispense ice. 12. The operation lever according to claim 5, wherein a receiving container is used to operate the first lever and the second lever. 13. The operation lever according to claim 5, wherein the first lever and the second lever are pushed to be operated. 14. The operation lever according to claim 5, wherein the interconnection provides operation of the first lever without moving the second lever upon only the first lever being operated, and provides the second lever being moved along with the first lever upon the second lever being operated. 15. The operation lever according to claim 14, wherein the interconnection engages the first lever when the second lever is operated. 16. The operation lever according to claim 14, wherein the first and second levers return to an initial position after being operated.