Refrigerator with condensation-preventing air guides

Abstract

A refrigerator including: a cabinet defining storage compartments therein, the storage compartments being divided by an intermediate partition; a plurality of doors which close the storage compartments; a machine compartment having part of a refrigerating device for cooling the storage compartments mounted therein; a cover disposed at a front part of the intermediate partition; and an air guide which guides air from the machine compartment along the front of the cover so as to prevent a formation of condensation on the cover.

1 . A refrigerator comprising: 
 a cabinet defining storage compartments therein, the storage compartments being divided by an intermediate partition;    a plurality of doors which close the storage compartments;    a machine compartment having at least part of a refrigerating device for cooling the storage compartments mounted therein;    a cover disposed at a front part of the intermediate partition; and    an air guide which guides air from the machine compartment along the front of the cover so as to prevent a formation of condensation on the cover.    
   
   
       2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , further comprising an outlet duct for guiding air from the machine compartment to the air guide.  
   
   
       3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , further comprising a blower for blowing air out of the outlet duct.  
   
   
       4 . The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , wherein the air guide extends outwardly from a side of at least one of the doors so that a channel is formed between the plurality of doors and the cover.  
   
   
       5 . The refrigerator according to  claim 4 , wherein the air guide includes a plurality of air guides extending outwardly from both sides of the plurality of air guides in front of the cover.  
   
   
       6 . The refrigerator according to  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of air guides contact each other at end parts thereof so as to form a hermetically sealed channel in front of the cover.  
   
   
       7 . The refrigerator according to  claim 6 , wherein at least one of the plurality of air guides has at the end part thereof with an elastictically deformable member which is elastically deformed when a door is one of opened and closed door so as not to interfere with the other door.  
   
   
       8 . The refrigerator according to  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of air guides extend longitudinally along a side of each of the plurality of doors.  
   
   
       9 . The refrigerator according to  claim 7 , wherein each of the air guides have an end member and the end members partially overlap to form the hermetically sealed channel.  
   
   
       10 . The refrigerator according to  claim 7 , wherein the elastic material is rubber.  
   
   
       11 . A refrigerator comprising: 
 a cabinet having left and right storage compartments defined therein, the left and right storage compartments being divided by an intermediate partition;    left and right doors which respectively closing the left and right storage compartments;    a cover disposed at a front part of the intermediate partition; and    an air guide which guides air passing by the front of the cover so as to prevent a formation of condensation on the cover.    
   
   
       12 . The refrigerator according to  claim 11 , wherein the air guide extends outwardly from at least one of opposite sides of the left and right doors, the air guide being formed such that it extends longitudinally.  
   
   
       13 . The refrigerator according to  claim 12 , wherein the air guide comprises left and right air guides extending outwardly from opposite sides of the left and right doors, and wherein each of the left and right air guides has an end part contacting each other so that a hermetically sealed channel is formed in front of the cover.  
   
   
       14 . The refrigerator according to  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the left and right air guides has at the end part thereof with an elastictically deformable member which is elastically deformed when a door is one of opened and closed door so as not to interfere with the other door.  
   
   
       15 . The refrigerator according to  claim 14 , wherein the left and right doors are provided with guide rails having grooves to respectively accept left and right air guides, and wherein the left and right air guides are provided with sliding insertion parts which are insertable in the guide rails.  
   
   
       16 . The refrigerator according to  claim 15 , wherein the left and right doors are provided with handles and the guide rails are formed at the handles.  
   
   
       17 . A method of preventing the formation of condensation on a cover of a refrigerator having a storage compartment partition behind the cover; comprising: 
 directing heated air to the base of the intermediate partition; and    guiding the heated air between the cover and the partition so as to evaporate moisture from the cover.    
   
   
       18 . A refrigerator closure assembly, comprising: 
 a first door having at least one air guide at a non-hinged end thereof, the first door being movable between a closed position and an open position;    a second door having at least one air guide at a non-hinged end thereof, the second door being movable between a closed position and an open position;    a partition;    a cover on the partition and at a position in contact with the non-hinged ends of the first and the second doors when the first and the second doors are in the closed positions;    wherein the air guides and the cover form an air passage when the first and the second doors are closed.