Bottom drawer type refrigerator having basket lift device

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a main body having at least a lower cooling chamber disposed at a lower portion of the main body, a base frame disposed to be movable in inward/outward directions at the lower cooling chamber and having a drawer door at a front side thereof, a lift frame disposed at an upper surface of the base frame, on which a basket is placed, a gas spring mounted vertically at an upper surface of the base frame and connected with the lift frame for lifting the lift frame, and lift rails at a rear side of the drawer door and guiding the lift frame to be moved up and down.

1 - 15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . A refrigerator comprising: 
 a body having a cooling chamber;    a base frame received in the cooling chamber and having a door at a front side thereof;    a lifting frame arranged at an upper surface of the base frame to be movable up and down, and on which a basket is positioned; and    a lifting force supply unit installed between the base frame and the lifting frame for lifting the lifting frame.    
   
   
       17 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , further comprising a lifting rail mounted at the door for guiding the lifting frame to be moved.  
   
   
       18 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , wherein the lifting force supply unit is constructed as a gas spring.  
   
   
       19 . The refrigerator of  claim 18 , wherein the gas spring comprises: 
 a cylinder containing gas of a high pressure, fixed to the base frame, and arranged to be upright; and    an operation rod inserted into the cylinder to be movable up and down, linearly moved by the pressure of the gas contained in the cylinder, and fixed to the lifting frame.    
   
   
       20 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the lifting rail is provided with a rail groove, and the lifting frame is provided with a guide protrusion inserted into the rail groove and moved along the rail groove.  
   
   
       21 . The refrigerator of  claim 20 , wherein the lifting rail is provided with an upper stopper and a lower stopper for preventing the guide protrusion from being detached from the rail groove at an upper end and a lower end thereof.  
   
   
       22 . The refrigerator of  claim 20 , further comprising a locking unit installed between the lifting rail and the guide protrusion for locking the lifting frame so as to maintain a position that the lifting frame is lifted to the maximum and a position that the lifting frame is lowered to the maximum.  
   
   
       23 . The refrigerator of  claim 22 , wherein the locking unit comprises: 
 an upper stopping groove formed at an upper side of the lifting rail;    a lower stopping groove formed at a lower side of the lifting rail;    a locking member linearly inserted into the guide protrusion and locked either by the upper stopping groove or by the lower stopping groove; and    a spring inserted into an insertion groove formed at the guide protrusion for providing an elastic force to the locking member so that the locking member can maintain a stopped state inside the stopping groove.    
   
   
       24 . The refrigerator of  claim 23 , wherein the upper stopping groove is respectively formed at both lateral surfaces of the rail groove of the lifting rail where the guide protrusion is positioned when the lifting frame is lifted to the maximum, and the lower stopping groove is respectively formed at both lateral surfaces of the rail groove of the lifting rail where the guide protrusion is positioned when the lifting frame is lowered to the maximum.  
   
   
       25 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , wherein the base frame is provided with a guide rail mounted at both lateral surfaces of the base frame in a perpendicular direction for guiding the lifting frame to be moved up and down, and the lifting frame is provided with a guide protrusion inserted into the guide rail and moved along the guide rail at both lateral surfaces thereof.  
   
   
       26 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , further comprising a locking unit installed between the door and the lifting frame for locking the lifting frame so as to maintain a position that the lifting frame is lifted to the maximum and a position that the lifting frame is lowered to the maximum.  
   
   
       27 . The refrigerator of  claim 26 , wherein the locking unit comprises: 
 a pair of buttons respectively mounted at upper and lower sides of the door;    an operation rod connected to the button, rotatably arranged in the door, and rotated at the time of pressing the button; and    a locking groove formed at the lifting frame for locking the operation rod.    
   
   
       28 . The refrigerator of  claim 27 , wherein the locking unit further comprises a spring mounted at one side of the operation rod for providing an elastic force to the locking groove so that the operation rod can be stopped by the locking groove.  
   
   
       29 . The refrigerator of  claim 27 , wherein the locking groove is formed at a front surface of the guide protrusion formed at the lifting frame.  
   
   
       30 . The refrigerator of  claim 26 , wherein the locking unit comprises: 
 an actuator fixed to a rear surface of the door;    an operation rod mounted at the actuator to be movable forward and backward; and    a locking groove formed at one side of the lifting frame for inserting the operation rod.    
   
   
       31 . The refrigerator of  claim 30 , wherein the actuator is constructed as a solenoid for linearly reciprocating the operation rod when power is applied thereto.  
   
   
       32 . The refrigerator of  claim 31 , wherein the locking groove is formed at a lateral surface of the guide protrusion formed at the lifting frame.