Refrigerator including shelving system

Abstract

A refrigerator is provided which includes: a main body having a storage compartment which has an inner wall; a shelf unit partitioning the storage compartment; and a shelf supporter provided on the inner wall of the storage compartment, detachably coupled with the shelf unit, and having a depressed groove. The shelf unit includes: a panel; and at least one stopper detachably connected to the panel and accommodated in the depressed groove to limit movement of the panel in a lengthwise direction of the shelf supporter. Accordingly, the present invention provides a refrigerator of which a shelf unit has an enhanced outer appearance with various designs, thereby improving aesthetic quality.

1 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a main body having a storage compartment, the storage compartment having an inner wall;   a shelf unit partitioning the storage compartment; and   a shelf supporter provided on the inner wall of the storage compartment, detachably coupled with the shelf unit, and having a depressed groove,   the shelf unit comprising:
 a panel, and 
 at least one stopper detachably connected to the panel and accommodated in the depressed groove to limit movement of the panel in a lengthwise direction of the shelf supporter. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the stopper comprises an upper stopper portion and a lower stopper portion coupled across the panel. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein one of the upper stopper portion and the lower stopper portion comprises a projection, and the other one of the upper stopper portion and the lower stopper portion comprises a projection accommodating part to accommodate the projection therein. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the shelf unit comprises a decoration unit provided along at least one edge of the panel. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator according to  claim 4 , wherein the panel is made from glass, and the decoration unit is made from a metallic material. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the shelf unit comprises a decoration unit provided along at least one edge of the panel. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator according to  claim 6 , wherein the panel is made from glass, and the decoration unit is made from a metallic material. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , wherein the shelf unit comprises a decoration unit provided along at least one edge of the panel. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator according to  claim 8 , wherein the panel is made from glass, and the decoration unit is made from a metallic material. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the shelf unit further comprises a breakaway-prevention guide to prevent the shelf unit from breaking away from the shelf supporter in a direction transverse to a lengthwise direction of the shelf supporter. 
     
     
         11 . A shelving system to attach a shelf to at least one wall of a refrigerator, comprising:
 a shelf unit comprising:
 a panel having a hole formed penetrating the panel, and 
 at least one stopper coupled to the hole of the panel; and 
   a shelf supporter provided on the at least one wall of the refrigerator and including a depressed groove into which the stopper is accommodated when the shelf unit is coupled with the shelf supporter.   
     
     
         12 . The shelving system according to  claim 11 , wherein the refrigerator includes an air duct and the panel includes a rear frame provided in a back of the panel and having a shape corresponding to the air duct. 
     
     
         13 . The shelving system according to  claim 12 , wherein the rear frame includes a breakaway-prevention guide extending from the rear frame. 
     
     
         14 . The shelving system according to  claim 13 , wherein the breakaway prevention guide prevents the shelf unit from breaking away from the shelf supporter in a direction transverse to a lengthwise direction of the shelf supporter. 
     
     
         15 . The shelving system according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one stopper includes an upper stopper portion and a lower stopper portion coupled through the hole of the panel. 
     
     
         16 . The shelving system according to  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the upper stopper portion and the lower stopper portion includes a head and a projection protruding from the head and the other of the upper stopper portion and the lower stopper portion includes a projection accommodating part, the head being larger than the hole of the panel and an outer diameter of the projection being smaller than or equal to an inner diameter of the hole. 
     
     
         17 . The shelving system according to  claim 16 , wherein an inner surface of the projection accommodating part includes a hooking protrusion and an outer surface of the projection includes a hooking groove into which the hooking protrusion is engagable. 
     
     
         18 . The shelving system according to  claim 11 , wherein an edge of the panel includes a decoration unit.