Refrigerator and rail assembly thereof

Abstract

A rail assembly for a refrigerator includes a fixing rail on at least one sidewall of a storing chamber, a moving rail along which the fixing rail moves, and a guide unit allowing the moving rail to slide out along the fixing rail step by step.

1 . A rail assembly for a refrigerator, comprising:
 a fixing rail on at least one sidewall of a storing chamber;   a moving rail along which the fixing rail moves; and   a guide unit allowing the moving rail to slide out along the fixing rail step by step.   
   
   
       2 . The rail assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the guide unit comprises:
 a bearing unit between the fixing rail and the moving rail for reducing frictional force between the fixing rail and the moving rail; and   a plurality of catching projections that are formed at predetermined intervals on one of the fixing rail and the moving rail to catch the bearing unit during a sliding motion of the moving rail.   
   
   
       3 . The rail assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the moving rail slides step by step by a distance between the adjacent catching projections. 
   
   
       4 . The rail assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the bearing unit comprises:
 a plurality of ball bearings; and   a retainer provided with a plurality of grooves for receiving the respective ball bearings.   
   
   
       5 . The rail assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the catching projections are formed on inner-top and bottom surfaces of the fixing rail or inner-top and bottom surfaces of the moving rail; and
 the bearing unit is provided in a space defined between inner-top and bottom surfaces of the fixing rail and inner-top and bottom surfaces of the moving rail.   
   
   
       6 . A rail assembly for a refrigerator, comprising:
 a fixing rail on at least one sidewall of a storing chamber;   a guide rail slidably coupled to the fixing rail;   a moving rail along which the fixing rail moves; and   a guide unit allowing one of the guide rail and the moving rail to slide out along the fixing rail step by step.   
   
   
       7 . The rail assembly according to  claim 6 , where in the guide unit comprises:
 a bearing unit between the fixing rail and the guide rail for smoothly moving the guide rail; and   a plurality of catching projections that are formed at predetermined intervals on one of the fixing rail and the guide rail to allow the guide rail to slide in and out step by step.   
   
   
       8 . The rail assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the guide unit comprises:
 a bearing unit between the guide rail and the moving rail for smoothly moving the moving rail; and   a plurality of catching projections that are formed one of the guide rail and the moving rail to allow the moving rail to slide in and out step by step.   
   
   
       9 . The rail assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein the guide unit comprises:
 a bearing unit between the guide rail and the moving rail for smoothly moving the moving rail; and   a plurality of catching projections that are formed one of the guide rail and the moving rail to allow the moving rail to slide in and out step by step.   
   
   
       10 . The rail assembly according to  claim 6 , further comprising a stopper provided on one of front and rear end portions of the fixing rail and front and rear end portions of the guide rail to limit a maximum sliding out distance. 
   
   
       11 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body defining a storing chamber;   a receiving box installed in the storing chamber and being capable of going in and out of the storing chamber;   a door provided in front of the storing chamber; and   a rail assembly of  claim 1 , which is provided on both inner-side surfaces of the storing chamber to support the receiving box.   
   
   
       12 . The refrigerator according to  claim 11 , wherein both side ends of the door slide in and out at an identical speed by the rail assembly. 
   
   
       13 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body defining a storing chamber;   a receiving box installed in the storing chamber and being capable of going in and out of the storing chamber;   a door provided in front of the storing chamber; and   a rail assembly of  claim 6 , which is provided on a both inner-side surfaces of the storing chamber to support the receiving box.   
   
   
       14 . The refrigerator according to  claim 13 , wherein both side ends of the door slide in and out at an identical speed by the rail assembly.