Icemaker and refrigerator having the same

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an icemaker of a refrigerator including an ice dispersing unit to disperse ice for uniform distribution of ice in an ice making container. The icemaker includes an ice making unit to make ice, and an ice making container to receive ice separated from the ice making unit. The icemaker further includes an ice dispersing unit arranged between the ice making unit and the ice making container. The ice dispersing unit serves to guide the ice moving from the ice making unit to the ice making container, to assure uniform distribution of the ice in the ice making container.

1 . An icemaker comprising:
 an ice making unit to make ice;   an ice making container to receive the ice from the ice making unit; and   an ice dispersing unit arranged between the ice making unit and the ice making container to guide the ice moving from the ice making unit to the ice making container, to assure uniform distribution of the ice in the ice making container.   
     
     
         2 . The icemaker according to  claim 1 , wherein the ice dispersing unit is tilted downwards and towards a side of the ice making container. 
     
     
         3 . The icemaker according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the ice dispersing unit includes a plate-shaped guide member; and   the guide member has a first end fixed to a wall of the ice making container and a second end extending opposite to the wall of the ice making container.   
     
     
         4 . The icemaker according to  claim 3 , wherein the guide member has a first end fixed to a rear surface of the ice making container and a second end extending forward of the ice making container. 
     
     
         5 . The icemaker according to  claim 4 , wherein a cross section of the guide member has a curvature. 
     
     
         6 . The icemaker according to  claim 4 , wherein the guide member includes an ice guide opening for passage of the ice. 
     
     
         7 . The icemaker according to  claim 4 , wherein the guide member further includes a plurality of guidelines. 
     
     
         8 . The icemaker according to  claim 7 , wherein the guidelines are arranged radially a different directions. 
     
     
         9 . The icemaker according to  claim 7 , wherein the guidelines have different lengths from one another. 
     
     
         10 . An icemaker comprising:
 an ice making unit to freeze water into ice;   an ice making container to receive the ice from the ice making unit; and   an ice dispersing unit to disperse the ice falling from the ice making unit into the ice making container, to assure uniform distribution of the ice in the ice making container,   wherein the ice dispersing unit includes a plate-shaped guide member arranged between the ice making unit and the ice making container and tilted downwards and towards a front of the ice making container.   
     
     
         11 . An icemaker comprising:
 an ice making unit to freeze water into ice;   an ice making container to receive the ice from the ice making unit; and   an ice dispersing unit to uniformly disperse the ice falling from the ice making unit into the ice making container using a plate-shaped guide member,   wherein the guide member includes a plurality of guidelines arranged radially to have different directions.   
     
     
         12 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a body having a storage compartment and an icemaker provided in the storage compartment;   wherein the icemaker includes an ice making unit to freeze water into ice and an ice making container to receive the ice from the ice making unit, and   wherein the icemaker further includes an ice dispersing unit for guidance of the ice between the ice making unit and the ice making container, the ice dispersing unit to disperse the ice falling from the ice making unit into the ice making container, to assure uniform distribution of the ice in the ice making container.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator according to  claim 12 , wherein the ice dispersing unit is located relatively close to one of the sides of the ice making unit. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator according to  claim 12 , wherein the ice dispersing unit includes a fixing member fixable to the body, and a plate-shaped guide member connected to the fixing member to guide the ice falling from the ice making unit. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator according to  claim 14 , wherein the guide member is tilted downwards and towards a front of the ice making container. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator according to  claim 14 , wherein the fixing member is formed of a wire. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator according to  claim 14 , wherein the fixing member is made of an elastic material. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator according to  claim 14 , wherein the guide member includes a plurality of guidelines. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator according to  claim 18 , wherein the guidelines are arranged radially, in different directions. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator according to  claim 18 , wherein the guidelines have different lengths.