Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator having a water supply device integrally formed with a rear surface of a storage chamber thereof. The refrigerator includes a storage chamber door to open and close a storage chamber, a dispenser mounted to the storage chamber door, and a water supply device separably connected to a rear surface of the storage chamber door adjacent to the dispenser, so as to supply water to the dispenser.

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a storage chamber door to open and close a storage chamber;   a dispenser mounted to the storage chamber door; and   a water supply device separably connected to a rear surface of the storage chamber door adjacent to the dispenser, to supply water to the dispenser.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2  further comprising a water tank assembly, wherein the water supply device further comprises a case having a receiving part to receive the water tank assembly, and
 the case is separably connected to the rear surface of the storage chamber door. 
 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the case further comprises a hook part formed on both sides of the receiving part and separably engaged with the rear surface of the storage chamber door. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , wherein the storage chamber door comprises a plurality of supporting projections formed on the rear surface thereof to support a door guard, and
 the hook parts are separably engaged with the supporting projections.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the case further comprises a cover member allowing the components mounted in the receiving part to be hidden from view from the outside. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the case comprises a first case having a first path a second case having a second path that forms an inner passage for the water through connection with the first path. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the case comprises an LED lamp displaying the state of water stored in the water tank assembly. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the water tank assembly comprises a connector connected to an external water supply source, and a water tank separably connected with the connector. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator according to  claim 8 , wherein the water tank comprises a tank body storing water, and a tank cover separably connected to an upper part of the tank body. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator according to  claim 9 , wherein the tank body is made of a transparent material. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the water supply device further comprises a filter assembly received in the receiving part of the case to clean the water supplied from the external water supply source and supply the cleaned water to the water tank assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator according to  claim 11 , wherein the filter assembly comprises a connector connected to an external water supply source, and a water cleaning filter separably connected with the connector. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator according to  claim 11 , further comprising an ice making device mounted in the storage chamber to produce ice,
 wherein the water supply device further comprises a control valve supplying the water passed through the filter assembly selectively to the ice making device or to the water tank assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator according to  claim 13 , wherein the water supply device further comprises a shielding member connected to the case to surround the control valve, so as to shield noise. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator according to  claim 8 , wherein the water supply device further comprises a supply pipe connecting the water supply device from the rear surface of the storage chamber door to the dispenser or to the external water supply source. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator according to  claim 15 , further comprising a receiving part formed at the storage chamber door; and a foam,
 wherein the receiving part secures a space in the foam so that the supply pipe is connected to the external water supply source or the dispenser in the space.   
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator according to  claim 16 , further comprising a hinge unit pivotably supporting the storage chamber door,
 wherein the receiving part is disposed adjacent to the hinge unit.   
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator according to  claim 16 , wherein the receiving part has a pipe form having a greater diameter than the supply pipe. 
     
     
         19 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body;   a refrigerating chamber disposed at an upper part of the main body;   a freezing chamber disposed at a lower part of the main body, the refrigerator comprising:   a refrigerating chamber door opening and closing the refrigerating chamber;   a water tank assembly separably connected to a rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door to store water; and   a dispenser formed on a front of the refrigerating chamber door to allow a user to take out the water stored in the water tank assembly.   
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator according to  claim 19 , wherein the water tank assembly comprises a connector connected to an external water supply source, and a water tank separably connected with the connector. 
     
     
         21 . The refrigerator according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a case to receive the water tank assembly,   wherein the case is separably connected with the rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door.   
     
     
         22 . The refrigerator according to  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a filter assembly received in the case to clean the water supplied from the external water supply source;   a foam;   a supply pipe disposed in the foam, the foam to fill an inside of the refrigerating chamber door to connect the filter assembly to the water supply source; and   a receiving part formed in the refrigerating chamber door to receive the supply pipe so that the supply pipe is movable in the foam.   
     
     
         23 . The refrigerator according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a supply pipe disposed in a foamed material filling an inside of the refrigerating chamber door to connect the water tank assembly to the dispenser; and   a receiving part formed at the dispenser to receive the supply pipe so that the supply pipe is movable in the foamed material.   
     
     
         24 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body;   a refrigerating chamber disposed at an upper part of the main body;   a refrigerating chamber door connected to the main body to open and close the refrigerating chamber;   an ice making device mounted in the refrigerating chamber to produce ice;   a dispenser mounted on a front of the refrigerating chamber door; and   a water supply device removably connected to a rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door to supply water from an external water supply source selectively to the ice making device or the dispenser.   
     
     
         25 . The refrigerator according to  claim 24 , wherein the water supply device comprises:
 a filter assembly supplied with water from the external water supply source to clean the water;   a water tank assembly storing the water cleaned by the filter assembly;   a control valve controlling supply of water to the ice making device or to the water tank assembly; and   a case receiving the filter assembly, the water tank assembly and the control valve, being separably connected to the rear surface of the refrigerating chamber door.   
     
     
         26 . The refrigerator according to  claim 25 , further comprising:
 a first supply pipe connecting the filter assembly to the water supply source;   a second supply pipe connecting the filter assembly to the control valve;   a third supply pipe connecting the control valve to the water tank assembly;   a fourth supply pipe connecting the control valve to the ice making device that produces ice; and   a fifth supply pipe connecting the water tank assembly to the dispenser through which the water is taken out.   
     
     
         27 . The refrigerator according to  claim 26 , wherein the case comprises a first case having a first path, and a second case having a second path that forms an inner passage for water through connection with the first path. 
     
     
         28 . The refrigerator according to  claim 26 , wherein the first supply pipe and the fifth supply pipe are movable within the refrigerating chamber door.