Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator including a first inner case defining a freezing compartment and a second inner case defining a refrigerating compartment. The first inner case and the second inner case are formed with rupture portions upon injection molding of the first and second inner cases. The rupture portions may be cut away to communicate the first inner case and the second inner case with each other, enabling use of the inner cases having a common configuration.

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a first inner case to define a freezing compartment; and   a second inner case to define a refrigerating compartment,   wherein the first inner case and the second inner case are formed via injection molding and are provided respectively with rupture portions, the rupture portions being cut away to communicate the first and second inner cases with each other.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the first inner case includes a seating portion indented from a rear surface thereof, so that a first cooler to cool the freezing compartment is installed in the seating portion. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the second inner case includes a guide arranged in a lower region thereof, so that a second cooler to cool the refrigerating compartment is installed to the guide. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , wherein the guide is integrally formed with the second inner case. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , wherein the rupture portions of the first inner case are located at upper and lower locations of a sidewall of the seating portion. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator according to  claim 5 , wherein the rupture portions of the second inner case are located at a sidewall of the second inner case at positions corresponding to the rupture portions of the first inner case. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , wherein the guide includes a pair of ribs protruding from opposite sides of a rear surface of the second inner case. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second inner cases communicate with each other as the rupture portions are cut away, and the first inner case is provided with a first cooler to adjust temperatures of the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , further comprising first and second coolers provided respectively in the first and second inner cases to adjust temperatures of the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment,
 wherein the rupture portions are kept without cutting away.   
     
     
         10 . A refrigerator comprising first and second inner cases to define separate storage compartments, an outer case coupled to the first and second inner cases to enclose the first and second inner cases and defining an outer appearance of the refrigerator, and a door to open or close the storage compartments,
 wherein the first and second inner cases are provided with rupture portions, the rupture portions being cut away to communicate the first and second inner cases with each other when the storage compartments are cooled using a single cooler, but being kept without cutting away when the separate storage compartments are cooled respectively using separate coolers.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator according to  claim 10 , wherein the rupture portions are formed upon injection molding of the first and second inner cases. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator according to  claim 11 , wherein the rupture portions are cut away to communicate the first and second inner cases with each other, and the first inner case is provided with a first cooler to cool the separate storage compartments. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator according to  claim 12 , further comprising a freezing-compartment cold-air duct having a cold air discharge hole through which cold air generated from the first cooler is discharged, the freezing-compartment cold-air duct being configured to cover the first cooler. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator according to  claim 11 , wherein the rupture portions are kept without cutting away, and first and second coolers are provided to cool the separate storage compartments respectively. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator according to  claim 14 , further comprising;
 a freezing-compartment cold-air duct to cover the first cooler provided in the first inner case; and   a refrigerating-compartment cold-air duct to cover the second cooler provided in the second inner case.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator according to  claim 10 , wherein the rupture portions are defined by tear lines in the first and second inner cases.