Non-freezing storage unit and refrigerator including the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a non-freezing storage unit which can store food at a temperature below 0° C. without freezing the food, and a refrigerator including the same. The non-freezing storage unit includes an outer casing with one open surface, a drawer which can be pulled out and detached through the open surface of the outer casing, a sensor located on one surface of the outer casing and sensing a temperature of food located in the drawer, a thermal conductive member installed on one surface of the drawer facing the sensor and transferring the temperature of the food in the drawer to the sensor, and a heater installed in the outer casing. The non-freezing storage unit is located in a cooling space to store food in a non-frozen state at a temperature below 0° C.

1 . A non-freezing storage unit, comprising:
 an outer casing with one open surface;   a drawer which can be pulled out and detached through the open surface of the outer casing;   a sensor located on one surface of the outer casing and sensing a temperature of food located in the drawer;   a thermal conductive member installed on one surface of the drawer facing the sensor and transferring the temperature of the food in the drawer to the sensor; and   a heater installed in the outer casing,   wherein the non-freezing storage unit is located in a cooling space to store food in a non-frozen state at a temperature below 0° C.   
     
     
         2 . The non-freezing storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein an insulation material is filled in the outer casing. 
     
     
         3 . The non-freezing storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal conductive member comprises a metal plate located on a bottom surface of the drawer and receiving a temperature change of the food, and a contact point portion transferring the temperature change between the metal plate and the sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The non-freezing storage unit of  claim 3 , wherein the contact point portion is downwardly protruded from the bottom surface of the drawer. 
     
     
         5 . The non-freezing storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein a handle for use in pulling the drawer out is provided on one surface of the drawer corresponding to the open surface of the outer casing. 
     
     
         6 . The non-freezing storage unit of  claim 5 , wherein the handle comprises a grip portion and a hook portion moved in cooperation with the grip portion, and the outer casing comprises a hooked portion on which the hook portion is hooked. 
     
     
         7 . The non-freezing storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein a gasket for use in sealing up the inner space is provided on one surface of the drawer corresponding to the open surface of the outer casing. 
     
     
         8 . The non-freezing storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the outer casing and the drawer comprise guide portions for guiding the movement of the drawer, respectively, and the guide portions guide the drawer so that the drawer can be located lower in the outer casing than during the movement, when the drawer is completely inserted into the outer casing. 
     
     
         9 . The non-freezing storage unit of  claim 8 , wherein, when the drawer is inserted into the outer casing and downwardly moved by the guide portions, the sensor and the thermal conductive member are brought into contact with each other. 
     
     
         10 . The non-freezing storage unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a fan installed in the outer casing and producing the flow of the air in the unit. 
     
     
         11 . The non-freezing storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the heater comprises an upper heater installed on an inside top surface of the outer casing and a lower heater installed on an inside bottom surface of the outer casing. 
     
     
         12 . The non-freezing storage unit of  claim 11 , further comprising a sensor for sensing a temperature in the unit which is installed at an upper portion of the outer casing and senses a temperature of the air in the drawer. 
     
     
         13 . The non-freezing storage unit of  claim 12 , wherein a heating value of the upper heater is adjusted according to the temperature measured by the sensor for sensing the temperature in the unit, and a heating value of the lower heater is adjusted according to the temperature measured by the sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The non-freezing storage unit of  claim 12 , wherein the heating values of the upper heater and the lower heater are controlled so that the temperature in the inside upper portion of the unit can be higher than the temperature in the inside lower portion of the unit by about 1 to 2° C. 
     
     
         15 . The non-freezing storage unit of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the upper heater and the lower heater comprises a plurality of individual heaters, at least one of the plurality of individual heaters is constantly operated, and the other individual heaters are turned on/off according to the temperature in the unit. 
     
     
         16 . The non-freezing storage unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a side casing located on a side surface of the outer casing and having a display portion and a button portion at the front. 
     
     
         17 . The non-freezing storage unit of  claim 16 , further comprising a control panel installed in the side casing, cooperating with the display portion, the button portion and the sensor, and controlling electric components in the unit. 
     
     
         18 . The non-freezing storage unit of  claim 1 , wherein the heater is a thermoelectric element having the flowing current and voltage controlled to adjust the temperature in the non-freezing storage unit. 
     
     
         19 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a non-freezing storage unit as recited  claim 1 ; and   a cooling space cooled by a freezing cycle and having the non-freezing storage unit therein.   
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 19 , wherein a temperature in the non-freezing storage unit is maintained at about −2° C. to −4° C., raised to normal temperature when it is determined that the food has been frozen on the basis of a food temperature change sensed by a sensor, and lowered again to −2° C. to −4° C. to store the food.