Refrigerator with water purifying means

Abstract

A refrigerator with a water purifying arrangement includes a refrigerator door having a water supply passage along which water is supplied to the outside of the refrigerator; a case detachably mounted to the refrigerator door such that at least part of the case is exposed at the outside of the refrigerator door; and a water filter mounted to the case, and disposed at the refrigerator door such that water supplied along the water supply passage passes through the water filter.

1 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a refrigerator body;   a refrigerator door provided to the refrigerator body;   a water supply passage provided to the refrigerator door and along which water is supplied outside of the refrigerator door;   a case detachably mounted to the refrigerator door, the case having an exterior portion exposed to the outside of the refrigerator door; and   a water filter mounted to the case, the water filter configured to filter water supplied along the water supply passage.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the case is detachably mounted to a filter installation unit of the refrigerator door, and wherein the case includes a water supply unit for discharging water having passed through the water filter. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the water filter is disposed proximate an outlet of the water supply passage. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the case includes a filter region communicated with the water supply passage, and a water supply region having a water supply opening,
 wherein the water filter is detachably installed at the filter region, and   wherein the water supply region is disposed so as to be exposed outside of the refrigerator.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein the case is detachably mounted to a filter installation unit of the refrigerator door, and
 wherein the filter region is detachably mounted to the filter installation unit.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a dispenser provided to the refrigerator door; and   a selection device provided on an outer surface of the case for selecting a type of an object to be supplied through the dispenser.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , further comprising a filter installation unit and a dispenser provided to the refrigerator door,
 wherein the case is detachably mounted to the filter installation unit,   wherein the case is rotatably installed in the filter installation unit, and   wherein a type of object to be supplied through the dispenser is determined according to a rotation angle of the case.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the case includes a plurality of selection regions corresponding to objects to be supplied through the dispenser, and a type of object to be supplied through the dispenser is determined by its corresponding selection region being located at a preset position with respect to the filter installation unit. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein each of the selection regions is displayed with information on a corresponding object. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein a dispenser for supplying water or ice is provided to the refrigerator door, and the case and the water filter are disposed above a take-out opening of the dispenser. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein a filter lifespan display unit is provided at the case. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the filter lifespan display unit includes:
 a flow amount measuring unit configured to measure an accumulated flow amount of water having passed through the water filter;   a controller configured to compare the measured accumulated flow amount with a preset reference flow amount; and   a display unit configured to display a comparison result by the controller.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the display unit includes a plurality of light emitting devices, and the light emitting devices are disposed on the surface of the case. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the case is cylindrical, and the display unit has a ring shape to encompass an outer circumferential surface of the case. 
     
     
         15 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a refrigerator body;   a refrigerator door provided to the refrigerator body;   a water supply passage provided to the refrigerator door and along which water is supplied outside of the refrigerator door;   a case disposed on a rear surface of the refrigerator door, the case being exposed to an inner space of the refrigerator;   a water filter detachably mounted to the case, the water filter having one or more parts exposed outside of the case, the water filter configured to filter water supplied along the water supply passage; and   a filter lifespan display unit configured to display a remaining lifespan of the water filter.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , wherein the case has an open upper end, and a portion of the water filter is inserted into the open upper end of the case. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , wherein the filter lifespan display unit includes:
 a flow amount measuring unit configured to measure an accumulated flow amount of water having passed through the water filter;   a controller configured to compare the measured accumulated flow amount with a preset reference flow amount; and   a display unit provided at the case and configured to display a comparison result by the controller.   
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , wherein the filter lifespan display unit includes:
 a flow amount measuring unit configured to measure an accumulated flow amount of water having passed through the water filter;   a controller configured to compare the measured accumulated flow amount with a preset reference flow amount; and   a display unit provided on a front surface of the refrigerator door and configured to display a comparison result by the controller.   
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , wherein the refrigerator door includes at least one basket on a rear surface thereof, and the case is disposed on a side surface of the basket. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , further comprising a water supply opening provided on a bottom surface of the case and configured to discharge water filtered by the water filter therethrough.