Refrigerator having air pressure adjusting apparatus for storage container

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator having an air pressure adjusting apparatus for a storage container, and more particularly, a refrigerator having an air pressure adjusting apparatus for a storage container, capable of uniformly maintaining internal air pressure of the storage container by increasing the internal air pressure by way of an introduction of external air when the internal air pressure is excessively lowered and also preventing damages of the storage container. The refrigerator includes a storage container having an inner accommodating space and installed to be drawn out of and inserted into the refrigerator, and an air pressure adjusting apparatus to allow external air to be introduced into the storage container based on internal air pressure of the storage container, so as to increase the internal air pressure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a storage container having an inner accommodating space to store stuff therein; and   an air pressure adjusting apparatus to allow external air to be introduced into the storage container based on internal air pressure of the storage container, so as to increase the internal air pressure.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the air pressure adjusting apparatus selectively allows the external air to be introduced into the storage container based on a difference between the internal air pressure of the storage container and air pressure external to the storage container. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , further comprising a vacuum pump to suck internal air of the storage container,
 wherein the air pressure adjusting apparatus allows the external air to be introduced into the storage container when the internal air pressure of the storage container is lowered below a predetermined air pressure by the vacuum pump.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the air pressure adjusting apparatus comprises:
 a casing having a through hole formed through the casing to allow for an introduction of the external air therethrough; and   a movable member installed in the casing to be movable toward and away from the through hole so as to selectively open and close the through hole based on a difference between the internal air pressure of the storage container and the air pressure external to the storage container.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein the casing is formed in a shape of a hollow tube, the casing having an upper portion with the through hole formed therethrough, and a lower portion open and communicates with the inner accommodating space of the storage container. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein the movable member is formed of rubber. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein the air pressure adjusting apparatus further comprises:
 is a supporting member fixedly installed within the casing and spaced apart from the movable member; and   an elastic member fixedly installed between the movable member and the supporting member.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the casing comprises a cylindrical part formed in a shape of a hollow circular pipe, and
 a first contact portion at an inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical part onto which the movable member is adhered, and a second contact portion at the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical part onto which the supporting member is adhered.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the movable member comprises:
 an opening/closing portion to open and close the through hole;   a deformable portion that resiliently deforms with movements of the opening/closing portion; and   an elastic member fixing portion to fix the elastic member to the movable member.   
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the deformable portion comprises:
 a plurality of air holes formed through the deformable portion in a thickness direction of the deformable portion.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the deformable portion is formed as a circular rubber member adhered onto an inner circumferential surface of the is cylindrical casing, and
 wherein the deformable portion is concavely deformed and restored in the thickness direction thereof in response to the movements of the opening/closing portion located at a central portion of the casing, with an outer circumference of the deformable portion being fixedly adhered onto the inner circumferential surface of the cylindrical casing.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the elastic member is implemented as a spring. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the supporting member comprises:
 an elastic member fixing portion to fix the elastic member to the supporting member; and   a plurality of air holes formed through the supporting member in a thickness direction of the supporting member.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the supporting member comprises:
 an elastic member fixing portion formed on an upper surface of the supporting member to fix the elastic member;   a plurality of air holes formed through the supporting member in a thickness direction of the supporting member;   a frame fixedly adhered onto the second contact portion; and   a plurality of supporting legs extending from the frame toward a central portion of the supporting member,   wherein the supporting member fixedly supports the elastic member fixing is portion from the inner circumferential surface of the casing.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the storage container comprises:
 a box having a front part and a main body, and forming the inner accommodating space, the box being capable of being drawn out and inserted; and   a box receiving unit to receive the box therein in an airtight state.