Slide assemblies for refrigerators

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator which has one or more storage chambers having an open, front side. An accommodating basket is installed to be slidingly withdrawn toward a front side of the storage chamber of the refrigerator main body. A pair of slide channel units are installed on inner surfaces at both lateral sides of the storage chamber of the refrigerator main body, respectively. A pair of slide assemblies are provided inside the pair of or more slide channel units, respectively, and slidingly couple the refrigerator main body and the accommodating basket to each other. A pair of rack gear units may be provided at outer upper sides or outer lower sides of the pair of or more slide channel units, and a pair pinion units may be installed on the accommodating basket and engage the rack gear units, respectively.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a refrigerator main body which, has a storage chamber having an open front side, a pair of lateral sides and a back side;   an accommodating basket;   a pair of slide channel units which are installed on inner surfaces at both of the lateral sides of the storage chamber of the refrigerator main body, respectively;   a pair of slide assemblies which are provided inside the pair of slide channel units, respectively, and are operable for the accommodating basket to slide In a linear direction into and out from the open front side of the storage chamber of the refrigerator main body; and   a basket alignment member coupled between the accommodating basket and. each lateral side of the storage chamber of the refrigerator main body, wherein the basket, alignment member is operable for the accommodating basket to stably slide without substantially deviating side to side from the linear direction into and out from the open front side of the storage chamber of the refrigerator main body.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of claim t, wherein the basket alignment member includes:
 a pair rack gear units which are provided at outer upper sides or outer lower sides of the pair of slide channel units; and   a pair of pinion gear units coupled to the accommodating basket and engage the rack gear units, respectively.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the basket alignment member further includes a pinion rotation shaft coupled between the pair of pinion gear units. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the slide assembly includes:
 a guide rail, which is installed to be adjacent to the slide channel unit;   a sliding rail which is installed between the guide rail and the accommodating basket; and   a middle rail which is installed between the guide rail and the sliding rail.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the pair of pinion gear units, which faces each other with the accommodating basket interposed therebetween, are coaxially rotated when the accommodating basket slides in a linear direction into and out from the open front side of the storage chamber of the refrigerator main body. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the rack gear unit is installed relatively below the slide assembly, and teeth of the rack gear unit protrude downward. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the rack gear unit is installed relatively above the slide assembly, and teeth of the rack gear unit protrude upward. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the basket alignment member includes:
 a pair of rack gear units coupled to the accommodating basket so as to be directed toward inner surfaces at both lateral sides of the storage chamber of the refrigerator main body, respectively, and spaced apart from the slide channel units; and   a pair of pinion gear units coupled to the inner surfaces at both of the lateral sides of the storage chamber of the refrigerator main body and engage the rack gear units, respectively.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the basket alignment member further includes a pinion rotation shaft coupled between the pair of pinion gear units. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of claim S, wherein the slide assembly includes:
 a guide rail which is installed to be adjacent to the slide channel unit;   a sliding tail which is installed between the guide rail and the accommodating basket; and   a middle rail which is installed between the guide rail and the sliding rail.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the pair of pinion gear units, which feces each other with the accommodating basket interposed therebetween, are coaxially rotated when the accommodating basket slides in a linear direction into and out from the open front side of the storage chamber of the refrigerator main body. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the rack gear unit is positioned, above the pinion gear unit. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 the pair of slide assemblies each includes,
 a guide rail which is installed to be adjacent to the slide channel unit; and 
 a slide rail which is installed between the guide rail and the accommodating basket, and 
   the basket alignment member includes,
 a pair of rack gear units which are provided at lowers edges of the respective slide rails of the pair of slide assemblies, and 
 a pair of pinion gear traits coupled to. the respective guide rails of the pair of slide assemblies and engage the rack gear units. 
   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the basket alignment member further includes a pinion rotation shaft coupled between the pair of pinion gear units. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the pair of pinion gear units coupled together by the pinion rotation shaft are coaxially rotated together when the accommodating basket slides in the linear direction into and out from the open front side of the storage chamber of the refrigerator main body along the pair of slide assemblies.