Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator with a rack capable of dividing a storage compartment of the refrigerator in different division configurations. Guide rails are installed on the inner sidewalls of the storage compartment. The rack includes a plate member and support parts having a plurality of seating portions disposed in different heights from the plate member. Based on a preferred height of the plate member, a user can select a seating portion of the support parts to couple the rack to the guide rails. Further, the support parts are configured to couple the rack to the guide rail with the plate member facing down as well as facing up.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body comprising a storage compartment;   guide rails coupled to the main body and configured to protrude toward each other from inner sidewalls of the storage compartment; and   a rack configured to be supported by the guide rails and to partition the storage compartment into a plurality of regions, and   wherein the rack comprises at least one support part operable to couple the rack to the guide rails at different height positions with reference to the main body.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the rack comprises:
 a plate member configured to partition the storage compartment; and   support parts disposed at opposite lateral ends of the plate member and operable to be coupled to the guide rails.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein each of the support parts comprises a first seating portion coupled to the plate member and a second seating portion disposed on a lower surface of the first seating portion. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the second seating portion comprises:
 an extension wall portion extending from a lower surface of the first seating portion and oriented perpendicular to the first seating portion; and   a bent portion bent outward from an end of the extension wall portion and oriented parallel to the first seating portion.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein each of the first seating portion and the second seating portion comprises a seating projection,
 wherein each of the guide rails comprises a recess formed on an upper surface thereof and inwardly depressed in a shape that is conformal to a contour of the seating projection, and   wherein the seating projection is operable to be inserted into the recess.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the seating projection comprises:
 a first seating projection protruding from a lower surface of the first seating portion;   a second seating projection protruding from an upper surface of the bent portion of the second seating portion; and   a third seating projection protruding from a lower surface of the second seating portion.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein the first seating projection, the second seating projection and the third seating projection are of a substantially same shape. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein any one of the first seating projection, the second seating projection and the third seating projection is operable to be inserted into the recess. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein plate member comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and
 wherein the support parts are configured to couple both the plate member to the guide rails with the first surface facing upward and with the first surface facing downward.   
     
     
         10 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body comprising a storage compartment;   a plate member configured to partition the storage compartment into a plurality of regions;   support parts coupled to opposite lateral ends of the plate member, wherein each of the support parts comprises a first seating portion and a second seating portion; and   guide rails protruding toward each other from inner sidewalls of the storage compartment and configured to be coupled to the support parts,   wherein the first seating portion and the second seating portion are disposed at different heights and are operable to couple the plate member to the guide rails at different height positions.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein each of the first seating portion and the second seating portion comprises a seating projection, and
 wherein each of the guide rails comprises a recess configured to receive the seating projection of the first seating portion or the second seating portion.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the storage compartment is operable to be partitioned into a plurality of spaces with different partition configurations depending on a position of the seating projection that is disposed inside the recess. 
     
     
         13 . A rack for a refrigerator, the rack comprising:
 a plate member configured to partition a storage compartment of the refrigerator into a plurality of storage regions; and   support parts disposed at opposite lateral ends of the plate member,   wherein the support parts are configured to couple the plate member to the refrigerator at a plurality of height positions.   
     
     
         14 . The rack of  claim 13 , wherein each of the support parts comprises a first seating portion coupled to the plate member and a second seating portion disposed on a lower surface of the first seating portion. 
     
     
         15 . The rack of  claim 14 , wherein the second seating portion comprises:
 an extension wall portion extending from a lower surface of the first seating portion and oriented perpendicular to the first seating portion; and   a bent portion bent outward from an end of the extension wall portion and oriented parallel to the first seating portion.   
     
     
         16 . The rack of  claim 15 , wherein each of the first seating portion and the second seating portion comprises a seating projection. 
     
     
         17 . The rack of  claim 16 , wherein the seating projection comprises:
 a first seating projection protruding from a lower surface of the first seating portion;   a second seating projection protruding from an upper surface of the bent portion of the second seating portion; and   a third seating projection protruding from a lower surface of the second seating portion.   
     
     
         18 . The rack of  claim 17 , wherein the first seating projection, the second seating projection and the third seating projection are of a same geometry. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the plate member comprises a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and
 wherein the support parts are configured to couple both the plate member to the refrigerator with the first surface faces upward and with the first surface facing downward.