Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator which allows a height of a shelf to be adjusted without detaching the shelf from a hanger. The refrigerator includes a main body, a storage compartment provided in the main body, a shelf hanger provided at an inner side of the storage compartment, a moving unit coupled to the shelf hanger to be movable in a vertical direction, and a shelf supported by the moving unit. The shelf includes a first shelf detachably coupled to the moving unit, a second shelf slidably coupled to the first shelf, a latch device configured to allow the second shelf to be fixed to or unfixed from the first shelf, and a first elastic member providing an elastic force to allow the second shelf to be withdrawn from the first shelf.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body;   a storage compartment provided in the main body;   a shelf hanger provided at an inner side of the storage compartment;   a moving unit coupled to the shelf hanger to be movable in a vertical direction; and   a shelf supported by the moving unit,   wherein the shelf comprises:
 a first shelf detachably coupled to the moving unit; 
 a second shelf slidably coupled to the first shelf; 
 a latch device configured to allow the second shelf to be fixed to or unfixed from the first shelf; and 
 a first elastic member providing an elastic force to allow the second shelf to be withdrawn from the first shelf. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein, when the second shelf is unfixed from the first shelf, the second shelf is withdrawn from the first shelf in a frontward direction by the elastic force of the first elastic member. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the shelf further comprises a damper provided to adjust a withdrawal speed of the second shelf. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the shelf hanger comprises a plurality of engagement projections supporting the moving unit such that a height of the moving unit is selectively adjustable. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein the moving unit comprises:
 an engagement lever engaged with or disengaged from the engagement projection to allow the moving unit to be fixed to or unfixed from the shelf hanger; and   a second elastic member configured to elastically bias the engagement lever in one direction in which the engagement lever is engaged with the engagement projection.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the engagement projection comprises a first inclined portion guiding the engagement lever to be rotated, and a second inclined portion provided at one end of the first inclined portion to support the engagement lever. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the latch device comprises:
 a first latch unit provided on the first shelf; and   a second latch unit provided on the second shelf,   wherein the first latch unit and the second latch unit are fixed or unfixed by pressing.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the shelf further comprises a rail assembly provided to allow the second shelf to be slidably moved,
 wherein the rail assembly comprises:   a first rail coupled to the first shelf;   a second rail coupled to the second shelf; and   a third rail disposed between the first rail and the second rail to increase a withdrawal distance of the second shelf.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the first shelf comprises a coupling ring provided to allow the first shelf to be detachably coupled to the moving unit. 
     
     
         10 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body;   a storage compartment formed in the main body;   a shelf hanger provided at an inner rear side of the storage compartment;   a moving unit coupled to the shelf hanger to be movable in a vertical direction; and   a shelf coupled to and supported by the moving unit,   wherein the shelf comprises:
 a first shelf detachably coupled to the moving unit; 
 a second shelf slidably coupled to the first shelf; and 
 a closing device configured to accumulate an elastic force when the second shelf is withdrawn from the first shelf and to transmit the accumulated elastic force to the second shelf when the second shelf is inserted into the first shelf to assist the insertion of the second shelf. 
   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the closing device comprises:
 a case;   a slider provided to reciprocate in the case; and   an elastic member having opposite ends supported by the slider and the case.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the closing device further comprises a guide rail provided in the case,
 wherein the guide rail comprises:   a guide portion configured to guide the slider to reciprocate; and   an engagement portion provided at one end of the guide portion to allow the slider to be rotated and fixed.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the shelf further comprises a rail assembly provided to allow the second shelf to be slidably moved,
 wherein the rail assembly comprises:   a first rail coupled to the first shelf;   a second rail coupled to the second shelf; and   a third rail disposed between the first rail and the second rail to increase a withdrawal distance of the second shelf.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the shelf hanger comprises a plurality of engagement projections supporting the moving unit such that a height of the moving unit is selectively adjustable. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 14 , wherein the moving unit comprises:
 an engagement lever provided to be rotatable and engaged with or disengaged from the engagement projection in response to rotation thereof; and   an elastic member configured to elastically bias the engagement lever to allow the engagement lever to be engaged with the engagement projection.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , wherein the engagement projection comprises:
 a first inclined portion configured to guide the engagement lever to be rotated; and   a second inclined portion provided at one end of the first inclined portion to support the engagement lever.   
     
     
         17 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body;   a storage compartment provided in the main body;   a shelf hanger provided at an inner side of the storage compartment;   a moving unit coupled to the shelf hanger to be movable in a vertical direction; and   a shelf supported by the moving unit and configured to be movable in the vertical direction of the shelf hanger together with the moving unit,   wherein the shelf comprises:
 a first shelf detachably coupled to the moving unit; and 
 a second shelf slidably coupled to the first shelf to be inserted into or withdrawn from the first shelf. 
   
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein shelf further comprises a rail assembly provided to allow the second shelf to be slidably moved,
 wherein the rail assembly comprises:   a first rail coupled to the first shelf;   a second rail coupled to the second shelf; and   a third rail disposed between the first rail and the second rail to increase a withdrawal distance of the second shelf.   
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the shelf further comprises:
 a latch device configured to allow the second shelf to be fixed to or unfixed from the first shelf; and   an elastic member provided with an elastic force to allow the second shelf to be withdrawn from the first shelf when the second shelf is unfixed from the first shelf.   
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the shelf further comprises a closing device configured to accumulate an elastic force when the second shelf is withdrawn from the first shelf and transmit the accumulated elastic force to the second shelf when the second shelf is inserted into the first shelf to assist the insertion of the second shelf.