Ice Maker and Refrigerator Having Same

Abstract

An ice maker and a refrigerator having the same are disclosed. According to one aspect, a refrigerator may include a main body having a storage room therein; a door on the main body, configured to open and close the storage room; and an ice maker in the storage room. The ice maker includes a case; an ice making assembly in the case, configured to make ice; an ice tray configured to contain water; a discharge unit configured to discharge the ice in the ice making assembly; and a transfer unit configured to move the ice in the ice making assembly to the discharge unit. The discharge unit and the case are elastically coupled at one side or end and tension-coupled at another side or end.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body having a storage room therein;   a door on the main body, configured to open and close the storage room; and   an ice maker in the storage room, wherein the ice maker includes:
 a case; 
 an ice making assembly in the case, configured to make ice; 
 an ice tray configured to contain water; 
 a discharge unit configured to discharge the ice in the ice making assembly; and 
 a transfer unit configured to move the ice in the ice making assembly to the discharge unit, wherein the discharge unit and the case are elastically coupled at one side or end and tension-coupled at another side or end. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the discharge unit includes:
 a discharge unit housing having an open side;   a discharge unit cover on the open side of the discharge unit housing; and   a bar or strike, at least part of which is between the discharge unit housing and the discharge unit cover.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the discharge unit housing includes:
 an insertion hole through which part of the bar or strike passes; and   a first catch at a position that does not overlap with the insertion hole, wherein the first catch includes:
 an insertion guide unit that slopes toward the discharge unit housing; 
 an insert-fixing unit between an end of the insertion guide unit and the discharge unit housing, comprising a recessed groove or depression; and 
 an insert-latching unit on a side of the discharge unit housing, the insert-latching unit protruding upwards. 
   
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , wherein the case includes:
 a first latching unit corresponding to the insertion hole;   a second latching unit corresponding to a protrusion groove; and   a second catch configured to retain and deformably release the bar or strike, the second catch being connected to the first latching unit, wherein the bar or strike is retractable and extendable.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator according to  claim 3 , wherein the discharge unit cover includes a resting groove containing at least part of the bar or strike,
 one or more uppermost surfaces of the bar or strike extend through the insertion hole, and the ice maker further includes an elastic member under the bar or strike, and   the elastic member applies an elastic force to the bar or strike.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator according to  claim 5 , wherein the elastic member comprises one or more springs. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator according to  claim 4 , wherein the second catch includes:
 a first fixing unit at a front end of the second catch that slopes downwards from front to rear; and   a second fixing unit adjacent to and/or behind the first fixing unit, corresponding to one or more uppermost surfaces of the bar or strike.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator according to  claim 4 , wherein the second latching unit includes:
 a prominence unit extending from a top to a bottom of an end or side of the second latching unit; and   a supporting unit in front of or adjacent to the prominence unit and sloping downwards as a function of distance from the discharge unit housing, and   when the first catch is in and/or coupled to the second latching unit, the insert-fixing unit is fixed to the prominence unit, and the insertion guide unit contacts a back side of the prominence unit.   
     
     
         9 . An ice maker for a refrigerator, the ice maker comprising:
 a case;   an ice making assembly in the case, configured to make ice;   an ice tray configured to contain water;   a discharge unit configured to discharge the ice in the ice making assembly; and   a transfer unit configured to move the ice in the ice making assembly to the discharge unit, wherein the discharge unit includes:
 a discharge unit housing having one open side; 
 a discharge unit cover on the open side of the discharge unit housing; 
 a bar or strike and an elastic member, wherein the bar or strike is at or near a top of the discharge unit housing; and 
 a bent catch is at or near a bottom of the discharge unit housing, and the bent catch is insertable into and removeable from the case to detachably couple the bent catch therein or thereto. 
   
     
     
         10 . The ice maker according to  claim 9 , wherein at least part of the bar or strike is between the discharge unit housing and the discharge unit cover, and the ice maker further comprises a second catch coupled to the case, configured to engage with the bar or strike. 
     
     
         11 . The ice maker according to  claim 9 , comprising a first latching unit on or at a top of the case, and a second latching unit on or at a bottom of the case, wherein the second catch is coupled to or part of the first latching unit, and the bent catch is coupled to or part of the second latching unit. 
     
     
         12 . The ice maker according to  claim 11 , wherein the second latching unit includes a prominence unit extending from a top to a bottom of an end or side of the second latching unit, forming a space behind the prominence unit, wherein the bent catch includes:
 an insertion guide unit that slopes toward the discharge unit housing;   an insert-fixing unit between an end of the insertion guide unit and the discharge unit housing, comprising a recessed groove or depression; and   an insert-latching unit on a side of the discharge unit housing, the insert-latching unit protruding upwards.   
     
     
         13 . The ice maker according to  claim 10 , wherein the second catch includes:
 a first fixing unit at a front end of the second catch that slopes downwards from front to rear; and   a second fixing unit to and/or behind the first fixing unit, corresponding to one or more uppermost surfaces of the bar or strike.   
     
     
         14 . The ice maker according to  claim 13 , wherein when the first fixing unit applies a force to the bar or strike, the one or more uppermost surfaces of the bar or strike at least partially retract into the discharge unit housing. 
     
     
         15 . The ice maker according to  claim 9 , further comprising a gasket configured to seal a gap between the discharge unit housing and the case. 
     
     
         16 . The ice maker according to  claim 15 , wherein the gasket is coupled to the discharge unit cover.