Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a main body having a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment. A refrigerating compartment door is rotatably coupled to the main body to open and close at least a part of the refrigerating compartment, and includes an ice-making compartment and a dispenser. An auxiliary door opens and closes the ice-making compartment, and a cold air duct connects the ice-making compartment to the freezing compartment to cool the ice-making compartment. The ice-making compartment is formed on a front surface of the refrigerating compartment door such that access to the ice-making compartment is allowed via the auxiliary door with the refrigerating compartment door closed. The auxiliary door has an opening corresponding to the dispenser such an access to the dispenser is allowed with the auxiliary door closed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body having a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment;   a refrigerating compartment door rotatably coupled to the main body to open and close at least a part of the refrigerating compartment, and including an ice-making compartment and a dispenser on a front surface of the refrigerating compartment door;   an auxiliary door coupled to the refrigerating compartment door, to open and close the ice-making compartment, such that the auxiliary door is configured to allow a user to access the ice-making compartment with the refrigerating compartment door closed;   the auxiliary door having an opening corresponding to the dispenser and configured such that a user can access the dispenser with the auxiliary door closed; and   a cold air duct connecting the ice-making compartment to the freezing compartment to cool the ice-making compartment.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 the freezing compartment includes a storage space in which food is stored and a heat exchange space in which an evaporator is disposed,   the cold air duct includes a supply duct configured to supply cold air from the heat exchange space to the ice-making compartment and a recovery duct configured to recover cold air from the ice-making compartment to the heat exchange space.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein
 the supply duct includes a main body supply duct in the main body and a door supply duct in the refrigerating compartment door, and   when the refrigerating compartment door is closed, the main body supply duct and the door supply duct are connected to each other, and when the refrigerating compartment door is opened, the main body supply duct and the door supply duct are separated from each other.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein
 the recovery duct includes a main body recovery duct in the main body and a door recovery duct in the refrigerating compartment door, and   when the refrigerating compartment door is closed, the main body recovery duct and the door recovery duct are connected to each other, and when the refrigerating compartment door is opened, the main body recovery duct and the door recovery duct are separated from each other.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , further comprising an evaporator duct in the freezing compartment to divide the freezing compartment into the storage space and the heat exchange space,
 wherein the cold air duct is coupled to the evaporator duct.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , further comprising a damper in the evaporator duct to control supply of cold air into the ice making compartment through the cold air duct. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 the front surface of the refrigerating compartment door includes a door front plate, and   the refrigerating compartment door includes a door rear plate forming a rear surface of the refrigerating compartment door, and an insulator provided between the door front plate and the door rear plate.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the dispenser includes a dispenser housing recessed to form a dispensing space, a chute configured to guide ice of the ice-making compartment to the dispensing space, and a lever configured to be manipulated by a user to operate the dispenser. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the door front plate includes a dispenser installation hole that is open to install the dispenser housing therein. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the door front plate includes a bottom surface forming a lower surface of the ice making compartment, and the bottom surface is formed with an ice pathway hole configured to communicate the ice-making compartment with the chute. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the dispenser includes a chute opening/closing device to open and close the chute. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the door front plate includes a water filter accommodating portion recessed therein to accommodate a water filter configured to purify water therein. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the door rear plate includes a water tank accommodating portion recessed therein to accommodate a water tank configured to store water therein. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator  claim 13 , further comprising a valve in the water tank accommodating portion and configured to control supply of water purified by the water filter into the water tank or the ice making compartment. 
     
     
         15 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body having a refrigerating compartment and a freezing compartment; and   a refrigerating compartment door rotatably coupled to the main body to open and close at least a part of the refrigerating compartment, the refrigerating compartment door including:
 an ice-making compartment on a front surface of the refrigerating compartment door and configured such that access to the ice-making compartment by a user is allowed with the refrigerating compartment door closed, the ice-making compartment including an ice maker; 
 a dispenser configured to supply water or ice; 
 a water filter configured to be connected to an external water supply source, and configured to purify water; 
 a water tank configured to store water; and 
 a valve configured to control supply of the water purified by the water filter into the water tank or the ice maker. 
   
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , further comprising an auxiliary door provided at a front of the refrigerating door to open and close the ice-making compartment. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , wherein the auxiliary door has an opening corresponding to the dispenser and configured such that access to the dispenser by a user is allowed with the auxiliary door closed. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , further comprising an evaporator in the freezing compartment to cool the freezing compartment, and a cold air duct to cool the ice making compartment using cold air generated from the evaporator. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 18 , wherein
 the freezing compartment includes a storage space in which food is stored and a heat exchange space in which an evaporator is disposed, and   the cold air duct includes a supply duct configured to supply cold air from the heat exchange space to the ice-making compartment and a recovery duct configured to recover cold air from the ice-making compartment to the heat exchange space.   
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 18 , further comprising a damper configured to provide or block cold air supplied into the ice making compartment through the cold air duct.