Refrigerator

Abstract

Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes an outer case forming an exterior of the refrigerator; an inner case provided in the outer case and defining a storage compartment, the inner case including a first inner wall and a second inner wall opposing the first inner wall; and an ice maker mounted in the inner case and to make ice, the ice maker including an ice maker case, wherein the ice maker case includes: a first ice maker case wall supported by the first inner wall; a second ice maker case wall supported by the second inner wall; and an elastic protrusion provided on the first ice maker case wall, the elastic protrusion being configured to interfere with the first inner wall and to be elastically deformable in a direction in which the elastic protrusion is pressed by the first inner wall.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 an outer case forming an exterior of the refrigerator;   an inner case provided in the outer case and defining a storage compartment, the inner case comprising a first inner wall and a second inner wall opposing the first inner wall; and   an ice maker mounted in the inner case and to make ice, the ice maker comprising an ice maker case,   wherein the ice maker case comprises:
 a first ice maker case wall supported by the first inner wall; 
 a second ice maker case wall supported by the second inner wall; and 
 an elastic protrusion provided on the first ice maker case wall, the elastic protrusion being configured to interfere with the first inner wall and to be elastically deformable in a direction in which the elastic protrusion is pressed by the first inner wall. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic protrusion is pressed in a direction from the first inner wall toward the second inner wall by the first inner wall. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the elastic protrusion comprises an interference portion protruding in a first direction from the first ice maker case wall toward the first inner wall and to interfere with the first inner wall, and   wherein the interference portion extends in a second direction parallel to the first inner wall.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the interference portion comprises:
 a contact surface provided at one end of the interference portion and configured to come in contact with the first inner wall; and 
 a corner surface provided at an end of the contact surface in the second direction, and 
   wherein the corner surface is inclined relative to the second direction and extends from the contact surface in a direction moving away from the first inner wall.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the second direction is parallel to a forward-backward direction of the inner case. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the interference portion is configured to be movable in a direction parallel to the first direction by being elastically deformed. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the elastic protrusion comprises a connecting portion connected to the first ice maker case wall, and   wherein the connecting portion is configured to be elastically deformable about a fixed end thereof fixed to the first ice maker case wall.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 ,
 wherein the elastic protrusion is pressed in a first direction by the first inner wall, and   wherein the connecting portion extends from the fixed end in a direction different from the first direction.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the first ice maker case wall comprises a cut-open portion formed in the direction in which the connecting portion extends, and   wherein the connecting portion is provided at the cut-open portion.   
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 ,
 wherein the elastic protrusion further comprises an interference portion configured to protrude in the first direction and to interfere with the first inner wall, and   wherein the interference portion is bent from a free end of the connecting portion opposing the fixed end thereof and extends in the first direction.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the first inner wall comprises a holder configured to support the first ice maker case wall, and   wherein the elastic protrusion is provided under the holder.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 ,
 wherein the holder extends in a direction parallel to a forward-backward direction of the inner case, and   wherein the ice maker case is mounted by sliding from a front of the inner case toward a rear thereof along the holder.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the ice maker case further comprises a plurality of elastic protrusions including the elastic protrusion, and   wherein the plurality of elastic protrusions are arranged in an up-down direction.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the elastic protrusion is a first elastic protrusion,   wherein the ice maker case further comprises a second elastic protrusion provided on the second ice maker case wall, and   wherein the second elastic protrusion is configured to interfere with the second inner wall and to be elastically deformable in a direction in which the second elastic protrusion is pressed by the second inner wall.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the inner case further comprises an opening formed at a front of the storage compartment and a rear wall formed at a rear of the storage compartment and configured to face the opening of the inner case, and   wherein the elastic protrusion is disposed to be closer to the opening of the inner case than to the rear wall of the inner case.   
     
     
         16 . An ice maker comprising:
 at least one ice making tray configured to receive and hold an amount of water; and   an ice maker case configured to support the at least one ice making tray,   wherein the ice maker case comprises:
 a first ice maker case wall configured to be supported by a first inner wall of a refrigerator; 
 a second ice maker case wall configured to be supported by a second inner wall of the refrigerator; and 
 an elastic protrusion provided on the first ice maker case wall, the elastic protrusion being configured to interfere with the first inner wall when the ice maker is mounted in the refrigerator and to be elastically deformable in a direction in which the elastic protrusion is pressed by the first inner wall when the ice maker is mounted in the refrigerator. 
   
     
     
         17 . The ice maker of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the elastic protrusion comprises a connecting portion configured to be connected to the first ice maker case wall, and   wherein the connecting portion is configured to be elastically deformable about a fixed end thereof fixed to the first ice maker case wall.   
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 ,
 wherein the elastic protrusion is configured to deflect in a first direction when the ice maker is mounted in the refrigerator, and   wherein the connecting portion extends from the fixed end in a direction different from the first direction.   
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the first ice maker case wall comprises a cut-open portion formed in the direction in which the connecting portion extends, and   wherein the connecting portion is provided at the cut-open portion.