Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator is provided in which a first cool air supply duct and a second cool air supply duct are arranged so as to at least partially overlap each other in a front-rear direction, thereby increasing space utilization in rear of a storage chamber such that an internal volume of the refrigerator is increased.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 an outer casing; and   a cool air supply duct assembly located within the outer casing, the cool air supply duct assembly comprising:
 a first cool air supply duct; and 
 a second cool air supply duct located rearwardly of the first cool air supply duct, the second cool air supply duct at least partially overlapping the first cool air supply duct in a front-rear direction. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein a vertical length of the first cool air supply duct is smaller than a vertical length of the second cool air supply duct. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the first cool air supply duct defines a first cool air flow path, and
 wherein the second cool air supply duct defines a second cool air flow path, the second cool air flow path being independent of the first cool air flow path.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein a lower end of the first cool air supply duct and a lower end of the second cool air supply duct are fastened to each other. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein a spacing between the first cool air supply duct and the second cool air supply duct in the front-rear direction increases as each of the first cool air supply duct and the second cool air supply duct extend upwardly. 
     
     
         6 . A refrigerator comprising:
 an inner casing having:
 an upper storage chamber; and 
 a lower storage chamber, the lower storage chamber being divided into a first lower storage chamber and a second lower storage chamber; 
   a first cool air supply duct located at an outer rear surface of the inner casing, the first cool air supply duct connecting the second lower storage chamber to the first lower storage chamber; and   a second cool air supply duct located rearwardly of the first cool air supply duct, the second cool air supply duct connecting the second lower storage chamber to the upper storage chamber, the second cool air supply duct at least partially overlapping the first cool air supply duct in a front-rear direction.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , further comprising a barrier located in an inner space of the inner casing, the barrier dividing the lower storage chamber into the first lower storage chamber and the second lower storage chamber. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the barrier is detachably coupled to the inner casing. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the barrier includes a connection duct assembly, the connection duct assembly including:
 a first connection duct in communication with the first cool air supply duct; and   a second connection duct in communication with the second cool air supply duct, the second connection duct located rearwardly of the first connection duct, the second connection duct at least partially overlapping the first connection duct in the front-rear direction.   
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein each of the first connection duct and the second connection duct extends in a vertical direction. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the first cool air supply duct is connected to an upper end of the first connection duct, and
 wherein the second cool air supply duct is connected to an upper end of the second connection duct.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein a lower end of the connection duct assembly is in communication with the inner space of the inner casing, and
 wherein an upper end of the connection duct assembly is located externally of the inner casing.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , further comprising a grille-fan assembly located in the second lower storage chamber, the grille-fan assembly being in communication with the connection duct assembly to blow cool air to the connection duct assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein the inner casing includes:
 an upper casing defining the upper storage chamber, the upper casing having an upper recess recessed therein in a frontward direction; and   a lower casing defining the lower storage chamber, the lower casing having a lower recess recessed therein in a frontward direction,   wherein a lower end of each of the first cool air supply duct and the second cool air supply duct is received in the lower recess, and   wherein an upper end of the second cool air supply duct is received in the upper recess.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 14 , wherein the lower recess and the upper recess at least partially overlap in a vertical direction. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein a spacing between the first cool air supply duct and the second cool air supply duct in the front-rear direction increases as each of the first cool air supply duct and the second cool air supply duct extend upwardly. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein the upper storage chamber is a first refrigerating chamber,
 wherein the second lower storage chamber is a first freezing chamber, and   wherein the first lower storage chamber is a convertible chamber that is configured to be converted between a second refrigerating chamber and a second freezing chamber.   
     
     
         18 . A refrigerator comprising:
 an inner casing having an outer rear surface;   a first cool air supply duct located adjacent the outer rear surface;   a second cool air supply duct located adjacent the outer rear surface of the inner casing and rearwardly of the first cool air supply duct, the second cool air supply duct at least partially overlapping the first cool air supply duct in a front-rear direction;   a first cool air recovery duct located adjacent the outer rear surface of the inner casing; and   a second cool air recovery duct located adjacent the outer rear surface of the inner casing,   wherein the first cool air recovery duct and the second cool air recovery duct are arranged side by side in a left-right direction.   
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 18 , wherein the inner casing has:
 an upper storage chamber; and   a lower storage chamber, the lower storage chamber being divided into a first lower storage chamber and a second lower storage chamber,   wherein each of the first cool air supply duct and the first cool air recovery duct is in communication with the second lower storage chamber and the first lower storage chamber, and   wherein each of the second cool air supply duct and the second cool air recovery duct is in communication with the second lower storage chamber and the upper storage chamber.   
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 18 , wherein a lower end of the first cool air supply duct and a lower end of the second cool air supply duct are fastened to each other in the front-rear direction, and
 wherein the first cool air recovery duct and the second cool air recovery duct are fastened to each other in the left-right direction.