Refrigerator

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator. A refrigerator of the present invention may comprise: a first tray assembly forming a part of ice-making cells; a second tray assembly forming the other part of the ice-making cells; and a heater. In order to reduce the transfer heat, which is transferred from the heater to any one of the first and second tray assemblies, to ice-making cells formed by the other tray assembly, the one tray assembly may comprise a first part forming at least a part of the ice-making cells. The degree of heat transfer of the first part may vary along the outer circumferential surfaces of the ice-making cells.

1 . An ice maker comprising:
 a first tray assembly configured to define a portion of an ice making cell having a space in which water is phase-changed into ice by cold air;   a second tray assembly configured to define another portion of the ice making cell; and   a heater disposed adjacent to at least one tray assembly of the first tray assembly or the second tray assembly,   wherein the at least one tray assembly comprises a tray and a tray case to support the tray,   the tray includes a first portion defining at least a portion of the ice making cell and made of a flexible material, and   the first portion has different degree of heat transfer in a direction along an outer circumferential surface of the ice making cell to reduce transfer of heat, the heat being transferred from the heater to one tray assembly of the first and second tray assemblies, to an ice making cell defined by the other tray assembly of first and second tray assemblies.   
     
     
         2 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the degree of heat transfer indicates a degree of heat transfer from a high-temperature object to a low-temperature object. 
     
     
         3 . The ice maker of  claim 2 , wherein the degree of heat transfer is defined as a value determined by at least one of a shape including a thickness of an object or a material of the object. 
     
     
         4 . The ice maker of  claim 3 , wherein a high degree of the heat transfer of the object represents that thermal conductivity of the object is high, or
 the more the thickness in a path direction in which heat is transferred from a point A to a point B decreases, the more the degree of heat transfer from the point A to the point B decreases, or   the greater the thickness in the path direction from which the heat from point A to point B is transferred, the more the degree of heat transfer from point A to point B.   
     
     
         5 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the tray includes a portion having greater degree of thermal conductivity than that of the tray case, or
 the tray includes a portion having lesser degree of deformation resistance than the tray case, or   the tray includes a portion having greater degree of restoration than the tray case.   
     
     
         6 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the tray case comprises a tray supporter and a tray cover. 
     
     
         7 . The ice maker of  claim 6 , wherein the tray supporter and the tray cover are integrally provided, or are coupled to each other after being manufactured in separate configurations. 
     
     
         8 . The ice maker of  claim 6 , wherein the tray cover is manufactured as a separate part from a bracket and then is coupled to the bracket or integrally formed with the bracket. 
     
     
         9 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the tray comprises a first region and a second region having a greater degree of heat transfer than the first region. 
     
     
         10 . The ice maker of  claim 9 , wherein the second region has a less degree of restoration than the first region. 
     
     
         11 . The ice maker of  claim 9 , wherein the first region is located closer to the heater than the second region, or
 the first region comprises a portion in which the heater is located.   
     
     
         12 . The ice maker of  claim 9 , wherein the second region comprises a portion in which the first and second tray assemblies contact each other. 
     
     
         13 . The ice maker of  claim 9 , wherein a portion of the first region has a less degree of heat transfer than the other portion of the first region, or
 a portion of the first region has a less degree of deformation resistance and a greater degree of restoration than the other portion of the first region.   
     
     
         14 . The ice maker of  claim 9 , wherein a thickness of a portion of the first region from a center of the ice making cell in an outer circumferential direction of the ice making cell is less than that of the other portion of the first region. 
     
     
         15 . The ice maker of  claim 9 , wherein the tray further comprises a second portion extending from a predetermined point of the first portion, and
 at least a portion of the second portion extends in a direction away from an ice making cell defined by the other tray assembly of the first and second tray assemblies.   
     
     
         16 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the heater is in contact with the first portion. 
     
     
         17 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the tray further comprises a second portion extending from a predetermined point of the first portion. 
     
     
         18 . The ice maker of  claim 17 , wherein at least a portion of the second portion extends in a direction away from an ice making cell defined by the other tray assembly of the first and second tray assemblies. 
     
     
         19 . The ice maker of  claim 17 , wherein the second portion comprises a portion extending from the predetermined point in a horizontal direction and a portion extending upward and downward with respect to a horizontal line passing through a center of the ice making cell. 
     
     
         20 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a storage chamber; and   an ice maker of  claim 1 .