Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator according to the present invention may comprise a first tray assembly forming one part of ice-making cells, and a second tray assembly forming the other part of same. Any one tray assembly, from among the first and second tray assemblies, comprises a first part forming at least a part of the ice-making cells, and a second part extending from a set point on the first part so as to reduce water supplied to the ice-making cells from leaking through a space between the first and second tray assemblies.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a storage chamber configured to store food;   a cooler configured to supply cold into the storage chamber;   a first temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature within the storage chamber;   a first tray assembly configured to define a portion of an ice making cell that is a space in which water is phase-changed into ice by the cold;   a second tray assembly configured to define another portion of the ice making cell, the second tray assembly being connected to a driver to contact the first tray assembly in an ice making process and to be spaced apart from the first tray assembly in an ice separation process;   a water supply part configured to supply the water into the ice making cell;   a second temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the water or the ice within the ice making cell;   a transparent ice heater disposed adjacent to at least one of the first tray assembly or the second tray assembly; and   a controller configured to control the transparent ice heater and the driver,   wherein the controller is configured to control the second tray assembly so that the second tray assembly moves to an ice separation position in a forward direction so as to take out the ice in the ice making cell when the ice is completely made in the ice making cell,   the controller is configured to perform control so that a supply of the water starts after the second tray assembly moves to a water supply position in a reverse direction when the ice is completely separated,   the controller is configured to control the transparent ice heater to be turned on in at least partial section while the cooler supplies the cold so that bubbles dissolved in the water within the ice making cell moves from a portion, at which the ice is made, toward the water that is in a liquid state to make transparent ice,   one tray assembly of the first and second tray assemblies comprises a first portion defining at least a portion of the ice making cell and a second portion extending from a predetermined point of the first portion to reduce leakage of the water supplied to the ice making cell between the first and second tray assemblies.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the second portion extends in a direction away from the ice making cell defined by the other tray assembly of the first and second tray assemblies. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion comprises a first extension part extending from a first point of the first portion and a second extension part extending from a second point of the first portion, and
 wherein a length of the second extension part in a horizontal direction is greater than that of the first extension part.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the other tray assembly of the first and second tray assemblies comprises a third portion defining at least a portion of the ice making cell and a fourth portion extending from a predetermined point of the third portion, and
 wherein at least a portion of the second portion is spaced apart from the fourth portion.   
     
     
         5 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a storage chamber configured to store food;   a cooler configured to supply cold into the storage chamber;   a first tray assembly configured to define a portion of an ice making cell that is a space in which water is phase-changed into ice by the cold;   a second tray assembly configured to define another portion of the ice making cell, the second tray assembly being connected to a driver to contact the first tray assembly in an ice making process and to be spaced apart from the first tray assembly in an ice separation process;   a water supply part configured to supply the water into the ice making cell;   a transparent ice heater disposed adjacent to at least one of the first tray assembly or the second tray assembly;   an ice separation heater configured to supply heat to the ice making cell in the ice separation process; and   a controller configured to control the transparent ice heater and the driver,   wherein the controller is configured to control the second tray assembly so that the second tray assembly moves to an ice separation position in a forward direction so as to take out the ice in the ice making cell when the ice is completely made in the ice making cell,   the controller is configured to perform control so that a supply of the water starts after the second tray assembly moves to a water supply position in a reverse direction when the ice is completely separated,   the controller is configured to control the transparent ice heater to be turned on in at least partial section while the cooler supplies the cold so that bubbles dissolved in the water within the ice making cell moves from a portion, at which the ice is made, toward the water that is in a liquid state to make transparent ice,   one tray assembly of the first and second tray assemblies comprises a first portion defining at least a portion of the ice making cell and a second portion extending from a predetermined point of the first portion.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein at least a portion of the second portion extends in a direction away from the ice making cell defined by the other tray assembly of the first and second tray assemblies. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the other tray assembly of the first and second tray assemblies comprises a third portion defining at least a portion of the ice making cell and a fourth portion extending from a predetermined point of the third portion, and
 wherein at least a portion of the second portion is spaced apart from the fourth portion.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the third portion comprises a first contact surface contacting the first portion, and
 wherein the first portion comprises a second contact surface contacting the first contact surface.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the second portion is positioned higher than the first contacting surface. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the second portion includes a curved portion. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the second portion is spaced apart from the fourth portion to define a space. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein the space extends to a point equal to or higher than an upper end of the ice making cell. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein a portion of the second portion is located farther from a vertical line passing through a center of the ice making cell than a portion of the fourth portion. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the other tray assembly of the first and second tray assemblies comprises a through-hole for a water supply,
 wherein the second portion includes a portion positioned higher than the through-hole.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 14 , wherein the fourth portion includes a portion positioned higher than the through-hole. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the one tray assembly comprises a tray having the first portion and the second portion the ice making cell and a tray case supporting the tray, and
 wherein the tray case includes a tray cover and a tray supporter.   
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , wherein the tray cover is configured to surround the second portion and spaced apart from at least a portion of the fourth portion. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the one tray assembly comprises a tray having the first portion and the second portion the ice making cell and a tray case supporting the tray,
 a degree of deformation resistance of the tray is less than that of the tray case.   
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 18 , wherein the tray case includes a tray cover and a tray supporter, and
 wherein the tray cover and the tray supporter are integrally formed or coupled to each other with each other after being manufactured in separate configurations.   
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 19 , wherein the tray support is configured to support at least a portion of the first portion, and the tray cover is configured to surround at least a portion of the second portion.