Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator including; an inner cabinet forming a storage compartments; a fixed rail on an inner wall of the inner cabinet; a movable rail that is slidable along the fixed rail between a first rail position, at which the movable rail is inserted, and a second rail position, at which the movable rail is withdrawn; and a sliding case that is slidable along the movable rail between a first case position, at which the sliding case is inserted with respect to the movable rail, and a second rail position, at which the sliding case is withdrawn from the first case position with respect to the movable rail. The movable rail is configured to be locked to the fixed rail at the first rail position, and to be released from the fixed rail in response to the movable rail moving from the first rail position to the second rail position.

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 an outer case;   an inner case inside the outer case and forming a storage compartment;   a fixed rail on an inner wall of the inner case;   a movable rail configured to be slidable along the fixed rail between a first rail position, in which the movable rail is inserted with respect to the fixed rail, and a second rail position, in which the movable rail is withdrawn from the first rail position with respect to the fixed rail; and   a sliding case configured to be slidable along the movable rail between a first case position, in which the sliding case is inserted with respect to the movable rail, and a second case position, in which the sliding case is withdrawn from the first case position with respect to the movable rail, so as to be inserted into or withdrawn from the inner case,   wherein the movable rail is configured to be locked and coupled to the fixed rail at the first rail position, and to be released from the fixed rail in response to the movable rail moving from the first rail position to the second rail position.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 the fixed rail includes an insertion portion,   wherein the movable rail includes a locking portion configured to be inserted into the insertion portion at the first rail position, so as to be locked and coupled to the insertion portion.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein
 the insertion portion includes a pressing surface,   wherein the locking portion inserted into the insertion portion is pressed by the pressing surface so as to be detached from the insertion portion in response to the movable rail being withdrawn from the first rail position.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein
 the fixed rail includes a rail receiving portion configured to accommodate the movable rail,   wherein the movable rail is configured to be slidable along the rail receiving portion between the first rail position and the second rail position,   wherein the pressing surface has a slope in a direction that is closer to the rail receiving portion as the pressing surface faces forward,   wherein a surface of the locking portion in contact with the pressing surface has a slope corresponding to the slope of the pressing surface.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein
 the locking portion is in an upper portion of the movable rail; and   the insertion portion is in an upper portion of the fixed rail.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein
 the locking portion includes an elastically deformable material.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 the sliding case includes a guide portion configured to allow a sliding movement to be guided by the movable rail,   wherein the guide portion includes a case stopper configured to prevent the sliding case from being withdrawn with respect to the movable rail at the second case position.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein
 the case stopper is configured to press the movable rail to allow the movable rail to be released from the fixed rail in response to receiving an external force in a direction of being withdrawn from the second case position.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein
 the movable rail includes a rail roller in contact with the guide portion,   wherein the case stopper is in contact with the rail roller at the second case position.   
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 the fixed rail incudes a rail stopper,   wherein the movable rail includes a movable rail body and a movable rail protrusion protruding from the movable rail body toward the fixed rail,   wherein the movable rail protrusion is configured to be in contact with the rail stopper at the second rail position to prevent the movable rail from being withdrawn with respect to the fixed rail.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein
 the fixed rail includes a through hole penetrated toward the movable rail,   wherein the through hole is at a rear side of the rail stopper,   wherein the movable rail protrusion at the second rail position covers one side of the through hole.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein
 the rail stopper includes a front surface inclined with respect to a moving direction of the movable rail.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein
 the movable rail protrusion includes an elastically deformable material.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 the fixed rail includes a fixed rail rib configured to be vertically inserted into the movable rail,   wherein the fixed rail rib extends along a moving direction of the movable rail.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 the movable rail includes a movable rail rib configured to be vertically inserted into the fixed rail,   wherein the movable rail rib extends along a moving direction of the movable rail.