Ice maker and refrigerator including the same

Abstract

Each of an ice maker and a refrigerator has a lower cover having a first fixing structure that fixes both a lower tray and a lower supporter to the lower cover, thereby preventing the lower tray and the lower supporter from being vertically removed from the lower cover.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice maker comprising:
 an upper tray including a plurality of upper chambers;   a lower tray including a plurality of lower chambers;   a lower supporter supporting a lower portion of the lower tray; and   a lower cover restraining the lower tray and the lower supporter,   wherein the lower cover has a first fixing structure constructed to fix both the lower tray and the lower supporter thereto.   
     
     
         2 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the first fixing structure includes a front portion located in front of the lower chambers and a rear portion located in rear of the lower chambers. 
     
     
         3 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the first fixing structure is constructed to prevent vertical separation of the lower tray and the lower supporter from the lower cover. 
     
     
         4 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the first fixing structure includes:
 a front wall of the lower cover including a first front stopping step portion pressing a lower portion of the lower supporter and a second front stopping step portion pressing an upper portion of a front surface of the lower tray; and   a rear wall of the lower cover including a first rear stopping step portion pressing a lower portion of the lower supporter and a second rear stopping step portion pressing an upper portion of a rear surface of the lower tray.   
     
     
         5 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the ice maker further includes a second fixing structure constructed to prevent the lower tray and the lower supporter from being removed from each other in a vertical direction. 
     
     
         6 . The ice maker of  claim 5 , wherein the second fixing structure is disposed between lower chambers adjacent to each other. 
     
     
         7 . The ice maker of  claim 6 , wherein the second fixing structure includes:
 an insertion protrusion formed on and protruding downwardly from the lower tray; and   a slot formed in the lower supporter, wherein the insertion protrusion passes through the slot.   
     
     
         8 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the lower tray further includes a third fixing structure constructed to prevent the lower tray and the lower cover from being removed from each other in a frontward/backward direction and a left/right direction. 
     
     
         9 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , wherein the third fixing structure is located on a side of the lower chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The ice maker of  claim 9 , wherein the third fixing structure includes:
 a first upper protrusion formed on the lower tray so as to protrude upwardly of the lower tray; and   a first receiving groove defined in a lower portion of the lower cover so as to receive therein the first upper protrusion.   
     
     
         11 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , wherein the third fixing structure is located in front of the lower chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The ice maker of  claim 11 , wherein the third fixing structure includes:
 a second upper protrusion formed on the lower tray so as to protrude upwardly of the lower tray; and   a depression defined in a lower portion of the lower cover so that the second upper protrusion is inserted into the depression.   
     
     
         13 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the lower tray further includes a fourth fixing structure constructed prevents the lower supporter and the lower cover from being removed from each other in a left-right direction. 
     
     
         14 . The ice maker of  claim 13 , wherein the fourth fixing structure includes side limiters disposed at both sides of the lower tray, each side limiter extending vertically to overlap with side surfaces of the lower supporter and the lower cover. 
     
     
         15 . The ice maker of  claim 14 , wherein each side limiter is located outwardly of the side surfaces of the lower supporter and the lower cover that it overlaps with. 
     
     
         16 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of lower chambers are arranged in a plurality of rows including a first row and a second row. 
     
     
         17 . A refrigerator comprising:
 at least one storage compartment;   at least one door for opening and closing the storage compartment; and   an ice maker mounted into the storage compartment or the door,   wherein the ice maker includes:   an upper tray including a plurality of upper chambers;   a lower tray including a plurality of lower chambers;   a lower supporter supporting a lower portion of the lower tray; and   a lower cover restraining the lower tray and the lower supporter,   wherein the lower cover has a first fixing structure constructed to fix both the lower tray and the lower supporter thereto.   
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the first fixing structure includes a front portion located in front of the lower chambers and a rear portion located in rear of the lower chambers,
 wherein the first fixing structure is constructed to prevent each of the lower tray and the lower supporter from being vertically removed from the lower cover.   
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator according to  claim 17 , further comprising a second fixing structure disposed between adjacent lower chambers, the second fixing structure preventing vertical separation of the lower tray and the lower supporter. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator according to  claim 17 , further comprising a third fixing structure disposed on a side and/or in front of the lower chamber, the third fixing structure preventing separation of the lower tray and the lower cover in forward/backward and left/right directions.