Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator comprising a storage compartment; a door that opens and closes the storage compartment; and a sealing box comprising a storage container that stores food therein, and a case that accommodates the storage container. The sealing box comprises a sealing member provided between the storage container and the case so as to seal the interior of the storage container, and a vacuum device that lowers an internal pressure of the storage container by suctioning the air inside the storage container, and the storage container comprises a vacuum part having a volume which changes according to the internal pressure of the storage container.

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a storage compartment;   a door configured to open or close the storage compartment; and   an airtight box including a storage container to store food therein and a case to receive the storage container;   wherein the airtight box comprises:
 a sealing member to be provided between the storage container and the case so that while the sealing member is provided between the storage container and the case, the sealing member is configured to seal an interior of the storage container, 
 a vacuum device configured to draw in air from the interior of the storage container to lower an internal pressure of the storage container, and 
 the storage container comprises a vacuum portion having a volume which is changeable in response to the internal pressure of the storage container. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum portion comprises a diaphragm deformable in response to the internal pressure of the storage container. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein
 the diaphragm is a first diaphragm configured to receive the food, and   the vacuum portion comprises a second diaphragm configured to cover an upper portion of the first diaphragm, and   the food is stored between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum portion comprises a check valve connected to the vacuum device to maintain an internal pressure of the vacuum device. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 4 , wherein
 a real wall of the storage container comprises a rear coupling groove, and   the check valve is connected to the vacuum device through the rear coupling groove.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein
 the storage container comprises an edge portion surrounding an upper opening, and   the sealing member is a first sealing member on the edge portion, and the airtight box comprises a second sealing member on the case to seal the storage container.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein
 the diaphragm is a first diaphragm configured to receive the food, the first diaphragm being fitted and coupled between the first sealing member and the edge portion, and   the vacuum portion comprises a second diaphragm that is fitted and coupled between the second sealing member and an inner upper surface of the case.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein
 the storage container comprises a rail configured to be inserted into and removed from the case, and   the case comprises a guide rail configured to correspond to the rail to guide the rail, and   a rear end of the rail is higher than a front end of the rail to allow the storage container to rise in response to insertion of the storage container into the case.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 the storage container comprises a front panel formed to cover a front opening of the case, and   the front panel comprises a handle, and   the vacuum portion comprises a check valve configured to be opened by the handle.   
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the storage container comprises an interlocking pin configured to press the check valve in response to rotation of the handle. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the airtight box further comprises an inflatable member attached to an inner upper surface of the case to allow the volume to increase in response to operation of the vacuum device. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 11 , wherein
 the vacuum device is arranged on an outside of the case to draw in air from inside the case, and   the storage container comprises a ventilation hole formed to communicate with the interior of the case to allow the vacuum device to draw in air from inside the storage container.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein
 the case comprises a front opening for entry and exit of the storage container and a flange around the front opening,   the storage container comprises a front panel formed to cover the front opening of the case, and   the sealing member is arranged on the flange to seal the airtight box.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein
 the front panel of the storage container comprises a handle that is rotatable, and an air passage configured to communicate an outside with the vacuum portion, and   the front panel of the storage container comprises an opening/closing device coupled with the handle to open or close the air passage.