Ice maker and refrigerator

Abstract

An ice maker of a refrigerator includes a tray assembly having an upper tray that defines upper portions of a plurality of ice making chambers. Each of the plurality of ice making chambers is configured to receive water and generate an ice piece. The tray assembly also includes a lower tray that is located vertically below the upper tray, that is configured to rotate relative to the upper tray, and that defines lower portions of the plurality of ice making chambers, wherein at least one of the upper tray or the lower tray comprises a flexible tray made of a flexible material. Additionally, a case is configured to accommodate the flexible tray to restrict a deformation of the flexible tray. A heater that is located between the case and the flexible tray is configured to supply heat to the plurality of ice making chambers through the flexible tray.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice maker comprising:
 a chamber wall made of a flexible material and defining a plurality of ice chambers disposed therein along a first direction; and   an ice-making heater provided on an outer surface of the chamber wall and configured to supply heat to the plurality of ice chambers during an ice-making process,   wherein the ice-making heater comprises:
 a plurality of contact portions configured to come into contact with the chamber wall; and 
 a plurality of connecting portions extending along the first direction and configured to connect the plurality of contact portions with each other, and 
   wherein the plurality of ice chambers comprises:
 a first ice chamber disposed in an outermost side of one side in the first direction; 
 a third ice chamber disposed in an outermost side of the other side in the first direction; and 
 a second ice chamber disposed between the first ice chamber and the third ice chamber, 
   wherein the plurality of contact portions comprises:
 a first contact portion configured to come into contact with the first ice chamber; and 
 a second contact portion configured to come into contact with the second ice chamber, and 
   wherein an area of the first contact portion is larger than an area of the second contact portion.