REFRIGERATOR INCLUDING DOOR OPEN MODULE

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001]This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2024-0128193 filed on September 23, 2024, Application No. 10-2025-0031978, filed on March 12, 2025, and Application No. 10-2025-0131933, filed on September 15, 2025, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more specifically, to a refrigerator including a door open module.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

[0003] A refrigerator is a home appliance for supplying cold air generated using circulation of refrigerant to a storage compartment to keep various types of storage objects fresh for a long time. Cold air supplied to the refrigerator can be generated as refrigerant sequentially circulating through a compressor, a condenser, and an evaporator flows into the evaporator and liquid refrigerant is vaporized into a gaseous refrigerant by absorbing heat inside the refrigerator.

[0004] In general, the refrigerator can include a cabinet forming a storage compartment and a door provided in the cabinet to open and close the storage compartment. For example, the door can be opened and closed in the same manner as a rotary door or a drawer-type door. The rotary door can be connected to one side of the cabinet to be rotatable about one axis to open and close the storage compartment in a rotation manner. The drawer-type door can be provided in a retractable and extendable manner in a front-rear direction of the cabinet to open and close the storage compartment in a retraction and extension manner.

[0005] The drawer-type door can include a door unit that covers a front surface of the storage compartment and a storage unit provided behind the door unit to have a storage space that stores stored items. The storage space of the drawer-type door can be exposed to the outside by the user's operation of pulling or pushing the door. For example, the drawer-type door can be installed in a lower region of the cabinet. In this case, when the drawer-type door is installed in the lower region of the cabinet, the user needs to bend down to extend the drawer-type door, which causes inconvenience of difficult manipulation. Accordingly, refrigerators that include a door open module for automatically retracting and extending the drawer-type door by driving a motor have been developed recently.

[0006] Meanwhile, the conventional door open modules have various problems. These problems mainly arise from the resistance caused by a structure in which a drive motor and a rail are directly engaged, a decrease in insulation performance, an increase in load due to the weight of a storage compartment, and problems related to extension/retraction due to negative pressure, etc.

[0007] Specifically, the conventional door open modules have problems with resistance and inconvenience that occur when the user manually extends the door. In the case of the drawer-type door, in addition to automatically extending the door using the door open module, there are cases in which manual extension is required. In this case, when the door open module is designed in a state in which the rail and the motor are directly connected, the user can feel a great sense of resistance when manually extending the door. This can cause the user to feel a sense of inconvenience and inconvenience during manual extension. In particular, when extension resistance increases due to a counter electromotive force of the motor, it becomes difficult to manually extend the door, which can significantly degrade user experience.

[0008] In addition, the conventional door open module can have a risk of rail sagging and rack damage due to the weight of a storage unit. For example, the door open module can use a rack-and-pinion system for converting rotational motion into linear motion using a gear rack and a pinion gear. In this case, when many items are stored in the storage unit, there can be a problem that the rail sags or the rack is damaged due to the weight of the storage unit. In the long term, such structural defects can reduce the reliability of the refrigerator, and when the rail sags or the rack is damaged, the storage unit cannot be extended smoothly. This can ultimately lead to an increase in the maintenance cost of the refrigerator.

[0009] In addition, the conventional door open module has difficulty implementing both an automatic open mode in which a door can be automatically opened or closed under the control of a controller, and a manual open mode in which a user can manually open or close the door without the control of the controller. In particular, there is a need for a refrigerator that can implement both the automatic and manual open modes according to various door usage needs of users, as well as enable quick and easy switching between the two modes.

[0010] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes a refrigerator including the following door open module.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention is directed to providing a refrigerator capable of engaging and disengaging a door open module and a drawer assembly using a simple operating mechanism.

[0012] In addition, the present invention is directed to providing a refrigerator having a movement trajectory of a hook member capable of naturally engaging with and disengaging from the drawer assembly.

[0013] In addition, the present invention is directed to providing a refrigerator capable of disengaging a hook member and a drawer assembly without a separate additional component.

[0014] In addition, the present invention is directed to providing a refrigerator capable of quickly switching to a manual open mode in a closed state of the drawer assembly.

[0015] In addition, the present invention is directed to providing a refrigerator having a simple and natural door locking structure.

[0016] Objects of the present invention are not limited to the above objects, and other objects and advantages of the present invention that are not described can be understood by the following description and will be more clearly understood by embodiments of the present invention. In addition, it will be able to be easily seen that the objects and advantages of the present invention may be achieved by devices and combinations thereof that are described in the claims.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator including a cabinet including one or more storage compartments, a drawer assembly including a door unit configured to open and close a front surface of the storage compartment and a storage unit accommodated within the storage compartment, and a door open module which is disposed on a side surface of the storage compartment, disengages from or engages with the drawer assembly, and includes a hook member, wherein the hook member disengages from or engages with the storage unit while rotating about a rotational center axis along a circular trajectory. The hook member may disengage from or engage with the drawer assembly while rotating about a rotational center axis along a circular trajectory.

[0018] The door open module may include a hook member fixing portion, an elastic member configured to provide an elastic force to the hook member, and a fastening pin extending in a direction of one axis to fasten the hook member and the elastic member to the hook member fixing portion.

[0019] The refrigerator may further include a rail assembly that guides movement of the drawer assembly in a front-rear direction, a pair of bracket members fastened to the rail assembly and respectively disposed at both sides of the storage unit, and a bracket extension bar extending in a left-right direction of the storage compartment so that one side and the other side are connected to the first the second bracket members, respectively, and the hook member may be engaged with the drawer assembly by being fastened to the bracket extension bar and disengaged from the drawer assembly by release from fastening to the bracket extension bar.

[0020] The hook member may include a hook head portion and a hook tail portion, respectively, disposed at one side and the other side with respect to the rotational center axis, and by allowing the hook tail portion to come into contact with the rear surface of the storage compartment, the hook member may be rotated about the rotational center axis in a first direction, and the hook member disengages from the bracket extension bar.

[0021] A tail bent portion bent inwardly from the hook member may be formed at an end of the hook tail portion, and in a state in which the hook member disengages from the bracket extension bar, the tail bent portion and the rear surface of the storage compartment may be inclined in the same direction.

[0022] A stopper formed to protrude forward may be disposed on the rear surface of the storage compartment, and when the tail bent portion starting to come into contact with the stopper, the hook member may be rotated in the first direction.

[0023] A corner of the tail bent portion may be curved.

[0024] As the hook tail portion is released from the contact with the rear surface of the storage compartment, the hook member may rotate about the rotational center axis in a second direction, and the hook member may engage with the drawer assembly.

[0025] A head bent portion bent inwardly from the hook member may be formed at an end of the hook head portion, and when the hook member engages the bracket extension bar, the hook head portion may contact the bracket extension bar, and the head bent portion may extend outward from the bracket extension bar.

[0026] The bracket extension bar positioned in front of the rotational center axis may be disposed to overlap the rotational center axis in a diagonal direction, and an extension line orthogonal to a contact surface of the bracket extension bar coming into contact with the hook head portion may extend to pass the rotational center axis.

[0027] According to another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator including a cabinet including one or more storage compartments, a drawer assembly including a door unit configured to open and close a front surface of the storage compartment and a storage unit accommodated within the storage compartment, and a door open module disposed on a side surface of the storage compartment. The door open module includes a locking assembly disengaged from the drawer assembly to store elastic energy and engaged with the drawer assembly by releasing the stored elastic energy.

[0028] The locking assembly may be disposed to overlap the storage unit in a front-rear direction.

[0029] The locking assembly may include a hook member configured to disengage from or engage with the drawer assembly, and an elastic member configured to store and release the elastic energy.

[0030] The refrigerator may further include a rail assembly that guides movement of the drawer assembly in a front-rear direction, a pair of bracket members fastened to the rail assembly and respectively disposed at both sides of the storage unit, and a bracket extension bar extending in a left-right direction of the storage compartment so that one side and the other side are connected to the first the second bracket members, respectively, and the hook member may be engaged with the drawer assembly by being fastened to the bracket extension bar and disengaged from the drawer assembly by release from fastening to the bracket extension bar.

[0031] The elastic member may be a torsion spring.

[0032] When the hook member rotates about a rotational center axis in a first direction, the elastic member may store the elastic energy, and when the hook member rotates about the rotational center axis in a second direction, the elastic member may release the elastic energy.

[0033] The hook member may be disengaged from the drawer assembly by coming into contact with the rear surface of the storage compartment.

[0034] In a closed state of the drawer assembly, the hook member may disengage from the drawer assembly.

[0035] The hook member may be engaged with the drawer assembly by releasing the contact with the rear surface of the storage compartment.

[0036] The door open module may operate in a manual open mode or an automatic open mode.

[0037] The hook member may disengage from the drawer assembly in the manual open mode, and the hook member may engage with the drawer assembly in the automatic open mode.

[0038] The door open module may include a multi-stage rack-and-pinion assembly and a driving assembly configured to drive the rack-and-pinion assembly, in the automatic open mode, the driving assembly may be driven so that the drawer assembly is pushed forward by the rack-and-pinion assembly to move forward and pulled rearward by the locking assembly to move rearward, and in the manual open mode, the driving assembly may not be driven.

[0039] In the refrigerator according to the present invention, since the locking assembly can be disengaged from the drawer assembly to store the elastic energy and engaged with the drawer assembly by releasing the stored elastic energy, the door open module and the drawer assembly can be easily engaged and disengaged using only the operating mechanism using the storage and release of the elastic energy.

[0040] In addition, in the refrigerator according to the present invention, by allowing the elastic member to store the elastic energy when the hook member rotates about the rotational center axis in a first direction and the elastic member to release the elastic energy when the hook member rotates in the second direction, the drawer assembly can be naturally engaged and disengaged using the circular trajectory.

[0041] In addition, in the refrigerator according to the present invention, since the hook member can be disengaged from the drawer assembly by coming into contact with the rear surface of the storage compartment, no separate additional component for disengaging the hook member from the drawer assembly is required, thereby securing the simplification and reliability of the component.

[0042] In addition, in the refrigerator according to the present invention, since the hook member remains disengaged from the drawer assembly in the closed state of the drawer assembly, the manual open mode can be implemented quickly without any time delay in the closed state of the drawer assembly.

[0043] In addition, in the refrigerator according to the present invention, the hook member of the door open module can be disengaged from or engaged with the drawer assembly while rotating about the rotational center axis along the circular trajectory, and thus can provide a natural and simple door locking structure.

[0044] Specific effects of the present invention together with the above effects will be described with a description of the following detailed matters for carrying out the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045]FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a refrigerator in a closed state of a door.

[0046]FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the refrigerator in an opened state of a lower door.

[0047]FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the interior of a storage compartment to which a door open module is mounted, with the lower door removed.

[0048]FIG. 4 is a view of a storage compartment with an upper surface and one side surface removed, illustrating a state in which a storage unit of a door mounted on a bracket member is retracted into the storage compartment.

[0049]FIG. 5 is a view of the storage compartment with an upper surface and one side surface removed, illustrating a state in which the storage unit of the door mounted on the bracket member is extended to the outside of the storage compartment along rail assemblies.

[0050]FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a state before the door open module, the rail assembly, and the bracket member are extended.

[0051]FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a state in which the door open module, the rail assembly, and the bracket member are fully extended.

[0052]FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a state in which a driving assembly, a rack-and-pinion assembly, and a locking assembly, which constitute the door open module, are disengaged.

[0053]FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the driving assembly.

[0054]FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the rack-and-pinion assembly.

[0055]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a connection relationship between gear racks and pinion gears constituting a first rack-and-pinion assembly and the driving assembly from below.

[0056]FIG. 12 is a view illustrating a state before the gear rack of the rack-and-pinion assembly mounted in the driving assembly is extended.

[0057]FIG. 13 is a view illustrating a state in which the gear rack of the rack-and-pinion assembly mounted in the driving assembly is extended.

[0058]FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the locking assembly.

[0059]FIGS. 15 and 16 are perspective views illustrating upper and lower surfaces of the hook member, respectively.

[0060]FIGS. 17 and 18 are views illustrating an elastic member before and after elastic energy is stored, respectively.

[0061]FIG. 19 is a view illustrating a bracket member and a rail assembly mounted on a door unit of a door and a door open module disposed on a side surface of the door, and an enlarged view of some regions, with a storage unit of the door removed.

[0062]FIG. 20 is a view illustrating the bracket member and the rail assembly mounted on the door unit of the door and the door open module according to one embodiment disposed on the side surface of the door, and an enlarged view of some regions, with the storage unit of the door mounted.

[0063]FIG. 21 is a side view illustrating a rotational trajectory of the hook member in each of a manual open mode and an automatic open mode.

[0064]FIG. 22 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the hook member is in contact with a stopper disposed on a rear surface of an inner case before the hook member rotates forward.

[0065]FIG. 23 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the hook member rotates forward at a predetermined angle and is about to be released from the contact with the stopper disposed on the rear surface of the inner case.

[0066]FIG. 24 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the hook member maximally rotates forward and is released from the contact with the stopper disposed on the rear surface of the inner case.

[0067]FIG. 25 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating the door and the door open module before the door open module is driven and an enlarged view of some regions.

[0068]FIG. 26 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating the door and the door open module in a state in which the door open module is driven and the door is fully opened and an enlarged view of some regions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0069] The above objects, features, and advantages will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and thus those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will be able to easily carry out the technical spirit of the present invention. In describing the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of the known technology related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, a detailed description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to denote the same or similar components.

[0070] Although the terms “first,” “second,” and the like are used to describe various components, it is obvious that these components are not limited by these terms. These terms are used only to distinguish one component from another, and unless otherwise stated, it is obvious that a first component may be a second component.

[0071] Throughout the specification, unless otherwise stated, each component may be singular or plural.

[0072] Hereinafter, the arrangement of an arbitrary component on an “upper portion (or lower portion)” of a component or “above (or under)” the component may not only mean that the arbitrary component is disposed in contact with an upper surface (or a lower surface) of the component, but also mean that other components may be interposed between the component and the arbitrary component disposed above (or under) the component.

[0073] In addition, when a certain component is described as being “connected,” “coupled,” or “joined” to the other component, the components may be directly connected or joined, but it should be understood that another component may be “interposed” between the components, or the components may be “connected,” “coupled,” or “joined” through another component.

[0074] In addition, throughout the specification, the terms 'engage' and 'disengage' are used to describe the connection and disconnection between components. However, these terms are not limited thereto and may be interchangeably used with other similar terms, such as 'connect' and 'disconnect', or ‘couple’ and ‘uncouple’. And, throughout this specification, the term ‘mesh with’ is used to define a functional connection between gear components. It is to be understood that this term is not intended to be limiting and may include other forms of connection, such as those described by the terms ‘engages with,’ ‘connects to,’ or ‘is coupled with.’

[0075] The singular expression used herein includes the plural expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the application, terms such as “composed of” or “comprising” should not be construed as necessarily including all of the various components or operations described in the specification and should be construed as not including some of the components or some of the operations or further including additional components or operations.

[0076] Throughout the specification, when “A and/or B” is described, this means A, B, or A and B unless otherwise specified, and when “C to D” is described, this means C or more and D or less unless otherwise specified.

[0077] Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to some embodiments of the present invention will be described.

[Structure of refrigerator]

[0078] A structure of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0079] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an exterior of a refrigerator 1 may be formed by a cabinet 2 including one or more storage compartments, which are storage spaces of products, and a plurality of doors 20 capable of opening and closing a front opening of the cabinet 2. The cabinet 2 may include an outer case 12 and an inner case 11 coupled to the inside of the outer case 12. An insulating region filled with an insulation material may be formed between the inner case 11 and the outer case 12, and various types of ducts related to a cooling system may pass through the insulating region.

[0080] The inner case 11 may be divided into separate spaces to include a plurality of storage compartments. For example, the storage compartment may include a first storage compartment 14, a second storage compartment 15, and a third storage compartment 16. The first storage compartment 14 may be disposed at an upper end of the storage compartment, the second storage compartment 15 may be disposed at a middle end thereof, and the third storage compartment 16 may be disposed at a lower end thereof. In the present specification, an example in which three storage compartments are stacked in a vertical direction will be described, but the number and positions of the storage compartments are not limited thereto. For example, the first storage compartment 14 may serve as a refrigerator, the second storage compartment 15 may serve as a switching compartment that may be used as a refrigerator, a freezer, or a separate storage compartment with a desired temperature according to user settings, and the third storage compartment 16 may serve as a freezer, but the functions of each storage compartment are not limited thereto.

[0081] The first storage compartment 14 may be opened and closed by a first door 21. The first door 21 may be provided as a pair, each of which may be a rotary door that is configured to engage with each of one side and the other side of the cabinet 2 constituting the first storage compartment 14 by a hinge and rotate. A handle may be formed on each of the first doors 21 so that the user can easily open and close them. In addition, a dispenser 13 that may allow the user to take out water or ice without opening the first door 21 may be disposed on one first door 21.

[0082] The third storage compartment 16 may be opened and closed by a third door 23. The third door 23 may be a drawer-type door that may be opened and closed by being retracted and extended in a front-rear direction. In the present specification, the front-rear direction is a direction with respect to the front and rear of the refrigerator 1, and a left-right direction is a direction with respect to two sides of the refrigerator 1. The front of the refrigerator 1 is a direction in which the user uses the refrigerator 1. The third door 23 may include a door unit 210 covering a front surface of the third storage compartment 16 and a storage unit 220 provided behind the door unit 210 and accommodated in the third storage compartment 16. A handle may be formed on the door unit 210 so that the user can easily open and close it. The third door 23 including the door unit 210 and the storage unit 220 may be referred to as a drawer assembly or an auto drawer.

[0083] The storage unit 220 may be formed in the form of a basket having a storage space that stores stored items such as food. The storage unit 220 may be formed in a separate form so as to be disengaged from the door unit 210. For example, the storage unit 220 may be fixed to the door unit 210 by being fastened to or seated on a separate connecting member, such as a bracket member to be described below, but is not limited thereto, and the storage unit 220 may be directly fastened and fixed to the door unit 210. Since the storage unit 220 is configured to disengage from the door unit 210 in this way, the user can easily disengage and clean the storage unit 220. The storage unit 220 of the third door 23 described in the present specification may be referred to as the first storage unit 220. A second storage unit 230 may be additionally disposed in the third storage compartment 16. The second storage unit 230 may be disposed on the first storage unit 220. The door unit 210 may be formed to a size that substantially covers the front surfaces of the first storage unit 220 and the second storage unit 230. For example, the second storage unit 230 may be retracted and extended in the front-rear direction without depending on the movement of the first storage unit 220. For example, the second storage unit 230 may be retracted and extended in the front-rear direction by rolling along upper edge surfaces of both sides of the first storage unit 220.

[0084] The second storage compartment 15 may be opened and closed by a second door 22. The second door 22 may be a drawer-type door that may be opened and closed by being retracted and extended in the front-rear direction. For example, the second door 22 may also include a door unit covering the front surface of the second storage compartment 15 and a storage unit provided behind the door unit and accommodated in the second storage compartment 15 in the same manner as the third door 23, but is not limited thereto. The second door 22 including the door unit and the storage unit may also be referred to as a drawer assembly or an auto drawer. Since a machine compartment may be disposed behind a lower region of the third storage compartment 16, a width of the lower region of the third storage compartment 16 in the front-rear direction may be reduced. Accordingly, the width of the second storage compartment 15 in the front-rear direction may be formed to be larger than the width of the lower region of the third storage compartment 16 in which the machine compartment 17 is disposed in the front-rear direction. A handle may be formed on the second door 22 so that the user can easily open and close them. The above opening and closing method of each door 20 is not limited by the drawings, and the rotary door and the drawer-type door may be changed in different ways as needed.

[Rail assembly, bracket member, and door open module]

[0085] Hereinafter, a rail assembly 70, a bracket member 80, and a door open module 30 disposed in the storage compartment according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with further reference to FIGS. 3 to 7. An example in which the storage compartment to be described below is the third storage compartment 16 will be described, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and when the first storage compartment 14 and the second storage compartment 15 are opened and closed in a drawer-type door manner, the following description may also be applied to the first storage compartment 14 and the second storage compartment 15. For convenience of description, the third storage compartment 16 is referred to as the storage compartment 16, and the third door 23 is referred to as the door 23. In addition, as described above, the third door 23 may be referred to as a drawer assembly or an auto drawer.

[0086] The storage compartment 16 may be defined by a bottom surface 164 forming a lower surface, a first side surface 162a and a second side surface 162b forming both side surfaces, respectively, and a rear surface 163. An upper surface of the storage compartment 16 may be formed by a barrier that divides the second storage compartment 15 and the third storage compartment 16. A machine compartment 17 may be positioned behind the storage compartment 16. Specifically, the machine compartment 17 in which refrigeration system-related components such as a compressor are disposed may be positioned outside the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16. Accordingly, the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 that overlaps the machine compartment 17 in the front-rear direction may be formed to have a narrower width in the front-rear direction than the other rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 that does not overlap the machine compartment 17 in the front-rear direction. For example, the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 that overlaps in the front-rear direction may be formed to have an inclined surface that moves forward as it goes toward the bottom surface 164, in other words, the rear surface 163 of the st

[0087] A pair of rail assemblies 70 may be disposed on both side surfaces of the storage compartment 16, respectively. The rail assembly 70 may be a multi-stage rail assembly whose length is extendable and retractable. The rail assembly 70 may guide the movement of the door 20 in the front- rear direction. For example, a first rail assembly 71 may be disposed on a first side surface 162a of the storage compartment 16, and a second rail assembly 72 may be disposed on the second side surface 162b of the storage compartment 16.

[0088] The first rail assembly 71 may be fixed to the first side surface 162a of the storage compartment 16 by a separately provided storage compartment connecting member 18. One side of the storage compartment connecting member 18 may provide a seating space in which the first rail assembly 71 may be seated and may be fastened to the first rail assembly 71. The other side of the storage compartment connecting member 18 may be fastened to the first side surface 162a of the storage compartment 16. For example, a rail assembly seating part 181 that provides a seating space in which the first rail assembly 71 may be stored and seated may be formed on one side of the storage compartment connecting member 18. The rail assembly seating part 181 may be formed so that the storage compartment 16 is open in the inward and front directions. The storage compartment connecting member 18 may include an adjustment gear rack 182 forming a lower surface of the rail assembly seating part 181. The adjustment gear rack 182 may include an adjustment gear rack tooth profile 183 that is fixed to the rail assembly seating part 181 and formed to extend in the front-rear direction. The adjustment gear rack tooth profile 183 may be formed to face upward. The adjustment gear rack tooth profile 183 may be engaged with an adjustment pinion gear 85 of an adjustment unit 83 to be described below.

[0089] The first rail assembly 71 may include a plurality of rail units to be extended in multiple stages. For example, the first rail assembly 71 may be a three-stage rail assembly including three rail units composed of a first rail unit 710, a second rail unit 720, and a third rail unit 730. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the first rail assembly 71 may include two rail units or four or more rail units. In a state in which the rail units of the first rail assembly 71 are not extended, a length of the first rail unit 710 may substantially correspond to a length of the first rail assembly 71. When the rail units of the first rail assembly 71 are extended, in a state in which the first rail unit 710 is fixed, a portion of the second rail unit 720 may be extended forward more than the first rail unit 710, and a portion of the third rail unit 730 may be extended forward more than the second rail unit 720.

[0090] In the same manner, the second rail assembly 72 may be fixed to the second side surface 162b of the storage compartment 16 by the separately provided storage compartment connecting member 18. In addition, the second rail assembly 72 may be disposed to face the first rail assembly 71, and the first and second rail assemblies 71 and 72 may be formed symmetrically. The description of the first rail assembly 71 may be applied to the second rail assembly 72 in the same manner.

[0091] The bracket member 80 may be disposed on each rail assembly 70. A first bracket member 81 may be disposed in the first rail assembly 71, and a second bracket member 82 may be disposed in the second rail assembly 72. The first bracket member 81 may include a bracket body 810 that extends in one direction. The bracket body 810 may be fastened to the second rail unit 720 and the third rail unit 730 that protrude forward among the rail units of the first rail assembly 71. Accordingly, the first bracket member 81 may be restrained by the retraction and extension operation of the second rail unit 720 and the third rail unit 730 and may move forward and rearward. For example, the bracket body 810 may be fixedly fastened to one side surfaces of the second rail unit 720 and the third rail unit 730 in a hook-fastening manner, but such a fixing method is not limited thereto.

[0092] A bracket bent portion 811 bent and extended downward may be formed on the front of the bracket body 810. A sensor portion 830 may be disposed on the bracket bent portion 811. A sensor for detecting whether the door 20 is extended or in may be disposed on the sensor portion 830. The sensor portion 830 may transmit a sensing signal to a controller disposed within the refrigerator 1. For example, the sensor may be a Hall sensor that uses a magnetic body such as a magnet. For example, a magnet may be disposed on the sensor portion 830, and a Hall sensor may be disposed on one side of the storage compartment 16. In a state in which the bracket member 80 is fully retracted in the storage compartment 16, the magnet and the Hall sensor may be disposed adjacent to each other to generate a magnetic field, and the sensor may detect that the door 20 is in a closed state, and when the bracket member 80 is extended to the outside of the storage compartment 16, as the magnet and the Hall sensor move away from each other, the magnetic field disappears, and the sensor may detect that the door 20 is in an opened state.

[0093] A front extension 820 bent and extended downward from the bracket body 810 may be formed in front of the bracket bent portion 811. The front extension 820 may be formed in a plate shape facing forward with a predetermined area and disposed at a front end of the first bracket member 81. The front extension 820 may be a portion that fixedly fastens the first bracket member 81 to the door 20.

[0094] Pressing part 822 may be disposed on the front extension 820. Each pressing part 822 may be disposed at positions that overlap a first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and a second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 mounted on a first driving assembly 41 and a second driving assembly 42, respectively, which will be described below, in the front-rear direction. When the gear rack of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is extended forward, a pressing member 532 positioned on the front end portion of the gear rack may be in contact with the pressing part 822 to press and push the pressing part 822 forward. The pressing part 822 may be fastened to one side of the front extension 820. For example, a portion of the pressing part 822 may be inserted and fastened in a lateral direction of the front extension 820. The pressing part 822 may be fastened to the front extension 820 by a separate fastening member or fastened by a hook-coupling method or the like, but such a fastening method is not particularly limited. Since a direction in which the pressing part 822 that is pressed forward by the pressing member 532 is inserted into the front extension 820 is a left-right direction perpendicular to the direction facing forward, even when the pressing part 822 is pressed by the pressing member 532, the weakening of the fastening force from the front extension 820 can be reduced.

[0095] The pressing part 822 may be disposed on the rear surface of the door unit 210. For example, the pressing part 822 may also be fastened to the rear surface of the door unit 210 while fastened to the bracket member 80. Alternatively, the pressing part 822 may be fastened to the rear surface of the door unit 210 without being fastened to the bracket member 80. In this case, the pressing part 822 may be fixed to the rear surface of the door unit 210 by a method such as fitting, fixed by a method such as hooking, or fixed by a separate fastening member. The pressing part 822 may be formed of a plastic material having high impact resistance and may include, for example, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic, but is not limited thereto. One embodiment in which the pressing part 822 is a separate member from the bracket member 80 or the door unit 210 has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0096] In another embodiment, the pressing part 822 may be formed integrally with the bracket member 80 or the door unit 210. For example, a shape corresponding to the pressing part 822 on the rear or side surface of the bracket member 80 or the door member 210 may be formed integrally with the bracket member 80 or the door member 210. In addition, the pressing part 822 may be molded and formed integrally with the bracket member 80 or the door unit 210. In addition, the pressing part 822 may not be molded separately from the bracket member 80 or the door unit 210, and in this case, the pressing part 822 may be defined as a surface pressed by the pressing member 532 in a conceptual sense.

[0097] Since the pressing member 532 pushes the rear surface of the door unit 210 positioned on the front of the door 20, the pressing member 532 may transmit a force to push the rear surface of the door unit 210 that is larger than a force to push other components positioned far from the door unit 210. Since a sealing pressure between the gasket part 213 of the door 20 and the cabinet 2 is high in the closed state of the door 20, a large initial force may be required to disengage the door 20 from the cabinet 2. Accordingly, by pushing the pressing portion 822 of the door unit 210 positioned on the front of the door 20 so that the pressing member 532 is adjacent to the gasket part 213, it is possible to effectively overcome the sealing pressure between the gasket part 213 and the cabinet 2. In this case, pushing the rear surface of the door unit 210 positioned on the front of the door 20 can be more effective in effectively overcoming the sealing pressure between the gasket part 213 and the cabinet 2 than pushing only the other components positioned on the rear of the door 20.

[0098] In the same manner, the second bracket member 82 may be fastened to the second rail assembly 72. In addition, the second bracket member 82 may be disposed to face the first bracket member 81, and the first and second bracket members 81 and 82 may be formed symmetrically. The description of the first bracket member 81 may be applied to the second bracket member 82 in the same manner.

[0099] The bracket member 80 may include a bracket extension bar 840 extending in the left-right direction of the storage compartment 16 so that one side and the other side are engaged with the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82, respectively. The bracket extension bar 840 may generally have a bar shape that extends in one direction, but is not limited thereto. For example, the bracket extension bar 840 may have a bar shape with an open rear surface. The bracket extension bar 840 may be formed to be engaged with the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82 and may synchronize movements when the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82 move in the front-rear direction. In addition, the bracket extension bar 840 may serve as a twist-preventing extension bar that can prevent the twisting phenomenon of the bracket member 80 that may occur when a load is applied to the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82.

[0100] Meanwhile, the bracket member 80 may include an adjustment unit 83 extending in the left-right direction of the storage compartment 16 so that one side and the other side are engaged with the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82, respectively. The adjustment unit 83 may be disposed not to interfere with the bracket extension bar 840. For example, the adjustment unit 83 may be disposed above and behind the bracket extension bar 840, but is not limited thereto. The adjustment unit 83 may generally include an adjustment shaft 84 having the bar shape that extends in one direction, and a pair of adjustment pinion gears 85 formed on both ends of the adjustment shaft 84, respectively. The adjustment pinion gear 85 may be engaged with the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82 to be rotatable about a rotational axis extending in the left-right direction. Each adjustment pinion gear 85 may be disposed to be meshed with the adjustment gear rack tooth profile 183 formed on the adjustment gear rack 182 of the storage compartment connecting member 18 to allow the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82 to be moved in the front-rear direction along the adjustment gear rack 182 by the rack-and-pinion driving method. In this way, the movements of the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82 in the front-rear direction may be synchronized by the rack-and-pinion driving method using the adjustment unit 83.

[0101] As described above, the rail assembly 70 and the bracket member 80 may be fastened to the door 20 and retracted and extended in the front-rear direction while depending on the movement of the door 20 in the front-rear direction. In the case of a manual open mode in which the user manually controls the retraction and extension operation of the door 20, the rail units of the rail assembly 70 may be retracted and extended in the front-rear direction without the driving motor applying a separate driving force to the rail assembly 70. However, in the case of the automatic open mode in which the retraction and extension operation of the door 20 is automatically controlled, since the driving force generated by the driving motor is not directly applied to the rail assembly 70, a method of indirectly applying the driving force to control the retraction and extension operation of the rail assembly 70 needs to be implemented.

[0102] The door open module 30 is not directly connected to the rail assembly 70 to provide the driving force for retracting and extending the rail units, but may indirectly apply the driving force to control the retraction and extension operation of the rail units of the rail assembly 70. The door open module 30 may be disposed to be spaced a predetermined distance from the rail assembly 70 and the bracket member 80 without being directly engaged with the rail assembly 70 and the bracket member 80. The door open module 30 may push and move the door 20 forward and pull and move the door 20 rearward. Accordingly, the door 20 may be moved to be retracted and extended in the front-rear direction by the door open module 30. The door open module 30 may include one or more multi-stage rack-and-pinion assemblies 50, one or more driving assemblies 40 for driving the rack-and-pinion assembly 50, and the locking assembly 60 configured to engage with and disengage from the door 20.

[0103] The door open module 30 may be disposed below the rail assembly 70 and the bracket member 80. For example, the driving assembly 40 may be disposed below the rail assembly 70 and the bracket member 80. In this case, the driving assembly 40 may be disposed to be spaced a predetermined distance from the rail assembly 70 and the bracket member 80, but is not limited thereto. For example, the driving assembly 40 may be disposed to be connected to the rail assembly 70, but this means that the driving assembly 40 and the rail assembly 70 are disposed as close as possible to each other for space utilization and does not mean that the driving-related components are disposed to be connected so that the driving force of the driving assembly 40 directly drives the rail assembly 70. Accordingly, the driving assembly 40 and the rail assembly 70 may be fixedly fastened but may be formed separately.

[0104] For example, the driving assembly 40 may include a pair of a first driving assembly 41 and a second driving assembly 42. The rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may include a pair of a first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and a second rack-and-pinion assembly 52. The first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 may be mounted on the first driving assembly 41 to receive a driving force from the first driving assembly 41. In addition, the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 may be mounted on the second driving assembly 42 to receive a driving force from the second driving assembly 42. The first driving assembly 41 and the second driving assembly 42 may be disposed to be biased to the first side surface 162a and the second side surface 162b of the storage compartment 16, respectively. The first driving assembly 41 and the second driving assembly 42 may be disposed at positions and in shapes that are symmetrical with respect to the center of the storage compartment 16. The first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 may also be disposed at positions and in shapes that are symmetrical with respect to the center of the storage compartment 16.

[0105] In this way, since the door open module 30 according to the present invention is implemented to have a dual module structure including a pair of driving assemblies 40 and a pair of rack-and-pinion assemblies 50, it is possible to provide a strong force for retracting and extending the door, which may open the door smoothly even in a high negative pressure environment such as a freezer. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the door open module 30 may include one driving assembly 40 and one rack-and-pinion assembly 50.

[0106] One side and the other side of the locking assembly 60 may be engaged with the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52, respectively. The locking assembly 60 may include a locking assembly extension bar 610 that extends in the left-right direction of the storage compartment 16. A pair of sliding racks 611 fastened to the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 may be engaged with one side and the other side of the locking assembly extension bar 610, respectively. As the locking assembly 60 engages with the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 in this way, the locking assembly 60 may also move while depending on the movements of the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 in the front-rear direction.

[0107] One or more pushing members 630 that push and move the door 20 forward may be disposed on the locking assembly extension bar 610. As the pushing member 630 of the locking assembly 60 pushes the door 20 forward in this way, the storage unit 220 may also move forward while depending on the forward movement of the locking assembly 60. For example, the pushing member 630 may push a rear surface of the bracket extension bar 840 forward. As described above, since one side and the other side of the bracket extension bar 840 are engaged with the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82, respectively, when the pushing member 630 pushes the rear surface of the bracket extension bar 840 forward, the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82 are also pushed forward. Accordingly, the door 20 fixed to the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82 may move forward. Accordingly, even when the pushing member 630 does not directly push the door 20, the pushing member 630 may indirectly push the door 20 by pushing the rear surface of the bracket member 80.

[0108] In addition, a switchable hook member 620 may be disposed to engage with and disengage from the bracket member 80 and the locking assembly 60 on the locking assembly extension bar 610. For example, the hook member 620 may be engaged with and disengaged from the bracket extension bar 840 of the bracket member 80. In a state in which the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 is engaged with the bracket extension bar 840, the storage unit 220 supported by the bracket member 80 may also move while depending on not only the forward movement but also the rearward movement of the locking assembly 60. In other words, a case in which the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 is engaged with the storage unit 220, does not necessarily define that the hook member 620 is always in contact with the storage unit 200, and may include a state in which the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 is temporarily separated or not in contact with the storage unit 200 while the storage unit 220 is restrained by the movement of the locking assembly. In addition, in a state in which the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 is disengaged from the bracket extension bar 840, the storage unit 220 can move freely regardless of the locking assembly 60 even in a state in which the locking assembly 60 is in a pre-operational state. The detailed description of each assembly constituting the door open module 30 will be described below.

[0109] The driving assembly 40 and the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may be disposed on both side surfaces of the storage unit 220. In the closed state of the door 20, the driving assembly 40 and the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may be disposed to overlap the storage unit 220 in the left-right direction. The locking assembly 60 except for some components may be disposed on the rear of the storage unit 220. The sliding rack 611 of the locking assembly 60 may be disposed on both side surfaces of the storage unit 220, and the locking assembly extension bar 610, the pushing member 630, and the hook member 620 may be disposed on the rear of the storage unit 220.

[0110] The door open modules 30 may be disposed in inner regions of both side surfaces of the storage compartment 16. The bottom surface 164 of the storage compartment 16 may be formed by the inner case 11, and a space between the bottom surface 164 and the outer case 12 disposed below the bottom surface 164 may be an insulation space in which an insulation material is disposed. In this way, since the door open module 30 according to the present invention is disposed on both side surfaces of the storage compartment 16, it is possible to prevent the door open module 30 from invading the insulating space in the lower region of the storage compartment 16, thereby maintaining the insulation performance of the refrigerator and increasing energy efficiency.

[Driving assembly, rack-and-pinion assembly, and locking assembly]

[0111] Hereinafter, the driving assembly 40, the rack-and-pinion assembly 50, and the locking assembly 60 included in the door open module 30 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with further reference to FIGS. 8 to 18.

[0112] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the driving assembly 40 may be composed of a pair of the first driving assembly 41 and the second driving assembly 42. Since the first driving assembly 41 and the second driving assembly 42 may be formed to have symmetrical shapes, the description based on the first driving assembly 41 may be applied to the second driving assembly 42 in the same manner.

[0113] The second driving assembly 42 may include a first case 410 forming one outer surface and a second case 420 forming the other outer surface. The first case 410 may be formed to have a thickness that is sufficient to store the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 and the gear assembly 430. The first case 410 may include a first seating portion 421 in which the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may be stored and seated and a second seating portion 422 in which the gear assembly 430 may be stored and seated. The gear assembly 430 may be rotatably connected to the second seating portion 422 by connecting pins 432 that provide a rotational axis about which each of gears rotates. The first seating portion 421 may have a shape that extends in the front-rear direction and have an open front surface so that the gear rack of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may be extended forward.

[0114] The gear assembly 430 may include a plurality of gears. For example, the plurality of gears may be circular gears disposed to be meshed with each other. The plurality of gears forming the gear assembly 430 may be rotated about the rotational axis extending in the left-right direction. Accordingly, since the gear assembly 430 may avoid increasing the thickness in the left-right direction as much as possible, it can be advantageous in using the space of the storage compartment 16. Among the gears of the gear assembly 430, the gear meshed with the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may be a pinion gear. Accordingly, when the gear assemblies 430 are driven, the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may be driven in a rack-and-pinion driving manner by the pinion gear included in the gear assembly 430.

[0115] A driving unit 440 may be disposed at one side of the first case 410. The driving unit 440 may be engaged with one of the gears of the gear assembly 430 to provide a driving force. The driving unit 440 may be a driving motor. The driving force of the driving unit 440 may be transmitted to the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 through the gear assembly 430 and transmitted to the bracket member 80 and the rail assembly 70 through the rack-and-pinion assembly 50.

[0116] The second case 420 may be disposed to cover one side of the first case 410 to protect the gear assembly 430 and the rack-and-pinion assembly 50. In the first case 410, an opening extension 411 that is open in the vertical direction may extend in the front-rear direction to guide the movement of the gear rack of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50. The opening extension 411 may also be open on one surface facing the inside of the storage compartment 16 of the first case 410 to allow the gear rack of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 to be extended laterally.

[0117] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 10 to 13, the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may be composed of a pair of the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52. Since the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 may be formed to have symmetrical shapes, the description based on the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 may be applied to the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 in the same manner.

[0118] The second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 may be a multi-stage rack-and-pinion assembly including a plurality of gear racks. For example, the multi-stage rack-and-pinion assembly may use a telescopic mechanism. The present invention is described based on the three-stage rack-and-pinion assembly including three gear racks, but is not limited thereto, and the rack-and-pinion assembly may include four or more gear racks. That is, the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 according to the present invention may include three or more gear racks. Here, the three or more gear racks may be gear racks that are moved in a retractable and extendable manner in the front-rear direction and may mean excluding gear racks that are fixed without being moved. As the number of gear racks increases, the gear racks may be mounted within the storage compartment 16 with a short length in the front-rear direction, while also increasing the total extension distance that the gear rack is extended from the storage compartment 16. As described above, when the machine compartment 17 is disposed behind the storage compartment 16, the length of the storage compartment 16 in the front-rear direction can be shortened compared to other storage compartment. Accordingly, since the multi-stage rack-and-pinion assembly 50 according to the present invention includes three or more gear racks, the extension distance of the door can be significantly extended so that the storage unit 220 of the door 20 may be completely exposed to the outside even when the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is disposed within the storage compartment 16 having a narrow width in the front-rear direction. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and when the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is disposed in the storage compartment 16 having a sufficient length in the front-rear direction, the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may be disposed as a two-stage rack-and-pinion assembly 50 including two gear racks.

[0119] The first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 may include a first gear rack 510, a second gear rack 520, and a third gear rack 530. The first gear rack 510 may be formed in a shape that extends in one direction and has one open surface. The first gear rack 510 may have a storage space 514 that may store the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530, and the storage space 514 may be formed by a pair of support walls 513 formed on upper and lower surfaces of the first gear rack 510. A first tooth profile 511 having a saw tooth shape may be formed on each of one side and the other side of the support wall 513. For example, the first tooth profile 511 may include a first front tooth profile 5111 formed on a front upper surface of the support wall 513 disposed at the bottom, and a first rear tooth profile 5112 formed on a rear lower surface of the support wall 513 disposed at the bottom. Each of the first front tooth profile 5111 and the first rear tooth profile 5112 may be formed to a length that is about half of the total length of the support wall 513 in the front-rear direction. The first rear tooth profile 5112 may be formed on a lower surface of the support wall 513 facing the gear assembly 430 to be engaged with a pinion gear of the gear assembly 430. Accordingly, when the gear assembly 430 is driven, the first gear rack 510 may be extended forward by the rack-and-pinion driving method along the first rear tooth profile 5112 engaged with the gear assembly 430. The first gear rack 510 may include a first pinion gear 512. The first pinion gear 512 may be formed on the support wall 513 on which the first tooth profile 511 is formed. The first pinion gear 512 may be disposed near a central region of the first gear rack 510 and positioned in front of the first rear tooth profile 5112.

[0120] A support gear rack 500 may be disposed in the driving assembly 40. The support gear rack 500 may be positioned in front of the gear assembly 430 and fixed to the driving assembly 40. The support gear rack 500 may be formed to have a length that is substantially half of a length of the first gear rack 510 in the front-rear direction. A support gear rack tooth profile 501 engaged with the first pinion gear 512 may be formed on one side surface of the support gear rack 500. Accordingly, when the gear assembly 430 is driven, the first pinion gear 512 may move forward along the support gear rack 500 while being engaged with the support gear rack tooth profile 501. Accordingly, the first gear rack 510 may be extended forward, and even during the operation of extending the first gear rack 510, the support gear rack 500 may maintain a fixed position.

[0121] The second gear rack 520 may be disposed in the storage space 514 of the first gear rack 510. The second gear rack 520 may include a second tooth profile 521 formed along a surface facing the first pinion gear 512. The second tooth profile 521 may be formed to be meshed with the first pinion gear 512. The second gear rack 520 may include a second pinion gear 522 disposed on one side on which the second tooth profile 521 is formed. When the first gear rack 510 is extended forward, the second gear rack 520 engaged with the first pinion gear 512 may be extended forward by a rack-and-pinion driving method with the first pinion gear 512. Accordingly, when the first pinion gear 512 rotates, the second gear rack 520 may move forward while being engaged with the first pinion gear 512. In this case, the second pinion gear 522 may be engaged with the first front tooth profile 5111 of the first gear rack 510 to move forward along the first front tooth profile 511.

[0122] The third gear rack 530 may be disposed in the storage space 514 of the first gear rack 510. The third gear rack 530 may include a third tooth profile 531 formed along a surface facing the second pinion gear 522. The third tooth profile 531 may be formed to be meshed with the second pinion gear 522. When the second gear rack 520 is extended forward, the third gear rack 530 meshed with the second pinion gear 522 may be extended forward by the rack-and-pinion driving method with the second pinion gear 522. Accordingly, during the rotation of the second pinion gear 522, the third gear rack 530 may move forward while being meshed with the second pinion gear 522. A portion of the third gear rack 530 may be formed to protrude outward from one surface of the first gear rack 510. The other surface of the first gear rack 510 may be covered by a rack cover 540. The rack cover 540 may be disposed to cover the second gear rack 520 and the third gear rack 530. One surface of the first gear rack 510 may include an opening guide part 541 that is opened so that a portion of the third gear rack 530 may protrude outward. The opening guide part 541 may have a shape that is penetrated in the left-right direction, has an open front surface, and extends in the front-rear direction. Accordingly, the third gear rack 530 may slide along the opening guide part 541 in the front-rear direction.

[0123] When the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is driven, the first gear rack 510 may protrude by the shortest extent, the second gear rack 520 may protrude farther forward than the first gear rack 510, and the third gear rack 530 may protrude farther forward than the second gear rack 520 with respect to a front end portion of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50. A moving speed of the gear rack may increase in the order of the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the third gear rack 530. In addition, since a moving distance of the gear rack and an extension force of the gear rack are inversely proportional to each other, the extension force may increase in the order of the third gear rack 530, the second gear rack 520, and the first gear rack 510.

[0124] As described above, the rotational axes of the pinion gears of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may extend in the left-right direction of the storage compartment 16 in the same direction as the rotational axis of the gear assembly 430. Accordingly, since a thickness of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 in the left-right direction is reduced overall, a thickness of the door open module 30 in the left-right direction may be reduced, thereby increasing the space utilization of the storage compartment 16 in the left-right direction and the space utilization in the lower region of the storage unit 220.

[0125] Meanwhile, when the multi-stage rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is used, since a plurality of gear racks and pinion gears are formed to be engaged, cumulative tolerances between the components may increase. Accordingly, the components of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 according to the present invention may be designed so that a tolerance may occur through a predetermined clearance space between adjacent components. For example, referring to FIG. 11, it can be confirmed that protrusions 550 are formed along edges of the third gear rack 530. The protrusions 550 may be formed to extend in the front-rear direction along the edges of the third gear rack 530. The protrusion 550 may be formed in a structure in which the edge protrudes convexly compared to other surfaces. For example, the protrusion 550 may be formed to have a circular curved surface.

[0126] In this way, since the protrusions 550 are formed along the edges of the third gear rack 530, when the third gear rack 530 is in contact with an adjacent part, the protrusion 550 may allow the third gear rack 530 to achieve maximum line contact with the adjacent part within a narrow area rather than broad surface contact. Since the third gear rack 530 is designed to make line contact with a neighboring component, the contact area between the components can be reduced, thereby reducing friction, and enabling smoother movement of the components in the front-rear direction when the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is retracted or extended. In addition, since the neighboring components may have a tolerance of a predetermined separation space due to the protrusion 550, a kind of buffer space that does not affect the movement of the components even when an alignment problem occurs between the components may be provided. An example in which the protrusion 550 is applied to the third gear rack 530 has been described, but the protrusion 550 may be applied to all other components included in the rack-and-pinion assembly 50, such as the first gear rack 510, the second gear rack 520, and the rack cover 540, in the same manner.

[0127] Referring to FIG. 14, the locking assembly 60 may include the locking assembly extension bar 610 extending in the left-right direction. That is, the locking assembly extension bar 610 may extend in a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction in which the gear racks of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 are retracted or extended. For example, the locking assembly extension bar 610 may have a bar shape with an open rear surface. The locking assembly extension bar 610 may synchronize the operation of the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52.

[0128] A pair of sliding racks 611 may be disposed at one side and the other side of the locking assembly extension bar 610, respectively. The sliding rack 611 may be formed to extend in the front-rear direction so as to be orthogonal to a direction in which the locking assembly extension bar 610 extends. The sliding rack 611 may be fixedly fastened to the third gear rack 530 of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50. Accordingly, the sliding rack 611 may also be restricted by the movement of the third gear rack 530 in the front-rear direction and moved in the front-rear direction. In this way, as the sliding rack 611 moves in the front-rear direction, the locking assembly extension bar 610 may also be restrained by the movement of the sliding rack 611 and moved in the front-rear direction. Each sliding rack 611 may have a shape in which an end portion fastened to the locking module extension bar 610 extends a predetermined distance in the extension direction of the locking module extension bar 610 and is bent. For example, the sliding rack 611 may extend a predetermined length in the same direction as the locking assembly extension bar 610 and may be fastened to a rear surface of the locking assembly extension bar 610. That is, the sliding rack 611 may have an overall bar shape and may be formed to include a portion bent in a vertical direction, but its shape is not limited thereto.

[0129] The pushing member 630 and the hook member 620 may be disposed on the locking assembly extension bar 610. In FIG. 14, an example in which one hook member 620 is positioned in a central region of the locking assembly extension bar 610, and a pair of pushing members 630 are positioned on both sides of the hook member 620, offset toward each side of the locking assembly extension bar 610, respectively, has been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in another embodiment, one pushing member 630 may be positioned in a central region of the locking assembly extension bar 610, and a pair of hook members 620 may be positioned on both sides of the pushing member 630 offset toward each side of the locking assembly extension bar 610, respectively. In addition, the number and positions of the hook members 620 and the pushing members 630 are not limited thereto. For example, one hook member 620 and one pushing member 630 may be included, or a pair of hook members 620 and a pair of pushing members 630 may be included. In addition, three or more hook members 620 or three or more pushing members 630 may be included. In addition, the arrangement form may be variously modified, such as by alternatively arranging the hook member 620 and the pushing member 630.

[0130] The pushing member 630 may include a pushing portion 631 disposed to face forward. The pushing portion 631 may serve to push an object positioned at the front, such as a bracket extension bar 840. The pushing part 631 may be formed to have a plate shape having a predetermined area so as to be in surface contact with the object being pushed, such as the bracket extension bar 840. For example, the pushing portion 631 may be formed to extend in the left-right and vertical directions, and a length in the left-right direction may be formed to be larger than a length in the vertical direction. A pushing member bent portion 632 that is bent forward may be formed at a lower end portion of the pushing portion 631, and a pushing member fastening portion 634 that is bent downward and extended may be formed at a front end portion of the pushing member bent portion 632. The pushing member bent portion 632 of the pushing portion 631 may be seated on the locking assembly extension bar 610, and the pushing member fastening portion 634 may be fastened to an front outer surface of the locking assembly extension bar 610. Since the pushing portion 631 of the pushing member 630 pushes an object forward, a repulsive force applied to the pushing member 630 may be applied rearward. Accordingly, since the pushing member fastening portion 634 is fastened to the front outer surface of the locking assembly extension bar 610, the fastening between the pushing member 630 and the locking assembly extension bar 610 can be prevented from loosening due to the repulsive force applied to the pushing member 630. A plurality of reinforcing ribs 633 may be formed on the pushing member bent portion 632 to reinforce the strength of the pushing member 630.

[0131] A hook member fixing portion 621 for fixedly fastening the hook member 620 to the locking assembly extension bar 610 may be disposed on the locking assembly extension bar 610. The hook member 620 that operates to engage with and disengage from a front object, such as the storage unit 220, may be fastened to the hook member fixing portion 621. Accordingly, a pair of pushing portions 631 may be disposed at both sides of the hook member fixing portion 621 with respect to the hook member fixing portion 621.

[0132] The hook member fixing portion 621 may include a pair of rotational shafts 6211 that are fastened to the hook member 620 and provide a rotational axis about which the hook member 620 rotates. The hook member fixing portion 621 may be formed to extend upward from the locking assembly extension bar 610 and may have an empty space for fastening a connecting portion 6223 of the hook member 620 in a central region thereof. A pair of rotational shafts 6211 may be formed on the hook member fixing portion 621. For example, the pair of rotational shafts 6211 may be formed to be spaced apart from each other and protrude rearward in the central region for fastening the connecting portion 6223 of the hook member 620. A through hole 6215 may be formed in each rotational shaft portion 6211. The pair of rotational shafts 6211 may be disposed so that the through holes 6215 face each other. The rotational shaft portion 6211 may be fastened to the hook member 620 to provide a rotational axis around which the hook member 620 rotates. A bent portion 6212 bent forward may be formed at a lower end portion of the hook member fixing portion 621, and a fastening portion 6213 bent and extended downward may be formed at a front end portion of the bent portion 6212. The bent portion 6212 of the hook member fixing part 621 may be seated on the locking assembly extension bar 610, and the fastening portion 6213 may be fastened to the front outer surface of the locking assembly extension bar 610. A plurality of reinforcing ribs 6214 may be formed on the bent portion 6212 of the hook member fixing part 621 to reinforce the strength of the hook member fixing part 621.

[0133] The locking assembly 60 may include the hook member 620. For example, the hook member 620 may be disposed on the hook member fixing portion 621. The hook member 620 may be operated to engage with and disengage from a front object such as the storage unit 220. Further referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, the hook member 620 may include a hook head portion 6222 substantially fastened when hook-coupled, and a hook tail portion 6221 extending downward from the hook head portion 6222. The hook head portion 6222 may be engaged with and disengaged from a front object of the hook member 620, such as the storage unit 220, in a hook-coupling manner. The hook head portion 6222 may be formed to have an inward curved surface to increase a hook-coupling force with the object to be hook-coupled. A head bent portion 6225 bent inward may be formed at the end of the hook head portion 6222.

[0134] A front surface of the hook head portion 6222 in the present specification is one surface of the hook head portion 6222, which faces forward in a state in which the hook member 620 is aligned vertically so that the hook head portion 6222 is positioned at the top and the hook tail portion 6221 is positioned at the bottom by coming into contact with the rear surface 163 or a stopper 166 of the storage compartment 16. Accordingly, the rear surface of the hook head portion 6222 is the other surface opposite to one surface corresponding to the front surface of the hook head portion 6222. In addition, when the hook member 620 is released from the contact with the rear surface 163 or the stopper 166 of the storage compartment 16, the hook member 620 may rotate so that the rear surface of the hook head portion 6222 faces upward and the front surface thereof faces downward. Accordingly, the front surface of the hook head portion 6222 may be defined as a lower surface, and the rear surface of the hook head portion 6222 may be defined as an upper surface.

[0135] The hook tail portion 6221 of the hook member 620 may be formed to extend downward from the lower surface of the hook head portion 6222. A tail bent portion 6224 bent forward at a predetermined angle may be formed at a lower end of the hook tail portion 6221. The hook tail portion 6221 having such a shape is in contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 and can achieve smooth contact and release with the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16.

[0136] A pair of connecting portions 6223 may be formed on a front inner surface of the hook member 620. For example, the pair of connecting portions 6223 may be formed to protrude forward from one surface, that is, the inner surface, of the hook tail portion 6221. That is, the pair of connecting portions 6223 may protrude in the same direction as the extension direction of the hook head portion 6222.

[0137] The pair of connecting portions 6223 may be disposed to face each other at a predetermined distance. A connection portion hole 6232h may be formed in each of the pair of connecting portions 6223, and the connecting portion holes 6232h may be disposed to face each other in the pair of connecting portions 6223. The connecting portion 6223 of the hook member 620 is connected to the rotational shaft portion 6211 of the hook member fixing portion 621, and the connecting portion 6223 and the rotational shaft portion 6211 may be engaged by a separately provided fastening pin 624. For example, the connecting portion hole 6232h of the connecting portion 6223 may be disposed to be aligned with the through hole 6215 of the rotational shaft portion 6211, and the fastening pin 624 may fix the hook member 620 to the hook member fixing portion 621 by passing through the connecting portion hole 6232h of the connecting portion 6223 and the through hole 6215 of the rotational shaft portion 6211 in the left-right direction.

[0138] A protrusion 6229 may be formed on each connecting portion 6223. For example, the protrusion 6229 may be formed to protrude in the same direction as the extension direction of the hook head portion 6222. The protrusion 6229 may protrude in the same direction as the direction in which the connecting portion 6223 protrudes and may be formed to protrude farther from an outer surface of the connecting portion 6223. The protrusion 6229 may be formed in a portion of the outer surface of the connecting portion 6223 adjacent to the hook head portion 6222. For example, the protrusion 6229 may be formed in a shape that decreases in width toward an edge, but is not limited thereto. The protrusion 6229 can prevent the hook member 620 from rotating at a predetermined angle or more by coming into contact with an upper end of the hook member fixing portion 621 during the rotation of the hook member 620. Accordingly, the protrusion 6229 may serve as a rotational angle adjustment member of the hook member 620.

[0139] An elastic member 623 for providing an elastic force to the hook member 620 may be fastened to the connecting portion 6223 and the rotational shaft portion 6211 together with the fastening pin 624. The elastic member 623 may be disposed between the pair of connecting portions 6223 disposed to be spaced apart from each other. Accordingly, the fastening pin 624 passing through the through hole 6215 of the rotational shaft portion 6211 and the through hole of the connecting portion 6223 from one side may pass through the elastic member 623 and then pass through the through hole of the connecting portion 6223 and the through hole 6215 of the rotational shaft portion 6211 positioned at the other side.

[0140] For example, the elastic member 623 may be a spring. Specifically, the elastic member 623 may be a torsion spring. The torsion spring stores energy using torsional deformation and releases the energy. The torsion spring may operate when a torsional force is applied around its axis. Accordingly, the torsion spring may store elastic energy upon rotation or twisting and restore by releasing the stored elastic energy. The torsion spring is wound in a spiral shape and may be twisted by supports engaged with both ends. That is, the torsion spring may be twisted by receiving force through a rotational motion and may store energy through the torsional deformation. Accordingly, the hook member 620 can be capable of rotational motion to allow for restoration in an opposite direction by the elastic member 623 during the rotational motion in one direction.

[0141] For example, the elastic member 623 may include a coil portion 6231 and a pair of leg portions 6232a and 6232b protruding outward from both sides of the coil portion 6231, respectively. The coil portion 6231 may be configured in a spirally wound coil shape and may store energy through elastic deformation when receiving a torsional load. The fastening pin 624 may pass through the coil portion 6231. The pair of leg portions 6232a and 6232b may be composed of a first leg portion 6232a and a second leg portion 6232b, which extend from both ends of the coil portion 6231, and engaged with external components to transmit a rotational motion or perform a fixing function. The first leg portion 6232a and the second leg portion 6232b may be designed at specific angles and manufactured in various shapes depending on the intended use.

[0142] For example, the leg portions 6232a and 6232b may be formed in a straight shape, but are not limited thereto, and may also be formed in a curved shape. FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate the elastic member 623 before and after deformation, respectively. Referring to FIG. 17, the first leg portion 6232a may extend from the coil portion 6231 in one direction, and the second leg portion 6232b may extend in the other direction that is a direction opposite to the one direction. In a state in which no external force is applied to the elastic member 623, the first leg portion 6232a and the second leg portion 6232b may extend in parallel in different directions. When a user applies an external force to the first leg portion 6232a and presses the first leg portion 6232a at a predetermined angle, as illustrated in FIG. 18, an angle between the first leg portion 6232a and the second leg portion 6232b decreases. In this way, as the external force is applied to the first leg portion 6232a, the coil portion 6231 is compressed and twisted to store elastic energy. The amount of accumulated elastic energy may be proportional to the degree of deformation of the first leg portion 6232a.

[0143] That is, when the external force is applied to the leg portions 6232a and 6232b, the coil portion 6231 may store elastic energy through torsional deformation, and, when the external force is removed, release the stored elastic energy using a restoring force. The elastic member 623 is coupled with an external component through the leg portions 6232a and 6232b, and when a rotational motion is applied in a specific direction, the coil portion 6231 twists and stores energy. After the external force is removed, the coil portion 6231 may restore to its original state and releases torque, which is a rotational force, through the leg portions 6232a and 6232b. In this way, according to the present invention, by providing the torsion spring including the leg portions 6232 extending from both ends of the coil portion 6231, stable energy storage and release during rotational motion is enabled, and high durability and efficiency can be provided in various application environments.

[0144] When the elastic member 623 is fastened to the fastening pin 624, as illustrated in FIG. 18, one of the leg portions 6232a and 6232b, for example, the first leg portion 6232a, may be fastened while being pressed at a predetermined angle. Accordingly, the elastic member 623 may be in a state of already storing a predetermined elastic energy from a state of being fastened to the fastening pin 624. For example, further referring to FIG. 22, the first leg portion 6323a of the elastic member 623 may come into contact with the hook tail portion 6221 of the hook member 620, and the second leg portion 6323b may come into contact the rear surface of the hook member fixing portion 621. In this case, since the elastic member 623 has stored elastic energy of a predetermined size before being in contact with the hook member 620, when an external force is not applied to the hook member 620 to oppose the restoring force of the elastic member 623, the hook member 620 is rotated forward by the restoring force of the elastic member 623. In this case, while the protrusion 6229 formed on the connecting portion 6223 is in contact with the upper surface of the hook member fixing portion 621, the forward rotation of the hook member 620 may be stopped.

[0145] The hook member 620 may rotate in a circular motion at a predetermined angle θ1 about a rotational center axis CA formed to extend along a central portion of the connecting portion 6223 engaged with the rotational shaft portion 6211. Further referring to FIG. 22, the rotational center axis CA may be defined as a virtual line formed in the extension direction of the fastening pin 624 through the center of the fastening pin 624. In addition, the rotational center axis CA may also be defined as a virtual line connecting the centers of a pair of connecting portions 6223 or a pair of rotational shafts 6211.

[0146] In a closed state of the door 20, that is, a state in which the locking assembly 60 fully moves rearward, the rear surface of the hook tail portion 6221 of the hook member 620 may come into contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16. In this case, since the rear surface of the hook tail portion 6221 of the hook member 620 is pressed forward by the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16, the hook head portion 6222 positioned at an upper end of the hook tail portion 6221 with respect to the rotational center axis CA of the hook member 620 may rotate rearward with respect to the rotational center axis CA. That is, the end portions of the hook head portion 6222 and the hook tail portion 6221, which are positioned in opposite directions with respect to the rotational center axis CA of the hook member 620, rotate in opposite directions. Accordingly, the hook head portion 6222 may maintain a state in which the hook-coupling with the front object, such as the storage unit 220, is released.

[0147] In this way, in a state in which the hook member 620 is in contact with the rear surface 148 of the storage compartment 16, the stored restoring energy is retained due to the torsional deformation of the elastic member 623. Thereafter, when the locking assembly 60 moves forward, the hook tail portion 6221 of the hook member 620 is released from the contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16, and the hook head portion 6222 may rotate forward about the rotational axis of the connecting portion 6223 due to the restoring energy of the elastic member 623. Accordingly, the hook head portion 6222 may be hook-coupled with a front object to be hook-coupled, such as the storage unit 220.

[0148] The locking assembly 60 described above may synchronize the driving of the pair of driving assemblies 40 and the pair of rack-and-pinion assemblies 50 positioned at both sides thereof. Accordingly, even when one of the pair of driving assemblies 40 fails or stops operating, when the other normal driving assembly 40 is driven, the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 fastened to the driving assembly 40 that has stopped operating may be controlled to be normally retracted or extended by the synchronization performed by the locking assembly 60.

[0149] Referring to FIG. 5, the stopper 166 may be disposed on the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16. The stopper 166 may be formed to protrude a predetermined thickness farther forward than the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 to allow the hook tail portion 6221 of the hook member 620 to more easily come into contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16. The stopper 166 may be molded separately from the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 and fixed to the rear surface 163, but is not limited thereto, and a portion of the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 may be molded and formed as the stopper 166.

[0150] In addition, in another embodiment, the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 may be disposed at one side and the other side of the storage compartment 16, respectively, and the driving assembly 40 may be positioned at only one side or the other side of the storage compartment 16. Referring to FIG. 19, for example, when the driving assembly 40 is positioned on only one side of the storage compartment 16 in which the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 is positioned and directly drives the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52, the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 may be synchronized with the operation of the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 by the locking assembly extension bar 610, the adjustment unit 83, and the bracket extension bar 840 to operate together. Accordingly, even when the driving assembly 40 that is directly fastened to the first rack-and-pinion assembly 52 and drives the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 is not provided, a driving force of the second driving assembly 42 that is directly fastened to the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 and drives the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 may be indirectly transmitted to the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 through the locking assembly extension bar 610.

[0151] [Engaging structure of door open module, rail assembly, bracket member, and door]

[0152] Hereinafter, the engaging structure of the door open module 30, the rail assembly 70, the bracket member 80, and the door 20 will be described with further reference to FIGS. 19 and 24.

[0153] The door 20 may include the door unit 210 for opening and closing the front surface of the cabinet 2. The door unit 210 may include a door frame 211 forming an actual exterior of the door 20, and a door liner 212 positioned behind the door frame 211 and connected to the bracket member 80. A door dike 216 may be formed along the circumference of a rear surface of the door liner 212. The door dike 216 may protrude rearward from the door liner 212 to be inserted into the storage compartment 16. A door recess 217 having a recessed shape may be formed in the rear surface of the door liner 212 corresponding to the interior of the door dike 216. Bracket connecting portions 214 engaged with the first bracket member 81 and the second bracket member 82, respectively, may be formed in the door recess 217. The bracket connecting portion 214 may be formed to protrude a predetermined thickness rearward to facilitate connection with the bracket member 80. The bracket member 80 may be fastened to a rear outer side of the bracket connecting portion 214 or inserted into an insertion space formed on a rear inner side of the bracket connecting portion 214 and fastened to the rear inner side, and such a fastening method is not particularly limited. As the door unit 210 and the bracket member 80 are fastened in this way, the movement and operation of the door 20, the bracket member 80, and the rail assembly 70 may be synchronized. A gasket part 213 disposed along the outer circumference of the door dike 216 may be formed on the rear surface of the door liner 212. The gasket part 213 may be in contact with the cabinet 2 to seal a space between the door 20 and the cabinet 2, thereby reducing the leakage of cold air.

[0154] A pair of pressing parts 822 may be disposed on the rear surface of the door liner 212. The pair of pressing parts 822 may be disposed at positions overlapping the first driving assembly 41 and the second driving assembly 42, respectively, in the front-rear direction. The pressing parts 822 may be disposed at positions overlapping the first rack-and-pinion assembly 51 and the second rack-and-pinion assembly 52 mounted on the first driving assembly 41 and the second driving assembly 42, respectively, in the front-rear direction. Specifically, when the third gear rack 530 of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 protrudes forward, the pressing member 532 of the third gear rack 530 may be in contact with the pressing part 822 to press and push the pressing part 822 forward.

[0155] Hereinafter, the hook-coupling structure of the hook member 620 will be described in more detail with further reference to FIGS. 21 to 24. As described above, the hook member 620 may be fastened to the bracket extension bar 840. As the hook member 620 rotates in a circular motion about the rotational center axis CA in the left-right direction, the hook member 620 may be fastened to the bracket extension bar 840. The bracket extension bar 840 may be formed in a shape that facilitates the hook coupling and release of the hook coupling with the hook head portion 6222 of the hook member 620. The bracket extension bar 840 may be disposed behind the storage unit 220 so as to overlap the storage unit 220 in the front-rear direction. The bracket extension bar 840 may be disposed to be spaced a predetermined distance from the rear surface of the storage unit 220.

[0156] In addition, the hook member 620 fastened to the bracket extension bar 840 may also be disposed behind the storage unit 220 so as to overlap the storage unit 220 in the front-rear direction. When the hook member 620 fixed to the hook member fixing portion 621 rotates forward about the rotational center axis CA, the hook head portion 6222 may be inserted into a separation space between the bracket extension bar 840 and the rear surface of the storage unit 220. That is, the hook head portion 6222 of the hook member 620 that rotates in a circular motion forward about the rotational center axis CA in the left-right direction may be inserted into the separation space between the bracket extension bar 840 and the rear surface of the storage unit 220 to enable hook coupling. In addition, the hook head portion 6222 of the hook member 620 that rotates in a circular motion rearward about the rotational center axis CA in the left-right direction may be disengaged from the separation space between the bracket extension bar 840 and the rear surface of the storage unit 220, thereby enabling the release of the hook coupling.

[0157] The hook member 620 fastened to the hook member fixing portion 621 by the fastening pin 624 may rotate about the rotational axis extending in the extension direction of the fastening pin 624, that is, in the left-right direction of the refrigerator 1. When the storage unit 220 moves forward or rearward in a state in which the hook member 620 is fastened to the bracket extension bar 840, the moving direction of the hook member 620 may be the front-rear direction of the refrigerator 1. In this case, when the storage unit 220 moves rearward, the hook member 620 hook-coupled to the bracket extension bar 840 substantially serves to pull the storage unit 220 rearward, and thus the force applied to the hook member 620 may act in the front-rear direction. Accordingly, the direction of force applied to the hook member 620 while hook-coupled to the bracket extension bar 840 and the extension direction of the rotational axis, which serves as the rotational center of the hook member 620, may be orthogonal. Accordingly, the hook member 620 can stably rotate about the rotational axis without being affected by the direction of force applied to the hook member 620 and can be prevented from being disengaged from the rotational axis.

[0158] As described above, the hook member 620 may be disengaged from or engaged with the storage unit 220 of the door 23 using the elastic member 623 for storing or releasing elastic energy in the rotational direction. For example, while caught on the bracket extension bar 840, the hook member 620 may rotate to form a circular trajectory in a clockwise direction, that is, the first direction, about the rotational axis. In this way, when the hook member 620 rotates in the first direction, the hook head portion 6222 may move rearward, and the hook tail portion 6221 may move forward. The hook member 620 may rotate in the first direction at the predetermined angle θ1. In this case, the elastic member 623 may store elastic energy.

[0159] When the rear surface of the hook tail portion 6221 is in contact with the rear surface 163 of the inner case 11, the hook member 620 may rotate in the first direction, thereby releasing the fastening with the catch portion 2212. In this case, an external force is applied to the leg portions 6232a and 6232b of the elastic member 623, and the coil portion 6231 stores the elastic energy through torsional deformation. For example, one of the pair of leg portions 6232a and 6232b may be deformed in contact with the rear surface of the pushing member 630 to apply an external force. In addition, the other of the pair of leg portions 6232a and 6232b may be deformed in contact with the front surface of the hook member 620 to apply an external force. The external force may be applied to the elastic member 623 as the hook tail portion 6221 of the hook member 620 rotates in the first direction while being in contact with the rear surface 163 of the inner case 11. For example, in the closed state of the door 23, the hook member 620 remains disengaged from the storage unit 220 of the door 23, and the elastic member 623 may store elastic energy.

[0160] In this way, the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention can quickly implement the manual open mode without a time difference in the closed state of the door 23 because the hook member 620 disengages from the door 23 in the closed state of the door 23. In the present invention, the manual open mode is a mode in which the hook member 620 and the door 23 are disengaged and the door open module 30 is not operated, allowing the door 23 to be opened and closed manually by the user. The automatic open mode is a mode in which the hook member 620 and the door 23 are engaged and the door 23 is opened by the operation of the door open module 30, meaning a mode in which the door 23 can be opened and closed automatically. That is, according to the present invention, the hook member 620 may be disengaged from the door 23 without separate control by a controller of the refrigerator, enabling automatic switching to the manual open mode. Accordingly, since the door 23 switches to the manual open mode simultaneously with the closing of the door, the user can very quickly open and close the door 23 in the manual open mode.

[0161] When the door 23 opened in the automatic open mode is closed, the door 23 may automatically switch to the manual open mode. In addition, when the door open module 30 operates to automatically open the door 23, the door 23 may switch to the automatic open mode to open and close the door 23, and when the door 23 is fully closed, the door 23 may automatically switch back to the manual open mode. In addition, the door 23 opened and closed in the manual open mode will remain in the manual open mode unless a separate switching to the automatic open mode is made.

[0162] Meanwhile, when the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 is operated, the hook member 620 fastened to the pushing member 630 synchronized with the operation of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 also moves forward. In a state in which the hook tail portion 6221 of the hook member 620 is in contact with the rear surface 163 of the inner case 11, when the hook member 620 moves forward, the contact between the hook tail portion 6221 and the rear surface 163 of the inner case 11 may be released. This is because, as the contact between the hook member 620 and the rear surface 163 of the inner case 11 is released after the hook member 620 rotates in the first direction, the elastic energy stored in the elastic member 623 is released, thereby allowing the hook member 620 to rotate in the second direction. That is, the hook member 620 may rotate to form a circular trajectory in a counterclockwise direction, that is, the second direction, about the rotational axis while being released from the contact with the rear surface 163 of the inner case 11. That is, the second direction may be a direction of rotation opposite to the first direction. In this way, when the hook member 620 rotates in the second direction, the hook head portion 6222 may move forward, and the hook tail portion 6221 may move rearward. The hook member 620 may re-rotate in the second direction at the predetermined angle θ1 that it had rotated in the first direction.

[0163] As the rear surface of the hook tail portion 6221 is released from the contact with the rear surface 163 of the inner case 11, the hook member 620 may be fastened to the bracket extension bar 840 while rotating in the second direction. In this case, since the hook member 620 having an elastic force due to the elastic member 623 may be rotated in the second direction by the elastic repulsive force applied in the opposite direction, the hook head portion 6222 may engage the bracket extension bar 840 in front, thereby allowing the hook member 620 to be fastened to the hook catch member 221.

[0164] In this way, in the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention, the locking assembly 60 including the elastic member 623 may be disengaged from the door 23 to store elastic energy and engaged with the door 23 by releasing the stored elastic energy, thereby easily engaging and disengaging the door open module 30 and the door 23 using only the operation mechanism using the storage and release of the elastic energy. In addition, in the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention, since the hook member 620 may be disengaged from the door 23 by coming into contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16, no separate additional component for disengaging the hook member 620 and the door 23 is required, thereby securing the simplification and reliability of the component.

[0165] In addition, in the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention, by allowing the elastic member 623 to store elastic energy when the hook member 620 rotates about one axis in the first direction and release the elastic energy when the hook member 620 rotates in the second direction, the engagement and disengagement of the door using the circular trajectory can be easily performed. That is, in the refrigerator 1 according to the present invention, the hook member 620 of the door open module 30 may be disengaged from or engaged with the door 23 while rotating about the center of rotation along a circular trajectory, thereby providing a natural and simple door locking structure.

[0166] The tail bent portion 6224 bent inward from the hook member 620 may be formed at the end of the hook tail portion 6221 of the hook member 620. For example, when the hook tail portion 6221 in contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 extends vertically in a state in which the door 23 is fully closed, the tail bent portion 6224 may be bent forward at the end of the hook tail portion 6221. In addition, in a state in which the door 23 is closed and the hook member 620 disengages from the door 23, the tail bent portion 6224 and the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 may be inclined in the same direction. For example, slopes of the tail bent portion 6224 and the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 may be inclined upward toward the rear. For example, inclined angles of the tail bent portion 6224 and the rear surface of the storage compartment 16 may be the same, but are not limited thereto, and the inclined angles may differ. In this way, the tail bent portion 6224 formed at the end of the hook tail portion 6221 can come into contact with and can be released from the contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 smoothly, thereby enhancing the reliability of the operation of the hook member 620.

[0167] In addition, an end corner of the tail bent portion 6224 may be formed to have a curved surface. When the hook member 620 comes into contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16, the hook member 620 may first come into contact with the corner of the tail bent portion 6224. In this case, since the end corner of the tail bent portion 6224 in contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 is formed to have a curved surface, the tail bent portion 6224 can come into contact with and can be released from the contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 more smoothly, thereby further enhancing the reliability of the operation of the hook member 620.

[0168] In addition, the stopper 166 formed to protrude forward may be disposed on the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16. By the tail bent portion 6224 of the hook member 620 starting to come into contact with the stopper 166, the hook member 620 may be rotated in the first direction. The stopper 166 may be disposed on the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 having a slope and may protrude forward, thereby allowing the hook tail portion 6221 of the hook member 620 to come into contact with the stopper 166 with an appropriate length without requiring the hook tail portion 6221 to be excessively long. Accordingly, the hook member 620 may be rotated with a minimal rotation radius without the need for an increase in the rotation radius of the hook member 620.

[0169] In addition, a stopper recessed rearward may be formed on the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 in contact with the tail bent portion 6224. Alternatively, the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 may be molded to form a recess recessed rearward by a predetermined distance at the portion in contact with the tail bent portion 6224. Accordingly, the distance between the tail bent portion 6224 and the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 in contact with the tail bent portion 6224 may increase, thereby increasing the length of the hook tail portion 6221 or the tail bent portion 6224.

[0170] The head bent portion 6225 bent inward from the hook member 620 may be formed at the end of the hook head portion 6222. When the hook member 620 engages the catch portion 2212, the hook head portion 6222 may come into surface contact with the bracket extension bar 840, and the head bent portion 6225 may extend outward from the bracket extension bar 840. For example, the bracket extension bar 840 may include an extension bar front surface 840a in contact with the hook head portion 6222, and a pair of extension bar side surfaces 840b bent rearward from both ends of the extension bar front surface 840a. In this case, one extension bar side surface 840b adjacent to the hook member 620 may come into contact with the hook head portion 6222, and the other extension bar side surface 840b that is not adjacent to the hook member 620 may not come into contact with the hook head portion 6222. For example, the extension bar front surface 840a may be formed to have an upward slope upward toward the rear, and the extension bar side surface 840b may be formed to have a downward slope toward the rear.

[0171] In this way, by allowing the hook head portion 6222 to come into surface contact with the extension bar front surface 840a of the bracket extension bar 840, a contact area can be increased to prevent the hook coupling from being easily released, thereby enhancing the reliability of the hook coupling. When the hook member 620 pulls the bracket extension bar 840 rearward while fastened to the bracket extension bar 840, the hook head portion 6222 may come into surface contact with the bracket extension bar 840. In addition, when the hook member 620 is fastened to the bracket extension bar 840 but the door moves forward, the hook head portion 6222 and the bracket extension bar 840 may move forward together while spaced a predetermined distance from each other without surface contact with each other.

[0172] The head bent portion 6225 may protrude outward from the extension bar front surface 840a and may be bent rearward in a state in which the hook head portion 6222 is in contact with the extension bar front surface 840a. In the automatic open mode, the door 23 may move rearward as the hook member 620 hook-coupled to the bracket extension bar 840 pulls the bracket extension bar 840 rearward. In this case, it may be difficult to prevent the hook member 620 from being unintentionally released from the bracket extension bar 840 using only the frictional force resulting from the contact between the hook head portion 6222 and the extension bar front surface 840a. Accordingly, according to the present invention, in a state in which the hook member 620 is fastened to the bracket extension bar 840, the head bent portion 6225 is extended to bend outward from the bracket extension bar 840 to prevent the hook coupling from being easily released, thereby further enhancing the reliability of the hook coupling. In addition, the corners of the head bent portion 6225 and the boundaries at which the head bent portion 6225 is bent may be formed to have a curved surface, thereby enabling the hook member 620 and the bracket extension bar 840 from being fastened to and released from the fastening more smoothly.

[0173] The bracket extension bar 840 may be disposed in front of the rotational shaft portion 6211 of the hook member fixing portion 621. That is, the bracket extension bar 840 may be disposed in front of the center of rotation of the hook member 620. In this case, the bracket extension bar 840 may be disposed to diagonally overlap the center of rotation of the hook member 620. That is, the bracket extension bar 840 may be positioned at an upper front of the center of rotation of the hook member 620. The bracket extension bar 840 and the rotational shaft portion 6211 may be disposed adjacent to each other so that portions thereof overlap each other vertically.

[0174] The bracket extension bar 840 may be disposed vertically between the rack-and-pinion assembly 40 and the adjustment unit 83. Since the bracket extension bar 840 is disposed below the adjustment unit 83, interference with the adjustment unit 83 can be prevented during the process of fastening the hook member 620 to the bracket extension bar 840. In this case, in order to avoid impeding the rotation of the hook member 620, the bracket extension bar 840 is preferably disposed to be spaced a predetermined distance from the adjustment unit 83 downward. For example, the adjustment unit 83 may be positioned above the maximum rotation radius of the hook member 620. In addition, since the bracket extension bar 840 is disposed above the rack-and-pinion assembly 40, a fastening point of the hook member 620 and the bracket extension bar 840 may be formed on the same line as or above the rack-and-pinion assembly 40. For example, the fastening point of the hook member 620 and the bracket extension bar 840 may be positioned above the gear racks protruding forward from the rack-and-pinion assembly 40.

[0175] The rotational angle θ1 of the hook member 620 may be determined by the position of the bracket extension bar 840 that may be compared with the position of the rotational shaft portion 6211 of the hook member fixing portion 621 or the center of rotation of the hook member 620.

[0176] In addition, the rotational angle θ1 of the hook member 620 may also be determined by an inclined angle of the slope of the extension bar front surface 840a of the bracket extension bar 840. For example, an extension line 660 orthogonal to the extension bar front surface 840a, which is the contact surface of the bracket extension bar 840 in contact with the hook head portion 6222, may extend to pass through the center of rotation of the hook member 620. For example, when the extension line 660 orthogonal to the extension bar front surface 840a, which is the contact surface of the bracket extension bar 840 in contact with the hook head portion 6222, extends along the center of rotation of the hook member 620, an angle at which the hook head portion 6222 needs to rotate to come into surface contact with the extension bar front surface 840a of the bracket extension bar 840 can be smaller. In this way, when the rotational angle θ1 of the hook member 620 is smaller, it may take less time for the hook member 620 to be hook-coupled to the bracket extension bar 840. In this way, when the hook coupling time of the hook member 620 is shorter, the switching time between the automatic open mode and the manual open mode can be significantly reduced. Accordingly, according to the present invention, while maintaining the hook member 620 firmly fastened to the bracket extension bar 840, the switching between the automatic door opening mode and the manual door opening mode can be performed very quickly.

[0177] The rotational angle θ1 of the hook member 620 may have an angle range of 90 degrees or less. When the rotational angle θ1 of the hook member 620 exceeds 90 degrees, the tail bent portion 6224 of the hook member 620 may exceed a threshold angle at which it may rotate to disengage from the bracket extension bar 840 by coming into contacting with the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16. Accordingly, for smooth rotation of the hook member 620 disengaged from or engaged with the bracket extension bar 840, the rotational angle θ1 of the hook member 620 may be preferably set within an angle range of 90 degrees or less.

[0178] A maximum rotational radius d1 of the hook member 620 that rotates about the center of rotation may be formed to be smaller than a shortest distance d2 from the center of rotation to the rear surface of the storage unit 220. The maximum rotational radius d1 of the hook member 620 may be defined as a longer radius between the rotational radius caused by the end portion of the tail bent portion 6224 positioned at the end of the hook tail portion 6221 of the hook member 620 and a rotational radius caused by the uppermost surface of the hook head portion 6222. The maximum rotational radius d1 of the hook member 620 may be defined as a longer radius between a rotational radius caused by the end of the tail bent portion 6224 positioned at the end of the hook tail portion 6221 of the hook member 620 and a rotational radius caused by the end of the head bent portion 6225 positioned at the end of the hook head portion 6222.

[0179] When the door 23 moves forward in the automatic open mode, the hook member 620 may move forward together with the door 23 while spaced a predetermined distance from the catch portion 2212. In this case, when the door 23 moves rearward, the hook member 620 may pull the door 23 rearward while in contact with the catch portion 2212. In this way, when the door 23 moves forward, the bracket extension bar 840 preferably has a predetermined separation space from the rear surface of the storage unit 220 in order to secure the operability of the hook member 620 and prevent interference. A difference between the maximum rotational radius d1 of the hook member 620 that rotates about the center of rotation and the shortest distance d2 from the center of rotation of the hook member 620 to the rear surface of the storage unit 220 may be a distance of a free space that the hook head portion 6222 of the hook member 620 may have.

[0180] Referring to FIGS. 22 to 24, a change in an angle θ2 between the first leg portion 6232a and the second leg portion 6232b of the elastic member 623 according to the rotation of the hook member 620 may be identified.

[0181]FIG. 22 illustrates a state in which the hook member 620 is in contact with the stopper 166 disposed on the rear surface 163 of the inner case 11 before rotating forward, and the first leg portion 6232a may come into contact with the hook tail portion 6221 of the hook member 620, and the second leg portion 6232b may come into contact with the hook member fixing portion 621. In this case, since the rotation of the hook member 620 due to the restoring force of the elastic member 623 can be suppressed due to the contact between the hook member 620 and the stopper 166, the angle θ2 between the first leg portion 6232a and the second leg portion 6232b may have a minimum value. In this case, the door 23 may be fully closed.

[0182] Referring to FIG. 23, when the door 23 starts to move forward, the hook member 620 may rotate forward. In this case, the tail bent portion 6224 of the hook member 620 may move from the bottom to the top while maintaining the contact with the stopper 166 along the stopper 166. For example, FIG. 23 is a view illustrating a state in which the hook member 620 rotates forward at a predetermined angle and the hook member 620 is about to be released from the contact with the stopper 166, and the angle θ2 between the first leg portion 6232a and the second leg portion 6232b may be larger than that of the state illustrated in FIG. 22. That is, the angle θ2 between the first leg portion 6232a and the second leg portion 6232b increases due to the action of the restoring force resulting from the release of elastic energy of the elastic member 623.

[0183] Referring to FIG. 24, FIG. 24 is a view illustrating a state in which the hook member 620 maximally rotates forward and is released from the contact with the stopper 166, and in this case, the angle θ2 between the first leg portion 6232a and the second leg portion 6232b may have the maximum value. In this case, the hook member 620 may remain hook-coupled to the bracket extension bar 840.

[0184] [Operation of door open module and retraction and extension operation of door]

[0185] Hereinafter, the operation of the door open module 30 and the retraction and extension operation of the door 20 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with further reference to FIGS. 25 and 26.

[0186]FIG. 25 is a view illustrating the door 20 and the door open module 30 before the door open module 30 is driven. That is, FIG. 25 illustrates the door 20 that is fully closed and the storage unit 220 that is fully stored in the storage compartment 16. Since the locking assembly 60 is fully moved rearward, as the rear surface of the hook member 620 is in close contact with a stopper 166 formed on the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16, the locking assembly 60 remains tilted rearward. Accordingly, the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 may be maintained in a disengaged state from the bracket extension bar 840. Accordingly, in a state in which the door 20 is fully closed and the storage unit 220 is fully stored in the storage compartment 16, the bracket extension bar 840 and the door open module 30 may be maintained in a disengaged state.

[0187] In this way, in a state in which the bracket extension bar 840 is disengaged from the door open module 30, the user can easily retract and extend the door 20 in the manual open mode. That is, according to the present invention, in a state in which the storage unit 220 is retracted, the hook member 620 and the bracket extension bar 840 may be automatically disengaged, and thus the user does not need to separately switch to the manual open mode. Accordingly, in the manual open mode, the door 20 may be moved in the front-rear direction along the rail assemblies 70 by the user in a state in which the door open module 30 is not driven.

[0188] Accordingly, according to the present invention, by including the locking assembly 60 provided with the hook member 620 that is engaged with the bracket member 80 during the forward or rearward movement of the door 20 and disengaged from the bracket member 80 in the closed state of the door 20, the manual extension mode can be implemented quickly and easily without a separate manipulation in the closed state of the door 20. In another embodiment, the hook member 620 may be hook-coupled with the rear surface of the storage unit 220 rather than the bracket member 80. Accordingly, the locking assembly 60 provided with the hook member 620 may be engaged with the storage unit 220 during the forward or rearward movement of the door 20 and disengaged from the storage unit 220 in the closed state of the door 20. In this case, since the storage unit 220 and the bracket member 80 may move together in a synchronized manner, the same movement mechanism in the front-rear direction can be obtained through the hook-coupling with the storage unit 220 or the bracket member 80.

[0189] In addition, according to the present invention, since switching between the automatic open mode and the manual open mode is smoothly performed, the user can easily and smoothly extend the door without a separate command to switch to the manual open mode, thereby maximizing the convenience of use.

[0190] In addition, according to the present invention, in the manual open mode, the door 20 may be retracted or extended by only the guide performed by the rail assembly 70 without being fastened to the door open module 30. Accordingly, when the door 20 is manually retracted or extended, there is no need to forcibly or passively drive the door open module 30, and thus it is possible to solve the problem of a counter-electromotive force of the door open module 30 that may occur during the manual retraction and extension operation.

[0191] In addition, according to the present invention, in the manual open mode, since the door 20 may be retracted or extended by only the guide performed by the rail assembly 70 without being fastened to the door open module 30, it is possible to minimize the resistance or inconvenience felt by the user when retracting or extending the door 20, thereby improving the use experience of the user.

[0192] In a pre-operational state of the door open module 30, the storage unit 220 and the door open module 30 may remain in a non-contact state. That is, the door open module 30 does not support the load of the storage unit 220, and the load of the storage unit 220 may be supported by the rail assembly 70. For example, a pair of rail assemblies 70 disposed on both sides of the storage unit 220 may support the lower surfaces of both edges of the storage unit 220. Accordingly, the bottom surface 164 of the storage compartment 16 may not be in contact with the lower surface of the storage unit 220. The lower surface of the storage unit 220 and the bottom surface 164 of the storage compartment 16 may be spaced apart from each other by the predetermined clearance space CS.

[0193] In this way, according to the present invention, the load of the storage unit 220 may not be supported by the door open module 30 or the bottom surface 164 of the storage compartment 16, but may be supported by the rail assemblies 70 disposed on the side surfaces of the door 20. Accordingly, the door open module 30 that provides a direct driving force can be prevented from being damaged by the load of the storage unit 220, and the door open module 30 can be operated stably regardless of the magnitude of the load of the storage unit 220.

[0194]FIG. 26 is a view illustrating the door 20 and the door open module 30 in a state in which the door open module 30 is driven and the door 20 is opened. When the user executes the automatic open mode, the door 20 may move in the front-rear direction along the rail assemblies 70 by driving the door open module 30. In order to execute the automatic open mode, the refrigerator 1 may have a separate button for implementing the automatic open mode, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the automatic open mode may be executed by various methods, such as by a sensor such as a motion detection sensor or a sound detection sensor, by a voice command of the user, or by an input from a mobile device such as mobile phone or remote controller.

[0195] As the door open module 30 is driven and the locking assembly 60 moves forward, the pushing member 630 of the locking assembly 60 may come into contact with the rear surface of the bracket extension bar 840 to push the bracket extension bar 840 forward. As the locking assembly 60 moves forward, the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 may also move forward, thereby allowing the hook member 620 to be released from contact with the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16. In this way, when the contact between the hook member 620 and the rear surface 163 of the storage compartment 16 is released, the hook member 620 may rotate forward along the rotational axis and may be fastened to the bracket extension bar 840 in a hook-coupling manner.

[0196] In the opened state of the door 20, the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 may remain fastened to the bracket extension bar 840. In this case, when the door 20 is closed, the driving assembly 40 may be driven by changing a rotational direction of the motor so that the gear racks of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 are retracted. Accordingly, the locking assembly 60 constrained by the movement of the rack-and-pinion assembly 50 may move rearward. In this case, since the hook member 620 of the locking assembly 60 is fastened to the bracket extension bar 840 of the bracket member 80, the locking assembly 60 may pull the bracket extension bar 840 rearward. Accordingly, the storage unit 220 engaged with the bracket member 80 may move into the storage compartment 16 while depending on the rearward movement of the locking assembly 60.

[0197] Accordingly, the door open module 30 may move the storage unit 220 forward by pushing the rear surface of the bracket member 80 and move the storage unit 220 rearward by pulling the rear surface of the bracket member 80. That is, the door open module 30 may push and pull the storage unit 220 while being connected to the bracket member 80. During the process of the door 20 moving forward and rearward, the clearance space CS between the lower surface of the storage unit 220 and the bottom surface 164 of the storage compartment 16 may be continuously maintained.

[0198] In this way, according to the present invention, since the door open modules 30 disposed on the side surfaces of the storage compartment 16 may move the door 20 forward and rearward by pushing and pulling the door 20, the door 20 may be retracted or extended without the gear rack or pinion gear of the door open module 30 being directly fastened to the door 20.

[0199] In addition, according to the present invention, since the door open modules 30 disposed on the side surfaces of the storage compartment 16 may move the door 20 forward and rearward by pushing and pulling the door 20, the load of the door 20 is not directly applied to the door open module 30, thereby reducing the misalignment of the gear rack and pinion gear of the door open module 30 or the occurrence of clearance.

[0200] In addition, according to the present invention, since the door open modules 30 disposed on the side surfaces of the storage compartment 16 may move the door 20 forward and rearward by pushing and pulling the door 20, even when the door 20 tilts and the door 20 and the door open module 30 is misaligned, the door 20 can be stably retracted or extended without affecting the driving of the door open module 30.

[0201] In addition, according to the present invention, since the pushing member 630 of the door open module 30 may move the door 20 forward by pushing the rear surface of the bracket member 80, the door open module 30 may move the door 20 forward only by pushing the rear surface of the storage unit 220 without being directly fastened to the door 20.

[0202] In addition, according to the present invention, even when the storage unit 220 of the door 20 slightly tilts during the process of moving in the front-rear direction, such a phenomenon can be resolved by naturally aligning the storage unit 220 during the process of the door open module 30 pushing the bracket member 80 connected to the storage unit 220.

[0203] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to the exemplary drawings, the present invention is not limited by the embodiments and drawings disclosed in the present specification, and it is obvious that various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art within the scope of the technical spirit of the present invention. In addition, even when the operational effects according to the configuration of the present invention have not been explicitly described in the description of the embodiments of the present invention, it goes without saying that the effects predictable by the corresponding configuration should be recognized.