Description

ILLUMINATION APPARATUS OF THE REFRIGERATOR

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an illumination apparatus of a refrigerator.

Background Art

[2] Generally, a refrigerator is an apparatus for storing foods at low temperature. A door is installed at the refrigerator to open/close a storage chamber. An illumination apparatus is installed in the storage chamber to illuminate the inside of the storage chamber when opening the storage chamber. This illumination apparatus may be disposed at a wall surface.

[3] A power breaking unit, such as a thermal protector, is connected to the illumination apparatus so that electric power to be supplied to a lamp can be cut off when the lamp is overheated. Therefore, if the lamp has been turned on for a predetermined time period, the thermal protector turns off the lamp.

[4] However, the conventional thermal protector is spaced apart from a socket and is separately installed at a point spaced apart from a location where the socket is to be placed. Accordingly, it was difficult to directly detect abnormal overheat of the illumination apparatus.

[5] Also, since the thermal protector is coupled to a wall surface of the storage chamber, a structure that the power breaking unit such as the thermal protector is connected to the wall surface of the storage chamber has to be prepared, and a connection structure has to be separatedly prepared at an outside of the thermal protector. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[6] The present invention is derived to resolve the above and any other disadvantages and problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an illumination apparatus of a refrigerator that directly detects overheat of the illumination apparatus and does not requires a separate space for installing the power breaking unit. Technical Solution

[7] To achieve the object and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, there is provided an illumination apparatus of a refrigerator, including: a socket unit which is installed at a wall surface or a ceiling portion of a refrigerating chamber or freezing chamber; a lamp which is inserted into the socket unit; an electric connection part which is formed on an inner circumferential surface of the socket unit to connect with an outer circumferential surface of the lamp; and a power breaking unit which is connected to the socket unit so

as to cut off electric power supplied to the socket unit in case the lamp is overheated.

Advantageous Effects

[8] According to the illumination apparatus of the refrigerator of the present invention, the power breaking unit is integrally provided in the socket unit, and therefore it is possible to sensitively detect abnormal overheat of the illumination apparatus and to simplify the construction of the storage chamber. Brief Description of the Drawings

[9] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to the present invention.

[10] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an illumination apparatus of a refrigerator.

[11] Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of an illumination apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[12] Fig. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of an illumination apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Mode for the Invention

[13] FIGURE 1 shows a refrigerator according to the present invention in a perspective view.

[14] Referring to Fig. 1, a storage chamber 11 is provided in a main body 10 of the refrigerator. The storage chamber 11 is divided into a plurality of spaces by a shelf 15. A door 20 is disposed ahead of the main body 10 in order to open/close the storage chamber 11. The door 20 is rotatably connected by a hinge 21.

[15] Here, an illumination apparatus 100, which illuminates the inside of the storage chamber 11 when the door 20 is opened, is installed at a ceiling or wall surface of the storage chamber 11. This illumination apparatus 100 may be respectively arranged at the respective storage chamber 11 divided by the shelf.

[16] FIGURE 2 shows an illumination apparatus of a refrigerator in a perspective view.

[17] Referring to Fig. 2, the illumination apparatus 100 includes a socket unit 110 which is electrically connected with an electric wire 102. A connector 101 is connected to the electric wire 102 so that it can be electrically connected with an external power source. By means of this connector 101, a plurality of electric wires 102 can be connected as one unit.

[18] An inlet portion 111 of the socket unit 110 has a conical shape, which is extended so that a lamp 120 can be easily inserted therein. Further, a separate connection element may be provided at an installation location, such as a ceiling or an inner wall surface of the refrigerator, and the socket unit 110 may be connected to a ceiling or a wall surface of the storage chamber by the connection element. Here, a hook 112, which is de- tachably connected by the connection element, may be formed on an outer surface of the socket unit 110. The hook 112 may be formed at upper and lower parts of the

socket unit 110, respectively. The shape of the hook 112 can be variously changed depending on the connection structure with the connection element.

[19] An electric connection part 113 to which the lamp 120 is connected is installed in the socket unit 110. Here, the electric connection part 113 may be formed in the shape of a spiral so that it can be fastened with a fastening part (not shown) of the lamp 120. In other words, it may be formed in the shape of a depression where a protrusion, which is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the lamp 120 and is in the shape of a screw thread shape, is connected. And, the electric wire 102 is electrically connected to the electric connection part 113.

[20] A power breaking unit 130 is disposed outside of the socket unit 110. Specifically, an accommodation part 114 for accommodating the power breaking unit 130 may be formed at the socket unit 110. The accommodation part 114 may have a rectangular shape, however the shape of the accommodation part can be changed according to the shape of the power breaking unit 130. The electric wire 102 is connected to the power breaking unit 130 in order to cut off the externally supplied power source.

[21] Also, at least one part of the accommodation part 114 is opened so that the power breaking unit 130 can be detachably inserted therein. Therefore, it is possible to easily replace the power breaking unit 130 with a new power breaking unit 130 after taking out the used power breaking unit 130.

[22] A thermal protector, such as a bimetal which consists of two firmly joined metals with different heat expansion coefficients, can be applied as the power breaking unit 130. In case the power breaking unit 130 is heated above a predetermined temperature since electric power is supplied for a predetermined time period, it cuts off electric power as metal elements with different heat expansion coefficients are spaced apart from one another.

[23] FIGURE 3 shows an illumination apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a partial cross-sectional view.

[24] Referring to Fig. 3, the power breaking unit 130 may be directly connected with the electric connection part 113 of the socket unit 110. Specifically, in case the electric connection part 113 is heated as electric power is supplied to the socket unit 110, the power breaking unit 130 may sensitively detects the temperature of the electric connection part 113. Also, it may cut off electric power supplied to the illumination apparatus 100 when an abnormal overheat phenomenon is found at the illumination apparatus 100. Also, since the power breaking unit 130 is installed at the socket unit 110, there is no need to form a separate connection structure for installing the power breaking unit 130. When the power breaking unit 130 is directly contacted with the electric connection part 113, a power breaking unit 130 which is less sensitive to the heat can be applied.

[25] Hereinafter, the operation of the illumination apparatus according to the present invention will be explained.

[26] In case an user opens the door 20, electric power is supplied to the electric wire 102.

The electric power is supplied to the socket unit 110 via the electric wire 102 and power breaking unit 130, and light emitted from the lamp 120 illuminates the storage chamber 11. Therefore, the user can easily find and take out foods from the storage chamber 11.

[27] In case the door 20 has been opened for a predetermined time, heat generated from the lamp 120 is transmitted to the electric connection part 113. And, the power breaking unit 130 is heated by the electric connection part 113. Here, since the power breaking unit 130 is directly contacted with the electric connection part 113, it cuts off electric power to be supplied to the electric connection part 113 when the electric connection part 113 is heated over a predetermined temperature. Accordingly, as the illumination apparatus 100 is prevented from being overheated above a preset temperature, and thereby preventing the illumination apparatus from being fired.

[28] FIGURE 4 shows an illumination apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention in a partial cross-sectional view.

[29] Referring to Fig. 4, an accommodation part 214 is formed at a socket unit 210 of the illumination apparatus 200. A power breaking unit 230 may be detachably inserted into the accommodation part 214. The power breaking unit 230 may be arranged to be spaced apart from an electric connection part 213 of the socket unit 210. Here, a partition wall may be disposed between the electric connection part 213 and the power breaking unit 230. Since this power breaking unit 230 is arranged adjacent to the electric connection part 213 although they are spaced apart from one another, it may sensitively detect the temperature when the electric connection part 213 emits heat. Also, in case the electric connection part 213 and the power breaking unit 230 are spaced apart at a specific interval, a power breaking unit 230 which is relatively sensitive to heat can be applied.