Refrigerator with ice dispenser

Abstract

A refrigerator having an ice dispenser, which comprises: a basket installed inside a door of the refrigerator; a home bar door installed at the door and configured to open/close the basket; an ice dispenser located at an upper portion of the basket; an ice container configured to store pieces of ice to be supplied to the ice dispenser; and a switching unit configured to switch on or off the operation of the ice dispenser. Hence, since a home bar door of a home bar having an ice dispenser therein is maintained in a state of completely closing the home bar, such home bar can serve as a storage for storing goods. Also, pieces of ice can be ejected by simply pressing a dispenser lever, other than extending the ice container, resulting in an increase in convenience of use.

1 . A refrigerator having an ice dispenser comprising:
 a basket installed inside a door of the refrigerator;   a home bar door installed at the door and configured to open/close the basket;   an ice dispenser located at an upper portion of the basket;   an ice container configured to store pieces of ice to be supplied to the ice dispenser; and   a switching unit configured to switch on or off the operation of the ice dispenser.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the switching unit comprises:
 a lever installed at an upper end portion of the basket; and   a controller configured to control the operation of the ice dispenser in cooperation with a motion of the lever,   wherein the ice dispenser is operated only while the lever is pressed, thus to eject pieces of ice.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the switching unit comprises a manipulation button disposed on an outside of the door, the ice dispenser being operated only while the lever is pressed, thus to eject pieces of ice. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the penetration groove is formed such that cold air keeps flowing into the basket. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the home bar door has one end fixed to the door by a hinge. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the ice dispenser comprises:
 an inlet in which pieces of ice are introduced from the ice container;   a transfer member rotatably installed below the inlet, and having a plurality of vanes radially extending in a spiral shape; and   an outlet located below the transfer member and communicated with the basket.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein the ice dispenser further comprises:
 a shutter blocking the outlet and opened when being pressed by a piece of ice carried by the transfer member; and   an elastic member for applying an elastic force to the shutter so as to maintain the closed state thereof.