Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator is provided. The refrigerator may include a barrier that partitions an interior of the refrigerator into a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment, a recess formed in the barrier and having a predetermined depth, and a cover for opening or closing a top of the recess. A seating step may be formed at a peripheral portion of the recess to receive a peripheral portion of the cover seated thereon. A guide groove may extend from the seating step to guide movement of the cover. Storage items may be stored in the recess independently of other food articles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a barrier partitioning an interior of the refrigerator into a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment;   a recess formed in the barrier and having a predetermined depth;   a cover selectively positioned across an open top of the recess;   a seating step formed along a peripheral portion of the recess, wherein a corresponding peripheral portion of the cover is seated on the seating step; and   a guide groove extending outward from the seating step along the barrier to guide a sliding movement of the cover.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined depth of the recess is greater than a thickness of the cover such that a storage space is formed between a bottom of the recess and the cover. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein a distance between two opposite outer peripheral edges of the seating step is equal to a width of the guide groove. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the guide groove extends from the peripheral portion of the recess toward a rear side of the interior of the refrigerator. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the guide groove extends from the peripheral portion of the recess toward a front side of the interior of the refrigerator. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the cover comprises a tray that is slidably removable from and replaceable into the recess via the guide groove. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plate received in the recess, the plate having a plurality of grooves formed therein for receiving storage items.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , further comprising a handle that protrudes upward from the plate. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier extends horizontally to partition the interior of the refrigerator, with the freezing compartment positioned below the refrigerating compartment. 
     
     
         10 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a barrier partitioning an interior of the refrigerator into two compartments;   a recess formed in the barrier and having a predetermined depth;   a tray removably positioned in the recess; and   a guide groove extending from the recess to guide a sliding movement of the tray.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein a width of the guide groove is equal to a width of the recess. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the predetermined depth of the recess is substantially equal to a thickness of the tray. 
     
     
         13 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a body having a storage space formed therein;   at least one door coupled to the body to open and close the storage space;   a barrier extending horizontally in the storage space and partitioning the storage space into two separate compartments; and   a recess formed in the barrier and having a predetermined depth.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a cover removably positioned across an open top of the recess; and   a guide groove extending outward from a peripheral portion of the recess and guiding movement of the cover.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein a distance between two opposite peripheral edges of the cover is substantially equal to a width of the guide groove. 
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 14 , further comprising a plate removably received on a seating step extending along an interior periphery of the recess, wherein a receiving space is formed between the plate and the cover extending across the open top of the recess. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , wherein a width of the guide groove corresponds to a width of the cover such that the cover is slideable within the guide groove to selectively remove and replace the cover for access into and sealing of the recess. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 13 , wherein the freezing compartment is positioned below the barrier and the refrigerating compartment is positioned above the barrier. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator according to  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a plate removably received in the recess and configured to receive items thereon for storage.   
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 19 , wherein a thickness of the plate is substantially equal to a thickness of the recess, and wherein the plate is slidably removeable from and replaceable into the recess via a guide groove extending outward from a peripheral portion of the recess.