Icemaker

Abstract

Disclosed is an icemaker. The icemaker according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: an ice tray; at least one heater housing portion which is formed on the ice tray; and a heater, which is provided with a soft external cover or an external cover having elastic force and is housed inside the heater accommodation portion while being in close contact with the heater accommodation portion, for heating the ice tray.

1 . An ice maker, comprising,
 an ice tray;   at least one heater housing formed in the ice tray; and   at least one heater to heat the ice tray, wherein the heater comprises a soft or elastic outer shell so as to be accommodated in close contact within the heater house.   
     
     
         2 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the heater is a cord heater. 
     
     
         3 . The ice maker of  claim 3 , wherein the heater is formed in a zigzag form or a spiral form on the outer circumferential surface of the ice tray. 
     
     
         4 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the heater housing includes an accommodating recess formed on the outer circumferential surface of the ice tray, and wherein the heater is inserted into the accommodating recess in a state of a close contact, and
 wherein the heater is formed in a shape corresponding to that of the accommodating recess so as to be in a close contact with the accommodating recess, the heater being formed in either a polygon shape or a combination of a polygon shape and a semi-circular shape.   
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The ice maker of  claim 4 , further comprising a contact holding member formed between the inner wall of the accommodating recess and the heater. 
     
     
         7 . The ice maker of  claim 6 , wherein the contact holding member is a thermal conductive adhering member. 
     
     
         8 . The ice maker of  claim 4 , wherein the heater includes at least one additional protrusion which is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the heater and supports by fixing the heater in the accommodating recess. 
     
     
         9 . The ice maker of  claim 8 , further comprising a contact holding member including at least one protrusion,
 wherein the protrusion presses the heater with a predetermined depth thereby at least a portion of the additional protrusion being inserted into the additional protrusion inserting recess.   
     
     
         10 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , further comprising a molding accommodating recess formed on the ice tray to accommodate a molding portion which is formed on the area connected to a terminal of the heater and an end of lead wire supplying a power to the heater,
 wherein the molding accommodating recess includes buffer spaces for supplementing an error in length of the heater.   
     
     
         11 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one heater support which supports the heater at one side of the ice tray. 
     
     
         12 . The ice maker of  claim 11 , wherein the heater support comprises:
 a base frame formed in the lower portion of the ice tray; and   a support rib which is formed to be protruded upwards from the base frame, to support the heater by contacting with the heater.   
     
     
         13 . The ice maker of  claim 12 , wherein the heater support further comprises a shield which is formed at the terminal of the support rib and shields the heater in the heater accommodating recess. 
     
     
         14 . The ice maker of  claim 13 , wherein the heater support further comprises a support protrusion which is formed to be protruded from the shield and gets in a contact with the heater. 
     
     
         15 . The ice maker of  claim 13 , wherein the heater housing comprises an accommodating recess which is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the ice tray and has the heater that is inserted therein, and wherein the shield is inserted into the accommodating recess so as to be in a contact with the heater. 
     
     
         16 . The ice maker of  claim 13 , wherein the heater housing comprises an accommodating recess which is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the ice tray and has the heater that is inserted therein,
 the ice maker further comprising:   a sealing member which is formed to seal an empty space between the inner wall of the accommodating recess and the heater.   
     
     
         17 . The ice maker of  claim 13 , wherein the heater housing comprises:
 a pair of protrusions which are formed to be protruded on the outer circumferential surface of the ice tray; and   an accommodating recess which is formed between the pair of protrusions and has the heater that is inserted therein, and   wherein the shield is formed on the terminal of the support rib and gets in contact with the pair of protrusions so as for the heat transferred from the heater to be radiated through the pair of protrusions.   
     
     
         18 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the heater housing comprises:
 a pair of protrusions which are formed to be protruded horizontally on the outer circumferential surface of the ice tray; and   an accommodating recess formed between the pair of protrusions and including the heater that is inserted therein.   
     
     
         19 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , further comprising a sealing member which is filled so as to cover the heater in the heater housing. 
     
     
         20 . An ice maker, comprising,
 an ice tray;   at least one heater housing formed in the ice tray; and   at least one heater to heat the ice tray, wherein the heater comprises a soft or elastic outer shell so as to be accommodated in close contact within the heater house,   wherein a diameter of the heater is equal to or larger than the heater housing thereby the heater and the heater housing in close contact with each other.   
     
     
         21 . The ice maker of  claim 20 , further comprising a contact member pressing the heater to the ice tray.