Icemaker

Abstract

Disclosed is an icemaker. The icemaker in accordance with 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;   at least one heater to heat the ice tray, the heater including an outer shell so as to be accommodated in a close contact within the heater housing; and   a base cover coupled to the ice tray, the base cover including support ribs for pressurizing the heater mounted in the heater housing to make the heater getting in a close contact with the heater housing.   
     
     
         2 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the heater is a cord heater. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein each of the support ribs further includes a shield which is formed at the terminal of the support rib to shield the inside of the heater housing. 
     
     
         11 . The ice maker of  claim 10 , wherein the heater support is formed by protruding from the shield, the heater support further comprising a heater support protrusion which gets in a contact with the heater. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The ice maker of  claim 10 , wherein the heater housing comprises:
 a pair of protrusions which are formed by protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the ice tray; and   an accommodating recess which is formed between the pair of protrusions and allows the heater to be inserted, wherein the shield is formed at the terminal of the support rib and gets in contact with the pair of protrusions to radiate the heat transferred from the heater through the pair of protrusions.   
     
     
         14 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , further comprising a sealing member which is filled within the heater accommodating recess to support the heater, the heater accommodating recess composing the heater housing. 
     
     
         15 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the heater housing comprises:
 a pair of protrusions formed by protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the ice tray, any one of the pair of protrusions being protruded with a length longer than that of the other protrusion.   
     
     
         16 . The ice maker of  claim 15 , wherein the heater housing is formed in plurality on the outer circumferential surface of the ice tray having a semi-cylindrical shape, and wherein a first protrusion of the pair of protrusions adjacent to one side or the other side of the ice tray is protruded with a length corresponding to a diameter of the heater, and a second protrusion of the pair of protrusions is protruded with a length longer than that of the first protrusion. 
     
     
         17 . The ice maker of  claim 16 , wherein the second protrusion of the pair of protrusions is formed by protruding with a length less than that of the first protrusion of the pair of protrusions of the adjacent heater housing. 
     
     
         18 . An ice maker, comprising:
 an ice tray;   at least one heater housing formed in the ice tray;   at least one heater to heat the ice tray, the heater including an outer shell so as to be accommodated in a close contact within the heater housing;   an overheating sensor for detecting whether the heater is overheated, one side of the overheating sensor being installed on a lead wire connected to the heater;   a base cover coupled to the ice tray to protect the heater; and   a sensor support unit provided in one side of the base cover, the sensor support unit comprising a support member in which a coupling portion is formed to be extended to the side surface of the ice tray so as for the overheating sensor to get in a close contact with the ice tray,   wherein the base cover comprises support ribs formed therein, the support ribs pressurizing the heater mounted in the heater housing to make the heater in a close contact with the heater housing.   
     
     
         19 . The ice maker of  claim 18 , wherein the support member gets in a close contact with the ice tray and is positioned between the ice tray and a control box coupled to the ice tray. 
     
     
         20 . The ice maker of  claim 18 , where the support member with the coupling portion therein comprises at least one inserting hole formed therein through which a lead wire passes. 
     
     
         21 . The ice maker of  claim 18 , wherein the coupling portion of the support member includes an inserting recess formed on the surface opposing to the ice tray in the extended frame, and wherein the overheating sensor is inserted into the inserting recess to get in a close contact with the ice tray. 
     
     
         22 . The ice maker of  claim 21 , wherein the support member includes a through hole communicating with the coupling portion formed thereon, so that the overheating sensor gets in a close contact with the ice tray which is inserted into the coupling portion through the through hole. 
     
     
         23 . The ice maker of  claim 18 , wherein the heater is a flexible heater, the heater including a molding portion which is formed on the area of connection between the heater and the lead wire, and wherein a molding housing is formed in the support member, the molding housing accommodating the molding portion. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . 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, the heater being including an outer shell so as to be accommodated in a close contact within the heater housing,   wherein the heater comprises:   a heating unit;   a first insulating layer formed by surrounding the heating unit, the first insulating layer being made of a soft or an elastic material; and   a second insulating layer formed by surrounding the first insulating layer, the second insulating layer being treated with a cross-linking treatment.   
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . The ice maker of  claim 25 , wherein the second insulating layer is formed by an extruding process on the outer circumferential surface of the first insulating layer. 
     
     
         28 . The ice maker of  claim 25 , wherein the second insulating layer is made of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) or Polyethylene (PE) treated with the cross-linking treatment by an electron beam irradiation. 
     
     
         29 . The ice maker of  claim 25 , wherein the second insulating layer is made of EVA or PE added with a flame retardant and treated with the cross-linking treatment by the electron beam irradiation. 
     
     
         30 . The ice maker of  claim 25 , wherein the second insulating layer is a shrink tube treated with the cross-linking treatment by the electron beam irradiation. 
     
     
         31 . The ice maker of  claim 26 , the second insulating layer is made of Cross Linking Polyethylene (XLPE). 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . (canceled)