Ice maker device and refrigerator including the same

Abstract

An ice maker device comprises: an ice production part configured to receive water and produce ice; and an ice discharge part detachably coupled to a lower portion of the ice production part, the ice discharge part configured to accommodate the ice produced in the ice production part, the ice discharge part configured to selectively discharge the ice to the outside. The ice discharge part includes: a holder part detachably coupled to the ice production part; a receiving part including a side wall portion connected to an inner surface of the holder part, an inclined portion obliquely extending downward from a lower end of the side wall portion, and a bottom surface having an outlet port; and a lever part configured to open and close the outlet port.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice maker device, comprising:
 an ice production part configured to receive water and produce ice, wherein the ice production part includes a lower portion; and   an ice discharge part detachably coupled to the lower portion of the ice production part, the ice discharge part configured to accommodate ice produced in the ice production part, wherein the ice discharge part is configured to selectively discharge ice,   wherein the ice discharge part includes:   a holder part detachably coupled to the ice production part and comprising an inner surface;   a receiving part including: a side wall portion coupled to the inner surface of the holder part; an inclined portion obliquely extending downward from a lower end of the side wall portion; and a bottom surface having an outlet port; and   a lever part configured to selectively open and close the outlet port.   
     
     
         2 . The ice maker device of  claim 1 , wherein the inclined portion is continuously disposed from a rim of the outlet port to a lower end of the side wall portion. 
     
     
         3 . The ice maker device of  claim 2 , wherein the inclined portion includes:
 a vertical surface extending from the lower end of the side wall portion and in parallel with the side wall portion and coupled to the rim of the outlet port; and   an inclined surface obliquely extending downward from the lower end of the side wall portion and coupled to the rim of the outlet port and not connected to the vertical surface.   
     
     
         4 . The ice maker device of  claim 1 , wherein the lever part comprises:
 a guide rail disposed on a bottom surface of the receiving part;   a lever configured to slide along the guide rail to open and close the outlet port; and   an elastic member configured to couple the guide rail and the lever and configured to apply an elastic force to the lever.   
     
     
         5 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a body having a storage space;   a door rotatably coupled on one side thereof to the body and configured to open and close the storage space; and   an ice maker device coupled to an inner surface of the door and wherein the icemaker device includes:
 an ice production part configured to receive water and produce ice, wherein the ice production part comprises a lower portion; and 
 an ice discharge part detachably coupled to the lower portion of the ice production part, the ice discharge part configured to accommodate ice produced in the ice production part, wherein the ice discharge part is configured to selectively discharge ice, 
 wherein the ice discharge part contains: 
 a holder part detachably coupled to the ice production part and comprising an inner surface; 
 a receiving part comprising: a side wall portion coupled to the inner surface of the holder part; an inclined portion obliquely extending downward from a lower end of the side wall portion; and a bottom surface having an outlet port; and 
 a lever part configured to selectively open and close the outlet port. 
   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the outlet port of the ice maker device is biased toward the outer edge of the door. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 5  wherein the inclined portion is continuously disposed from a rim of the outlet port to a lower end of the side wall portion. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the inclined portion comprises:
 a vertical surface extending from the lower end of the side wall portion and in parallel with the side wall portion and coupled to the rim of the outlet port; and   an inclined surface obliquely extending downward from the lower end of the side wall portion and coupled to the rim of the outlet port and not connected to the vertical surface.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the lever part comprises:
 a guide rail disposed on a bottom surface of the receiving part;   a lever configured to slide along the guide rail to open and close the outlet port; and   an elastic member configured to couple the guide rail and the lever and configured to apply an elastic force to the lever.   
     
     
         10 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a body having a storage space;   a door rotatably coupled to the body; and   an ice maker coupled to an inner surface of the door and comprising:
 an ice production part configured to receive water and produce ice, wherein the ice production part includes a lower portion; and 
 an ice discharge part detachably coupled to the lower portion of the ice production part, the ice discharge part configured to accommodate ice produced in the ice production part, wherein the ice discharge part is configured to selectively dispense ice, 
 wherein the ice discharge part contains: 
 a holder detachably coupled to the ice production part and comprising an inner surface; 
 a receiver comprising: a side wall coupled to the inner surface of the holder; an inclined portion extending downward from a lower end of the side wall; and a bottom surface having an outlet; and 
 a lever configured to selectively open and close the outlet. 
   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the outlet of the ice maker is biased toward the outer edge of the door. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the inclined portion is continuously disposed from a rim of the outlet to a lower end of the side wall. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the inclined portion includes:
 a vertical surface extending from the lower end of the side wall and in parallel with the side wall and coupled to the rim of the outlet; and   an inclined surface extending downward from the lower end of the side wall and coupled to the rim of the outlet and not connected to the vertical surface.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 10 , wherein the lever comprises:
 a guide rail disposed on a bottom surface of the receiver;   a lever element configured to slide along the guide rail to open and close the outlet; and   an elastic member configured to couple the guide rail and the lever element and configured to apply an elastic force to the lever element.