Refrigerator

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator. A refrigerator of the present invention may comprise: a first tray assembly forming a part of an ice making cell; and a second tray assembly forming another part of the ice making cell. The first tray assembly includes a first tray defining a part of the ice making cell and a first tray case supporting the first tray, and the second tray assembly includes a second tray defining another part of the ice making cell and a second tray case supporting the second tray. One of the first and second tray cases includes a first region having a through-hole and a second region having a shape corresponding to the ice making cell to support one of the first and second trays.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ice maker comprising:
 a first tray assembly configured to define a portion of an ice making cell that is a space in which water is phase-changed into ice by cold;   a second tray assembly configured to define another portion of the ice making cell; and   a heater disposed adjacent to at least one of the first tray assembly or the second tray assembly, and   wherein the heater is controlled to be turned on in at least partial section while a cooler supplies the cold so that bubbles dissolved in the water within the ice making cell moves from a portion, at which the ice is made, toward the water that is in a liquid state to make transparent ice,   wherein one tray assembly of the first and second tray assemblies comprises a tray defining at least a portion of the ice making cell and a tray case surrounding the tray, and   wherein the tray case comprises a first portion that supports the tray and a second portion extending from a predetermined point of the first portion to reduce transfer of heat, which is transferred from the heater to the one tray assembly, to the ice making cell defined by the other tray assembly of the first and second tray assemblies.   
     
     
         2 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the second portion extends in a direction away from the ice making cell defined by the other tray assembly. 
     
     
         3 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion includes a portion extending from the predetermined point in a horizontal direction and a portion extending in a downward direction with respect to a horizontal line passing through a center of the ice making cell. 
     
     
         4 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion includes a first part extending in a horizontal direction from the predetermined point and a second part extending in the same direction as the first part. 
     
     
         5 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the second part includes a first part extending in a horizontal direction from the predetermined point and a third part extending in a direction different from that of the first part. 
     
     
         6 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the second portion includes a first part extending in a horizontal direction from the predetermined point and second and third parts branched from the first part. 
     
     
         7 . The ice maker of  claim 6 , wherein the third part has a length greater than that of the second part. 
     
     
         8 . The ice maker of  claim 6 , wherein the third part and the first part have heights different from each other, or the second part extends in the same direction as the first part, or the third part extends in a direction different from that of the first part. 
     
     
         9 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion includes a first region and a second region spaced farther apart from the heater than the first region. 
     
     
         10 . The ice maker of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion includes a through-hole and a second region having a shape corresponding to the ice making cell to support the tray. 
     
     
         11 . An ice maker comprising:
 a first tray assembly configured to define a portion of an ice making cell that is a space in which water is phase-changed into ice by cold;   a second tray assembly configured to define another portion of the ice making cell; and   a heater disposed adjacent to at least one of the first tray assembly or the second tray assembly; and   wherein the heater is controlled to be turned on in at least partial section while a cooler supplies the cold so that bubbles dissolved in the water within the ice making cell moves from a portion, at which the ice is made, toward the water that is in a liquid state to make transparent ice, and   wherein to induce ice to be made in a direction from an ice making cell defined by one tray assembly of the first and second tray assemblies to an ice making cell defined by the other tray assembly of the first and second tray assemblies, after an ice making process starts, the other tray assembly includes a first portion defining a portion of the ice making cell and a second portion deformed by expansion of made ice and restored after the ice is removed.   
     
     
         12 . The ice maker of  claim 11 , wherein the one tray assembly is disposed to be spaced farther apart from the heater than the other tray assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The ice maker of  claim 11 , further comprising a pusher located at one side of the first tray assembly or the second tray assembly,
 wherein the first portion includes a pressing part which is capable of being brought into contact with and separated from the pusher.   
     
     
         14 . The ice maker of  claim 11 , wherein the second portion includes a horizontal extension part configured to provide elastic force against vertical-direction external force of expanding ice. 
     
     
         15 . The ice maker of  claim 11 , wherein the second portion includes a vertical extension part configured to provide elastic force against horizontal-direction external force of expanding ice. 
     
     
         16 . The ice maker of  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the second portion extends in a direction away from the ice making cell defined by the one tray assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The ice maker of  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the second portion extends in a direction of a horizontal line passing through a center of the ice making cell. 
     
     
         18 . The ice maker of  claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the second portion extends in a downward direction with respect to a horizontal line passing through a center of the ice making cell. 
     
     
         19 . The ice maker of  claim 11 , wherein the second portion includes a first end that is in contact with a predetermined point of the first portion and a second end that is not in contact with the predetermined point. 
     
     
         20 . The ice maker of  claim 19 , wherein the second end is disposed at a position spaced farther apart from the one tray assembly than the first end.