Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage space, a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage space, and an ice maker assembly provided in the storage space. The ice maker assembly includes an ice maker provided forward of a cold air discharge port that is provided at a rear portion of the storage space, where the cold air discharge port is configured to deliver cold air, a front cover that covers a front side of the ice maker and that is configured to be exposed to an outside of the cabinet based on the door being opened, and a heat insulating material provided at a rear surface of the front cover and configured to at least partially block the cold air passing through the ice maker from being delivered past a front surface of the front cover.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet that has a storage space, and a cold air discharge port configured to discharge cold air to the storage space; and   an ice maker assembly provided in the storage space, and provided forward relative to the cold air discharge port,   wherein the ice maker assembly comprises:
 an ice maker configured to generate ice, and 
 an ice maker cover provided at a first side of the ice maker, 
   wherein a first portion of cold air discharged through the cold air discharge port is discharged toward a second side of the ice maker through a portion of the ice maker cover, and a second portion of cold air discharged through the cold air discharge port is discharged toward a third side of the ice maker through a space between the ice maker cover and the ice maker.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the ice maker cover shields the first side of the ice maker. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the ice maker is disposed a fourth side of the ice maker cover, the first portion of cold air flows through a fifth side of the ice maker cover, the fifth side is opposite to the fourth side, and the second portion of cold air flows through the fourth side of the ice maker cover. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the ice maker assembly further comprises a distribution duct configured to distribute cold air discharged through the cold air discharge port to the fourth side of the ice maker cover and the fifth side of the ice maker cover. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the ice maker cover guides the first portion of cold air to bypass the ice maker and be discharged to the second side of the ice maker. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 5 , wherein the ice maker cover defines a cover passage through which the first portion of cold air flows, and
 wherein the ice maker assembly further comprises a discharge port guide configured to distribute cold air discharged through the cover passage.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the ice maker comprises an ice tray in which water is accommodated for making ice, and at least a portion of the second portion of cold air is supplied toward the ice tray. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the ice maker further comprises an ice maker case in which the ice tray is provided, and
 wherein the ice maker case defines an opening that exposes at least a portion of the ice tray to the second portion of cold air.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein the ice maker assembly further comprises a front cover disposed at the second side of the ice maker, and
 wherein the second portion of cold air flows between the front cover and the ice maker case.   
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the ice maker assembly further comprises a cover heat insulating material provided on the front cover. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the ice maker case comprises:
 a first surface defining the opening; and   a second surface extending from the first surface toward the third side of ice maker, and   wherein the second portion of cold air flows between the front cover and the second surface.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein the ice maker assembly further comprises a discharge port guide configured to partition a discharge outlet, through which the second portion of cold air is discharged from the ice maker assembly, into a cover discharge port and a front discharge port. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the cover discharge port and the front discharge port are defined in the front cover. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein the cover discharge port is opened to allow cold air discharged through the discharge outlet to flow forward, and the front discharge port is opened to allow cold air discharged through the discharge outlet to flow along a front surface of the front cover. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 14 , wherein the discharge port guide comprises:
 a first guide extending in a front-and-rear direction; and   a second guide extending from a front end of the first guide to a front side of the front cover.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 15 , wherein the front end of the first guide is located more forward than the front surface of the front cover, and a rear end of the first guide is located more rearward than the front surface of the front cover, and.
 wherein one end of the second guide is connected to the first guide and the other end of the second guide is disposed in front of the front surface of the cover, and spaced apart from the front surface of the front cover.   
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the second side of the ice maker is a front side of the ice maker, and the third side of the ice maker is a lower side of the ice maker. 
     
     
         18 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet that has a storage space, and a cold air discharge port configured to discharge cold air to the storage space; and   an ice maker assembly provided in the storage space, and provided forward relative to the cold air discharge port,   wherein the ice maker assembly comprises:
 an ice maker configured to generate ice, and 
 an ice maker cover provided at a first side of the ice maker, 
   wherein at least a portion of cold air discharged from the cold air discharge port flows into the ice maker assembly,   wherein cold air flowing into the ice maker assembly is divided into a first portion discharged toward a second side of the ice maker and a second portion discharged toward a third side of the ice maker by the ice maker cover, and   wherein the first side, the second side and the third side are perpendicular to each other.   
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 18 , wherein the ice maker assembly further comprises a front cover disposed at the second side of the ice maker, and
 wherein the second portion flows between the front cover and the ice maker cover.   
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 19 , wherein the ice maker assembly further comprises a discharge port guide configured to divide the first portion into a third portion flowing forward and a fourth portion flowing along a front surface of the front cover.