US Patent 8403438 Variable shelf and refrigerator having the same

A refrigerator has a variable shelf which may include a first partition shelf mounted to be pivotable about a rear end thereof, and a second partition shelf mounted to move relative to the first partition shelf and therefore protrude to a front of the first partition shelf. When the first and second partition shelves are rotated about the rear end of the first partition shelf in a state where the second partition shelf is disposed at a lower part of the first partition shelf, it may be guaranteed a storage space even for item(s) higher than an interval between the shelves and wider than a front-to-rear width of the second partition shelf.