Refrigerator and refrigerator door assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10145603-B2
Application number	US-201515541596-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 30, 2015
Priority date	Jan 5, 2015
Publication date	Dec 4, 2018
Grant date	Dec 4, 2018

Abstract

A refrigerator wherein a front part of a storage chamber opens; and a door assembly is rotatably coupled with a main body, and configured to open and close the open front part of the storage chamber, wherein the door assembly includes a door plate including a front plate and a side plate bent in a rear direction from both side edges of the front plate, wherein a bent portion is formed in an upper end of the front plate, a door cap is configured to cover a top of the door plate, wherein a gripping groove is formed between the door cap and the bent portion, the griping groove opening in a up direction; and a door cap support includes a coupling portion coupled with the door cap, and is fixed at the bent portion such that the coupling portion is positioned behind the bent portion.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a main body;
a storage chamber formed in an inside of the main body, wherein a front part of the storage chamber opens; and
a door assembly rotatably coupled with the main body, and configured to open and close the open front part of the storage chamber,
wherein the door assembly comprises:
a door plate including a front plate and a side plate bent in a rear direction from both side edges of the front plate, wherein a bent portion is formed in an upper end of the front plate,
a door cap configured to cover a top of the door plate, wherein a gripping groove is formed between the door cap and the bent portion, the gripping groove opening in an up direction, and
a door cap support including a coupling portion coupled with the door cap, and fixed at the bent portion such that the coupling portion is positioned behind the bent portion.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the bent portion comprises a first bent portion bent in the rear direction from a top end of the front plate to be perpendicular to the front plate, and a second bent portion bent downward from an end of the first bent portion to be perpendicular to the first bent portion.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein a fixing groove is formed between the front plate and the second bent portion, the fixing groove opening in a down direction, so that the door cap support is inserted into the fixing groove from bottom to top and fixed at the fixing groove.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the door cap support comprises an insertion portion inserted into the fixing groove, and a protrusion rib protruding from at least one of a front surface and a rear surface of the insertion portion.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4 , wherein the door cap support comprises a plurality of the protrusion ribs, and if the insertion portion is inserted into the fixing groove, the plurality of the protrusion ribs tightly contact at least one of the second bent portion and the front plate to cause the door cap support to be fixed on the door plate.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5 , wherein the plurality of coupling hooks comprises a plurality of first coupling hooks respectively disposed at both ends of the door cap, and a plurality of second coupling hooks disposed on a lower part of the recessed portion.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6 , wherein the coupling portion comprises a plurality of coupling protrusions disposed to correspond to the first coupling hooks and coupled with the first coupling hooks, and a plurality of coupling holes disposed to correspond to the second coupling hooks and coupled with the second coupling hooks.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the coupling holes are disposed on a rear surface of the insertion portion inserted in the fixing groove, and if the second coupling hooks are coupled with the coupling holes, the second coupling hooks coupled with the coupling holes are prevented from being exposed on the front surface of the refrigerator by the door plate.

9. A door assembly for opening or closing a storage chamber of a refrigerator, the door assembly comprising:
a door plate comprising a front plate, and a side plate bent in a rear direction from both side edges of the front plate;
a door cap support fixed on an upper portion of the door plate; and
a door cap coupled with a top of the door cap support, and configured to cover a top of the door plate,
wherein a bent portion is formed at a top end of the front plate so that the door cap support is fixed at the bent portion, and a coupling portion is formed at the door cap support so that the door cap is coupled with the coupling portion, the coupling portion positioned behind the bent portion, and
wherein the door cap comprises a recessed portion recessed in a down direction to form a gripping groove opening in an up direction together with the bent portion, and a plurality of coupling hooks coupled with the door cap support.

10. The door assembly according to claim 9 , wherein the bent portion comprises a first bent portion bent in the rear direction from the top end of the front plate to be perpendicular to the front plate, and a second bent portion bent downward from the first bent portion to be perpendicular to the first bent portion.

11. The door assembly according to claim 10 , wherein a fixing groove is formed between the front plate and the second bent portion, the fixing groove opening in a down direction, so that the door cap support is inserted into the fixing groove from bottom to top and fixed at the fixing groove.

12. The door assembly according to claim 11 , wherein the door cap support comprises an insertion portion inserted into the fixing groove, and a protrusion rib protruding from at least one of a front surface and a rear surface of the insertion portion.

13. The door assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the door cap support comprises a plurality of the protrusion ribs, and if the insertion portion is inserted into the fixing groove, the plurality of the protrusion ribs tightly contact at least one of the second bent portion and the front plate to cause the door cap support to be fixed on the door plate.

14. The door assembly according to claim 13 , wherein the plurality of coupling hooks comprises a plurality of first coupling hooks respectively disposed at both ends of the door cap, and a plurality of second coupling hooks disposed on a lower part of the recessed portion.

15. The door assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the coupling portion comprises a plurality of coupling protrusions disposed to correspond to the first coupling hooks and coupled with the first coupling hooks, and a plurality of coupling holes disposed to correspond to the second coupling hooks and coupled with the second coupling hooks.

16. The door assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the plurality of coupling holes are disposed on a rear surface of the insertion portion inserted in the fixing groove, and if the plurality of second coupling hooks are coupled with the plurality of coupling holes, the plurality of second coupling hooks coupled with the plurality of coupling holes are covered by the door plate.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Sung Mo
• Lee Sun Gyou

Classifications

• E03D1/142

  in cisterns with flushing valves · CPC title

• E03D3/12 Primary

  Flushing devices discharging variable quantities of water (flushing cisterns discharging variable quantities of water E03D1/14) · CPC title

• F25D23/02 Primary

  Doors; Covers (F25D23/08 takes precedence {locks or fastenings E05B65/0042}) · CPC title

• F25D2400/36

  Visual displays · CPC title

• F25D2400/04

  Refrigerators with a horizontal mullion · CPC title