Door for home appliance and home appliance having the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11029075-B2
Application number	US-201615500936-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 14, 2016
Priority date	Jul 14, 2015
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

Abstract

The present invention provides a door for a home appliance including a panel assembly including a front panel defining at least a portion of a front appearance of the door, a rear panel disposed behind the front panel, and a spacer disposed between a peripheral portion of the front panel and a peripheral portion of the rear panel so as to maintain a spacing between the front panel and the rear panel, a frame assembly for supporting the panel assembly, the frame assembly including a side frame disposed along a side surface of the door, the side frame contacting outside air, and a heat transfer structure for transferring heat of outside air from the side frame to an interior region defined between the front panel and the rear panel and between the spacer and a side end of the door, and a home appliance including the same.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet defining a storage chamber therein; and
a door connected to the cabinet and configured to open and close the storage chamber,
wherein the door comprises:
an outer door frame having an opening defined therethrough, and
a panel assembly configured to cover the opening of the outer door frame, the panel assembly comprising:
a front panel that defines a front surface of the door,
an insulating panel provided behind the front panel, and
a spacer arranged between the front panel and the insulating panel,

wherein the outer door frame of the door comprises:
a first frame connected to the front panel of the panel assembly, and
a second frame connected to the first frame,

wherein the panel assembly and the outer door frame together define an insulation space in which an insulating material is provided,
wherein the first frame of the outer door frame comprises:
a first part comprising a recessed part that is recessed toward the spacer, the recessed part having (i) a first surface that defines a recessed space exposed to an outside of the outer door frame and (ii) a second surface that is opposite the first surface and is in contact with the insulating material provided in the insulation space,
a second part that extends from the first part in a direction away from the spacer and defines a portion of an appearance of the door,
a frame connector that is bent from the second part in a direction away from the front panel and defines another portion of the appearance of the door, and
at least one heat transfer unit that extends from the second surface toward the spacer of the panel assembly along a rear surface of a first portion of the front panel,

wherein the second frame comprises:
a first end connected to the panel assembly,
a second end connected to the frame connector of the first frame,
a connecting portion that connects the first end and the second end, the connecting portion defining a gasket receiving portion that receives a gasket,

wherein the insulation space comprises a first space, a second space, and a third space that are in communication with one another,
wherein the insulating material is provided (i) in the first space between the second end of the second frame and the gasket receiving portion, (ii) in the second space between the second part of the first frame and the gasket receiving portion, and (iii) in the third space between the connection portion and the at least one heat transfer unit, and
wherein a portion of the insulation material in the third space is in contact with the first end of the second frame and the at least one heat transfer unit.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein a masking layer is provided on the rear surface of the first portion of the front panel and the recessed part is provided to a region corresponding to the masking layer of the first portion.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the recessed part is in contact with the rear surface of the first portion of the front panel.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the second part is provided outside the first portion of the front panel.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the spacer is positioned closer to the second surface than to the gasket.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the second frame is provided behind the insulating panel.

7. The refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein the insulating panel comprises a first face that faces the front panel and a second face opposite to the first face, and the first end of the second frame is contact with the second face.

8. The refrigerator of claim 7 , wherein the insulating panel further comprises a third face that connects the first face to the second face, the third face is positioned closer to the first end of the second frame than the gasket.

9. The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising a heater provided behind a rear surface of the first portion of the front panel.

10. The refrigerator of claim 9 , wherein the heater is provided between the at least one heat transfer unit and the rear surface of the first portion of the front panel.

11. The refrigerator of claim 9 , wherein the heater is positioned closer to the spacer than the recessed part.

12. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the insulation space is defined by the second surface of the recessed part and the at least one heat transfer unit.

13. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat transfer unit is positioned at a first side of the second surface and the gasket is positioned at a second side of the second surface opposite the first side.

14. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the insulating material in the first space is in contact with the second end of the second frame, the gasket receiving portion, and the second part of the first frame.

15. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the insulating material in the second space is in contact with the second part of the first frame and the gasket receiving portion.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Yi Myeongha
• Kim Nami

Classifications

• A47F3/043

  Doors, covers (A47F3/0434 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47F3/0434

  Glass or transparent panels · CPC title

• F25D21/04 Primary

  Preventing the formation of frost or condensate · CPC title

• F25D23/02 Primary

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

• F25D2400/18

  Aesthetic features · CPC title