Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11815304-B2
Application number	US-202117502677-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 15, 2021
Priority date	Apr 15, 2019
Publication date	Nov 14, 2023
Grant date	Nov 14, 2023

Abstract

A refrigerator including: a main body forming a storage compartment and a door provided to open and close the storage compartment, wherein the door includes a door frame, a cover arranged in front of the door frame and including a cover fixer, and a door panel arranged in front of the cover, the door panel including a first fixer and a second fixer on a rear surface of the door panel. When the door panel is coupled to a front side of the cover, the first fixer is coupled to the door frame and the second fixer is coupled to the cover.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a main body having a storage chamber; and
a door to open and close the storage chamber, the door including:
a door body including:
an upper door cap including a cap hole, an opening at a front portion of the upper door cap, and an open portion on an upper side of the upper door cap,
a cover forming a front surface of the door body, and
chassis forming opposite side surfaces of the door body,

a door panel detachably mountable on the door body, the door panel including:
a panel body, and
a fixer on a rear surface of the panel body, and including a protrusion having a fixing hole,

a fastening member, and
a cap cover,
wherein the door body, the door panel, the fastening member and the cap cover are configured so that
the door panel is positionable so that the rear surface of the panel body faces the cover and the protrusion protrudes rearward into the opening and is accommodated in the upper door cap with the fixing hole and the cap hole vertically aligned with each other,
with the door panel positioned so that the rear surface of the panel body faces the cover and the protrusion protrudes rearward into the opening and is accommodated in the upper door cap with the fixing hole and the cap hole vertically aligned with each other, a lower end of the fastening member is passable through the open portion from above the open portion and then into the fixing hole so that the fastening member is accommodated in the upper door cap extending into the fixing hole and the cap hole and the fastening member is provided to prevent upward movement of the door panel, and
with the fastening member accommodated in the upper door cap extending into the fixing hole and the cap hole, the cap cover is detachably mounted on the upper door cap so as to cover the open portion,
to thereby mount the door panel on the door body.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein, when the door panel is mounted on the door body, a portion of the upper door cap protrudes forward further than the opening to cover at least a portion of an upper surface of the panel body.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the fastening member, the fixing hole, and the cap hole are configured so that, when the fastening member passes into the fixing hole, the fastening member becomes screwed to the fixing hole.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein while the cap cover is mounted on the upper door cap, a protruding portion of the cap cover is supported by the upper door cap, and another portion of the cap cover forms a part of an upper surface of the door.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein, when the door panel is mounted on the door body, a portion of the chassis protrudes forward further than the cover to cover at least a portion of opposite side surfaces of the panel body.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein
the door includes an insulating material inside the door, and
when the door panel is mounted on the door body, a front surface of the cover is spaced apart from the panel body, and a rear surface of the cover is in contact with the insulating material.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein
the door panel includes:
first magnetic bodies extending along a first side edge portion of the door panel,
second magnetic bodies extending along a second side edge portion, opposite to the first side edge portion, of the door panel, and
a buffer member between the first magnetic bodies and the second magnetic bodies, and including a shock absorbing material and/or a sound absorbing material, and

the door is configured so that, when the door panel is mounted on the door body,
the buffer member is between the cover and the panel body,
the first magnetic bodies are attached to the cover by attractive forces generated between the first magnetic bodies and the cover, and
the second magnetic bodies are attached to the cover by attractive forces generated between the second magnetic bodies and the cover.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein while the door panel is separated from the door body, the opening is exposed when viewed from in front of the refrigerator.

9. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein
the protrusion includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion spaced apart from each other along an upper side edge portion of the door panel,
the fixing hole includes a first fixing hole formed through the first protrusion and a second fixing hole formed through the second protrusion,
the cap hole includes a first cap hole and a second cap hole,
the opening includes a first opening and a second opening,
the fastening member includes a first fastening member and a second fastening member, and
when the door panel is mounted on the door body,
the first protrusion is inserted into the first opening so that the first fixing hole and the first cap hole are vertically aligned with each other,
the first fastening member is fastened to the first fixing hole and the first cap hole,
the second protrusion is inserted into the second opening so that the second fixing hole and the second cap hole are vertically aligned with each other, and
the second fastening member is fastened to the second fixing hole and the second cap hole.

10. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the door body includes a lower door cap coupled to a lower portion of the chassis, and the door panel, while mounted on the door body, protrudes forward further than the lower door cap.

11. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the door panel is made of glass or metal.

12. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein
a left edge portion and a right edge portion of the door panel are bent metal, and
the chassis includes a left edge accommodating portion formed to accommodate the left edge portion and a right edge accommodating portion formed to accommodate the right edge portion.

13. A refrigerator comprising:
a main body having a storage chamber; and
a door to open and close the storage chamber, the door including:
a door body including:
an upper door cap including a cap hole, an opening at a front portion of the upper door cap, and an open portion on an upper side of the upper door cap,
a cover forming a front surface of the door body, and
chassis forming opposite side surfaces of the door body,

a door panel detachably mountable on the door body, the door panel including:
a panel body,
a fixer on a rear surface of the panel body, and including a protrusion having a fixing hole,
first magnetic bodies extending along a first side edge portion of the door panel,
second magnetic bodies extending along a second side edge portion, opposite to the first side edge portion, of the door panel, and
a buffer member between the first magnetic bodies and the second magnetic bodies, and including a shock absorbing material and/or a sound absorbing material,

a fastening member, and
a cap cover,
wherein the door body, the door panel, the fastening member and the cap cover are configured so that, when the door panel is mounted on the door body,
the rear surface of the panel body faces the cover,
the protrusion protrudes rearward into the opening and is accommodated in the upper door cap so that the fixing hole and the cap hole are vertically aligned with each other,
the fastening member is accommodated in the upper door cap through the open portion and extends into the fixing hole and the cap hole,
the cap cover is mounted on the upper door cap and covers the open portion,
the buffer member is between the cover and the panel body,
the first magnetic bodies are attached to the cover by attractive forces generated between the first

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Chomin
• Kim Byoungmok
• Lee Oungu
• Lee Jeonghyun
• Kim Dongyeong
• Choi Minseok
• Gu Yang-Yeol
• Kim Ae-Ryun
• Shin Yountae
• Lee Donghyun
• Lee Seonju
• Lee Jaemin

Classifications

• F25D2400/18

  Aesthetic features · CPC title

• F25D23/028 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• F25D23/02 Primary

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

• F25D2323/021

  French doors · CPC title

• F25D11/02 Primary

  with cooling compartments at different temperatures · CPC title