Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12092387-B2
Application number	US-202318124158-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 21, 2023
Priority date	Jul 6, 2020
Publication date	Sep 17, 2024
Grant date	Sep 17, 2024

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet defining a storage space and a door configured to open and close the storage space. The door includes comprises: a panel assembly comprising a front panel, a door frame connected to the panel assembly, a door liner defining, with the door frame, an insulating space that accommodates an insulator, and a basket installed on the door liner. The door liner includes: an outer body, a liner extension portion extending from the outer body in a direction crossing the outer body, and a plurality of ribs that are disposed at the outer body and that are spaced apart from the liner extension portion. The door frame comprises a frame extension portion that is disposed between the plurality of ribs and the liner extension portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet defining a storage space; and
a door configured to open and close the storage space,
wherein the door comprises:
a panel assembly configured to show the storage space therethrough and including a front panel, an insulating panel, and a spacer,
a door frame connected to the panel assembly and including an upper frame, a lower frame, and side frames, and
a door liner defining an opening and connected to the door frame and the insulating panel,

wherein the door liner comprises:
an outer body,
a connection body extending from the outer body,
an inner body extending from the connection body and having side surfaces and a bottom surface,
a plurality of coupling protrusions provided at the side surfaces of the inner body,
an insulator received at an insulating space defined by the door frame, the panel assembly, and the door liner,
a basket providing a plurality of protrusion grooves at side surfaces, the plurality of protrusion grooves being detachably coupled to the plurality of coupling protrusions of the inner body,
a first liner extension portion extending upward from a bottom surface of the inner body toward the insulation panel,
a first coupling member coupled to the upper frame and provided at an upper portion of the outer body, and
a second coupling member coupled to the lower frame and provided at a lower portion of the outer body, and

wherein the first liner extension portion contacts the insulation panel.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of coupling protrusions are disposed below a top surface of the first liner extension portion, or
wherein the top surface of the first liner extension portion is disposed below a top surface of the basket.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the basket and the first liner extension portion are configured to, based on the basket being coupled to the inner body, define a gap therebetween.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the front panel comprises (i) a first portion configured to transmit light and (ii) a second portion that is disposed at an outside of the first portion and configured to restrict transmission of light, and
wherein a portion of the basket faces the first portion of the front panel.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the upper frame defines a space covered by a frame cover.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the door further comprises a heater frame configured to receive a heater and surrounding the spacer.

7. The refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein the heater frame has a rectangular shape and is attached to a rear surface of the front panel.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the first coupling member comprises:
a second liner extension portion extending from the outer body,
a rib spaced apart from the first liner extension portion, and
a frame extension portion disposed between the rib and the first liner extension portion.

9. The refrigerator of claim 8 , wherein the outer body includes a gasket coupling portion that is recessed to receive a gasket, and
wherein the second liner extension portion and the rib are extended from the gasket coupling portion.

10. The refrigerator of claim 8 , wherein the rib is provided in plurality to be horizontally spaced apart from each other on the outer body, and
wherein the rib includes a first part extending from the outer body and a second part that extends from the first part and that is inclined in a direction away from the second liner extension portion.

11. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the first coupling member includes:
a liner coupling portion extending from the connecting body,
a frame coupling portion coupled to the liner coupling portion, and
a coupling member that couples the liner coupling portion to the frame coupling portion.

12. The refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein the door liner provides a gasket coupling portion that is recessed to receive a gasket,
wherein the liner coupling portion protrudes from an outer surface of the gasket coupling portion, and
wherein the gasket is configured to, based on the coupling member being coupled to the liner coupling portion and the frame coupling portion, couple to the gasket coupling portion to cover the coupling member.

13. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the second coupling member includes:
a liner coupling portion extending from the connecting body,
a frame coupling portion coupled to the liner coupling portion, and
a coupling member that couples the liner coupling portion to the frame coupling portion.

14. The refrigerator of claim 13 , wherein the door liner comprises a gasket coupling portion that is recessed to receive a gasket,
wherein the liner coupling portion protrudes from an outer surface of the gasket coupling portion, and
wherein the gasket is configured to, based on the coupling member being coupled to the liner coupling portion and the frame coupling portion, couple to the gasket coupling portion to cover the coupling member.

15. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the second coupling member comprises:
a third liner extension portion extending from the outer body in a direction crossing the outer body,
a rib disposed to be spaced apart from the third liner extension portion, and
a frame extension portion disposed between the rib and the third liner extension portion.

16. The refrigerator of claim 15 , wherein the rib is provided in plurality to be horizontally spaced apart from each other on the outer body.

17. The refrigerator of claim 15 , wherein the rib includes a first part extending from the outer body and a second part that extends from the first part and that is inclined in a direction away from the third liner extension portion.

18. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet defining a storage space; and
a door configured to open and close the storage space,
wherein the door comprises:
a panel assembly configured to show the storage space therethrough and including a front panel, an insulating panel, and a spacer,
a door frame connected to the panel assembly and including an upper frame, a lower frame, and side frames,
a door liner defining an opening and connected to the door frame and the insulating panel,

wherein the door liner comprises:
an outer body,
a connection body extending from the outer body,
an inner body extending from the connection body and having side surfaces and a bottom surface,
a plurality of coupling protrusions provided at the side surfaces of the inner body,
an insulator received at an insulating space defined by the door frame, the panel assembly, and the door liner, the insulator in the insulating space being in contact with the panel assembly,
a basket providing a plurality of protrusion grooves at side surfaces, the plurality of protrusion grooves being detachably coupled to the plurality of coupling protrusions of the inner body,
a first liner extension portion extending upward from a bottom surface of the inner body toward the insulation panel,
a first coupling member coupled to the upper frame and provided at an upper portion of the outer body, and
a second coupling member coupled to the lower frame and provided at a lower portion of the outer body, and

wherein the upper frame includes a plurality of protrusions contacting the front panel.

19. The refrigerator of claim 18 , wherein the first coupling member comprises:
a second liner extension portion extending from the outer body,
a rib spaced apart from the first liner

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Kim Juyoung
• Bae Daham
• Choi Hojin
• Lee Hyuncheol
• Jang Jongmoon

Classifications

• F25D2400/18

  Aesthetic features · CPC title

• F25D23/082

  Strips · CPC title

• F25D23/066

  Liners · CPC title

• F25D23/063

  formed by an assembly of panels · CPC title

• F25D23/04

  with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners · CPC title