Refrigerator and home appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12235035-B2
Application number	US-202217863722-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2022
Priority date	Jul 13, 2021
Publication date	Feb 25, 2025
Grant date	Feb 25, 2025

Abstract

Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a cabinet and a door. The door includes a door body in which an insulating material is filled and a panel assembly detachably mounted on the door body. The panel assembly includes a panel which is configured to define a front surface of the door and through which light is transmitted, a back cover configured to define a rear surface of the panel assembly, a lower bracket configured to define a bottom surface of the panel assembly, and a lighting device mounted on the lower bracket to emit light to the panel. A bracket opening through which the lighting device is accessible is defined in the lower bracket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet having a storage space; and
a door configured to open and close the storage space, the door including a door body in which an insulating material is filled, and a panel assembly detachably mounted on the door body,
wherein the panel assembly comprises:
a panel that defines a front surface of the door and that is configured to transmit light,
a back cover that defines a rear surface of the panel assembly,
a lower bracket that defines a bottom surface of the panel assembly, and
a lighting device mounted on the lower bracket and configured to emit light to the panel,

wherein the lower bracket defines a bracket opening through which the lighting device is accessible, and
wherein the lower bracket protrudes below the panel, and the lighting device is disposed below a lower end of the panel.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the bracket opening is opened toward the door body.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the panel assembly further comprises a light supporter provided on the lower bracket and configured to support the lighting device from a lower side, and
wherein the light supporter is accessible through the bracket opening.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the bracket opening has a size corresponding to a size of the light supporter, and
wherein the lighting device is accessible through the bracket opening in a state of being mounted on the light supporter.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the light supporter is exposed through the bracket opening, and
wherein the back cover is configured to cover the bracket opening so that the light supporter is restricted to the lower bracket.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the light supporter is made of a metal material and is in contact with the back cover to transfer heat of the lighting device to the back cover.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6 , wherein the light supporter comprises:
a first supporting portion configured to support the lighting device; and
a second supporting portion extending from the first supporting portion to be in contact with the back cover.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the light supporter comprises a substrate support that is disposed at the first supporting portion and protrudes to support the lower side of the lighting device, and
wherein the second supporting portion defines a substrate accommodation groove configured to accommodate a rear end of the lighting device.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the back cover comprises a cover bent portion that is disposed at a lower end of the back cover and bent forward, and
wherein the cover bent portion is inserted into the bracket opening to be in contact with the first supporting portion.

10. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet having a storage space; and
a door configured to open and close the storage space, the door including a door body in which an insulating material is filled, and a panel assembly detachably mounted on the door body,
wherein the panel assembly comprises:
a panel that defines a front surface of the door and that is configured to transmit light,
a back cover that defines a rear surface of the panel assembly,
a lower bracket that defines a bottom surface of the panel assembly,
a lighting device mounted on the lower bracket and configured to emit light to the panel, and
a light guide plate disposed behind the panel and configured to guide the light emitted from the lighting device to the panel,

wherein the lighting device comprises:
a substrate mounted inside the lower bracket, and
a light source mounted on the substrate and configured to emit the light to an end of the light guide plate,

wherein the lower bracket defines a bracket opening through which the lighting device is accessible,
wherein the lower bracket comprises a light guide plate support disposed at a front surface of the lower bracket, the light guide plate support protruding backward and passing through a plurality of light sources, the plurality of light sources including the light source, and
wherein the light guide plate support further protrudes from a top surface of the light source and supports a lower end of the light guide plate.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 10 , wherein the lower bracket comprises a cover portion extending upward to prevent the light source from being exposed, and
wherein an upper end of the cover portion extends upward relative to an upper end of the light source and a lower end of the panel.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 10 , wherein the lower bracket comprises a guide protrusion protruding backward to be in contact with a front of the light source, and
wherein, in a state in which the guide protrusion and the light source are in contact with each other, the light source is aligned vertically below a lower end of the light guide plate.

13. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet having a storage space; and
a door configured to open and close the storage space, the door including a door body in which an insulating material is filled, and a panel assembly detachably mounted on the door body,
wherein the panel assembly comprises:
a panel that defines a front surface of the door and that is configured to transmit light,
a back cover that defines a rear surface of the panel assembly,
a lower bracket that defines a bottom surface of the panel assembly,
a lighting device mounted on the lower bracket and configured to emit light to the panel,
a light guide plate disposed behind the panel and configured to guide the light emitted from the lighting device to the panel,
a support member that is disposed on each of both side surfaces of the panel assembly and that extends vertically between the panel and the light guide plate, and
an upper bracket that defines a top surface of the panel assembly,

wherein the upper bracket is mounted on a top surface of the support member,
wherein the lower bracket is mounted on a lower end of the support member, and
wherein the lower bracket defines a bracket opening through which the lighting device is accessible.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 13 ,
wherein upper and lower ends of the back cover are coupled to the upper bracket and the lower bracket by a screw, respectively, and
wherein the back cover is configured to cover the bracket opening in a state of being coupled to the upper bracket and the lower bracket.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 14 , wherein the support member is continuously disposed from a left end of the panel assembly to a right end of the panel assembly and is made of a material configured to transmit light.

16. The refrigerator according to claim 15 , wherein the support member comprises:
a planar front surface portion on which the panel is mounted; and
a side surface portion that protrudes backward from each of both left and right ends of the planar front surface portion and on which the light guide plate is mounted.

17. The refrigerator according to claim 16 , wherein the support member defines a bracket insertion space opened vertically in each of upper and lower ends of the side surface portion, and
wherein each of the upper bracket and the lower bracket is inserted into the bracket insertion space.

18. The refrigerator according to claim 16 , wherein each of both left and right ends of the back cover is supported by the side surface portion.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Song Seongmin

Classifications

• F25D2400/18

  Aesthetic features · CPC title

• F25D27/00 Primary

  Lighting arrangements (in general F21) · CPC title

• F21W2131/305

  for refrigerators · CPC title

• F24C15/02

  Doors specially adapted for stoves or ranges · CPC title

• D06F37/28

  Doors; Security means therefor · CPC title