Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12259176-B2
Application number	US-202117802624-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2021
Priority date	Feb 26, 2020
Publication date	Mar 25, 2025
Grant date	Mar 25, 2025

Abstract

A refrigerator of the present embodiment comprises: a cabinet for forming a storage space; and a door for opening/closing the storage space. The door comprises: a frame assembly in which a thermal insulation material is filled; and a panel assembly which is separably-coupled to the frame assembly and forms the front exterior of the door, wherein, in a state where the lower side of the panel assembly is supported on the lower side of the frame assembly, the upper side of the panel assembly is fixed to the upper side of the frame assembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet that defines a storage space; and
a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage space,
wherein the door comprises:
a frame assembly in which an insulator is provided, and
a panel assembly detachably coupled to the frame assembly and configured to define an outer appearance of a front surface of the door,

wherein the panel assembly comprises:
a panel, and
a lower bent portion that is bent from a lower end of the panel and that defines an opening, at least a portion of the lower bent portion extending rearward from the lower end of the panel,

wherein the frame assembly comprises:
a front frame,
an upper frame connected to an upper portion of the front frame,
a lower frame connected to a lower portion of the front frame,
a support end that extends forward from a front surface of the lower frame, and
a protrusion that extends upward from the support end and that is configured to pass through the opening of the lower bent portion in a state in which the lower bent portion is supported on the support end,

wherein, in the state in which the lower bent portion is supported on the support end, an upper portion of the panel assembly is configured to be fixed to the upper frame of the frame assembly,
wherein the protrusion is configured to be taken out from the opening of the lower bent portion while the panel assembly is detached from the frame assembly,
wherein the opening of the lower bent portion includes a first end and a second end, the first end being positioned closer to a rear surface of the panel than the second end, and
wherein a distance from the second end to an end of the lower bent portion is greater than a distance from the first end to the rear surface of the panel.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the panel is made of a metal material and has a planar shape.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is one of a plurality of protrusions that extend upward from the support end, and
wherein the opening is one of a plurality of openings that are arranged along the lower bent portion and that are defined at positions corresponding to the plurality of protrusions.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the panel assembly further comprises:
an upper bent portion that is bent rearward from an upper end of the panel; and
side bent portions disposed at left and right ends of the panel.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4 , wherein the upper bent portion comprises:
a first bent portion that is bent rearward from the upper end of the panel; and
a second bent portion that is bent downward from an end of the first bent portion.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the panel assembly further comprises an upper bracket disposed at an upper portion of the rear surface of the panel and configured to couple to the upper frame.

7. The refrigerator of claim 6 , wherein the upper bracket comprises:
an upper adhesion portion attached to the rear surface of the panel; and
an upper coupling protrusion that protrudes rearward from the upper adhesion portion, and
wherein the upper frame comprises:
an upper coupling portion that accommodates the upper coupling protrusion of the upper bracket, and
an upper coupling member that passes through the upper coupling portion and that is coupled to the upper coupling protrusion of the upper bracket.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the panel assembly further comprises a lower bracket that defines a lower insertion portion configured to receive the protrusion.

9. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the lower bent portion comprises (i) a first portion having a first extension length from the panel in a first direction, and (ii) a second portion having a second extension length from the panel in the first direction,
wherein the second extension length is greater than the first extension length, and
wherein the opening is defined at the second portion.

10. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the storage space comprises an upper storage space and a lower storage space,
wherein the door comprises:
a first door configured to open and close the upper storage space; and
a second door disposed at a lower side of the first door and configured to open and close the lower storage space, and

wherein the first door comprises the frame assembly and the panel assembly.

11. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet that defines a storage space; and
a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage space,
wherein the door comprises:
a frame assembly in which an insulator is provided, and
a panel assembly detachably coupled to the frame assembly and configured to define an outer appearance of a front surface of the door,

wherein the frame assembly comprises:
a front frame,
an upper frame connected to an upper portion of the front frame,
a lower frame connected to a lower portion of the front frame,
a support end that extends forward from a front surface of the lower frame, and
a protrusion that extends upward from the support end,

wherein the panel assembly comprises:
a panel, and
a lower bent portion that is bent from a lower end of the panel and that defines a protrusion hole configured to receive the protrusion,

wherein the protrusion is configured to pass through the protrusion hole in a state in which the lower bent portion is supported on the support end,
wherein, in the state in which the lower bent portion is supported on the support end, an upper portion of the panel assembly is configured to be fixed to the upper frame,
wherein a distance from the front surface of the lower frame to the panel is greater than a distance from the front surface of the lower frame to an edge of the support end such that the panel protrudes forward relative to the edge of the support end,
wherein the protrusion is configured to be taken out from the protrusion hole of the lower bent portion while the panel assembly is detached from the frame assembly,
wherein the protrusion hole of the lower bent portion includes a first end and a second end, the first end being positioned closer to a rear surface of the panel than the second end, and
wherein a distance from the second end to an end of the lower bent portion is greater than a distance from the first end to the rear surface of the panel.

12. The refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein the panel is made of a metal material and has a planar shape.

13. The refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein the protrusion is one of a plurality of protrusions that protrude upward from the support end,
wherein the protrusion hole is one a plurality of protrusion holes that are arranged along the lower bent portion and that are defined at positions corresponding to the plurality of protrusions.

14. The refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein the lower bent portion comprises (i) a first portion having a first extension length from the panel in a first direction, and (ii) a second portion having a second extension length from the panel in the first direction,
wherein the second extension length is greater than the first extension length, and
wherein the protrusion hole is defined at the second portion.

15. The refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein the panel assembly further comprises:
an upper bent portion that is bent rearward from an upper end of the panel; and
side bent portions disposed at both left and right ends of the panel.

16. The refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein the storage space comprises an upper storage space and a lower storage space,
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Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Hong Euddeum
• Jung Sangho
• Kang Daekil
• Moon Jiwook
• Park Gyunghyun

Classifications

• F25D2400/18

  Aesthetic features · CPC title

• F25D23/085

  Breaking strips · CPC title

• A47B77/08

  for incorporating apparatus operated by power, including water power; for incorporating apparatus for cooking, cooling, or laundry purposes · CPC title

• F16B12/12

  for non-metal furniture parts, e.g. made of wood, of plastics · CPC title

• F16B5/07

  by means of multiple interengaging protrusions on the surfaces, e.g. hooks, coils, · CPC title