Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12264869-B2
Application number	US-202017909272-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2020
Priority date	Mar 10, 2020
Publication date	Apr 1, 2025
Grant date	Apr 1, 2025

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator capable of preventing deformation of a refrigerator door. A refrigerator door includes: a frame assembly disposed in a line on both sides to form an edge of the refrigerator door; a front panel disposed on one side of the frame assembly to form a front surface of the refrigerator door; a rear panel disposed on the other side of the frame assembly to form a rear surface of the refrigerator door; a reinforcing panel disposed between the front panel and the rear panel; and a heat insulating layer formed between the reinforcing panel and the rear panel.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet having a storage space; and
a refrigerator door configured to open and close at least a portion of the cabinet,
wherein the refrigerator door comprises:
a frame assembly that is disposed at sides of the refrigerator door and that defines an edge of the refrigerator door,
a front panel that is disposed at a first side of the frame assembly and that defines a front surface of the refrigerator door, the front panel facing a front surface of the frame assembly,
a rear panel that is disposed at a second side of the frame assembly and that defines a rear surface of the refrigerator door,
a reinforcing panel disposed between the front panel and the rear panel, and
a heat insulating layer disposed between the reinforcing panel and the rear panel,

wherein the front panel is detachably coupled to the reinforcing panel or the frame assembly,
wherein the frame assembly defines:
a hollow portion that extends in a longitudinal direction,
coupling holes that are in fluid communication with the hollow portion and the first side of the frame assembly, the coupling holes facing the front panel and being spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction, and
a groove portion that is recessed rearward from the front surface of the frame assembly and that is defined at a position laterally inward relative to the coupling holes,

wherein the reinforcing panel comprises an extension portion that is disposed at a side end of the reinforcing panel and that is bent rearward, the extension portion being configured to insert into and couple to the groove portion of the frame assembly, and
wherein the refrigerator door further comprises a coupling protrusion that is disposed at a rear surface of the front panel, the coupling protrusion being configured to pass through one of the coupling holes and to be accommodated in the hollow portion of the frame assembly.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing panel is provided with a corrugated steel plate having irregularities in a horizontal direction.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2 , wherein the reinforcing panel has a ridge concave toward the rear panel, and a valley convex toward the front panel, and
wherein the valley is in surface contact with the front panel.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing panel has a flat portion in at least one of an upper end, a lower end, a left end, and a right end of one surface facing the front panel.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator door further comprises a lower frame that extends in a horizontal direction and that defines a lower surface of the refrigerator door, the lower frame being disposed at a lower end of the refrigerator door,
wherein the lower frame defines a lower accommodation groove that is concave rearward,
wherein the reinforcing panel comprises a lower bent portion that is bent rearward from a lower end of the reinforcing panel and that extends in the horizontal direction, and
wherein the lower bent portion is inserted into and fixed to the lower accommodation groove.

6. The refrigerator of claim 5 , wherein the lower frame defines a vertical wall extending upward at an upper end of a front surface of the lower frame, and
wherein the vertical wall is supported by and in contact with a flat portion disposed at a lower side of the reinforcing panel.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator door further comprises a cap deco that extends in a horizontal direction and that defines an upper surface of the refrigerator door, the cap deco being disposed at an upper end of the refrigerator door,
wherein the cap deco defines an upper accommodation groove that is concave rearward,
wherein the reinforcing panel comprises an upper bent portion that is bent rearward from an upper end of the reinforcing panel and that extends in the horizontal direction, and
wherein the upper bent portion is inserted into and fixed to the upper accommodation groove.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator door further comprises:
a cap deco; and
a support wall that extends in a vertical direction and that is disposed at a lower end of the cap deco, and
wherein the support wall is supported by and in contact with a flat portion disposed at an upper side of the reinforcing panel.

9. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the heat insulating layer is formed by foaming urethane between the front panel and the rear panel.

10. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the refrigerator door further comprises a coupling member fixed to the rear surface of the front panel, and
wherein the coupling protrusion is disposed on the coupling member.

11. The refrigerator of claim 10 , wherein the coupling member comprises:
a second fixing part fixed to the rear surface of the front panel;
a first fixing part configured to pass through the coupling hole and to be accommodated in the hollow portion of the frame assembly; and
a connection portion that connects the second fixing part to the first fixing part.

12. The refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein the connection portion is disposed at a position below upper ends of the second fixing part and the first fixing part, and
wherein the connection portion is disposed above lower ends of the second fixing part and the first fixing part.

13. The refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein the second fixing part and the first fixing part have different thicknesses from each other.

14. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the front panel is made of a metal material including a steel material, a glass material, or a plastic material.

15. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the frame assembly comprises:
an outer frame comprising (i) a first plane facing the front panel and (ii) a second plane that is disposed at one side of the first plane and that extends in a direction perpendicular to the first plane, the outer frame defining the coupling hole at the first plane; and
an inner frame comprising (i) a third plane facing the first plane of the outer frame and (ii) a fourth plane that extends from one side of the third plane in a vertical direction, the inner frame being disposed behind the outer frame and defining the hollow portion between the outer frame and the inner frame.

16. The refrigerator of claim 15 , wherein the inner frame further comprises a contact portion configured to make surface contact with an end of the first plane,
wherein the third plane of the inner frame is spaced apart from the first plane and defines the hollow portion between the first plane of the outer frame and the third plane of the inner frame, and
wherein the inner frame further comprises an intermediate portion extending in a front-and-rear direction and configured to connect the contact portion to the third plane.

17. The refrigerator of claim 15 , wherein the second plane of the outer frame defines a seating portion extending inward in a horizontal direction, and
wherein one side of the third plane is seated on the seating portion.

18. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the front panel is detachably coupled to the reinforcing panel.

19. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the front panel is detachably coupled to the frame assembly.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Hong Euddeum

Classifications

• F25D2201/126

  of cellular type · CPC title

• F25D23/10

  Arrangements for mounting in particular locations, e.g. for built-in type, for corner type · CPC title

• A47B77/08

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

• E06B3/70

  Door leaves (wing frames E06B3/04) · CPC title

• F25D23/02 Primary

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