Home appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12429275-B2
Application number	US-202217987536-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2022
Priority date	Nov 16, 2021
Publication date	Sep 30, 2025
Grant date	Sep 30, 2025

Abstract

An appliance includes a cabinet in which a storage space is defined and a door configured to open and close the storage space. The door includes a door body and a panel assembly mounted on the door body. The panel assembly includes a panel that defines a front surface of the door and is configured to transmit light, a lighting device configured to allow the panel to shine with a set color, and a back cover configured to define a rear surface of the panel assembly. A cover support portion of which at least a portion extends backward to be supported on the door body is disposed on a lower end of the back cover.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An appliance comprising:
a cabinet that defines a storage space; and
a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage space, the door comprising a door body and a panel assembly that is disposed on the door body,
wherein the panel assembly comprises:
a lighting device configured to output light,
a panel that defines a front surface of the door and is configured to transmit the light with a set color,
a back cover that defines a rear surface of the panel assembly, the back cover comprising a cover support portion that is disposed at a lower end of the back cover and extends rearward from the rear surface of the panel assembly toward the door body, and
a lower bracket that defines a bottom surface of the panel assembly, the lower bracket comprising a bracket protrusion that extends toward the door body and supports the cover support portion.

2. The appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the back cover is made of a metal material.

3. The appliance according to claim 2 , wherein the cover support portion is bent from the lower end of the back cover.

4. The appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the door body comprises a lower support portion that protrudes forward and supports a lower end of the panel assembly, and
wherein the cover support portion is disposed on the lower support portion.

5. The appliance according to claim 1 , wherein a bottom surface of the cover support portion is in contact with a top surface of the bracket protrusion.

6. The appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the door body defines a lower opening at a front surface of the door body, the lower opening being configured to, based on the panel assembly being coupled to the door body, receive the cover support portion and the bracket protrusion.

7. The appliance according to claim 6 , wherein the door further comprises a coupling member disposed at a bottom surface of the door body and passes through the bracket protrusion and the cover support portion that are inserted into the lower opening.

8. The appliance according to claim 1 , wherein the back cover further comprises a cover coupling portion that extends rearward from the cover support portion toward the door body, and
wherein the cover coupling portion passes through a front surface of the door body and is inserted into the door body.

9. The appliance according to claim 8 , wherein the cover support portion extends along the lower end of the back cover from a first end of the back cover to a second end of the back cover, and
wherein the cover coupling portion is one of a plurality of cover coupling portions that are arranged along the cover support portion and spaced apart from one another.

10. The appliance according to claim 8 , wherein the cover coupling portion defines a coupling hole, and
wherein the door further comprises a coupling member that passes through the coupling hole and is coupled to a bottom surface of the door body.

11. The appliance according to claim 10 , wherein the door body comprises a lower support portion that protrudes forward from the bottom surface of the door body and supports a lower end of the panel assembly,
wherein the panel is disposed forward relative to the lower support portion, and
wherein the coupling member is disposed rearward relative to the lower support portion and faces the lower support portion of the door body.

12. An appliance comprising:
a cabinet that defines a storage space; and
a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage space, the door comprising a door body and a panel assembly that is disposed on the door body,
wherein the panel assembly comprises:
a lighting device configured to output light,
a panel that defines a front surface of the door and is configured to transmit the light with a set color, and
a back cover that defines a rear surface of the panel assembly, the back cover comprising a cover support portion that is disposed at a lower end of the back cover and extends rearward from the rear surface of the panel assembly toward the door body, and

wherein the cover support portion comprises:
a first support portion that extends forward from the lower end of the back cover; and
a second support portion that is bent rearward from a front end of the first support portion and extends rearward relative to a rear end of the first support portion toward the door body.

13. The appliance according to claim 12 , wherein the panel assembly further comprises a lower bracket that defines a bottom surface of the panel assembly and accommodates the lighting device, the lower bracket defining a bracket opening that provides access to the lighting device.

14. The appliance according to claim 13 , wherein the back cover covers at least a portion of the bracket opening.

15. The appliance according to claim 13 , wherein the first support portion is inserted into the bracket opening and supports a lower side of the lighting device.

16. The appliance according to claim 13 , wherein the lower bracket comprises a light supporter that is made of a metal material and supports the lighting device, and
wherein the light supporter is exposed through the bracket opening and is in contact with the back cover, the light supporter being configured to transfer heat of the lighting device to the back cover.

17. The appliance according to claim 16 , wherein the first support portion is inserted into the bracket opening and supports a lower side of the light supporter.

18. The appliance according to claim 17 , wherein the lower side of the light supporter is in contact with an upper side of the first support portion, and
wherein a rear side of the light supporter is in contact with a front side of the back cover.

19. The appliance according to claim 13 , wherein the second support portion defines a coupling hole,
wherein the lower bracket defines a bracket coupling hole facing the coupling hole, and
wherein the door further comprising a coupling member that passes through the coupling hole and the bracket coupling hole and is inserted into the door body.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Song Seongmin

Classifications

• F25D2400/18

  Aesthetic features · CPC title

• F25D27/00

  Lighting arrangements (in general F21) · CPC title

• F24C15/04

  with transparent panels · CPC title

• F25D23/02

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

• D06F39/14

  Doors or covers; Securing means therefor · CPC title