Refrigerator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019017679-A1
Application number	US-201816035174-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 13, 2018
Priority date	Jul 14, 2017
Publication date	Jan 17, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A refrigerator apparatus includes a case opening passing through an inner case; and an lighting device in the opening, wherein the device includes: a lamp case having a cavity defined therein; a light-emitting unit accommodated in the cavity, wherein the light-emitting unit is disposed more outwardly than the case opening, wherein the light-emitting unit irradiates light toward an inner surface of the cavity; a cover coupled with the lamp case to cover the case opening, wherein light from the light-emitting unit is reflected from the cavity through the cover toward the refrigerator interior space; and a reflection portion formed on the cover, wherein the reflection portion is configured to allow light from the light-emission unit directed toward the case opening to be redirected toward the inner surface of the cavity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet comprising an outer case that defines an outer appearance of the refrigerator and an inner case that defines a storage space of the refrigerator, the inner case defining a case opening; a lighting device located at the inner case and configured to illuminate light through the case opening, the lighting device comprising:
a lighting case that is located at the inner case, the lighting case defining a cavity recessed outward of the case opening and located at a position corresponding to the case opening,
a light-emitting unit that is located in the cavity, that protrudes outward of the case opening, and that is configured to emit light toward at least one of an inner surface of the cavity or the case opening,
a cover that is configured to couple to the lighting case, that is configured to cover at least a portion of the case opening, and that is configured to allow transmission of light reflected from the inner surface of the cavity toward the storage space through the cover, and
a reflection portion that is located at the cover and that is configured to, based on reception of light emitted toward the case opening, direct light toward the inner surface of the cavity.

2 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the cover includes:
a light-emission portion that has a shape corresponding to a shape of the case opening, that covers at least a portion of the case opening, and that is configured to transmit light reflected from the cavity; and a step portion that extends from an end of the light-emission portion and that is configured to be covered by the inner case, and wherein the light-emitting unit is oriented to emit light in a direction that crosses the step portion.

3 . The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein the reflection portion has a round shape that protrudes from an inner surface of the step portion and that is configured to reflect light emitted from the light-emitting unit to the inner surface of the cavity.

4 . The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein the reflection portion has an inclined shape that protrudes from an inner surface of the step portion and that is configured to reflect light emitted from the light-emitting unit to the inner surface of the cavity.

5 . The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein the reflection portion has a round shape or an inclined shape that protrudes from an inner surface of the step portion,
wherein the light-emitting unit includes a light-emission member configured to emit light, and wherein a height of the reflection portion from the inner surface of the step portion is less than a distance from the inner surface of the step portion to an end of the light-emission member.

6 . The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein the reflection portion includes a reflective layer located at an inner surface of the step portion and configured to reflect, toward the inner surface of the cavity, light emitted from the light-emitting unit.

7 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the lighting device further comprises a reflective surface located at the inner surface of the cavity and configured to direct, toward the cover, light emitted from the light-emitting unit, and
wherein the light-emitting unit is oriented in a direction facing toward the reflective surface.

8 . The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the cabinet defines an opening communicating with the storage space, and
wherein the light-emitting unit is oriented to emit light in a direction that extends from the opening toward the storage space.

9 . The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein the cover comprises:
a first portion that includes the step portion, that extends along a front side of the case opening, and that is coupled to the front side of the case opening; and a second portion that faces a rear side of the case opening and that extends rearward of the case opening, the second portion including a rib configured to insert into the inner case, and wherein the inner case defines a cover receiving groove that is located rearward of the case opening and that is configured to receive the rib located at the second portion of the cover.

10 . The refrigerator according to claim 9 , wherein the inner surface of the cavity has a curvature that allows the step portion of the cover to pivot about the front side of the case opening without interfering with the inner surface of the cavity based on the rib being disengaged from the cover receiving groove.

11 . The refrigerator according to claim 9 , wherein the lighting case is coupled to an outer surface of the inner case, and
wherein the cover is configured to insert into the cavity from the storage space through the case opening in a state in which the light-emitting unit is mounted to the cover.

12 . The refrigerator according to claim 9 , wherein the lighting device defines a cable connection space that is located at an end portion of the cavity, that is located outward of the case opening, and that is configured to be covered by the inner case, and
wherein the cable connection space is configured to receive an electric wire and a connector connected to the electric wire, and to allow the electric wire and the connector to pass through the lighting case to connect to the light-emitting unit.

13 . The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein the reflection portion and the light-emitting unit are located on the step portion at positions that are adjacent to each other,
wherein the light-emitting unit is connected to a connector that is configured to connect to a wire that passes through the lighting case, and wherein the light-emitting unit is further configured to detach from the step portion of the cover based on the connector being disconnected from the wire that passes through the lighting case.

14 . The refrigerator according to claim 13 , wherein the light-emitting unit includes:
a printed circuit board (PCB) coupled to the lighting case; and a plurality of light-emission members arranged at the PCB and configured to emit light.

15 . The refrigerator according to claim 14 , wherein the cover further includes:
a PCB support configured to support the PCB, the PCB support including a bent portion that extends along an end of the step portion; and a PCB fixing portion that is spaced apart from the PCB support and that is configured to couple to the PCB based on the PCB being located between the PCB support and the PCB fixing portion.

16 . The refrigerator according to claim 15 , wherein the lighting case defines a fixing-portion receiving groove that is located at the inner surface of the cavity and that is configured to receive an end of the PCB fixing portion.

17 . The refrigerator according to claim 15 , wherein the PCB fixing portion includes a plurality of PCB fixing portions that are arranged along the end of the step portion and that are spaced apart from each other, and
wherein the cover further includes a cover support that extends from the end of the step portion toward the inner surface of the cavity, that is located between the plurality of PCB fixing portions, and that is configured to support the cover.

18 . The refrigerator according to claim 15 , wherein the PCB support includes a protrusion that extends outside of the light-emission portion in a longitudinal direction of the cover,
wherein the connector is located at the protrusion of the PCB support, wherein the lighting device defines a cable connection spa

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Choi Changbong
• Jung Hyesun

Classifications

• F21Y2103/10

  comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements · CPC title

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• F21V7/0008

  providing for indirect lighting · CPC title

• F21W2131/305

  for refrigerators · CPC title

• F21V15/01

  Housings, e.g. material or assembling of housing parts (F21V15/02 takes precedence {housings forming signs or letters G09F13/04}) · CPC title