Refrigerator and home appliance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025164180-A1
Application number	US-202519035100-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 23, 2025
Priority date	Jul 13, 2021
Publication date	May 22, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A 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 including door body configured to open and close the storage space and a panel assembly detachably mounted on the door body, wherein the door body comprises:
a body plate defining a front surface of the door body,
a door liner defining a rear surface of the door body, and
an insulating material filled a space between the body plate and the door liner, wherein the panel assembly comprises:
a panel that defines a front surface of the door and through which light is transmitted,
a bracket that defines a top or bottom surface of the panel assembly,
a back cover that defines a rear surface of the panel assembly, and
a lighting device disposed at the bracket to emit light to the panel, and
wherein the bracket defines a bracket opening that is opened toward the body plate, and the lighting device passes through the bracket opening and is mounted in the bracket.

2 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising a light supporter that is configured to support the lighting device and that is provided on the bracket, and
wherein the light supporter passes through the bracket opening and is mounted in the bracket.

3 . The refrigerator according to claim 2 , wherein the bracket opening has a size corresponding to a size of the light supporter.

4 . The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the lighting device passes 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 covers the bracket opening so that the light supporter is restricted in the bracket.

6 . The refrigerator according to claim 3 , wherein the light supporter comprises:
a first supporting portion configured to support the lighting device; and a second supporting portion that extends from the first supporting portion and is located at the bracket opening to be in contact with the back cover.

7 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , further comprising a light guide plate that is disposed behind the panel and is configured to guide the light emitted from the lighting device to the panel,
wherein the light guide plate is supported by the bracket.

8 . The refrigerator according to claim 7 , wherein the lighting device comprises:
a substrate mounted at the bracket and extended along an end of the lighting device; and a light source mounted on the substrate to emit the light to the end of the light guide plate.

9 . The refrigerator according to claim 8 , wherein the light source includes a plurality of RGB LEDs causing the panel to glow with desired color.

10 . The refrigerator according to claim 7 , further comprising a support member that is disposed between the panel and the light guide plate and made of a material through which the light from the light guide is transmitted, and
wherein the panel is mounted a front surface of the support member.

11 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the bracket comprises:
an upper bracket defining the top surface of the panel assembly; and a lower bracket defining the bottom surface of the panel assembly, and wherein the lighting device is disposed at the lower bracket.

12 . The refrigerator according to claim 11 , wherein the back cover has a plate shape and connects the upper bracket and the lower bracket.

13 . The refrigerator according to claim 12 , wherein the back cover covers the bracket opening in a state in which the back cover couples the upper bracket and lower bracket.

14 . The refrigerator according to claim 13 , wherein the back cover is made of a metal material and has a plate shape.

15 . The refrigerator according to claim 14 , wherein the back cover comprises a cover bent portion that is bent forward and disposed on a lower end of the back cover, and
wherein the cover bent portion is inserted into the bracket opening.

16 . The refrigerator according to claim 15 , further comprising a light supporter that is configured to support the lighting device and provided on the bracket, and
wherein the light supporter is made of a metal material and in contact with the cover bent portion such that heat generated by the lighting device is conducted to the back cover through the light supporter.

17 . The refrigerator according to claim 1 , wherein the door body further comprises:
a side decoration defines right and left side surfaces of the door body; an upper cap decoration is connected to an upper end of the side decoration and an upper end of the body plate, is configured to define an upper surface of the door body; and a lower cap decoration is connected to a lower end of the side decoration and a lower end of the body plate, is configured to define a lower surface of the door body.

18 . The refrigerator according to claim 17 , wherein the body plate is made of a metal material and has a size corresponding to the panel assembly.

19 . The refrigerator according to claim 17 , wherein a front end of the side decoration and front ends of the upper cap decoration and the lower cap decoration protrude forward relative to a front surface of the body plate to define a panel receiving space, and
wherein the panel assembly is inserted into the panel receiving space.

20 . The refrigerator according to claim 17 , wherein a perimeter of the panel assembly is supported by protruding front ends of the side decoration, the upper cap decoration, and the lower cap decoration.

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