AU2018412991B2

AU2018412991B2 - Refrigerator and method of manufacturing the refrigerator

Info

Publication number: AU2018412991B2
Application number: AU2018412991A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Akihiro Namba
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Priority date: 2018-03-13
Filing date: 2018-03-13
Publication date: 2021-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 2038-03-13
Also published as: TWI682139B; SG11202008751YA; JPWO2019175978A1; JP7034253B2; AU2018412991A1; CN111886463B; TW201938971A; WO2019175978A1; CN111886463A

Abstract

This refrigerator is provided with a refrigerator body having at least one refrigeration chamber provided with an opening on the front surface, and a door part that closes the opening of the refrigeration chamber in an openable/closable manner. The door part has: a rectangular frame member; an inner plate that closes a refrigeration chamber-side open surface of the frame member; a decorative plate that closes a front surface-side open surface of the frame member; a heat insulating member provided in a space sealed by the frame member, the inner plate, and the decorative plate; and a hot melt that bonds the frame member and the decorative plate.

Description

Technical Field

[0001]

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator and a method of manufacturing

the refrigerator.

Background

[0002]

A refrigerator usually includes a refrigerator body and a door unit. The refrigerator body has an open front face and at least one compartment. The door unit

covers an opening of the compartment in such a manner as to allow the opening to be

opened and closed. The door unit is of a rotational type or a drawer type. Door units

of home-use refrigerators are components that are viewed most frequently by end

users. Therefore, excellent design is considered to be important particularly for door

units. Accordingly, recent-year door units each have a surface made of a glass

material for achieving a beautiful appearance as a whole.

[0003] For example, a door body that has previously been proposed includes a cuboid

frame body, a front panel made of glass and covering one of open faces of the frame

body, and a rear panel covering the other open face of the frame body. The frame

body includes a supporting plate extending inward. The front panel includes a

decorative sheet provided on the rear face of the front panel. The outer periphery of

the decorative sheet is pasted to the supporting plate with double-sided adhesive film.

A space surrounded by the frame body that is tightly closed by the front panel and the

rear panel is filled with a heat insulator made of resin foam.

[0004] (Deleted)

[0005] The double-sided adhesive film used in the above-mentioned door body has a

rectangular shape obtained by punching the film in conformity to the shape of the frame

body or is in the form of tape. It is very difficult to accurately and orderly paste the

rectangular-shaped double-sided adhesive film onto the supporting plate. Therefore, the double-sided adhesive film may be displaced, opening a gap between the supporting plate and the front panel. On the other hand, in the case of tape-type double-sided adhesive film, one end of the film needs to be laid over the other end. Therefore, a step is formed at one of the two ends. In such a case, a very small gap may be opened at the stepped part. In some other cases, the frame body may be obtained by molding four individual components that are to form the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the frame body and then assembling the four components. When the components are assembled, a small step may be formed between adjacent ones of the components. Such a step may not be completely adjusted by double-sided adhesive tape. Consequently, a gap may be opened between the supporting plate and the front panel. If, for example, a solution that turns into resin foam is fed into the frame body with such a gap that is opened between the supporting plate and the front panel, the solution may flow into the gap and foam in the gap. Consequently, the front panel may come off, or the resin foam may leak from the gap and be exposed to the outside, deteriorating the quality of appearance design.

[0006]

On the other hand, every time the door unit of the refrigerator is opened or

closed, an impact is applied to the front panel. Under such circumstances, if the

strength of bonding between the supporting plate and the front panel is low, because of

the gap opened between the supporting plate and the front panel, the front panel may

drop off when the door unit is opened or closed.

[0007]

It is desired to address or ameliorate one or more disadvantages or limitations

associated with the prior art, or to at least provide a useful alternative.

Summary

[0008]

A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a

refrigerator body having an open front face and including at least one compartment, and

a door unit covering an opening of the at least one compartment in such a manner as to

allow the opening to be opened and closed. The door unit includes a frame part shaped in a rectangular shape; an inner plate that closes an open face of the frame part that is located close to the at least one compartment; a decorative plate that closes an open face of the frame part that is located close to a front face of the refrigerator; a heat insulator provided in a space tightly closed by the frame part, the inner plate, and the decorative plate; and hot-melt adhesive that bonds the frame part and the decorative plate to each other, the hot-melt adhesive being solidified with moisture and not melting with heat once solidified; wherein the hot-melt adhesive has a thickness of 0.2 mm or greater and 0.3 mm or smaller.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the frame part and the

decorative plate are closely bonded to each other with no gap in between by using the

hot-melt adhesive, which exhibits high strength of bonding and becomes flexible when

melted with heat. Therefore, the heat insulator fed into the tightly closed inner space is

prevented from leaking to the outside. Consequently, the refrigerator can have an

appearance with excellent design. Furthermore, as the frame part and the decorative

plate can be bonded to each other with increased strength of bonding, the refrigerator

can be used safely and securely.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are hereinafter described, by

way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[Fig. 1] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to Embodiment of

the present disclosure.

[Fig. 2] Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a door unit of the refrigerator

according to Embodiment of the present disclosure.

[Fig. 3] Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the door unit of the refrigerator according to

Embodiment of the present disclosure.

[Fig. 4] Fig. 4 is an enlargement of part A encircled in Fig. 3.

[Fig. 5] Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating a modification of the refrigerator according

to Embodiment of the present disclosure.

[Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating another modification of the refrigerator

according to Embodiment of the present disclosure.

[Fig. 7] Fig. 7 is a plan view of a frame part of the refrigerator according to

Embodiment of the present disclosure, with hot-melt adhesive provided on the frame

part.

[Fig. 8] Fig. 8 is an enlargement of part B encircled in Fig. 7.

[Fig. 9] Fig. 9 is a diagram of the refrigerator according to Embodiment of the

present disclosure, illustrating how to attach a decorative plate to the frame part.

Detailed Description

[0010a]

According to at least some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a highly

reliable refrigerator in which a frame part and a decorative plate are closely bonded to

each other with no gap in between to provide an appearance with excellent design and

safe and secure use, and also provides a method of manufacturing the refrigerator.

[0011]

Embodiment of the present disclosure will be described below with reference to

the drawings. In the drawings, the same or equivalent elements are denoted by the

same reference signs and description of such elements is appropriately omitted or

simplified. The shapes, the sizes, the arrangement, and other factors of the elements

illustrated in the drawings may be appropriately changed within the scope of the present

disclosure.

[0012]

Embodiment

An overall configuration of a refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment will first be

described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator

according to Embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the

refrigerator 100 includes a refrigerator body 1 and door units 3. The refrigerator body 1

A has an open front face, and the inside of the refrigerator body 1 is sectioned into a plurality of compartments 2 by a plurality of partitions. The door units 3 are provided on the front face of the refrigerator body 1 and cover openings of the respective compartments in such a manner as to allow the openings to be opened and closed.

The refrigerator body 1 includes an inner box made of hard resin and forming an inner

part of the refrigerator 100, and an outer box made of steel sheet and forming an outer

part of the refrigerator 100, with a tightly closed space provided in between. The tightly

closed space between the inner box and the outer box is provided with a vacuum

insulation material and is further filled with a foam insulation material such as urethane

foam.

[0013] The compartments 2 include the following in order from the top, for example: a

refrigerator compartment 20, a set of a versatile compartment 21 and an ice-making

compartment 22, a freezer compartment 23, and a vegetable compartment 24. The

compartments are distinguished from one another by the range of settable temperature

(the settable temperature range). For example, the refrigerator compartment 20 is

settable to about 3 degrees C, the versatile compartment 21 is settable to 0 degrees C

or -7 degrees C, the ice-making compartment 22 and the freezer compartment 23 are

each settable to about -12 degrees C to -18 degrees C, and the vegetable compartment

24 is settable to about 5 degrees C. The compartments 2 are not limited to those

illustrated in the drawing. Moreover, the temperature settings for the respective

compartments are not limited to those given above. The temperature setting for each

compartment may be changed to suit the place of installation and what is to be stored in

the compartment.

[0014]

The refrigerator compartment 20 is of frequent use and is provided at the highest

position, where the user can put or take out things into or from the compartments 2

without bending down. The refrigerator compartment 20 is provided with a refrigerator

compartment door 30 at the front opening of the refrigerator compartment 20. The

refrigerator-compartment door 30 is a double door including a refrigerator-compartment left door and a refrigerator-compartment right door. The refrigerator-compartment left door and the refrigerator-compartment right door are each supported by a hinge part that supports a door-rotating shaft in such a manner that the refrigerator-compartment left door and the refrigerator-compartment right door are rotatable.

[0015] The temperature of the versatile compartment 21 is switchable between, for

example, a chilling temperature of about 0 degrees C and a soft-freezing temperature of

about -7 degrees C. The versatile compartment 21 is provided with a drawer-type

versatile-compartment door 31 at the front opening of the versatile compartment 21.

The ice-making compartment 22 is provided with a drawer-type ice-making

compartment door 32 at the front opening of the ice-making compartment 22. The

freezer compartment 23 is provided with a drawer-type freezer-compartment door 33 at

the front opening of the freezer compartment 23. The vegetable compartment 24 is

provided with a drawer-type vegetable-compartment door 34 at the front opening of the

vegetable compartment 24. The door units are each provided with a door gasket, not

illustrated, along the inner periphery of the door unit. The door gasket prevents the

leakage of cooling air from the compartment to the outside.

[0016]

A configuration of the door unit 3 of the refrigerator 100 will be described below

with reference to Figs. 2 to 6. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the door unit of

the refrigerator according to Embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 3 is a

sectional view of the door unit of the refrigerator according to Embodiment of the

present disclosure. Fig. 4 is an enlargement of part A encircled in Fig. 3. In

Embodiment, the vegetable-compartment door 34 provided at the front opening of the

vegetable compartment 24 will be described as an example of the door unit 3.

However, the door unit 3 is not limited to this example. The door unit 3 of any other

compartment 2 can be applied to the same configuration.

[0017]

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the vegetable-compartment door 34 includes a rectangular

frame part 4, an inner plate 5 that closes an open face of the frame part 4 that is located close to the vegetable compartment, and a decorative plate 6 that closes an open face of the frame part 4 that is located close to a front face of the refrigerator. Furthermore, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the vegetable-compartment door 34 includes a heat insulator 7 provided in a space tightly closed by the frame part 4, the inner plate 5, and the decorative plate 6, and hot-melt adhesive 8 that bonds the frame part 4 and the decorative plate 6 to each other.

[0018]

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the frame part 4 is made of, for example, synthetic resin

and has a substantially oblong rectangular shape in plan view. The frame part 4 is

obtained by, for example, molding four individual components that are to form the upper,

lower, left, and right sides of the frame part 4 and then assembling the four components.

This is for reduction in the cost of molds to be used in molding relevant components and

for ease of handling of the molded components.

[0019]

The frame part 4 includes an outer frame part 40 forming the peripheral sides of

the frame part 4, and a bonding surface part 41 extending along the periphery of the

outer frame part 40. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, a portion of the bonding surface

part 41 that extends along the upper side of the outer frame part 40 is provided by

bending an edge of the outer frame part 40 outward. Other portions of the bonding

surface part 41 that extend along the left, right, and lower sides of the outer frame part

are provided by bending respective edges of the outer frame part 40 inward. The

bonding surface part 41 has a width Li of 10 mm or greater and 30 mm or smaller. If

the width Li of the bonding surface part 41 is smaller than 10 mm, the area of bonding is too small to provide satisfactory strength of bonding. Consequently, the decorative

plate 6 may come off the frame part 4. In some cases, the bonding surface part 41

may have a slight warp. In such a case, if the width Li of the bonding surface part 41

is greater than 30 mm, it may be difficult to straighten the bonding surface part 41

because of its rigidity when the decorative plate 6 is press-bonded to the bonding

surface part 41. Consequently, the surface contact between the bonding surface part

41 and the decorative plate 6 may be insufficient, and the strength of bonding may be reduced. Furthermore, as the amount of hot-melt adhesive 8 to be applied increases, the manufacturing cost may increase. That is, in the refrigerator 100 according to

Embodiment, as the bonding surface part 41 has a width Li of 10 mm or greater and 30

mm or smaller, a satisfactory area of bonding is provided. Thus, the strength of

bonding between the bonding surface part 41 and the decorative plate 6 can be

increased. Consequently, the decorative plate 6 can be prevented from coming off the

bonding surface part 41. It is more preferable that the width Li of the bonding surface part 41 be 15 mm or greater and 30 mm or smaller.

[0020]

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the edge of the bonding surface part 41 that extends along

the upper side of the outer frame part 40 includes a hook part 42. The hook part 42

catches the decorative plate 6. Furthermore, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, the outer

frame part 40 includes a step part 43 between each of the left, right, and lower sides of

the outer frame part 40 and the bonding surface part 41. When the decorative plate 6

is placed on the bonding surface part 41, corresponding ones of the outer edges of the

decorative plate 6 are brought into contact with the respective step parts 43.

Alternatively, the portion of the bonding surface part 41 that extends along the left side,

the right side, or the lower side of the outer frame part 40 may be provided by bending

the edge of the outer frame part 40 outward, with the hook part 42 provided at the edge

of this portion of the bonding surface part 41. Furthermore, the portion of the bonding

surface part 41 that extends along the upper side of the outer frame part 40 may be

provided by bending the edge of the outer frame part 40 inward, with the step part 43

provided between the upper side of the outer frame part 40 and this portion of the

bonding surface part 41.

[0021]

The inner plate 5 is made of, for example, synthetic resin. As illustrated in Fig.

3, the inner plate 5 is positioned opposite to the decorative plate 6 with the heat

insulator 7 in between. The inner plate 5 is provided with a frame structure, not

illustrated, on a face of the inner plate 5 that is located close to the vegetable

compartment. The frame structure supports the vegetable-compartment door 34 in

A such a manner that the vegetable-compartment door 34 is movable from the refrigerator body 1.

[0022] The decorative plate 6 forms the front face of the vegetable-compartment door

34. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the decorative plate 6 includes a transparent glass plate 60, and a design sheet 61 pasted to the back face of the glass plate 60. The glass plate

has a thickness of, for example, about 4 mm. The design sheet 61 has a thickness

of, for example, about 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm. The design sheet 61 has various colors and

patterns on the front face of the design sheet 61. Such colors and patterns are visible

through the glass plate 60. Thus, the design quality of the door unit 3 is increased.

[0023]

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the heat insulator 7 includes a foam insulation material 70

made of urethane foam, and a vacuum insulation material 71. The foam insulation

material 70 is obtained by feeding a urethane solution, which is a mixture of polyol,

isocyanate, water, and a foaming agent such as cyclopentane, into the space tightly

closed by the frame part 4, the inner plate 5, and the decorative plate 6 and then

allowing the solution to foam. When the urethane solution is solidified, the urethane

solution generates heat of reaction, with which the foaming agent is gasified, so that the

urethane solution expands into a sponge body. Thus, the space surrounded by the

frame part 4 is filled with the foam insulation material 70. The vacuum insulation

material 71 is attached to the inner face of the inner plate 5 with, for example, rubber

based hot-melt adhesive.

[0024]

The hot-melt adhesive 8 is, for example, a kind of adhesive that is solidified with

moisture, such as urethane-based hot-melt adhesive that does not melt with heat once

solidified. The heat of reaction generated in foaming of the foam insulation material 70

may reach almost 140 degrees C at maximum. Therefore, a kind of hot-melt adhesive

that melts with heat even once solidified, such as rubber-based hot-melt adhesive used

for fixing a vacuum insulation material, may melt while the foam insulation material 70 is

foaming, and then may be extruded to the outside from the gap between the decorative

Q plate 6 and the frame part 4 by the pressure produced when the foam insulation material 70 is foaming. Accordingly, urethane-based hot-melt adhesive is employed in Embodiment. However, the hot-melt adhesive 8 is not limited to the urethane-based adhesive and may be of another kind. Moreover, depending on the structure of the door unit 3 or other relevant factors, rubber-based hot-melt adhesive may be employed.

[0025]

The hot-melt adhesive 8 is provided on the bonding surface part 41 along the

periphery of the frame part 4. The hot-melt adhesive 8 has a thickness of 0.2 mm or

greater and 0.3 mm or smaller. If the thickness of the hot-melt adhesive 8 is smaller

than 0.2 mm, the bonding between the bonding surface part 41 and the decorative plate

6 may be insufficient. If the thickness of the hot-melt adhesive 8 is greater than 0.3

mm, some of the hot-melt adhesive 8 applied may leak to the outside from the gap

between the bonding surface part 41 and the decorative plate 6. That is, in the

refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment, as the hot-melt adhesive 8 has the above

thickness, the bonding surface part 41 and the decorative plate 6 can be firmly bonded

to each other. Simultaneously, the occurrence of a situation where some of the hot

melt adhesive 8 applied may leak to the outside from a gap between the bonding

surface part 41 and the decorative plate 6 can be prevented.

[0026]

As illustrated in Fig. 4, the hot-melt adhesive 8 is provided in such a manner that

a gap S of about 2 mm to 3 mm is opened between the hot-melt adhesive 8 and the

step part 43. If the hot-melt adhesive 8 is present closer to the step part 43, the hot

melt adhesive 8 may be exposed to the outside. In contrast, if the gap from the step

part 43 is too large, some liquid such as water, food drips, and a cleansing solution may

flow into the gap, causing the design sheet 61 to peel or discolor. That is, in the

refrigerator 100, as the hot-melt adhesive 8 is provided with the gap S of about 2 mm to

3 mm from the step part 43, the hot-melt adhesive 8 is not visible from the outside.

Furthermore, even if any liquid such as water, food drips, and a cleansing solution flows

into the small gap, such liquid does not spread to the surface of the design sheet 61.

Therefore, the quality of appearance design can be maintained for a long time.

in

[0027]

Figs. 5 and 6 are diagrams illustrating modifications of the refrigerator according

to Embodiment of the present disclosure. As illustrated in Fig. 5, it is desirable that the

hot-melt adhesive 8 include an extended part 81 projecting from a distal end of the

bonding surface part 41. If there is a gap between a distal portion of the bonding

surface part 41 and the decorative plate 6, the urethane solution fed into the space

surrounded by the frame part 4 may flow into the gap. In such an event, the pressure

of foaming of the urethane foam may reduce the strength of bonding between the

decorative plate 6 and the bonding surface part 41. That is, when the hot-melt

adhesive 8 has the extended part 81, the occurrence of a situation where the urethane

solution may flow into a gap between the distal portion of the bonding surface part 41

and the decorative plate 6 can be prevented.

[0028]

On the other hand, as illustrated in Fig. 6, it is desirable that the hot-melt

adhesive 8 include widened parts 82 at the respective corners of the frame part 4 and

the widened parts 82 be each wider than other parts of the hot-melt adhesive 8 that

extends along the sides of the frame part 4. When the hot-melt adhesive 8 is applied

to the bonding surface part 41 in such a manner as to form a string of beads along the

periphery of the outer frame part 40, the hot-melt adhesive 8 forms a round shape at

each corner of the frame part 4. If the hot-melt adhesive 8 in such a state is pressed, the hot-melt adhesive 8 may fail to spread to the very end of the frame part 4. In such

a case, the area of bonding between the decorative plate 6 and the bonding surface

part 41 at each of the corners is reduced, and the strength of bonding is reduced.

Accordingly, the hot-melt adhesive 8 includes the widened parts 82. Thus, the strength

of bonding between the decorative plate 6 and the bonding surface part 41 at the

corners of the frame part 4 can be increased.

[0029]

A method of manufacturing the refrigerator according to Embodiment will be

described below with reference to Figs. 7 to 9, as well as Figs. 2 to 6. Fig. 7 is a plan

view of the frame part of the refrigerator according to Embodiment of the present disclosure, with the hot-melt adhesive provided on the frame part. Fig. 8 is an enlargement of part B encircled in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a diagram of the refrigerator according to Embodiment of the present disclosure, illustrating how to attach the decorative plate to the frame part.

[0030]

As illustrated in Fig. 7, the hot-melt adhesive 8 is applied to the bonding surface

part 41 in such a manner as to form a string of beads along the periphery of the outer

frame part 40. Furthermore, at a middle part of any one of the sides, as illustrated in

Fig. 8, a start point from which the hot-melt adhesive 8 is applied and an end point to

which the hot-melt adhesive 8 is applied are overlapped each other, so that an

overlapping part 80 is formed. The overlapping part 80 is formed in the middle part of

any one of the sides, because it is considered to be easier for the worker to form the

overlapping part 80 at a position on a side of the bonding surface part 41 than at a

corner of the bonding surface part 41. As illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, the hot-melt

adhesive 8 is applied to a position at a distance of about 5 mm from the distal end of the

bonding surface part 41.

[0031]

The overlapping part 80 is formed with a length L2 that is half the width Li of the bonding surface part 41 or smaller. Specifically, if the width Li of the bonding surface

part 41 is 20 mm, the overlapping part 80 is formed with a length L2 of 10 mm or smaller. The amount of hot-melt adhesive 8 in the overlapping part 80 is twice the

amount of hot-melt adhesive 8 in the other parts. Therefore, if the overlapping part 80

is formed with a length greater than half the width Li of the bonding surface part 41, an

excessive portion of the hot-melt adhesive 8 may leak to the outside when the

decorative plate 6 is press-bonded to the bonding surface part 41. Accordingly, in the

method of manufacturing the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment, the overlapping

part 80 is formed with the length L2 that is half the width Li of the bonding surface part

41 or smaller. Thus, the occurrence of a situation where an excessive portion of the

hot-melt adhesive 8 may leak to the outside is prevented.

[0032]

Subsequently, as illustrated in Fig. 9, the outer edges of the decorative plate 6

are placed on and press-bonded to the bonding surface part 41 in such a manner that the hot-melt adhesive 8 is squashed as illustrated in Fig. 4. Thus, the bonding surface

part 41 and the decorative plate 6 are bonded to each other. The hot-melt adhesive 8

can provide a large area of bonding with a small amount. Furthermore, the hot-melt

adhesive 8 is easy to handle. Therefore, anyone can stably form a continuous string of

beads of the hot-melt adhesive 8, regardless of the skill of the worker. In addition, after

the inner plate 5 and the decorative plate 6 are attached to the frame part 4, the solution

that turns into the foam insulation material 70 is fed into the thus closed space through a

feed hole opened in the inner plate 5.

[0033]

As described above, the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment includes the

refrigerator body 1 having an open front face and including at least one compartment 2,

and the door unit 3 covering the opening of the compartment 2 in such a manner as to

allow the opening to be opened and closed. The door unit 3 includes the rectangular

frame part 4, the inner plate 5 that closes the open face of the frame part 4 that is

located close to the compartment, the decorative plate 6 that closes the open face of

the frame part 4 that is located close to the front face of the refrigerator, the heat

insulator 7 provided in the space tightly closed by the frame part 4, the inner plate 5,

and the decorative plate 6, and the hot-melt adhesive 8 that bonds the frame part 4 and

the decorative plate 6 to each other. Specifically, the frame part 4 includes the outer

frame part 40 forming the peripheral sides of the frame part 4, and the bonding surface

part 41 extending along the periphery of the outer frame part 40. The hot-melt

adhesive 8 is provided on the bonding surface part 41 along the periphery of the frame

part 4. The bonding surface part 41 and the decorative plate 6 are bonded to each

other with the hot-melt adhesive 8. In the above refrigerator 100, the frame part 4 and

the decorative plate 6 are closely bonded to each other with no gap in between by using

the hot-melt adhesive 8, which exhibits high strength of bonding and becomes flexible

when melted with heat. Therefore, the heat insulator 7 fed into the tightly closed inner

space is prevented from leaking to the outside. Consequently, the refrigerator 100 can have an appearance with excellent design. Furthermore, as the frame part 4 and the decorative plate 6 can be bonded to each other with increased strength of bonding, the refrigerator 100 can be used safely and securely.

[0034] Furthermore, the hot-melt adhesive 8 has an indefinite shape. Therefore, even if

the frame part 4 is an assembly formed by a plurality of different components and steps

are formed at the joints between the components, the hot-melt adhesive 8 can conform

to such steps. Therefore, the opening of gaps can be prevented assuredly.

[0035]

The bonding surface part 41 has a width Li of 10 mm or greater and 30 mm or

smaller. Therefore, in the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment, a satisfactory

area of bonding can be provided between the decorative plate 6 and the bonding

surface part 41. Furthermore, there is no need to straighten the bonding surface part

41. Such a configuration can increase the strength of bonding between the bonding

surface part 41 and the decorative plate 6. Consequently, the decorative plate 6 can

be prevented from coming off the bonding surface part 41.

[0036] On the other hand, the hot-melt adhesive 8 includes the extended part 81

projecting from the distal end of the bonding surface part 41. Therefore, in the

refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment, the occurrence of a situation where the

urethane solution may flow into a gap between the distal portion of the bonding surface

part 41 and the decorative plate 6 can be prevented. Consequently, the strength of

bonding between the frame part 4 and the decorative plate 6 can be increased.

[0037] Furthermore, the hot-melt adhesive 8 has a thickness of 0.2 mm or greater and

0.3 mm or smaller. That is, in the refrigerator 100 according to Embodiment, the

bonding surface part 41 and the decorative plate 6 can be firmly bonded to each other.

Simultaneously, the occurrence of a situation where some of the hot-melt adhesive 8

applied may leak to the outside from a gap between the bonding surface part 41 and the

decorative plate 6 can be prevented.

1A

[0038] In the method of manufacturing the refrigerator according to Embodiment, the

hot-melt adhesive 8 is applied to the bonding surface part 41 in such a manner as to

form a string of beads along the periphery of the outer frame part 40, and the

overlapping part 80 is formed by overlapping the start point from which the hot-melt

adhesive 8 is applied and the end point to which the hot-melt adhesive 8 is applied each

other at the middle part of any one of the sides. Subsequently, the bonding surface

part 41 and the decorative plate 6 are bonded to each other by press-bonding the

decorative plate 6 to the bonding surface part 41 in such a manner that the hot-melt

adhesive 8 is squashed. In the refrigerator 100 manufactured by the above method, the hot-melt adhesive 8 is applied along the periphery of the outer frame part 40 with no

gaps. Therefore, the strength of bonding between the frame part 4 and the decorative

plate 6 can be assuredly increased. Consequently, the refrigerator 100 can have an

appearance with excellent design.

[0039]

The overlapping part 80 is formed with the length L2 that is half the width Li of the bonding surface part 41 or smaller. Therefore, the occurrence of a situation where an

excessive portion of the hot-melt adhesive 8 may leak to the outside when the

decorative plate 6 is press-bonded to the bonding surface part 41 can be prevented.

[0040]

While the present disclosure has been described above with reference to

Embodiment, the present disclosure is not limited to the configuration according to

Embodiment described above. For example, the decorative plate 6 may be a steel

plate or may be an acrylic plate with a design sheet pasted on the acrylic plate.

Furthermore, the frame part 4 is not limited to the one illustrated in the drawings and

may be in any other shape, as long as the frame part 4 includes an outer frame part 40

forming the peripheral sides of the frame part 4, and a bonding surface part 41

extending along the periphery of the outer frame part 40. In short, the present

disclosure encompasses any design changes and applied variations that are normally made by those skilled in the art without departing from the technical scope of the present disclosure.

[0040a]

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context

requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or

group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of

integers or steps.

[0040b]

The reference in this specification to any prior publication (or information derived

from it), or to any matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as an

acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion that that prior publication (or

information derived from it) or known matter forms part of the common general

knowledge in the field of endeavour to which this specification relates.

Reference Signs List

[0041]

1 refrigerator body 2 compartment 3 door unit 4 frame part 5 inner

plate 6 decorative plate 7 heat insulator 8 hot-melt adhesive 20 refrigerator

compartment 21 versatile compartment 22 ice-making compartment 23

freezer compartment 24 vegetable compartment 30 refrigerator-compartment

door 31 versatile-compartment door 32 ice-making-compartment door 33

freezer-compartment door 34 vegetable-compartment door 40 outer frame part

41 bonding surface part 42 hook part 43 step part 60 glass plate 61

design sheet 70 foam insulation material 71 vacuum insulation material 80

overlapping part 81 extended part 82 widened part 100 refrigerator

1RA

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION AREAS FOLLOWS:

[Claim 1] A refrigerator, comprising:

a refrigerator body having an open front face and including at least one

compartment; and

a door unit covering an opening of the at least one compartment in such a

manner as to allow the opening to be opened and closed,

the door unit including

a frame part shaped in a rectangular shape,

an inner plate that closes an open face of the frame part, the open face

being located close to the at least one compartment,

a decorative plate that closes an open face of the frame part, the open face

being located close to a front face of the refrigerator,

a heat insulator provided in a space tightly closed by the frame part, the

inner plate, and the decorative plate, and

hot-melt adhesive that bonds the frame part and the decorative plate to

each other, the hot-melt adhesive being solidified with moisture and not melting with

heat once solidified;

wherein the hot-melt adhesive has a thickness of 0.2 mm or greater and 0.3 mm

or smaller.
[Claim 2]

The refrigerator of claim 1,

wherein the frame part includes an outer frame part forming peripheral sides of

the frame part, and a bonding surface part extending along a periphery of the outer

frame part,

wherein the hot-melt adhesive is provided on the bonding surface part along a

periphery of the frame part, and

wherein the bonding surface part and the decorative plate are bonded to each

other with the hot-melt adhesive.
[Claim 3] The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the bonding surface part has a width of 10

mm or greater and 30 mm or smaller.
[Claim 4]

The refrigerator of claim 2 or 3, wherein the hot-melt adhesive includes an

extended part projecting from a distal end of the bonding surface part.
[Claim 5]

A method of manufacturing the refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the hot-melt

adhesive is applied to the bonding surface part in such a manner as to form a string of

beads along the periphery of the outer frame part, an overlapping part is formed by

overlapping a start point from which the hot-melt adhesive is applied and an end point to

which the hot-melt adhesive is applied each other at a middle part of any one of sides,

and the bonding surface part and the decorative plate are bonded to each other by

press-bonding the decorative plate to the bonding surface part in such a manner that

the hot-melt adhesive is squashed.
[Claim 6]

The method of manufacturing the refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the overlapping

part is formed with a length that is half a width of the bonding surface part or smaller.

1/6

FIG. 1

2/6

FIG. 2

3/6

FIG. 3

FIG. 4

4/6

FIG. 5

FIG. 6

5/6

FIG. 7

FIG. 8

6/6

FIG. 9