CN105698459A

CN105698459A - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: CN105698459A
Application number: CN201410699179.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 任晓光; 赵长亮; 宋继聪; 丁渊
Original assignee: BSH Electrical Appliances Jiangsu Co Ltd; BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Electrical Appliances Jiangsu Co Ltd; BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2014-11-27
Filing date: 2014-11-27
Publication date: 2016-06-22
Anticipated expiration: 2034-11-27
Also published as: CN105698459B

Abstract

The invention discloses a refrigerator. The refrigerator (100) comprises a door (1), and the door (1) comprises a door lining (16), an outer door plate (111), a first side plate (112), a second side plate (112a) and a shell element (13); the outer door plate (111) is arranged on the front face of the door lining (16), the first side plate (112) and the second side plate (112a) are oppositely arranged, and the shell element (13) is connected to the outer door plate (111) and the first side plate (112); and according to the suggestion, the outer door plate (111) comprises a first inserting part (19) extending towards the door lining (16), the first side plate (112) is provided with a second inserting part (18) extending towards the second side plate (112a), and the shell element (13) is provided with a first receiving part (3) used for receiving at least one part of the first inserting part (19) and a second receiving part (4) used for receiving at least one part of the second inserting part (18). In the process of connecting the shell element (13) to the outer door plate (111) and the first side plate (112), the first inserting part (19) can slide relative to the first receiving part (3) in the first receiving part (3) in the direction of inserting into the second receiving part (4) in the direction parallel to the second inserting part (18) so as to enable the second inserting part (18) to be inserted into the second receiving part (4).

Description

Refrigerator with a door

[ technical field ]

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a household refrigerator having a door.

[ background art ]

The refrigerator door may accommodate parts (e.g., electrical components) and/or form a handle slot by providing a housing member that is separate from the outer door panel and the side door panel. When the case member is coupled to the outer door panel and the side door panel, how to fix the case member to the outer door panel and the side door panel quickly and accurately is one of the difficulties faced by the refrigerator door designer because of the angle between the outer door panel and the side door panel.

[ summary of the invention ]

It is an object of the present invention to overcome at least one of the technical problems of the prior art as described above and to provide an improved refrigerator.

The above object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the figures, the description and the dependent claims.

An aspect of the present invention relates to a refrigerator. The refrigerator comprises a door, wherein the door comprises a door liner, an outer door panel positioned in front of the door liner, a first side plate and a second side plate which are oppositely arranged, and a shell element connected to the outer door panel and the first side plate; wherein the outer door panel includes a first insertion portion extending toward the door liner, and the first side panel has a second insertion portion extending toward the second side panel; the shell element having a first receiving portion for receiving at least a portion of the first insertion portion and a second receiving portion for receiving at least a portion of the second insertion portion, wherein during attachment of the shell element to the outer door panel and the first side panel, the first insertion portion is slidable within the first receiving portion relative to the first receiving portion in a direction parallel to insertion of the second insertion portion into the second receiving portion to insert the second insertion portion into the second receiving portion; alternatively, the second insertion portion may be slidable within the second receptacle portion relative to the second receptacle portion in a direction parallel to the insertion of the first insertion portion into the first receptacle portion to insert the first insertion portion into the first receptacle portion.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a refrigerator. The refrigerator comprises a door, wherein the door comprises a door liner, an outer door panel positioned in front of the door liner, a first side plate and a second side plate which are oppositely arranged, and a shell element connected to the outer door panel and the first side plate; wherein the outer door panel includes a first insertion portion extending toward the door liner, and the first side panel has a second insertion portion extending toward the second side panel; the housing member having a first receiving portion to receive at least a portion of the first insert portion and a second receiving portion to receive at least a portion of the second insert portion; wherein, in a direction parallel to the insertion of the second insertion portion into the second receiving portion, the width of the first receiving portion is greater than the width of the first insertion portion and the first insertion portion is slidable within the first receiving portion; and/or, in a direction parallel to the direction of insertion of the first insertion portion into the first insertion portion, the width of the second receiving portion is greater than the width of the second insertion portion and the second insertion portion is slidable within the second receiving portion.

Thus, the shell element can be pre-positioned by first inserting one of the first and second insertion portions in the respective receiving portion, i.e. only one of the first and second insertion portions needs to be aligned with the respective receiving portion, which greatly reduces the difficulty between the shell element and the outer door panel and the first side panel. At the same time, the other of the first and second insertion portions can be guided to be inserted into the corresponding receiving portion by sliding the one of the first and second insertion portions in the corresponding receiving portion, so that the docking of the other of the first and second insertion portions with the corresponding receiving portion is simpler. This significantly reduces the difficulty of manufacturing the door.

It is to be understood that the present invention can be applied to various differently configured refrigerators, and should not be limited to the preferred embodiments disclosed herein. For example, the present invention may be applied to a side-by-side refrigerator having a first storage chamber and a second storage chamber which are distributed side by side, to a refrigerator having a first storage chamber and a second storage chamber which are distributed up and down, and to a refrigerator having the same storage chamber closed by a pair of doors.

The storage compartment of the refrigerator may be used for storing food and/or wine, for example the refrigerator may have at least one storage compartment purely for storing wine.

The door may be a rotatable door pivotally coupled to the main body of the refrigerator, or a drawer-type door slidably coupled to the main body.

The door may close one or more storage compartments of the refrigerator and may also close a portion of one or more storage compartments.

In one possible embodiment, the first side panel may form a longitudinal side of the door, for example a left side or a right side. In an alternative embodiment, the first side panel may form a lateral side of the door, for example the first side panel being located at the top or bottom of the door.

The shell element may be pre-embedded in the door, i.e. the shell element is integrated with the heat insulating layer of the door, so that the shell element is fixed to the outer door panel and the first side panel before the foaming process of the door. In an alternative embodiment, the shell element may also connect the outer door panel and the first side panel after the foaming process of the door.

The outer door panel and the first side panel may be separately manufactured and then assembled together. In an alternative embodiment it is also possible that the outer door panel and the first side panel are formed from different parts of a single component, for example the outer door panel and the first side panel are formed from the same sheet metal part.

The outer door panel is positioned in front of the door liner. In one possible embodiment, the outer door panel forms at least a substantial part of the front surface of the door, i.e. the outer door panel is exposed to the outside. In another possible embodiment, the door may further include a trim panel positioned in front of the outer door panel. Such a decorative plate may for example be made of glass or a glass-like material.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention, individually or in combination with other features, are set forth in the following appended claims.

In a possible embodiment, the housing element receives an electrical unit therein and/or comprises a handle slot. The electrical unit is for example a user interface electrical unit comprising an input unit for receiving user input instructions and/or an output unit for displaying information to a user. The appliance unit may also comprise or only comprise a lighting unit. It is also possible that one of the handle slot and the electrical unit is provided in the case member, for example, the case member is used to form the handle slot, the electrical unit is not provided on the door or the electrical unit is provided independently of the handle slot.

In a possible embodiment, the shell element comprises a first blocking portion to block the first insertion portion from exiting the first receiving portion in a direction parallel to the first insertion portion, and/or a second blocking portion to block the second insertion portion from exiting the second receiving portion in a direction parallel to the second insertion portion. Thus, the case element can be fixed on the outer door panel and the first side plate by the fitting of the first and second insertion portions with the case element.

In one possible embodiment, at least one of the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion comprises a slot penetrating the shell element.

In one possible embodiment, at least one of the first and second insertion portions is tongue-shaped.

In a possible embodiment, at least one of the first insert part and the second insert part has a recess, and the housing element has a blocking piece which projects into the respective recess. This is particularly advantageous in preventing the case element from being detached from the outer door panel and the first side plate in the mounted position.

In one possible embodiment, the first and second inserts are at least substantially perpendicular.

In one possible embodiment, the outer door panel includes a first opening, the first side panel has a second opening, the first opening and the second opening communicate, and the case member has a space that is open toward the first opening and/or the second opening.

In one possible embodiment, the first insertion portion is provided along an edge of the first opening, and the second insertion portion is provided along an edge of the second opening.

In one possible embodiment, the door comprises a front panel covering at least a portion of the space.

In one possible embodiment, the outer door panel has a first flange bent back from an edge of the first opening, at least a partial section of the first flange being exposed to the space and sandwiched between the front panel and the shell member.

In one possible embodiment, the first insert extends rearwardly from an end of the first cuff.

In one possible embodiment, the first side plate includes a second flange bent inward from an edge of the second opening, and the shell member includes a slot for receiving the second flange.

In one possible embodiment, the second insert extends from an end of the second flange towards the second side panel.

The construction of the present invention and other objects and advantages thereof will be more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[ description of the drawings ]

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. Wherein,

fig. 1 is a schematic partial perspective view of a refrigerator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic partial sectional view of the door taken along the line A-A in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded view of a door according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with the front panel not shown;

FIG. 4 is a schematic partial perspective view of a door panel in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 shows a first state in which the door panel and the case member are connected, the first insertion portion being inserted into the first receiving portion but not yet starting to slide;

fig. 6 shows a second state of the connection of the door panel and the housing element, the first insertion part being slid into the fastening section of the first receptacle part and the second insertion part being inserted into the second receptacle part.

[ detailed description of the invention ]

Fig. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a refrigerator 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 1, the refrigerator 100 includes a main body 5 having a first storage chamber (not shown) and a second storage chamber (not shown) disposed side by side. The refrigerator 100 further includes a pair of half doors 1, 1' connected to the main body 5 to close the respective storage compartments, respectively.

The door 1 has an operating and/or display unit 6 and a handle slot 132 arranged alongside the operating and/or display unit 6. When the door 1 is opened or closed, a user's hand may extend into the handle groove 132.

The door 1 may further have a recess 133 exposed to the front side and one side surface of the door 1, and the user's hand enters the handle groove 132 through the recess 133.

Referring to fig. 2 in conjunction with fig. 1, the operating and/or display unit 6 may include a front panel 15 and a user interface appliance unit 15 located behind the front panel 14. The user interface appliance unit 15 may include an input unit for receiving a user input instruction and/or an output unit for displaying information to the user. For example, the user interface appliance unit 15 may include an output unit to output information (e.g., setting information about the refrigerator 100 and/or food stored in the refrigerator 100, or information unrelated to the refrigerator such as video/photos) to a user.

The user interface electric unit 15 may include a touch unit to receive an instruction input by a user by touching the front panel. In an alternative embodiment, the user interface appliance unit may receive the user's command through other input devices such as keys.

The user interface electric unit 15 is accommodated in an accommodating space 131 opened toward the front side of the door 1. The housing space 131 is defined by the case member 13 pre-buried on the door 1. In this embodiment, the handle groove 132 and the recess 133 are also located in the same housing member 13. The housing member 13 may further include a grip portion 134 located in front of the grip groove 132.

Referring to fig. 3 in conjunction with fig. 2, the door 1 includes a door liner 16, a door panel 11, and end caps 12 connected to both ends of the door liner 16 and the door panel 11. The door panel 11 may be formed of a sheet metal member.

The door panel 11 includes an outer door panel 111 opposite the door liner 16, and a pair of side panels 112, 112a extending rearward from both sides of the outer door panel 111. The outer door panel 111 is positioned in front of the door liner 16 with a predetermined distance therebetween.

The door panel 111 may further include a connection plate 118 bent inward from the rear ends of the side plates 112, 112 a. The connecting plate 118 is connected with the door liner 16.

The case member 13 is attached to the outer door panel 111 and the first side panel 112. In this embodiment, the outer door panel 111 and the first side panel 112 have a first opening 113 and a second opening 114, respectively. The first opening 113 and the second opening 114 communicate at a connecting angle of the outer door panel 111 and the first side plate 112. The case member 13 is connected to the outer door panel 111 and the first side panel 112 to close the heat insulation space 171 at the first opening 113 and the second opening 114. Thus, the insulation space 171 is defined by the door panel 11, the door liner 16, the end cover 12, and the shell member 13 together. The heat insulating space 171 is filled with the heat insulating layer 17 formed in the foaming process.

A receiving space 131, located within the housing member 13 to receive at least a portion of the user interface electrical unit 15, is open to the first opening 113 so that it is accessible through the first opening 113. The receiving space 131 may be covered by the front panel 14. The handle slot 132 in the housing member 13 is accessible through the first opening 113 and the second opening 114.

In the present embodiment, the housing element 13 has a first coupling flange 1351 surface-coupled to the rear surface of the outer door panel 111 and a second coupling flange 1352 surface-coupled to the inner surface of the first side panel 112. The first and second connecting flanges 1351 and 1352 are at least substantially perpendicular to each other.

The first and second attachment flanges 1351 and 1352 are shaped to fit the first and second openings 113 and 114, respectively, such that the first attachment flange 1351 is attached to the rear side of the outer door panel 111 along the first opening 113 and the second attachment flange 1352 is attached to the inner side of the first side panel 112 along the second opening 114.

Referring to fig. 3 and 4, the outer door panel 111 includes a first flange 116 bent backward along the first opening 113. The first side plate 112 includes a second flange 115 bent inward along the second opening 114. The first flange 116 and the second flange 115 are connected to the shell element 13. In this embodiment, the housing member 13 has a slot 136 disposed around the recess 133, and the second flange 115 and a section of the first flange 116 adjacent to the recess 133 are inserted into the slot 136. The remaining section of the first flange 115 is exposed to the accommodation space 131 and sandwiched between the front panel 14 and the case member 13.

The outer door panel 111 includes a pair of tongue-shaped first insertion portions 19 extending rearward (toward the door liner 16) from ends connected to the first flanges 115. Each first insert 19 is disposed along a respective edge 1131, 1132 of the first opening 113 perpendicular to the second opening 114. The outer door panel 111 may further have a ground strip 20 protruding into the receiving space 131.

Accordingly, the first side plate 112 includes a pair of tongue-shaped second insertion portions 18 connected to ends of the second flanges 116 and extending in the direction of the second side plate 112 a. The first insert part 19 and the second insert part 18 are at least substantially perpendicular.

Referring to fig. 5 and 6, the housing member 13 includes a first receiving portion 3 for receiving at least a portion of the first insertion portion 19 and a second receiving portion 4 for receiving at least a portion of the second insertion portion 18. In the present embodiment, the first receiving portion 3 and the second receiving portion 4 are groove-shaped and penetrate the case member 13 in a direction perpendicular to the first opening 113 and the second opening 114, respectively. The first and second insertion portions 19 and 18 are at least end-exposed outside the case element 13 after being inserted into the respective slots.

In a direction D parallel to the second insertion portion 18, the width of the first receiving portion 3 is greater than the width of the first insertion portion 19 so that the former is slidable in the latter in the direction D. As shown in fig. 5, when the first insertion portion 19 is inserted into the first receiving portion 3, the second insertion portion 18 is not butted against the second receiving portion 4. The first insertion portion 19 can slide within the first receiving portion 3 in a direction parallel to the second insertion portion 4. That is, when the case element 13 is attached to the door panel 11, it is not necessary to insert the first insertion portion 19 and the second insertion portion 18 simultaneously with the case element 13, but it is only necessary to align one pair of the first insertion portions 19 with the corresponding first receiving portions 3.

When the first insertion portion 19 is inserted into the first receiving portion 3, the case member 13 is prepositioned on the door panel 11, and the case member 13 is in the prepositioned position. The housing element 13 is pushed in the direction of the first side plate 112, the first insertion part 19 inserted into the first receiving part 3 slides along the first receiving part 3 in the direction D, whereby the housing element 13 is pushed in a guided manner towards the first side plate 112 and the second insertion part 18 is inserted exactly into the corresponding second receiving part 4. The case member 13 is connected to the outer door panel 111 and the first side plate 112 in mutually perpendicular directions, respectively.

When the first and second insertion portions 19, 18 are fully inserted into the corresponding receiving portions 3, 4, respectively, the housing element 13 is in the mounted position. In this position, the second flange 115 is inserted in the slot 136, the portions of the first flange 116 lying along the edge 1133 and part of the edges 1131, 1132 of the first opening 113 are exposed in the housing space 131, and these portions of the first flange 116 are sandwiched between the front panel 14 and the shell element 13 when the front panel 14 is attached to the door 1, in a manner which facilitates not only the assembly of the shell element 13, but also the front side of the door 1 to be more compact.

In the present embodiment, the case element 13 includes a first blocking portion 31 to block the first insertion portion 19 from exiting the first receiving portion 3 in a direction parallel to the first insertion portion 19. Specifically, the first insertion portion 19 has a first notch 191 at an edge facing away from the first side plate 112, the first blocking portion 31 is disposed near a first end of the first receiving portion 3 away from the first side plate 112, and after the first insertion portion 19 slides to the first end of the first receiving portion 3, the first blocking portion 31 protrudes into the first notch 191, so as to block the first insertion portion 19 from exiting the first receiving portion 3 along a direction parallel to the first insertion portion 19.

Furthermore, when first insertion portion 19 is in the mounted position, the edge of first insertion portion 19 close to first side plate 112 is blocked by third blocking portion 32 of case element 13. Third stop 32 may prevent movement of case element 13 away from first side plate 112, which facilitates securing case element 3 in the installed position.

The first and third stoppers 31 and 32 may have elasticity in a direction perpendicular to the first insertion part 19. In this way, during the pushing of the housing element 13 from the pre-positioning position to the mounting position, the first blocking portion 31 and the third blocking portion 32 do not significantly slide the first insertion portion 19 within the first receiving portion 3, whereas after the housing element 13 is in the mounting position, the first blocking portion 31 and the third blocking portion 32 can block the disengagement of the housing element 13 from the mounting position.

Accordingly, each of the two side edges of the second insertion portion 18 is also provided with a second notch 181. The housing element 13 is provided with a second stop 41 which can project into the corresponding second notch 181. The second blocking portion 41 blocks the second insertion portion 18 from exiting the second receiving portion 4 in a direction parallel to the second insertion portion 18.

The second blocking portion 41 may also have elasticity in a direction perpendicular to the second insertion portion 18 to facilitate smooth insertion of the second insertion portion 18 into the second receiving portion 4, and the second blocking portion 41 may protrude into the corresponding second notch 181 after the housing element 13 is located at the mounting position.

After the case element 13, the upper/lower end caps 12 and the door panel 11 are mounted together and form a door tray, the door tray is closed by the door liner 16 during the foaming process.

In the above embodiment, the first inserting portion can slide in the first receiving portion, so that the first inserting portion and the first receiving portion are aligned and inserted first, and then the second inserting portion and the second receiving portion are connected. It will be readily appreciated that in an alternative embodiment, it is also possible for the second receptacle to have a greater width than the second plug-in part, so that the second plug-in part slides within the second receptacle in a direction parallel to the plugging direction of the first plug-in part and the first receptacle, so that the second receptacle and the second plug-in part can be aligned before the first plug-in part and the first receptacle are connected. It is also possible that the first receiving part and the second receiving part each have a larger width than the respective insertion part, so that the docking order of the first insertion part and the second insertion part can be chosen arbitrarily.

The various embodiments of the individual components described in connection with fig. 1 to 6 may be combined with each other in any given way to achieve the advantages of the invention. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, and other means than those shown may be generally used as long as the same effects are obtained.

Claims

1. A refrigerator (100) comprising a door (1), the door (1) comprising a door liner (16), an outer door panel (111) located in front of the door liner (16), first and second side panels (112, 112a) disposed opposite each other, and a case element (13) connected to the outer door panel (111) and the first side panel (112); characterized in that the outer door panel (111) comprises a first insertion portion (19) extending towards the door lining (16), the first side panel (112) having a second insertion portion (18) extending towards the second side panel (112 a); the housing element (13) having a first receiving portion (3) for receiving at least a part of the first insertion portion (19) and a second receiving portion (4) for receiving at least a part of the second insertion portion (18), the first insertion portion (19) being slidable in the first receiving portion (3) relative to the first receiving portion (3) in a direction (D) parallel to the insertion of the second insertion portion (18) into the second receiving portion (4) during the connection of the housing element (13) to the outer door panel (111) and the first side panel (112) to insert the second insertion portion (18) into the second receiving portion (4); alternatively, the second insertion portion (18) may slide relative to the second receiving portion (4) within the second receiving portion (4) in a direction parallel to the direction in which the first insertion portion (19) is inserted into the first receiving portion (3) to insert the first insertion portion (19) into the first receiving portion (3).

2. A refrigerator (100) comprising a door (1), the door (1) comprising a door liner (16), an outer door panel (111) located in front of the door liner (16), first and second side panels (112, 112a) disposed opposite each other, and a case element (13) connected to the outer door panel (111) and the first side panel (112); characterized in that the outer door panel (111) comprises a first insertion portion (19) extending towards the door lining (16), the first side panel (112) having a second insertion portion (18) extending towards the second side panel (112 a); the housing element (13) having a first receiving portion (3) for receiving at least a part of a first insertion portion (19) and a second receiving portion (4) for receiving at least a part of a second insertion portion (18); wherein, in a direction (D) parallel to the insertion of the second insertion portion (18) into the second receiving portion (4), the width of the first receiving portion (19) is greater than the width of the first insertion portion (19) and the first insertion portion is slidable therein; and/or, in a direction parallel to the direction of insertion of the first insertion portion into the first insertion portion, the width of the second receiving portion is greater than the width of the second insertion portion and the second insertion portion is slidable within the second receiving portion.

3. A refrigerator (100) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized by the housing element (13) in which the appliance unit (15) is received and/or comprising a handle slot (132).

4. A refrigerator (100) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized by the shell element (13) comprising a first blocking portion (31) to block the first insertion portion (19) from exiting the first receiving portion (3) in a direction parallel to the first insertion portion (19) and/or a second blocking portion (41) to block the second insertion portion (18) from exiting the second receiving portion (4) in a direction parallel to the second insertion portion (18).

5. A refrigerator (100) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized by at least one of the first receiving portion (3) and the second receiving portion (4) comprising a slot penetrating the shell element (13).

6. A refrigerator (100) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized by at least one of the first insert (19) and the second insert (18) being tongue-shaped.

7. A refrigerator (100) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized by at least one of the first insert (19) and the second insert (18) having a notch (191, 181), the shell element (13) having a stopper projecting into the notch (191, 181).

8. A refrigerator (100) as in claim 1 or 2, characterized by the first (19) and second (18) inserts being at least substantially perpendicular.

9. The refrigerator (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer door panel (111) comprises a first opening (113), the first side panel (112) has a second opening (114), the first opening (113) and the second opening (114) are in communication, and the case member (13) has a space (131, 132, 133) opened toward the first opening (113) and/or the second opening (114).

10. A refrigerator (100) as in claim 9 wherein the first insert (19) is disposed along an edge of the first opening (113) and the second insert (18) is disposed along an edge of the second opening (114).

11. A refrigerator (100) as in claim 9 wherein the door (1) comprises a front panel (14), the front panel (14) covering at least a portion of the space (131, 132).

12. A refrigerator (100) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the outer door panel (111) has a first flange (116) bent back from an edge of the first opening (113), at least a partial section of the first flange (116) being exposed to the space (131) and sandwiched between the front panel (14) and the case member (13).

13. A refrigerator (100) as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the first insert portion (19) extends rearward from the end of the first flange (116).

14. A refrigerator (100) as in any one of the claims 9 to 13, wherein the first side panel (112) comprises a second flange (115) bent inwardly from an edge of the second opening (114), the shell element (13) comprising a slot (136) to receive the second flange (115).

15. The refrigerator (100) of claim 14, wherein the second insertion portion (18) extends from a distal end of the second flange (115) toward the second side plate (112 a).