EP2843330A2

EP2843330A2 - Door for refrigerator and refrigerator

Info

Publication number: EP2843330A2
Application number: EP14181018.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Yuan DING; Yulei Ding; Jicong SONG
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2013-08-29
Filing date: 2014-08-14
Publication date: 2015-03-04
Also published as: CN203687503U; EP2843330A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a door for a refrigerator and a refrigerator. The door (1) includes a door body (2) and a decorative panel (3) in front of the door body, where the door body includes a front panel (211), a door liner (22), a periphery cover (23) connected between the front panel (211) and the door liner (22), and a heat insulation layer (25). The door body further includes an operation and/or display unit (7) and a system housing (8) having an accommodating space (80) that accommodates the operation and/or display unit, where the system housing is connected to the front panel (211), the front panel has an opening (2116) connected to the accommodating space (80), and the operation and/or display unit is attached to a rear side of the decorative panel. According to the present invention, the periphery cover (23) is provided with an insertion channel (91) connected to the accommodating space (80), and the insertion channel and the accommodating space (80) are located at a rear side of the front panel (211) and are isolated from the heat insulation layer (25).

Description

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a door for a refrigerator and a refrigerator, and in particular, to a door for a refrigerator, which includes a decorative panel in front of a door body, and a refrigerator having such a door.

Related Art

CN101231093A discloses a refrigerator door, including an outer door, a door lining combined with an extending portion of the outer door, a cover decoration, a door decoration, and a front panel. Each of the cover decoration and the door decoration has an inner side groove and an outer side groove. An upper end and a lower end of a combined portion of the outer door and the door lining are inserted into the inner side groove of the cover decoration, and a left end and a right end of the combined portion are inserted into the inner side groove of the door decoration. A circumference of the front panel is inserted into the outer side grooves of the cover decoration and the door decoration. A display apparatus receiving portion is formed concave in the outer door, and a display portion is provided in the display apparatus receiving portion. When the display portion needs to be assembled, a door body needs to be assembled first, and a foaming process of the door body including the outer door, the door lining, the cover decoration, and the door decoration is completed. After the display portion is combined with the display apparatus receiving portion, the front panel is combined in front of the door body, and the front panel is inserted into two grooves provided in the cover decoration and the door decoration. It can be seen that the display portion requires to be mounted into the display apparatus receiving portion before the front panel is fixed on the door body. When the display portion needs to be removed, the front pate requires to be first disassembled.

SUMMARY

An objective of the present invention is to provide an improved door for a refrigerator and a refrigerator having such a door.
The objective can be achieved by characteristics in independent claims. Preferable embodiments of the present invention are the subject of the accompanying drawings, the specification, and dependant claims.
An aspect of the present invention relates to a door for a refrigerator. The door includes a door body and a decorative panel in front of the door body, where the door body includes a front panel, a door liner, a periphery cover connected between the front panel and the door liner, and a heat insulation layer tightly connected with the front panel, the door liner, and the periphery cover; and the door body further includes an operation and/or display unit and a system housing having an accommodating space that accommodates the operation and/or display unit, where the system housing is connected to the front panel, the front panel has an opening connected to the accommodating space, and the operation and/or display unit is attached to a rear side of the decorative panel; characterized in that the periphery cover is provided with an insertion channel connected to the accommodating space, and the insertion channel and the accommodating space are located behind the front panel and are isolated from the heat insulation layer.
The decorative panel may be made of a material such as toughened glass, wood, or stone.
In a possible embodiment, the front panel may include a flange extending backwards from an edge of the opening, and the system housing has a connection groove connected to the flange.
In a possible embodiment, the opening may include a first edge that is adjacent to the path and is in parallel with an entrance of the path, and the flange is arranged along the remaining edges of the opening except the first edge. In this way, the system housing and a wall of the path may be connected to each other and at the same time tightly abut the front panel, and insertion of the operation and/or display unit is also facilitated.
In a possible embodiment, the door may include a hook portion connected to the flange, and the hook portion is fastened to the system housing.
In a possible embodiment, the periphery cover includes a connection projection connected to the system housing, and a front surface of the connection projection is connected to a rear surface of the front panel. In this way, during foaming of the door body, the connection projection can support the front panel, thereby helping to reduce a distortion degree of the front panel.
In a possible embodiment, the door may include an adhesion apparatus located between the front surface of the connection projection and the rear surface of the front panel. In this way, reduction of a gap between the connection projection and the front panel is facilitated; for example, a possibility that the front panel warps during foaming may be reduced, thereby preventing leakage of a foaming liquid from between the connecting board and the front panel. The adhesion apparatus may be adhesive tape, glue, cement or other adhesive substances.
In a possible embodiment, the periphery cover includes a front connection edge, and the front panel is propped on the front connection edge and the connection projection. In this way, upper and lower edge portions of the front panel may be exposed, thereby helping adhesion of the decorative panel on the front panel.
In a possible embodiment, an edge portion of the front panel has concave portions recessing backwards, and the periphery cover includes a pair of support ribs that are located at a corresponding side of the connection projection and in a corresponding concave portion respectively. Because a front side of the front panel is pressed by the support ribs, problems of an unsmooth outer surface of the door body after foaming and foam leakage during foaming because the front panel moves relative to an end cover during a foaming process of the door body can be solved. Further, because the support ribs are accommodated inside the concave portion formed on the front panel and it is possible that an outer surface of the support ribs do not exceed an outer surface of the front panel, which helps to obtain a smooth outer surface of the door body. When the decorative panel needs to be adhered, this solution is especially beneficial.
In a possible embodiment, the periphery cover includes a transverse end cover and a longitudinal end cover, and the path passes through the transverse end cover or the longitudinal end cover. That is, the path may be provided in an upper end cover or a lower end cover, or a left end cover or a right end cover.
In a possible embodiment, the decorative panel is adhered to the front panel.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to a refrigerator including the refrigerator door according to any item of the foregoing description.
The structure of the present invention and other inventive objectives and beneficial effects of the present invention become more comprehensible through the description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As a part of this specification and for further understanding of the present invention, the following accompanying drawings describe specific implementation manners of the present invention, and are used to describe the principle of the present invention together with the specification.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a door for a refrigerator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded view of a door for a refrigerator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic exploded view of a door body according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, where an operation and/or display unit is not shown;
FIG. 4 is a schematic partial perspective view of an upper end cover according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a schematic partial perspective view of a lower end cover according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view along an I-I direction in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a door 1 for a refrigerator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The door 1 is connected to a case body (not shown) of a refrigerator (not shown) to cover at least a part of a storage compartment or at least one storage compartment in the case body. In this embodiment, the door 1 may be pivotally connected to the case body. In an alternative embodiment, the door may also be connected to the case body in a push-pull manner.
As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the door 1 includes a door body 2, a decorative panel 3 connected to a front side of the door body 2, and a pair of decorative strips 4 connected to corresponding sides of the door body 2. The decorative panel 3 is made of toughened glass in this embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the door body 2 includes a door panel 21, a door liner 22, an upper end cover 23, a lower end cover 24, and a heat insulation layer 25 (FIG. 6) tightly connected with the door panel 21, the door liner 22, the upper end cover 23, and the lower end cover 24.
The door panel 21 is a sheet metal member, and includes a front panel 211 and a pair of side panels 212 each bent backwards and extending from a corresponding longitudinal side edge of the front panel 211. The door liner 22 is connected to rear ends of the side panels 212, and is spaced from the front panel 211 by a predetermined spacing. The rear end of the side panel 212 may include a connecting board portion 2123 that is bent inwards and is approximately in parallel with the front panel 211. The door liner 22 is connected to the connecting board portion 2123.
The upper end cover 23 and the lower end cover 24 are respectively connected to upper ends and lower ends of the door panel 21 and the door liner 22. The side panels 212, the upper end cover 23, and the lower end cover 24 are connected between the front panel 211 and the door liner 22, so as to form a periphery cover that connects four sides of the front panel 211 and the door liner 22.
A connection structure between the upper end cover 23 and the door panel 21 is basically the same as that between the lower end cover 24 and the door panel 21; therefore, a same technical term and different labels are used in the following description to describe technical features with a same function and/or structure.
As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5, the upper end cover 23 and the lower end cover 24 respectively have a base wall 230 and a base wall 240 that extend transversely. The base wall 230 and the base wall 240 respectively form a top wall and a bottom wall of the door 1. The upper end cover 23 and the lower end cover 24 further respectively include a front connection edge 231 and a front connection edge 241 that are respectively connected to the base wall 230 and the base wall 240 and extend in a vertical plane, and a pair of insertion grooves 232 and a pair of insertion grooves 242 that are each located in a corresponding side end. The front connection edge 231 and the front connection edge 241 respectively form at least a part of a front surface of the upper end cover 23 and at least a part of a front surface of the lower end cover 24, and are located in a same vertical plane. The pair of insertion grooves 232 are located at a left end and a right end of the upper end cover 23, have downwards openings, and are in parallel with the side panels 212. The other pair of insertion grooves 242 are located at a left end and a right end of the lower end cover 24, have upward openings, and are in parallel with the side panels 212. The upper end cover 23 and the lower end cover 24 respectively include a rib edge 233 and a rib edge 243 that are respectively connected to a side end of the base wall 230 and a side end of the base wall 240 and extend vertically. The rib edge 233 and the rib edge 243 respectively form an outer groove wall of the insertion groove 232 and an outer groove wall of the insertion groove 242.
The base wall 230 of the upper end cover 23 and the base wall 240 of the lower end cover 24 extend forward to slightly exceed front surfaces of the front connection edge 231 and the front connection edge 241 respectively to form an upper stop portion 234 and a lower stop portion 244.
During assembly, inner surfaces of an upper edge portion and a lower edge portion of the front panel 211 are respectively propped on the front surfaces of the front connection edge 231 of the upper end cover 23 and the front connection edge 241 of the lower end cover 24. An upper edge portion and a lower edge portion of each side panel 212 are inserted into the corresponding insertion groove 232 of the upper end cover 23 and the corresponding insertion groove 242 of the lower end cover 24, as shown in FIG. 6. In addition, upper and lower end surfaces of the front panel 211 may be limited by the upper stop portion 234 and the lower stop portion 244, so that longitudinal movement of the front panel 211 is limited. The door panel 21, the upper end cover 23, and the lower end cover 24 are fixed together. The upper and lower edge portions and two side edge portions of the front panel 211 are all exposed.
As shown in FIG. 2, the door body 2 includes a touch operation and/or display unit 7, which includes at least one contact sensor (not shown) and/or display screen. The operation and/or display unit 7 may include at least one printed circuit board. The operation and/or display unit 7 may be installed on a frame (not shown), for example, one made of plastic.
As shown in FIG. 2 to FIG. 4, the door body 2 includes a system housing 8 for accommodating the operation and/or display unit 7, and the system housing 8 has an accommodating space 80 for accommodating the operation and/or display unit 7.
The front panel 211 has an opening 2116 and a flange 2117 extending backwards from an edge of the opening 2116. The system housing 8 has a connection groove (not shown) for receiving the flange 2117. The flange 2117 is inserted into the connection groove; in this way, the system housing 8 can be fixed to a rear side of the front panel 211 before a foaming process. The door panel 21 may include multiple hook portions 2118 connected to the flange 2117, and the hook portions 2118 is fastened to the system housing 8.
The flange 2117 is disposed along a left edge, a right edge, and a lower edge of the opening 2116, and no flange is disposed on an upper edge of the opening 2116, so that the operation and/or display unit 7 can be inserted into the accommodating space 80 smoothly.
The door body 2 has an insertion channel 91 connected to the accommodating space 80. An entrance of the insertion channel 91 is located on the upper end cover 23, and the insertion channel 91 extends from the upper end cover 23 to above the accommodating space 80 and is connected to the accommodating space 80. The insertion channel 91 and the accommodating space 80 are located behind the front panel 211. The entrance of the insertion channel 91 may be covered by a cover 93 detachably connected to the door body 2.
As a part of the periphery cover, the upper end cover 23 includes a hollow connection projection 9 that has the insertion channel 91 formed therein and is connected to one end of the system housing 8. The connection projection 9 protrudes downwards deeper than the front connection edge 231 does, and front surfaces of the two are located in a same plane, so that the front surface of the connection projection 9 may be connected to a rear surface of the front panel 211.
A second adhesion apparatus 92 is provided between the front surface of the connection projection 9 and the front panel 211 to reduce a gap between the connection projection 9 and the front panel 211 and prevent leakage of a foaming liquid from between the connection projection 9 and the front panel 211. The second adhesion apparatus 92 may be, for example, adhesive tape.
As shown in FIG. 2, each of the upper edge portion and the lower edge portion of the front panel 211 includes multiple concave portions 2115 recessing inwards, and the upper end cover 23 and the lower end cover 24 respectively include a support rib 236 and a support rib 246 that are inserted into corresponding concave portions 2115. The support rib 236 and the support rib 246 are respectively adjacent to the front connection edge 231 and the front connection edge 241, and are respectively separated from the front connection edge 231 and the front connection edge 241 by a gap G, so that the support rib 236 and the support rib 246 are conveniently inserted into the concave portions 2115, and each of the upper edge portion and the lower edge portion of the front panel 211 is locked into the gap G. The pair of support ribs 236, 246 may be close to a corresponding side of the connection projection 9 to help to reduce the gap between the connection projection 9 and the front panel 211.
In a foaming process, a foaming agent is injected into a door tray component formed by the door board 2, the upper end cover 23, and the lower end cover 24, the door liner 22 is then connected to a door tray filled with the foaming agent, and the door panel 21, the upper end cover 23, the lower end cover 24, the door liner 22, the system housing 8 located behind the front panel 211, and the heat insulation layer 25 formed by the foaming agent are tightly connected together. The insertion channel 91 and the accommodating space 80 are isolated from the heat insulation layer 25. The accommodating space 80 is exposed from a front side of the door body 2.
As shown in FIG. 6, the decorative panel 3 is adhered to the door body 2 through a first adhesion apparatus 6. The adhesion apparatus 6 is preferably adhesive tape. The first adhesion apparatus 6 is provided along four edge portions of the front panel 211, and the decorative panel 3 is adhered to the front panel 211 through an adhesion apparatus.
The operation and/or display unit 7 may be inserted into the door body 2 through the insertion channel 91, and is accommodated in the accommodating space 80 and attached to a rear side of the decorative panel 3. In a case in which the decorative panel 3 does not need to be disassembled, the operation and/or display unit 7 may also be removed the insertion channel 91.
Various embodiments for describing each single part with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 6 may be combined in any given manner to achieve the advantages of the present invention. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the shown embodiments, and generally means other than the shown means may be used, as long as they can achieve the same effect.

Claims

A door (1) for a refrigerator, comprising a door body (2) and a decorative panel (3) in front of the door body (2), wherein the door body (2) comprises a front panel (211), a door liner (22), a periphery cover (23, 24, 212) connected between the front panel (211) and the door liner (22), and a heat insulation layer (25) tightly connected with the front panel (211), the door liner (22), and the periphery cover (23, 24, 212); and the door body (2) further comprises an operation and/or display unit (7) and a system housing (8) having an accommodating space (80) that accommodates the operation and/or display unit (7), wherein the system housing (8) is connected to the front panel (211), the front panel (211) has an opening (2116) connected to the accommodating space (80), and the operation and/or display unit (7) is attached to a rear side of the decorative panel (3); characterized in that the periphery cover (23, 24, 212) is provided with an insertion channel (91) connected to the accommodating space (80), and the insertion channel (91) and the accommodating space (80) are located behind the front panel (211) and are isolated from the heat insulation layer (25).
The door according to claim 1, characterized in that the front panel (211) comprises a flange (2117) extending backwards from an edge of the opening (2116), and the system housing (8) has a connection groove connected to the flange (2117).
The door according to claim 2, characterized in that the opening (2116) comprises a first edge that is adjacent to the insertion channel (91) and is in parallel with an entrance of the insertion channel (91), and the flange (2117) is arranged along remaining edges of the opening (2116) except the first edge.
The door according to claim 2, characterized by comprising a hook portion (2118) connected to the flange (2117), wherein the hook portion (2118) is fastened to the system housing (8).
The door according to claim 1, characterized in that the periphery cover (23, 24, 212) comprises a connection projection (9) connected to the system housing (8), and a front surface of the connection projection (9) is connected to a rear surface of the front panel (211).
The door according to claim 5, characterized by comprising an adhesion apparatus (92) located between the front surface of the connection projection (9) and the rear surface of the front panel (211).
The door according to claim 6, characterized in that the periphery cover (23, 24, 212) comprises a front connection edge (231, 241), and the front panel (211) is propped on the front connection edge (231, 241) and the connection projection (9).
The door according to claim 6, characterized in that an edge portion of the front panel (211) has concave portions (2115) recessing backwards, and the periphery cover (23, 24, 212) comprises a pair of support ribs (236, 246) that are located at a corresponding side of the connection projection and in a corresponding concave portion (2115) respectively.
The door according to claim 1, characterized in that the periphery cover (23, 24, 212) comprises a transverse end cover (23) and a longitudinal end cover, and the path (91) passes through the transverse end cover (23) or the longitudinal end cover.
The door according to claim 1, characterized in that the decorative panel (3) is adhered to the front panel (211).
A refrigerator, comprising a door according to any one of the preceding claims.