EP4607123A1

EP4607123A1 - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: EP4607123A1
Application number: EP23903832.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Kyeonghun KIM; Dohwan Kim; Changhoon Lee
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2022-12-15
Filing date: 2023-11-29
Publication date: 2025-08-27
Also published as: EP4607123A4; WO2024128629A1; CN120225822A; KR20240093210A

Abstract

The present embodiment relates to a refrigerator comprising: a cabinet having a storage space formed therein; a door for opening or closing the storage space; a panel assembly which shields an opening extending through the door and having a see-through part through which the storage space is viewable; and a heater provided along the boundary of the see-through part, wherein the heater includes: a first heating part disposed above the panel assembly; and a second heating part disposed under the panel assembly, and a heating value of the second heating part is larger than a heating value of the first heating part.

Description

[Technical Field]

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator.

[Background Art]

In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance that can store food at low temperatures in an internal storage space that is shielded by a door. To this end, the refrigerator is configured to cool the inside of the storage space by using cold air generated through heat exchange with a refrigerant that circulates a refrigeration cycle, thereby allowing the stored food to be stored in an optimal condition.
Recently, refrigerators are becoming larger and more multifunctional in line with the changing eating habits and the trend toward higher quality products, and refrigerators equipped with various structures and convenient devices for the convenience of users and efficient use of internal space are being released.
The storage space of the refrigerator can be opened and closed by a door. In addition, according to the arrangement of the storage space and the structure of the door that opens and closes the storage space, the refrigerator can be classified into various types.
Typically, refrigerators have a problem in that you cannot check the food inside without opening the door. In other words, the user has to open the door to check whether the food you want is stored in the space inside the refrigerator or in a separate storage space provided in the door. In addition, if you do not know the exact location of the food, the time or number of times you open the door may increase, and in this case, there is a problem that unnecessary cold air leakage may occur.
Recently, refrigerators have been developed that make part of the refrigerator door transparent or allow the inside of the refrigerator to be seen in order to solve these problems. For example, in Republic of Korea Patent Publication No. 10-2021-0158852 , a refrigerator whose inside can be seen through the door is disclosed.
However, in refrigerators described above, due to the structural characteristics of the refrigerator, cold air may be concentrated at the lower part of the see-through part region, and therefore, a problem of condensation being concentrated at the lower part of the front surface of the see-through part may occur.

[Disclosure]

[Technical Problem]

An object of an embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide a refrigerator capable of effectively preventing condensation in the entire region of a see-through part.
An object of an embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide a refrigerator having a heater arranged to concentrate the heat generation amount in a region where condensation is concentrated in a see-through part.
An object of an embodiment of the present disclosure is to provide a refrigerator having a heater that provides the differential heat generation amount around a see-through part.

[Technical Solution]

A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a cabinet forming a storage space; a door opening and closing the storage space; a panel assembly shielding an opening penetrating the door and having a see-through part formed therein for seeing through the storage space; and a heater provided along a boundary of the see-through part, in which the heater may include a first heating part arranged at an upper part of the panel assembly; and a second heating part arranged at a lower part of the panel assembly, and in which the heat generation amount of the second heating part may be greater than the heat generation amount of the first heating part.
The first heating part may be formed along a perimeter including an upper end of the see-through part, and the second heating part may be connected to the first heating part and formed along the perimeter including a lower end of the see-through part.
The second heating part may extend between the midpoint of the upper and lower heights of the see-through part and an upper end of the see-through part.
The heater may be formed in a sheet shape, and the first heating part may be formed to have a smaller width than the second heating part.
The heater may include a film part attached to the panel assembly; and a pattern part formed along the film part and generating heat.
The pattern part can be formed by printing on the film part.
The pattern part may include a first pattern part arranged in one line along the first heating part; and a second pattern part extending from the first pattern part and arranged in a plurality of lines along the second heating part.
The second pattern part may be continuously bent along an extension direction of the panel assembly.
The second pattern part may be continuously bent in a direction intersecting with the extension direction of the panel assembly.
The heater may be formed in a wire shape, and the heater may include a first pattern part extending in one line along the first heating part; and a second pattern part extending in a plurality of lines along the second heating part.
The panel assembly may include a first panel shielding the opening from the front; a second panel arranged at the rear of the first panel and shielding the opening from the rear; and a spacer connecting the first panel and the second panel and forms a space between the first panel and the second panel, the first panel may include a bezel part formed opaquely from an outer end of the first panel to the see-through part, and the spacer and the heater may be arranged in the bezel part.
The panel assembly may be provided with a mounting bracket, and the mounting bracket may include a support part that contacts a rear surface of the first panel.
The heater may be provided between the support part and the bezel part.
The support part may be formed with a heater accommodation part that is recessed into a shape corresponding to the shape of the heater and accommodates the heater.
The heater may be formed by printing on the rear surface of the first panel, and at least a part of the heater may be disposed between the first panel and the spacer.
The heater may be formed by printing on the bezel part, and at least a part of the heater and the bezel part may extend into the inside of the space.
A sealant may be applied to the outer surface of the spacer to seal the peripheral surface of the panel assembly, and the heater may be formed to pass through the sealant and the spacer.
The heater may extend from one side of the support part to the inside of the space and may be shielded by the bezel part.
A connection part may be provided at an end part of the heater to connect the power line introduced into the inside of the door and the first heating part.
The connection part may be formed by printing and may be arranged to pass between the spacer and the front panel.

[Advantageous Effect]

The following effects can be expected from the refrigerator according to the proposed embodiment.
According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a door is provided with a panel assembly that enables a storage space to be seen through, and a heater is provided in the panel assembly to heat the perimeter of the see-through part. At this time, the see-through part may have a structure that is long vertically, and the distribution of cold air may inevitably be formed higher at the lower part than at the upper part.
The heater of the present disclosure includes a first heating part that forms the upper part of the heater and heats the upper part of the see-through part, and a second heating part that forms the lower part of the heater and heats the lower part of the see-through part. In particular, the second heating part can provide a greater heat generation amount than the first heating part, and thus, even if the distribution of cold air in the lower part of the see-through part becomes high, condensation in the lower part of the see-through part can be prevented.
Accordingly, the heater can partially generate the different heat generation amounts according to the distribution of cold air adjacent to the see-through part, thereby preventing condensation from occurring throughout the see-through part.
In addition, there is an advantage in that the heater is formed by printing on the front panel and thus the heater is easy to place on the front panel, and it is easy to implement patterns with the different heat generation amounts.
In particular, the heater can be formed into a thin thickness by printing and can be placed between the spacer and the front panel, so that it has the advantage of being able to prevent condensation by heating the spacer part where insulation is weak.
In addition, the heater has a structure that extends inside the insulation space of the panel assembly, so that heat can be transferred to the center as well as the edge of the panel assembly, thereby preventing condensation from occurring on the entire front surface of the panel assembly.
The heater is expected to have the effect of reducing manufacturing costs and improving productivity by configuring a single heater in a form of continuous bending or repeated arrangement.
In addition, the heater is formed in a sheet or film shape, so it has the advantage of being easy to attach to the panel assembly and capable of effective heating.

[Description of Drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the refrigerator with the door open.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the door.
FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating a panel assembly, which is one component of the door.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the state where the heater is operating.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of a panel assembly according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of a panel assembly according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of a panel assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the front surface of a door according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the rear surface of the door.
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the door.
FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating a heater, which is a component of the door.
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 10.
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 10.
Fig. 16 is a plan view illustrating a heater according to the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 17 is a plan view illustrating a heater according to the seventh embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a door according to the eighth embodiment of the present disclosure.
Fig. 19 is a plan view illustrating a heater, which is a component of the door.
FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 20-20 of FIG. 10.
FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 21-21 of FIG. 10.

[Best Model

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments in which the idea of the present disclosure is presented, and other regressive disclosures or other embodiments included within the scope of the idea of the present disclosure can be easily proposed by adding, changing, deleting, or the like other components.
Before explanation, the direction is defined. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the direction in which the front surface of the door as illustrated in FIG. 1 faces may be defined as a front direction, the direction toward the cabinet based on the front surface of the door may be defined as a rear direction, the direction toward the floor surface on which the refrigerator is installed may be defined as a lower direction, and the direction away from the floor surface may be defined as an upper direction.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the refrigerator with the door open.
As illustrated, a refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure may include a cabinet 10 forming a storage space and a door 20, 30 for opening and closing the storage space.
The storage space of the cabinet 10 can be partitioned vertically, and a refrigerating compartment 12 can be formed at the upper part and a freezing compartment 13 can be formed at the lower part. In addition, the door can be composed of a refrigerating compartment door 20 that opens and closes the refrigerating compartment 12 and a freezing compartment door 30 that opens and closes the freezing compartment 13. The refrigerating compartment door 20 and the freezing compartment door 30 can be installed so as to be rotatably connected to the cabinet 10 at the upper end and lower end by a hinge 201.
In addition, the refrigerating compartment door 20 and the freezing compartment door 30 are configured as a pair on the left and right sides, so that the refrigerating compartment 12 and the freezing compartment 13 can be partially opened and closed.
In the embodiment of the present disclosure, a refrigerator is described as an example in which a bottom freeze type refrigerator with a freezing compartment 13 provided at the lower side is applied with a French type door in which a pair of doors rotate to open and close each space, but the present disclosure is not limited to the shape of the refrigerator and can be applied to all types of refrigerators provided with doors.
Meanwhile, at least one of the doors 20, 30 may be configured as a double door in which a pair of doors 40, 50 are arranged front and rearward. For example, the refrigerating compartment door 20 may include a main-door 40 and a sub-door 50.
The main-door 40 is connected to the cabinet 10 by the hinge so as to open and close the refrigerating compartment 12. In addition, an opening 41 is formed in the main-door 40, and food can be stored in the door storage space 43 at the rear of the sub-door 50 through the opening 41. In addition, it will also be possible to store food in the storage space within the cabinet 10 through the opening 41.
A sub-door 50 may be provided in front of the main-door 40. The sub-door 50 may be connected to the main-door 40 by a sub hinge 501, 502. The sub-door 50 may open and close the opening 41 by rotation.
The main-door 40 is provided with a restraining part 42 that is coupled with the locking device 59 of the sub-door 50, and the sub-door 50 can be maintained in a closed state by coupling the locking device 59 and the restraining part 42.
Meanwhile, the sub-door 50 may be provided with a panel assembly 60 that allows the rear storage space to be viewed. The panel assembly 60 is positioned in front of the opening 41 and may be formed of a transparent material. Accordingly, when the sub-door 50 is closed, the door storage space 43 inside the opening 41 or the storage space of the cabinet 10 may be viewed. The see-through part 611 may be formed to have a size corresponding to the opening 41.
The see-through part 611 may be provided in a door 20, 30 other than the sub-door 50 according to the structure and shape of the refrigerator 1. Hereinafter, a structure in which the see-through part 611 is provided in the sub-door 50 will be described as an example, and the structure of the sub-door 50 will be examined in more detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the door, FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating a panel assembly, which is one component of the door, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4.
As illustrated in the drawing, the sub-door 50 may include a panel assembly 60 forming a front surface and a door liner 52 forming a rear surface. The panel assembly 60 has a structure that allows the inside to be seen through, and may be configured to shield a liner opening 520 of the door liner 52.
A door light 57 may be provided on the rear surface of the door liner 52. The door light 57 may emit light downward from the upper end of the liner opening 520. Accordingly, when the door light 57 is turned on, the rear space of the panel assembly 60, that is, the storage space, becomes bright, so that the storage space can be viewed through the panel assembly 60. The door liner 52 may further be provided with a light cover 571 to enable the door light 57 to be fixedly mounted.
In addition, although not illustrated in detail, a gasket 56 (FIG. 12) may be mounted on the rear perimeter of the door liner 52. In addition, a locking device 59 (FIG. 12) and an manipulation member 591 (FIG. 12) for opening and closing the sub-door 50 may be further provided.
In addition, the sub-door 50 is coupled to the panel assembly 60 and the door liner 52, and may include a cap decoration 54, 55 and side frames 581, 582 that form the perimeter surface of the sub-door 50. The cap decoration 54, 55 may include an upper cap decoration 54 that forms the upper surface of the sub-door 50, and a lower cap decoration 55 that forms the lower surface of the sub-door 50. In addition, the side frame 58 may include a pair of side frames 581, 582 that form the left and right sides of the sub-door 50.
The outer appearance of the sub-door 50 is formed by the panel assembly 60, the door liner 52, the upper cap decoration 54, the lower cap decoration 55, and the side frame 58, and the inside of the sub-door 50 formed by combining these components can be filled with insulating material.
Meanwhile, the panel assembly 60 may include a front panel 61, a rear panel 62, and a spacer 64.
In detail, the front panel 61 may be formed of a glass material to form at least a part of the outer appearance of the front surface of the panel assembly 60 and the sub-door 50. For example, the front panel 61 may be formed of a glass material that allows internal see-through, such as clear glass, tempered glass, or insulating glass. The front panel 61 may be formed in a size corresponding to the front size of the sub-door 50. In addition, the front panel 61 may also be referred to as a first panel 61.
A see-through part 611 may be formed in the center of the front panel 61. The see-through part 611 is a region that allows the rear of the panel assembly 60 to be seen, and may be formed transparently or translucently. The see-through part 611 may form the remaining region except for the bezel part 612 formed along the outer end of the panel assembly 60. A coating layer may be formed on the see-through part 611 to allow the front panel 61 to appear more opaque when the door light 57 is turned off.
The bezel part 612 may be formed on the edge of the front panel 61. The bezel part 612 may form an outer end of the front panel 61, that is, a perimeter region of the see-through part 611. The bezel part 612 may be formed on the rear surface of the front panel 61. The bezel part 612 may be formed opaquely to shield the rear configuration. For example, the bezel part 612 may be formed in a black color. In addition, the bezel part 612 may be formed by printing. For example, the bezel part 612 may be formed by super-printing. Therefore, the bezel part 612 may prevent configurations such as the spacer 64, the sealant 65, and the heater 70 of the panel assembly 60 in an assembled state from being exposed to the front. The bezel part 612 may extend from the outer end of the front panel 61 to at least the spacer 64. In addition, the bezel part 612 may extend from the outer end of the front panel 61 past the spacer 64 to protrude into the insulating space.
In addition, the rear panel 62 forms at least a part of the rear surface of the panel assembly 60 and the outer appearance of the rear surface of the sub-door 50, and may be formed of a glass material. The rear panel 62 may be formed to have a size that at least shields the liner opening 520. The rear panel 62 may be formed to have a size smaller than the front panel 61. Accordingly, when the panel assembly 60 is assembled, the perimeter of the front panel 61 may protrude further outward than the rear panel 62. In addition, the rear panel 62 may also be referred to as a second panel 62.
In addition, a spacer 64 may be provided between the front panel 61 and the rear panel 62. The front end of the spacer 64 may be attached to the rear surface of the front panel 61, and the rear end of the spacer 64 may be attached to the front surface of the rear panel 62. The spacer 64 may be formed in a rectangular frame shape with a hole in the center. In addition, the size of the spacer 64 may be formed to correspond to the size of the rear panel 62. The spacer may form a perimeter surface of the panel assembly 60 when the panel assembly 60 is assembled.
An insulating space 600 may be formed inside where the front panel 61, the rear panel 62, and the spacer 64 are coupled. The insulating space 600 may be in a vacuum state. In addition, an insulating gas may be injected into the insulating space 600. For example, the insulating gas may be argon gas. In addition, the spacer 64 may be formed of a metal material. For example, the spacer 64 may be formed of an aluminum material.
In a state where the panel assembly 60 is coupled, a sealant 65 may be applied to the perimeter of the panel assembly 60. The sealant 65 may seal the coupling part between the front panel 61, the rear panel 62, and the spacer 64 that constitute the panel assembly 60. For example, the sealant 65 may be formed of a silicone material.
The panel assembly 60 may include a mounting bracket 53. The mounting bracket 53 may be formed along the perimeter of the panel assembly 60. The mounting bracket 53 may have a bracket opening 530 formed in the center. The panel assembly 60 may be inserted and mounted into the bracket opening 530.
The mounting bracket 53 may include a mounting part 531 and a support part 532. The mounting part 531 may be in contact with the perimeter surface of the panel assembly 60 to define the bracket opening 530. In addition, the mounting part 531 may be coupled to the panel assembly 60 by a coupling member such as a screw.
The support part 532 may be bent outward from the front end of the mounting part 531 and formed to be in contact with the rear surface of the front panel 61. For example, the support part 532 may be adhered to the rear surface of the front panel 61. The panel assembly 60 may maintain a more solid coupling structure by the mounting bracket 53. If the panel assembly 60 has a sufficiently solid coupling structure, the mounting bracket 53 may be omitted.
Meanwhile, a heater 70 may be provided on the front panel 61.
The heater 70 is provided on the rear surface of the front panel 61, and may be provided in the region of the bezel part 612 so as not to be exposed to the outside when viewed from the front. In addition, the heater 70 may be arranged between the spacer 64 and the front panel 61. In other words, the heater 70 may overlap at least a part of the spacer 64, and when the heater 70 is driven, the spacer 64 and the front panel 61 facing the spacer 64 may be heated. In addition, the heater 70 may be formed along the spacer 64 of the front panel 61 so as to heat a part where the spacer 64, which is vulnerable to condensation, is arranged.
The heater 70 may be arranged along the spacer 64. In addition, the width D2 of the heater 70 may be formed to be the same as the width D1 of the spacer 64. The heater 70 may be formed within an area where the spacer 64 is arranged, and may be in contact with the rear surface of the panel assembly 60 and the front surface of the spacer 64.
The heater 70 may be printed with a paint having an electrical property that may generate heat when power is applied. In addition, the heater 70 may be formed by being printed on the bezel part 612 while the bezel part 612 is formed. The heater 70 may be formed by being directly printed on the rear surface of the front panel 61. Accordingly, the heater 70 may be formed integrally with the front panel 61, and the spacer 64 may be positioned to be in contact with the heater 70 while the heater 70 is formed on the front panel 61. The spacer 64 may be adhered to the front panel 61. In addition, the spacer 64 may be further coupled to the front panel 61 by the sealant 65 and/or the mounting bracket 53.
In addition, at least a part of the heater 70 can be positioned inside the insulating space 600. The heater 70 can heat the edge of the insulating space 600 among the front panel 61. Therefore, heat can be supplied to the central part of the front panel 61, and heat can be transferred to the central part of the front panel 61 that is vulnerable to condensation, thereby preventing condensation from occurring.
In order to shield the heater 70, the bezel part 612 may also extend into the insulating space 600. In other words, the bezel part 612 may extend into the insulating space 600 in order to shield the heater 70, and may extend at least to the same extent as or further toward the central part of the panel assembly 60 than the end part of the heater 70.
Accordingly, the width D1 of the heater 70 may be formed smaller than the width of the bezel part 612. The width D1 of the heater 70 may also be formed larger than the width D2 of the spacer 64. The width of the heater 70 may vary overall, and at least the part where the width D1 of the heater 70 is widest may be formed larger than the width D2 of the spacer 64.
Meanwhile, the heater 70 may include a first heating part 711 that heats the upper part of the see-through part 611 and a second heating part 712 that heats the lower part of the see-through part 611. At this time, the second heating part 712 may have a greater heat generation amount than the first heating part 711. In other words, when the heater 70 is driven, the lower part of the see-through part 611 may be heated more than the upper part of the see-through part 611.
The storage space at the rear of the panel assembly 60 is cooled by the supply of cold air, and the cold air gathers at the lower part compared to the upper part, so that the temperature can be relatively lower. Therefore, condensation can occur more at the front surface of the panel assembly 60, that is, at the lower part of the front panel 61. Therefore, when the heater 70 is driven, the lower part of the see-through part 611 is heated with a greater heat amount by the second heating part 712, so that condensation can be prevented more effectively throughout the entire see-through part 611.
For example, the first heating part 711 may extend in a straight line. Of course, the first heating part 711 may be formed in various other shapes that are narrower than the horizontal width of the second heating part 712. The first heating part 711 may be arranged along the upper end and the left and right ends connected to the upper end of the see-through part 611. In other words, the first heating part 711 may be arranged along the upper end and the left and right ends connected to the upper end of the bezel part 612.
In addition, a heater power line 714 may be connected to the first heating part 711. A connection part 713 may be further formed between the heater power line 714 and the printed pattern of the first heating part 711. The connection part 713 may have a structure that is easy to connect to the heater power line 714 and may have a different shape from the first heating part 711. The connection part 713 may also be formed by printing, similar to the first heating part 711.
The connecting part 713 may be formed to pass through the spacer 64 and the sealant 65. The connecting part 713 and the first heating part 711 may be connected within the insulating space 600. In addition, the connecting part 713 may be guided to the outside of the panel assembly 60 through a gap between the front panel 61 and the spacer 64, and between the front panel 61 and the sealant 65.
The heater connector 715 may be formed at the end part of the heater power line 714. The heater connector 715 may be connected to a connector 541 connected to a power line 542 that passes through the sub-door 50. The power line 542 may be entered and exited through the hinge mounting part 531 of the sub-door 50 and may extend into the cabinet 10 to be connected to a main control part (not illustrated) provided in the cabinet 10. Accordingly, when assembling the sub-door 50, the heater connector 715 arranged in the panel assembly 60 may be connected to the connector 541 extending into the inside of the sub-door 50 so that the heater 70 may be connected in an operable state.
The second heating part 712 may be arranged at the lower end of the first heating part 711. The second heating part 712 may be arranged to have a wider width so as to provide a greater heat generation amount than the first heating part 711. For example, the second heating part 712 may extend along the bezel part 612, but may be continuously bent in a direction intersecting the extension direction. In other words, the second heating part 712 is formed in a shape in which both ends are continuously bent, so as to heat a wider area of the panel assembly 60, and thus provide a higher heat generation amount to the front panel 61 at the same interval.
The second heating part 712 may be formed along the lower end of the see-through part 611 and the left and right ends connected to the lower end of the see-through part 611. In addition, the second heating part 712 may be formed along the lower end of the bezel part 612 and the left and right ends connected to the lower end.
Below, the operating state of a refrigerator 1 having the structure will be examined in more detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 6 is a view illustrating the state where the heater is operating.
As illustrated, the light 57 can be turned on and off by user manipulation while the sub-door 50 is closed, and when the light 57 is turned on, the space behind the sub-door 50 becomes bright and the inside of the storage space can be visualized through the see-through part 611. In addition, when the light 57 is turned off, the see-through part 611 can appear opaque.
In addition, when the refrigerator 1 is in operation, the storage space can maintain the set temperature by the cold air supplied to the inside of the refrigerator. The see-through part 611 can be arranged so that the inside of the refrigerating compartment 12 can be viewed. Therefore, the cold air supplied to the refrigerating compartment 12 can affect the panel assembly 60, and condensation may occur in the part of the panel assembly 60 where the insulation is vulnerable.
The heater 72 may be operated to prevent condensation from occurring on the front surface of the front panel 61. The heater 70 may heat the perimeter region of the see-through part 611. The heater 70 may heat the region of the bezel part 612 that the spacer 64 contacts, and heat the perimeter of the insulating space 600. In addition, by the operation of the heater 70 disposed inside the insulating space 600, the heat of the heater 70 may be transferred to the central part of the front panel 61.
Accordingly, the central part of the front panel 61 is heated, including the region where the spacer 64, which may be structurally vulnerable to insulation in the panel assembly 60, is arranged, so that condensation can be prevented from occurring on the entire surface of the panel assembly 60.
Meanwhile, the cold air supplied to the storage space moves from the upper side to the lower side by convection. The cold air supplied to the refrigerating compartment 12 may move the lower side, and the cold air may be concentrated at the lower part rather than the upper part of the see-through part 611. Therefore, the possibility of condensation occurring at the lower part rather than the upper part of the front panel 61 is higher.
In order to prevent condensation from occurring at the lower part of the front panel 61, the heater 70 can heat the lower part of the front panel 61 more than the upper part. In detail, the heater 70 can heat the lower part of the see-through part 611 by causing the second heating part 722 to operate with a greater heat generation amount than the first heating part 721.
Accordingly, the heater 72 can effectively prevent condensation in the lower part of the see-through part 611 where cold air is relatively concentrated by further heating the lower part of the see-through part 611 where cold air distribution is high. In addition, by the operation of the heater 72, condensation can be prevented in the entire see-through part 611 including the lower part of the see-through part 611.
Meanwhile, the present disclosure may have various other embodiments in addition to the above-described embodiments. The second to fourth embodiments of the present disclosure are characterized by the arrangement position and width of the heater. Other embodiments of the present disclosure differ only in the arrangement of the heater from the embodiments described above, and other configurations are the same, and the same drawing reference numerals will be used to describe the same configurations.
Hereinafter, other embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of a panel assembly according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.
A panel assembly 60 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure may include a front panel 61, a rear panel 62, and a spacer 64. In addition, an insulating space 600 may be formed by coupling the front panel 61, the rear panel 62, and the spacer 64. A sealant 65 may be applied to the outer side of the spacer 64. In addition, the spacer 64 and the front panel 61 may be coupled with a mounting part 531 and a support part 532 of the mounting bracket 53.
The bezel part 612 may be formed around the perimeter of the rear surface of the front panel 61. The bezel part 612 may extend from the end part of the front panel 61 through the spacer 64 into the insulating space 600.
In addition, the heater 70 may be placed on the bezel part 612. The heater 70 may be formed by printing on the rear surface of the front panel 61. The heater 70 is placed on the rear surface of the bezel part 612 so as not to be exposed by the bezel part 612 when viewed from the front.
The heater 70 may extend from an end part of the sealant 65 through the spacer 64 into the insulating space 600. One end of the heater 70 may be positioned at a position corresponding to the sealant 65, and the other end of the heater 70 may be positioned at an end part of the bezel part 612. In addition, the width D1 of the bezel part 612 may be formed to be larger than the width of the spacer 64. In addition, the width D1 of the bezel part may be formed to be larger than the combined width D3 of the sealant 65 and the bezel part.
Accordingly, when the heater 70 is driven, the region of the front panel 61 where the sealant 65 and the spacer 64 come into contact can be heated. In addition, the heater 70 can extend further into the insulation space 600 than the end part of the spacer 64 so that heat can be transferred to the center of the panel assembly 60 as well as the perimeter of the see-through part 611.
In addition, the heater 70 can be configured to provide greater heat generation amount at the lower part than at the upper part, and can prevent condensation on the entire surface including the upper, lower, and central parts of the front panel 61.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of a panel assembly according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.
A panel assembly 60 according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure may include a front panel 61, a rear panel 62, and a spacer 64. In addition, an insulating space 600 may be formed by coupling the front panel 61, the rear panel 62, and the spacer 64. A sealant 65 may be applied to the outer side of the spacer 64. In addition, the spacer 64 and the front panel 61 may be coupled with a mounting part 531 and a support part 532 of the mounting bracket 53.
In addition, the bezel part 612 may be formed on the perimeter of the rear surface of the front panel 61. The bezel part 612 may extend from the end part of the front panel 61 through the spacer 64 into the inside of the insulating space 600.
The heater 70 may be placed on the bezel part 612. The heater 70 may be formed by printing on the rear surface of the front panel 61. The heater 70 is placed on the rear surface of the bezel part 612 so as not to be exposed by the bezel part 612 when viewed from the front.
The heater 70 may extend from one side of the mounting bracket 53 through the spacer 64 into the insulating space 600. One end of the heater 70 may be positioned at a position corresponding to the support part 532 of the mounting bracket, and the other end of the heater 70 may be positioned at an end part of the bezel part 612.
Accordingly, when the heater 70 is driven, the region of the front panel 61 where the mounting bracket 53, the sealant 65, and the spacer 64 come into contact can be heated. In addition, the heater 70 can extend further into the insulating space 600 than the end part of the spacer 64 so that heat can be transferred to the center of the panel assembly 60 as well as the perimeter of the see-through part 611.
In addition, the heater 70 can be configured to provide greater heat generation amount at the lower part than at the upper part, and can prevent condensation on the entire surface including the upper, lower, and central parts of the front panel 61.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of a panel assembly according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.
A panel assembly 60 according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure may include a front panel 61, a rear panel 62, and a spacer 64. In addition, an insulating space 600 may be formed by coupling the front panel 61, the rear panel 62, and the spacer 64. In addition, a sealant 65 may be applied to the outside of the spacer 64.
In addition, the spacer 64 and the front panel 61 can be coupled to the mounting bracket 53. The mounting bracket 53 can include a mounting part 531 coupled to the spacer 64 and a support part 532 coupled to the front panel 61. In addition, the mounting bracket 53 can further include a heater accommodation part 533 formed between the mounting part 531 and the support part 532 and in which a wire heater 534 is arranged.
The heater accommodation part 533 may be formed at a corner where the mounting part 531 and the support part 532 are in contact with each other. In addition, the wire heater 534 inserted into the heater accommodation part 533 may heat a corner where the sealant 65 and the front panel 61 are in contact. The wire heater 534 may be arranged along the perimeter of the sealant 65 while in contact with the rear surface of the front panel 61. Accordingly, the wire heater 534 may heat a perimeter area of the front panel 61 where the sealant 65 and the spacer 64 are arranged. In addition, the wire heater 534 and the mounting bracket 53 may be covered by the bezel part 612.
In addition, the bezel part 612 may be formed on the perimeter of the rear surface of the front panel 61. The bezel part 612 may extend from the end part of the front panel 61 through the spacer 64 into the inside of the insulating space 600.
The heater 70 may be placed on the bezel part 612. The heater 70 may be formed by printing on the rear surface of the front panel 61. The heater 70 is placed on the rear surface of the bezel part 612 so as not to be exposed by the bezel part 612 when viewed from the front.
The heater 70 may extend from one end of the spacer 64 into the insulating space 600. The heater 70 may extend to be positioned at the end part of the bezel part 612. Accordingly, when the heater 70 is driven, the region of the front panel 61 that the spacer 64 comes into contact with may be heated. In addition, the heater 70 may extend further into the insulating space 600 than the end part of the spacer 64 so that heat may be transferred to the perimeter of the see-through part 611 as well as to the central part of the panel assembly 60.
In addition, the heater 70 can be configured to provide greater heat generation amount at the lower part than at the upper part, and can prevent condensation on the entire surface including the upper, lower, and central parts of the front panel 61.
In addition, when the heater 70 is driven, the wire heater 534 can be drived together. By the operation of the wire heater 534, the perimeter of the front panel 61 adjacent to the sealant 65 can be heated, and condensation on the front surface of the front panel 61 can be further prevented.
Meanwhile, the present disclosure may have various other embodiments in addition to the embodiments described above. The fifth embodiment of the present disclosure is characterized in that the heater has a surface heating element structure. Other embodiments of the present disclosure have only differences in some of the configurations of the sub-door and the structure of the heater from the embodiment described above, and other configurations are the same, and the same drawing reference numerals will be used to describe the same configurations.
Hereinafter, a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the front surface of a door according to the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the rear surface of the door, and FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the door.
As illustrated, the sub-door 50' may include a panel assembly 60' forming the see-through part 611. The panel assembly 60' may be formed of a transparent material and may form at least a part of the front and rear surfaces of the sub-door 50'. When the panel assembly 60' is mounted on the sub-door 50', at least a part of the panel assembly 60' may be defined as the see-through part 611.
The sub-door 50' may include an out plate 51 forming a front surface of the sub-door 50' and a door liner 52 forming a rear surface of the sub-door 50'. A plate opening 510 may be formed in the out plate 51, and a liner opening 520 may be formed in the door liner 52 facing the plate opening 510. The plate opening 510 and the liner opening 520 may be shielded by the panel assembly 60'. The sub-door 50' may be penetrated by the plate opening 510 and the liner opening 520, and thus may be defined as an opening including the plate opening 510 and the liner opening 520.
Meanwhile, the sub-door 50' may omit the outer plate 51, and in this case, the entire front surface of the sub-door 50' may be formed by the front surface of the panel assembly 60', that is, the front panel 61.
The door liner 52 may be formed with a light mounting part 521 on which the light 57 is mounted. The light mounting part 521 may be formed along the upper end of the liner opening 520. The light mounting part 521 may protrude rearwardly, and the light 57 may be accommodated therein. The light 57 emits light downward from the upper end of the panel assembly 60', and light may be emitted through the lower surface of the light mounting part 521. When the light 57 is turned on, the rear of the see-through part 611 becomes brighter and visible, and when the light 57 is turned off, the rear of the see-through part 611 becomes darker and relatively invisible.
In addition, the door liner 52 may be equipped with the gasket 56. The gasket 56 may be arranged along the perimeter of the liner opening 520. When the sub-door 50' is closed, the gasket 56 may come into contact with the front surface of the main-door 40 to block cold air leakage.
Meanwhile, the locking device 59 may be provided on one side of the door liner 52. In addition, the locking device 59 may be connected to an operating member 591 provided at the lower part of the sub-door 50'. The locking device 59 may be operated by operating the operating member 591, and the restraint between the locking device 59 and the restraint part 42 may be released, thereby allowing the sub-door 50' to be opened.
In addition, the sub-door 50' may include an upper cap decoration 54 that connects the upper ends of the outer plate 51 and the door liner 52 and forms the upper surface of the sub-door 50', and a lower cap decoration 55 that connects the lower ends of the outer plate 51 and the door liner 52 and forms the lower surface of the sub-door 50'.
With the panel assembly 60' mounted to shield the opening 510, 520, the inner space of the sub-door 50' formed by the perimeter of the panel assembly 60' and the outer plate 51, the door liner 52, the upper cap decoration 54, and the lower cap decoration 55 can be filled with insulating material.
Meanwhile, the panel assembly 60' may include a front panel 61, a rear panel 62, and a spacer 64. A vacuum state may be maintained or an insulating gas may be injected between the front panel 61 and the rear panel 62 for insulation. In addition, an insulating panel 63 may be further provided between the front panel 61 and the rear panel 62 to form an insulating space 600' partitioned between the front panel 61 and the rear panel 62. In addition, a sealant 65 may be applied to the perimeter of the panel assembly 60' while the front panel 61, the rear panel 62, the insulating panel 63, and the spacer 64 are coupled.
If necessary, the panel assembly 60' may include a transparent display that outputs a screen, and the transparent display may be placed between the front panel 61 and the rear panel 62.
The front panel 61 and rear panel 62 may be formed of a material that allows light to pass through. For example, the front panel 61 and rear panel 62 may be formed of a glass material.
The front panel 61 can shield the plate opening 510. In addition, the front panel 61 can form at least a part of the front surface of the sub-door 50'. The front panel 61 has the see-through part 611 formed in the center, and an opaque bezel part 612 can be formed along the perimeter of the front panel 61. The heater 72 and the mounting bracket 53 to be described below can be covered by the bezel part 612.
The perimeter of the front panel 61 may protrude further outward than the perimeter of the rear panel 62. A protrusion part may be formed along the edge of the front panel 61, and the protrusion part may extend further outward than the rear panel 62 and the spacer 64. In addition, the bezel part 612 may be formed on the rear surface of the protrusion part. In addition, a heater 72 may be provided in the bezel part 612. The heater 72 may be arranged on the rear surface of the front panel 61. In addition, the heater 72 may be arranged in the bezel part 612 so as not to be visible when viewed from the front.
The heater 72 may be formed along the perimeter of the panel assembly 60'. Accordingly, the heater 72 may heat the perimeter of the panel assembly 60', that is, the perimeter of the see-through part 611.
A mounting bracket 53 may be provided around the perimeter of the panel assembly 60'. The mounting bracket 53 may have a bracket opening 530 formed in the center. The panel assembly 60' may be inserted and mounted into the bracket opening 530.
The mounting bracket 53 may include a mounting part 531 and a support part 532. The mounting part 531 may be coupled to the perimeter surface of the panel assembly 60', and the support part 532 may be in contact with the rear surface of the front panel 61. A heater accommodation part 533 in which the heater 72 is accommodated may be formed in the support part 532.
The heater 72 can be close contact with the rear surface of the front panel 61 while being accommodated in the heater accommodation part 533. The heater 72 can be configured in a structure such as a sheet or film.
Below, the structure of the heater 72 and the heater 72 arrangement structure will be examined in more detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 13 is a plan view illustrating a heater, which is a component of the door, FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 10, and FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 10.
Referring to the drawing, the heater 72 may be formed in a sheet or plate shape. The heater 72 may be configured as a surface-shaped heating element.
The heater 72 has an open central part through which a part of the panel assembly 60' can pass. In addition, the maximum width (W2) of the heater 72 can be formed smaller than the width of the protruding part of the front panel 61 or the bezel part 612.
A power line 724 may be connected to one side of the heater 72, and the heater 72 may be heated by power supplied from the power line 724. For example, the power line 724 may be provided at the upper end of the heater 72 and may be arranged on one side close to the rotation axis of the sub-door 50'.
The heater 72 may be formed along the perimeter region of the see-through part 611. In addition, the heater 72 may include a first heating part 721 forming an upper part and a second heating part 722 forming a lower part. The second heating part 722 may have a greater heat generation amount than the first heating part 721. The first heating part 721 may heat the upper part of the see-through part 611, and the second heating part 722 may heat the lower part of the see-through part 611. In addition, the lower part of the see-through part 611 may be heated with a greater heat generation amount than the upper part by the second heating part 722. At this time, the upper and lower parts of the see-through part 611 are not divided based on the exact middle point of the see-through part 611, and when the position of the first heating part 721 is defined as the upper part, the position of the second heating part 722, which is located relatively lower, may be defined as the lower part.
The first heating part 721 may be arranged along the upper part of both left and right ends including the upper end of the see-through part 611 or the panel assembly 60', and the second heating part 722 may be arranged along the lower part of both left and right ends including the lower end of the see-through part 611 or the panel assembly 60'. In addition, the lower end of the first heating part 721 and the upper end of the second heating part 722 may be connected to each other in a stepped manner.
The point where the first heating part 721 and the second heating part 722 are connected may be formed higher than the midpoint of the vertical height of the panel assembly 60'. The vertical length H2 of the second heating part 722 may be formed longer than the vertical length H1 of the first heating part 721. Accordingly, the second heating part 722 can sufficiently heat the lower region of the see-through part 611 where a larger amount of cold air is distributed. For example, the vertical length H2 of the second heating part 712 may be formed to be within 50 to 90% of the height H from the first heating part 711 to the second heating part 712.
The width W1 of the first heating part 721 may be formed smaller than the width W2 of the second heating part 722. Accordingly, when the heater 72 is turned on, the second heating part 722 can heat the front surface of the panel assembly 60', that is, the region of the see-through part 611, with a greater heat generation amount than the first heating part 721.
In detail, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the upper region of the see-through part 611 can be heated with a set heat amount by the first heating part 721. At this time, the width W1 of the first heating part 721 is formed smaller than the width W2 of the second heating part 722, and the contact area with the front panel 61 becomes relatively smaller. In addition, the first heating part 721 heats the upper region of the see-through part 611 with a relatively smaller heat generation amount compared to the second heating part 722.
On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 8, the lower region of the see-through part 611 can be heated with a relatively larger heat amount by the second heating part 722 compared to the first heating part 721. At this time, the width W2 of the second heating part 722 becomes larger than the width W1 of the first heating part, and the contact area with the front panel 61 becomes relatively larger. In addition, the second heating part 722 heats the upper region of the see-through part 611 with a relatively larger heat generation amount compared to the first heating part 721.
In other words, the lower region of the see-through part 611 where the second heating part 722 is placed can be further heated due to the difference in width between the first heating part 721 and the second heating part 722.
Meanwhile, the present disclosure may have various other embodiments in addition to the embodiments described above. The sixth embodiment of the present disclosure is characterized in that the heater is configured with a film heater structure and includes a first pattern part and a second pattern part where heat is generated. Therefore, the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure is different from the embodiment described above only in the configuration of the heater, and the other configurations are the same, and detailed descriptions and illustrations of the same configurations will be omitted and described using the same drawing symbols.
Hereinafter, the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.
Fig. 16 is a plan view illustrating a heater according to the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure.
As illustrated, the heater 73 according to the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure may be formed in a film or sheet shape. In addition, a power line 734 for power supply may be connected to one side of the heater 73.
The heater 73 may include a film part 730 attached to the panel assembly 60' and a pattern part 733 arranged along the film part 730 and generating heat.
The film part 730 may be formed in a sheet or plate shape and may be formed of a resin material. For example, the film part 730 may be formed of an adhesive resin material. In addition, the film part 730 may be formed along the perimeter of the panel assembly 60'. In addition, the film part 730 may define an opening through which a part of the panel assembly 60' may pass.
The film part 730 may be attached to the perimeter of the rear surface of the front panel 61. In addition, the film part 730 may be placed in the area of the bezel part 612 so that the heater 73 may be covered when viewed from the front. In addition, the film part 730 may be mounted on the mounting bracket 53, and may be attached to the rear surface of the front panel 61 while mounted on the mounting bracket 53.
The film part 730 may be composed of a first film part 731 forming the upper part of the heater 73 and a second film part 732 forming the lower part of the heater 73. The width W1 of the first film part 731 may be formed smaller than the width W2 of the second film part 732. In addition, the upper and lower length H2 of the second film part 732 may be formed longer than the upper and lower length H1 of the first film part 731.
The first film part 731 may form the upper end and a part of both left and right sides connected to the upper end of the heater 73, and may form a part of the upper end and both left and right sides of the see-through part 611. The second film part 732 may be connected to the lower end of both sides of the first film part 731. In addition, the second film part 732 may form the lower end and a part of both left and right sides connected to the lower end of the heater 73, and may form a part of the lower end and both left and right sides of the see-through part 611.
A pattern part 733 may be formed on the film part 730. The pattern part 733 is a part that is heated by the application of power, and can substantially heat the perimeter of the panel assembly 60', that is, the perimeter of the see-through part 611 by coming into contact with the panel assembly 60'.
For example, the pattern part 733 may be formed as a metal thin plate and attached to the film part 730. As another example, the pattern part 733 may be formed by being printed on the film part 730. In other words, the heater 73 may also be formed in the form of a printed film.
The pattern part 733 may include a first pattern part 733a formed along the first film part 731 and a second pattern part 733b formed along the second film part 732.
The first pattern part 733a may extend along the first film part 731 and may be formed as a single line. In addition, the second pattern part 733b may extend along the second film part 732 and may be connected to an end part of the first film part 731. The second pattern part 733b may be formed as a plurality of lines on the second film part 732. In detail, both ends of each line may be continuously bent so as to form a plurality of lines in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the second film part 732. In other words, the second pattern part 733b may be repeatedly bent at both ends so as to form a plurality of sections extending in the width direction of the second film part 732.
In other words, a pattern part 733 having a wider area at wider width can be formed on the second film part 732, and thus, a greater heat generation amount can be provided in the area where the second film part 732 is formed.
Accordingly, when the heater 73 is turned on, the entire perimeter of the see-through part 611 is heated, but the lower part of the see-through part 611 is heated with a greater heat generation amount than the upper part of the see-through part 611, thereby preventing condensation in the lower part of the see-through part 611 where the cold air distribution is high.
Meanwhile, the present disclosure may have various other embodiments in addition to the embodiments described above. The seventh embodiment of the present disclosure is characterized in that the heater is configured with a film heater structure and includes a first pattern part and a second pattern part where heat is generated. Therefore, the seventh embodiment of the present disclosure is different from the embodiment described above only in the configuration of the heater, and the other configurations are the same, and detailed descriptions and illustrations of the same configurations will be omitted and described using the same drawing symbols.
Hereinafter, the seventh embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 17 is a plan view illustrating a heater according to the seventh embodiment of the present disclosure.
As illustrated, the heater 74 according to the seventh embodiment of the present disclosure may be formed in a film or sheet shape. In addition, a power line 744 for power supply may be connected to one side of the heater 74.
The heater 74 may include a film part 740 attached to the panel assembly 60' and a pattern part 743 arranged along the film part 740 and generating heat.
The film part 740 may be formed in a sheet or plate shape and may be formed of a resin material. For example, the film part 740 may be formed of an adhesive resin. In addition, the film part 740 may be formed along the perimeter of the panel assembly 60'. In addition, the film part 740 may define an opening through which a part of the panel assembly 60' may pass.
The film part 740 may be attached to the perimeter of the rear surface of the front panel 61. In addition, the film part 740 may be placed in the area of the bezel part 612 so that the heater 74 may be covered when viewed from the front. In addition, the film part 740 may be mounted on the mounting bracket 53, and may be close contact with the rear surface of the front panel 61 while mounted on the mounting bracket 53.
The film part 740 may be composed of a first film part 741 forming the upper part of the heater 74 and a second film part 742 forming the lower part of the heater 74. The width W1 of the first film part 741 may be formed smaller than the width W2 of the second film part 742. In addition, the upper and lower length H2 of the second film part 742 may be formed longer than the upper and lower length H1 of the first film part 741.
The first film part 741 may form the upper end and a part of both left and right sides connected to the upper end of the heater 74, and may form a part of the upper end and both left and right sides of the see-through part 611. The second film part 742 may be connected to the lower end of both sides of the first film part 741. In addition, the second film part 742 may form the lower end and a part of both left and right sides connected to the lower end of the heater 74, and may form a part of the lower end and both left and right sides of the see-through part 611.
A pattern part 743 may be formed on the film part 740. The pattern part 743 is a part that is heated by the application of power, and can substantially heat the perimeter of the panel assembly 60', that is, the perimeter of the see-through part 611 by coming into contact with the panel assembly 60'.
For example, the pattern part 743 may be formed as a metal thin plate and attached to the film part 740. As another example, the pattern part 743 may be formed by being printed on the film part 740. In other words, the heater 74 may also be formed in the form of a printed film.
The pattern part 743 may include a first pattern part 743a formed along the first film part 741 and a second pattern part 743b formed along the second film part 742.
The first pattern part 743a may extend along the first film part 741 and may be formed as a single line. In addition, the second pattern part 743b may extend along the second film part 742 and may be connected to an end part of the first film part 741. The second pattern part 743b may be formed as a plurality of lines on the second film part 742. In detail, both ends of each line may be continuously bent so as to form a plurality of lines in a direction intersecting the extension direction of the second film part 742. In other words, the upper and lower ends may be repeatedly bent so that a plurality of lines extending in the same direction as the extension direction of the second film part 742 are arranged in a spaced state within the width of the second pattern part 743b.
In other words, a second pattern part 743b having a wider area at wider width can be formed on the second film part 742, and thus a greater heat generation amount can be provided in the lower region of the see-through part 611 that comes into contact with the second film part 742.
Accordingly, when the heater 74 is turned on, the entire perimeter of the see-through part 611 is heated, but the lower part of the see-through part 611 is heated with a greater heat generation amount than the upper part of the see-through part 611, thereby preventing condensation in the lower part of the see-through part 611 where the cold air distribution is high.
Meanwhile, the present disclosure may have various other embodiments in addition to the embodiments described above. The eighth embodiment of the present disclosure is characterized in that the heater is configured with a wire heater structure and includes a first heating part and a second heating part where heat generation occurs. Therefore, the eighth embodiment of the present disclosure is different from the embodiment described above only in the configuration of the heater and the mounting bracket, and the other configurations are the same, and detailed descriptions and illustrations of the same configurations are omitted and the same drawing symbols are used for description.
Hereinafter, the eighth embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a door according to the eighth embodiment of the present disclosure, Fig. 19 is a plan view illustrating a heater, which is a component of the door, FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 20-20 of FIG. 10, and FIG. 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 21-21 of FIG. 10.
As illustrated in the drawing, the door 50 according to the eighth embodiment of the present disclosure may include a panel assembly 60' that can see through the storage space. The panel assembly 60' may be mounted in an opening 510, 520 of the door 50 and may shield the opening 510, 520.
The door 50 may include an outer plate 51 forming a front surface and a door liner 52 forming a rear surface. In addition, a plate opening 510 may be formed in the outer plate 51, and a liner opening 520 may be formed in the door liner 52. The openings 510, 520 may be defined by the plate opening 510 and the liner opening 520. When the panel assembly 60' is mounted, the front surface of the panel assembly 60' may shield the plate opening 510 and form at least a part of the front surface of the door 50. In addition, the rear surface of the panel assembly 60' may shield the liner opening 520 and form at least a part of the rear surface of the door 50.
The door 50 may further include an upper cap decoration 54 and a lower cap decoration 55 forming an upper surface and a lower surface. In addition, the inside of the door 50 may be filled with an insulating material. In addition, the door 50 may be provided with a manipulation member 591 for opening and closing the door 50 and a locking device 59 that operates according to the operation of the manipulation member 591. In addition, the door liner 52 may be provided with a door gasket 56. In addition, the door liner 52 may be provided with a light 57 so that the see-through part 611 may be selectively visible.
The panel assembly 60' may include a front panel 61 forming a front surface, a rear panel 62 spaced apart from the front panel 61 to form a rear surface, and a spacer 64 connecting between the front panel 61 and the rear panel 62 and forming a part of the perimeter surface of the panel assembly 60'. In addition, an insulating panel 63 may be arranged between the front panel 61 and the rear panel 62. In addition, an insulating space 600' may be formed between the front panel 61, the rear panel 62, and the insulating panel 63. In addition, a sealant 65 may be applied to the perimeter surface of the panel assembly 60' in a state where the front panel 61, the rear panel 62, the insulating panel 63, and the spacer 64 are coupled.
The front panel 61 is formed larger than the rear panel 62, and a protrusion part that protrudes further outward than the rear panel 62 may be formed around the front panel 61. In addition, a see-through part 611 that allows internal see-through may be defined at the center of the front panel 61, and an opaque bezel part 612 may be formed around the see-through part 611. The bezel part 612 may be formed on a protrusion part that forms an outer end of the front panel 61.
Meanwhile, the door 50 may further include a mounting bracket 53 on which the panel assembly 60' is mounted. The mounting bracket 53 is coupled to the perimeter surface of the panel assembly 60' and may be fixedly mounted inside the door 50.
In addition, the mounting bracket 53 may include a mounting part 531 coupled with the panel assembly 60' and a support part 532 in contact with the front panel 61. In addition, a heater 75 may be mounted on the support part 532. A heater accommodation part 533 in which the heater is accommodated may be formed on the support part. The heater accommodation part 533 may be formed in a shape corresponding to the heater 75. For example, the heater accommodation part 533 may be formed as one groove at a position corresponding to the first heating part 751 of the heater 75, and the heater accommodation part 533 may be formed as three grooves at a position corresponding to the second heating part 752 of the heater 75.
With the mounting bracket 53 coupled with the panel assembly 60', the heater 75 can be in contact with the rear surface of the front panel 61.
By the operation of the heater 75, the perimeter of the front panel 61, that is, the see-through part 611, can be heated, and condensation can be prevented from occurring on the front surface of the panel assembly 60'.
The heater 75 is intended to heat the perimeter of the panel assembly 60' and may be configured as a wire heater 75. In addition, a power line 754 for power supply may be connected to one side of the heater 75.
In detail, the heater 75 may be arranged along the perimeter of the panel assembly 60' and may include a first heating part 751 that heats the upper part of the see-through part 611, and a second heating part 752 that heats the lower part of the see-through part 611. At this time, the lower part of the see-through part 611 where the second heating part 752 is arranged may mean the relative lower part of the first heating part 751, and may not refer to an absolute position.
The first heating part 751 is configured as one line and can be arranged along the upper end and the left and right sides connected to the upper end of the panel assembly 60'. In other words, the first heating part 751 can extend along a part of the upper end and the left and right sides of the see-through part 611.
The second heating part 752 may be composed of a plurality of lines. The second heating part 752 may be connected to an end part of the first heating part 751. In addition, the second heating part 752 may be composed of a plurality of lines extending in the same direction as the extension direction of the see-through part 611. In other words, the second heating part 752 may be formed by continuously bending the end parts of the extending lines. For example, the left and right sides of the second heating part 752 may form a plurality of lines extending in the vertical direction, and the lower end thereof may form a plurality of lines extending in the left and right direction.
Accordingly, the first heating part 751 can provide a heat generation amount by one line, and the second heating part 752 can provide a relatively larger heat generation amount by a plurality of lines. Accordingly, the second region 753b below the see-through part 611 heated by the second heating part 752 can be heated with a larger heat generation amount than the first region 753a above the see-through part 611 heated by the first heating part 751.
In addition, the upper and lower length H2 of the second heating part 752 may be formed longer than the upper and lower length H1 of the first heating part 751. For example, the upper end of the second heating part 752 may be positioned higher than the midpoint of the upper and lower heights of the see-through part 611. Accordingly, the second region 753b below the see-through part 611 may be heated with a sufficiently high heat amount.
Accordingly, even if cold air is distributed relatively high in the lower part of the see-through part 611, condensation does not occur throughout the see-through part 611 due to the differential heat generation amount provided by the heater 75.

[Industrial Applicability]

A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can prevent condensation on the front surface of the door, and thus has high industrial applicability.

Claims

A refrigerator comprising:
a cabinet forming a storage space;

a door opening and closing the storage space;

a panel assembly shielding an opening penetrating the door and having a see-through part formed therein for seeing through the storage space; and

a heater provided along a boundary of the see-through part,

wherein the heater includes:
a first heating part arranged at an upper part of the panel assembly; and

a second heating part arranged at a lower part of the panel assembly, and

wherein the heat generation amount of the second heating part is greater than the heat generation amount of the first heating part.
The refrigerator of claim 1,
wherein the first heating part is formed along a perimeter including an upper end of the see-through part, and

wherein the second heating part is connected to the first heating part and formed along the perimeter including a lower end of the see-through part.
The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the second heating part extends between the midpoint of the upper and lower heights of the see-through part and an upper end of the see-through part.
The refrigerator of claim 1,
wherein the heater is formed in a sheet shape, and

wherein the first heating part is formed to have a smaller width than the second heating part.
The refrigerator of claim 1,
wherein the heater includes:
a film part attached to the panel assembly; and

a pattern part formed along the film part and generating heat.
The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the pattern part includes:
a first pattern part arranged in one line along the first heating part; and

a second pattern part extending from the first pattern part and arranged in a plurality of lines along the second heating part.
The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the second pattern part is continuously bent along an extension direction of the panel assembly.
The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the second pattern part is continuously bent in a direction intersecting with the extension direction of the panel assembly.
The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the heater is formed in a wire shape, and
wherein the heater includes:
a first pattern part extending in one line along the first heating part; and

a second pattern part extending in a plurality of lines along the second heating part.
The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the panel assembly includes:
a first panel shielding the opening from the front;

a second panel arranged at the rear of the first panel and shielding the opening from the rear; and

a spacer connecting the first panel and the second panel and forms a space between the first panel and the second panel,

wherein the first panel includes a bezel part formed opaquely from an outer end of the first panel to the see-through part, and

wherein the spacer and the heater are arranged in the bezel part.
The refrigerator of claim 10,
wherein the panel assembly is provided with a mounting bracket,

wherein the mounting bracket includes a support part that contacts a rear surface of the first panel, and

wherein the heater is provided between the support part and the bezel part.
The refrigerator of claim 11, wherein the heater extends from one side of the support part to an inside of the space and is shielded by the bezel part.
The refrigerator of claim 10,
wherein the heater is formed by printing on the rear surface of the first panel, and

wherein at least a part of the heater is disposed between the first panel and the spacer.
The refrigerator of claim 10,
wherein the heater is formed by printing on the bezel part, and

wherein at least a part of the heater and the bezel part extend into the inside of the space.
The refrigerator of claim 10,
wherein a sealant is applied to the outer surface of the spacer to seal the peripheral surface of the panel assembly, and

wherein the heater is formed to pass through the sealant and the spacer.