JP2000097552A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the assembly working efficiency of a door and to reduce costs due to the reduction in the number of parts by providing the door where a foamed heat-insulating material is filled into a space being surrounded by an outer plate and a cap and forming a grip part at the cap of the door in one piece. SOLUTION: A door 1 is mounted by inserting a lower cap 4 into the lower end of an outer plate 6 from the lower portion of the outer plate 6, a cap 8 covers the upper portion of the outer plate 6, and the upper end of a front surface 9A of the outer plate 6 and that of a side surface 6B are inserted into the inside of a front surface 9A and a side surface 9C of a body 9. Then, an inner plate made of a resin is mounted between the rear end parts of both side surfaces 6B of the outer plate 6, and a heat-insulating material 15 is filled between the outer plate 6 and the inner plate and between upper and lower caps 8 and 14 for adhering and hardening, thus reducing the number of parts, reducing a working process, and improving working efficiency.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refrigerator having a door for opening and closing the inside of a refrigerator.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a home refrigerator of this type is constituted by a heat insulating box body in which a heat insulating material such as foamed polyurethane is filled by an in-situ foaming method between an outer box made of a steel sheet and an inner box made of a hard resin. By partitioning the inside of the heat insulation box,
A freezing room cooled to a freezing temperature such as 20 ° C., a refrigerated room maintained at a refrigerated temperature such as + 5 ° C., and a vegetable room for storing foods such as vegetables that do not like to be dried are formed.

[0003] In particular, in recent years, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-3386.
As shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 81 (F25D23 / 00), a refrigerator room and a vegetable room where foods are frequently delivered are arranged above, and a freezing room for long-term storage is arranged at the bottom of the refrigerator. Refrigerators are being developed. In this case, the refrigerator compartment is formed in the upper part of the heat insulating box, and the vegetable compartment is formed between the lower freezer compartment and the upper refrigerator compartment.

[0004] The front opening of the vegetable compartment is closed by a drawer-type door so as to be openable and closable, and a handle is formed at the upper front part of the drawer-type door.

Here, a refrigerator door 101 as a first conventional example will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional drawer type door 101, and 102 is an outer plate made of a steel plate. The outer plate 102 has a front surface 102A.
And side surfaces 102B and 102B formed by bending both ends of the front surface 102A backward at a predetermined curvature. A concave portion 102C is formed in the upper center of the front surface 102A. At both sides of the concave portion 102C, mounting holes 102D, 102D for mounting an upper cap described later are formed.

Reference numeral 103 denotes an upper cap, which is formed of a hard synthetic resin into a substantially U-shaped cross section that opens downward as shown in FIG. 6, and is formed to have a dimension that covers the upper end of the outer plate 102. The upper surface of the main body 103A of the upper cap 103 is bent at a predetermined curvature at the center front surface thereof, and the concave portion 1 of the outer plate 102 is formed.
An attachment portion 103B formed so as to be continuous with 02C is provided. The vertical width of the mounting portion 103B is
It is wider than the main body 103A, and mounting holes 104, 104 are formed on both sides.

Reference numeral 105 denotes a lower cap, similarly to the upper cap 103, formed of a hard synthetic resin into a substantially U-shaped cross section which is open upward, and is formed to have a dimension covering the lower end of the outer plate 102.

On the other hand, reference numeral 106 denotes a handle, which is formed by solid molding of a hard synthetic resin into a U-shaped cross section opened at the front surface, and has a shape which is curved at a predetermined curvature as a whole. At both sides of the rear surface of the handle 106, mounting holes (not shown) are formed. Reference numeral 107 denotes a cover for covering the front opening of the handle 106. Next, a procedure for assembling the door 101 of the first conventional example will be described. First, the lower cap 105 is inserted and attached to the lower end of the outer plate 102 from below the outer plate 102. Next, the outer plate 1
02 from above. At this time,
The mounting portion 103B of the upper cap 103 overlaps the concave portion 102D of the outer plate 102, and the mounting holes 104 and 104 are
2D and 102D respectively.

Next, a resin inner plate (not shown) is connected to the outer plate 1.
The heat insulating material 109 is filled between the outer plate 102 and the inner plate and between the upper and lower caps 103 and 105 and solidified by being attached over the rear end portions of both side surfaces 102B of the second member 102, thereby integrating the whole.

Next, the handle 106 is brought into contact with the concave portion 102C of the front surface 102A from the front of the outer plate 102, and the mounting holes correspond to the mounting holes 102D, 102D. In this state, the screws 108, 108 are inserted into the handle 106 and screwed into the mounting holes 102D, 102D, 104, 104 so that the handle 106 is attached to the outer plate 102 and the upper cap 10.
63 and integrate them. The door 101 is completed by fitting the cover 107 into the front opening of the handle 106.

Next, a refrigerator door 1 according to a second conventional example will be described.
10 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of another conventional drawer type door 110, and 111 is a steel plate outer plate. The outer plate 111 has a front surface 111A and side surfaces 111B, 1B formed by bending both ends of the front surface 111A backward at a predetermined curvature.
11B, and a similar recess 111C is formed in the upper center of the front surface 111A. At both sides of the concave portion 111C, mounting holes 111D, 111D for mounting an upper cap described later are similarly formed.

On the other hand, reference numeral 112 denotes an upper cap, which is formed of a hard synthetic resin into a substantially U-shaped cross section opened downward as shown in FIG. At the center front surface of the main body 112A of the upper cap 112, there is formed a mounting portion 112B which is curved at a predetermined curvature and is continuous with the concave portion 111C of the outer plate 111. The vertical dimension of the mounting portion 112B is
It is formed wider than the front surface of 12A, and mounting holes 113, 113 are formed on both sides thereof.

Reference numeral 114 denotes a lower cap, which is formed of a hard synthetic resin into a substantially U-shaped cross-section and is formed to have a dimension covering the lower end of the outer plate 111, similarly to the upper cap 112.

On the other hand, reference numeral 115 denotes a handle, which is formed by hollow molding of a hard synthetic resin, has a space formed therein, and has a shape which is curved at a predetermined curvature as a whole. At both ends of the handle 115, attachment portions (not shown) for attachment to the outer plate 111 are formed. A nut (not shown) is embedded in the mounting portion and fixed by a heating insert.

Next, a procedure for assembling the door 110 of the second conventional example will be described. First, from below the outer plate 111, the outer plate 11
The lower cap 114 is inserted and attached to the lower end of 1. Next, the upper cap 112 is covered from above the outer plate 111, and the mounting portion 112B is overlapped with the concave portion 111D of the outer plate 111 to be continuous. Next, the handle 115 is brought into contact with the concave portion 111C of the front surface 111A from the front of the outer plate 111, and the handle 115, the outer plate 111 and the upper cap 112 are integrally fixed with screws 116 and 116 from the rear of the outer plate 111. I do.

Next, a resin inner plate (not shown) is connected to the outer plate 1.
11 is mounted over the rear end portions of both side surfaces 111B, and a heat insulating material 117 is filled between the outer plate 111 and the inner plate and the upper and lower caps 112 and 114 to be solidified, so that the door 11
0 was completed.

[0017]

However, in the door 101 of the first conventional example described above, since each part is a separate part, the number of parts is increased and the cost is increased. Further, since the door 101 has to fix the outer plate 102, the upper cap 103, and the handle 106 with the screw 108, a screw fixing operation is required in an assembling process, and there is a problem that the assembling workability is deteriorated.

Further, as described above, the door 101 has a screw 1
08, the handle 106 is fixed to the outer plate 102. As the frequency of use increases, the screw 108 becomes loose,
There was also a risk that the handle 106 would fall off.

On the other hand, also in the door 110 of the second conventional example described above, since each part is a separate part, the number of parts is increased and the cost is increased. In particular, since a nut for screwing with the screw 116 needs to be embedded in the handle 115 by a heating insert, the manufacturing of the handle 115 is complicated.

The door 110 is similar to the first prior art,
Since the handle 115 is fixed to the outer plate 111 with the screw 116, there has been a problem that the screw 116 is loosened and the handle 115 falls off as the frequency of use increases. In particular, in this case, since the handle 115 is fixed from the side of the heat insulating material 117 of the door 110 with screws, there has been a problem that when the handle 115 falls off, the entire door 110 must be replaced.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional technical problems, and can improve the workability of assembling a door and reduce the cost associated with the reduction in the number of parts. It is intended to provide a refrigerator that can be used.

[0022]

According to the refrigerator of the present invention, a resin cap is attached to an end of a steel plate, and a space surrounded by the outer plate and the cap is filled with a foamed heat insulating material. And a handle formed integrally with a cap of the door.

According to the present invention, a refrigerator provided with a door in which a resin-made cap is attached to an end of a steel plate and a space surrounded by the shell and the cap is filled with a foamed heat insulating material. Since the handle is integrally formed with the door cap, the number of components can be significantly reduced and assembly workability can be improved as compared with the case where a handle of another component is attached to the outer plate or the cap.

In particular, since the cap and the outer plate are firmly integrated by the bonding of the foam heat insulating material, even if the door is repeatedly opened and closed with the handle part integrated with the cap, there is no inconvenience that the cap and the outer plate come off. In addition, since the handle is integral with the cap, the design appearance is also improved.

In the refrigerator according to the second aspect of the present invention, the handle portion is opened downward, and a separate cover is attached to the opening.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above, a separate cover is attached to the handle to close the opening below the handle, so that the user can accidentally put his hand in this opening. In addition to being able to prevent that, the gripping condition can be stabilized. Further, since the cover is attached by providing an inconspicuous opening below, the design appearance is not impaired.

[0027]

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator R to which the present invention is applied. The refrigerator R of the present invention is constituted by an outer box 2 made of a steel plate which is opened forward, and an insulating box body 3 formed by filling a foamed polyurethane insulating material between the inner boxes (not shown) made of hard resin by an in-situ foaming method. The interior of the heat-insulating box 3 is vertically partitioned by a partition member (not shown), and the upper part of the partition member is a refrigeration room maintained at a refrigeration temperature (about + 5 ° C.). The front opening of the refrigerator compartment is closed by a pivotable door 5 having a handle 4 so that it can be opened and closed.

The lower part of the partitioning member is further divided vertically by a heat insulating partition wall (not shown), and a space between the heat insulating partition wall and the partition member is a vegetable room for storing foods such as vegetables which are difficult to dry. The freezing temperature (-20
℃).

Here, the front opening of the vegetable compartment is closed by a drawer-type door 1 so as to be freely opened and closed. In this case, door 1
A pair of door-side rails (not shown) extend rearward and are attached to the left and right sides of the rear surface, and a pair of inner box-side rails are attached to left and right inner surfaces of the inner box.

An inner box side roller is provided on the inner box side rail,
Door-side rollers are also attached to the door-side rails. On the door rail, a vegetable container (not shown) which is located on the back side of the door 1 and opened on the upper surface is attached.

The door 1 is slidably mounted on the inner box side rail, and the door 1 is slidably mounted and supported on the inner box side roller. It can be delivered freely in the vegetable room.

Next, the door 1 according to the present invention is shown in FIGS.
This will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the door 1 to which the present invention is applied, and 6 is an outer plate made of a steel plate. The outer plate 6 includes a front surface 6A, and side surfaces 6B and 6B formed by bending both ends of the front surface 6A backward at a predetermined curvature, and a finger is inserted into the upper center of the front surface 6A. Recess 7 is formed.

On the other hand, reference numeral 8 denotes an upper cap, which is composed of a main body 9 and a handle 10. The main body 9 and the handle 10 are integrally formed by injection molding as shown in FIG. 3 using a hard synthetic resin.

The main body 9 is formed so as to cover the upper end of the outer plate 6, and has a front surface 9A, an upper surface 9B, a side surface 9C and a rear surface 9D.
, And has a substantially U-shaped cross section that opens downward. The front surface 9A of the main body 9 has a concave portion that is curved at a position that is continuous with the concave portion 7 of the outer plate 6 when attached to the outer plate 6, that is, the central portion is curved.

The handle portion 10 is formed to have a substantially U-shaped cross section having an opening 11 below, and is formed so as to protrude forward while bending at a predetermined curvature from the front surface 9A. The handle 10 straddles the recessed portion of the front surface 9A, and both side ends thereof are connected to the front surface 9A. Thereby, the handle portion 10 and the front surface 9 of the main body 9 are
A gap 12 for inserting a finger is formed between the recessed portion of A.

Further, a cover 13 for closing the opening 11 is attached to the opening 11 of the handle 10. The cover 13 is formed so as to be slightly smaller than the size of the opening 11 and has such a size that it is fitted and does not easily come off when attached.

A lower cap 14 is formed of a hard synthetic resin into a substantially U-shaped cross section which is open upward, and has a dimension to cover the lower end of the outer plate 6.

Next, the procedure for assembling the door 1 will be described. First, the lower cap 14 is inserted and attached to the lower end of the outer plate 6 from below the outer plate 6. Next, the upper cap 8 is put on the outer plate 6 from above.
The upper end of the front surface 6A and the upper end of the side surface 6B of the outer plate 6 are inserted inside the front surface 9A and the side surface 9C of the main body 9 so that the concave portion of A overlaps with the concave portion 7 of the outer plate 6 and is continuous.

Then, a resin inner plate (not shown) is connected to the outer plate 6.
Attached between the rear end portions of both side surfaces 6B, 6B, and a heat insulating material 15 between the outer plate 6 and the inner plate and the upper and lower caps 8, 14.
Is filled by an in-situ foaming method, and is solidified by bonding, and integrated.

Next, the door 1 is completed by fitting the cover 13 from below the opening 11 of the handle 10 of the upper cap 8.

Since the door 1 is configured as described above,
Compared with a conventional door in which the upper cap and the handle are formed of different parts, the number of parts can be significantly reduced. In addition, when assembling work is performed, the number of work steps can be reduced, and workability can be improved.

The upper cap 8 and the outer plate 6 are made of a heat insulating material 15.
The upper cap 8
Even if the door 1 is repeatedly opened and closed by holding the handle portion 10 integrated with the door 1, there is no inconvenience that the upper cap 8 comes off the door 1. Further, since the handle portion 10 is integrated with the upper cap 8, the design appearance is also improved.

The door structure is applied not only to the door 1 attached to the front of the vegetable compartment, but also to the door 16 attached to the front opening of the freezing compartment.

[0044]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, a resin cap is attached to the end of a steel plate, and the space surrounded by the shell and the cap is filled with a foamed heat insulating material. In a refrigerator equipped with a door consisting of a door, the handle is formed integrally with the door cap, so that the number of parts can be significantly reduced as compared with the case where a handle of another part is attached to the outer plate or the cap, and the assembling work is performed. The performance is also improved.

In particular, since the cap and the outer plate are firmly integrated by the bonding of the foam heat insulating material, even if the door is repeatedly opened and closed with the handle part integrated with the cap, there is no inconvenience that the door comes off. In addition, since the handle is integral with the cap, the design appearance is also improved.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the above, a separate cover is attached to the handle to close the opening below the handle, so that the user can accidentally put his hand in this opening. In addition to being able to prevent that, the gripping condition can be stabilized. Further, since the cover is attached by providing an inconspicuous opening below, the design appearance is not impaired.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a refrigerator door to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 3 is a top sectional view of a refrigerator door to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a refrigerator door to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a door of the refrigerator of the first conventional example.

FIG. 6 is a top sectional view of the door of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the door of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a door of the refrigerator of the second conventional example.

FIG. 9 is a top sectional view of the door of FIG.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the door of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 R refrigerator 1 door 6 outer plate 7 recess 8 upper cap 9 main body 9A front surface 9B upper surface 9C side surface 9D rear surface 10 handle portion 11 opening 12 gap 13 cover 14 lower cap 15 heat insulating material

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Hidehiko Sato 2-5-2-5 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (72) Kimie Takashima 2-5-2 Keihanhondori, Moriguchi-shi, Osaka No. 5 Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 3L102 JA01 KA10 KD10 KE01 KE06 MA01 MB01 MB14

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A refrigerator provided with a door having a resin cap attached to an end of an outer plate made of a steel plate and filling a space surrounded by the outer plate and the cap with a foamed heat insulating material. A refrigerator characterized in that a handle is integrally formed with the cap. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the handle is opened downward, and a separate cover is attached to the opening.