JP2004232887A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enhance designability of an entire door body of a refrigerator by putting a gloss on the door body to a peripheral edge part. <P>SOLUTION: The door body is composed of an outer plate 17 made of transparent resin, resin caps 18, 19 provided on the top and bottom of the outer plate 17, an inner plate 20, a heat insulating material 21 foamed and filled among the outer plate 17, inner plate and resin caps 18, 19. As the outer plate 17 of the transparent resin is molded by injection using acrylic resin as a material to have an approximately U-shaped cross section with a side wall surface 22, a light irradiated to the transparent resin is refracted in a round part of the side face of the door body to have an aesthetic property like a lens in the transparent resin. Accordingly the designability of the peripheral edge part of the door body is improved in comparison with the conventional door body and the designability of the entire door body can be enhanced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to improving the design of a refrigerator having a door.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, with the diversification of lifestyles, the quality of design has greatly influenced the value of products, and each company has devised the design of the door surface and provided refrigerators that match the lifestyle of customers (for example, See Patent Document 1.).
[0003]
Hereinafter, the conventional refrigerator will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0004]
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a door of the conventional refrigerator, and FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the door of the refrigerator.
[0005]
In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a door, which is foam-filled in a space surrounded by the colored resin plate 2, the frame 3, the inner plate 4, and the colored resin plate 2, the frame 3, and the inner plate 4. And a heat insulating material 5. The colored resin plate 2 is a flat plate and includes a transparent layer 6 and a colored layer 7, and the frame 3 is provided on the entire circumference of the colored resin plate 2. Further, the colored resin plate 2 is inserted into the insertion portion 8 provided at the front part of the frame 3 over the entire circumference, and then the heat insulating material 5 is filled and foamed.
[0006]
With the above configuration, the transparent layer 6 located before the coloring layer 7 can provide gloss and can have a deep gloss, and the design of the door 1 can be improved.
[0007]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-5-288458 [0008]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-described conventional configuration, the colored resin plate 2 is a flat plate and the frame 3 is provided over the entire circumference, so that it is not possible to bring out the gloss to the periphery of the door body, and the design of the periphery of the door body 1 is not designed. There was a problem that the property could not be improved.
[0009]
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of increasing the gloss up to the periphery of the door body and improving the design of the entire door body.
[0010]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 of the present invention provides a transparent resin outer plate having a substantially U-shaped cross section having a side wall surface, a resin cap provided above and below the outer plate, an inner plate, and the outer plate. And a door body made of a heat-insulating material that is foam-filled between the inner plate and the resin cap, and the transparent resin outer plate is poured into the transparent resin by being integrally molded to the side wall surface of the door body. The light is refracted at the side round portion of the door, and has an effect of giving a texture like a lens in the transparent resin.
[0011]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, there is provided a reinforcing member having a flange which extends to a side wall surface of a transparent resin outer plate having a substantially U-shaped cross section to receive the inner plate. The strength of the door body is increased, and the production of the door body is facilitated by the formation of the flange for receiving the inner plate.
[0012]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the reinforcing member is provided separately from the outer plate, and a movable mold is used for a side wall surface portion when the outer plate is injection-molded. This eliminates the necessity and does not impair the design of the transparent portion of the outer panel.
[0013]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the leg is provided integrally with the reinforcing member, and the leg is formed along the side wall surface of the outer plate and the inner surface of the front wall surface. In addition, even if the reinforcing member is formed as a separate structure, it is possible to configure a door body having enhanced strength when incorporated with the outer plate.
[0014]
The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the side wall surface of the outer plate and the side wall surface of the reinforcing member have the same plane shape. There is no step in the mating surface between the side wall surface of the first member and the side wall surface of the reinforcing member, and the design of the side wall surface can be enhanced. In addition, by using the same planar shape, the shape of the resin caps provided above and below the outer plate can be simplified, and workability during assembly is improved.
[0015]
The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the fixing of the outer plate and the reinforcing member is of a plug-in type without using claws. Simplification and cost reduction can be achieved, assembling becomes easy, and workability is improved.
[0016]
The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a colored layer is applied to the inside of an outer plate made of a transparent resin. A desired color can be colored after the plate is formed, productivity can be improved, and a deep texture can be obtained through the transparent layer.
[0017]
The invention of a refrigerator according to an eighth aspect is the refrigerator according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein an uneven portion is provided on an inner side of an outer plate made of a transparent resin. The poured light bends and reflects at the concave and convex portions to give a three-dimensional pattern and color.
[0018]
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, a hole is provided in the outer plate corresponding to a fixing portion of a handle attached to a front portion of the outer plate. The fixing portion of the handle is provided with a bank portion substantially the same as the thickness of the outer plate, the bank portion is disposed in the hole, and the handle is fixed to a fixing member provided inside the outer plate, When the handle is fixed to the door, no stress is locally applied to the transparent resin outer plate, no distortion occurs in appearance, and the design is not impaired.
[0019]
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the handle attached to the front surface of the door is composed of a plurality of members, the decorative member attached to the frontmost portion is a transparent resin member having a convex cross section, and the convex cross section of the handle front portion. The transparent resin member has the effect of a lens, and a deep gloss can be obtained.
[0020]
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the tenth aspect, the inside of a transparent resin member having a convex cross section serving as a decorative member is applied, and the transparent resin having a convex cross section on the front surface of the handle is provided. Light entering the member is reflected by the painted surface, and a deep gloss can be obtained. In addition, by changing the color and pattern of the coating, it is possible to easily cope with a flexible design.
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of a refrigerator according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0022]
(Embodiment 1)
1 is an external view of a refrigerator according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a refrigerator compartment door of the embodiment, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the refrigerator compartment door of the embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a part B in FIG.
[0023]
In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a refrigerator main body, which is opened at the front and partitioned into a plurality of upper and lower compartments to form a refrigerator compartment, a vegetable compartment, and a freezer compartment from above, a refrigerator compartment door 13a, 13b, and a vegetable compartment door. 14, a freezer compartment door 15.
[0024]
2 to 6 show the configuration of the refrigerator compartment door 13a. A handle 16 formed on the front surface in the vertical direction, an outer plate 17 made of transparent resin, and resin caps 18 and 19 provided above and below the outer plate 17 are shown. And an inner plate 20, and a heat insulating material 21 which is foam-filled between the outer plate 17, the inner plate 20, and the resin caps 18 and 19.
[0025]
The outer plate 17 made of a transparent resin is formed by injection molding using acrylic resin as a material, and is integrally formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section having a side wall surface 22. In particular, the side wall surface 22 of the outer panel is formed smoothly so as to have a continuous round shape at a bent portion from the front wall.
[0026]
Reinforcing members 24 having a flange 23 for receiving the inner plate 20 are provided on the left and right sides of the outer plate 17 made of a transparent resin having a substantially U-shaped cross section and extending to the side wall surface 22.
[0027]
Further, the reinforcing member 24 has a separate structure from the outer plate 17 and is connected at the side wall surface 22. The outer surface 25 of the side wall surface 22 of the outer plate 17 and the outer surface 27 of the side wall surface 26 of the reinforcing member 24 are the same. It has a planar shape. The distal end portion 28 of the side wall surface 22 is of an insertion type that is inserted into the concave portion 29 of the reinforcing member 24 without using claws.
[0028]
The reinforcing member 24 is formed integrally with the leg 30 in the vertical direction from the flange 23 when assembled with the outer plate 17. The leg 30 is formed along the inner surface of the side wall surface 22 and the back surface of the outer plate 17.
[0029]
In addition, a corrugated uneven portion 32 is formed on the inside of the transparent resin outer plate 17 having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and the surface thereof has a colored layer 31 to which an arbitrary coating is applied.
[0030]
The order of assembling is such that, after assembling the outer plate 17 and the reinforcing member 24, the outer plate 17 and the reinforcing member 24 are fixed to the resin caps 18 and 19, and then the inner plate 20 is covered while filling and foaming the heat insulating material 21.
[0031]
In the refrigerator door configured as described above, the light poured into the transparent resin portion of the outer plate 17 is reflected by the colored layer 31 and passes through the transparent resin portion again to enter the eyes of the user.
[0032]
At this time, the light transmittance (transparency) of the light of the transparent resin layer can be freely set, but assuming that it is 90% and the reflectance of the coloring layer 31 is 50%, the light entering from the surface is 0.9 × 0. It is 0.405 at 5 × 0.9, and by feeling about 40% of the light, the gloss and depth of the transparent layer can be obtained.
[0033]
Further, in the present embodiment, since the outer plate 17 made of transparent resin is integrally formed up to the side wall surface 22 of the door body, the light poured into the transparent resin is refracted at the side round portion of the door body and becomes transparent resin. By providing a texture like a lens inside, the design of the peripheral portion of the door body is improved as compared with the related art, and the design of the entire door body can be improved.
[0034]
In addition, since the refrigerator compartment door 13a has the outer plate 17 and the heat insulating material 21 integrally formed, there is no gap between the outer plate and the heat insulating layer forming portion, compared to the case where the outer plate is covered after the heat insulating material 21 is foamed. Sticking of the surface of the plate 17 can be prevented.
[0035]
In addition, since the outer plate 17 made of a transparent resin is injection-molded using an acrylic resin as a material, dimensional accuracy after molding can be improved as compared with extrusion molding.
[0036]
In addition, a reinforcing member 24 having a flange 23 for receiving the inner plate 20 is provided on the left and right sides, extending to the side wall surface 22 of the outer plate 17 made of a transparent resin having a substantially U-shaped cross section. Increase. Further, since the reinforcing member 24 is provided with the flange 23 for receiving the inner plate 20, the door body is easily manufactured.
[0037]
In addition, since the reinforcing member 24 has a separate structure from the outer plate 17, an undercut does not occur when the side wall surface 22 of the outer plate 17 is injection-molded, and it is not necessary to use a movable mold for the side wall surface. In the manufacturing aspect, the design of the transparent portion of the outer plate is not impaired.
[0038]
In addition, since the reinforcing member 24 is integrally formed with the leg 30 in the vertical direction from the flange 23 when assembled with the outer plate 17, deformation of the side wall surface of the outer plate 17 is prevented when the heat insulating material 21 is filled and foamed. it can. Further, since the leg 30 integrated with the reinforcing member 24 is securely bonded to the heat insulating material 21, the strength of the entire door body can be maintained and improved even when the reinforcing member 24 is formed separately from the outer plate 17.
[0039]
Further, since the outer surface 25 of the side wall surface 22 of the outer plate 17 and the outer surface 27 of the side wall surface 26 of the reinforcing member 24 have the same plane shape, the side wall surface 22 of the outer plate 17 and the side wall surface 26 of the reinforcing member 24 are formed. There is no step on the mating surfaces (outer surfaces 25, 26) of the side walls, and the design of the side wall surface can be enhanced. Further, by adopting the same planar shape, the shape of the engaging portion of the resin caps 18 and 19 provided above and below the outer plate 17 can be simplified, and the workability during assembly is improved.
[0040]
In addition, since the distal end portion 28 of the side wall surface 22 of the outer plate 17 is a plug-in type that is inserted into the concave portion 29 of the reinforcing member 24 without using claws, the structure can be simplified, the cost can be reduced, and the assembling is facilitated. The performance is improved.
[0041]
In addition, a corrugated uneven portion 32 is formed inside the outer plate 17 made of a transparent resin having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and the surface thereof has a colored layer 31 that has been subjected to arbitrary coating. The light poured into the transparent resin of the plate 17 is bent at the concave and convex portions 32 and reflected by the colored layer 31 to provide a three-dimensional pattern and color. Further, the formation of the concave and convex portions 32 has an effect of preventing the deformation of the outer plate 17 when the heat insulating material 21 is filled and foamed.
[0042]
Although the refrigerator compartment door 13a has been described in the present embodiment, the same applies to the vegetable compartment door 14 and the freezer compartment door 15. Further, if necessary, the coloring layer 31 may be colored in a plurality of colors, or a color, a pattern, or the like may be added to the front surface of the transparent resin layer.
[0043]
Further, in the present embodiment, the transparent resin outer plate 17 has been described as being formed by injection molding using acrylic resin as a material, but the material may be a transparent resin such as styrene resin, ABS resin, PP, PE, polycarbonate, PVC, or the like. It is possible.
[0044]
Although the outer plate 17 has been described as being formed by injection molding, it may be formed by extrusion. In this case, the outer plate 17 and the reinforcing member 24 can be integrally formed, so that the number of assembly steps and cost can be reduced.
[0045]
(Embodiment 2)
FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a refrigerator door according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a handle fixing portion, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a handle handle. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.
[0046]
In the drawing, holes 33 for attaching the handle 16 are provided at two upper and lower positions on the other end side of the hinge attachment portion (not shown) of the outer plate 17. The handle 16 includes a base handle 34 made of resin, a reinforcing handle 35 made of metal, and a decorative handle 36 made of transparent resin. The handle 16 is fixed to a handle fixing member 37 with a screw 38 through a hole 33. The base handle 34 has a bank portion 39 having substantially the same thickness as the outer plate 17, and is provided with a screw hole passing through a substantially central portion of the bank portion 39.
[0047]
The decorative handle 36 made of a transparent resin has a convex cross section, and is provided with a coating 40 on the inner surface.
[0048]
The handle 16 is assembled by attaching a handle fixing member 37 corresponding to the hole 33 before foaming and filling the heat insulating material 21 between the outer plate 17, the inner plate 20, and the resin caps 18 and 19. Fill and foam. After the door body is completed, the bank portion 39 of the base handle 34 is disposed in the hole 33, and the reinforcing handle 35 and the base handle 34 are fastened to the handle fixing member 37 together with the screw 39.
[0049]
The holes 33 formed in the transparent resin outer plate 17 are formed by laser processing or NC processing so that residual stress does not remain in the transparent resin outer plate 17 after the processing.
[0050]
According to the above configuration, when the reinforcing handle 35 and the base handle 34 are fastened together with the screw 39 to the handle fixing member 37, the base handle 34 has the bank portion 39 having substantially the same thickness as the outer plate 17, No tightening stress is applied to the hole 33 of the outer plate 17. Therefore, no stress is locally applied to the transparent resin in the vicinity of the hole 33 of the outer plate 17, and even when the handle 16 is incorporated, distortion in appearance does not occur and design quality is not impaired.
[0051]
Also, since the handle 16 is attached to the outer plate 17 with a degree of freedom, various handles can be applied according to the lifestyle of the customer.
[0052]
Further, since the cross section of the decorative handle 36 made of a transparent resin has a convex shape, the transparent resin member having a convex cross section on the front surface of the handle exerts the effect of a lens, and a deep luster can be obtained.
[0053]
In addition, since the coating 40 is applied to the inner surface of the transparent resin decorative handle 36 having a convex cross-section, light entering the transparent resin member having a convex cross-section on the front surface of the handle is reflected by the painted surface, and has a depth. Gloss can be obtained. In addition, by changing the color and pattern of the coating, it is possible to easily cope with a flexible design.
[0054]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the invention according to claim 1 includes a transparent resin outer plate having a substantially U-shaped cross section having a side wall surface, a resin cap provided above and below the outer plate, an inner plate, Since it has a door body made of a heat insulating material that is foam-filled between the outer plate, the inner plate and the resin cap, the transparent resin outer plate is poured into the transparent resin by integrally molding up to the side wall surface of the door body. Light is refracted at the side round portion of the door body, and a texture like a lens can be obtained in the transparent resin, the design of the peripheral portion of the door body is enhanced, and the design of the entire door body can be enhanced. .
[0055]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a flange extends to a side wall surface of an outer plate made of a transparent resin having a substantially U-shaped cross section and receives the inner plate. Since the reinforcing member is provided, the door body can be easily manufactured by forming the flange for receiving the inner plate while increasing the strength of the door body.
[0056]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, since the reinforcing member is provided separately from the outer plate, a movable mold is used for the side wall surface when the outer plate is injection-molded. This eliminates the necessity and does not impair the design of the transparent portion of the outer panel.
[0057]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the leg is provided integrally with the reinforcing member, and the leg is formed along the side wall surface of the outer plate and the inner surface of the front wall surface. Therefore, even if the reinforcing member has a separate structure, the strength of the entire door body can be increased.
[0058]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, the side wall surface of the outer plate and the side wall surface of the reinforcing member have the same plane shape. There is no step in the mating surface between the side wall surface of the first member and the side wall surface of the reinforcing member, and the design of the side wall surface can be enhanced. In addition, by using the same planar shape, the shape of the resin caps provided above and below the outer plate can be simplified, and workability during assembly is improved.
[0059]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, the fixing of the outer plate and the reinforcing member is of a plug-in type without using claws. Simplification and cost reduction can be achieved, assembling becomes easy, and workability is improved.
[0060]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, a colored layer is provided on the inner side of the outer plate made of a transparent resin. A desired color can be colored after the plate is formed, productivity can be improved, and a deep texture can be obtained through the transparent layer.
[0061]
According to the invention of a refrigerator according to claim 8, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 7, an uneven portion is provided on an inner side of a transparent resin outer plate. The poured light bends and reflects at the concave and convex portions to give a three-dimensional pattern and color.
[0062]
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, a hole is formed in the outer plate corresponding to a fixing portion of a handle attached to a front portion of the outer plate. Along with the provision, the fixing portion of the handle is provided with a bank portion substantially the same as the thickness of the outer plate, and the handle is fixed to a fixing member provided inside the outer plate by arranging the bank portion in the hole, When the handle is fixed to the door, no stress is locally applied to the transparent resin outer plate, no distortion occurs in appearance, and the design is not impaired.
[0063]
Further, in the invention according to claim 10, the handle attached to the front surface of the door is composed of a plurality of members, and the decorative member attached to the frontmost portion is a transparent resin member having a convex cross section, so that the handle front portion has a convex cross section. The transparent resin member has the effect of a lens, and a deep gloss can be obtained.
[0064]
According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention of the tenth aspect, since the inside of the transparent resin member having a convex cross section serving as a decorative member is coated, the transparent resin having a convex cross section on the front surface of the handle is provided. Light entering the member is reflected by the painted surface, and a deep gloss can be obtained. In addition, by changing the color and pattern of the coating, it is possible to easily cope with a flexible design.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is an external view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a refrigerator compartment door of the embodiment; FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a refrigerator compartment door of the embodiment; FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion B of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a refrigerator door according to a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a handle portion of the refrigerator. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a door of a conventional refrigerator. FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a door of the refrigerator.
11 Refrigerator body 13a Refrigerator compartment door 16 Handle 17 Outer plate 18, 19 Resin cap 20 Inner plate 21 Insulation material 22 Side wall surface 23 Flange 24 Reinforcement member 30 Leg 31 Colored layer 32 Uneven portion 33 Hole 34 Base handle 35 Reinforcement handle 36 Makeup handle 37 Handle fixing member 39 Bank 40 Painting

Claims (11)

A transparent resin outer plate having a substantially U-shaped cross section having a side wall surface, a resin cap provided above and below the outer plate, an inner plate, and foam filling between the outer plate, the inner plate, and the resin cap. Refrigerator having a door made of a heat insulating material. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a reinforcing member having a flange for receiving the inner plate and extending to a side wall surface of the outer plate made of a transparent resin having a substantially U-shaped cross section. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the reinforcing member is provided separately from the outer plate. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein legs are provided integrally with the reinforcing member, and the legs are formed along the side wall surface of the outer plate and the inner surface of the front wall surface. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the side wall surface of the outer plate and the side wall surface of the reinforcing member have the same plane shape. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the outer plate and the reinforcing member are fixed by a plug-in type without using claws. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a colored layer is provided inside a transparent resin outer plate. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein an uneven portion is provided on an inner side of an outer plate made of a transparent resin. A hole is provided in the outer plate corresponding to a fixing portion of the handle attached to the front portion of the outer plate, and a bank portion having substantially the same thickness as the outer plate is provided in the fixing portion of the handle, and the bank is provided in the hole. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the handle is fixed to a fixing member provided with a portion and provided inside the outer plate. A refrigerator characterized in that a handle attached to the front surface of the door comprises a plurality of members, and a decorative member attached to the frontmost portion is a transparent resin member having a convex cross section. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein a coating is applied to the inside of a transparent resin member having a convex cross-section serving as a decorative member.

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