JP7065133B2 - refrigerator - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a refrigerator.

Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, some front plates of refrigerator doors are provided with a vertically long display panel portion.

Patent No. 3705032

By the way, some front plates of refrigerator doors are formed in a curved surface from the inner end surface side to the outer end surface side of the door in order to improve the appearance in terms of appearance design. When the shape of the flat display panel part is long in the horizontal direction instead of the vertical direction, the display panel part is attached according to the curved surface shape of this door, so that the flat display panel part is the front plate of the door. The door will be installed at an angle from the inner end surface side to the outer end surface side according to the curved surface.

For this reason, the display contents of the display panel portion are displayed diagonally outward from the front plate of the door, so that it is difficult for the user to see these display contents of the display panel portion from the front side of the refrigerator. For the user, there is a problem that the visibility of the display content on the display panel portion is lowered.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to display the display content of the operation panel portion regardless of the curved surface shape of the front plate of the door even if the front surface of the door is curved. It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator which can be easily seen from the front side of the refrigerator and can improve the visibility of the displayed contents.

The refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention has a main body, a door that closes the front opening of the main body, a panel portion that is arranged on the door and can display information, and a panel portion having a flat display surface, and the panel. A front member provided on the door so as to be arranged on the front side of the portion and having a curved front surface in the width direction is provided, and the display surface is on the front side of the refrigerator on the inner surface of the front member. The panel portion is arranged so as to face the curved surface of the front member in a state of being tilted in the width direction.

It is a front view which shows the whole of the refrigerator which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing in the vertical direction of the refrigerator shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the example of the electrical connection of a left door opening operation part, a right door opening operation part, an operation panel part, a door opening device, and a control part. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a vertical cross-sectional structure in the vicinity of the operation panel portion on the AA line of the left door. It is a front view which shows the preferable structural example of the operation panel part shown in FIG. It is an exploded perspective view which shows the operation panel part shown in FIG. 5 and the front cover member. It is a front view of the front cover member. It is a top view of the front cover member. It is a figure which shows the rear surface of the front cover member shown in FIG. 7. It is a figure which shows the example of the cross-sectional shape in each part of the front cover member shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the shape of the front cover member simply.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Overall structure of refrigerator 1>
FIG. 1 is a front view showing the entire refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG.

The refrigerator 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has a main body 1A. The main body 1A of the refrigerator 1 has a left side surface portion 17, a right side surface portion 18, an upper surface portion 19, a bottom surface portion 15, and a back surface portion 16. The main body 1A has an outer box made of an outer side plate and an inner box made of an inner side plate. Since the heat insulating material is arranged between the outer box and the inner box, the main body 1A has a heat insulating property. A plurality of storage chambers are formed inside the main body 1A.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, as storage chambers, a refrigerating chamber 2 and a vegetable compartment 3 are provided in order from the top, and an ice making chamber 4 and a small freezing chamber 5 are arranged side by side under the vegetable compartment 3. The main freezing chamber 6 is provided at the lowermost part.

On the front surface of the refrigerating chamber 2 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, left and right doors 7 and 8 for opening and closing the front opening of the refrigerating chamber 2 are provided. The left and right doors 7 and 8 are double doors, and the left end of the left door 7 is rotatably attached by a hinge (not shown). Similarly, the right end of the right door 8 is rotatably attached by a hinge (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, on the front surfaces of the vegetable compartment 3, the ice making chamber 4, the small freezing chamber 5, and the main freezing chamber 6, drawer-type doors 9, 10, 11, and which open and close each front opening are opened and closed. 12 is provided. The left and right doors 7 and 8 and the drawer type doors 9, 10, 11 and 12 have heat insulating properties by providing a heat insulating material inside.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front surfaces (outer surfaces) of the left and right doors 7, 8 and the pull-out doors 9, 10, 11 and 12 are made of a metal front plate, preferably a steel plate. Front plates 7A, 8A, 9A, 10A, 11A, 12A are arranged.

The front plate 7A of the door 7 on the left side has a curved shape by being curved from the inner end surface 7N of the door 7 to the outer end surface. Similarly, the front plate 8A of the door 8 on the right side has a curved shape by being curved from the inner end surface 8N of the door 8 to the outer end surface. As a result, the appearance of the doors 7 and 8 in terms of appearance design can be improved as compared with the case where the front plates of the doors 7 and 8 are flat.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, an example of the structure of the refrigerator 1, the vegetable compartment 3, the ice making chamber 4, the small freezing chamber 5, and the main freezing chamber 6 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 2, a machine room 22 is provided at a position on the back surface of the main freezing room 6 of the main body 1A, and a compressor 23 and the like are arranged in the machine room 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, at the back position of the main body 1A, a storage chamber blower 30, a storage chamber cooler 31, and a ventilation duct 32 are arranged on the rear side of the vegetable compartment 3. Further, at the back position of the main body 1A, a freezing room blower 40, a freezing room cooler 41, and an air blower are located behind the ice making room (storage room) 4, the small freezing room (storage room) 5, and the main freezing room 6. The duct 42 is arranged. The storage room cooler 31 and the freezer room cooler 41 are cooled by the refrigerant supplied from the compressor 23.

The upper and lower storage containers 3M and 3N are stored in the vegetable compartment 3 so that they can be taken in and out. In the small freezing chamber 5, a storage container 5M is stored so that it can be taken in and out. The upper and lower storage containers 6M and 6N are stored in the main freezing chamber 6 so that they can be taken in and out.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the door opening devices 51 and 52 are provided, for example, on the upper surface portion 19 of the main body 1A. Both the door opening devices 51 and 52 can use an actuator such as an electromagnetic solenoid. When the door opening device 51 is driven, the door 7 on the left side can be pushed to open. Similarly, when the door opening device 52 is driven, the door 8 on the right side can be pushed to open.

<Left door opening operation unit 61, right door opening operation unit 62, and operation panel unit 70>
As shown in FIG. 1, the left door opening operation unit 61 is arranged on the lower side portion 7P of the left door 7, and the right door opening operation unit 62 is arranged on the lower side portion 8P of the right door 8. Moreover, the operation panel portion 70 is arranged on the lower side portion 8P of the door 8 on the right side. The lower side portions 7P and 8P are lower side region portions also called belt lines along the X direction (horizontal direction) of the refrigerator 1. The width direction of the refrigerator 1 in the left-right direction is the X direction, the depth direction is the Y direction, and the vertical direction is the Z direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the left door opening operation unit 61 is arranged at a position close to the inner end surface 7N of the left door 7, and the right door opening operation unit 62 is located near the inner end surface 8N of the right door 8. Have been placed. The right door opening operation unit 62 and the operation panel unit 70 are arranged side by side on the lower side portion 8P.

As a result, the left door opening operation unit 61, the right door opening operation unit 62, and the operation panel unit 70 are arranged in series along the X direction (horizontal direction) in the lower side portions 7P and 8P.

Conventionally, since the display panel portion is arranged at a position in the middle of the front plate of the door, the presence of the display panel portion breaks the vertical continuity in the appearance design of the refrigerator door. However, in the embodiment of the present invention, the operation panel portion 70 is arranged on the lower side portion 8P of the door 8 of the refrigerator 1 which is called the so-called belt line, so that the upper and lower continuity in the appearance design of the door is maintained. Therefore, the appearance design of the refrigerator 1 can be improved.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of electrical connection between the left door opening operation unit 61, the right door opening operation unit 62, the operation panel unit 70, the door opening devices 51 and 52, and the control unit 100.

As shown in FIG. 3, the left door opening operation unit 61 has a touch operation unit 61T. When the user's finger approaches or comes into contact with the touch operation unit 61T of the left door opening operation unit 61, the circuit board of the left door opening operation unit 61 detects the change in capacitance and the door opening device 51. The signal S1 for causing the operation of the above is generated in the control unit 100. As a result, the door opening device 51 operates according to the command of the control unit 100, and the door 7 on the left side can be automatically pushed to open. The front side of the left door opening operation unit 61 is covered with a transparent or translucent front cover member 61G.

Similarly, the right door opening operation unit 62 has a touch operation unit 62T. When the user's finger approaches or comes into contact with the touch operation unit 62T of the right door opening operation unit 62, the circuit board of the right door opening operation unit 62 detects the change in capacitance and the door opening device 52. The signal S2 for causing the operation of the above is generated in the control unit 100. The door opening device 52 operates according to the command of the control unit 100, and the door 8 on the right side can be automatically pushed to open.

The operation panel unit 70 shown in FIG. 3 has a function selection unit 80 and a display unit 110. The function selection unit 80 detects a change in capacitance by approaching or touching the user's finger, and performs functions of the main body 1A of the refrigerator 1, for example, a function related to refrigeration, a function related to freezing, and the like. It can be selected as appropriate. The display unit 110 can display various display items such as functions related to the main body 1A, for example, functions related to refrigeration and functions related to freezing, by turning on the lights. The front side of the right door opening operation unit 62 and the operation panel unit 70 is covered with a transparent or translucent front cover member 55.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a vertical cross-sectional structure in the vicinity of the operation panel portion 70 on the AA line of the left door 8 in FIG. FIG. 4 shows the front plate 8A of the left door 8, the front cover member 55, and the operation panel portion 70.

As shown in FIG. 4, the operation panel portion 70 is arranged on the lower side portion 8P of the door 8 as described above. The front cover member 55 is a long, substantially rectangular plate-shaped member made of a transparent or translucent plastic material. The front cover member 55 is transparent or, more preferably, colored so as to be translucent according to the coating color of the steel plate front plate 8A.

As shown in FIG. 4, the front cover member 55 is arranged on the lower side portion 8P of the door 8 along the X direction (horizontal direction). The front cover member 55 covers the front side of the function selection unit 80 and the display unit 110 of the operation panel unit 70. The function selection unit 80 of the operation panel unit 70 is arranged so as to overlap the display unit 110 of the operation panel unit 70 on the front side. That is, the function selection unit 80 is arranged on the rear side of the front cover member 55, and the display unit 110 is arranged on the rear side of the function selection unit 80.

When the user brings his / her finger closer to the touch operation unit described later of the function selection unit 80, the touch operation unit detects the change in capacitance and functions of the main body 1A of the refrigerator 1, for example, a function related to refrigeration. , Functions related to freezing, etc. can be appropriately selected via the front cover member 55. Further, the user can visually confirm various display items such as the function of the main body 1A lit and displayed on the display unit 110, for example, the function related to refrigeration and the function related to freezing, through the front cover member 55. It has become.

<Operation panel 70>
FIG. 5 is a front view showing a preferable structural example of the operation panel unit 70 shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing the operation panel portion 70 shown in FIG. 5 and the front cover member 55.

As shown in FIG. 6, the operation panel unit 70 has a function selection unit 80 and a display unit 110, and further has a shielding plate 90 arranged between the function selection unit 80 and the display unit 110.

<Function selection unit 80 of the operation panel unit 70>
First, the function selection unit 80 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the function selection unit 80 is a rectangular circuit board. The front surface 80M of the function selection unit 80 shown in FIG. 6 has a plurality of touch operation units, for example, five touch operation units 81 to 85. The touch operation units 81 to 85 are connected to the electrical connection member 86 via wiring, respectively.

The electrical connection member 86 is arranged at a substantially central position on the rear surface 80N of the function selection unit 80, and the electrical connection member 86 is arranged at a position between the touch operation units 82 and 83. Projecting portions 80T and 80S are formed at positions corresponding to the electrical connection member 86 of the function selection unit 80 in which the electrical connection member 86 is arranged.

As a result, when the electrical connection member 86 shown in FIG. 5 is arranged in the mounting area SS of the rear surface 80N, even if the size of the electrical connection member 86 is large or small due to the convenience of manufacturing, the protrusion 80T and the protrusion 80T. The rectangular mounting area SS surrounded by the portion 80S can be securely mounted so that the electrical connection member 86 does not protrude. As a result, it is possible to prevent a manufacturing defect in which the electrical connection member 86 protrudes from the function selection unit 80 and is attached at the time of manufacturing.

Here, an example of the setting function relating to the refrigerator 1 of the touch operation units 81 to 85 shown in FIG. 5 will be described.

The touch operation unit 81 can change and input the capacity of the refrigerating function from "small to large" each time the user touches it. The touch operation unit 82 can change and input the capacity of the freezing function from "small to large" each time the user touches it.

Further, the touch operation unit 83 can select and input the type of the freezing function each time the user touches it. The touch operation unit 84 can input the "ice making mode" by the user touching it. When the "ice making mode" is input, it is a function that ice making can be performed in the ice making chamber 4 shown in FIG. 1 in about 50 minutes at the fastest, for example. The touch operation unit 85 can input the "power saving mode" by the user touching it.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 6, the function selection unit 80 has an upper edge portion 80W. The upper edge portion 80W is a portion other than the protruding portion 80T, and is a portion formed so as to be lowered in the Z direction. Since the upper edge portion 80W is formed so as to be lowered in the Z direction, the function selection unit 80 is located at the positions of the LEDs L1 to L7 and L11 to L31 of the display unit 110 of the operation panel unit 70. Is formed to avoid.

That is, the upper edge portion 80W of the function selection unit 80 avoids the arrangement positions of the LEDs L1 to L7 and L11 to L31 of the display unit 110 and the arrangement positions of the plurality of light guide hole portions H1 to H7 and H11 to H24. In this way, it is formed so as to be lowered downward in the Z direction. As a result, the upper edge portion 80W shown in FIG. 8 is formed so as to be lowered downward in the Z direction, so that the occupied space (occupied area) of the function selection unit 80 can be made as small as possible.

Therefore, since the occupied space (occupied area) of the function selection unit 80 is made as small as possible, the displayable area of the display unit 110 can be increased in the limited occupied space of the operation panel unit 70. While increasing the displayable area of the display unit 110, the total value of the upper area portion G1 and the lower region portion G2, which are the height dimensions of the operation panel unit 70 in the Z direction shown in FIG. 5 (width of the operation panel in the Z direction). Can be suppressed, and the space occupied by the operation panel unit 70 can be reduced.

Therefore, by reducing the height dimension of the operation panel portion 70 in the vertical direction (Z direction) to save space in the operation panel portion 70, the lower side portion 8P of the door 8 is due to the presence of the operation panel portion 80. It is possible to improve the appearance design of the refrigerator 1 by preventing it from being overemphasized in the appearance design.

<Display unit 110 of operation panel unit 70>
Next, the display unit 110 of the operation panel unit 70 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. The display unit 110 is a rectangular plastic plate member. The vertical and horizontal dimensions of the display unit 110 are larger than the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the function selection unit 80 described above.

As shown in FIG. 5, the display unit 110 includes LEDs (light emitting diodes) L1 to L7, LEDs L11 to L31, and electrical connection members 77 and 79 as a plurality of light emitting elements. As shown in FIG. 5, the LEDs L1 to L7 are arranged corresponding to the positions of the touch operation units 81 and 82 of the function selection unit 80, and the LEDs L11 to L31 correspond to the positions of the touch operation units 83 to 85. Are arranged.

The electrical connection members 77 and 79 are both electrical connectors. The electrical connection member 77 is arranged in the recess 78 at the left end of the display unit 110. The electrical connection member 77 is electrically connected to each LED L1 to L7 and LED L11 to L31. The LEDs L1 to L7 and the LEDs L11 to L31 are turned on by a lighting command from the control unit 100 shown in FIG. 3 via the electrical connection member 77.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the relay electrical connection member 79 is arranged near the region between the LEDL 7 and the LED L 23. The electrical connection member 79 is electrically connected to the electrical connection member 77 by using a relay bundle wire (not shown).

<Shielding plate 90 of operation panel 70>
Next, the shielding plate 90 of the operation panel unit 70 will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the shielding plate 90 is made of plastic and has a plurality of light guide holes H1 to H7 and a plurality of light guide holes H11 to H24. These light guide holes are through holes provided to guide the light generated by each LED toward the front cover member 55 side. The light guide holes H1 to H7 are formed corresponding to the LEDs L1 to L7.

For example, when the user touches the touch operation unit 81 shown in FIG. 5 with his / her finger to change the refrigerating function capacity from “small to large”, the LEDL6 lights up and the refrigerating function capacity is changed. "Small to large" can be displayed by sequentially lighting LEDs L1 to L5.

Each time the user touches the touch operation unit 82 shown in FIG. 5 with his / her finger, when the capacity of the freezing function is changed from "small to large" and input, the LEDL7 lights up and the capacity of the freezing function is changed to "small". "From large" can be displayed by sequentially lighting LEDs L1 to L5.

Each time the user touches the touch operation unit 83 shown in FIG. 5 with a finger, the type of the freezing function can be changed, and the LED corresponding to this type of freezing is selected from LEDs L11 to L31 and turned on. Display the type of freezing function.

When the user touches the touch operation unit 84 shown in FIG. 5 with his / her finger, the LED corresponding to the "one-shot ice making mode" is selected from the LEDs L11 to L31 and lights up, and the "one-shot ice making mode" is turned on. Is displayed. Then, when the user touches the touch operation unit 85 shown in FIG. 5 with his / her finger, the LED corresponding to the “power saving mode” is selected from the LEDs L11 to L31 and lights up, and the “power saving mode” is set. Is displayed.

<Front cover member 55>
Next, the front cover member 55 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 to 10.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the front cover member 55. FIG. 8 is a plan view of the front cover member 55. FIG. 9 shows the rear surface 55K of the front cover member 55 shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the cross-sectional shape of each portion of the front cover member 55 shown in FIG. 10 (A) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC of the front cover member 55 shown in FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 (B) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of the front cover member 55 shown in FIG. be. 10 (C) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line EE of the front cover member 55 shown in FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 (D) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line FF of the front cover member 55 shown in FIG. It is a figure.

As shown in FIG. 6, the front cover member 55 is a covering member for covering the front surface of the operation panel portion 70, and the user can display the operation panel portion 70 lit through the transparent or translucent front cover member 55. The displayed contents can be visually confirmed.

As shown in FIG. 7, the front cover member 55 is arranged along the X direction (horizontal direction) at the lower side portion 8P of the door 8 on the right side as described above. The front cover member 55 is a long plate-shaped member made of plastic as described above.

As shown in FIG. 11, the front cover member 55 has a length extending from the inner end surface 8N of the right door 8 to the outer end surface 8K. That is, the left end 55L of the front cover member 55 reaches the inner end surface 8N side of the door 8, and the right end 55R of the front cover member 55 reaches the outer end surface 8K side of the door 8.

As shown in FIG. 8, the front cover member 55 has a plurality of mounting protrusions 55A, mounting protrusions 55B, and the like. The front surface 55F of the front cover member 55 has a curved surface shape having a curvature RX that matches the curved surface shape of the front plate 8A of the door 8 on the right side.

Moreover, as shown in FIG. 11, preferably, the wall thickness of the front cover member 55 is slightly along the width direction (X direction) of the door 8 in accordance with the curved surface of the front plate 8A of the door 8 shown in FIG. It is changed little by little and gradually becomes smaller (thinner).

To explain the shape of the front cover member 55 in more detail, as shown in FIG. 11, the left end 55L of the front cover member 55 is the thickest, and the right end 55R of the front cover member 55 is the thinnest. It is formed. That is, the thickness T1 of the left end portion 55L is larger than the thickness T2 of the right end portion 55R.

The thickness of the front cover member 55 is gradually reduced (thinner) from the left end 55L of the front cover member 55 to the right end 55R of the front cover member 55, whereby the front cover member The front surface 55F of the 55 is formed in a gently curved shape.

As shown in FIGS. 10A to 10D, the front surface portion 55F of the front cover member 55 gradually extends in the Y2 direction from the left end portion 55L of the front cover member 55 to the right end portion 55R. The front surface 55F of the front cover member 55 has a gently curved surface shape.

FIG. 11 shows the shape of the front cover member 55 in a simplified manner, but as shown in FIG. 11, on the inner surface side of the front cover member 55, the above-mentioned right door opening operation unit 62 and the operation panel unit 70 are shown. Are arranged side by side in the X direction (horizontal direction).

As illustrated in FIG. 11, in the front cover member 55, a flat surface portion 200 for setting along a plane formed in the X direction and the Z direction is formed in a portion facing the operation panel portion 70. While the front surface 55F of the front cover member 55 has a curved surface shape, the flat surface portion 200 has a flat surface, and the flat surface portion 200 is a portion where the operation panel portion 70 is closely arranged. Is. The plane portion 200 is along a plane formed in the X and Z directions.

As a result, the operation panel unit 70 can be set according to the flat surface portion 200 along the plane formed in the X direction and the Z direction, so that the operation panel unit 70 can be correctly directed to the front direction Y1 of the refrigerator 1. ..

Therefore, each LED L1 to L7 and LED L11 to L31 of the operation panel unit 70 shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of light guide hole portions H1 to H7, and H11 to H24 can be directed to the front direction Y1 of the refrigerator 1, and each LEDL1. The light emitted from L7 and from LEDL11 to L31 can be generated toward the front direction Y1 of the refrigerator 1.

Therefore, even if the curved surface of the front cover member 55 is formed to match the curved surface shape of the front plate 8A of the door 8, the user can use the LEDs L1 to L7 and the LEDs L11 to L31 of the operation panel portion 70 regardless of the curved surface. The light (illumination light) indicating the function of the refrigerator 1 in which the above is generated can be easily visually recognized from the front side of the refrigerator 1. Therefore, for the user, the light generated by each LED can be seen from the front side of the refrigerator 1, so that the visibility is improved.

Further, the touch operation units 81 to 85 can be directed toward the front direction Y1 of the refrigerator 1. Therefore, the user can accurately operate the touch operation units 81 to 85 from the front direction Y1 of the refrigerator 1, and the touch operability is improved.

As described above, the refrigerator 1 of the embodiment of the present invention has a main body 1A and a front plate 8A which is curved in the width direction (X direction) from the inner end surface to the outer end surface, and has a front opening of the main body 1A. A curved front plate 8A provided with a door 8 for closing the portion, an operation panel portion 70 capable of displaying display contents related to the functions of the main body 1A, and a front cover member 55 covering the front side of the operation panel portion 70. On the other hand, the operation panel portion 55 is arranged so as to face the front of the refrigerator 1.

As a result, even if the front surface of the door 8 is curved, the display content of the operation panel unit 70 can be easily seen from the front surface (Y direction) side of the refrigerator 1 regardless of the curved surface shape of the front plate 8A of the door 8. Can be done. Therefore, for the user, the visibility of the display content on the operation panel unit 70 is improved.

The wall thickness of the front cover member 55 is changed along the width direction (X direction) of the door 8 according to the curved surface of the front plate 8A, and the operation panel portion 70 is placed on the inner surface of the front cover member 55 in the refrigerator. A flat surface portion 200 for arranging the 1 in the front direction (Y1 direction) is formed.

As a result, the operation panel portion 70 is simply attached to the flat surface portion 200 of the inner surface of the front cover member 55, and the operation panel portion 55 is easily arranged so as to face the front direction (Y1 direction) of the refrigerator 1. be able to. Therefore, the workability of assembling the operation panel portion 70 and the front cover member 55 is improved.

The operation panel portion 70 is arranged on the lower side portion 8P of the door 8. Thereby, the operation panel portion 70 can be arranged so as to face the front surface (Y direction) of the refrigerator 1 at the lower side portion 8P of the door 8 of the refrigerator 1.

Conventionally, since the display panel portion is arranged at a position in the middle of the door, the presence of the display panel portion breaks the vertical continuity in the appearance design of the front plate of the refrigerator door. However, in the embodiment of the present invention, the operation panel portion 70 is arranged on the lower side portion 8P of the door 8 of the refrigerator 1 which is called the so-called belt line, so that the upper and lower continuity in the appearance design of the door is maintained. Therefore, the appearance design of the refrigerator 1 can be improved.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The novel embodiment can be implemented in various other embodiments, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

The structure of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an example, and any structure can be adopted. For example, the refrigerator compartment of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a door structure that opens on both the left and right sides, but the refrigerator compartment may have a single door structure that opens on one side. The arrangement structure of each storage room of the refrigerator can be arbitrarily selected.

1 Refrigerator 1A Main body 7 Door 8 Door 8P Lower side of door 55 Front cover member 70 Operation panel 200 Flat part of front cover member

Claims (2)

With the main body
A door that closes the front opening of the main body and
A panel portion that is arranged on the door and can display information and has a flat display surface,
A front member provided on the door so as to be arranged on the front side of the panel portion and having a curved front surface in the width direction, and a front member.
Equipped with
A refrigerator in which the panel portion is inclined in the width direction with respect to the curved surface of the front member so that the display surface faces the front side of the refrigerator on the inner surface of the front member. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the panel portion is arranged at the lower side portion of the door.

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