JP7493982B2 - Refrigerator Door - Google Patents

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a refrigerator door.

It is expected that refrigerator design and user convenience will be further improved.

JP 2015-87099 A

The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a refrigerator door that can improve design and user convenience.

A refrigerator door of an embodiment has a door body that closes a storage compartment of a refrigerator body in an openable and closable manner, a decorative panel provided on a front surface of the door body and having an upper or lower edge as a first edge , and a panel support portion provided on the door body and supporting the decorative panel, the panel support portion having an end surface protection portion arranged to cover a side surface of the first edge of the decorative panel, and a frameless support portion that supports the decorative panel while leaving the side surface exposed, and the end surface protection portion is configured to be provided in an area narrower than the first edge in the width direction .

FIG. 2 is a front view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view of the refrigerator door according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. FIG. FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view of a portion of the refrigerator door according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator door according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator door according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a refrigerator door according to an embodiment. FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view of a portion of the refrigerator door according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a side view of a portion of the refrigerator door according to the embodiment. FIG.

Hereinafter, a refrigerator door according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having the same or similar functions are denoted by the same reference numerals. Duplicate descriptions of components may be omitted. In this specification, left and right are defined based on the direction in which the refrigerator is viewed from a user standing in front of the refrigerator. The side closer to the user standing in front of the refrigerator as viewed from the refrigerator is defined as the "front", and the farther side is defined as the "rear". In this specification, the "width direction" refers to the left and right direction as defined above. In this specification, the "front-rear direction" refers to the direction perpendicular to the width direction as defined above and connecting the front and the rear. In this application, "A or B" is not limited to either one of A and B, but includes both A and B.

Figure 1 is a front view showing a refrigerator 100 according to an embodiment. Figure 2 is a side view of a refrigerator door 1 of the refrigerator 100 as viewed from the right side of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a revolving door 20 taken along line III-III in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in Figure 1. The refrigerator 100 includes a refrigerator body and multiple refrigerator doors 1. The refrigerator body includes a housing 105 and, although not shown, a known compressor, a cooling mechanism, a blower, a temperature sensor, a control device, etc.

A plurality of storage compartments are provided inside the housing 105. The plurality of storage compartments include, for example, a first refrigerator compartment 101, a second refrigerator compartment 102, and a freezer compartment 103. In the embodiment, the first refrigerator compartment 101 is arranged at the top, the second refrigerator compartment 102 is arranged below the first refrigerator compartment 101, and the freezer compartment 103 is arranged below the second refrigerator compartment 102. The arrangement of the storage compartments is not limited to the above example, and for example, the arrangement of the second refrigerator compartment 102 and the freezer compartment 103 may be reversed. The storage compartments are provided with storage shelves, storage containers, ice-making water storage containers, etc.

The second refrigerator compartment 102 is used as a vegetable compartment. The second refrigerator compartment 102 is kept at a refrigeration temperature range suitable for storing vegetables, for example, 1 to 5°C. The second refrigerator compartment 102 is not limited to a storage compartment with a storage environment suitable for vegetables, but may be a storage compartment set to the same refrigeration temperature range as the first refrigerator compartment 101 and equipped with a refrigeration function.

The freezer compartment 103 is kept cold at a freezing temperature range, for example, at or below -10°C. The second refrigerator compartment 102 and the freezer compartment 103 are configured so that the cold storage temperature can be switched freely from the freezing temperature range to the refrigeration temperature range. Therefore, the second refrigerator compartment can be used as a freezing compartment, and the freezer compartment 103 can be used as a refrigeration compartment.

The housing 105 has, for example, an inner box, an outer box, and an insulating section. The inner box forms the inner surface of the housing 105, and the outer box forms the outer surface of the housing 105. Between the inner box and the outer box, an insulating section containing a foam insulating material such as urethane foam is provided. The housing 105 has insulating properties. The housing 105 has an opening on the front side of each storage chamber that allows food to be put in and taken out of each storage chamber.

Refrigerator 100 is provided with refrigerator door 1. Refrigerator door 1 is a member that closes the opening of the storage compartment in an openable and closable manner. Refrigerator door 1 is provided at the front of housing 105. Refrigerator door 1 is, for example, a revolving door 20 and drawer doors 30 and 40.

The first refrigerator compartment 101 is provided with a revolving door 20. The second refrigerator compartment 102 and the freezer compartment 103 are each provided with a drawer 17. The drawer 17 constitutes a drawer-type storage section that can be opened and closed to move in the front-to-rear direction D within the second refrigerator compartment 102 and the freezer compartment 103. The revolving door 20 is an example of a top door. The drawer door 40 is an example of a bottom door. The drawer doors 30, 40 are examples of lower doors.

The revolving door 20, which is the refrigerator door 1, will be described. The revolving door 20 is rotatably attached to the housing 105. Axle supports 106, 107 are provided at the ends of the housing 105 in the width direction W, and at the top and bottom of the first refrigerator compartment 101. One end of the revolving door 20 in the width direction W is attached to the axle supports 106, 107, and is supported rotatably around the axle supports 106, 107. Although a single-wing revolving door 20 is illustrated in FIG. 1, a double-wing revolving door may also be used. In the case of a double-wing revolving door, the left and right revolving doors may be the same size, or a pair of revolving doors with different dimensions in the width direction W may also be used.

When the revolving door 20 is in the closed position, the revolving door 20 has a front surface that faces a user standing in front of the refrigerator 100, and a rear surface that faces the interior of the first refrigerator compartment 101. A decorative panel 62 is attached to the front surface. The rear surface is provided with multiple storage pockets.

The revolving door 20 includes a door body 21 and a decorative panel 62. The door body 21 is configured with a rear surface material 22 attached to the frame portion 5. In this example, the revolving door 20 is configured to cover the first refrigerator compartment 101, so the door body 21 has a size that allows it to close the front opening of the first refrigerator compartment 101.

As shown in FIG. 2, a gasket 16 is attached to the outer edge of the back surface of the door body 21. The gasket 16 is configured to close the gap between the door body 21 and the inner wall of the first refrigerator compartment 101 when the revolving door 20 is closed.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the frame 5. The frame 5 has a rectangular shape when viewed from the front, and forms the framework of the door body 21. The frame 5 is formed into a rectangle by a main member 50 and a lower frame 52 fixed to the lower part of the main member 50. The main member 50 is integrally formed with an upper frame 51, a pair of vertical frames 53, and reinforcing bars 54. The frame 5 is, for example, a molded material made of resin or steel plate. The frame 5 may be formed from a single member, or may be configured such that all or part of the vertical frames, horizontal frames, and reinforcing bars are formed from separate members and assembled.

6 shows a horizontal cross section of the vertical frame 53. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the vertical frame 53 includes a side wall 531, a front wall 532, and a rear wall 533. The side wall 531 is arranged to extend in the front-rear direction D. The front wall 532 extends inward from the front end of the side wall 531 along the width direction W. The rear wall 533 extends inward from the rear end of the side wall 531 along the width direction W. In other words, the outer ends of the front wall 532 and the rear wall 533 are connected by the side wall 531. As shown in FIG. 4, the rear end of the side wall 531 protrudes outward in the width direction W more than the front end. The outer end of the front wall 532 is located more inward in the width direction W than the outer end of the rear wall 533. The side wall 531 has a flat surface 531a extending forward from the end of the rear wall 533, and an inclined surface 531b inclined inward from the middle in the front-rear direction D toward the outer end of the front wall 532. A recess 4 recessed inward in the width direction W is formed at the connection between the front end of the side wall 531 and the front wall 532. The recess 4 is recessed inward in the width direction W behind the front wall 532, further inward than the outer end 534 of the front wall 532.

The recess 4 has a horizontal cross-sectional shape that is recessed in an arc shape. The recess 4 may be formed recessed inward in the width direction W from the outer end 534 of the front wall 532.

The panel support portion 9 is formed integrally with the frame portion 5. The panel support portion 9 is formed at the front end portion of the frame portion 5. The panel support portion 9 is formed at the outer edge portion of the front walls 512, 522, 532 of the frame portion 5. As shown in FIG. 6, the panel support portion 9 is formed to protrude slightly forward from the outer end in the width direction W of the front wall 532 of the vertical frame 53. The panel support portion 9 is formed to protrude slightly forward from the upper end of the front wall 512 of the upper frame 51 and the lower end of the front wall 522 of the lower frame 52.

As shown in Figures 4 and 6, a reinforcing member 7 is provided on the inside of the vertical frame 53. The reinforcing member 7 is a member that reinforces the strength of the frame portion 5. The revolving door 20 has a large area because it covers the first refrigeration chamber 101. The revolving door 20 rotates when opening and closing, and is subjected to a load because refrigerated goods are stored in the storage shelf. Therefore, the reinforcing member 7 is provided to reinforce the strength of the frame portion 5 while reducing the weight of the revolving door 20.

The reinforcing member 7 is a long member made of metal, such as a steel plate. As shown in FIG. 4, the reinforcing member 7 is composed of a main plate 74, a front piece 71, and a rear piece 72. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the reinforcing member 7 has a horizontal cross-sectional shape that is approximately Z-shaped. The front piece 71 and the rear piece 72 are perpendicular to the main plate 74 and extend in different directions. The dimension of the main plate 74 in the front-to-rear direction D is approximately equal to the distance between the front wall 532 and the rear wall 533 of the vertical frame 53. The reinforcing member 7 contacts the front piece 71 and the rear piece 72 of the vertical frame 53.

The insulation material filling section 58 is formed in the gap between the reinforcing member 7 and the vertical frame 53. As shown in FIG. 6, the main plate 74 is formed with insulation material filling holes 73. The insulation material filling holes 73 are formed at intervals in the vertical direction V. The insulation material is filled into the insulation material filling section 58 through the insulation material filling holes 73. For example, a foam insulation material made of urethane or the like is filled into the insulation material filling section 58 through the insulation material filling holes 73 and solidified. By filling the insulation material filling section 58 with the foam insulation material, the insulation material is bonded to the vertical frame 53 and the reinforcing member 7, reinforcing the frame section 5. Even if the reinforcing member 7 is made of steel plate, the insulation performance of the revolving door 20 can be improved by filling it with insulation material.

As shown in FIG. 5, the upper frame 51 has an upper bearing portion 55 at its end in the width direction W. When the components of the frame portion 5 are common for right-opening and left-opening, the upper bearing portion 55 is provided at both ends of the upper frame in the width direction W. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the lower frame 52 has a lower bearing portion 56 and a handle 57. The lower bearing portion 56 is formed at one end of the lower frame 52 in the width direction W, at a position corresponding to the pivot portions 106 and 107. The handle 57 is formed in a groove shape recessed upward at the end opposite the lower bearing portion 56. The handle 57 has a size that allows a user to insert a finger into the groove to grip the revolving door 20 when opening and closing the revolving door 20. The reinforcing member 7 is disposed outside the upper bearing portion 55 and the lower bearing portion 56 in the width direction W.

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the rear material 22 is a member that is attached to almost the entire rear area of the frame 5. The rear material 22 is attached inside in the width direction W from the rear end of the reinforcing member 7. The rear material 22 is a three-dimensional molded member made of thermally insulating resin. As shown in Figure 2, the rear material 22 has a portion that protrudes rearward from the frame 5. The rear material 22 is inserted into the first refrigerator compartment 101 when the revolving door 20 is closed. The rear material 22 is formed with a shelf engagement portion 23 that engages with a storage shelf or a removable storage shelf.

The decorative panel 6 is attached to the panel support portion 9 to cover the front of the door body. The decorative panel 6 is made of a substantially flat decorative material. The decorative panel 6 is, for example, a thin plate made of glass, fiber-reinforced resin, ceramic, artificial marble, or the like. The decorative panel 6 is given a color, pattern, and surface treatment in consideration of the design of the refrigerator. As an example, a glass decorative panel is shown below.

The decorative panel 62 is fixed to the front surface of the frame 5 with an adhesive. The outer edge of the rear surface of the decorative panel 62 abuts against the panel support 9, and adhesive is placed between the rear surface of the decorative panel 62 and the front wall 532 to fix it. There are no particular limitations on the adhesive, such as a spreadable adhesive or adhesive tape, as long as it is an adhesive material that can fix the decorative panel 6 to the front surface of the frame 5.

The space between the frame 5, the rear panel 22, and the decorative panel 62 is filled with foam insulation. The foam insulation also contacts the rear surface of the decorative panel 62. The foam insulation maintains a stable fixed state between the decorative panel 62 and the frame 5.

The side of the decorative panel 62 is arranged on the same plane as the outer peripheral end of the front end of the frame 5. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, in the width direction W, the lateral side 80 of the decorative panel 62 and the outer end 534 of the front wall 532 are arranged at the same position. Therefore, the side wall 531 of the frame 5 does not protrude outward from the end of the decorative panel 62 in the width direction W. The side wall 531 of the frame 5 is arranged on the same plane as the lateral side 80 of the decorative panel 62 or on the inside in the width direction W. The lateral side 80 of the decorative panel 62 is arranged on the same plane as the outer end 534 of the front wall 532 that constitutes the panel support portion 9 or outward in the width direction W. As shown in FIG. 3, the upper side 83 of the decorative panel 62 is arranged at approximately the same height as the upper surface of the upper frame 51. The upper side 83 is arranged approximately on the same plane as the upper surface of the upper frame 51.

7 is a side view of the front part of the lower end of the revolving door 20. The panel support part 9 of the lower frame 52 is formed with a locking claw 92 that protrudes forward. The amount of forward protrusion of the locking claw 92 is shorter than the thickness of the decorative panel 62. The rear end 82 of the lower side surface 84 of the decorative panel 62 is supported by abutting on the locking claw 92. The front end 81 of the lower side surface 84 is located forward of the locking claw 92. The rear end of the lower side surface 84 is covered by the locking claw 92, and the other front part is exposed to the outside. The exposed part of the lower side surface 84 is exposed from the front end 81 to the rear of the middle part in the front-rear direction D. In the width direction W, the locking claw 92 is provided in a narrower range than the lower side surface 84 of the decorative panel 62. Therefore, the corner part of the front end of the width direction W of the lower end of the decorative panel 62 is exposed. When an adult user stands in front of the refrigerator 100, the lower side surface 84 is lower than the user's eyes. Therefore, the locking claw 92 is difficult for the user to see. As a result, the entire lower side of the decorative panel 62 appears to be exposed, creating a frameless structure.

At least the front end 81 of the lateral side 80, upper side 83, and lower side 84 on both sides of the width direction W of the decorative panel 62 is exposed and supported by the frame portion 5. That is, the frame portion 5 is arranged on the same plane as or inside the lateral side 80 and upper side 83 of the decorative panel 62, and the locking claw 92 covers the rear end 82 of the lower side 84 of the decorative panel 62. Therefore, the frame portion 5 is difficult to see from a user standing in front of the refrigerator compartment 101, and a frameless appearance with only the decorative panel 62 exposed is obtained. As a result, the design of the refrigerator door 1 is excellent. In this way, the part where the side of the decorative panel is exposed and the end of the frame portion 5 is arranged on the same plane as or inside the end of the decorative panel in a front view and supports the decorative panel is called a frameless support part. The upper end and the left and right ends of the decorative panel 62 are an example of the second side of the decorative panel 6. The locking claw 92 is an example of an end face protection part.

Since the recess 4 is formed in the side wall 531 of the frame 5, the decorative panel 62 appears to be separated from the side wall 531. As a result, the decorative panel 62 appears to be floating away from the frame 5. Therefore, the support that supports the decorative panel 62 is difficult to see, resulting in a frameless appearance. The revolving door 20 gives the visual effect of the decorative panel 62 floating away from the door.

Next, the drawer doors 30, 40, which are refrigerator doors 1, will be described. The drawer doors 30, 40 include a door body 21 provided at the front of the drawer 17, and decorative panels 63, 64. Since the drawer doors 30, 40 of the second refrigerator compartment 102 and the freezer compartment 103 have the same configuration, the drawer door 30 of the second refrigerator compartment 102 will be described, and common parts will be given the same reference numerals. Figure 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the drawer door 30 in the front-rear direction D.

As shown in Figures 8 and 10, a handle 511 is formed on the upper frame 51. The handle 511 has a groove shape that is recessed downward between the middle part and the front end of the upper frame 51 in the front-rear direction D. The handle 511 is formed over the entire width direction W of the drawer door 30 and opens into the side wall 531. This allows good access to the part where the user grips the drawer door 30. As both ends of the handle 511 open towards the side wall 531, dust that has entered the inside of the handle 511 can be easily removed, making it easy to clean.

In the refrigerator door 1, the support portion of the decorative panel 63 is difficult to see from the outside. In addition, at the upper end portion of the drawer door 30, the support portion between the handle 511 and the vertical surface and the decorative panel 63 has a thickness at the same level as the thickness of the decorative panel 63. Therefore, the handle 511 has a generally U-shaped shape in side view, so that the decorative panel 63 of the drawer door 30 has a linear appearance. As shown in FIG. 10, a sense of unity between the decorative panel 63 and the handle 511 is obtained. In addition, because the handle 511 opens at both ends of the width direction W of the drawer door 30, the user can easily see the handle.

As shown in FIG. 11, the frame 5 is integrally formed with a generally rectangular frame when viewed from the front. As shown in FIG. 9, the side wall 531 of the frame 5 has a horizontal cross-sectional shape that is generally the same as the side wall 531 of the revolving door 20. The reinforcing member 7 is attached to the inside of the side wall 531 of the frame 5, as in the revolving door 20. A heat insulating material filling portion 58 is formed between the reinforcing member 7 and the side wall 531. The drawer door 30 is provided with a rear surface material 24 for the drawer at the rear of the frame 5. The rear surface material 24 can be inserted into the opening of the second refrigerator compartment 102. A gasket 16 is attached to the outer edge of the rear surface of the door body 21. The gasket 16 is configured to close the gap between the door body 21 and the inner wall of the second refrigerator compartment 102 when the drawer door 30 is closed.

In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the panel support portion 9 is integrally formed with the frame portion 5, but the configuration of the panel support portion is not limited to this example. The panel support portion only needs to be provided on the door body, and for example, the frame portion and the panel support portion may be configured as separate members, with the panel support portion fixed to the frame portion.

The decorative panel 63 is a flat panel made of the same material as the decorative panel 62 of the revolving door 20. The panel support part 9 of the drawer door 30 is provided in front of the handle 511. FIG. 12 is an enlarged side view of the upper part of the panel support part 9 of the drawer door 30. As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 12, a locking claw 93 that protrudes slightly forward from the front wall 512 of the handle 511 is formed on the upper part of the panel support part 9. The amount of forward protrusion of the locking claw 93 is shorter than the thickness of the decorative panel 63. The rear end 82 of the upper side surface 83 of the decorative panel 63 abuts against the lower part of the locking claw 93. The front end 81 of the upper side surface 83 is located forward of the locking claw 93. The rear end 82 of the upper side surface 83 is covered by the locking claw 93, and the other front part is exposed to the outside. The exposed part of the upper side surface 83 is exposed from the front end 81 to the rear of the middle part in the front-rear direction D. In the width direction W, the locking claws 93 are provided in an area narrower than the upper side surface 83 of the decorative panel 63. Therefore, the front corner of the upper end of the decorative panel 63 in the width direction W is exposed. Since the locking claws 93 are only slightly exposed at the rear of the decorative panel 63, a visual effect is obtained in which the entire upper side surface 83 of the decorative panel 63 is exposed. The locking claws 93 are an example of an end face protection part.

When opening the drawer door 30, the user inserts his/her hand into the groove of the handle 511 and pulls it towards himself/herself. Because the rear end 82 of the upper side surface 83 of the decorative panel 63 is covered by the locking claw 93, the user does not directly touch the rear end 82 of the upper side surface 83 of the decorative panel 63 when opening the drawer door 30. This makes it pleasant to the touch. In addition, because the parts that are frequently touched by the user are covered by the locking claw 93, the decorative panel 63 can be protected.

13 is an enlarged side view of the lower part of the panel support part 9 of the drawer door 30. As shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 13, an end surface protection part 94 is formed protruding forward from the lower end of the lower frame 52. The lower side surface 84 of the decorative panel 63 is covered by the end surface protection part 94. In FIG. 18, a gap is provided in consideration of the manufacturing dimensional tolerance, but the locking claw 94 functions to lock the rear end 82 of the decorative panel 63. The end surface protection part 94 is spaced below the lower side surface 84. At least the front end 81 of the lower side surface 84 is exposed and spaced apart from the locking claw 94. When an adult user stands in front of the refrigerator 100, the lower side surface 84 of the decorative panel 63 is sufficiently lower than the user's eyes and is difficult to see. Therefore, even if the locking claw 94 protrudes forward from the locking claw 92 of the revolving door 20, the locking claw 94 is difficult to see. Therefore, even if the end surface protection portion 94 protrudes to the vicinity of the front end 81 of the decorative panel 63, the decorative panel 63 is frameless, so the appearance can be unified. In addition, it is possible to prevent the user's hands or stored items from coming into contact with the lower part of the decorative panel 63 when moving the drawer door 30, opening and closing the lower freezer compartment 103, or taking items in and out of the storage.

The decorative panel 63 of the drawer door 30 has a lower side surface 84 protected by an end surface protection portion 94, and a rear end 82 of an upper side surface 83 protected by a locking claw 93. As shown in FIG. 9, the lateral side surfaces 80 at both ends in the width direction W of the decorative panel 63 are exposed. The lateral side surfaces 80 at both ends in the width direction W of the decorative panel 63 are arranged on the same plane as the outer end portion 534 of the front wall 532, which is the panel support portion 9. In the drawer door 30, the lower side surface 84 and the upper side surface 83 are an example of a first side, and the lateral side surface 80 is an example of a second side.

As described above, since the decorative panel 63 is fixed to the panel support portion 9 by adhesive, the weight of the decorative panel 63 may cause the decorative panel 63 to drop slightly relative to the panel support portion 9. In addition, slight dimensional errors may occur in the manufacturing of the frame portion 5, which is the panel support portion 9. Due to these slight dimensional errors that may occur in the manufacturing, the positional deviation between the outer edge of the decorative panel 63 and the edge of the panel support portion 9 may be noticeable. In a conventional refrigerator door in which the outer edge of the decorative panel is covered by a frame, such a positional deviation is not visible because it is covered by the frame. On the other hand, since the decorative panel 63 has a frameless structure, the end of the decorative panel 63 is supported by the panel support portion 9 in a state where it is visible to the user. In contrast, in the drawer door 30, the upper side surface 83 of the decorative panel 63 is aligned with the upper end of the panel support portion 9 by the locking claw 93, and the lower side surface 84 and the end surface protection portion 94 are spaced apart, so the above-mentioned dimensional error is compensated for by the gap between the lower side surface 84 and the end surface protection portion 94. The lower side surface 84 and end surface protection portion 94 are areas that are difficult for a user standing in front of the refrigerator 100 to see, so misalignment is difficult to notice.

Since at least the front end 81 of the side surfaces 80, 83, 84 of the decorative panels 62, 63, 64 is exposed, the frame supporting the decorative panel 63 of the revolving door 20 and the drawer doors 30, 40 is difficult to see from the outside, and the revolving door 20 and the drawer doors 30, 40 have a frameless appearance. As a result, the refrigerator 100 has a distinctive appearance in which the supporting frame is not visible.

Next, the arrangement of the decorative panels 62, 63, 64 relative to the panel support portion 9 in the multiple refrigerator doors 20, 30, 40 will be described. As described above, the decorative panels 62, 63, 64 have a frameless structure in which at least the front end 81 is exposed and supported, so that the edge of the panel support portion 9 is not visible from the edge of the decorative panels 62, 63, 64, or it is more preferable in terms of appearance that the edge of the decorative panels 62, 63, 64 is aligned with the edge of the panel support portion 9. In the refrigerator 100, a part of the outer edge of the decorative panels 62, 63, 64 is supported in a state where it is aligned with the support reference positions P20, P30, P40 of the panel support portion 9.

In the case of the revolving door 20, the end opposite the pivot support 107 is the support reference position P20. Specifically, the end of the lower side of the decorative panel 62 in the width direction W is aligned with the lower end of the end of the lower frame 52 on the side where the handle 57 is provided, and the decorative panel 62 is fixed to the panel support 9. The end of the revolving door 20 on the handle 57 side is a part that is frequently seen by users. It is preferable from a design standpoint if the positions of the decorative panel 62 and the panel support 9 are aligned. The upper side surface 83 of the decorative panel 62 is not provided with a locking claw, so even if the decorative panel 62 is shifted upward relative to the panel support 9 within the range of manufacturing tolerance, it is not noticeable.

1, in the case of the drawer doors 30, 40, one end of the upper edge of the decorative panels 63, 64 in the width direction W is the support reference position P30, P40. In the case of the drawer doors 30, 40, one end of the upper edge of the decorative panels 63, 64 in the width direction W is aligned with the end of the upper part of the panel support part 9 in the width direction W. As described above, the upper edge of the decorative panels 63, 64 is positioned by the locking claw 93 of the handle 511 of the drawer doors 30, 40. The positional deviation between the decorative panels 63, 64 and the panel support part 9 is compensated for by the gap above the end surface protection part 94 as shown in FIG. 13. In FIG. 1, the support reference position of the drawer doors 30, 40 is shown at the left end of FIG. 1, but it may be the right end. When one drawer door 30, 40 is provided over the entire width of the width direction W of the housing 105, one end of the width direction W may be aligned as the support reference position.

In the embodiment, an example is shown in which three refrigerator doors 20, 30, and 40 are provided for the first refrigerator compartment 101, the second refrigerator compartment 102, and the freezer compartment 103, but the refrigerator is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, a refrigerator 100A having six refrigerator doors 1A may be provided with any number of refrigerator doors depending on the number and size of the storage compartments of the refrigerator. In the modified refrigerator 100A shown in FIG. 14, the first refrigerator compartment 101 is provided with double-opening revolving doors 201 and 202. The revolving doors 201 and 202 are provided with a handle 57 in the center in the width direction W and are pivotally supported at both ends in the width direction W. A small freezer compartment 109 and an ice storage compartment 108 are provided between the second refrigerator compartment 102 and the freezer compartment 103. The small freezer compartment 109 and the ice storage compartment 108 are provided with a drawer door 302 similar to the drawer door 30.

Since this refrigerator 100A also has a refrigerator door 1A similar to the above embodiment, the support of the decorative panel 6 is not noticeable from the outside, and the decorative panel 6 of each door 201, 202, 30, 302, 40 has a frameless appearance.

In the case of the double-hinged revolving doors 201, 202, the pivot supports 106, 107 are provided at both ends of the width direction W of the housing 105. In the case of the revolving doors 201, 202, the ends opposite the pivot support 107 are the support reference positions P201, P202. Specifically, the lower end of the end of the lower side of the decorative panel 6 in the width direction W that is located at the center of the width direction W of the housing 105 is aligned with the lower end of the panel support 9, and the decorative panel 6 is fixed to the panel support 9.

In the case of a pair of drawer doors 302 of the small freezer compartment 109 and the ice storage compartment 108 arranged side by side in the width direction W of the housing 105, the upper end of the support panel is aligned with the end of the upper side of the decorative panel 6 at the support reference position P302, which is the end located toward the center of the width direction W of the housing 105. The end opposite the pivot support portion 107 is the support reference position P201, P202. Specifically, the decorative panel 6 is fixed to the panel support portion 9 by aligning it with the lower end of the end located toward the center of the width direction W of the housing 105 among the ends of the lower side of the decorative panel 6 in the width direction W.

According to the embodiment, because the recess 4 is formed in the frame 5, when the refrigerator door 1A is viewed from the front, the frame 5 is not noticeable, and the decorative panel 6 has a visual effect of appearing to be separated from the frame 5 and floating. As a result, the decorative panel 6 has a frameless appearance, and a refrigerator door 1 with a distinctive appearance is obtained.

According to the above embodiment, since the door body 21, the frame 5, the decorative panel 6, and the reinforcing member 7 are provided, the strength of the frame 5 can be increased by the reinforcing member 7. The reinforcing member 7 is arranged in contact with the front and rear of the panel support. As a result, the reinforcing member 7 with a high reinforcing effect is provided on the frame 5, and a refrigerator door 1 with excellent load-bearing capacity can be provided.

According to the above embodiment, the reinforcing member 7 includes a main plate 74, a front piece 71, and a rear piece 72, and the front piece 71 and the rear piece 72 extend in different directions from the main plate 74, so that the frame portion 5 can be effectively reinforced. Specifically, the main plate 74 is arranged along the front-rear direction D, the front piece 71 is arranged from the front end of the main plate 74 along the width direction W, and the rear piece 72 is arranged from the rear end of the main plate 74 along the width direction W on the opposite side to the front piece 71. This configuration can increase the load resistance of the frame portion 5 against the load applied when the refrigerator door 1 is opened and closed. For example, in the case of the revolving door 20, a load is applied to the rear surface material 22 side of the revolving door 20 because items are stored on a shelf provided on the rear surface material 22 of the revolving door 20. In addition, when the revolving door 20 rotates, the first vertical frame 53 is supported by the pivots 106 and 107, and the second vertical frame 53 on the opposite side of the pivoted first vertical frame 53 rotates at a position away from the pivots 106 and 107. During rotation, a downward force is applied to the lower end of the second vertical frame 53, and as a result, a load in the torsional direction is applied to the first vertical frame 53. In response to this, the main plate 74 is arranged to contact the front and rear ends of the vertical frame 53, so that the vertical frame 53 can be prevented from bending. In addition, the front piece 71 is arranged to extend inward in the width direction W, and the rear piece 72 is arranged to extend outward in the width direction W, so that the main plate 74 is less likely to bend in the width direction W of the revolving door 20. Therefore, deformation of the frame 5 of the revolving door 2 can be prevented. As a result, the revolving door 20 can be opened and closed smoothly.

The frame 5 of the drawer doors 30, 40 is also provided with a reinforcing member 7, which prevents the vertical frame 53 from bending, as with the revolving door 20. In the case of the drawer doors 30, 40, the drawers 17 move in the forward and backward direction D with items stored inside. When the drawer doors 30, 40 are opened or closed, a downward force is applied to the center of the lower part of the drawer doors 30, 40, which results in a load being applied to the frame 5 of the drawer doors 30, 40. In contrast, the reinforcing member 7 provided within the frame 5 makes it difficult for the vertical frame 53 to bend, and the shape of the drawer doors 30, 40 is stably maintained. As a result, the drawer doors 30, 40 can be opened and closed smoothly.

According to the embodiment, the panel support portion 9 includes an end surface protection portion 94 arranged to cover at least a portion of the lower side surface 84 of the decorative panel 62, and an outer end portion 534 of the front wall 532 which is a frameless support portion that supports the side surface 80 with the side surface 80 exposed. As a result, the panel support portion 9 supports the decorative panel 62 in a frameless structure with the front end 81 exposed, while the end surface protection portion 94 protects the area that is prone to scratches due to external contact. Therefore, it is possible to provide a refrigerator door 1 that has excellent durability and design while preventing scratches on the decorative panel 6 and exhibiting a frameless appearance.

According to the embodiment, the lateral side surface 80 of the decorative panel 62 and the outer end portion 534 of the front wall 532 are arranged on the same plane, so that the decorative panel 6 has a frameless appearance.

In the refrigerators 100 and 100A according to the embodiments, the side surfaces 80 or upper side surfaces 83 of the decorative panel 62 may be positioned outward from the vertical frames 53 or upper frames 51, which are the frameless support parts. As a result, the decorative panel 6 has a frameless appearance. In addition, even if dimensional errors occur during manufacturing, the panel support parts 9 are not visible from the front of the refrigerator 100.

According to the embodiment, an end surface protection portion 94 is provided below the lower side surface 84 located at the lower edge of the decorative panel 62 or below the drawer doors 30, 40, so that the lower portion of the decorative panel 62, which is easily scratched by external contact, can be protected.

According to the embodiment, the ends of the decorative panels 62, 63, and 64 are provided at the support reference positions P20, P30, and P40 of the panel support portion 9, so that a refrigerator door 1 can be provided in which misalignment between the decorative panels and the panel support portion due to manufacturing errors is not noticeable in appearance.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are within the scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the claims, as well as the scope and gist of the invention.

1, 1A... refrigerator door, 6, 62, 63, 64... decorative panel, 9... panel support part, 20, 30, 40, 201, 202, 302... refrigerator door, 21... door body, 92, 94... end surface protection part, 100, 100A... refrigerator

Claims (10)

A door body that closes a storage compartment of a refrigerator body in an openable and closable manner;
A decorative panel provided on the front surface of the door body , the decorative panel having an upper side or a lower side as a first side ;
A panel support portion provided on the door body and supporting the decorative panel;
Equipped with
The panel support portion includes an end surface protection portion arranged to cover at least a portion of a side surface of the first side of the decorative panel;
A frameless support portion that supports the decorative panel in a state where a side surface of the decorative panel is exposed ,
The end surface protection portion is provided in a range narrower than the first side in the width direction of the refrigerator door. The refrigerator door according to claim 1 , wherein an end portion of the frameless support portion is disposed flush with a side surface of a second side of the decorative panel that is different from the first side. The refrigerator door according to claim 1 , wherein a side surface of a second side of the decorative panel, which is different from the first side, is disposed outward from the frameless support portion in a front view. The frameless support includes a vertical frame,
The vertical frame has a front wall facing the rear surface of the decorative panel, a rear wall spaced rearward from the front wall, and a side wall connecting the front wall and the rear wall,
A recess is formed on the front end side of the side wall, the recess being recessed inward in the width direction from the outer end of the front wall.
The refrigerator door according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A reinforcing member is provided along the side wall on the inside of the vertical frame,
The reinforcing member includes a main plate extending in the front-rear direction and a piece portion extending outward in the width direction from the main plate.
The refrigerator door according to claim 4. The side wall of the frameless support portion has a portion extending forward from an end of the rear wall and an inclined surface inclined inwardly toward the front wall,
The piece of the reinforcing member is provided on the rear side of the main plate.
The refrigerator door according to claim 5. The piece of the reinforcing member extends inward in the width direction from the main plate.
The refrigerator door according to claim 5. The piece portion extending inward in the width direction from the main board is provided along the front wall of the vertical frame,
The piece portion extending outward in the width direction from the main plate is provided along the rear wall of the vertical frame.
The refrigerator door according to claim 7. The main plate is provided with holes for filling with insulation material.
The refrigerator door according to claim 5. The panel support portion is
An upper frame having a portion integrally formed with the decorative panel that supports the upper edge and the left and right side edges;
a lower frame formed with a portion supporting a lower edge of the decorative panel, the lower frame being separate from the upper frame;
The refrigerator door according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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