JPH0854174A - Front panel structure of refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent breakage of the front panel side by a load exerted on an engaging protrusion, formed on a front panel, and a holder. CONSTITUTION:A flange 42 extending to the rear is formed at a body 40a of a side member 40 of which a front panel consists. Pocket parts 44 and 44 in which a base part 24b of an arm member 24 is removably inserted are formed by support parts 46 and 46 formed on the upper and lower inner sides of the flange 42. A lower engaging protrusion 50 extending toward the inner side of the flange 42 by a given length is integrally formed above the lower support part 46 through a side. The lower engaging protrusion 50 comprises a base part 50a formed in a rectangular plate-form state, a protrusion part 50b protruded from the rear side of a base part 50a, and the sides of the base end part 50a and the protrusion part 50b are fixed to the flange 42. The protrusion part 50b is removably engaged with a holder disposed at a stay.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a structure of a front panel which is removably disposed on a main body of a refrigerator or the like via engaging means.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A refrigerator in which a machine room is formed on an upper part of a main body which internally defines a storage room for storing foods and the like is preferably used particularly in the field of business. For example, as shown in FIG.
On the upper part of the refrigerator main body 10 which defines the storage chamber 10a, pillars 12 are screwed and fixed at four corners, respectively, and a pair of pillars 1 located at the front and rear on the left and right sides of the main body 10.
The side panels 14 are fixed by screws between 2 and 12, respectively. A front panel 16 is removably disposed between a pair of columns 12 and 12 which are separated from each other on the front side in the left and right, and a compressor and a condenser are housed in a machine chamber 18 surrounded by these three panels 14, 14 and 16. Refrigeration mechanism 2 consisting of vessels
0 is arranged.

The front panel 16 is constructed by arranging side plates 22 on both left and right ends of a panel body 16a thereof.
Engaging means are provided for attachment to the 2,12. That is, as shown in FIG. 9, the arm member 24 made of metal or resin is caulked and fixed to the upper portion of the side plate 22 through the rivets 28 inserted from the outside into the plurality of holes 26 formed in the side plate 22. There is. The arm member 24 is provided with a hook portion 24a bent in a hook shape and extending rearward (machine room side) from the side plate 22 by a required length, and the hook portion 24a is formed on the upper portion of the column 12. It is configured to engage with a notch (not shown) in a detachable manner. A rivet 32, which is inserted from the outside into a plurality of holes 30 formed in the side plate 22, is provided below the side plate 22.
The L-shaped bracket 34 is caulked and fixed via. The holder 36 attached to the surface of the bracket 34 facing the support column 12 is engaged with the engagement protrusion 38 projecting from the corresponding position of the support column 12 in a detachable manner. That is, when the lower part of the front panel 16 is rotated toward the support column 12 as shown in FIG. 10 with the hook portion 24a of the arm member 24 engaged with the notch of the support column 12, the holder 36 is moved. The panel 16 is fixed to the column 12 by engaging with the engaging protrusion 38.

[0004]

The above-mentioned front panel 1
The holder 36 for fixing 6 to the column 12 is a bracket 34.
Since it is caulked and fixed to the side plate 22 through the, the number of parts is large. Further, when the holder 36 of the front panel 16 is engaged with the engaging protrusion 38 of the support column 12, a force is applied to the portion where the bracket 34 and the side plate 22 are caulked and fixed, and the bracket 34 bends. was there. Therefore, it is necessary to use a rigid bracket 34 having a large thickness dimension, and it is pointed out that the cost increases.

The side plate 22 is a front panel 16
The holes 26 and 30 for rivets are formed in the mounting positions of the arm member 24 and the bracket 34 depending on the mounting side so that they can be used on either the left or right side of the panel body 16a. Therefore, a plurality of unused holes 2
6 and 30 are visible from the outside side, and the heads of the rivets 28 and 32 used for fixing the arm member 24 and the bracket 34 are also visible from the outside side, and it is pointed out that the appearance is poor. Further, since the work of attaching the bracket 34 to the side plate 22 is performed on site, the work is time-consuming and complicated. Further, when the front panel 16 is rotated or engaged with the support column 12 via the arm member 24, a load is applied to the fixing portion between the arm member 24 and the side plate 22, and the resin side plate 22 is applied. There is a problem that the rivet 28 falls off or cracks occur at the end.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-mentioned drawbacks inherent in the above-mentioned prior art, and is a proposal for suitably solving the drawbacks. (EN) Provided is a front panel structure for a refrigerator, which can prevent damage to the front panel side due to a load applied when engaging or disengaging the engaging protrusion or the holder arranged on the front panel with respect to the engaging protrusion and reducing the number of assembling steps. The purpose is to

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to overcome the above problems and achieve an intended object, the present invention provides a front panel detachably arranged on the front surface of a main body of a refrigerator or the like, in which the front panel side is provided. An engaging projection or a holder that is detachable from a holder or an engaging projection arranged on the front surface of the main body is fixed to the part closing surface via a side surface.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, another invention of the present application is a front panel detachably arranged on a front surface of a main body in a refrigerator or the like, wherein the side closed surface of the front panel is formed on the main body. A receiving portion that defines a pocket portion that allows the base portion of the detachable arm member to be fitted and inserted is formed in the engaging portion, and the side wall closing surface of the front panel is disposed on the front surface of the main body. An engaging projection or a holder that is detachable from the holder or the engaging projection is fixed via a side surface, and the engaging projection or the holder is fixed to the receiving portion.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, a preferred embodiment of the front panel structure of a refrigerator according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the same members already described in the refrigerator described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10 are designated by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a front panel 16 according to an embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the panel 16 including a panel body 16a and a pair of side members 4 disposed on both sides thereof.
It consists of 0 and 40. The respective side members 40, 40 are formed symmetrically with respect to each other with the center in the length direction sandwiched therebetween, and by turning them upside down, they can be selectively used for the left side and the right side of the panel body 16a. There is. Therefore,
The configuration of the side member 40 used on the left side when viewed from the front side of the front panel 16 will be described. The same parts that are located vertically above and below the center in the length direction are given the same reference numerals, but their names are labeled "upper" and "lower" to distinguish them. .

The side member 40 is a resin injection-molded product, and as shown in FIG. 2, the inner rear end edge (machine) of the main body 40a externally fitted to the side of the panel main body 16a, which faces the panel main body 16a. A rearwardly extending flange 42 is formed over the required length at the end edge facing the chamber). Then, when the front panel 16 is attached to the columns 12, 12, the flange 42 functions as a side closing surface that closes the side. A rectangular upper receiving portion 46 that defines an upper pocket portion 44 is formed in parallel with the inner surface of the upper portion of the flange 42. Upper pocket part 4
4 is open upward and rearward, and the rectangular base portion 24b of the arm member 24 in which the hook portion 24a is formed is removably inserted. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a rivet hole 42a is formed in the flange 42 facing upward from the upper pocket portion 44, and the arm member 24 is fixed to the side member 40 by a rivet 48 inserted from the outside of the hole 42a. It In this case, since the base portion 24b of the arm member 24 is fitted in the upper pocket portion 44, the force generated when the front panel 16 is rotated or engaged with the support column 12 via the arm member 24. Are distributed not only in the fixing part by the rivet 48 but also in the entire upper pocket part 44,
It is possible to prevent the side member 40 from cracking and the rivet 48 from falling off.

As shown in FIG. 2, a lower pocket portion 44, which opens downward and rearward through a lower receiving portion 46, is defined in the lower portion of the flange 42. The lower pocket portion 44 is not used when the side member 40 is used for the left side, and the arm member 24 is not attached (see FIG. 5).

Above the lower receiving portion 46, a lower engaging projection 50 extending inward from the flange 42 by a required length is integrally formed via its side surface. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower engaging protrusion 50 is composed of a base portion 50a formed in a rectangular plate shape and a protrusion portion 50b protruding on the rear surface side of the base portion 50a. The base portion 50a and the protrusion portion 50b. All of the side surfaces are fixed to the flange 42. The protrusion 50b is detachably engaged with the holder 52 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) arranged on the column 12. Further, the base portion 50a of the lower engaging protrusion 50 is also connected to the lower receiving portion 46, and the engaging protrusion 50 is firmly fixed to the flange 42, and the protruding portion 50 is
It is possible to prevent damage due to the force applied when engaging and disengaging the holder 52 from the holder 52. A similar upper engaging protrusion 50 is formed below the upper receiving portion 46, and the upper engaging protrusion 50 is not used when the lower engaging protrusion 50 is used.
Further, the base portions 50a, 50a of both the engaging projections 50, 50 are shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG.
Reinforcement of 0,50 is aimed at.

A plurality of guide members 56 are provided on the upper and lower ends of the main body 40a of the side member 40 and on the inner side of the front surface, and guide the guide member 56 when the side member 40 is attached to the panel main body 16a. Panel body 4 by action
The side member 40 can be accurately attached to the 6a.

As shown in FIG. 4, the notch 1 is provided at the position corresponding to the arm member 24 provided on the side member 40, as shown in FIG.
2a is formed, and the front panel 16 is attached in parallel to the front surface of the column 12 with the arm member 24 engaged with the cutout 12a. In addition, at the lower part of the column 12, side members 40
The holder 52 is disposed at a position corresponding to the protrusion 50b of the lower engaging protrusion 50 formed on the.
The protrusion 50b is configured to engage with and disengage from the a and 52a. When the front panel 16 is rotated in the direction in which the lower end is separated from the support column 12 with the engaging portion between the arm member 24 and the cutout portion 12a as a fulcrum, the hook portion 24 of the arm member 24 is rotated.
The panel 16 is allowed to rotate by inserting a into the through hole 12b formed corresponding to the support 12.

As described above, the side member 40 of the embodiment has the support 1
Since the engagement projection 50 which can be engaged and disengaged is integrally formed with the holder 52 arranged in FIG. 2, the strength is increased, and bending and cracking occur due to the force applied to the holder 52 when the engagement projection 50 is engaged and disengaged. Can be prevented. In addition, the protrusion 5 of the engaging protrusion 50
Since 0b has a required length, it is easy to engage with the holder 52. Further, since it is not necessary to assemble the engaging projections 50 on site, the working time can be shortened, and since no rivet is used, the appearance is improved.

Furthermore, the arm member 24 can be securely fixed to the side member 40 with one rivet 48, and the force applied via the arm member 24 can be dispersed and supported by the entire pocket portion 44. , Side member 40 cracks and rivets 48
It is possible to prevent the falling out of. Also rivets 48
Since the number of used wires is reduced and the work man-hour is also reduced, there is an advantage that the work efficiency can be improved. Furthermore, since the number of rivet holes 42a is reduced, the number of holes 42a visible from the outside when not in use is reduced, and the appearance can be improved.

[0018]

[Modification] FIG. 6 shows a modification of the side member 40 in which a holder 52 which is engageable with and disengageable from an engaging projection provided on the column 12 is integrally formed on the side member 40. is there. That is, the rectangular base 5 is formed at a right angle from the flange 42.
2b extends, and an engaging piece 52 is provided on the rear surface side of the base 52b.
a and 52a are formed. Also in this modification, it is possible to effectively prevent the holder 52 and the side member 40 from being damaged by the force applied when the holder 52 is engaged with and disengaged from the engaging projections arranged on the support 12. In the modification shown in FIG. 6 as well, the side member 40 has a vertically symmetrical structure with the center in the longitudinal direction interposed therebetween.

FIG. 7 shows a modification of the pocket portion 44 of the side member 40 and the arm member 24. The pocket portion 44 shown in FIG. 7A is configured so as to open only at the rear side, and the base portion 24b of the arm member 24 formed corresponding thereto is fitted into the pocket portion 44 from the rear side. Note that FIG.
In the modified example of (a), the receiving portion 46 is provided with a rivet hole 46a.
The rivet 48, which is inserted into the hole 42a of the flange 42, is inserted into the hole 46a of the receiving portion 46. Further, the pocket portion 44 shown in FIG. 7B is configured so as to open only upward, and the base portion 24b of the arm member 24 formed to correspond thereto is fitted into the pocket portion 44 from above. In any modification, the arm member 2
Since the base portion 24b of No. 4 is supported by the entire pocket portion 44, the breakage of the resin side member 40 is effectively prevented.

[0020]

As described above, according to the front panel structure of the refrigerator or the like according to the present invention, the side closed surface of the front panel is engageably and disengageably engaged with the holder or the engagement protrusion arranged in the main body. Since the protrusion or the holder is fixed on the side surface thereof, the strength is improved and the occurrence of bending or cracking can be prevented. Further, since there is no need for assembling on-site, the working time can be shortened, and since rivets are not used, there are advantages that the cost is reduced and the appearance is improved. Further, since the engaging projection or the holder is fixed to the receiving portion that defines the pocket portion for mounting the arm member, the strength can be further increased. By inserting the base of the arm member into the pocket, it is possible to disperse the force applied through the arm member and prevent the front panel from cracking or the rivet falling off.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a front panel according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a side member according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a main part of a side member according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a main part schematic perspective view showing a relationship between a front panel and a column according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a side member of the front panel according to the embodiment attached to a column.

FIG. 6 is a main part perspective view showing a modified example of the side member according to the embodiment.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a modified example of the pocket portion of the side member and the arm member according to the embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing a conventional refrigerator in an exploded state.

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing a side plate arranged on a front panel according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side view showing a state in which a front panel according to a conventional technique is attached to a column.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Refrigerator main body, 12a ... Notch part, 16 ... Front panel, 24 ... Arm member 24b ... Base part, 42 ... Flange, 44 ... Pocket part, 4
6 ... Receiving part 50 ... Engaging projection, 52 ... Holder

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A front panel detachably disposed on a front surface of a main body (10) of a refrigerator or the like, wherein the main body is attached to a side blocking surface (42) of the front panel (16).
Holder (52) or engaging protrusion (50) arranged in front of (10)
A front panel structure for a refrigerator or the like, characterized in that an engagement projection (50) or a holder (52) which can be engaged and disengaged with is fixed to the side surface. 2. A front panel detachably disposed on a front surface of a main body (10) of a refrigerator or the like, wherein the main body is provided on a side blocking surface (42) of the front panel (16).
An arm member (24) which can be engaged and disengaged with an engaging portion (12a) formed in (10)
The base portion (24b) of the receiving portion (46) that defines the pocket portion (44) for allowing the insertion of the base portion (24b) is formed, the side closing surface (42) of the front panel (16), the main body
Holder (52) or engaging protrusion (50) arranged in front of (10)
The engaging projection (50) or the holder (52) is fixed to the engaging projection (50) or the holder (52) via the side surface.
Is a front panel structure for a refrigerator or the like, which is fixed to the receiving portion (46).