KR20100041007A - A refrigerator and door of refrigerator and control method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A refrigerator, a refrigerator door, and a control method thereof are provided to selectively change the outer appearance of the refrigerator door as a door forming the outer appearance of the refrigerator includes decorating units which have two or more patterns. CONSTITUTION: A refrigerator comprises a main body, a door, an external member(300), and one or more decorating units(100). The main body forms the storage. The door selectively shields the main body. The external member forms the outside of the door and is formed of transparent materials. The decorating unit is formed on the rear part of the external member. The decorating unit is exposed to the outside through the external member. The decorating unit varies the exterior design of the refrigerator, rotated by the manipulation of a user.

Description

Refrigerator and door of refrigerator and control method of the same}

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, a refrigerator door, and a control method thereof.

In general, a refrigerator is a home appliance that allows food to be stored at a low temperature in an interior storage space shielded by a door. The refrigerator generates cold air through a circulating cycle of a refrigerant, and cools the inside of the storage space using the generated cold air. Ensure food is stored for a long time.

Such refrigerators are gradually becoming larger and more versatile in accordance with the change in dietary life and the quality of products, and refrigerators having various structures and convenience devices for the convenience of users have been released.

In recent years, as well as the function of the refrigerator design as an important factor in the purchase decision has been developed a refrigerator having a variety of colors, textures, patterns, and the like.

Typically, the front of the main body or door of the refrigerator is composed of VCM (VCM) steel plate printed with various colors and patterns, or the entire appearance is reinforced by tempered glass in order to express more diverse colors and textures and to give an elegant feeling. Or part of the formation is a trend that is improving and upscale the design of the overall refrigerator.

Recently, a glass effect, that is, a pattern effect is realized through printing layers of various degrees on tempered glass, thereby improving and improving design.

However, the above conventional technologies have the following problems.

In general, refrigerators are expensive household appliances belonging to large household appliances, which are used for an average of 8 to 9 years, and have a high tendency to maintain their first installed position for a long time due to their weight and volume.

On the other hand, the refrigerator and the refrigerator door according to the prior art are sufficient to meet the various needs of consumers gradually increasing appearance design of the product shipped state until the disposal of the product.

The present invention is to provide a refrigerator and a refrigerator door capable of changing the appearance.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator and a refrigerator door in which the appearance of the refrigerator is changed according to an external temperature.

The refrigerator proposed by the present invention includes a main body that forms a storage space, a door that selectively shields the main body, an exterior member that forms an exterior of the door and is made of a transparent material, and the interior of the refrigerator is exposed to the rear side of the exterior member. And a decorative means at least partially exposed to the outside through the exterior member, wherein the decorative means is characterized in that the exterior design is revealed while rotating by user manipulation.

In addition, the refrigerator door proposed by the present invention includes an exterior member formed of a transparent material to form a front appearance, and decorative means provided on the rear side of the exterior member and at least partially exposed through the exterior member. Is characterized in that the appearance of the appearance is changed while rotating by the user operation.

On the other hand, the control method of the refrigerator proposed in the present invention is a step of selecting whether or not to enter the set temperature range compared with the outside temperature detected by the user operation means for changing the design of the decorative means forming a part of the exterior of the refrigerator, And selecting the input of the set temperature range to compare the input set temperature range with the detected outside temperature, and changing the design of the decoration means when the detected outside temperature is outside the set temperature range. In the step of changing the design of the decorative means is characterized in that the rotating shaft constituting the decorative means and the pattern roll is wound around the rotating shaft and the pattern roll is formed as two or more patterns are rotated to change the pattern shown to the outside.

The present invention is configured to include a decorative means having two or more patterns in which the door forming the exterior of the refrigerator is exposed to the outside, the decorative means may be changed by the pattern by rotation. Therefore, it is possible to selectively change the appearance of the refrigerator door through such a decorative means, thereby allowing the user to directly give a variety to the appearance of the refrigerator.

And, in the present invention, the pattern change of the decoration means can be made automatically according to the outside temperature. That is, the user inputs the set temperature range in consideration of the seasonal temperature, and if the outside temperature is out of the set temperature range, by operating the drive motor for the pattern change of the decoration means, the refrigerator corresponding to the temperature change There is an advantage that the appearance can be changed.

In addition, the present invention is the decorative means is formed of a transparent material, a separate decorative panel may be further provided inside the decorative means. Therefore, by combining the pattern of the decorative panel and the decorative means there is an advantage that it is possible to implement a variety of luxurious appearance image.

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings will be described a specific embodiment of the present invention. However, the spirit of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments presented, and those skilled in the art who understand the spirit of the present invention can easily suggest other embodiments within the scope of the same idea.

1 is a front view showing the appearance of a refrigerator which is an embodiment in which the present invention is employed.

The refrigerator 1, which is an embodiment in which the present invention is employed, is formed in a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape and has at least one storage space defined inside.

The storage space is shielded by a door 10 that is selectively opened and closed, and the door 10 is divided into a freezing compartment door 20 and a refrigerating compartment door 30 according to the shielding space.

In addition, the freezing chamber door 20 is provided with a display 40 which shows a driving state of the refrigerator 1 according to the input function as well as inputting various functions such as temperature control or storage mode setting by the user. The refrigerating chamber door 30 is further provided with a home bar 60 so that a user can withdraw a storage such as a simple drink provided in the refrigerating chamber from the outside without opening the refrigerating chamber door 30.

On the other hand, one side of the display 40 is further provided with a user manipulation means 500 for changing the design of the decoration means 100 to be described in detail below, the decoration means 100 is one or more in the door (10) Provided so that various designs can be shown to the outside.

Hereinafter, the door 10 and the refrigerator 1 including the decoration means 100 as described above will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A 'of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a refrigerator door according to an embodiment of the present invention. Hereinafter, the freezer door 20 will be described as an example.

The freezer door 20 has a basic skeleton formed by an incase 22 forming a rear surface thereof and an outer case 24 coupled to the incase 22 to form an accommodation space of a heat insulating material.

In addition, the aforementioned decoration means 100 and the exterior member 300 may be fastened to the skeleton of the freezing chamber door 20 formed as described above, so that the appearance may be beautifully designed.

More specifically, the front side of the outer case 24 is provided with a decorative means 100 whose design is variable according to the control command input by the user operation means 500.

The decorative means 100 includes a pattern roll 120 having one or more rotating shafts 140 that rotate, and two or more patterns having various combinations of such rotating shafts, shapes, colors, patterns, and the like.

In addition, the pattern roll 120 is wound around the rotation shaft 140 and is formed to move the position of the pattern according to the rotation of the rotation shaft 140.

In addition, the driving motor 160 may be further provided on one side of the rotation shaft 140 so that the rotation of the pattern roll 120 as described above may be performed electrically.

Therefore, the user inputs a control command for the operation of the driving motor 160 through the user operation means 500 provided on one side of the freezer door 20, thereby changing the pattern of the decoration means 100. According to the control command can be made automatically, the description thereof will be described in detail below.

On the other hand, the front side of the decorative means 100 is further provided with an outer member 300, the outer member 300 is made of a transparent glass inside is formed transparent, so that the pattern of the decorative means 100 to the outside Can be shown.

In addition, the exterior member 300 and the decorative means 100 is fixed by the side deco 200 is fastened to the side of the outer case 24 to form an appearance.

To this end, the side deco 200 is further provided with a decorative means fixing part 220 for fixing the decorative means 100, and an exterior member fixing part 300 for fixing the exterior member 300.

In detail, the decorative means fixing part 220 is a plate shape protruding inward from the inner surface of the side deco 200 protrudes upward on the upper surface of the decorative means fixing part 220 is fixed to the rotating shaft 140 The rotating shaft fastening part 240 is further formed to be able to rotate in the closed position.

And, as shown in Figure 2, when the drive motor 160 is connected to the rotating shaft 140 is configured to be rotatable, one side decorative means fixing portion 220 is formed with a rotating shaft fastening portion 240 is the rotating shaft 140 is fitted, the other decorative means fixing portion 220 is formed with a motor mount 230 to which the drive motor 160 is mounted.

The exterior member fixing part 260 has a space formed to be spaced apart by the thickness of the decorative means fixing part 220 and the exterior member 300, by fitting the exterior member 300 into the space, The exterior member 300 is fixed.

Then, when the decorative means 100 and the exterior member 300 is mounted to the front side of the outer case 24 as described above, the freezing chamber door (depending on the degree of rotation of the pattern roll 120 provided in the decorative means 100 ( 20) appearance is changed.

4A to 4C are views illustrating a process of changing the design of the decorative means in the refrigerator door of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3.

In the illustrated refrigerator door of the illustrated embodiment, the pattern roll 120 constituting the decorative means 100 is formed on the front side and the rear side, with patterns of different patterns spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval.

Therefore, in the state in which the rotation of the drive motor 160 is stopped as shown in FIG. 4A, the pattern of the design currently being shown is maintained outside. When the drive motor 160 is rotated as shown in FIG. 4B, the The rotation shaft 140 is synchronously rotated so that the pattern roll 120 also rotates together.

Then, as the pattern roll 120 rotates as described above, while the pattern shown initially moves in one direction, the pattern covered by the rear side moves to the front side and starts to be revealed to the outside, and the rotation of the driving motor 160 Upon completion, the pattern of the pattern shown in the same state as in FIG. 4C is changed.

On the other hand, Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a refrigerator door according to another embodiment of the present invention.

As shown, in another embodiment of the present invention, a decorative panel 400 having a predetermined pattern is further provided inside the pattern roll 120 constituting the decorative means 100 at the rear side of the exterior member 300.

That is, the decorative panel 400 is a constant pattern that does not change when forming the exterior is shown to the outside, and the variable pattern through the decoration means 100 is in harmony with the pattern of the decorative panel 400 to the outside To be shown.

In addition, the pattern roll 120 is formed of a transparent material, and includes two or more patterns having various shapes, tones, and patterns. In addition, the pattern may include any one of a shape, a color tone, a pattern, or a combination of one or more of them.

On the other hand, the decorative panel 400 may be able to form a high-quality and various images by adding a jewelry member or a light emitting member.

6A to 6C are views illustrating a process of changing the design of the decorative means in the refrigerator door of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5.

In the refrigerator door of the illustrated embodiment, similar to the embodiment of FIG. 3, the pattern roll 120 constituting the decorative means 100 is formed at predetermined intervals on the front side and the rear side, respectively. The decorative panel 400 is supported by the side deco 200 to maintain a fixed position.

Therefore, in the state in which the rotation of the drive motor 160 is stopped as shown in FIG. 6A, the decorative panel 400 is in a state in which the pattern color tone of the design currently being shown is overlaid on the upper side of the decorative panel 400. The pattern of) is revealed to the outside.

When the driving motor 160 is rotated as shown in FIG. 6B, the pattern shaft 120 is rotated synchronously by the rotation shaft 140 to be rotated so that the pattern of the color tone initially shown is moved in one direction and is hidden behind. The pattern of the other color tone that was present is moved to the front side to be exposed to the outside, and the color tone of the pattern shown in the state as shown in FIG. 6C is changed as the driving motor 160 is completed.

On the other hand, Figure 7 is a view showing an embodiment of a user operation means for changing the decorative means design of the refrigerator door according to the present invention.

One embodiment of the user operating means 500 shown is to allow the user to manually change the pattern of the door 10 without the above-described driving motor 160, the handle 520 for holding and rotating the user, A bevel gear 540 rotates in synchronization with the handle 520.

In detail, the handle 520 is mounted to one side of the exterior member 300 so as to penetrate the shaft, and an end of the penetrated shaft is provided with one gear that is coaxially rotated, and the other gear is in the axial direction. Are interlocked so as to interlock and rotate synchronously.

In addition, the gear having an axis intersecting with the handle 520 is connected to the rotating shaft 140 of the decoration means 100 is configured to rotate synchronously, so that the user rotates the handle 520 to the pattern roll 120 You can change the pattern of.

On the other hand, the user operation means 500 is not mechanically configured as described above may be made through electromagnetic control.

8 is a view showing another embodiment of the user operation means for changing the decorative means design of the refrigerator door according to the present invention.

As shown, the user operating means 500, which is another embodiment of the present invention, is to correspond to an external temperature detected by the refrigerator 1 in the operating range of the driving motor 160. It consists of a control circuit.

In detail, the user operating means 500 of another embodiment proposed by the present invention may operate when the driving motor 160 for rotating the pattern roll 120 of the decorative means 100 is out of a set temperature range. And a pattern change mode selection button 560 for setting a temperature range compared with the sensed outside temperature, and a temperature range operation button 580 for setting the temperature range.

That is, the user selects either automatic or semi-automatic from the pattern change mode selection button 560 to limit the operation of the driving motor 160.

In the automatic mode, the operating temperature range of the driving motor 160 may be limited by inputting the highest temperature and the lowest temperature at which the driving motor 160 does not operate using the temperature range operation button 580. .

As a result, the user rotates the driving motor 160 according to the temperature outside the refrigerator 1, thereby changing the pattern shown to the outside.

In the semi-automatic mode, the drive motor 160 is controlled to rotate only while the user presses the pattern change mode selection button 560.

That is, the user presses the pattern change mode selection button 560 until the desired pattern is displayed to the outside, and when the desired pattern is revealed to the outside, the user presses the pattern change mode selection button 560 to release the pressed state. The semi-automatic pattern pattern can be changed to the outside.

Hereinafter, a control method of a refrigerator according to the present invention having the configuration as described above will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9 is a flow chart illustrating a process of changing the appearance design through the decorative means of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, when power is supplied to the refrigerator 1, a step for selecting whether or not to input a set temperature range compared with the sensed outside temperature using the user operating means 500 is performed.

In the above step, when the user does not input the set temperature range, the preset pattern change set temperature is maintained. In consideration of the average temperature in winter and summer, the set temperature range is input when the product is first shipped.

When the user inputs the pattern change temperature, the pattern change mode may be automatically or semi-automatically selected using the pattern change mode selection button 560.

When the user selects the semi-automatic mode, the temperature range operation button 580 is pressed to rotate the driving motor 160 in one direction, and the pattern roll 120 shown outside by the rotating driving motor 160 is rotated. The pattern is changed by maintaining the pressurized state until a specific pattern of) reaches a desired position.

On the other hand, when selecting the automatic mode, the temperature range for the operation of the drive motor 160 to the highest temperature and the lowest temperature using the control screen shown in the temperature range operation button 580 and the display 40 By selecting separately, the set temperature range is set.

When the set temperature range is selected and input as described above, the step of comparing the input set temperature range with the detected outside temperature is performed. When the outside temperature detected in the step is outside the set temperature range, The step of changing the design of the decoration means 100 is performed.

In detail, the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided with a sensor for detecting an external temperature, and the external temperature detected by the sensor is compared with a temperature range set for limiting an operating range of the driving motor 160. According to the comparison result, the driving motor 160 is rotated.

That is, when the detected external temperature is within the set temperature range, the driving motor 160 is not operated. Therefore, the pattern roll 120 of the decoration means 100 maintains its current position so that the appearance change does not occur.

On the other hand, when the detected external temperature is above or below the set temperature range, the driving motor 160 is operated to rotate the pattern roll 120.

At this time, the degree of rotation of the drive motor 160 for rotating the pattern roll 120 is controlled so that the position of the pattern formed on the pattern roll 120 can be exposed to the outside through the exterior member 300.

1 is a front view showing the appearance of a refrigerator which is an embodiment in which the present invention is employed.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A 'of FIG. 1; FIG.

3 is an exploded perspective view of a refrigerator door according to one embodiment of the present invention;

4A to 4C are views illustrating a process of changing the design of the decorative means in the refrigerator door of the embodiment shown in FIG.

5 is an exploded perspective view of a refrigerator door according to another embodiment of the present invention.

6A to 6C are views illustrating a process of changing the design of the decorative means in the refrigerator door of the embodiment shown in FIG.

7 is a view showing an embodiment of a user operation means for changing the decorative means design of the refrigerator door according to the present invention.

8 is a view showing another embodiment of the user operation means for changing the decorative means design of the refrigerator door according to the present invention.

Figure 9 is a flow chart illustrating a process of changing the appearance design through the decorative means of the refrigerator according to the embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

100 ..... Decoration 120 ..... Pattern Roll

140 ..... axis 160 ..... drive motor

200 ..... Side Deco 220 ..... Decoration Fixture

230 ..... Motor Mount 240 ..... Rotating Shaft

260 ..... exterior member fixing part 400 ..... decorative panel

500 ..... User controls 520 ..... Handle

540 ..... Bevel gear 560 ..... Pattern change mode selection button

580 ..... Temperature range operation button

Claims (15)

A body forming a storage space; A door selectively shielding the body; An exterior member which forms an exterior of the door and is formed of a transparent material to expose the interior; A one or more decorative means provided on a rear side of the sheathing member, at least a portion of which is exposed to the outside through the sheathing member; The decoration means, Refrigerator whose exterior design is revealed while rotating by user operation. According to claim 1, One side of the door, The refrigerator further comprises a user operation means for changing the design of the decoration means. The method of claim 1, wherein the decorative means,  Refrigerator is further provided with a drive motor to provide a rotational force for design changes. According to claim 3, One side of the door, A refrigerator provided with a user operation means for inputting a rotation command to the drive motor. The method of claim 4, wherein the user operating means, For selecting the automatic mode in which the drive motor receives a control command in accordance with the value of the outside temperature compared with the set temperature range, and the semi-automatic mode in which the drive motor receives the control command to operate the drive motor while the user is pressed. Refrigerator with pattern change mode selection button. The method of claim 5, wherein the drive motor, Refrigerator for rotating the decoration means when the outside temperature is out of the set temperature range. The method of claim 2, wherein the user operation means, And a manipulation handle connected to a rotating shaft for changing a design of the decoration means and synchronously rotating and rotatable by a user. An exterior member formed of a transparent material to form a front appearance; Included on the rear side of the exterior member, at least a portion of the decorative means exposed through the exterior member; Includes, The decoration means, Refrigerator door that changes the appearance appearance while rotating by the user operation. The method of claim 8, wherein the decorative means, A drive motor providing a rotational force; At least one rotary shaft connected to the shaft of the driving motor to rotate; And a pattern roll having at least two patterns, the pattern rolls being changed in position according to the rotation of the rotary shaft. The method of claim 9, The pattern roll is formed of a transparent material, the inside of the pattern roll is a refrigerator door further comprising a decorative panel having a pattern that is exposed to the outside through the pattern roll and the exterior member. The method of claim 10, Refrigerator door is provided with at least one decorative means. The method of claim 11, In the pattern roll provided in each decorative means, A refrigerator door in which at least one of shape, pattern, and color tone is formed differently. The method of claim 11, Refrigerator door that includes at least one of the same pattern in the pattern roll provided in each decorative means. Selecting whether or not to input a set temperature range compared with the outside temperature sensed by the user manipulation means to change the design of the decorative means forming part of the exterior of the refrigerator; Selecting an input of the set temperature range and comparing the input set temperature range with a sensed outside temperature; And changing the design of the decorative means when the detected outside temperature is outside the set temperature range. In the step of changing the design of the decorative means, The control method of the refrigerator of the refrigerator is wound on the rotating shaft constituting the decorative means and the rotating shaft, the pattern roll is formed while two or more patterns are rotated to change the pattern shown to the outside. The method of claim 14, When the input of the set temperature range is not selected, the built-in set temperature range is applied at the time of shipment of the product and compared with the outside air temperature.

Images