KR20150071561A - Refrigerator - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator and, more specifically, to a refrigerator grounding a door to prevent static electricity generated on the door. According to an idea of the present invention, the refrigerator comprises a body including a storage chamber inside, and including a conductive material; a door having a conductive area, and opening and closing the storage chamber; a hinge member installed on the front of the body, and combined with the door for rotating the door; and a grounding member electrically connecting the hinge member and the door, wherein the conductive area includes an inner surface of a ground hole provided on an outer plate forming an outer surface of the door, and the grounding member grounds the door by being fixed on the ground hole.

Description

Refrigerator {Refrigerator}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly, to a refrigerator capable of preventing static electricity generated in a door by grounding the door.

Generally, a refrigerator is a household appliance that stores a food freshly by having a storage room for storing food and a cold supply device for supplying cold air to the storage room.

The storage room is provided so that the front surface is opened to allow food to be delivered and received, and the opened front surface can be opened and closed by the door.

Static electricity may be generated in the refrigerator due to various reasons. The static electricity generated in the refrigerator has a problem of lowering the reliability of the product because the static electricity discharged to the human body when the user grasps the door of the refrigerator or the malfunction of the display device provided in the front part of the door. Therefore, the refrigerator is grounded to prevent the generation of static electricity. The door of the refrigerator is electrically connected to the main body through the hinge member and is grounded.

Generally, the outer shell of the door is provided coated with an insulating material. Accordingly, a grounding line is connected through a rivet to ground the door, or a grounding member is connected to the cut surface of the outer plate of the door to ground the door.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator which reliably grounds a door of a refrigerator without any additional process or change of raw materials, thereby preventing static electricity from being generated in the door.

The problems to be solved by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned problems, and the problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the description and the accompanying drawings will be.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a refrigerator includes: a body having a storage room therein and including a conductive material; a door having a conductive area for opening and closing the storage room; And a grounding member electrically connecting the door and the hinge member, wherein the conductive portion includes an inner surface of a ground hole provided on an outer plate forming an outer surface of the door, The grounding member is fixed to the grounding hole to ground the door.

The grounding member may be provided to be in contact with the inner surface of the ground hole.

The conductive portion may further include a cut surface formed at one end of the outer sheath, and the ground member may be fixed to the door in a shape surrounding the inner surface of the ground hole and the cut surface.

The ground hole and the cut surface may be provided on the back surface of the outside sheathing.

The grounding member may include a spring portion fixed to the hinge member and a ground connection portion connecting the spring portion and the conductive portion.

Wherein the storage compartment includes a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment located below the freezer compartment, wherein the door includes a freezer compartment door for opening and closing the freezer compartment, and a refrigerator compartment door for opening and closing the refrigerator compartment, Can be electrically connected.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a refrigerator comprising: a body having a storage room therein and including a conductive material; a door having a conductive area for opening and closing the storage room; And a grounding member electrically connecting the door and the hinge member, wherein the conductive portion is provided on one side of a shell plate forming an outer surface of the door, The grounding member is fixed to the door in a shape surrounding the plurality of conductive portions.

The conductive portion may include a cut surface provided at one end of the outer sheath and an inner surface of the ground hole passing through the sheath.

The grounding member may be fixed to the door in a shape surrounding the cut surface and the inner surface of the ground hole.

According to the idea of the present invention, it is possible to provide a refrigerator which reliably grounds a door of a refrigerator without any additional process or change of raw materials, thereby preventing static electricity from being generated in the door.

The effects of the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and the effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the present specification and attached drawings.

1 is a view showing the overall structure of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a state of a door and a middle hinge of the refrigerator of FIG. 1; FIG.
FIG. 3 is a view showing a middle hinge, a ground member, and a hinge cover plate provided in the refrigerator of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the middle hinge, the ground member, and the hinge cover plate of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a view showing a state in which the door, the middle hinge and the grounding member as viewed from the rear of the door of FIG. 1 are engaged.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged view showing a state where the grounding member of FIG. 5 is connected to the conductive portion and is grounded.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiments of the present invention can be modified into various forms, and the scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited to the following embodiments. This embodiment is provided to more fully describe the present invention to those skilled in the art. Thus, the shape of the elements in the figures has been exaggerated to emphasize a clearer description.

1 is a view showing the overall structure of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention.

1, a refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a main body 10, storage rooms 13 and 14, a cool air supply device (not shown), doors 20 and 30, hinge members 40 and 40, 50, and 60, a grounding member 70, and a conductive portion 80.

The main body 10 is an outer surface 11. An inner layer 12, and an insulating wall (not shown).

The outer surface (11) forms the outer surface of the refrigerator (1). The outer surface (11) is provided to the outer wall of the main body (10). The outer layer 11 may comprise a conductive material. According to one example, the trauma 11 may be provided as a metal plate.

 The innerspring 12 forms storage rooms 13 and 14 inside the main body 10. The inner surface 12 is joined to the inside of the outer surface 11. According to one example, the inner surface 12 may comprise a plastic material.

An insulating wall (not shown) is provided between the outer surface 11 and the inner surface 12. An insulating wall (not shown) may be provided in a shape surrounding the storage rooms 13 and 14. [ The insulating wall (not shown) includes a heat insulating material. Through this, the heat insulating wall (not shown) insulates the storage rooms 13 and 14. The heat insulating material may be provided with a urethane foam or the like.

The main body 10 is provided through a separate ground line (not shown) or a ground line embedded in the power cord 15.

The storage rooms (13, 14) are located inside the main body (10). The storage rooms (13, 14) may have a shape with an opened front face. The open front of the storage rooms 13 and 14 can be opened and closed by the doors 20 and 30. The doors 20 and 30 may be coupled to the hinge members 40, 50 and 60 in the main body 10. The doors 20 and 30 can open and close the storage compartments 13 and 14 while rotating about an axis coupled to the hinge members 40, 50 and 60.

The storage rooms 13 and 14 may be provided in plurality. At this time, the doors 20 and 30 may be provided in the same manner as the number of the storage rooms 13 and 14.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the storage rooms 13 and 14 can be partitioned into an upper freezing chamber 13 and a lower freezing chamber 14 by intermediate partition walls. The refrigerating chamber 14 can be maintained at a temperature of approximately 3 DEG C and the freezing chamber 13 can be maintained at a temperature of approximately minus 18 DEG C. [

The freezing chamber 13 is opened so that the food can be received. The open front face of the freezing chamber 13 can be opened and closed by the freezing chamber door 20 which is rotatably coupled by the hinge members 40 and 50. A shelf (not shown) on which food can be placed may be provided in the freezing room 13.

The refrigerator compartment 14 is opened so that the food can be received. The opened front face of the refrigerating chamber 14 can be opened and closed by a refrigerating chamber door 30 rotatably coupled by the hinge members 50 and 60. A shelf (not shown) on which food can be placed may be provided in the refrigerating chamber 14.

The freezing chamber 13 and the refrigerating chamber 14 may be provided in different volumes from each other. According to an example, the refrigerating chamber 14 may be provided with a larger volume than the freezing chamber 13. Alternatively, the volume of the freezing chamber 13 may be equal to or greater than the volume of the refrigerating chamber 14.

The cool air supply device (not shown) provides cool air to the freezing room 13 and the freezing room 14, respectively. (Not shown) for compressing the refrigerant, a condenser (not shown) for condensing the refrigerant, a capillary tube (not shown) for expanding the refrigerant, and an evaporator (Not shown).

The doors (20, 30) open and close the storage rooms (13, 14) whose front surfaces are open. The doors 20 and 30 may be composed of an outer shell 21, an inner panel (not shown), an upper cap (not shown), and a lower cap 21d. The outer shell 21, the inner plate (not shown), the upper cap (not shown), and the lower cap 21d are assembled together to form the inner space 25. The inner space 25 may be provided with a heat insulating material. The outside sheathing 21 may be made of a metal material so as to have rigidity and aesthetics. The outside sheathing 21 may be provided coated with a material containing an insulating material.

Although not shown, a handle (not shown) may be provided on the front surface of the doors 20 and 30 to open and close the doors 20 and 30, and food can be placed on the rear surfaces of the doors 20 and 30 A door guard (not shown) may be provided.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the doors 20 and 30 include a freezer compartment door 20 and a refrigerator compartment door 30. The freezer compartment door 20 may be located above the refrigerator compartment door 30.

The freezing chamber door (20) is located on the open front side of the freezing chamber (13) and opens and closes the freezing chamber (13). The freezing chamber door 20 is installed so that one side is fixed by the hinge members 40 and 50. The freezing chamber door 20 can open and close the freezing chamber 13 while rotating around a fixed side.

According to an example, the freezing chamber door 20 may be provided with a display portion 22 on its outer shell 21. The display unit 22 may be provided with an output function for visually displaying a signal received from an external or refrigerator control unit through a screen and an input function for allowing a user to operate the display through a display. Alternatively, the display portion 22 may be provided on the outer plate of the refrigerator compartment door 30. Alternatively, the display portion 22 may not be provided.

The refrigerator compartment door (30) is located on the opened front side of the refrigerator compartment (14) and opens and closes the refrigerator compartment (14). The refrigerator compartment door (30) can be located below the freezer compartment door (20). The refrigerator compartment door 30 is installed such that one side is fixed by the hinge members 50 and 60. The refrigerator compartment door 30 can open and close the refrigerator compartment 14 while rotating around a fixed side.

The hinge members (40, 50, 60) are fixed to the front surface of the main body (10). The hinge members (40, 50, 60) serve as rotary shafts when the doors (20, 30) rotate. According to one example, the hinge members 40, 50, 60 may include an upper hinge 40, a middle hinge 50, and a lower hinge 60.

The upper hinge 40 is installed in front of the upper surface of the main body 10. The upper hinge 40 is engaged with the upper end of one side of the freezing chamber door 20. The upper hinge 40 is provided to open and close the freezing chamber 13 while the freezing chamber door 20 is rotated together with the middle hinge 50.

The lower hinge (60) is installed in front of the bottom surface of the main body (10). The lower hinge (60) is engaged with the lower end of one side of the refrigerator compartment door (30). The lower hinge 60 is provided to open and close the refrigerating chamber 14 while the refrigerator compartment door 30 is rotated together with the middle hinge 50.

Hereinafter, the structure and coupling relationship of the freezing chamber door, the middle hinge, the ground member, and the conductive portion will be described in detail. However, it is needless to say that the structure of the grounding member of the present embodiment can be applied not only to the freezing chamber door but also to the refrigeration chamber door.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the state of the door and the middle hinge of the refrigerator of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a middle hinge, a ground member and a hinge cover plate provided in the refrigerator of FIG. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the middle hinge, the ground member, and the hinge cover plate.

2 to 4, the middle hinge 50 is positioned between the freezing chamber door 20 and the refrigerating chamber door 30 on the front surface of the main body 10. [ The middle hinge 50 is coupled to the freezer compartment door 20 and the refrigerator compartment door 30 so that the freezer compartment door 20 and the refrigerator compartment door 30 can be rotated.

The middle hinge 50 includes a hinge plate 51, a hinge shaft 52, a fixing plate 53, a middle hinge fixing bolt 54, and a middle hinge fixing hole 55. The middle hinge 50 is fixed so that the fixing plate 53 is in contact with the main body 10. A plurality of middle hinge fixing holes 55 may be provided on one side of the fixing plate 53. The middle hinge fixing bolt 54 engages the middle hinge 50 and the main body 10 through the inside of the middle hinge fixing hole 55. The hinge plate (51) is installed on one side of the fixing plate (53). The hinge plate 51 is provided extending from one side of the fixing plate 53 to the front side of the refrigerator. The hinge plate 51 is provided with a hinge shaft 52 on one side. The hinge shaft (52) is installed vertically through the hinge plate (51). The portion of the hinge shaft 52 located at the upper portion of the hinge plate 51 is engaged with the freezing chamber door 20 and the portion of the hinge plate 51 located below the hinge plate 51 is coupled to the refrigerator chamber door 30. The hinge shaft 52 is provided so that the refrigerator compartment door 30 and the freezer compartment door 20 can rotate around the hinge axis. A grounding member 70, which will be described later, may be fixed to the upper surface of the hinge shaft 52.

The grounding member (70) electrically connects the freezing chamber door (20) and the middle hinge (50). The grounding member 70 may include a spring portion 71 and a ground connection portion 72. The grounding member (70) is located at the top of the hinge shaft (52). The grounding member 70 may be provided as a material having elasticity. Further, the grounding member 70 may include a conductive material.

One end of the spring portion 71 is connected to the upper surface of the hinge shaft 52 and the other end is connected to the ground connection portion 72. The ground connection portion 72 may be extended to connect the spring portion 71 and the freezer compartment door 20. According to an example, the ground connection portion 72 may be bent or bent so as to be fixed to the freezer compartment door 20 in a shape to enclose the conductive portion 80.

A hinge cover plate 24 may be provided between the middle hinge 50 and the bottom surface of the freezer compartment door 20. The hinge cover plate 24 provides a space in which the upper surface of the middle hinge 50 and the grounding member 70 can be fixed in contact with each other. The hinge cover plate 24 has an inner space and a hinge cover 24b extending upwardly.

The hinge cover 24b includes a connection hole 24c at the upper end thereof. The connection hole 24c provides a space through which one side of the grounding member 70 can pass. The connection hole 24c may be provided with the same or larger cross section as the cross section of the ground member 70. [

The hinge cover 24b is provided wider than the end surface of the hinge shaft 52 so that the inner end surface thereof can be inserted into the inner space. The hinge cover 24b is provided so that its outer end face is smaller than the cross section of the hinge through hole 23 on the bottom surface of the freezing chamber door 20. [ Through this, the hinge cover 24b can penetrate the inside of the hinge through-hole 23 and be engaged with the freezing chamber door 20. [

The hinge cover 24b is provided such that the height of the inner space thereof is higher than the height () of the upper side of the hinge shaft 52. The height of the inner space of the hinge cover 24b is smaller than the sum of the height of the upper side of the hinge shaft 52 and the height of the spring portion of the grounding member 70. [ The hinge cover 24b is connected to the freezing chamber door 20 through a hinge through hole 23 provided on the bottom surface of the freezing chamber door 20.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a state in which a door, a middle hinge and a grounding member are coupled as seen from a rear surface of the door of FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a grounding member of FIG. .

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the freezer compartment door 20 has a conductive portion 80 that is capable of electromagnetic movement. Generally, the refrigerator (1) is provided by coating the outer plate (21) of the door (). The material to be coated may include an insulating material. Therefore, the outside sheathing 21 can not be electrically connected to the contact with the conductor in the coated region. However, the outside sheathing 21 may have a conductive portion 80 in which electrons can be moved to a specific region.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the conductive portion 80 includes a cut plane 81 of the sheathing plate and an inner surface 82 of the grounding hole.

The cut surface 81 of the shell plate can be provided at one end of the back surface of the shell plate 21. [ The cutting face 81 of the shell plating is provided with its upper and lower ends coated, but the cut central portion can be provided with a conductive material of a metal material. Therefore, the cutting plane 81 of the outside sheathing can be electrically connected to the grounded member 70 at the cut central portion thereof.

The inner surface 82 of the ground hole may be provided on one side of the back surface 21c of the outside sheathing. The ground hole 75 may be formed in an area overlapping the inner plate (not shown) on the back surface 21c of the outer sheath. An area overlapping with the back surface 21c of the outer sheath and the inner sheath (not shown) can be provided at a distance of about 4 mm from the cut surface 81 of the outer sheath. Therefore, the inner surface 82 of the ground hole can be positioned at an interval of about 4 mm or less from the cut surface 81 of the outside sheathing.

The inner surface 82 of the ground hole is provided with its upper and lower ends coated, but its central region can be provided with a conductive material made of a metal. Therefore, the ground hole 75 can be electrically connected when the center of the inner side surface 82 thereof is in contact with the grounding member 70 or the like.

The hinge cover plate 24 is provided with a hinge shaft 52 and a grounding member 70 inside the hinge cover 24b. The spring portion () of the grounding member (70) is located inside the hinge cover (24b). The ground connection 72 of the grounding member 70 extends into the freezer compartment door 20 through the connection hole 24c. The ground connection portion 72 may be fixedly connected to the ground hole 75. Also, the ground connection portion 72 may be fixed in a shape that encloses the inner surface 82 of the ground hole and the cut surface 81 of the outer sheath.

The hinge cover plate 24 is engaged with the freezing chamber door 20 while the hinge cover 24b penetrates the hinge through hole 23. [

According to one example, the grounding member 70 can be fixed to the ground hole 75 provided in the freezing chamber door 20. [ The grounding member 70 may be fixed to the freezing chamber door 20 in such a manner as to surround the inner side surface 82 of the ground hole 75 and the cut surface 81 of the outer sheath 21. At this time, the ground connection portion 72 may be provided so as to contact both the inner side surface 82 of the ground hole 75 and the cut surface 81 of the outer sheath 21.

According to one example, the ground connection portion 72 may be provided in a shape bent and extended laterally from the cut surface 81 of the outside sheathing, and bent downward in the ground hole 75. Through this, the grounding member (70) can be stably fixed to the freezer compartment door (20). Further, the grounding member 70 can be brought into contact with the cut surface 81 of the outside sheathing and the inside surface 82 of the grounding hole. Thereby, the outside sheathing 21 can be grounded.

The ground hole 75 is provided in the outer plate 21 of the doors 20 and 30. According to one example, the ground hole 75 may be provided on the back surface 21c of the outer sheath 21. The ground hole 75 can be provided at a position close to the cut surface 81 of the outside sheathing. The grounding member 70 can be easily fixed to the freezing chamber door 20 while the grounding connection portion 72 surrounds the grounding hole 75 and the cut surface 81 of the sheathing.

Hereinafter, a process of preventing static electricity from being generated in the door of the freezer compartment in the refrigerator will be described.

The main body 10 of the refrigerator is provided to be grounded. The main body 10 is electrically connected to a ground line (not shown) or a ground line built in the power cord 15 and electrically connected to the outer surface 11 made of a conductive material.

The middle hinge 50 is installed on one side of the outer surface 11 of the main body. Since the middle hinge 50 is made of a conductive material, it is electrically connected to the outer surface 11 of the main body. Therefore, the middle hinge 50 is provided to be grounded.

The freezing chamber door 20 is electrically connected to the middle hinge 50 through the grounding member 70. The inner surface 82 of the ground hole 75 and the cut surface 81 of the sheathing plate of the freezing chamber door 20 are brought into contact with the grounding member 70 through the conductive plate 80, (Not shown). In this way, the freezer compartment door 20 can be grounded via the grounding member 70.

The grounding member 70 according to the embodiment of the present invention can easily fix the grounding member 70 to the outer plate 21 of the door by providing the grounding hole 75. [ Thus, it is possible to add a process of fixing the grounding member 70 or prevent the static electricity generated in the door without adding the raw material to be provided to the refrigerator.

Although the technical idea of the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, the scope of rights of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

1: Refrigerator 10: Body
11: trauma 12: internal injuries
13: Freezer 14: Refrigerator
15: Power cord 20: Freezer door
21: outside plate 22: display portion
23: Hinge through hole 24: Hinge cover plate
24b: Hinge cover 24c: Connection hole
25: Insulation 30: Refrigerator door
40: upper hinge 50: middle hinge
51: hinge plate 52: hinge shaft
60: lower hinge 70: grounding member
71: spring portion 72: ground connection portion
75: ground hole 80: conductive part
81: outside plate cutting surface 82: inside surface of the grounding hole

Claims (9)

A body having a storage chamber therein, the body including a conductive material;
A door having a conductive area for opening and closing the storage chamber;
A hinge member installed in front of the main body and coupled to the door so that the door can rotate; And
And a grounding member electrically connecting the door and the hinge member,
Wherein the conductive portion includes an inner surface of a ground hole provided in an outer plate forming an outer surface of the door,
And the grounding member is fixed to the ground hole to ground the door. The method according to claim 1,
The grounding member
And is brought into contact with the inner surface of the ground hole. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the conductive portion further includes a cut surface formed at one end of the outer sheath,
Wherein the grounding member is fixed to the door in such a shape as to surround the inner side surface of the ground hole and the cut surface. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the ground hole and the cut surface are provided on the back surface of the outside sheathing. The method according to claim 1,
The grounding member
A spring unit fixed to the hinge member; And
And a ground connection portion connecting the spring portion and the conductive portion. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the storage chamber includes a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber located below the freezing chamber,
The door includes a freezing chamber door for opening and closing the freezing chamber, and a refrigerating chamber door for opening and closing the freezing chamber,
And the grounding member electrically connects the freezing chamber door and the hinge member. A body having a storage chamber therein, the body including a conductive material;
A door having a conductive area for opening and closing the storage chamber;
A hinge member installed in front of the main body and coupled to the door so that the door can rotate; And
And a grounding member electrically connecting the door and the hinge member,
Wherein the conductive portion is provided on one side of the outer sheath forming the outer side surface of the door,
Wherein the grounding member is fixed to the door in a shape surrounding the plurality of conductive parts. 8. The method of claim 7,
The conductive part
A cut surface provided at one end of the outside sheathing; And
And an inner surface of a ground hole penetrating the outer plate. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the grounding member is fixed to the door in such a shape as to surround the cut surface and the inner surface of the ground hole.

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