US20240102723A1

US20240102723A1 - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: US20240102723A1
Application number: US18/473,850
Authority: US
Inventors: Seok Heo; Chun Hee HONG
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2022-09-26
Filing date: 2023-09-25
Publication date: 2024-03-28

Abstract

There is disclosed a refrigerator that may include an insulation member disposed to surround a first shelf holder and a shelf decoration fastened to the first shelf holder so that the decoration panel can press the insulation member. Due to this structure, even when the width of the cold air duct increases, the warping phenomenon occurring in the central area of the cold air duct may be reduced enough to reduce the central convex portion.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2022-0121587, filed on Sep. 26, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a refrigerator, more particularly, a large-sized refrigerator including a shelf assembly.

Description of the Related Art

A refrigerator is an electric appliance that may preserve various kinds of storage targets fresh in a storage compartment for a long time by supplying cold air generated using circulation of refrigerant.
Recently, as consumer demand for large-sized refrigerators with large internal volumes increases, refrigerators with increased left and right widths are being developed.
When the left and right width of the refrigerator increases, the width of a cold air duct disposed inside a storage compartment of the refrigerator to circulate cold air may also increase.
If the width size of the cold air duct increases in this way, warping could occur in a central area of the cold air duct.
Accordingly, the central area of the cold air duct will protrude forward so that a central convex portion might occur in the cold air duct.
Meanwhile, the storage compartment of the refrigerator may include various types of storage portions such as a drawer or a shelf.
For example, a shelf may be a cantilever type having a rear end secured to a rear surface of the storage compartment and protruding forward.
When the width of the refrigerator increases, the width of the shelf also needs to increase.
When the width of the shelf increases in this way, there is a risk that the shelf could also sag or be damaged due to the load of the stored items.
Accordingly, the load may be distributed by forming a shelf holder, which is a structure supporting the shelf, in the central area of the storage compartment, and by providing shelves divided on both sides based on the shelf holder disposed in the central area.
In this instance, since the shelf holder securing the shelf is formed to penetrate a cold duct, there could be a problem in that cold air is unintentionally introduced into the area.
For example, the cold air may be circulated in the storage compartment is introduced into an evaporator and passes through the evaporator. After that, the cold air may be re-discharged into the storage compartment.
In this instance, when the shelf holder is disposed higher than the evaporator and a cold air inlet hole is disposed lower than the evaporator, the cold air introduced from the area near the shelf holder could not pass through the evaporator.
If the cold air not passing through the evaporator increases, a problem might occur in the flow of cold air for circulating cold air, thereby deteriorating the performance of the refrigerator.

SUMMARY

One objective of the present disclosure is to provide a large-sized refrigerator that may reduce a central convex area generated in a cold duct disposed in a storage compartment.
A further objective of the present disclosure is to provide a refrigerator that may reduce the cold air sucked near a shelf holder disposed in a central area of a storage compartment.
A still further objective of the present disclosure is to provide refrigerator that may reduce the thickness of a cold air duct disposed inside a storage compartment.
Aspects according to the present disclosure are not limited to the above ones, and other aspects and advantages that are not mentioned above can be clearly understood from the following description and can be more clearly understood from the embodiments set forth herein.
To solve the above-noted disadvantages, a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be characterized in including a first shelf decoration fastened to a first shelf holder so that a decoration panel can press an insulation member.
Specifically, by fastening the shelf decoration to the first shelf holder, the decoration panel may press the insulation member disposed to surround the first shelf holder, thereby reducing a central convex portion of a cold air duct and reducing cold air sucked near the first shelf holder.
The refrigerator may include an inner case; a first shelf holder disposed on a rear front surface of the inner case; a decoration panel disposed on a front surface of the first shelf holder and forming a cold air flow path with the inner case interposed therebetween; an insulation member disposed to surround the first shelf holder; and a shelf decoration fastened to the first shelf holder so that the decoration panel presses the insulation member.
Accordingly, in the refrigerator according to the present disclosure, the insulation member may be disposed to surround the first shelf holder and the shelf decoration may be fastened to the first shelf holder so that the decoration panel can press the insulation member. Due to this structure, even when the width of the cold air duct increases, the warping phenomenon occurring in the central area of the cold air duct may be reduced enough to reduce the central convex portion.
In addition, in the refrigerator according to the present disclosure, the insulation member may be disposed to surround the first shelf holder and the shelf decoration may be fastened to the first shelf holder so that the decoration panel can press the insulation member. Due to this structure, the cold air sucked near the first shelf holder disposed in the central area of the storage compartment may be reduced.
In addition, in the refrigerator according to the present disclosure, the cold air duct may be formed by using the inner case and the decoration panel so that the cold air flow path may be formed between the inner case and the decoration panel, thereby reducing the thickness of the cold air duct disposed inside the storage compartment.
Specific effects are described along with the above-described effects in the section of Detailed Description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator with a first door that is in an open state;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of an upper inner case in which a first door is removed;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of members for forming a cold air flow path and fixing a shelf;

FIG. 4 is a view showing a shelf decoration according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an upper sectional view showing that a shelf decoration according to an embodiment is coupled to a first shelf holder;

FIG. 6 is a sectional perspective view showing that a shelf decoration according to an embodiment is coupled to a first shelf holder;

FIG. 7 is a view showing a shelf decoration according to another embodiment;

FIG. 8 is an upper sectional view showing that the shelf decoration according to another embodiment is coupled to a first shelf holder;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a shelf decoration according to a further embodiment; and

FIG. 10 is an upper sectional view showing that the shelf decoration according to a further embodiment is coupled to a first shelf holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The above-described aspects, features and advantages are specifically described hereunder with reference to the accompanying drawings such that one having ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains can easily implement the technical spirit of the disclosure. In the disclosure, detailed descriptions of known technologies in relation to the disclosure are omitted if they are deemed to make the gist of the disclosure unnecessarily vague. Below, preferred embodiments according to the disclosure are specifically described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, identical reference numerals can denote identical or similar components.
The terms “first”, “second” and the like are used herein only to distinguish one component from another component. Thus, the components should not be limited by the terms. Certainly, a first component can be a second component unless stated to the contrary.
Throughout the disclosure, each component can be provided as a single one or a plurality of ones, unless explicitly stated to the contrary.
Hereinafter, expressions of ‘a component is provided or disposed in an upper or lower portion’ may mean that the component is provided or disposed in contact with an upper surface or a lower surface. The present disclosure is not intended to limit that other elements are provided between the components and on the component or beneath the component.
It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected with” or “coupled to” another element, the element can be directly connected with the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected with” another element, there are no intervening elements present.
A singular representation may include a plural representation unless it represents a definitely different meaning from the context. Terms such as “include” or “has” are used herein and should be understood that they are intended to indicate an existence of several components, functions or steps, disclosed in the specification, and it is also understood that greater or fewer components, functions, or steps may likewise be utilized.
Throughout the disclosure, the terms “A and/or B” as used herein can denote A, B or A and B, and the terms “C to D” can denote C or greater and D or less, unless stated to the contrary.
Hereinafter, a refrigerator according to several embodiments of the present disclosure and a manufacturing method thereof will be described.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 , a refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure and key parts constituting the refrigerator will be described.
The refrigerator may include a cabinet 2 including at least one storage compartment 10 provided therein as a storage space; and a plurality of doors 11 and 12 for opening and closing an open front of the cabinet 2, and the exterior design of the refrigerator may be defined by the cabinet and the plurality of doors.
The cabinet 2 may include an outer case and an inner case 20 coupled inside the outer case.
The cabinet 2 may have a box shape with an open front, and may be divided into one or more storage spaces to include a refrigerator compartment and/or a freezer compartment.
The inner case 20 may have a first inner case 20 disposed on the top and a second inner case disposed on the bottom.
The inner case 20 may be open and closed by a pair of rotary first doors 11 rotatable by a hinge 13. The second inner case may be open and closed by a plurality of drawer-type second doors 12 in the form of a sliding manner.
Hereinafter, the first inner case 20 disposed on the top may be referred to as the inner case 20, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In another embodiment, the second inner case may be the inner case 20.
The storage compartment 10 of the inner case may be a refrigerator compartment, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The storage compartment may include both the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment.
At least one shelf assembly 40 may be mounted inside the inner case 20 to keep storing targets in the form of supporting.
The shelf assembly 40 may be secured by at least one shelf holder 31 and 32 disposed on a rear surface of the inner case 20 to support a rear end of the shelf assembly 40.
Accordingly, the rear end of the shelf assembly 40 may be coupled to the shelf holders 31 and 32 so that the shelf assembly 40 may be secured in the form of a cantilever type protruding forward.
The shelf holders 31 and 32 may include a first shelf holder 31 disposed in a central area of the inner case 20, and a pair of second shelf holders 32 disposed on both sides of the first shelf holder 31.
The pair of second shelf holders 32 may be disposed on both sides of the first shelf holder 31, respectively.
Each of the shelf assembly 40 may have one rear end coupled to the first shelf holder 31 and the other rear end coupled to the second shelf holder 32.
As described above, since the plurality of shelf assemblies 40 are secured by the first shelf holder 31 disposed in the central area of the inner case 20 and the second shelf holder 32 disposed in side areas thereof, to distribute the load of the storing targets to the plurality of shelf assemblies 40.
Accordingly, even when the left-right width of the storage compartment 20 increases, the storing targets may be stably supported.
A refrigerant circulated in a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and a compressor is introduced into an evaporator and takes away heat from the inside of the storage compartment 10. While the refrigerant is vaporized into a gaseous refrigerant after that, the cold air supplied to the storage compartment 10 may be generated.
The cold air generated in the evaporator may be blown to pass through a cold air flow path 21 by a grille fan assembly.
A cold air duct 22 including the cold air flow path 21 may be disposed inside the storage compartment 10.
For example, the cold air duct 22 may include a first air duct 221 formed in a rear area of the inner case 20 and a second cold air duct 222 formed in an upper area thereof.
The first cold air duct 221 and the second cold air duct 222 may be formed to communicate with each other and separated from each. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto and they may be integrally formed as one body.
The evaporator and the grille fan assembly may be disposed on a rear surface of the first inner case 20 to communicate with the first cold air duct 221.
However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the evaporator and the grille fan assembly may be disposed on a rear surface or lower surface of the second inner case 20 to communicate with the first cold air duct 221 through a separate connection duct.
The cold air flow path 21 of the first cold air duct 221 may be formed between the inner case 20 and a decoration panel 70 disposed on a front surface in the rear area of the inner case 20.
The cold air 23 having passed through the first cold air duct 221 may be discharged into the storage compartment 10 through an outlet hole 24 formed in the second cold air duct 222.
The cold air 23 flowing into the storage compartment 10 may be circulated inside the storage compartment 10 and then return to a collecting hole 25 disposed in a lower area of the storage compartment 10.
The cold air 23 collected through the collecting hole 25 may be supplied to the evaporator and then may flow to be discharged to an outlet hole 24 through the cold air flow path 21 of the first cold air duct 221 and the second cold air duct 22 again.
In this instance, the shelf assembly 40 may be disposed on a front surface of the decoration panel 70 to be coupled to the first shelf holder 31 disposed on the rear surface of the decoration panel 70. Accordingly, the decoration panel 70 may include a first penetrating portion 71 through which an inserting hole 312 of the first shelf holder 31 is exposed outside.
The first penetrating portion 71 may have a shape corresponding to a shape of the first shelf holder 31.
For example, the first penetrating portion 71 may be open in a bar shape longitudinally extending with respect to the central area of the decoration panel 70 in a vertical direction.
When the first penetrating portion 71 is formed in the central area of the decoration panel 70, cold air might flow through the first penetrating portion 71 through which the first shelf holder 31 is exposed only to generate cold air circulated without passing through the evaporator.
If then, a normal cold air circulation structure might be interfered.
In addition, since the left-right width of the large-sized refrigerator 1 increases, that of the decoration panel 70 also increases.
When the left-right width of the decoration panel 70 increases, warping increases in the central area of the decoration panel 70 only to generate a central convex phenomenon.
If the central convex portion of the decoration panel 70 is generated, the decoration panel 70 could be not in close contact to the rear surface but sagging to the front surface, thereby more increasing the cold air introduced through the first penetrating portion 71.
To solve the above-noted disadvantages, the refrigerator 1 according to an embodiment will be described referring to FIGS. 3 to 6 .
The first shelf holder 31 may be disposed in a central area of the front surface of the inner case 20.
The first shelf holder 31 may have a bar shape longitudinally extending in a vertical direction.
The first shelf holder 31 may have a plurality of inserting holes 312 penetrating so that a rear end of the shelf assembly 40 can be attached and detached.
The plurality of inserting holes 312 may be exposed outside through the first penetrating portion 71 of the decoration panel 70.
The rear end of the shelf assembly 40 may be coupled to the inserting holes 312 by a hook- coupling method so that the shelf assembly may be mounted and demounted to facilitate easy adjustment of the height of the shelf assembly 40.
The first shelf holder 31 may be fastened to the inner case 20 by using a fastening member through at least one fastening portion 313 formed at a circumference of a lateral surface.
The decoration panel 70 may be disposed on the front surface of the inner case 20.
The cold air flow path 21 may be formed between the decoration panel 70 and the inner case 20.
For example, the decoration panel 70 may constitute the front surface of the first cold air duct 221 and the rear surface of the inner case 20 may constitute the rear surface of the first cold air duct 221.
Since the rear surface of the inner case 20 forms the first cold air duct 221, a separate rear surface member for forming the cold air duct does not have to be provided. Accordingly, the thickness of the cold air duct may be reduced and the inner volume of the storage compartment 10 may be increased.
The decoration panel 70 may be made of a metal member such as stainless, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. To increase aesthetic sense, an additional finishing member may be disposed on the front surface of the decoration panel 70 to increase the aesthetic sense.
The decoration panel 70 may be formed in a plate shape integrally formed with a size corresponding to the shape of the rear surface of the storage compartment 10 as much as possible.
An insulation sheet 80 may be disposed on the rear surface of the decoration panel 70 to heat-insulate the first cold air duct 21.
For example, the insulation sheet 80 may be made of a material such as polystyrene paper (PSP), but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
Such the insulation sheet 80 may be made of an insulating material to reduce heat loss in the cold air passing through the cold air flow path 21 of the first cold air duct 221.
Accordingly, the cold air flow path 21 may be formed between the insulation sheet 80 and the inner case 20.
The insulation sheet 80 may be formed with a thickness that is thin enough to seal the cold air flow path 21 so that the entire thickness of the first cold air duct 221 can be reduced.
The insulation sheet 80 may have a shape of a plate integrally formed with a size corresponding to the shape and size of the decoration panel 70.
A second penetrating portion 81 may be formed in a central area of the insulation sheet 80 so that the inserting holes 312 of the first shelf holder 31 can be exposed therethrough.
The second penetrating portion 81 may have a shape corresponding to the first shelf holder 31 so as to expose the inserting hole 312 of the first shelf holder 21 outside.
For example, the second penetrating portion 81 may be formed in a shape of an opening surrounding the first penetrating portion 71 and the first shelf holder 31.
Since the second penetrating portion 81 is formed in the central area of the insulation sheet 80 to expose the first shelf holder 31, the cold air may be introduced from the storage compartment 10 through the second penetrating portion 81 only to cause a heat insulation problem.
Accordingly, to solve the insulation problem in the corresponding area, an insulation member 50 may be formed around the first shelf holder 31 to surround the first shelf holder 31.
The insulation member 50 may be disposed on the rear surface of the insulation sheet 80, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
To improve the insulation effect, the insulation member 50 may have a thickness that is greater than the thickness of the insulation sheet 80.
For example, the insulation member 50 may be made of a material such as Styrofoam (EPS), but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
The insulation member 50 may have a shape corresponding to the second penetrating portion 81 of the insulation sheet 80.
For example, since the circumference of the insulation member 50 is disposed by overlapping the insulation sheet 80 to cover an outer circumference of the second penetrating portion 81, so that the inflow of cold air into the second penetrating portion 81 can be reduced.
A third penetrating portion 52 may be formed in the central area of the insulation member 51 to expose the inserting holes 312 of the first shelf holder 31.
The third penetrating portion 52 may have a shape corresponding to the first shelf holder 31 so that the inserting hole 312 of the first shelf holder 31 can be exposed outside.
Sealing foam 51 may be additionally disposed on a rear surface of the insulation member 50 along a circumference thereof.
The sealing foam 51 may be disposed between the insulation member 50 and the inner case 20 to reduce cold air leaking between the insulation member 50 and the inner case 20.
A shelf decoration 60 to which the decoration panel 70 is fastened to press the insulation member 50 may be disposed on the front surface of the first shelf holder 31.
The decoration panel 70 may have a structure of being directly fastened to the first shelf holder 31, but it may be secured to the first shelf holder 31 using the shelf decoration 60 as an intermediate medium.
The shelf decoration 60 according to an embodiment may include a body 61 having a bar shape longitudinally extending in the vertical direction; and a bent portion 62 extending from a rear surface of the body 61 to be bent toward a rear surface.
The body 61 of the shelf decoration 60 may have a hollow 611 for exposing the inserting hole of the first shelf holder 31 outside.
The front surface of the body 61 may be disposed on the rear surface of the decoration panel 70 to support the rear surface of the decoration panel 70.
Accordingly, the front surface of the body 61 may not be exposed outside with respect to the direction to the front surface of the refrigerator 1 only to enhance a design finishing effect.
The bent portion 62 may extend to be bent toward the rear surface along a rear surface of an inner circumference of the body 61 forming the hollow 611.
For example, the bent portion 62 may be perpendicularly bent toward the rear surface with respect to the front surface of the body 61, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
A step 63 inserted into the body 61 and the bent portion 62 may be formed at a boundary between the body 61 and the bent portion 62.
When the decoration panel 70 made of a material such as metal is processed to have the first penetration portion 71, the inner end of the decoration panel 70 formed along the first penetrating portion 71 may be formed to be sharp.
In particular, the decoration panel 70 may become one surface of the first cold air duct 221 to form the rear surface of the storage compartment 10. Due to this structure, a sharp end could be dangerous to the user.
Accordingly, the inner end of the decoration panel 70 formed along the circumference of the first penetrating portion 71 of the decoration panel 70 may include an edge portion 75 bent toward the rear surface.
In this instance, since the edge portion 75 is disposed to sit on the step 63 of the shelf decoration 60, the end of the edge portion 75 substantially bent toward the rear surface may not be exposed outside but covered by the step 63 of the shelf decoration 60.
Accordingly, the edge portion 75 of the decoration panel 70 may greatly reduce the risk to the users.
Meanwhile, one side of the bent portion 62 of the shelf decoration 60 may support one side of the first shelf holder 31.
Specifically, the inserting hole 312 may be formed on the front surface of the first shelf holder 31, and a first coupling hole 311 may be formed on each of both lateral surfaces of the first shelf holder 31 bent toward the rear surface with respect to the front surface of the first shelf holder 31.
The first coupling hole 311 may be formed in a shape of a through-hole.
Correspondingly, a plurality of first hook portions 621 formed to face the lateral surface of the first shelf holder 31 may be disposed on one side of the bent portion 62 of the shelf decoration 60.
For example, the bent portion 62 extending toward the rear surface along both side edge portions of the hollow 611 of the shelf decoration 60 may include a pair of first hook portions 621 formed to face each other.
In this instance, the pair of first hook portions 621 may form one set, and each of the sets of first hook portions 621 may be provided in plural to be spaced apart from each other in the vertical direction.
The bent portion 62 of the shelf decoration 60 may be insertedly disposed between the first shelf holder 31 and the insulation member 50 to surround both lateral surfaces of the first shelf holder 31. The pair of first hook portions 621 formed in the bent portion 62 may be hook-coupled to the first locking hole 311 of the first shelf holder 31.
A plurality of second hook portions 622 formed to face a lateral surface of the insulation member 50 may be disposed on the other side of the bent portion 62 of the shelf decoration 60.
The second hook portions 622 may be formed to be offset in a zigzag shape in the vertical direction with respect to the bent portion 62 on both sides of the shelf decoration 60.
Correspondingly, a second coupling hole 72 bent toward the rear surface may be formed on the rear surface of the decoration panel 70 to be hook-coupled to the second hook portion 622 of the shelf decoration 60.
The second coupling hole 72 may be formed in a shape of a through-hole. The second coupling hole 72 may also be formed to be offset in a zigzag shape in the vertical direction to correspond to the position of the second hook portion 622.
In this case, the shelf decoration 60 may include an inserting hole 623 that is a through- hole in which the second coupling hole 72 of the decoration panel 70 is inserted in a direction of the front surface of the shelf decoration 60 to be coupled to the second hook portion 622.
The inserting hole 623 may be formed by penetrating the body 61 including the step portion 63 and some area of the bent portion 62.
The inserting hole 623 may be disposed offset in a zigzag shape in the vertical direction to correspond to the position of the second hook portion 622, so that the second hook portion 622 may be exposed through the inserting hole 623 in the direction of the front surface.
Accordingly, the second coupling hole 72 of the decoration panel 70 may be inserted in the front surface of the shelf decoration 60 through the inserting hole 623 to be hook-coupled to the second hook portion 622.
As mentioned above, the coupling structures between the second coupling hole 72 and the second hook portion 622 may be disposed to be offset in the zigzag shape with respect to the vertical direction of the shelf decoration 60, thereby coupling the shelf decoration 60 to the decoration panel 70 with the minimum coupling structure.
In this way, the shelf decoration 60 may be coupled to the first shelf holder 31 through the first hook portion 621 so that it can serve as an intermediate medium for fixing the decoration panel 70 to the first shelf holder 31 with a strong fixing force.
In addition, with the coupling structure of the shelf decoration 60 described above, the rear surface of the decoration panel 70 coupled to the shelf decoration 60 may be coupled to strongly press the insulation member 50 disposed between the decoration panel 70 and the rear surface of the inner case 20.
In this instance, to enhance the pressure applied to the insulation member 50, the rear surface of the body 61 of the shelf decoration 60 may be disposed to overlap the front surface of the circumference of the insulation member 50, to directly press the insulation member 50.
For this purpose, a seating portion 53 may be formed along the circumference of the insulation member 50 to seat the body 61 of the shelf decoration 60 thereon.
The shelf decoration 60 according to the present disclosure described above may be fastened to press the first shelf holder 31 in the left-right direction, and may be fastened to press the decoration panel 70 not only in the left-right direction but also in the front-rear direction.
Hereinafter, referring to FIGS. 7 and 8 , the coupling structure of the refrigerator 1 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.
Specifically, the description will focus on the changed coupling structure between the first shelf holder 31 and the decoration panel 70 through the change in the structure of the shelf decoration 60, and repeated description will be omitted in comparison to the embodiment previously described.
The shelf decoration 60 may include a body 61 having a hollow 611 to expose the inserting hole 312 outside; and a bent portion 62 bent toward a rear surface of the body 61.
A front surface of the body 61 may support the rear surface of the decoration panel 70, and one side of the bent portion 62 may support one side of the first shelf holder 31.
The bent portion 62 of the shelf decoration 60 may include a plurality of first hook portions 621 formed on onside to face the first shelf holder 31.
The plurality of first hook portions 621 may be formed as a pair of hook portions facing each other, to be fixedly hook-coupled to a first coupling hole 311 formed on each of lateral surfaces of the first shelf holder 31.
In addition, the bent portion 62 of the shelf decoration 60 may include a recess 625 formed on one side to face the first shelf holder 31; and a rivet hole 624 formed in a central area of the recess 625.
The recess 625 and the rivet hole 624 may be formed to be offset in a zigzag shape along the vertical direction with respect to both bent portions 62 of the shelf decoration 60.
Correspondingly, a fastening hole 73 bent toward the rear surface may be formed on the rear surface of the decoration panel 70 to be fastened to the rivet hole 624.
Accordingly, the fastening hole 73 of the decoration panel 70 may also be formed to be offset in a zigzag shape along the vertical direction to correspond to the position of the rivet hole 624.
For example, the fastening hole 73 of the decoration panel 70 may be seated in the recess 625 of the shelf decoration 60 and arranged so that the rivet hole 624 and the through-hole may be aligned with each other.
As described above, the decoration panel 70 and the shelf decoration 60 may be fastened to each other in the manner of the rivet fastening manner using the rivet 75 through the fastening hole 73 and the rivet hole 624 aligned to each other.
However, the method of fastening the fastening hole 73 and the rivet hole 624 is not limited to the rivet fastening method, but it may use a method of fastening them by using a different fastening member such as a screw.
Accordingly, the rivet hole 624 should not be understood to be limited to that term, and when other fastening members such as a screw is used, the rivet hole 624 may be understood as a screw hole.
The shelf decoration 60 according to the present disclosure may be fastened to press the first shelf holder 31 in the left-right direction, and it may be fastened to press the decoration panel 70 not only in the left-right direction but also in the front-rear direction. Accordingly, just one fastening member such as the shelf decoration 60 may provide a strong fastening force not only in the left-right direction but also in the front-rear direction when the first shelf holder 31 and the decoration panel 70 are fastened.
Hereinafter, referring to FIGS. 9 and 10 , the coupling structure of the refrigerator 1 according to a further embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.
Specifically, the description will focus on the changed coupling structure between the first shelf holder 31 and the decoration panel 70 through the change in the structure of the shelf decoration 60, and repeated description will be omitted in comparison to the embodiment previously described.
The shelf decoration 60 may include a body 61 having a hollow 611 to expose the inserting hole 312 outside; and a bent portion 62 bent toward a rear surface of the body 61.
One side of the bent portion 62 may support one side of the first shelf holder 31.
The bent portion 62 of the shelf decoration 60 may include a plurality of first hook portions 621 formed on onside to face the first shelf holder 31.
The plurality of first hook portions 621 may be formed as a pair of hook portions facing each other, to be fixedly hook-coupled to a first coupling hole 311 formed on each of lateral surfaces of the first shelf holder 31.
In this way, since the first hook portion 621 of the decoration panel 70 and the first coupling hole 311 of the first shelf holder 31 are fastened in the hook-coupling manner, the body 61 may be disposed on the outside of the decoration panel 70 to press the decoration panel 70 toward the rear surface so that the front surface of the body 61 can support the front surface of the decoration panel 70.
Accordingly, only with the simple fastening structure between the shelf decoration 60 and the first shelf holder 31, the decoration panel 70 may be pressed to press the insulation member 50, thereby having a strong fixing force.
In addition, since the body 61 of the shelf decoration 60 is disposed to hide the inner end of the shelf decoration 60, the design finishing effect may be improved with respect to the front direction.
The shelf decoration 60 according to the present disclosure may be fastened to press the first shelf holder 31 in the left-right direction, and it may be fastened to press the decoration panel 70 in the front-rear direction, without any separate fastening structure. Accordingly, just one fastening member such as the shelf decoration 60 may provide a strong fastening force not only in the left-right direction but also in the front-rear direction when the first shelf holder 31 and the decoration panel 70 are fastened.
Accordingly, in the refrigerator 1 according to the present disclosure, the insulation member 50 may be disposed to surround the first shelf holder 31 and the shelf decoration 60 may be fastened to the first shelf holder 31 so that the decoration panel 70 can press the insulation member 50. Due to this structure, even when the width of the cold air duct increases, the warping phenomenon occurring in the central area of the cold air duct may be reduced enough to reduce the central convex portion.
In addition, in the refrigerator according to the present disclosure, the insulation member 50 may be disposed to surround the first shelf holder 31 and the shelf decoration 60 may be fastened to the first shelf holder 31 so that the decoration panel 70 can press the insulation member 50. Due to this structure, the cold air sucked near the first shelf holder 31 disposed in the central area of the storage compartment 10 may be reduced.
The embodiments are described above with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof. However, the present disclosure is not intended to limit the embodiments and drawings set forth herein, and numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by one skilled in the art. Further, the effects and predictable effects based on the configurations in the disclosure are to be included within the range of the disclosure though not explicitly described in the description of the embodiments.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator comprising:

an inner case;

a first shelf holder located on a surface of the inner case;

a decoration panel located at a front surface of the first shelf holder, the decoration panel and the inner case defining a cold air flow path therebetween;

an insulation member surrounding a perimeter of the first shelf holder; and

a shelf decoration fastened to the first shelf holder, the shelf decoration being configured such that the decoration panel presses the insulation member.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising an insulation sheet on a rear surface of the decoration panel,

wherein the cold air flow path is defined between the insulation sheet and the inner case.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a sealing foam between the inner case and the insulation member.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising a pair of second shelf holders located at opposite sides of the first shelf holder,

wherein the first shelf holder is located in a central area of the inner case.

5. The refrigerator of claim 4, further comprising at least one shelf assembly having a first side fixed to the first shelf holder and a second side fixed to at least one of the second shelf holders,

wherein the first shelf holder includes at least one inserting hole configured to fix the first side of the shelf assembly, and

wherein the decoration panel includes an opening to expose the at least one inserting hole therethrough.

6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the shelf decoration includes:

a body having a hollow to expose the at least one inserting hole therethrough, a front surface of the body supporting the rear surface of the decoration panel; and

a bent portion extending from a rear surface of the body, a portion of the bent portion being configured to support a lateral side of the first shelf holder.

7. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the bent portion is located between the first shelf holder and the insulation member.

8. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the bent portion of the shelf decoration includes:

a first hook portion located on a first side of the bent portion to face the first shelf holder; and

a second hook portion located on a second side of the bent portion,

wherein the lateral side of the first shelf holder includes a first coupling hole configured to be coupled to the first hook portion, and

wherein the decoration panel includes a bent portion extending from the rear surface of the decoration panel, the bent portion of the decoration panel having a second coupling hole configured to be coupled to the second hook portion.

9. The refrigerator of claim 6, wherein the bent portion of the shelf decoration includes:

a rivet hole,

wherein the decoration panel includes a bent portion extending from the rear surface of the decoration panel, the bent portion of the decoration panel having a fastening coupling hole configured to be coupled to the rivet hole by a rivet.

10. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the shelf decoration includes:

a body having a hollow to expose the at least one inserting hole therethrough, a rear surface of the body contacting the front surface of the decoration panel; and

11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the body is disposed outside the decoration panel.

12. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the bent portion includes a first hook portion located on a first side of the bent portion to face the first shelf holder, and

wherein the lateral side of the first shelf holder includes a first coupling hole configured to be coupled to the first hook portion.

13. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the body is configured to press the decoration panel in a rear direction.

14. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the shelf decoration includes:

a body having a hollow to expose the first shelf support therethrough, a front surface of the body supporting the rear surface of the decoration panel; and

15. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the bent portion is located outside the first shelf holder.

16. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the bent portion of the shelf decoration includes:

a second hook portion located on a second side of the bent portion,

17. The refrigerator of claim 14, wherein the bent portion of the shelf decoration includes:

a rivet hole,

wherein the lateral side surface of the first shelf holder includes a first coupling hole configured to be coupled to the first hook portion, and

18. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the shelf decoration includes:

a body having a hollow to expose the first shelf holder therethrough, a rear surface of the body supporting the front surface of the decoration panel; and

19. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein the bent portion comprises a first hook portion located on a first side of the bent portion to face the first shelf holder, and

20. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein the body is configured to press the decoration panel in a rear direction.