Refrigerator

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application relate to a refrigerator, which comprises a door (1), the door (1) comprising: a receiving portion (10); a user interface appliance module (11) located at least partially in the receiving portion (10); a front panel (20) covering the front of the user interface appliance module (11); a handle groove (300) adjacent to the receiving portion (10) in the depth direction of the handle groove (300); and a grip portion (31) located in front of the handle groove (300). The grip portion (31) comprises a decorative portion (310) and a base portion (320) located behind the front panel (20), the decorative portion (310) and the front panel (20) are adjacent in the depth direction of the handle groove (300) and exposed to the front side of the door (1).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to a refrigerator, and more particularly to a refrigerator with a handle groove on the door. [Background Technology]

[0002] One way to install short handles on refrigerator doors is to use injection-molded plastic parts. These parts require surface treatments such as spraying, hot stamping, or electroplating to achieve an aesthetically pleasing effect or to match the overall appearance of the refrigerator. To ensure the plastic handle meets strength requirements, metal reinforcements need to be installed inside the handle to enhance its strength. [Summary of the Invention]

[0003] One object of the present invention is to provide an improved refrigerator.

[0004] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a refrigerator, the refrigerator including a door, the door including: a receiving portion; a user interface electrical module, at least partially located within the receiving portion; a front panel covering the front of the user interface electrical module; a handle groove, the handle groove and the receiving portion being adjacent along the depth direction of the handle groove; and a grip portion located in front of the handle groove. The grip portion includes a decorative portion and a base portion located behind the front panel, the decorative portion and the front panel being adjacent along the depth direction of the handle groove and exposed on the front side of the door, the front panel including a first region covering the receiving portion and a second region covering the base portion, the decorative portion, the second region, and the first region being sequentially arranged side-by-side along the depth direction of the handle groove.

[0005] The solution in this embodiment allows the user interface appliance module and handle-related elements to be concentrated in one area of ​​the refrigerator door, thereby providing more choices and possibilities for refrigerator manufacturing and helping to reduce restrictions on the structure or manufacturing of the refrigerator, such as the handle groove extending only in part of the door height / width.

[0006] The decorative part, exposed on the front side of the door, not only serves to decorate the refrigerator but also acts as a prompt or indicator, pointing out the position of the handle groove, improving the handle's recognizability, and allowing users to quickly and accurately operate the handle groove to open the refrigerator door.

[0007] The trim and front panel are adjacent to each other along the depth direction of the handle groove and exposed on the front side of the door. This reduces the limitations imposed by the front panel on the shape or structure of the trim, providing more options and possibilities for handle-related improvements or adjustments. For example, the thickness of the trim along the front-rear direction of the front panel can be increased beyond the limitations of the front panel to provide a better grip for the user.

[0008] This design ensures that when opening or closing the refrigerator door, the thumb and fingers located in the handle groove will almost always touch the gripping area, thus providing a consistent tactile feel for all fingers and improving the user's operating experience.

[0009] In addition, for glass front panels, the edges are often the most vulnerable parts due to stress concentration. The decorative part of this solution can protect the edges of the front panel, which helps to reduce the chance of the front panel at the handle groove being broken by impact. After all, the handle groove is the part of the refrigerator that users touch most frequently, so this solution also reduces the risk of injury to users.

[0010] In one or more possible embodiments, the refrigerator includes a door liner, a front wall, and a side wall located between the door liner and the front wall, the door liner, the front wall, and the side wall defining an insulating space filled with an insulating layer. The door also includes a user interface housing integrated with the insulating layer, a receiving portion located within the user interface housing, the front wall having a first opening, the side wall having a second opening communicating with the first opening, the user interface housing closing the first and second openings relative to the insulating layer, the user interface housing having a recess opening toward the first and second openings for accessing a handle groove located within the user interface housing, and a decorative portion extending along the entire length of the first opening.

[0011] This embodiment integrates the user interface electrical module and handle-related elements within the user interface housing. This housing prevents leakage of the foaming liquid during the door's insulation layer foaming process and can be constructed independently of the front and side walls, offering greater possibilities and convenience in refrigerator manufacturing. For example, the side walls can be formed as a single unit with the front wall, perhaps from a single sheet of metal. Furthermore, even if the handle groove only extends a portion of the door's height / width, the side walls can still be extruded. The decorative portion extends along the entire length of the first opening, improving the door's integrity.

[0012] In one or more possible embodiments, the notch, the decorative part, and the front panel are arranged side by side in sequence along the depth direction of the handle groove. Thus, the notch for hand access and the handle groove are compactly arranged within the user interface housing, eliminating the need for a hand gap between two adjacent doors of the refrigerator. The two adjacent doors can be positioned much closer together, significantly reducing the distance between them, which improves the overall aesthetics of the refrigerator's front.

[0013] In one or more possible embodiments, the user interface housing has a first rear wall integrated with the insulation layer, the first rear wall facing the handle groove and forming the rear boundary of the handle groove. If the handle piece forms the rear boundary of the handle groove separately, it will occupy more insulation space, which will reduce the insulation effect of the door. This solution helps to reduce the space occupied by the handle groove in the insulation.

[0014] In one or more possible embodiments, the first area of ​​the front panel is provided with at least one display area, which is configured to be more transparent than the rest of the front panel. The length extension direction of the display area or the arrangement direction of the plurality of display areas is consistent with the length direction of the decorative part exposed on the front side of the door. This facilitates a more compact layout of the user interface electrical module and the decorative part, reduces the size occupied by the user interface electrical module and the handle groove in another dimension of the door, and consequently reduces the width of the housing housing the user interface electrical module and the handle groove, reducing the space occupied by the heat insulation and improving the heat insulation effect of the door. In addition, this solution makes the appearance of the refrigerator door more harmonious and consistent when in use.

[0015] In one or more possible embodiments, the decorative portion has an external plane exposed on the front side of the door, the external plane being flush with the front surface of the second region and the front surface of the first region. This results in a smooth front surface for the refrigerator door, providing a smooth tactile experience for the user. The smooth front surface is also easier to clean and less prone to dust accumulation.

[0016] The decorative part is at least 20mm in depth along the handle groove. This design further ensures that when opening and closing the refrigerator door, the thumb and fingers located in the handle groove both touch the gripping area, providing a consistent tactile feel and contact with the same material and smoothness, thus improving the user experience. From another perspective, this design significantly reduces the likelihood of fingers touching the front panel of the door, minimizing the chance of leaving fingerprints and helping to maintain the cleanliness of the front panel.

[0017] In one or more possible embodiments, the door includes a user-facing front door panel having a notch extending to one of its outer edges, the notch extending along a portion of the length or width of the front door panel, and a trim portion located within the notch extending along its entire length and filling at least part of the notch. Thus, the trim portion can protect at least a portion of the edge of the front door panel within the notch, which helps reduce the processing requirements of the edge where the front door panel and the trim portion meet.

[0018] In one or more possible embodiments, a portion of the front door panel is configured as the front panel, the front door panel including a first side and a second side arranged parallel and spaced apart, and a third side connecting the first side and the second side. The first side and the second side respectively form two boundaries of the notch in its length direction, and the third side forms one boundary of the notch in its width direction. The decorative portion extends along the third side and is spliced ​​with the first side, the second side, and the third side respectively. This improves the overall integrity of the front door panel. The decorative portion also prevents the third side from being exposed, reducing the processing requirements of the third side and lowering the risk of brittle materials like glass breaking upon impact at the third side.

[0019] In one or more possible embodiments, the door further includes a user interface housing integrated with the door's insulation layer. The user interface housing includes a receiving space communicating with the receiving portion located within the user interface housing, through which the user interface electrical module can be installed or removed. The door also includes a cover for closing the receiving portion, the cover being connected to the base, and the cover and the handle portion being configured as a single unit detachably mounted to the receiving space. Thus, the user interface electrical module and handle-related components can be installed after the door's insulation layer has been foamed. After the refrigerator is manufactured, subsequent repairs or replacements of the user interface electrical module can be achieved by disassembling the single unit formed by the cover and the handle portion.

[0020] In one or more possible embodiments, the gripper and the cover are constructed as a single metal unit.

[0021] In existing technologies, to ensure that the plastic handle meets the strength requirements, metal reinforcing components need to be installed inside the handle to enhance its strength. This results in high structural complexity and more installation steps. However, by using aluminum or stainless steel and forming a one-piece metal part through die extrusion, the structural strength can meet the requirements, eliminating the need for additional reinforcing components, reducing the complexity of the handle structure, and simplifying the installation process.

[0022] Furthermore, the mold cavity temperature for plastic injection molding reaches over 200℃, making it prone to shrinkage and resulting in uneven surfaces. Additionally, the multiple surface treatment processes involved in plastic handles lead to a high scrap rate. In contrast, straightness is easier to control during the manufacturing process of metal parts, reducing the complexity of handle manufacturing and significantly lowering the product scrap rate.

[0023] The decorative parts exposed on the front side of the door can be directly treated with surface finishes such as brushing, etching, or printing. Surface treatment is easier to control and results in a high yield rate. Metal decorative parts can showcase a sense of precision manufacturing quality. When used on home appliances, they help to enhance the overall texture and design of the appliance, increasing product recognition.

[0024] In one or more possible embodiments, the base includes a protrusion projecting toward the front panel, the protrusion abutting against the front panel near the third side. Thus, the height difference between the protrusion and the exposed outer surface of the trim on the front side of the door is equal to the thickness of the front panel, which helps to control the flush effect between the outer surface of the trim and the front surface of the front panel. During handle installation, the handle is pushed inward while the protrusion and the inner surface of the front panel remain in contact, the protrusion abutting against the front panel near the third side. This effectively reduces the travel distance between the protrusion and the front panel, which helps to reduce the possibility of the protrusion scratching the front panel and reduce the scratched area, for example, reducing the possibility of a metal protrusion scratching the paint on the inner surface of a glass front panel and reducing the scratched area.

[0025] In one or more possible embodiments, the protrusion extends along a portion of the length of the handle groove, and the base has relief areas at both ends of the protrusion. Within the relief areas, the base maintains a gap between itself and the front panel in the direction of extension of the protrusion.

[0026] During the foaming process, the temperature inside the door can reach over 70°C, while the temperature inside the freezer compartment of a refrigerator can drop to -18°C or even lower. Due to this temperature difference, the front panel covering the user interface electrical module deforms to some extent, with both ends of the front panel bending towards the handle groove along its length. To reduce interference with the deformed parts of the front panel, the base has clearance areas at both ends of the protrusion.

[0027] In one or more possible embodiments, the clearance area is 30 mm in length along the handle groove.

[0028] In one or more possible embodiments, the decorative part has an external plane exposed to the front side of the door and a baffle substantially perpendicular to the external plane, the baffle abutting against the third side. The abutting between the baffle and the third side facilitates confirmation of proper handle installation during the handle installation process.

[0029] In one or more possible embodiments, the decorative part is configured as a hollow decorative part. This solution helps save materials and reduce costs, provided the handle strength meets requirements.

[0030] In one or more possible embodiments, the cover includes a mounting portion forming a cavity and having a first mounting wall and a second mounting wall that are opposite and spaced apart. A connector passes sequentially through the first mounting wall, the cavity, and the second mounting wall to mount the cover to the user interface housing. This design increases the total travel of the connector and the cover, improving the stability and strength of the connection. Furthermore, this design disperses the force exerted on the cover along the depth of the handle groove during handle installation through the cavity. The second mounting wall directly or indirectly abuts against the user interface housing, further distributing the force exerted on the cover to the user interface housing, which helps reduce the risk of damage to related components during installation.

[0031] In one or more possible embodiments, the door further includes an intermediate element disposed between the cover and the user interface housing, the portion of the intermediate element facing the front panel having a seal, and the connector passing sequentially through the mounting portion and the intermediate element to connect to the user interface housing. This can reduce the possibility of moisture or dust entering the housing and thus affecting the functionality of the user interface electrical module.

[0032] In one or more possible embodiments, the front panel is a one-piece front panel that is spliced ​​to the front door panel to close most of the gap, and the trim extends along the edge of the front panel. Thus, this design largely maintains the integrity of the door's exposed front side. Additionally, the trim protects the edges of the front panel, effectively reducing the likelihood of damage from impacts or collisions. Due to the protection provided by the trim, the processing requirements for at least some edges of the front panel can be reduced.

[0033] In one or more possible embodiments, the door further includes a user interface housing integrated with the door's insulation layer, the user interface housing having the base and decorative portion integrally formed. This further simplifies the structure and installation of the invention, eliminating the need for separate handle installation.

[0034] In one or more possible embodiments, the decorative part is provided with a decorative strip exposed on the front side of the door. The decorative strip may be a film, coating, or plating on the surface of the decorative part, or it may be a metal strip affixed to the surface of the decorative part. Thus, there are more options for the material of the decorative strip and how it is set.

[0035] In one or more possible embodiments, the decorative strip is a one-piece metal decorative strip. The metal decorative strip may be attached to the decorative part, for example, by adhesive or pasting.

[0036] It should be noted that the features of the dependent claims may be combined with each other and with the features of the independent claims in any way without departing from the concept of the invention. [Attached Image Description]

[0037] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the door of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Front view of the refrigerator door in the illustrated embodiment;

[0039] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of region C in the middle;

[0040] Figure 4 for Figure 2 A partial sectional view along line AA;

[0041] Figure 5 for Figure 2 A partial sectional view along line BB;

[0042] Figure 6 This is a perspective view of a handle component according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 7 This is a perspective view of a handle component according to an embodiment of the present invention from another angle;

[0044] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the cross-section of a handle component according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the front wall, side wall, and user interface housing according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 10 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the door of a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0047] Figure label:

[0048] 1-Door; 2-Front door panel; 2a, 2b-Outer edge of front door panel; 4-Door lining; 5-Side wall; 6-Front wall; 7-Insulation layer; 9-User interface housing; 10-Receiving part; 11-User interface electrical module; 20-Front panel; 20a-First area; 20b-Second area; 21-Notch; 30-Handle; 31-Grip; 33-Cover; 60-Connector; 80-Intermediate element; 90-Receiving space; 91-Receiving space; 200-Display area; 211-First side; 212-Second side ; 213 - Third side; 300 - Handle groove; 310 - Decorative part; 311 - External plane; 312 - Baffle; 315 - Decorative strip; 320 - Base; 321 - Protrusion; 320a - Relief area; 330 - Mounting part; 331 - First mounting wall; 332 - Second mounting wall; 333 - Cavity; 335, 336 - Mounting hole; 600 - First opening; 500 - Second opening; 800 - Seal; 900 - Recess; X - Depth direction of handle groove; Y - Length direction of handle groove; P - Gap.

Detailed Implementation Methods

[0049] To provide a further understanding of the purpose, structure, features, and functions of the present invention, detailed descriptions are provided below with reference to specific embodiments.

[0050] First, please refer to Figures 1 to 5 ,in, Figure 1 This is a perspective view of the door of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 for Figure 1 Front view of the refrigerator door in the illustrated embodiment; Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged view of region C in the middle; Figure 4 for Figure 2 A partial sectional view along line AA; Figure 5 for Figure 2 A partial sectional view along line BB.

[0051] The refrigerator of this embodiment includes a door 1, which is used to close or open the refrigerator's storage compartment. The door 1 includes a door liner 4, a front wall 6, and a side wall 5 located between the door liner 4 and the front wall 6. The door liner 4, the front wall 6, and the side wall 5 define an insulation space, which is filled with an insulation layer 7. Figures 1 to 5 The front wall is not shown in the image; please refer to [the image for reference]. Figure 9 The door 1 also includes a front door panel 2 disposed in front of the front wall 6. In this embodiment, the front door panel 2 is made of a single piece of glass extending along the entire height of the door 1, and can be touched by the user in use.

[0052] Please refer to Figure 4 and Figure 5The refrigerator door 1 includes a receiving portion 10, a user interface electrical module 11, a front panel 20, a handle groove 300, and a grip portion 31. The user interface electrical module 11 is at least partially located within the receiving portion 10. The front panel 20 covers the front of the user interface electrical module 11. In this embodiment, the front panel 20 is formed by a portion of the front door panel 2. The handle groove 300 and the receiving portion 10 are located along the depth direction of the handle groove 300 (…). Figure 4 , Figure 5 Adjacent in the X direction (as shown in the diagram).

[0053] The grip portion 31 is located in front of the handle groove 300. The grip portion 31 includes a decorative portion 310 and a base portion 320 located behind the front panel 20. The decorative portion 310 and the front panel 20 are adjacent to each other and exposed on the front side of the door 1 along the depth direction of the handle groove 300. The front panel 20 includes a first region 20a covering the receiving portion 10 and a second region 20b covering the base portion 320. The decorative portion 310, the second region 20b, and the first region 20a are adjacent to each other along the depth direction of the handle groove 300. Figure 4 , Figure 5 They are arranged side by side in the X direction shown in the diagram.

[0054] In this embodiment, the decorative portion 310 has a dimension of not less than 20 mm along the depth direction of the handle groove 300. For example... Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the decorative part 310 is exposed on the front side of the door, which can indicate the position of the handle groove 300 and improve the visibility of the handle.

[0055] When a user opens or closes the door, in most cases, the thumb touches the decorative part 310, and the fingers located within the handle groove 300 touch either the decorative part 310 or the decorative part 310 plus the base 320. In other words, in most cases, the user touches the grip part 31, thus providing a consistent tactile experience for the fingers both inside and outside the handle groove 300. This helps eliminate the feeling of wobbling or gaps caused by manufacturing or assembly tolerances when forcefully gripping different component assemblies.

[0056] Specifically, the door 1 in this embodiment also includes a user interface housing 9 integrated with the heat insulation layer 7, and a receiving portion 10 is located within the user interface housing 9. The user interface housing 9 is manufactured, for example, using plastic by injection molding. The user interface housing 9 has a first rear wall 91 integrated with the heat insulation layer 7, the first rear wall 91 facing the handle groove 300 and forming the rear boundary of the handle groove 300. The inner surface of the grip portion 31 forms the front boundary of the handle groove 300.

[0057] Specifically, the anterior wall (refer to...) Figure 9The front wall 6) has a first opening 600, and the side wall 5 has a second opening 500 communicating with the first opening 600. The user interface housing 9 closes the first opening 600 and the second opening 500 relative to the heat insulation layer 7. The user interface housing 9 has a recess 900 opening toward the first opening 600 and the second opening 500, which is used to access the handle groove 300 located within the user interface housing 9. The decorative part 310 extends along the entire length of the first opening 600. The recess 900, the decorative part 310, and the front panel 20 are arranged side by side in sequence in the depth direction of the handle groove 300. In this embodiment, the front door panel 2 is attached to the front of the front wall, so that the front panel 20 formed by the front door panel 2 partially covers the base 320 of the receiving part 10 and the grip part 31.

[0058] The user interface housing 9 includes a receiving space 90 communicating with a receiving portion 10 located within the user interface housing 9. In this embodiment, the user interface electrical module 11 can be installed or removed via the receiving space 90. The door 1 also includes a cover 33 for closing the receiving portion 10. The cover 33 is connected to the base 320, and the cover 33 and the grip portion 31 are configured as an integral piece detachably mounted in the receiving space 90, i.e., a handle 30.

[0059] The manufacturing process of door 1 in this embodiment is as follows: the door liner 4, front wall 6, and side wall 5 define an insulation space, and insulation material is injected into the insulation space to form an insulation layer 7. The door liner 4, front wall 6, side wall 5, and insulation layer 7 are combined and fixed together. The user interface housing 9 is pre-connected to the front wall 6 and side wall 5, and the user interface housing 9 is combined with the insulation layer 7 and fixed to door 1 during the door foaming process. The front door panel 2 is attached to the front of the front wall 6 by adhesive. The user interface electrical module 11 is then installed into the receiving portion 10 located in the user interface housing 9 via the receiving space 90, and then the handle 30 is installed to close the receiving portion 10. Therefore, after the refrigerator is manufactured, the user interface electrical module 11 can be replaced or repaired by removing the handle 30 without damaging the door 1.

[0060] For the specific structure of the handle 30 in this embodiment, please refer to [reference needed]. Figures 6 to 8 ,in, Figure 6 This is a perspective view of a handle component according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 This is a perspective view of a handle component according to an embodiment of the present invention from another angle; Figure 8 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a handle component according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the grip portion 31 and the cover portion 33 are constructed as a single metal component, that is, the handle component 30 is a single metal component. The handle component 30 in this embodiment is formed by extruding aluminum through a die. In other embodiments, the handle component 30 may also be a single stainless steel component or another single metal component.

[0061] like Figure 2 As shown, the front door panel 2 has a notch 21 extending to one of its outer edges 2a, the notch 21 extending along a portion of the length of the front door panel 2. A trim portion 310 is located within the notch 21, extending along the entire length of the notch 21 and filling at least a portion of the notch 21. In this embodiment, the trim portion 310 fills a portion of the notch 21.

[0062] As previously described, in this embodiment, part of the front door panel 2 is constructed as a front panel 20. For example... Figure 3 As shown, the front door panel 2 includes a first side 211, a second side 212, and a third side 213 connecting the first side 211 and the second side 212. The first side 211 and the second side 212 are parallel and spaced apart. The first side 211 and the second side 212 respectively form two boundaries of the notch 21 in its length direction, and the third side 213 forms one boundary of the notch 21 in its width direction. The decorative part 310 extends along the third side 213 and is spliced ​​with the first side 211, the second side 212, and the third side 213 respectively. In use, the user's hand reaches into the handle groove 300 from the open part of the notch 21 to grasp the handle part 31 and applies force to the handle part 30 to open the refrigerator door 1.

[0063] In addition, a display area 200 is provided in the first region 20a of the front panel 20 in this embodiment. The display area 200 is made more transparent than the rest of the front panel 20. The display area 200 is used to display, for example, temperature or humidity information of different storage compartments of a refrigerator. The length extension direction of the display area 200 is consistent with the length direction of the decorative part 310 exposed on the front side of the door 1. This facilitates a compact layout of the user interface electrical module 11 and the handle 30, reduces the occupation of the heat insulation space, and improves the heat insulation performance of the door 1.

[0064] Please refer to the following: Figure 4 , Figure 5 See Figure 8 The decorative section 310 has an external plane 311 exposed on the front side of the door 1, which is flush with the front surface of the second region 20b and the front surface of the first region 20a. The decorative section 310 also has a baffle 312 that is substantially perpendicular to the external plane 311, and the baffle 312 abuts against the third side 213 of the front door panel 2 to achieve a seamless splicing between the decorative section 310 and the front panel 20.

[0065] To facilitate easier control of the outer plane 311 and the front surface of the second region 20b being flush with the front surface of the first region 20a, the base 320 of the gripper 31 includes a protrusion 321 protruding towards the front panel 20. The protrusion 321 abuts against the front panel 20 near the third side 213. Figure 4 As shown.

[0066] In fact, the temperature of door 1 during the foaming process can reach above 70°C. In this embodiment, door 1 serves as the door to the freezer compartment of the refrigerator. When the refrigerator is in use, the temperature inside door 1 reaches -18°C or even lower. Due to the temperature difference effect, the front panel 20 covering the user interface electrical module 11 undergoes a certain degree of deformation. The front panel 20 deforms along the length of the handle groove 300. Figure 2 The two end regions in the Y direction shown are deformed toward the handle groove 300. To reduce interference with the deformed portion of the front panel 20, the protrusion 321 in this embodiment extends along a portion of the length of the handle groove 300, and the base 320 has clearance regions 320a at both ends of the protrusion 321. The clearance regions 320a are located along the length direction of the handle groove 300 (in the Y direction shown). Figure 2 The dimension in the Y direction (as shown) is 30 mm. Within the clearance area 320a, the base 320 maintains a gap P between itself and the front panel 20 in the extending direction along the protrusion 321, as... Figure 5 As shown.

[0067] In order to save on the material used for the handle, the decorative part 310 in this embodiment is constructed as a hollow decorative part 310.

[0068] To securely mount the handle 30 to the door, the cover 33 of this embodiment includes a mounting portion 330. The door 1 also includes an intermediate element 80 disposed between the cover 33 and the user interface housing 9. The connector 60 passes sequentially through the mounting portion 330 and the intermediate element 80 and connects to the user interface housing 9. The connector 60 of this embodiment includes a screw.

[0069] The mounting portion 330 forms a cavity 333 and has a first mounting wall 331 and a second mounting wall 332 that are opposite to and spaced apart. The first mounting wall 331 has two mounting holes 335 formed at both ends of the handle groove 300 along its length, and the second mounting wall 332 has two corresponding mounting holes 336 formed on it. Figure 5 As shown, the connector 60 passes sequentially through the first mounting wall 331, the cavity 333, and the second mounting wall 332 to mount the cover 33 onto the user interface housing 9. Compared to a single mounting wall, this design increases the total travel of the connector 60 and the cover 33, which helps to improve the stability and firmness of the connection between the two.

[0070] Because the first mounting wall 331 and the second mounting wall 332 extend perpendicular to the depth direction of the handle groove 300. Furthermore, the first mounting wall 331 and the second mounting wall 332 are walls that enclose the cavity 333. During the installation of the handle component 30, along the depth direction of the handle groove 300 ( Figure 5The force exerted on the cover 33 in the X direction (as shown) is dispersed by the cavity 333. The second mounting wall 332 abuts against the intermediate element 80, which in turn abuts against the user interface housing 9. The second mounting wall 332 serves to distribute the force exerted on the cover 33 more evenly onto the user interface housing 9, rather than concentrating it on one or a few mounting ribs. This is more conducive to reducing the risk of damage to related components during the installation of the handle.

[0071] To prevent moisture or dust from entering the receiving section 10, a seal 800 is provided on the portion of the intermediate element 80 facing the front panel 20. The seal 800 is provided between the intermediate element 80 and the front panel 20 in a compressed state.

[0072] The above describes only one embodiment of the present invention. With modifications and combinations, the present invention can have many more embodiments. For example, in another embodiment, the front door panel 2 has a notch extending to another outer edge 2b of the front door panel 2, the notch extending along a portion of the width of the front door panel 2. As another example, the trim portion 310 fills the entire notch 21 of the front door panel 2; that is, the notch 21 is filled by the trim portion 310 to form a complete front door panel 2. The handle groove 300 is approached from the opening 500 on the side wall 5.

[0073] For example, in another embodiment of the invention, the front panel 20 includes a plurality of display areas 200, which respectively display temperature information of the refrigerator compartment, the freezer compartment, and the variable temperature compartment. The arrangement direction of the plurality of display areas 200 is consistent with the length direction of the decorative part 310 exposed on the front side of the door 1.

[0074] Please refer to the following. Figure 9 and Figure 10 ,in, Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the front wall, side wall, and user interface housing according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 This is a partial cross-sectional view of the refrigerator door according to another embodiment of the present invention. Structures identical or similar to those in the previous embodiments are referred to by the same or similar reference numerals, and their functions and effects are the same or similar, and will not be described again here. Unlike the previous embodiments, in this embodiment, the front wall 6 constitutes the front door panel 2 of the refrigerator door, which can be touched by the user in use. The front wall 6 and the side wall 5 are a single piece, formed by extruding a thin metal sheet; that is, the front door panel of the refrigerator door in this embodiment is a single metal sheet.

[0075] The front wall 6 has a first opening 600, which forms a notch in the front door panel 2. The side wall 5 has a second opening 500 communicating with the first opening 600. The user interface housing 9 closes the first opening 600 and the second opening 500 relative to the heat insulation layer 7. The user interface housing 9 has a recess 900 opening toward the first opening 600 and the second opening 500, which is used to access the handle groove 300 located within the user interface housing 9.

[0076] In this embodiment, the front panel 20 is a one-piece front panel, for example, made of plastic material. The front panel 20 is joined to the front door panel 2 to close most of the gap, and the decorative portion 310 extends along the edge of the front panel 20. The front panel 20 includes a first region 20a covering the receiving portion 10 and a second region 20b covering the base 320. The decorative portion 310, the second region 20b, and the first region 20a are aligned along the depth direction of the handle groove 300. Figure 10 They are arranged side by side in the X direction shown in the diagram.

[0077] Unlike the previous embodiments, the user interface housing 9 in this embodiment is integrally formed with a base 320 and a decorative portion 310. The decorative portion 310 is provided with a decorative strip 315 exposed on the front side of the door 1. In this embodiment, the decorative strip 315 is an integral metal decorative strip, which is attached to the decorative portion 310.

[0078] In another embodiment of the invention, the decorative strip 315 is a plating formed on the front surface of the decorative portion 310, forming a plating with a metallic color and luster.

[0079] Combination Figures 1 to 10 Various embodiments of the individual components described can be combined with each other in any given manner to achieve the advantages of the invention.

[0080] The present invention has been described in the above-described embodiments; however, these embodiments are merely examples for implementing the present invention. It must be noted that the disclosed embodiments do not limit the scope of the present invention. Conversely, any modifications and refinements made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention are within the scope of patent protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising a door (1), said door (1) comprising: Reception section (10); The user interface electrical module (11) is at least partially located within the receiving portion (10); A front panel (20) covers the front of the user interface electrical module (11); Handle groove (300), the handle groove (300) and the receiving portion (10) are adjacent to each other along the depth direction of the handle groove (300); The cover (33) for closing the receiving part (10), and the grip (31), located in front of the handle groove (300), are characterized in that... The gripper (31) includes a decorative part (310) and a base (320) located behind the front panel (20). The decorative part (310) and the front panel (20) are adjacent to each other along the depth direction of the handle groove (300) and exposed on the front side of the door (1). The cover (33) is connected to the base (320), and the cover (33) and the gripper (31) are constructed as a detachable integral piece. The front panel (20) includes a first region (20a) covering the receiving part (10) and a second region (20b) covering the base (320). The decorative part (310), the second region (20b), and the first region (20a) are arranged side by side in sequence along the depth direction of the handle groove (300). The decorative portion (310) has an outer plane (311) exposed to the front side of the door (1) and a baffle (312) substantially perpendicular to the outer plane (311), the baffle (312) abutting against the front panel (20); the base (320) includes a protrusion (321) projecting toward the front panel (20), the protrusion (321) abutting against the front panel (20) near the baffle (312).

2. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 1, comprising a door liner (4), a front wall (6), and a side wall (5) located between the door liner (4) and the front wall (6), the door liner (4), the front wall (6), and the side wall (5) defining an insulating space, the insulating space being filled with an insulating layer (7), characterized in that, The door (1) also includes a user interface housing (9) combined with the insulation layer (7), the receiving portion (10) is located within the user interface housing (9), the front wall (6) has a first opening (600), the side wall (5) has a second opening (500) communicating with the first opening (600), the user interface housing (9) closes the first opening (600) and the second opening (500) relative to the insulation layer (7), the user interface housing (9) has a recess (900) opening toward the first opening (600) and the second opening (500), the recess (900) being used to access the handle groove (300) located within the user interface housing (9), and the decorative portion (310) extending along the entire length of the first opening (600).

3. The refrigerator as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The notch (900), the decorative part (310), and the front panel (20) are arranged side by side in the depth direction of the handle groove (300).

4. The refrigerator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first region (20a) of the front panel (20) is provided with at least one display area (200), the display area (200) is configured to be more transparent than the rest of the front panel (20), and the length extension direction of the display area (200) or the arrangement direction of the plurality of display areas (200) is consistent with the length direction of the decorative part (310) exposed on the front side of the door (1).

5. The refrigerator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The decorative part (310) has an external plane (311) exposed on the front side of the door (1), the external plane (311) being flush with the front surface of the second region (20b) and the front surface of the first region (20a).

6. The refrigerator as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The decorative part (310) has a dimension of not less than 20 mm along the depth direction of the handle groove (300).

7. The refrigerator as described in any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that, The door (1) includes a user-facing front door panel (2) having a notch (21) extending to one of the outer edges (2a) of the front door panel (2) and the notch (21) extending along a portion of the length or width of the front door panel (2). The trim (310) is located within the notch (21) and extends along the entire length of the notch (21) and fills at least part of the notch (21).

8. The refrigerator as described in claim 7, characterized in that, Part of the front door panel (2) is configured as the front panel (20). The front door panel (2) includes a first side (211) and a second side (212) that are parallel and spaced apart, and a third side (213) that connects the first side (211) and the second side (212). The first side (211) and the second side (212) respectively form two boundaries of the notch (21) in its length direction, and the third side (213) forms one boundary of the notch (21) in its width direction. The decorative part (310) extends along the third side (213) and is spliced ​​with the first side (211), the second side (212), and the third side (213) respectively.

9. The refrigerator as described in claim 8, characterized in that, The door (1) also includes a user interface housing (9) combined with the heat insulation layer (7) of the door (1), the user interface housing (9) including a receiving space (90) communicating with the receiving portion (10) located within the user interface housing (9), the user interface electrical module (11) can be installed or removed via the receiving space (90).

10. The refrigerator as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The gripper (31) and the cover (33) are constructed as a single metal piece.

11. The refrigerator as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The protrusion (321) abuts against the front panel (20) near the third side (213).

12. The refrigerator as described in claim 11, characterized in that, The protrusion (321) extends along a portion of the length of the handle groove (300), and the base (320) has relief areas (320a) at both ends of the protrusion (321).

13. The refrigerator as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The baffle (312) and the third side (213) abut against each other.

14. The refrigerator as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The decorative part (310) is constructed as a hollow decorative part (310).

15. The refrigerator as described in claim 9, characterized in that, The cover (33) includes a mounting portion (330), which forms a cavity (333) and has a first mounting wall (331) and a second mounting wall (332) that are opposite to each other and spaced apart. The connector (60) passes through the first mounting wall (331), the cavity (333), and the second mounting wall (332) in sequence to mount the cover (33) to the user interface housing (9).

16. The refrigerator as described in claim 15, characterized in that, The door (1) also includes an intermediate element (80) disposed between the cover (33) and the user interface housing (9). A seal (800) is provided on the portion of the intermediate element (80) facing the front panel (20). The connector (60) passes through the mounting portion (330) and the intermediate element (80) in sequence and is connected to the user interface housing (9).

17. The refrigerator as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that, The front panel (20) is a one-piece front panel (20), which is spliced ​​with the front door panel (2) to close most of the notch (21), and the decorative part (310) extends along the edge of the front panel (20).

Images