Refrigerator

Abstract

The present invention relates to a refrigerator, characterized by comprising a cabinet forming a storage space and a door opening and closing the storage space, wherein the door comprises: a door main body internally filled with a heat insulating material; and a door panel installed in front of the door main body, the door panel comprising: an illumination device irradiating light; a front plate forming a front face of the door panel, the light being transmitted through the front plate; a rear cover forming a back face of the door panel; and a bracket provided between the front plate and the rear cover, the illumination device being installed in the bracket, the door main body comprising a main body plate forming a front face of the door main body, the rear cover facing the main body plate in a state where the door panel is installed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to refrigerators. Background Technology

[0002] Generally, a refrigerator is a household appliance that can store food at low temperatures in the storage space inside the refrigerator door. It is configured to use cold air generated by heat exchange with the refrigerant circulating in the refrigeration cycle to cool the interior of the storage space, thereby preserving the stored food in optimal condition.

[0003] With changes in dietary habits and the trend towards higher-end products, refrigerators, as mentioned above, are gradually becoming larger and more multifunctional. Currently, refrigerators with various structures and convenient features designed with user convenience in mind are emerging.

[0004] In addition, structures are being developed to diversify the appearance of the front of the refrigerator door in order to coordinate with the environment in which the refrigerator is located or with the surrounding furniture or appliances.

[0005] US Patent No. 8,789,900 discloses a structure in which a decorative panel is installed on the front of a refrigerator door to form an appearance. The decorative panel is configured to be removable and can be used to shape the appearance of the front of the door according to the user's preferences.

[0006] However, the problem with this type of refrigerator is that if a user wants to change the appearance, the entire decorative panel needs to be separated and replaced, and the original decorative panel cannot be reused.

[0007] Chinese Patent No. 103250018 discloses a refrigerator with a reflective layer and a transparent panel on the front of the refrigerator door. Colored light-emitting components are installed on both sides of the reflective layer, so that the transparent panel can emit light in a set color.

[0008] However, in refrigerators with this structure, due to the repeated opening and closing of the door, there is a problem that it is impossible to ensure that the light-emitting components maintain a stable installation state.

[0009] In addition, when the metal material of the reflector is in contact with the light-emitting component in a bent form, there is a possibility of electrical malfunction.

[0010] Furthermore, since the light-emitting components are arranged on the left and right sides, the transparent panel cannot emit light with uniform brightness. In particular, since the light cannot be transmitted to the sides that are bent to accommodate the light-emitting components, it may appear dim.

[0011] Additionally, depending on the user's location, there may be issues with exposed light-emitting components resulting in an unsightly appearance. Summary of the Invention

[0012] The problem that the invention aims to solve

[0013] The purpose of this invention is to provide a refrigerator whose appearance can be changed according to the user's preferences without replacing the door panel.

[0014] The purpose of this invention is to provide a refrigerator that allows for easy changing of the color of the front of the door.

[0015] The purpose of this invention is to provide a refrigerator that emits light uniformly from the front and prevents the lighting device from being exposed to the user.

[0016] The purpose of this invention is to provide a refrigerator whose door panel will not deform or be damaged even when the door is repeatedly opened and closed and used for a long time.

[0017] The purpose of this invention is to provide a refrigerator that minimizes the thickness of the door panel equipped with a lighting device to emit light from the front.

[0018] The purpose of this invention is to provide a refrigerator in which a door panel that emits light to form the front appearance of the door is detachably mounted on the door body.

[0019] Technical solutions to the problem

[0020] The refrigerator of this invention can be configured to include a cabinet having a storage space and a door for opening and closing the storage space. The door includes: a door body filled with heat-insulating material; and a door panel installed in front of the door body. The door panel includes: a lighting device for illuminating light; a front panel forming the front of the door panel, through which light is transmitted; a rear cover forming the back of the door panel; and a bracket disposed between the front panel and the rear cover, on which the lighting device is mounted. The door body includes a main body plate forming the front of the door body. When the door panel is installed, the rear cover faces the main body plate.

[0021] It may also include a light guide plate disposed behind the front panel and guiding light from the lighting device toward the front panel.

[0022] The rear cover may include a cover protrusion that protrudes from and supports the light guide plate.

[0023] The rear cover may also include a cover periphery formed around the periphery of the cover protrusion and spaced apart from the light guide plate.

[0024] The bracket can be configured around the periphery of the cover, and the lighting device illuminates light onto the end of the light guide plate.

[0025] The bracket may include: an upper bracket forming the top surface of the door panel; and a lower bracket forming the bottom surface of the door panel, wherein the lighting device is installed on at least one of the upper bracket and the lower bracket.

[0026] The back cover can connect the upper bracket and the lower bracket.

[0027] The rear cover may have wire holes for the entry and exit of wires connected to the lighting device.

[0028] The main body plate may have a main body hole for wires inside the door body to enter and exit the door panel side, and when the door panel is installed on the door body, the wires can be connected to each other.

[0029] The back cover may be formed of a plate-shaped metal material.

[0030] The rear cover can be connected to the main body plate.

[0031] The rear cover can be disposed between the front panel and the main body panel.

[0032] The door panel can be installed on the door body in a detachable manner.

[0033] Invention Effects

[0034] The refrigerator according to the proposed embodiment can be expected to have the following effects.

[0035] The door panel forming the front of the refrigerator is configured to include: a front panel that is light-transmitting; a lighting device that illuminates light; and a light guide plate that reflects the light from the lighting device forward, thereby illuminating the entire front of the door according to the user's needs.

[0036] In particular, the plurality of light sources constituting the lighting device can emit light of different colors from each other, thus allowing the front of the door to emit light in a user-defined color. That is, the color of the front of the door can be changed according to the user's selection without replacing the panel forming the front of the door.

[0037] That is, the color of the front of the door can be changed when needed without the need for the panel to be removed and installed, thus making it easy to change the appearance of the refrigerator and meet the user's preferences.

[0038] Furthermore, it is possible to make only a portion of the multiple doors emit light or emit light in other colors, and it is also possible to make the multiple doors directional, open and close sequentially, or change colors, thereby allowing the multiple doors to be combined to create various appearances or changes in appearance.

[0039] Furthermore, the front panel essentially forms the front of the door, and light can be irradiated onto the entire front panel via a light guide plate behind it. Therefore, the entire front of the door can emit light, and the entire front of the door can have uniform brightness and color.

[0040] In particular, even when the door is long in the vertical direction, such as when the storage space is divided into left and right sides, or when the door itself is large, the entire surface of the front panel can still have uniform brightness and color through the light guide plate.

[0041] In addition, the lighting device is located at the outer end of the door panel, and the light source shines light onto the end of the light guide plate, thereby preventing the lighting device from being exposed to the user and preventing the light from shining directly into the eyes and causing glare.

[0042] In particular, the lighting device can project light downwards from the top of the door panel, so that when a user stands in front of the refrigerator, the lighting device is positioned higher than the user's line of sight, thereby further preventing direct exposure to the user or glare.

[0043] Furthermore, inside the door panel, lamp holders and support brackets for supporting the front panel and light guide plate are arranged facing each other. These lamp holders and support brackets maintain a predetermined interval between the front panel and the light guide plate, and in particular, ensure that the light guide plate is kept in the correct position. Therefore, even during repeated opening and closing of the door, the door panel will not be damaged, and the position of the light guide plate is maintained, thereby ensuring that the light emanating from the lighting device is effectively directed towards the front panel.

[0044] Furthermore, a metal outer frame is provided around the perimeter of the door panel. Through repeated bending, this frame can restrict the front of the front panel and the back of the rear cover. Therefore, the internal structure of the door panel can remain firmly fixed, preventing movement of the internal structure even when the door is repeatedly opened and closed, thus preventing damage to the door panel.

[0045] Furthermore, the outer frame can be formed by bending a sheet of metal material, and is bent after the door panel is assembled, so that the back side of the outer frame is connected to the back side of the rear cover, which is made of metal material. Moreover, with the outer frame and the rear cover connected to each other, they can be securely fixed by spot welding.

[0046] Therefore, the door panels can be securely assembled without additional screws, bolts, or rivets, eliminating the need for additional components for joining them and for configuring these additional components, thus minimizing the thickness of the door panels. By minimizing the thickness of the door panels, it is possible to prevent an increase in the thickness of the door and ensure sufficient space for the insulation material, thereby maintaining insulation performance.

[0047] Furthermore, a rear cover is disposed behind the light guide plate, and a forward-protruding cover protrusion may be formed in the center of the rear cover. The cover protrusion may contact the light guide plate and make contact with a predetermined area including the center of the light guide plate, thereby stably supporting the light guide plate from the rear. Therefore, even if the light guide plate is impacted by the opening and closing of the door, it is stably supported, thereby preventing the light guide plate from being dislodged from its mounting position or damaged.

[0048] In particular, the protruding portion of the cover can be easily formed by molding during the molding of the back cover, and is formed on the entire surface except for the periphery of the back cover, thereby stably supporting the light guide plate.

[0049] Furthermore, when the lighting device is positioned at the lower end of the door panel, the support member maintains a predetermined distance between the light source of the lighting device and the end of the light guide plate. In particular, the light guide plate remains supported by the support member by its own weight, so that even when the door is repeatedly opened and closed, the light guide plate remains in position by the support member, thereby allowing light from the light source to be effectively and stably transmitted to the front panel.

[0050] Furthermore, the lighting device can be installed at both the top and bottom of the door panel, in which case the front of the door, i.e., the door panel, can be illuminated more brightly and clearly. Attached Figure Description

[0051] Figure 1 This is a front view of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

[0052] Figure 2 This is a front view of the refrigerator with the door open.

[0053] Figure 3 This is a three-dimensional view of the door.

[0054] Figure 4 It is an exploded perspective view of the door panel and the door body that make up the door.

[0055] Figure 5 This is an exploded perspective view of the outer frame that forms part of the door panel.

[0056] Figure 6 This is an exploded perspective view of the door panel as seen from the front.

[0057] Figure 7 This is an exploded perspective view of the door panel as seen from the rear.

[0058] Figure 8 This is a partial perspective view of the back cover, which is part of the door panel.

[0059] Figure 9 This is a perspective view of the lighting device and lamp holder that form part of the door panel.

[0060] Figure 10 yes Figure 9 X-X' sectioned stereoscopic view.

[0061] Figure 11 This is an exploded perspective view of the lighting device and lamp holder separated from the view from above.

[0062] Figure 12 This is an exploded perspective view showing the lighting device and lamp holder separated from each other, viewed from below.

[0063] Figure 13 yes Figure 4 A three-dimensional view cut along line XIII-XIII'.

[0064] Figure 14 yes Figure 4 A three-dimensional view of the section along line XIV-XIV'.

[0065] Figure 15 This is a perspective view of the support bracket that forms part of the door panel, viewed from above.

[0066] Figure 16 This is a perspective view of the support bracket from below.

[0067] Figure 17 yes Figure 4 A three-dimensional view of the XVII-XVII' line section.

[0068] Figure 18 yes Figure 4 A three-dimensional view of the XVIII-XVIII' line section.

[0069] Figure 19 yes Figure 3 A three-dimensional cross-section of the XIX-XIX' line.

[0070] Figure 20 This is a three-dimensional view of the outer frame before it is fully formed, viewed from the front.

[0071] Figure 21This is a three-dimensional view of the outer frame before it is fully formed, viewed from the rear.

[0072] Figure 22 This is a perspective view showing the outer frame before it bends when it is configured in the door panel.

[0073] Figure 23 This is a perspective view showing the outer frame bent and assembled in its position when disposed on the door panel.

[0074] Figure 24 This is a block diagram illustrating the flow of control signals for the refrigerator.

[0075] Figure 25 This is a cross-sectional view showing the operating state of the lighting device.

[0076] Figure 26 This is a diagram showing the illuminated state of the door panel.

[0077] Figure 27 This is a diagram showing the door panel emitting light in different colors.

[0078] Figure 28 This is a diagram showing the illuminated state of the door panels of a portion of the plurality of doors.

[0079] Figure 29 and Figure 30 It is a diagram showing how the state of the door panel changes as the user moves.

[0080] Figure 31 This is a partial perspective view of the upper part of the door panel of the second embodiment of the present invention cut open.

[0081] Figure 32 This is a partial perspective view showing the lower end of the door panel cut open.

[0082] Figure 33 This is a perspective view of the lower assembly of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0083] Figure 34 This is a top view of the lower assembly.

[0084] Figure 35 This is an exploded perspective view of the lower assembly.

[0085] Figure 36 This is a cross-sectional view showing the operating state of the lighting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0086] Figure 37 This is a cross-sectional view of the door panel according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0087] Figure 38This is a perspective view of the refrigerator door according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0088] Figure 39 This is an exploded perspective view of the refrigerator door.

[0089] Figure 40 yes Figure 38 XL-XL' line section view.

[0090] Figure 41 This is a perspective view of the refrigerator door according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0091] Figure 42 This is an exploded perspective view of the refrigerator door.

[0092] Figure 43 This is a longitudinal sectional view of the door panel that forms part of the refrigerator door.

[0093] Figure 44 yes Figure 41 XLIV-XLIV' line section view.

[0094] Figure 45 This is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator door according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0095] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the technical concept of the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, and other backward inventions or other embodiments within the scope of the present invention can be easily obtained by adding, changing, or deleting other constituent elements.

[0096] Before proceeding with the explanation, let's define the direction. In embodiments of the present invention, it can be in the form of... Figure 1 and Figure 2 Using the cabinet shown as a reference, the direction facing the door is defined as front. Alternatively, using the door as a reference, the direction facing the cabinet can be defined as rear, the direction facing the ground where the refrigerator is located can be defined as bottom, and the direction away from the ground can be defined as top.

[0097] Figure 1 This is a front view of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, Figure 2 This is a front view of the refrigerator with the door open.

[0098] As shown in the figure, the refrigerator 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention can be formed by a cabinet 10 that forms a storage space and a door 20 that opens and closes the storage space of the cabinet 10.

[0099] As an example, the housing 10 can form a storage space divided into upper and lower sections. A refrigerator compartment 11 can be formed in the upper section, and a freezer compartment 12 can be formed in the lower section. The refrigerator compartment 11 can be referred to as the upper storage space, and the freezer compartment can be referred to as the lower storage space. Furthermore, the lower storage space can be divided into a left lower storage space 12a and a right lower storage space 12b, and the left lower storage space 12a and the right lower storage space 12b can maintain different temperatures.

[0100] The door 20 can be configured to open and close the refrigerator compartment 11 and the freezer compartment 12 respectively. As an example, the door 20 can be rotatably mounted on the cabinet 10, and the refrigerator compartment 11 and the freezer compartment 12 can be opened and closed by rotation. Of course, the door 20 can also have a structure that allows it to be opened and closed by extending or retracting.

[0101] The door 20 may include: a refrigerator door 201 for opening and closing the refrigerator compartment 11; and a freezer door 202 for opening and closing the freezer compartment 12. The refrigerator door 201 may be referred to as the upper door, and the freezer door 202 may be referred to as the lower door.

[0102] Furthermore, the refrigerator door 201 may be configured with a pair of side-by-side left refrigerator door 201a and right refrigerator door 201b, and the outer ends of the left refrigerator door 201a and right refrigerator door 201b may be rotatably mounted to the cabinet 10. Therefore, the left refrigerator door 201a and right refrigerator door 201b can be independently rotated to open and close the refrigerator compartment 11.

[0103] Furthermore, the freezer door 202 may be configured with a pair of side-by-side left freezer door 202a and right freezer door 202b, the outer ends of which can be rotatably mounted to the cabinet 10. Therefore, the left freezer door 202a and right freezer door 202b can be independently rotated to open and close the freezer 12.

[0104] The refrigerator door 201 and the freezer door 202 can be spaced apart vertically. A handle 203 for opening and closing the freezer door 202 can be recessed in the space between the refrigerator door 201 and the freezer door 202. In addition, a handle (not shown) for opening and closing the refrigerator door 201 can also be recessed at the lower end of the refrigerator door 201.

[0105] On the other hand, when the door 20 is closed, it forms the front appearance of the refrigerator 1, and when the refrigerator 1 is installed, it can form most of the appearance of the refrigerator 1 as seen from the front.

[0106] Furthermore, the door 20 may have a structure that allows selective light emission from the front. Therefore, users can change the color of the front of the door 20 without separating or disassembling it, thus altering the overall appearance of the refrigerator 1.

[0107] The structure of the door 20 will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0108] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the door. Furthermore, Figure 4 It is an exploded perspective view of the door panel and the door body that make up the door.

[0109] As shown in the figure, the door 20 may include: a door body 21, forming the overall shape of the door 20; and a door panel 30, forming the front appearance of the door 20. That is, the door 20 may be configured such that a door panel 30 is installed on the front of the door body 21.

[0110] The door body 21 may include a main panel 211 forming the front and a door liner 212 forming the back. The main panel 211 may be made of metal and may be formed into a plate shape with a size corresponding to the door panel 30. Furthermore, the door liner 212 may be made of plastic and may be shaped to mount a basket or the like on the back of the door 20. Additionally, a gasket is installed around the periphery of the door liner 212. When the door 20 is closed, the gasket is in contact with the housing 10, preventing cold air leakage from the storage space.

[0111] Furthermore, the door body 21 may include side decorative members 213 forming the left and right sides of the door body 21. The side decorative members 213 may connect the left and right ends of the main body plate 211 and the left and right ends of the door lining 212.

[0112] Furthermore, the door body 21 may include an upper cover decorative member 214 and a lower cover decorative member 215 forming the top and bottom surfaces of the door body 21. The upper cover decorative member 214 may be connected to the upper end of the side decorative member 213, the upper end of the main body plate 211, and the upper end of the door lining 212. Furthermore, the lower cover decorative member 215 may be connected to the lower end of the side decorative member 213, the lower end of the main body plate 211, and the lower end of the door lining 212.

[0113] The door body 21 can be formed by the main body plate 211, door lining 212, side decorative pieces 213, upper cover decorative piece 214, and lower cover decorative piece 215. Furthermore, the space inside the door body 21, formed by the combination of the main body plate 211, door lining 212, side decorative pieces 213, upper cover decorative piece 214, and lower cover decorative piece 215, can be filled with heat-insulating material. Figure 19The insulation material 217 (as described in section 217) may have a heat-insulating structure to prevent heat transfer through the door 20. The insulation material 217 may be formed by injecting a foaming liquid into the interior of the door body 21.

[0114] On the other hand, a panel receiving space 216 with a forward opening can be formed on the front of the door body 21. That is, the front ends of the side decorative member 213, the upper cover decorative member 214, and the lower cover decorative member 215 can protrude forward further than the front of the main body panel 211, thus forming a panel receiving space 216 with a front opening in front of the main body panel 211. The panel receiving space 216 is sized to correspond to the size of the door panel 30, and the door panel 30 can be inserted into it. Furthermore, the periphery of the door panel 30 can be supported by the periphery of the panel receiving space 216, i.e., the protruding portions of the side decorative member 213, the upper cover decorative member 214, and the lower cover decorative member 215.

[0115] like Figure 4 As shown, the door panel 30 can be detachably installed on the door body 21. That is, the door panel 30 can be installed on the door body 21 in an assembled state. Furthermore, the door panel 30 can also be detached from the door body 21 in an assembled state.

[0116] The door panel 30 can be formed in a plate shape and can be formed to a size corresponding to the front of the door body 21. Therefore, when the door panel 30 is installed on the front of the door body 21, the door panel 30 can be formed to have an integrated appearance with the door body 21.

[0117] With the door panel 30 installed on the door body 21, the back of the door panel 30 can be tightly attached to the body panel 211. Furthermore, the door panel 30 can also be securely bonded to the body panel 211 using adhesives or adhesive sheets.

[0118] When the door panel 30 is installed on the door body 21, its front surface is exposed, thus forming the actual front appearance of the door 20. Furthermore, the door panel 30 can be configured to emit light from its entire front surface and can emit light in various colors.

[0119] Therefore, a lighting device 35 can be installed inside the door panel 30. For power supply and control, the lighting device 35 can be connected to a wire 336. The wire 336 can be exposed from the back of the door panel 30 to the outside, and a panel connector 336a can be provided at the end of the wire 336.

[0120] Furthermore, a connector receiving portion 211a can be formed on the front side of the door body 21, i.e., the front side of the main body plate 211. The connector receiving portion 211a can be recessed in the main body plate 211, and a wire 219 and a main body connector 219b disposed at one end of the wire 219 can be formed therein. The wire 219 can be introduced into the inside of the door body 21 through the hinge mounting portion 214a recessed in the top surface of the door 20, and can be led out through the main body hole 211b of the connector receiving portion 211a and exposed forward.

[0121] Furthermore, during the assembly of the door panel 30, the wires 336 and 219 can be connected to each other via the combination of the panel connector 336a and the main body connector 219b. Additionally, the panel connector 336a, the main body connector 219b, and a portion of the wires 336 and 219 can be accommodated in the connector receiving portion 211a.

[0122] Therefore, when installing the door panel 30, the back side of the door panel 30 can be in contact with or adjacent to the front side of the main body panel 211, and by minimizing the gap between the door panel 30 and the main body panel 211, the thickness of the door 20 can be prevented from increasing.

[0123] The connector receiving portion 211a can be positioned opposite the wire hole 335 on the back of the door panel 30, and can also be positioned adjacent to the hinge mounting portion 214a. Of course, depending on the placement of the lighting device 35 inside the door panel 30, the wire hole 335 can be located at the bottom or other positions instead of the top, and the connector receiving portion 211a can be positioned accordingly.

[0124] On the other hand, the wires 219 exposed to the outside of the door 20 through the hinge mounting part 214a can be connected to the wires on the side of the housing 10 by means of the connector 219a when the door 20 is installed to the housing 10.

[0125] The structure of the door panel 30 will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0126] Figure 5 This is an exploded perspective view showing the outer frame, which is part of the door panel, separated from the rest of the structure. Furthermore, Figure 6 This is an exploded perspective view of the door panel as seen from the front. Figure 7 This is an exploded perspective view of the door panel as seen from the rear.

[0127] As shown in the figure, the door panel 30 may include: a front panel 31, forming the front appearance; an illumination device 35, which illuminates the front panel 31 to make it emit light; and a light guide plate 32, which guides the light illuminating the illumination device 35.

[0128] Additionally, the door panel 30 may also include an upper bracket 34 for mounting the lighting device 35. Furthermore, the door panel 30 may also include a lower bracket 36 supporting the front panel 31 and the light guide plate 32 at a position opposite to the upper bracket 34. Additionally, the door panel 30 may also include a back cover 33 forming the back side. Furthermore, the door panel 30 may also include an outer frame 39 forming the periphery.

[0129] In addition, the door panel 30 may also be configured to include: a front panel 31 forming the front appearance; an illumination device 35 illuminating the front panel 31 to make it glow; an upper bracket 34 and a lower bracket 35 forming the top and bottom surfaces of the door panel 30; and a rear cover 33 forming the back surface.

[0130] To further describe these components in detail, the front panel 31 can be formed into a quadrilateral shape and can be made of a light-transmitting material. For example, the front panel 31 can be made of glass or transparent plastic, or other light-transmitting materials. Furthermore, the front panel 31 can also be referred to as a transparent panel or a front panel.

[0131] The front panel 31 can be formed transparently to allow light reflected by the light guide plate 32 to pass through. Here, transparency refers to the degree to which light can pass through. Furthermore, the front panel 31 can also be formed with color as needed. For example, the front panel 31 can be formed with a specific color. Additionally, as needed, specific textures or patterns can be printed, or a thin film printed with specific textures or patterns can be attached, coated, or deposited to form the appearance of the front panel 31. Furthermore, the front panel 31 can be configured to allow light irradiated from the lighting device 35 to pass through while preventing the structure behind the front panel 31 from becoming visible.

[0132] The front panel 31 can be formed to be slightly smaller than the door panel 30, but larger than the light guide plate 32. Furthermore, the periphery of the front panel 31 can be supported by the outer frame 39.

[0133] The light guide plate 32 may be configured to be located behind the front plate 31 and to guide the light emitted from the lighting device 35 disposed at the upper end of the light guide plate 32 forward.

[0134] As an example, the light guide plate 32 can be formed of a transparent polymer material such as acrylic resin. Furthermore, a diffusing agent capable of diffusing light incident on the light guide plate 32 can be added to the light guide plate 32, or the light guide plate 32 can also be formed with a pattern for light diffusion.

[0135] Furthermore, a reflective layer 321 may be formed on the back side of the light guide plate 32. The reflective layer 321 is used to reflect light diffused along the light guide plate 32 forward, that is, towards the front plate 31, and can be formed on the entire back side of the light guide plate 32. The reflective layer 321 can be formed by coating, deposition, or thin film adhesion.

[0136] The light guide plate 32 can be formed as a whole into a quadrilateral plate shape, and can be formed to be slightly smaller than the front plate 31. In addition, the light guide plate 32 can be supported from the rear by the rear cover 33, and its upper and lower ends can be fixed by the upper bracket 34 and the lower bracket 36.

[0137] Front spacers 301 can be provided on the left and right sides of the front of the light guide plate 32, and rear spacers 302 can be provided on the left and right sides of the back of the light guide plate 32.

[0138] The front spacer 301 can be respectively disposed on the left and right sides of the light guide plate 32, and can extend in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the front side of the front spacer 301 can be in contact with the back side of the front plate 31, and the back side of the front spacer 301 can be in contact with the front side of the light guide plate 32. That is, the front spacer 301 can have a thickness corresponding to the gap between the front plate 31 and the light guide plate 32, so that the light guide plate 32 and the front plate 31 maintain an appropriate gap.

[0139] Furthermore, the rear spacer 302 can be respectively disposed on the left and right sides of the light guide plate 32, and can extend in the vertical direction. Additionally, the front side of the rear spacer 302 can be in contact with the back side of the light guide plate 32, and the back side of the rear spacer 302 can be in contact with the front side of the rear cover 33. That is, the rear spacer 302 can have a thickness corresponding to the gap between the light guide plate 32 and the rear cover 33, so that the light guide plate 32 and the rear cover 33 maintain an appropriate gap.

[0140] That is, when the door 20 is repeatedly opened and closed, the light guide plate 32 maintains a predetermined distance from the front plate 31 and the rear cover 33, and will not deviate from its initial installation position. In addition, the light guide plate 32 is arranged on the same extension line as the light source disposed on the lighting device 35, and can maintain a predetermined position, so that the light irradiated from the light source passes through the end of the light guide plate 32.

[0141] On the other hand, the front spacer 301 and the rear spacer 302 can also be formed of a resilient material. Therefore, the impact transmitted to the door 20 and the door panel 30 when the door 20 is opened and closed is buffered by the front spacer 301, thereby preventing damage to the front panel 31 and the light guide plate 32.

[0142] Furthermore, when the light guide plate 32 undergoes slight expansion or contraction due to temperature differences, the front spacer 301 and the rear spacer 302 elastically deform to ensure a stable support state for the light guide plate 32. For this purpose, the front spacer 301 can be bonded to the front plate 31 and maintain simple contact with the light guide plate 32, and the rear spacer 302 can be bonded to the rear cover 33 and maintain simple contact with the light guide plate 32.

[0143] The upper bracket 34 can be disposed at the upper end of the door panel 30, and an illumination device 35 for irradiating light onto the light guide plate 32 can be fixedly installed thereon. Therefore, the upper bracket 34 can be referred to as a lamp bracket. The upper bracket 34 can extend from the left end to the right end of the door panel 30, and can be formed to be greater than or equal to the length of the light guide plate 32 in the left-right direction.

[0144] On the other hand, when the door panel 30 is assembled, the upper bracket 34 is positioned higher than the lower end of the front part 391 of the outer frame 39, so that when the user looks from the front, the upper bracket 34 and the light source 352 mounted on the upper bracket 34 are not visible to the user.

[0145] In particular, when a user observes the front of the door 20 from the front of the refrigerator 1, the lighting device 35 is not directly exposed, and the light source 352 shines light downwards from a position higher than the user's line of sight, thereby preventing glare for the user.

[0146] The lower bracket 36 can be disposed at the lower end of the door panel 30, and can support the lower end of the front panel 31 and the lower end of the light guide plate 32 from below. Therefore, the lower bracket 36 can also be referred to as a support bracket. The lower bracket 36 can extend from the left end to the right end of the door panel 30, and can be formed to be greater than or equal to the length of the light guide plate 32 in the left-right direction.

[0147] The back cover 33 forms the back of the door panel 30 and supports the light guide plate 32, the upper bracket 34, and the lower bracket 36. The back cover 33 can be made of a metal material such as stainless steel or aluminum. Furthermore, the back cover 33 can be sized to correspond to the size of the door panel 30, and the light guide plate 32 can be installed in the inner space of the back cover 33. Additionally, the upper bracket 34 and the lower bracket 36 can be installed on the back cover 33. That is, the back cover 33 can connect the upper bracket 34 and the lower bracket 36.

[0148] The back of the light guide plate 32 can be supported from the rear by a cover protrusion 332 protruding from the center of the rear cover 33. Therefore, the light guide plate 32 can maintain a stable installation state. In addition, the upper bracket 34 and the lower bracket 36 can be configured along the upper and lower ends of the rear cover 33, respectively.

[0149] The outer frame 39 can form the periphery of the door panel 30. In addition, the outer frame 39 surrounds the periphery of the front panel 31 and the rear cover 33, which can keep the door panel 30 in an assembled state.

[0150] The outer frame 39 can be formed of a plate-shaped metal material. Furthermore, the outer frame 39 can be bent multiple times to restrict the front periphery of the front panel 31 and the back periphery of the rear cover 33, thus forming the periphery of the door panel 30. Moreover, with the outer frame 39 restricting the front panel 31 and the rear cover 33, the light guide plate 32, upper bracket 34, lower bracket 36, front spacer 301, and rear spacer 302 constituting the door panel 30 can remain assembled between the front panel 31 and the rear cover 33.

[0151] That is, the remaining components of the door panel 30, except for the outer frame 39, can be assembled into a panel assembly 300, and the panel assembly 300 can be fixed by bending the outer frame 39.

[0152] In detail, to assemble the door panel 30, firstly, the front panel 31, light guide plate 32, rear cover 33, front spacer 301, rear spacer 302, upper bracket 34 and lower bracket 36 on which the lighting device 35 is installed are configured and assembled into the panel assembly 300. At this time, the panel assembly 300 can be a temporary, basic assembly state, rather than a complete, final assembly state.

[0153] Of course, even in this state, the front panel 31 will have the shape of the door panel 30 and will maintain the ability to connect the outer frame 39. In particular, it can maintain a minimum thickness in a simple stacking state without the need for additional connecting structures such as screws, bolts, and rivets.

[0154] The outer frame 39 can be mounted such that the front portion 391, with an opening 392, restricts at least a portion of the periphery of the front surface of the front panel 31. In this case, the edge portion 393 of the outer frame 39 covers the periphery of the panel assembly 300 in the assembled state. Furthermore, the back portion extending further from the edge portion 393 is bent and restricts at least a portion of the periphery of the back surface of the rear cover 33.

[0155] That is, by installing and bending the outer frame 39, the space between the layers of the panel assembly 300 can be concealed, while the configuration of the panel assembly 300 can maintain a firm joint. In addition, the back part 394 is firmly fixed to the back cover 33 by welding, bonding or joining, so that the door panel 30 maintains the final assembled state and the configuration of the panel assembly 300 maintains the assembled position.

[0156] On the other hand, the structure of the rear cover 33, the upper bracket 34, the lower bracket 36 and the outer frame 39 will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0157] Figure 8 This is a partial perspective view of the back cover, which is part of the door panel.

[0158] As shown in the figure, the back cover 33 is formed as a plate of metal material and can be formed with a structure having a central portion and edges that protrude forward. As an example, the back cover 33 can be formed of steel material and can be molded into an integral shape.

[0159] The rear cover 33 may include a peripheral portion 331 and a protruding portion 332. The peripheral portion 331 may form the back surface of the rear cover 33. Furthermore, the protruding portion 332 may protrude forward from the peripheral portion 331. The central portion of the rear cover 33 may protrude forward so that the protruding portion 332 contacts the back surface of the light guide plate 32. That is, through the molding of the rear cover 33, the protruding portion 332 can be molded to support the light guide plate 32 from the rear.

[0160] The protruding portion 332 of the cover can protrude forward based on the outer periphery 331 of the cover, and when viewed from the rear, it can be formed into a concave shape. In addition, the outer periphery 331 of the cover can be formed along the periphery of the protruding portion 332 of the cover, which is concave to the rear.

[0161] In detail, the cover protrusion 332 may include: a contact portion 332a that contacts the light guide plate 32; and a bent portion 332b formed along the periphery of the contact portion 332a and extending rearward. The contact portion 332a forms a protruding plane of the cover protrusion 332 and may be configured to contact the surface of the light guide plate 32.

[0162] The contact portion 332a can be formed in a generally quadrilateral shape and can be slightly smaller than the size of the light guide plate 32. Furthermore, it can form most of the area of ​​the back cover 33 except for the portion obscured by the outer frame 39. The contact portion 332a can extend parallel to the back surface of the light guide plate 32 and can support most of the area except for the periphery of the light guide plate 32.

[0163] Furthermore, the bending portion 332b can connect the contact portion 332a and the outer periphery of the cover 331. The bending portion 332b can be formed by bending rearward from the edge of the contact portion 332a and can have a predetermined height. Therefore, the outer periphery of the cover 331 can be located further rearward than the contact portion 332a, and can provide space at the upper and lower ends inside the door panel 30 for configuring the upper support 34 and the lower support 36.

[0164] With the door panel 30 assembled, the light guide plate 32 can remain supported by the contact portion 332a. Therefore, the light guide plate 32 remains in its mounting position within the door panel 30, allowing light emanating from the lighting device 35 to be effectively directed towards the end of the light guide plate 32. Furthermore, the stable support of the cover protrusion 332 prevents excessive bending or deformation of the light guide plate 32.

[0165] A forward-protruding cover edge 333 may be formed at the end of the outer periphery 331 of the cover. The cover edge 333 may be formed along the outer periphery 331 of the cover and may be bent forward. Through the cover edge 333, the rear cover 33 forms a space with a forward opening, which can accommodate the light guide plate 32, the upper bracket 34 and the lower bracket 36.

[0166] The protrusion height of the cover edge 333 can be greater than the protrusion height of the cover protrusion 332. Furthermore, when the light guide plate 32 is supported by the cover protrusion 332, the front end of the cover edge 333 can protrude further than the front surface of the light guide plate 32.

[0167] On the other hand, cleaved corner portions 334 can be formed at both ends of the top and bottom surfaces of the cover edge 333, as well as at the upper and lower ends of the left and right sides. Through the inclined shape of the two ends of the corner portions 334, the two ends of the top and bottom surfaces of the cover edge 333 can be formed obliquely or in a stepped manner. Furthermore, the top and bottom surfaces of the cover edge 333 cooperate with the upper support 34 and the lower support 36, thereby enabling the upper support 34 and the lower support 36 to remain engaged in the correct position without shifting.

[0168] Furthermore, a wire hole 335 may be provided at the upper corner of the outer perimeter 331 of the cover. The wire hole 335 may be located at a position corresponding to the configuration of the lighting device 35. Additionally, it may be open for the entry and exit of a wire 336 connected to the lighting device 35. Therefore, in the assembled state of the door panel 30, the wire hole 335 provides a path for the wire 336 supplying power to the lighting device 35. A panel connector 336a may be provided at the end of the wire 336 leading to the outside through the wire hole 335. Furthermore, the wire hole 335 may be formed in a position that does not interfere with the curved portion of the outer frame 39 when the outer frame 39 and the rear cover 33 are joined together.

[0169] The upper bracket 34 and the lighting device 35 will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0170] Figure 9 This is a perspective view of the lighting device and lamp holder combined as part of the door panel. Furthermore, Figure 10 yes Figure 9 A three-dimensional view sectionalized along the X-X' line. Furthermore, Figure 11 This is an exploded perspective view showing the lighting device and lamp holder separated, viewed from above. Furthermore, Figure 12 This is an exploded perspective view showing the lighting device and lamp holder separated from the rest of the structure, viewed from below. Furthermore, Figure 13 yes Figure 4 A three-dimensional view cut along line XIII-XIII'. Furthermore, Figure 14 yes Figure 4 A three-dimensional view of the section along line XIV-XIV'.

[0171] As shown in the figure, the upper bracket 34 can be configured on the upper end of the door panel 30 in a state of being combined with the lighting device 35. Furthermore, the lighting device 35 can be installed on the inner side of the door panel 30 together with the upper bracket 34 in a state of being combined with the upper bracket 34. In this case, the combined state of the upper bracket 34 and the lighting device 35 can also be referred to as a lamp assembly.

[0172] The lighting device 35 may include: a substrate 351 extending elongated along the upper end of the door panel 30; and a light source 352 mounted on the substrate 351. As an example, the light source 352 may be composed of LEDs. A plurality of the light sources 352 may be arranged in a row along the substrate 351, and when the lighting device 35 is installed, they may be positioned facing the upper end of the light guide plate 32. Furthermore, a plurality of the light sources 352 may be positioned above the upper end of the light guide plate 32, and may be continuously arranged along the light guide plate 32 at predetermined intervals.

[0173] Furthermore, the light source 352 can be configured to emit light in various colors. For example, a plurality of the light sources 352 can be configured to emit light in different colors. For example, the light source 352 may include a red light source 352a, a green light source 352b, and a blue light source 352c.

[0174] That is, the plurality of light sources 352 can be repeatedly configured with red, green, and blue light sources. Of course, the color configuration of the plurality of light sources 352 can also be changed as needed. Furthermore, when light sources 352 of different colors are combined and turned on, the appearance color presented through the door panel 30 can be more diverse. Moreover, the light sources 352 can also be configured to selectively illuminate a plurality of colors as needed.

[0175] A plurality of the light sources 352 can be arranged in a continuous row along the bottom surface of the substrate 351. In this case, the light sources 352 can be arranged at equal intervals, and red light sources 352a, green light sources 352b, and blue light sources 352c can be grouped together. Furthermore, a plurality of groups of light sources 352 can be repeatedly and continuously arranged. Additionally, a substrate connector 353 for connecting to the wires 336 can be formed on the top surface of the substrate 351.

[0176] The lighting device 35 can be installed on the upper bracket 34, and when the upper bracket 34 is installed, the lighting device 35 will be in the correct position inside the door panel 30.

[0177] The upper support 34 may have a length corresponding to that of the substrate 351. Furthermore, the upper support 34 may be formed to have a length longer than the light guide plate 32 and may be accommodated inside the rear cover 33. Additionally, the upper support 34 may extend from one end of the rear cover 33 to the other end.

[0178] The upper bracket 34 can be formed of plastic material and can have a structure for fixing and mounting the lighting device 35. Furthermore, the upper bracket 34 can also maintain a predetermined interval between the front panel 31 and the light guide plate 32.

[0179] To provide a more detailed description of the upper bracket 34, the upper bracket 34 may be formed to be at least longer than the left-right length of the light guide plate 32 and shorter than the left-right length of the rear cover 33.

[0180] The upper bracket 34 can be located on the upper inner side of the door panel 30, and can support the front panel 31 and the light guide plate 32 above it, so it can also be called a support bracket.

[0181] Furthermore, a substrate mounting portion 341, recessed in shape corresponding to the shape of the substrate 351, can be formed on the bottom surface of the upper bracket 34. The substrate 351 of the lighting device 35 can be mounted on the substrate mounting portion 341, with the bottom surface of the substrate mounting portion 341 supporting the top surface of the substrate 351, and the front and back surfaces of the substrate mounting portion 341 supporting the front and rear ends of the substrate 351. Therefore, the substrate 351 remains stably mounted on the upper bracket 34 without moving.

[0182] Furthermore, the substrate mounting portion 341 can extend from one end of the left or right side of the upper support 34 to the other end, and both ends of the upper support 34 can be open. Additionally, a mounting groove 341a that is further recessed upwards can be formed in the substrate mounting portion 341. The mounting groove 341a is recessed to prevent interference with various components protruding from the top surface of the substrate, including the substrate connector 353. Furthermore, the mounting groove 341a can also extend from one end of the left or right side of the upper support 34 to the other end.

[0183] Furthermore, a plurality of hooks 343 may be formed along the front and rear ends of the substrate mounting portion 341. The hooks 343 protrude downward and toward the inside of the substrate mounting portion 341, thereby restricting the substrate 351 when it is mounted on the substrate mounting portion 341.

[0184] Furthermore, bracket support portions 342 can be formed on the left and right sides of the upper bracket 34. The bracket support portions 342 can support the upper ends of the front plate 31 and the light guide plate 32, and can maintain the gap between the front plate 31 and the light guide plate 32.

[0185] Specifically, the support portion 342 can be formed by protruding downwards from both ends of the support portion 342, and can be formed to have a predetermined width. Furthermore, the support portion 342 can be formed with a through opening 342a to allow the substrate 351 to pass through. Additionally, a substrate placement portion 341 and a placement groove 341a can be formed inside the through opening 342a. The substrate 351 can be inserted from the side through the through opening 342a.

[0186] Furthermore, a downwardly protruding upper spacer 342b can be formed on the bottom surface of the bracket support portion 342. The upper spacer 342b can extend from one end of the left or right side of the bracket support portion 342 to the other end, and can protrude downwards. In this case, the upper spacer 342b can protrude to be inserted between the front plate 31 and the light guide plate 32. That is, the protruding lower end of the upper spacer 342b can be located lower than the upper end of the front plate 31 and the upper end of the light guide plate 32.

[0187] The upper spacer 342b can be formed to protrude so that the front side of the upper spacer 342b is in contact with the back side of the front panel 31, and the back side of the upper spacer 342b is in contact with the front side of the light guide plate 32. Therefore, in the assembled state of the door panel 30, the upper positions of the front panel 31 and the light guide plate 32 can be determined by the upper spacer 342b and can be kept in a fixed state. In particular, the upper spacer 342b can arrange the upper end of the light guide plate 32 and the light source 352 on the same extension line.

[0188] Furthermore, inclined surfaces 342c can be formed on the bottom and back edges of the upper spacer 342b. These inclined surfaces 342c allow the upper spacer 342b to be easily inserted into the space between the front plate 31 and the light guide plate 32 when the upper bracket 34 is installed.

[0189] On the other hand, the bottom surface of the upper support 34 can be formed into a planar shape, and can include a first bottom support portion 342e formed in front and a second bottom support portion 342d formed in the rear, based on the upper spacer 342b.

[0190] The first bottom support portion 342e can be configured to support the upper end of the front plate 31. Furthermore, the front-to-back width of the first bottom support portion 342e is configured to correspond to the thickness of the front plate 31, so that the upper end of the front plate 31 can be securely fixed by the upper spacer 342b and the outer frame 39.

[0191] Furthermore, the second bottom support portion 342d can be configured to support the upper end of the light guide plate 32. The height of the second bottom support portion 342d can be located lower than the lower end of the light source 352. Therefore, the upper end of the light source 352 and the light guide plate 32 maintain an appropriate distance, allowing the light from the light source 352 to effectively enter the light guide plate 32. As an example, the distance between the upper end of the light source 352 and the light guide plate 32 can be several millimeters.

[0192] Furthermore, the second bottom support portion 342d can restrict the upward movement of the light guide plate 32. That is, even if the door 20 is impacted during opening and closing, it can prevent the light guide plate 32 from moving upward and colliding with the light source 352. Considering the expansion of the light guide plate 32, the second bottom support portion 342d can also be formed to be slightly spaced from the upper end of the light guide plate 32.

[0193] On the other hand, an upper protrusion 345 and an upper mounting portion 344 may be formed on the top surface of the upper bracket 34. The upper protrusion 345 can form a protruding top surface of the upper bracket 34, and can fit tightly against the edge portion 393 of the outer frame 39 when the door panel 30 is assembled. In addition, an inclined surface 345a is formed at the front end of the upper protrusion 345, thereby preventing interference with the curved corner portion of the outer frame 39, and the upper bracket 34 can fit tightly against the outer frame 39.

[0194] The upper mounting portion 344 can be formed in a stepped manner with a height lower than that of the upper protrusion 345. The step height of the upper mounting portion 344 can be formed to correspond to the thickness of the rear cover 33. Furthermore, the upper mounting portion 344 is formed such that the edge 333 of the rear cover 33 can be mounted when the door panel 30 is assembled. In addition, an inclined surface 344a is formed at the rear end of the upper mounting portion 344, thereby preventing interference with the curved corner portion of the rear cover 33, and the upper bracket 34 can fit tightly against the rear cover 33.

[0195] Furthermore, when the door panel 30 is assembled, the cover edge 333 of the rear cover 33 is inserted between the top surface of the upper mounting portion 344 and the bottom surface of the edge portion 393, respectively contacting the surfaces of the upper mounting portion 344 and the edge portion 393. Therefore, the upper bracket 34 has a secure connection structure inside the door panel 30 and is able to maintain its installation position.

[0196] Alternatively, the upper bracket 34 can be firmly fixed to the outer frame 39 or the rear cover 33 by applying adhesive to at least one of the top surface of the upper bracket 34, namely the upper protrusion 345 or the upper mounting portion 344.

[0197] The structure of the lower support 36 will be described in detail below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0198] Figure 15 This is a perspective view of the support bracket that forms part of the door panel, viewed from above. Furthermore, Figure 16 This is a perspective view of the support bracket from below. Furthermore, Figure 17 yes Figure 4 A three-dimensional view cut along the XVII-XVII' line. Furthermore, Figure 18 yes Figure 4 A three-dimensional view of the XVIII-XVIII' line section.

[0199] As shown in the figure, the lower bracket 36 can be formed of plastic material and can be shaped to extend long in the left-right direction. The lower bracket 36 can extend from the left end to the right end of the rear cover 33 and can be shaped to a length corresponding to the length of the front plate 31 or the light guide plate 32 in the left-right direction.

[0200] The lower bracket 36 can be installed at the lower end of the door panel 30, and can support the lower end of the front panel 31 and the lower end of the light guide plate 32 on the inner side of the door panel 30. In addition, the lower bracket 36 can maintain a set distance between the lower ends of the front panel 31 and the light guide plate 32.

[0201] The lower bracket 36 is described in detail. A lower spacer 362 protrudes upward from the bottom surface 361 of the lower bracket 36. The lower spacer 362 can extend from one end of the left or right side of the lower bracket 36 to the other end. The lower spacer 362 can protrude and be inserted between the lower end of the front plate 31 and the light guide plate 32.

[0202] The front side of the lower spacer 362 can be in contact with the back side of the front plate 31, and the back side of the lower spacer 362 can be in contact with the front side of the light guide plate 32. Therefore, through the lower spacer 362, the lower end of the front plate 31 and the lower end of the light guide plate 32 will maintain a set distance. The lower spacer 362 can be located vertically below the upper spacer 342b, and the thickness of the lower spacer 362 can be formed to correspond to the thickness of the upper spacer 342b.

[0203] On the other hand, a first top surface support portion 361a and a second top surface support portion 361b can be formed on the bottom surface 361 of the lower bracket 36. Based on the lower spacer 362, the first top surface support portion 361a can be formed in front and the second top surface support portion 361b can be formed in the rear.

[0204] Furthermore, the first top surface support portion 361a can support the front plate 31 from below, and the second top surface support portion 361b can support the light guide plate 32 from below. In this case, the vertical length of the front plate 31 can be greater than the vertical length of the light guide plate 32. Additionally, the first top surface support portion 361a can be configured to be lower than the second top surface support portion 361b.

[0205] On the other hand, a rear support member 363 may also be formed on the top surface of the lower bracket 36. The rear support member 363 may protrude upward from the rear end of the lower bracket 36 and may be formed parallel to the lower spacer 362. Furthermore, the rear support member 363 may extend from the left end to the right end of the lower bracket 36.

[0206] The back side of the rear support member 363 can be connected to and supported by the outer periphery 331 of the rear cover 33. Furthermore, a support protrusion 363a can be formed on the front side of the rear support member 363, which connects to the back side of the light guide plate 32. A plurality of support protrusions 363a can be formed along the rear support member 363, and the protruding front side of each support protrusion 363a can support the light guide plate 32 from the rear.

[0207] On the other hand, a support groove 363b can be formed on the back side of the rear support 363 corresponding to the support protrusion 363a. Through the support groove 363b, during the injection molding of the lower bracket 36, the front side of the support protrusion 363a will not shrink, and it can be molded into a planar shape that can fit tightly against the back side of the light guide plate 32.

[0208] With the door panel 30 assembled, the lower bracket 36 can be located at the lower end of the door panel 30. At this time, the cover edge 333 of the rear cover 33 can be inserted between the bent edge portion 393 and the lower spacer 362 and securely fixed. Furthermore, the light guide plate 32 can be inserted between the lower spacer 362 and the rear support member 363 and fixed.

[0209] On the other hand, a lower protrusion 364 and a lower mounting portion 365 may be formed on the bottom surface of the lower bracket 36. The lower protrusion 364 may be formed at a position corresponding to the first top surface support portion 361a, and may also be formed on a surface opposite to the first top surface support portion 361a. The lower protrusion 364 forms the most protruding bottom surface of the lower bracket 36, and when the lower bracket 36 is installed, it can connect with the edge portion 393 of the outer frame 39. At this time, the front end of the lower bracket 36 connects with the bent corner portion of the outer frame 39, thereby fixing the lower bracket 36.

[0210] Furthermore, the lower end mounting portion 365 may be formed in a stepped manner at the rear end of the lower end protrusion 364. The lower end mounting portion 365 may be formed at a position higher than the lower end protrusion 364 and may extend to the rear end of the bottom surface of the lower support 36. The lower end mounting portion 365 may be formed at a position corresponding to the second top surface support portion 361b, and may be formed on a surface opposite to the second top surface support portion 361b.

[0211] Furthermore, the step height of the lower mounting portion 365 can be formed to correspond to the thickness of the cover edge 333 of the rear cover 33. Additionally, the lower mounting portion 365 can be formed to correspond to the shape of the bottom surface in the cover edge 333.

[0212] That is, the two ends of the bottom surface of the cover edge 333 can be formed at an angle, and the lower end mounting portion 365 can be formed in a corresponding shape. Therefore, when the cover edge 333 is combined with the lower end mounting portion 365, the lower bracket 36 can be located in the correct position at the lower end of the door panel 30.

[0213] Furthermore, when the cover edge 333 is placed on the lower end placement portion 365, the bottom surface of the cover edge 333 and the lower end protrusion 364 can be located on the same plane, and the lower end protrusion 364 and the cover edge 333 can be in close contact with the edge portion 393 of the outer frame 39.

[0214] On the other hand, an adhesive may be applied to at least one side of the bottom surface of the lower bracket 36, namely the lower end protrusion 364 and the lower end mounting portion 365, so that the lower bracket 36 can be firmly fixed to the rear cover 33 and the outer frame 39.

[0215] Figure 19 yes Figure 3 A three-dimensional cross-section of the XIX-XIX' line.

[0216] As shown in the figure, when the door panel 30 is assembled, the front periphery of the front panel 31 can be tightly attached to and restricted by the front part 391 of the outer frame 39, and the back periphery of the rear cover 33 can be tightly attached to and restricted by the back part 394 of the outer frame 39.

[0217] At this time, a front spacer 301 is provided between the two sides of the front plate 31 and the light guide plate 32, and a rear spacer 302 is provided between the light guide plate 32 and the rear cover 33, so that the front plate 31 and the light guide plate 32 can maintain a specified interval.

[0218] In particular, the left and right ends of the light guide plate 32 are supported by the front spacer 301 and the rear spacer 302, and its upper and lower ends are supported by the upper spacer 342b and the lower spacer 362, respectively, thereby maintaining the correct position. Therefore, even if the door 20 is repeatedly opened and closed and subjected to impact, the light guide plate 32 can maintain its initial installation position, so that the light irradiated from the light source 352 can accurately irradiate the ends of the light guide plate 32.

[0219] Furthermore, when the door 20 is large, the light guide plate 32 also becomes larger. If only the periphery of the light guide plate 32 is supported in this configuration, the light guide plate 32 may bend or deform. However, the central portion of the back of the light guide plate 32 is supported by a cover protrusion 332 formed in the rear cover 33, thereby preventing deformation of the light guide plate 32. In addition, the cover protrusion 332 evenly supports most of the portion of the light guide plate 32 except for its periphery, thus providing stable support for the light guide plate 32.

[0220] Furthermore, the front panel 31 and the rear cover 33 can be firmly fixed by the installation of the outer frame 39, and the upper bracket 34 and the lower bracket 36 inside the door panel 30 can be firmly fixed.

[0221] The outer frame 39 will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0222] Figure 20 This is a three-dimensional view of the outer frame before its final shape is completed, viewed from the front. Furthermore, Figure 21 This is a three-dimensional view of the outer frame before its final shape is completed, viewed from the rear. Furthermore, Figure 22 This is a perspective view showing the outer frame before it bends, as it is positioned on the door panel. Furthermore, Figure 23 This is a perspective view showing the outer frame bent and assembled in its position when disposed on the door panel.

[0223] As shown in the figure, the periphery of the door panel 30 can be formed by the outer frame 39. The outer frame 39 can be formed of a flexible, plate-like material, for example, it can be formed of a metal material such as stainless steel or aluminum.

[0224] The outer frame 39 can initially be formed of a plate-like material and can be bent multiple times to form the top surface, bottom surface, and left and right side perimeters of the door panel 30. Furthermore, the outer frame 39 forms the perimeter appearance of the door panel 30 while confining the front panel 31 and the rear cover 33, thereby maintaining the overall structural integrity of the door panel 30.

[0225] Specifically, an opening 392 can be formed in the center of the outer frame 39, allowing the front panel 31 to be exposed forward. The size of the opening 392 can be smaller than the size of the front panel 31. Therefore, when the door panel 30 is assembled, the front panel 31 can be exposed forward through the opening 392, and the periphery of the front panel 31 can be covered by the outer frame 39.

[0226] In detail, the outer frame 39 may include a front portion 391, an edge portion 393, and a back portion 394, and the plate-shaped outer frame 39 may be bent to form the front portion 391, the edge portion 393, and the back portion 394.

[0227] The front portion 391 covers the front periphery of the front panel 31, thus forming the front periphery of the door panel 30. Furthermore, the opening 392 can be formed on the inner side of the front portion 391.

[0228] Furthermore, the edge portion 393 can be formed by bending rearward from the outer end of the front portion 391. The edge portion 393 can be bent perpendicularly to the front portion 391, forming the side periphery of the door panel 30. The width of the edge portion 393 can be formed to correspond to the thickness of the door panel 30.

[0229] The edge portion 393 can form the periphery, i.e., the left and right sides, top surface, and bottom surface of the door panel 30. Furthermore, an edge section 393a can be formed in the corner area of ​​the edge portion 393. The edge section 393a facilitates the bending and forming of the edge portion 393 and prevents interference between the left and right sides, top surface, and bottom surface of the edge portion 393 during the bending process. Additionally, during the assembly of the door panel 30, interference with the internal structure of the door panel 30 can be prevented.

[0230] The back portion 394 can be formed together with the edge portion 393, and can extend from the edge portion 393. On the other hand, as Figures 20 to 22 As shown, before the door panel 30 is assembled, the back portion 394 can extend in the same direction as the extending direction of the edge portion 393. Therefore, in order to assemble the door panel 30, the front panel 31, the light guide plate 32, and the rear cover 33 can be inserted and installed from the rear of the outer frame 39.

[0231] On the other hand, inwardly recessed back sections 394a can be formed at both ends of the back portion 394. These back sections 394a define the boundary between the back portion 394 and the edge portion 393, facilitating bending of the back portion 394. When bending the back portion 394, the back sections 394a are positioned at the corner portion between the cover periphery 331 and the cover edge 333 of the rear cover 33, and the end of the edge portion 393 surrounds the corner portion between the cover periphery 331 and the edge portion 333.

[0232] like Figure 22 As shown, the back portion 394 can be bent in all configurations constituting the door panel 30. The back portion 394 may include: a portion bent from the top surface of the edge portion 393; a portion bent from the bottom surface of the edge portion 393; and portions bent from the left and right sides of the edge portion 393. In this case, the back portion 394 may be formed to be shorter than the length of the top surface, bottom surface, or left and right sides of the edge portion 393. That is, the back portion 394 may be formed as a part of the entire edge portion 393.

[0233] The back portion 394 can be formed to have a specified width, and can have a width that connects with the outer periphery 331 of the back cover 33 in a bent state without interfering with the cover protrusion 332.

[0234] With the edge portion 393 as a reference, the back portion 394 can be bent vertically toward the inside of the door panel 30. In addition, the back portion 394 can be bent parallel to the back of the rear cover 33, and in the bent state, the back portion 394 and the outer periphery of the cover 331 can be in face-to-face contact with each other.

[0235] The back portion 394 can extend from the top surface, bottom surface, and left and right sides of the outer frame 39. Furthermore, the portions of the back portion 394 formed on the top and bottom surfaces of the outer frame 39 can be formed as a single structure, while the portions formed on the left and right sides of the relatively long outer frame 39 can be spaced apart along the length to form a plurality of them.

[0236] The back portion 394 can be bent vertically to give the door panel 30 a robust bonding structure and allow it to fit snugly against the back cover 33. Furthermore, as... Figure 23 As shown, the back portion 394 can be firmly fixed to the back cover 33 by spot welding.

[0237] The joint 395 for which the point welding is performed can be formed in a plurality of parts along the length direction of the back part 394, so that the back part 394, which is bent from the top surface, bottom surface and left and right sides of the outer frame 39, and the back cover 33 have a strong joint structure.

[0238] Therefore, the outer frame 39 can be fixed along the periphery of the rear cover 33 via the joint 395, thus forming the thin door panel 30 without the need for additional fastening components and joint structures.

[0239] On the other hand, the door panel 30 can be mounted on the door body 21. An adhesive member 396 for mounting to the door body 21 can be provided on the back side of the door panel 30. As an example, the adhesive member 396 can be formed into a thin sheet shape like double-sided adhesive tape and disposed on the bent back side portion 394. Furthermore, the adhesive member 396 can also be formed into a joint portion 395 that covers the back side portion.

[0240] The adhesive component 396 can make the back periphery of the door panel 30 and the front of the door body 21 completely and tightly adhered, such as Figure 4 As shown, the door panel 30 can be securely fixed in a position where it is inserted into the front of the opening of the door body 21. At this time, the periphery of the door panel 30 is supported by the upper cover decoration 214, the lower cover decoration 215, and the side decoration 213, which can maintain a more stable and secure installation state.

[0241] The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, details the operation of the door panel 30 emitting light.

[0242] Figure 24 This is a block diagram illustrating the flow of control signals for the refrigerator. Furthermore, Figure 25 This is a cross-sectional view showing the operating state of the lighting device. Furthermore, Figure 26 This is a diagram showing the illuminated state of the door panel.

[0243] As shown in the figure, in the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment, the front of the door 20 can emit light through the operation of the lighting device 35. Furthermore, the front of the door 20 can emit light in a specific color.

[0244] The operation of the lighting device 35 can be achieved by the user operating the control unit 14. The lighting device 35 can be operated directly by the user through the control unit 14 located on one side of the refrigerator 1. That is, the user can operate the control unit 14 to turn the lighting device 35 on or off.

[0245] As an example, the operation unit 14 can be located on the upper front of the housing 10 or inside the storage space. Furthermore, the operation unit 14 can also be located in any one of the plurality of doors 20, as needed. Of course, the user can operate the operation unit 14 to set the overall operating state of the lighting device 35, including the operating time, operating conditions, and the emission color of the light source 352. The operation unit 14 can also be a display capable of showing information and providing operation functions.

[0246] Furthermore, the lighting device 35 can also be operated and set via a remote device 2 separate from the refrigerator 1. The refrigerator 1 can communicate with the remote device 2 via a communication unit 17 connected to the control unit 13, allowing the user to operate the lighting device 35 through the remote device 2. The communication unit 17 can communicate with the remote device 2 using various methods, including wired, wireless, and short-range communication (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, NFC, etc.). Additionally, the remote device 2 can be a dedicated terminal, mobile phone, tablet, portable PC, desktop PC, remote control, or other communication-enabled devices.

[0247] Users can operate and set the overall operation status of the lighting device 35, including its operating time, operating conditions, and the color of its light source, by using the remote device 2. For example, simple operation and settings can be achieved through an application or dedicated program installed on the user's mobile phone.

[0248] On the other hand, the lighting device 35 can also be activated by the sensor 15. For example, the sensor 15 can be a user sensing sensor 151 that detects the approach of a user. For example, the user sensing sensor 151 can be an infrared sensor, ultrasonic sensor, laser sensor, or other devices capable of detecting the approach of a user near the refrigerator.

[0249] Furthermore, the sensor 15 can be configured on one side of the door 20, one side of the cabinet 10, one side of the recessed space between the refrigerator door 201 and the freezer door 202, one side of the handle 203, or one side of the hinge device 204 installed at the upper and lower ends of the door 20 so that the door 20 can be rotatably mounted, etc., to sense the user's approach, and multiple sensors can also be provided at different locations.

[0250] Therefore, if a user approaches the refrigerator 1 at a set distance to use the refrigerator 1, the user sensing sensor 151 can sense this and transmit a signal to the control unit 13 to turn on the lighting device 35. Furthermore, if the user moves away from the refrigerator 1, the user sensing sensor 151 can sense this and transmit a signal to the control unit 13 to turn off the lighting device 35.

[0251] When the lighting device 35 is turned on, the light emanating from the light source 352 can shine onto the upper end of the light guide plate 32, and can diffuse and reflect along the light guide plate 32. Furthermore, the light guided by the light guide plate 32 can be reflected forward through the reflective layer 321, and can be transmitted outward through the front panel 31. Therefore, the entire front panel 31 emits light, and the front of the door 20 can emit light at a set brightness or color.

[0252] On the other hand, the lighting device 35 can be positioned at the upper end of the door 20, and the light source 352 can illuminate downwards. Therefore, when a user observes the refrigerator 1 from the front, the lighting device 35 is positioned higher than the user's eye level, so that the lighting device 35 is not directly exposed to the user, thereby preventing glare.

[0253] Furthermore, when the lighting device 35 is on and the front of the door 20 is illuminated, if the user sensing sensor 151 detects that a user is very close to the refrigerator 1, the lighting device 35 can be turned off or its brightness gradually reduced to prevent glare for the user. Additionally, if the user moves away from the refrigerator 1 again, the lighting device 35 can be turned back on or restored to its original brightness.

[0254] The sensor 15 may be an illuminance sensor 152. The illuminance sensor 152 is used to sense the illuminance of the indoor space and may be configured at the same location as the user sensing sensor 151.

[0255] Furthermore, the lighting device 35 can operate based on the illuminance sensed by the illuminance sensor 152. For example, if the illuminance sensed by the illuminance sensor 152 becomes below a set illuminance and darkens, the control unit 13 can turn on the lighting device 35; if the illuminance sensed by the illuminance sensor 152 becomes above the set illuminance and brightens, the control unit 13 can turn off the lighting device 35.

[0256] On the other hand, the sensor 15 may include both the illuminance sensor 152 and the user sensing sensor 151. The illuminance sensor 152 and the user sensing sensor 151 can work together, so that the lighting device 35 can be switched on and off by the control unit 13.

[0257] As an example, when the illuminance sensor 152 senses an illuminance level above a set level, the lighting device 35 can remain off regardless of whether the user sensing sensor 151 senses it. Furthermore, when the illuminance sensor 152 senses an illuminance level below a set level, the lighting device 35 can be turned on if the user sensing sensor 151 senses a user approaching.

[0258] On the other hand, the lighting device 35 can be switched on and off at times set by the timer 16. That is, the lighting device 35 can be turned on during the user's main activity time and kept off outside the set time range. In addition, the lighting device 35 can be turned off during the day and turned on at night, regardless of the actual illuminance.

[0259] In addition to the on and off states, the lighting device 35 may also include a brightness adjustment state. That is, depending on the operating state of the refrigerator 1, the control unit 13 can adjust the operating state of the refrigerator 1 by changing the brightness of the lighting device 35. Furthermore, the brightness and color of the front of the door 20 can be adjusted according to user settings, regardless of the operating state of the refrigerator 1.

[0260] On the other hand, if an activation signal for the lighting device 35 is input from the control unit 13, the light source 352 of the lighting device 35 can emit light. The light emanating from the light source 352 can illuminate the end of the light guide plate 32 located vertically downward.

[0261] Light incident on the end of the light guide plate 32 can diffuse along the light guide plate 32 and emit light over its entire area. Furthermore, through the reflective layer 321 disposed on the back of the light guide plate 32, all the light diffused on the light guide plate 32 is reflected forward toward the front panel 31. Additionally, light passes through the front panel 31, causing the entire front panel 31 to emit light.

[0262] At this time, some of the plurality of light sources 352 can also be turned on. For example, a light source 352 with a user-defined specific color can also be turned on. Therefore, the front of the door 20, i.e., the front panel 31, can emit light in a specific color, and the front appearance of the refrigerator 1 can emit light in a specific color. Furthermore, the lighting device 35 can simultaneously turn on all the lighting devices 35 installed on the plurality of doors 20, causing the entire door 20 of the refrigerator 1 to emit light.

[0263] For example, such as Figure 26 As shown, when the blue light source 352c in the light source 352 of the lighting device 35 is turned on, blue light shines through the front of the front panel 31, and the front of the door 20, i.e. the front appearance of the refrigerator 1, can have a blue color.

[0264] Figure 27 This is a diagram showing the door panel emitting light in different colors.

[0265] As shown in the figure, when the red light source 352a in the light source 352 of the lighting device 35 is turned on, red light shines through the front of the front panel 31, and the front of the door, that is, the front appearance of the refrigerator 1, can be red.

[0266] Of course, as needed, the light sources 352 of the lighting device 35 that have different colors from each other can also be turned on in combination, or all the light sources 352 can be turned on so that the door panel 30 emits light at maximum brightness.

[0267] Figure 28 This is a diagram showing the illuminated state of the door panels of a portion of the plurality of doors.

[0268] As shown in the figure, the refrigerator 1 can operate such that a portion of the multiple doors 20 emit light or emit light in a specific color. That is, it can also be configured such that only a portion of the doors 20 emit light, rather than activating all the lighting devices 35 installed on the doors 20. As an example, the refrigerator door 201 of the refrigerator compartment door 201 and the freezer compartment door 202 can emit light. In addition, the left refrigerator door 201a of the left refrigerator compartment door 201a and the right refrigerator door 201b can emit light.

[0269] Specifically, sensors 15 can be installed on the left and right sides of the refrigerator 1 to detect the approach of a user. Furthermore, the door 20 on the side the user approaches can emit light. Therefore, when a user approaches the sensor 15 located on the left side, the control unit 13 can activate the lighting device 35 located on the left refrigerator door 201a, causing the front of the door panel 30 constituting the front of the left refrigerator door 201a to emit light or glow in a specific color.

[0270] On the other hand, the light emission of a portion of the plurality of doors 20 can be determined by the sensor 15, rather than by the refrigerator 15, based on the operating state of the refrigerator 1, user settings, or other reasons.

[0271] Conversely, even when the entire refrigerator 1 is illuminated, the lighting device 35 located on a specific door that the user is approaching can be dimmed or turned off. For example, if a user approaches to open the left refrigerator compartment door 201a, the sensor 15 can detect this and dim or turn off the lighting device 35 located on the left refrigerator compartment door 201a. Therefore, the front of the left refrigerator compartment door 201a is darkened, thus preventing glare for the user.

[0272] Of course, some of the doors 20 may not have lighting devices 35. The brightness and color of the front of a part of the door 20 can be adjusted by turning on or off the lighting devices 35 provided in some of the other doors 20.

[0273] Furthermore, when all the doors 20 are illuminated, the brightness of some doors 20 can be adjusted to be different, or the colors can be adjusted to be different.

[0274] Figure 29 and Figure 30 It is a diagram showing how the state of the door panel changes as the user moves.

[0275] As shown in the figure, the plurality of refrigerator doors 20 can be configured such that the front of the plurality of doors 20 illuminates sequentially. That is, the front of the door 20 on one side can illuminate first, and the door 20 on the other side can illuminate later. Furthermore, when the front of the entire door 20 of the refrigerator 1 is illuminated, the door 20 on one side can become brighter first, and then the door 20 on the other side can become brighter sequentially.

[0276] As an example, sensors 15 for sensing a user's approach can be installed on the left and right sides of the refrigerator 1. Therefore, the direction in which the user approaches the refrigerator 1 can be detected.

[0277] like Figure 29As shown, if a user approaches the refrigerator 1 from the left side, the sensor 15 located on the left side of the refrigerator 1 will detect the user's approach. Furthermore, as the user approaches from the left, the control unit 13 activates the lighting device 35 on the left-side doors 20, namely the left-side refrigerator door 201a and the left-side freezer door 202a, thus brightening the front of the left-side refrigerator door 201a and the left-side freezer door 202a. That is, the left side of the entire front of the refrigerator 1 is illuminated. At this time, the right-side refrigerator door 201b and the right-side freezer door 202b can be in a closed state or a relatively darker state.

[0278] In addition, such as Figure 30 As shown, if the user continues to move towards the right side of the refrigerator 1, the sensor 15 located on the right side of the refrigerator 1 will detect the user's approach. Furthermore, as the user moves closer to the right, the control unit 13 activates the lighting device 35 on the right-side doors 20, namely the right-side refrigerator door 201b and the right-side freezer door 202b, thus brightening the front of the right-side refrigerator door 201b and the right-side freezer door 202b. At this time, the left-side refrigerator door 201a and the left-side freezer door 202a may be closed or in a relatively darker state.

[0279] On the other hand, in addition to the user's proximity, the plurality of refrigerator doors 20 can also sequentially brighten or change color on their front sides through various methods. For example, the user can also use the remote device 2 or the operation unit 14 to sequentially brighten or change color on the front sides of the plurality of doors 20 according to a set time or lighting mode.

[0280] In addition, Figure 29 and Figure 30 In the middle, the order in which doors 20 are lit is changed to from left to right, but the order in which doors 20 are lit can also be changed to from top to bottom, or it can be controlled to light up any door 20 in an irregular manner or change the color of any door 20.

[0281] On the other hand, in addition to the aforementioned embodiments, the refrigerator 1 of the present invention may also have various other embodiments.

[0282] Another embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the lighting device is disposed at the lower end of the door panel. Therefore, except for a portion of the upper and lower ends of the door panel, the remaining configuration of this other embodiment is the same as that of the foregoing embodiment. Furthermore, detailed descriptions of configurations identical to those in the foregoing embodiment are omitted, and undescribed reference numerals in the figures can be referred to in the foregoing embodiment.

[0283] Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0284] Figure 31 This is a partial perspective view showing the upper part of the door panel according to the second embodiment of the present invention cut open. Furthermore, Figure 32 This is a partial perspective view showing the lower end of the door panel cut open.

[0285] As shown in the figure, the door panel 30 of the second embodiment of the present invention may include the same front panel 31, light guide plate 32, rear cover 33, and outer frame 39 as in the aforementioned embodiment. Furthermore, although not shown in detail, the front spacer 301 and rear spacer 302 in the door panel 30 may also be configured in the same way as in the aforementioned embodiment.

[0286] Furthermore, an upper bracket 37 may be provided at the upper end of the door panel 30. The upper bracket 37 is used to limit the upper end of the light guide plate 32, so that the light guide plate 32 maintains a predetermined distance from the front panel 31 and the rear cover 33. Therefore, the upper bracket 37 can be referred to as a support bracket.

[0287] The upper bracket 37 may include a bracket top surface 371 extending along the upper end of the light guide plate 32. The front and rear ends of the bracket top surface 371 may be formed with a predetermined width to be able to contact the back of the front panel 31 and the front of the rear cover 33, respectively. Therefore, the upper bracket 37 can be fixedly installed between the front panel 31 and the rear cover 33. In addition, the bracket top surface 371 contacts the cover edge 333 and the cover periphery 331, forming a stable installation state at the upper end of the door panel 30.

[0288] A downwardly extending front rib 372 may be formed at the front end of the top surface 371 of the bracket. The front rib 372 is formed along the front end of the top surface 371 of the bracket and extends downward, and can be inserted between the front plate 31 and the light guide plate 32. The front rib 372 may be formed with a thickness corresponding to the gap between the front plate 31 and the light guide plate 32, so that the light guide plate 32 and the front plate 31 can maintain a predetermined gap.

[0289] A downwardly extending rear rib 373 may also be formed at the rear end of the top surface 371 of the bracket. The rear rib 373 can be inserted between the back side of the light guide plate 32 and the rear cover 33. In this case, the thickness of the rear rib 373 can be formed to correspond to the distance between the light guide plate 32 and the rear cover 33. Therefore, the light guide plate 32 can maintain a predetermined interval with the rear cover 33.

[0290] On the other hand, a support groove 374 can be formed between the front rib 372 and the rear rib 373, and the upper end of the light guide plate 32 can be inserted into the support groove 374. That is, the width of the support groove 374 can be formed to correspond to the thickness of the light guide plate 32. In addition, since the light guide plate 32 may expand due to temperature difference, the upper end of the light guide plate 32 can also be slightly separated from the top surface 371 of the support to form a predetermined space.

[0291] A lower bracket 380 for mounting the lighting device 35 may be provided at the lower end of the door panel 30. In addition, a lower assembly 38 may be provided at the lower end of the door panel 30, on which the lighting device 35 is mounted, and the lower assembly 38 supports the light guide plate 32 from below.

[0292] The lower assembly 38 may include the lower bracket 380, the lighting device 35, and the support member 385. The lower bracket 380 may be disposed on the cover edge 333 of the rear cover 33 and the edge portion 393 of the outer frame 39. Furthermore, the lighting device 35 may be disposed on the top surface of the lower bracket 380. Additionally, the support member 385 may be disposed above the lower bracket 380 on which the lighting device 35 is mounted, and the support member 385 supports the light guide plate 32 from below, preventing the light guide plate 32 from contacting the light source 352 of the lighting device 35. Furthermore, the support member 385 may be configured to support the front plate 31 and maintain a predetermined distance between the front plate 31 and the light guide plate 32.

[0293] Furthermore, a wire hole 335' may be formed in the lower part of the rear cover 33 adjacent to the mounting position of the lower assembly 38. The wire hole 335' may open on the side of the cover periphery 331 forming the bottom surface of the rear cover 33 that is not obscured by the outer frame 39.

[0294] Furthermore, the wire hole 335' can be formed on one of the left or right sides, closer to the rotation axis of the door 20. Additionally, the wire 336' connected to the lighting device 35 and the panel connector 336a' located at the end of the wire 336' can be exposed through the wire hole 335'.

[0295] The structure of the lower assembly 38 will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0296] Figure 33 This is a perspective view of the lower assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, Figure 34 This is a top view of the lower assembly. Furthermore, Figure 35 This is an exploded perspective view of the lower assembly.

[0297] As shown in the figure, the lower bracket 380 extends along the bottom surface of the light guide plate 32, and can extend from one end of the door panel 30 to the other end. Furthermore, the lighting device 35 can be mounted on the top surface of the lower bracket 380. Therefore, the lower bracket 380 can be referred to as a lighting bracket.

[0298] A substrate mounting portion 381, recessed in shape corresponding to the shape of the substrate 351, can be formed on the top surface of the lower support 380. Furthermore, the substrate 351 of the lighting device 35 can be mounted on the substrate mounting portion 381, and the top surface of the substrate mounting portion 381 can support the bottom surface of the substrate 351. Additionally, a downwardly recessed mounting groove 381a can be formed in the substrate mounting portion 381 to accommodate the substrate connector 353.

[0299] Furthermore, support edges 382 extending upward may be formed at the front and rear ends of the substrate mounting portion 381. The support edges 382 may form the front and rear ends of the lower support 380, and respectively support the front and rear ends of the substrate 351, so that the substrate 351 is kept in the mounted state.

[0300] A lower end protrusion 384 and a lower end mounting portion 383 may be formed on the bottom surface of the lower bracket 380. The lower end protrusion 384 can form the protruding bottom surface of the lower bracket 380, and can be closely attached to the edge portion 393 of the outer frame 39 when the door panel 30 is assembled.

[0301] The lower mounting portion 383 may be formed in a stepped manner, positioned above the lower protrusion 384. The step height of the lower mounting portion 383 may be configured to correspond to the thickness of the rear cover 33. Furthermore, the lower mounting portion 383 may be formed as the edge 333 on which the rear cover 33 is mounted.

[0302] Furthermore, when the door panel 30 is assembled, the cover edge 333 of the rear cover 33 is inserted between the lower end mounting portion 383 and the edge portion 393, and can respectively contact the lower end mounting portion 383 and the edge portion 393. Therefore, the lower bracket 34 has a firm connection structure inside the door panel 30 and can maintain its installation position.

[0303] The lighting device 35 has the same structure as the aforementioned embodiment and may include the substrate 351 and a light source 352 mounted on the substrate 351. As an example, the light source 352 may be composed of a plurality of LEDs and may be arranged in a row facing the end of the light guide plate 32.

[0304] Furthermore, the light source 352 can be configured to emit light in various colors. For example, a plurality of the light sources 352 can be configured to emit light in different colors. For example, the light source 352 may include a red light source 352a, a green light source 352b, and a blue light source 352c. Furthermore, the light sources 352 can be arranged at equal intervals, and the red light source 352a, green light source 352b, and blue light source 352c can be grouped together.

[0305] The lighting device 35 can be installed on the lower bracket 380, and when the lower bracket 380 is installed, the lighting device 35 can be positioned correctly inside the door panel 30.

[0306] On the other hand, when the lighting device 35 is mounted on the lower bracket 380, the support member 385 can be mounted on the top surface of the lower bracket 380. The support member 385 supports the light guide plate 32 to prevent it from moving downwards and keeps the light guide plate 32 separated from the light source 352, thereby preventing the light source 352 from colliding with the light guide plate 32.

[0307] In detail, the support member 385 extends along the lower bracket 380 and may extend at least to a length corresponding to the length of the substrate 351. The support member 385 may include a planar support bottom surface 386. The support bottom surface 386 may be formed to at least shield the light source 352 and have a width capable of being mounted to the lower bracket 380.

[0308] As an example, the width of the bottom surface 386 of the support member can be such that it can be supported by the bracket edges 382 at the front and rear ends of the lower bracket 380. Furthermore, the width of the bottom surface 386 of the support member can be slightly smaller than the width of the lower bracket 380. The bottom surface 386 of the support member is supported by the bracket edges 382, ​​thereby providing a stable mounting structure.

[0309] In addition, the top surface of the support member 385 may include a first top surface support portion 387, a second top surface support portion 388, and a support spacer 389 protruding from between the first top surface support portion 387 and the second top surface support portion 388.

[0310] Based on the support spacer 389, the first top surface support portion 387 can form the rear half of the top surface of the support member 385. The first top surface support portion 387 can be configured to support the lower end of the light guide plate 32. The height of the first top surface support portion 387 can be located closer to the top than the light source 352. With the lower end of the light guide plate 32 positioned on the first top surface support portion 387, the light source 352 and the light guide plate 32 will not contact each other under any circumstances.

[0311] On the other hand, an illumination opening 387a may be formed in the first top surface support portion 387. The illumination opening 387a can open vertically above the light source 352. Therefore, when viewed from above, the light source 352 can be exposed through the illumination opening 387a.

[0312] At this time, a plurality of illumination openings 387a can be formed along the first top surface support portion 387. Each of the illumination openings 387a is arranged in a continuous plurality, and can be spaced apart at predetermined intervals. Furthermore, a plurality of light sources 352 can be continuously arranged inside the illumination openings 387a. For example, each illumination opening 387a can have two light sources 352 arranged as modules. Therefore, light irradiated from the light sources 352 can be transmitted through the illumination openings 387a to the lower end of the light guide plate 32.

[0313] The bottom surface 386 of the support member and the first top surface support portion 387 are formed with a predetermined thickness, so the lower end of the light guide plate 32 and the light source 352 will also maintain a predetermined distance. As an example, the distance between the light source 352 and the lower end of the light guide plate 32 is formed to several millimeters, so that the light from the light source 352 can be effectively transmitted to the light guide plate 32, and direct contact between the light guide plate 32 and the light source 352 can be prevented.

[0314] Furthermore, the first top surface support 387 can restrict the downward movement of the light guide plate 32. That is, it can be in a state where it is in contact with the lower end of the light guide plate 32 by its own weight, so that even if it is impacted during the opening and closing of the door 20, it can prevent the light guide plate 32 from moving downward and colliding with the light source 352.

[0315] On the other hand, based on the support spacer 389, a second top surface support portion 388 can be formed at the front of the top surface of the lower bracket 380. The second top surface support portion 388 can be formed in a stepped manner, so that it is higher than the first top surface support portion 387. Furthermore, the second top surface support portion 388 can support the lower end of the front plate 31. Therefore, the width of the second top surface support portion 388 can have a width corresponding to the thickness of the front plate 31.

[0316] In detail, the support spacer 389 can be formed to protrude so that the front side of the support spacer 389 is in contact with the back side of the front panel 31, and the back side of the support spacer 389 is in contact with the front side of the light guide plate 32. Therefore, in the assembled state of the door panel 30, the positions of the lower ends of the front panel 31 and the light guide plate 32 can be determined by the support spacer 389 and can be kept in a fixed state. In particular, the support spacer 389 can arrange the lower end of the light guide plate 32 and the light source 352 on the same extension line.

[0317] On the other hand, opening partitions 387b may be formed between the plurality of illumination openings 387a. Furthermore, the opening partitions 387b are also connected to the lower end of the light guide plate 32. Additionally, a spacer support protrusion 389a extending vertically may be formed on the back side of the support spacer 389 corresponding to the opening partitions 387b. The spacer support protrusion 389a may be connected to the front side of the light guide plate 32 and restrict the forward and backward movement of the light guide plate 32.

[0318] The following diagram illustrates the state in which the lighting device 35 operates in a door panel 30 of the second embodiment of the present invention having the structure described above.

[0319] Figure 36 This is a cross-sectional view showing the operating state of the lighting device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0320] As shown in the figure, the lighting device 35 is turned on in order to brighten the front of the door panel 30 or to indicate it with a specific color. In addition, the light emanating from the light source 352 is directed upwards and can move upwards while being diffused and reflected along the lower end of the light guide plate 32.

[0321] Light moving along the light guide plate 32 can be repeatedly reflected and diffused to the upper end of the light guide plate 32, causing the entire light guide plate 32 to emit light. At this time, light can be reflected forward by the reflective layer 321 of the light guide plate 32, and light shining forward from the light guide plate 32 can pass through the front plate 31 and shine outward.

[0322] Therefore, the entire front panel 31 can emit light in a set color or brightness, and the front appearance of the door panel 30, i.e. the door 20, can be represented in a desired state.

[0323] On the other hand, in addition to the aforementioned embodiments, the refrigerator 1 of the present invention may also have various other embodiments.

[0324] Another embodiment of the present invention is characterized by having lighting devices disposed at both the upper and lower ends of the door panel. Therefore, another embodiment of the present invention may have the same structure as the aforementioned first and second embodiments. Therefore, the same configurations as the foregoing embodiments are described using the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions or illustrations thereof may be omitted.

[0325] Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0326] Figure 37 This is a cross-sectional view of the door panel according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0327] As shown in the figure, the door panel 30 of the third embodiment of the present invention may include the same front panel 31, light guide plate 32, rear cover 33, and outer frame 39 as in the previous embodiments. Furthermore, although not shown in detail, the front spacer 301 and rear spacer 302 in the door panel 30 may also be configured in the same way as in the previous embodiments.

[0328] Furthermore, an upper bracket 34 may be provided at the upper end of the door panel 30. The upper bracket 34 is equipped with the lighting device 35 and can also limit the front panel 31, the light guide plate 32, and the rear cover 33 to maintain a predetermined interval. In addition, the structure of the upper bracket 34 is exactly the same as that of the upper bracket 34 in the first embodiment described above. Therefore, in order to avoid repetition, a detailed description of it is omitted, and the same reference numerals are used for illustration.

[0329] Furthermore, a lower bracket 380 may be provided at the lower end of the door panel 30. The lower bracket 380 is equipped with the lighting device 35 and may also be equipped with a support member 385 that supports the front panel 31 and the light guide plate 32. The lower bracket 380, the lighting device 35, and the support member 385 may be collectively referred to as the lower assembly 38.

[0330] On the other hand, the lighting device 35 mounted on the upper bracket 34 and the lower bracket 380 can have the same structure as in the aforementioned embodiment. Furthermore, the same number of light sources 352 mounted on the lighting device 35 can be arranged facing each other. Additionally, light sources 352 of the same color can also be arranged facing each other. Since the lighting device 35 is mounted on both the upper bracket 34 and the lower bracket 380, it can therefore be referred to as a lighting bracket.

[0331] To brighten the front of the door panel 30 or to display it in a specific color, the lighting devices 35 located at the upper and lower ends of the door panel 30 are both turned on. Furthermore, light emanating from the light source 352 can be diffused and reflected along the light guide plate 32 from both the upper and lower ends, respectively.

[0332] Light moving along the light guide plate 32 can brighten the entire light guide plate 32. At this time, the light can be reflected in front of the light guide plate 32 by the reflective layer 321 of the light guide plate 32, and the light shining forward from the light guide plate 32 can pass through the front plate 31 and shine outward.

[0333] Therefore, the entire front panel 31 can emit light in a set color or brightness, and the front appearance of the door panel 30, i.e. the door 20, can be represented in a desired state.

[0334] On the other hand, in addition to the aforementioned embodiments, the refrigerator 1 of the present invention may also have various other embodiments.

[0335] Another embodiment of the present invention is characterized by having a structure in which the door panel is directly connected to the heat insulation material inside the door.

[0336] Therefore, in another embodiment of the present invention, except for a portion of the structure of the door body, the remaining structure is the same as in the foregoing embodiment. Furthermore, the same structures as in the foregoing embodiment are described using the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions or illustrations thereof may be omitted.

[0337] Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0338] Figure 38 This is a perspective view of the refrigerator door according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, Figure 39 This is an exploded perspective view of the refrigerator door. Furthermore, Figure 40 yes Figure 38 XL-XL' line section view.

[0339] As shown in the figure, the refrigerator door 40 of the fourth embodiment of the present invention may include a door panel 30 and a door body 41. The door panel 30 may be combined with the door body 41 to form the front of the door 40.

[0340] The overall structure of the door panel 30 can be the same as that in the aforementioned embodiments. That is, the door panel 30 may include the front panel 31, the light guide plate 32, the lighting device 35, the upper bracket 34, the lower bracket 36, the rear cover 33, and the outer frame 39. Since these components are the same as those in the aforementioned embodiments, detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0341] Furthermore, the door body 41 may include: a door liner 212 forming the back of the door 40; an upper cover decorative member 214 and a lower cover decorative member 215 disposed at the upper and lower ends of the door liner 212; and side decorative members 213 disposed at the left and right sides of the door liner 212. The upper cover decorative member 214 and the lower cover decorative member 215 may form the top and bottom surfaces of the door 40, and the side decorative members 213 may form the left and right sides of the door 40.

[0342] Furthermore, when the door lining 212 is combined with the upper cover decoration 214, the lower cover decoration 215, and the side decoration 213, a main body interior space 218 with a front opening is formed. Additionally, the main body interior space 218 can be concealed by the door panel.

[0343] That is, the door panel 30 can be combined with the front end of the upper cover decoration 214, the lower cover decoration 215 and the side decoration 213, and together with the door lining 212, form a space inside the door 40 filled with heat insulation material 217.

[0344] With the door panel 30 and the door body 41 joined together, heat insulation material 217 can be injected into the interior of the door 40. By filling the interior space 218 of the body with heat insulation material 217, the heat insulation performance of the door 40 can be met.

[0345] With the door 40 assembled, the back side of the door panel 30, i.e., the back side of the rear cover 33, is in contact with the heat insulation material 217. Therefore, the heat insulation material 217 will not penetrate into the interior space of the door panel 30 and can be protected by the rear cover 33. Furthermore, the back side of the rear cover 33 and the heat insulation material 217 can be joined together, allowing the door panel 30 to be securely fixed to the door 40.

[0346] On the other hand, in addition to the aforementioned embodiments, the refrigerator of the present invention may also have various other embodiments.

[0347] Another embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the periphery of the door panel is formed by a side bracket, a lamp bracket and a support bracket.

[0348] Therefore, in another embodiment of the present invention, the configuration is the same as that in the foregoing embodiment, except for a portion of the configuration in the door panel. Furthermore, configurations identical to those in the foregoing embodiment are described using the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions or illustrations thereof may be omitted.

[0349] Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0350] Figure 41 This is a perspective view of a refrigerator door according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. Furthermore, Figure 42 This is an exploded perspective view of the refrigerator door. Furthermore, Figure 43 This is a longitudinal sectional view of the door panel, which is part of the refrigerator door. Furthermore, Figure 44 yes Figure 41 XLIV-XLIV' line section view.

[0351] As shown in the figure, the refrigerator door 50 of the fifth embodiment of the present invention may include a door panel 60 and a door body 21. The door panel 60 can be combined with the front of the opening of the door body 21, and in the combined state, the front appearance of the door 50 can be formed.

[0352] The door body 21 may have the same structure as the door body 21 in the aforementioned embodiment. That is, the door body 21 may include a main panel 211, a door lining 212, an upper cover decorative piece 214, a lower cover decorative piece 215, side decorative pieces 213, and heat insulation material 217. Since the detailed structure of the door body 21 is the same as that in the aforementioned embodiment, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0353] The door panel 60 can be installed on the front of the door body 21 and can be accommodated inside the panel accommodating space 216. Furthermore, the periphery of the door panel 60 can be supported by the upper cover decorative member 214, the lower cover decorative member 215, and the side decorative member 213. Additionally, the back of the door panel 60 can be combined with the main body panel 211.

[0354] The door panel 60 can be generally comprised of a front panel 61, a light guide plate 62, a lighting device 65, a lamp bracket 64, a support bracket 66, a side bracket 67, and a rear cover 63.

[0355] In addition, the door panel 60 may also include a front panel 61, a lighting device 65, a lamp bracket 64, a support bracket 66, and a rear cover 63.

[0356] In detail, the front panel 61 can form the front appearance of the door panel 60 and can be formed of a light-transmitting plate-like material. The front panel 61 can be formed in the same way as the aforementioned front panel 31.

[0357] Furthermore, a light guide plate 62 may be provided behind the front panel 61. The light guide plate 62 is used to guide the light irradiated from the lighting device 65, causing the light irradiated from the lighting device 65 to diffuse and reflect towards the front panel 61, so that the entire front panel 61 emits light with uniform brightness. In particular, a reflective layer 621 may be formed on the back side of the light guide plate 62. The structure of the light guide plate 62 and the reflective layer 621 may be the same as the structure of the light guide plate 32 and the reflective layer 321 in the aforementioned embodiment.

[0358] On the other hand, a lamp holder 64 can be formed along the lower end of the back side of the front panel 61. The lamp holder 64 can also be referred to as a lower bracket. The lamp holder 64 can form the bottom surface of the periphery of the door panel 60. In addition, the lighting device 65 can be mounted on the lamp holder 64.

[0359] In detail, the lamp bracket 64 may include a front part 642, a bottom part 643, and a back part 644.

[0360] The front portion 642 of the bracket can be bent to form the front of the lamp bracket 64 and connect with the back of the front panel 61. Furthermore, the front portion 642 of the bracket can be bonded to the back of the front panel 61 using adhesive or adhesive sheets to bond the front panel 61 together.

[0361] The bottom portion 643 of the bracket can form the bottom surface of the lamp holder 64, and can extend rearward from the lower end of the front portion 642 of the bracket. Furthermore, the bottom portion 643 of the bracket forms the bottom surface of the door panel 60. Additionally, the lighting device 65 can be mounted on the top surface of the bottom portion 643 of the bracket. The front-to-back width of the bottom portion 643 of the bracket can be configured to correspond to the lighting device 65.

[0362] The lighting device 65 may include a substrate 651 and a plurality of light sources 652 disposed along the substrate 651. Furthermore, the lighting device 65 may be configured identically to the lighting device 35 of the aforementioned embodiment.

[0363] A substrate mounting portion 641 supporting the substrate 651 may be formed on the bottom surface 643 of the support. In addition, a mounting groove 641a may be formed on the substrate mounting portion 641, which is further recessed downward to accommodate a connector or component protruding from the bottom surface of the substrate 651.

[0364] Furthermore, upwardly protruding support portions 646 can be formed on both sides of the bottom portion 643 of the bracket. These support portions 646 protrude further than the upper end of the light source 652, supporting the lower end of the light guide plate 62 from below. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the light guide plate 62, located above the light source 652, from contacting or colliding with the light source 652.

[0365] The back portion 644 of the bracket extends upward from the rear end of the bottom portion 643 of the bracket. The back portion 644 of the bracket can extend upward by a predetermined length. Furthermore, when the door panel 60 is combined with the door body 21, the back portion 644 of the bracket can be in contact with the main body plate 211. In addition, the main body plate 211 and the back portion 644 of the bracket can be firmly combined with each other.

[0366] Furthermore, a stepped plate mounting portion 645 may be formed at the upper end of the back side portion 644 of the bracket. The plate mounting portion 645 may be formed in a stepped manner forward to mount the lower end of the rear cover 63.

[0367] The support bracket 66 can be disposed at the upper end of the front panel 61. The support bracket 66 can be referred to as the upper bracket. The support bracket 66 can extend along the upper end of the back surface of the front panel 61. In addition, the support bracket 66 can form the top surface of the door panel 60. Furthermore, the support bracket 66 can separate the front panel 61 and the light guide plate 62 at a predetermined interval.

[0368] In detail, the support bracket 66 may include a front support portion 662, a top support portion 663, and a back support portion 664. The front support portion 662 can support the back of the front panel 61 and can be bonded to the front panel 61 by adhesive or adhesive sheet. In addition, the front support portion 662 can maintain a predetermined interval between the front panel 61 and the light guide plate 62.

[0369] The supporting front portion 662 can extend downward between the back side of the front plate 61 and the front side of the light guide plate 62. Furthermore, the front side of the supporting front portion 662 can be in contact with the back side of the front plate 61, and the back side of the supporting front portion 662 can be in contact with the front side of the light guide plate 62. Therefore, the front plate 61 and the light guide plate 62 can be supported in a spaced-apart manner by means of the supporting front portion 662.

[0370] The supporting top portion 663 extends rearward from the upper end of the supporting front portion 662, forming the top surface of the door panel 60. Furthermore, a top surface support portion 661 for supporting the light guide plate 62 from above can be formed on the bottom surface of the supporting top portion 663. The top surface support portion 661 can be located higher than the upper end of the light guide plate 62 and can be spaced apart from the upper end of the light guide plate 62. The supporting top portion 663 provides an expandable space for the light guide plate 62, thereby preventing the light guide plate 62 from bending or breaking even if it expands due to temperature changes.

[0371] Furthermore, a buffer member 661a may be provided between the top support portion 661 and the upper end of the light guide plate 62. The buffer member 661a may be formed of a material capable of elastic deformation, and may be supported in a way that allows the light guide plate 62 to expand while preventing the light guide plate 62 from moving excessively.

[0372] The supporting back portion 664 extends downward from the rear end of the supporting top portion 663. The supporting back portion 664 can extend to engage with the upper end of the rear cover 63. Furthermore, the supporting back portion 664 can be spaced apart from the supporting front portion 662 and can be arranged in parallel. The gap between the supporting back portion 664 and the supporting front portion 662 can be formed to correspond to the thickness of the light guide plate 62. Therefore, the back of the supporting front portion 662 can support the front of the light guide plate 62, and the front of the supporting back portion 664 can support the back of the light guide plate 62. That is, the upper end of the light guide plate 62 is inserted into the supporting bracket 66 and can be fixed in a state spaced apart from the front plate 61.

[0373] On the other hand, in the structure where the lighting device 65 is disposed below, the lamp holder 64 may be disposed at the lower end of the door panel 60, and the support bracket 66 may be disposed at the upper end of the door panel 60. However, when the lighting device 65 is disposed above, the lamp holder 64 may be disposed at the upper end of the door panel 60, and the support bracket 66 may be disposed at the lower end of the door panel 60.

[0374] The side brackets 67 can be disposed on the left and right sides of the front panel 61. The side brackets 67 can extend vertically along the left and right sides of the front panel 61. In addition, the side brackets 67 can support the light guide plate 62 while forming the left and right sides of the door panel 60.

[0375] In detail, the side bracket 67 may include a front side portion 672, a side side portion 673, and a back side portion 674.

[0376] The side face portion 672 can be coupled to the left and right sides of the front plate 61. The side face portion 672 can extend to connect with the back of the front plate 61 and can be inserted between the front plate 61 and the two sides of the light guide plate 62.

[0377] That is, the front of the side face portion 672 can support the back of the front panel 61, and the back of the side face portion 672 can support the front of the light guide plate 62. Therefore, the front panel 61 and the light guide plate 62 can maintain a predetermined distance through the side face portion 672.

[0378] The side back portion 674 can extend to engage with the left and right sides of the rear cover 63. The side back portion 674 can extend parallel to the side front portion 672 and the rear cover 63. Furthermore, a protrusion can be formed on the side back portion 674 that penetrates the rear cover 63 and engages with the rear cover 63.

[0379] The side face portion 673 connects the ends of the front side portion 672 and the back side portion 674, and can form the side of the door panel 60. Furthermore, a side support portion 671 can be formed on the inner side of the side face portion 673, into which the side end of the light guide plate 62 can be inserted. The side support portion 671 can be spaced apart from the side end of the light guide plate 62, and a side buffer member 671a can be provided in the side support portion 671. Therefore, when the light guide plate 62 expands, it can be supported by the side buffer member 671a.

[0380] On the other hand, a spacer 67 may be provided between the front plate 61 and the light guide plate 62. The spacer 67 is used to maintain the distance between the front plate 61 and the light guide plate 62, and may be disposed on one side of the periphery of the front plate 61.

[0381] The back cover 63 forms the back surface of the door panel 60 and can be made of a sheet metal material. For example, the back cover 63 can be made of stainless steel.

[0382] Furthermore, the upper and lower ends of the rear cover 63 can be combined with the support bracket 66 and the lamp bracket 64. Additionally, the left and right ends of the rear cover 63 can be fixed to the side bracket 67.

[0383] In detail, the rear cover 63 may include a cover periphery 631 and a cover protrusion 632. Furthermore, the overall shape of the rear cover 63 can be formed by molding. In particular, the cover protrusion 632 can be formed to protrude forward and can be positioned further forward relative to the cover periphery 631.

[0384] The outer periphery 631 of the cover can be formed along the periphery of the rear cover 63 and is formed to have a specified width, thereby providing a surface for engagement with the support bracket 66, the lamp bracket 64 and the side bracket 67.

[0385] Furthermore, compared to the outer periphery 631, the cover protrusion 632 protrudes forward and can form the inner side of the outer periphery 631. The cover protrusion 632 protrudes forward from the central region including the rear cover 63, and the protruding surface can be in close contact with the back of the light guide plate 62. At this time, the cover protrusion 632 supports the remaining area not supported by the support bracket 66, lamp bracket 64, and side bracket 67. Therefore, even when the light guide plate 62 is large, the light guide plate 62 maintains a stable support state, thereby maintaining the correct installation position.

[0386] When the door panel 60 of this structure is installed on the door body 21, the front panel 61 forms the entire front appearance of the door panel 60, i.e., the door 50. In particular, unlike the previous embodiments, the outer frame 39 is not exposed to the outside, and the front appearance is formed only by the front panel 61, thus achieving a very simple appearance.

[0387] Furthermore, when the lighting device 65 is turned on, the light emanating from the lighting device 65 shines towards the lower end of the light guide plate 62. The light that diffuses and is reflected along the light guide plate 62 is reflected forward by the reflective layer 621, causing the entire front panel 61 to emit light. Ultimately, the entire front of the door 50 emits light and can have a set color appearance.

[0388] In this embodiment of the invention, the door panel 60 may be provided with the lighting device 65 at both its upper and lower ends as needed. For this purpose, lamp holders 64 may also be provided at both the upper and lower ends, and the front panel 64 may emit brighter light by irradiating light onto the upper and lower ends of the light guide plate 32.

[0389] On the other hand, in addition to the aforementioned embodiments, the refrigerator of the present invention may also have various other embodiments.

[0390] Another embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the periphery of the door panel is formed by a side bracket, a lamp bracket and a support bracket, and the back of the door panel is directly in contact with the heat insulation material inside the door.

[0391] Therefore, in another embodiment of the present invention, the configuration is the same as that of the foregoing embodiment, except for the door panel and a portion of the door body. Furthermore, configurations identical to those in the foregoing embodiment are described using the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions or illustrations thereof may be omitted.

[0392] Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0393] Figure 45 This is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator door according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[0394] As shown in the figure, the refrigerator door 70 of the sixth embodiment of the present invention may include a door panel 60 and a door body 41. The door panel 60 may be combined with the door body 41 to form the front of the door 70.

[0395] The overall structure of the door panel 60 can be the same as that of the door panel 60 in the aforementioned embodiment. That is, the door panel 60 may include the front panel 61, the light guide plate 62, the lighting device 65, the lamp bracket 64, the support bracket 66, the side bracket 67, and the rear cover 63. These components are the same as those of the door panel 60 in the aforementioned embodiment, so detailed descriptions are omitted.

[0396] Furthermore, the door body 41 may have the same as Figure 39 The door body 41 shown has the same structure. That is, the door body 41 may include: a door liner 212, forming the back of the door 70; an upper cover decorative member 214 and a lower cover decorative member 215, disposed at the upper and lower ends of the door liner 212; and side decorative members 213, disposed at the left and right sides of the door liner 212. The upper cover decorative member 214 and the lower cover decorative member 215 may form the top and bottom surfaces of the door 70, and the side decorative members 213 may form the left and right sides of the door 70.

[0397] Furthermore, the interior space of the door body 41, which has a front opening, is formed when the door lining 212 is combined with the upper cover decoration 214, the lower cover decoration 215, and the side decoration 213. Additionally, the interior space of the door body 41 can be concealed by the door panel 60.

[0398] That is, the door panel 60 can be combined with the front end of the upper cover decoration 214, the lower cover decoration 215 and the side decoration 213 to form a space filled with heat insulation material 217 inside the door 70.

[0399] With the door panel 60 and the door body 41 joined together, heat insulation material 217 can be injected into the interior of the door 70. By using the heat insulation material 217 to fill the interior space of the door body 41, the heat insulation performance of the door 70 can be met.

[0400] With the door 70 assembled, the back side of the door panel 60, i.e., the back side of the rear cover 63, is in contact with the heat insulation material 217. Therefore, the heat insulation material 217 will not penetrate into the interior space of the door panel 60 and can be protected by the rear cover 63. Furthermore, the back side of the rear cover 63 can be joined with the heat insulation material 217, allowing the door panel 60 to be securely fixed to the door 70.

[0401] Industrial availability

[0402] The refrigerators of the present invention have improved appearance and increased ease of use, thus having high industrial applicability.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, wherein, include: The box-like structure forms storage space; as well as A door, capable of opening and closing at least a portion of the storage space, includes a door body and a door panel detachably disposed on the front of the door body. The door panel includes: Lighting device, illumination; The front panel forms the front appearance of the door, and light is transmitted through the front panel; The back cover, made of metal, is separated from the front panel and forms the back of the door panel, facing the front of the door body, and has wire holes. A light guide plate is disposed between the front panel and the rear cover and directs light irradiated from the lighting device toward the front panel; A first wire is connected to the lighting device and passes through the wire hole; A panel connector is disposed at the end of the first wire exposed to the outside through the wire hole, and A bracket, positioned facing the space between the front panel and the rear cover, supports the lighting device disposed in the space between the front panel and the rear cover. The main body of the door includes: The main body plate forms the front side of the door body and has a main body hole; The second wire passes through the interior of the door body, connects to the first wire, and extends through the main body hole toward the door panel; A main connector, located at the end of the second wire, connects to the panel connector; and A connector receiving portion is formed recessed in the main body plate, and the main body connector is disposed thereon. When the door panel is installed, the first wire, the second wire, the panel connector, and the main connector are housed in the connector housing.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, The bracket is disposed at at least one of the upper end and the lower end of the front plate.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, The lighting device includes: A substrate, disposed on the support; and The light source includes one or more light-emitting diodes disposed on the substrate and spaced apart from the ends of the light guide plate.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein, The rear cover includes a cover protrusion that protrudes toward the light guide plate to support the light guide plate.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4, wherein, The rear cover also includes a peripheral portion that forms the periphery of the protruding portion of the cover and protrudes rearward from the protruding portion to separate it from the light guide plate. The bracket is disposed on the outer periphery of the cover. The lighting device is configured to illuminate the end of the light guide plate.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, The support includes: The upper bracket forms the top surface of the door panel; and The lower bracket forms the bottom surface of the door panel. The rear cover connects the upper bracket and the lower bracket. The lighting device is installed on at least one of the upper bracket and the lower bracket.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, The rear cover is disposed between the front panel and the main body panel.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein, The bracket also supports the rear cover or front panel.

Images