Refrigerator door and refrigerator

Abstract

The invention provides a door and a refrigerator which can improve the aesthetic property of a handle part and improve the cleaning property. The refrigerator has doors such as a freezing compartment door. The freezing chamber door comprises a main body part and a handle part arranged at the upper end part of the main body part. The handle part is provided with a recessed part which is recessed downwards. The groove portion extends in the left-right direction of the main body portion. The groove portion has a shape communicating with the front surface of the main body portion at the end portion of at least one of the left and right of the handle portion.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a door of a refrigerator and a refrigerator equipped with the door. Background Art

[0002] The refrigerator is provided with a door for opening and closing each storage chamber. A handle is provided at either end of the door for a user to hook his hand when opening the door.

[0003] For example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 2013-238360 discloses a refrigerator having a drawer door such as an ice chamber door and a vegetable chamber door. A handle is provided at the upper edge of the drawer door for the user to hold when the drawer door is pulled out. The handle has a concave shape facing downward. Summary of the invention

[0004] In recent years, in order to improve the aesthetics of refrigerators, research is being conducted to make the handle provided at the end of the door also have design properties. In addition, there is a problem that garbage, dust, etc. are easily accumulated in the depression of the handle having a downward concave shape.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a door and a refrigerator capable of improving the aesthetics of a handle portion and improving cleanability.

[0006] The door involved in one aspect of the present invention is a refrigerator door, comprising a main body and a handle portion provided at the upper end of the main body. The handle portion has a groove portion recessed downward, the groove portion extends along the left-right direction of the main body, and the groove portion has a shape that is connected to the front of the main body at at least one end on the left or right side of the handle portion.

[0007] A refrigerator according to another aspect of the present invention includes the door according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0008] According to the present invention, in the refrigerator door and the refrigerator, the aesthetics of the handle portion can be improved, and the cleaning efficiency can be improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 It is a plan view showing the structure of the front part of the refrigerator related to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 It is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 3 It is shown Figure 1 A perspective view of a freezer door of a refrigerator is shown. Figure 4 It is composed Figure 3 An exploded perspective view of the handle and main body of a freezer compartment door is shown. Figure 5 This is a front view of the handle portion that constitutes the freezer door. Figure 6 It is a top view of the handle portion constituting the freezer door. Figure 7 It means from Figure 5 and Figure 6 The cross-sectional views of the handle portion at various positions along the AA line to the JJ line are shown. Figure 8 is Figure 7 A diagram showing a state where the cross-sectional views are overlapped. Fig. 9 is Figure 7 A diagram showing a state where the cross-sectional views are overlapped. Fig.10 is Figure 7 A diagram showing a state where the cross-sectional views are overlapped. Fig.11 is Figure 7 A diagram showing a state where the cross-sectional views are overlapped. Fig.12 It is a perspective view showing the structure of a drawer-type door of a refrigerator according to the second embodiment. Fig.13 It is shown Fig.12 A front view of the structure of the door shown. Fig.14 It is shown Fig.12 A top view of the door construction is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals are given to the same components. Their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, their detailed description will not be repeated.

[0011] <First Embodiment> (Overall structure of refrigerator) First, the overall structure of the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment will be described. Figure 1 FIG. 2 shows the appearance of the refrigerator 1 when viewed from the front. Figure 2 2 shows the appearance of the refrigerator 1 when viewed diagonally from the front.

[0012] The outer shape of the refrigerator 1 is mainly composed of an insulating box body 50. The insulating box body 50 forms a storage space of the refrigerator 1. The storage space formed by the insulating box body 50 is divided into a refrigerating chamber, a vegetable chamber, and a freezing chamber in sequence from the upper stage by a plurality of partitions extending in the horizontal direction.

[0013] The refrigerator compartment is provided with a refrigerator compartment door 11 which can be opened and closed from either the left or right end side. The vegetable compartment is provided with a drawer-type vegetable compartment door 12. The freezer compartment is provided with a drawer-type freezer compartment door 13.

[0014] As described above, the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment is divided into a plurality of storage spaces, including a refrigerator, a vegetable compartment, a freezer, etc. However, the configuration position of each storage space is not limited thereto. In addition, the configuration of the door provided in each storage space is not limited to the above configuration.

[0015] In the present embodiment, the surface provided with the door is referred to as the front or front face of the refrigerator. Furthermore, with the front face as a reference, the surfaces of the refrigerator 1 are set as the upper surface, the side surface, the back surface, and the bottom surface based on the position when the refrigerator 1 is set in the normal state. In addition, when the refrigerator 1 is placed on the setting surface, the left and right directions (lateral directions orthogonal to the up and down directions) when observing the refrigerator 1 from the front are referred to as the left and right directions of the refrigerator 1 (or the vegetable compartment door 12, the freezer compartment door 13, etc.). In addition, when the refrigerator 1 is placed on the setting surface, the up and down directions (longitudinal directions orthogonal to the left and right directions) of the refrigerator 1 are referred to as the up and down directions of the refrigerator 1 (or the vegetable compartment door 12, the freezer compartment door 13, etc.). In addition, the side located on the left side when viewed from the front side of the refrigerator 1 is referred to as the left side of the refrigerator 1, and the side located on the right side when viewed from the front side of the refrigerator 1 is referred to as the right side of the refrigerator 1.

[0016] In addition, in the present embodiment, a handle portion 30 is provided at the upper end portion of each drawer-type door (for example, the vegetable compartment door 12 and the freezer compartment door 13).

[0017] (Structure of the vegetable compartment door) Next, the more detailed structure of the drawer-type door provided in the refrigerator 1 is described. The refrigerator 1 involved in this embodiment has two drawer-type doors (specifically, a vegetable compartment door 12 and a freezer compartment door 13). The vegetable compartment door 12 and the freezer compartment door 13 have substantially the same structure. Hereinafter, the more detailed structure of the freezer compartment door 13 is described, taking the two drawer-type doors provided in the refrigerator 1 as a representative. Figure 3 The external appearance viewed from the upper side of the freezing chamber door 13 is shown. Figure 4 The state in which the handle part 30 is removed from the main body part 20 of the freezing chamber door 13 is shown.

[0018] The freezer door 13 mainly includes a metal plate 21, a back member 22, a lower cover member 23, a handle 30, and an insulating material (not shown). The outer shape of the freezer door 13 is formed by the metal plate 21, the back member 22, the lower cover member 23, and the handle 30. In the present embodiment, the portion formed by the member other than the handle 30 among the members constituting the outer shape of the freezer door 13 is referred to as the main body 20 of the door. That is, the main body 20 includes the metal plate 21, the back member 22, and the lower cover member 23.

[0019] The metal plate 21 is arranged on the front surface of the door. The metal plate 21 is formed by bending the end edges of a steel plate having a roughly rectangular shape, for example. The metal plate 21 has a front portion 21a, and side portions 21b and 21b provided on the left and right sides. The plate member forming the front of the door may be a member made of glass or resin. Alternatively, the front of the door may be formed of metal or glass, the outer periphery may be formed of resin, etc., and the front of the door may be formed of other members.

[0020] The handle 30 is mounted on the upper edge of the metal plate 21. For example, a resin material such as ABS, PP, PS, etc. is molded to form the handle 30. The handle 30 has a recessed portion that is recessed toward the lower side. The groove 31 is formed along the length direction of the handle 30 (i.e., the left-right direction of the freezer door 13).

[0021] The lower cover member 23 is attached to the lower end side of the metal plate 21. The lower cover member 23 is formed by molding a resin material such as ABS, PP, PS, etc., similarly to the handle portion 30.

[0022] The back member 22 forms the back portion of the freezer compartment door 13. The back member 22 is formed by molding a resin material such as ABS, PP, or PS.

[0023] The heat insulating material is provided inside the door outer body formed by combining the metal plate 21, the back member 22, the lower cover member 23 and the handle 30. The heat insulating material is formed by filling the door outer body with a foamed heat insulating material such as foamed polyurethane.

[0024] (Handle structure) Next, the more detailed structure of the handle portion 30 will be described. Figure 5 and Figure 6 The appearance of the handle portion 30 is shown in FIG.

[0025] The handle portion 30 includes a groove portion 31, an upper portion 32, a left side portion 33a, a right side portion 33b, a front portion 34, a rear portion 35, and an insertion portion 36. The groove portion 31 is located in front of the upper portion 32 and has a shape that is concave downward. The concave shape of the groove portion 31 extends along the width direction of the freezer door 13.

[0026] The upper surface 32, the side surface 33a, the side surface 33b, the front surface 34, and the rear surface 35 form the surfaces of the handle portion 30. The insertion portion 36 is provided inside these surfaces along the shapes of the front surface 34, the side surface 33a, and the side surface 33b. The insertion portion 36 is inserted into the inner side of the metal plate 21. Thus, the upper end of the metal plate 21 is sandwiched between the insertion portion 36 and the like.

[0027] The groove 31 has a shape that is connected to the front of the main body 20 at the end portions on the left and right sides of the handle 30. The shape of the groove 31 will be described in detail below. In the handle 30 of this embodiment, the groove 31 has a left-right symmetrical shape. Therefore, the following will describe the concave shape from the middle of the groove 31 to the left side. As for the concave shape from the middle of the groove 31 to the right side, the same structure as the left side can also be applied.

[0028] exist Figure 7 Shown in Figure 5 and Figure 6 The longitudinal section of the handle 30 at each position shown. Here, the longitudinal section of the handle 30 refers to a section on a plane perpendicular to the left-right direction (longitudinal direction) of the handle 30.

[0029] Figure 7 The cross-sectional views of the handle portion 30 shown correspond to the Figure 5 and Figure 6 The cross-sectional view is shown at each position from position A (approximately the middle of the handle 30) to position J (near the left end of the handle 30). The interval between adjacent positions varies depending on the size of the freezer door 13, but is 30 mm as an example.

[0030] Figure 7 1 is a diagram showing the cross-sectional shape of the groove portion 31 from the substantially middle portion (i.e., position A) of the handle portion 30 in the left-right direction to the vicinity of the left end portion (i.e., position J) in stages. Figures 8 to 10 In the overlapping state Figure 7 The cross-sectional views shown.

[0031] The groove portion 31 has a front inclined surface 31a and a rear inclined surface 31b. The front inclined surface 31a is an inclined surface located forward of the bottom of the groove portion 31. The rear inclined surface 31b is an inclined surface located rearward of the bottom of the groove portion 31.

[0032] The groove portion 31 has a left end inclined surface 31c and a right end inclined surface 31d. The left end inclined surface 31c is located near the side surface 33a on the left side of the handle portion 30. The right end inclined surface 31d is located near the side surface 33b on the right side of the handle portion 30.

[0033] The depth of the groove 31 gradually becomes shallower toward the left and right ends of the handle 30. The depth of the groove 31 is represented, for example, by the height from the lowest part of the groove 31 to the upper end of the front inclined surface 31a (see Figure 8 ).

[0034] like Figure 8As shown in FIG. 1 , the depth d of the groove 31 at the position A of the handle 30 is the maximum value dmax of the depth of the entire groove 31. Furthermore, the depth d of the groove 31 gradually becomes shallower as it moves toward the left end of the handle 30 (i.e., as it moves from the position A to the position J). Figure 8 As shown, the position of the upper end of the front inclined surface 31a is substantially constant from position A to position J, and the position of the lowest portion (bottom) of the groove portion 31 gradually increases as it moves from position A to position J.

[0035] In this embodiment, the groove 31 is almost not concave near the left and right ends of the handle 30 (e.g., position J). Figure 8 As shown in FIG. 1 , at position J, the inclination direction of the front inclined surface 31a of the groove portion 31 is opposite to the inclination direction of the front inclined surface 31a closer to the middle portion. That is, the inclination direction of the front inclined surface 31a of the groove portion 31 is reversed from the inclination direction of the middle portion at the left and right ends.

[0036] In addition, at the terminal portions of the concave shape located at the ends of the left and right sides of the groove portion 31, the extending direction of the groove portion 31 is toward the front side (refer to Figure 3 In other words, the left end inclined surface 31c and the right end inclined surface 31d of the groove portion 31 are inclined upward from the lower side of the groove portion 31 to the front side of the freezer door 13 (i.e., the side where the front portion 34 of the handle portion 30 and the front portion 21a of the metal plate 21 are located).

[0037] Thus, the groove 31 is shaped to be connected to the front side (i.e., the front side 21a) of the main body 20 at the left and right ends of the handle 30. Thus, when the user of the refrigerator 1 hooks his hand on the handle 30 of the freezer door 13, if he slides his hand in the lateral direction (left and right direction) in the groove 31, he can naturally pull his hand out of the groove 31 along the shape of the left end inclined surface 31c or the right end inclined surface 31d without any sense of incongruity.

[0038] In the shape of the conventional handle, the structure is as follows: if the hand is slid in the horizontal direction in the groove, it will hit the wall at the end, and the hand cannot be pulled out unless the sliding direction of the hand is changed to the forward direction, and a sense of discomfort is felt when the hand is pulled out from the groove. On the other hand, in the refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment, since the groove is connected to the front, the hand can be pulled out from the groove even if the sliding direction of the hand is intentionally changed. Therefore, garbage, dust, etc. accumulated in the groove can be easily discharged to the front side, and the cleanability of the handle can be improved. In addition, the surface of the groove 31 of the handle 30 provided in the pull-out door is a smooth curved surface as a whole. That is, there are almost no protruding parts or angular parts on the surface of the groove 31. Therefore, the user can naturally pull his hand out from the groove 31 without feeling uncomfortable.

[0039] Next, refer to Fig. 9 as well as Fig.10 The inclination angles of the front inclined surface 31 a and the rear inclined surface 31 b of the groove portion 31 will be described.

[0040] Here, the inclination angles of the front inclined surface 31 a and the rear inclined surface 31 b are defined as follows.

[0041] like Fig. 9 As shown in FIG. 1 , the cross section of the front inclined surface 31a is a curved curve. Therefore, the inclination angle of the straight line connecting the lowest part of the groove portion 31 and the inflection point of the curved front inclined surface 31a with respect to the horizontal plane is α. Fig. 9 , the inclination angle α of the front inclined surface 31a at position A is shown. A and the inclination angle α of the front inclined surface 31a at position I I .

[0042] In addition, if Fig. 9 As shown in FIG. 1 , the cross section of the rear inclined surface 31b is also formed into a curved curve shape. Therefore, the inclination angle of the straight line connecting the lowest part of the groove portion 31 and the inflection point of the curved rear inclined surface 31b with respect to the horizontal plane is β. Fig. 9 , the inclination angle β of the rear inclined surface 31b at position A is shown Α and the inclination angle β of the rear inclined surface 31b at position I I .

[0043] When the inclination angles of the inclined surfaces of the groove are defined as described above, in the handle 30 according to the present embodiment, α>β is satisfied at the substantially middle portion (e.g., position A) of the groove 31 in the left-right direction. For example, at position A, α A >β A On the other hand, near the left and right ends of the groove 31 (e.g., positions I and J), α<β. For example, at position I, α I <β I .

[0044] exist Fig.10 In FIG. 1 , a line connecting the lowest part of the groove portion 31 and the inflection point of each inclined surface at each position from position A to position J is indicated by a dotted line. Fig.10 In the example shown, around the position F or the position G, the magnitude relationship between the inclination angles α and β is opposite.

[0045] In the above method, the angle of the straight line connecting the lowest part of the groove 31 and the inflection points of each curved inclined surface relative to the horizontal plane is defined as the inclination angle α or β. However, the inclination angle of each inclined surface may be defined by a different method.

[0046] For example, the average inclination angle of each inclined surface can be calculated and compared with each other. For example, the average inclination angle of the front inclined surface 31a is α', and the average inclination angle of the rear inclined surface 31b is β' (refer to Fig.11 ).

[0047] In this case, in the handle portion 30 according to the present embodiment, α'>β' (e.g., α'A>β'A) is satisfied at the substantially middle portion in the left-right direction of the groove portion 31 (e.g., position A, etc.). On the other hand, near the ends on both sides of the groove portion 31 (e.g., positions I and J, etc.), α'<β' (e.g., α'J>β'J) is satisfied.

[0048] In addition, in another method, the inclination angle α of the front inclined surface 31a and the average inclination angle β' of the rear inclined surface 31b can also be compared. In this case, in the handle portion 30 involved in the present embodiment, α>β' is satisfied at the substantially middle portion (e.g., position A, etc.) of the groove portion 31 in the left-right direction. On the other hand, α<β' is satisfied near the ends on both sides of the groove portion 31 (e.g., positions I, J, etc.).

[0049] In addition, in the handle portion 30 involved in the present embodiment, if the change rate of the inclination angle α from the middle portion in the left-right direction of the groove portion to the left and right end portions is compared with the change rate of the inclination angle β from the middle portion in the left-right direction of the groove portion to the left and right end portions, (the change rate of α)>(the change rate of β) (refer to Figure 7 ).

[0050] That is, the inclination degree of the front side inclined surface 31a of the groove portion 31 changes greatly between the middle part and the end part in the left-right direction of the groove portion 31, while the inclination degree of the rear side inclined surface 31b does not change much between the middle part and the end part in the left-right direction. As a result, the inclination angle (α or α') of the front side inclined surface 31a is large in the middle part in the left-right direction, so it is difficult for the hand inserted into the groove portion to fall out when it is pulled forward, and the hand can be reliably hooked on the handle portion. On the other hand, as it moves toward the end part in the left-right direction, the inclination angle of the front side inclined surface 31a becomes smaller, and the hand entering the groove portion is easy to fall out. Therefore, the user naturally puts the hand in the middle part of the left and right hand, and garbage, dust, etc. are difficult to accumulate at the left and right ends. In addition, near the end part in the left-right direction, the inclination angle of the front side inclined surface 31a becomes smaller, and the lowest part of the groove is exposed to the front, so even if garbage, dust, etc. accumulate in the groove, it can be easily visually seen, and the groove is connected to the front, so it can be easily discharged.

[0051] In this embodiment, if Figures 7 to 11 As shown in FIG. 1 , as the position of the bottom of the groove moves from the middle portion in the left-right direction to the left and right ends, the position of the bottom of the groove gradually becomes higher and moves forward. More precisely, as shown in FIG. Figure 6 As shown by the middle dotted line, the lowest part of the groove moves smoothly forward from position A to near position F, temporarily retreats slowly from near position F to near position H, and moves toward the front of the door from near position H. Moreover, near position J, at a position slightly behind the front of the door, the lowest part of the groove disappears. That is, the groove disappears toward the front of the door near position J and does not reach the front part 34. Therefore, since the groove is not formed in the front part 34, the front of the door can be kept flat. In addition, although the position of the lowest part of the groove temporarily retreats from near position F to near position H, this is caused by the relationship between the inclination angle of the front side inclined surface 31a of the groove and the depth of the groove. For example, it is also possible not to retreat from position A to position J.

[0052] (Summary of the First Embodiment) As described above, the refrigerator 1 involved in this embodiment includes a door such as a freezer door 13. The freezer door 13 includes a main body 20 and a handle 30 provided at the upper end of the main body 20. The handle 30 has a recessed portion that is recessed toward the lower side. The groove 31 extends along the left-right direction of the main body 20. The groove 31 has a shape that is connected to the front of the main body 20 (specifically, the front portion 21a) at at least one end of the left and right sides of the handle 30.

[0053] The concave portion provided in the gripping portion of the conventional refrigerator door is composed of a flat wall surface, and is generally in a straight and angular shape. In such a shape, it is difficult to remove the garbage left in the concave portion. In particular, garbage or dust is easily accumulated in the angular corners of the concave portion, and it is difficult to remove them.

[0054] In this regard, the groove 31 provided in the freezer door 13 of the present embodiment is shaped so as to communicate with the front (specifically, the front portion 21a) of the main body 20 at the left and right side ends of the handle 30. More specifically, a left end inclined surface 31c and a right end inclined surface 31d connected to the front (i.e., the front portion 21a) side of the main body 20 are provided at the left and right side ends of the groove 31.

[0055] According to the above configuration, when a brush or hand is slid in the groove 31 of the handle 30 in the horizontal direction, the brush or hand can be pulled out of the groove without resistance from either left or right end. Thus, the garbage in the groove can be easily removed.

[0056] Moreover, the entire wall surface of the groove portion 31 is in a smooth curved surface shape, thereby improving the aesthetics of the handle portion 30. In addition, the design of the refrigerator 1 when viewed from the front can be improved.

[0057] <Second Embodiment> Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the second embodiment, the structure of the handle portion of at least one door of the refrigerator is different from that of the first embodiment. For other structures, the same structure as the first embodiment can be applied. Below, the drawer-type door 114 of the refrigerator 1 of this embodiment is cited as an example for description. The structure of the door 114 can be applied to doors such as vegetable compartment doors, freezer compartment doors, and ice-making compartment doors.

[0058] Figure 12 to Figure 14 1 shows the appearance of the door 114. In this embodiment, the middle section of the refrigerator 1 is divided into two storage rooms on the left and right. Moreover, each storage room is provided with a door. The door 114 is, for example, a door of an ice making room arranged on the right side of the middle section of the refrigerator 1.

[0059] The door 114 mainly includes a metal plate 21, a back member 22, a lower cover member 23, a handle 130, and a heat insulating material (not shown). The outer shape of the door 114 is formed by the metal plate 21, the back member 22, the lower cover member 23, and the handle 130. In this embodiment, the part formed by the parts other than the handle 130 among the various parts constituting the outer shape of the door 114 is referred to as the main body 20 of the door. That is, the main body 20 includes the metal plate 21, the back member 22, and the lower cover member 23. For the main body 20, the same structure as the first embodiment can be applied.

[0060] The handle 130 is mounted on the upper edge of the metal plate 21. For example, a resin material such as ABS, PP, PS, etc. is molded to form the handle 130. The handle 130 includes a groove 131, an upper surface 32, a side surface 33a, a side surface 33b, a front surface 34, a rear surface 35, and an insertion portion 36. The groove 131 is located in front of the upper surface 32 and has a shape that is concave toward the lower side. The concave shape of the concave portion 131 extends along the left-right direction of the door 114.

[0061] The groove 131 has a shape that is connected to the front of the main body 20 at the end portion on the right side of the handle portion 130. As in the first embodiment, the groove 131 has a front inclined surface 31a and a rear inclined surface 31b. In addition, the groove 131 has a right end inclined surface 31d. On the other hand, at the end portion on the left side of the handle portion 130, the groove 131 has a vertical end surface 131e that extends approximately vertically up and down.

[0062] In the handle portion 30 of the first embodiment, the groove portion 31 has a shape that is connected to the front of the main body 20 at the left and right ends of the handle portion 30, but in this embodiment, it has a shape that is connected to the front of the main body 20 only at the right end of the handle portion 130. In this way, the groove portion of the handle portion may also be configured to be connected to the front of the main body at at least one of the left and right ends of the handle portion.

[0063] The shape of the depression of the groove portion 131 is the same as the shape of the portion extending from the middle of the groove portion 31 toward the right side of the handle portion 30 of the first embodiment.

[0064] Specifically, the depth of the groove portion 131 gradually becomes shallower toward the right end portion of the handle portion 130 .

[0065] In addition, if the inclination angles of the front inclined surface 31a and the rear inclined surface 31b of the groove portion 131 are defined in the same manner as in the first embodiment, then in the handle portion 130 of this embodiment, α>β is satisfied at the left end portion of the groove portion 131 (in the first embodiment, equivalent to the substantially middle portion in the left-right direction). On the other hand, α<β is satisfied near the right end portion of the groove portion 131.

[0066] In addition, α>β is satisfied near the substantially middle portion of the groove 131 in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the substantially middle portion of the groove 131 in the left-right direction is, for example, Figure 7 The cross-sectional shape at position E or position F shown is the same shape.

[0067] In addition, in the handle portion 130 involved in this embodiment, if the rate of change of the inclination angle α from the left end to the right end of the groove portion is compared with the rate of change of the inclination angle β from the left end to the right end of the groove portion, then (rate of change of α)>(rate of change of β).

[0068] As described above, the groove 131 is shaped to be connected to the front side (i.e., the front side 21a) of the main body 20 at the right end of the handle 30. Therefore, when the user of the refrigerator 1 hooks his hand on the handle 130 of the door 114, if he slides his hand in the horizontal direction (specifically, the right direction) in the groove 131, he can naturally pull his hand out of the groove 31 without any sense of incongruity along the shape of the inclined surface 31d at the right end.

[0069] The present embodiment is preferably applied to a refrigerator door having a structure in which the door is divided into two in the left-right direction of the refrigerator.

[0070] In this embodiment, the door arranged on the right side of the refrigerator 1 among the doors divided into two in the left-right direction is described as an example, but the structure of this embodiment can also be applied to the door arranged on the left side of the refrigerator 1. In this case, it is preferable to apply Fig.12 The handle portion 130 shown in the figure is symmetrical on both sides. Thus, when the two doors arranged on the left and right sides are matched, a handle portion having the same concave shape as the handle portion 30 of the freezer door 13 described in the first embodiment can be obtained. Therefore, the sense of unity of the structure when the refrigerator 1 is viewed from the front is enhanced, and the aesthetics can be improved.

[0071] (Summarize) A refrigerator door (e.g., a vegetable compartment door 12, a freezer compartment door 13) according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: a main body (e.g., a main body 20) and a handle (e.g., a handle member 30, 130), which is disposed at the upper end of the main body. The handle has a groove (e.g., a groove 31, 131) that is recessed downward. The groove extends in the left-right direction of the main body. The groove has a shape that is connected to the front of the main body (e.g., the front portion 21a) at at least one end of the left and right sides of the handle.

[0072] In the door of the refrigerator involved in one aspect of the present invention (for example, the vegetable compartment door 12, the freezer compartment door 13, the door 114), the depth of the groove portion (for example, the groove portions 31, 131) can gradually become shallower toward at least either end of the left or right end of the handle portion.

[0073] In the door of the refrigerator involved in another aspect of the present invention (for example, the vegetable compartment door 12, the freezer compartment door 13, the door 114), in the cross-section of the surface of the groove portion (for example, the groove portions 31, 131) that is perpendicular to the left-right direction, the inclination angle of the straight line obtained by connecting the lowest portion of the groove portion and the inflection point of the inclined surface on the front side of the groove portion (for example, the front inclined surface 31a) with respect to the horizontal plane is set to α, and the inclination angle of the straight line obtained by connecting the lowest portion of the groove portion and the inflection point of the inclined surface on the rear side of the groove portion (for example, the rear inclined surface 31b) with respect to the horizontal plane is set to β, then α>β at the middle portion of the groove portion in the left-right direction, and α<β at at least any one end portion of the groove portion in the left-right direction.

[0074] In the door of the refrigerator involved in any aspect of the present invention (for example, the vegetable compartment door 12, the freezer compartment door 13, the door 114), when the rate of change of the α from the middle portion in the left-right direction to at least any one end portion in the left-right direction in the groove portion (for example, from the groove portions 31, 131) is compared with the rate of change of the β from the middle portion in the left-right direction to at least any one end portion in the left-right direction in the groove portion, then (the rate of change of α)>(the rate of change of β).

[0075] In the door of the refrigerator involved in one aspect of the present invention (for example, the vegetable compartment door 12, the freezer compartment door 13, the door 114), the inclination direction of the side surface (for example, the front inclined surface 31a) on the front side of the groove portion (for example, the groove portion 31) can also be reversed from the inclination direction of the middle portion in the left and right directions at at least any one end portion in the left and right directions.

[0076] A refrigerator (for example, refrigerator 1) according to another aspect of the present invention includes the door (for example, vegetable compartment door 12, freezer compartment door 13, door 114) according to any one of the above-mentioned aspects of the present invention.

[0077] The embodiments disclosed herein are to be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the scope of the claims, not by the above description, and includes all changes in the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims. In addition, the configurations obtained by combining the configurations of the different embodiments described in this specification are also included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerator door, characterized in that: include: The main body, and A handle portion is arranged at the upper end of the main body portion, The handle has a groove that is recessed downward. The groove portion extends along the left-right direction of the main body portion, The groove portion has a shape communicating with the front surface of the main body portion at at least one of the left and right ends of the handle portion.

2. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, characterized in that: The depth of the groove portion gradually becomes shallower toward at least one of the left and right ends of the handle portion.

3. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, characterized in that: In a cross section of the groove portion taken along a plane perpendicular to the left-right direction, The inclination angle of a straight line connecting the lowest part of the groove and the inflection point of the inclined surface on the front side of the groove with respect to the horizontal plane is α, When the inclination angle of the straight line connecting the lowest part of the groove and the inflection point of the inclined surface on the rear side of the groove with respect to the horizontal plane is β, At the middle portion of the groove in the left-right direction, α>β, At least at any one end portion of the groove portion in the left-right direction, α<β.

4. The refrigerator door according to claim 3, characterized in that: When the rate of change of the α from the middle portion of the groove in the left-right direction to at least any end portion in the left-right direction is compared with the rate of change of the β from the middle portion of the groove in the left-right direction to at least any end portion in the left-right direction, (rate of change of α)>(rate of change of β).

5. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, characterized in that: The inclination direction of the side surface on the front side of the groove portion is reversed from the inclination direction of the middle portion in the left-right direction at at least one end portion in the left-right direction.

6. A refrigerator, characterized in that: A door according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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