Refrigerator

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention relates to a refrigerator, which is characterized by comprising a refrigerator body, a refrigerator cover and a refrigerator cover, a door for opening and closing the storage space; a panel assembly which shields an opening penetrating through the door and is formed with a see-through part for seeing through the storage space; the heater is arranged along the boundary of the perspective part; the heater includes: a first heating portion disposed on an upper portion of the panel assembly; the second heating part is arranged at the lower part of the panel assembly; the heating amount of the second heating part is larger than that of the first heating part.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator. Background Art

[0002] Generally, a refrigerator is a household appliance that can store food at a low temperature in a storage space inside shielded by a door. For this purpose, the refrigerator uses cold air generated by heat exchange with a refrigerant circulating in a refrigeration cycle to cool the inside of the storage space, so that the stored food can be stored in an optimal state.

[0003] With the changes in eating habits and the trend of product high-endization, recent refrigerators have gradually become larger and more multifunctional, and refrigerators with various structures and convenience devices that enable users to use them conveniently and effectively utilize the internal space are constantly being introduced.

[0004] The storage space of the refrigerator can be opened and closed by a door. And, according to the configuration form of the storage space and the structure of the door for opening and closing the storage space, the refrigerator can be divided into various forms.

[0005] Generally, there is a problem that the inside of the refrigerator cannot be confirmed without opening the door. That is, in order to confirm whether the required food is stored in the space inside the refrigerator or in an additional storage space provided in the door, the door needs to be opened to confirm. In addition, when the storage location of the food cannot be accurately known, the door opening time may increase or the number of openings may increase, and at this time, there may be a problem that unnecessary cold air may flow out.

[0006] In recent years, in order to solve such problems, a refrigerator has been developed in which a part of the door is transparent or the inside of the refrigerator can be seen. As a representative, a refrigerator that can see through the inside of the refrigerator through the door is disclosed in Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2021-0158852.

[0007] However, in such a refrigerator, due to the characteristics of the refrigerator structure, cold air may be concentrated in the lower part of the see-through part area, so there may be a problem that condensation is concentrated on the lower front part of the see-through part. Summary of the Invention

[0008] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0009] An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of effectively preventing condensation in the entire area of the see-through part.

[0010] An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator configured with a heater capable of concentrating heat generation in an area where condensation is concentrated in the see-through part.

[0011] An object of an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator configured with a heater that differentially provides heat generation to the periphery of the see-through part.

[0012] Technical solution for solving the problem

[0013] The refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a box body forming a storage space; a door for opening and closing the storage space; a panel assembly for shielding an opening penetrating the door and forming a perspective portion for seeing through the storage space; and a heater disposed along the boundary of the perspective portion; the heater includes: a first heating portion disposed at the upper part of the panel assembly; and a second heating portion disposed at the lower part of the panel assembly; the calorific value of the second heating portion may be greater than that of the first heating portion.

[0014] The first heating portion may be formed along the periphery including the upper end of the perspective portion, and the second heating portion may be connected to the first heating portion and formed along the periphery including the lower end of the perspective portion.

[0015] The second heating portion may extend between the middle position of the vertical height of the perspective portion and the upper end of the perspective portion.

[0016] The heater is formed in a sheet shape, and the width of the first heating portion may be smaller than the width of the second heating portion.

[0017] The heater may include: a thin film portion attached to the panel assembly; and a pattern portion formed along the thin film portion and generating heat.

[0018] The pattern portion may be formed by printing on the thin film portion.

[0019] The pattern portion may include: a first pattern portion disposed in a line along the first heating portion; and a second pattern portion extending from the first pattern portion and disposed in a plurality of lines along the second heating portion.

[0020] The second pattern portion may be continuously bent and formed along the extending direction of the panel assembly.

[0021] The second pattern portion may be continuously bent and formed along a direction crossing the extending direction of the panel assembly.

[0022] The heater is formed in a wire shape, and the heater may include: a first pattern portion extending in a line along the first heating portion; and a second pattern portion extending in a plurality of lines along the second heating portion.

[0023] The panel assembly may include: a first panel, which shields the opening from the front; a second panel, which is arranged behind the first panel and shields the opening from the rear; and a spacer, which connects the first panel and the second panel and forms a space between the first panel and the second panel; the first panel includes a frame portion, which extends from the outer end of the first panel to the perspective portion and is formed opaquely; the spacer and the heater are arranged on the frame portion.

[0024] The panel assembly is provided with a mounting bracket, and the mounting bracket may include a supporting portion connected to the back surface of the first panel.

[0025] The heater may be disposed between the support portion and the frame portion.

[0026] A heater accommodating portion may be formed at the support portion, the heater accommodating portion being recessed in a shape corresponding to a shape of the heater to accommodate the heater.

[0027] The heater may be formed by printing on the back side of the first panel, and at least a portion of the heater may be disposed between the first panel and the spacer.

[0028] The heater may be formed on the frame portion by printing, and the heater and at least a portion of the frame portion may extend toward the inside of the space.

[0029] A sealant for sealing a circumference of the panel assembly may be applied on an outer surface of the spacer, and the heater may be formed to pass through the sealant and the spacer.

[0030] The heater may extend from one side of the support portion toward the inside of the space and be shielded by the frame portion.

[0031] A connection portion connecting a power line introduced into the inside of the door and the first heating portion may be provided at an end portion of the heater.

[0032] The connection portion is formed by printing, and may be arranged to pass between the spacer and the front panel.

[0033] Effects of the Invention

[0034] According to the refrigerator of the proposed embodiment, the following effects can be expected.

[0035] In the embodiment of the present invention, the door is provided with a panel assembly capable of seeing through the storage space, and a heater is provided on the panel assembly so as to heat the periphery of the see-through portion. In this case, the see-through portion may have a structure that is longer from top to bottom, so that the distribution of cold air in the lower portion is necessarily higher than that in the upper portion.

[0036] The heater of the present invention includes: a first heating part, which forms the upper part of the heater and heats the upper part of the transparent part; and a second heating part, which forms the lower part of the heater and heats the lower part of the transparent part. In particular, the second heating part can provide a greater calorific value than the first heating part, so that even if more cold air is distributed in the lower part of the transparent part, condensation in the lower part of the transparent part can be prevented.

[0037] Therefore, by making the calorific value of the heater different for different parts according to the distribution of cold air close to the transparent part, condensation can be prevented from occurring in the entire transparent part.

[0038] Moreover, the heater is formed by printing on the front panel, thus having the advantages of being easily configured on the front panel and easily realizing patterns with different calorific values.

[0039] In particular, the heater is formed by printing to have a relatively thin thickness and can be arranged between the spacer and the front panel, thus having the advantage of being able to prevent condensation by heating the part of the spacer with relatively weak heat insulation.

[0040] In addition, the heater has a structure extending towards the inside of the heat insulation space of the panel assembly, so that heat can be transferred to the edge and the central part of the panel assembly, and then has the advantage of being able to prevent condensation from occurring on the entire front surface of the panel assembly.

[0041] The heater is configured in a form where one heater is continuously bent or repeatedly arranged, so that the effects of cost savings in manufacturing and productivity improvement can be expected.

[0042] In addition, the heater is formed in a sheet or film shape, so it has the advantages of being easily attached to the panel assembly and being able to effectively heat. Description of the Drawings

[0043] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the door of the refrigerator being opened.

[0045] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the door.

[0046] Figure 4 is a front view of a panel assembly which is a component of the door.

[0047] Figure 5 is along Figure 4 a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5.

[0048] Figure 6It is a diagram showing the state of operation of the heater.

[0049] Figure 7 It is a cross-sectional view of the panel assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 7-7.

[0050] Figure 8 It is a cross-sectional view of the panel assembly according to the third embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 8-8.

[0051] Figure 9 It is a cross-sectional view of the panel assembly according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 9-9.

[0052] Figure 10 It is a perspective view showing the front of the door according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] Figure 11 It is a perspective view showing the back of the door.

[0054] Figure 12 It is an exploded perspective view of the door.

[0055] Figure 13 It is a top view of the heater which is a component of the door.

[0056] Figure 14 It is along Figure 10 A cross-sectional view taken along line 14-14.

[0057] Figure 15 It is along Figure 10 A cross-sectional view taken along line 15-15.

[0058] Figure 16 It is a top view of the heater according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[0059] Figure 17 It is a top view of the heater according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[0060] Figure 18 It is an exploded perspective view of the door according to the eighth embodiment of the present invention.

[0061] Figure 19 It is a top view of the heater which is a component of the door.

[0062] Figure 20 It is along Figure 10 A cross-sectional view taken along line 20-20.

[0063] Figure 21 It is along Figure 10 A cross-sectional view taken along line 21-21. Detailed Description

[0064] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail. However, the technical idea of the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, and other inventions obtained by easy degradation or other embodiments within the scope of the inventive concept can be obtained by adding, changing, deleting, etc. of other constituent elements.

[0065] Before proceeding with the description, directions are defined first. In an embodiment of the present invention, the direction facing the front of the door shown can be defined as the front, based on the front of the door, the direction facing the box body can be defined as the rear, the direction facing the ground on which the refrigerator is installed can be defined as the lower side, and the direction away from the ground can be defined as the upper side. Figure 1 As shown, the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention may include: a box body 10 that forms a storage space; and doors 20, 30 that open and close the storage space.

[0066] Figure 1 is a perspective view of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment of the present invention. And, Figure 2 is a perspective view of the door of the refrigerator being opened.

[0067] As shown in the figure, the refrigerator 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention may include: a box body 10 that forms a storage space; and doors 20, 30 that open and close the storage space.

[0068] The storage space of the box body 10 may be vertically partitioned, and a refrigerating chamber 12 may be formed in the upper part, and a freezing chamber 13 may be formed in the lower part. And, the doors may be composed of a refrigerating chamber door 20 that opens and closes the refrigerating chamber 12 and a freezing chamber door 30 that opens and closes the freezing chamber 13. The upper and lower ends of the refrigerating chamber door 20 and the freezing chamber door 30 are connected to the box body 10 by hinges 201, so that they can be rotatably installed.

[0069] And, a pair of the refrigerating chamber door 20 and the freezing chamber door 30 are respectively provided and arranged on the left and right sides, so that the refrigerating chamber 12 and the freezing chamber 13 can also be partially opened and closed.

[0070] In the embodiment of the present invention, although an example is given of a bottom-mounted freezer type refrigerator in which the freezing chamber 13 is provided below and uses a double-door refrigerator that opens and closes one space by rotating a pair of doors, the present invention is not limited to the form of the refrigerator and can be applied to all types of refrigerators provided with doors.

[0071] On the other hand, at least any one of the doors 20, 30 may be configured in a double-door form in which a pair of doors 40, 50 are arranged front and back. As an example, the refrigerating chamber door 20 may include a main door 40 and a sub-door 50.

[0072] The main door 40 can be connected to the cabinet 10 through the hinge to open and close the refrigerating chamber 12. An opening 41 is formed in the main door 40, through which food can be stored in the door storage space 43 behind the sub-door 50. Also, through the opening 41, food can be stored in the storage space within the cabinet 10.

[0073] A sub-door 50 can be provided in front of the main door 40. The sub-door 50 and the main door 40 can be connected through sub-hinges 501, 502. The sub-door 50 can be rotated to open and close the opening 41.

[0074] A restricting portion 42 engaged with the locking device 59 of the sub-door 50 is formed in the main door 40. Through the engagement of the locking device 59 and the restricting portion 42, the sub-door 50 can be kept in a closed state.

[0075] On the other hand, a panel assembly 60 capable of seeing the storage space at the rear can be provided in the sub-door 50. The panel assembly 60 is located in front of the opening 41 and can be formed of a see-through material. Therefore, in a state where the sub-door 50 is closed, the door storage space 43 inside the opening 41 or the storage space of the cabinet 10 can be seen. The see-through portion 611 can be formed to a size corresponding to the opening 41.

[0076] According to the structure and form of the refrigerator 1, the see-through portion 611 can also be formed in other doors 20, 30 in addition to the sub-door 50. Hereinafter, taking the structure in which the see-through portion 611 is disposed in the sub-door 50 as an example, the structure of the sub-door 50 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0077] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the door. And, Figure 4 is a front view of the panel assembly which is a component of the door. And, Figure 5 is along Figure 4 a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of

[0078] As shown in the figure, the sub-door 50 may include a panel assembly 60 forming the front surface and a door inner liner 52 forming the back surface. The panel assembly 60 has a structure capable of seeing through the interior and can cover the liner opening 520 of the door inner liner 52.

[0079] A door light 57 may be provided on the back of the door lining 52. The door light 57 may irradiate light downward from the upper end of the lining opening 520. Therefore, when the door light 57 is turned on, the space behind the panel assembly 60, that is, the storage space, becomes brighter, so that the storage space can be seen through the panel assembly 60. A lamp cover 571 for fixing the door light 57 may also be provided on the door lining 52.

[0080] Furthermore, although not shown in detail, a gasket ( Figure 12 56 in the figure). In addition, a locking device ( Figure 12 59) and the operating components ( Figure 12 591 in the ).

[0081] Furthermore, the sub-door 50 may include cover decorations 54, 55 and side frames 581, 582 that are combined with the panel assembly 60 and the door lining 52 and form the peripheral surface of the sub-door 50. The cover decorations 54, 55 may include: an upper cover decoration 54 that forms the top surface of the sub-door 50; and a lower cover decoration 55 that forms the bottom surface of the sub-door 50. Furthermore, the side frame 58 may include a pair of side frames 581, 582 that form the left and right side surfaces of the sub-door 50.

[0082] The panel assembly 60 , the door lining 52 , the upper cover trim 54 , the lower cover trim 55 , and the side frame 58 form the appearance of the sub-door 50 , and the interior of the sub-door 50 formed by combining these components may be filled with a heat insulating material.

[0083] On the other hand, the panel assembly 60 may include a front panel 61 , a rear panel 62 , and a spacer 64 .

[0084] In detail, the front panel 61 forms at least a part of the front appearance of the panel assembly 60 and the sub-door 50, and can be formed of a glass material. As an example, the front panel 61 can be formed of a glass material that allows the interior to be seen through, such as blue glass, tempered glass, and heat-insulating glass. The front panel 61 can be formed to a size corresponding to the size of the front of the sub-door 50. In addition, the front panel 61 can also be referred to as a first panel 61.

[0085] A perspective portion 611 may be formed in the central portion of the front panel 61. The perspective portion 611, as an area through which the rear of the panel assembly 60 can be seen, may be formed transparently or semi-transparently. The perspective portion 611 may form the remaining area of ​​the panel assembly 60 except for the frame portion 612 formed along the outer end. A coating is formed on the perspective portion 611, so that the front panel 61 may appear more opaque when the door light 57 is off.

[0086] The frame portion 612 may be formed at the edge of the front panel 61. The frame portion 612 may form the outer end of the front panel 61, that is, the peripheral region of the see-through portion 611. The frame portion 612 may be formed on the back surface of the front panel 61. The frame portion 612 may be formed opaquely to shield the components at the rear. As an example, the frame portion 612 may be formed in black. Also, the frame portion 612 may be formed by printing. As an example, the frame portion 612 may be formed by screen printing. Thus, the frame portion 612 may prevent components such as the spacer 64, the sealant 65, the heater 70, etc. in the assembled panel assembly 60 from being exposed forward. The frame portion 612 may extend at least from the outer end of the front panel 61 to the spacer 64. Also, the frame portion 612 may extend convexly from the outer end of the front panel 61 through the spacer 64 into the heat insulation space.

[0087] In addition, the rear panel 62, as a member forming at least a part of the back appearance of the panel assembly 60 and the back of the sub-door 50, may be formed of a glass material. The rear panel 62 may be formed to at least cover the size of the inner lining opening 520. The rear panel 62 may be formed to be smaller in size than the front panel 61. Thus, in the assembled state of the panel assembly 60, the periphery of the front panel 61 may protrude more outwardly than the rear panel 62. Also, the rear panel 62 may also be referred to as the second panel 62.

[0088] Also, a spacer 64 may be provided between the front panel 61 and the rear panel 62. The front end of the spacer 64 may be adhered to the back surface of the front panel 61, and the rear end of the spacer 64 may be adhered to the front surface of the rear panel 62. The spacer 64 may be formed in a quadrilateral frame shape with a central through-hole. Also, the size of the spacer 64 may be formed to correspond to the size of the rear panel 62. The spacer may form the peripheral surface of the panel assembly 60 in the assembled state of the panel assembly 60.

[0089] A heat insulation space 600 may be formed inside the combination of the front panel 61, the rear panel 62, and the spacer 64. The heat insulation space 600 may be in a vacuum state. Also, a heat insulation gas may be injected into the heat insulation space 600. As an example, the heat insulation gas may be argon. Also, the spacer 64 may be formed of a metal material. As an example, the spacer 64 may be formed of an aluminum material.

[0090] In a state where the panel assembly 60 is combined, a sealant 65 may be coated on the periphery of the panel assembly 60. The sealant 65 may seal the joint portions between the front panel 61, the rear panel 62, and the spacer 64 that constitute the panel assembly 60. As an example, the sealant 65 may be formed of a silicone material.

[0091] The panel assembly 60 may include a mounting bracket 53. The mounting bracket 53 may be formed along the periphery of the panel assembly 60. A bracket opening 530 may be formed in the center of the mounting bracket 53. The panel assembly 60 may be inserted and mounted in the bracket opening 530.

[0092] The mounting bracket 53 may include a mounting portion 531 and a support portion 532. The mounting portion 531 may be in contact with the peripheral surface of the panel assembly 60 to define the bracket opening 530. And the mounting portion 531 may be combined with the panel assembly 60 by a coupling member such as a screw.

[0093] The support portion 532 may be formed to bend outward from the front end of the mounting portion 531 and be in contact with the back surface of the front panel 61. As an example, the support portion 532 may be combined with the back surface of the front panel 61. Through the mounting bracket 53, the panel assembly 60 may maintain a more firm coupling structure. In the case where the panel assembly 60 has a sufficiently firm coupling structure, the mounting bracket 53 may also be omitted.

[0094] On the other hand, a heater 70 may be provided on the front panel 61.

[0095] The heater 70 may be provided on the back surface of the front panel 61 and in the region of the frame portion 612 so that it will not be exposed to the outside when viewed from the front. And the heater 70 may be disposed between the spacer 64 and the front panel 61. That is, the heater 70 may overlap at least a part of the spacer 64. When the heater 70 is driven, it may heat the spacer 64 and the front panel 61 facing the spacer 64. And the heater 70 may heat the portion of the front panel 61 that is formed along the spacer 64 and where the spacer 64 that is vulnerable to condensation is disposed.

[0096] The heater 70 may be disposed along the spacer 64. And the width D1 of the heater 70 may be the same as the width D1 of the spacer 64. The heater 70 may be formed in the region where the spacer 64 is disposed and may be in contact with the back surface of the panel assembly 60 and the front surface of the spacer 64.

[0097] The heater 70 may be formed by printing a coating having electrical properties capable of generating heat when power is applied. Also, the heater 70 may be printed on the border portion 612 in a state where the border portion 612 is formed. The heater 70 may be directly printed on the back surface of the front panel 61. Accordingly, the heater 70 may be integrally formed with the front panel 61, and in a state where the heater 70 is formed on the front panel 61, the spacer 64 may be disposed in contact with the heater 70. The spacer 64 may be adhered to the front panel 61. Also, the spacer 64 may be further coupled to the front panel 61 through the sealant 65 and / or the mounting bracket 53.

[0098] Also, at least a part of the heater 70 may be located inside the heat insulation space 600. The heater 70 may heat an edge of the heat insulation space 600 in the front panel 61. Accordingly, heat may be supplied to a central portion of the front panel 61, and the heat may be transferred to the central portion of the front panel 61 that is vulnerable to condensation, thereby preventing the generation of condensation.

[0099] To shield the heater 70, the border portion 612 may also extend inside the heat insulation space 600. That is, to shield the heater 70, the border portion 612 may extend inside the heat insulation space 600 and may at least extend to the same position as an end of the heater 70, or may further extend toward a central portion of the panel assembly 60.

[0100] Accordingly, the width D1 of the heater 70 may be formed to be smaller than the width of the border portion 612. The width D1 of the heater 70 may also be formed to be larger than the width D3 of the spacer 64. The overall width of the heater 70 may be various, and at least the widest part of the width D1 of the heater 70 may be larger than the width D3 of the spacer 64.

[0101] On the other hand, the heater 70 may include: a first heating part 711 that heats an upper part of the transparent part 611; and a second heating part 712 that heats a lower part of the transparent part 611. At this time, the second transparent part 611 may have a larger calorific value than the first transparent part 611. That is, when the heater 70 is driven, the lower part of the transparent part 611 may be heated more than the upper part of the transparent part 611.

[0102] The storage space behind the panel assembly 60 is cooled by the supply of cold air. Compared with the upper part, the cold air accumulates in the lower part, so that the temperature of the lower part can be relatively lower. Therefore, condensation is more likely to occur at the lower part of the front surface of the panel assembly 60, that is, the lower part of the front panel 61. Therefore, when the heater 70 is driven, the lower part of the transparent part 611 can be heated with greater heat by the second heating part 712, so that condensation can be more effectively prevented throughout the transparent part 611.

[0103] As an example, the first heating part 711 can extend in a straight line form. Of course, the first heating part 711 can be configured in various other forms that are narrower than the lateral width of the second heating part 712. The first heating part 711 can be arranged along the upper end of the transparent part 611 and the left and right side ends connected to the upper end. That is, the first heating part 711 can be arranged along the upper end and the left and right side ends connected to the upper end in the frame part 612.

[0104] And, a heater power cord 714 can be connected to the first heating part 711. A connection part 713 can also be formed between the heater power cord 714 and the printed pattern of the first heating part 711. The connection part 713 can have a structure that is easily connected to the heater power cord 714, and can have a shape different from that of the first heating part 711. The connection part 713 can also be formed by printing in the same way as the first heating part 711.

[0105] The connection part 713 can be formed to pass through the spacer 64 and the sealant 65. The connection part 713 and the first heating part 711 can be connected within the heat insulation space 600. And, the connection part 713 can be guided to the outside of the panel assembly 60 through between the front panel 61 and the spacer 64 and between the front panel 61 and the sealant 65.

[0106] A heater connector 715 can be formed at the end of the heater power cord 714. The heater connector 715 can be connected to the connector 541, and the connector 541 can be connected to the power cord 542 introduced through the sub-door 50. The power cord 542 can enter and exit through the hinge mounting part 531 of the sub-door 50, and can extend towards the cabinet 10 and be connected to a main control part (not shown) provided in the cabinet 10. Therefore, when assembling the sub-door 50, the heater connector 715 arranged on the panel assembly 60 can be connected to the connector 541 extending into the inside of the sub-door 50 so that the heater 70 is connected to an operable state.

[0107] The second heating unit 712 may be disposed at the lower end of the first heating unit 711. The second heating unit 712 may be configured to have a relatively wider width so as to be able to provide a greater calorific value than the first heating unit 711. As an example, the second heating unit 712 may extend along the frame portion 612 and may be continuously bent in a direction intersecting the extending direction. That is, the second heating unit 712 is formed in a shape where both side ends are continuously bent, so that a larger area of the panel assembly 60 can be heated. Therefore, a greater calorific value can be provided to the front panel 61 at the same interval.

[0108] The second heating unit 712 may be formed along the lower end of the see-through portion 611 and the left and right side ends connected to the lower end of the see-through portion 611. And, the second heating unit 712 may be formed along the lower end of the frame portion 612 and the left and right side ends connected to the lower end.

[0109] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, the operating state of the refrigerator 1 having the above-described structure will be described in more detail.

[0110] Figure 6 It is a diagram showing a state in which the heater operates.

[0111] As shown in the figure, in a state where the sub-door 50 is closed, the lamp 57 can be turned on or off by a user operation. When the lamp 57 is turned on, the space behind the sub-door 50 becomes bright, and the interior of the storage space can be seen through the see-through portion 611. And, if the lamp 57 is turned off, the see-through portion 611 may appear opaque.

[0112] And, in a state where the refrigerator 1 is operating, the storage space can be maintained at a set temperature by the cold air supplied to the inside of the refrigerator. The see-through portion 611 may be configured to be able to see the inside of the refrigerating compartment 12. Therefore, the cold air supplied to the refrigerating compartment 12 may affect the panel assembly 60 and may cause condensation in a portion where the heat insulation of the panel assembly 60 is weak.

[0113] In order to prevent condensation from occurring on the front surface of the front panel 61, the heater 72 can be operated. The heater 70 can heat the peripheral region of the see-through portion 611. The heater 70 can heat the region of the frame portion 612 that abuts on the spacer 64 and can heat the periphery of the heat insulation space 600. And, by the operation of the heater 70 disposed inside the heat insulation space 600, the heat of the heater 70 can be transferred to the central portion of the front panel 61.

[0114] Therefore, heating the central portion of the front panel 61, including the region configured with the spacer 64 where the structural heat insulation in the panel assembly 60 may be relatively weak, can prevent condensation from forming on the front surface of the panel assembly 60.

[0115] On the other hand, the cold air supplied to the storage space moves downward from above under the action of convection. The cold air supplied to the refrigerating chamber 12 can move downward, and the cold air can be more concentrated at the lower part than at the upper part of the transparent portion 611. Therefore, the lower part of the front panel 61 has a higher possibility of condensation than the upper part.

[0116] To prevent condensation from forming on the lower part of the front panel 61, the heater 70 can heat the lower part of the front panel 61 more than the upper part. Specifically, the heater 70 can cause the second heating portion 722 to operate with a greater heat generation amount than the first heating portion 721 and heat the lower part of the transparent portion 611.

[0117] Therefore, by heating the lower part where the cold air is relatively concentrated in the transparent portion 611 more, the heater 72 can effectively prevent condensation on the lower part where there is a relatively large amount of cold air distribution in the transparent portion 611. And through the operation of the heater 72, condensation on the entire transparent portion 611 including the lower part of the transparent portion 611 can be prevented.

[0118] On the other hand, in addition to the foregoing embodiments, the present invention can also implement various other embodiments. The second to fourth embodiments of the present invention are characterized by the arrangement position and width of the heater. Another embodiment of the present invention differs from the foregoing embodiments only in the arrangement of the heater, while other configurations are the same, and for the same configurations, the same reference numerals will be used for description.

[0119] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, another embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0120] Figure 7 It is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of the panel assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

[0121] The panel assembly 60 according to the second embodiment of the present invention may include a front panel 61, a rear panel 62, and a spacer 64. And an insulating space 600 can be formed by the combination of the front panel 61, the rear panel 62, and the spacer 64. And a sealant 65 can be coated on the outer side of the spacer 64. And the spacer 64 and the front panel 61 can be coupled to the mounting portion 531 and the supporting portion 532 of the mounting bracket 53.

[0122] The frame portion 612 may be formed on the back peripheral edge of the front panel 61. The frame portion 612 may extend from the end of the front panel 61 through the spacer 64 into the inner side of the heat insulation space 600.

[0123] And, the heater 70 may be disposed on the frame portion 612. The heater 70 may be formed by printing on the back surface of the front panel 61. The heater 70 is disposed on the back surface of the frame portion 612 and will not be exposed due to the frame portion 612 when viewed from the front.

[0124] The heater 70 may extend from the end of the sealant 65 through the spacer 64 into the inner side of the heat insulation space 600. One end of the heater 70 may be located at a position corresponding to the sealant 65, and the other end of the heater 70 may be located at the end of the frame portion 612. And, the width D1 of the frame portion 612 may be formed to be larger than the width of the spacer 64. And, the width D1 of the frame portion may be formed to be larger than the width D3 of the sum of the sealant 65 and the frame portion.

[0125] Therefore, when the heater 70 is driven, the area of the front panel 61 in contact with the sealant 65 and the spacer 64 can be heated. And, the heater 70 may extend more into the inner side of the heat insulation space 600 than the end of the spacer 64, so that heat can be transferred not only to the periphery of the transparent portion 611 but also to the central portion of the panel assembly 60.

[0126] And, the heater 70 may be configured to provide a greater calorific value to the lower part than to the upper part, so that condensation can be prevented on the entire surface including the upper part, the lower part, and the central part of the front panel 61.

[0127] Figure 8 It is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of the panel assembly according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

[0128] The panel assembly 60 according to the third embodiment of the present invention may include a front panel 61, a rear panel 62, and a spacer 64. And, a heat insulation space 600 may be formed by the combination of the front panel 61, the rear panel 62, and the spacer 64. And, a sealant 65 may be coated on the outer side of the spacer 64. And, the spacer 64 and the front panel 61 may be coupled to the mounting portion 531 and the support portion 532 of the mounting bracket 53.

[0129] And, the frame portion 612 may be formed on the back peripheral edge of the front panel 61. The frame portion 612 may extend from the end of the front panel 61 through the spacer 64 into the inner side of the heat insulation space 600.

[0130] The heater 70 may be disposed in the frame portion 612. The heater 70 may be formed by printing on the back surface of the front panel 61. The heater 70 is disposed on the back surface of the frame portion 612 and is not exposed due to the frame portion 612 when viewed from the front.

[0131] The heater 70 may extend from one side of the mounting bracket 53 through the spacer 64 into the inner side of the heat insulation space 600. One end of the heater 70 may be located at a position corresponding to the support portion 532 of the mounting bracket, and the other end of the heater 70 may be located at the end of the frame portion 612.

[0132] Therefore, when the heater 70 is driven, the area of the front panel 61 in contact with the mounting bracket 53, the sealant 65, and the spacer 64 can be heated. Moreover, the heater 70 may extend more into the inner side of the heat insulation space 600 than the end of the spacer 64, so that heat can be transferred not only to the periphery of the transparent portion 611 but also to the central portion of the panel assembly 60.

[0133] Moreover, the heater 70 may be configured to provide a greater calorific value to the lower part than to the upper part, thereby preventing condensation on the entire surface including the upper part, the lower part, and the central part of the front panel 61.

[0134] Figure 9 It is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 of the panel assembly according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0135] The panel assembly 60 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention may include a front panel 61, a rear panel 62, and a spacer 64. Moreover, a heat insulation space 600 may be formed by the combination of the front panel 61, the rear panel 62, and the spacer 64. And a sealant 65 may be coated on the outer side of the spacer 64.

[0136] Moreover, the spacer 64 and the front panel 61 may be coupled to the mounting bracket 53. The mounting bracket 53 may include a mounting portion 531 coupled to the spacer 64 and a support portion 532 coupled to the front panel 61. Moreover, the mounting bracket 53 may further include a heater accommodation portion 533 formed between the mounting portion 531 and the support portion 532, and a wire heater 534 is disposed in the heater accommodation portion 533.

[0137] The heater receiving portion 533 may be formed at the corner where the mounting portion 531 and the support portion 532 are joined to each other. And the wire heater 534 inserted into the heater receiving portion 533 may heat the corner where the sealant 65 and the front panel 61 are joined. The wire heater 534 may be in contact with the back surface of the front panel 61 and may be disposed along the periphery of the sealant 65. Therefore, the wire heater 534 may heat the peripheral region of the front panel 61 where the sealant 65 and the spacer 64 are disposed. And the wire heater 534 and the mounting bracket 53 may be shielded by the border portion 612.

[0138] And the border portion 612 may be formed at the back peripheral edge of the front panel 61. The border portion 612 may extend from the end of the front panel 61 through the spacer 64 toward the inside of the heat insulation space 600.

[0139] The heater 70 may be disposed in the border portion 612. The heater 70 may be formed by printing on the back surface of the front panel 61. The heater 70 is disposed on the back surface of the border portion 612 and will not be exposed due to the border portion 612 when viewed from the front.

[0140] The heater 70 may extend from one end of the spacer 64 toward the inside of the heat insulation space 600. The heater 70 may extend to be located at the end of the border portion 612. Therefore, when the heater 70 is driven, the area of the front panel 61 in contact with the spacer 64 may be heated. And the heater 70 may extend more toward the inside of the heat insulation space 600 than the end of the spacer 64, so that heat can be transferred not only to the periphery of the transparent portion 611 but also to the central portion of the panel assembly 60.

[0141] And the heater 70 may be configured to provide a greater calorific value to the lower part than to the upper part, so that dew condensation can be prevented on the entire surface including the upper part, the lower part, and the central part of the front panel 61.

[0142] And when the heater 70 is driven, the wire heater 534 may be driven together. Through the operation of the wire heater 534, the sealant 65 and the periphery of the adjacent front panel 61 may be heated, thereby further preventing dew condensation on the front surface of the front panel 61.

[0143] On the other hand, in addition to the foregoing plurality of embodiments, the present invention can also implement various other embodiments. The fifth embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the heater has a planar heating element structure. Another embodiment of the present invention differs from the foregoing embodiments only in the constitution of a part of the sub-door and the structure of the heater, while the other constitutions are the same, and for the same constitutions, the same reference numerals will be used for description.

[0144] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

[0145] Figure 10 is a perspective view showing the front of the door of the fifth embodiment of the present invention. And, Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the back of the door. And, Figure 12 is an exploded perspective view of the door.

[0146] As shown in the figure, the sub-door 50' may include a panel assembly 60' that forms the perspective portion 611. The panel assembly 60' may be formed of a transparent material and may form at least a part of the front and back of the sub-door 50'. In a state where the panel assembly 60' is mounted on the sub-door 50', at least a part of the panel assembly 60' may be defined as the perspective portion 611.

[0147] The sub-door 50' may include: an outer plate 51 that forms the front of the sub-door 50'; and a door inner lining 52 that forms the back of the sub-door 50'. A plate opening 510 may be formed in the outer plate 51, and a lining opening 520 may be formed in a portion of the door inner lining 52 that faces the plate opening 510. The plate opening 510 and the lining opening 520 may be shielded by the panel assembly 60'. The sub-door 50' may be penetrated by the plate opening 510 and the lining opening 520, and thus the plate opening 510 and the lining opening 520 may be defined together as an opening.

[0148] On the other hand, in the sub-door 50', the outer plate 51 may also be omitted. At this time, the entire front of the sub-door 50' may also be formed by the front surface of the panel assembly 60', that is, the front panel 61.

[0149] A lamp mounting portion 521 for mounting the lamp 57 may be formed in the door inner liner 52. The lamp mounting portion 521 may be formed along the upper end of the liner opening 520. The lamp mounting portion 521 may protrude rearward, and the lamp 57 may be received inside the lamp mounting portion 521. The lamp 57 may irradiate light downward from the upper end of the panel assembly 60', and the light may irradiate through the bottom surface of the lamp mounting portion 521. When the lamp 57 is lit, the rear of the perspective portion 611 may become bright and visible, and when the lamp 57 is extinguished, the rear of the perspective portion 611 may become dark and relatively invisible.

[0150] In addition, the gasket 56 may be mounted on the door inner liner 52. The gasket 56 may be disposed along the periphery of the liner opening 520. In a state where the sub-door 50' is closed, the gasket 56 is in contact with the front surface of the main door 40, and can block cold air leakage.

[0151] On the other hand, a locking device 59 may be provided on one side of the door inner liner 52. And the locking device 59 may be connected to an operating member 591 provided at the lower part of the sub-door 50'. By operating the operating member 591, the locking device 59 can be actuated to release the restriction between the locking device 59 and the restricting portion 42, so that the sub-door 50' can be opened.

[0152] In addition, the sub-door 50' may include: an upper cover trim 54, connecting the upper ends of the outer panel 51 and the door inner liner 52 to form the top surface of the sub-door 50'; and a lower cover trim 55, connecting the lower ends of the outer panel 51 and the door inner liner 52 to form the bottom surface of the sub-door 50'.

[0153] In a state where the panel assembly 60' is mounted to cover the openings 510, 520, a heat insulating material may be filled in the internal space of the sub-door 50' formed by the peripheral edge of the panel assembly 60', the outer panel 51, the door inner liner 52, the upper cover trim 54, and the lower cover trim 55.

[0154] On the other hand, the panel assembly 60' may include a front panel 61, a rear panel 62, and a spacer 64. A vacuum state may be maintained or a heat insulating gas may be injected between the front panel 61 and the rear panel 62 for heat insulation. In addition, a heat insulating panel 63 is further provided between the front panel 61 and the rear panel 62, and a separated heat insulating space 600' may be formed between the front panel 61 and the rear panel 62. And in a state where the front panel 61, the rear panel 62, the heat insulating panel 63, and the spacer 64 are combined, a sealant 65 may be coated on the peripheral edge of the panel assembly 60'.

[0155] As needed, the panel assembly 60' may further include a transparent display for outputting an image, and the transparent display may be disposed between the front panel 61 and the rear panel 62.

[0156] The front panel 61 and the rear panel 62 may be formed of a light-transmissive material. As an example, the front panel 61 and the rear panel 62 may be formed of a glass material.

[0157] The front panel 61 may cover the plate opening 510. Further, the front panel 61 may form at least a part of the front surface of the sub-door 50'. A perspective portion 611 is formed at the center of the front panel 61, and an opaque border portion 612 may be formed along the periphery of the front panel 61. Through the border portion 612, the heater 72 and the mounting bracket 53, which will be described later, can be shielded.

[0158] The periphery of the front panel 61 may protrude more outward than the periphery of the rear panel 62. A protruding portion may be formed along the edge of the front panel 61, and the protruding portion may extend more outward than the rear panel 62 and the spacer 64. Further, the border portion 612 may be formed on the back surface of the protruding portion. And the heater 72 may be provided in the border portion 612. The heater 72 may be disposed on the back surface of the front panel 61. And the heater 72 is disposed in the border portion 612, so that the heater 72 will not be seen when viewed from the front.

[0159] The heater 72 may be formed along the periphery of the panel assembly 60'. Thus, the heater 72 can heat the periphery of the panel assembly 60', that is, the periphery of the perspective portion 611.

[0160] A mounting bracket 53 may be provided at the periphery of the panel assembly 60'. A bracket opening 530 may be formed at the center of the mounting bracket 53. The panel assembly 60' may be inserted and mounted in the bracket opening 530.

[0161] The mounting bracket 53 may include a mounting portion 531 and a support portion 532. The mounting portion 531 is coupled to the peripheral surface of the panel assembly 60', and the support portion 532 may be in contact with the back surface of the front panel 61. A heater receiving portion 533 for receiving the heater 72 may be formed in the support portion 532.

[0162] The heater 72 may be in close contact with the back surface of the front panel 61 while being received in the heater receiving portion 533. The heater 72 may be configured in a structure such as a sheet or a film.

[0163] Hereinafter, the structure of the heater 72 and the configuration structure of the heater 72 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0164] Figure 13 is a top view of a heater that is a component of the door. And, Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 14-14 of Figure 10 . And, Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 15-15 of Figure 10 .

[0165] Referring to the accompanying drawings, the heater 72 can be formed in a shape such as a sheet or a plate. The heater 72 can be composed of a planar heating element.

[0166] The central portion of the heater 72 is open so that a part of the panel assembly 60' can pass through. And, the maximum width W1 of the heater 72 can be smaller than the width of the protruding portion of the front panel 61 or the frame portion 612.

[0167] A power cord 724 can be connected to one side of the heater 72, and the heater 72 can generate heat using the power applied from the power cord 724. As an example, the power cord 724 can be provided at the upper end of the heater 72 and can be arranged on the side close to the rotation axis of the sub-door 50'.

[0168] The heater 72 can be formed along the peripheral region of the see-through portion 611. And, the heater 72 can include a first heating portion 721 that forms the upper part and a second heating portion 722 that forms the lower part. The second heating portion 722 can have a greater calorific value than the first heating portion 721. The first heating portion 721 can heat the upper part of the see-through portion 611, and the second heating portion 722 can heat the lower part of the see-through portion 611. And, through the second heating portion 722, the lower part of the see-through portion 611 can be heated with a greater calorific value compared to the upper part of the see-through portion 611. At this time, the upper and lower parts of the see-through portion 611 are not divided based on the exact middle position of the see-through portion 611. When the position of the first heating portion 721 is set as the upper part, the position of the second heating portion 722 located relatively below can be defined as the lower part.

[0169] The first heating portion 721 can be arranged along the upper parts of the left and right side ends including the upper end of the see-through portion 611 or the panel assembly 60', and the second heating portion 722 can be arranged along the lower parts of the left and right side ends including the lower end of the see-through portion 611 or the panel assembly 60'. And, the lower end of the first heating portion 721 and the upper end of the second heating portion 722 can be connected to each other in a stepped manner.

[0170] The position where the first heating part 721 and the second heating part 722 are connected can also be formed at a position higher than the middle position of the vertical height of the panel assembly 60'. The vertical length H2 of the second heating part 722 can be longer than the vertical length H1 of the first heating part 721. Therefore, the second heating part 722 can sufficiently heat the lower area of the transparent part 611 where more cold air is distributed. As an example, the vertical length H2 of the second heating part 712 can be formed to be a length within the range of 50% to 90% of the height H from the first heating part 711 to the second heating part 712.

[0171] The width W1 of the first heating part 721 can be smaller than the width W2 of the second heating part 722. Therefore, when the heater 72 operates, compared with the first heating part 721, the second heating part 722 can heat the front surface of the panel assembly 60', that is, the transparent part 611 area, with a greater calorific value.

[0172] Specifically, as Figure 7 shown, through the first heating part 721, the upper area of the transparent part 611 can be heated with a set amount of heat. At this time, the width W1 of the first heating part 721 is smaller than the width W2 of the second heating part 722, and the contact area with the front panel 61 is relatively small. And, compared with the second heating part 722, the first heating part 721 heats the upper area of the transparent part 611 with a relatively smaller calorific value.

[0173] On the contrary, as Figure 8 shown, compared with the first heating part 721, through the second heating part 722, the lower area of the transparent part 611 can be heated with a relatively greater amount of heat. At this time, the width W2 of the second heating part 722 is greater than the width W1 of the first heating part, and the contact area with the front panel 61 is relatively larger. And, compared with the first heating part 721, the second heating part 722 heats the upper area of the transparent part 611 with a relatively greater calorific value.

[0174] That is, due to the width difference between the first heating part 721 and the second heating part 722, the lower area of the transparent part 611 where the second heating part 722 is arranged can be heated more.

[0175] On the other hand, in addition to the foregoing embodiments, the present invention can also implement various other embodiments. The sixth embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the heater is configured as a thin film heater structure and includes a first pattern portion and a second pattern portion that generate heat. Therefore, the second embodiment of the present invention differs from the foregoing embodiments only in the configuration of the heater, while the other configurations are the same. For the same configurations, detailed descriptions and illustrations will be omitted, and the same reference numerals will be used for description.

[0176] Hereinafter, the sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0177] Figure 16 It is a top view of the heater of the sixth embodiment of the present invention.

[0178] As shown in the figure, the heater 73 of the sixth embodiment of the present invention can be formed in a thin film or sheet shape. And, a power supply line 734 for power supply can be connected to one side of the heater 73.

[0179] The heater 73 may include a thin film portion 730 attached to the panel assembly 60' and a pattern portion 733 disposed along the thin film portion 730 and generating heat.

[0180] The thin film portion 730 can be formed in a sheet or plate shape and can be formed of a resin material. As an example, the thin film portion 730 can be formed of an adhesive resin material. And, the thin film portion 730 can be formed along the periphery of the panel assembly 60'. And, the thin film portion 730 can define an opening through which a part of the panel assembly 60' can pass.

[0181] The thin film portion 730 can be attached to the back periphery of the front panel 61. And, the thin film portion 730 is disposed in the area of the frame portion 612, and when viewed from the front, the heater 73 can be shielded. And, the thin film portion 730 can also be mounted on the mounting bracket 53 and can be in close contact with the back of the front panel 61 in a state of being mounted on the mounting bracket 53.

[0182] The thin film portion 730 can be composed of a first thin film portion 731 forming the upper part of the heater 73 and a second thin film portion 732 forming the lower part of the heater 73. The width W1 of the first thin film portion 731 can be smaller than the width W2 of the second thin film portion 732. And, the vertical length H2 of the second thin film portion 732 can be longer than the vertical length H1 of the first thin film portion 731.

[0183] The first thin film part 731 may form the upper end of the heater 73 and a part of the left and right sides connected to the upper end, and may form the upper end of the transparent part 611 and a part of the left and right side ends. The second thin film part 732 may be connected to the lower ends of both sides of the first thin film part 731. Also, the second thin film part 732 may form the lower end of the heater 73 and a part of the left and right sides connected to the lower end, and may form the lower end of the transparent part 611 and a part of the left and right side ends.

[0184] A pattern part 733 may be formed in the thin film part 730. The pattern part 733 is the part that generates heat through the applied power supply, substantially contacts the panel assembly 60', and can heat the periphery of the panel assembly 60', that is, the periphery of the transparent part 611.

[0185] As an example, the pattern part 733 is formed of a quick thin plate and may be attached to the thin film part 730. As another example, the pattern part 733 may be formed by printing on the thin film part 730. That is, the heater 73 may also be formed in the form of a printed thin film.

[0186] The pattern part 733 may include a first pattern part 733a formed along the first thin film part 731 and a second pattern part 733b formed along the second thin film part 732.

[0187] The first pattern part 733a may extend along the first thin film part 731 and may be formed as a single line. Also, the second pattern part 733b may extend along the second thin film part 732 and may be connected to the end of the first thin film part 731. The second pattern part 733b may be formed as a plurality of lines in the second thin film part 732. Specifically, both ends of each line may be continuously bent to form a plurality of lines in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the second thin film part 732. That is, both ends of the second pattern part 733b may be repeatedly bent to form a plurality of sections extending in the width direction of the second thin film part 732 having a wider width.

[0188] That is, the second thin film part 732 may form a pattern part 733 with a larger area in a wider width, and thus, a greater amount of heat generation may be provided in the area where the second thin film part 732 is formed.

[0189] Therefore, when the heater 73 operates, the entire periphery of the transparent part 611 is heated, and the lower part of the transparent part 611 is heated with a greater amount of heat than the upper part of the transparent part 611, thereby preventing dew condensation in the lower part of the transparent part 611 where the cold air distribution degree is relatively high.

[0190] On the other hand, in addition to the foregoing embodiments, the present invention can also implement various other embodiments. The seventh embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the heater is configured as a thin film heater structure and includes a first pattern portion and a second pattern portion that generate heat. Therefore, the seventh embodiment of the present invention differs from the foregoing embodiments only in the configuration of the heater, while other configurations are the same. For the same configurations, detailed descriptions and illustrations will be omitted, and the same reference numerals will be used for description.

[0191] Hereinafter, the seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0192] Figure 17 It is a top view of the heater of the seventh embodiment of the present invention.

[0193] As shown in the figure, the heater 74 of the seventh embodiment of the present invention can be formed in a thin film or sheet shape. And, a power supply line 744 for power supply can be connected to one side of the heater 74.

[0194] The heater 74 may include a thin film portion 740 attached to the panel assembly 60' and a pattern portion 743 disposed along the thin film portion 740 and generating heat.

[0195] The thin film portion 740 can be formed in a sheet or plate shape and can be formed of a resin material. As an example, the thin film portion 740 can also be composed of an adhesive resin. And, the thin film portion 740 can be formed along the periphery of the panel assembly 60'. And, the thin film portion 740 can define an opening through which a part of the panel assembly 60' can pass.

[0196] The thin film portion 740 can be attached to the back periphery of the front panel 61. And, the thin film portion 740 is disposed in the area of the frame portion 612, and when viewed from the front, the heater 74 can be shielded. And, the thin film portion 740 can also be mounted on the mounting bracket 53 and can be in close contact with the back of the front panel 61 in a state of being mounted on the mounting bracket 53.

[0197] The thin film portion 740 can be composed of a first thin film portion 741 forming the upper part of the heater 74 and a second thin film portion 742 forming the lower part of the heater 74. The width W1 of the first thin film portion 741 can be smaller than the width W2 of the second thin film portion 742. And, the vertical length H2 of the second thin film portion 742 can be longer than the vertical length H1 of the first thin film portion 741.

[0198] The first thin film portion 741 may form the upper end of the heater 74 and a part of the left and right sides connected to the upper end, and may form the upper end of the transparent portion 611 and a part of the left and right side ends. The second thin film portion 742 may be connected to the lower ends of both sides of the first thin film portion 741. Further, the second thin film portion 742 may form the lower end of the heater 74 and a part of the left and right sides connected to the lower end, and may form the lower end of the transparent portion 611 and a part of the left and right side ends.

[0199] A pattern portion 743 may be formed in the thin film portion 740. The pattern portion 743 is a portion that generates heat through the applied power supply, substantially contacts the panel assembly 60', and can heat the periphery of the panel assembly 60', that is, the periphery of the transparent portion 611.

[0200] As an example, the pattern portion 743 is formed of a quick thin plate and may be attached to the thin film portion 740. As another example, the pattern portion 743 may be formed by printing on the thin film portion 740. That is, the heater 74 may also be formed in the form of a printed thin film.

[0201] The pattern portion 743 may include a first pattern portion 743a formed along the first thin film portion 741 and a second pattern portion 743b formed along the second thin film portion 742.

[0202] The first pattern portion 743a may extend along the first thin film portion 741 and may be formed as a single line. Further, the second pattern portion 743b may extend along the second thin film portion 742 and may be connected to the end of the first thin film portion 741. The second pattern portion 743b may be formed as a plurality of lines in the second thin film portion 742. Specifically, both ends of each line may be continuously bent to form a plurality of lines in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the second thin film portion 742. That is, the upper end and the lower end of the second pattern portion 743b may be repeatedly bent within the width of the second pattern portion 743b so that a plurality of lines extending in the same direction as the extending direction of the second thin film portion 742 are arranged at intervals.

[0203] That is, the second thin film portion 742 may form a second pattern portion 743b with a larger area in a wider width, and thus, a larger amount of heat may be provided in the lower region of the transparent portion 611 that contacts the second thin film portion 742.

[0204] Therefore, when the heater 74 operates, the entire periphery of the transparent portion 611 is heated, and the lower portion of the transparent portion 611 is heated with a larger amount of heat than the upper portion of the transparent portion 611, thereby preventing dew condensation in the lower portion of the transparent portion 611 where the cold air distribution degree is relatively high.

[0205] On the other hand, in addition to the foregoing embodiments, the present invention can also implement various other embodiments. The eighth embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the heater is configured as a wire heater structure and includes a first heating part and a second heating part that generate heat. Therefore, the eighth embodiment of the present invention differs from the foregoing embodiments only in the configuration of the heater and the mounting bracket, while the other configurations are the same. For the same configurations, the detailed description and illustration will be omitted, and the same reference numerals will be used for description.

[0206] Hereinafter, the eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0207] Figure 18 is an exploded perspective view of the door of the eighth embodiment of the present invention. And, Figure 19 is a top view of the heater as a component of the door. And, Figure 20 is a cross-sectional view taken along Figure 10 line 20-20. And, Figure 21 is a cross-sectional view taken along Figure 10 line 21-21.

[0208] As shown in the figure, the door 50 of the eighth embodiment of the present invention may include a panel assembly 60' that can see through the storage space. The panel assembly 60' may be installed in the openings 510 and 520 of the door 50 and may cover the openings 510 and 520.

[0209] The door 50 may include an outer panel 51 forming the front surface and a door inner lining 52 forming the back surface. And, a panel opening 510 may be formed in the outer panel 51, and a lining opening 520 may be formed in the door inner lining 52. The openings 510 and 520 may be defined by the panel opening 510 and the lining opening 520. In the state where the panel assembly 60' is installed, the front surface of the panel assembly 60' covers the panel opening 510 and may form at least a part of the front surface of the door 50. And, the back surface of the panel assembly 60' covers the lining opening 520 and may form at least a part of the back surface of the door 50.

[0210] The door 50 may further include an upper cover trim 54 and a lower cover trim 55 forming the top surface and the bottom surface. And, a heat insulating material may be filled inside the door 50. And, an operating member 591 for opening and closing the door 50 and a locking device 59 that operates according to the operation of the operating member 591 may be provided in the door 50. And, a door gasket 56 may be provided in the door inner lining 52. And, a lamp 57 is provided in the door inner lining 52 so that the see-through portion 611 can be selectively visualized.

[0211] The panel assembly 60' may include: a front panel 61 that forms the front surface; a rear panel 62 that is spaced apart from the front panel 61 and forms the rear surface; and a spacer 64 that connects between the front panel 61 and the rear panel 62 to form a part of the peripheral surface of the panel assembly 60'. Further, a heat insulating panel 63 may be disposed between the front panel 61 and the rear panel 62. Moreover, a heat insulating space 600' may be formed between the front panel 61, the rear panel 62, and the heat insulating panel 63. And, in a state where the front panel 61, the rear panel 62, the heat insulating panel 63, and the spacer 64 are combined, a sealant 65 may be coated on the peripheral surface of the panel assembly 60'.

[0212] The front panel 61 is formed to be larger than the rear panel 62, and a protruding portion that protrudes more outward than the rear panel 62 may be formed at the peripheral edge of the front panel 61. Further, a see-through portion 611 that can see through the interior may be defined at the center of the front panel 61, and an opaque border portion 612 may be formed at the peripheral edge of the see-through portion 611. The border portion 612 may be formed at the protruding portion that forms the outer end of the front panel 61.

[0213] On the other hand, the door 50 may further include a mounting bracket 53 for mounting the panel assembly 60'. The mounting bracket 53 may be coupled to the peripheral surface of the panel assembly 60' and may be fixedly installed inside the door 50.

[0214] Moreover, the mounting bracket 53 may include a mounting portion 531 that is coupled to the panel assembly 60' and a support portion 532 that abuts against the front panel 61. And, a heater 75 may be installed at the support portion 532. A heater receiving portion 533 for receiving the heater may be formed at the support portion. The heater receiving portion 533 may be formed in a shape corresponding to the heater 75. As an example, the heater receiving portion 533 may be formed as a groove at a position corresponding to the first heating portion 751 of the heater 75, and the heater receiving portion 533 may be formed as three grooves at a position corresponding to the second heating portion 752 of the heater 75.

[0215] In a state where the mounting bracket 53 is coupled to the panel assembly 60', the heater 75 may be in a state of abutting against the back surface of the front panel 61.

[0216] Through the operation of the heater 75, the peripheral edge of the front panel 61, that is, the see-through portion 611, may be heated, thereby preventing condensation from occurring on the front surface of the panel assembly 60'.

[0217] The heater 75 is a member for heating the periphery of the panel assembly 60', and may be constituted by a wire heater 75. And, a power supply line 754 for supplying power may be connected to one side of the heater 75.

[0218] Specifically, the heater 75 is disposed along the periphery of the panel assembly 60, and may include a first heating part 751 for heating the upper part of the transparent part 611 and a second heating part 752 for heating the lower part of the transparent part 611. At this time, the lower part where the second heating part 752 is disposed in the transparent part 611 means relative to the lower side of the first heating part 751, rather than an absolute position.

[0219] The first heating part 751 is constituted by one wire, and may be disposed along the upper end of the panel assembly 60 and the left and right side ends connected to the upper end. That is, the first heating part 751 may extend along the upper end of the transparent part 611 and a part of the left and right side ends.

[0220] The second heating part 752 may be constituted by a plurality of wires. The second heating part 752 may be connected to the end of the first heating part 751. And, the second heating part 752 may be constituted by a plurality of wires extending in the same direction as the extending direction of the transparent part 611. That is, the second heating part 752 may be formed by continuously bending the ends of the extending wires. As an example, a plurality of wires extending in the vertical direction may be formed on the left and right sides of the second heating part 752, and a plurality of wires extending in the horizontal direction may be formed at the lower end.

[0221] Therefore, the first heating part 751 may provide heat generation amount through one wire, and the second heating part 752 may provide a relatively larger heat generation amount through a plurality of wires. Therefore, compared with the first area 753a of the upper part of the transparent part 611 heated by the first heating part 751, the second area 753b of the lower part of the transparent part 611 heated by the second heating part 752 may be heated with a larger heat generation amount.

[0222] And, the vertical length H2 of the second heating part 752 may be longer than the vertical length H1 of the first heating part 751. As an example, the upper end of the second heating part 752 may be located at a position higher than the middle position of the vertical height of the transparent part 611. Therefore, the second area 753b of the lower part of the transparent part 611 can be heated with a sufficiently large amount of heat.

[0223] Therefore, even if relatively more cold air is distributed in the lower part of the transparent part 611, dew condensation will not occur in the entire transparent part 611 due to the different heat generation amounts provided by the heater 75.

[0224] Industrial Applicability

[0225] The refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention can prevent dew condensation on the front surface of the door, and thus has high industrial availability.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, wherein, Comprising: A box body, which forms a storage space; A door, which opens and closes the storage space; A panel assembly, which shields an opening penetrating through the door and forms a perspective portion for perspective of the storage space; And A heater, which is arranged along the boundary of the perspective portion; The heater includes: A first heating portion, which is arranged at the upper part of the panel assembly; and A second heating portion, which is arranged at the lower part of the panel assembly; The calorific value of the second heating portion is greater than that of the first heating portion.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein The first heating portion is formed along the periphery including the upper end of the perspective portion; The second heating portion is connected to the first heating portion and is formed along the periphery including the lower end of the perspective portion.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein The second heating portion extends between the middle position of the up and down height of the perspective portion and the upper end of the perspective portion.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein The heater is formed in a sheet shape; The width of the first heating portion is smaller than that of the second heating portion.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein The heater includes: A thin film portion, which is attached to the panel assembly; and A pattern portion, which is formed along the thin film portion and generates heat.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, wherein The pattern portion includes: A first pattern portion, which is arranged in a line along the first heating portion; and A second pattern portion, which extends from the first pattern portion and is arranged in a plurality of lines along the second heating portion.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein The second pattern portion is continuously bent and formed along the extending direction of the panel assembly.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein The second pattern portion is continuously bent and formed along the direction crossing the extending direction of the panel assembly.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein The heater is formed in a wire shape; The heater includes: A first pattern portion, which extends in a line along the first heating portion; and A second pattern portion, which extends in a plurality of lines along the second heating portion.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein The panel assembly includes: A first panel, which shields the opening from the front; A second panel, which is arranged behind the first panel and shields the opening from the back; and A spacer, which connects between the first panel and the second panel and forms a space between the first panel and the second panel; The first panel includes a frame portion, which extends from the outer end of the first panel to the perspective portion and is formed opaquely; The spacer and the heater are arranged in the frame portion.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein An installation bracket is provided on the panel assembly; The installation bracket includes a support portion which abuts against the back surface of the first panel; The heater is arranged between the support portion and the frame portion.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein The heater extends from one side of the support portion into the interior of the space and is shielded by the frame portion.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein The heater is formed by printing on the back surface of the first panel; At least a part of the heater is disposed between the first panel and the spacer.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein The heater is formed by printing on the frame portion; The heater and at least a part of the frame portion extend toward the inside of the space.

15. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein A sealant for sealing the circumferential surface of the panel assembly is coated on the outer surface of the spacer; The heater is formed to pass through the sealant and the spacer.

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