Refrigerator door with one replaceable door panel

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of household appliances, and particularly to a refrigerator door with a replaceable door panel.BACKGROUND

[0002] Along with constant development of science and technology, a refrigerator has already become one of indispensable household appliances. In current application, as the user's demands increase, the refrigerator is also required to exist as a decoration in the household environment in addition to as a household appliance.

[0003] Currently, a service life of the refrigerator may usually be in a range of 8 years to 10 years. During use of the refrigerator by the user, the appearance of the refrigerator once bought cannot satisfy the user's demands for long-term adjustment as the environment and scenario change. If the whole door body of the refrigerator is replaced, the cost of replacing the door body to achieve the changes in the appearance of the refrigerator is high, and the use of the refrigerator is affected, which is not conducive in satisfying the consumer's demands.

[0004] CN210119057U relates to a refrigerator with a replaceable door panel, comprising a refrigerator body, a refrigerator foam door body, and a refrigerator door panel provided on the refrigerator door body, the refrigerator door panel and the refrigerator foam door body being detachably coupled to each other.

[0005] CN206648400U relates to a display assembly for a refrigerator door, wherein the display is connected to a glass panel and fixed to the foamed door body by means of screw posts provided in the glass panel as well as hanging knobs.

[0006] CN107677035A relates to a refrigerator door body, the assembly of which only requires the decorative panel to be fixedly connected to the two positioning mounting parts, and the elastic convex rib on the door body body pushes up the decorative panel, so that the decorative panel has no assembly gap with the left and right sides of the door body.

[0007] CN111141098A relates to a door body for a refrigerator and a refrigerator, the door body having a first side panel flap and a second side panel flap, making the door structure more stable.

[0008] Further relevant prior art is disclosed in document US2013 / 033163A1.SUMMARY

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator door with a replaceable door panel, wherein a door body and a decorative door panel of the refrigerator door are detachably connected to achieve quick mounting and quick detachment of the decorative door panel.

[0010] The invention is defined by the independent claim 1. Further embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0011] As compared with the prior art, the present invention provides a refrigerator door with a replaceable door panel. The rotary latch on the front side of the door body rotates and snap-fits with the lock post on the rear side of the decorative door panel, so that the displacement of the decorative door panel in the up-down direction is limited; the limiting member on the front side of the door body pushes backward the other limiting member on the rear side of the decorative door panel, so that the displacement of the decorative door panel in the front-rear direction is limited, thereby achieving the quick assembling of the decorative door panel and the door body. After the rotary latch pivots reversely, the limitation of the decorative door panel and the door body in the up-down direction may be quickly released, the limitation of the door body and the decorative door panel in the front-rear direction may be released by pushing the decorative door panel to move up, thereby achieving quick detachment.

[0012] In addition, during the mounting and detachment of the door body and the decorative door panel, screws are not used for fixation, and instead, simple snap-fitting structures are used, so that the assembling between the decorative door panel and the door body is more stable and meanwhile the detachment is simpler and more convenient.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is a view of a refrigerator door with a replaceable door panel according to the present invention. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are exploded views of the refrigerator door with a replaceable door panel in FIG. 1 as viewed from different angles of view. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a dashed region in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a dashed region A in FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a dashed region B in FIG. 3. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a door body when a rotary latch is at a second position. FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of a door body with a replaceable door panel when the rotary latch is at a first position as viewed from front. FIG. 8B is an enlarged view of a dashed region in FIG. 8A. FIG. 9A is another cross-sectional view of a door body with a replaceable door panel when the rotary latch is at the first position as viewed from front. FIG. 9B is an enlarged view of a dashed region in FIG. 9A. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a door body with a replaceable door panel when the rotary latch is at the second position as viewed from a side. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] The present invention will be described in detail below in combination with embodiments shown in the figures.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 7, a refrigerator door 100 according to claim 1 with a replaceable door panel comprises: a door body 10, and a decorative door panel 20 detachably connected to the door body 10; a rotary latch and a limiting member 14 are disposed on a front side of the door body 10; a lock post 23 and a second limiting member 24 are disposed on a rear side of the decorative door panel 20 facing towards the door body 10; when the decorative door panel 20 is assembled on the front side of the door body 10, the rotary latch and the lock post 23 snap-fit each other, thereby limiting a displacement of the decorative door panel 20 in an up-down direction; the second limiting member 24 cooperates with the first limiting member 14 to limit a displacement of the decorative door panel 20 in a front-rear direction.

[0016] The rotary latch comprises a pivoting member 30, and a snap 31 and a locking hook 32 are disposed at opposite ends of the pivoting member 30, wherein a pivoting hole 301 is disposed on the pivoting member 30, one end of a rotating shaft 40 is for example fixed on one side of the door body 10, the other end of the rotating shaft 40 is inserted into the pivoting hole 301, and the pivoting member 30 pivots around the rotating shaft 40; when the pivoting member 30 pivots to a first position, the snap 31 snap-fits with one side of the door body 10, and the locking hook 32 snap-fits with the lock post 23 on the rear side the decorative door panel 20; when the pivoting member 30 pivots to a second position, the snap-fitting of the snap 31 and the door body 10 is released, and the lock post 23 disengages from the locking hook 32.

[0017] A rear platform 12 is disposed on the front side of the door body 10. The rear platform 12 is for example formed on a peripheral trim strip of the door body 10 and extends towards the decorative door panel 20. A front end of the rear platform 12 is slightly lower than the front side of the door body 10 and makes proper space for engagement with the decorative door panel 20 so that the decorative door panel 20 may be tightly attached to the front side of the door body 10.

[0018] In the present embodiment, a fixing block 123 is disposed at a corner of the rear platform 12. One end of the rotating shaft 40 is fixed on the fixing block 123, and the other end of the rotating shaft 40 protrudes from the fixing block 123 and mates with the pivoting hole 301 of the pivoting member 30. The pivoting member 30 is pivotally engaged at the front side of the fixing block 123.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 8B and FIG. 9B, a notch 121 is disposed on the rear platform 12. When the pivoting member 30 pivots to the first position, the snap 31 of the pivoting member 30 passes through the notch 121 and snap-fits with the rear platform 12.

[0020] The pivoting member 30 further comprises a holding portion 33 which is located between the pivoting member 30 and the snap 31. The snap 31 is for example a snap arm, which is formed at an end of the holding portion 33, and a gap 311 is formed between the snap arm and an end of the holding portion 33. A side surface of the snap arm away from the holding portion 33 comprises a snap lug 312 and a stopper 313.

[0021] When the pivoting member 30 pivots to the first position, the holding portion 33 enters the notch 121, a lateral side of the notch 121 of the rear platform 12 squeezes the snap arm and the snap lug 131, and the gap 311 provides a deformation space for the snap arm. After the snap lug 312 on the snap arm goes beyond the lateral side of the notch 121 of the rear platform 12, a movement tendency of the snap arm in the up-down direction is stopped by the stopper 313 below the snap lug 312. At this time, a rebound force after the snap arm is squeezed is used, the lateral side of the notch 121 of the rear platform 12 snap-fits between the snap lug 312 and the stopper 313, that is, the snap lug 312 passes through the notch 121 and presses against the lateral side of the notch 121 of the rear platform 12 under the action of the rebound force of the snap arm.

[0022] In the present embodiment, the snap arm is for example an arched arm or an arched arm structure.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 8B and FIG. 9B, the locking hook 32 is an opening formed on the pivoting member 30. An elastic arm 321 is disposed in the opening. The elastic arm 321 divides the opening into a snap-fitting area 322 and a deformation area 323. A size of the opening of the snap-fitting area 322 is smaller than the diameter of the lock post 23. When the snap-fitting area 322 snap-fits with the lock post 23, the lock post 23 squeezes the elastic arm 321, the elastic arm 321 moves towards the deformation area 323, the opening expands, and the lock post 23 snap-fits in the snap-fitting area 322, and a rebound force provided by the elastic arm 321 makes the size of the opening of the snap-fitting area 322 reduced, thereby preventing the lock post 23 from disengaging from the snap-fitting area 322. When the lock post 23 disengages from the snap-fitting area 322, and the lock post 23 squeezes the elastic arm 321, so that the opening of the snap-fitting area 322 is expanded, and the lock post 23 disengages from the opening.

[0024] In the present embodiment, the snap 31 and the locking hook 32 are respectively formed at opposite left and right ends of the pivoting member 30. The holding portion 33 is disposed between the left end of the pivoting member 30 and the snap 31. The holding portion 33 is turned so that the pivoting member 30 pivots, the snap 31 snap-fits with the rear platform 12 on a side of the door body 10, and the locking hook 32 snap-fits with the lock post 23 on the rear side of the decorative door panel 20.

[0025] As shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8B, the rotary latch further comprises a locking hook cover 50 which is disposed at a front side of the pivoting member 30, between the decorative door panel 20 and the door body 10, and is locked on the door body 10. In the front-rear direction, a front side of the locking hook cover 50 is slightly lower than the front side of the door body 10. The locking hook cover 50 may be locked on a front side of the fixing block 123 at the corner of the rear platform 12.

[0026] In the present embodiment, the locking hook cover 50 is provided with a receiving slot 51 which is a runway slot. When the decorative door panel 20 is assembled on the front side of the door body 10, the lock post 23 on the rear side of the decorative door panel 20 is received in the receiving slot, and the rear end of the lock post 23 protrudes from the receiving slot 51 and is caught by the locking hook 32.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, FIG. 5, FIG. 6 and FIG. 10, a frame 21 is disposed on the rear side of the decorative door panel 20, a front platform 22 protrudes from the frame 2 towards the door body 10, the front platform 22 and the rear platform 12 extend opposite to each other, and the front platform 22 is provided with a raised column 221 which has a cavity 222.

[0028] The front platform 22 may be regarded as a front handle formed on the rear side of the decorative door panel 20, and the rear platform 12 may be regarded as a rear handle formed on the front side of the door body 10. When the decorative door panel 20 is assembled on the front side of the door body 10, the front platform 22 and the rear platform 12 are superposed with each other or the front handle and the rear handle are superposed with each other, and are hidden between the door body 10 and the decorative door panel 20. Therefore, the front platform 22 and the rear platform 12 may be regarded as forming a hidden handle structure of the refrigerator door 100 with the replaceable door panel.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 6, the lock post 23 is formed on the frame 21 and protrudes toward the door body 10. In the present embodiment, the lock post 23 is disposed adjacent left and right sides of the front platform 22. Preferably, the lock post 23, the front platform 22 and the frame 21 are integrally formed, attached to the rear side of the decorative door panel 20, and integrated with the decorative door panel 20 to facilitate quick detachment and quick mounting when the decorative door panel 20 is replaced.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 10, when the decorative door panel 20 of the integrated frame 21 is assembled on the front side of the door body 10, the front platform 22 overlaps a side of the rear platform 12 in the up-down direction. In the present embodiment, the front platform 22 overlaps or is superposed on an upper side of the rear platform 12. A positioning lug 122 on the rear platform 12 is inserted into the cavity 222 of the raised column 221 of the front platform 22, and the displacement of the decorative door panel 20 in the left- right direction is limited.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 7 and FIG. 10, a hook groove 13 is disposed on the front side of the door body 10, a first limiting member 14 is disposed in the hook groove 13, and an elastic pushing portion 141 is disposed on a rear side of the first limiting member 14; a second limiting member 24 is disposed on the upper side of the frame 21, the second limiting member 24 is a hook, and the second limiting member 24 is disposed opposite to the lock post 23 and the front platform 22; when the hook enters the hook groove 13 and falls into the bottom of the hook groove 13, the elastic pushing portion 141 pushes the hook backward elastically in the front- rear direction, so that the decorative door panel 20 moves backward and fits on the front side of the door body 10. There is no gap between the door body 10 and the decorative door panel 20, which increases the aesthetics of the refrigerator door 100 with the replaceable door panel.

[0032] In the present embodiment, one end of the elastic pushing portion 141 is connected with a body 142 of the first limiting member 14, and the other end of the elastic pushing portion 141 extends obliquely downward toward the interior of the hook groove 13. The elastic pushing portion 141 extending obliquely downward may also guide the hook to slide toward the bottom of the hook groove 13, thereby improving the convenience in assembling the hook.

[0033] In addition, a hook insertion port of the hook groove 13 is opposite to the decorative door panel 20, a limiting projection is disposed on a rear groove wall of the hook groove 13, the rear groove wall is opposite to the hook insertion port, the hook is provided with a limiting hole 242 corresponding to the limiting projection, and the limiting hole 242 mates with the limiting projection, thereby limiting the hook from moving in the hook groove 13 in the left-right direction and thereby limiting the displacement of the decorative door panel 20 in the left-right direction.

[0034] In addition, the hook further comprises a plurality of reinforcing ribs 241, which are used to improve a load-bearing capacity of the hook and the stability of the decorative door panel 20 after assembling.

[0035] As known from FIG. 1 through FIG. 10, a process of assembling the refrigerator 100 with the replaceable door panel is as follows:

[0036] In the up-down direction, first, the hook on the upper side of the frame 21 on the rear side of the decorative door panel 20 is inserted into the hook groove 13, and the lock post 23 on the lower side of the frame 21 enters the receiving slot 51 of the locking hook cover 50; next, the decorative door panel 20 is moved downward, the hook falls into the bottom of the hook groove 13, and is pushed backward by the elastic pushing portion 141 of the first limiting member 14; as the hook moves towards the bottom of the hook groove 13, the lock post 23 slides down along the receiving slot 51 and slides to the bottom of the receiving slot 51. At this time, the rear platform 12 and the front platform 22 overlap each other, and the positioning lug 122 enters the cavity 222 of the raised column 221; then, the holding portion 33 on the pivoting member 30 is turned; when the pivoting member 30 is at the first position, the holding portion 33 is located in the notch 121 of the front platform 12 of the door body 10, the snap lug 312 of the snap 31 goes beyond the lateral side of the notch 121 and presses against the upper side of the front platform 12, and the snap-fitting area 322 of the locking hook 32 at the other end of the pivoting member 30 snap-fits with the lock post 23.

[0037] As known from FIG. 1 through FIG. 10, a process of detaching the refrigerator 100 with the replaceable door panel is as follows:

[0038] When the refrigerator door with the replaceable door panel needs to be detached, the holding portion 33 of the pivoting member 30 is turned in the opposite direction, the holding portion 33 drives the snap 31 to turn out of the notch 121, the snap 31 disengages from the front platform 12, the pivoting member 30 pivots in the opposite direction, and the lock post 23 disengages from the locking hook 32; then, the decorative door panel 20 is pushed upward in the up-down direction, the hook squeezes the first limiting member 14, moves upward in the hook groove 13, and disengages from the hook groove 13. At the same time, the positioning lug 122 disengages from the cavity 222 of the raised column 221, and the decorative door panel 20 is detached from the door body 10.

[0039] To conclude, the present invention provides a refrigerator door according to claim 1 with a replaceable door panel. The rotary latch on the front side of the door body rotates and snap-fits with the lock post on the rear side of the decorative door panel, so that the displacement of the decorative door panel in the up-down direction is limited; the limiting member on the front side of the door body pushes backward the other limiting member on the rear side of the decorative door panel, so that the displacement of the decorative door panel in the front-rear direction is limited, thereby achieving the quick assembling of the decorative door panel and the door body. After the rotary latch pivots reversely, the limitation of the decorative door panel and the door body in the up-down direction may be quickly released, the limitation of the door body and the decorative door panel in the front-rear direction may be released by pushing the decorative door panel to move up, thereby achieving quick detachment.

[0040] In addition, during the mounting and detachment of the door body and the decorative door panel, screws are not used for fixation, and instead, simple snap-fitting structures are used, so that the assembling between the decorative door panel and the door body is more stable and meanwhile the detachment is simpler and more convenient.

[0041] It should be understood that although the description is described according to the embodiments, not every embodiment only comprises one independent technical solution, that such a description manner is only for the sake of clarity, that those skilled in the art should take the description as an integral part, whereas the present invention is disclosed in the following claims.

[0042] The detailed descriptions set forth above are merely specific illustrations of feasible embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A refrigerator door (100) with a replaceable door panel, wherein the refrigerator door (100) comprises: a door body (10) and a decorative door panel (20) detachably connected to the door body (10); wherein a rotary latch and a first limiting member (14) are disposed on the door body (10); a rear side of the decorative door panel (20) facing towards the door body (10) comprises a second limiting member (24) and a lock post (23); wherein when the decorative door panel (20) is assembled on a front side of the door body (10), the rotary latch and the lock post (23) snap-fit each other to limit a displacement of the decorative door panel (20) in an up-down direction; the first limiting member (14) cooperates with the second limiting member (24) to limit a displacement of the decorative door panel (20) in a front-rear direction; wherein the rotary latch comprises a pivoting member (30), and a locking hook (32) and a snap (31) disposed at opposite ends of the pivoting member (30), wherein when the pivoting member (30) pivots to a first position, the locking hook (32) snap-fits with the lock post (23), and the snap (31) snap-fits with a side of the door body (10).

2. The refrigerator door (100) according to claim 1, wherein when the rotary latch turns to a second position, the snap (31) disengages from the side of the door body (10), and the lock post (23) disengages from the locking hook (32).

3. The refrigerator door (100) according to claim 1, wherein a rear platform (12) is disposed on a side of the door body (10), the pivoting member (30) is pivotally connected to the front side of the rear platform (12), the rear platform (12) comprises a notch (121), wherein when the pivoting member (30) pivots to the first position, the snap (31) snap-fits with the notch (121) .

4. The refrigerator door (100) according to claim 3, wherein the pivoting member (30) comprises a holding portion (33) which is disposed between the pivoting member (30) and the snap (31), the snap (31) is a snap arm, a gap (311) is formed between the snap arm and the holding portion (33), a side surface of the snap arm away from the holding portion (33) comprises a snap lug (131), wherein when the snap (31) snap-fits with the notch (121), the snap lug (131) passes through the notch (121) and presses against the rear platform (12).

5. The refrigerator door (100) according to claim 4, wherein the locking hook (32) is an opening formed on the pivoting member (30), an elastic arm (321) is disposed in the opening, the elastic arm (321) divides the opening into a snap-fitting area (322) and a deformation area (323), wherein when the pivoting member (30) turns to the first position, the snap-fitting area (322) snap-fits the lock post (23).

6. The refrigerator door (100) according to claim 3, wherein the rotary latch further comprises a locking hook cover (50) which is disposed on a front side of the pivoting member (30), the locking hook cover (50) is provided with a receiving slot (51), wherein when the decorative door panel (20) is assembled on the front side of the door body (10), the lock post (23) is received in the receiving slot (51), and a rear end of the lock post (23) protrudes from the receiving slot (51) and is caught by the locking hook (32).

7. The refrigerator door (100) according to claim 6, wherein the receiving slot (51) is a runway slot.

8. The refrigerator door (100) according to claim 3, wherein a front platform (22) is disposed on the rear side of the decorative door panel (20), the front platform (22) protrudes towards the door body (10), the front platform (22) is provided with a raised column (221) which has a cavity (222), a positioning lug (122) is disposed on the rear platform (12), wherein the decorative door panel (20) is assembled on the front side of the door body (10), and the positioning lug (122) enters the cavity (222) to limit a displacement of the decorative door panel (20) in a left- right direction.

9. The refrigerator door (100) according to claim 1, wherein a frame (21) is disposed on the rear side of the decorative door panel (20), the frame (21) is attached to the decorative door panel (20), the second limiting member (24) is disposed on an upper side of the frame (21), the lock post (23) is disposed on a lower side of the frame (21), wherein the second limiting member (24) is a hook.

10. The refrigerator door (100) according to claim 9, wherein a hook groove (13) is disposed on the front side of the door body (10), the first limiting member (14) is disposed in the hook groove (13), and the first limiting member (14) comprises an elastic pushing portion (141), wherein the hook enters the hook groove (13), and the elastic pushing portion (141) pushes the hook rearward.