Refrigerator

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator with improved appearance of a painted resin component.SOLUTION: A refrigerator has a housing, a door, and a painted component. The housing includes a storage chamber with an opening. The door is attached so that the opening can be opened and closed. The painted component is provided on the housing or the door. The painted component has a body part and a straightening member. The body part is formed from resin, and has a decorative surface that has been painted. The straightening member is provided along a back surface of the body part opposite the decorative surface, and straightens out the warping of the body part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a refrigerator.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, there is a refrigerator provided with operating devices such as buttons and switches that accept various operations on the door and inside the cabinet. As an operating device provided in the refrigerator, for example, there is a door opening button provided on the door that accepts a door opening operation.

[0003] In a refrigerator as described above, resin parts with a coating on the surface are often used for components that are visible to the user, such as the door opening button. Further, such resin parts are required to have few surface mismatches with surrounding parts in order to improve the aesthetics. However, when drying the coating, the coated resin parts may be deformed, resulting in a surface mismatch with surrounding parts.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that improves the aesthetics of resin parts with a coating.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The refrigerator according to the embodiment includes a housing, a door, and a painted component. The housing includes a storage chamber having an opening. The door is attached to be openable and closable with respect to the opening. The painted component is provided on the housing or the door. The painted component has a main body portion and a correction member. The main body portion is formed of resin and has a paint applied to a decorative surface. The correction member is provided along a back surface of the main body portion on a side opposite to the decorative surface, and corrects warping of the main body portion.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, the refrigerator according to the embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, components having the same or similar functions are denoted by the same reference numerals. And redundant descriptions of these components may be omitted.

[0009] In this embodiment, the vertical direction in the refrigerator 1 is defined as the "vertical direction V", the vertically upward direction is defined as "upward UP" in the vertical direction V, and the vertically downward direction is defined as "downward LO" in the vertical direction V. Also, the left-right direction as viewed from a user standing in front of the refrigerator 1 is defined as the "width direction W", the leftward direction is defined as "leftward LT" in the width direction W, and the rightward direction is defined as "rightward RT" in the width direction W. Further, the direction orthogonal to the vertical direction V and the width direction W is defined as the "depth direction D", the direction closer to the user standing in front of the refrigerator 1 as viewed from the refrigerator 1 is defined as "frontward FR" in the depth direction D, and the distant direction is defined as "rearward RR" in the depth direction D.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a front view showing the refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line F2-F2 in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the ceiling portion of the refrigerator 1 according to this embodiment. The overall configuration of the refrigerator 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described. Note that the refrigerator 1 does not necessarily have all of the configurations described below, and some configurations may be appropriately omitted.

[0011] The refrigerator 1 includes, for example, a refrigerator main body 5 and a plurality of doors 11. The refrigerator main body 5 includes a housing 10. As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 10 includes, for example, an inner box 10a, an outer box 10b, and a foamed heat insulating material 10c.

[0012] The inner box 10a is a member that forms the inner surface of the housing 10 and is, for example, made of synthetic resin. The outer box 10b is a member that forms the outer surface of the housing 10 and is, for example, made of metal. The outer box 10b is formed to be slightly larger than the inner box 10a and is disposed outside the inner box 10a.

[0013] The outer box 10b is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped that forms the outer surface portion of the housing 10 excluding the frontward FR (front surface). However, a recess for forming a machine room 26 described later is formed at the rearward RR of the lower end portion (lower end) of the outer box 10b.

[0014] The foamed heat insulating material 10c is a heat insulating material made of a foam such as foamed urethane, and is filled between the inner box 10a and the outer box 10b.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 10 has an upper wall 21, a lower wall 22, a left side wall 23, a right side wall 24, and a rear wall 25.

[0016] The upper wall 21 and the lower wall 22 extend substantially horizontally. The left side wall 23 and the right side wall 24 stand up upward UP from the left and right (left LT and right RT) ends of the lower wall 22 and are connected to the left and right ends of the upper wall 21. As shown in FIG. 2, the rear wall 25 stands up upward UP from the rear RR end (rear end) of the lower wall 22 and is connected to the rear end of the upper wall 21.

[0017] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a plurality of storage chambers 27 are formed inside the housing 10. The plurality of storage chambers 27 include, for example, a refrigerating chamber 27A, a vegetable chamber 27B, an ice making chamber 27C, a small freezing chamber 27D, and a main freezing chamber 27E.

[0018] In the present embodiment, among the plurality of storage chambers 27, the refrigerating chamber 27A is arranged at the uppermost position UP (the topmost). The vegetable chamber 27B is arranged below LO the refrigerating chamber 27A. The ice making chamber 27C and the small freezing chamber 27D are arranged below LO the vegetable chamber 27B. The main freezing chamber 27E is arranged below LO the ice making chamber 27C and the small freezing chamber 27D. Also, the small freezing chamber 27D is arranged to the right RT of the ice making chamber 27C.

[0019] The housing 10 has an opening in front FR of each storage chamber 27 that enables the loading and unloading of foodstuffs and the like into and from each storage chamber 27.

[0020] The housing 10 has a first partition portion 28 and a second partition portion 29. The first partition portion 28 and the second partition portion 29 are partition walls that extend substantially along the horizontal direction, for example.

[0021] The first partition portion 28 is located between the refrigerating chamber 27A and the vegetable chamber 27B and partitions between the refrigerating chamber 27A and the vegetable chamber 27B.

[0022] The second partition portion 29 is located between the vegetable compartment 27B and the ice making compartment 27C and the small freezing compartment 27D, and partitions between the vegetable compartment 27B and the ice making compartment 27C and the small freezing compartment 27D.

[0023] The temperature inside the vegetable compartment 27B is maintained higher than that of the refrigerating compartment 27A. Inside the vegetable compartment 27B, for example, a vegetable compartment container for storing stored items such as vegetables and a guide rail for moving the vegetable compartment container in the depth direction D are provided.

[0024] The temperatures inside the ice making compartment 27C, the small freezing compartment 27D, and the main freezing compartment 27E are maintained at temperatures capable of freezing stored items. Inside the ice making compartment 27C, the small freezing compartment 27D, and the main freezing compartment 27E, for example, storage containers for storing stored items to be refrigerated respectively and guide rails for moving the storage containers in the depth direction D are provided.

[0025] The openings of the plurality of storage compartments 27 are covered so as to be openable and closable by a plurality of doors 11. As shown in FIG. 1, the plurality of doors 11 include, for example, a left refrigerating compartment door 11Aa, a right refrigerating compartment door 11Ab, a vegetable compartment door 11B, an ice making compartment door 11C, a small freezing compartment door 11D, and a main freezing compartment door 11E.

[0026] The left refrigerating compartment door 11Aa and the right refrigerating compartment door 11Ab are attached to open and close the opening of the refrigerating compartment 27A. The vegetable compartment door 11B is attached to open and close the opening of the vegetable compartment 27B. The ice making compartment door 11C is attached to open and close the opening of the ice making compartment 27C. The small freezing compartment door 11D is attached to open and close the opening of the small freezing compartment 27D. The main freezing compartment door 11E is attached to open and close the opening of the main freezing compartment 27E.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 3, the left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab are rotatably supported with respect to the housing 10 about a rotation axis O via hinges 6. The left refrigerator door 11Aa is rotatably supported about a rotation axis Oa via a left hinge 6A provided on the left side LT of the housing 10. The right refrigerator door 11Ab is rotatably supported about a rotation axis Ob via a right hinge 6B provided on the right side RT of the housing 10.

[0028] Rotating doors that open to the left and right, such as the left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab, may also be referred to as, for example, double-opening doors, French doors, etc.

[0029] The dimensions in the width direction W of the left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab may be equal to each other or different from each other. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the dimensions in the width direction W of each other are different, and the dimension of the left refrigerator door 11Aa is smaller than the dimension of the right refrigerator door 11Ab.

[0030] Also, as shown in FIG. 2, door containers 18A and 18B that are movably provided in the vertical direction V and a door container 19 provided in the lower direction LO are detachably attached to the rear RR of the right refrigerator door 11Ab. A plurality of door containers may also be similarly attached to the rear RR of the left refrigerator door 11Aa.

[0031] The vegetable compartment door 11B, the ice making compartment door 11C, the small freezer compartment door 11D, and the main freezer compartment door 11E are, for example, pull-out doors.

[0032] A vegetable compartment container is connected to the surface of the rear RR of the vegetable compartment door 11B. Storage containers for each are connected to the surfaces of the rear RR of the ice making compartment door 11C, the small freezer compartment door 11D, and the main freezer compartment door 11E.

[0033] The plurality of doors 11 each contain an appropriate heat insulating material inside. The appropriate heat insulating material may include a foam heat insulating material similar to the above-described foam heat insulating material 10c, a sheet heat insulating material, a vacuum heat insulating material, and the like.

[0034] At the rear RR of the housing 10, various members that form the refrigerator body 5 together with the housing 10 are arranged. Examples of the members that form the refrigerator body 5 include a pipe (not shown) through which a refrigerant circulates, cooling units 15A, 15B, flow path forming members 14A, 14B, cooling fans 16A, 16B, and the like.

[0035] At the rear RR of the housing 10, a machine room 26 is provided at the lower LO, where, for example, a compressor, a condenser, an evaporation dish, and the like are arranged.

[0036] The cooling unit 15A is arranged at the rear RR of the refrigerating chamber 27A and cools the refrigerating chamber 27A and the vegetable chamber 27B.

[0037] The cooling unit 15B is arranged at the rear RR of the ice making chamber 27C or the small freezing chamber 27D and cools the ice making chamber 27C, the small freezing chamber 27D, and the main freezing chamber 27E.

[0038] The flow path forming member 14A forms a flow path through which the cold air supplied from the cooling unit 15A flows into the refrigerating chamber 27A and the vegetable chamber 27B.

[0039] The flow path forming member 14B forms a flow path through which the cold air supplied from the cooling unit 15B flows into the ice making chamber 27C, the small freezing chamber 27D, and the main freezing chamber 27E.

[0040] The cooling fan 16A blows the cold air formed by the cooling unit 15A into the flow path surrounded by the flow path forming member 14A, and forms a flow of cold air circulating inside the refrigerating chamber 27A and the vegetable chamber 27B.

[0041] The cooling fan 16B blows the cold air formed by the cooling unit 15B into the flow path surrounded by the flow path forming member 14B, and forms a flow of cold air circulating inside the ice making chamber 27C, the small freezing chamber 27D, and the main freezing chamber 27E.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a first power supply board 70 and a second power supply board 80 are provided in the power supply board housing portion 2 in the ceiling portion above UP of the housing 10. Here, the ceiling portion indicates the upper UP surface of the upper wall 21.

[0043] The power supply board housing portion 2 has a rectangular container shape with an open upper UP, and is covered from above UP by a lid member 2A for the power supply board housing portion. The lid member 2A for the power supply board housing portion is detachably attached to the power supply board housing portion 2.

[0044] The first power supply board 70 is a power supply board to which power is supplied from an external commercial power supply PS via a power cord 7, and supplies power required for the cooling operation of the refrigerator 1 to various places. The first power supply board 70 supplies power to, for example, the cooling units 15A and 15B and a door opening device 41 described later.

[0045] The first power supply board 70 includes a control unit 70a composed of a computer such as a microcomputer, and the control unit 70a of the first power supply board 70 controls the entire refrigerator 1.

[0046] The second power supply board 80 is connected to the first power supply board 70 via a power supply line 8, and power is supplied from an external commercial power supply PS through the first power supply board 70. The second power supply board 80 supplies power to, for example, a door opening operation unit 50 described later.

[0047] The second power supply board 80 may include a control unit composed of a computer such as a microcomputer and control a part or the whole of the refrigerator 1. Further, the control unit 70a that controls the refrigerator 1 may be provided on a control board or the like other than the first power supply board 70 or the second power supply board 80.

[0048] In the space between the inner box 10a and the outer box 10b of the housing 10, a wiring bundle 12 drawn from the first power supply board 70 and a wiring bundle 13 drawn from the second power supply board 80 are drawn.

[0049] The wiring harness 12 includes control lines connected to the first power supply board 70, the cooling units 15A and 15B, and the door opening device 41, and transmits control signals from the first power supply board 70 to the cooling units 15A and 15B, and the door opening device 41.

[0050] The wiring harness 13 is a power supply line that supplies power to the door opening operation unit 50 and the like. Further, the wiring harness 12 may include a power supply line that supplies power from the first power supply board 70 to the door opening operation unit 50 and the like.

[0051] The first power supply board 70 and the second power supply board 80 may not be two independent power supply boards, but may be a single power supply board. Further, the first power supply board 70 and the second power supply board 80 may be provided on the rear wall 25 of the housing 10.

[0052] The door opening device 41 is provided on the ceiling portion of the housing 10. The door opening device 41 is covered from above by a cover member 3 detachably attached to the upper wall 21 of the housing 10. The door opening device 41 is a device that automatically opens the left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab. For example, the door opening device 41 includes a left door opening device 41A and a right door opening device 41B.

[0053] The left door opening device 41A and the right door opening device 41B have, for example, a driving device for opening the left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab, and other components such as a housing member for housing the driving device.

[0054] In the present embodiment, as the driving device, for example, it has a movable iron core that is pushed forward FR when an electromagnet is excited, and a cylindrical coil (not shown) provided around the movable iron core, and uses a solenoid structure or a solenoid method that moves the movable iron core disposed inside the cylindrical coil by an electromagnetic force obtained by passing an electric current through the cylindrical coil.

[0055] The left door opening device 41A and the right door opening device 41B can open the left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab by causing the movable iron core to move straight forward by the electromagnetic force generated when an electric current flows through the cylindrical coil by the above-described driving device using the solenoid structure or the solenoid method. A driving device using the solenoid structure or the solenoid method may be referred to as a solenoid actuator.

[0056] With such a driving device, the movable iron core inside the cylindrical coil can be vigorously advanced by the electromagnetic force, and thus the left refrigerator door 11Aa or the right refrigerator door 11Ab can be vigorously pushed out in the opening direction. Note that the power by the movable iron core is transmitted to the left refrigerator door 11Aa or the right refrigerator door 11Ab while the movable iron core is in contact with the left refrigerator door 11Aa or the right refrigerator door 11Ab.

[0057] The left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab are opened by the pressing force of the movable iron core, and then rotate to open to a predetermined angle by the inertia due to the pushed-out force. When the action of inertia weakens, the opening speed of the left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab decreases. In this way, the left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab are set to an open state to a certain extent.

[0058] The left door opening device 41A is disposed behind RR of the left refrigerator door 11Aa. The left door opening device 41A has a plunger 41P as the movable iron core that is pushed out forward FR when the electromagnet is excited, and the cylindrical coil (not shown) provided around the plunger 41P.

[0059] The right door opening device 41B is disposed behind RR of the right refrigerator door 11Ab. The right door opening device 41B has a plunger 41P as the movable iron core that is pushed out forward FR when the electromagnet is excited, and the cylindrical coil (not shown) provided around the plunger 41P.

[0060] The cylindrical coil has, for example, a shape formed by tightly winding a wire made of copper wire in a spiral shape. The plunger 41P is provided inside the cylindrical coil and is a movable iron core that moves straight using the electromagnetic force generated when an electric current flows through the cylindrical coil. The direction in which the plunger 41P moves straight coincides with the depth direction D.

[0061] The door opening device 41 is controlled by the control unit 70a of the first power supply board 70, and forcibly opens the left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab by pushing the plunger 41P forward FR.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 1, the left refrigerator door 11Aa and the right refrigerator door 11Ab have a door opening operation unit 50 (operation unit) on the front FR surface that can detect an input operation from the user. When the door opening operation unit 50 receives an operation from the user, the control unit 70a operates the door opening device 41. The configuration of the door opening operation unit 50 will be described later.

[0063] The door opening operation unit 50 includes a left door opening operation unit 50a provided on the left refrigerator door 11Aa and a right door opening operation unit 50b provided on the right refrigerator door 11Ab. When the control unit 70a receives an operation on the left door opening operation unit 50a, it operates the left door opening device 41A, and when it receives an operation on the right door opening operation unit 50b, it operates the right door opening device 41B.

[0064] Next, the configuration of the door opening operation unit 50 will be described. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the door opening operation unit 50 in the refrigerator 1. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the main body portion 51 and the reinforcing plate 52 in the door opening operation unit 50. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line F6-F6 in FIG. 5. The door 11 shown in FIG. 4 indicates the left refrigerator door 11Aa or the right refrigerator door 11Ab.

[0065] Also, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view when the left refrigerator door 11Aa or the right refrigerator door 11Ab is closed. Here, in the closed left refrigerator door 11Aa and right refrigerator door 11Ab, the depth direction D is also referred to as the "thickness direction", the front FR is referred to as the "outside", and the rear RR is referred to as the "inside".

[0066] The door opening operation unit 50 includes a main body unit 51, a reinforcing plate (correction member) 52, and a case unit 53. The door opening operation unit 50 is a push button capable of detecting an operation in which a user presses the main body unit 51 rearward in the RR direction. The door opening operation unit 50 includes a sensor (detection unit) (not shown) capable of detecting that the main body unit 51 has been pushed rearward in the RR direction. The sensor of the door opening operation unit 50 is connected to the first power supply board 70 or the second power supply board 80 via wiring. The control unit 70a controls the door opening device 41 based on the operation detected by the door opening operation unit 50, and opens the left refrigerator door 11Aa or the right refrigerator door 11Ab.

[0067] The main body unit 51 includes a button part 511, an upper rear protruding part 512, an upper protruding part 513, a side rear protruding part (vertical wall part) 514, a fixed wall part 515, and a connection part 516.

[0068] The main body unit 51 is a resin component formed of resin. As shown in FIG. 4, the main body unit 51 is provided in an opening (hole-shaped part) 11h that penetrates a member forming the outer surface (outer face) 11s of the door 11 in the thickness direction.

[0069] The button part 511 is a plate-shaped member and is a member through which a user inputs an operation to open the door 11. The user performs an operation to open the door 11 by pushing the button part 511 rearward in the RR direction.

[0070] The decorative surface 511a of the button part 511 is painted. The decorative surface 511a of the button part 511 is the surface facing the outside of the door 11 in the button part 511 provided on the door 11. The door opening operation unit 50 is a painted component having a painted button part 511.

[0071] The main body unit 51 is provided on the door 11 such that the decorative surface 511a of the button part 511 and the outer surface 11s of the door 11 are substantially flush. Specifically, the decorative surface 511a is located on a virtual surface extending the outer surface 11s of the door 11 in a hole-shaped part 11h provided on the outer surface 11s of the door 11.

[0072] The main body portion 51 is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat in the thickness direction of the door 11. When the user inputs an opening operation to the door opening operation portion 50, for example, the user pushes the main body portion 51 located at the initial position inward of the door 11 with a finger. When the user releases the finger from the main body portion 51, the main body portion 51 is pushed outward of the door 11 by a biasing member (not shown) such as a spring and returns to the initial position. The main body portion 51 is provided such that the decorative surface 511a and the outer surface 11s of the door 11 are substantially flush with each other at this initial position. The main body portion 51 shown in FIG. 4 is located at the initial position.

[0073] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the dimension in the vertical direction V of the button portion 511 is larger than the dimension in the width direction W of the button portion 511. That is, the button portion 511 has a shape that is long in the vertical direction V.

[0074] The upper rear protruding portion 512 is provided at the upper part of the main body portion 51. The upper part of the main body portion 51 indicates the vicinity of the upper UP end of the main body portion 51. The upper rear protruding portion 512 is provided on the back surface of the button portion 511 and protrudes toward the back surface side (rear RR). The back surface of the button portion 511 indicates the surface facing the opposite side of the decorative surface 511a. That is, the back surface of the button portion 511 indicates the surface facing the inside of the door 11.

[0075] The upper protruding portion 513 is a portion that protrudes upward UP from the tip of the upper rear protruding portion 512. As shown in FIG. 4, in a cross section parallel to the vertical direction V and the depth direction D, the upper rear protruding portion 512 and the upper protruding portion 513 form a substantially L-shaped configuration.

[0076] The side rear protruding portion (vertical wall portion) 514 is provided at both ends in the width direction W of the main body portion 51 and protrudes toward the back surface side of the button portion 511. Both ends in the width direction W of the main body portion 51 indicate the left LT end and the right RT end of the main body portion 51.

[0077] As shown in FIG. 5, the side rear protruding portion 514 is provided in the vicinity of the outer periphery of the main body portion 51. The side rear protruding portion 514 is connected to the upper rear protruding portion 512 via a connecting portion 51c that protrudes from the main body portion 51 toward the back surface side and extends to the vicinity of the lower end of the main body portion 51.

[0078] The side rear protruding portion 514 is continuously formed with the upper rear protruding portion 512 via the connecting portion 51c. In a plan view from the rear RR, the upper rear protruding portion 512 and a pair of side rear protruding portions 514 provided on the left LT and right RT of the upper rear protruding portion 512 form a substantially U-shaped opening downward LO.

[0079] The side rear protruding portion 514 has a slit portion 51s which is a cut for dividing the side rear protruding portion 514. As shown in FIG. 5, a plurality of slit portions 51s are provided at predetermined intervals in the side rear protruding portion 514. The slit portion 51s divides the side rear protruding portion 514 in a direction along the back surface of the main body portion 51. In the example shown in FIG. 5, in the side rear protruding portion 514 provided on the left LT or right RT, three slit portions 51s are provided so as to divide the side rear protruding portion 514 into four parts in the vertical direction V.

[0080] The fixed wall portion 515 is a portion protruding rearward RR from the back surface of the button portion 511, and a pair of them are provided being sandwiched by a pair of side rear protruding portions 514 in the width direction W. Specifically, on the left LT of the main body portion 51, the fixed wall portion 515 is provided on the right RT side of the side rear protruding portion 514. Also, on the right RT of the main body portion 51, the fixed wall portion 515 is provided on the left LT side of the side rear protruding portion 514.

[0081] A fixing structure such as a snap fit structure for fixing a sensor for detecting an operation input to the door opening operation portion 50 is formed on the fixed wall portion 515. Also, a cut (slit) for dividing the fixed wall portion 515 may be provided on the fixed wall portion 515.

[0082] The connecting portion 516 is a claw for fixing a reinforcing plate 52 provided on the back surface of the button portion 511 to the main body portion 51. The connecting portion 516 is provided on the back surface of the button portion 511 and has a substantially L-shaped cross section along the horizontal direction (width direction W and depth direction D) as shown in FIG. 6.

[0083] The reinforcing plate 52 is a member separate from the main body 51 and is a plate-shaped member provided along the back surface of the main body 51. The dimension of the reinforcing plate 52 in the vertical direction V is larger than the dimension of the reinforcing plate 52 in the width direction W.

[0084] As shown in FIG. 6, the reinforcing plate 52 is sandwiched by the connecting portions 516 in the width direction W and fixed to the main body 51. Further, the reinforcing plate 52 is sandwiched by the buckle portion 511 and the connecting portion 516 in the depth direction D and fixed to the main body 51.

[0085] A plurality of connecting portions 516 are provided on the main body 51. The main body 51 has an appropriate number of connecting portions 516 according to the dimensions of the reinforcing plate 52 and the like. The connecting portion 516 only needs to be able to fix the reinforcing plate 52 to the back surface of the main body 51 and is not limited to claws. For example, the connecting portion 516 may have a caulking structure capable of fixing the reinforcing plate 52 to the main body 51 by thermal deformation.

[0086] A drying process for drying the paint applied to the decorative surface 511a is performed on the main body 51. Since the main body 51 is formed of resin, it may be deformed by drying in the drying process. Specifically, the main body 51 may warp forward FR or backward RR due to drying. When warping occurs in the main body 51, the decorative surface 511a and the outer surface 11s of the door 11 may not be able to maintain substantially the same plane, which may damage the appearance of the refrigerator 1.

[0087] The reinforcing plate 52 is a correcting member for correcting the warp of the main body 51. Therefore, the reinforcing plate 52 is preferably formed of a material having higher rigidity than the resin material forming the main body 51. For example, the reinforcing plate 52 is formed of metal.

[0088] Even when warping occurs in the main body 51, by attaching the reinforcing plate 52 to the back surface of the main body 51, the warp of the main body 51 is corrected by the rigidity of the reinforcing plate 52. Therefore, the decorative surface 511a and the outer surface 11s of the door 11 can be maintained substantially on the same plane, and the appearance of the refrigerator 1 can be improved.

[0089] As described above, a slit portion 51s is provided in a side rear protruding portion 514 provided on the back surface of the main body portion 51. By dividing the side rear protruding portion 514 by the slit portion 51s, it is possible to suppress the rigidity of the side rear protruding portion 514 from becoming too high, and it is possible to improve the effect of correcting the warp of the main body portion 51 by the reinforcing plate 52.

[0090] The correction of the warp of the painted parts by the reinforcing plate is not limited to the door opening operation portion 50, and can be applied to various painted parts constituting the refrigerator 1. For example, in the painted parts provided inside the storage chamber 27 of the housing 10 (inside the cabinet), a reinforcing plate may be provided on the back surface of the main body portion where the decorative surface is painted to correct the warp of the main body portion.

[0091] The case portion 53 is a case member that forms an accommodation space 50s capable of accommodating a sensor capable of detecting that the main body portion 51 has been pushed backward RR. As shown in FIG. 4, the case portion 53 is a box-shaped member having an opening in the front FR, and an accommodation space 50s capable of accommodating the above-described sensor is formed in the internal space of the opening.

[0092] The case portion 53 is provided inside the door 11 rather than the member forming the outer surface 11s of the door 11. That is, the case portion 53 is not exposed outside the door 11. As shown in FIG. 4, extended portions 53a and 53b facing the back surface of the member forming the outer surface 11s of the door 11 are provided at the upper and lower ends of the case portion 53. The extended portions 53a and 53b are continuously formed along the outer periphery of the case portion 53, and also face the back surface of the member forming the outer surface 11s of the door 11 at the left LT and right RT ends.

[0093] The extended portions 53a and 53b of the case portion 53 are, for example, seal portions that prevent the foam heat insulating material filled inside the door 11 from entering the accommodation space 50s of the case portion 53.

[0094] Here, as shown in FIG. 4, a predetermined gap is provided between the edge of the opening 11h of the door 11 and the main body 51. Further, the refrigerator 1 is used in the water area and may be touched with wet hands, and the outer surface 11s of the door 11 may be wetted with water.

[0095] On the back surface of the main body 51 of the door opening operation unit 50, an upper rear protruding portion 512 protruding rearward RR and an upper protruding portion 513 protruding upward UP from the tip of the upper rear protruding portion 512 are provided. Further, no notch (slit) is provided in the upper rear protruding portion 512.

[0096] Therefore, even when a liquid such as water enters the interior of the door 11 from the gap between the edge of the opening 11h of the door 11 and the main body 51 along the outer surface 11s of the door 11, the liquid falls onto the upper surface (the surface facing upward UP) of the upper rear protruding portion 512 and falls downward LO of the main body 51 along the side rear protruding portion 514 via the connecting portion 51c from the upper rear protruding portion 512.

[0097] The liquid that has fallen onto the upper surface of the upper rear protruding portion 512 does not flow rearward RR because it is blocked by the upper protruding portion 513, but flows in the width direction W in which the side rear protruding portion 514 is provided. As a result, it is possible to suppress the liquid from splashing on the electrical components such as the sensor housed in the housing space 50s, and it is possible to suppress malfunctions and malfunction of the electrical components.

[0098] Since the upper rear protruding portion 512 and the upper protruding portion 513 can suppress the intrusion of liquid into the housing space 50s, there is no need to provide a separate component for preventing the intrusion of liquid, and an increase in the number of components of the door opening operation unit 50 can be suppressed.

[0099] In the present embodiment, the refrigerator 1 includes a housing 10 including a storage chamber 27 having an opening, a door 11 attached to the opening of the housing 10 so as to be openable and closable, and a painted component (door opening operation unit) 50 provided on the housing 10 or the door 11. The painted component 50 includes a main body 51 formed of resin and having a painted surface 511a, and a correction member (reinforcing plate) 52 provided along the back surface of the main body 51 on the side opposite to the painted surface 511a of the main body 51 for correcting the warp of the main body 51.

[0100] According to such a configuration, even when the main body portion 51 warps due to drying, the warp of the main body portion 51 can be corrected by the reinforcing plate 52.

[0101] As a result, it is possible to provide the refrigerator 1 that improves the appearance of the resin parts to which painting is applied.

[0102] (Modification 1) In the above embodiment, the painting is applied to the decorative surface 511a of the button portion 511 of the main body portion 51, but the aspect of the main body portion is not limited to this. The painting may be applied not only to the decorative surface 511a but also to the back surface of the main body portion. Even when the painting is applied not only to the decorative surface 511a but also to the back surface, by providing the reinforcing plate 52 to the main body portion, the warp of the main body portion due to drying can be corrected.

[0103] (Modification 2) In the above embodiment, the side rear protruding portion 514 extends to the vicinity of the lower end of the main body portion 51, but the aspect of the side rear protruding portion is not limited to this. The side rear protruding portion may have a shape that extends from the upper rear protruding portion 512 to the vicinity of the center of the main body portion in the vertical direction V. Even if the side rear protruding portion does not extend to the vicinity of the lower end of the main body portion, it is possible to suppress the liquid from entering the accommodation space 50s.

[0104] Although some embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0105] 1…Refrigerator, 10…Cabinet, 11…Door, 11s…Outer surface of the door, 11h…Hole-shaped part (opening), 27…Storage room, 50…Door opening operation part (painted part), 51…Main body part, 511…Button part, 511a…Decorative surface, 512…Upper rear protruding part, 513…Upper protruding part, 514…Side rear protruding part (vertical wall part), 51s…Slit part (notch), 51c…Connecting part, 52…Reinforcing plate (correction member), V…Vertical direction, UP…Upward, LO…Downward, W…Width direction, LT…Left side, RT…Right side

Claims

1. a housing including a storage chamber having an opening; A door attached so as to be capable of opening and closing the opening; A painted part provided on the housing or the door; Equipped with The painted part is A main body formed of resin and having a painted decorative surface; A correction member provided along a back surface of the main body portion opposite to the decorative surface, the correction member correcting a warp of the main body portion; Equipped with refrigerator.

2. the main body portion has a standing wall portion provided near an outer periphery of the main body portion and protruding toward the back surface side, The standing wall portion has a notch that divides the standing wall portion in a direction along the back surface of the main body portion.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1.

3. A hole-shaped portion is provided on an outer surface of the door, The decorative surface is located on a virtual plane obtained by extending the outer surface of the door into the hole-shaped portion, The main body portion is an upper rear protruding portion provided on an upper portion of the main body portion and protruding toward the rear surface side; an upper protruding portion protruding upward from a tip of the upper rear protruding portion; Equipped with 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1.

4. The main body portion includes side rear protrusions provided at both ends in a width direction of the main body portion and protruding toward the back surface side, The upper rear protrusion and the side rear protrusion are provided continuously via a connecting portion protruding from the main body portion to the back surface side. The refrigerator according to claim 3.

5. The dimension of the main body in the up-down direction is larger than the dimension of the main body in the width direction, The side rear protrusion has a slit that divides the side rear protrusion in the up-down direction.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 4.

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