Refrigerator

The refrigerator design enhances rigidity by using symmetrical frame members with equal protruding heights to reinforce the lower edges, addressing the need for strength without increasing parts, thus improving assembly efficiency and insulation.

JP2025101786APending Publication Date: 2025-07-08TOSHIBA LIFESTYLE PROD & SERVICES CORP
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2023218795
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2023-12-26
Publication Date
2025-07-08

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The challenge is to enhance the rigidity of a refrigerator body while minimizing the increase in the number of parts, as thinner heat insulating walls compromise strength without additional reinforcement.

Method used

A refrigerator design incorporating an outer box with inner and outer frames, featuring symmetrical frame members with equal protruding heights and screw connections to reinforce the lower edges, ensuring structural integrity without increasing part count.

Benefits of technology

The design achieves improved rigidity and assembly efficiency by using symmetrical frame members that reinforce the refrigerator body, allowing for common parts and enhanced insulation space utilization.

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Abstract

To contemplate making a refrigerator body highly rigid while restraining an increase in the number of components.SOLUTION: A refrigerator 1 according to the present invention comprises: an outer box 3 comprising a pair of left and right side plates 3a and 3b, a top plate 3c, a bottom plate 3d, and a back plate 3e; an inner box 4 provided inside the outer box 3, and forming a space housing heat insulation materials 5 and 6 between itself and the outer box 3; and a pair of left and right frame members 8 and 9 provided on left and right lower end parts of the outer box 3. The frame members 8 and 9 comprise lower frame parts 8a provided along lower edge parts of the side plates 3a and 3b, front frame parts 8c extending upward along front edge parts of the side plates 3a and 3b from front ends of the lower frame parts 8a, and rear frame parts 8b extending upward along rear edge parts of the side plates 3a and 3b from rear ends of the lower frame parts 8a. Protrusion heights of the front frame parts 8c and the rear frame parts 8b from the lower frame parts 8a are equal.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5
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Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Generally, a refrigerator is formed by filling a foam heat insulating material to form a refrigerator body, and storage chambers such as a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber are formed inside. In recent years, in order to meet the demand for higher volume, the heat insulating wall of the refrigerator body has been made thinner. However, when the heat insulating wall is made thinner, the rigidity of the refrigerator body decreases and it becomes difficult to ensure strength.

[0003] On the other hand, the strength of the refrigerator body can be improved by adding a reinforcing member, but the number of parts will increase.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator capable of achieving high rigidity of the refrigerator body while suppressing an increase in the number of parts.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an outer box having a pair of left and right side plates, a top plate, a bottom plate, and a back plate, an inner box provided inside the outer box and forming a space for accommodating a heat insulating material between the inner box and the outer box, and a pair of left and right frame members provided at lower end portions on the left and right of the outer box. In the refrigerator, the frame member includes a lower frame portion provided along a lower edge portion of the side plate, a front frame portion extending upward along a front edge portion of the side plate from a front end of the lower frame portion, and a rear frame portion extending upward along a rear edge portion of the side plate from a rear end of the lower frame portion, and a protruding height of the front frame portion and the rear frame portion from the lower frame portion is equal.

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 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0009] (1) Configuration of the refrigerator 1 As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator main body 2 of the refrigerator 1 includes an outer box 3, an inner box 4, and heat insulating materials 5 and 6 provided in the heat insulating space formed therebetween. In the refrigerator main body 2, a refrigerating chamber 12, a vegetable chamber 14, a first freezing chamber 18, and a second freezing chamber 20 are arranged from the upper stage, and an ice making chamber (not shown) is arranged beside the first freezing chamber 18. The refrigerating chamber 12, the vegetable chamber 14, the first freezing chamber 18, the second freezing chamber 20, and the ice making chamber are storage chambers provided in the cooling target space inside the refrigerator main body 2. A heat insulating partition wall 21 is provided horizontally between the refrigerating space composed of the refrigerating chamber 12 and the vegetable chamber 14 and the freezing space composed of the ice making chamber, the first freezing chamber 18, and the second freezing chamber 20.

[0010] A refrigerating cooler 22 for cooling the refrigerating space composed of the refrigerating chamber 12 and the vegetable chamber 14 is provided on the back surfaces of the refrigerating chamber 12 and the vegetable chamber 14. Above the refrigerating cooler 22, a refrigerating fan 23 for blowing the cold air generated by the refrigerating cooler 22 into the refrigerating space is provided.

[0011] A freezing cooler 24 for cooling the freezing space composed of the ice making chamber, the first freezing chamber 18, and the second freezing chamber 20 is provided on the upper back surface of the second freezing chamber 20. Above this freezing cooler 24, a freezing fan 25 for blowing the cold air generated by the freezing cooler 24 into the freezing space is provided.

[0012] On the outside of the refrigerator main body 2, a substrate storage chamber 28 is provided at the upper rear of the refrigerating chamber 12, and a machine room 30 is provided at the rear column of the second freezing chamber 20.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the machine room 30 is a space partitioned by the bottom plate 3d of the outer box 3 and the base plate 34, and the opening provided on the back surface is closed by the back grill 35. In the machine room 30, a compressor 26, a condenser 27, and refrigerant pipes connecting them, which constitute a refrigeration cycle together with the refrigerating cooler 22 and the freezing cooler 24, are arranged. Further, in the machine room 30, an evaporation tray 32 for receiving the defrosting water generated from the freezing cooler 24 via a pipe 31, a heat dissipation fan 33 for cooling the compressor 26, the condenser 27, etc. and promoting the evaporation of the defrosting water accumulated in the evaporation tray 32, etc. are arranged.

[0014] In the substrate storage chamber 28, a control board 7 on which a microcomputer for controlling the refrigerator 1 and the like are mounted is provided. Electrical components such as a refrigeration fan 23, a freezing fan 25, a compressor 26, a heat radiation fan 33, and sensors (not shown) provided inside or outside the refrigerator body 2 are electrically connected by electrical wiring to the control board 7. Based on the signal input from the sensor and the control program stored in the memory in advance, the operations of the refrigeration fan 23, the freezing fan 25, the compressor 26, and the heat radiation fan 33 are controlled to control the overall operation of the refrigerator 1.

[0015] (2) Structure of the refrigerator body 2 As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the refrigerator body 2 is formed of a box-shaped body that opens in the front and includes a left side wall, a right side wall, a ceiling wall, a bottom wall, and a back wall. A flat-shaped formed heat insulating material 5 is provided in the heat insulating space formed between the outer box 3 and the inner box 4. The formed heat insulating material 5 is a heat insulating material that is pre-formed into a predetermined shape before being disposed in the heat insulating space, and is, for example, a vacuum heat insulating material, expanded polystyrene, cardboard, or the like.

[0016] Also, in the heat insulating space of the refrigerator body 2, in a location where the formed heat insulating material 5 does not exist, refrigerant pipes such as heat radiation pipes connecting components of the refrigeration cycle are provided, and electrical wiring connecting electrical components provided in the cooling target space and the cooling outer chamber of the refrigerator body 2 is provided. At the same time, a foamed heat insulating material 6 such as foamed urethane is filled, and a heat insulating wall that thermally insulates the refrigerating chamber 12, the vegetable chamber 14, the first freezing chamber 18, the second freezing chamber 20, and the ice making chamber from outside the cabinet is formed.

[0017] More specifically, the steel outer box 3 that constitutes the outer shell of the refrigerator body 2 has a box shape that opens in the front and has a left side plate 3a, a right side plate 3b, a top plate 3c, a bottom plate 3d, and a back plate 3e. The left side plate 3a, the right side plate 3b, and the top plate 3c are formed by bending a single long steel plate. The bottom plate 3d and the back plate 3e are members provided separately from the left side plate 3a, the right side plate 3b, and the top plate 3c.

[0018] The inner box 4 is made of a molded product of synthetic resin integrally molded by a vacuum forming machine, and has a box shape with an opening in the front, having left side plate 4a, right side plate 4b, top plate 4c, bottom plate 4d and rear plate 4e that face the left side plate 3a, right side plate 3b, top plate 3c, bottom plate 3d and rear plate 3e of the outer box 3 respectively. The inner box 4 is provided inside the outer box 3 and forms a heat insulation space together with the outer box 3.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 3, at the front end of the left side plate 3a of the outer box 3, a front engaging portion 3a1 that engages with the flange portion 4a1 of the inner box 4 protrudes inward in the width direction, and at the front end of the right side plate 3b of the outer box 3, a front engaging portion 3b1 that engages with the flange portion 4b1 of the inner box 4 protrudes inward in the width direction.

[0020] Also, at the rear end of the left side plate 4a of the inner box 4, a rear engaging portion 4a2 that engages with the flange portion 3e1 provided at the left end of the rear plate 3e is provided, and at the rear end of the right side plate 4b of the inner box 4, a rear engaging portion 4b2 that engages with the flange portion 3e1 provided at the right end of the rear plate 3e is provided.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 2, at the lower end of the left side plate 3a of the outer box 3, a lower flange portion 3a3 that protrudes inward in the width direction is formed, and at the lower end of the right side plate 3b of the outer box 3, a lower flange portion 3b3 that protrudes inward in the width direction Y1 is formed. The lower flange portion 3a3 is fixed to the frame member 9 provided at the lower left side of the refrigerator body 2 by screws or the like, and the lower flange portion 3b3 is fixed to the frame member 8 provided at the lower right side of the refrigerator body 2 by screws or the like.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 5, a front member 10 is fixed to the lower end of the frame member 8 provided at the lower right side of the refrigerator body 2 and the lower end of the frame member 9 provided at the lower left side. The front member 10 is provided so as to connect the left and right frame members 8 and 9 and constitutes the front surface of the lower end portion of the refrigerator body 2.

[0023] Further, at the front end of the frame member 8, a right front plate 41 is provided so as to connect the right end of the front member 10 and the frame member 8. At the front end of the frame member 9, a left front plate 42 is provided so as to connect the left end of the front member 10 and the frame member 9. The right front plate 41 and the left front plate 42 connect the frame members 8 and 9 and the front member 10 to reinforce the left and right front lower ends of the refrigerator body 2. Further, a handle portion 43 provided at the front lower end of the refrigerator body 2 is screwed and fixed to the right front plate 41 and the left front plate 42.

[0024] (3) Frame members 8 and 9 Next, the frame members 8 and 9 will be described.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the frame member 8 includes a lower frame portion 8a provided along the lower edge of the right side plate 3b of the outer box 3, a rear frame portion 8b that bends upward from the rear end of the lower frame portion 8a and is provided along the rear edge of the right side plate 3b, and a front frame portion 8c that bends upward from the front end of the lower frame portion 8a and is provided along the front edge of the right side plate 3b.

[0026] The lower frame portion 8a has an L-shaped cross section including a lower frame bottom portion 8a1 extending in the front-rear direction along the right end of the bottom plate 3d of the outer box 3 and a lower frame side portion 8a2 protruding upward from the lower frame bottom portion 8a1. The lower frame bottom portion 8a1 may be connected to the lower frame side portion 8a2 by a connecting portion 8a3 having an inclined surface 8a4 that inclines upward as it goes outward in the refrigerator width direction. That is, the connecting portion 8a3 connecting the lower frame bottom portion 8a1 and the lower frame side portion 8a2 may have a chamfered shape (see FIG. 4).

[0027] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, at the rear end of the lower frame bottom portion 8a1, a first screw hole 8a1a and a first cylindrical portion 8a1b protruding upward from the lower frame bottom portion 8a1 are provided.

[0028] A screw (not shown) is screwed into the first screw hole 8a1a to fix the rear portion of the lower flange portion 3b3 of the right side plate 3b and the right end portion of the base plate 34 to the lower frame bottom portion 8a1. An attachment hole (not shown) provided in the base plate 34 is inserted into the first cylindrical portion 8a1b, and the base plate 34 is connected to the frame member 8.

[0029] Also, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, at the front end of the bottom portion 8a1 of the lower frame, a second screw hole 8a1c and a second cylindrical portion 8a1d protruding upward from the bottom portion 8a1 of the lower frame are provided.

[0030] The second screw hole 8a1c is a screw hole having the same shape as the first screw hole 8a1a. A screw (not shown) is screwed into the second screw hole 8a1c to fix the front portion of the lower flange portion 3b3 of the right side plate 3b, the right end portion of the bottom plate 3d, and the right front plate 41 to the bottom portion 8a1 of the lower frame.

[0031] The second cylindrical portion 8a1d has the same shape as the first cylindrical portion 8a1b. As shown in FIG. 4, the second cylindrical portion 8a1d is inserted into an insertion hole 3d1 provided at the right end portion of the bottom plate 3d and an insertion hole 41a provided in the right front plate 41 to connect the bottom plate 3d and the front plate 41 to the frame member 8. Note that the sizes of the insertion hole 3d1 and the insertion hole 41a are preferably set such that there is no looseness in the bottom plate 3d or the right front plate 41 when the second cylindrical portion 8a1d is inserted. For example, the inner diameter is preferably 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm larger than the outer diameter of the second cylindrical portion 8a1d. Also, an internal thread portion 8a1e is provided inside the second cylindrical portion 8a1d. A male screw portion of the leg portion 40 is screwed into the internal thread portion 8a1e, and the leg portion 40 is provided on the right front side of the lower surface of the refrigerator body 2.

[0032] The outer side in the width direction of the side portion 8a2 of the lower frame faces the right side plate 3b of the outer box 3 in the left - right direction to suppress the outflow of the foam heat - insulating material. In the portion where the outer side in the width direction of the side portion 8a2 of the lower frame faces the right side plate 3b of the outer box 3 to suppress the outflow of the foam heat - insulating material, the outer side in the width direction of the side portion 8a2 of the lower frame and the right side plate 3b of the outer box 3 may be provided so as to be in direct contact, or a flexible body such as a soft tape may be sandwiched between the outer side in the width direction of the side portion 8a2 of the lower frame and the right side plate 3b of the outer box 3 so that the outer side in the width direction of the side portion 8a2 of the lower frame and the right side plate 3b of the outer box 3 face each other through the flexible body. In the following description, for the portion where different components face each other to suppress the outflow of the foam heat - insulating material, any configuration can be adopted, such as directly contacting the components with each other, sandwiching a flexible body such as a soft tape between them, or leaving a small gap between the components. The description to that effect is omitted below.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 5, the rear frame portion 8b includes a rear frame rear portion 8b1 that extends upward from the rear end of the lower frame bottom portion 8a1 of the lower frame portion 8a along the rear edge portion of the right side plate 3b, and a rear frame side portion 8b2 that protrudes forward from the outer end in the width direction of the rear frame rear portion 8b1. A third screw hole 8b1a for screwing the rear grill 35 is provided at the lower end portion of the rear frame rear portion 8b1. The outer side in the width direction of the rear frame side portion 8b2 faces the rear edge portion of the right side plate 3b of the outer box 3 in the left - right direction.

[0034] Also, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the rear frame portion 8b includes a first rear protruding wall 8b3 that protrudes forward from the rear frame rear portion 8b1, and a second rear protruding wall 8b4 that protrudes from the rear frame side portion 8b2 toward the inner side in the width direction of the refrigerator (that is, the left side) and is connected to the first rear protruding wall 8b3.

[0035] The first rear protruding wall 8b3 and the second rear protruding wall 8b4 are formed, for example, by providing cuts at intervals in the vertical direction in the rear frame rear portion 8b1 and the rear frame side portion 8b2, and bending the portion between the upper and lower cuts forward and toward the inner side in the width direction of the refrigerator.

[0036] The space S1 surrounded by the rear frame rear portion 8b1, the rear frame side portion 8b2, the first rear protruding wall 8b3, and the second rear protruding wall 8b4 is arranged in the machine room 30, and refrigerant pipes, a drier, and electrical wiring are provided in the space S1.

[0037] The front frame portion 8c includes a front frame front portion 8c1 that extends upward from the front end of the lower frame bottom portion 8a1 of the lower frame portion 8a along the front edge portion of the right side plate 3b, and a front frame side portion 8c2 that protrudes rearward from the outer end in the width direction of the front frame front portion 8c1.

[0038] A fourth screw hole 8c1a having the same shape as the third screw hole 8b1a is provided at the lower end portion of the front frame front portion 8c1. The right end portion of the front surface member 10 is screwed to the fourth screw hole 8c1a. The outer side in the width direction of the front frame side portion 8c2 faces the front edge portion of the right side plate 3b of the outer box 3 in the left - right direction to suppress the outflow of the foam heat - insulating material.

[0039] Further, the front frame portion 8c is provided with a first front protruding wall 8c3 protruding rearward from the front part 8c1 of the front frame, and a second front protruding wall 8c4 protruding inward in the refrigerator width direction (that is, the left side) from the side part 8c2 of the front frame and connected to the first front protruding wall 8c3. The first front protruding wall 8c3 is provided in the same shape as the first rear protruding wall 8b3 provided in the rear frame portion 8b, and the second front protruding wall 8c4 is provided in the same shape as the second rear protruding wall 8b4.

[0040] Similar to the first rear protruding wall 8b3 and the second rear protruding wall 8b4, the first front protruding wall 8c3 and the second front protruding wall 8c4 are formed, for example, by providing cuts at intervals in the vertical direction in the front part 8c1 of the front frame and the side part 8c2 of the front frame, and bending the part between the upper and lower cuts rearward and inward in the refrigerator width direction.

[0041] The space S2 surrounded by the front part 8c1 of the front frame, the side part 8c2 of the front frame, the first front protruding wall 8c3, and the second rear protruding wall 8b4 is arranged in the heat insulation space formed between the outer box 3 and the inner box 4, and the foamed heat insulating material filled in the heat insulation space is also filled in the space.

[0042] The first front protruding wall 8c3 and the second front protruding wall 8c4 provided in the front frame portion 8c are protruding portions provided on the heat insulation space side of the corner portion 8c5 between the front part 8c1 of the front frame and the side part 8c2 of the front frame. The protruding portion composed of the first front protruding wall 8c3 and the second front protruding wall 8c4 forms the space S2 surrounded by the front frame portion 8c when viewed from above together with the front part 8c1 of the front frame and the side part 8c2 of the front frame on the heat insulation space side of the corner portion 8c5.

[0043] Here, the first front protruding wall 8c3 and the second front protruding wall 8c4 are formed by providing cuts at intervals in the vertical direction in the front part 8c1 of the front frame and the side part 8c2 of the front frame, and bending the part between the upper and lower cuts rearward and inward in the refrigerator width direction. However, the protruding portion protruding into the heat insulation space of the front frame portion 8c is not limited to this. For example, a cut may be made in a part of the front frame portion 8c, and the part adjacent to the cut may be bent toward the heat insulation space side to form a protruding portion. Further, a separate member protruding into the heat insulation space may be provided in a part of the front frame portion 8c to form a protruding portion, but it is preferable to form a protruding portion by protruding a part of the front frame portion 8c toward the heat insulation space side.

[0044] Also, here, the case where a protruding portion is provided on the heat insulation space side of the corner portion 8c5 of the front frame portion 8c has been described. However, a protruding portion that protrudes rearward from the inner end portion of the front frame front portion 8c1 in the refrigerator width direction, or a protruding portion that protrudes inward in the refrigerator width direction from the rear end portion of the front frame side portion 8c2 may be provided, and a protruding portion may be provided other than the corner portion 8c5.

[0045] Also, here, a cut is made in the front frame portion 8c to provide a protruding portion on the heat insulation space side. However, a cut may be made in the lower frame portion 8a to provide a protruding portion on the heat insulation space side of the lower frame portion 8a. However, it is preferable to make a cut in the front frame portion 8c rather than the lower frame portion 8a in terms of easily ensuring the strength of the frame member 8. It is preferable to provide the protruding portion in the front frame portion 8c without providing it in the lower frame portion 8a.

[0046] The upward protruding height of the front frame portion 8c from the lower frame portion 8a is equal to the upward protruding height of the rear frame portion 8b from the lower frame portion 8a.

[0047] Here, the protruding height of the rear frame portion 8b, that is, the length from the lower frame portion 8a to the upper end of the rear frame portion 8b, is equal to the protruding height of the front frame portion 8c, that is, the length from the lower frame portion 8a to the upper end of the front frame portion 8c. Here, the fact that the protruding heights of the rear frame portion 8b and the front frame portion 8c are equal means not only in the case of exactly the same dimensions, but also if the frame member 8 can be attached to the lower left side of the refrigerator body 2 as the frame member 9 by reversing the front and rear of the frame member 8, there may be a difference in the protruding height between the rear frame portion 8b and the front frame portion 8c, and it is a concept including the case where the difference in the protruding heights of the rear frame portion 8b and the front frame portion 8c is within 20 mm, but it is preferably within 10 mm, and it is more preferable that the protruding heights of both coincide.

[0048] Also, the frame member 8 is preferably symmetric in shape with respect to the center line L extending in the left - right direction that bisects the frame member 8 in the front - rear direction as in the present embodiment.

[0049] That is, it is preferable that the lower frame portion 8a has a shape that is symmetric in the front-rear direction, the first screw hole 8a1a and the second screw hole 8a1c provided in the lower frame portion 8a are provided at positions that are symmetric in the front-rear direction with respect to the center line L, and the first cylindrical portion 8a1b and the second cylindrical portion 8a1d are provided at positions that are symmetric in the front-rear direction with respect to the center line L.

[0050] Further, it is preferable that the rear frame portion 8b and the front frame portion 8c have shapes that are symmetric in the front-rear direction, and the third screw hole 8b1a provided in the rear frame rear portion 8b1 of the rear frame portion 8b and the fourth screw hole 8c1a provided in the front frame front portion 8c1 of the front frame portion 8c are provided at positions that are symmetric in the front-rear direction with respect to the center line L. It is preferable that the space S1 formed by the first rear protruding wall 8b3 and the second rear protruding wall 8b4 provided in the rear frame portion 8b and the space S2 formed by the first front protruding wall 8c3 and the second front protruding wall 8c4 provided in the front frame portion 8c are provided at positions that are symmetric in the front-rear direction with respect to the center line L.

[0051] The frame member 9 provided at the lower left side of the refrigerator body 2 is an arrangement obtained by reversing the frame member having the same shape as the frame member 8 provided at the lower right side in the front-rear direction. Since the frame member 8 has a shape that is symmetric in the front-rear direction with respect to the center line L, in the frame member 9 arranged at the lower left side of the refrigerator body 2 by reversing the frame member 8, the first screw hole 8a1a, the second screw hole 8a1c, the third screw hole 8b1a, the fourth screw hole 8c1a, the first cylindrical portion 8a1b, the second cylindrical portion 8a1d, the space S1, and the space S2 are arranged at the same positions in the front-rear direction as those of the frame member 8 arranged at the lower right side of the refrigerator body 2.

[0052] And in the frame member 9, the rear portion of the lower flange portion 3a3 of the left side plate 3a and the left end portion of the base plate 34 are screwed to the first screw hole 8a1a, the front portion of the lower flange portion 3b3 of the left side plate 3a, the left end portion of the bottom plate 3d, and the left front plate 42 are screwed to the second screw hole 8a1c, the right end portion of the rear grill 35 is screwed to the third screw hole 8b1a, and the right end portion of the front member 10 is screwed to the fourth screw hole 8c1a.

[0053] In the frame member 9, an insertion hole (not shown) provided at the left end portion of the bottom plate 3d and an insertion hole 42a provided in the left front plate 42 are inserted through the second cylindrical portion 8a1d, connecting the bottom plate 3d and the left front plate 42 to the frame member 9. A male screw portion of a leg portion (not shown) is screwed into a female screw portion (not shown) provided in the second cylindrical portion 8a1d, and the leg portion is provided at the left front side of the lower surface of the refrigerator body 2.

[0054] (4) Effects In this embodiment, since the front frame portion 8c is provided at the tip of the lower frame portion 8a of the frame member 8, the lower front side of the refrigerator body 2 can be reinforced. Moreover, since the protruding heights of the rear frame portion 8b and the front frame portion 8c from the lower frame portion 8a are equal, the frame member 8 provided at the lower right side of the refrigerator body 2 can be reversed front to back and applied to the frame member 9 at the lower left side, and the parts can be made common for the left and right frame members 8 and 9.

[0055] Particularly, when the frame members 8 and 9 have a symmetrical shape with respect to the center line extending in the left - right direction that bisects the front - rear direction, the front - rear positions of screw holes and the like provided in the frame members 8 and 9 are common in the left and right frame members 8 and 9, and the assembly work efficiency can be improved.

[0056] In this embodiment, since the space S2 is arranged in the heat - insulating space by the first front protruding wall 8c3 and the second rear protruding wall 8b4 in the front frame portion 8c, and the space S2 is also filled with the foamed heat - insulating material, the reinforcing effect by the front frame portion 8c can be enhanced.

[0057] In this embodiment, since the male screw portion of the leg portion 40 is screwed into the female screw portion 8a1e of the second cylindrical portion 8a1d protruding upward from the lower frame bottom 8a1, it becomes easier to secure a region where the frame member 8 is screwed with the leg portion 40 to support the leg portion 40, and the mounting strength of the leg portion 40 can be improved.

[0058] In addition, in the present embodiment, an inclined surface 8a4 is provided at a connecting portion 8a3 that connects the bottom frame portion 8a1 and the side frame portion 8a2 of the frame member 8. Since the inclined surface 8a4 can suppress the outward protrusion compared to a curved surface (so-called R surface), it is possible to suppress the connecting portion 8a3 of the frame member 8 from hitting the corner portion of the right side plate 3b and the lower flange portion 3b3 of the outer box 3 and causing distortion in the right side plate 3b of the outer box 3.

[0059] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The above embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit 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 its equivalent scope.

[0060] Any one of a plurality of modification examples described below may be applied to the above embodiment, or any two or more of the modification examples described below may be combined and applied. In addition to the following modification examples, various other modifications are possible.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0061] 1... Refrigerator, 2... Refrigerator body, 2a... Left side wall, 2b... Right side surface, 2c... Ceiling wall, 2d... Bottom wall, 2e... Rear wall, 3... Outer box, 3a... Left side plate, 3a1... Front engaging portion, 3a3... Lower flange portion, 3b... Right side plate, 3c... Top plate, 3d... Bottom plate, 3e... Rear plate, 3e1... Flange, 4... Inner box, 4a... Left side plate, 4b... Right side plate, 4c... Top plate, 4d... Bottom plate, 4e... Rear plate, 5... Molded heat insulating material, 6... Foamed heat insulating material, 7... Control board, 8... Frame member, 8a... Lower frame portion, 8a1... Lower frame bottom, 8a1a... First screw hole, 8a1b... First cylindrical portion, 8a1c... Second screw hole, 8a1d... Second cylindrical portion, 8a1e... Female screw portion, 8a2... Lower frame side portion, 8a3... Connecting portion, 8a4... Inclined surface, 8b... Rear frame portion, 8b1... Rear frame rear portion, 8b1a... Third screw hole, 8b2... Rear frame side portion, 8c... Front frame portion, 8c1... Front frame front portion, 8c1a... Fourth screw hole, 8c2... Front frame side portion, 10... Front face member, 12... Refrigerating chamber, 16... Vegetable chamber, 18... First freezing chamber, 20... Second freezing chamber, 30... Machine room, 34... Base plate, 35... Rear grill, 40... Leg portion, 41... Right front plate, 42... Left front plate

Claims

1. An outer box having a pair of left and right side plates, a top plate, a bottom plate, and a back plate, An inner box provided inside the outer box and forming a heat insulation space for accommodating a heat insulating material between the inner box and the outer box, In a refrigerator comprising a pair of left and right frame members provided at lower end portions on the left and right of the outer box, The frame member includes a lower frame portion provided along a lower edge portion of the side plate, a front frame portion extending upward along a front edge portion of the side plate from a front end of the lower frame portion, and a rear frame portion extending upward along a rear edge portion of the side plate from a rear end of the lower frame portion, and a protruding height of the front frame portion and the rear frame portion from the lower frame portion is equal. The refrigerator.

2. An outer box having a pair of left and right side plates, a top plate, a bottom plate, and a back plate, An inner box provided inside the outer box and forming a heat insulation space for accommodating a heat insulating material between the inner box and the outer box, In a refrigerator comprising a pair of left and right frame members provided at lower end portions on the left and right of the outer box, The frame member includes a lower frame portion provided along a lower edge portion of the side plate, a front frame portion extending upward along a front edge portion of the side plate from a front end of the lower frame portion, and a rear frame portion extending upward along a rear edge portion of the side plate from a rear end of the lower frame portion, A pair of left and right frame members are made of parts of the same shape. The refrigerator.

3. The frame member has a shape symmetric with respect to a center line extending in the left-right direction that bisects the front-rear direction. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A front plate provided at a front end portion of the frame member and a cylindrical portion protruding upward provided at a front end portion of the lower frame portion, and the front plate and the bottom plate are inserted into the cylindrical portion and connected to the frame member. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The front frame portion includes a protruding portion protruding into the heat insulation space. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The front frame portion includes a front frame side portion facing the front edge portion of the side plate in the left-right direction, a front frame front portion protruding inward in the width direction of the refrigerator from a front end of the front frame side portion, and a corner portion formed by the front frame side portion and the front frame front portion, The protruding portion is provided on the heat insulation space side of the corner portion. The refrigerator according to claim 5.

7. The protruding portion includes a first protruding wall protruding rearward from the front frame front portion, and a second protruding wall protruding inward in the width direction of the refrigerator from the front frame side portion and connected to the first protruding wall. The refrigerator according to claim 6.

8. Comprising legs for supporting the front side of the lower surface of the refrigerator, The legs are screwed into a female screw portion provided on the cylindrical portion and fixed below the outer box. The refrigerator according to claim 4.

9. The lower frame portion includes a lower frame bottom portion facing the bottom plate in the vertical direction, a lower frame side portion facing the side plate in the left-right direction, and a connecting portion connecting the lower frame bottom portion and the lower frame side portion. The refrigerator according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connecting portion has an inclined portion that inclines upward as it goes outward in the width direction of the refrigerator.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • refrigerator

    JP4216225B2

  • refrigerator

    JP6695020B2