Refrigerator

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator in which a door surface material can be attached to end part members while undesired deformation occurring in the door surface material is restrained.SOLUTION: A refrigerator according to an embodiment comprises a refrigerator body 11 internally comprising a storage chamber, and a door 40 provided on the refrigerator body 11. The door 40 comprises a door surface material 50 forming a front surface on an exterior side, and end part members 60 and 80 attached to end parts of the door surface material 50. The door surface material 50 comprises attachment surfaces 54 and 55 protruding rearward from an upper side part or a lower side part, and locking object parts 57 and 58 provided in the attachment surfaces 54 and 55. The end part members 60 and 80 comprise groove parts 62 and 82 into which the attachment surfaces 54 and 55 are inserted, and locking parts 71 and 91 protruding into the groove parts 62 and 82, and inserted into the locking object parts 57 and 58.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a refrigerator. [Background technology]

[0002] A refrigerator door is made up of a door panel that forms the front surface on the outside of the refrigerator, an inner door panel that forms the rear surface on the inside of the refrigerator, and end members that form both the top and bottom ends of the door, and the interior is filled with foam insulation material (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] In such doors, the end member may be attached to the door panel by bending the end of the door panel toward the inside of the door and inserting the bent portion into a groove provided in the end member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6392144 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the door of the above patent document, the bent portion of the door panel is clamped between the upper groove wall of the groove portion and the mating rib that protrudes from the lower groove wall toward the upper groove wall, which makes it easy for variations to occur in the amount of insertion of the bent portion, and there is a risk that the door panel will be deformed when installed.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator in which a door surface material can be attached to an end member while suppressing the occurrence of distortion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention is a refrigerator comprising a refrigerator main body having a storage compartment therein and a door attached to the refrigerator main body, wherein the door comprises a door panel forming the front surface on the outside of the refrigerator and an end member attached to an end of the door panel, the door panel comprising an attachment surface protruding rearward from an upper edge or a lower edge and an engaging portion provided on the attachment surface, and the end member comprising a groove portion into which the attachment surface is inserted and an engaging portion that protrudes into the groove portion and is inserted into the engaging portion. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] Vertical cross section of a refrigerator [Figure 2] Front view of a refrigerator [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the door, the upper door support portion, and the lower door support portion disassembled from a diagonally lower front view. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the door, the upper door support portion, and the lower door support portion disassembled from an obliquely upper rear view. [Figure 5] Door cross section [Figure 6] Enlarged view of the main part of Figure 5 [Figure 7] A perspective view showing the door front panel from diagonally above and behind [Figure 8] Door front plan view [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the upper end member from diagonally below the front. [Figure 10] Enlarged view of the main part of Figure 9 [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the lower end member from diagonally above the front. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] The embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] (1) Configuration of refrigerator 10 1 and 2 show a refrigerator 10 according to an embodiment. A refrigerator body 11 constituting the housing of the refrigerator 10 has an outer box 12 that forms the outer shell of the refrigerator 10, an inner box 13 that is combined with the outer box 12, and an insulating section 14 between the outer box 12 and the inner box 13. The insulating section 14 is filled with an insulating material. The insulating material is sandwiched between the outer box 12 and the inner box 13.

[0011] The inside of the refrigerator body 11 is divided into upper and lower sections by a heat insulating partition wall 21. The area above the heat insulating partition wall 21 is a refrigerated space. The refrigerated space is maintained at a refrigerating temperature that is suitable for refrigerated storage. The area below the heat insulating partition wall 21 is a freezer space. The freezer space is maintained at a freezing temperature that is suitable for frozen storage.

[0012] The refrigerator and freezer compartments are each provided with a plurality of compartments for storing food, each of which has an opening at the front through which a user can put food in and take it out.

[0013] The refrigerating space is provided with a refrigerator compartment 20 and a vegetable compartment 22 as storage compartments from top to bottom. A plurality of storage shelves 24 are provided within the refrigerator compartment 20. The area around the storage shelves 24 within the refrigerator compartment 20 is maintained within the refrigeration temperature range, for example, at 2 to 5°C. A chilled compartment 26 is provided at the bottom of the refrigerator compartment 20. The chilled compartment 26 is a location within the refrigerator compartment 20 that is maintained at an especially low temperature, for example, at 0 to 3°C.

[0014] The front opening of refrigerator compartment 20 is opened and closed by refrigerator compartment door 40. The upper part of refrigerator compartment door 40 on either the left or right side of refrigerator body 11 is rotatably supported to refrigerator body 11 by upper door support member 16, and the lower left end part is rotatably supported to refrigerator body 11 by lower door support member 17.

[0015] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the upper door support member 16 is a metal plate, such as a steel plate, formed into a predetermined shape and rotatably supports the upper part of the refrigerator compartment door 40 around an upper pivot shaft 16a. The upper door support member 16 has a fixed portion 16b that is fixed to the right front end of the refrigerator body 11 with a screw or the like, and a protruding portion 16c that protrudes forward from the fixed portion 16b and is disposed on the upper surface of the refrigerator compartment door 40. The protruding portion 16c extends forward from the fixed portion 16b and then bends at a right angle outward in the width direction (to the right). The tip of the protruding portion 16c is provided with an upper pivot shaft 16a that protrudes downward. The upper pivot shaft 16a is cylindrical and rotatably inserted into a bearing portion 66 provided on the upper surface of the refrigerator compartment door 40.

[0016] Lower door support member 17 is a metal plate, for example, a steel plate, formed into a predetermined shape, and supports the lower part of refrigerator compartment door 40 so that it can rotate around lower pivot shaft 17a. Lower door support member 17 has fixed portion 17b that is fixed with a screw or the like to front end portion 20a of the partition wall between refrigerator compartment 20 and vegetable compartment 22, and shaft support portion 17c that is bent so as to protrude approximately horizontally forward from fixed portion 17b. Lower pivot shaft 17a, which protrudes upward, is fixed to shaft support portion 17c.

[0017] The lower rotation shaft 17a is cylindrical and is rotatably inserted into a bearing portion 86 provided on the underside of the refrigerator compartment door 40. The lower rotation shaft 17a is arranged coaxially with the upper rotation shaft 16a provided on the upper door support member 16, and together with the upper rotation shaft 16a, forms the rotation center of the refrigerator compartment door 40. In addition, an engagement hook 17d that engages with the door closing device 18 protrudes horizontally forward from the shaft support portion 17c. When the opening angle of the refrigerator compartment door 40 relative to the refrigerator body 11 becomes equal to or smaller than a predetermined angle, the door closing device 18 retracts the engagement hook 17d to close the refrigerator compartment door 40.

[0018] The refrigerator compartment door 40 is provided with an operation panel 15. The operation panel 15 is the part where the user operates the refrigerator 10 and also the part that displays necessary information to the user. A plurality of storage pockets 29 are attached to the inner surface of the refrigerator compartment door 40.

[0019] The vegetable compartment 22 is maintained at a refrigeration temperature range, for example, at 4 to 7° C. A drawer-type storage container is housed in the vegetable compartment 22. The front opening of the vegetable compartment 22 is opened and closed by a drawer-type vegetable compartment door 42.

[0020] An ice-making compartment (not shown) is provided on the upper left side of the freezer space. A small freezer compartment 27 is provided on the upper right side of the freezer space (to the right of the ice-making compartment). A freezer compartment 28 is provided below the ice-making compartment and small freezer compartment 27. Drawer-type storage containers are housed in the ice-making compartment, small freezer compartment 27, and freezer compartment 28, respectively. During normal operation, the interiors of the ice-making compartment, small freezer compartment 27, and freezer compartment 28 are maintained within the freezing temperature range, for example, at -20 to -18°C.

[0021] The front opening of the ice making compartment is opened and closed by a drawer-type ice making compartment door 43. The front opening of small freezer compartment 27 is opened and closed by a drawer-type small freezer compartment door 44. The front opening of freezer compartment 28 is opened and closed by a drawer-type freezer compartment door 45.

[0022] A first cooling compartment 35 is provided behind the refrigerated space. The first cooling compartment 35 is a space formed between the inner box 13 of the refrigerator body 11 and the wall 19 that forms the rear surface of the storage compartment. This first cooling compartment 35 is provided with a first cooler 30 that generates cold air and a first fan 32 that serves as a blower that circulates the generated cold air. The cold air generated by the first cooler 30 passes through a duct 31 that extends upward from the first cooler 30 and is blown out into the refrigerated space, where it circulates. The cold air that has circulated in the refrigerated space returns to the location of the first cooler 30.

[0023] In addition, a second cooler 33 that generates cold air and a second fan 34 that serves as an air blower for circulating the generated cold air are provided behind the freezer space. The cold air generated by the second cooler 33 is blown out into the freezer space, circulates in the freezer space, and then returns to the location of the second cooler 33.

[0024] A machine room 36 is provided at the lower rear of the refrigerator 10. A compressor 37, a condenser (not shown), and the like are housed in the machine room 36. The compressor 37, the condenser, the first cooler 30, the second cooler 33, and the like constitute a well-known refrigeration cycle device. The refrigerant compressed by the compressor 37 flows alternately through the first cooler 30 and the second cooler 33, whereby cold air is generated alternately in the first cooler 30 and the second cooler 33.

[0025] (2) Structure of refrigerator compartment door 40 Next, the structure of the refrigerator compartment door 40 (hereinafter, sometimes simply referred to as "door 40") of this embodiment will be described.

[0026] In the following description, left and right, front and rear, and top and bottom are expressions when viewing the refrigerator 10 from the front. The center side of the door 40 in the left and right direction is referred to as the "inner side in the width direction." The end sides of the door 40 in the left and right direction are referred to as the "outer side in the width direction." The center side of the door 40 in the up and down direction is referred to as the "inner side in the door up and down direction." The end sides of the door 40 in the up and down direction are referred to as the "outer side in the door up and down direction."

[0027] As shown in Figures 3 to 6, the door 40 includes a front door panel 50, a rear door inner panel 100, upper and lower end members 60, 80, and a heat insulating material 120 such as urethane foam provided between the door panel 50, the door inner panel 100, and the upper and lower end members 60, 80.

[0028] (3) Door surface material 50 The door panel 50 is formed by bending a metal plate such as a steel plate, and forms the left and right side edges of the front, side and back of the door 40.

[0029] 7 and 8, the door panel 50 includes a substantially rectangular front portion 51 that constitutes the front surface of the door 40 and is surrounded by an upper edge, a lower edge, a left edge, and a right edge, a pair of left and right side portions 52 that protrude rearward from the left and right edges of the front portion 51, and a rear portion 53 that protrudes inward in the width direction from the rear edge of the side portion 52. The front portion 51 may be flat, or may be curved, such as a curved surface whose cross-sectional shape in the width direction is curved so as to bulge forward at the center in the width direction.

[0030] Furthermore, the door panel 50 has an upper mounting surface 54 that protrudes rearward from the upper edge of the front surface 51, a lower mounting surface 55 that protrudes rearward from the lower end of the front surface 51, and side mounting surfaces 56 that protrude inward in the door width direction from the lower ends of the left and right side surface portions 52.

[0031] The upper mounting surface 54 has a rearward protrusion amount from the front surface 51 that varies in the width direction of the door 40, and includes a wide region 54a that protrudes a greater amount and a narrow region 54b that protrudes a smaller amount than the wide region 54a. A plurality of wide regions 54a are provided at intervals in the width direction of the door 40. A locking portion 57 is provided in each wide region 54a of the upper mounting surface 54. The locking portion 57 is made up of a hole that penetrates the upper mounting surface 54 in the vertical direction or a recessed portion provided in the upper mounting surface 54, and locks with a locking portion 71, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the narrow region 54b is provided between the wide regions 54a where the locking portions 57 are provided.

[0032] The wide area 54a and the engaging portion 57 of the upper mounting surface 54 can be provided at any position in the width direction of the door 40, but it is preferable to provide them at a position that avoids recesses that are recessed on the inside in the vertical direction of the door, such as the bearing portion 66, the shaft storage recess 67 described below, and the equipment storage recess 68.

[0033] In addition, the upper mounting surface 54 may protrude horizontally from the front surface 51 of the door panel material 50, but may also be inclined outward in the vertical direction of the door as it moves away from the front surface 51 of the door panel material 50, i.e., as it moves further rearward.

[0034] Like the upper mounting surface 54, the lower mounting surface 55 has a rearward protrusion amount from the front surface 51 that varies in the width direction of the door 40, and includes wide regions 55a that protrude a greater amount and narrow regions 55b that protrude a smaller amount than the wide regions 55a. A plurality of wide regions 55a are provided at intervals in the width direction of the door 40. Each wide region 55a of the lower mounting surface 55 is provided with a locking portion 58. The locking portion 58 is formed by a hole that penetrates the lower mounting surface 55 in the vertical direction or a recessed portion provided in the lower mounting surface 55, and locks with a locking portion 91, which will be described later. In this embodiment, the narrow regions 55b are provided between the wide regions 55a where the locking portions 58 are provided.

[0035] The wide area 55a and the engaging portion 58 of the lower mounting surface 55 can be provided at any position in the width direction of the door 40, but it is preferable to provide them at a position that avoids recesses that are recessed on the inside in the vertical direction of the door, such as the bearing portion 86, the shaft storage recess 87, the handle recess 88, and the recess 99, which will be described later.

[0036] In addition, the lower mounting surface 55 may protrude horizontally from the front surface 51 of the door panel 50, but may also be inclined so that it becomes more outward in the vertical direction of the door as it moves away from the front surface 51 of the door panel 50, that is, as it moves further rearward.

[0037] (4) Door inner panel 100 The door inner panel 100 is a molded product made of synthetic resin. As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the door inner panel 100 forms the interior surface of the door 42. The peripheral edge of the door inner panel 100 is provided with bulging portions 101 that bulge rearward along the top, bottom, left, and right edges.

[0038] An attachment portion 102 is provided on the peripheral edge of the door inner panel 100 so as to surround the outside of the bulge portion 101. A sealing member (not shown) called a gasket is attached to the attachment portion 102. The sealing member is provided in a position facing the peripheral edge of the front opening of the vegetable compartment 22 in the front-to-rear direction, and the magnetic force of a magnet arranged inside the sealing member causes it to adhere closely to the peripheral edge of the opening of the refrigerator body 11, thereby closing the gap between the door 40 and the front opening of the refrigerating compartment 20.

[0039] (5) Upper end member 60 The upper end member 60 is made of a molded synthetic resin and is joined to the upper end of the door surface material 50 and the inner door panel 100 to form the upper surface of the door 40.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 and 9, the upper end member 60 includes an outer surface portion 61, a front groove portion 62, left and right lateral groove portions 63, and a rear wall 65.

[0041] The outer surface portion 61 is disposed on the outer side of the door panel 50 in the vertical direction of the door, and is a portion that constitutes the exterior side of the door 40. As shown in Figures 4 and 9, shaft storage recesses 67 that are recessed inward in the vertical direction of the door are provided on both left and right ends of the outer surface portion 61. A bearing portion 66 that is further recessed inward in the vertical direction of the door is provided on the bottom portion of the shaft storage recess 67.

[0042] An equipment storage recess 68 recessed inward in the vertical direction of the door is provided between the left and right shaft storage recesses 67 on the outer surface 61. Equipment such as a speaker and an outside temperature sensor (not shown) are stored in the equipment storage recess 68.

[0043] 6, 9, and 10, the front groove 62 is a groove that opens forward and is provided in the front end of the upper end member 60. The front groove 62 is provided across the entire upper end member 60 in the left-right direction, and accommodates the upper mounting surface 54 of the door panel 50.

[0044] The front groove 62 is formed between an outer wall 61a formed by the front end of the outer surface 61 and a flat inner wall 69 extending in the left-right direction and spaced apart from the outer wall 61a on the inside in the vertical direction of the door. A groove protrusion 70 and a locking portion 71 are provided within the front groove 62.

[0045] The in-groove protrusion 70 is a protrusion that protrudes from the inner wall 69 toward the outer wall 61a into the front groove portion 62. The tip of the in-groove protrusion 70 faces the outer wall 61a with a gap in the up-down direction. The gap in the up-down direction between the tip of the in-groove protrusion 70 and the outer wall 61a is set to be equal to or greater than the thickness of the upper mounting surface 54. In this embodiment, multiple in-groove protrusions 70 are provided with gaps in the left-right direction. As shown in Figures 6 and 10, the front side of the in-groove protrusion 70 is provided with an inclined portion 70a that slopes toward the inner wall 69 as it extends forward.

[0046] The locking portion 71 is a claw-shaped protrusion that protrudes from the outer wall 61a toward the inner wall 69 and into the front groove portion 62. The locking portion 71 is provided at a position corresponding to the locked portion 57 provided on the upper mounting surface 54 of the door panel 50, and when the upper end member 60 is attached to the door panel 50, the locking portion 71 is inserted into and locked with the locked portion 57 provided on the upper mounting surface 54. In addition, an inclined portion 71a is provided on the front side of the locking portion 71, which is inclined so as to approach the outer wall 61a as it extends forward. A through-hole 69a that penetrates the inner wall 69 is provided at a position on the inner wall 69 that is vertically opposite the locking portion 71.

[0047] The horizontal grooves 63 are grooves that open forward and downward and are provided on both the left and right end portions of the upper end member 60. The front ends of the horizontal grooves 63 are connected to the left and right ends of the front groove 62. When the upper end member 60 is attached to the door panel material 50, the upper ends of the side surfaces 52 of the door panel material 50 are accommodated in the horizontal grooves 63.

[0048] The rear wall 65 is a flat projection that projects inward in the door vertical direction and extends left and right from the rear end of the outer surface portion 61. The rear wall 65 comes into contact with the surface of the inner door panel 100 on the door inner side.

[0049] (6) Lower end member 80 The lower end member 80 is made of a molded synthetic resin and is joined to the lower end of the door surface material 50 and the door inner panel 100 to form the surface of the lower end of the door 40.

[0050] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 and 11, the lower end member 80, like the upper end member 60, comprises an outer surface portion 81, a front groove portion 82, left and right lateral groove portions 83, and a rear wall 85.

[0051] The outer surface portion 81 is disposed on the outer side of the door panel 50 in the vertical direction of the door, and is a portion that constitutes the exterior side of the door 40. As shown in Figures 4 and 9, one of the left and right ends of the outer surface portion 81 is provided with a shaft storage recess 87 that is recessed inward in the vertical direction of the door. The bottom of the shaft storage recess 87 is further provided with a bearing portion 86 that is recessed inward in the vertical direction of the door, and a recess 99 into which the anti-rotation shaft of the door closing device 18 is inserted. In addition, the other left and right end of the outer surface portion 81 is formed with a recess 88 that is recessed inward in the vertical direction of the door and functions as a handle for the door 40.

[0052] Similar to the front groove 62 provided in the lower end member 80, the front groove 82 is a groove that opens forward and is formed between an outer wall 81a that is the front end of the outer surface portion 81 and a flat inner wall 89 that extends in the left-right direction and is provided at an interval on the inside of the door in the vertical direction from the outer wall 81a. The front groove 82 is provided across the entire left-right direction of the lower end member 80, and accommodates the lower mounting surface 55 of the door face material 50.

[0053] Within the front groove portion 82, there is provided a groove protrusion 90 that protrudes into the front groove portion 62 from the inner wall 69 toward the outer wall 61a, and a locking portion 91 that protrudes into the front groove portion 62 from the outer wall 61a toward the inner wall 69.

[0054] The tip of the in-groove protrusion 90 faces the outer wall 81a with a gap therebetween in the up-down direction. The gap in the up-down direction between the tip of the in-groove protrusion 90 and the outer wall 81a is set to be equal to or greater than the thickness of the lower mounting surface 55. In this embodiment, multiple in-groove protrusions 90 are provided with gaps in the left-right direction. As shown in Figure 11, the front side of the in-groove protrusion 90 is provided with an inclined portion 90a that slopes toward the inner wall 89 as it extends forward.

[0055] The locking portion 91 is provided at a position corresponding to the locked portion 58 provided on the lower mounting surface 55 of the door panel material 50, and when the lower end member 80 is attached to the door panel material 50, the locking portion 91 is inserted into the locked portion 58 provided on the lower mounting surface 55. In addition, an inclined portion 91a is provided on the front side of the locking portion 91, which is inclined so as to approach the outer wall 81a as it goes forward. A through hole 69a that penetrates the inner wall 69 is provided in the inner wall 89 at a position that is vertically opposite to the locking portion 91.

[0056] The horizontal grooves 83 are grooves that open to the sides and are provided on both the left and right end portions of the lower end member 80. The front ends of the horizontal grooves 83 are connected to the left and right ends of the front groove 82. When the lower end member 80 is attached to the door panel material 50, the horizontal mounting surface 56 of the door panel material 50 is accommodated in the horizontal grooves 83.

[0057] The rear wall 85 is a flat projection that projects inward in the door vertical direction and extends left and right from the rear end of the outer surface portion 81. The rear wall 85 comes into contact with the surface of the door inner panel 100 on the door inner side.

[0058] (7) Manufacturing method of door 40 Next, a description will be given of a method for manufacturing the above-mentioned door 40. In the manufacturing process of the door 40, first, an operator assembles the upper end member 60, the lower end member 80, and the door panel 50.

[0059] Specifically, the worker slides the upper end member 60 forward at the upper end of the door panel material 50, inserting the upper mounting surface 54 of the door panel material 50 into the front groove portion 62 and inserting the lateral mounting surface 56 of the door panel material 50 into the lateral groove portion 63.

[0060] The upper mounting surface 54 inserted into the front groove portion 62 is guided by the inclined portion 70a of the groove protrusion 70 and inserted between the groove protrusion 70 and the outer wall 61a. At this time, the wide region 54a of the upper mounting surface 54 is guided by the inclined portion 71a of the locking portion 71 and inserted between the groove protrusion 70 and the outer wall 61a, and the locking portion 71 is inserted into the locked portion 57 provided on the wide region 54a.

[0061] The worker also slides the lower end member 80 forward at the lower end of the door panel material 50, inserting the lower mounting surface 55 of the door panel material 50 into the front groove portion 82 and inserting the lateral mounting surface 56 of the door panel material 50 into the lateral groove portion 83.

[0062] The lower mounting surface 55 inserted into the front groove portion 82 is guided by the inclined portion 90a of the groove protrusion 90 and inserted between the groove protrusion 90 and the outer wall 81a. At this time, the wide region 55a of the lower mounting surface 55 is guided by the inclined portion 91a of the locking portion 91 and inserted between the groove protrusion 90 and the outer wall 81a, and the locking portion 91 is inserted into the locked portion 58 provided on the wide region 55a.

[0063] When the upper end member 60 and the lower end member 80 are attached to the door panel 50, the door 40 is in an assembled state, and the door panel 50 and the end members 60, 80 form a space with an open back surface.

[0064] Once the door 40 is in the assembled state in this way, an operator injects a fluid foaming resin concentrate such as urethane foam into the interior space of the door 40 through the opening on the back, and then closes the back of the door 40 with the door inner panel 100. The foaming resin concentrate expands as it foams and flows through the interior space of the door 40, and after filling the interior space of the door 40, it solidifies and the door 40 is completed.

[0065] The worker manufactures the other doors using the same process as that for refrigerator compartment door 40. Then, the worker attaches each completed door and various devices to refrigerator body 11 to complete refrigerator 10.

[0066] (8) Effects In this embodiment, locking portions 71, 91 are provided in the front grooves 62, 82 of the end members 60, 80, and when the mounting surfaces 54, 55 of the door face material 50 are inserted into the front grooves 62, 82, the locking portions 71, 91 are inserted into the locked portions 57, 58 provided on the mounting surfaces 54, 55 of the door face material 50. The worker can easily feel a sense of resistance when the locking portions 71, 91 are inserted into the locked portions 57, 58, and can easily determine that the mounting surfaces 54, 55 are inserted into the predetermined positions in the front grooves 62, 82. Therefore, the door face material 50 can be attached to the end members 60, 80 with reduced distortion.

[0067] In particular, when the mounting surfaces 54, 55 are inclined outward in the vertical direction of the door as they move away from the front surface 51 of the door face material 50, the tips of the wide regions 54a, 55a of the mounting surfaces 54, 55 elastically deform so as to incline inward in the vertical direction of the door until the locking portions 71, 91 are inserted into the locked portions 57, 58. Thereafter, when the locking portions 71, 91 are inserted into the locked portions 57, 58, the deformation in the wide regions 54a, 55a of the mounting surfaces 54, 55 is released and the mounting surfaces 54, 55 return to their original shape. This makes it easier for the worker to feel the feedback when the locking portion 71 is inserted into the locked portion 57, and allows the mounting surfaces 54, 55 to be inserted into the predetermined positions in the front grooves 62, 82.

[0068] When the locking portions 71, 91 are provided on the outer walls 61a, 81a as in this embodiment, the locking portions 71, 91 protruding into the front groove portions 62, 82 can be molded integrally with other parts of the end members 60, 80 without affecting the appearance of the door 40.

[0069] When the locked portions 57 are provided in the wide regions 54a of the mounting surface 54 as in this embodiment, the locked portions 57 can be provided while ensuring the strength of the mounting surface 54, and by providing narrow regions 54b that protrude less than the wide regions 54a in locations where the locked portions 57 are not provided, it is possible to reduce distortion that occurs in the front surface 51 of the door panel material 50 due to the bending process of the mounting surface 54. Furthermore, if the locked portions 57 are provided in the center part in the front-to-rear direction of the wide regions 54a, it is easy to ensure the strength around the locked portions 57.

[0070] Similarly, when the locked portions 58 are provided in the wide region 55a of the mounting surface 55, the locked portions 58 can be provided while ensuring the strength of the mounting surface 55, and by providing narrow regions 55b that protrude less than the wide region 55a in locations where the locked portions 58 are not provided, it is possible to suppress distortion that occurs in the front surface 51 of the door panel material 50 due to the bending process of the mounting surface 55. Furthermore, if the locked portions 58 are provided in the center of the wide region 55a in the front-to-back direction, it is easy to ensure the strength around the locked portions 58. It is preferable to provide them in the center of the wide region 55a in the front-to-back direction.

[0071] As in this embodiment, when the engaging portions 57, 58 are provided in positions that avoid the recesses 66-68, 86-88, 99 that are recessed inward in the vertical direction of the door 40 in the width direction, it becomes easier to ensure the amount of protrusion of the mounting surfaces 54, 55 at the positions where the engaging portions 57, 58 are provided.

[0072] (9) Example of change Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are intended to be included within the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention and its equivalents as set forth in the claims.

[0073] In the above embodiment, the refrigerator compartment door 40 has been described as an example, but the present invention may be applied to other doors such as the vegetable compartment door 42 and the freezer compartment door 45.

[0074] Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the end member 60 is provided with a locking portion 71, and the upper mounting surface 54 of the door panel 50 is provided with a locked portion 57 to which the locking portion 71 locks, but it is also possible to provide a locking portion on the upper mounting surface 54 of the door panel 50, and to provide a locked portion on the end member 60 to which the locking portion provided on the upper mounting surface 54 locks. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the end member 80 is provided with a locking portion 91, and the lower mounting surface 55 of the door panel 50 is provided with a locked portion 58 to which the locking portion 91 locks, but it is also possible to provide a locking portion on the lower mounting surface 55 of the door panel 50, and to provide a locked portion on the end member 80 to which the locking portion provided on the lower mounting surface 55 locks. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 10...refrigerator, 11...refrigerator body, 20...refrigerator compartment, 22...vegetable compartment, 26...chilled compartment, 27...small freezer compartment, 28...freezer compartment, 40...refrigerator compartment door, 42...vegetable compartment door, 43...ice maker compartment door, 44...small freezer compartment door, 45...freezer compartment door, 50...door surface material, 51...front surface, 54...upper mounting surface, 54a...wide region, 54b...narrow region, 55...lower mounting surface, 55a...wide region, 55b...narrow region, 57...engaging portion, 58...engaging portion, 60...upper end member, 61...outer surface, 61a...outer wall, 62...front groove portion, 63... Horizontal groove portion, 65...rear wall, 66...bearing portion, 67...shaft storage recess, 68...equipment storage recess, 69...inner wall, 69a...through hole, 70...groove projection, 70a...inclined portion, 71...locking portion, 71a...inclined portion, 80...lower end member, 81...outer surface portion, 81a...outer wall, 82...front groove portion, 83...horizontal groove portion, 85...rear wall, 86...bearing portion, 87...shaft storage recess, 88...handle recess, 89...inner wall, 90...groove projection, 90a...inclined portion, 91...locking portion, 91a...inclined portion, 99...recess, 100...door inner plate, P...protrusion amount

Claims

1. A refrigerator comprising a refrigerator body having a storage compartment therein and a door provided on the refrigerator body, The door includes a door surface material that forms a front surface on the outside of the cabinet, and an end member attached to an end of the door surface material, The door panel includes an attachment surface that protrudes rearward from the upper edge portion or the lower edge portion, and an engagement portion that is provided on the attachment surface, The end member has a groove portion into which the mounting surface is inserted, and a locking portion that protrudes into the groove portion and is inserted into the locked portion.

2. 2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the end member comprises an outer wall that forms an exterior side of the door, and an inner wall that is spaced apart from the outer wall and forms the groove between the outer wall and the inner wall, and the engaging portion protrudes from the outer wall toward the inner wall.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the mounting surface has a wide region and a narrow region that protrudes rearward less than the wide region, and the engaging portion is provided in the wide region.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the end member has a recess recessed toward the inside of the door, and the engaging portion is provided at a position that avoids the recess in the width direction of the door.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the end member includes a bearing portion that rotatably supports a rotation shaft provided in the refrigerator body, and the engaging portion is provided at a position that avoids the bearing portion in the width direction of the door.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the mounting surface includes a plurality of the locked portions spaced apart in a width direction of the door, and the narrow region is provided between the locked portions.

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