refrigerator

Abstract

To provide a refrigerator with improved installation procedures for the interior lighting system. [Solution] The refrigerator of the embodiment comprises an insulated box, a storage chamber provided inside the insulated box, and a lighting device attached to the insulated box for illuminating the storage chamber. The lighting device has a light source, a light-transmitting member capable of diffusing the light emitted by the light source, and a holding member for holding the light-transmitting member. The holding member has a first surface close to the light source, a second surface opposite the first surface, an opening formed through the first surface and the second surface, and one or more clamping portions having a clamping surface facing the first surface. When the light-transmitting member is inserted between the first surface and the clamping surface and held by the holding member, it closes the opening, and in the held state, its movement in a direction perpendicular to the first surface is restricted by the one or more clamping portions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This embodiment relates to a refrigerator.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, in order to improve the visibility inside a refrigerator, interior lighting is provided inside the refrigerator. As such interior lighting, for example, a light source such as an LED (Light Emitting Device) is housed in a recess formed in the ceiling or side surface of a refrigerating chamber or the like, light is irradiated from the light source into the interior, and the light source is covered with a transparent or translucent cover.

[0003] In the structure of conventional interior lighting, since the irradiation axis of the light source passes through the cover, the light source is easily visible to the user through the cover, and there is a problem with the appearance of the interior lighting. Therefore, refrigerators that improve the appearance of the interior lighting have been proposed.

[0004] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a refrigerator provided with a storage chamber in which stored items are stored and a light-emitting component provided in the storage chamber for irradiating light, wherein a wall portion is provided at a location in the irradiation direction of the light from the light-emitting component.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] By the way, there was room for improvement in the installation work of the lighting device.

[0007] Therefore, a refrigerator that improves the installation work of the interior lighting device is provided.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The refrigerator of the embodiment comprises an insulated box, a storage chamber provided inside the insulated box, and a lighting device attached to the insulated box for illuminating the storage chamber. The lighting device includes a light source, a light-transmitting member capable of diffusing the light emitted by the light source, and a holding member for holding the light-transmitting member. The holding member has a first surface close to the light source, a second surface opposite the first surface, an opening formed through the first surface and the second surface, and one or more clamping portions having a clamping surface facing the first surface. When the light-transmitting member is inserted between the first surface and the clamping surface and held by the holding member, it closes the opening, and in the held state, its movement in a direction perpendicular to the first surface is restricted by the one or more clamping portions. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] A schematic longitudinal cross-sectional side view showing the upper part of the refrigerator compartment of a refrigerator according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] A schematic front view of the upper part of the refrigerator compartment with the refrigerator door removed, according to one embodiment of the refrigerator. [Figure 3] Cross-sectional view of the upper part of the refrigerator compartment, shown along line III-III in Figure 2. [Figure 4] A perspective view showing a portion of the upper part of the inner box of a refrigerator according to one embodiment. [Figure 5] Exploded perspective view showing the schematic configuration of a lighting device according to one embodiment. [Figure 6] A plan view showing a holding member according to one embodiment, with a light source and a light-transmitting member attached. [Figure 7] Plan view showing a retaining member according to one embodiment. [Figure 8] A perspective view showing a portion of the right side of a holding member according to one embodiment, with a light source and a light-transmitting member attached. [Figure 9] A perspective view showing a portion of the left side of a holding member according to one embodiment, with a light source and a light-transmitting member attached. [Figure 10]A longitudinal cross-sectional view of the holding member with the light source and light-transmitting member attached, shown along line XX in Figure 8. [Figure 11] A longitudinal cross-sectional view of the holding member with the light source and light-transmitting member attached, shown along the line XI-XI in Figure 8. [Figure 12] Bottom view showing the general configuration of the mounting member according to one embodiment. [Figure 13] Longitudinal cross-sectional view of the mounting member shown along line XIII-XIII in Figure 12. [Figure 14] A longitudinal cross-sectional view of the lighting device shown along line XIV-XIV in Figure 12. [Figure 15] Longitudinal cross-sectional view of the lighting device shown along line XV-XV in Figure 12. [Figure 16] A partial perspective view showing one state in the process of attaching a refrigerator holding member to the inner box via a mounting member according to one embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] The following description will explain a refrigerator according to one embodiment with reference to the drawings. The refrigerator 10 is configured with multiple storage compartments inside a vertically elongated rectangular insulated box 11 with an open front. In the following description, as shown in Figure 1, the side with the opening of the insulated box 11 will be referred to as the front of the refrigerator 10, and the side opposite the opening will be referred to as the rear of the refrigerator 10. The vertical direction of the refrigerator 10 will be defined as the vertical direction relative to the direction of gravity when the refrigerator 10 is placed on the floor in the position shown in Figure 1. The horizontal direction of the refrigerator 10 will be defined as the horizontal direction of the refrigerator 10 when viewed from the front of the refrigerator 10 in Figure 1.

[0011] The refrigerator 10 is mainly composed of an insulated box 11. The insulated box 11 is an insulated box with an open front and has multiple storage compartments inside. The insulated box 11 has multiple storage compartments for storing items, such as a refrigerator compartment 12, a vegetable compartment (not shown), an ice-making compartment, a small freezer compartment, and a freezer compartment. As shown in Figure 1, the refrigerator compartment 12 is located at the top of the insulated box 11.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 10 includes left and right refrigerator compartment doors 13 and 14. The refrigerator compartment doors 13 and 14 are, for example, double-hinged doors that rotate by left and right hinges (not shown) provided in a pair above and below, and open and close the opening in the front surface of the refrigerator compartment 12. Note that the refrigerator 10 may include a single hinged-opening refrigerator compartment door that rotates by a hinge instead of the left and right refrigerator compartment doors 13 and 14. The refrigerator 10 further has a vegetable compartment, an ice-making compartment, a small freezer compartment, and a vegetable compartment door, an ice-making compartment door, a small freezer compartment door, and a freezer compartment door (not shown) that open and close the front openings of the freezer compartment.

[0013] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the heat-insulating housing 11 includes an outer box 17, an inner box 18, and a heat-insulating member 19. The outer box 17 is made of, for example, a thin metal plate and forms the outer shell of the refrigerator 10. The inner box 18 is disposed inside the outer box 17, and each storage compartment including the refrigerator compartment 12 is formed therein. That is, the inner box 18 forms the inner wall surface, i.e., the inner wall, of the heat-insulating housing 11. The inner box 18 is made of a thin plate such as synthetic resin and is capable of elastic deformation. The heat-insulating member 19 is disposed between the outer box 17 and the inner box 18. The heat-insulating member 19 is composed of, for example, a single vacuum heat-insulating panel, or a plurality of heat-insulating members of a foam heat-insulating material such as a vacuum heat-insulating panel and urethane foam, or a single foam heat-insulating material such as urethane foam.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the heat-insulating housing 11 has a ceiling wall portion 21, left and right side wall portions 22, and a back wall portion 23. The ceiling wall portion 21 constitutes the ceiling of the refrigerator compartment 12. The left and right side wall portions 22 constitute the left and right side surfaces of the refrigerator compartment 12. The back wall portion 23 constitutes the back surface of the refrigerator compartment 12.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the refrigerator 10 includes a lighting device 30. The lighting device 30 illuminates the interior of a storage compartment, for example, the refrigerating compartment 12. Note that the lighting device 30 may be provided in other storage compartments. In the present embodiment, the lighting device 30 is provided on the ceiling wall portion 21, that is, on the ceiling of the refrigerating compartment 12. In other embodiments, the lighting device 30 may be provided on the left and right side wall portions 22, that is, on the left and right side surfaces of the refrigerating compartment 12, or may be provided on the rear wall portion 23, that is, on the rear surface of the refrigerating compartment 12.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the inner box 18 has a ceiling surface 181, left and right side surfaces 182, a rear surface 183, an inner box recess 184, and an inner box opening 185. The ceiling surface 181 constitutes the surface inside the ceiling wall portion 21, that is, the surface inside the refrigerating compartment 12. The left and right side surfaces 182 constitute the surfaces inside the side wall portions 22, that is, the surfaces inside the refrigerating compartment 12. The rear surface 183 constitutes the surface inside the rear wall portion 23, that is, the surface inside the refrigerating compartment 12. The inner box recess 184 is formed by recessing the inner box 18 outward, that is, toward the heat insulating member 19, and houses a part or all of the lighting device 30 inside. In the present embodiment, the inner box recess 184 is formed on the ceiling surface 181 and is formed by recessing a part of the ceiling surface 181 upward. The inner box opening 185 is an opening that opens the inner box recess 184 toward the inside of the refrigerating compartment 12, and forms a boundary between the inner box recess 184 and the portion other than the inner box recess 184 on the ceiling surface 181. Further, the inner box 18 has a heat insulating material side opening 186 on the upper surface of the inner box recess 184, that is, the surface facing the inner box opening 185. Note that when the lighting device 30 is provided on the side wall portion 22 or the rear wall portion 23, a recess may be provided on the side surface 182 or the rear surface 183.

[0017] The inner box recess 184 is formed in a generally rectangular shape in plan view, with its longer side in the left-right direction and its shorter side in the front-back direction. In this embodiment, the inner box recess 184 is formed in a generally trapezoidal shape when viewed from a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the inner box recess 184. That is, the length dimension of the insulation material side opening 186 along the short side direction (in this case, the front-back direction) is set to be shorter than the length dimension of the inner box opening 185 along the short side direction. The left-right length dimension of the inner box recess 184 is set to be approximately 80% or more of the left-right length dimension of the inner box 18. The inner box recess 184 is located slightly forward of the center of the front-back length dimension of the refrigerator compartment 12. Note that the shape of the inner box recess 184 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a schematic representation and does not represent the exact dimensions or shape.

[0018] As shown in Figure 5, the lighting device 30 comprises a light source 31, a holding member 40, a light-transmitting member 50, and a mounting member 60. The light source 31 is an LED unit that includes a substrate 32, and in the case of multiple units, 18 LED elements 33 and connection terminals 34 such as sockets. The holding member 40 has the function of holding the light source 31 and the light-transmitting member 50. The mounting member 60 has the function of attaching the holding member 40 to the inner box 18. The mounting member 60 comprises an inner mounting member 601 that faces the inside of the box and an outer mounting member 602 that faces the heat insulating member 19.

[0019] As shown in Figure 5, the substrate 32 is an electronic circuit board on which LED elements 33 are mounted. The substrate 32 is formed in a rectangle shape, with its longer side aligned with the longer side of the inner box recess 184, i.e., in the left-right direction, and its shorter side aligned with the direction in which the inner box recess 184 is recessed, i.e., in the up-down direction. Multiple LED elements 33 are mounted on the back surface of the substrate 32 and arranged at equal intervals along the longer side. That is, multiple LED elements 33 emit light toward the back side 183 of the refrigerator compartment 12. The connection terminal 34 is mounted on one end of the substrate 32 in the direction of the longer side on the back side. In this case, the connection terminal 34 is located at the left end of the substrate 32.

[0020] As shown in Figure 5, the retaining member 40 is formed in a generally rectangular plate shape in plan view, with its longer side along the longer side of the inner box recess 184, i.e., in the left-right direction, and its shorter side along the shorter side of the inner box recess 184, i.e., in the front-rear direction. The retaining member 40 comprises a first surface 41, a second surface 42, and an opening 43 on the inside of the refrigerator compartment. The first surface 41 forms the surface of the retaining member 40 that is closer to the light source 31. The second surface 42 is the surface opposite to the first surface 41 and forms the surface of the retaining member 40 that is further away from the light source 31. In this case, the second surface 42 faces the inside of the refrigerator compartment 12. In this embodiment, the first surface 41 constitutes the upper surface of the retaining member 40, and the second surface 42 constitutes the lower surface of the retaining member 40. The opening 43 on the inside of the refrigerator compartment is an opening formed through the first surface 41 and the second surface 42, and connects the space in which the light source 31 is housed with the inside of the refrigerator compartment 12.

[0021] As shown in Figure 5, the interior opening 43 is formed approximately in the center of the retaining member 40. The interior opening 43 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape in plan view, with its longer side running along the longer side of the retaining member 40, i.e., in the left-right direction, and its shorter side running along the shorter side of the retaining member 40, i.e., in the front-back direction.

[0022] The light-transmitting member 50 is held by the holding member 40 and closes the opening 43 on the inside of the refrigerator compartment. The light-transmitting member 50 has a first surface 51 and a second surface 52. The first surface 51 forms the surface of the light-transmitting member 50 that is closer to the light source 31. The second surface 52 is the surface opposite to the first surface 51 and forms the surface of the light-transmitting member 50 that is further away from the light source 31. In this case, the second surface 42 faces the inside of the refrigerator compartment 12 through the opening 43 on the inside of the refrigerator compartment. In this embodiment, the first surface 51 constitutes the upper surface of the light-transmitting member 50, and the second surface 52 constitutes the lower surface of the light-transmitting member 50. The first surface 51 is the surface to which light from the light source 31 is incident, and the second surface 52 is the surface that irradiates light into the refrigerator compartment 12. From the inside of the refrigerator compartment 12, light diffused and transmitted by the light-transmitting member 50 can be seen, but the light source 31 cannot be seen with the naked eye.

[0023] The light-transmitting member 50 is made up of a plate-like material that diffuses and partially transmits the light emitted by the light source 31. The light-transmitting member 50 can be made of a material that is light-transmitting and flexible, such as a synthetic resin such as polystyrene or polycarbonate. In addition, one or both of the first surface 51 or the second surface 52 of the light-transmitting member 50 have minute regular or irregular uneven shapes formed on them. These minute uneven shapes diffuse the light irradiated from the light source 31. In this embodiment, minute and irregular uneven shapes are formed on both the first surface 51 and the second surface 52 by a textured surface. Furthermore, the roughness of the minute uneven shapes on the first surface 51 and the second surface 52 is different, with the surface roughness of the second surface 52 being set to be less than that of the first surface 51. This allows the light incident on the first surface 51 to be diffused more effectively into the refrigerator compartment 12 when irradiated from the second surface.

[0024] As shown in Figure 5, the light-transmitting member 50 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape in plan view, with its longer side aligned with the longer side of the holding member 40, i.e., in the left-right direction, and its shorter side aligned with the shorter side of the holding member 40, i.e., in the front-back direction. Furthermore, the length of the longer side of the light-transmitting member 50 is set to be longer than the length of the longer side of the opening 43 on the inside of the storage unit, and shorter than the length of the longer side of the holding member 40. The length of the shorter side of the light-transmitting member 50 is set to be longer than the length of the shorter side of the opening 43 on the inside of the storage unit, and shorter than the shorter side of the holding member 40.

[0025] As shown in Figures 5 and 8, the holding member 40 further has a raised portion 44. The raised portion 44 is provided on the first surface 41. The raised portion 44 is formed on the outside of the interior opening 43, extending along at least one side of the interior opening 43 and projecting away from the first surface 41. In this embodiment, the raised portion 44 extends along each long side and each short side of the interior opening 43, surrounding the interior opening 43. That is, the raised portion 44 is provided on the outer periphery side of the light source 31 and the interior opening 43. The raised portion 44 has the function of suppressing light leakage from the gap between the holding member 40 and the inner box 18.

[0026] The rising section 44 is composed of a front rising section 441, a left rising section 442, a right rising section 443, and a rear rising section 444. The front rising section 441 extends along the front long side of the interior opening 43. The left rising section 442 extends along the left short side of the interior opening 43. The right rising section 443 extends along the right short side of the interior opening 43. The rear rising section 444 extends along the rear long side of the interior opening 43. Each of the rising sections 441, 442, 443, and 444 may be formed as a continuous unit or as a whole, or they may be provided intermittently. In this embodiment, the front rising portion 441, the right rising portion 443, and the rear rising portion 444 are each formed continuously, and the spaces between the front rising portion 441 and the right rising portion 443, between the right rising portion 443 and the rear rising portion 444, and between the rear rising portion 444 and the left rising portion 442 are also formed continuously.

[0027] One of the rising portions 442 and 443 in the short direction of the holding member 40 is partially cut out in the portion closer to the light source 31. In this embodiment, the left rising portion 442 has a notch 4421 in a part of its front. The notch 4421 serves as an opening for drawing in the electric wire extending from a power supply unit (not shown) into the area surrounded by the rising portion 44. An electric wire hanging portion 4422 is formed in the notch 4421. The electric wire hanging portion 4422 has the function of holding the electric wire in a predetermined position. The notch 4421 and the electric wire hanging portion 4422 are provided in front of the area extended to the left of the interior opening 43. Because the notch 4421 and the wire hanging portion 4422 are provided on the left rising portion 442 closer to the substrate 32, and more specifically closer to the connection terminal 34, the wire does not need to be routed excessively within the area enclosed by the rising portion 44. Therefore, when the refrigerator 10 is in use, the wire can be kept outside the opening 43 on the inside of the refrigerator. Consequently, the wire cannot be seen through the light-transmitting member 50.

[0028] As shown in Figure 8, the light source 31 is held by the front rise portion 441. The front rise portion 441 has one or more (in this case, four) upper claw portions 45 and one or more (in this case, five) support portions 46. The four upper claw portions 45 are arranged at equal intervals in the left-right direction and are arranged alternately with the support portions 46 which are similarly arranged at equal intervals in the left-right direction.

[0029] The substrate 32 is held by the upper claw portion 45 and the support portion 46 on the side of the interior opening 43 of the front rise portion 441, that is, the rear side in this case. The upper claw portion 45 is formed to protrude from the upper end of the front rise portion 441 toward the interior opening 43, that is, toward the rear side in this case. In addition, slits are made on both the left and right sides of the upper claw portion 45 that do not reach the first surface 41, extending downward from the upper end of the front rise portion 441, and the upper claw portion 45 is elastically deformable in the front-rear direction. The support portion 46 protrudes rearward from the rear surface of the front rise portion 441 and is formed in an L shape when viewed from the side. When attaching the light-transmitting member 50, which will be described later, to the holding member 40, it is preferable that the support portion 46 be located further away from the interior opening 43 than the first clamping portion 71, in this case forward.

[0030] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, with the light source 31 held by the holding member 40, the support portion 46 supports the substrate 32 from below and restricts the movement of the substrate 32 in the front-rear direction. With the substrate 32 supported from below by the support portion 46, the upper claw portion 45 faces the upper surface of the substrate 32 from above. The upper claw portion 45 restricts the upward movement of the substrate 32.

[0031] When installing the light source 31, the worker first inserts the lower edge of the substrate 32 between the front rise portion 441 and the support portion 46 from the rear diagonally upward. Once the substrate 32 is inserted to a certain extent, the front surface of the substrate 32 comes into contact with the rear end of the upper claw portion 45, causing the upper claw portion 45 to elastically deform forward. When the substrate 32 is lowered to the bottom surface of the support portion 46, the contact between the upper claw portion 45 and the front surface of the substrate 32 is released, and the upper claw portion 45 returns to its original position.

[0032] As shown in Figure 5, the protruding height of the front rise portion 441 is set higher than the protruding heights of the left rise portion 442, the right rise portion 443, and the rear rise portion 441. This ensures that the front rise portion 441 is tall enough to hold the light source 31 and restrict its movement, effectively suppressing light leakage to the user standing in front of the refrigerator 10. On the other hand, the left rise portion 442, the right rise portion 443, and the rear rise portion 441 are tall enough to prevent light leakage from the gap between the holding member 40 and the inner box 18, while also being tall enough to avoid interference with the worker's hands or the light-transmitting member 50 during the installation of the light source 31 or the light-transmitting member 50.

[0033] As shown in Figures 5 to 11, the holding member 40 further has one or more (in this case, 18) clamping portions 70. The clamping portions 70 have the function of holding the light-transmitting member 50 to the holding member 40. The multiple clamping portions 70 are arranged at equal intervals from each other along the front and rear long sides of the interior opening 43 and between the interior opening 43 and the rising portion 44. As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the clamping portion 70 has a clamping surface 701 facing the first surface 41. The light-transmitting member 50 is inserted between the clamping surface 701 and the first surface with the first surface 51 facing the clamping surface 701 and the second surface 52 facing the first surface 41. As a result, the movement of the light-transmitting member 50 in the direction perpendicular to the first surface 51, i.e., in the vertical direction, is restricted.

[0034] The multiple clamping portions 70 consist of a first clamping portion 71, a second clamping portion 72, a third clamping portion 73, and a fourth clamping portion 74. The first clamping portion 71 and one or more (in this case, eight) second clamping portions 72 are aligned along the front rising portion 441 in front of the interior opening 43. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the first clamping portion 71 and the second clamping portion 72 protrude upward from the first surface 41, with their tips bent toward the interior opening 43, i.e., toward the rear. That is, the first clamping portion 71 and the second clamping portion 72 are formed in a roughly inverted L shape when viewed from the side. The third clamping portion 73 and one or more (in this case, eight) fourth clamping portions 74 are aligned along the rear rising portion 444 behind the interior opening 43. As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the third clamping portion 73 and the fourth clamping portion 74 are formed to protrude from the rear rising portion 444 toward the side of the interior opening 43, that is, toward the front. In other words, the third clamping portion 73 and the fourth clamping portion 74 are formed in a roughly inverted I-shape when viewed from the side.

[0035] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the first clamping portion 71 is located at the end closest to one side (in this case, the right end) of the interior opening 43 in the longitudinal direction, among a plurality of clamping portions 71 arranged along the front rising portion 441 in front of the interior opening 43. The second clamping portion 72 is located at the other end (in this case, the left end) of the interior opening 43 in the longitudinal direction, compared to the first clamping portion 71. The third clamping portion 73 is located at the end closest to one side (in this case, the right end) of the interior opening 43 in the longitudinal direction, among a plurality of clamping portions 71 arranged along the rear rising portion 444 behind the interior opening 43. The fourth clamping portion 74 is located at the other end (in this case, the left end) of the interior opening 43 in the longitudinal direction, compared to the third clamping portion 73. In this case, the light-transmitting member 50 is inserted into the holding member 40 by the operator from the end side closest to the first clamping portion 71 and the third clamping portion 73, i.e., the right side. In other words, the first clamping portion 71 and the third clamping portion 73 are the clamping portions 70 that the worker passes first among the multiple clamping portions 70 when attaching the light-transmitting member 50 to the holding member 40.

[0036] Each clamping portion 71, 72, 73, and 74 is formed in a plan view rectangle with a longer side in the insertion direction of the light-transmitting member 50 (in this case, the left-right direction) and a shorter side in the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction (in this case, the front-back direction). As a result, when an operator inserts the light-transmitting member 50 between each clamping portion 71, 72, 73, and 74 and the first surface 41, the direction of movement of the light-transmitting member 50 is restricted along the longitudinal direction of each clamping portion 71, 72, 73, and 74, that is, over a relatively long distance, making it easier for the light-transmitting member 50 to maintain a position parallel to the first surface and to be guided in the appropriate direction of movement.

[0037] As shown in Figures 8 to 11, the first clamping portion 71 and the third clamping portion 73 each have a horizontal portion 75 and an inclined portion 76. The horizontal portion 75 forms a surface that extends generally parallel to the first surface. The inclined portion 76 is located on the insertion side, i.e., to the right, of the horizontal portion 75, and forms an inclined surface that rises as it moves to the right. That is, the distance between the clamping surfaces 701 of the first clamping portion 71 and the third clamping portion 73 and the first surface 41 is largest at the right end of the inclined portion 76, decreases as it approaches the horizontal portion 75, and becomes equal to the distance between the horizontal portion 75 and the first surface at the left end of the inclined portion 76, i.e., the connection portion with the horizontal portion 75.

[0038] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, the second clamping portion 72 and the fourth clamping portion 74 may have a notch cut out at the base end side in the insertion direction, i.e., the lower right corner. That is, the area of ​​the right end face of the second clamping portion 72 and the fourth clamping portion 74 is smaller than the area of ​​the left end face. As a result, when inserting the light-transmitting member 50, the tip of the light-transmitting member 50 is less likely to come into contact with the right end face of the second clamping portion 72 or the fourth clamping portion 74, and even if it does come into contact to some extent, it will be guided along the notched and formed slope, so that the operator can smoothly insert the light-transmitting member 50 between the second clamping portion 72 or the fourth clamping portion 74 and the first surface 41.

[0039] As shown in Figures 8 and 10, the right rising portion 443 has a stepped portion 445. The stepped portion 445 forms a surface that extends in the vertical direction, and the protruding heights on both the front and rear sides of the stepped portion are different. The stepped portion 445 is formed on a virtual line extending one of the long sides of the light-transmitting member 50 toward the insertion direction side of the light-transmitting member, i.e., to the right in this case, while the light-transmitting member 50 is held by the holding member 40, or within a predetermined distance from the virtual line. This predetermined distance can be set as appropriate, as long as the light-transmitting member 50 can pass between the clamping portion 70 and the first surface 41 when the light-transmitting member 50 is moved toward the insertion direction side (to the right in this case) while the long side of the light-transmitting member 50 is in contact with the surface of the stepped portion 445 that extends in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the stepped portion 445 is formed on a virtual line extending the front long side of the light-transmitting member 50 toward the right.

[0040] The protruding height of the right rising portion 443 in front of the stepped portion 445 is set higher than the protruding height of the right rising portion 443 in rear of the stepped portion 445. Therefore, when attaching the light-transmitting member 50 to the holding member 40, the worker can position the light-transmitting member 50 in the front-to-back direction by aligning the front edge of the light-transmitting member 50 with the stepped portion 445. Furthermore, by increasing the protruding height in front of the stepped portion 445, i.e., at the front of the right rising portion 443, forward light leakage can be made more reliable.

[0041] Furthermore, if the stepped portion is formed on a virtual line extending the rear long side of the light-transmitting member 50 to the right, the protruding height behind the stepped portion 445 may be set higher than the protruding height in front of the stepped portion 445. In this case, when attaching the light-transmitting member 50 to the holding member 40, the worker can position the light-transmitting member 50 in the front-to-back direction by aligning the rear side of the light-transmitting member 50 with the stepped portion 445.

[0042] As shown in Figure 9, the holding member has one or more (in this case, two) first positioning parts 47. The light-transmitting member 50 has one or more (in this case, two) second positioning parts 53. The first positioning parts 47 and the second positioning parts 53 have a concave shape so that the light-transmitting member 50 and the holding member 40 do not interfere with each other when the light-transmitting member 50 is inserted into the appropriate position on the holding member 40. Conversely, if the light-transmitting member 50 is in an inappropriate position or is not inserted in the appropriate orientation, at least one or both of the first positioning parts 47 or the second positioning parts 53 will interfere. Therefore, the light-transmitting member 50 cannot be held horizontally on the first surface 41, and the worker can easily notice that the light-transmitting member 50 is not properly installed. For example, if the first positioning part 47 has a convex shape, the second positioning part 53 can have a concave shape. Also, if the first positioning part 47 has a concave shape, the second positioning part 53 can have a convex shape. In this embodiment, the first positioning portion 47 has a convex shape, and the second positioning portion 53 has a concave shape. By fitting the first positioning portion 47 into the second positioning portion 53, the light-transmitting member 50 and the holding member 40 do not interfere with each other, and the light-transmitting member 50 can assume a horizontal position to the first surface 41.

[0043] The first positioning portion 47 is provided projecting upward from the first surface 41. The first positioning portion 47 is located outside the interior opening 43 and overlaps with the light-transmitting member 50 in a plan view. The first positioning portion 47 is positioned further outward than each of the clamping portions 71, 72, 73, and 74 in the longitudinal direction, i.e., the left-right direction, of the interior opening 43. Furthermore, the first positioning portion 47 is formed on the side of the plurality of clamping portions 70 where the first clamping portion 71 and the second clamping portion 72 are located, i.e., closer to the right end of the interior opening 43 in this case. In this case, the two first positioning portions 47 are arranged symmetrically on either side of the interior opening 43. Note that in the holding member 40, the plurality of first positioning portions 47 may be arranged on the same side with respect to the insertion direction of the light-transmitting member 50 (in this case, the left-right direction), and these first positioning portions 47 may be arranged at different positions with respect to the insertion direction of the light-transmitting member 50. As a result, if the light-transmitting member 50 is attached to the holding member 40 with the front and back sides, i.e., the first surface 51 and the second surface 52, reversed, the multiple second positioning parts 53 will not be able to reach the positions corresponding to the first positioning part 47, making it easier for the operator to notice that the light-transmitting member 50 is not attached correctly. In this case, the first alignment part 48 and the second alignment part 54, which will be described later, can be omitted.

[0044] In this embodiment, the positioning portion is formed in a cylindrical shape. The protrusion height of the first positioning portion 47 from the first surface 41 is set lower than the rise height of the right rise portion 443. Therefore, interference of the first positioning portion 47 during insertion is suppressed when the user attaches the light-transmitting member 50 to the holding member 40.

[0045] As shown in Figure 8, the second positioning portion 53 is located near one end (in this case, the right end) of the translucent member 50 in the longitudinal direction, and is formed on the longitudinal side or around the longitudinal side. The second positioning portion 53 may be formed, for example, by recessing a part of the front or rear side of the translucent member 50 toward the center of the translucent member 50 in the front-to-back direction. Alternatively, the second positioning portion 53 may be formed as a through hole penetrating the peripheral part of the front or rear side of the translucent member 50 in the thickness direction (in this case, the vertical direction). In this embodiment, the second positioning portion 53 is formed by recessing a part of the front and rear sides of the translucent member 50 toward the center of the translucent member 50 in the front-to-back direction.

[0046] Furthermore, the size (radius in this case) of the first positioning portion 47 and the size (width and depth of the notch in this case) of the second positioning portion 53 are formed with a gap, or clearance, rather than fitting together perfectly. Therefore, even in the held state, the light-transmitting member 50 can move slightly in the front-to-back and left-to-right directions within the range of the clearance.

[0047] When the relative positional relationship between the light-transmitting member 50 and the holding member 40 is appropriate, the cylindrical first positioning part 47 fits into the recessed shape of the second positioning part 53. This restricts the light-transmitting member 50 from moving beyond a predetermined distance in the left-right direction. Therefore, it serves as a guide for the appropriate position when the worker attaches the light-transmitting member 50 to the holding member 40, and once the light-transmitting member 50 is attached to the appropriate position on the holding member 40, it becomes less likely to shift, thus stabilizing the position of the light-transmitting member 50 during subsequent work and improving work efficiency.

[0048] In this embodiment, the first positioning portion 47 is formed to protrude upward from the first surface 41, but this is not limited to this configuration. For example, in other embodiments, the first positioning portion 47 may be provided to protrude rearward from the rear surface of the front rising portion 441.

[0049] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the holding member 40 has a first alignment portion 48. The light-transmitting member 50 has a second alignment portion 54. The first alignment portion 48 and the second alignment portion 54 have the function of preventing the front and back of the light-transmitting member 50, that is, the first surface 51 and the second surface 52, from being mistakenly attached to the holding member 40. This allows the light-transmitting member 50, which has different surface roughness on the first surface 51 and the second surface 52, to be attached to the holding member 40 in the correct orientation, that is, with the front and back sides correct. For example, the second alignment portion 54 is formed asymmetrically with respect to the center line that divides the light-transmitting member 50 in the short-side direction. In this embodiment, one second alignment portion 54 is formed at a position other than the center that divides the light-transmitting member 50 in the short-side direction.

[0050] The first alignment portion 48 and the second alignment portion 54 have a concave-concave shape so that the light-transmitting member 50 and the holding member 40 do not interfere with each other when the light-transmitting member 50 is inserted in the appropriate position and held. Conversely, if the light-transmitting member 50 is in an inappropriate position, at least one or both of the first alignment portion 48 or the second alignment portion 54 will interfere, making it impossible to hold the light-transmitting member 50 horizontally on the first surface 41. For example, if the first alignment portion 48 has a convex shape, the second alignment portion 54 can have a concave shape. Also, if the first alignment portion 48 has a concave shape, the second alignment portion 54 can have a convex shape. In this embodiment, the first alignment portion 48 has a convex shape, and the second alignment portion 54 has a concave shape. By fitting the first positioning portion 47 into the second alignment portion 54, the light-transmitting member 50 can assume a horizontal position on the first surface 41 without interference between the light-transmitting member 50 and the holding member 40.

[0051] The first alignment portion 48 is formed in a roughly rectangular parallelepiped shape, protruding upward from the first surface 41. The rear end of the first alignment portion 48 is connected to the rear rising portion 443. The second alignment portion 54 is formed by cutting out a part of the left rear portion of the light-transmitting member 50 so as to avoid the portion that overlaps with the first alignment portion 48 when held in place.

[0052] As shown in Figures 6, 8, and 9, the light source 31 is located in front of the interior opening 43, so a user standing in front of the refrigerator compartment 12 will not be able to see the light source 31 directly. In addition, it is suppressed that only a part of the light-transmitting member 50 appears conspicuously brighter than other parts.

[0053] As shown in Figures 12 to 15, the mounting member 60 is formed in the shape of a container that is generally rectangular in plan view and recessed upwards, with an opening facing downwards. As shown in Figure 13, the inner mounting member 601 and the outer mounting member 602 are attached to the inner box 18 and sandwich the inner box recess 184 from the inside and outside of the refrigerator compartment 12. With the mounting member 60 attached to the inner box 18, the inner mounting member 601 faces the inside of the refrigerator compartment 12, and the outer mounting member 602 faces the outside of the refrigerator compartment 12. As shown in Figure 12, the inner mounting member 601 has a front portion 61, a left portion 62, a right portion 63, and a rear portion 64.

[0054] As shown in Figures 5, 12, and 13, the inner mounting member 601 has a plurality (in this case, 10) of engaging portions 91 on its front portion 61 and rear portion 64. The engaging portions 91 are claw-shaped and protrude outward from the front portion 61 or rear portion 64 relative to the inner mounting member 601. In this case, the engaging portions 91 provided on the front portion 61 protrude forward, and the engaging portions 91 provided on the rear portion 64 protrude backward. The outer mounting member 602 has a plurality (in this case, 10) of engaging portions 92 on the surface facing the front portion 61 or rear portion 64. The engaging portions 92 engage with the engaging portions 91 to restrict the movement of the inner mounting member 601. Furthermore, by engaging the inner mounting member 601 and the outer mounting member 602 with the inner box 18 in between, the relative movement of the inner mounting member 601 and the outer mounting member 602 with respect to the inner box 18 is restricted.

[0055] As shown in Figure 12, the inner mounting member 601 has one or more (in this case, three) locking portions 65, one or more (in this case, three) recessed portions 66, and one or more (in this case, four) ribs 67. The locking portions 65 have a claw shape that protrudes rearward from the front portion 61. The three locking portions 65 are arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the mounting member 60, that is, in this case, in the left-right direction. The recessed portions 66 are provided on the rear portion 64. The recessed portions 66 are surrounded by the left and right walls and the top and bottom walls, and have a shape that is recessed towards the rear. The three recessed portions 66 are arranged at equal intervals in the longitudinal direction of the mounting member 60, that is, in this case, in the left-right direction. The ribs 67 are formed protruding forward from the rear portion 64, and their tips extend downward. The ribs 67 form a surface that is generally perpendicular in the front-rear direction. The four ribs 67 are arranged at equal intervals along the longitudinal direction of the mounting member 60, that is, in this case, in the left-right direction. In this case, the three recesses 66 and the four ribs 67 are arranged alternately.

[0056] As shown in Figure 12, the mounting member 60 further has a through hole 68 and a holding portion 69. The through hole 68 is a through-hole connecting the inner mounting member 601 and the outer mounting member 602. The through hole 68 allows for the insertion of an electric wire C that supplies power to the light source 31 from a power supply unit (not shown). The through hole 68 is formed at the left end of the mounting member 60. The holding portion 69 is formed at the left end on the inner surface of the inner mounting member 601 and has the function of holding the electric wire C, which is pulled in from the outside of the inner box 18 through the through hole 68, during work or use.

[0057] The holding portion 69 is composed of a wire holding portion 691 and a terminal holding portion 692. The wire holding portion 691 is formed, for example, in a hook shape to hold the wire C. The terminal holding portion 692 detachably holds the wire-side terminal T that is connected to the connection terminal 34. After attaching the mounting member 60 to the inner box 18, the worker can pull the wire C through the through hole 68 into the inside of the mounting member 60 and temporarily fix the wire C and the wire-side terminal T to the holding portion 69. Therefore, the wire C and the wire-side terminal T do not get in the way when injecting the heat insulating material 19 between the outer box 17 and the inner box 18, or when attaching the holding member 40 with the light source 31 and light-transmitting material 50 attached to the mounting member 60. Note that the holding portion 69 may be configured to include the wire holding portion 691 but not the terminal holding portion 692.

[0058] The retaining member 40 is attached to the mounting member 60 attached to the inner box 18 with the light source 31 and the light-transmitting member 50 mounted on it. As shown in Figure 7, the retaining member 40 has one or more (in this case, three) insertion parts 81 and one or more (in this case, three) mounting claw parts 82. Both the insertion parts 81 and the mounting claw parts 82 are formed on the outside of the rising part 44. The three insertion parts 81 are formed at equal intervals behind the rear rising part 444. The three mounting claw parts 82 are formed at equal intervals in front of the front rising part 441.

[0059] As shown in Figures 8, 9, and 14, the insertion portion 81 is formed to protrude rearward from the upper end of the rear surface of the rear rising portion 444. As shown in Figures 14 and 15, the mounting claw portion 82 is formed to protrude upward from the first surface 41 at a position forward of the front rising portion 441. The tip of the mounting claw portion 82 protrudes forward to form a claw shape.

[0060] An example of the procedure for installing the lighting device 30 by an operator is described below. The mounting member 60 is attached to the inner box 18. The electric wire C extending from the power supply unit is pulled out through the through hole 68 to the inside of the inner mounting member 601, that is, to the inside of the inner box 18. The pulled-out electric wire C and the electric wire terminal T are held by the electric wire holder 691 and the terminal holder 692.

[0061] Meanwhile, the light source 31 is attached to the holding member 40. The light-transmitting member 50 is inserted between the clamping portion 70 and the first surface 41, from the side opposite the insertion direction (right side in this case) to the side in the insertion direction (left side in this case).

[0062] The holding member 40, which is fitted with the light source 31 and the light-transmitting member 50, is attached to the inner box 18 to which the mounting member 60 is attached. In this case, as shown in Figure 16, first the rear edge of the holding member 40 is attached to the mounting member 60, and each insertion part 81 is inserted into a recess 66 provided at the corresponding position. The insertion part 81 and the recess 66 engage, and the rib 67 abuts against the rear rising part 444 of the holding member 40, so that the holding member 40 is held by the mounting member 60 in an inclined state. In this state, the worker can connect the wire hooked onto the wire holding part 691 to the connection terminal 34 of the light source 31. Subsequently, when the worker pushes the front edge of the holding member 40 toward the mounting member 60, each mounting claw 82 is locked into a locking part 65 provided at the corresponding position. In this way, the lighting device 30 is attached to the inner box 18.

[0063] The refrigerator 10 of this embodiment described above comprises an insulated box 11, a refrigerator compartment 12 as a storage room provided inside the insulated box 11, and a lighting device 30 attached to the insulated box 11 to illuminate the inside of the refrigerator compartment 12. The lighting device 30 has a light source 31, a light-transmitting member 50 capable of diffusing the light emitted by the light source 31, and a holding member 40 that holds the light-transmitting member 50. The holding member 40 has a first surface 41 close to the light source 31, a second surface 42 opposite to the first surface 41, an opening on the inside of the refrigerator compartment 43 formed through the first surface 41 and the second surface 42, and one or more clamping parts 70, 71, 72, 73, 74 having a clamping surface 701 facing the first surface 41. The light-transmitting member 50 is inserted between the first surface 41 and the clamping surface 701 and, in the held state, is held by the holding member 40, closing the opening 43 on the inside of the storage chamber, and in the held state, movement in a direction perpendicular to the first surface 41 is restricted by one or more clamping parts 70, 71, 72, 73, 74.

[0064] With this configuration, when attaching the lighting device 30 to the insulated box 11, the worker can attach the light-transmitting member 50 to the holding member 40 by inserting it between the first surface 41 of the holding member 40 and the clamping parts 70, 71, 72, 73, and 74. Therefore, the workability of attaching the light-transmitting member 50, and consequently the lighting device 30, is improved. Furthermore, by holding the light-transmitting member 50 with the holding member 40 before attaching it to the insulated box 11, rather than directly attaching the light-transmitting member to the insulated box 11, even a thin and flexible light-transmitting member 50 can be attached to the insulated box 11 without compromising workability. Thus, a refrigerator 10 with improved workability for attaching the lighting device 30 is provided.

[0065] Furthermore, as described above, since a thin light-transmitting member 50 can be used, manufacturing costs can be suppressed even when a large lighting device is introduced to brighten the interior of the refrigerator. Moreover, when the light-transmitting member is directly attached to the insulated box 11, it is necessary to form the light-transmitting member into a container shape and provide a fitting structure or snap-fit ​​structure around it. In this case, the thickness of the light-transmitting member cannot be kept within a constant range throughout the entire light-transmitting member, so there is a risk that the illuminance of the light passing through the light-transmitting member will vary depending on the location. In contrast, in the refrigerator of this embodiment, the light-transmitting member 50 is formed in a plate shape and the variation in thickness throughout is suppressed, so that the variation in the illuminance of the light passing through the light-transmitting member is suppressed. Therefore, a refrigerator 10 is provided that provides an excellent interior lighting effect while suppressing manufacturing costs.

[0066] The holding member 40 of this embodiment has a first positioning portion 47 formed on the first surface 41. The light-transmitting member 50 has a second positioning portion that fits with the first positioning portion 47 in the holding state and restricts the movement of the light-transmitting member in the insertion direction (in this case, to the left).

[0067] As a result, when the light-transmitting member 50 is held, its movement in the direction perpendicular to the first surface and in the insertion direction horizontal to the first surface is restricted, and its posture in the held state is stabilized. Therefore, even when attaching the holding member 40 with the light-transmitting member 50 and light source 31 attached to the heat-insulating box body 11 via the mounting member 60, the light-transmitting member 50 is held stably, ensuring good workability.

[0068] In this embodiment, at least the clamping portions 71 and 73 located on the side opposite to the insertion direction (in this case, the right side) among one or more clamping portions 70, 71, 72, 73, and 74 have an inclined portion 76 in which the distance between the first surface 41 and the clamping surface 701 increases as it advances in the direction opposite to the insertion direction.

[0069] The worker performs the work while looking down at the holding member 40 and the light-transmitting member 50. In this case, the light-transmitting member 50 can be inserted from the upper right diagonally along the inclined portion 76 between the first surface 41 and the first clamping portion 71 and the third clamping portion 73, making alignment easier than inserting the light-transmitting member 50 parallel to the first surface 41. Furthermore, the flexible light-transmitting member 50 is guided diagonally downward to the left by the inclined portion 76, and naturally assumes a position parallel to the first surface 41 after passing through the inclined portion 76. Therefore, the workability of attaching the light-transmitting member 50 is improved.

[0070] In this embodiment, the first positioning portion 47 is located on the opposite side of the insertion direction from the one or more clamping portions 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, on the side opposite to the insertion direction (in this case, the right side).

[0071] When an operator attaches the light-transmitting member 50 to the holding member 40, even after the tip of the light-transmitting member 50 on the insertion side has passed the first clamping portion 71 and the second clamping portion 72, the portion of the light-transmitting member 50 that has not passed the first clamping portion 71 and the third clamping portion 73, that is, the portion to the right of the first clamping portion 71 and the third clamping portion 73, is held by the operator and floats above the first surface 41. Therefore, interference between the first positioning portion 47 and the light-transmitting member 50 during insertion is suppressed. On the other hand, if the first positioning portion 47 is formed on the insertion side of at least one of the one or more clamping portions 70, 71, 72, 73, and 74, there is a risk that the light-transmitting member 50 inserted parallel to the first surface 41 and the first positioning portion 47 will interfere with each other.

[0072] In this embodiment, the holding member 40 has a right rising portion 443 that extends in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction on the side opposite to the insertion direction of the light-transmitting member when in the holding state, and rises in a direction away from the first surface 41. The right rising portion 443 has a stepped portion 445 within a predetermined distance from a virtual line that extends in the opposite direction of insertion from one side of the light-transmitting member 50 parallel to the insertion direction. With the stepped portion 445 as the boundary, the right rising portion 443 on the side further from the interior opening 43 is higher than the right rising portion 443 on the side closer to the interior opening 43. That is, with the stepped portion 445 as the boundary, the protruding height of the right rising portion 443 is lower on the side closer to the interior opening 43 and higher on the side further from the interior opening 43.

[0073] As a result, when attaching the light-transmitting member 50 to the holding member 40, one side of the light-transmitting member 50 can be pressed against the stepped portion 445 to position the light-transmitting member 50 in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction. Furthermore, since the protrusion height of the right rising portion 443 is set low inside the stepped portion 445, interference with the light-transmitting member 50 is suppressed without excessively bending the light-transmitting member 50 during insertion. This further improves the workability of inserting the light-transmitting member 50.

[0074] The predetermined distance can be set to no more than twice the clearance width between the first positioning unit 47 and the second positioning unit 53.

[0075] In this embodiment, the holding member 40 has a first alignment portion 48 that is formed to protrude from the first surface 41 asymmetrically with respect to the opening 43 on the inside of the storage compartment. The light-transmitting member 50 has a second alignment portion 54 that is formed by cutting out or opening it to avoid the first alignment portion 48 when it is in the holding state.

[0076] This prevents the light-transmitting member 50 from being inserted with the first surface 51 and the second surface 52 mixed up. Therefore, the workability of attaching the light-transmitting member 50 to the holding member 40 is further improved.

[0077] In conventional refrigerator lighting systems, the shade and the light source are positioned so that they overlap at least partially with respect to the direction parallel to the insulated wall on which the lighting system is installed. In this case, part of the light source can be seen from the inside of the refrigerator through the shade, which is made of a transparent or translucent material, and in some cases, only the vicinity of the light source may appear bright.

[0078] In contrast, the light source 31 in this embodiment is positioned outside the interior opening 43 relative to the interior opening 43, beyond the region obtained by extending the interior opening 43 in a direction perpendicular to the first surface 41.

[0079] As a result, the light source 31 is not visible through the opening 43 on the inside of the storage compartment, and since the light is emitted from outside the opening 43 on the inside of the storage compartment, the brightening of only the vicinity of the light source 31 is suppressed. Therefore, good interior lighting is provided.

[0080] In this embodiment, the holding member 40 has raised portions 44, 441, 442, 443, and 444 that rise outward from the first surface 41 on the outside of the interior opening 43 relative to the light-transmitting member 50 when held. The light source 31 is attached to the surface of the raised portions 44, 441 facing the interior opening 43 (in this case, the rear surface).

[0081] According to this design, the light source 31 is attached to the holding member 40, and in that state the holding member 40 is attached to the insulated box 11 via the mounting member 60, thereby improving the workability of attaching the light source 31. In addition, the raised portions 44, 441, 442, 443, and 444 prevent light from the light source 31 from leaking out of parts other than the opening 43 on the inside of the box, such as the gap between the holding member 40 and the inner box 18.

[0082] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This novel embodiment can be implemented 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 variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 10...Refrigerator, 11...Insulated box, 12...Refrigerator compartment (storage compartment), 30...Lighting device, 31...Light source, 40...Holding member, 41...First surface, 42...Second surface, 43...Opening on the inside of the compartment, 44...Rising section, 441...Front rising section (rising section), 442...Left rising section (rising section), 443...Right rising section (rising section), 444...Rear rising section part (rising part), 445...stepped part, 47...first positioning part, 48...first positioning part, 50...transparent member, 53...first positioning part, 54...second positioning part, 70...pinching part Holding part, 71...first holding part (holding part), 72...second holding part (holding part), 73...third holding part (holding part), 74...fourth holding part (holding part), 701...holding surface, 76...slanted part

Claims

1. Insulated box body, A storage chamber provided inside the aforementioned insulated box, The insulated box body is equipped with a lighting device that illuminates the inside of the storage chamber, The lighting device comprises a light source, a light-transmitting member capable of diffusing the light emitted by the light source, and a holding member for holding the light-transmitting member. The holding member has a first surface close to the light source, a second surface opposite to the first surface, an opening formed through the first surface and the second surface, and one or more clamping portions having a clamping surface facing the first surface. The light-transmitting member is inserted between the first surface and the clamping surface and, in a held state, closes the opening, and in the held state, its movement in a direction perpendicular to the first surface is restricted by the one or more clamping portions. refrigerator.

2. The holding member has a first positioning portion formed on the first surface, The light-transmitting member has a second positioning portion that fits with the first positioning portion in the holding state and restricts the movement of the light-transmitting member in the insertion direction. The refrigerator according to claim 1.

3. Of the one or more clamping portions, at least the clamping portion located on the side opposite to the insertion direction has an inclined portion such that the distance between the first surface and the clamping surface increases as it advances in the direction opposite to the insertion direction. The refrigerator according to claim 1.

4. The first positioning portion is located on the opposite side of the insertion direction from the one or more clamping portions, The refrigerator according to claim 2.

5. The holding member has a rising portion that extends in a direction perpendicular to the insertion direction on the side opposite to the insertion direction, which is opposite to the insertion direction of the light-transmitting member, in the holding state, and rises in a direction away from the first surface. The rising portion has a stepped portion provided within a predetermined distance from a virtual line extending one side of the light-transmitting member parallel to the insertion direction in the opposite direction of insertion. With the aforementioned stepped portion as the boundary, the rising portion on the side further from the opening is higher than the rising portion on the side closer to the opening. A refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. The holding member has a first alignment portion that is formed to protrude from the first surface asymmetrically with respect to the opening, The light-transmitting member has a second alignment portion formed by cutting out or opening it so as to avoid the first alignment portion in the holding state. A refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. The light source is positioned outside the opening relative to the opening, beyond the region that extends the opening in a direction perpendicular to the first surface. A refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

8. The holding member has a raised portion that, in the holding state, rises outward from the opening relative to the light-transmitting member and moves away from the first surface. The light source is mounted on the surface of the rising portion facing the opening. A refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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