refrigerator

Abstract

The object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that can ensure the strength of the gasket mounting portion. [Solution] A refrigerator comprising: a box body opening to the front and having an opening edge; a door that can open and close the opening and has a door liner positioned at the rear; a packing mounting portion positioned between the box body and the door liner and extending along the outer edge of the door; and a packing, wherein the packing mounting portion comprises, in a cross section in the extending direction of the packing mounting portion, a fitting portion into which the end of the packing is locked, and a convex portion facing the center of the packing, and in the thickness direction of the box body, the relationship between the dimension W2 of the fitting portion and the dimension W1 of the convex portion is such that the inequality W1 > W2.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

Background Art

[0002] As a related technology regarding the door packing of a refrigerator, Patent Document 1 is known. In Patent Document 1, a door gasket insertion groove 16 into which a door gasket is fitted is provided at the outer peripheral edge of the inner door panel 12 of the door 5, and the inside of the door 5 is filled with a foam heat insulating material (0023, 0025, FIG. 3).

[0003] Also, Patent Document 2 is known. Patent Document 2 discloses a locking portion 50 (51, 52) having an L-shaped cross section for locking a gasket on the first inner box of the door (0035 to 0039, FIGS. 4, 5). The gasket is locked to the locking portion 50 (51, 52) (0058, FIG. 8).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] When adopting the structure as in Patent Document 1, since a part of the door gasket enters in the door thickness direction, the inner surface of the door becomes concave, making it difficult to arrange a vacuum heat insulating material in this region. Since it is desirable to avoid using urethane (urethane-free) in pursuit of the heat insulation property of the door, the door packing structure needs to be improved in order to expand the installation space of the vacuum heat insulating material.

[0006] In Patent Document 2, there is a concern about the insufficient strength of the locking portion 50 (51, 52). For example, when the door is closed forcefully, the locking portion 50 (51, 52) may be damaged.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerator that can ensure the strength of the gasket mounting portion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention comprises a box body that opens to the front and has an opening edge, a door that can open and close the opening and has a door liner disposed on the rear side, a packing mounting portion disposed between the box body and the door liner and extending along the outer peripheral edge of the door, and a packing, The refrigerator is characterized in that the packing mounting portion comprises, in a cross-section in the extending direction of the packing mounting portion, a fitting portion into which the end of the packing is locked, and a convex portion facing the center of the packing, and in the thickness direction of the box body, the relationship between the dimension W2 of the fitting portion and the dimension W1 of the convex portion is such that the inequality W1 > W2. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a refrigerator that can ensure the strength of the gasket mounting portion. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] This is a front view of the refrigerator according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is an exploded perspective view of the insulated door 23. [Figure 3] This is a cross-sectional view AA in Figure 1. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view AA of Figure 1 relating to another embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. [Examples]

[0012] First, the configuration of the refrigerator to which this embodiment is applied will be described. Figure 1 is a front view of the refrigerator according to this embodiment. The refrigerator comprises a box body and a revolving door 20 to a drawer door 25 attached to the box body. The box body is box-shaped with an opening at the front and an opening edge. The door can open and close the opening and moves toward and away from the opening edge. In this embodiment, the insulated door is composed of multiple parts. The outer box comprises a top panel, a back panel, a bottom panel, a left side panel, and a right side panel. The revolving doors 20 and 21 are rotatably supported by hinges and can be opened and closed.

[0013] For example, the refrigerator has multiple compartments formed by dividing the opening into several sections. The storage compartments are arranged from top to bottom as follows: a refrigerator compartment at the positions of the revolving doors 20 and 21; an ice maker compartment and a freezer compartment at the positions of the drawer doors 22 and 24; a freezer compartment at the position of the insulated door 23; and a vegetable compartment at the position of the drawer door 25.

[0014] Furthermore, the rotating doors 20 and 21 are rotating insulated doors that rotate around a hinge, while the drawer doors 22, 23, 24, and 25 are pull-out insulated doors. When a pull-out insulated door is pulled out, the containers that make up each compartment are pulled out along with the insulated door. Although this embodiment is explained using the refrigerator shown in Figure 1, it can be applied to other refrigerators as well.

[0015] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the insulated door 23 (freezer door). The insulated door 23 has an outer shell formed by a front outer panel 7, an upper frame member 8 at the top, a lower frame member 9 at the bottom, and a rear door liner 10. Vacuum insulation material 30 is placed inside this outer shell. A packing 40 is attached to the outer periphery of the rear surface of the door liner 10. The outer panel 7 is formed integrally by bending a thin steel plate, with the front, right side, and left side being the same shape. The upper and lower edges of the outer panel 7 are covered by the upper frame member 8 and lower frame member 9, which are made of resin, respectively.

[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the casing of the refrigerator is configured with an outer case 3 made of a steel plate and an inner case 4 made of a resin. In the internal space (heat insulation space) between the outer case 3 and the inner case 4, a heat insulating material of a foamed material such as urethane and a plate-shaped vacuum heat insulating material 30 can be arranged.

[0017] The door liner 10 is made of resin, and a packing attachment portion 10a for attaching a packing 40 is formed at the outer peripheral end portion (the portion facing the casing 1 when the door is closed) of the rear surface (the surface on the side of the casing 1) thereof, and extends along the outer peripheral end portion. As the outer peripheral end portion, there are those extending along the left and right and those extending along the up and down. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the outer peripheral end portion extending in the up and down direction. The left and right directions in FIG. 3 are the thickness direction of the casing 1.

[0018] The packing attachment portion 10a is convex toward the rear casing. The packing 40 is fitted at the fitting portion 10a2 at the tip as shown in the figure.

[0019] The packing attachment portion 10a includes a convex portion 10a1 protruding rearward from, for example, a substantially flat surface 10a3 on the central side of the door liner 10, and fitting portions 10a2 formed to extend from the left and right sides of the convex portion 10a1 to the left and right outer sides (the outer side in the thickness direction of the casing 1). In this embodiment, the convex portion 10a1 connects the two fitting portions 10a2, and the convex portion 10a1 and the two fitting portions 10a2 are integrated.

[0020] On both the left and right sides of the packing 40, concave groove portions 40a are formed and engage with the respective fitting portions 10a2. For example, the packing 40 is attached in a state of being elastically deformed by being stretched in the left-right direction, such that the fitting portions 10a2 respectively enter the concave portions of the groove portions 40a on both the left and right sides. Thus, the packing 40 is fixed to the door liner 10. The central side of the packing 40 extends along the rear surface of the convex portion 10a1. Also, a magnet 40b is embedded in the central side of the packing 40 and adheres to the bent flange portion 3a formed on the opening edge of the outer box 3 that faces the front and rear by magnetic force. Also, on the central side of the packing 40, a hollow crush portion 40c that is easily elastically deformed is provided to enhance the adhesion to the box body 1.

[0021] The rear surfaces of the convex portion 10a1 and the fitting portion 10a2 (the portions that contact and separate from the opening edge of the box body 1) are formed as flat surfaces. Such a packing attachment portion 10a extends continuously in the depth direction of the drawing of FIG. 3 (that is, the vertical direction). Thereby, even when a strong impact is received when the heat insulation door 23 is closed, it is possible to suppress the packing attachment portion 10a from being deformed or damaged.

[0022] Also, since the packing attachment portion 10a is formed to project rearward, the inner surface (the surface on the side of the vacuum heat insulation material 30 inside the door) 10a4 of the door liner 10 can be formed flat. Thereby, the end surface 30a of the vacuum heat insulation material 30 arranged inside the heat insulation door 23 can be extended to the front of the packing attachment portion 10a or to the side surface 7a side of the outer plate 7 further than this, and the heat insulation performance can be improved.

[0023] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator in another embodiment along line AA of Figure 1. In this other embodiment, the two fitting portions 10a2 do not necessarily have to be connected by a single convex portion 10a1, and may be separated into two. From the viewpoint of strength, as in the embodiment of Figure 3, and also in this other embodiment, it is preferable that the left-right dimension W1 of each convex portion 10a1 (thickness dimension of the box body 1) is larger than the left-right dimension W2 of the fitting portion 10a2 (inequality W1 > W2). Here, as in Figure 3, if the two fitting portions 10a2 are connected by a single convex portion 10a1, then the dimension W2 should be the longer of the two fitting portions 10a2. Furthermore, it is preferable that a magnet 40b faces the rear surface of the convex portion 10a1, and that one or more crushed portions 40c face it.

[0024] As shown in Figure 3 as a cross-sectional view of line AA in Figure 1, the outer peripheral ends (outer peripheral ends extending vertically) located on the left and right sides of the insulated door 23, the groove 40a of the packing 40 is located in the left-right direction and extends in the vertical direction (perpendicular to the plane of the paper in Figure 3). Of course, a similar configuration can be provided for the outer peripheral ends (outer peripheral ends extending horizontally) located at the top and bottom of the insulated door 23. In this case, the groove 40a of the packing 40 will be located in the vertical direction and extend in the left-right direction. In the explanation of Figures 3 and 4, "left and right" and "up and down" can be read interchangeably. Furthermore, this configuration is not limited to the insulated door 23, but may also be provided for other drawer doors 22, 24, 25, or for the outer peripheral ends of the rotating doors 20, 21 that face the box body 1.

[0025] In each embodiment, the packing mounting portion 10a is provided on the door side, but it may also be provided on the box body side. In any case, the packing mounting portion 10a will be located between the box body 1, particularly the bent flange portion 3a, and the door liner 10. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0026] 3...Outer box, 4...Inner box, 7...Outer panel, 8...Upper frame member, 9...Lower frame member, 10...Door liner, 10a...Gasket mounting part, 10a1...Convex part, 10a2...Fitting part, 23...Insulated door, 30...Vacuum insulation material, 40...Gasket, 40a...Groove part.

Claims

1. A box-shaped body with an opening at the front and an opening edge, The aforementioned opening can be opened and closed, and the door has a door liner located on the rear side, A packing mounting portion is provided between the box body and the door liner, and extends along the outer edge of the door. It has a packing, The packing mounting portion, in a cross-section in the extending direction of the packing mounting portion, The end of the packing engages with a fitting portion, The packing comprises a convex portion facing the center, A refrigerator characterized in that, in the thickness direction of the box body, the relationship between the dimension W2 of the fitting portion and the dimension W1 of the convex portion is such that the inequality W1 > W2.

2. In the refrigerator according to claim 1, The refrigerator is characterized in that the convex portion has a structure that connects the two fitting portions.

3. In the refrigerator according to claim 1, The refrigerator is characterized in that the gasket mounting portion has a structure that protrudes rearward from the door liner.

4. In the refrigerator according to claim 1, A refrigerator characterized in that the rear surface of the convex portion is flat and faces the magnet arranged in the packing.

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