refrigerator

Abstract

We provide refrigerators that make the interior feel spacious. [Solution] The refrigerator comprises a refrigerator body having a storage compartment with an opening at the front, shelves having a surface on which stored items can be placed, and shelf support members provided on the left and right inner walls of the storage compartment to support the shelves from below, the shelf support members having a shelf support side inclined surface formed on the upper surface of the shelf support member that slopes downward from the outside to the inside of the refrigerator.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] For example, a general refrigerator having a door on the front has shelf boards inside for placing stored items. In Patent Document 1, a configuration is disclosed in which the shelf boards are supported by support members provided on the left and right inner wall surfaces of the refrigerating chamber. And, in a state where the shelf boards are supported by the support members, a clearance is formed by design between the left and right end portions of the shelf boards and the left and right inner wall surfaces of the refrigerating chamber. The dimension in the left - right direction of the clearance may vary, for example, when expansion or contraction of a heat - insulating member such as urethane foam provided in the wall portion of the refrigerator occurs due to a temperature change inside the refrigerator.

[0003] By the way, the clearance between the left and right end portions of the shelf board and the left and right inner wall surfaces of the refrigerating chamber affects the impression given to people regarding the internal volume of the refrigerator. That is, if the clearance is conspicuous, the shelf board will look small, giving an impression that the internal volume of the refrigerator is narrow. In the conventional configuration, no measures are taken for the clearance between the left and right end portions of the shelf board and the left and right inner wall surfaces of the refrigerating chamber, so there is room for improvement in making the inside of the refrigerator feel spacious.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Therefore, a refrigerator that can make the inside of the refrigerator feel spacious is provided.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The refrigerator according to this embodiment comprises a refrigerator body having a storage compartment with an opening at the front, a shelf board having a surface on which stored items can be placed, and shelf support members provided on the left and right inner walls of the storage compartment and supporting the shelf board from below, wherein the shelf support member has a shelf support side inclined surface formed on the upper surface of the shelf support member that slopes downward from the outside of the refrigerator towards the inside of the refrigerator. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Front view showing an example of a refrigerator according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] A schematic cross-sectional view showing an example of the interior of a refrigerator according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] A cross-sectional view showing an example of the difference in the position of the left and right inner wall surfaces of the refrigerator compartment in the depth direction of the refrigerator compartment, according to the first embodiment of the refrigerator. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view showing an example of a shelf, shelf support member, and retaining member for a refrigerator according to the first embodiment, viewed from above. [Figure 5] A cross-sectional view showing an example of a shelf support member for a refrigerator according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] This is a cross-sectional view along the line X6-X6 in Figure 5, showing an example of the state in which the shelf is supported by the first shelf support member when the insulation material shrinks in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] Figure 6 is a diagram corresponding to another example showing the state in which the shelf is supported by the first shelf support member when the insulation material shrinks in the refrigerator according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8] Figure 6 is a diagram corresponding to the first embodiment of the refrigerator, showing an example of a state in which the shelf is supported by the first shelf support member when the insulation material expands. [Figure 9] Figure 6 is a diagram corresponding to an example of a refrigerator according to the first embodiment in which the upper end of the shelf is located below the upper end of the first shelf support member. [Figure 10] This is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator according to the first embodiment, showing an example of a state in which the shelf is supported by the second shelf support member, along the line X10-X10 in Figure 5. [Figure 11] This is a perspective view showing an example of a shelf, shelf support member, and retaining member for a refrigerator according to the second embodiment, viewed from above. [Figure 12] A cross-sectional view showing an example of a shelf support member for a refrigerator according to the second embodiment. [Figure 13] This is a cross-sectional view along the line X13-X13 in Figure 12, showing an example of the state in which the shelf is supported by the second support member when the insulation material has shrunk in the refrigerator according to the second embodiment. [Figure 14] Figure 13 shows an example of a refrigerator according to the second embodiment in which the shelf is supported by the second shelf support member when the insulation material expands. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Several embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, substantially identical components are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted. Also, in each drawing, for the sake of explanation, the dimensions of each component may be enlarged as needed, and the dimensional ratios between components may not be the same as in reality.

[0009] (First Embodiment) First, the first embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 10. The refrigerator 1 shown in Figure 1 is configured with multiple storage compartments within the refrigerator body 10. The refrigerator body 10 is an insulated box, and is configured as a vertically elongated rectangular box with an open front. In the following description, the side with the opening of the refrigerator body 10 will be referred to as the front of the refrigerator 1, and the side opposite the opening, i.e., the back side, will be referred to as the rear of the refrigerator 1. The vertical direction relative to the direction of gravity when the refrigerator 1 is placed on the floor in the position shown in Figure 1 will be referred to as the vertical direction of the refrigerator 1. The left-right direction when viewing the refrigerator 1 from the front in Figure 1 will be referred to as the left-right direction, i.e., the width direction of the refrigerator 1, and the front-to-back direction of the refrigerator 1 will be referred to as the depth direction of the refrigerator 1. Furthermore, the direction toward the center inward of the storage compartments in the refrigerator 1 will be referred to as the interior side, and the direction toward the outside of the storage compartments will be referred to as the exterior side.

[0010] As shown in Figure 2, the refrigerator body 10 is constructed by providing insulating material 103, such as foamed urethane or vacuum insulation panels, in the space between the steel outer box 101 and the synthetic resin inner box 102, that is, within each wall that makes up the box body. The refrigerator body 10 is equipped with multiple storage compartments for storing items, such as a refrigerator compartment 11, a vegetable compartment 12, an ice-making compartment 13, a small freezer compartment 14, and a freezer compartment 15. The refrigerator compartment 11 and the vegetable compartment 12 are storage compartments in the refrigeration temperature range. The ice-making compartment 13, the small freezer compartment 14, and the freezer compartment 15 are storage compartments in the freezing temperature range.

[0011] Furthermore, the refrigerator 1 is equipped with a right-side refrigerator door 21a, a left-side refrigerator door 21b, a vegetable compartment door 22, an ice maker door 23, a small freezer door 24, and a freezer door 25. Each door 21a to 25 is constructed by filling the inside of a frame member made of, for example, metal or synthetic resin with insulating material. The right-side refrigerator door 21a and the left-side refrigerator door 21b are, for example, double-hinged doors that open and close the opening 11a on the front of the refrigerator compartment 11. The refrigerator 1 is not limited to a configuration equipped with double-hinged doors 21a and 21b, but may also be equipped with a so-called single-hinged door. The vegetable compartment door 22, the ice maker door 23, the small freezer door 24, and the freezer door 25 are all drawer-type doors that open and close the openings on the front of the vegetable compartment 12, the ice maker 13, the small freezer compartment 14, and the freezer compartment 15, respectively. Although not shown in detail, the vegetable compartment 12, ice maker compartment 13, small freezer compartment 14, and freezer compartment 15 each have a container that can be inserted and removed integrally with the vegetable compartment door 22, ice maker compartment door 23, small freezer compartment door 24, and freezer compartment door 25, respectively.

[0012] In this embodiment, the dimension between the left and right inner wall surfaces 111 of the refrigerating chamber 11 is set to be larger on the rear side of the refrigerating chamber 11 than on the opening 11a side. That is, the refrigerator body 10 is configured in a so-called undercut shape in which the inner dimension in the left-right direction on the storage space side is larger than the inner dimension in the left-right direction on the opening side. In this case, the left and right inner wall surfaces 111 of the refrigerating chamber 11 are formed to be recessed outward of the cabinet from the opening 11a side toward the rear side of the refrigerating chamber 11. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each inner wall surface 111 has a first inner wall surface 111a and a second inner wall surface 111b. The first inner wall surface 111a constitutes the side surface of the opening 11a. Also, the first inner wall surface 111a constitutes the inner wall surface of the refrigerating chamber 11 on the opening 11a side.

[0013] The second inner wall surface 111b is connected to the rear side of the first inner wall surface 111a. The second inner wall surface 111b is located more outward of the cabinet than the first inner wall surface 111a in the left-right direction of the refrigerating chamber 11. The second inner wall surface 111b occupies most of the inner wall surface 111 and constitutes the side surface of the storage space for storing stored items in the refrigerating chamber 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the thickness t1 of the heat insulating material 103 corresponding to the first inner wall surface 111a is set to be larger than the thickness t2 of the heat insulating material 103 corresponding to the second inner wall surface 111b.

[0014] The refrigerator 1 includes a shelf board 30, a first shelf support member 40, a second shelf support member 50, and a holding member 60. The shelf board 30, the first shelf support member 40, the second shelf support member 50, and the holding member 60 are provided inside the refrigerator 1, for example, inside the refrigerating chamber 11. One or more shelf boards 30 are provided. The shelf board 30 is a shelf on which storage items can be placed, and is formed in a generally rectangular plate shape as a whole. The shelf board 30 is attached to the second inner wall surface 111b of the left and right inner wall surfaces 111 of the refrigerating chamber 11 via the shelf support members 40, 50 and the holding member 60. In this case, the holding member 60 is fixed to the left and right second inner wall surfaces 111b of the refrigerating chamber 11. The shelf support members 40, 50 are configured to be attachable and detachable to and from the holding member 60, and to be able to change the height position with respect to the holding member 60. And the shelf board 30 is supported from below by the shelf support members 40, 50 attached to the holding member 60. Therefore, by changing the height position of the shelf support members 40, 50 with respect to the holding member 60, the height position of the shelf board 30 can be changed.

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 for example, the shelf board 30 has a shelf board body 31 and a frame member 32. The shelf board body 31 constitutes the main body of the shelf board 30 and can be made of, for example, a glass plate material. The upper surface 31a of the shelf board body 31 functions as a placement surface on which storage items can be placed. The placement surface is provided substantially parallel to the installation surface of the refrigerator 1 and constitutes a surface along the horizontal direction. The frame member 32 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin and is provided on the front side of the shelf board body 31. In this case, the frame member 3 has a function of protecting the front surface of the shelf board body 31 and covers the side portion on the front side of the shelf board body 31. Note that the frame member 32 may be configured to be provided around the entire circumference of the shelf board body 31. Also, the shelf board body 31 and the frame member 32 may be formed as, for example, an integrally molded product made of resin. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 etc., the shelf board body 31 contacts the second shelf support member 50 when the shelf board 30 is installed in the refrigerating chamber 11. Also, the frame member 32 contacts the first shelf support member 40 when the shelf board 30 is installed in the refrigerating chamber 11.

[0016] The first shelf support member 40 and the second shelf support member 50 are configured to be detachably attached to the second inner wall surface 111b. In other words, the first shelf support member 40 and the second shelf support member 50 are provided on the left and right inner wall surfaces 111 of the refrigerator compartment 11, in portions located behind the opening 11a. The first shelf support member 40 and the second shelf support member 50 are made of, for example, synthetic resin and have the function of supporting the shelf board 30. The first shelf support member 40 and the second shelf support member 50 are constructed as separate components. The first shelf support member 40 is provided in front of the second shelf support member 50 in the depth direction of the refrigerator compartment 11. In other words, the second shelf support member 50 is provided behind the first shelf support member 40 in the depth direction of the refrigerator compartment 11. Note that the first shelf support member 40 and the second shelf support member 50 may be constructed as a single unit.

[0017] The first shelf support member 40 has a main body 41 and a claw portion 42, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The main body 41 and the claw portion 42 are integrally molded products, for example by resin molding. The main body 41 includes a portion that contacts the shelf board 30. The main body 41 is formed in a hollow shape that is open toward the inner wall surface 111, for example. The main body 41 has an upper flat portion 411, a first inclined portion 412, a lower flat portion 413, a side wall 414, a bottom wall 415, a restricting portion 416, and a rear wall 417. The upper flat portion 411, the first inclined portion 412, and the lower flat portion 413 constitute the upper surface of the main body 41, that is, the upper surface of the first shelf support member 40. The upper flat portion 411 is formed as a flat surface extending in the horizontal direction. In a plan view, the left-right dimension of the upper planar portion 411 is set to be smaller than the left-right dimension of the first inclined portion 412 or the lower planar portion 413. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the upper planar portion 411 is located outside the storage area in a plan view, beyond the imaginary line V1 which is an extension of the first inner wall surface 111a toward the rear.

[0018] The first inclined surface 412 and the lower flat surface 413 are the parts that support the shelf board 30. The first inclined surface 412 is formed to slope downward from the outside of the storage unit towards the inside of the storage unit. The upper end of the first inclined surface 412 is connected to the upper flat surface 411, and the lower end of the first inclined surface 412 is connected to the lower flat surface 413. The first inclined surface 412 functions as a shelf support side inclined surface. The lower flat surface 413 is formed as a flat surface extending in the horizontal direction. When the shelf board 30 is supported by the shelf support members 40 and 50, the lower flat surface 413 is positioned approximately parallel to the upper surface 31a of the shelf board body 31.

[0019] Here, the insulating material 103 provided between the outer casing 101 and inner casing 102 of the refrigerator body 10 may expand or contract due to temperature changes inside the refrigerator 1. For example, the distance between the left-right inner wall surfaces 111 of the refrigerator compartment 11 changes with the expansion and contraction of the insulating material 103. The distance between the left-right inner wall surfaces 111 of the refrigerator compartment 11 changes to narrow when the insulating material 103 expands, and to widen when the insulating material 103 contracts. The amount of change in the distance between the left-right inner wall surfaces 111 of the refrigerator compartment 11 due to the expansion or contraction of the insulating material 103 is about 4 to 6 mm.

[0020] To accommodate the variation in the spacing of the left-right inner wall surfaces 111 of the refrigerator compartment 11, it is conceivable to provide a gap between the left and right ends of the shelf board 30 and the left-right inner wall surfaces 111 of the refrigerator compartment 11. However, this gap affects the impression given to a person regarding the internal volume. That is, if the gap is noticeable, the shelf board 30 will appear small, giving the impression that the internal volume is small. In this embodiment, as described above, the first shelf support member 40 has a first inclined surface portion 412. This makes it possible to minimize the space between the left and right ends of the shelf board 30 and the left-right inner wall surfaces 111 of the refrigerator compartment 11. Therefore, it is possible to make it difficult for the user to notice the gap. As a result, the user can be given the impression that the internal volume is spacious.

[0021] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the frame member 32 of the shelf board 30 has a slanted portion 321 and a shelf board side flat portion 322, as shown in Figure 6. The slanted portions 321 are formed at both ends of the frame member 32 in the left-right direction. The slanted portions 321 are formed to slope downward inward from the left-right outer edge 32a of the frame member 32. The inclination angle of the slanted portions 321 is set to be approximately the same as the inclination angle of the first slanted portion 412. The first shelf support member 40 can support the shelf board 30 with the first slanted portion 412 in contact with the slanted portion 321 of the shelf board 30. The slanted portions 321 function as a shelf board side inclined surface.

[0022] The shelf-side planar portion 322 is provided connected to the lower end of the inclined portion 321. The shelf-side planar portion 322 is formed as a flat surface extending in the horizontal direction. In other words, the shelf-side planar portion 322 is provided approximately parallel to the upper surface 31a of the shelf body 31. The left-right dimension of the shelf-side planar portion 322 is set to be smaller than the left-right dimension of the lower planar portion 413 of the first shelf support member 40. The first shelf support member 40 can support the shelf 30 with the lower planar portion 413 in contact with the shelf-side planar portion 322 of the shelf 30.

[0023] In the normal operating state of refrigerator 1, as shown in Figure 6, with the first shelf support member 40 supporting the shelf board 30, the inclined portion 321 and the shelf board side flat portion 322 are set to contact the first inclined portion 412 and the lower flat portion 413, respectively. The normal operating state of refrigerator 1 is a state in which the insulation material 103 tends to shrink. That is, in a state in which the insulation material 103 tends to shrink, the front side of the shelf board 30 is supported by the first shelf support member 40 with the inclined portion 321 and the shelf board side flat portion 322 in contact with both the first inclined portion 412 and the lower flat portion 413, respectively. The upper end of the frame member 32 is located above the imaginary line V2 extending the upper flat portion 411 inward, with the lower flat portion 413 receiving the shelf board side flat portion 322, as shown in Figure 6. In other words, the upper end of the shelf board 30 is positioned at a height greater than or equal to the upper end of the first shelf support member 40, with the lower flat portion 413 receiving the shelf board side flat portion 322. Furthermore, when the insulation material 103 tends to shrink, the front side of the shelf board 30 may be supported by the first shelf support member 40 with the shelf board side flat portion 322 in contact only with the lower flat portion 413, as shown in Figure 7.

[0024] On the other hand, in unusual operating conditions of the refrigerator 1, such as when the temperature range inside the refrigerator compartment 11 is higher than the refrigerator temperature range, as shown in Figure 8, when the first shelf support member 40 supports the shelf board 30, the inclined portion 321 is in contact with the first inclined portion 412, while the shelf board side flat portion 322 is set not to contact the lower flat portion 413. An unusual operating condition of the refrigerator 1 is a condition in which the insulation material 103 tends to expand. That is, when the insulation material 103 tends to expand, the front side of the shelf board 30 is supported by the first shelf support member 40 in a state where the inclined portion 321 is in contact with the first inclined portion 412 and the shelf board side flat portion 322 does not contact the lower flat portion 413.

[0025] Furthermore, the upper end of the frame member 32 may be configured to be below the imaginary line V2 extending the upper flat portion 411 inward, with the lower flat portion 413 receiving the shelf-side flat portion 322, as shown in the example in Figure 9. In other words, the upper end of the shelf 30 can be configured to be at a height less than the upper end of the first shelf support member 40, with the lower flat portion 413 receiving the shelf-side flat portion 322. This allows for a thinner shelf 30, thereby improving the aesthetic appearance inside the storage unit.

[0026] The side wall 414 is connected to the interior end of the lower flat portion 413 and extends downward. The side wall 414 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction. The side wall 414 constitutes the interior surface of the main body 41, that is, the side surface of the first shelf support member 40. The bottom wall 415 is connected to the lower end of the side wall 414. The bottom wall 415 is formed as a flat surface that extends horizontally. The bottom wall 415 constitutes the lower surface of the main body 41, that is, the lower surface of the first shelf support member 40.

[0027] As shown in Figure 5, the restricting section 416 is located in front of the first inclined section 412 and the lower flat section 413. The restricting section 416 is for restricting the forward movement of the shelf board 30. The upper surface of the restricting section 416 is set to approximately the same height as the upper surface of the upper flat section 411. As shown in Figure 5, the restricting section 416 is formed in a roughly trapezoidal shape in plan view. In this case, the end face 416a that constitutes the front of the restricting section 416 is formed to be inclined inward from the front to the rear. This gives the area around the first shelf support member 40 a neat appearance and improves aesthetics. In addition, the restricting surface 416b located on the opposite side of the end face 416a in the depth direction is composed of a roughly vertical surface. The rear wall 417 constitutes the rear surface of the main body 41. The rear wall 417 is composed of a plate-shaped member that extends vertically.

[0028] The claw portion 42 has the function of hooking the first shelf support member 40 onto the holding member 60 and attaching the first shelf support member 40 to the holding member 60. The claw portion 42 protrudes from the main body portion 41 toward the inner wall surface 111, and the tip of the claw portion 42 is formed in a shape that is bent upward at approximately a right angle. In addition, the outer circumferential surface of the claw portion 42 is curved in an arc shape.

[0029] As shown in Figure 10, the second shelf support member 50 has a roughly U-shaped cross-section overall, with both sides in the front-to-back direction open. The second shelf support member 50 has an upper surface portion 51, a lower surface portion 52, a side portion 53, and a claw portion 54. The upper surface portion 51 and the lower surface portion 52 are formed as horizontally extending plates. The upper surface portion 51 constitutes the upper surface of the second shelf support member 50. As shown in Figures 5 and 10, the length of the upper surface portion 51 in the left-to-right direction is set to be smaller than the length of the lower surface portion 52 in the left-to-right direction. In other words, the inner end of the upper surface portion 51 is located further out than the inner end of the lower surface portion 52. In addition, the inner end of the front side of the upper surface portion 51 is, for example, rounded.

[0030] The lower portion 52 constitutes the lower surface of the second shelf support member 50. As shown in Figure 10, the upper surface of the lower portion 52 is on which the shelf board body 31 of the shelf board 30 can be placed. That is, the second shelf support member 50 supports the shelf board 30 with the shelf board body 31 placed on the upper surface of the lower portion 52. In this case, the left and right ends of the shelf board 30 are located between the upper portion 51 and the lower portion 52. In this way, the second shelf support member 50 can support the shelf board 30 by sandwiching its left and right ends from above and below with the upper portion 51 and the lower portion 52.

[0031] The side portion 53 is formed in a plate shape that extends in the vertical direction. The side portion 53 connects the outer end of the upper portion 51 and the outer end of the lower portion 52. The side portion 53 constitutes the side of the second shelf support member 50. When the shelf board 30 is supported by the second shelf support member 50, a predetermined gap is provided between the shelf board 30 and the side portion 53. The predetermined gap is set to a dimension that allows for the amount of movement of the left and right inner wall surfaces 111 of the refrigerator compartment 11 toward the interior when the insulation material 103 tends to expand. This prevents the shelf board 30 from coming into contact with the side portion 53 and changing the posture of the shelf board 30, even when the insulation material 103 tends to expand.

[0032] The claw portion 54 is formed to be substantially the same shape as, for example, the claw portion 42 of the first shelf support member 40. In this case, the claw portion 54 has the function of hooking the second shelf support member 50 onto the holding member 60 and attaching the second shelf support member 50 to the holding member 60. The claw portion 54 protrudes from the side portion 53 toward the inner wall surface 111, and the tip portion of the claw portion 54 is formed to be bent upward at substantially a right angle. In addition, the outer circumferential surface of the claw portion 54 is curved in an arc shape.

[0033] As shown in Figure 2, the retaining members 60 are provided on the second inner wall surface 111b of the left and right inner wall surfaces 111 of the refrigerator compartment 11, and hold the first shelf support member 40 and the second shelf support member 50. Multiple retaining members 60, in this case two, are provided on the second inner wall surface 111b at predetermined intervals in the front-rear direction. The retaining members 60 are made of metal, for example, and are configured as long, elongated pieces in the vertical direction. The retaining members 60 are attached to the second inner wall surface 111b with their surface side exposed to the refrigerator compartment 11 side. The retaining members 60 are fixed to the inner box 102 by means of screws, adhesive, or snap-fits, for example. Alternatively, the retaining members 60 may be provided inside the inner box 102, so that their surface side is not exposed to the refrigerator compartment 11 side. This allows the first shelf support member 40 and the second shelf support member 50 to be positioned as close as possible to the second inner wall surface 111b, thereby giving the interior of the storage unit a more spacious feel.

[0034] As shown in Figure 2 and other figures, the retaining member 60 has a plurality of insertion portions 61. The plurality of insertion portions 61 are arranged at intervals along the longitudinal direction of the retaining member 60, that is, in the vertical direction. The spacing between adjacent insertion portions 61 in the vertical direction may be equal or unequal. The insertion portions 61 are configured so that the claw portions 42 and 54 can be inserted from the inside of the chamber toward the outside of the chamber. Note that in Figure 2 and other figures, only some of the reference numerals for the plurality of insertion portions 61 are shown for the sake of clarity in the drawing.

[0035] As shown in Figures 6 and 10, the insertion portion 61 is formed to penetrate the holding member 60 in the thickness direction. The insertion portion 61 is formed in a shape such as a rectangle or an oval. When the shelf support members 40 and 50 are held, the insertion portion 61 has a portion that contacts the claw portions 42 and 54 of the shelf support members 40 and 50. The portion that contacts the claw portions 42 and 54 restricts the downward rotation of the shelf support members 40 and 50 with the claw portions 42 and 54 as the pivot point. In this embodiment, the claw portions 42 and 54 have first contact portions 421 and 541, second contact portions 422 and 542, and locking portions 423 and 543. The first contact portions 421 and 541 are the bent tip portions of the claw portions 42 and 54 that face the holding member 60. The second contact portions 422 and 542 constitute the lower surfaces of the claw portions 42 and 54. The locking portions 423 and 543 are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the claw portions 42 and 54 between the first contact portions 421 and 541 and the second contact portions 422 and 542, and are formed in a shape that protrudes slightly outward from the outer circumferential surface of the claw portions 42 and 54.

[0036] The retaining member 60 has a first contact portion 621, a second contact portion 622, and a locking portion 623. The first contact portion 621 corresponds to the first contact portions 421 and 541, is provided on the upper side of the insertion portion 61, and protrudes toward the outside of the storage compartment. The second contact portion 622 corresponds to the second contact portions 422 and 542, and is provided along the lower edge of the peripheral edge that constitutes the insertion portion 61. The second contact portions 422 and 542 and the second contact portion 622 are located below the first contact portions 421 and 541 and the first contact portion 621, respectively.

[0037] The shelf support members 40 and 50 are restricted from moving downward when their second contact portions 422 and 542 contact the second contacted portion 622. Furthermore, when the claw portions 42 and 54 of the holding member 60 are inserted into the insertion portion 61, the first contact portions 421 and 541 contact the first contacted portion 621, thereby restricting the downward rotation of the shelf support members 40 and 50. In this case, when the weight of the shelf board 30 is added to the shelf support members 40 and 50, a downward rotational force acts on the shelf support members 40 and 50. At this time, the first contact portions 421 and 541 make strong contact with the first contacted portion 621, stably fixing the shelf support members 40 and 50 to the holding member 60. The locking portion 623 is provided at a position corresponding to the locking portions 423 and 543. The locking parts 423 and 543 engage with the locked part 623, thereby restricting the rotation of the shelf support members 40 and 50 in the upward direction.

[0038] According to the embodiment described above, the refrigerator comprises a refrigerator body 10 having a refrigerator compartment 11 with an opening 11a on the front, a shelf board 30, and a first shelf support member 40. The shelf board 30 has an upper surface 31a on which stored items can be placed. The first shelf support member 40 is provided on the left and right inner wall surfaces 111 of the refrigerator compartment 11 and supports the shelf board 30 from below. The first shelf support member 40 has a first inclined surface 412. The first inclined surface 412 is formed on the upper surface of the first shelf support member 40 and is inclined downward from the outside of the refrigerator to the inside of the refrigerator.

[0039] According to this, the gap between the shelf board 30 placed on the first shelf support member 40 and the left and right inner wall surfaces 111 of the refrigerator compartment 11 can be reduced. As a result, the user will not easily notice the gap. Therefore, the inside of the refrigerator will feel more spacious.

[0040] The shelf board 30 has inclined portions 321. The inclined portions 321 are formed at both ends of the shelf board 30 in the left-right direction and slope downward inward from the outer edge 32a of the shelf board 30. The first shelf support member 40 can support the shelf board 30 with the inclined portions 321 in contact with the first inclined portions 412. This makes the interior of the storage space appear spacious by making the shelf board 30 and the first shelf support member 40 appear connected.

[0041] The shelf board 30 further has a shelf board side flat portion 322. The shelf board side flat portion 322 is provided connected to the lower end of the inclined portion 321. The first shelf support member 40 further has a lower flat portion 413. The lower flat portion 413 is provided connected to the lower end of the first inclined portion 412 and receives the shelf board side flat portion 322. This makes the interior of the storage space feel spacious and allows the shelf board 30 to be stably supported by the first shelf support member 40.

[0042] The upper end of the shelf board 30 is positioned at a height greater than or equal to the upper end of the first shelf support member 40, with the lower flat portion 413 receiving the shelf board side flat portion 322. This makes it difficult for the user to perceive the gap between the shelf board 30 and the inner wall surface 111 of the refrigerator compartment 11, giving the impression of a spacious interior.

[0043] The distance between the left and right inner wall surfaces 111 of the refrigerator compartment 11 is set to be greater on the rear side of the refrigerator compartment 11 than on the opening 11a side. The first shelf support member 40 is provided on the left and right inner wall surfaces 111 of the refrigerator compartment 11, in the portion located on the rear side of the opening 11a side. The first shelf support member 40 also has an upper flat portion 411. The upper flat portion 411 is provided connected to the upper end of the first inclined portion 412. In a plan view, the upper flat portion 411 is located on the outside of the refrigerator compartment, beyond the left and right inner wall surfaces 111a of the refrigerator compartment 11 on the opening 11a side.

[0044] In this case, where the dimension between the left and right inner wall surfaces 111 of the refrigerator compartment 11 is set to be larger on the rear side of the refrigerator compartment 11 than on the opening 11a side, a so-called undercut shape, the shelf board 30 gives the impression of being narrow from the outside. Therefore, in a plan view, by positioning the upper flat surface 411 on the outside of the refrigerator compartment 11 beyond the inner wall surface 111a of the refrigerator compartment 11 on the opening 11a side, the upper flat surface 411 can be made to appear smaller. As a result, even if the refrigerator 1 has an undercut shape, the interior can be made to feel spacious.

[0045] (Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 11 to 14. In this second embodiment, the refrigerator 1 differs from the first embodiment in that it is equipped with a second shelf support member 70 instead of a second shelf support member 50. Except for the inclusion of the second shelf support member 70, it is common to the first embodiment. Specifically, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, the second shelf support member 70 is composed of parts of the first shelf support member 40 excluding the restricting portion 416. The second shelf support member 70 has a main body portion 71, a claw portion 72, and a front wall 73. In this case, the main body portion 71 has an upper flat portion 711, a second inclined portion 712, a lower flat portion 713, a side wall 714, a bottom wall 715, and a rear wall 716. The upper flat portion 711, the second inclined portion 712, the lower flat portion 713, the side wall 714, the bottom wall 715, and the rear wall 716 have the same configuration as the upper flat portion 411, the first inclined portion 412, the lower flat portion 413, the side wall 414, the bottom wall 415, and the rear wall 417 in the main body 41 of the first embodiment, so their description is omitted.

[0046] Furthermore, the claw portion 72 has the same configuration as the claw portion 42. In this case, the claw portion 72 has a first contact portion 721, a second contact portion 722, and a locking portion 723. The first contact portion 721, the second contact portion 722, and the locking portion 723 have the same configuration as the first contact portion 421, the second contact portion 422, and the locking portion 423 in the claw portion 42 of the first embodiment, so their description is omitted. The front wall 73 constitutes the front surface of the main body portion 71. The front wall 73 is made up of a plate-shaped member extending in the vertical direction and is formed in the same external shape as the rear wall 716.

[0047] In this configuration, the shelf board body 31 of the shelf board 30 can be placed on the second inclined portion 712 and the lower flat portion 713, as shown in Figures 13 and 14. That is, the second shelf support member 70 supports the shelf board 30 with the shelf board body 31 placed on one or both of the second inclined portion 712 or the lower flat portion 713. For example, when the insulation material 103 tends to shrink, as shown in Figure 13, the rear side of the shelf board 30 is supported by the second shelf support member 70 with the shelf board body 31 in contact with the lower flat portion 713. Alternatively, when the insulation material 103 tends to shrink, the rear side of the shelf board 30 may be supported by the second shelf support member 70 with the shelf board body 31 in contact with the second inclined portion 712 and the lower flat portion 713. On the other hand, when the insulation material 103 is in a state of expansion, as shown in Figure 14, the rear side of the shelf board 30 is supported by the second shelf support member 70 with the shelf board body 31 in contact with the second inclined surface 712.

[0048] According to this second embodiment, the same effects and advantages as those of the first embodiment are achieved. Furthermore, the shelf board body 31 can be placed on the second inclined surface 712 and the lower flat surface 713 of the second shelf support member 70. Therefore, as the gap between the left and right inner wall surfaces 111 of the refrigerator compartment 11 changes due to the expansion or contraction of the insulation material 103, the point supporting the front of the shelf board 30 switches to either the first inclined surface 412 or the lower flat surface 413 of the first shelf support member 40. This allows the rear height position of the shelf board body 31 to follow the change in the front height position of the shelf board body 31.

[0049] 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. These novel embodiments 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]

[0050] 1...Refrigerator, 10...Refrigerator body, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15...Storage compartment, 11a...Opening, 111...Inner wall surface, 30...Shelf board, 31a...Top surface (placement surface), 40...First shelf support member (shelf support member), 412...First inclined surface (shelf support side inclined surface)

Claims

1. A refrigerator body having a storage compartment with an opening on the front, A shelf board having a surface on which stored items can be placed, The storage chamber is provided with shelf support members on the left and right inner wall surfaces, which support the shelves from below. The shelf support member has a shelf support side inclined surface formed on the upper surface of the shelf support member that slopes downward from the outside of the storage unit toward the inside of the storage unit. refrigerator.

2. The shelf board has inclined surfaces on both ends in the left-right direction that are formed on the shelf board side and are inclined downward from the outer edge of the shelf board toward the inside, The shelf support member is capable of supporting the shelf board with the shelf board side inclined surface in contact with the shelf support side inclined surface. The refrigerator according to claim 1.

3. The shelf board further has a flat portion on the shelf board side that is connected to the lower end of the inclined surface on the shelf board side, The shelf support member is connected to the lower end of the shelf support side inclined surface and further has a lower flat portion that receives the shelf board side flat portion. The refrigerator according to claim 2.

4. The upper end of the shelf board is located at a height greater than or equal to the upper end of the shelf support member, with the lower flat portion receiving the shelf board side flat portion. The refrigerator according to claim 3.

5. The distance between the left and right inner wall surfaces of the storage chamber is set to be larger on the rear side of the storage chamber than on the opening side. The shelf support member is provided on the left and right inner wall surfaces of the storage chamber, in a portion located on the rearward side of the opening. The shelf support member further has an upper flat portion provided connected to the upper end of the shelf support side inclined surface, The upper flat portion is located on the outside of the storage chamber in a plan view, beyond the left and right inner wall surfaces of the storage chamber on the opening side. The refrigerator according to claim 2.

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