refrigerator

Abstract

The present invention provides a refrigerator equipped with shelves that function as light guide plates, thereby providing uniform lighting. [Solution] A refrigerator 1 is provided, comprising a shelf board 20 that is light-transmitting and has a first main surface 21, a second main surface 22 opposite to the first main surface 21, and an outer peripheral end 23 connecting the first main surface 21 and the second main surface 22; a lighting device 30 having a plurality of light sources 31 that emit light toward the outer peripheral end 23 of the shelf board 20; and a light diffusion unit 40 that diffuses the light emitted from the plurality of light sources 31 and causes it to enter the shelf board 20.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a refrigerator including a shelf portion having a light source portion that irradiates light and a light guide member that guides the light of the light source portion to the inside and emits surface light. Patent Document 1 describes that the light source portion is arranged so as to be arranged at equal intervals and has a plurality of light irradiation portions that emit light, and that a light emitting diode (LED) can be used for each light irradiation portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Since the directivity of the emitted light of an LED is higher than that of the emitted light of an incandescent bulb or a fluorescent lamp, in the light guide member, the light intensity is different between the position where a plurality of light irradiation portions are arranged and the position where no light irradiation portion is arranged. As a result, the entire light guide member may not be uniformly illuminated.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide a refrigerator including a shelf board that functions as a light guide plate and performs uniform illumination.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention is a shelf board having translucency, a first main surface, a second main surface opposite to the first main surface, and an outer peripheral end portion connecting the first main surface and the second main surface, A lighting device having multiple light sources that emit light toward the outer peripheral end of the shelf board, A light diffusing unit that diffuses the light emitted from the multiple light sources and causes it to enter the shelf board. It is a refrigerator equipped with [features / equipment].

[0007] According to this embodiment, the light emitted from the lighting device is diffused by the light diffusion unit and incident on the light guide plate, so the shelf can be illuminated more uniformly compared to a configuration without a light diffusion unit. As a result, uniform illumination can be achieved.

[0008] A second aspect of the present invention is, in the first aspect, The light-diffusing section is a refrigerator having a light-diffusing plate that is formed separately from the shelf and is spaced apart from the shelf.

[0009] According to this embodiment, since the light diffuser plate, which is formed separately from the shelf, is positioned at a distance from the shelf, the light diffused by the light diffuser plate spreads outwards from the light diffuser plate towards the shelf. As a result, compared to a configuration in which the light diffuser plate is in contact with the shelf, the light diffused by the light diffuser plate spreads over a wider area before reaching the outer edge, resulting in more uniform illumination of the outer edge. Consequently, the shelf can be illuminated more uniformly, providing uniform lighting.

[0010] A third aspect of the present invention is, in the second aspect, The light diffusing plate is placed between the shelf and the plurality of light sources. This refrigerator has a distance between the light diffuser and the shelf that is shorter than the distance between the light diffuser and the multiple light sources.

[0011] According to this embodiment, compared to a configuration in which the distance between the light diffuser and the shelf is longer than the distance between the light diffuser and the lighting device, it is possible to uniformly illuminate the shelf while suppressing a decrease in the illuminance of the shelf, thereby providing uniform lighting. In a configuration in which the distance between the light diffuser and the lighting device is excessively short, especially when the light source is a highly directional light source such as an LED, the light diffuser may not be able to sufficiently diffuse the light emitted from the light source, and the shelf may not be able to be uniformly illuminated. Also, in a configuration in which the distance between the light diffuser and the shelf is excessively long, the amount of light incident on the outer edge of the shelf may decrease, resulting in a decrease in the illuminance of the shelf. In contrast, according to this embodiment, since the distance between the light diffuser and the shelf is shorter than the distance between the light diffuser and the lighting device, compared to a configuration in which the distance between the light diffuser and the shelf is longer than the distance between the light diffuser and the lighting device, it is possible to uniformly illuminate the shelf while suppressing a decrease in the illuminance of the shelf, thereby providing uniform lighting.

[0012] A fourth aspect of the present invention is, in the first aspect, The light-diffusing section is formed integrally with the shelf board in this refrigerator.

[0013] According to this embodiment, the number of components constituting the refrigerator can be reduced compared to a configuration in which the light diffusion unit is separate from the shelf. As a result, the shelf can be illuminated uniformly while reducing manufacturing costs, and uniform lighting can be achieved.

[0014] A fifth aspect of the present invention is, in any of the first to fourth aspects, The aforementioned lighting device is A substrate on which the aforementioned multiple light sources are attached A fixing member for fixing the substrate to the shelf board Equipped with, The aforementioned fixing member is Facing the aforementioned outer peripheral end, the vertical wall on which the substrate is arranged, The upper and lower walls extend from the vertical wall toward the shelf, respectively, and sandwich the shelf from above and below. Equipped with, The aforementioned fixing member is a refrigerator made of metal.

[0015] Generally, a metal has a higher reflectivity than other materials such as resins. According to this aspect, since the fixing member is made of metal, absorption of light by the fixing member is suppressed, and it is possible to suppress a reduction in the amount of light incident on the outer peripheral end portion of the shelf board. As a result, while suppressing a decrease in the illuminance of the shelf board, the shelf board can be uniformly illuminated, and uniform illumination can be performed.

[0016] A sixth aspect of the present invention is in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the lighting device is, a substrate to which the plurality of light sources are attached, and a fixing member that fixes the substrate to the shelf board, and is provided with, the fixing member is, a vertical wall facing the outer peripheral end portion and having the substrate disposed thereon, and an upper wall and a lower wall that respectively extend from the vertical wall toward the shelf board and sandwich the shelf board from above and below, and is provided with, the plurality of light sources are displaced upward with respect to the center plane of the shelf board in the vertical direction, and it is a refrigerator.

[0017] According to this aspect, when the user views the shelf board from the upper diagonal side, since the light emitted from the light source is blocked by the upper wall, it is possible to suppress the user from feeling dazzled.

[0018] A seventh aspect of the present invention is in any one of the first to sixth aspects, when the distance between the plurality of light sources and the light diffusing portion is D2, the distance between two adjacent light sources among the plurality of light sources is L, and the half-value angle of each light source is θ, D2 satisfies the following formula (1).

Equation

[0019] According to this embodiment, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the illuminance of the light-diffusing section while also suppressing the occurrence of areas in the light-diffusing section that are not illuminated by light. As a result, the shelf can be illuminated uniformly with sufficient illuminance. [Effects of the Invention]

[0020] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a refrigerator equipped with a shelf that functions as a light guide plate, thereby providing uniform lighting. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0021] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the refrigerator shown in Figure 1, and in Figure 2, only the shelves and the surrounding structure of the shelves are shown. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along the line III-III in Figure 2, which shows the area around the rear end of shelf board 20. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the path of light emitted from a light source, and is a schematic view of the area around the rear end of the shelf board as seen from above. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0022] A refrigerator according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the following description is essentially illustrative and is not intended to limit the present invention, its applications, or its uses. Also, the drawings are schematic, and the proportions of the dimensions may differ from those of actual refrigerators. In the following description, in a refrigerator installed on a horizontal plane, the side with the door may be referred to as the front, and the opposite side as the rear. Furthermore, the left side in the left-right direction when viewed from the front may simply be referred to as the left side, and the right side in the left-right direction when viewed from the front may simply be referred to as the right side. In the drawings, the propagation of light is schematically shown by dashed-dotted arrows.

[0023] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a refrigerator 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Referring to Figure 1, the refrigerator 1 comprises a casing 10 and two shelves 20A and 20B located inside the casing 10. In the following description, when there is no need to distinguish between the two shelves 20A and 20B, one of the two shelves 20A and 20B may simply be referred to as shelf 20.

[0025] The enclosure 10 includes a refrigerator compartment 10a, which is a storage area for food and other items. Below the refrigerator compartment 10a is a case 11 that defines a chilled compartment 10b, which is set to a different temperature than the refrigerator compartment 10a. The enclosure 10 is equipped with a pair of support parts that support the shelves 20. The pair of support parts protrude inward from the left and right inner surfaces of the enclosure 10 that define the refrigerator compartment 10a. Note that the door for closing the refrigerator compartment 10a is not shown in Figure 1.

[0026] Shelf 20 is located inside the refrigerator compartment 10a. Shelf 20A is a partition that divides the refrigerator compartment 10a vertically. Shelf 20B is located directly above the chilled compartment 10b. Specifically, shelf 20B is placed on the top surface of the case 11 that defines the chilled compartment 10b.

[0027] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of refrigerator 1, showing only the shelf 20 and the structure surrounding the shelf 20. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along line III-III in Figure 2, showing the area around the rear end of shelf 20 in Figure 2.

[0028] The shelf board 20 is translucent and functions as a light guide plate. That is, the shelf board 20 of this embodiment has the function of a shelf board on which food and the like are placed, and the function of a light guide plate. The shelf board 20 of this embodiment is made of acrylic. Referring to Figure 2, the shelf board 20 is a plate-like shape with the left-right direction as the longitudinal direction, the front-back direction as the short direction, and the up-down direction as the thickness direction. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, the shelf board 20 comprises a first main surface 21, a second main surface 22 opposite to the first main surface 21, and an outer peripheral end 23 connecting the first main surface 21 and the second main surface 22.

[0029] The first main surface 21 is rectangular in plan view, extending in the left-right and front-back directions, and constitutes the upper surface of the shelf board 20. The second main surface 22 is rectangular in plan view, extending in the left-right and front-back directions, and constitutes the lower surface of the shelf board 20. The outer peripheral end 23 connects the edges of the first main surface 21 and the second main surface 22, and constitutes the side surface of the shelf board 20. The outer peripheral end 23 includes a first portion 23a that constitutes the front side surface of the shelf board 20, a second portion 23b that constitutes the rear side surface of the shelf board 20, a third portion 23c that constitutes the right side surface of the shelf board 20, and a fourth portion 23d that constitutes the left side surface of the shelf board 20.

[0030] Light-diffusing dots 24 are formed on the first main surface 21 and the second main surface 22. The light-diffusing dots 24 may be recesses formed by laser processing or the like to create depressions in the first main surface 21 and the second main surface 22, or they may be ink that has been pressed onto the first main surface 21 and the second main surface 22 by printing.

[0031] The refrigerator 1 includes a lighting device 30 that emits light to the outer peripheral edge 23 of the shelf board 20, and a light diffusion unit 40 that diffuses the light emitted from the lighting device 30 toward the shelf board 20 and causes it to enter the shelf board 20. In this embodiment, the light diffusion unit 40 is composed of a light diffusion plate 41 that is formed separately from the shelf board 20.

[0032] The lighting device 30 is attached to the rear end of the shelf board 20. The lighting device 30 comprises a plurality of light sources 31, a substrate 32 on which the light sources 31 are mounted, and a fixing member 33 for fixing the substrate 32 to the shelf board 20. In the following description, when it is not necessary to distinguish each of the plurality of light sources 31, one of the plurality of light sources 31 may simply be referred to as light source 31.

[0033] The light source 31 is an LED that emits white light. Multiple light sources 31 are arranged at equal intervals in the left-right direction. The light sources 31 also emit light toward the outer edge 23 of the shelf board 20, particularly toward the second portion 23b. In other words, the light sources 31 emit light toward the front.

[0034] The light source 31 is positioned offset upward with respect to the central plane CL of the shelf board 20 in the vertical direction. In other words, the vertical center of the light source 31 is located above the central plane CL of the shelf board 20.

[0035] The fixing member 33 comprises a vertical wall 33a positioned facing the outer peripheral end 23, particularly the second portion 23b, in the front-rear direction, and an upper wall 33b and a lower wall 33c extending from the vertical wall 33a toward the shelf board 20, respectively. In other words, the fixing member 33 has a C-shape with an open front when viewed from the side along the left-right direction.

[0036] The vertical wall 33a is plate-shaped with its length in the left-right direction, its width in the up-down direction, and its thickness in the front-back direction. A substrate 32 is attached to the front of the vertical wall 33a.

[0037] The upper wall 33b and the lower wall 33c are plate-shaped with their longitudinal direction oriented horizontally, their transverse direction oriented front to back, and their thickness direction oriented vertically. The upper wall 33b extends forward from the upper end of the vertical wall 33a, and the lower wall 33c extends forward from the lower end of the vertical wall 33a.

[0038] The fixing member 33 is fixed to the shelf board 20 by the upper wall 33b and the lower wall 33c sandwiching the rear end of the shelf board 20. In other words, the lighting device 30 is removably fixed to the shelf board 20 by the rear end of the shelf board 20 fitting between the upper wall 33b and the lower wall 33c.

[0039] The fixing member 33 is made of metal. Specifically, the fixing member 33 is made of aluminum. Herein, in this specification, aluminum includes pure aluminum and aluminum alloys. The inner surface of the fixing member 33 may be mirror-polished. Specifically, the lower surface of the upper wall 33b and the upper surface of the lower wall 33c may be mirror-polished.

[0040] The fixing member 33 includes a pair of holding parts 34A and 34B for holding the light diffuser plate 41. In the following description, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the pair of holding parts 34A and 34B, one of the pair of holding parts 34A and 34B may simply be referred to as the holding part 34. The holding part 34A has two projections that protrude downward from the lower surface of the upper wall 33b. Similarly, the holding part 34B has two projections that protrude upward from the upper surface of the lower wall 33c. These two projections are spaced apart in the front-rear direction and extend parallel to each other in the left-right direction. The light diffuser plate 41 is held by the pair of holding parts 34A and 34B by the upper end of the light diffuser plate 41 being sandwiched between the two projections of the holding part 34A and the lower end of the light diffuser plate 41 being sandwiched between the two projections of the holding part 34B.

[0041] The light diffusing plate 41 is translucent. In this embodiment, the light diffusing plate 41 is made of acrylic. The light diffusing plate 41 is plate-shaped with the left-right direction as the longitudinal direction, the up-down direction as the short direction, and the front-back direction as the plate thickness direction. The light diffusing plate 41 is positioned facing the plurality of light sources 31 and has a rear surface 41a that functions as an incident surface into which light emitted from the plurality of light sources 31 enters, and a front surface 41b that is positioned facing the shelf plate 20 and functions as an exit surface into which light that has passed through the light diffusing plate 41 exits. In this embodiment, fine irregularities that diffuse light are formed on both the rear surface 41a and the front surface 41b of the light diffusing plate 41. The fine irregularities may be formed, for example, by sandblasting. Furthermore, at least one of the rear surface 41a and the front surface 41b of the light diffusing plate 41 may be subjected to a frosting process by chemically treating the surface with hydrofluoric acid. As a result, compared to a configuration in which neither the rear surface 41a nor the front surface 41b of the light diffuser plate 41 is frosted, the light diffuser plate 41 can diffuse the light emitted from the light source 31 more effectively. Consequently, it is possible to suppress the feeling of glare experienced by the user.

[0042] As shown in Figure 3, the light diffuser plate 41 is positioned within the fixing member 33 by being held by a pair of holding parts 34A and 34B. The light diffuser plate 41 is positioned with a gap between it and the shelf plate 20 in the front-rear direction. As a result, an air layer exists between the light diffuser plate 41 and the shelf plate 20. The light diffuser plate 41 is positioned between the shelf plate 20 and the light source 31 in the front-rear direction. The distance D1 in the front-rear direction between the light diffuser plate 41 and the shelf plate 20 is shorter than the distance D2 in the front-rear direction between the light diffuser plate 41 and the light source 31. More specifically, the distance D1 in the front-rear direction between the front surface 41b of the light diffuser plate 41 and the second portion 23b of the outer peripheral end 23 of the shelf plate 20 is shorter than the distance D2 in the front-rear direction between the rear surface 41a of the light diffuser plate 41 and the light source 31. The distance D1 is, for example, 1.5 mm, and the distance D2 is, for example, 5.5 mm.

[0043] When L is the distance between two adjacent light sources 31 in the left-right direction, and θ is the half-width angle (full-width angle) of a light source 31, it is preferable that the distance D2 satisfies the following equation (1). Here, distance L is the distance in the left-right direction between the respective light-emitting surfaces of two adjacent light sources 31.

[0044]

number

[0045] By satisfying equation (1) above, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the illuminance of the light diffuser plate 41 while also suppressing the occurrence of areas on the light diffuser plate 41 that are not illuminated by light. As a result, the shelf board 20 can be illuminated uniformly with sufficient illuminance. Specifically, by satisfying equation (2) below, as shown in Figure 4, the illumination ranges of the two adjacent light sources 31 in the left-right direction overlap at least partially, thus suppressing the occurrence of areas on the light diffuser plate 41 that are not illuminated by light. As a result, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of areas on the shelf board 20 that are not illuminated by light, and the shelf board 20 can be illuminated uniformly. Furthermore, by satisfying equation (3) below, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the illuminance of the light diffuser plate 41 compared to a configuration in which the distance between the light diffuser plate 41 and the light source 31 is excessively long. As a result, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the illuminance of the shelf board 20.

[0046]

number

[0047]

number

[0048] The light diffuser plate 41 has the function of protecting the light source 31. When the shelf 20, which has been removed by the user for cleaning or maintenance, is attached to the fixing member 33, even if the user pushes the shelf 20 too hard against the fixing member 33, the light diffuser plate 41, positioned in front of the light source 31, prevents the shelf 20 from coming into contact with the light source 31. As a result, damage to the light source 31 is suppressed.

[0049] Referring to Figure 2, the refrigerator 1 includes a light-diffusing member 50 attached to the front end of the shelf board 20. The light-diffusing member 50 extends in the left-right direction and covers the first portion 23a of the outer peripheral end 23 from the front. The light-diffusing member 50 diffuses the light emitted from the first portion 23a of the outer peripheral end 23. The light-diffusing member 50 is translucent. In this embodiment, the light-diffusing member 50 is made of acrylic. Fine irregularities are formed on the front and rear surfaces of the light-diffusing member 50.

[0050] The path of light emitted from the light source 31 will be explained below with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the path of light emitted from the light source 31, and is a schematic view of the area around the rear end of the shelf board 20 from above.

[0051] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, most of the light emitted from the light source 31 travels forward and diffuses through the light diffuser plate 41. Specifically, light emitted from the light source 31 and incident on the rear surface 41a of the light diffuser plate 41 is refracted in various directions by the fine irregularities formed on the rear surface 41a, and then travels through the light diffuser plate 41. Light that travels through the light diffuser plate 41 and is emitted from the front surface 41b of the light diffuser plate 41 is refracted in various directions by the fine irregularities formed on the front surface 41b, and then travels towards the shelf plate 20. Light traveling from the light diffuser plate 41 towards the shelf plate 20 is incident on the second portion 23b of the outer peripheral end 23 of the shelf plate 20. Also, as shown in Figure 3, some of the light emitted from the light diffuser plate 41 is reflected from the lower surface of the upper wall 33b and the upper surface of the lower wall 33c of the fixing member 33, and travels forward.

[0052] Light incident on the outer edge 23 of the shelf board 20 is reflected by the first main surface 21 and the second main surface 22 of the shelf board 20 and travels forward. A portion of the light traveling forward within the shelf board 20 is reflected downward by the light diffusion dots 24 located on the first main surface 21 and exits from the second main surface 22 of the shelf board 20. As a result, the shelf board 20 functions as a light source that illuminates the area below it. In addition, a portion of the light traveling forward within the shelf board 20 is reflected upward by the light diffusion dots 24 located on the second main surface 22 and exits from the first main surface 21 of the shelf board 20. As a result, the shelf board 20 functions as a light source that illuminates the area above it.

[0053] According to this embodiment of the refrigerator 1, the following effects and advantages are achieved.

[0054] (1) The refrigerator 1 has a shelf board 20 that is translucent and has a first main surface 21, a second main surface 22 opposite to the first main surface 21, and an outer peripheral end 23 connecting the first main surface 21 and the second main surface 22, A lighting device 30 having multiple light sources 31 that emit light toward the outer edge 23 of the shelf board 20, A light diffusion unit 40 diffuses the light emitted from multiple light sources 31 and directs it into the shelf 20. It is equipped with.

[0055] With this configuration, the light emitted from the lighting device 30 is diffused by the light diffusion unit 40 and enters the shelf 20, so the shelf 20 can be illuminated more uniformly compared to a configuration without the light diffusion unit 40. As a result, uniform illumination can be achieved.

[0056] (2) The light diffusion section 40 is formed separately from the shelf board 20 and has a light diffusion plate 41 that is spaced apart from the shelf board 20.

[0057] In this configuration, the light diffuser 41, which is formed separately from the shelf 20, is positioned at a distance from the shelf 20. As a result, the light diffused by the light diffuser 41 spreads out from the light diffuser 41 towards the shelf 20. Compared to a configuration in which the light diffuser 41 is in contact with the shelf 20, the light diffused by the light diffuser 41 spreads over a wider area before reaching the outer edge 23, resulting in more uniform illumination of the outer edge 23. Consequently, the shelf 20 can be illuminated more uniformly, providing uniform lighting.

[0058] (3) The light diffuser plate 41 is placed between the shelf 20 and the multiple light sources 31, and the distance between the light diffuser plate 41 and the shelf 20 is shorter than the distance between the light diffuser plate 41 and the multiple light sources 31.

[0059] With this configuration, compared to a configuration where the distance between the light diffuser 41 and the shelf 20 is longer than the distance between the light diffuser 41 and the lighting device 30, it is possible to uniformly illuminate the shelf 20 while suppressing a decrease in the illuminance of the shelf 20, thereby providing uniform lighting. In a configuration where the distance between the light diffuser 41 and the lighting device 30 is excessively short, especially when the light source 31 is a highly directional light source 31 such as an LED, the light diffuser 41 may not be able to sufficiently diffuse the light emitted from the light source 31, and the shelf 20 may not be able to be uniformly illuminated. Also, in a configuration where the distance between the light diffuser 41 and the shelf 20 is excessively long, the amount of light incident on the outer edge 23 of the shelf 20 may decrease, and the illuminance of the shelf 20 may decrease. In contrast, with this configuration, since the distance between the light diffuser plate 41 and the shelf plate 20 is shorter than the distance between the light diffuser plate 41 and the lighting device 30, compared to a configuration where the distance between the light diffuser plate 41 and the shelf plate 20 is longer than the distance between the light diffuser plate 41 and the lighting device 30, it is possible to provide uniform lighting by uniformly illuminating the shelf plate 20 while suppressing a decrease in the illuminance of the shelf plate 20.

[0060] (4) The lighting device 30 comprises a substrate 32 on which a plurality of light sources 31 are attached, and a fixing member 33 for fixing the substrate 32 to the shelf 20. The fixing member 33 comprises a vertical wall 33a facing the outer peripheral end 23 on which the substrate 32 is arranged, and an upper wall 33b and a lower wall 33c extending from the vertical wall 33a toward the shelf 20, respectively, and sandwiching the shelf 20 from above and below. The fixing member 33 is made of metal.

[0061] Generally, metals have a higher reflectivity than other materials such as resins. With this configuration, since the fixing member 33 is made of metal, light absorption by the fixing member 33 is suppressed, and the reduction in the amount of light incident on the outer edge 23 of the shelf board 20 can be suppressed. In particular, the lower surface of the upper wall 33b and the upper surface of the lower wall 33c can reflect the light emitted from the light source 31 and guide it to the outer edge 23. As a result, the shelf board 20 can be illuminated uniformly while suppressing a decrease in the illuminance of the shelf board 20, thus providing uniform lighting.

[0062] (5) The lighting device 30 comprises a substrate 32 on which a plurality of light sources 31 are attached, and a fixing member 33 for fixing the substrate 32 to the shelf 20. The fixing member 33 comprises a vertical wall 33a on which the substrate 32 is arranged, facing the outer peripheral end 23, and an upper wall 33b and a lower wall 33c that extend from the vertical wall 33a toward the shelf 20, respectively, and sandwich the shelf 20 from above and below. The plurality of light sources 31 are arranged offset upward with respect to the central plane CL of the shelf 20 in the vertical direction.

[0063] In this configuration, the multiple light sources 31 are positioned offset upward with respect to the central plane CL of the shelf board 20 in the vertical direction. As a result, when a user views the shelf board from diagonally above, the light emitted from the light sources 31 is blocked by the upper wall 33b. Consequently, the user's perception of glare can be suppressed.

[0064] (6) When D2 is the distance between the light source 31 and the light diffuser plate 41, L is the distance between two adjacent light sources 31 among the multiple light sources 31, and θ is the half-width angle of each light source 31, D2 satisfies the following equation (1).

number

[0065] This configuration suppresses a decrease in the illuminance of the light diffuser plate 41 while also preventing areas on the light diffuser plate 41 from being unlit. As a result, the shelf plate 20 can be illuminated uniformly with sufficient illuminance.

[0066] [Differentiation] The refrigerator according to the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible.

[0067] In the above embodiment, the light diffusion section 40 was composed of a light diffusion plate 41 formed separately from the shelf board 20, but the light diffusion plate 41 is not required. The light diffusion section 40 may be formed integrally with the shelf board 20. For example, the light diffusion section 40 may be composed of fine irregularities or light-dispersing dots formed on the second portion 23b of the shelf board 20. With this configuration, the number of parts constituting the refrigerator 1 can be reduced compared to a configuration in which the light diffusion section 40 is separate from the shelf board 20. As a result, the shelf board 20 can be illuminated uniformly, and uniform lighting can be achieved while reducing manufacturing costs. Note that the light diffusion section 40 may include fine irregularities or light-dispersing dots formed on the second portion 23b of the shelf board 20 instead of the light diffusion plate 41, or in addition to the light diffusion plate 41.

[0068] In the above embodiment, the shelf board 20 was placed in the refrigerator compartment 10a, but it may be placed in other storage areas such as the freezer compartment.

[0069] In the above embodiment, the shelf board 20 was made of acrylic, but it may be made of a translucent resin other than acrylic, or it may be made of translucent glass. Also, the shelf board 20 may be colorless and transparent, or it may be colored.

[0070] In the above embodiment, the light source 31 was an LED that emits white light, but it may also be an LED that emits light of any color other than white.

[0071] In the above embodiment, the fixing member 33 was made of metal, but it may be made of an elastic material such as resin.

[0072] In the above embodiment, the fixing member 33 was C-shaped in a side view along the left-right direction, but it may also be flat. In this case, the fixing member 33 may be glued to the shelf board 20, or it may be attached to the shelf board 20 using fastening members such as bolts.

[0073] In the above embodiment, the lighting device 30 was equipped with a fixing member 33, but it is not necessary to include the fixing member 33. In this case, the light source 31 and the substrate 32 may be directly attached to the shelf board 20.

[0074] In the above embodiment, the light diffuser 41 was made of acrylic, but it may be made of a light-transmitting resin other than acrylic, or it may be made of light-transmitting glass. Also, the light diffuser 41 may be colorless and transparent, or it may be colored.

[0075] In the above embodiment, fine irregularities that diffuse light were formed on both the front surface 41b and the rear surface 41a of the light diffuser plate 41, but fine irregularities may be formed on either the front surface 41b or the rear surface 41a of the light diffuser plate 41. Furthermore, the light diffusion function of the light diffuser plate 41 may be achieved by dispersing light-diffusing particles inside, or by forming light-diffusing dots on the front surface 41b or the rear surface 41a of the light diffuser plate 41. The light diffuser plate 41 may have light-diffusing particles dispersed inside instead of, or in addition to, fine irregularities, or it may have light-dispersing dots formed on the front surface 41b or the rear surface 41a of the light diffuser plate 41 instead of fine irregularities.

[0076] In the above embodiment, the lighting device 30 and the light diffuser plate 41 were attached to the rear end of the shelf board 20, but they may be attached to the right end or left end of the shelf board 20 instead of the rear end, or in addition to the rear end of the shelf board 20. [Explanation of symbols]

[0077] 1. Refrigerator 10 cabinets 10a Refrigerated compartment 10b Chilled compartment 11 cases 20 shelves 21 First Main Surface 22 Second Main Surface 23 Outer edge 23a Part 1 23b Part 2 23c Part 3 23d 4th part 24 light-diffusing dots 30 Lighting devices 31 Light source 32 circuit boards 33 Fixing member 33a vertical wall 33b Upper wall 33c lower wall 34 Holding part 40 Light Diffusion Section 41 Light Diffuser 41a Rear 41b Front 50 Light Diffusing Member

Claims

1. A shelf board having light-transmitting properties and having a first main surface, a second main surface opposite to the first main surface, and an outer peripheral end connecting the first main surface and the second main surface, A lighting device having multiple light sources that emit light toward the outer peripheral end of the shelf board, A light diffusing unit that diffuses the light emitted from the multiple light sources and causes it to enter the shelf board. A refrigerator equipped with [a specific feature].

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the light diffusing section is formed separately from the shelf and has a light diffusing plate that is spaced apart from the shelf.

3. The light diffusing plate is placed between the shelf and the plurality of light sources. The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the distance between the light diffusing plate and the shelf is shorter than the distance between the light diffusing plate and the plurality of light sources.

4. The light-diffusing portion is formed integrally with the shelf board, as described in claim 1.

5. The aforementioned lighting device is A substrate on which the aforementioned multiple light sources are attached A fixing member for fixing the substrate to the shelf board Equipped with, The aforementioned fixing member is Facing the aforementioned outer peripheral end, the vertical wall on which the substrate is arranged, The upper and lower walls extend from the vertical wall toward the shelf, respectively, and sandwich the shelf from above and below. Equipped with, The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member is made of metal.

6. The aforementioned lighting device is A substrate on which the aforementioned multiple light sources are attached A fixing member for fixing the substrate to the shelf board Equipped with, The aforementioned fixing member is Facing the aforementioned outer peripheral end, the vertical wall on which the substrate is arranged, The upper and lower walls extend from the vertical wall toward the shelf, respectively, and sandwich the shelf from above and below. Equipped with, The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources are arranged offset upward with respect to the central plane of the shelf in the vertical direction.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein D2 is the distance between the plurality of light sources and the light diffusing section, L is the distance between two adjacent light sources among the plurality of light sources, and θ is the half-width angle of each light source, and D2 satisfies the following equation (1). [Math 1]

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