U.S. patent application number 11/003408 was filed with the patent office on 2005-11-03 for sealing structure for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Kim, Se-Young, Kim, Yang-Gyu, Lee, Youn-Seok.
Application Number | 20050242529 11/003408 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34916115 |
Filed Date | 2005-11-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050242529 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim, Yang-Gyu ; et
al. |
November 3, 2005 |
Sealing structure for refrigerator
Abstract
A sealing structure for a refrigerator comprises a blocking
member provided inside an air dam having a predetermined width
between a refrigerator cabinet and a door liner of a door, for
preventing convection in the air dam, so that convection in the air
dam is prevented and thus external heat is prevented from being
introduced into a storage compartment through the air dam.
Inventors: |
Kim, Yang-Gyu; (Seoul,
KR) ; Lee, Youn-Seok; (Goyang, KR) ; Kim,
Se-Young; (Seoul, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Assignee: |
LG Electronics Inc.
|
Family ID: |
34916115 |
Appl. No.: |
11/003408 |
Filed: |
December 6, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
277/628 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/087 20130101;
F25D 2500/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
277/628 |
International
Class: |
F25C 005/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 6, 2004 |
KR |
23497/2004 |
Apr 6, 2004 |
KR |
23499/2004 |
Apr 6, 2004 |
KR |
23501/2004 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A sealing structure for a refrigerator, comprising a convection
preventing device provided inside an air dam having a predetermined
width between a refrigerator cabinet and a door liner of a door,
for preventing convection in the air dam.
2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the convection preventing
device comprises at least one blocking member formed in a plate
shape, for blocking between the door liner and the cabinet.
3. The structure of claim 2, wherein the blocking member is fixed
to the door liner, is extended toward the cabinet, and is elongated
in a longitudinal direction of the door.
4. The structure of claim 2, wherein cut-off grooves are formed on
the blocking member at predetermined intervals in a longitudinal
direction of the blocking member.
5. The structure of claim 2, wherein the blocking member has a
width which is substantially similar to or larger than a width
between the door liner and the cabinet.
6. The structure of claim 5, wherein the blocking member is formed
to have a width enough that an end of the blocking member can be in
contact with the door liner when the door is closed.
7. The structure of claim 5, wherein the blocking member is curved
at a predetermined curvature.
8. The structure of claim 7, wherein the blocking member is curved
in an opposite direction to a direction that the door is
closed.
9. The structure of claim 7, wherein a plurality of the blocking
members are curved in the same direction.
10. The structure of claim 2, wherein a thickness of the blocking
member becomes thinner toward an end in a width direction
thereof.
11. The structure of claim 2, wherein a plurality of the blocking
members are installed at intervals of about 5 mm to 10 mm.
12. The structure of claim 2, wherein the blocking member is
extended with being curved plural times along a longitudinal
direction of the door.
13. The structure of claim 12, wherein a concave portion and a
convex portion of the blocking member which are formed by curving
the blocking member are disposed at regular intervals.
14. The structure of claim 13, wherein the concave portion and the
convex portion of the blocking member have the same curvature.
15. The structure of claim 12, wherein cut-off grooves are formed
on the blocking member at regular intervals.
16. The structure of claim 2, wherein the convection preventing
device comprises a supporting portion formed as a plate shape which
is substantially parallel to the surface of the door liner and
closely attached to the surface of the door liner; and a fixing
portion protruding from the supporting portion and inserted in a
fixing groove recessed in the door liner, and the blocking member
is extended from the flat panel portion toward the cabinet.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a refrigerator, and
particularly, to a sealing structure for a refrigerator capable of
effectively preventing external heat from being introduced into a
storage compartment by being provided between a refrigerator
cabinet and a door.
[0003] 2. Description of the Background Art
[0004] In general, a refrigerator is a device for chilling or
freezing items stored in a storage compartment by circulating cool
air, generated by a refrigerating cycle, inside the storage
compartment. The refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage
compartment; and a door installed at the cabinet, for opening and
closing the storage compartment, and a gasket installed between the
cabinet and the door, for preventing introduction of external heat
into the storage compartment.
[0005] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the conventional refrigerator
includes a cabinet (C) forming a storage compartment (F) therein,
comprised of an outer panel 5 of a metallic material, an inner
panel 6 and a foamed insulation 3 filled between the outer panel 5
and the inner panel 6; and a door (D) connected to the cabinet (C),
for opening and closing the storage compartment (F).
[0006] The door (D) includes an outer panel 1 of a metallic
material; a door liner 2 made of a synthetic resin such as an ABS
resin and coupled to the outer panel 1; a foamed insulation 3
interposed between the outer panel 1 and the door liner 2; and a
gasket 4 made of a synthetic resin, for sealing a gap between the
door (D) and the cabinet (C).
[0007] The gasket 4 includes a fixing portion 4a formed as an
anchor shape and fixed by being pressingly inserted into a fixing
groove 2a recessed in the door (D); a connection portion 4b
integrally formed from the fixing portion 4a and having therein a
plurality of air pockets 4d formed by dividing an inner space
thereof with a plurality of partitions; and an attached portion 4c
formed as a single body with the connection portion 4b and
separably attached to the outer panel 5 of the cabinet (C) by a
magnet 4e mounted therein.
[0008] A space having a predetermined width is formed between the
inner panel 6 of the cabinet (C) and the door liner 2, and this
space is commonly called an air dam (S). Such an air dam (S)
functions as a kind of damper for preventing heat having passed
through the gasket 4 from being introduced into the storage
compartment (F).
[0009] As for the refrigerator constructed in such a manner, when
the door (D) is closed, the attached portion 4c of the gasket 4 is
attached to the outer panel 5 of the cabinet (C) by a magnetism of
the magnet 4e, so that the storage compartment (F) is sealed from
the exterior. At this time, the storage compartment (F) is
insulated by the air pocket 4d of the gasket 4 and the air dam
(S).
[0010] When the door (D) is opened, the connection portion 4b of
the gasket elastically stretches by being pulled, thereby
separating the attached portion 4c from the outer panel 5 of the
cabinet (C). Accordingly, the storage compartment (F) is
opened.
[0011] However, in such a conventional refrigerator, in spite of
the gasket 4 installed to prevent external air and heat from being
introduced between the cabinet (C) and the door (D), a temperature
of a portion adjacent to the gasket 4 in the air dam (S) is higher
than that in the storage compartment (F).
[0012] Accordingly, in case that the cool air circulates in the
storage compartment (F), convection occurs in the air dam (S)
because of the flow of the cool air, and thus the air in the air
dam (S), which has a higher temperature than the inside of the
storage compartment (F), flows into the storage compartment (F).
For this reason, the refrigerating performance of the refrigerator
is deteriorated.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide
a sealing structure for a refrigerator capable of preventing
introduction of heat into a storage compartment by preventing
convection in an air dam formed between a cabinet and a door liner
of a refrigerator.
[0014] To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with
the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly
described herein, there is provided a refrigerator comprising a
convection preventing device provided inside an air dam having a
predetermined width between a refrigerator cabinet and a door liner
of a door, for preventing convection in the air dam.
[0015] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and
advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from
the following detailed description of the present invention when
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a
further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and
constitute a unit of this specification, illustrate embodiments of
the invention and together with the description serve to explain
the principles of the invention.
[0017] In the drawings:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a cabinet and a door of a
conventional refrigerator;
[0019] FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view partially showing the
cabinet and the door liner of the door of the conventional
refrigerator;
[0020] FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view partially showing a
cabinet and a door for a refrigerator in accordance with a first
embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing one example of a
convection preventing device of FIG. 3;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG.
4;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another example of a
convection preventing device of FIG. 3;
[0024] FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view partially showing a
cabinet and a door for a refrigerator in accordance with a second
embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing one example of a
convection preventing device of FIG. 7;
[0026] FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX line of
FIG. 8;
[0027] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another example of a
convection preventing device of FIG. 7;
[0028] FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view partially showing a
cabinet and a door for a refrigerator in accordance with a third
embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing one example of a
convection preventing device of FIG. 11;
[0030] FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken along line XIII-XIII of
FIG. 12; and
[0031] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing another example of a
convection preventing device of FIG. 11.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred
embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
[0033] As shown in FIG. 3, a refrigerator in accordance with the
present invention comprises a cabinet (C) including an outer panel
5 of a metallic material, an inner panel 6 and a foamed insulation
3 filled between the outer panel 5 and the inner panel 6; and a
door (D) connected to the cabinet (C), for opening and closing a
storage compartment (F).
[0034] The door (D) includes an outer panel 1 of a metallic
material; a door liner 2 made of a synthetic resin such as an ABS
resin and coupled to the outer panel 1; a foamed insulation 3
interposed between the outer panel 1 and the door liner 2; and a
gasket 4 made of a synthetic resin material, for sealing a gap
between the cabinet (C) and the door (D).
[0035] The gasket 4 includes a fixing portion 4a formed as an
anchor shape and fixed by being pressingly inserted in a fixing
groove 2a recessed in the door (D); a connection portion 4b
foldably extended from the fixing portion 4a and having therein a
plurality of air pockets 4d formed by dividing an inner space
thereof with a plurality of partitions 4f; and an attached portion
4c formed as a single body with the connection portion 4b and
separably attached to the outer panel 5 of the cabinet (C) by
having a magnet 4e therein.
[0036] An air dam (S) with a predetermined width is formed between
the inner panel 6 of the cabinet (C) and the door liner 2.
[0037] Meanwhile, in case that cool air flows inside the storage
compartment (F), convection occurs in the air dam (S) due to the
flow of the cool air. Accordingly, the air in the air dam (S),
which has a temperature higher than that in the storage compartment
(F), may be introduced into the storage compartment (F).
[0038] Therefore, in the present invention, a sealing structure for
a refrigerator capable of preventing convection in the air dam (S)
is presented through the following embodiments.
[0039] First embodiment
[0040] As shown in FIG. 3, the sealing structure for the
refrigerator in accordance with the first embodiment of the present
invention includes a convection preventing device 10 installed
inside the air dam (S), for preventing convection in the air dam
(S).
[0041] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the convection preventing device
10 includes a supporting portion 11 formed as a plate shape which
is substantially parallel with a surface of the door liner 2, and
closely attached to the surface of the door liner 2; a fixing
portion 12 protruding from the supporting portion 11 and fixed by
being pressingly inserted in a fixing groove 2b recessed in the
door liner 2; and a plurality of blocking members 13 extended from
the supporting portion 11 toward the inner panel 6 of the cabinet
(C), for blocking between the door liner 2 and the inner panel 6 of
the cabinet (C). The blocking member 13 is formed in a plate shape
and curved at a predetermined curvature.
[0042] The blocking member 13 is made of a flexible material such
as a rubber and is extended in a longitudinal direction of the door
(D). Preferably, a thickness of the blocking member 13 becomes
thinner toward an end in a width direction thereof so that the
blocking member 13 can be easily curved when being pushed by the
inner panel 6 of the cabinet (C) in case that the door (D) is
closed.
[0043] Preferably, a plurality of blocking members 13 are formed to
be curved in the same direction, and the curved angle of the
blocking member 13 is approximately perpendicular to a flowing
direction of the cool air.
[0044] In addition, effectively, the blocking member 13 is curved
in a direction opposite to a direction that the door (D) moves when
the door (D) is closed, so that the air resistance and the friction
resistance can be reduced when the door (D) closes the storage
compartment (F).
[0045] In addition, a width of the blocking member 13 is
substantially similar to or larger than that of the air dam (S).
Accordingly, when the door completely closes the storage
compartment (F), an end of the blocking member 13 is in contact
with the inner panel 6 of the cabinet (C), and an air pocket (P) is
formed by the blocking members 13 and the door liner 2 as the
blocking member 13 is curved by the inner panel 6 of the cabinet
(C).
[0046] Installation intervals between the blocking members 13 are
preferably about from 5 mm to 10 mm in case that the width of the
air dam (S) is about 10 mm or less. Optimum intervals between the
blocking members 13 for minimizing convection are about 8 mm.
Namely, it is preferable that the width of the air pocket (P) is
about 10 mm or less.
[0047] As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of grooves 13a are
preferably formed on the blocking member 13 at predetermined
intervals in a longitudinal direction of the blocking member 13,
namely, in a direction that the blocking member 13 is elongated in
a longitudinal direction of the door (D), so that the air
resistance and the friction resistance can be reduced, and thus the
door (D) can be smoothly opened or closed.
[0048] The operation and effect of the sealing structure for the
refrigerator in accordance with the first embodiment of the present
invention will now be described.
[0049] When the door (D) is closed, the attached portion 4c of the
gasket 4 is attached to the outer panel 5 of the cabinet (C) by a
magnetism of the magnet 4e, and accordingly, the storage
compartment (F) is blocked from the exterior. And, introduction of
the external heat into the storage compartment (F) is prevented by
the air pocket 4d of the gasket 4.
[0050] In addition, convection in the air dam (S) is prevented by
the convection. preventing device 10, and the heat having passed
through the gasket 4 is completely blocked by the insulation effect
of the air pocket (P) between the blocking members 13.
[0051] Meanwhile, because the blocking member 13 of the convection
preventing device 10 is curved toward the end in a width direction
thereof, the door (D) can be easily closed. In case of forming the
groove 13a on the blocking member 13, the door (D) can be more
easily closed.
[0052] In addition, when the door (D) is closed, a kind of air eddy
in the air dam (S) is prevented by the air pocket (P) between the
blocking members 13, and the external heat can be more effectively
blocked by the air pocket (P) which performs as an insulator.
[0053] Meanwhile, the blocking member 13 can be fixed to the inner
panel 6 of the cabinet (C) without being limited to be fixed to the
door liner 2.
[0054] Second embodiment
[0055] Hereinafter, a sealing structure for a refrigerator in
accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention will
now be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 7, the sealing structure for the
refrigerator in accordance with the second embodiment of the
present invention includes a convection preventing device 20
installed inside the air dam (S) formed between a door liner 2 of
the door (D) and the inner panel 6 of the cabinet (C), for
preventing the cool air from flowing in the air dam (S).
[0057] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the convection preventing device
20 includes a supporting portion 21 formed as a plate shape
substantially parallel to a surface of the door liner 2, and
closely attached to the surface of the door liner 2; a fixing
portion 22 protruding from the supporting portion 21 and pressingly
inserted in a fixing groove 2c recessed in the door liner 2; and at
least one blocking member 23 extended from the supporting portion
21 toward the inner panel 6 of the cabinet (C), for blocking
between the door liner 2 and the inner panel 6 of the cabinet (C).
The blocking member 23 is formed in a plate shape and is elongated
in a longitudinal direction of the door (D).
[0058] The blocking member 23 is made of a flexible material such
as a rubber and is extended in a `S` shape by being curved plural
times along a longitudinal direction of the door (D), thereby
having a concave portion 24 and a convex portion 25 sequentially
formed in a longitudinal direction of the blocking member 23.
[0059] Preferably, the concave portion 24 and the convex portion 25
are formed at regular and constant intervals and have the same
curvature to each other in order to effectively block introduction
of external heat. Meanwhile, a plurality of blocking members 23 may
be installed.
[0060] In addition, a width of the blocking member 23 is
substantially similar to or larger than that of the air dam (S).
Therefore, when the door (D) completely closes the storage
compartment (F), an end of the blocking member 23 is in contact
with the inner panel 6 of the cabinet (C).
[0061] As shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of grooves 23a are
preferably formed on the blocking member 23 at predetermined
intervals in a longitudinal direction of the blocking member 23,
that is, in a direction that the blocking member 23 is elongated in
a longitudinal direction of the door (D), so that the air
resistance and the friction resistance can be reduced, and the door
(D) can be smoothly opened or closed. The groove 23a is preferably
formed in a wedge shape.
[0062] In the sealing structure for the refrigerator in accordance
with the second embodiment of the present invention, because the
blocking member 23 of the convection preventing device 20 is curved
in a rough `S` shape along a longitudinal direction thereof, the
external heat is prevented from flowing into the refrigerator in
the x-direction of FIG. 8 as well as in the y-direction of FIG. 8.
Accordingly, the heat introduced into the refrigerator can be more
effectively blocked.
[0063] Meanwhile, the blocking member 23 can be fixed to the inner
panel 6 of the cabinet (C) without being limited to be fixed to the
door liner 2.
[0064] Hereinafter, the effect of the sealing structure of the
refrigerator in accordance with the second embodiment of the
present invention is substantially the same as that of the first
embodiment.
[0065] Third embodiment
[0066] Hereinafter, a sealing structure for a refrigerator in
accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention will
now be described with reference to FIGS. 11 to 14. The same
reference numerals are given to the parts explained in the
above-described embodiments, and explanation thereon will be
omitted.
[0067] As shown in FIG. 11, the sealing structure for the
refrigerator in accordance with the second embodiment of the
present invention includes a convection preventing device 30
installed inside the air dam (S) formed between the door liner 2 of
the door (D) and the inner panel 6 of the cabinet (C), for
preventing the cool air from flowing in the air dam (S).
[0068] As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the convection preventing
device 30 includes a fixing portion 32 pressingly inserted in a
fixing groove 2d recessed in the door liner 2; and a blocking
member 33 extended from the fixing portion 32 toward the inner
panel 6 of the cabinet (C), for blocking between the door liner 2
and the inner panel 6 of the cabinet (C). The blocking member 33 is
formed in a plate shape and curved at a predetermined
curvature.
[0069] The blocking member 33 is made of a flexible material such
as a rubber and is extended in a longitudinal direction of the door
(D). Preferably, a thickness of the blocking member 33 becomes
thinner toward an end in a width direction thereof so that the
blocking member 33 is easily curved when being pushed by the inner
panel 6 of the cabinet (C) in case that the door (D) is closed.
[0070] Preferably, the curved angle of the blocking member 33 is
approximately perpendicular to a flowing direction of the cool air.
In addition, effectively, the blocking member 33 is curved in a
direction opposite to a direction that the door (D) moves when the
door (D) closes the storage compartment (F), so that the air
resistance and the friction resistance can be reduced.
[0071] In addition, a width (L) of the blocking member 33 is
substantially similar to or larger than that of the air dam (S).
Accordingly, when the door (D) closes the storage compartment (F),
the end of the blocking member 33 is curved by the inner panel 6 of
the cabinet (C) and is in contact with the door liner 2, thereby
forming an air pocket (P) together with the door liner 2.
[0072] For a common refrigerator, a width (L) of the blocking
member 33 is preferably within about 8.about.12 mm in a state that
the door (D) is opened.
[0073] Meanwhile, as shown in FIG. 14, a plurality of grooves 33a
are preferably formed on the blocking member 33 at predetermined
intervals in a longitudinal direction of the blocking member 33,
namely, in a direction that the blocking member 33 is elongated in
a longitudinal direction of the door (D), so that the air
resistance and the friction resistance can be reduced, and thus the
door (D) can be smoothly opened or closed.
[0074] In the sealing structure for the refrigerator in accordance
with the third embodiment of the present invention, the blocking
member 33 of the convection preventing device 30 blocks the air dam
(S) to thereby prevent convection in the air dam (S). Also, in case
that the door (D) is closed, an end of the blocking member 33 is
curved by the inner panel 6 of the cabinet (C), thereby forming an
air pocket (P) between the blocking member 33 and the door liner
22. Accordingly, the sealing structure for the refrigerator can
more effectively prevent the introduction of the external heat into
the refrigerator.
[0075] Meanwhile, the blocking member 33 can be fixed to the inner
panel 6 of the cabinet (C) without being limited to be fixed to the
door liner 2.
[0076] The effect of the sealing structure of the refrigerator in
accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention is
substantially the same as the above described embodiments.
[0077] As so far described, a sealing structure for a refrigerator
in accordance with the present invention can advantageously and
effectively prevent the heat from being introduced into a storage
compartment (F) through an air dam (S) formed between a door liner
2 of a door (D) and an inner panel 6 of a cabinet (C), by providing
a convection preventing device 10, 20, 30 for preventing convection
due to the flow of the cool air in the air dam (S).
[0078] As the present invention may be embodied in several forms
without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics
thereof, it should also be understood that the above-described
embodiments are not limited by any of the details of the foregoing
description, unless otherwise specified, but rather should be
construed broadly within its spirit and scope as defined in the
appended claims, and therefore all changes and modifications that
fall within the metes and bounds of the claims, or equivalence of
such metes and bounds are therefore intended to be embraced by the
appended claims.
* * * * *