U.S. patent application number 13/495591 was filed with the patent office on 2012-12-27 for refrigerator.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD. Invention is credited to Gi Joong JEONG, Sun Keun Lee, Jae Hoon Lim.
Application Number | 20120326587 13/495591 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46317220 |
Filed Date | 2012-12-27 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20120326587 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
JEONG; Gi Joong ; et
al. |
December 27, 2012 |
REFRIGERATOR
Abstract
A refrigerator door includes a front surface panel and a rear
surface panel configured such that a foam space is provided between
the panels, first and second frames configured to form each side
surface of the door and to which the two panels are supportedly
attached, an upper cap and a lower cap configured to form upper and
lower surfaces of the door, respectively, and thermal insulating
material which is provided in the foam space to couple the front
surface panel, the rear surface panel, the first frame, the second
frame, the upper cap, and the lower cap to one another, wherein
each of the first frame and the second frame is formed by
sequentially introducing a steel plate coil having a predetermined
thickness and width into a predetermined number of roll forming
members.
Inventors: |
JEONG; Gi Joong; (Gwangju,
KR) ; Lim; Jae Hoon; (Suwon-si, KR) ; Lee; Sun
Keun; (Gwangju-si, KR) |
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD
Suwon
KR
|
Family ID: |
46317220 |
Appl. No.: |
13/495591 |
Filed: |
June 13, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/405 ;
49/506 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 23/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/405 ;
49/506 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/02 20060101
F25D023/02; F25D 23/00 20060101 F25D023/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 21, 2011 |
KR |
10-2011-0060102 |
Claims
1. A refrigerator comprising: a body having a storage compartment;
and a door configured to open and close a front open surface of the
storage compartment, wherein the door comprises: a front surface
panel configured to form a front surface of the door and including
tempered glass; a rear surface panel configured to form a rear
surface of the door such that a foam space is provided between the
rear surface panel and the front surface panel; a first frame and a
second frame configured to form each side surface of the door and
to which the front surface panel and the rear surface panel are
supportedly attached; an upper cap and a lower cap configured to
form an upper surface and a lower surface of the door,
respectively; and thermal insulating material which is provided in
the foam space to couple the front surface panel, the rear surface
panel, the first frame, the second frame, the upper cap, and the
lower cap to one another, wherein each of the first frame and the
second frame is formed by sequentially introducing a steel plate
coil having a predetermined thickness and width into a
predetermined number of roll forming members.
2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the upper cap and the lower
cap are manufactured through an injection molding.
3. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the second frame has a grip
groove, which recesses toward the foam space, to enable opening and
closing of the door.
4. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the steel plate coil
includes a Pre-Coated Metal (PCM).
5. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein one side of the front
surface panel is supportedly attached to the first frame, and an
opposite side of the front surface panel is supportedly attached to
the second frame.
6. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the front surface panel has
a width less than a width of the rear surface panel.
7. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein each of the upper cap and
the lower cap has a first frame insertion groove to which the first
frame is inserted, and a second frame insertion groove to which the
second frame is inserted.
8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the front surface panel,
the rear surface panel, the upper cap, the lower cap, the first
frame, and the second frame are coupled to one another primarily
through an adhesion member, and secondarily through an adhesive
force of the thermal insulating material.
9. The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: a first middle
member which is interposed between the front surface panel and the
first frame to align a position of the front surface panel; and a
second middle member which is interposed between the front surface
panel and the second frame to align a position of the front surface
panel.
10. A refrigerator comprising: a body having a storage compartment;
and a door configured to open and close a front open surface of the
storage compartment, wherein the door comprises: a front surface
panel configured to form a front surface of the door and including
tempered glass; a rear surface panel configured to form a rear
surface of the door such that a foam space is provided between the
rear surface panel and the front surface panel; a pair of caps
configured to upper and lower sides of the foam space and
manufactured through an injection molding; and a pair of frames
each including a rear surface coupling part having the rear surface
panel supportedly attached thereto, a front surface coupling part
having the front surface panel supportedly attached thereto, and a
connecting part configured to connect the rear surface coupling
part to the front surface coupling part, wherein each frame is
formed by sequentially introducing a steel plate coil having a
predetermined thickness and width into a predetermined number of
roll forming members.
11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein one of the pair of frames
has a grip grove, which recesses toward the foam space, to enable
opening and closing of the door.
12. A method of manufacturing a door for a refrigerator, the method
comprising: providing a front surface panel, which includes
tempered glass, and a rear surface panel, which forms a foam space
between the front surface panel and the rear surface panel; forming
a first frame and a second frame, each including a rear surface
coupling part having the rear surface panel supportedly attached
thereto, a front surface coupling part having the front surface
panel supportedly attached thereto, and a connecting part
configured to connect the rear surface coupling part to the front
surface coupling part, by introducing a steel plate coil, which has
a predetermined thickness and width, into a predetermined number of
roll forming members; insertedly coupling an upper cap and a lower
cap to the first frame and the second frame and temporarily fixing
the front surface panel, the rear surface panel, the upper cap, the
lower cap, the first frame and the second frame to one another
through adhesion member; and forming thermal heating material in
the foam space such that the front surface panel, the rear surface
panel, the upper cap, the lower cap, the first frame, and the
second frame are coupled to one another through an adhesive force
of the thermal heating material.
13. The method of claim 12, wherein in the forming the first frame
and the second frame, one of the first frame, and the second frame
has a grip groove, which recesses toward the foam space, to enable
opening and closing of the door.
14. The method of claim 12, wherein the upper cap and the lower cap
are formed through injection molding.
15. The method of claim 12, wherein the steel plate coil includes a
Pre-Coated Metal (PCM).
16. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the steel plate coil
includes a Pre-Coated Metal (PCM).
17. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the front surface panel,
the rear surface panel, the pair of caps, and the pair of frames
are coupled to one another through an adhesive force of the thermal
insulating material.
18. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the front surface panel,
the rear surface panel, the upper cap, the lower cap, the first
frame, and the second frame are coupled to one another through an
adhesive force of the thermal insulating material.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the priority benefit of Korean
Patent Application No. 2011-0060102, filed on Jun. 21, 2011 in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] Embodiments relate to a door of a refrigerator.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A refrigerator is an apparatus which is provided with a
storage compartment, and configured to keep food fresh by providing
cool air through a cooling cycle. The storage compartment has a
front surface open. The front open surface is open/closed by a door
that is rotatably installed on a body.
[0006] A front surface panel forming the external appearance of a
door is formed using tempered glass to improve cognitive quality.
Frames forming the framework of the door are configured to support
the front surface panel. Each of the frames includes metal to stand
the expansion pressure of a forming agent inside the door.
[0007] In general, frames are manufactured by extruding aluminum in
a desired form, but the aluminum used in the extrusion is more
expensive than other metals. In addition, a post treatment, such as
a coating process, needs to be performed after the extrusion.
SUMMARY
[0008] In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a
structure of a door frame for a refrigerator, capable of reducing
the manufacturing cost while providing a simplified manufacturing
process, and a method of manufacturing the same.
[0009] In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a
door assembly structure capable of ensuring a simplified assembly
and a method of manufacturing the same.
[0010] In accordance with a refrigerator includes a body and a
door. The body has a storage compartment. The door is configured to
open and close a front open surface of the storage compartment. The
door includes a front surface panel, a rear surface panel, a first
frame, a second frame, an upper cap, a lower cap and thermal
insulating material. The front surface panel is configured to form
a front surface of the door and includes tempered glass. The rear
surface panel is configured to form a rear surface of the door such
that a foam space is provided between the rear surface panel and
the front surface panel. The first and the second frames are
configured to form each side surface of the door and to which the
front surface panel and the rear surface panel are supportedly
attached. The upper cap and the lower cap configured to form an
upper surface and a lower surface of the door, respectively. The
thermal insulating material is provided in the foam space to couple
the front surface panel, the rear surface panel, the first frame,
the second frame, the upper cap, and the lower cap to one another.
Each of the first frame and the second frame is formed by
sequentially introducing a steel plate coil having a predetermined
thickness and width into a predetermined number of roll forming
members.
[0011] The upper cap and the lower cap are manufactured through an
injection molding.
[0012] The second frame has a grip groove, which recesses toward
the foam space, to enable opening/closing of the door.
[0013] The steel plate coil includes a Pre-Coated Metal (PCM).
[0014] One side of the front surface panel is supportedly attached
to the first frame, and an opposite side of the front surface panel
is supportedly attached to the second frame.
[0015] The front surface panel has a width less than a width of the
rear surface panel.
[0016] Each of the upper cap and the lower cap has a first frame
insertion groove to which the first frame is inserted, and a second
frame insertion groove to which the second frame is inserted.
[0017] The front surface panel, the rear surface panel, the upper
cap, the lower cap, the first frame, and the second frame are
coupled to one another primarily through adhesion member, and
secondarily through an adhesive force of the thermal insulating
material.
[0018] The refrigerator further includes a first middle member and
a second middle member. The first middle member is interposed
between the front surface panel and the first frame to align a
position of the front surface panel. The second middle member is
interposed between the front surface panel and the second frame to
align a position of the front surface panel.
[0019] In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a
refrigerator includes a body and a door. The body has a storage
compartment. The door is configured to open and close a front open
surface of the storage compartment. The door includes a front
surface panel, a rear surface panel, a pair of caps and a pair of
frames. The front surface panel is configured to form a front
surface of the door and includes tempered glass. The rear surface
panel is configured to form a rear surface of the door such that a
foam space is provided between the rear surface panel and the front
surface panel. The pair of caps is configured to upper and lower
sides of the foam space and manufactured through an injection
molding. The pair of frames each including a rear surface coupling
part having the rear surface panel supportedly attached thereto, a
front surface coupling part having the front surface panel
supportedly attached thereto, and a connecting part configured to
connect the rear surface coupling part to the front surface
coupling part. Each of the pair of frames is formed by sequentially
introducing a steel plate coil having a predetermined thickness and
width into a predetermined number of roll forming members.
[0020] One of the pair of frames has a grip grove, which recesses
toward the foam space, to enable opening/closing of the door.
[0021] In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a
method of manufacturing a door for a refrigerator is as follows. A
front surface panel including tempered glass is provided. A rear
surface panel is provided. The rear surface panel forms a foam
space between the front surface panel and the rear surface panel. A
first frame and a second frame are provided by introducing a steel
plate coil having a predetermined thickness and width into a
predetermined number of roll forming members. Each of the first and
the second frames includes a rear surface coupling part having the
rear surface panel supportedly attached thereto, a front surface
coupling part having the front surface panel supportedly attached
thereto, and a connecting part configured to connect the rear
surface coupling part to the front surface coupling part. A upper
cap and a lower cap are formed through injection molding. The upper
cap and the lower cap are insertedly coupled to the first frame and
the second frame, and the front surface panel, the rear surface
panel, the upper cap, the lower cap, the first frame and the second
frame are temporarily fixed to one another through adhesion member.
Thermal heating material is formed in the foam space such that the
front surface panel, the rear surface panel, the upper cap, the
lower cap, the first frame, and the second frame are coupled to one
another through an adhesive force of the thermal heating
material.
[0022] In the forming the first frame and the second frame, one of
the first frame, and the second frame has a grip groove, which
recesses toward the foam space, to enable opening/closing of the
door.
[0023] In an aspect of one or more embodiments, the manufacturing
cost is reduced by manufacturing a frame using a PCM steel plate
instead of aluminum which is more expensive than PCB steel.
[0024] In addition, one or more embodiments may remove a post
treatment that needs to be performed on a conventional aluminum
frame after extrusion.
[0025] In addition, the process of manufacturing a frame is
simplified, and the assembly structure of a door is simplified,
thereby enhancing the reliability on the product quality.
[0026] In addition, a door frame may be integrally formed with a
grip groove to open/close a door, thereby removing a need for a
protruding knob.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more
readily appreciated from the following description of embodiments,
taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
[0028] FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view illustrating a
refrigerator according to an embodiment;
[0029] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the
refrigerator according to an embodiment;
[0030] FIG. 3 is a view obtained by enlarging `A` portion of FIG.
2;
[0031] FIG. 4 is a view obtained by enlarging `B` portion of FIG.
2;
[0032] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a door of the
refrigerator according to an embodiment; and
[0033] FIG. 6 is flowchart showing a method of manufacturing the
door of the refrigerator according to an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0034] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments,
examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements
throughout.
[0035] FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view illustrating a
refrigerator according to an embodiment.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 1, a refrigerator 1 includes a body 10
forming the external appearance of the refrigerator 1, storage
compartments 11 and 12 formed inside the body 10, a cooling
apparatus (not shown), for example, a compressor, configured to
form a cooling cycle to provide the storage compartments 11 and 12
with a cool air, and doors 21 and 22 configured to open and close
front surfaces of the storage compartments 11 and 12.
[0037] The body 10 includes an inner case forming the storage
compartments 11 and 12, an outer case forming the exterior, and
thermal heating material, which is provided between the inner case
and the outer case to insulate the inside the storage compartment
11 and 12.
[0038] A vertical wall 15 is provided in the storage compartments
11 and 12 to divide the storage compartments 11 and 12 into a
freezer compartment 11 and a cooling compartment 12, and a shelf 13
to place food thereon.
[0039] The freezer compartment 11 and the cooling compartment 12
are provided to be open to front surfaces thereof. In order to open
and close the front open surfaces of the freezer compartment 11 and
the cooling compartment 12, a freezer compartment door 21 and a
cooling compartment door 22 are coupled to the body 10 through
hinges 14, respectively. Accordingly, the freezer compartment door
21 and the cooling compartment door 22 open/close the freezer
compartment 11 and the cooling compartment 12 while rotating
forward.
[0040] The freezer compartment door 21 may be provided with a
dispenser unit 23 that enables water or ice to be taken outside.
The cooling compartment door 22 may be provided with a home bar 24
configured to keep a small amount of food according to size.
[0041] A pair of door installation units 32 protrudes at rear
surfaces of the doors 21 and 22 such that a door guard 25 is
installed on the door installation units 32.
[0042] Hereinbefore, the configuration of the door according to an
embodiment has been described in brief with reference to FIG. 1.
However, the above configuration is not only applicable for doors
of a side-by-side refrigerator, but also for doors of other
refrigerators that open and close (open/close) the front open
surface of the storage compartment. For example, the above
configuration is applicable for a French Door Refrigerator (FDR)
refrigerator, a Bottom Mounted Freezer (BMF) refrigerator, and a
Top Mounted Freezer (TMF) refrigerator.
[0043] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the
refrigerator according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a view obtained
by enlarging `A` portion of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a view obtained by
enlarging `B` portion of FIG. 2. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view
of a door of the refrigerator according to an embodiment.
[0044] Hereinafter, the configuration of a door according to an
embodiment will be described in detail.
[0045] The door includes a front surface panel 30 forming the
external appearance of the door, a rear surface 31 providing a foam
space 33 between the front surface 30 and the rear surface 31, a
pair of frames 60 and 70 forming a framework of the door and
supporting the front surface panel 30 and the rear surface panel
31, and a pair of caps 90 and 91 sealing the upper side and the
lower side of the foaming space 33.
[0046] The front surface panel 30 may include tempered glass to
improve the aesthetic quality of the door. A rear surface of the
front surface panel 30 may be decorated with ornaments (not
shown).
[0047] In addition, the front surface panel 30 has a width less
than that of the rear surface panel 31 such that a grip groove 79
is provided. The grip groove 79 will be described later.
[0048] The rear surface panel 31 forms a foam space 33 in
cooperation with the front surface panel 30. The door guard
installation unit 32 protrudes from a rear surface of the rear
surface panel 31. The rear surface panel 31 is manufactured in a
vacuum environment
[0049] Meanwhile, the front surface panel 30 is divided into two
parts that are spaced on top of one another while interposing an
accessory part cover 40 therebetween. Alternatively, the front
surface panel 30 may be provided in an integrated unit without
having the accessory part cover 40 interposed therebetween.
[0050] The accessory part cover 40 is coupled to a front surface of
an accessory part installation part 41 on which a dispenser or a
home bar is installed. The accessory part cover 40 forms the
external appearance and an entry of the door.
[0051] The accessory part installation unit 41 is provided in a
form of a box in which an opening 44 is formed passing through the
door in the middle. The accessory part installation 41 includes an
upper wall 42 and a lower wall 43 that prevent thermal insulating
material from being introduced to the opening 44 during the forming
of the thermal insulating material in the foam space 33.
[0052] The accessory part installation unit 41 is formed with a
first frame installation groove 45 and a second frame installation
groove 46, into which enable a first frame 60 and a second frame 70
to be inserted, respectively, so that the first frame 60 and the
second frame 70 are insertedly coupled to the accessory part
installation unit 41.
[0053] The one pair of frames 60 and 70 includes the first frame 60
and the second frame 70 that are longitudinally formed.
[0054] Each of the first frame 60 and the second frame 70 is formed
by sequentially introducing a steel plate coil having a
predetermined thickness and width into a predetermined number of
roll forming members. In particular, by manufacturing the first and
second frames 60 and 70 using a Pre-Coated Metal (PCM) completed
with coloration painting, the first and second frames 60 and 70 do
not need to be subject to a post treatment after a roll forming
process, and are directly applied to the door, so that the
manufacturing process for doors is simplified. In addition, the PCM
is cheaper than aluminum used when a conventional frame is
manufactured through an extrusion, so that the manufacturing cost
for doors is reduced.
[0055] The first frame 60 is bentedly formed while including a rear
surface coupling part 61 having the rear surface panel 31
supportedly attached thereto, front surface coupling part 63 and 64
having the front surface panel 30 supportedly attached thereto, and
a connecting part 62 configured to connect the rear surface
coupling part 61 to the front surface coupling parts 63 and 64.
[0056] In addition, the second frame 70 is bentedly formed while
including a rear surface coupling part 71 having the rear surface
panel 31 supportedly attached thereto, front surface coupling part
77 and 78 having the front surface panel 30 supportedly attached
thereto, and a connecting part 72 configured to connect the rear
surface coupling part 71 to the front surface coupling parts 77 and
78.
[0057] The connection part 72 of the second frame 70 has grip
groove forming parts 73, 74, and 75 that are sequentially bent to
form the grip groove 79. The grip groove forming parts 73, 74, and
75 are bent at each 90 degrees to form the grip groove 79.
[0058] Meanwhile, the front surface coupling parts 63 and 64 of the
first frame 60 are coupled to a first middle member 80 which is
interposed between the front surface panel 30 and the first frame
60 to align the position of the front surface panel 30.
[0059] The front surface coupling parts 77 and 78 of the second
frame 70 are coupled to a second middle member 81 which is
interposed between the front surface panel 30 and the second frame
20 to align the position of the front surface panel 30.
[0060] The first middle member 80 is provided in a predetermined
size that enables the front surface panel 30 to be supportedly
attached to a side of the first frame 60, that is, to an outer side
end of the front surface coupling part 63 of the first frame
60.
[0061] In addition, the second middle member 81 is provided in a
predetermined size that enables the front surface panel 30 to be
supportedly attached to a side of the second frame 70, that is, to
an outer side end of the front surface coupling part 77 of the
second frame 70.
[0062] Accordingly, referring to FIG. 5, the front surface panel 30
is supportedly attached to the sides of the first frame 60 and the
second frame 70. In addition, lateral sides of the front surface
panel 30 are not exposed to outside, thereby improving the
aesthetic quality of the doors.
[0063] The grip groove 79 is a groove providing a grip on the door
for opening/closing the door. The grip groove 79 is formed by
partially recessing the second frame 70 to a side of the foaming
space 33. A user pulls or pushes the door with the fingers inserted
to the grip groove 79, thereby opening/closing the door.
[0064] The grip groove 79 is integrally formed with the second
frame 70, so the door does not require a knob protruding forward.
Accordingly, the manufacturing cost for doors is reduced, and the
esthetic quality for doors is improved.
[0065] Meanwhile, the one pair of caps 90 and 91 sealing the upper
side and the lower side of the foaming space 33 includes an upper
cap 90 and a lower cap 91.
[0066] Each of the upper cap 90 and the lower cap 91 has a first
frame insertion groove 92 to which the first frame 60 is inserted,
and a second frame insertion groove 93 to which the second frame 70
is inserted. Accordingly, the first frame 60 and the second frame
70 are insertedly coupled to each of the upper cap 90 and the lower
cap 91.
[0067] The upper cap 90 and the lower cap 91 are formed through an
injection molding.
[0068] Hereinafter, a method for manufacturing a door according to
an embodiment will be described. FIG. 6 is flowchart showing a
method of manufacturing the door of the refrigerator according to
an embodiment.
[0069] The front surface panel 30 and the rear surface panel 31 are
provided (100). The front surface panel 30 and the rear surface
panel 31 include tempered glass, and form the foam space 33
therebetween. The first frame 60 and the second frame 70 are formed
by sequentially introducing a steel plate coil having a
predetermined thickness and width into a plurality number of roll
forming members (200). The upper cap 90 and the lower cap 91 are
formed through an injection molding (300).
[0070] The first frame 60 and the second frame 70 are insertedly
coupled to each of the upper cap 90 and the lower cap 91. The front
surface panel 30, the rear surface panel 31, the upper cap 90, the
lower cap 91, the first frame 60 and the second frame 70 are
temporarily fixed to one another through an adhesion member, such
as a double-sided tape (400).
[0071] The thermal insulating material 34 is formed in the foam
space 33 such that the front surface panel 30, the rear surface
panel 31, the upper cap 90, the lower cap 91, the first frame 60,
and the second frame 70 are coupled to one another through the
adhesive force of the thermal insulating material 34, thereby
completing with manufacturing the door (500).
[0072] Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it
would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may
be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles
and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the
claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *