AU2019275510B2

AU2019275510B2 - Sealing member

Info

Publication number: AU2019275510B2
Application number: AU2019275510A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Tatsuya Akiyama; Hiroyuki Fujiwara; Mitsuhiro Maeda; Nobuhide Takahata
Original assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Current assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-02-18
Filing date: 2019-12-02
Publication date: 2021-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 2039-12-02
Also published as: JP2022183266A; AU2019275510A1; JP2020133979A; JP7386448B2; CN111578605A; CN111578605B

Abstract

OF THE DISCLOSURE A refrigerator capable of suppressing leakage of cold air in a storage more reliably is provided. An outer edge sealing member 20 provided in a heat insulation door 4 provided in an opening portion 2B of a storage 2 includes a sealing member main body 28 that is formed to be hollow, and a first partition portion 24, a second partition portion 25, and a third partition portion 26 that form a first central space S1, an outer side space S2, an inner side space S3, and a second central space S4 inside of the sealing member main body 28, and at least three of the first central space S1, the outer side space S2, the inner side space S3, and the second central space S4 are disposed between an inside and an outside of the storage 2. FIG.5 20 31 3V 28A V2 21 22 21 A 40 S1 28 32 5633 28C 23......- - 28D 21 B S 3 26 35 35 S2 24 25 28B S4 30A 30A 30 5/6

Description

FIG.5 20

31

3V

28A V2

21 22 21 A 40 S1 28 32

5633 28C23......- - 28D 21 B S3

26 35 35 S2 24 25

28B S4 30A

30A 30

5/6

EDITORIAL NOTE

*2019275510*

Please note the amended pages received 15 March 2021 contain an error. As a result page 1 has been duplicated.

Australian Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARDPATENT

Invention Title Sealing member

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:

Technical Field

[0001]

The present disclosure relates to a sealing member.

Background

[0002]

A refrigerator may include a storage and a heat

insulation door. In the heat insulation door of the

refrigerator like this, a sealing member such as a

packing or a gasket that seals the storage is provided.

As the sealing member like this, a sealing member may

have a main body formed to be hollow . A space that is

provided inside of the main body of the sealing member

acts as a heat insulation air layer, and restrains

leakage of cold air in the storage.

[0003]

It is desired to address or ameliorate one or more

disadvantages or limitations associated with the prior

art, or to at least provide a useful alternative.

[0004]

However, when the number of spaces that are provided

inside of the main body of the sealing member is small,

leakage of cold air may not been sufficiently restrained.

It is desired to provide a sealing member that can

restrain leakage of cold air in a storage more reliably.

Summary

[0005]

In at least some embodiments, the present invention

provides a sealing member provided in a heat insulation

door provided in an opening portion of a storage,

including a main body that is formed to be hollow, and a

plurality of partition portions that form a plurality of

spaces inside of the main body, wherein at least three of

the plurality of spaces are disposed between an inside

and an outside of the storage, the sealing member is

provided with a fin portion that seals a space between

the storage and the heat insulation door, and the fin

portion includes a thick portion, of which an inner side

is formed to be hollow, the thick portion protrudes

toward the storage and seals, in a state where the heat

insulation door is closed, a space between an inner side

face of the storage and the heat insulation door, the

thick portion is formed such that the inner side of the

thick portion that is hollow is partitioned into a

plurality of hollow portions, the plurality of hollow

portions is arranged in the direction toward the storage

from the main body, and each of the hollow portions is

sealed and air is held inside each of the hollow

portions.

[0006]

The main body may be provided with a magnet storage

portion in which a magnet is stored, the magnet storage

- 2a

portion may be provided with a close contact face that

closely contacts the storage, and one partition portion

out of the plurality of partition portions may be

provided on an outer surface of the magnet storage

portion that is located at an opposite side to the close

contact face with the magnet between the close contact

face and the outer surface.

[0007]

A mounting portion that protrudes from the main body

may be mounted to the heat insulation door attachably and

detachably, the mounting portion may be formed into an arrow shape in section, and another partition portion of the plurality of partition portions may be provided on a rear face of the mounting portion.

[0008]

The at least one hollow portion of the fin portion

may include a plurality of hollow portions.

[0009]

According to at least some embodiments of the

present invention, leakage of cold air in the storage can

be restrained more reliably.

[0009A]

According to at least some embodiments, the present

invention provides a refrigerator including a storage and

a heat insulation door, wherein the heat insulation door

includes the above-described sealing member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009B]

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are

hereinafter described, by way of example only, with

reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator according

to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in

FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a heat insulation

door;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating

a heat insulation door main body, and an outer edge

sealing member;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view in a width direction of

the outer edge sealing member; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view in the width direction of

the outer edge sealing member in a state of being in

close contact with a storage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011]

A first embodiment of the invention is a sealing

member provided in a heat insulation door provided in an

opening portion of a storage, including a main body that

is formed to be hollow, and a plurality of partition

portions that form a plurality of spaces inside of the

main body, wherein at least three of the plurality of

spaces are disposed between an inside and an outside of

the storage.

According to the first embodiment, at least three

heat insulation air layers are provided between the

inside and the outside of the storage.

Consequently, leakage of cold air in the storage is

more reliably restrained, between the storage and the

heat insulation door.

[0012]

A second embodiment of the invention is the sealing

member, wherein the main body is provided with a magnet

storage portion in which a magnet is stored, the magnet

storage portion is provided with a close contact face

that closely contacts the storage, and one partition

portion out of the plurality of partition portions is

provided on an outer surface of the magnet storage

portion, that is located at an opposite side to the close

contact face with the magnet between the close contact

face and the outer surface.

According to the second embodiment, the close

contact face is moved parallel to a surface of the

storage, and the entire face can be reliably brought into

close contact with the storage.

Consequently, the sealing member can be restrained

from separating from the surface of the storage.

[0013]

A third embodiment of the invention is the sealing

member, wherein a mounting portion that protrudes from

the main body is mounted to the heat insulation door

attachably and detachably, the mounting portion is formed

into an arrow shape in section, and another partition

portion of the plurality of partition portions is

provided on a rear face of the mounting portion.

According to the third embodiment, when the sealing

member is mounted to the heat insulation door, the partition portion is pushed toward the tip end of the mounting portion, and the mounting portion deforms.

Consequently, the mounting portion can be easily

inserted into the heat insulation door, and mountability

of the sealing member can be enhanced.

[0014]

A fourth embodiment of the invention is the sealing

member, wherein the sealing member is provided with a fin

portion that seals a space between the storage and the

heat insulation door, and the fin portion includes a

hollow portion.

According to the fourth embodiment, the fin portion

seals the space between the storage and the heat

insulation door, and the space provided in the fin

portion acts as a heat insulation air layer.

Consequently, cold air in a storage room 2A can be

restrained from leaking from the space between the

storage and the heat insulation door.

[0015]

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention

will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a refrigerator 1 according

to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is

a sectional view along line II-II in FIG. 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 1 is a

vertical commercial refrigerator, and the refrigerator 1

- 6a

includes a storage 2, a plurality of heat insulation

doors 4, and a machine room 6.

The storage 2 is a box body including a heat

insulation wall 3 that is formed by a heat insulation

material 8 being filled in a space surrounded by an outer

box 5 and an inner box 7. The outer box 5 and the inner

box 7 of the present embodiment are both integrally

formed of a metal such as a stainless steel plate, and as

the heat insulation material, a styrene foam, rigid

urethane foam or the like is used.

Note that the outer box 5 and the inner box 7 may be

formed of a rigid resin such as an ABS resin without being limited to a metal. Further, the outer box 5 and the inner box 7 may be formed by combining a metal and a rigid resin.

Inside the storage 2, a storage room 2A is provided,

and on a front face, an opening portion 2B is provided.

[0016]

An inner side face of the opening portion 2B is

formed by a side face member 9. The side face member 9

is a member that connects the outer box 5 and the inner

box 7 in the opening portion 2B, and the side face member

9 is formed of a rigid resin.

Describing in detail, the side face member 9 is

formed into an L-shape in sectional view in a width

direction, and the side face member 9 configures the

inner side face of the opening portion 2B, a front face

of the storage 2 located in a periphery of the opening

portion 2B throughout an entire perimeter of the opening

portion 2B. The side face member 9 is provided, and

thereby cold air inside of the storage room 2A is

restrained from being transmitted to the outer box 5 from

the inner box 7.

[0017]

Further, a metal plate 10 is provided on a front

face side of the storage 2 of the side face member 9.

The metal plate 10 is a flat plate-shaped member having a

predetermined width, and the metal plate 10 is provided throughout the entire perimeter of the opening portion

2B.

Further, in a central portion of the opening portion

2B, a partition frame 2C is provided, and the opening

portion 2B is partitioned in an up-down direction by the

partition frame 2C.

[0018]

A plurality of heat insulation doors 4 are

rectangular door members that close an opening of the

storage 2. In the refrigerator 1 of the present

embodiment, a pair of heat insulation doors 4 that are

disposed in a left-right direction is made one set, two

sets are provided on a top and bottom, and these heat

insulation doors 4 are disposed with one side faces

adjacent to one another. Further, on a top face and a

bottom face of each of the heat insulation doors 4,

hinges 11 are provided in spots located on the other side

face side of each of the heat insulation doors 4. Each

pair of heat insulation doors 4 are openable and closable

in a left-right direction of the refrigerator 1 by these

hinges 11. In other words, each of the pairs of heat

insulation door 4 forms a double door.

Further, on front faces of the respective heat

insulation doors 4, handles 18 are provided on sides of

side faces that are adjacent to one another in the left

right direction.

[0019]

The machine room 6 is disposed on an upper part of

the storage 2. A refrigeration apparatus 61 that

configures a refrigeration cycle is stored inside the

machine room 6. Describing in more detail, the

refrigeration apparatus 61 includes a compressor 62, a

condenser 63, a blower 64 for condenser, a capillary tube

, and an electrical box 66, and cold air is fed into

the storage room 2A by driving of these components.

[0020]

Next, the heat insulation door 4 will be described

in detail.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the heat insulation

door 4, and FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view

illustrating a heat insulation door main body 12, and

outer edge sealing members 20. Note that FIG. 3 and FIG.

4 are views seen from a rear face side of the heat

insulation door 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the heat insulation door 4

is a member in a flat plate shape having a predetermined

thickness, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, the heat

insulation door 4 includes the heat insulation door main

body 12, and a plurality of outer edge sealing members

20.

Outer edges of a front face, both side faces, a top

face, a bottom face, and a rear face of the heat

insulation door main body 12 are all configured by a door

exterior plate 13 that is integrally formed of a metal such as a stainless steel plate. Further, a rear face center portion of the heat insulation door main body 12 is configured by a door interior plate 14 formed of a rigid resin. In the door interior plate 14, a central portion protrudes toward an inner side of the storage room 2A more than the outer edge of the rear face of the heat insulation door main body 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in a space surrounded by

the door exterior plate 13, and the door interior plate

14, a heat insulation material 15 such as a styrene foam

or rigid urethane foam is filled.

Note that the door exterior plate 13 may be formed

of a rigid resin such as an ABS resin without being

limited to a metal.

[0021]

A side face sealing member 50 is provided on a side

face of each of the heat insulation door main bodies 12

on a side adjacent to the other heat insulation door 4.

The side face sealing member 50 is a sealing member

called a packing or a gasket that is formed of a rubber

or a soft resin such as a soft polyvinyl chloride. The

side face sealing member 50 includes a substantially same

length as the side face of the heat insulation door main

body 12, and includes a predetermined width. The side

face sealing member 50 is mounted to the side face of the

heat insulation door main body 12 so that an up-down direction is along an up-down direction of the heat insulation door 4.

When the pair of heat insulation doors 4 of the

refrigerator 1 are closed, the side face sealing members

of the respective heat insulation door main bodies 12

closely contact each other, and thereby a space between

the side faces of the respective heat insulation doors 4

is sealed.

[0022]

Next, the rear face of the heat insulation door main

body 12 will be described in detail.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a top face side, a bottom

face side, and respective side face sides of the outer

edge of the rear face of the heat insulation door main

body 12 are formed by an end portion of the door exterior

plate 13, and a rear face central portion side is formed

by an end portion of the door interior plate 14.

Further, an outer edge mounting groove 16 is

provided throughout an entire perimeter in an end portion

of the door interior plate 14, that is, an outer edge of

the rear face of the heat insulation door main body 12.

A width dimension of the outer edge mounting groove 16 is

formed to be narrow in a vicinity of an opening spot, and

to be wide in a spot located at a front face side of the

heat insulation door main body 12, in sectional view in

the width direction. In other words, the outer edge

mounting groove 16 is formed into a so-called ant-groove shape. To the outer edge mounting groove 16, the plurality of outer edge sealing members 20 are mounted.

[0023]

FIG. 5 is a sectional view in a width direction of

the outer edge sealing member 20.

The plurality of outer edge sealing members 20 are

each a sealing member called a packing or a gasket that

is formed of a rubber or a soft resin such as a soft

polyvinyl chloride. These outer edge sealing members 20

are each formed into a linear shape so as to correspond

to each side of the outer edge of the heat insulation

door main body 12.

Each of the outer edge sealing members 20 includes a

sealing member main body 28, an outer edge mounting

portion 30, a first inner side fin portion 31, a second

inner side fin portion 32, a third inner side fin portion

33, and a pair of outer side fin portions 35.

[0024]

The sealing member main body 28 is formed into a

substantially rectangular hollow cylindrical shape in

section, and an inside of the sealing member main body 28

is partitioned into a plurality of spaces.

Describing in detail, the sealing member main body

28 is configured by a front face plate 28A disposed on a

storage 2 side, a rear face plate 28B disposed on a heat

insulation door main body 12 side, an outer-side side

plate 28C disposed by being separated from the opening portion 2B, and an inner-side side plate 28D disposed on the opening portion 2B side.

Further, thickness dimensions of the front face

plate 28A, the outer-side side plate 28C, and the inner

side side plate 28D are all formed into substantially

same thicknesses, and a thickness dimension of the rear

face plate 28B is formed to be larger than the thickness

dimensions of the front face plate 28A, the outer-side

side plate 28C, and the inner-side side plate 28D.

[0025]

An outer edge magnet storage portion 21 that is

rectangular in section is provided at a corner portion

formed by the front face plate 28A of the sealing member

main body 28, and the outer-side side plate 28C. The

outer edge magnet storage portion 21 is formed to be

hollow, and a rod-shaped outer edge magnet 40 is stored

inside of the outer edge magnet storage portion 21. The

outer edge magnet 40 has a substantially same length as

the length of each side of the rear face of the heat

insulation door main body 12, and the outer edge magnets

are inserted through the respective outer edge magnet

storage portions 21 along the respective sides.

The outer edge magnet storage portion 21 on a

storage 2 side is configured by a housing portion front

face plate 21A. An outer surface of the storage portion

front face plate 21A is formed as a close contact face 22

that is formed into a smooth plane, over an entire longitudinal direction of the outer edge sealing member

20.

[0026]

Further, in the outer edge magnet storage portion

21, a spot that is located at an opposite side to the

housing portion front face plate 21A with the outer edge

magnet 40 between the spot and the storage portion front

face plate 21A is configured by a storage portion rear

face plate 21B. A first partition portion 24 is

connected to a connection face 23 that is an outer

surface of the storage portion rear face plate 21B.

[0027]

The first partition portion 24 is a member that is

formed integrally with the sealing member main body 28,

and partitions a space inside of the sealing member main

boy 28. The first partition portion 24 protrudes toward

the rear face plate 28B from the connection face 23,

thereafter extends toward the inner-side side plate 28D

along the rear face plate 28B, and is connected to the

front face plate 28A after further being curved and

formed into a substantially U-shape.

Accordingly, a first central space Si surrounded by

the first partition portion 24, the front face plate 28A,

and the outer edge magnet storage portion 21 is provided

inside of the sealing member main body 28.

Further, the first partition portion 24 has a

substantially same thickness dimension as the front face

plate 28A.

[0028]

A second partition portion 25 and a third partition

portion 26 that extend toward the rear face plate 28B are

connected to a middle portion of the first partition

portion 24. The second partition portion 25 and the

third partition portion 26 are formed integrally with the

sealing member main body 28 similarly to the first

partition portion 24. The second partition portion 25

and the third partition portion 26 are both connected to

the rear face plate 28B with a predetermined space left

from each other. Further, the second partition portion

has a substantially same thickness dimension as the

front face plate 28A, and the third partition portion 26

has a substantially same thickness dimension as the rear

face plate 28B.

[0029]

Inside of the sealing member main boy 28, an outer

side space S2 that is surrounded by the second partition

portion 25, the first partition portion 24, the outer

side side plate 28C, the connection face 23, and the rear

face plate 28B is provided. Further, inside of the

sealing member main body 28, an inner side space S3 that

is surrounded by the third partition portion 26, the

first partition portion 24, the inner-side side plate

28D, the front face plate 28A, and the rear face plate

28B is provided. Further, inside of the outer edge

sealing member 20, a second central space S4 that is

surrounded by the first partition portion 24, the second

partition portion 25, the third partition portion 26, and

the rear face plate 28D is provided.

[00301

At the rear face plate 28D of the sealing member

main body 28, an outer edge mounting portion 30 is

provided over an entire longitudinal direction of the

outer edge sealing member 20. The outer edge mounting

portion 30 is provided to protrude from the rear face

plate 28B of the sealing member main body 28. Further,

the outer edge mounting portion 30 is formed to taper

toward a protruded tip end side from a sealing member

main body 28 side in sectional view in the width

direction of the sealing member main body 28.

A pair of return portions 30A that both extend to

the sealing member main body 28 side are provided in a

vicinity of a tip end of the outer edge mounting portion

30. The pair of return portions 30A are formed into a V

shape in sectional view in the width direction of the

sealing member main body 28, and the respective return

portions 30A respectively extend to both sides with the

outer edge mounting portion 30 between both the sides.

Therefore, the outer edge mounting portion 30 and

the pair of return portions 30A provided at a tip end of the outer edge mounting portion 30 form an arrow shape in sectional view in the width direction of the sealing member main body 28.

Further, the outer edge mounting portion 30 is

formed to be hollow, and has a substantially same

thickness as the rear face plate 28B.

[0031]

Further, the aforementioned third partition portion

26 is connected to a central portion of a rear face of

the outer edge mounting portion 30. The third partition

portion 26 connects a rear face of the outer edge

mounting portion 30 and the first partition portion 24.

Further, the third partition portion 26 is connected to

the rear face of the outer edge mounting portion 30 in a

state of extending in a substantially same direction as a

direction in which the outer edge mounting portion 30

protrudes.

[0032]

In a corner portion that is formed by the front face

plate 28A, and the inner-side side plate 28D of the

sealing member main body 28, the first inner side fin

portion 31, the second inner side fin portion 32, and the

third inner side fin portion 33 are provided. The first

inner side fin portion 31, the second inner side fin

portion 32, and the third inner side fin portion 33 are

all formed in a thin plate shape having flexibility in

which a tip end side is a free end, protrude toward the storage 2, and abut on the door interior plate 14 of the heat insulation door main body 12.

Further, the first inner side fin portion 31

includes a predetermined thickness, and is formed to be

hollow

Describing in detail, the first inner side fin

portion 31 includes a thick portion 34 which is formed to

be thick from the front face plate 28A of the sealing

member main body 28 to a middle portion in a width

direction. The thick portion 34 is formed to be hollow,

and two hollow portions V1 and V2 are provided inside of

the thick portion 34.

[00331

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the thick portion 34 abuts

on the side face member 9 of the storage 2, in a state

where the heat insulation door 4 is closed.

Accordingly, the first inner side fin portion 31

seals a space between the side face member 9 and the door

interior plate 14, the hollow portions V1 and V2 inside

of the thick portion 34 act as heat insulation air

layers, and can restrain leakage of the cold air in the

storage room 2A.

Further, respective spaces that are surrounded by

the first inner side fin portion 31, the second inner

side fin portion 32, the third inner side fin portion 33,

and the door interior plate 14 also act as heat

insulation air layers, and restrains leakage of the cold air in the storage room 2A. In other words, the first inner side fin portion 31, the second inner side fin portion 32, and the third inner side fin portion 33 seal a space between the storage 2 and the heat insulation door 4, and thereby sealability between the storage 2 and the respective heat insulation doors 4 is enhanced.

[0034]

Further, in a corner portion that is formed by the

rear face plate 28B and the outer-side side plate 28C of

the sealing member main body 28, a pair of outer side fin

portions 35 are provided.

The respective outer side fin portions 35 protrude

toward an outer edge of the rear face of the heat

insulation door main body 12, and abut on the door

exterior plate 13 of the heat insulation door main body

12.

These outer side fin portions 35 are provided, and

thereby entry of dust to the storage room 2A from outside

of the storage 2, growth of mold and the like are

suppressed.

A space surrounded by the respective outer side fin

portion 35 and the door exterior plate 13 acts as a heat

insulation air layer, and restrains leakage of cold air

in the storage room 2A from the space between the outer

edge sealing member 20 and the heat insulation door main

body 12.

Note that hollow thick portions may be provided at

the second inner side fin portion 32, the third inner

side fin portion 33, and the outer side fin portion 35

without being limited to the first inner side fin portion

31.

[00351

Next, an operation of the present embodiment will be

described.

First, a procedure of mounting the outer edge

sealing member 20 to the heat insulation door main body

12 will be described.

When the outer edge sealing member 20 is mounted,

the front face plate 28A of the sealing member main body

28 is pressed in a state where the outer edge mounting

portion 30 is caused to abut on the outer edge mounting

groove 16. At this time, the third partition portion 26

is pushed toward a tip end of the outer edge mounting

portion 30. Since the outer edge mounting portion 30 is

formed to be hollow, a rear face of the outer edge

mounting portion 30 bends, and the respective side faces

of the outer edge mounting portion 30 deform in a

direction to approach each other. The respective return

portions 30A also deform similarly, and a width of the

outer edge mounting portion 30 deforms to be narrow.

Consequently, the outer edge mounting portion 30 can be

easily inserted into the outer edge mounting groove 16, and mountability of the outer edge sealing member 20 can be enhanced.

[00361

In this way, the outer edge mounting portion 30 is

inserted into the outer edge mounting groove 16, and

thereby the outer edge sealing member 20 is mounted to

the door exterior plate 13. At this time, the respective

return portions 30A expand in the width direction again,

and engage with an opening spot of the outer edge

mounting groove 16. Accordingly, the respective return

portions 30A act as retainers, and the outer edge sealing

member 20 is reliably fixed to the heat insulation door

main body 12.

[0037]

FIG. 6 is a sectional view in the width direction of

the outer edge sealing member 20 in a state of being in

close contact with the storage 2.

When the heat insulation door 4 is closed, the metal

plate 10, and the outer edge magnet 40 included by each

of the outer edge sealing members 20 attract each other

by a magnetic force, and as illustrated in FIG. 6, the

outer edge magnet storage portion 21 is pulled to the

storage 2 side. Further, the rear face plate 28B of the

sealing member main body 28 is fixed to the heat

insulation door main body 12 by the outer edge mounting

portion 30, so that the outer-side side plate 28C and the

front face plate 28A of the sealing member main body 28 are pulled to the storage 2 side with the outer edge magnet storage portion 21, and the sealing member main body 28 deforms.

[00381

At this time, the first partition portion 24

extends, and thereby the close contact face 22 of the

outer edge magnet storage portion 21 is moved parallel

with the surface of the metal plate 10. Thereby, an

entire surface of the close contact face 22 closely

contacts the surface of the metal plate 10.

Consequently, when the heat insulation door 4 is closed,

separation of the outer edge sealing member 20 from the

metal plate 10 can be restrained, and the space between

the storage 2 and the heat insulation door 4 can be

reliably sealed. In addition, leakage of the cold air in

the storage room 2A can be restrained.

Further, it is possible to restrain occurrence of

so-called co-opening that when one heat insulation door 4

out of the pair of heat insulation doors 4 which is a

double door is opened, the other heat insulation door 4

is opened.

[00391

In the state where the heat insulation door 4 is

closed, the respective outer edge sealing members 20 are

disposed between the storage 2 and the heat insulation

door main body 12, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Further, as

described above, inside of each of the outer edge sealing members 20, the first central space Si, the outer side space S2, the inner side space S3, and the second central space S4 are formed.

The first central space Sl, the outer side space S2,

the inner side space S3, and the second central space S4

all act as the heat insulation air layers, and can

restrain heat from entering the storage room 2A and

restrain cold air from leaking out of the storage room

2A.

Further, between the storage 2 and the heat

insulation door main body 12, at least three spaces of

the respective spaces which are formed inside of the

respective outer edge sealing members 20 are disposed,

between the inside and the outside of the storage 2.

More specifically, the outer edge sealing member 20

is mounted so that the first central space S1, the outer

side space S2, and the inner side space S3, or the outer

side space S2, the inner side space S3, and the second

central space S4 are disposed, between the inside and the

outside of the storage 2.

In other words, at least three heat insulation air

layers are provided between the inside and the outside of

the storage 2.

Accordingly, leakage of cold air in the storage room

2A can be restrained more reliably, between the storage 2

and the heat insulation door 4, and a power saving effect

of the refrigerator 1 can be enhanced.

[0040]

According to the aforementioned embodiment, an

effect as follows is exhibited.

[0041]

The refrigerator 1 of the present embodiment

includes the storage 2 in which the opening portion is

provided, and the pair of heat insulation doors 4 which

are provided in the opening portion 2B. These heat

insulation doors 4 are each provided with the plurality

of outer edge sealing members 20 that seal the opening

portion 2B, and the sealing member main bodies 28 of

these outer edge sealing members 20 are all formed to be

hollow. Further, inside of the sealing member main body

28, the first partition portion 24, the second partition

portion 25, and the third partition portion 26 are

provided. The first partition portion 24, the second

partition portion 25, and the third partition portion 26

form the first central space Si, the outer side space S2,

the inner side space S3, and the second central space S4.

At least three of the respective spaces are configured to

be disposed between the inside and the outside of the

storage 2.

Accordingly, at least three of the heat insulation

air layers are provided between the inside and the

outside of the storage 2. Therefore, between the storage

2 and the heat insulation door 4, leakage of the cold air

in the storage room 2A can be restrained more reliably.

[0042]

Further, according to the present embodiment, the

outer edge magnet storage portion 21 in which the outer

edge magnet 40 is stored is provided in the sealing

member main body 28, and the close contact face 22 that

closely contacts the metal plate 10 of the storage 2 is

provided on the storage portion front face plate 21A of

the outer edge magnet storage portion 21. The first

partition portion 24 is configured to be provided on the

connection face 23 that is the outer surface of the

storage portion rear face plate 21B which is located at

the opposite side to the storage portion front face plate

21A with the outer edge magnet 40 between the storage

portion front face plate 21A and the storage portion rear

face plate 21B. Accordingly, the close contact face 22

is moved parallel with the surface of the metal plate 10,

and the entire surface can be brought into close contact

with the surface of the metal plate 10 reliably.

Consequently, the outer edge sealing member 20 can

restrained from separating from the metal plate 10.

[0043]

Further, according to the present embodiment, the

outer edge mounting portion 30 which protrudes from the

outer edge sealing member 20 is mounted to the outer edge

sealing member 20 attachably and detachably, and the

outer edge mounting portion 30 is formed into an arrow

shape in section in the width direction. The third partition portion 26 is configured to be provided on the rear face of the outer edge mounting portion 30.

Accordingly, when the outer edge sealing member 20 is

mounted to the heat insulation door main body 12, the

third partition portion 26 is pushed toward the tip end

of the outer edge mounting portion 30, and thereby the

respective return portions 30A deform in the direction to

approach each other. Consequently, the outer edge

mounting portion 30 can be easily inserted into the outer

edge mounting groove 16, and mountability of the outer

edge sealing member 20 can be enhanced.

[0044]

Further, according to the present embodiment, the

configuration is adopted, in which the outer edge sealing

member 20 is provided with the first inner side fin

portion 31 which seals the space between the storage 2

and the heat insulation door main body 12, and the first

inner side fin portion 31 is formed into the hollow

including the hollow portions V1 and V2. Accordingly,

the space between the side face member 9 and the door

interior plate 14 is sealed by the first inner side fin

portion 31, the hollow portions V1 and V2 inside of the

thick portion 34 act as the heat insulation air layers,

and it is possible to restrain leakage of the cold air in

the storage room 2A.

[0045]

The aforementioned embodiment only illustrates one

aspect of the present invention, and modification and

application can be arbitrarily made within the range

without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0046]

For example, in the aforementioned embodiment, the

outer edge sealing members 20 are the plurality of linear

members respectively corresponding to the respective

sides of the heat insulation door main body 12, but are

not limited to the plurality of linear members, and may

be a member integrally molded as a rectangular frame body

corresponding to the four sides of the heat insulation

door.

Further, for example, in the aforementioned

embodiment, the refrigerator 1 is a four door type

vertical refrigerator, but the present invention is not

limited to this, and may be applied to an under counter

type commercial refrigerator, a household refrigerator

including a plurality of storage rooms that are formed by

being partitioned by partition plates or the like.

Further, for example, not only the outer edge

sealing member 20, but also the side face sealing member

may be formed into a hollow, and may be partitioned

into a plurality of spaces.

[0047]

Throughout this specification and the claims which

follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word

"comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and

"comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion

of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps

but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or

group of integers or steps.

[0048]

The reference in this specification to any prior

publication (or information derived from it), or to any

matter which is known, is not, and should not be taken as

an acknowledgment or admission or any form of suggestion

that that prior publication (or information derived from

it) or known matter forms part of the common general

knowledge in the field of endeavor to which this

specification relates.

Reference Signs List

[0049]

1 Refrigerator

2 Storage

2A Storage room

2B Opening portion

3 Heat insulation wall

4 Heat insulation door

6 Machine room

9 Side face member

Metal plate

12 Heat insulation door main body

13 Door exterior plate

14 Door interior plate

16 Outer edge mounting groove

Outer edge sealing member (sealing member)

21 Outer edge magnet storage portion (magnet storage

portion)

21A Storage portion front face plate

21B Storage portion rear face plate

22 Close contact face

23 Connection face (outer surface)

24 First partition portion (partition portion)

Second partition portion (partition portion)

26 Third partition portion (partition portion)

28 Sealing member main body (main body)

28A Front face plate

28B Rear face plate

28C Outer-side side plate

28D Inner-side side plate

Outer edge mounting portion

A Return portion

31 First inner side fin portion (fin portion)

34 Thick portion

Outer edge magnet (magnet)

Side face sealing member

S1 First central space (space)

S2 Outer side space (space)

S3 Inner side space (space)

S4 Second central space (space)

V1, V2 Hollow portion

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A sealing member provided in a heat insulation door

provided in an opening portion of a storage, comprising:

a main body that is formed to be hollow; and

a plurality of partition portions that form a

plurality of spaces inside of the main body,

wherein

at least three of the plurality of spaces are

disposed between an inside and an outside of the storage;

the sealing member is provided with a fin portion

that seals a space between the storage and the heat

insulation door, and

the fin portion includes a thick portion, of which

an inner side is formed to be hollow, the thick portion

protrudes toward the storage and seals, in a state where

the heat insulation door is closed, a space between an

inner side face of the storage and the heat insulation

door,

the thick portion is formed such that the inner side

of the thick portion that is hollow is partitioned into a

plurality of hollow portions, the plurality of hollow

portions is arranged in the direction toward the storage

from the main body, and each of the hollow portions is

sealed and air is held inside each of the hollow

portions.

2. The sealing member according to claim 1, wherein the main body is provided with a magnet storage portion in which a magnet is stored, the magnet storage portion is provided with a close contact face that closely contacts the storage, and one partition portion out of the plurality of partition portions is provided on an outer surface of the magnet storage portion, that is located at an opposite side to the contact face with the magnet between the contact face and the outer surface.

3. The sealing member according to claim 1 or 2,

wherein a mounting portion that protrudes from the

main body is mounted to the heat insulation door

attachably and detachably,

the mounting portion is formed into an arrow shape

in section, and

another partition portion of the plurality of

partition portions is provided on a rear face of the

mounting portion.

4. A refrigerator including a storage and a heat

insulation door, wherein the heat insulation door

includes the sealing member according to any one of

claims 1 to 3.