WO2021130008A1

WO2021130008A1 - Refrigerator

Info

Publication number: WO2021130008A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/084892
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jingpeng Hao; Zhiying Liu
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2019-12-24
Filing date: 2020-12-07
Publication date: 2021-07-01
Also published as: CN113028717A; CN113028717B

Abstract

A refrigerator (10) is provided, including: a cabinet (12), where a storage compartment (14) is disposed in the cabinet (12); and a door body (16), where the door body (16) is capable of opening and closing the storage compartment (14), the door body (16) includes a door shell (18), a door liner (20), an accommodating space (22) located between the door shell (18) and the door liner (20), and a wire box (24) and a thermal insulation material (26) accommodated in the accommodating space (22), the door shell (18) includes a front wall (28) and a side wall (30) extending out from a side of the front wall (28), and the wire box (24) is joined to the side wall (30).

Description

REFRIGERATOR

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a household appliance, and in particular, to a refrigerator.

Related Art

Sometimes, a wire box is disposed between a door shell and a door liner of a door body of a refrigerator. Some wire boxes may form imprints in, for example, front walls of door shells, causing appearance defects of door bodies.

SUMMARY

An objective of the present invention is to provide an improved refrigerator.

For the foregoing objective, an aspect of embodiments of the present invention relates to a refrigerator, including: a cabinet, where a storage compartment is disposed in the cabinet; and a door body, where the door body is capable of opening and closing the storage compartment, the door body includes a door shell, a door liner, an accommodating space located between the door shell and the door liner, and a wire box and a thermal insulation material accommodated in the accommodating space, the door shell includes a front wall and a side wall extending out from a side of the front wall, and the wire box is joined to the side wall.

In some embodiments, the wire box includes a support foot abutting against the side wall.

In some embodiments, the support foot obliquely extends toward the side wall.

In some embodiments, the support foot is glued to the side wall.

In some embodiments, the support foot abuts against a transition region between the side wall and the front wall.

In some embodiments, the support foot obliquely extends toward the transition region.

In some embodiments, the support foot is glued to the transition region. In some embodiments, the wire box includes a support arm fitting or mating the side wall. The support arm can in particular be connected in a form-locking manner to the side wall. The support arm fitting the side wall may help to position the wire box relative to the side wall. The support arm may be disposed opposite to the support foot. The support arm and the support foot may both individually extend from a base body of the wire box. The support arm may extend from the base body obliquely and in particular with a different angle than the support foot.

In some embodiments, the door shell includes a first flange extending from the side wall, and the support arm includes a first branch in contact with the side wall and a second branch in contact with the first flange.

In some embodiments, the door shell includes a second flange extending from the first flange, and the second branch is in contact with the second flange.

In some embodiments, the second flange includes a notch, and the support arm includes a support table in contact with the notch. In case the door shell includes a first flange extending from the side wall, and the support arm includes a first branch in contact with the side wall and a second branch in contact with the first flange, the first branch and the second branch may extend, through the notch, into the space defined by the side wall, the first flange, and the second flange, to enable the wire box to rotate toward a direction in which the support foot approaches the side wall, until the support foot reaches a predetermined mounting position. The support table may flat and even element, in particular providing an even support surface for achieving a large contact between the support arm and the door shell.

In some embodiments, the door body includes a turning plate or flip mullion and a conducting wire passing through the wire box to be electrically connected to an electric part in the turning plate. The flip mullion can be pivotally mounted to a side edge of the door body and can provide a sealing between the door body and a further door body positioned side-by-side next to the door body in a closed positions of the door body and the further door body.

In some embodiments, the wire box includes an inlet and an outlet for the conducting wire to enter and exit.

In some embodiments, the wire box includes a fixing portion, and the door body includes a connecting member having an end connected to the fixing portion and the other end connected to the turning plate.

In some embodiments, the door body includes an upper edge clamp and a lower edge clamp that match the door shell. The upper and lower edge clamps are door end profdes or door fittings. They may be an injection molded plastic part.

If technical conditions permit, the subject matter claimed by any independent claim in this application can be combined with a single subject matter claimed by any dependent claim or a combination of a plurality of subject matters claimed by any dependent claims to form a novel subject matter.

The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Same or similar signs are used in the figures to denote same or similar elements, shapes, and structures in different embodiments, and descriptions of the same or similar elements, shapes, and structures in different embodiments, as well as descriptions of elements, shapes, structures, features, and effects in the prior art may alternatively be omitted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a refrigerator according to some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of a door body of the refrigerator in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of a door shell and a wire box of the refrigerator in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a door shell of the refrigerator in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a wire box of the refrigerator in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 6 is similar to FIG. 3, in which, however, a door shell and a wire box are not mounted in place;

FIG. 7 is a partial enlarged, schematic exploded view of a door body of the refrigerator in FIG. 1 ; and

FIG. 8 is a partial schematic exploded view of a door body of the refrigerator in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an aspect of the present invention relates to a refrigerator 10, including: a cabinet 12, where a storage compartment 14 is disposed in the cabinet 12; and a door body 16, where the door body 16 is capable of opening and closing the storage compartment 14, the door body 16 includes a door shell 18, a door liner 20, an accommodating space 22 located between the door shell 18 and the door liner 20, and a wire box 24 and a thermal insulation material 26 accommodated in the accommodating space 22, the door shell 18 includes a front wall 28 and a side wall 30 extending out from a side of the front wall 28, and the wire box 24 is joined to the side wall 30.

The front wall 28 of the door shell 18 may be a wall facing a user, the side wall 30 may be located on a side of the front wall 28, and the side wall 30 may be a wall that is not easy for the user to observe. An area of the front wall 28 may be greater than that of the side wall 30. A possibility of forced deformation of the side wall 30 may be less than that of the front wall 28. A combination of the wire box 24 and the side wall 30 of the refrigerator 10 may help to avoid forming an imprint on the front wall 28 of the door shell 18, thereby eliminating appearance defects of the door body 16 caused by the imprint.

The wire box 24 may be joined to the side wall 30 in any proper manner. Also referring to FIG. 3, in some embodiments, the wire box 24 includes a support foot 32 abutting against the side wall 30. The support foot 32 abutting against the side wall 30 may help to provide a support force for the wire box 24.

The support foot 32 may abut against the side wall 30 in any proper manner. In some embodiments, the support foot 32 obliquely extends toward the side wall 30. The obliquely extending support foot 32 may help to provide firm support from the side wall 30 for the wire box 24. In some embodiments, the support foot 32 is glued to the side wall 30. The support foot 32 may be glued to the side wall 30 by sticking a double-faced tape to or gluing the support foot 32. Gluing may help to fix the support foot 32 to the side wall 30.

The side wall 30 and the front wall 28 may be at a specific angle to each other, for example, be perpendicular to each other. A transition region 34 between the side wall 30 and the front wall 28 may have higher strength compared with another region. In some embodiments, the support foot 32 abuts against the transition region 34 between the side wall 30 and the front wall 28. In this way, it helps to prevent the support foot 32 from forming an imprint and causing appearance defects of the door body 16.

The support foot 32 may abut against the transition region 34 in any proper manner. In some embodiments, the support foot 32 obliquely extends toward the transition region 34. The obliquely extending support foot 32 may help to provide firm support from the transition region 34 for the wire box 24.

In some embodiments, the support foot 32 is glued to the transition region 34. The support foot 32 may be glued to the transition region 34 by sticking a double-faced tape to or gluing the support foot 32. Gluing may help to fix the support foot 32 to the transition region 34.

The wire box 24 may include any shape or structure suitable for fitting the side wall 30 in addition to the foregoing shapes or structures. In some embodiments, the wire box 24 includes a support arm 36 fitting the side wall 30. The support arm 36 fitting the side wall 30 may help to position the wire box 24 relative to the side wall 30. The support arm 36 may be disposed opposite to the support foot 32, and may be disposed above the support foot 32 in a direction shown in FIG. 3.

The door shell 18 may include any shape or structure suitable for fitting the support arm 36. In some embodiments, the door shell 18 includes a first flange 38 extending from the side wall 30, and the support arm 36 includes a first branch 40 in contact with the side wall 30 and a second branch 42 in contact with the first flange 38. The first branch 40 being in contact with the side wall 30 may help to prevent the wire box 24 from moving left and right. The second branch 42 being in contact with the first flange 38 may help to prevent the wire box 24 from moving up and down.

The first flange 38 and the side wall 30 may be at a specific angle to each other, for example, be perpendicular to each other. The first branch 40 and the second branch 42 may be at a specific angle to each other, for example, be perpendicular to each other. The first branch 40 may be in contact with the side wall 30 at an end of the first branch 40. The second branch 42 may be in contact with the first flange 38 at an end of the second branch 42.

In some embodiments, the door shell 18 includes a second flange 44 extending from the first flange 38, and the second branch 42 is in contact with the second flange 44. The second branch 42 being in contact with the second flange 44 may help to prevent the wire box 24 from moving left and right.

The second flange 44 may be at specific angles relative to the first flange 38 and the side wall 30, for example, be perpendicular to the first flange 38, and be parallel to the side wall 30. The second branch 42 may be in contact with the second flange 44 on a side face of the second branch 42. The first branch 40 and the second branch 42 may be located in a space defined by the side wall 30, the first flange 38 and the second flange 44.

Also referring to FIG. 4, FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, in some embodiments, the second flange 44 includes a notch 46, and the support arm 36 includes a support table 48 in contact with the notch 46. The support table 48 being in contact with the notch 46 may help to mount the wire box 24 relative to the door shell 18, thereby preventing the wire box 24 from moving back and forth. For example, the first branch 40 and the second branch 42 may extend, through the notch 46, into the space defined by the side wall 30, the first flange 38, and the second flange 44, to enable the wire box 24 to rotate toward a direction in which the support foot 32 approaches the side wall 30, until the support foot 32 reaches a predetermined mounting position, for example, a position shown in FIG. 3.

The door body 16 may include any proper shape or structure in addition to the foregoing shapes or structures. Still referring to FIG. 2, in some embodiments, the door body 16 includes a turning plate 50 and a conducting wire 52 passing through the wire box 24 to be electrically connected to an electric part 51 in the turning plate 50. The turning plate 50 may help to improve sealing of the door body 16, for example, sealing between the door body 16 shown in FIG. 1 and a door body 17 disposed alongside the door body 16. The conducting wire 52 may help to provide a power supply and control for the electric part 51 , to implement functions, for example, heating the turning plate 50 and preventing condensation on the turning plate 50.

The wire box 24 may play a role in organizing, guiding, and accommodating the conducting wire 52, a corresponding connector and the like, if any. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 5, the wire box 24 includes an inlet 54 and an outlet 56 for the conducting wire 52 to enter and exit. When a foaming material foams to form a thermal insulation material 26, the wire box 24 may accommodate the conducting wire 52, the corresponding connector, or the like, if any, in an accommodating portion 55 between the inlet 54 and the outlet 56. The inlet 54, the outlet 56, and the accommodating portion 55 may extend in different directions relative to the support arm 36 and the support foot 32, so that the support arm 36, the support foot 32, and the conducting wire 52 may not interfere with each other.

As shown in FIG. 7, in some embodiments, the wire box 24 includes a fixing portion 58, and the door body 16 includes a connecting member 64 having an end 60 connected to the fixing portion 58 and the other end 62 connected to the turning plate 50. The connecting member 64 may help to mount the turning plate 50. After the foaming material foams to form the thermal insulation material 26, the connecting member 64 may be connected to the fixing portion 58 and the turning plate 50 separately.

Also referring to FIG. 8, FIG. 8 shows components of the door body 18 presented and not presented in FIG. 7. In some embodiments, the door body 16 includes an upper edge clamp 66 and a lower edge clamp 68 that match the door shell 18. The door body 16 may be foam-molded by using a foaming mold (not shown). The foaming mold may include an upper die and a lower die. The door liner 20 may be fixed to either of the upper die and the lower die, and the door shell 18, the wire box 24, the upper edge clamp 66 and the lower edge clamp 68 may be fixed to the other one of the upper die and the lower die. A fluid foaming material may be injected onto the door shell 18 by using an injection gun, then the upper die and the lower die are clamped, and the foaming material expands and is solidified, and fills up the entire door body 16.

After foaming, the conducting wire 52 is connected to the electric part 51 of the turning plate 50, and then the turning plate 50 is fixed by using the connecting member 64. The wire box 24 that is joined to the side wall 30 may not be affected by acting forces caused by errors in terms of dimension, assembly, and the like of the wire box 24, the door shell 18, the mold, and the like, thereby helping to avoid and reduce imprint defects of the door shell 18.

The various specific implementations described above and shown in the accompanying drawings are only used to illustrate the present invention, but are not all of the present invention. Any variation made by a person of ordinary skill in the art to the present invention within the scope of the basic technical concept of the present invention shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator (10), characterized by comprising: a cabinet (12), wherein a storage compartment (14) is disposed in the cabinet (12); and a door body (16), wherein the door body (16) is capable of opening and closing the storage compartment (14), the door body (16) comprises a door shell (18), a door liner (20), an accommodating space (22) located between the door shell (18) and the door liner (20), and a wire box (24) and a thermal insulation material (26) accommodated in the accommodating space (22), the door shell (18) comprises a front wall (28) and a side wall (30) extending out from a side of the front wall (28), and the wire box (24) is joined to the side wall (30).

2. The refrigerator (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, the wire box (24) comprises a support foot (32) abutting against the side wall (30).

3. The refrigerator (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that, the support foot (32) obliquely extends toward the side wall (30).

4. The refrigerator (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, the support foot (32) is glued to the side wall (30).

5. The refrigerator (10) according to one of the claims 2-4, characterized in that, the support foot (32) abuts against a transition region (34) between the side wall (30) and the front wall (28).

6. The refrigerator (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that, the support foot (32) obliquely extends toward the transition region (34).

7. The refrigerator (10) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that, the support foot (32) is glued to the transition region (34).

8. The refrigerator (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the wire box (24) comprises a support arm (36) fitting the side wall (30).

9. The refrigerator (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that, the door shell (18) comprises a first flange (38) extending from the side wall (30), and the support arm (36) comprises a first branch (40) in contact with the side wall (30) and a second branch (42) in contact with the first flange (38).

10. The refrigerator (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that, the door shell (18) comprises a second flange (44) extending from the first flange (38), and the second branch (42) is in contact with the second flange (44).

11. The refrigerator (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that, the second flange (44) comprises a notch (46), and the support arm (36) comprises a support table (48) in contact with the notch (46).

12. The refrigerator (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the door body (16) comprises a turning plate (50) and a conducting wire (52) passing through the wire box (24) to be electrically connected to an electric part (51) in the turning plate (50).

13. The refrigerator (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the wire box (24) comprises an inlet (54) and an outlet (56) for the conducting a wire (52) to enter and exit.

14. The refrigerator (10) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that, the wire box (24) comprises a fixing portion (58), and the door body (16) comprises a connecting member (64) having an end (60) connected to the fixing portion (58) and the other end (62) connected to the turning plate (50).

15. The refrigerator (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the door body (16) comprises an upper edge clamp (66) and a lower edge clamp (68) that match the door shell (18).