Refrigerator door with a handle groove

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a door having a door liner, a front wall, a user interface housing connected to the front wall, a user interface electrical module and a handle. The user interface housing, the door liner and the front wall are fixedly connected to a heat insulating layer. The user interface housing has first and second receiving spaces which can be in communication. The user interface electrical module can be inserted into the first receiving space through the second receiving space. The handle is detachably received in the second receiving space and separates the first receiving space from a handle groove in the second receiving space. The user interface housing has at least one installation wall between the first receiving space and the handle groove in a depth direction of the handle groove, and the handle is fixed to the installation wall.

Claims

1. A refrigerator door, comprising: a door liner; a front wall including a metal sheet; a user interface housing connected to said front wall, said user interface housing having a first receiving space and a second receiving space configured to be in communication with each other; a handle groove disposed in said second receiving space and defining a depth direction of said handle groove; said user interface housing having at least one installation wall disposed between said first receiving space and said handle groove in said depth direction of said handle groove, said first receiving space located on one side of said installation wall and all of said handle groove located on an opposite side of said installation wall; a heat insulating layer, said user interface housing, said door liner and said front wall being fixedly connected to said heat insulating layer; a user interface electrical module to be inserted through said second receiving space into said first receiving space; and a handle detachably received in said second receiving space, said handle including a cover portion separating said first receiving space from all of said handle groove, said handle having a grip portion disposed in said second receiving space and said handle being fixed to said installation wall; said grip portion of said handle supported by said cover portion of said handle; and said handle being removable to open a lateral communication pathway between said first receiving space and said handle groove in a region located directly behind said metal sheet of said front wall.

2. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein said door includes a fixing member for fixing said handle to said user interface housing, said fixing member passing through a through hole in said handle and being connected to said installation wall.

3. The refrigerator door according to claim 2, wherein said fixing member passes through said handle and said installation wall along said depth direction of said handle groove.

4. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein said cover portion is fixed to said installation wall.

5. The refrigerator door according to claim 4, wherein said door has a front surface, and said cover portion is at least substantially perpendicular to said front surface of said door.

6. The refrigerator door according to claim 4, wherein said cover portion has a side facing away from said handle groove, said side has a front portion, and said user interface housing includes a support portion supporting said front portion of said side of said cover portion facing away from said handle groove.

7. The refrigerator door according to claim 4, wherein said cover portion has a side facing away from said handle groove, and said user interface housing supports said side of said cover portion facing away from said handle groove along an entire width of said cover portion.

8. The refrigerator door according to claim 6, wherein said support portion is formed by a part of said installation wall.

9. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein said first receiving space has an inlet with sides, said installation wall of said user interface housing is one of at least a pair of installation walls, and said pair of installation walls are each disposed at a respective one of said sides of said inlet of said first receiving space.

10. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein said user interface housing includes a boss adjacent said first receiving space, and said installation wall is formed by said boss.

11. The refrigerator door according to claim 10, wherein said handle has a side facing said installation wall, said side has a front portion, said user interface housing includes a plurality of protruding walls protruding forward from said boss, and said protruding walls form a support portion supporting said front portion of said side of said handle facing said installation wall.

12. The refrigerator door according to claim 10, wherein said front wall has an opening, said user interface housing is connected to said front wall along said opening, said first receiving space and said second receiving space are open towards said opening, and said boss is exposed to said opening.

13. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein said door includes a front panel covering said user interface electrical module and said grip portion.

14. The refrigerator door according to claim 13, wherein said grip portion has a front surface, said user interface electrical module is in contact with said front panel, a gap is formed between said front surface of said grip portion and said front panel, and said gap is not less than 0.2 mm and not greater than 1 mm.

15. The refrigerator door according to claim 13, wherein said grip portion has a front surface, said user interface electrical module is in contact with said front panel, a gap is formed between said front surface of said grip portion and said front panel, and said gap is between 0.2 mm and 0.6 mm.

16. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein said second receiving space includes a concave portion being open in a forward direction, and said handle groove is accessible through said concave portion when said handle is detachably received in said second receiving space to close the lateral communication pathway between said first receiving space and said handle groove.

17. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein said handle groove perpendicularly extends away from said front panel to a greater extent than said first receiving space.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) As a part of the specification and for facilitating further comprehension of the present invention, the following accompanying drawings illustrate specific implementation manners of the present invention, and describe the principle of the present invention together with the specification.

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic partial perspective view of a refrigerator according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic partial perspective view of a door according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of a door according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(5) FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view of a door body according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a user interface housing according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic exploded view of a handle and a seal according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

(8) FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view along the A-A line in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a refrigerator 100 according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 100 includes a main body 5 having a first storage chamber (not shown) and a second storage chamber (not shown) disposed side by side. The refrigerator 100 further includes a pair of oppositely-opened doors 2, 2 connected to the main body 5 to respectively close the corresponding storage chambers.

(10) Referring to FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 7 in combination with FIG. 1, the door 2 has an integrated operation center 6. The operation center 6 includes a user interface 61 and a handle groove 232 integrated into the operation center 6. When opening or closing the door 2, the user's hand can extend into the handle groove 232. The operation center 6 further includes a concave portion 233, and the user's hand enters into the handle groove 232 through the concave portion 233.

(11) The concave portion 233 extends along part of the length of the door 2, and is at a distance from a top surface 203 and a bottom surface (not shown) of the door 2.

(12) The user interface 61 is disposed to be used for receiving input and output information of the user, and the information, for example, includes setting information about the refrigerator 100 and/or information of food stored in the refrigerator 100, etc. The user interface 61 includes a plurality of touch regions 24a and a display region 24b (merely shown in FIG. 1) formed on the front panel 24. The touch regions 24a can, as shown in FIG. 2, be separated from the display region 24b, and can also be located in the display region 24b. The user interface 61 includes a user interface electrical module 25 located behind the touch regions 24a and the display region 24b. The user interface electrical module 25 includes a light source, and when the light source is opened, light can transmit through the display region 24b.

(13) As shown in FIG. 7, the concave portion 233 is open towards a front surface 201 and a side surface 202 of the door 2. The concave portion 233, the handle groove 232 and the user interface electrical module 25 are arranged side by side in a depth direction (which is also a transverse direction of the door 2 in this embodiment) of the handle groove 232. Viewed from the front, visual elements of the user interface 61, for example, the touch regions 24a and the light-transmitting display region 24b, the handle groove 232 and the concave portion 233 are disposed side by side in sequence in a transverse direction of the door 2.

(14) The door 2 includes a door body 20 having a heat insulating layer 27, and the front panel 24 covers the front of the door body 20 of the handle. The front panel 24 has an edge notch 241 located in front of the concave portion 233, so as to expose the concave portion 233 to the front.

(15) The front panel 24 may be made from glass or appearance glass resin. The front panel 24 may be bonded to the door body 20 through a bonding apparatus 242 disposed at least around a front edge of the door body 20.

(16) Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 7, the door body 20 includes a metal sheet 21, a pair of door rims 22 connected to one corresponding longitudinal side of the metal sheet 21, upper and lower end handles 28 respectively connected to an upper end and a lower end of the metal sheet 21 and a user interface housing 23 connected to the metal sheet 21 and a corresponding door rim 22. The heat insulating layer 27 is filled into a heat insulating space 271 encircled by the metal sheet 21, the door rims 22, the end handles 28, the user interface housing 23 and a door liner 26.

(17) In this embodiment, each door rim 22 has a side wall 221 forming a main portion thereof and a front strip 222 connected to a front end of the side wall 221 and extending inwards.

(18) The metal sheet 21 is connected to the door rims 22 to make the front strip 222 and the metal sheet 21 together form a front wall 321 of the door body 20 located in front of the liner 26. Each front strip 222 is located on one corresponding side of the metal sheet 21.

(19) The front wall 321 has a first opening 331 (shown in FIG. 7), and the first opening 331 is formed by a first edge opening 213 located on the metal sheet 21 and a second edge opening 224 located on the right door rim 22.

(20) The side wall 221 has a second opening 223, and the first opening 331 and the second opening 223 are in communication at a connecting angle between the front wall 321 and the side wall 221.

(21) The user interface housing 23 is connected to the front wall 321 and the side wall 221 to close the first opening 331 and the second opening 223 relative to the heat insulating space 271, that is, the heat insulating space 271 can be closed at the first opening 331 and the second opening 223 due to the user interface housing 23. An inner surface of the user interface housing 23 is towards the heat insulating space 271, so, after a foaming procedure of the door 2, the user interface housing 23 is fixedly connected to the heat insulating layer 27 filled into the heat insulating space 271.

(22) Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 in combination with FIG. 4, the user interface housing 23 includes a first connecting flange 2351 for connecting a rear surface of the front wall 321 and a second connecting flange 2352 connected with an inner surface of the side wall 221. The first connecting flange 2351 and the second connecting flange 2352 are connected with each other and perpendicular to each other.

(23) The first connecting flange 2351 and the second connecting flange 2352 respectively include three connecting strips, and the connecting strips are distributed along corresponding edges of the first opening 331 and the second opening 223.

(24) The user interface housing 23 has a connecting slot 236 located on an inner side of the first connecting flange 2351. The metal sheet 21 has a turnup 215 disposed along the first edge opening 213. The turnup 215 is inserted into the connecting slot 236 to position the user interface housing 23 and the metal sheet 21 before a foaming procedure of the door body 20.

(25) As shown in FIG. 7, the door rim 22 includes a protruding portion 225 protruding inwards from the side wall 221, and an end of the second connecting flange 2352 abuts against the protruding portion 225. So the user interface housing 23 can be extruded forward, which facilitates in-place connection of the turnup 215 and the connecting slot 236, and also helps to prevent a foaming agent from leaking from the heat insulating space 271. It can be expected that it is unnecessary to use an additional foaming leakage measure between the protruding portion 225 and the second connecting flange 2352.

(26) The user interface housing 23 has a first receiving space 231 for receiving the user interface electrical module 25. The first receiving space 231 is open towards the first opening 331, so that the user interface electrical module 25 may be in contact with the front panel 24 located in front of the first receiving space 231, to receive an instruction input by the user by touching the front panel 24.

(27) The user interface housing 23 includes a second receiving space 237 for forming the handle groove 232 and the concave portion 233. The first receiving space 231 and the second receiving space 237 are distributed side by side in a transverse direction of the door 2.

(28) The handle groove 232 and the concave portion 233 are distributed left and right side by side in the second receiving space 237, and they are one part of the second receiving space 237 respectively.

(29) The first receiving space 231, the handle groove 232 and the concave portion 233 are located in the user interface housing 23. The concave portion 233, the handle groove 232 and the first receiving space 231 are sequentially disposed side by side along a depth direction of the handle groove 232.

(30) The user interface housing 23 includes a first rear wall 2331 located at the back of the handle groove 232 and the concave portion 233 and a second rear wall 2332 corresponding to the first receiving space 231. The first rear wall 2331 and the second rear wall 2332 are disposed side by side and a front surface thereof faces the front panel 24. Rear sides of the first rear wall 2331 and the second rear wall 2332 are fixedly connected to the heat insulating layer 27.

(31) The first rear wall 2331 and the second rear wall 2332 may have a step therebetween. Specifically, a distance between the first rear wall 2331 and the front panel 24 forming the front surface 201 of the door 2 is greater than that between the second rear wall 2332 and the front panel 24, as shown in FIG. 7.

(32) The user interface housing 23 includes a plurality of bosses 2381 and 2382 adjacent to the first receiving space 231. The bosses 2381 and 2382 protrude towards the front panel 24. The bosses 2381 and 2382 are exposed to the first opening 331.

(33) In a longitudinal direction, the bosses 2381 and 2382 are at least partially located between the upper end wall 138a and the first receiving space 231 or between the lower end wall 138b and the first receiving space 231, so that the first receiving space 231 has a length less than that of the handle groove 232 and the concave portion 233.

(34) The bosses 2381 and 2382 include a pair of first boss walls 2391 connected with the first rear wall 2331 and extending forward perpendicular to the first rear wall 2331.

(35) The bosses 2381 and 2382 further include a pair of second boss walls 2392 facing the first receiving space 231. The second boss walls 2392 extend forward from the second rear wall 2332. The second boss walls 2392 form upper and lower boundaries of the first receiving space 231.

(36) The first rear wall 2331 extends to and connects the side surface 202 of the door 2, thus forming a rear boundary of the concave portion 233. That is to say, the rear boundaries of the concave portion 233 and the handle groove 232 are defined by the common first rear wall 2331. The second receiving space 237 has continuous rear boundaries.

(37) In this embodiment, the front surface of the first rear wall 2331 is basically flat, and is basically parallel to the front surface 201 of the door 2.

(38) The first receiving space 231 has an opening open towards the second receiving space 237. The opening is closed by a handle 29 detachably connected to the door body 20.

(39) The handle 29 is detachably received in the second receiving space 237 and separates the first receiving space 231 from a handle groove 232 in the second receiving space 237.

(40) Specifically, when the handle 29 is detached from the door 2, one side of the first receiving space 231 open towards the door 2 to be capable of receiving the user interface electrical module 25 or taking out the user interface electrical module 25 therefrom. Specifically, the user interface electrical module can be inserted into the first receiving space 231 or taken out from the first receiving space 231 through the handle groove 232. When the handle 29 is fixed to the door 2, a side opening of the first receiving space 231 is closed, so that the user's hand cannot extend into the first receiving space 231.

(41) The user interface housing 23 may also have a through-line hole 230 for threading a cable (not shown).

(42) The handle 29 includes a grip portion 291 located in the second receiving space 237 and located in front of the handle groove 232. The grip portion 291 forms a front boundary of the handle groove 232, and when the user's hand extends into the handle groove 232, the user's fingers extending into the handle groove 232 can grip the grip portion 291, to open the door 2. Generally, some fingers of the user are pressed on a rear surface of the grip portion 291, and another finger (e.g., thumb) is pressed on the front panel 24 located in front of the grip portion 291, so as to apply a force to open the door 2.

(43) The handle 29 includes a cover portion 292 for closing the open side of the first receiving space 231. The grip portion 291 is connected to a front side of the cover portion 292, and a rear side of the grip portion 291 is opposite the first rear wall 2331 of the user interface housing 23. That is, the first rear wall 2331 of the user interface housing 23 facing the handle groove 232 forms a rear boundary of the handle groove 232.

(44) The cover portion 292 separates the handle groove 232 and the first receiving space 231. One side of the cover portion 292 towards the handle groove 232 can be at least substantially perpendicular to a front panel 24 located in front of the user interface electrical module 25 and the handle 29 and at least substantially perpendicular to a front surface 201 of the door 2. In this embodiment, the cover portion 292 is substantially plate-like.

(45) The grip portion 291 has a front surface parallel to the front panel 24. Thus, the handle 29 has a substantially L-shaped cross section.

(46) The front panel 24 covers the user interface electrical module 25 and the grip portion 291. In the embodiment of the present invention, the front surface of the grip portion 291 is adjacent to the front panel 24 but maintains a tiny gap with the rear surface of the front panel 24, for example, it is adjacent to the front panel 24 with a gap between the grip portion 291 and the front panel 24 in a fore-and-aft direction not less than 0.2 mm but not greater than 1 mm. Preferably, the gap between the front surface of the grip portion 291 and the front panel 24 is between 0.2 mm and 0.6 mm, for example, the gap is 0.6 mm.

(47) The handle 29 may further include a metal reinforcer 293, especially for reinforcing strength of the grip portion 291. The reinforcer 293 may almost extend along the whole length of the grip portion 291, which thus helps to prevent the technical problem that the user interface electrical module 25 and the front panel 24 are in poor contact caused by a force applied to the front panel 24 by transverse deformation of the grip portion 291 in a process of opening the door.

(48) The handle 29 is fixed to the user interface housing 23. The user interface housing 23 has a plurality of installation walls, the installation walls are located between the first receiving space 231 and the handle groove 232 in a depth direction of the handle groove 232, and the handle 29 is fixed to the installation walls. In this embodiment, each installation wall is formed by a corresponding first boss wall 2391.

(49) Each first boss wall 2391 is located on one corresponding side of the inlet of the first receiving space 231, and the handle 29 is fixed to the user interface housing 23 on two sides of the inlet of the first receiving space 231.

(50) The door 2 includes a fixing member 30 for fixing the handle 29 to the user interface housing 23, and the fixing member 30, along the transverse direction of the door 2 (in this embodiment, also the depth direction of the handle groove 232), passes through a first hole 295 located on the handle 29 and a second hole 2393 located on the first boss wall 2391 to fix the handle 29 and the first boss wall 2931. The fixing member 30 can be removed from the door 2 without damaging the door 2, so as to overhaul the user interface electrical module 25 if necessary. The fixing member 30 preferably includes screws.

(51) In this embodiment, the first hole 295 is disposed on the cover portion 292, and the cover portion 292 is fixed onto the first boss wall 2391.

(52) The door 2 may include a reinforcing plate (not shown) connected to one side of the first boss wall 2391 facing the heat insulating layer 27, and the fixing member 30 is connected with the reinforcing plate, for example, the fixing member 30 is threaded to the reinforcing plate.

(53) The user interface housing 23 includes a support portion supporting a front portion on one side of the cover portion 292 which side is away from the handle groove 232.

(54) Specifically, the bosses 2381 and 2382 have a plurality of protruding walls 50 on the top thereof, the protruding walls 50 protrude forward from the top of the bosses 2381 and 2382, and one end thereof towards the second receiving space 237 is supporting a front end of one side of the cover portion 292 which side is away from the handle groove 232.

(55) In this embodiment, one end of the protruding walls 50 towards the second receiving space 237 and the first boss wall 2391 are basically located in the same plane, and one side of the cover portion 292 away from the handle groove 232 is supported by the user interface housing 23 on the whole width thereof.

(56) As the front end of one side of the cover portion 292 away from the handle groove 232 is supported by a support portion formed by the protruding walls 50, this can prevent the handle 29 from turning over towards the direction of the first receiving space 231 when the user's hand grips the grip portion 291 to open the door.

(57) As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the door 2 may further include a seal 40, and the seal 40 includes annular sealing portions 401 disposed around four sides of the cover portion 292. The seal portions 401 are located between the front panel 24 and the handle 29, between the first rear wall 2331 and the handle 29, and between the upper and lower end walls 138a and 138b and the handle 29, so that possibility can be reduced that water vapor, dust and the like enter into the first receiving space 231.

(58) Various embodiments of single parts described in combination with FIG. 1 to FIG. 7 can be combined in any given manner, to implement advantages of the present invention. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, and generally, other means other than the illustrated means may also be used, as long as the means may also achieve the same effect.