Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a door having a user-interface electrical module, a door liner, a front wall being located in front of the door liner and having a first opening, a side wall, and a thermal insulation space being located between the door liner and the front wall and being filled with a heat insulation layer. The side wall has a second opening in communication with the first opening. The door includes a user-interface housing which closes the first opening and the second opening relative to the thermal insulation space and includes a receiving space for receiving the user-interface electrical module and a concave portion being open towards the first opening and the second opening to permit access to a handle groove within the user-interface housing.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising a door, said door including: a user-interface electrical module; a door liner; a front wall being disposed in front of said door liner and having a first opening; a side wall having a second opening being in communication with said first opening; a thermal insulation space disposed between said door liner and said front wall; a heat insulation layer filling said thermal insulation space; a user-interface housing closing said first opening and said second opening relative to said thermal insulation space; and a handle groove disposed within said user-interface housing; said user-interface housing having a receiving space for receiving said user-interface electrical module, and said user-interface housing having a concave portion being open towards said first opening and said second opening to provide access to said handle groove, said user-interface housing including a rear wall being fixedly attached to said heat insulation layer, and said rear wall defining rear boundaries of said handle groove and said concave portion.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said concave portion has a length being equal to or less than a length of at least one of said first opening or said second opening.

3. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said door has a top surface and a pair of opposite edges bordering said first opening and being parallel to said top surface.

4. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said first opening and said second opening are located at an identical height along said door and have an identical length in a length direction of said side wall.

5. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said concave portion, said handle groove and said user-interface electrical module are sequentially disposed side by side in a depth direction of said handle groove.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 1, which further comprises: a handle member being detachably connected to said user-interface housing; said receiving space having an inlet being open towards said handle groove; said user-interface electrical module being accessible through said inlet; and said inlet being closed by said handle member.

7. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said door includes a grip portion disposed in front of said handle groove and said door includes a one-piece front panel, said front panel covering said user-interface electrical module and said grip portion in a front-to-rear direction.

8. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein said grip portion is an integral part of said user-interface housing.

9. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein said front panel covers said front wall, and said front panel has one edge with an edge opening corresponding to said concave portion.

10. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein said front panel is detachably fixed to said user-interface housing along said first opening.

11. The refrigerator according to claim 10, wherein: said first opening defines an edge; said front wall has a first flange being bent backwards from said edge of said first opening; said user-interface housing has a first insertion groove adjacent a corresponding end of said concave portion; said first flange has a first part overlapping said concave portion in a length direction of said concave portion, and said first flange has a second part surrounding an edge of said front panel; and said first part is inserted into said first insertion groove and said second part is disposed between said front panel and said user-interface housing.

12. The refrigerator according to claim 11, wherein said user-interface housing includes a groove wall of said first insertion groove facing towards said concave portion, and said front panel is in contact with an end surface of said groove wall facing towards said front panel.

13. The refrigerator according to claim 7, wherein said front panel includes a front plate portion covering said user-interface electrical module and said grip portion in a front-to-rear direction, said front panel includes a side plate portion being connected to one side of said front plate portion and extending backwards, and said side plate portion covers at least a part of said grip portion in a depth direction of said handle groove.

14. The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein said user-interface housing includes a first connection flange being connected to a rear surface of said front wall, said user-interface housing includes a second connection flange being connected to said side wall, and said first connection flange is at least approximately perpendicular to said second connection flange.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) As a part of the specification and used for provide further understanding on the present invention, the following accompanying drawings illustrate specific implementation manners of the present invention, and are used to describe the principle of the present invention along with the specification. Wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional diagram of a part of a refrigerator according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic three-dimensional diagram of a part of a door according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

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

(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic exploded view of a door main body shown in FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 is a locally enlarged view of FIG. 2;

(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic local sectional view along an A-A direction in FIG. 2;

(8) FIG. 7 is a schematic three-dimensional diagram of a part of a door according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention;

(9) FIG. 8 is a schematic exploded view of a part of the door shown in FIG. 7;

(10) FIG. 9 is a schematic exploded view of a door main body shown in FIG. 8; and

(11) FIG. 10 is a local sectional view along a B-B direction in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(12) FIG. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional diagram of a refrigerator 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator 100 includes a main body 5 that has a first storage compartment (which is not shown in the figure) and a second storage compartment (which is not shown in the figure) that are arranged side by side. The refrigerator 100 further includes a pair of side-by-side combination doors 1 and 1 that are connected to the main body 5 and used for separately closing corresponding storage compartments.

(13) With reference to FIG. 1, referring to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the door 1 has an integrated operation center 6. The operation center 6 includes a user interface 61 and a handle groove 132 that is integrated in the operation center 6. When opening or closing the door 1, a hand of a user may reach into the handle groove 132.

(14) The operation center 6 further includes a concave portion 133, and the hand of the user reaches into the handle groove 132 through the concave portion 133. The concave portion 133 is exposed to a front side and a right side of the door 1, so that the concave portion 133 may be accessible from the front side and the right side of the door 1.

(15) The operation center 6 is arranged at a side, opposite to the other door 1, of the door 1. In this embodiment, the door 1 also includes a concave portion and a handle groove (which is not shown in the figure) that is accessible from the concave portion. Concave portions on the pair of doors 1 and 1 are oppositely arranged, and have a same length.

(16) In this embodiment, the concave portion 133 and the handle groove 132 only extend at a partial length of the door 1. Therefore, the concave portion 133 and the handle groove 132 are at a distance from a top surface 102 and a bottom surface (which is not shown in the figure) of the door 1.

(17) The user interface 61 is set to be used to receive input and/or output information of the user. The user interface 61 includes a user-interface electrical module 15. The user-interface electrical module 15 may include an output unit that is used to output information to a user (for example, setting information of the refrigerator 100 and/or information that is unrelated to a refrigerator such as a video or picture) and/or an input unit that is used to receive an instruction of the user. The user-interface electrical module 15 may include a display apparatus.

(18) The user interface 6 includes multiple touch areas 14a indicated by touch identifications and a display area 14b. The touch areas 14a and display area 14b are formed on a front panel 14 that is located in front of the user-interface electrical module 5.

(19) The touch areas 14a may be separated from the display area 14b as shown in FIG. 2. In an alternative embodiment, the touch areas 14a are located in the display area 14b.

(20) The user-interface electrical module 25 includes a light source. When the light source is turned on, light may penetrate through the display area 14b. Light may penetrate through the display area 14b when the light source is turned off. Then, in another embodiment, when the light source is turned off, light cannot penetrate the display area 14b. Under this condition, when the light source is turned off, the front panel 14 may be set in a manner that there may be no visual boundaries between the display area 14b and other parts of the front panel 14.

(21) Viewed from a front side of the door 1, the front side of the door 1 has a boundary frame 63. The boundary frame 63 is connected to a side of the door 1. In this embodiment, the boundary frame 63 is connected to a right side surface 102 of the door 1, and opens to a right side of the door 1.

(22) Viewed from the front side of the door 1, the operation center 6 is located in the boundary frame 63. That is, viewed from the front side, the user-interface electrical module 15, the user interface 61, the handle groove 132 and the concave portion 133 are located in the boundary frame 63, that is, the user interface 61, the handle groove 132 and the concave portion 133 do not go beyond the boundary frame 63 in horizontal and vertical directions of the door 1, that is, the user-interface electrical module 15, the handle groove 132 and the concave portion 133 are located at a rear side of the boundary frame 63.

(23) The boundary frame 63 includes a pair of opposite first boundary lines 63a and a second boundary line 63b that is connected between the pair of first boundary lines 63a. The first boundary lines 63a extend from a right side surface 103 to a left side surface 102L for a predetermined distance. The first boundary lines 63a are parallel to each other.

(24) In the vertical direction, the boundary frame 63 is at a distance from the top surface 103 and a bottom surface (which is not shown in the figure) of the door 1. Therefore, the operation center 6 is at a distance from the top surface 103 and the bottom surface of the door 1 in the vertical direction.

(25) The concave portion 133, the handle groove 132 and the user interface 61 are arranged side by side in a depth direction of the handle groove 132 (which is also a horizontal direction of the door 1 in this embodiment). Visual elements of the user interface 61 that include the touch areas 14a and the display area 14b, the handle groove 132, and the concave portion 133 are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction of the door 1. The user-interface electrical module 15 that is located behind the front panel 14, the handle groove 132, and the concave portion 133 are also arranged side by side in the horizontal direction of the door 1.

(26) In such way, the touch areas 14a, the display area 14b and the user-interface electrical module 15 lie alongside and do not overlap with the handle groove 132 and the concave portion 133 in a length direction of the handle groove 132 (which is also a length direction of the door 1 in this embodiment), but the touch areas 14a, the display area 14b and the user-interface electrical module 15 at least partly overlap in the depth direction of the handle groove 132 (which is also the horizontal direction of the door 1 in this embodiment). In this way, the handle groove 132 and the concave portion 133 may be constructed to have larger lengths inside the operation center 6 when needed.

(27) In this embodiment, all touch areas 14a and the display area 14b are located between the handle groove 132 and the left side surface 102L of the door 1.

(28) Referring to FIG. 3 to FIG. 5, the door 1 includes a door main body 10. The user-interface electrical module 15 may be accommodated inside the door main body 10. The front panel 14 is detachably connected to the door main body 10 to cover the user-interface electrical module 15.

(29) The user-interface electrical module 15 is connected to a rear surface of the front panel 14, so as to receive an instruction input by the user by touching the front panel 14.

(30) Other than the user-interface electrical module 15, the handle groove 132 is also located behind the front panel 14. That is, in a front-to-rear direction, the handle groove 132 and the user-interface electrical module 15 are covered by a single panel, that is, the front panel 14.

(31) A grip portion 134 is located between the handle groove 132 and the front panel 14 in a front-to-rear direction. The grip portion 134 forms a front boundary of the handle groove 132. When the hand of the user reaches into the handle groove 132, fingers of the user that reach into the handle groove 132 may grab the grip portion 134 to open the door 1. Generally, some fingers of the user press on a rear surface of the grip portion 134, another finger (for example, a thumb) presses on the front panel 14 that is located in front of the grip portion 134, and forces here to open a door 2.

(32) The door main body 10 includes a door liner 16 (FIG. 5), a metal sheet 11, an upper/lower end cover 12, a user-interface housing 13, and a heat insulation layer 17 that is located in a thermal insulation space 171. The thermal insulation space 171 is defined together by the door liner 16, the metal sheet 11, the upper/lower end cover 12 and the user-interface housing 13. These components are non-detachably fixed together by the heat insulation layer 17 in a foaming process.

(33) The metal sheet 11 includes a front wall 111. The front wall 111 is located in front of the door liner 16 and is at a predetermined distance from the door liner 16. In this embodiment, the front wall 111 is exposed to the front side of the door 1.

(34) The metal sheet 11 includes a pair of side walls 112. Each side wall 112 is bent from a corresponding side of the front wall 111 and extends backwards. A rear end of the side wall 112 is connected to the door liner 16. The side walls 112 are at least approximately perpendicular to the front wall 111.

(35) The front wall 111 has a first opening 113. The first opening 113 opens to a right end of the front wall 111. One of the side walls 112 has a second opening 114. The second opening 114 opens to a front end of the side wall 112. The first opening 113 and the second opening 114 are connected at a connection corner at which the front wall 111 and the side wall 112 are connected.

(36) In the length direction of the door 1, the first opening 113 and the second opening 114 have a same height. In this embodiment, upper boundaries of the first opening 113 and the second opening 114 are located at a same height. Lower boundaries of the first opening 113 and the second opening 114 are also located at a same height.

(37) In this embodiment, the first opening 113 and the second opening 114 are rectangular, and upper and lower boundaries of the first opening 113 and the second opening 114 are parallel to the top surface 103 of the door 1.

(38) As an integral part of the door main body 10, the user-interface housing 13 is connected to the metal sheet 11 so as to seal the first opening 113 and the second opening 114 relative to the thermal insulation space 171 before the foaming process.

(39) The user-interface housing 13 is approximately box-shaped so as to accommodate the user-interface electrical module 15, and the handle groove 132 and the concave portion 133 are disposed inside the user-interface housing 13.

(40) The user-interface housing 13 includes at least a part of a receiving space 131 that is used for receiving the user-interface electrical module 15. The receiving space 131 opens towards the first opening 113.

(41) The concave portion 133 is formed by a part of the user-interface housing 13 close to the side wall 112. The concave portion 133 opens towards the first opening 113 and the second opening 114. In this way, the concave portion 133 is dent backwards and inwards respectively from a front surface 101 and a right side surface 102 of the door. In this way, the user may have access to the handle groove 132 inside the user-interface housing 13 through the concave portion 133.

(42) In conclusion, the receiving space 131, the handle groove 132 and the concave portion 133 are all located in the user-interface housing 13. The concave portion 133, the handle groove 132 and the receiving space 131 are sequentially arranged side by side in a depth direction of the handle groove 132. In the depth direction of the handle groove 132, the handle groove 132 is located between the receiving space 131 and the concave portion 133.

(43) A length of the concave portion 133 is approximately equal to the length of the first opening 113 and the second opening 114. In this embodiment, the length of the concave portion 133 is slightly less than the length of the first opening 113 and the second opening 114, because a connection flange 115 is very close to the second opening 114, but is located outside the second opening 114 since there is an insertion groove 136 existing between the connection flange 115 and the second opening 114. In an alternative embodiment, when the connection flange 115 is located in the second opening 114, the length of the concave portion may also be equal to the length of the first and second opening 113 and 114.

(44) A length of the handle groove 132 may be equal to a length of the concave portion 133, for example, the handle groove 132 and the concave portion 133 may have continuous end-boundary walls 138a, 138b.

(45) Rear boundaries of the handle groove 132 and the concave portion 133 may be defined by a first rear wall 139a of the user-interface housing 13. A front surface of the first rear wall 139a may be continuous and smooth. A side, of the first rear wall 139a, that faces to the thermal insulation space 171 may be combined to the heat insulation layer 17.

(46) In this embodiment, the front surface of the first rear wall 139a is parallel to the front wall 111. In this embodiment, the handle groove 132 and the concave portion 133 are formed by corresponding parts of an integral groove (not marked) within the user-interface housing 13.

(47) The user-interface housing 13 has a separation wall 137 that separates the receiving space 131 and the handle groove 132. In this way, when the user opens the door, the hand of the user does not reach into the receiving space 131. The grip portion 134 is connected to a front end of the separation wall 137.

(48) The grip portion 134 extends along a whole length of the handle groove 132. The grip portion 134 is located behind the front panel 14. The grip portion 134 may be substantially parallel to front panel 14. In this embodiment, the grip portion 134 is an integral part of the user-interface housing 13.

(49) The front panel 14 is connected to user-interface housing 13 and located in the first opening 113. The front panel 14 covers the user-interface electrical module 15 and the grip portion 134. The front panel 14 may be made of plastics.

(50) The front panel 14 includes at least the vast majority of a front plate portion 141 that covers the user-interface electrical module 15 and the grip portion 134 in a width direction of the door 1 (that is, a front-to-rear direction). The touch areas 14a and the display area 14b are distributed on the front plate portion 141. The front panel 14 further includes a side plate portion 142 bent from a side of the front plate portion 141 and extends backwards. In the depth direction of the handle groove 132, the side plate portion 142 covers at least a part of the grip portion 134. In this way, viewed from the side of the door 1, the door 1 may look simpler. The side plate portion 142 may be perpendicular to the front plate portion 141.

(51) In a manufacturing process of the door 1, the user-interface housing 13, the upper/lower end cover 12 and the metal sheet 11 are installed together to form a door tray, and the door tray is sealed by the door liner 16 in the foaming process.

(52) Specifically, referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, in this embodiment, the user-interface housing 13 has a first connection flange 1351 that is connected to a rear surface of the front wall 111, and a second connection flange 1352 that is connected to an inner surface of the side wall 112. The first connection flange 1351 is at least approximately perpendicular to the second connection flange 1352.

(53) Shapes of the first connection flange 1351 and the second connection flange 1352 fit to the first opening 113 and the second opening 114 respectively, so that the first connection flange 1351 is attached to a rear side of the front wall 111 along the first opening 113, and the second connection flange 1352 is attached to an inner side of the side wall 112 along the second opening 114.

(54) The metal sheet 11 includes a first flange 116 bent backwards from the front wall 111 and a second flange 115 bent inwards from the side wall 112, the first flange 116 and the second flange 115 are arranged along all edges of the first opening 113 and the second opening 114 respectively. The first flange 116 and the second flange 115 are connected, and are connected to the user-interface housing 13.

(55) The user-interface housing 13 has a first insertion groove 138 that is arranged along a part of the first opening 113. Specifically, a pair of first insertion grooves 138 is in adjacent to a corresponding end of the concave portion 133.

(56) The user-interface housing 13 includes a second insertion groove 136 that is arranged along the second opening 114. The first insertion groove 138 is connected to the second insertion groove 136. The first insertion groove 138 is substantially perpendicular to the second insertion groove 136.

(57) The first flange 116 is inserted in the first insertion groove 138, and the second flange 115 is inserted in the second insertion groove 136. In this way, the user-interface housing 13 and the metal sheet 11 may be positioned in the foaming process.

(58) In this embodiment, the first flange 116 includes a first part in adjacent to the concave portion 133 and a second part that is arranged along the front panel 14. When the first part of the first flange 116 is inserted in the first insertion groove 138, the second part of the first flange 116 is exposed in the receiving space 131. When the front panel 14 is connected to the user-interface housing 13 along the first opening 113, the second part of the first flange 116 is located between the user-interface housing 13 and the front panel 14 in a direction perpendicular to the first flange 116.

(59) After the foaming process of the door 1, sides, of the user-interface housing 13, the upper/lower end cover 12, the metal sheet 11 and the door liner 12, that face to the thermal insulation space 171, are in contact with the heat insulation layer 17, and are non-detachably fixed to the heat insulation layer 17.

(60) After the foaming process is completed, the user-interface electrical module 15 is put inside the receiving space 131. The front panel 14 is fixed to the door main body 10 so as to seal the receiving space 131 and cover the grip portion 134. The user-interface electrical module 15 may be pre-assembled on a rear portion of the front panel 14, and then the user-interface electrical module 15 and the front panel 14 are installed on the door main body 10 together.

(61) The first insertion groove 138 has a groove wall 1381 in adjacent to the concave portion 133. In this embodiment, the groove wall 1381 is a part of a lower-end wall 138b. When the front panel 14 is connected to the door main body 10, a side of the front panel 14 close to the concave portion 133 is in contact with an end surface of the groove wall 1381 which end surface is to the front panel 14. In this way, a location of the front panel 14 can be defined.

(62) The boundary frame 63 that surrounds the touch areas 14a and the display area 14b is defined by a boundary of the first opening 113. Specifically, a first boundary line 63a and a second boundary line 63b of the boundary frame 63 are formed by connection seams between the front wall 111 with the user-interface housing 13 or the front panel 14 at a boundary of the first opening 113. Therefore, viewed from the front of the door 1, the concave portion 133, the handle groove 132 and the user interface module 15 are located in the first opening 113 in horizontal and vertical directions of the door 1, that is, the concave portion 133, the handle groove 132 and the user-interface electrical module 15 (and the receiving space 131 for receiving the user-interface electrical module 15) do not go beyond the first opening 113 in the horizontal and vertical directions of the door 1.

(63) A second preferred embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to FIG. 7 to FIG. 10.

(64) A shown in FIG. 7, similar to the first embodiment, a door 2 used in a refrigerator includes an operation center 6. The operation center 6 includes a user interface 61, and a handle groove 232 and a concave portion 233 that are integrated in the user center 6. The user interface 61, the handle groove 232 and the concave portion 233 are arranged side by side in a depth direction of the handle groove 232 (a horizontal direction of the door 1).

(65) The operation center 6 includes multiple touch areas 24a and a display area 24b. The touch areas 24a may be located in the display area 24b. In an embodiment, the user interface 61 may be operated by touching any position of the display area 24b.

(66) With reference to FIG. 7, referring to FIG. 8, the door 2 includes a door main body 20 that has a heat insulation layer 27 and a front panel 24 that is connected to the door main body 20.

(67) Different from the first embodiment, other than be arranged at the user interface 61, the front panel 24 also covers other parts of the door main body 20. The front panel 24 forms at least the vast majority of a front surface of the door 2. The touch areas 24a and the display area 24b are located on the front panel 24.

(68) The front panel 24 may be made of glass, or made of a glass-like material. The front panel 24 may be adhered on the door main body 20 by using an adhesion apparatus 242. The adhesion apparatus 242 may be, for example, adhesive tape or glue.

(69) At a rear side of the front panel 24, the door main body 20 has a receiving space 231 that is used to receive a user-interface electrical module 25. The user-interface electrical module 25 is connected to the rear side of the front panel 24, so as to receive an instruction input by a user by touching the front panel 24.

(70) The receiving space 231 has an inlet open towards the handle groove 231. The inlet is sealed by a handle member 29 that is detachably connected to the door main body 20. After the front panel 24 is fixed to the door main body 20, and before the handle member 29 is not fixed to the door main body 20 or after the handle member 29 is disassembled from the door main body 20, the user-interface electrical module 25 may put in the receiving space 231 or take out the receiving space 231 through the concave portion 233 and the handle groove 232. The handle groove 232 is located between the concave portion 233 and the receiving space 231.

(71) The front panel 24 has a boundary opening 241 at a side corresponding to the user interface 61. The boundary opening 241 is located right in front of the concave portion 233, so as to expose the concave portion 233. The boundary opening 241 may have a shape that fits to the concave portion 233. In this way, the concave portion 233 is exposed to a front side of the door 2, and may be accessible from the front side of the door 2. In this embodiment, the concave portion 233 is also exposed to a right side of the door 2, and may be accessible from the right side of the door 2.

(72) The handle member 29 is connected to the door main body 20 through the concave portion 233. The handle member 29 includes a grip portion 291. When a hand of the user reaches into the handle groove 232, fingers of the user may grab the grip portion 291. In a front-to-rear direction, the handle member 29 may be completely covered by the front panel 24, and the grip portion 291 is located between the handle groove 232 and the front panel 24. When the door opens, some fingers of the user press on a rear surface of the grip portion 291, another finger (for example, a thumb) may press on the front panel 24 that is located in front of the grip portion 291, and force here to open the door 2.

(73) The front panel 24 has a printed instruction frame 63 (only shown in FIG. 7). The instruction frame 63 includes a pair of first boundary lines 2011, 2012. A first end of each of the first boundary lines 2011, 2012 is connected to an upper edge or a lower edge of the boundary opening 241, and extends towards a left side of the front panel 24 for a predetermined length. The instruction frame 63 includes a second boundary line 2013 that is connected to the pair of first boundary lines 2011, 2012. The second boundary line 2013 is connected to a second end of the first boundary lines 2011, 2012 (that is, an end away from the boundary opening 241), so as to be separated from the boundary opening 241.

(74) Visual elements (including the touch areas 24a and the display area 24b) of the user interface 61 are located in the instruction frame 63 in horizontal and vertical directions of the door 2.

(75) The instruction frame 63 and the upper edge and the lower edge of the boundary opening 241 together form a boundary frame. The boundary frame is connected to a right side surface 202 of the door 2, and opens at the right side surface 202 of the door 2. That is, the boundary frame is not of a closed loop, but opens at the right side surface 202 of the door 2. In horizontal and vertical directions of the door 2, the user interface 61, the handle groove 232 and the concave portion 233 are located in the boundary frame, that is, the user interface 61, the handle groove 232 and the concave portion 233 do not go beyond the boundary frame in horizontal and vertical directions of the door 2. In a front-to-rear direction, a part of the user interface 61, the handle groove 232 and the concave portion 233 are located behind the boundary frame on the door 2.

(76) Referring to FIG. 8, FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the door main body 20 includes a metal sheet 21, a pair of door jambs 22 that are connected to corresponding vertical sides of the metal sheet 21, upper-end and lower-end handle members 28 that are connected to an upper end and a lower end of the metal sheet 21 respectively, and a user-interface housing 23 that is connected to the metal sheet 21 and a corresponding door jamb 22. The heat insulation layer 27 is filled in the thermal insulation space 271 that is surrounded by the metal sheet 21, the door jambs 22, the end handle members 28, the user-interface housing 23 and the door liner 26. The metal sheet 21, the door jambs 22, the end handle members 28, the user-interface housing 23 and the door liner 26 are non-detachably fixed together by the using the heat insulation layer 27.

(77) In this embodiment, each door jamb 22 has a side wall 221 that forms a main part of the door jamb 22, and a front strip 222 that is connected at a front end of the side wall 221 and extends inwards.

(78) The metal sheet 21 is connected to the door jambs 22, so that the front strip 222 and the metal sheet 21 together form a front wall 321 of the door main body 20 and located in front of the liner 26. Each front strip 222 is located at a corresponding side of the metal sheet 21.

(79) The front wall 321 has a first opening 331 (shown in FIG. 10). The first opening 331 is formed together by a first opening portion 213 on the metal sheet 21 and a second opening portion 224 that is located on a right door jamb 22.

(80) The side wall 221 has a second opening 223. The first opening 331 is in communication with the second opening 223 at a connection corner of the front wall 321 and the side wall 221.

(81) The user-interface housing 23 is connected to the front wall 321 and the side wall 221 so as to seal the first opening 331 and the second opening 223 relative to the thermal insulation space 271, that is, the thermal insulation space 271 at the first opening 331 and the second opening 223 may be sealed because of the user-interface housing 23.

(82) Similar to the first embodiment, the user-interface housing 23 is approximately box-shaped so as to accommodate the user-interface electrical module 25, and the handle groove 232 and the concave portion 233 are located in the user-interface housing 23.

(83) Similar to the first embodiment, the user-interface housing 23 has a first connection flange 2351 that is connected to a rear surface of the front wall 321, and a second connection flange 2352 that is connected to an inner surface of the side wall 221. The metal sheet 21 may have a connection flange 215 that is arranged along the first opening portion 211 and is in insertion connection to the user-interface housing 23.

(84) The user-interface housing 23 includes at least a part of a receiving space 231 that is used for receiving the user-interface electrical module 25. The receiving space 231 opens towards the first opening 331. In this way, the user-interface electrical module 25 may be in contact with the front panel 24.

(85) The concave portion 233 is formed by a part of the user-interface housing 23 close to the side wall 221. The concave portion 233 opens towards the first opening 331 and second opening 223, to be exposed to a front surface 201 and a right side surface 202 of the door. In this way, the user may have access to the handle groove 232 inside the user-interface housing 23 through the concave portion 233.

(86) As shown in FIG. 10, depths of the handle groove 232, the concave portion 233 and the receiving space 231 may be different at a width direction of the door 2. Rear boundaries of the handle groove 232 and the concave portion 233 may be defined by a continuous and smooth rear wall 2331. The rear wall 2331 is an integral part of the user-interface housing 23, and is combined with the heat insulation layer 27.

(87) A length of the concave portion 233 may be equal to or slightly less than a length of the first opening 331. In an embodiment, by arranging properly a relationship between the front wall 321 and the user-interface housing 23, for example, the front wall 321 has an end boundary that reaches into the user-interface housing 23 and forms a concave portion, and the length of the concave portion 233 may be accurately equal to the length of the first opening 331; or, in an alternative embodiment, the length of the concave portion is slightly less than the length of the first opening, for example, a wall of the user-interface housing 23 that is used to form an end boundary of the concave portion is located in the first opening 331 and close to an edge of the first opening 331.

(88) In conclusion, the receiving space 231, the handle groove 232 and the concave portion 233 are all located in the user-interface housing 23. The concave portion 233, the handle groove 232 and the receiving space 231 are sequentially arranged side by side in a depth direction of the handle groove 232. In the depth direction of the handle groove 232, the handle groove 232 is located between the receiving space 231 and the concave portion 233.

(89) Embodiments of single components and parts described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 10 may be combined in any given manner, to achieve advantages of the present invention. In addition, the present invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Generally, in addition to the described means, other means may also be used, as long as these means can also achieve a same effect.