Refrigerator comprising vacuum space

• US 10,337,788 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2017
• Issued: 07/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jung, Wonyeong, Lee, Myungryul, Jhee, Sung
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Melvin
• Application Number:
  US15/485,365
• Publication Number:
  US 20170219273A1
• Time in Patent Office: 811 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/00 Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2201/14 using subatmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/02 Doors; Covers F25D23/08 takes precedence locks or fastenings E05B65/0042
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/062 defining a cabinet
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/066 Liners
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/067 Supporting elements

Abstract

This invention relates to refrigerators, and more particularly to a refrigerator in which a vacuum space is formed between an outer case and an inner case of a body thereof for enhancing a heat insulating function. The refrigerator includes a body having a storage space for storing a predetermined storage object, wherein the body includes an inner case having the storage space, an outer case having an inside surface spaced a predetermined gap from an outside surface of the inner case to house the inner case, and a vacuum space provided between the inner case and the outer case sealed to maintain a vacuum state for heat insulating between the inner case and the outer case.

Claims

1. A home appliance or a vacuum wall, comprising:

an inner case;

an outer case spaced apart from the inner case by a vacuum space configured to insulate the outer case from the inner case; and

a reinforcing frame provided in the vacuum space to contact one of an outer surface of the inner case and an inner surface of the outer case,

wherein the reinforcing frame has (i) a height smaller than a width of the vacuum space formed between the inner case and the outer case, and (ii) a length along an extended direction of the reinforcing frame that is larger than the width of the vacuum space formed between the inner case and the outer case,

wherein edges of the inner case and the outer case are configured to be connected with a cover to seal the vacuum space, and

wherein the reinforcing frame is placed in the vacuum space to reinforce strength of the inner case and the outer case prior to sealing the vacuum space.

17. The home appliance or the vacuum wall of claim 1, wherein a plurality of reinforcing frames is provided in the vacuum space in a first direction, the plurality of reinforcing frames including the reinforcing frame.

18. The home appliance or the vacuum wall of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing frame is provided in a shape of a band and is arranged along the outer surface of the inner case or the inner surface of the outer case.

19. The home appliance or the vacuum wall of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing frame is configured to extend in a first direction along the outer surface of the inner case or the inner surface of the outer case, the first direction being perpendicular to a protrusion direction of the reinforcing frame.

20. The home appliance or the vacuum wall of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing frame is arranged near a front edge of the inner case.

21. The home appliance or the vacuum wall of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing frame has a shape corresponding to a front edge of the inner case.

22. The home appliance or the vacuum wall of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing frame is arraigned in conformity with a shape of a front edge of the inner case.

23. The home appliance or the vacuum wall of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing frame is extended towards a corner of the inner case or the outer case.

24. The home appliance or the vacuum wall of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing frame is extended to cross at a corner of the inner case or the outer case.

2. A home appliance or a vacuum wall, comprising:

an inner case;

an outer case spaced apart from the inner case by a vacuum space configured to insulate the outer case from the inner case;

a reinforcing frame provided in the vacuum space to contact one of an outer surface of the inner case and an inner case of the outer case; and

a cover configured to connect edges of the inner case and the outer case to seal the vacuum space,

wherein the reinforcing frame has a height smaller than a width of the vacuum space formed between the inner case and the outer case, and

wherein the reinforcing frame is placed in the vacuum space to reinforce strength of the inner case and the outer case prior to sealing the vacuum space via the cover.

3. The home appliance or the vacuum wall of claim 2, wherein the reinforcing frame comprises:

an inner reinforcing frame configured to contact the outer surface of the inner case; and

an outer reinforcing frame configured to contact the inner surface of the outer case.

4. The home appliance or the vacuum wall of claim 2, wherein a plurality of the reinforcing frame is provided in the vacuum space.

5. The home appliance or the vacuum wall of claim 2, further comprising:

a getter arranged in the vacuum space to absorb gas in the vacuum space.

6. The home appliance claim 2, further comprises at least one of:

an inside forming portion projecting, at least in part, outwardly from the inner case to support the inner case; and

an outside forming portion projecting, at least in part, inwardly from the outer case to support the outer case.

7. The home appliance or the vacuum wall of claim 6, wherein a projection of the inside forming portion or the outside forming portion is smaller than a distance between the inner case and the outer case.

8. The home appliance or the vacuum wall of claim 7, wherein supporting portions are disposed on flat surfaces adjacent to the inside forming portion or the outside forming portion.

9. The home appliance or the vacuum wall of claim 7, wherein each of the inside forming portion and the outside forming portion comprises a first forming portion arranged in a first direction and a second forming portion arranged in a second direction crossing the first forming portion.

10. The home appliance or the vacuum wall of claim 9, wherein each of the inside forming portion and the outside forming portion comprises at least two sloped surfaces.

11. The home appliance or the vacuum wall of claim 9, wherein the reinforcing frame is arranged in a direction crossing a direction in which the inside forming portion and the outside forming portion are arranged.

12. The home appliance or the vacuum wall of claim 11, wherein the reinforcing frame is arranged in a ring shape surrounding the outer surface of the inner case.

13. The home appliance or the vacuum wall of claim 2, wherein the reinforcing frame is arranged in a ring shape to support the inner surface of the outer case.

14. The home appliance or the vacuum wall of claim 2, further comprising:

a porous material filled in the vacuum space to maintain a gap between the inner case and the outer case.

15. The home appliance or the vacuum wall of claim 2, further comprising:

supporting portions to contact and support an outer surface of the inner case and an inner surface of the outer case, and to maintain a gap between the inner case and the outer case, wherein each of the supporting portions comprises;

a base portion contacting one of the outer surface of the inner case or the inner surface of the outer case, and

a supporting member projecting from the base portion, wherein the base portions of each of the supporting portions are connected to each other and the supporting members are spaced apart on the connected base portions.

16. The home appliance or the vacuum wall of claim 5, wherein a plurality of the connected base portions is provided in the vacuum space and a plurality of the reinforcing frames is provided in the vacuum space.