REFRIGERATOR AND REFRIGERATOR DOOR

• US 20100319383A1
• Filed: 01/20/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Ungsu
• Granted Patent: US 8,608,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/264
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/065 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/08 Parts formed wholly or mainly of plastics materials
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/021 French doors
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2327/001 Lighting arrangements on the external side of the refrigerator, freezer or cooling box
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/18 Aesthetic features
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 27/00 Lighting arrangements in general F21

Abstract

Provided are a refrigerator and a refrigerator door. The refrigerator and refrigerator door include a transparent member provided behind an exterior member defining the exterior of the refrigerator, a light emitting member provided on an extending line of an outer end of the transparent member to radiate light toward the transparent member, and a diffusing portion formed at one side of the transparent member. Light from the light emitting member passes through the transparent member and a pattern on the exterior member to be diffused to the outside. Through this configuration producing a soft glow of light, aesthetics can be improved and opulence can be enhanced.

Claims

1. A refrigerator door comprising:

an exterior member defining an exterior of the refrigerator door, and having light transmitted through a side thereof;

a transparent member provided behind the exterior member;

a light emitting member provided on an extending line of an outer end of the transparent member, for radiating light toward the transparent member; and

a diffusing portion formed at one side of the transparent member, for diffusing light transmitted through the transparent member.

2. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein the exterior member is formed of tempered glass or plastic material, and defines a front exterior of the refrigerator door.

3. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein the exterior member comprises:

a transmitting portion formed at a position corresponding to the diffusing portion to transmit light provided from the diffusing portion; and

a printed portion printed on an entire surface of the exterior member other than the transmitting portion, to restrict transmission of light.

4. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein the diffusing portion is recessed or projects on a front surface of the transparent member corresponding to the transmitting portion of the exterior member.

5. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, further comprising at least one decorative member mounted at a side of the diffusing portion to accentuate the diffusing portion.

6. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting member radiates light toward an outer end of the transparent member.

7. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting member is a light emitting diode (LED) and is arranged in plurality continuously along an outer end of the transparent member.

8. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting member is provided symmetrically at either of a top and bottom or left and right side of the transparent member.

9. A refrigerator door comprising:

an outer door panel defining an external form of the refrigerator door;

a support plate provided in front of the outer door panel, and comprising a decorative member mounted to a front side thereof;

a transparent member provided in front of the support plate, and open at a position corresponding to a position at which the decorative member is mounted;

a light emitting member provided outside the transparent member, for radiating light into the transparent member through an end of the transparent member; and

an exterior member provided frontmost on the refrigerator door to define a front exterior thereof, and formed of tempered glass or plastic material to outwardly transmit a portion of light transmitted through the transparent member.

10. The refrigerator door according to claim 9, further comprising a diffusing portion projecting or recessed on a front surface of the transparent member to diffuse light radiated from the light emitting member.

11. The refrigerator door according to claim 10, wherein the exterior member comprises:

a transmitting portion formed at a position corresponding to a position at which the diffusing portion and the decorative member are formed, to transmit light; and

a printed portion formed on all regions of the exterior member except for where the transmitting portion is formed, to restrict transmission of light.

12. The refrigerator door according to claim 9, wherein the exterior member comprises a transmitting portion formed on at least a portion thereof to transmit light diffused from the transparent member.

13. The refrigerator door according to claim 12, wherein the transmitting portion is printed to have a different light transmissivity.

14. The refrigerator door according to claim 9, wherein the exterior member has at least a portion thereof printed to control transmissivity of light diffused from the transparent member.

15. The refrigerator door according to claim 9, wherein the light emitting member is an LED and is arranged in plurality along at least one end of the transparent member.

16. The refrigerator door according to claim 9, wherein the light emitting member is fixed to the outer door panel.

17. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body defining a storage compartment;

a door selectively closing the storage compartment of the main body;

an exterior member formed of tempered glass or plastic material to define a front exterior of the door, and comprising a transmitting portion formed thereon to outwardly emit light from inside the door through a design formed on a surface thereof;

a light emitting member provided in plurality behind the exterior member to diffuse light from outsides of the transmitting portion towards one another; and

a transparent member interposed between the light emitting members to transmit light incident on ends thereof to the transmitting portion through diffusion.

18. The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein the exterior member is printed on a surface thereof to control light transmissivity and represent a design.

19. The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein the transparent member comprises a diffusing portion projecting or recessed thereon to diffuse light from the light emitting member.

20. The refrigerator according to claim 19, further comprising a decorative member mounted at one side of the diffusing portion to accentuate the diffusing portion.

21. The refrigerator according to claim 19, further comprising a support plate provided behind the transparent member and on which the decorative member is mounted, the transparent member defining an opening corresponding in position to the decorative member.

22. A refrigerator comprising:

a main body defining a storage compartment;

an exterior member of tempered glass or plastic material provided on a front surface of the main body, for transmitting light outward from an inside along a design on a surface thereof;

a transparent member provided behind the exterior member and formed of a size to cover an entirety of the design;

a light emitting member provided on at least one end of the transparent member to radiate light to an inside of the transparent member; and

a diffusing portion projecting or recessed on a surface of the transparent member to diffuse light radiated to the transparent member.

23. The refrigerator according to claim 22, wherein the light emitting member is an LED and is arranged in plurality along either end of the transparent member.

24. The refrigerator according to claim 22, further comprising a decorative member mounted at a side of the diffusing portion to accentuate the diffusing portion.

25. The refrigerator according to claim 22, further comprising a support plate behind the transparent member and on which the decorative member is mounted, a side of the transparent member corresponding to the support plate formed to be open.

26. The refrigerator according to claim 22, wherein the exterior member is printed on regions that do not transmit light, and has remaining regions defining a pattern to transmit light.