REFRIGERATOR DOOR AND MANUFACTURING METHOD OF THE SAME

• US 20200080765A1
• Filed: 11/15/2019
• Published: 03/12/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation), LG ELECTRONICS INC. / SUNYOUNG INTERNATIONAL PATENT & LAW FI
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Hyunki, KIM, Minchel, PARK, Seungje, PARK, Kihyun
• Granted Patent: US 10,641,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/02 Doors; Covers F25D23/08 takes precedence locks or fastenings E05B65/0042
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/18 Aesthetic features
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/005 Mounting of control devices

Abstract

A refrigerator door and a manufacturing method of the same are disclosed. The refrigerator door includes a front panel that includes a first through hole and an input unit, a door liner, an upper cap decoration unit configured to seal an upper side of a first space defined between the front panel and the door liner, a frame attached to an inside of the front panel and defining a second space, a display assembly provided between the frame and the front panel and configured to emit light through the first through hole, and a touch sensor assembly provided between the frame and the front panel, the touch sensor assembly being fixed to a rear of the front panel at a position that corresponds to a location of the input unit. The upper cap decoration unit includes a communication hole for communicating with the second space and includes a cap cover.

Claims

1. A refrigerator door comprising:

a front panel made of a steel material, the front panel forming a front appearance of the refrigerator door and including;

a display part formed by a plurality of first through holes, and

an input part defined next to the display part;

a door liner forming a rear appearance of the refrigerator door, a first space being defined by the front panel and the door liner;

an insulation material filled within the first space;

a frame attached to a rear surface of the front panel for defining a second space inside the first space, the second space configured to be separated from the first space;

a display assembly provided between the frame and the front panel for emitting light through the first through hole and having a receiving unit which is depressed from a front surface of the display assembly; and

a touch sensor assembly received in the receiving unit and fixed to the rear surface of the front panel at a position at which the input part is defined,

wherein the display assembly includes;

a cover display attached to the rear surface of the front panel,

a frame display coupled to the cover display,

a printed circuit board (PCB),

a light emitting diode (LED) disposed on the PCB to emit light, and

an electric wire connector formed at a rear of the PCB.

2. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensor assembly includes:

a case;

a sensor unit disposed in the case and in contact with the rear surface of the front panel; and

a sensor unit terminal to which an electric wire extending from the sensor unit is connected, and

wherein the sensor unit terminal is disposed at a rear of the case.

3. The refrigerator door according to claim 2, wherein the touch sensor assembly further includes a PCB connection terminal to which an electric wire extending from the electric wire connector is connected, and

wherein the PCB connection terminal is disposed at the rear of the case.

4. The refrigerator door according to claim 3, wherein the receiving unit is provided with a through hole through which the electric wire passes, and

wherein the through hole is formed at a position at which the PCB connection terminal and the sensor unit terminal are disposed, when the touch sensor assembly is mounted in the receiving unit.

5. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, further comprising a reflector coupled to a front surface of the PCB.

6. The refrigerator door according to claim 5, wherein the cover display includes a plurality of second through holes, through which the light emitted from the LED passes.

7. The refrigerator door according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of second through holes are formed right behind the plurality of first through holes when the cover display is in contact with the front panel.

8. The refrigerator door according to claim 7, further comprising a reflector disposed on the PCB,

wherein the reflector includes a plurality of third through holes, through which the light emitted from the LED passes.

9. The refrigerator door according to claim 8, wherein the plurality of third through holes are formed right behind the plurality of second through holes when the PCB is coupled the cover display, such that the light emitted from the LED sequentially passes through the third through holes, the second through holes, and the first through holes.

10. The refrigerator door according to claim 8, further comprising a diffusion plate disposed between the reflector and the PCB,

wherein a size of the third through hole is less than a size of the second through hole at a connection point between the third through hole and the second through hole.

11. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit is provided with an elastic member for elastically supporting the touch sensor assembly towards the rear surface of the front panel.

12. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein the PCB defines:

a first side edge close to the receiving unit; and

a second side edge which is opposite of the first side edge, and

wherein the electric wire connector is disposed on an upper end of the second side edge of the PCB to minimize a damage by static electricity.

13. The refrigerator door according to claim 1, wherein the frame display comprises:

a location piece, on which the PCB is located; and

a bar extending from an upper end of the location piece, the bar having a step piece.

14. The refrigerator door according to claim 13, wherein the frame is provided with an inclined part for changing a distance between the frame and the front panel.