Refrigerator with television

• US 7,155,923 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2004
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Cho, Seong-Ho, Choi, Jay-Ho, Nam, Young-Sok
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai; William E.
• Application Number:
  US10/968,188
• Publication Number:
  US 20050097912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 623/31, 622/592, 62 31- 36, 348/61, 348/739, 348/836, 165/80.3, 361690-697
• US Class Current: 62/259.2
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/005 Mounting of control devices

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a main body provide with a storage compartment and a door for opening and closing the compartment, a display unit installed on the door, for displaying an image of a television, and a heat discharging unit installed at one side of the display unit, for releasing heat generated from the display unit. Accordingly, overheating of the display unit and deterioration of refrigeration performance can be prevented.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising:

a main body provided with a storage compartment and a door for opening and closing the compartment;

a display unit installed on the door, for displaying an image; and

a heat discharging unit which has a heat conducting member in contact with the display unit installed at one side of the display unit, for releasing heat generated from the display unit.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the display unit is installed at a distance from an accommodating portion recessed in the door in order to form a flow path for releasing heat flows;

and

the heat discharging unit includes a blower for circulating air in the flow path.

3. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein a cover plate is installed at a front surface of the door in order to cover a space between the display unit and the accommodating portion of the door.

4. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein air paths are formed in the cover plate, said air paths communicating with the flow path.

5. The refrigerator of claim 3, wherein the cover plate comprises:

a first cover plate having a space therein; and

a second cover plate portion disposed in the space of the first cover plate so as to form a gap from the first cover plate portion and provided with an exposing portion where a screen of the display unit is exposed to the exterior.

6. The refrigerator of claim 5, wherein the gap between the first cover plate portion and the second cover plate portion communicates with the flow path.

7. The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein a stud for supporting the display unit to the accommodating portion and maintaining an interval for the flow path is installed between the display unit and the accommodating portion.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the heat discharging unit comprises:

a heat absorbing member installed adjacent to a heating generating portion of the display unit, for absorbing heat generated from the display unit;

a heat radiating member installed at a front surface of the door; and

a connecting member connected to the heat absorbing member and the heat radiating member, for transferring heat absorbed in the heat absorbing member toward the heat radiating member.

9. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein a vacuum insulation member of which the inside is vacuumized is installed at a region of the door corresponding to the display unit.

10. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the display unit comprises:

a display panel for displaying an image;

a fixing plate fixed to the door and supporting the display panel;

an electronic circuit board for controlling the display panel; and

a shield plate installed to cover the electronic circuit board, for shielding electromagnetic waves.

11. The refrigerator of claim 10, wherein the shield plate has a plurality of through holes for cooling.

12. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the display unit is installed at a distance from the door in order to form a flow path where air for releasing heat flows, the heat discharging unit including a blower for circulating air in the flow path.

13. The refrigerator of claim 12, further comprising:

a heat conducting means installed adjacent to the display unit and extended toward a front surface of the door, for releasing heat generated from the display unit.

14. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the heat conducting means is formed with a metallic plate.

15. The refrigerator of claim 13, wherein the heat conducting means comprises:

a heat absorbing member installed adjacent to a heating portion of the display unit, for absorbing heat generated from the display unit;

a heat radiating member installed at a front surface of the door; and

a connecting member connected to the heat absorbing member and the heat radiating member, for transferring heat absorbed in the heat absorbing member toward the heat radiating member.

16. The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein a vacuum insulation member of which the inside is vacuumized is installed at a region of the door corresponding to the display unit.

17. The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the said display unit being installed at a distance from an accommodating portion recessed in the door in order to form a flow path where air for releasing heat flows;

and

a cover plate is installed at a front surface of the door in order to cover a space between the display unit and the accommodating portion of the door.

18. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the cover plate comprises:

a first cover plate portion having a space therein; and

a second cover plate portion disposed in the space of the first cover plate so as to form a gap which communicates with the flow path.

19. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein a vacuum insulation member of which the inside is vacuumized is installed at a region of the door corresponding to the display unit.

20. A refrigerator, comprising:

a main body provided with a storage compartment and a door for opening and closing the compartment;

a display unit installed on the door, for displaying an image; and

a heat discharging unit which has a heat conducting member in contact with the display unit installed at one side of the display unit, for releasing heat generated from the display unit;

wherein the heat discharging unit comprises;

a heat absorbing member installed adjacent to a heating generating portion of the display unit, for absorbing heat generated from the display unit;

a heat radiating member installed at a front surface of the door; and

a connecting member connected to the heat absorbing member and the heat radiating member, for transferring heat absorbed in the heat absorbing member toward the heat radiating member.

21. The refrigerator of claim 20, wherein the heat absorbing member contains a fluid which is vaporized by the heat generated from the display unit, transferred through the connecting member to the heat radiating member where it is condensed and returned to the heat absorbing member.

22. A refrigerator comprising

a main body provided with a storage compartment and a door for opening and closing the compartment,

a display unit installed in the door for displaying an image on a screen, and

a heat discharging unit operatively associated with the display unit for releasing heat generated by the display unit, wherein the heat discharging unit includes an accommodating portion recessed in the door and spaced apart from the rear of the display unit to form an air flow path for releasing heat flows at the lateral sides of the screen, and

the heat discharging unit includes a blower for circulating air in the flow path.

23. The refrigerator of claim 22, wherein the heat discharging unit includes a heat conducting member in contact with the display unit and extends toward the front side of the door, for releasing heat generated from the display unit.

24. A refrigerator, comprising:

a main body provided with a storage compartment and a door for opening and closing the compartment;

a display unit installed on the door, for displaying an image on a screen, and

a heat discharging unit installed at one side of the display unit, for releasing heat generated by the display unit,

an accommodating portion recessed in the door and spaced apart from the display unit to form an air flow path for releasing heat flows, said heat discharging unit including a blower for circulating air in the flow path,

a cover plate installed at a front surface of the door to cover a space between the display unit and the accommodating portion of the door, said cover plate including a first cover plate portion having a space therein and a second cover plate portion disposed in the space of the first cover plate portion so as to form a gap from the first cover plate and provided with an exposing portion where a screen of the display unit is exposed to the exterior.

25. A refrigerator, comprising:

a main body provide with a storage compartment and a door for opening and closing the compartment;

a display unit installed on the door, for displaying an image on a screen, and

a heat discharging unit installed at one side of the display unit, for releasing heat generated by the display unit, wherein the display unit is installed at a distance from the door in order to form a flow path for air for releasing heat flow, the heat discharging unit including a blower for circulating air in the flow path and a heat conducting means installed adjacent to the display unit and extended toward a front surface of the door, for releasing heat generated from the display unit.

26. A refrigerator, comprising:

a main body provide with a storage compartment and a door for opening and closing the compartment;

a display unit installed on the door, for displaying an image on a screen, and

a heat discharging unit installed at one side of the display unit, for releasing heat generated by the display unit said display unit being installed at a distance from an accommodating portion recessed in the door in order to form a flow path for air for releasing heat flows, and a cover plate is installed at a front surface of the door in order to cover a space between the display unit and the accommodating portion of the door, wherein the cover plate comprises;

a first cover plate portion having a space therein; and

a second cover plate portion disposed in the space of the first cover plate so as to form a gap which communicates with the flow path.