Display unit for refrigerator

• US 7,319,407 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Issued: 01/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Jang, Chan-Kyoo, Lee, Ik-Kyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu; Julie Bichngoc
• Application Number:
  US11/013,791
• Publication Number:
  US 20050134472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 340/691.1
• US Class Current: 340/691.1
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/12 Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/005 Mounting of control devices

Abstract

A display unit for a refrigerator is provided. The display having a TV receiving function is installed at a front surface of a refrigerator door. A mounting panel with a plurality of speaker holes formed therein is also installed around an edge of the display. A speaker is mounted to a rear surface of the mounting panel on a portion where the speaker holes are formed. Further, a resonance box is installed to enclose the speaker such that low and middle frequency sound can be transmitted forward to the outside. A sound transmission tube that communicates with the speaker hole is forced at a front portion of the resonance box. In addition, a sound absorbing material is covered on an inner rear surface of the resonance box that faces the rear of the speaker. A display as configured has improved sound quality.

Claims

1. A display unit for a refrigerator, comprising:

a display mounted to a front surface of the refrigerator;

a mounting panel mounted around an edge of the display and formed with a plurality of speaker holes;

a speaker installed on a rear surface of the speaker holes of the mounting panel and configured to transmit sound; and

a resonance box installed to have a predetermined space enough to accommodate the speaker therein and to enclose the speaker, wherein the resonance box further includes a sound transmission tube with a predetermined length installed to communicate with the speaker hole of the mounting panel such that sound generated from the rear surface of the speaker is reflected thereon and transmitted to the outside thereof.

2. The display unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sound absorbing material capable of absorbing high frequency sound is covered on the resonance box at an inner surface thereof facing the rear surface of the speaker.

3. The display unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the sound absorbing material is a porous material on or in which a plurality of fine holes are formed.

4. The display unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a front portion of each of the plurality of speaker holes is shaped as a forward flared cone.

5. The display unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein a rear portion of each of the plurality of speaker holes is shaped as a rearward flared cone.

6. The display unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the resonance box is rectangular.

7. A refrigerator comprising the display unit of claim 1.

8. A display unit for a refrigerator, comprising:

a display mounted to a front surface of the refrigerator;

a mounting panel mounted around an edge of the display and formed with a plurality of speaker holes;

a speaker installed on a rear surface of the speaker holes of the mounting panel and configured to transmit sound; and

a resonance box installed to have a predetermined space enough to accommodate the speaker therein and to enclose the speaker, wherein a sound absorbing material capable of absorbing high frequency sound is covered on the resonance box at an inner surface thereof facing the rear surface of the speaker.

9. The display unit as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sound absorbing material is a porous material on or in which a plurality of fine holes are formed.

10. A refrigerator comprising the display unit of claim 8.

11. A display unit for a refrigerator, comprising:

a display mounted to a front surface of the refrigerator;

a mounting panel mounted around an edge of the display and formed with a plurality of speaker holes;

a speaker installed on a rear surface of the speaker holes of the mounting panel and configured to transmit sound; and

a resonance box installed to have a predetermined space enough to accommodate the speaker therein and to enclose the speaker, wherein a front portion of each of the plurality of speaker holes is shaped as a forward flared cone.

12. The display unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein a rear portion of each of the plurality of speaker holes is shaped as a rearward flared cone.

13. A refrigerator comprising the display unit of claim 11.

14. A display unit for a refrigerator, comprising:

a display mounted to a front surface of the refrigerator;

a mounting panel mounted around an edge of the display and formed with a plurality of speaker holes;

a speaker installed on a rear surface of the speaker holes of the mounting panel and configured to transmit sound; and

a resonance box installed to have a predetermined space enough to accommodate the speaker therein and to enclose the speaker, wherein a rear portion of each of the plurality of speaker holes is shaped as a rearward flared cone.

15. A refrigerator comprising the display unit of claim 14.

16. A mounting device for a display device for a refrigerator, comprising:

a mounting panel configured to be mounted around an edge of a display and formed with a plurality of speaker holes; and

a resonance box installed to have a predetermined space enough to accommodate and enclose a speaker therein, wherein the resonance box further includes a sound transmission tub with a predetermined length installed to communicate with the speaker hole of the mounting panel such that sound generated from a rear surface of a speaker is reflected thereon and transmitted to the outside thereof.

17. A mounting device for a display device for a refrigerator, comprising:

a mounting panel configured to be mounted around an edge of a display and formed with a plurality of speaker holes; and

a resonance box installed to have a predetermined space enough to accommodate and enclose a speaker therein, wherein a sound absorbing material is provided on the resonance box at an inner surface thereof.

18. The mounting device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the sound absorbing material is configured to absorb high frequency sound.

19. The mounting device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the sound absorbing material is a porous material on or in which a plurality of fine holes are formed.

20. A mounting device for a display device for a refrigerator, comprising:

a mounting panel configured to be mounted around an edge of a display and formed with a plurality of speaker holes; and

a resonance box installed to have a predetermined space enough to accommodate and enclose a speaker therein, wherein a front portion each of the plurality of speaker holes is shaped as a forward flared cone.

21. The mounting device as claimed in claim 20, wherein a rear portion of each of the plurality of the speaker holes is shaped as a rearward flared cone.

22. A mounting device for a display device for a refrigerator, comprising:

a mounting panel configured to be mounted around an edge of a display and formed with a plurality of speaker holes; and

a resonance box installed to have a predetermined space enough to accommodate and enclose a speaker therein, wherein a rear portion of each of the plurality of the speaker holes is shaped as a rearward flared cone.