Refrigerator and refrigerator door

• US 8,608,330 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2009
• Issued: 12/17/2013
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Roy, Sikha
• Application Number:
  US12/864,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20100319383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,792 Days
• Field of Search: 362/92
• US Class Current: 362/92
• 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. An appliance door comprising:

an outer door panel formed of a metal sheet;

a door liner disposed at a rear side of the outer door panel;

a coupling panel provided at both sides of the outer door panel to couple the outer door panel to the door liner;

a pair of supporters mounted on the outer door panel;

a transparent member mounted on the outer door panel between the pair of supports, the transparent member having a diffusing portion projected or recessed from a surface thereof to form a pattern;

a substrate located at an end of the transparent member;

a light emitting member mounted on the substrate to emit light to the transparent member;

a crystal mounted on a side of the transparent member to allow light emitted from the light emitting member to diffuse frontward; and

an exterior member disposed at a front side of the crystal and formed of tempered glass or plastic material, the exterior member including;

a transmitting portion located at a site corresponding to the diffusing portion to allow the light diffused from the crystal to pass, the transmission portion not being color treated; and

a printed portion being color treated to shield a portion of the light diffused from the crystal,

wherein the diffusing portion includes a main part on which the crystal is received to form an inner portion of the pattern and a secondary part to form one or more contour lines of the pattern.

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

3. The appliance 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.

4. The appliance 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.

5. The appliance door according to claim 1, wherein the transmitting portion is printed to have a different light transmissivity.

6. The appliance door according to claim 1, further comprising a support plate provided behind the transparent member and on which the crystal is mounted, and

wherein the main part forms an opening of the transparent member.

7. The appliance door according to claim 1, wherein the light emitting member is installed by means of a light member mount.

8. The appliance door according to claim 1, wherein the appliance door is a refrigerator door.