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US 10,588,428 B2Granted
Refrigerator having panel assembly covering opening of outer plate of door
AssigneeLG Electronics Inc.
InventorsJisu Park, Taehoon Choi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is a refrigerator. The refrigerator is characterized by enabling at least a part of a refrigerator door to be selectively transparent by a user's operation, such that the user sees through an inside of the refrigerator while the refrigerator door is closed.
Claims25
A refrigerator, comprising:
- a cabinet having a storage chamber defined therein;
- a lighting device configured to illuminate an interior of the storage chamber;
- and
- a door connected to the cabinet and configured to open and close the storage chamber, the door comprising:
- an outer plate having a first opening defined therethrough;
- a door liner having a second opening defined therethrough that faces the first opening of the outer plate, the door liner having a lip defined at the second opening;
- a panel assembly configured to cover the first opening of the outer plate and the second opening of the door liner, wherein the outer plate, the door liner, and the panel assembly defines an insulation space in which an insulating material is filled;
- and
- a support frame provided proximal to the first opening of the outer plate and configured to connect the outer plate with the panel assembly, wherein the panel assembly of the door comprises:
- a front panel that defines a front outer appearance of the door and including a bezel provided at a perimeter thereof, the front panel being made of a glass material;
- an insulating panel provided at a rear side of the front panel, the insulating panel having an upper edge, a lower edge, and lateral edges;
- a spacer arranged between the front panel and the insulating panel and;
- and
- a heater installed at an area of the bezel of the front panel, wherein the lip of the door liner is in contact with the insulating panel at a contact area, wherein the contact area of the insulating panel is spaced apart from the lateral edges of the insulating panel, and wherein the insulating material is in contact with a region between the lateral edges of the insulating panel and the contact area of the insulating panel.
11 more elements
A refrigerator, comprising:
- a cabinet having a storage chamber defined therein;
- a lighting device configured to illuminate an interior of the storage chamber;
- and
- a door connected to the cabinet and configured to open and close the storage chamber, the door comprising:
- an outer plate having a first opening defined therethrough;
- a door liner having a second opening defined therethrough that faces the first opening of the outer plate, the door liner having a lip defined at the second opening;
- a panel assembly configured to cover the first opening of the outer plate and the second opening of the door liner, wherein the outer plate, the door liner, and the panel assembly defines an insulation space in which an insulating material is filled;
- and
- a support frame provided in the insulation space and provided proximal to the first opening of the outer plate and configured to connect the outer plate with the panel assembly, wherein the panel assembly of the door comprises:
- a front panel that defines a front outer appearance of the door and including a bezel provided at a perimeter thereof, the front panel being made of a glass material;
- an insulating panel provided on a rear side of the front panel and made of a glass material, the insulating panel having an upper edge, a lower edge, and lateral edges;
- a spacer arranged between the front panel and the insulating panel;
- and
- a heater installed at an area of the bezel of the front panel, wherein the insulating panel includes a first surface in contact with the spacer and a second surface opposite the first surface, wherein the lip of the door liner is in contact with a portion of the second surface of the insulating panel, wherein the portion of the second surface of the insulating panel is spaced apart from the lateral edges of the insulating panel, and wherein the insulating material surrounds the support frame and is in contact with the spacer, the second surface of the insulation panel, and the lip of the door liner.
11 more elements
A refrigerator, comprising:
- a cabinet having a storage chamber defined therein;
- a lighting device configured to illuminate an interior of the storage chamber;
- a first door configured to open and close the storage chamber and including an opening part;
- and
- a second door configured to open and closes the opening part and rotatable with respect to the first door by a hinge shaft, wherein the second door comprising:
- an outer plate having a first opening defined therethrough;
- a door liner having a second opening defined therethrough that faces the first opening of the outer plate;
- a panel assembly configured to cover the first opening of the outer plate and the second opening of the door liner, wherein the outer plate, the door liner, and the panel assembly defines an insulation space in which an insulating material is filled;
- and
- a support frame provided in the insulation space and provided proximal to the first opening of the outer plate and configured to connect the outer plate with the panel assembly, the support frame being surrounded by the insulation material, wherein the panel assembly of the door comprises:
- a front panel that defines a front outer appearance of the door and including a bezel provided at a perimeter thereof, the front panel being made of a glass material;
- an insulating panel provided on a rear side of the front panel and made of a glass material;
- a spacer arranged between the front panel and the insulating panel;
- and
- a heater installed at an area of the bezel of the front panel, wherein a wire connected to the heater passes through the shaft.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.