# US 2024/0200849 A1 · Plate assembly and home appliance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2024/0200849 A1 - Document ID: US20240200849A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/367,910 - Filed: 2023-09-13 - Published: 2024-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-12-14 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Jaehyun LEE; Jinyoung SONG; Byungkwan YANG; Youngmin YOU; Wonjae YOON - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20240200849A1 ## CPC - F25D 17/062: {in household refrigerators} - F16B 5/00: Joining sheets or plates {, e.g. panels,} to one another or to strips or bars parallel to them ({F16B17/00 takes precedence;} by sticking together F16B11/00; dowel connections F16B13/00; pins, including deformable elements F16B19/00; covering of walls E04F13/00; fastening signs, plates, panels or boards to a supporting structure, fastening readily-detachable elements, e.g. letters to signs, plates, panels, or boards, G09F7/00) - F25D 11/02: with cooling compartments at different temperatures - F25D 17/06: by forced circulation - F25D 17/067: {Evaporator fan units} - F25D 17/08: using ducts - F25D 23/06: Walls (F25D23/08 takes precedence; containers with thermal insulation B65D81/38) - F25D 2317/067: characterised by air ducts - F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B) - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) ## Abstract A refrigerator including a storage compartment and a cold air duct to guide cold air to the storage compartment, the cold air duct including a front plate facing the storage compartment, the front plate including a front body with a first coupling portion, a rear plate detachably coupled to the front plate, the rear plate including a rear body with a second coupling portion, and a slit in the rear body so that the second coupling portion is elastically deformable, and a heat insulating member between the front plate and the rear plate. The first coupling portion is coupled to the second coupling portion. The first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are decouplable by an external force pressing on the first coupling portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A refrigerator comprising: a storage compartment; an evaporator configured to generate cold air; and a cold air duct configured to guide the cold air generated in the evaporator to the storage compartment, the cold air duct including: a front plate facing the storage compartment, the front plate including: a front body, and a first coupling portion on a rear surface of the front body, a rear plate detachably coupled to a rear of the front plate, the rear plate including: a rear body, a second coupling portion including: an opening in the rear body, and a locking portion, and a slit in the rear body configured so that the second coupling portion is elastically deformable, and a heat insulating member disposed between the front plate and the rear plate, wherein the first coupling portion is coupled to the second coupling portion as a portion of the first coupling portion is inserted into the opening in the rear body, and the locking portion protrudes toward and contacts the portion of the first coupling portion inserted into the opening in the rear body, and the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are configured so that the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are decouplable by an external force pressing on the first coupling portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the first coupling portion includes: a first coupling protrusion extending in a first direction directed toward the rear plate, a second coupling protrusion spaced apart from the first coupling protrusion and extending in the first direction, and a bridge connecting the first coupling protrusion and the second coupling protrusion, the bridge including a recessed portion recessed in a second direction opposite to the first direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein in response to the external force pressing on the recessed portion of the bridge in the second direction in a state in which the front plate and the rear plate are coupled to each other, the first coupling protrusion and the second coupling protrusion are moved toward one another so that the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are decoupled. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein in response to the external force pressing the first coupling protrusion and the second coupling protrusion to be moved toward one another in a state in which the front plate and the rear plate are coupled to each other, the bridge is elastically deformed and the first coupling portion and the second coupling portion are decoupled. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, further comprising: a cap corresponding to the opening and detachably mounted on the opening to prevent moisture from entering the opening. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the rear plate includes a cover configured to open and close the opening to prevent moisture from entering the opening. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the slit extends along a direction in which the first coupling protrusion and the second coupling protrusion are arranged. ### Claim 8 (depends on 2) The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the slit includes: a first slit portion, and a second slit portion spaced apart from the first slit portion, and the first coupling portion is disposed between the first slit portion and the second slit portion in a state in which the front plate and the rear plate are coupled to each other. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the second coupling portion includes: a coupling body configured to surround the portion of the first coupling portion inserted into the opening in the rear body, and the slit includes: a first slit forming portion along a portion of an edge of the coupling body, a second slit forming portion extending in a straight line from a first side of the first slit forming portion, and a third slit forming portion extending in a straight line from a second side of the first slit forming portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the slit includes: a first slit forming portion spaced apart from the opening and extending in a direction perpendicular to a direction in which the first coupling protrusion and the second coupling protrusion are arranged, a second slit forming portion extending from a first side of the first slit forming portion toward the opening along the direction in which the first coupling protrusion and the second coupling protrusion are arranged, and a third slit forming portion extending from a second side of the first slit forming portion toward the opening along the direction in which the first coupling protrusion and the second coupling protrusion are arranged. ### Claim 11 (depends on 2) The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the first coupling portion includes: a first groove on the first coupling protrusion, and accessible through the opening from behind the rear body, and a second groove on the second coupling protrusion, and accessible through the opening from behind the rear body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 2) The refrigerator of claim 2, wherein the bridge includes: a first bridge portion extending from the first coupling protrusion to the recessed portion, and sloping toward the front body, and a second bridge portion extending from the second coupling protrusion to the recessed portion, and sloping toward the front body. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The refrigerator of claim 12, wherein the recessed portion is provided at a center of the bridge. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the heat insulating member is configured to be in surface contact with at least one of the front plate and the rear plate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The refrigerator of claim 1, wherein the heat insulating member includes: a support hole corresponding to the opening of the second coupling portion and configured to accommodate the first coupling portion, and a seating portion extending inwardly from a rear surface of the heat insulating member about the support hole. and configured to support the locking portion of the second coupling portion.