# US 8,770,684 B2 · Refrigerator and manufacturing method of the same

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- Number: US 8,770,684 B2
- Document ID: US8770684B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/969,957
- Filed: 2013-08-19
- Published: 2013-12-12
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2008-02-21
- Assignees: LG Electronics Inc.
- Applicants: LG Electronics Inc.
- Inventors: Pansoo Kim
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8770684B2

## CPC

- A47F 3/04: air-conditioned, refrigerated (refrigerators F25D; heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas H05B3/84)
- F25D 23/028: {Details}
- B23P 15/26: heat exchangers {or the like (making heat exchangers by methods covered by other subclasses B21D53/02)}
- F25D 29/005: {Mounting of control devices}
- F25D 2400/361: Interactive visual displays
- Y10T 29/49359: Cooling apparatus making, e.g., air conditioner, refrigerator
- A47F: SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
- 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)
- B23P: METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; COMBINED OPERATIONS; UNIVERSAL MACHINE TOOLS (arrangements for copying or controlling B23Q)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The present embodiment provides a refrigerator. The refrigerator according to the present embodiment includes a panel member forming at least a portion of the exterior of the refrigerator, an inner case of which at least portion is spaced from the panel, a display case provided at one side of the panel member, insulating material filled in space between the panel member and the inner case, and a display unit mounted on the display case after the filling of the insulating material is completed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A refrigerator, comprising:
a front plate that forms at least a portion of a front exterior of a door of a refrigerator and comprising a display window formed to be transparent or translucent, and a manipulating part;
a door liner spaced apart from the front plate;
at least one side deco that forms at least a portion of a side exterior of the door and connects the front plate and the door liner;
at least one cap deco that forms at least a portion of an upper or a lower exterior of the door and connects the front plate and the door liner;
insulating material filled and foamed in a space defined by the front plate, the door liner, the at least one side deco and the at least one cap deco, the insulating material contacting the front plate, the door liner, the at least one side deco and the at least one cap deco;
a display case disposed in the space and in contact with the insulating material and a rear surface of the front plate;
an inserting part formed on the at least one side deco or the at least one cap deco and communicating with a receiving space defined by the rear surface of the front plate and the display case; and
a unit guide on which a display unit is mounted, the display unit comprising a printed circuit board, a display part and a sensing part, both the display part and the sensing part being mounted on the printed circuit board, the unit guide being mounted on the display case,
wherein the unit guide is inserted in the receiving space defined by the rear surface of the front plate and the display case through the inserting part formed on the at least one side deco or the at least one cap deco.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure part configured to pressurize the display unit toward the rear surface of the front plate.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The refrigerator according to claim 2, wherein the pressure part is disposed on the display case.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The refrigerator according to claim 3, wherein the pressure part is inclined toward the rear surface of the front plate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator according to claim 1, further comprising a cover member to cover the inserting part.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the display case comprises a front opening and an inserting opening in which the unit guide is inserted.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein a bending part is formed on the front opening to be closely adhered to the rear surface of the front plate.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The refrigerator according to claim 6, wherein the inserting opening is arranged to face with the inserting part.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the display case is mounted on the at least one side deco or the at least one cap deco before filling of the insulating material in the space defined by the front plate, the door liner, the at least one side deco and at least one cap deco.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the front plate is a flat plate and the display window is formed on a portion of the flat plate.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the manipulating part to be touched by a user is formed on a front surface of the front plate corresponding to the sensing part.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the front plate is provided with a display guide to guide a mounting location of the display unit.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the display case is provided with a guide rail to guide a mounting location of the unit guide, and the unit guide is provided with a guide portion that slides along the guide rail.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the display part displays an operation state of the refrigerator.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The refrigerator according to claim 1, wherein the front plate is formed of tempered glass or plastic material.

### Claim 16

A refrigerator, comprising:
a front plate provided with a display window formed to be transparent or translucent, the front plate forming at least a portion of a front exterior of a door of a refrigerator;
a door liner spaced apart from the front plate;
at least one side deco that connects the front plate and the door liner and forms at least a portion of a side exterior of the door;
at least one cap deco that connects the front plate and the door liner and forms at least a portion of an upper or a lower exterior of the door;
insulating material filled and foamed in a space defined by the front plate, the door liner, the at least one side deco and the at least one cap deco, the insulating material contacting the front plate, the door liner, the at least one side deco and the at least one cap deco;
a display case disposed in the space and in contact with the insulating material and a rear surface of the front plate;
a unit guide on which a display unit is mounted, the display unit comprising a printed circuit board and a display part mounted on the printed circuit board, the unit guide being mounted on the display case,
wherein the unit guide is inserted in a receiving space defined by the rear surface of the front plate and the display case through an inserting part formed on the at least one side deco or the at least one cap deco, and
wherein the inserting part communicates with the receiving space.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The refrigerator according to claim 16, further comprising a pressure part configured to pressurize the display unit toward the rear surface of the front plate.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The refrigerator according to claim 17, wherein the pressure part is disposed on the display case.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The refrigerator according to claim 18, wherein the pressure part is inclined toward the rear surface of the front plate.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The refrigerator according to claim 16, further comprising a cover member to cover the inserting part.

### Claim 21 (depends on 16)

The refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein the display case comprises a front opening and an inserting opening in which the unit guide is inserted.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The refrigerator according to claim 21, wherein a bending part is formed on the front opening to be closely adhered to the rear surface of the front plate.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The refrigerator according to claim 21, wherein the inserting opening is arranged to face with the inserting part.

### Claim 24 (depends on 16)

The refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein the display case is mounted on the at least one side deco or the at least one cap deco before filling of the insulating material in the space.

### Claim 25 (depends on 16)

The refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein the display unit further comprises a sensing part to sense a touch manipulation of a user, and
a manipulating part to be touched by the user for manipulating is formed on a front surface of the front plate corresponding to the sensing part.

### Claim 26 (depends on 16)

The refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein the front plate is provided with a display guide to guide a mounting location of the display unit.

### Claim 27 (depends on 16)

The refrigerator according to claim 16, wherein the display case is provided with a guide rail to guide a mounting location of the unit guide, and the unit guide is provided with a guide portion that slides along the guide rail.

### Claim 28

A manufacturing method of a refrigerator door comprising:
mounting a display case on a cap deco or a side deco to define a receiving space in which a display unit is inserted, wherein one of the cap deco and the side deco includes an inserting part communicating with the receiving space;
connecting the cap deco and the side deco to a front plate to define a space in which insulating material is filled;
filling and foaming the insulation material in the space defined by the cap deco, the side deco and the front plate; and
inserting the display unit in the receiving space defined by the display case and a rear surface of the front plate through the inserting part of the cap deco or the side deco after filling and foaming the insulation material,
wherein the front plate forms at least a portion of a front exterior of the refrigerator door,
wherein the side deco forms at least a portion of a side exterior of the refrigerator door,
wherein the cap deco forms at least a portion of an upper or a lower exterior of the refrigerator door, and
wherein the insulating material contacts the front plate, a door liner, the side deco and the cap deco.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The manufacturing method according to claim 28, wherein the inserting the display unit in the receiving space comprises pressurizing the display unit toward the rear surface of the front plate such that the display unit is in contact with the rear surface of the front plate.

### Claim 30 (depends on 28)

The manufacturing method according to claim 28, further comprising forming a display window on the front plate.

### Claim 31 (depends on 28)

The manufacturing method according to claim 28, further comprising covering the inserting part by a cap cover.

### Claim 32 (depends on 28)

The manufacturing method according to claim 28, wherein the connecting the cap deco and the side deco to the front plate comprises pressurizing the display case toward the rear surface of the front plate such that the display case is in contact with the rear surface of the front plate.

### Claim 33 (depends on 28)

The manufacturing method according to claim 28, further comprising connecting the door liner to the cap deco and the side deco to define a space in which the insulating material is filled.

### Claim 34 (depends on 28)

The manufacturing method according to claim 28, wherein the display unit is inserted in the receiving space in a state which the display unit is mounted on a unit guide.

### Claim 35

A manufacturing method of a refrigerator door comprising:
connecting a cap deco and a side deco to a front plate to define a space in which insulating material is filled;
mounting a display case on the cap deco or the side deco to define a receiving space in which a display unit is inserted, wherein one of the cap deco and the side deco includes an inserting part;
connecting the cap deco and the side deco to a door liner;
filling and foaming the insulation material in the space defined by the cap deco, the side deco and the front plate; and
inserting the display unit in the receiving space defined by the display case and a rear surface of the front plate through the inserting part of the cap deco or the side deco after filling and foaming the insulation material,
wherein the front plate forms at least a portion of a front exterior of the refrigerator door,
wherein the side deco forms at least a portion of a side exterior of the refrigerator door,
wherein the cap deco forms at least a portion of an upper or a lower exterior of the refrigerator door, and
wherein the insulating material contacts the front plate, the door liner, the side deco and the cap deco.

### Claim 36 (depends on 35)

The manufacturing method according to claim 35, wherein the inserting the display unit in the receiving space comprises pressurizing the display unit toward the rear surface of the front plate such that the display unit is in contact with the rear surface of the front plate.

### Claim 37 (depends on 35)

The manufacturing method according to claim 35, further comprising forming a display window on the front plate.

### Claim 38 (depends on 35)

The manufacturing method according to claim 35, further comprising covering the inserting part by a cap cover.

### Claim 39 (depends on 35)

The manufacturing method according to claim 35, wherein the display unit is inserted in the receiving space defined by the rear surface of the front plate and the display case in a state which the display unit is mounted on a unit guide.

### Claim 40

A refrigerator, comprising:
a panel member provided with a display window formed to be transparent or translucent, the panel member forming at least a portion of a front exterior of a door of a refrigerator;
an inner case spaced apart from the panel member;
at least one side deco that connects the panel member and the inner case, the at least one side deco forming at least a portion of a side exterior of the door;
at least one cap deco that connects the panel member and the inner case, the at least one cap deco forming at least a portion of an upper or lower exterior of the door;
insulating material filled and foamed in a space defined by the panel member, the inner case, the at least one side deco and at least one cap deco, the insulating material contacting the panel member, the inner case, the at least one side deco and the at least one cap deco;
a display case disposed in the space and in contact with the insulating material and a rear surface of the panel member;
an inserting part formed on the at least one side deco or the at least one cap deco; and
a unit guide on which a display unit is mounted, the display unit comprising a printed circuit board and a display part mounted on the printed circuit board,
wherein the unit guide is inserted in a receiving space defined by the rear surface of the panel member and the display case through the inserting part formed on the at least one side deco or the at least one cap deco.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

The refrigerator according to claim 40, further comprising a pressure part configured to pressurize the display unit toward the rear surface of the panel member.

### Claim 42 (depends on 41)

The refrigerator according to claim 41, wherein the pressure part is disposed on the display case.

### Claim 43 (depends on 41)

The refrigerator according to claim 41, wherein the pressure part is inclined toward the rear surface of the panel member.

### Claim 44 (depends on 40)

The refrigerator according to claim 40, further comprising a cover member to cover the inserting part.

### Claim 45 (depends on 40)

The refrigerator according to claim 40, wherein the display case comprises a front opening and an inserting opening in which the unit guide is inserted.

### Claim 46 (depends on 45)

The refrigerator according to claim 45, wherein a bending part is formed on the front opening to be closely adhered to the rear surface of the panel member.

### Claim 47 (depends on 40)

The refrigerator according to claim 40, wherein the display case is mounted on the at least one side deco or the at least one cap deco before filling of the insulating material.

### Claim 48 (depends on 40)

The refrigerator according to claim 40, wherein a manipulating part to be touched by a user for manipulating is formed on a front surface of the panel member corresponding to a sensing part.

### Claim 49 (depends on 40)

The refrigerator according to claim 40, wherein the display case is provided with a guide rail to guide a mounting location of the unit guide, and the unit guide is provided with a guide portion that slides along the guide rail.

### Claim 50 (depends on 40)

The refrigerator according to claim 40, wherein the panel member is formed of tempered glass or plastic material.