Abstract:
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a refrigerator dispenser lever and a method for manufacturing the same. The lever is capable of reducing post-process activity required to assemble the components, enhancing a sense of unity between components and improving the quality and appearance of the lever by combining individual components during manufacturing using a single injection molding process.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is based on and claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0047749, filed on. Apr. 19, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure generally relates to refrigerators, and more specifically, to a dispenser lever for a refrigerator and a method for manufacturing the same. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A refrigerator is an apparatus used to store food at a low temperature, for example, in a frozen state or a refrigerated state. 
         [0004]    The interior of the refrigerator is cooled by a continuous supply of cold air. The cold air is continuously generated by a heat exchange process using a refrigerant, where a freezing cycle consisting of compression, condensation, expansion and evaporation is used to generate cold air. The cold air supplied into the refrigerator is uniformly transferred to the interior of the refrigerator by convection and is used to store food at a desired temperature within the refrigerator. 
         [0005]    The refrigerator includes a main body having a rectangular shape and an opening on a front surface thereof. A refrigeration compartment and a freezer compartment may be provided within the main body. A refrigeration compartment door and a freezer compartment door may be provided on the front surface of the main body for selectively closing open portions of the main body. Drawers, shelves, storage compartments and the like may be provided in the internal storage spaces of the refrigerator for storing different kinds of food in an optimal state. 
         [0006]    Top-mount refrigerators having a freezing compartment positioned above a refrigeration compartment are a common type of refrigerator. In recent years, however, bottom-freeze refrigerators having a freezing compartment positioned below a refrigeration compartment have become popular due to enhanced user convenience. 
         [0007]    For the bottom-freeze refrigerators, the frequently-used refrigeration compartment is positioned above the less-frequently-used freezer compartment. This enables a user to conveniently use the frequently-used refrigeration compartment. However, for bottom-freeze refrigerators, the freezer compartment is positioned below the refrigeration compartment. Thus, the bottom-freeze refrigerators are somewhat inconvenient to use because the user must squat or bend over to open the freezer compartment door when retrieving ice, for example. 
         [0008]    In order to solve this problem, in recent years, bottom-freeze refrigerators having a dispenser for dispensing ice disposed inside a refrigeration compartment door on an upper side of the refrigerator have been produced. In this case, an ice-making device for producing ice may be provided in the refrigeration compartment door or the interior of the refrigeration compartment. 
         [0009]    In the dispenser, discharge ports for discharging ice and water, and levers for opening and closing the discharge ports are separately provided in a discharge space. The ice and the water may be discharged by operating the levers provided on the lower side of the respective discharge ports. 
         [0010]    Such levers are typically manufactured by independently manufacturing a molding which forms an overall shell of the lever, and using a film to cover the molding and present a specific color or texture. For example, the film may be fixed or applied to an outer surface of the molding using double-side tape or by bending, shaping, or sealing an edge of the film, for example. 
         [0011]    However, these methods for manufacturing a refrigerator dispenser lever include independently manufacturing individual components and combining the individual components together in a post-process. This post-process assembly time increases the overall manufacturing time of the lever. When the individual components are matched and assembled with one another, there is a risk of manufacturing differences or defects between individual components, thereby reducing the quality and/or appearance of the lever, and destroying a sense of unity between the components. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0012]    Embodiments of the present disclosure provide refrigerator dispenser lever and a method for manufacturing the same, capable of-reducing post-process activity required for the assembly of components, enhancing a sense of unity between components, and improving the quality and/or appearance of the lever by combining individual components during manufacturing using a single injection molding process. 
         [0013]    According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a refrigerator dispenser lever is disclosed, including forming an inlay film into a predetermined shape, inserting the inlay film at one side of a mold, injecting a resin into the mold so that the resin is cured to form a molding, combining the molding and the inlay film using injection molding, where the molding and the inlay film are formed into a single object, and separating the mold to remove the object. 
         [0014]    According to another embodiment, a refrigerator dispenser lever is disclosed, including an inlay film disposed on an outer surface of the lever, where the inlay film has a predetermined shape, and a molding that is disposed inside the inlay film, where the molding is combined with the inlay film using an injection molding process. 
         [0015]    According to a third embodiment, a refrigerator dispenser lever is disclosed, including an inlay film having a predetermined shape disposed on an outer surface of the lever, and a molding disposed inside the inlay film and integrally formed with the inlay film using an injection molding process, where a predetermined pattern is integrally formed on a surface of the inlay film. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary ref orator including an exemplary refrigerator dispenser lever according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D  are process diagrams depicting exemplary inlay film processing steps of a method for manufacturing a refrigerator dispenser lever according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D  are process diagrams depicting exemplary methods for manufacturing a refrigerator dispenser lever according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are perspective views illustrating an exemplary one-piece-molded component of a refrigerator dispenser lever manufactured by the exemplary method illustrated in  FIGS. 3A to 3D , according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart depicting an exemplary sequence of steps for performing a method of manufacturing a refrigerator dispenser lever according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0021]    In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the description herein. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. 
         [0022]    One or more exemplary embodiments the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which one or more exemplary embodiments of the disclosure can be easily ascertained by those skilled in the art. As those skilled in the art will realize, the described exemplary embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure, which is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein. 
         [0023]    It is noted that the drawings are schematic and are not necessarily dimensionally illustrated. Relative sizes and proportions of parts in the drawings may be exaggerated or reduced in size, and a predetermined size is merely exemplary and not limiting. The same reference numerals designate the same structures, elements, or parts illustrated in two or more drawings in order to exhibit similar characteristics. 
         [0024]    The exemplary drawings of the present disclosure illustrate ideal exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure in more detail. As a result, various modifications of the drawings are expected. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments are not limited to a specific form of the illustrated region, and for example, include a modification of a form by manufacturing. 
         [0025]    Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary refrigerator including a refrigerator dispenser lever according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 2A to 2D  are diagrams illustrating exemplary inlay film processing steps of a method for manufacturing a refrigerator dispenser lever according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIGS. 3A to 3D  are process diagrams illustrating an exemplary method for manufacturing a refrigerator dispenser lever according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 3D , an exemplary method for manufacturing a refrigerator dispenser lever according to one embodiment of the present disclosure may include an inlay film processing step, an inlay film disposing step, a one-piece injection molding step, and a removal step. 
         [0029]    The method described herein may be applicable to different kinds of refrigerators provided with a dispenser regardless of the type or shape of the refrigerator. For the sake of convenience and clarity, a bottom-freeze-type refrigerator will be illustrated and described below; however, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. 
         [0030]    As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a refrigerator main body  10  of refrigerator  5  has a three-dimensional rectangular shape, and the front surface thereof may be selectively opened and closed. A storage space for storing food is included inside the refrigerator main body  10 . 
         [0031]    The storage space of the refrigerator main body  10  may be divided into a refrigeration compartment and a freezing compartment, one above the other. The flow rate of cold air supplied to the refrigeration compartment and the freezing compartment is regulated so that the refrigeration compartment and the freezing compartment can be maintained at temperatures suitable for refrigerating and freezing food, respectively. 
         [0032]    The open front surface of the refrigerator main body  10  may be selectively opened and closed by doors. The doors are configured to selectively open and close the refrigeration compartment and the freezing compartment. Rotary doors  20 , which are opened and closed using rotational movement, may be mounted to the upper portion of the refrigerator main body  10 . A Freezer drawer  30  may be mounted to the lower portion of the refrigerator main body  10  and may be selectively pulled out or inserted using a sliding motion. 
         [0033]    A dispenser  50  may be provided at one side of a door (e.g., one of the rotary doors  20 ). The dispenser  50  is configured to enable a user to dispense water purified within the refrigerator main body  10  or ice produced within the refrigerator main body  10  from outside the refrigerator. The dispenser  50  is partially recessed within the outer surface of the door. 
         [0034]    An activation lever  51  is provided inside the dispenser  50  so that a user can dispense purified water or ice by operating the activation lever  51 . A tray or container for holding water or ice may be disposed along a lower portion of the dispenser  50 . 
         [0035]    A display unit  52  displays an operation state of the dispenser  50  or an overall operation state of the refrigerator  5 , and may be disposed along a side of the dispenser  50 . 
         [0036]    The method for manufacturing a refrigerator dispenser lever will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 2A to 3D . 
         [0037]    The embodiments that follow are directed to a method for manufacturing a lever for a refrigerator dispenser, and to a lever for a refrigerator dispenser manufactured using the method. As illustrated in  FIGS. 2A to 2D , an inlay film processing step is used to form an inlay film  100  having a predetermined shape. The predetermined shape corresponds to a shape of the activation lever  51  to be manufactured. 
         [0038]    Specifically, at the inlay film processing step, a vacuum forming machine  110  having a shape corresponding to the shape of the activation lever  51  is used, and a film raw material  100   a  is placed on the vacuum forming machine  110  ( FIG. 2A ). When the film raw material  100   a  is heated by a heater unit  120 , the film raw material  100   a  is shaped into a form that corresponds to the shape of the vacuum forming machine  110 , and an inlay film  100  having the predetermined shape is created ( FIG. 23 ). The edge of the inlay film  100  Is punched out and removed using a cutting or hole punching machine  130  in order to cut the inlay film  100  into a size suitable for the activation lever  51  ( FIG. 2C ). In this way, an inlay film  100  having a desired shape is manufactured ( FIG. 2D ).  FIG. 2D  illustrates the discrete layers  101 - 105  of inlay film  100 . 
         [0039]    With regard to  FIG. 2D , the inlay film  100  may include an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin layer  101 , a primer layer  102 , a base layer  103 , a metal printing layer  104 , and a clear coat layer  105 , where the layers  101 - 105  are laminated one above another. 
         [0040]    The primer layer  102  is laminated on the ABS resin layer  101  and serves as an adhesive to prevent other layers from being removed or separated. The base layer  103  is laminated on the primer layer  102  and may be made of an opaque or translucent material, for example. The metal printing layer  104  is laminated on the base layer  103  and printed on the base layer  103  to provide a metallic texture or appearance. For example, the metal printing layer  104  may include stainless steel printed on the base layer  103  to provide a stainless texture or appearance and improve the outward appearance of the lever. The clear coat layer  105  is laminated on the metal printing layer  104  and includes a transparent material capable of protecting the metal printing layer  104  against damage. 
         [0041]    After the inlay film  100  is processed in this way, the inlay film disposing step may be performed. The inlay film disposing step may include a step in which the inlay film  100  is inserted into one side of a mold  210  as illustrated in  FIG. 3A . 
         [0042]    In this way, a predetermined pattern may be formed at one side of the mold  210  on which the inlay film  100  is disposed. This pattern is reproduced on the inlay film  100  disposed on an outer surface of the final article of the injection-molded process. Instead of attaching a separate film to the inlay film  100  or forming a printing layer on the inlay film  100 , the pattern is formed on one side of the mold  210 . Thus, when the inlay film  100  makes contact with the side of the mold  210  and is heated, the ABS resin layer  101  of the inlay film  100  is melted and introduced into a pattern groove or grooves  211  of the mold  210 , where the pattern of the mold  210  is directly transferred to the inlay film  100  (pattern  100   b ). The pattern to be applied to the refrigerator dispenser lever may include, for example, letters or symbols that represent water and ice. 
         [0043]    After the inlay film disposing step is completed, the one-piece injection molding step may be performed. 
         [0044]    At the one-piece injection molding step, as illustrated in  FIG. 3B , a raw resin material of a molding  200  may be injected into the mold  210  in which the inlay film  100  is disposed. The injected resin makes contact with the inlay film  100  disposed within the mold  210 . As the resin is cured to form the molding  200 , the inlay film  100  may be combined and injection-molded as a unitary article. 
         [0045]    The inlay film  100  disposed within the mold  210  and the molding  200  formed by the solidification of the resin are combined to form a unitary article, and an injection-molded article having a single body (hereinafter referred to as a “unitary article  300 ”) is produced. 
         [0046]    As illustrated in  FIG. 3C , at the removal step, the mold  210  is separated and/or released in order to remove the unitary article  300 . In this way, the unitary article  300  illustrated in  FIG. 3D  is manufactured. 
         [0047]    Descriptions will now be made with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 5 .  FIGS. 4 and 5  are perspective views illustrating an exemplary unitary article of the refrigerator dispenser lever manufactured by the method illustrated in  FIGS. 3A to 3D . 
         [0048]    In  FIG. 3D , the exemplary unitary article  300  is illustrated in order to easily describe the overall manufacturing process according to the present embodiment. Alternatively, the unitary article  300  used as the refrigerator dispenser lever may have a shape as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . The inlay film  100  exists on the outer surface of the unitary article  300 . The molding  200  formed by curing the resin injected into the mold  210  is disposed at the inner side of the inlay film  100 . 
         [0049]    The refrigerator dispenser lever  51  (unitary article  300 ) manufactured by the manufacturing method described above may include the inlay film  100  and the molding  200 . The inlay film  100  is disposed on the outer surface of the lever  51 . The molding  200  is disposed at the inner side of the inlay film  100  and is integrally combined with the inlay film  100  using an injection molding process. The molding  200  is formed as the resin injected into the mold  210  during the injection molding process is cured. 
         [0050]    Furthermore, a predetermined pattern to be applied to the refrigerator dispenser lever may be integrally formed on the surface of the inlay film  100 . 
         [0051]    With regard to  FIG. 6 , an exemplary sequence of steps for performing a method  600  of manufacturing a refrigerator dispenser lever is depicted according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. At step  601 , an inlay film is formed into a predetermined shape. At step  602 , the inlay film is inserted into one side of a mold. At step  603 , a resin is injected into the mold, and the resin is cured to form a molding. At step  604 , the molding and the inlay film are combined using injection molding, where the molding and the inlay film are formed into a single object. At step  605 , the mold is opened or separated to remove the object. 
         [0052]    Although exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, those skilled in the art will understand that the present disclosure may be implemented in various ways without changing the necessary features or the spirit of the present disclosure. 
         [0053]    Therefore, it should be understood that the exemplary embodiments described above are not limiting, but only an example in all respects. The scope of the present disclosure is expressed by claims below, not the detailed description, and it should be construed that all changes and modifications achieved from the meanings and scope of claims and equivalent concepts are included in the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0054]    From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. The exemplary embodiments disclosed in the specification of the present disclosure do not limit the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure will be interpreted by the claims below, and it will be construed that all techniques within the scope equivalent thereto belong to the scope of the present disclosure.