Patent Publication Number: US-2023152028-A1

Title: Home appliance

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 35 U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application Nos. 10-2021- 0158031, filed on Nov. 16, 2021, and 10-2022-0013836, filed on Jan. 31, 2022, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a home appliance. 
     In general, home appliances are disposed in an indoor space and may be disposed to be harmonized with the surrounding space. In addition, to further improve the appearance of the home appliance, a panel defining an outer appearance on a front surface of the home appliance may be provided. 
     Typically, structures that variously modify the outer appearance of the front surface of the refrigerator so as to be harmonized with environments in which the refrigerator is placed, surrounding furniture, or other home appliances are being developed, and this trend is being made throughout the home appliances. 
     U.S. Pat. Application No. 8789900 discloses a structure in which a decoration panel defining an outer appearance is installed on a door front of a refrigerator, and here, the outer appearance of the door front is defined according to a user’s preference by detachably configuring the decoration panel. 
     However, the refrigerator having this structure has a problem in that, when a user wants to change the outer appearance, the entire decoration panel needs to be removed and replaced, and it is not possible to use the decoration panel before replacement any longer. 
     To solve this limitation, Chinese Patent Application No. 103250018 discloses a refrigerator in which a reflective layer and a transparent panel are disposed on a door front and colored light emitting members are mounted on both side ends of the reflective layer to cause the transparent panel to shine with set color. 
     However, in such a structure, since components constituting a door panel are added, the door panel may become heavy, and in particular, when the door panel is made of a heavy material such as glass, the door or the door panel may be sagged. 
     In addition, when the door is frequently opened and closed, and the repeated impact is applied, there is a more serious limitation in that the door panel is sagged or damaged by the repeated impact. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments provides a home appliance in which a detachable panel assembly is firmly mounted on a door body. 
     Embodiments also provide a home appliance in which a panel assembly is prevented from being sagged. 
     Embodiments also provide a home appliance having a load supporting structure of a panel assembly using a back cover. 
     In one embodiment, a home appliance includes: a cabinet in which a storage space is defined; and a door configured to open and close the storage space, wherein the door includes: a door body; and a panel assembly mounted on the door body, wherein the panel assembly includes: a panel which is configured to a front surface of the door and through which light is transmitted; a lighting device configured to allow the panel to shine with a set color; and a back cover configured to define a rear surface of the panel assembly, wherein a cover support portion of which at least a portion extends backward to be supported on the door body is disposed on a lower end of the back cover. 
     The back cover may be made of a metal material. 
     The cover support portion may be provided by bending the back cover. 
     A lower support portion protruding forward to support a lower end of the panel assembly may be disposed on the door body, and the cover support portion may be seated on the lower support portion. 
     The panel assembly may further include a lower bracket configured to define a bottom surface of the panel assembly, wherein a bracket protrusion which extends backward and on which the cover support portion is seated may be disposed on the lower bracket. 
     A bottom surface of the cover support portion may be in contact with a top surface of the bracket protrusion. 
     A lower opening may be defined in a front surface of the door body, and when the panel assembly is mounted, the cover support portion may be inserted into the lower opening in the state of being seated on the bracket protrusion. 
     A coupling member may be provided on a bottom surface of the door body, wherein the coupling member may be coupled to pass through the bracket protrusion and the cover support portion, which are inserted into the lower opening. 
     The cover support portion may include a cover coupling portion that further extends backward from the cover support portion, wherein the cover coupling portion may be inserted by passing through a front surface of the door body. 
     The cover support portion may be continuously disposed from one end to the other end of the back cover, and the cover coupling portion may be provided in plurality to be spaced apart from each other along the cover support portion. 
     A coupling hole through which a coupling member coupled to a bottom surface of the door body passes may be defined in the cover coupling portion. 
     The panel may be disposed in front of the lower support portion, and the coupling member may be disposed behind the lower support portion so as to extend to be seated on the lower support portion protruding the bottom surface of the door body. 
     The cover support portion may include: a first support portion extending forward from a lower end of the back cover; and a second support portion bent backward from a front end of the first support portion to further extend backward than the first support portion. 
     The panel assembly may further include a lower bracket which is configured to define a bottom surface of the panel assembly and into which the lighting device is accommodated, wherein a bracket opening through which the lighting device is accessible may be defined in the lower bracket. 
     The back cover may be configured to shield the bracket opening. 
     The first support portion may be inserted into the bracket opening and extends to support the lighting device at a lower side. 
     The lower bracket may include a light supporter made of a metal material and configured to support the lighting device, wherein the light supporter may be exposed through the bracket opening so as to be in contact with the back cover, thereby transferring heat of the lighting device to the back cover. 
     The first support portion may be inserted into the bracket opening and extends to support the light supporter at a lower side. 
     The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a front view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment. 
         FIG.  2    is a front view illustrating a state in which a door of the refrigerator is opened. 
         FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the door. 
         FIG.  4    is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state in which a panel assembly and a door body, which are components of the door, are separated from each other. 
         FIG.  5    is an enlarged view illustrating a portion A of  FIG.  4   . 
         FIG.  6    is a rear view of the panel assembly. 
         FIG.  7    is an exploded front perspective view illustrating the panel assembly. 
         FIG.  8    is a cutaway perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of a fixing member and a side end of a back cover. 
         FIG.  9    is an exploded perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of the fixing member, the lower bracket, and the back cover, which are components of the panel assembly. 
         FIG.  10    is an exploded perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of the fixing member, the lower bracket, and the back cover, which are components of the panel assembly. 
         FIG.  11    is an exploded perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of the lower bracket, a lighting device, and a light supporter. 
         FIG.  12    is a front perspective view of the back cover. 
         FIG.  13    is an enlarged view illustrating a portion B of  FIG.  6   . 
         FIG.  14    is a cutaway perspective view taken along line XIV-XIV′ of  FIG.  13   . 
         FIG.  15    is a cutaway perspective view taken along line XV-XV′ of  FIG.  13   . 
         FIG.  16    is a cutaway perspective view taken along line XVI-XVI′ of  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  17    is a cross-sectional view illustrating an emission state of the panel assembly. 
         FIG.  18    is a view illustrating an example of adjusting colors of home appliances to which the panel assembly using a remote device is applied. 
         FIG.  19    is a front view illustrating an outer appearance of the front surface of the refrigerator that is in a state in which the lighting device is turned on. 
         FIG.  20    is a rear perspective view of a back cover according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  21    is a cross-sectional view illustrating a lower end of a panel assembly according to another embodiment. 
         FIG.  22    is a front perspective view of a back cover according to further another embodiment. 
         FIG.  23    is a side view illustrating the lower end of the back cover. 
         FIG.  24    is a cutaway perspective view illustrating a lower end of a panel assembly according to further another embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, detailed embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is limited to the embodiments in which the spirit of the present invention is proposed, and other degenerate idea or other embodiments included in the scope of the present invention may be easily proposed by addition, changes, deletions, etc. of other elements. 
     Prior to a description, directions are defined. In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a direction toward a door is defined as a front direction with respect to a cabinet shown in  FIGS.  2  and  2   , a direction toward the cabinet with respect to the door is defined as a rear direction, a direction toward a bottom on which a refrigerator is installed is defined as a downward direction, and a direction away from the bottom is defined as an upward direction. 
       FIG.  1    is a front view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment. Also,  FIG.  2    is a front view illustrating a state in which a door of the refrigerator is opened. 
     As illustrated in the drawings, an outer appearance of a refrigerator  1  according to an embodiment may be defined by a cabinet  10  in which a storage space is defined, and a door  20  for opening and closing the storage space of the cabinet  10 . 
     For example, the cabinet  10  may define the storage space partitioned in a vertical direction. Here, a refrigerating compartment  11  may be defined at an upper portion of the cabinet  10 , and a freezing compartment  12  may be defined at a lower portion of the cabinet  10 . The refrigerating compartment  11  may be referred to as an upper storage space, and the freezing compartment  12  may be referred to as a lower storage space. 
     The door  20  may be configured to open and close each of the refrigerating compartment  11  and the freezing compartment  12 . For example, the door  20  may be rotatably mounted to the cabinet  10  by being connected by hinge devices  204  and  205 , and each of the refrigerating compartment  11  and the freezing compartment  12  may be opened and closed by the rotation. Of course, the door  20  may also be withdrawn to open and close each of the refrigerating compartment and the freezing compartment. 
     The door  20  may include a refrigerating compartment door  201  that opens and closes the refrigerating compartment  11  and a freezing compartment door  202  that opens and closes the freezing compartment  12 . In addition, the refrigerating compartment door  201  may be disposed in a pair side by side at both left and right sides, and each of the refrigerating compartment doors  201  may partially open and close the refrigerating compartment  11 . In addition, the freezing compartment door  202  may be disposed in a pair side by side at both left and right sides, and each of the freezing compartments  12  partitioned to the left and right sides may be opened and closed. 
     Of course, although the refrigerator having a structure in which a refrigerating compartment  11  is disposed at an upper side, and a freezing compartment  12  is disposed at a lower side is described as an example in the embodiment, the present disclosure may be applied to all types of refrigerators equipped with a door without being limited to types of refrigerators. 
     An outer appearance of the front surface of the refrigerator  1  may be defined in the state in which the door  20  is closed and may define the out appearance of the refrigerator  1  viewed from the front in the state in which the refrigerator  1  is installed. 
     The door  20  may have a structure in which a front surface selectively emits light and may be configured to shine with set color or brightness. Thus, a user may manipulate the refrigerator  1  so that the front surface of the refrigerator  1  is changed in color or brightness of the door  20  without separating or disassembling the door  20  and may change the overall outer appearance of the refrigerator  1 . 
     Hereinafter, the structure of the door  20  will be described in detail with reference to drawings. In addition, in an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the refrigerator compartment door  201  disposed at the left side, and other doors may have the same structure with only a difference in mounting position. 
       FIG.  3    is a perspective view of the door. In addition,  FIG.  4    is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state in which a panel assembly and a door body, which are components of the door, are separated from each other. Also,  FIG.  5    is an enlarged view illustrating a portion A of  FIG.  4   . 
     As illustrated in the drawings, the door  20  may include a door body  21  defining the overall shape of the door  20  and configured to open and close the storage space and a panel assembly  30  defining an outer appearance of a front surface of the door  20 . That is, the door  20  may be configured so that the panel assembly  30  is mounted on a front surface of the door body  40 . 
     The door body  40  may include a body plate  41  defining a front surface and a door liner  42  defining a rear surface. The body plate  41  may be made of a metal material and disposed to face a rear surface of the panel assembly  30 . The door liner  42  may be made of a plastic material and may form a bottom shape of the door  20 . 
     The door body  40  may include a side decoration  44  defining right and left side surfaces of the door body  21 . The side decoration  44  may connect both right and left ends of the body plate  41  and both right and left ends of the door liner  42 . 
     The door body  40  may include an upper cap decoration  43  and a lower cap decoration  45  that form top and bottom surfaces of the door body  40 . The upper cap decoration  43  may be connected to an upper end of the side decoration  44 , an upper end of the body plate  41 , and an upper end of the door liner  42 . The lower cap decoration  45  may be connected to a lower end of the side decoration  44 , a lower end of the body plate  41 , and a lower end of the door liner  42 . 
     An outer appearance of the door body  40  may be defined by the body plate  41 , the door liner  42 , the side decoration  44 , the upper cap decoration  43 , and the lower cap decoration  45 . In addition, an insulator (reference numeral  400  in  FIG.  16   ) may be filled in an internal space of the door body  40 , which is defined by coupling the body plate  41 , the door liner  42 , the side decoration  44 , the upper cap decoration  43 , and the lower cap decoration  45 . 
     The panel assembly  30  may be inserted into and mounted on the front surface of the door body  40 . For example, the side decoration  44  and the lower cap decoration  45  may further protrude forward and may be in contact with both ends and a lower end of the panel assembly  30 . Thus, a space  410  in which the panel assembly  30  may be accommodated may be defined in the door body  40  by the side decoration  44  and the lower cap decoration  45 . In addition, the top surface of the panel assembly  30  may define the same plane as the upper cap decoration  43 , thereby defining the top surface of the door  20 . 
     The panel assembly  30  may be provided in a plate shape and may define an outer appearance of the front surface of the door  20  while being mounted on the front surface of the door body  40 . Since the panel assembly  30  may form the outer appearance of the front surface of the door  20 , the panel assembly  30  may be referred to as a door panel, and since the panel assembly  30  may form the outer appearance of the front surface of the refrigerator  1 , the panel assembly  30  may also be referred to as an exterior panel. 
     The panel assembly  30  may be detachably mounted on the door body  40 . The lower end of the panel assembly  30  may be supported by the lower cap decoration  45 , and an upper protrusion  343  may be disposed on an upper end of the rear surface of the panel assembly  30  and be inserted and mounted into an upper mounting portion  431  on the front surface of the door body  40 . In addition, the upper protrusion  343  may be restricted by an upper cover  46  mounted on an opened top surface of the upper cap decoration  43 . 
     The lower cap decoration  45  may include a lower cap decoration bottom surface  451  defining a bottom surface and a lower cap decoration front surface  452  extending upward from the lower cap decoration bottom surface  451  to define a front surface. In addition, a lower support portion  451   b  protruding more than the lower cap decoration front surface  452  may be disposed on the front end of the lower cap decoration bottom surface  451 . The lower support portion  451   b  may extend to overlap at least a portion of the bottom surface of the panel assembly  30  and may support the lower end of the panel assembly  30  from a lower side. 
     In addition, a lower opening  453  may be defined in the lower cap decoration front surface  452 . The lower opening  453  may be defined at a position corresponding to the coupling portions  357  and  396   c  so that the coupling portions  357  and  396   c  protruding backward from the rear end of the rear surface of the panel assembly  30  are inserted. A lower end of the lower opening  453  may be in contact with a top surface of the lower support portion  451   b , and an insertion portion (reference numeral  456  in  FIG.  16   ) into which the coupling portions  357  and  396   c  are inserted and accommodated may be defined in a lower end of the lower opening  453 . In addition, a screw hole  454  into which a coupling member (reference numeral  457  in  FIG.  16   ) for restricting the lower end of the panel assembly  30  to the door body  40  is inserted may be opened on an inner bottom surface of the lower opening  453 . 
     A plurality of lower openings  453  may be spaced apart from each other along the lower support portion  451   b  and may be disposed to lean to a different one end that is away from one end on which the hinge device  205  for rotation among both left and right ends of the door body  40  is mounted. 
     In addition, a recessed groove  452   b  may be formed on the front surface  452  of the lower cap decoration  45  so as not to interfere with the exposed portion of the screw  397   b  coupled to the back cover  39 . The grooves  452   b  may be defined in a number corresponding to positions corresponding to the screws  397   b . 
     In addition, a connector hole  452   a  through which a wire connected to a lighting device (reference numeral  36  in  FIG.  11   ) provided in the panel assembly  30  passes may be defined in the lower cap decoration front surface  452 . In addition, a connector  455  connected to the electric wire may be disposed inside the connector hole  452   a . A connector corresponding to the connector  455  may be detachably provided on an end of the electric wire and may be configured to facilitate the connection and separation of the electric wire when the panel assembly  30  is detached. 
     As described above, the panel assembly  30  may be detachably mounted from the door body  40  for services and maintenance. 
     A front surface of the panel assembly  30  may be exposed forward in the state in which the panel assembly  30  is mounted on the door body  40 , and the panel assembly  30  may substantially form the outer appearance of the front surface of the door  20 . That is, a color of the outer appearance of the front surface of the door  20  may be determined by a color of the front surface of the panel assembly  30 . In addition, the entire front surface of the panel assembly  30  may be configured to shine in a color specified by the user, and in the state in which the door  20  and the panel assembly  30  are mounted, various colors selected by the user may be changed by the operation of the lighting device  36  to variously express the color of the front surface of the door  20 . 
     Hereinafter, the structure of the panel assembly  30  will be described in more detail with reference to drawings. 
       FIG.  6    is a rear view of the panel assembly. In addition,  FIG.  7    is an exploded front perspective view illustrating the panel assembly.  FIG.  8    is a cutaway perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of a fixing member and a side end of a back cover. 
     As illustrated in the drawing, the panel assembly  30  may include a panel  31  defining an outer appearance of a front surface thereof, a lighting device  36  emitting light so that the panel  31  shines, and a back cover  39  defining an outer appearance of a rear surface of the panel assembly  30 . In addition, the panel assembly  30  may further include a light guide plate  33  that guides the light irradiated from the lighting device. 
     In addition, the panel assembly  30  may further include a fixing member  32  that mounts the light guide plate  33  and the panel  31 . 
     The panel assembly  30  may include an upper bracket  34  forming a top surface of the panel assembly  30  and a lower bracket  35  forming a bottom surface of the panel assembly  30 . The lighting device  36  may be mounted on the lower bracket  35 . 
     In more detail, the panel  31  may be provided in a rectangular plate shape and may be made of a transparent material that transmits light therethrough. For example the panel  31  may be made of a glass material such as blue glass, white glass, and vapor deposition glass or may be made of other materials for transmitting light therethrough, such as ABS, PMMA, or PC. In all embodiments of the present disclosure, the terms “transparent” and “transmission” may be defined as a state in which the light passes to display a set color through the panel  31 . 
     In addition, the panel  31  may be provided to have a color. The panel  31  (front plate) may be configured to transmit light emitted from the lighting device  36  but components behind the front plate  31  may not be seen therethrough. 
     In addition, the panel  31  may be mounted on a front surface of the fixing member  32 . In the state in which the panel  31  is attached to the fixing member  32 , when viewed from the front, the components disposed behind the panel  31  in addition to the fixing member  32  may not be exposed to the outside, and the outer appearance of the front surfaces of the panel assembly  30  and the door  20  may be defined. 
     The light guide plate  33  may be positioned at a rear spaced apart from the panel  31  and may be configured to guide light emitted from the lighting device  36  disposed below the light guide plate  33  forward toward the panel  31 . A reflective layer  331  may be disposed on a rear surface of the light guide plate  33  so that light inside the light guide plate  33  is directed forward. 
     The fixing member  32  may be disposed between the panel  31  and the light guide plate  33 . The fixing member  32  may be configured so that the light guide plate  33  and the panel  31  are fixedly mounted thereon. The fixing member  32  may be made of a material that allows light to pass therethrough. 
     The fixing member  32  may include a front surface portion  321  having a plate shape, and a side surface portion  322  that protrudes backward from each of both right and left ends of the front surface portion  321 . The front surface portion  321  may be disposed between the panel  31  and the light guide plate  33 , and also, the front surface may be in contact with the panel  31 , and the rear surface may be in contact with the light guide plate  33 . In addition, the side surface portion  322  may provide a structure on which the light guide plate  33  is fixed, and the upper bracket  34 , the lower bracket  35 , and the back cover  39  are mounted. 
     In detail, the front surface portion  321  may be provided in the plate shape having a size corresponding to that of the panel  31 , and an adhesive member  313  may be applied around the front surface portion  321  so that the panel  31  adheres to the fixing member  32 . 
     The side surface portion  322  may be disposed along both the left and right ends of the light guide plate  33 . In addition, the upper bracket  34 , the lower bracket  35 , and the back cover  39  may also be mounted on the side surface portion  322 . In detail, the side surface portion  322  may include a first part  322   a  extending backward from each of both left and right ends of the front surface portion  321  and a second part  323  bent from an end of the first part  322   a . The first part  322   a  may extend perpendicular to the front surface portion  321  from each of both the left and right ends of the front surface portion  321  and may define a side surface of the panel assembly  30 . 
     In addition, a restriction groove  326  may be defined in the first part  322   a . The restriction groove  326  may be defined so that the side restriction portion  393   a  of the back cover  39  is inserted when the back cover  39  is mounted. The second part  322   b  may extend perpendicular to the first part  322   a . The second part  322   b  may be configured to restrict the light guide plate  33  and simultaneously restrict both the ends of the upper bracket  34  and the lower bracket  35 . 
     In detail, the front surface of the second part  322   b  may be defined to have a stepped shape. Thus, a light guide plate insertion space  324  and a bracket insertion space  325  may be defined in the side surface portion  322  by the first part  322   a , the second part  322   b , and the front surface portion  321 , respectively. 
     In a state in which the light guide plate  33  is inserted into the light guide plate insertion space  324 , both left and right ends of the light guide plate  33  may be restricted, and movement of the light guide plate  33  in the front and rear direction may be restricted. In addition, the lower end of the light guide plate  33  may be disposed to face the lighting device  36 . 
     The upper bracket  34  and the lower bracket  35  may be inserted into the bracket insertion space  325  to be firmly coupled to the fixing member  32 . In addition, the upper bracket  34  and the lower bracket  35  may define top and bottom surfaces of the panel assembly  30  in a state of being coupled to the fixing member  32  and may be coupled to the back cover  39 . 
     The lighting device  36  may be mounted on the lower bracket  35 . The lighting device  36  may be provided inside the lower bracket  35  to irradiate light toward the light guide plate  33  and may be assembled and mounted with the lower bracket  35  in the state of being mounted on the lower bracket  35 . 
     The structures of the upper bracket  34 , the lower bracket  35 , and the back cover  39  will be described in more detail below. 
       FIG.  9    is an exploded perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of the fixing member, the lower bracket, and the back cover, which are components of the panel assembly. 
     As illustrated in the drawings, the upper bracket  34  may include an upper bracket extension portion  341  and an upper bracket top surface portion  342 . The upper bracket extension portion  341  may be configured to the upper bracket  34  may be disposed in parallel with the panel  31  and the light guide plate  33  to extend in the vertical direction. 
     In addition, an upper bracket mounting portion  344  may be disposed on each of both left and right ends of the upper bracket extension portion  341 . The upper bracket mounting portion  344  may be inserted by being slid downward from an upper side of the bracket insertion space  325 . 
     In the state in which the upper bracket  34  is mounted on the fixing member  32 , the upper bracket mounting portion  344  may be fixed in the bracket insertion space  325 , and the remaining upper bracket extension portion  341  may be exposed between both the side surface portions  322  to support the upper end of the back cover  39  and to be coupled to the upper end of the back cover  39 . 
     An upper protrusion  343  protruding backward may be disposed on a rear surface of the upper bracket extension portion  341 . The upper protrusion  343  may protrude from the upper bracket extension portion and be coupled to the upper mounting portion  431  of the upper cap decoration  43 . 
     In addition, a plurality of the upper protrusions  343  may be provided at regular intervals along the upper bracket  34 . In addition, the upper protrusion  343  may protrude to pass through the protrusion opening  395  of the back cover  39  when the back cover  39  is mounted. 
     An upper bracket screw hole  345  to be coupled to the screw  397   b  may be defined in the upper bracket extension portion  341 . When the back cover  39  is mounted, the screw  397   b  may be coupled to sequentially pass through the cover screw hole  397   a  defined in the back cover  39  and the upper bracket screw hole  345 . 
     The upper bracket top surface portion  342  may be disposed on an upper end of the upper bracket extension portion  341 . The front end of the upper bracket top surface portion  342  may support the upper end of the panel  31  and completely shield the upper ends of the fixing member  32  and the light guide plate  33 . 
       FIG.  10    is an exploded perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of the fixing member, the lower bracket, and the back cover, which are components of the panel assembly. Also,  FIG.  11    is an exploded perspective view illustrating a coupling structure of the lower bracket and a lighting device. 
     As illustrated in the drawings, the lower bracket  35  may include a lower bracket front surface portion  351 , a lower bracket rear surface portion  352 , a lower bracket side surface portion  353 , and a lower bracket bottom surface portion  354 . 
     The lower bracket front surface portion  351  may define a shape of the front surface of the lower bracket  35 , and an upper end (reference numeral  351   a  in  FIG.  14   ) of the lower bracket front surface portion  351  may support a lower end of the panel  31 . The panel support portion  351   a  may protrude upward more than the upper end of the light source  362  of the lighting device  36 . 
     The lower bracket rear surface portion  352  may be disposed at a position spaced backward from the lower bracket front surface portion  351 . The lower bracket rear surface portion  352  may define a rear surface of the lower bracket  35  and may protrude more upward than the lower bracket front surface portion  351  and the lower bracket side surface portion  353  to support the light guide plate  33  at the rear side and then may be coupled to the back cover  39 . 
     A lower bracket mounting portion  352   b  that is disposed to be stepped forward may be disposed on each of both left and right ends of the lower bracket rear surface portion  352 . The lower bracket mounting portion  352   b  may be inserted from a lower side of the bracket insertion space  325 . 
     A lower bracket screw hole  352   c  to which a plurality of screws  397   b  are coupled may be defined in the lower bracket rear surface portion  352 . When the back cover  39  is mounted, the screw  399  may be coupled to sequentially pass through the cover screw hole  397   a  and the lower bracket screw hole  352   c . 
     A bracket opening may be defined in the lower bracket rear surface portion  352 . The lighting device  36  may be accessible through the bracket opening  352   a . The bracket opening  352   a  may be shielded by the back cover  39 . 
     The lower bracket bottom surface portion  354  may define a bottom surface of the lower bracket  35  and may define a bottom surface of the space in which the lighting device  36  is mounted. In addition, the bracket support portion  356  protruding backward may be disposed on a rear end of the lower bracket bottom surface portion  354 . The bracket support portion  356  may protrude more backward than the lower bracket rear surface portion  352  and may be supported by a lower end of the lower cap decoration  45  when the panel assembly  30  is mounted. 
     In addition, the bracket support portion  356  may further include a bracket coupling portion  357 . The bracket coupling portion  357  protruding further backward may be disposed on the bracket support portion  356 . The bracket support portion  356  may be continuously disposed from one end to the other end of the lower bracket  35 , and the bracket coupling portion  357  may be provided in plurality to be spaced apart along the bracket support portion  356 . The bracket coupling portion  357  may be inserted into the lower opening  453  so that the panel assembly  30  is firmly coupled to the door body  40 . In addition, a bracket coupling hole  357   a  through which the coupling member  457  passes may be defined in the bracket coupling portion  357 . 
     In addition, the bracket support portion  356  and the bracket coupling portion  357  may protrude in shapes corresponding to the cover support portion  396  and the cover coupling portion  396   c , which are disposed on the lower end of the back cover  39 , to support the cover support portion  396  and the cover coupling portion  396   c  at the lower side. The bracket support portion  356  and the bracket coupling portion  357  may be integrally provided and may protrude more backward than the bracket rear surface portion  352  and thus may be referred to as the bracket protrusion. In this case, the bracket protrusion may be formed to have a size and shape corresponding to the cover support portion  396  and the cover coupling portion  396   c , i.e., the bending portion to overlap each other. 
     The light guide plate support portion  355  supporting the lower end of the light guide plate  33  may be provided in plurality on the lower bracket  35 . The lower end of the light guide plate  33  may be supported by the light guide plate support portion  355  to maintain a distance from the lighting device  36 . 
     The lighting device  36  may be provided within the lower bracket  35 . The lighting device  36  may include a substrate  361  and a light source  362 . The substrate  361  may be accommodated in the lower bracket  35 , and a plurality of light sources  362  may be continuously disposed at regular intervals on the substrate  361 . 
     The light source  362  may be disposed to emit light toward the lower end of the light guide plate  33 . An example of the light source  362  may include an light-emitting diode (LED). In addition, the light source  362  may include an RGB LED that emits light with various colors under a control of a controller. That is, the light source  362  may emit light of various colors according to a user’s manipulation, and thus the panel  31  may shine in a color set by the user. In addition, a color of an outer appearance of the front surface of the refrigerator  1  may be determined according to the color of the panel  31 . 
     A substrate connection portion  363  protruding backward may be disposed at one side of the substrate  361 , and an electric wire may be connected to the substrate connection portion  363 . The substrate connection portion  363  may protrude to be exposed through a wire entrance  398  defined in the back cover  39 , and the wire may enter and exit through the wire entrance  398 . 
     A light supporter  37  may be provided under the substrate  361 . The light supporter  37  may include a horizontal portion  371  and a vertical portion  372 . The horizontal portion  371  may define a bottom surface of the light supporter  37  and may be disposed below the substrate  361  to support the substrate  361 . In this case, a supporting groove  373  that prevents an interference with elements of the substrate  361  may be defined in the horizontal portion  371 . 
     A rear end of the horizontal portion  371  may extend to the bracket opening  352   a , and the vertical portion  372  may extend upward from the rear end of the horizontal portion  371 . The vertical portion  372  may support a rear end of the substrate  361 . from the rear side. In addition, the vertical portion  372  may be exposed through the bracket opening  352   a  and may shield at least a portion of the bracket opening  352   a . 
     When the back cover  39  is mounted on the lower bracket  35 , the vertical portion  372  exposed through the bracket opening  352   a  may be in contact with the front surface of the back cover  39 . Thus, heat from the substrate  361  may be transferred to the back cover  39  through the light supporter  37  and may be radiated through the entire rear surface of the panel assembly  30 . 
     Hereinafter, the structure of the back cover  39  will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG.  12    is a front perspective view of the back cover. Also,  FIG.  13    is an enlarged view illustrating a portion B of  FIG.  6   . Also,  FIG.  14    is a cutaway perspective view taken along line XIV-XIV′ of  FIG.  13   .  FIG.  15    is a cutaway perspective view taken along line XV-XV′ of  FIG.  13   . 
     As illustrated in the drawings, the back cover  39  may be provided in the form of a plate made of a metal material and may define the rear surface of the panel assembly  30 . The back cover  39  may include a cover protrusion  391  at the center of the back cover  39  and a cover circumferential portion  392  disposed along a circumference of the cover protrusion  391 , and the cover protrusion  391  and the cover circumferential portion  392  may be provided through forming. 
     The cover protrusion  391  may be disposed inside the cover circumferential portion  392 , that is, at the center of the back cover  39  and may protrude more forward than the cover circumferential portion  392 . In addition, when the back cover  39  is mounted, the rear surface of the light guide plate  33  may be supported by the cover protrusion  391 . The cover protrusion  391  may support most of an area including the center of the light guide plate  33  from the rear side. Thus, although the light guide plate  33  having both supported ends may have a large plate-like structure, the light guide plate  33  may be more stably supported by the cover protrusion  391 . 
     In addition, a plurality of cover holes  391   a  may be defined inside the cover protrusion  391 . The cover hole  391   a  may be defined in a center based on the left and right direction of the cover protrusion  391 , and the plurality of cover holes  391   a  may be continuously defined in the vertical direction. An overall weight of the back cover  39  may be reduced by the cover hole  391   a , and only a portion of the cover protrusion  391  may be opened so that the remaining cover protrusion  391  supports the light guide plate  33 . The cover hole  391   a  may be provided in a circular shape and may prevent the back cover  39  from being deformed by dispersing an impact or load applied to the back cover  39 . 
     A plurality of protrusion reinforcing portions  391   b  may be disposed inside the cover protrusion  391 . The plurality of the protrusion reinforcing portions  391   b  may be provided in a horizontal direction and a longitudinal direction of the cover protrusion  391  and be disposed to pass between the plurality of cover holes  391   a  to additionally reinforce the cover protrusion  391 . 
     The cover circumferential portion  392  may define the circumference of the back cover  39  and may be disposed along the circumference of the cover protrusion  391 . A circumferential portion reinforcing portion  392   a  recessed along the cover circumferential portion  392  may be disposed on the cover circumferential portion  392 . In addition, a fixing member opening  392   b  in which the panel fixing member  38  is installed may be defined in each of both left and right sides of the cover circumferential portion  392 . The panel fixing member  38  may be fixed to the back cover  39  and may protrude backward to be coupled to the fixing member coupling portion  413  of the front surface of the door body  40 . 
     In addition, upper and lower ends of the cover circumferential portion  392  may be coupled to the upper bracket  34  and the lower bracket  35 , and left and right ends of the cover circumferential portion  392  may be coupled to the side surface portion  322 . 
     In detail, a plurality of forming portions  397  may be disposed along the upper and lower ends of the cover circumferential portion  392 . Each of the forming portions  397  may protrude backward, and a bracket boss  352   d  in which the lower bracket screw hole  352   c  is defined may be disposed inside the forming portion  297 . In addition, a cover screw hole  397   a  to which the screw  397   b  is coupled may be defined in the forming portion  397 . 
     In addition, the protrusion opening  395  through which the upper protrusion  343  protruding backward from the rear surface of the upper bracket  34  passes when the upper bracket  34  is mounted may be defined in the upper end of the back cover  39 . 
     The forming portion  397  and the cover screw hole  397   a  may be defined at positions corresponding to the lower bracket screw hole  352   c  along the lower end of the cover circumferential portion  392 , and the screw  397   b  may be coupled to allow the lower bracket  35  and the lower end of the back cover  39  to be coupled to each other. 
     The overall restricting structure of the panel assembly  30  may be completed by coupling the screw  397   b , and the fixing member  32  and the light guide plate  33  may also be restricted by coupling the upper bracket  34 , the lower bracket  35 , and the back cover  39 . 
     In addition, the wire entrance  398  may be further provided at the lower end of the cover circumferential portion  392 . The wire entrance  398  may be disposed at a position corresponding to the connector hole  452   a  and may be provided by cutting the lower end of the back cover  39 . 
     In addition, a cover support portion  396  may be disposed at a lower end of the cover circumferential portion  392 , i.e., at the lower end of the back cover  39 . The cover support portion  396  may be bent backward. Accordingly, the cover support portion  396  may be referred to as a bending portion. Also, the cover support portion  396  may be formed together when the back cover  39  is formed. 
     The cover support portion  396  may be configured to more firmly support and couple the panel assembly  30  when the panel assembly  30  is mounted to the door body  40  and may be in contact with the bracket support portion  356  to reinforce strength of the bracket support portion  356 . 
     The cover support portion  396  may be bent to be perpendicular to the rear surface of the back cover  39 . In addition, the cover support portion  396  may extend from one end to the other end of the lower end of the back cover  39 . In addition, the cover support portion  396  may extend backward so that at least a portion of the cover support portion  396  overlaps the lower support portion  451   b  of the lower cap decoration  45 . 
     The cover support portion  396  may further include a cover coupling portion  396   c . The cover coupling portion  396   c  that further protrudes backward may be disposed on the cover support portion  396 . The cover coupling portion  396   c  may be disposed at a position corresponding to the lower opening  453  and may extend to be inserted into the lower opening  453 . The cover support portion  396  and the cover coupling portion  396   c  may also be called a cover bending portion. 
     A plurality of the cover coupling portions  396   c  may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other along the cover support portion  396 . In addition, the cover coupling portion  396   c  may be provided in a shape corresponding to the bracket coupling portion  357  disposed on the lower bracket bottom surface portion  354  and may be seated on the bracket coupling portion  357 . That is, in the state in which the panel assembly  30  is assembled, the cover support portion  396  and the cover coupling portion  396   c  may be in close contact with a top surfaces of the bracket support portion  356  and the bracket coupling portion  357 . In addition, when the panel assembly  30  is mounted on the door body  40 , the cover support portion  396  and the cover coupling portion  396   c  may be inserted into the lower opening  453  in a state of being seated on the bracket support portion  356  and the bracket coupling portion  357 . 
     A coupling hole  396   d  through which the coupling member  457  coupled to a bottom surface of the door body  40  passes may be defined in the cover coupling portion  396   c . In addition, a bracket coupling hole  357   a  may be defined in the bracket coupling portion  357  at a position corresponding to the coupling hole  396   d . Thus, the coupling member  457  may be disposed to sequentially pass through the bracket coupling hole  357   a  and the coupling hole  396   d . 
     A bracket hook portion  354   a  protruding downward may be formed on the lower bracket bottom surface portion  354 . The bracket hook portion  354   a  may be disposed more forward than the cover support portion  396 , and when the panel assembly  30  is mounted on the door body  40 , the bracket hook portion  354   a  may be hooked on a front end of the lower support portion  451   b  to guide a mounting position of the panel assembly  30 . 
     That is, when the bracket hook portion  354   a  is hooked and restricted on the front end of the lower support portion  451   b  when the panel assembly  30  is mounted, the lower end of the panel assembly  30  may be disposed at a fixed position. Here, the cover support portion  396  and the bracket support portion  356  may become a state of being supported by the lower support portion  451   b , and the cover coupling portion  396   c  and the bracket coupling portion  357  may become a state of being inserted into the lower opening  453 . In addition, the coupling hole  396   d  and the bracket coupling hole  357   a  may be aligned so that the coupling member  457  is coupled. 
     Hereinafter, the state in which the lower end of the panel assembly  30  having the above structure is fixed will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. 
     Also,  FIG.  16    is a cutaway perspective view taken along line XVI-XVI′ of  FIG.  3   . 
     To mount the panel assembly  30  on the door body  40 , the lower end of the panel assembly  30  may be first supported on the lower end of the lower cap decoration  45 , and then, the upper end of the panel assembly  30  may rotate backward so that the upper protrusion  343  is restricted on the upper mounting portion  431 . Then, the coupling member  457  may be coupled to the bottom surface of the lower cap decoration  45  to further fix the lower end of the panel assembly  30  and the door body  40 , thereby completing the mounting of the panel assembly  30 . 
     In addition, to separate the panel assembly  30  from the door body  40 , after the coupling member  457  is separated, first, the upper protrusion  343  may rotate forward to be separated from the upper mounting portion  431 , and then, the panel assembly  30  may be lifted to completely separate the panel assembly  30  from the door body  40 . 
     In the state in which the panel assembly  30  is mounted, the lower end of the panel assembly  30  may remain in a state of being firmly coupled to the door body  40  and may distribute and support a load of the panel assembly  30 . 
     In detail, the cover support portion  396  and the cover coupling portion  396   c  protruding toward the door body  40  in the state in which the panel assembly  30  is assembled may become in a state of overlapping the top surfaces of the bracket support portion  356  and the bracket coupling portion  357 . Here, at least one of the cover support portion  396 , the cover coupling portion  396   c , the bracket support portion  356 , or the bracket coupling portion  357 , which protrudes to the rear side of the panel assembly  30 , may be referred to as a coupling portion. In addition, the coupling portion may be supported on the lower cap decoration bottom surface  451 , and simultaneously, at least a portion of the coupling portion may be inserted to pass through the front surface of the lower cap decoration  45 . 
     In the state in which the panel assembly  30  is mounted, the lower support portion  451   b  may support the bracket support portion  356  and the cover support portion  396  from the lower side. Here, the panel  31 , the fixing member  32 , and the light guide plate  33  may be disposed at a front side with respect to the lower support portion  451   b , and a center of gravity of at least the panel assembly  30  may be disposed in front of the lower support portion  451   b . 
     In this state, the rear surface of the back cover  39  may be disposed vertically above the lower support portion  451   b , and the bracket coupling portion  357  and the cover coupling portion  396   c  may pass through the lower support portion  451   b  and then be inserted into the lower opening  453 . 
     In the insertion part  456  of the lower opening  453 , the bracket coupling portion  357  and the cover coupling portion  396   c  may be supported by the lower cap decoration  45 . In detail, due to the supporting of the lower support portion  451   b  and the front arrangement of the center of gravity of the panel assembly  30 , the bracket coupling portion  357  and the cover coupling portion  396   c  may be applied with upward force and be in contact with the top surface of the insertion part  456  so as to be restricted. 
     Therefore, even in the situation in which the weight of the panel assembly  30  is heavy, the panel assembly  30  may be prevented from being sagged due to the primary supporting by the lower support portion  451   b  and the secondary supporting of the bracket coupling portion  357  and the cover coupling portion  396   c . 
     In the state in which the bracket coupling portion  357  and the cover coupling portion  396   c  are inserted into the lower opening  453 , the coupling member  457  may be inserted through the screw hole  454  that is opened in the lower bracket bottom surface portion  354 . In addition, the coupling member  457  may pass through the bracket coupling hole  357   a  and the coupling hole  396   d  and then may be coupled to the screw boss  456   a  disposed on the top surface of the insertion part  456 . 
     Thus, the bracket coupling portion  357  and the cover coupling portion  396   c  may be maintained in the fixed state of being in close contact with the top surface of the insertion part  456  while being inserted into the lower opening  453 , and thus, the panel assembly  30  nay be additionally fixed. 
     Hereinafter, the operations of the refrigerator  1  and the panel assembly  30  having the above structures will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. 
       FIG.  17    is a cross-sectional view illustrating an emission state of the panel assembly, i.e., a cross-sectional view taken along line XVII-XVII′ of  FIG.  4   . Also,  FIG.  18    is a view illustrating an example of adjusting colors of home appliances to which the panel assembly using a remote device is applied. Also,  FIG.  19    is a front view illustrating an outer appearance of the front surface of the refrigerator that is in a state in which the lighting device is turned on. 
     As illustrated in the drawing, an outer appearance of the home appliance according to an embodiment may be defined by the panel assembly  30 , and also, a color of the outer appearance of the home appliance may be changed to a color that is set by the user according to the operation of the lighting device  36 . The panel assembly may be expressed in various colors by light irradiated from the rear side, and thus the panel assembly  30  or the panel  31  may be referred to as a screen. 
     The home appliance may be any one of a refrigerator  1 , an air conditioner  5 , a dishwasher  6 , a clothes manager  7 , a washing machine  8 , or a cooking appliance  9 , each of which has a front surface of which a color of an outer appearance is freely changed by applying the same structure as the panel assembly  30  according to an embodiment. 
     For example, in the above-described embodiment and in the refrigerator  1 , the panel assembly  30  may be provided on a front side of the door  20  that opens and closes the cabinet  10 . In addition, the panel assembly  30  may shine in a set color by user setting, and the outer appearance of the front surface of the refrigerator  1  may be changed in color. 
     As another example, an indoor unit of the air conditioner  5  may have a space in which a heat exchange device and a fan are provided inside a case  51  (or cabinet) that defines an outer appearance of the indoor unit. In addition, a front surface of the case  51  may be defined by a panel assembly  511 . The panel assembly  511  may have the same structure as the panel assembly  30  of the refrigerator  1  to emit light. 
     Thus, the panel assembly  511  may shine in a set color by the user setting, and a color of the outer appearance of the front surface of the indoor unit of the air conditioner  5  may be changed into the set color. 
     As another example, in the dishwasher  6 , a space for washing dishes may be defined inside a case  61  or a cabinet that defines an outer appearance of the dishwasher  6 . In addition, the front surface of the case  61  may be opened and closed by the door  62 , and the front surface of the door  62  may be defined by the panel assembly  621 . The panel assembly  621  may have the same structure as the panel assembly  30  of the refrigerator  1  to emit light. 
     Thus, the panel assembly  621  may shine in a set color by the user setting, and a color of the outer appearance of the front surface of the dishwasher  6  may be changed into the set color. 
     As another example, in the clothes manager  7 , a space for storing clothes may be defined inside a case  71  or a cabinet that defines an outer appearance of the clothes manager  7 . In addition, the front surface of the case  71  may be opened and closed by the door  72 , and the front surface of the door  72  may be defined by the panel assembly  721 . The panel assembly  721  may have the same structure as the panel assembly  30  of the refrigerator  1  to emit light. 
     Thus, the panel assembly  721  may shine in a set color by the user setting, and a color of the outer appearance of the front surface of the clothes manager  7  may be changed into the set color. 
     As another example, in the washing machine  8  or a dryer, a space for washing or drying may be defined inside a case  81  (or cabinet) that defines an outer appearance of the washing machine  8 . In addition, a front of the case  81  may be opened and closed by the door  82 . The front surface of the case  81  may be defined by a panel assembly  811 . The panel assembly  811  may have the same structure as the panel assembly  30  of the refrigerator  1  to emit light. 
     Thus, the panel assembly  30  may shine in a set color by the user setting, and a color of the outer appearance of the front surface of the washing machine  8 , the dryer, or the air conditioner  5  may be changed into the set color. 
     As another example, in the cooking appliance  9 , a space for cooking food may be defined inside a case  91  or a cabinet that defines an outer appearance of the cooking appliance. In addition, the front surface of the case  91  may be opened and closed by the door  92 , and the front surface of the door  92  may be defined by the panel assembly  921 . The panel assembly  921  may have the same structure as the panel assembly  30  of the refrigerator  1  to emit light. 
     Thus, the panel assembly  921  may shine in a set color by the user setting, and a color of the outer appearance of the front surface of the cooking appliance  9  may be changed into the set color. 
     A process of changing the color of the panel assembly  30  will be described below. 
     In a state in which the lighting device  36  is turned off, a color of the outer appearance of the front surface may be expressed by the color of the panel  31 . A color displayed on the panel  31  in the state in which the lighting device  36  is turned off may be referred to as a first color. 
     When the lighting device  36  operates, the color of the panel  31  may be changed according to a color of light irradiated from the lighting device  36 , and a color of the outer appearance of the front surface of the door  20  may be expressed in the selected color. Here, the color displayed through the panel by the light irradiated from the lighting device  36  may be referred to as a second color. 
     The color of the panel  31  may be determined by an operation of the lighting device  36 . For example, the lighting device  36  may also be manipulated and set through a remote device  2  spaced apart from the refrigerator  1 . The refrigerator  1  may communicate with the remote device  2  through a communicator  17   connected to a controller  13 , and the user may manipulate an operation of the lighting device  36  through the remote device  2 . 
     The communicator  17  may communicate with the remote device  2  using various methods. For example, the remote device  2  may be various devices that are capable of communicating, such as a dedicated terminal, a mobile phone, a tablet, a portable PC, a desktop PC, a remote control, or a Bluetooth speaker. 
     The user may manipulate and set the overall operation state of the lighting device  36 , such as an operation time and an operation condition of the lighting device  36  and emission color through manipulation of the remote device  2 . For example, the lighting device  36  may be simply manipulated and set through an application or a dedicated program installed in a portable phone of the user. That is, the user may select a desired color of the panel  31  through a screen 2a of the remote device  2  such as a mobile phone or a terminal. 
     In addition, the user may input a color through a manipulation portion provided in the refrigerator  1  without using the remote device  2 . 
     In addition, each of the refrigerator  1  and the remote device  2  may be connected to a server in a network state, and thus, the color of the panel  31  of the refrigerator  1  may be input through the server  3 . 
     The operation state of the lighting device  36  is now described. As illustrated in  FIG.  17   , when the lighting device  36  is turned on, light emitted from the LED  362  may be emitted toward the lower end of the light guide plate  33 . 
     The light incident through the lower end of the light guide plate  33  may be diffused and reflected along the light guide plate  33  and then may move along the light guide plate  33 . In this case, the light guided by the light guide plate  33  may be reflected forward by the reflective layer  331  to pass through the panel  31  so as to be transmitted to the outside. 
     Light directed forward through the light guide plate  33  may pass through the fixing member  32  to illuminate the panel  31 , and the front surface of the door  20  may shine with a set brightness or color. 
     For example, in the state in which the lighting device  36  is turned off, as illustrated in  FIG.  1   , a front surface of the door  20  may not shine, and an original color of the panel assembly  30  may appear. 
     The panel assembly  30  may have a structure that is separable from the door body  40 , and thus, the user may select a color of the front panel  31  by mounting the panel assembly  30  having a desired color. Of course, if necessary, the user may change the color of the panel  31  when the lighting device  36  is turned off by exchanging the panel assembly  30  itself. 
     Thus, the front surface of the door  20  may be seen with the first color that is the color of the panel  31 . In this case, components inside the panel assembly  30  may be seen through the panel  31  and may not be seen to the outside by the color of the panel  31 . 
     In this state, the lighting device  36  may be turned on, and when the lighting device  36  is turned on, the front surface of the door  20  may shine with a color set by the user. 
     For example, as illustrated in  FIG.  19   , the controller may control the front surface of the door  20  to shine with a second color different from the first color, and the lighting device  36  may cause the LED  362  to shine with the set color according to the control of the controller. Here, the color of the panel  31  may be selected by the user, and the color of the panel  31  may be selected by the manipulation of the remote device  2  or the manipulation of the manipulation portion  14 . 
     In the state in which the outer appearance of the front surface of the refrigerator  1  shines with the set color, when the controller instructs change in color of the front surface of the refrigerator  1 , the front surface of the panel  31  may shine with a color that is reset by the controller. 
     In addition, the panels  31  constituting some of the plurality of doors  20  defining the outer appearance of the front surface of the refrigerator  1  may emit light, or the panels  31  constituting the plurality of doors  20  may independently emit light with different colors to define the outer appearance of the front surface of the refrigerator  1 . 
     There may be various other embodiments other than the aforementioned embodiments. Another embodiment of the present disclosure is characterized in that a cover support portion of a lower end of a back cover is bent several times. In another embodiment of the present disclosure, other constitutes except for the cover support portion have the same structure as those in the foregoing embodiment, and thus, the same reference numerals are used for the same constitute, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted. 
     Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference drawings. 
       FIG.  20    is a rear perspective view of a back cover according to another embodiment of the present invention.  FIG.  21    is a rear perspective view of a panel assembly according to another embodiment. 
     As illustrated in the drawings, a panel assembly  30  according to another embodiment may have the same structure as the above-described embodiment except for a shape of a back cover  39 ′, particularly, a cover support portion  396 ′. 
     The back cover  39 ′ may be provided in the form of a metal plate and includes a cover protrusion  391  supporting a light guide plate  33  and a cover circumferential portion  392  disposed along a circumference of the cover protrusion  391 . 
     A plurality of the cover holes  391   a  may be defined in the cover protrusion  391 , and a protrusion reinforcing portion 39lb may be provided. In addition, a circumferential portion reinforcing portion  392   a , a forming portion  397 , a protrusion opening  395 , a fixing member opening  392   b , and a wire entrance  398  may be disposed on the cover circumferential portion  392 . 
     A cover side surface  393  may be disposed on each of both left and right ends of the back cover  39 ′. The cover side surface  393  may be disposed to extend forward from each of both the left and right ends of the back cover  39 ′. The cover side surface  393  may be coupled to a side surface portion  322  of the fixing member  32 , and both the left and right ends of the back cover  39 ′ may be restricted to the fixing member  32 . 
     A cover support portion  396 ′ may be further disposed on a lower end of the cover circumferential portion  392 . The cover support portion  396 ′ may be provided by bending the lower end of the cover circumferential portion  392 , i.e., the lower end of the back cover  39 ′ several times and may have a structure that is capable of supporting a lighting device  36  and fixedly mounting a lower end of the panel assembly  30 . 
     In detail, the cover support portion  396 ′ may be provided by continuously bending the lower end of the back cover  39 ′ forward and backward and may include a first support portion  396   a  defining a top surface of the cover support portion  396 ′ and a second support portion  396   b  defining a bottom surface of the cover support portion  396 ′. 
     The first support portion  396   a  may be provided to be bent forward at the lower end of the back cover  39 ′. The first support portion  396   a  may be inserted into the bracket opening  352   a  and may support the lighting device  36  from the lower side. 
     In addition, the first support portion  396   a  may extend inside the lower bracket  35  and may extend to overlap at least a portion of a substrate  361  of the lighting device  36 . 
     The extending end of the first support portion  396   a  may be bent backward to provide the second support portion  396   b . The second support portion  396   b  may be bent to be in contact with a bottom surface of the first support portion  396   a  and may extend backward. The second support portion  396   b  may extend backward from the inside of the lower bracket  35  and may further extend backward through the bracket opening  352   a . 
     Thus, the lighting device  36  may be supported in the shape in which the first support portion  396   a  and the second support portion  396   b  overlap each other in the lower bracket  35 , and thus, strength of the lower portion of the panel assembly  30  may be reinforced in the lower bracket  35 . 
     The second support portion  396   b  may protrude backward via a rear surface of the back cover  39 ′. The second support portion  396   b  may extend backward to be seated on the lower support portion  451   b  of a lower cap decoration  45 . 
     A cover coupling portion  396   c  protruding backward may be disposed on the second support portion  396   b . The cover coupling portion  396   c  may protrude backward from the second support portion  396   b , and a plurality of the cover coupling portions  396   c  may be disposed along the left and right sides of the lower end of the back cover  39 ′. In addition, the cover coupling portion  396   c  may extend to support the bottom surface of the door body  40  from the lower side. 
     The second support portion  396   b  and the cover coupling portion  396   c  may be seated on top surfaces of the bracket support portion  354   b  and the bracket coupling portion  357 , which are disposed on the lower bracket  35 . In addition, the cover coupling portion  396   c  may extend to be inserted into the lower opening  453 . 
     In addition, a coupling hole  396   d , into which the coupling member  457  is inserted, and the bracket coupling hole  357   a  may be defined in the cover coupling portion  396   c  and the bracket coupling portion  357 . Thus, in the state in which the cover coupling portion  396   c  and the bracket coupling portion  357  are inserted inside the lower opening  453 , the coupling member  457  coupled to the screw hole  454  below the “Lower cap decoration  45  may pass through the bracket coupling hole  357   a  and the coupling hole  396   d  and then be coupled to the lower cap decoration  45 . 
     The cover coupling portion  396   c  and the bracket coupling portion  357  may be firmly fixed inside the lower opening  453  by the coupling of the coupling member  457  to restrict the lower end of the panel assembly  30 . In addition, a load of the panel assembly  30  may be stably supported. 
     There may be various other embodiments other than the aforementioned embodiments. Another embodiment of the present disclosure is characterized in that a cover support portion is directly supported on a substrate. Another embodiment of the present disclosure may have the same structure as the aforementioned embodiment except for a coupling relationship between a substrate and the cover support portion, and thus the same components as in the aforementioned embodiment use the same reference numeral, and a detailed description thereof may be omitted. 
     Hereinafter, another embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference drawings. 
       FIG.  22    is a front perspective view of a back cover according to further another embodiment. Also,  FIG.  23    is a side view illustrating the lower end of the back cover. Also,  FIG.  24    is a cutaway perspective view illustrating a lower end of a panel assembly according to further another embodiment. 
     As illustrated in the drawings, a rear surface of a panel assembly  30  according to another embodiment may be defined by a back cover  39 ′. An overall shape of the back cover  39 ′ may be the same as in the other embodiments described above. 
     The back cover  39 ′ may include a cover protrusion  391  and a cover circumferential portion  392 . In addition, a cover side surface  393  may be defined on each of both left and right ends of the back cover  39 ′. The cover side surface  393  may be disposed to extend forward and may be mounted on a fixing member  32 . 
     The cover protrusion  391  may support a rear surface of a light guide plate  33 . In addition, the cover circumferential portion  392  may define a circumference of the back cover  39 ′. In addition, upper and lower ends of the cover circumferential portion  392  may be coupled to a upper bracket  34  and a lower bracket  35 , and left and right ends of the cover circumferential portion  392  may be coupled to both surfaces of the fixing member  32 . 
     A cover screw hole  397   a  to which a plurality of screws  397   b  are coupled may be defined along each of the upper and lower ends of the cover circumferential portion  392 . The upper bracket  34  and the lower bracket  35  may be coupled to a back cover  39 ′ by coupling the screw  397   b . 
     The cover screw hole  397   a  may be defined in a forming portion  397  protruding backward along the cover circumferential portion  392 . In addition, the forming portion  397  may be provided to accommodate a portion to which the screws  397   b  of the upper bracket  34  and the lower bracket  35  are coupled. 
     A wire entrance  398  may be provided in the lower end of the cover circumferential portion  392 . In addition, a cover support portion  396  may be further disposed on the lower end of the cover circumferential portion  392 . The cover support portion  396  may be provided by bending the lower end of the back cover  39 ′ several times. In addition, the cover support portion  396  may support a lighting device  36 . In addition, the cover support portion  396  may have a structure in which a lower end of the panel assembly  30  is supported and fixedly mounted on a door body  40 . 
     In detail, the cover support portion  396 ′ may be provided by continuously bending the lower end of the back cover  39 ′ forward and backward and may include a first support portion  396   a  defining a top surface of the cover support portion  396 ′ and a second support portion  396   b  defining a bottom surface of the cover support portion  396 ′. 
     The first support portion  396   a  may be provided to be bent forward at the lower end of the back cover  39 ′. The first support portion  396   a  may be inserted into the bracket opening  352   a  and may support the lighting device  36  from the lower side. Here, the back cover  39 ′ may be made of a metal material so that heat of the lighting device  36  is conducted and also is dissipated through a rear surface of the back cover  39 ′. 
     In addition, the first support portion  396   a  may extend up to an inner front surface of the lower bracket  35 , and the extending end of the first support portion  396   a  may be bent backward to provide the second support portion  396   b . 
     The second support portion  396   b  may be bent to be in contact with a bottom surface of the first support portion  396   a  and may extend backward. The second support portion  396   b  may extend backward from the inside of the lower bracket  35  and may further extend backward through the bracket opening  352   a . 
     Thus, the lighting device  36  may be supported in the shape in which the first support portion  396   a  and the second support portion  396   b  overlap each other in the lower bracket  35 , and thus, strength of the lower portion of the panel assembly  30  may be reinforced in the lower bracket  35 . 
     While the back cover  39 ′ moves forward toward the fixing member  32  and then mounted, the cover support portion  396  may be inserted through the bracket opening  352   a . In addition, in the state in which the back cover  39 ′ is fully coupled to the fixing member  32 , a top surface of the cover support portion  396  may support a bottom surface of the substrate  361  of the lighting device  36  from the lower side. In addition, the cover support portion  396  may reinforce strength of the lower end of the panel assembly  30  while being inserted into the lower bracket  35 . 
     The cover support portion  396  may extend up to a front end of the substrate  361 . In addition, the cover support portion  396  may extend to an inner front surface of the bracket opening  352   a . Thus, the cover support portion  396  may support the bottom surface of the substrate  361  as a whole, thereby improving heat transfer efficiency. 
     Of course, if necessary, the cover support portion  396  may extend to support a portion of the substrate  361  from the lower side. 
     The second support portion  396   b  may protrude backward via the rear surface of the back cover  39 ′. The second support portion  396   b  may protrude more backward than the forming portion  397 , and the lower end of the panel assembly  30  may be coupled to a lower end of the door body  40 . 
     That is, a cover coupling portion  396   c  that further protrudes backward may be disposed on the second support portion  396   b . The cover coupling portion  396   c  may be disposed on the second support portion  396   b  extending outside the lower bracket  35 . A plurality of cover coupling portions  396   c  may be disposed along the left and right sides of the lower end of the back cover  39 ′. In addition, the cover coupling portion  396   c  may extend to support the bottom surface of the door body  40  from the lower side. The cover support portion  396  and the cover coupling portion  396   c  may also be called a cover bending portion. 
     A coupling hole  396   d  passing through a center of the cover coupling portion  396   c  may be defined in the cover coupling portion  396   c , and a coupling member  457  passing through the coupling hole  396   d  may be coupled to the cover coupling portion  396   c . The coupling member  457  may be, for example, a screw, and the coupling member  457  may sequentially pass through a bottom surface of the lower bracket  35  and the coupling hole  396   d  and then be coupled to the door body  40  so that the lower end of the panel assembly  30  is fixedly mounted on the door body  40 . 
     The home appliance according to the proposed embodiments may have the following effects. 
     According to the embodiment, the cover support part protruding backward from the lower end of the back cover may be fixed to the lower end of the door body. Thus, even though the weight of the panel assembly increases, the panel assembly may not be sagged and be maintained in the stably mounted state. 
     Particularly, the cover support portion may be provided by bending the back cover, and thus, the back cover may be pulled to simply cover support without coupling or assembling the additional component. 
     In addition, the cover support portion may be made of the metal material to reinforce the sagging load of the panel assembly, and thus, the stably mounted state may be maintained even when the large and heavy panel is used. 
     In addition, the cover support portion may be bent several times to become thicker, and there may be the advantage in that the reinforcing structure configured to support the load of the panel assembly may be more firmly configured. 
     In addition, the cover support portion may further include the cover coupling portion protruding backward, and the cover coupling portion may be coupled to the lower cap decoration to additionally support the panel assembly having the center of gravity, which is defined at the front side thereof. 
     In addition, there may be the advantage in that the panel assembly is more firmly fixed by coupling the coupling member passing through the cover coupling portion so that the cover coupling portion is firmly coupled to the lower end of the door body. 
     In addition, when the panel assembly is detached, the cover coupling portion and the cover support portion may be simply separated from the door body after releasing the coupling member, and thus, the panel assembly may be more easily detached. 
     Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.