Patent Publication Number: US-2004041503-A1

Title: Frame of a wall-embedded refrigerator

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Application No. 2002-52255, filed Aug. 31, 2002, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0003] The present invention relates to a wall-embedded refrigerator, and more particularly to a frame of such a wall-embedded refrigerator which has a simplified structure.  
       [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0005] In order to efficiently install refrigerators of a large capacity as compared to that of general refrigerators for domestic use, a proposal has been made in which a building wall is recessed to define a space to receive or embed a refrigerator. Such a refrigerator, which is designed to meet this proposal, is called a “wall-embedded refrigerator”. The frame of such a wall-embedded refrigerator will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In FIGS. 1 and 2, elements having the same function are denoted by the same reference numeral.  
       [0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional wall-embedded refrigerator  100 . Arranged at the rear of the wall-embedded refrigerator  100  in FIG. 1 is a building wall  10  defined with a space in which the wall-embedded refrigerator  100  can be embedded. The wall-embedded refrigerator  100  shown in FIG. 1 includes a machine chamber  101  formed at an upper portion of the refrigerator  100 , and freezing and refrigerating chambers  102  and  103  formed beneath the machine chamber  101 . In order to conveniently show the freezing and refrigerating chambers  102  and  103 , the illustration of their doors are eliminated. Now, the frame of the wall-embedded refrigerator  100  will be briefly described under the condition in which the doors of the freezing and refrigerating chambers  102  and  103  are removed. As shown in FIG. 1, the refrigerator frame includes an outer case  104  forming the outer surface of the refrigerator  100 , a first inner case  105  defining the freezing chamber  102 , a second inner case  106  defining the refrigerating chamber  103 , and a cabinet flange  107  to finish the front surfaces of the cases  104 ,  105 , and  106 , and the front surface between the inner cases  105  and  106 .  
       [0007]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1. The frame of the conventional wall-embedded refrigerator will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2.  
       [0008] The outer case  104 , which forms the outer surface of the wall-embedded refrigerator  100 , includes a pair of side plates, that is, left and right plates  104 A and  104 B, respectively forming opposite outer side surfaces, that is, outer left and right surfaces, and a rear plate  104 C forming an outer rear surface. Although the outer case  104  includes a top plate forming an outer top surface, and a bottom plate forming an outer bottom surface, these plates are removed for convenience of illustration. The inner cases, that is, the first and second inner cases  105  and  106 , form inner surfaces of the walk embedded refrigerator  100  respectively defining the freezing chamber  102  and the refrigerating chamber  103 . The first inner case  105  forming the freezing chamber  102  includes a first inner left surface  105 A facing the left plate  104 A, a first inner rear surface  105 B facing the rear plate  104 C, and a first inner right surface  105 C forming one side surface of a partition wall A formed between the first and second inner cases  105  and  106 . Although the first inner case  105  includes top and bottom plates associated with the freezing chamber  102 , these plates are removed for convenience of illustration. The second inner case  106  forming the refrigerating chamber  103  includes a second inner right surface  106 A facing the right plate  104 B, a second inner rear surface  106 B facing the rear plate  104 C, and a second inner left surface  106 C forming the other side surface of the partition wall A. Although the second inner case  105  includes top and bottom plates associated with the refrigerating chamber  103 , these plates are removed for convenience of illustration. The cabinet flange  107  is coupled to the front surface of the refrigerator frame, that is, the front surface formed between the outer case  104  and the inner case  105 , the front surface formed between the outer case  104  and the inner case  106 , and the front surface of the partition wall A, in order to cover or finish those surfaces. Referring to FIG. 3, the cabinet flange  107  is clearly shown. The coupling among the first inner left surface  105 A, first inner rear surface  105 B, and first inner right surface  105 C of the first inner case  105  forming the freezing chamber  102 , and the coupling among the second inner right surface  106 A, second inner rear surface  106 B, and second inner left surface  106 C of the second inner case  106  forming the refrigerating chamber  103  are achieved using a caulking process, as shown by a portion “I” in FIG. 2. A seal member  204  is provided at each corner of each inner case where adjacent inner surfaces are in contact with each other, in order to prevent urethane from being leaked from the space defined between the outer and inner cases when the urethane is subsequently foamed in that space.  
       [0009] Meanwhile, hot pipes  201  and magnets  202  are installed at the front surface of the refrigerator frame including the outer case  104 , first and second inner cases  105  and  106 , and the cabinet flange  107  such that they are covered by the cabinet flange  107 . Each hot pipe  201  serves to prevent a dewing phenomenon from occurring at the front end of the wall-embedded refrigerator  100 . The hot pipe  201  is attached to the cabinet flange  107  by means of a dip pipe  203 , and a double-sided tape. The magnets  202  serve to magnetically couple the magnet-attached doors of the wall-embedded refrigerator  100  to the cabinet flange  107 . Each magnet  202  is attached to the cabinet flange  107  by means of a double-sided tape.  
       [0010] The process of assembling the above described frame of the wall-embedded refrigerator  100  is carried out as follows:  
       [0011] (1) The first inner case  105  forming the freezing chamber and the second inner case  106  forming the refrigerating chamber are assembled in accordance with a caulking process;  
       [0012] (2) Magnets  202  are attached to the rear surface of the cabinet flange  107  by means of double-sided tapes;  
       [0013] (3) Hot pipes  201  are fixed to the rear surface of the cabinet flange  107  by means of clip pipes  203  attached with double-sided tapes, respectively;  
       [0014] (4) The first and second inner cases  105  and  106  are coupled in a fitting fashion to the cabinet flange  107  carrying the hot pipes  201  and magnets  202 ; and  
       [0015] (5) The resultant assembly obtained in accordance with the assembly process of step ( 4 ) is assembled with the outer case  104 .  
       [0016] However, there are problems involved with the frame of the conventional wall-mounted refrigerator  100 , and the assembly process of that frame. The first problem is a poor appearance in that steps and gaps are formed at regions where the first and second inner cases  105  and  106  are assembled with the cabinet flange  107 . Second, the assembly process is complex because it is achieved by caulking adjacent ones of the inner surfaces of the first and second inner cases  105  and  106 . For this reason, there are a degradation in productivity and an increase in manufacturing costs. Third, the seal members  204  provided at respective corners of the first and second inner cases  105  and  106  cause a poor appearance.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0017] Accordingly, it is an aspect of the present invention is to provide a frame of a wall-embedded refrigerator which can provide a good appearance while simplifying its assembly process.  
       [0018] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.  
       [0019] The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention are accomplished by providing a frame of a refrigerator embedded in a recessed wall, the frame including an outer case having a pair of side plates respectively forming opposite outer side surfaces, and a rear plate forming an outer rear surface, a pair of inner cases received in the outer case while being spaced apart from an inner surface of the outer case by a desired distance, the inner cases defining freezing and refrigerating chambers, respectively, and a front surface section to cover front surfaces of the outer and inner cases, and a front surface of a partition wall formed between the freezing and refrigerating chambers, wherein the inner cases and the cabinet flange are integrally formed as an integrated inner case. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0020] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:  
     [0021]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of a conventional wall-embedded refrigerator;  
     [0022]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1;  
     [0023]FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a cabinet flange partially taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1;  
     [0024]FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of a wall-embedded refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
     [0025]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 4;  
     [0026]FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating an outer case included in the wall-embedded refrigerator of FIG. 4, the outer case being partially taken along the line B-B of FIG. 4;  
     [0027]FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating an integrated inner case included in the wall-embedded refrigerator of FIG. 4, the integrated inner case being partially taken along the line B-B of FIG. 4;  
     [0028]FIG. 8A is a perspective view illustrating a cabinet chassis included in the wall-embedded refrigerator of FIG. 4, the cabinet chassis being partially taken along the line B-B of FIG. 4;  
     [0029]FIG. 8B is a perspective view illustrating a cabinet chassis according to another embodiment of the present invention; and  
     [0030]FIG. 9 is an enlarged exploded perspective view corresponding to a portion “III” of FIG. 4. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
     [0031] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.  
     [0032]FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the appearance of a wall-embedded refrigerator  400  according to an embodiment of the present invention.  
     [0033] Arranged at the rear of the wall-embedded refrigerator  400  in FIG. 4 is a building wall  40  defined with a space in which the wall-embedded refrigerator  400  can be embedded. As shown in FIG. 4, the wall-embedded refrigerator  400  includes a machine chamber  401  formed at an upper portion of the refrigerator  400 , and freezing and refrigerating chambers  402  and  403  formed beneath the machine chamber  401 . In order to conveniently show the freezing and refrigerating chambers  402  and  403 , the illustration of their doors are eliminated. Now, the frame of the wall-embedded refrigerator  400  will be brief described under the condition in which the doors of the freezing and refrigerating chambers  402  and  403  are removed. As shown in FIG. 4, the refrigerator frame includes an outer case  404  forming the outer surface of the refrigerator  400 , an integrated inner case  405  defining both the freezing and refrigerating chambers  402  and  403 , and a cabinet chassis  406  to finish the front surface edges of the outer and inner cases  404  and  405 .  
     [0034]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 4. Referring to FIG. 5, the frame of the wall-embedded refrigerator according to this embodiment is more clearly illustrated.  
     [0035] The outer case  404 , which forms the outer surface of the wall-embedded refrigerator  400 , includes a pair of side plates, that is, left and right plates  404 A and  404 B, respectively forming opposite outer side surfaces, that is, outer left and right surfaces, and a rear plate  404 C forming an outer rear surface. Although the outer case  404  includes a top plate forming an outer top surface, and a bottom plate forming an outer bottom surface, these plates are removed for convenience of illustration. This structure of the outer case  404  is more clearly illustrated in FIG. 6. The structure of the outer case  404  will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. The side plates  404   a  and  404   b  of the outer case  404  is provided at respective front ends thereof with extensions  601  each extending from an associated one of the front ends toward the integral inner case  405  while being bent. These extensions  601  serve to support hot pipes and magnets, as described hereinafter. In accordance with the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 6, each extension  601  has a double-bent structure primarily bent toward the inner case  405 , and then secondarily bent toward the rear plate  404 C of the outer case  404 .  
     [0036] Referring to FIG. 7, the structure of the integral inner case  405 , which forms the inner and front surfaces of the wall-embedded refrigerator  400 , is clearly illustrated. As shown in FIG. 7, the integral inner case  405  includes a freezing chamber surface section  405 A defining the freezing chamber  402 , a refrigerating chamber surface section  405 B defining the refrigerating chamber  403 , and a front surface section  405 C forming the front surface of the wall-embedded refrigerator  400 .  
     [0037] The cabinet chassis  406  to finish the front surface edges of the wall-embedded refrigerator  400  is clearly illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B. FIG. 8A is a perspective view illustrating the cabinet chassis  406  of FIG. 5. The structure of the cabinet chassis  406  will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 and 8A. The cabinet chassis  406  is provided at its front end with a bent portion  801  primarily bent outwardly to extend along the front surface of the refrigerator  400 , and then secondarily bent toward the rear portion of the refrigerator  400 . The bent portion  801  of the cabinet chassis  406  serves to hide gaps possibly formed between the building wall  40  and the cabinet chassis  406  when the refrigerator  400  is embedded in the space formed in the building wall  40 , thereby providing a good appearance.  
     [0038] Referring to FIG. 8B, a cabinet chassis according to another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The cabinet chassis of FIG. 8B further has a support rim  802  to support the front surface edge of the integrated inner case  405  in a state in which the frame of the wall-embedded refrigerator is completely assembled, thereby preventing the front surface edge of the integrated inner case  405  from being protruded.  
     [0039] The detailed configuration of the refrigerator frame according to FIG. 5 will now be described with reference to FIG. 9, which is an enlarged view corresponding to a portion “III” of FIG. 5.  
     [0040] The front surface section  405 C of the inner case  405  and the extension  601  of the outer case  404  are uniformly spaced apart from each other by a distance B (FIG. 5). This space receives hot pipes  901  to prevent a dewing phenomenon from occurring at the front end of the wall-embedded refrigerator  400 , and magnets  902  to magnetically couple the magnet-attached doors of the wall-embedded refrigerator  400  to the front surface section  405 C of the inner case  405 . The extension  601  of the outer case  404  serves to support the hot pipes  901  and magnets  902  such that the hot pipes  901  and magnets  902  are in dose contact with the front surface section  405 C of the inner case  405 . Seal members  903  are disposed in the space defined by the distance B in order to sealably isolate the hot pipes  901  and magnets  902  from the freezing chamber surface section  405 A or refrigerating chamber surface section  406 B of the inner case  405 , thereby preventing urethane from being leaked from the space when the urethane is foamed in the space. The cabinet chassis  406  is fixed to the outer case  404  by means of set screws  904 .  
     [0041] Referring to FIG. 5, it can be seen that a partition wall C is formed by the freezing chamber surface section  405 A refrigerating chamber surface section  405 B, and front surface section  405 C. As shown in FIG. 5, two hot pipes  901  and one magnet  902  are provided at the partition wall C so that they are in close contact with the front surface section  405 C. In order to make the hot pipes  901  and magnet  902  be in dose contact with the front surface section  405 C, a support member  407  is arranged in the space defined by the partition wall C while being fixedly mounted to the outer case  404 .  
     [0042] The process of assembling the frame of the wall-embedded refrigerator  400  having the above described configuration is carried out as follows:  
     [0043] (1) Hot pipes  901 , magnets  902 , and seal members  903  are installed at the extension  601  of the outer case  404  and the support member  407  is fixedly mounted to the outer case  404 ;  
     [0044] (2) The integral inner case  405  is fitted in the outer case  404 , and urethane is foamed in a space defined between the outer case  404  and the inner case  405 ; and  
     [0045] (3) The cabinet chassis  406  is fixedly mounted to the outer case  404  by means of set screws after completion of the foaming.  
     [0046] As is apparent from the above description, the frame of the wall-embedded refrigerator according to the present invention provides a superior appearance in that there is no step or gap formed by the inner case, and that the cabinet chassis is used to finish the frame. In addition, loss of cold air is reduced, thereby reducing the consumption of electric power. Since the inner case according to the present invention has an integrated structure, it is possible to achieve an improvement in assembling workability and productivity and a reduction in manufacturing costs.  
     [0047] Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.