Patent Publication Number: US-7905614-B2

Title: Refrigerator

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a refrigerator having two storage compartments arranged side by side, each having a door opening and closing at the corresponding compartment. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Conventionally, refrigerators have been provided with lighting units illuminating inside of storage compartments. Recently, lighting units using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as light sources have been appeared to reduce power consumption or increase a lifetime, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2005-344975, for example. 
     However, the lighting units provided in the conventional refrigerators have been arranged on center parts of ceilings, on internal rear walls, or the like. Taking in and out storage items that are to be and have been stored in the refrigerators, users recognize the storage items look dark. Such an illuminated state is enough to allow the users to recognize kinds and the like of the storage items in the refrigerators, but prevents the users to check freshness and the like of the storage items. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     In order to address the above-described drawback, researches and experiments have been conducted to discover that the users have seen the storage items look dark, because the lighting units arranged at center parts of ceilings, on internal rear walls, or the like do not directly illuminate sides of the storage items which the users can see, in other words, front sides of the storage items. 
     Further endeavors and experiments have resulted in discovery of positions of the lighting units to directly illuminate the front sides of the storage items. 
     Solution to Problem 
     The present invention is based on the above observations. It is an object of the present invention to provide a refrigerator where a user of the refrigerator can recognize storage items stored therein look bright when viewing the storage items. 
     In accordance with an aspect of the present invention for achieving the object, there is provided a refrigerator including: a heat-insulating main body having openings in a front side; and a divider creating a first storage compartment and a second storage compartment, by dividing inside of the heat-insulating main body into the first storage compartment and the second storage compartment arranged side by side, and the refrigerator being characterized by further including lighting units, located close to the openings of the first and second storage compartments, respectively, each of which has a light-emitting diode as a light source. 
     With the above structure, the lighting unit can emit light from the opening towards an internal rear side of the storage compartment. That is, the lighting unit can illuminate directly sides of storage items which a user of the refrigerator can see. As a result, the user can recognize the storage items look bright, when viewing the storage items. In addition, the user can see the light directly incident on the storage items, so that the user can check conditions (freshness, for example) of the storage items. 
     It is preferable that the refrigerator is characterized by further including attachments, provided vertically at a plurality of positions on an internal side wall of the heat-insulating main body, each of which supports a shelf to be attached, wherein one of the lighting units is provided at the internal side wall of the heat-insulating main body, and arranged in front of the attachments to be overlapped with the attachments in a height direction. 
     With the above structure, even if the shelf is set using the attachments, the lighting unit can directly illuminate storage items placed and stored on the shelf. Moreover, storage items placed in a plurality of spaces separated by the shelves can be illuminated using a singe lighting unit, which enables the user to see the storage items in all spaces look bright. 
     It is still preferable that each of the lighting units has boards on each of which a plurality of the light-emitting diodes are provided, and the boards are arranged in a vertical line. 
     With the above structure, a length of a board included in the lighting unit can be shortened, which makes it possible to suppress bending of the board caused by temperature changed, as much as possible. As a result, soldering cracks resulting from the bending or the like can be prevented, which increases a lifetime of the lighting unit. 
     In addition, it is possible to improve workability in manufacturing the lighting unit, equipping the lighting units to the refrigerator, and the like. 
     It is further preferable that the lighting unit provided in the first storage compartment has a vertical length equal to a vertical length of the lighting unit provided in the second storage compartment, and is arranged at a level equal to a level of the lighting unit provided in the second storage compartment. 
     With the above structure, shapes of the lighting units provided in the refrigerator can be uniformed, which makes it possible to facilitate standardization of components used in the lighting units, thereby reducing a cost. In addition, the above structure can improve design of the lighting units. 
     It is still further preferable that at least one of the lighting units is arranged to occupy more than a half of a width of a ceiling of the first storage compartment. 
     With the above structure, the lighting unit can illuminate the storage items from a position higher than a user&#39;s eye level and also illuminated the storage items in a wide range. As a result, this gives the user impression that inside of the refrigerator is bright. 
     It is still further preferable that the refrigerator is characterized by further including attachments, provided vertically at a plurality of positions on the divider, each of which supports a shelf to be attached, wherein one of the lighting units is provided at a side surface of the divider, and arranged in front of the attachments to be overlapped with the attachments in a height direction. 
     With the above structure, being provided on the divider, the lighting unit can illuminate inside of the storage compartment without influencing the heat-insulating main body insulating the storage compartments from outside air. For example, electric cables necessary for the lighting unit can be wired inside the divider, which makes it possible to suppress influence the lighting unit gives to the heat-insulating main body. In addition, the influence the lighting unit gives to the heat-insulating main body can be suppressed, especially when the lighting unit is buried in the divider. 
     Furthermore, even if the shelf is set using the attachments, the lighting unit can directly illuminate items placed and stored on the shelf. Moreover, storage items placed in a plurality of spaces separated by the shelves can be illuminated by a singe lighting unit, which enables the user to see the storage items in all spaces look bright. 
     It is still further preferable that the refrigerator is characterized by further including: a first door opening and closing at the first storage compartment; a second door opening and closing at the second storage compartment; a through hole, provided in the first door, through which an item passes; a third door opening and closing at the through hole; a detection unit configured to detect an open state and a closed state of the third door; and a control unit configured to cause the lighting unit provided in the first storage compartment to turn on, when the detection unit detects the closed state. 
     With the above structure, storage items that are to be stored and have been stored in the first storage compartment can be taken in and out, without opening and closing the first door having a large size. As a result, it is possible to prevent cool air from being leaked from the storage compartment in opening and closing of the door, which results in energy saving. 
     In addition, opening of the third door causes the lighting unit in the first storage compartment to light on, which enables the user to take in and out storage items seeing the storage items look bright and to check conditions of the storage items. 
     It is still further preferable that an upper end of the lighting unit is higher than an upper end of the thorough-hole, and a lower end of the lighting unit is lower than a lower end of the thorough-hole. 
     With the above structure, a part of the storage compartment which the user can see through the through hole can be illuminated evenly, so that the user can see the part as being in bright sate. Thereby, even if the user see inside of the storage compartment through the through hole, the user can easily access a desired storage item thereby shortening a time required to open the through-hole. This results in saving energy. 
     It is still further preferable that the first storage compartment has: one of the lighting units which is arranged at one of the internal side wall of the heat-insulating main body and the divider; and a rear-side lighting unit which is arranged at an internal rear surface of the heat-insulating main body and has a light-emitting diode as a light source, and the lighting unit is not overlapped with the rear-side lighting unit in a height direction. 
     With the above structure, the first storage compartment can be illuminated evenly, without excess illumination. 
     It is still further preferable that a color of light emitted by the lighting unit provided in the first storage compartment is different from a color of light emitted by the lighting unit provided in the second storage compartment. 
     With the above structure, the user can surely recognize a difference between the first and second storage compartments, which reduces mistakes such as storing items to be frozen into a refrigerator compartment. 
     It is still further preferable that intensity of light emitted by the lighting unit provided in the first storage compartment is different from intensity of light emitted by the lighting unit provided in the second storage compartment. 
     With the above structure, the user can surely recognize a difference between the first and second storage compartments, which reduces mistakes such as storing items to be frozen into a refrigerator compartment. 
     It is still further preferable that the light-emitting diode in each of the lighting units has a light axis oblique towards an internal rear side of the heat-insulating main body. 
     With the above structure, more than a half of light that is emitted from the LED and then diffused can directly reach inside of the storage compartment. As a result, the storage items can be illuminated efficiently even with low power consumption. 
     It is still further preferable that the refrigerator is characterized by further including attachments, provided vertically at a plurality of positions on an internal side wall of the heat-insulating main body, each of which supports a shelf to be attached, wherein the light-emitting diode in one of the lighting units is arranged at a level corresponding to a level of a position between the attachments positioned side by side. 
     With the above structure, the storage items can be illuminated efficiently, while suppressing influence of the shelves equipped using the attachments. 
     It is still further preferable that the refrigerator is characterized by further including a drawer in the heat-insulating main body, wherein one of the lighting units is arranged in front of the drawer provided in the heat-insulating main body, and has a lower end lower than an upper end of the drawer or has an upper end higher than a lower end of the drawer. 
     With the above structure, it is possible to illuminate the storage items stored in the drawer being slid out. 
     It is still further preferable that a front side of the drawer is made of a plate through which light passes. 
     With the above structure, it is possible to illuminate the storage items stored in the drawer not being slid out. As a result, the user can see the storage items without sliding out the drawer. 
     ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION 
     Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to suppress shadows on front sides of the storage items which the user sees, which improves visibility of the storage items. Therefore, the present invention achieves usability improvement, reduction in a time required to take storage items in and out, and also energy saving. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an external perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an external perspective view of the refrigerator with third and fourth doors open. 
         FIG. 3  is an external perspective view of the refrigerator with first and second doors open. 
         FIG. 4  is an external perspective view of the refrigerator not showing the first and second doors. 
         FIG. 5  is a partially cut-out front view of a lighting unit provided at a side wall of a heat-insulating main body. 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the lighting unit taken along line A-A of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of other lighting units provided at a divider. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the heat-insulating main body, viewing a ceiling of the main body from a lower position. 
         FIG. 9  shows diagrams illustrating how the third door is electrically cooperated with the lighting unit. 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator according to another embodiment, not showing first and second doors. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a refrigerator not showing first and second doors, according to still another embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the refrigerator shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is an exploded perspective view of an inner body  501  and bases each of which serves as a LED attachment. 
         FIG. 14  is an exploded perspective view of a board on which the base and the LEDs are embedded. 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic cross-sectional view of an arrangement of the LEDs. 
         FIG. 16  is a detail view of a part (a) surrounded by a dotted line in  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is a detail view of a part (b) surrounded by a dotted line in  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 18  is a perspective view of boards on which LEDs are embedded, bases, and covers. 
         FIG. 19  is a vertical cross-sectional view of  FIG. 18 . 
         FIG. 20A  is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator. 
         FIG. 20B  is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator. 
         FIG. 20C  is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator. 
         FIG. 20D  is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator. 
         FIG. 20E  is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator. 
         FIG. 20F  is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator. 
         FIG. 20G  is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator. 
         FIG. 20H  is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator. 
         FIG. 21  is a perspective view of a refrigerator with first and second doors open. 
         FIG. 22  is a cross-sectional view of a refrigerator. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     The following describes preferred embodiments according to the present invention with reference to the drawings 
       FIG. 1  is an external perspective view of a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is another external perspective view of the refrigerator with third and fourth doors open. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a refrigerator  100  of the present invention includes a heat-insulating main body  150 , a first door  111 , a second door  121 , a third door  112 , a through hole  113 , a third door  112 , and a fourth door  122 . 
     The heat-insulating main body  150  is a main body with a front side being opened. 
     The heat-insulating main body  150  consists of an outer box  500  commonly made of a steel sheet, an inner box  501  commonly made of resin, and foam insulation  502  such as urethane filled between the outer box  500  and the inner box  501 , thereby having heat insulation properties that shut off heat coming in and out of the refrigerator  100 . 
     The first door  111  opens and closes at an opening on the right-hand side of the heat-insulating main body  150 . In the present embodiment, the first door  111  is attached to the heat-insulating main body  150  using a hinge (not shown) so as to turn centering on a vertical axis that extends in an anterior portion of the right-side wall of the heat-insulating main body  150 . Furthermore, the first door  111  is rectangular in shape when viewed from the front, with the axis arranged along the right-edge rim of the first door  111 . 
     The second door  121  opens and closes at an opening on the left-hand side of the heat-insulating main body  150 . In the present embodiment, the second door  121  is attached to the heat-insulating main body  150  using a hinge (not shown) so as to turn centering on a vertical axis that extends in an anterior portion of the left-side wall of the heat-insulating main body  150 . Furthermore, the second door  121  is rectangular in shape when viewed from the front, with the axis arranged along the left-edge rim of the second door  121 . 
     Here, the second door  121  has a width shorter than a width of the first door  111 . 
     The through hole  113  is a hole penetrating the first door  111  in the thickness direction. The through hole  113  is a hole through which the user can take storage items out from a space behind the first door  111  without opening the first door  111 , or take storage items into the space behind the first door  111  to be stored. 
     The third door  112  opens and closes at the through hole  113 . In the present embodiment, the third door  112  is attached to the first door  111  using a hinge (not shown) so as to turn centering on a horizontal axis located at a lower-edge rim of the through hole  113 . Furthermore, the third door  112  is a substantially square in shape (round-cornered) from viewed from the front, with the axis arranged along the lower-edge rim of the third door  112 . 
     The fourth door  122  opens and closes at a dispenser  123  where a user receives ice or the like supplied from inside of the refrigerator  100 . 
       FIG. 3  is an external perspective view of the refrigerator with the first and second doors open. 
       FIG. 4  is another external perspective view of the refrigerator not showing the first and second doors. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the refrigerator  100  includes a divider  153 , lighting units  200 , rear-side lighting units  250 , attachments  161 , and drawers  162 . In addition, shelves  163  are attached using the corresponding attachments  161 . 
     The divider  153  is a wall separating inside of the heat-insulating main body  150  side by side. In the present embodiment, a right-hand part of the heat-insulating main body  150  divided by the divider  153  is a first storage compartment  151  serving as a refrigerator compartment. On the other hand, a left-hand part of the heat-insulating main body  150  divided by the divider  153  is a second storage compartment  152  serving as a freezer compartment. The divider  153  separates the refrigerator compartment and the freezer compartment, providing heat insulation between the compartments. 
     The attachments  161  are members provided on internal side walls of the heat-insulating main body  150  and on side surfaces of the divider  153 , protruding from the walls and the surfaces. In the present embodiment, each of the attachments  161  is a rail-shaped member arranged horizontally from a front side to an internal rear side of the heat-insulating main body  150 , and integrated to the heat-insulating main body  150  or the divider  153 . Here,  FIG. 3  shows only some of the attachments  161  that are provided on the heat-insulating main body  150  of the first storage compartment  151 , and  FIG. 4  shows other attachments  161  that are provided on the divider  153  and on the heat-insulating main body  150  of the second storage compartment. 
     Each of the shelves  163  is a board bridging between an attachment  161  on the internal side wall of the heat-insulating main body  150  and an attachment  161  on the side surface of the divider  153 . The shelf  163  can slide in and out along the attachments  161 . The shelf  163  has enough strength to hold storage items placed thereon, being supported by the attachments  161 . The shelf  163  is made of anything, but preferably a material through which light passes. For example, the shelf  163  may be made of a glass or a transparent resin, or may be made of a material having holes through which light passes, such as a metal mesh or a perforated metal sheet. 
     The drawer  162  is a container without a top, provided in the heat insulating main body  150 , and can be slides in and out. In the present embodiment, the first storage compartment has three drawers  162 , and the second storage compartment  152  also has three drawers  162 . 
     The drawers  162  in the first storage compartment  151  are arranged vertically. Each of the upper two drawers in the first storage compartment  151  has a width corresponding to a full width of the first storage compartment  151 , and has a depth approximately equal to a depth of the shelf  163 . The bottom drawer  162  in the first storage compartment  151  has a width corresponding to a full width of the first storage compartment  151 , and has a depth greater than the depth of the upper drawers  162  but approximately equal to a depth of the inside of the heat-insulating main body  150 . 
     The drawers  162  in the second storage compartment  152  are arranged vertically. 
     Every drawer  162  in the second storage compartment  152  has a width corresponding to a full width of the first storage compartment  151 , and has a depth approximately equal to a depth of the inside of the heat-insulating main body  150 . 
     Each of these drawers  162  is made of anything, but preferably a material through which light passes. For example, at least a front part of the drawer  162  is preferably a plate body made of a glass, a transparent resin, or the like. In the present embodiment, each drawer  162  is an integrally molded container made of a transparent resin. This allows light to pass through the drawer  162 , thereby maintaining humidity in the drawer  162 . 
     Each of the lighting units  200  is a lighting device having LEDs as light sources. The lighting units  200  are located close to the openings of the first storage compartment  151  and the second storage compartment  152 . In the present embodiment, the lighting units  200  are provided at the side walls of the heat-insulating main body  150  close to the openings of the heat-insulating main body, and at the divider  153  close to the openings of the heat-insulating main body. 
     Here, the expression “close to” means that each lighting unit  200  is located at a position in front of front ends of the shelves  163  and also behind the front ends of the heat-insulating main body  150  when the shelves  163  are arranged in the heat-insulating main body  150 . 
       FIG. 5  is a partially cut-out front view of the lighting unit provided at the side wall of the heat-insulating main body. 
       FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of the lighting unit taken along line A-A of  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of other lighting units provided at the divider. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 , and  7 , each of the lighting units  200  has a cover  201 , boards  202 , LEDs  203 , and connectors  204 . Moreover, the lighting units  200  at the side walls of the heat-insulating main body  150  are accommodated in recess parts  154  provided in the side walls, respectively. On the other hand, other lighting units  200  at the divider  153  are accommodated in recess parts  154  provided in both side surfaces of the divider  153 , respectively. Therefore, the lighting units  200  at the divider  153  are located back to back. When the lighting units  200  are buried in the divider  153 , the divider  153  has thin parts. However, the divider  153  does not need to have heat insulation properties as high as the heat insulation properties of the heat-insulating main body  150 . Therefore, the divider  153  is a suitable place in which the lighting units are to be buried. 
     Each of the lighting units  200  is provided upright to be overlapped, in a height direction, with the attachments  161  vertically arranged at a plurality of positions. In other words, an upper end of the lighting unit  200  is higher than a predetermined attachment  161 , and a lower end of the lighting unit  200  is lower than other attachments  161  below the predetermined attachment  161 . In the present embodiment, the lower end of the lighting unit  200  is lower than a lower end of the top drawer  162 , and also lower than an upper end of the middle drawer  162 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the lighting unit  200  in the first storage compartment has an upper end that is higher than an upper end of the through hole  113 , and a lower end that is lower than an lower end of the through hole  113 . 
     The cover  201  is a plate body having a function of protecting the LEDs  203  and the boards  202  from air in the first or second storage compartment  151  or  152 , and also a function of causing light emitted by the LED  203  to pass through the cover  201 . The cover  201  prevents electric troubles caused when air in the first or second storage compartment  151  or  152  directly contacts the LEDs  203  and the boards  202  thereby being changed to dew condensation. In the present embodiment, the cover  201 , with a part applied with texturing, has a function of illuminating the first or second storage compartment  151  or  152  using light emitted from the LED  203  and refracted at random. 
     Each of the boards  202  is a board body which holds a plurality of the LEDs  203  and on which wiring is printed to connect the LEDs  203  to a power source and the like. In the present embodiment, the board  202  is a rectangular, and the LEDs  203  are arranged in a line in a longitudinal direction of the board  202 . Furthermore, in the longitudinal direction, the board  202  has one end connected to a female connector  204 , and the other end connected to a male connector  204 . 
     The board  202  can be connected with a different board  202 , by connecting its female connector  204  to a male connector  204  of the different board  202 . In the present embodiment, the lighting unit  200  has a plurality of such boards  202  connected with one another arranged in a vertical line. Furthermore, the connecting part of each board  202  is arranged at a level equal to a level of the corresponding pair of attachments  161 . As explained above, by arranging the connecting part of the board  202 , the LEDs  203  can be located at appropriate positions. 
     Moreover, as shown in  FIG. 6 , the board  202  faces a direction different from a direction to which the side wall of the heat-insulating main body  150  faces, so that a side of the board  202  with the LEDs  203  can be seen when viewing from the internal rear side of the heat-insulating main body  150  toward the front side. With the above structure, a more amount of light can be emitted from the front side to the internal rear side of the heat-insulating main body  150 , thereby illuminating the storage items brightly. 
     Each of the LEDs  203  is a semiconductor device that emits light when electric current flows through the LED  203 . In the present embodiment, the LED  203  has a plurality of semiconductor devices that can emit white light. The LEDs  203  in the first storage compartment  151  and the second storage compartment  152  are different semiconductor devices so that they emit light having different emission colors. In more detail, the LEDs  203  in the first storage compartment  151  are adjusted to emit light having orangish white color, and the LEDs  203  in the second storage compartment  152  are adjusted to emit light having bluish white color. Further, by adjusting emission light of the LEDs  203  as described above, the user feels that the second storage compartment  152  is slightly darker than the first storage compartment  151 . Furthermore, in the present embodiment, by slightly reducing a power amount supplied to the LEDs  203  in the second storage compartment  152 , the user feels that the storage compartment  152  is much darker. 
     The LED  203  is arranged not to be at a level equal to a level of the attachments  161 , when the board  202  is provided at the heat-insulating main body  150  or the divider  153 . In addition, the LED  203  is arranged not to be at a level equal to a level of each shelf  163  supported by the attachments  161 . 
     The LED  203  is arranged so that a light axis  231  (shown in  FIG. 6 ) is oblique towards the internal rear side of the heat-insulating main body  150 . Here, the light axis  231  is a virtual axis representing a direction of light emitted by the LED  203 , and is a line from the LED  203  and a position from which the LED  203  is seen to have the strongest brightness. 
     It should be noted that the adjustment of color or darkness of the light emitted by the lighting unit  200  many be achieved not only by adjusting the LEDs  203 , but also by changing a material or a shape of the cover  201 . 
     A rear-side lighting units  250  is also provided as a lighting device having LEDs as light sources, and provided at the internal rear wall of the heat-insulating main body  150  of the first storage compartment  151 . The rear-side lighting unit  250  is buried in the internal rear wall of the heat-insulating main body  150 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , a lower end of the rear-side lighting unit  250  is located lower than the upper ends of the lighting units  200  in the first storage compartment  151 . 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the heat-insulating main body, viewing the ceiling of the heat-insulating main body from a lower position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the refrigerator  100  has another lighting unit  200  on a ceiling part  155 . 
     The lighting unit  200  on the ceiling is arranged to occupy more than a half of a horizontal width of the ceiling part  155  of the first storage compartment  151 , and located close to the opening of the heat-insulating main body  150 . 
       FIG. 9  shows diagrams illustrating how the third door is electrically cooperated with the lighting unit. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the refrigerator  100  includes a detection unit  141  and a control unit  140 . 
     The detection unit  141  is a sensor that detects an open state and a close state of the third door  112 . In the present embodiment, a micro switch is used as the detection unit  141 . Therefore, the detection unit  141  is switched on when the third door  112  is closed, and the detection unit  141  is switched off when the third door  112  is opened. 
     The control unit  140  is a device that detects a state of the detection unit  141 , and causes the lighting units in the first storage compartment  151  to turn on when the detection unit  141  becomes in a predetermined state. In the present embodiment, the control unit  140  causes the lighting unit  200  to turn off when the detection unit  141  is in the ON state, and causes the lighting unit  200  to turn on when the detection unit  141  is in the OFF state. 
     Next, a refrigerator  100  according to another embodiment of the present invention is described. 
       FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator not showing first and second doors, according to this embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the refrigerator  100  of this embodiment differs from the refrigerator  100  of the previously-described embodiment in that the lower end of the rear-side lighting unit  250  is higher than the upper end of the lighting units  200  in the first storage compartment  151 . In other words, the rear-side lighting unit  250  is not overlapped with the lighting units  200  in a height direction. 
       FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a refrigerator not showing first and second doors, according to still another embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the refrigerator shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the first storage compartment  151  serving as a refrigerator compartment and the second storage compartment  152  serving as a freezer compartment are arranged side by side, and as shown in  FIG. 12 , a lighting unit  302  is located close to an opening of a side surface wall part  301  of a heat-insulating main body  300  that is a side wall of the first storage compartment  151 . 
     Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 12 , a lighting unit  304  is located close to an opening of a divider side surface part  303  that is an inside surface of a side wall of the first storage compartment  151  and is a part of a divider  153  arranged between the first storage compartment  151  and the second storage compartment  152 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , another lighting unit  302  is located close to an opening of a side surface wall part  301  of the heat-insulating main body  300  which is a side wall of the second storage compartment  152  serving as the freezer compartment. 
     Since a width dimension (left-to-right) of the first storage compartment  151  is greater than a width dimension of the second storage compartment  152 , the lighting units are provided on both side surface wall parts of the first storage compartment  151 , so that the inside of the first storage compartment  151  can be illuminated brightly by emitting light from the both sides. On the other hand, since the width dimension of the second storage compartment  152  is smaller than the width dimension of the first storage compartment  151 , the lighting units are provided only on the side surface wall part  301  to illuminate the inside of the second storage compartment  152 . Since no lighting unit is provided on the divider side surface part dividing the second storage compartment  152  from the first storage compartment  151  for illuminating the inside of the second storage compartment  152 , the divider  153  can obtain a thickness enough to improve heat insulation properties. 
     Furthermore, a top level of each of the lighting units  302  and  304  provided on both wall parts of the first storage compartment  151  is equal to a top level of the lighting unit  302  provided on the wall part  301  of the second storage compartment  152 . In more detail, a plurality of the lightning units are vertically and sequentially arranged on each wall part. A bottom level is also equal among the set of the lighting units  302  in the first storage compartment  151 , the set of the lightning units  304 , and the set of the lightning units  302  in the second storage compartment  152 . 
     A plurality of the LEDs  203 , which are light sources of each of the lighting units  302  and  304 , are vertically arranged in each of the lightning units. While the top and bottom levels are equal among the lightning units  302  and the lightning unit  304 , a level of each of the LEDs  203  is also equal among the lightning units  302  and the lightning unit  304 . 
     The LEDs thereby light up and emit light at the respective equal levels between in the first storage compartment  151  and in the second storage compartment  152 . Therefore, when both the first and second doors are open, the LEDs  203  light up at the respective equal levels between in the first storage compartment  151  and in the second storage compartment  152 . As a result, design in lightning can be improved and storage items can be effectively illuminated. 
       FIG. 13  is an exploded perspective view of an inner body  501  and bases on each of which LEDs are attached.  FIG. 14  is an exploded perspective view of a board on which the base and the LEDs are embedded.  FIG. 15  is a schematic cross-sectional view of an arrangement of the LEDs.  FIG. 16  is a detail view of a part (a) surrounded by a dotted line in  FIG. 15 .  FIG. 17  is a detail view of a part (b) surrounded by a dotted line in  FIG. 15 . 
     Moreover, a tapered surface  301   a  is provided at each of front edge parts close to respective openings of the side surface wall parts  301  of the first storage compartment  151  and the second storage compartment  152 , so that a frontage of each of the openings is flaring. On the other hand, a tapered surface  153   a  is provided at a front edge part of the divider  153 . Assuming that the tapered surface  301   a  provided at the side surface wall part  301  has an angle THETA 1  and the tapered surface  153   a  provided at the divider  153  is an angle PHI 1 , a relationship between the angle THETA 1  and the angle PHI 1  is determined by the following Equation 1.
 
θ1≧φ1  (Equation 1)
 
     The lighting units  302  and  304  are embedded in the heat-insulating main body  300 . More specifically, openings  305  are provided to each of the tapered surfaces  153   a  and  301   a  of the inner body  501  which are parts of internal walls of the refrigerator, and a base  306  for fixing the board  202  having the LEDs  203  is arranged in each of the openings  305 , being embedded in the internal wall. 
     Since the LEDs  203  have directionality, when the board  202  is provided in the opening  305 , the board  202  needs to be arranged inside the opening  305  so that an illumination direction of the LEDs  203  can be set towards the rear side of the inside of the first storage compartment  151 . Therefore, the board  202  fixed on the base  306  in the opening  305  is not arranged in parallel to the tapered surface  301   a . In more detail, the board  202  is fixed by a fixing part  306   a  provided on the base  306  so that an illumination direction of the LEDs  203  can be set towards the internal rear side of the first storage compartment  151 . 
     The LEDs  203  same as above are used also in the lighting unit  304 . The board  202  arranged in the opening  305  that opens towards the tapered surface  153   a  is fixed by a fixing part  307   a  provided on a base  307 , so that an illumination direction of the LEDs  203  can be set towards the internal rear side the first storage compartment  151 . 
     Since the angle THETA 1  of the tapered surface  301   a  is greater than the angle PHI 1  of the tapered surface  153   a , an angle between the tapered surface  301   a  and the board  202  fixed by the fixing part  306   a  on the base  306  is set to be greater than an angle between the tapered surface  153   a  and the board  202  fixed by the fixing part  307   a  on the base  307 . 
     The LEDs  203  of the lighting unit  302  provided in the tapered surface  301   a  of the second storage compartment  152  has the arrangement same as described above. 
     Moreover, a light axis of the LED  203  of the lighting unit  302  is towards the center of a front surface of the corresponding shelf  163  in the first storage compartment  151 . 
     Therefore, if the angle THETA of the tapered surface  301   a  is greater than the angle PHI of the tapered surface  153   a , an angle between the tapered surface  301   a  and the board  202  embedded in the tapered surface  301   a  is set to be greater than an angle between the tapered surface  153   a  and the board  202  embedded in the tapered surface  153   a , thereby brightly illuminating the inside of the first storage compartment  151 . 
     It is also possible that the light axis of the LED  203  of the lighting unit  302  is set towards the rear part of the divider side surface part  303  in the first storage compartment  151  and the light axis of the LED  203  of the lighting unit  304  is set towards the rear part of the side surface wall part  301  in the first storage compartment  151 , thereby illuminating the internal rear part of the first storage compartment  151  by reflecting the light axis on the rear parts. 
     By reflecting light on the side walls, it is possible to illuminate the inside of the first storage compartment  151  up to the internal rear part. 
     It should be note that the base  306  provided in the tapered surface  301   a  can also be used in the tapered surface  153   a . If the angle THETA 1  is greater than the angle PHIL the light axis of the LED  203  is set by arranging the board  202  to be significantly oblique according to the base  306  in the tapered surface  301   a . Therefore, an irradiation angle of the light axis of the LED  203  provided in the tapered surface  301   a  is different from the irradiation angle of the light axis of the LED  203  provided in the tapered surface  153   a . However, both the lighting units  302  and  304  can be provided with the LEDs  203  to illuminate the inside of the first storage compartment  151 , so that the base can be shared between the tapered surfaces  301   a  and  153   a.    
       FIG. 18  is a perspective view of the boards on which the LEDs are embedded, the bases, and the covers.  FIG. 19  is a vertical cross-sectional view of  FIG. 18 . 
     A plurality of the openings  305  in each of which the board  202  on which a plurality of the LEDs  203  are embedded at equal spaces is embedded are vertically arranged with spaces by forming holes in the heat-insulating main body  300 . Therefore, there are a plurality of the boards  202  arranged for the plurality of the openings  305 . A plurality of the covers  201  that are transparent, each of which covers the LEDs  203  and the board  202 , are arranged in association with the plurality of the openings  305 , respectively. Here, the end part of the cover  201  overlaps with the end part of the different cover  201 . As a result, a single integrated vertical space covered by the covers  201  is formed. 
     Thereby, the plurality of the openings  305  are vertically arranged at regular intervals in the inner body  501 , the plurality of the bases  307 , each of which is in association with corresponding one of the openings  305 , are arranged in a line, each having top and bottom end parts overlapped with top and bottom end parts of other bases  307 . Each of the plurality of the bases  202  which are arranged at regular intervals is arranged in association with corresponding one of the openings  305 . Each of the covers  201  is provided on the base  202  to cover the LEDs  203 . The plurality of covers  201  are arranged in a line, overlapping with each other at the top and bottom end parts. 
     Thereby, since the vertically-arranged bases  307  are partially overlapped with one another, a heat-insulating material forming the heat-insulating main body  300  does not enter a space  401  between the bases  307  and the covers  201 . Since the covers  201  are connected with one another being overlapped with one another, the vertically integrated space  401  can be formed, which makes it possible to illuminate the storage compartment from the space  401  via the continuously arranged covers  201  when the LEDs  203  light up. 
     Each of the overlapped parts of the covers  201  has an uneven part  201   a  which prevents unevenness where the covers  201  overlaps each other. As a result, a flat surface of the integrated cover of the overlapped covers  201  can be achived. Thereby, the storage compartment can be illuminated without shadow caused by the overlapped parts when the LEDs  203  light up. 
     Each of the transparent covers  201  is made of resin. Since the plurality of the covers  201  are vertically connected to be a lightning cover, for the same reasons as the arrangement of the vertically-arranged boards  202 , warpage and deformation of the covers  201  can be prevented, component delivery and manufacturing assembly can be easily handled, and quality in assembly can be controlled. 
     Furthermore, the LEDs  203  may be arranged in the following manner in order to brightly illuminate the storage compartment. 
       FIG. 20A  is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator having: (a) the first storage compartment  151  serving as a refrigerator compartment in which the boards  202  having the LEDs  203  are arranged in a height direction of the first storage compartment  151  in side walls of the heat-insulating main body  150 , namely in both side walls of the first storage compartment  151 , in other words, in both the side surface wall part  301  and the divider  153 ; and (b) the second storage compartment  152  serving as a freezer compartment in which no LED  203  is arranged. In this case, the freezer compartment has a low temperature of a temperature zone equal to or less than 0 degrees centigrade. Since the LEDs  203  and the boards  202  are located as a place easily exposed to the air outside when the door opens, dew condensation easily occurs, which causes insufficient insulation or the like. Therefore, the LEDs are arranged only in the refrigerator compartment, not in the freezer compartment, so that reliability can be ensured. 
       FIG. 20B  is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator having: (a) the first storage compartment  151  serving as a refrigerator compartment in which the boards  202  having the LEDs  203  are arranged in a height direction of the first storage compartment  151  in side walls of the first storage compartment  151 , in other words, in both the side surface wall part  301  and the divider  153 ; and (b) the second storage compartment  152  serving as a freezer compartment in which the LEDs  203  are arranged in a height direction of the second storage compartment  152  in the side surface wall part  301  of the second storage compartment  152  and no LEDs  203  are arranged in the divider  153  of the second storage compartment  152 . In this case, the LEDs  203  for illuminating the first storage compartment  151  are embedded in the divider  153  in the first storage compartment  151 . Therefore, when further LEDs  203  are embedded and arranged in the divider  153  in the second storage compartment  152 , a thickness of the divider  153  dividing the first storage compartment  151  from the second storage compartment  152  is partially reduced. Since a thickness of the divider  153  is smaller than a thickness of the side surface wall part  301  in the second storage compartment  152 , more flexibility of an arrangement angle of the board  202  having the LEDs  203  can be achieved when the board  202  is embedded and arranged in the side surface wall part  301 , which can provide design flexibility. Since a width dimension of the second storage compartment  152  is smaller than a width dimension of the first storage compartment  151 , the illumination from a single side wall is enough to brightly illuminate the inside of the second storage compartment  152 . 
       FIG. 20C  is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator that has basically the same structure as that of the refrigerator of  FIG. 20B . The structure of  FIG. 20C  differs from the structure of  FIG. 20B  in that the board  202  having the LEDs  203  is arranged also in the divider  153  in the second storage compartment  152 . At the location close to the opening of the second storage compartment  152 , the tapered surface  301   a  having the angle THETA 1  is formed in the side surface side wall part  301  and the tapered surface  153   a  having the angle PHI 1  is formed in the divider  153 . The angle PHI 1  is nearly 0 degree. Therefore, the board  202  having the LEDs  203  needs to be embedded in the wall surfaces and arranged obliquely to some extent in order to illuminate the internal rear side of the compartment from the front side. 
     Especially, it is necessary to set the light axis of the LEDs  203  towards the internal rear side of the storage compartment by setting the board  202  embedded in the tapered surface  301   a  oblique towards the storage compartment more than the board  202  embedded in the tapered surface  153   a . Thereby, since the thickness of the side surface wall part  301  in the second storage compartment  152  is greater than the thickness of the divider  153 , even if the angle of obliquely embedding the board  202  is increased, the board  202  can be arranged in the design to illuminate the internal rear side of the storage compartment. 
     Since the LEDs  203  are embedded in the side surface wall part  301 , even if the second door  121  opening and closing the front side of the second storage compartment  152  has a function device such as an ice maker, it is possible to prevent the cover  201  covering the LEDs  203  from contacting the function device when closing the second door  121 . Therefore, there is no need to provide a dead space between the cover  201  and the function device. 
     The board  202  embedded in the tapered surface  153   a  is arranged having an oblique angle smaller than that of the board  202  in the side surface wall part  301  so as to illuminate the internal rear side of the storage compartment. Therefore, the opening  305  in which the board  202  for the divider  153  is embedded can be smaller than the opening  305  in the side surface wall part  301 . As a result, the heat insulation properties of the divider  153  can be ensured. 
     Each of the first and second storage compartments  151  and  152  can be illuminated from both side walls. Therefore, storage items therein can be brightly illuminated. 
       FIG. 20D  is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator having: (a) the first storage compartment  151  serving as a refrigerator compartment in which the board having the LEDs are embedded in both side walls of the first storage compartment  151 ; and (b) the second storage compartment  152  serving as a freezer compartment in which the board having the LEDs are embedded only in the divider  153 . With the above structure, the second storage compartment  152  can be brightly illuminated from only one side wall. It is also possible to shorten a length of electric wiring of the board  202  connected to a control board provided in a ceiling part of the refrigerator  100  for controlling the entire refrigerator  100 . 
       FIG. 20E  is a cross-sectional view of the refrigerator having: (a) the first storage compartment  151  serving as a refrigerator compartment in which the board  202  having the LEDs  203  are arranged in a height direction of the first storage compartment  151  only in the side surface wall part  301 ; and (b) the second storage compartment  152  serving as a freezer compartment in which the board  202  having the LEDs  203  are arranged in a height direction of the second storage compartment  152  only in the side surface wall part  301 . Each of the first and second storage compartment  151  and  152  is illuminated when the LEDs  203  in the side surface wall part  301  emits light from the front side of the compartment to the rear side of the compartment. Therefore, since the divider  153  does not have the LEDs  203 , the divider  153  does not need to have the opening  305  in which the board having the LEDs is embedded. As a result, it is possible to improve the heat insulation properties of the first and second storage compartment  151  and  152 . 
     In general, the refrigerator having doors opening left and right has a relatively smaller width dimension of the first and second storage compartments  151  and  152 . When the lighting units  302  are arranged on a side wall of the storage compartment, if the lighting units  302  are arranged vertically only on a single side wall, an effect of illuminating the storage compartment with a certain degree can be obtained in practice. Therefore, there are merits as rational specification required as lightning specification. 
     As shown in  FIG. 20F , if the LEDs  203  are arranged both in the side surface wall part  301  of the first storage compartment  151  and in the divider  153  of the second storage compartment  152 , the LEDs  203  emit light in the same direction from the front side of each compartment. Therefore, both of the first and second storage compartments  151  and  152  can be brightly illuminated by setting the same directionality between the light axes. As also shown in  FIG. 20G , in the similar manner to  FIG. 20F , if the LEDs  203  are arranged both in the divider  153  of the first storage compartment  151  and in the side surface wall part  301  of the second storage compartment  152 , both of the first and second storage compartments  151  and  152  can be brightly illuminated by setting the same directionality between the light axes. 
     As shown in  FIG. 20H , if the board  202  having the LEDs  203  is obliquely arranged in each of the divider  153  in the first storage compartment  151  and the divider  153  in the second storage compartment  152 , and the light axes are set from the front side of the compartments to the internal rear side of the compartments, thereby illuminating each of the first and second storage compartments  151  and  152  from a single side, it is possible to save energy and also illuminate storage items in the storage compartments. 
     In this case, the lighting units  304  having the LEDs  203  are arranged only on both sides of the divider  153  and not arranged in the side walls of the inner body of the main body of the refrigerator. Therefore, the structure such as wiring of the lighting units  304  can be combined and simplified to provide a rational lightning structure. Furthermore, the lighting units  304  are not arranged in the heat-insulating walls of the bosh side walls of the main body of the refrigerator and there is no unevenness on the heat-insulating walls. As a result, the structure has advantages for the surfaces having heat insulation properties. 
     On the other hand, if, for example, the divider  153  is a structure separate from the inner body  501 , there are advantages in manufacturing processes because a process of embedding the lighting units  304  in the divider  153  can be completed previously, and also in gaining a flexibility of sharing the main body of the refrigerator and changing specification of the lighting units for each model. 
       FIG. 21  is a perspective view of the refrigerator with the first door  111  and the second door  121  open. The inside of the refrigerator is divided into the first storage compartment  151  and the second storage compartment  152  arranged side by side. The first storage compartment serves as a refrigerator compartment, and the second storage compartment  152  serves as a freezer compartment. Each of the first and second storage compartments  151  and  152  has the shelves  163  arranged vertically on each of which food and the like are to be placed. Below the lowest one (bottom shelf) of the shelves  163 , there are the drawers  162  arranged vertically. Each of the drawers has a drawer front side  162   a  which is a front side of the drawer. In each of the first and second storage compartments  151  and  152 , the drawer front side  162   a  of the lower one (bottom drawer) of the drawers  162  is located ahead towards the opening of the refrigerator  100  more than the drawer front sides  162   a  of the upper ones of the drawers  162 . An upper end of the lighting unit  200  having the LEDs  203  is higher than a predetermined attachment  161  by which one of the shelves  163  is attached, and a lower end of the lighting unit  200  is lower than the other attachments  161  below the predetermined attachment  161 . In the present embodiment, the lower end of the lighting unit  200  is lower than a lower end of the top drawer  162 , also lower than an upper end of the drawer  162  under the top drawer, and higher than an upper end of the bottom drawer  162 . 
     Furthermore, the lighting unit  200  is arranged in front of front ends of the shelves  163  and a front end of the top drawer  162 , and behind the drawer front side  162   a  of the bottom drawer  162 . Thereby, the LEDs  203  in the lighting unit  200  can illuminate the shelves  163  and the upper drawers  162  except the bottom drawer  162  from the front side. Therefore, even if storage items are stored on the shelves  163  and in the drawers  162 , it is prevented that the storage items contact the cover  201  of the LEDs  203  and block the light from the LEDs  203 . As a result, the inside of the storage compartment can be illuminated. 
     Meanwhile, when the board  202  on which the LEDs  203  are embedded is provided in each of the tapered surfaces  153   a  and  301   a , there is a possibility that a bending part  170  at which the side surface wall part is bent to be the tapered surface blocks the light axis of the LEDs. Therefore, as shown in  FIG. 22 , the cover  201  is arranged to cover the bending part  170  and a portion of the tapered surface bending from the bending part  170 . It is thereby prevented that the bending part  170  blocks the light axis of the LEDs  203 . As a result, the light axis of the LEDs  203  can emit light through the bending part  170  to illuminate the inside of the storage compartment, which provides flexibility in an angle of arranging the board  202 . 
     Furthermore, if a light-reflecting plate is provided on the surface of the base  703  or the base  703  is made of a light-reflecting material, a part of to light emitted from the LEDs  203  is reflected on the light-reflecting plate or the base  703  made of a light-reflecting material so as to more brightly illuminate the inside of the storage compartment. 
     It should be noted that the examples of arrangements of the lightning units  302  and  304  in the tapered surfaces are shown in  FIGS. 15 ,  16 ,  17 ,  20 , and  22 . However, as shown in  FIGS. 11 ,  12 , and  13 , it is also possible in the arrangements of all lightning units that each of the lightning units  302  and  304  are arranged in the side surface wall part  301  behind the tapered surface  153   a  or  301   a  and in front of the attachments  161  by which the shelves  163  are attached, and arranged to have a top level higher than a top level of the attachments  161  and have a bottom level lower than a bottom level of the attachments  161 . The attachments  161  are arranged in a vertical line in a plurality of stages. 
     With the above structure, the lightning units are not arranged in the tapered surfaces having a thickness that is particularly thin. As a result, the heat insulation properties of the tapered surfaces can be increased. 
     Furthermore, with the above structure, an angle of obliquely arranging the lightning units not in the tapered surface can be decreased more than an angle of obliquely arranging the lightning units in the tapered surface. Thereby, in addition to the increase of the heat insulation properties, it is possible to illuminate the storage items more brightly because a distance between the shelves and the lightning units is shortened. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     The present invention is applicable to a refrigerator, and more particularly applicable to a refrigerator having a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment arranged side by side.