Patent Description:
In general, a refrigerator is equipment for keeping food items in storage in a low temperature state for a long period of time by generating cold air by driving a refrigerating cycle installed therein and supplying generated cold air to the interior of a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber.

Recently launched large refrigerators include a dispenser for dispensing ice or water without opening a door thereof. Since a dispenser dispenses water or ice without having to open the door of the refrigerator, cold air within the refrigerator is prevented from being leaked to the outside and user convenience can be enhanced.

Refrigerators may further include an ice dispensing device for dispensing ice made in an ice maker without having to open a refrigerator door. The ice dispensing device is configured such that a large amount of ice cubes are generally kept in storage in an ice bucket as a storage chamber, and when a user selects ice dispensing, a predetermined amount of ice is dispensed.

<FIG> is a front perspective view of a refrigerator including a dispenser and <FIG> is a view illustrating a refrigerator including a dispenser housing installed therein. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a refrigerator body <NUM> includes a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber (not shown).

The refrigerating chamber is a vertical space in a vertical direction in which food items desired to be kept in storage at a low temperature by cold air generated by an evaporator. A plurality of shelves are horizontally installed between wall surfaces of the refrigerating chamber. A freezing chamber is formed as a vertical space in the left of the refrigerating chamber, in which a temperature is maintained to below <NUM>. The refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber are divided horizontally by a barrier (not shown).

Namely, the refrigerating chamber is installed in the right side and the freezing chamber is installed in the left side. Doors <NUM> and <NUM> are installed in front side of the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber, respectively, and have a configuration including an outdoor case <NUM> made of steel forming the exterior décor and an inner case (no reference numeral is given) made of a synthetic resin and installed to be spaced apart from the outdoor case <NUM>.

Meanwhile, pigment such as paint, or the like, is painted on a surface of the outdoor case <NUM> to prevent a steel surface of the outdoor case <NUM> from being exposed or tempered glass is attached to the surface of the outdoor case <NUM>. In this case, sponge (not shown), or the like, serving as a buffer may be inserted between the outdoor case <NUM> and the tempered glass.

An insulator (not shown) is charged in a space between the outdoor case <NUM> and the inner case to insulate the refrigerating chamber with respect to the outside. A handle may be provided on a surface of the outdoor case <NUM>. The handle is installed to substantially open and close the doors <NUM> and <NUM>. the doors <NUM> and <NUM> is rotated by hinges (not shown) installed in left and right end portions of the refrigerator body <NUM> to open and close the refrigerating chamber and the freezing chamber.

A dispenser housing <NUM> is formed on a front surface of the freezing chamber door <NUM>. The dispenser housing <NUM> is insertedly installed in a dispenser insertion hole <NUM> as a through hole formed in a middle portion of the outdoor casing <NUM>, of the freezing chamber door <NUM>, formed as one body. A dispenser including the dispenser housing <NUM> dispenses water or ice such that the user does not need to open or close the refrigerator door.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the dispenser housing <NUM> is formed to be depressed backwardly and inserted into the dispenser insertion hole <NUM> penetrating the outdoor case <NUM> of the freezing chamber door <NUM>. The dispenser housing <NUM> is inserted into the dispenser insertion hole <NUM> and subsequently attached to the outdoor case <NUM> of the freezing chamber door <NUM> by an adhesive or a foaming agent C along the edges thereof. A paint or tempered glass is installed on a front surface of the outdoor case <NUM> of the freezing chamber door <NUM>.

However, the related art refrigerator having the foregoing dispenser housing <NUM> has the following problems.

The outdoor case <NUM> is generally made of an iron plate, and the dispenser insertion hole <NUM> is formed through punching. Thus, after the dispenser housing <NUM> is coupled by an adhesive or a foaming agent C, a bonding portion of the outdoor case <NUM> and the dispenser housing <NUM> may be bent or may not be formed as a single vertical plane (or the same plane), marring a fine outward exterior.

In addition, since the dispenser insertion hole <NUM> of the outdoor case <NUM> is formed through punching and covered by an injection-molded product (i.e., the dispensing housing <NUM>), a surface thereof is not finished to be neat, and a precise operation is required in a manufacturing process, making it difficult to perform an operation.

<CIT> describes a fridge door which includes a front panel and a display having a display cover and a display housing. Mounting grooves are formed in at least the upper and lower end edges of the display housing. The mounting groove is for mounting the edge of the front panel. When the front panel with a relatively thin thickness is used, a spacer can be inserted into the mounting groove.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a door for a refrigerator having a dispenser for dispensing ice or water, which can be easily fabricated or has a simple structure by separately fabricating an upper door member, a lower door member, and a dispenser housing separately or fabricating them through a single operation, and a refrigerator having the same.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a door for a refrigerator capable of implementing unified texture and enhancing aesthetic touch by forming an upper door member, a lower door member, and a dispenser housing with the same material such as a stainless steel, or the like, and coupling the upper door member, the lower door member, and the dispenser housing through an upper connection member and a lower connection member to have the same surface in a vertical plane, and capable of preventing contamination due to foreign objects by preventing a possibility of a scratch or damage.

These objects are solved by the subject-matter of the independent claim. Further advantageous embodiments and refinements are described in the respective dependent claims.

According to an illustrative aspect of the present invention, a door for a refrigerator includes: an upper door member formed with a metal plate having the exterior in a pre-set color; a lower door member formed with a metal plate having the same color as that of the upper door member; a dispenser housing formed with a metal plate having the same color as that of the upper door member; an upper connection member formed of a synthetic resin member and connecting the upper door member and the dispenser housing; and a lower connection member formed of a synthetic resin member and connecting the lower door member and the dispenser housing, wherein the upper door member, the lower door member, the dispenser housing, the upper connection member, and the lower connection member form an outdoor case, a door liner is coupled to an inner side of the outdoor case, and an insulator is charged in a space between the outdoor case and the door liner.

A first housing coupling portion to which the dispenser housing is coupled is provided in a lower portion of the upper connection member.

The upper connection member may include a display unit configured to display a dispensed state of water or ice or a dispensed amount of water or ice; and a button unit configured to manipulate a dispenser function for dispensing water or ice.

The first housing coupling portion has a discharge duct from which water or ice is dispensed.

The lower connection member includes a second housing coupling portion coupled to a lower portion of the dispenser housing.

The second housing coupling portion may include a residual water receiving portion formed to be depressed downwardly to keep residual water of the dispenser.

Surfaces of the upper door member and the upper connection member and surfaces of the lower door member and the lower connection member may be configured to be disposed in the same vertical plane.

The upper door member may have a coupling step formed in a lower end portion thereof and inwardly bent, and the dispenser housing may have a coupling step formed in an un upper end portion thereof and inwardly bent, so that an upper edge of the upper connection member and the housing coupling portion may be inwardly inserted into the bent portion of the coupling step so as to be coupled.

The lower door member may have a coupling step formed in an upper end portion thereof and inwardly bent, and the dispenser housing may have a coupling step formed in an un upper end portion thereof and inwardly bent, so that a lower edge of the lower connection member and the housing coupling portion may be inwardly inserted into the bent portion of the coupling step so as to be coupled.

The dispenser housing includes a take-out pad for dispensing ice or water when pressed or touched.

According to a further illustrative aspect of the present disclosure, not in accordance with the invention, a door for a refrigerator includes: a first door member positioned in an upper portion and having a flat front vertical plane; a second door member positioned in a middle portion and having an inwardly depressed and bent vertical plane and having a dispenser installed therein to dispense water or ice to serve as a dispenser housing; and a third door member positioned in the lowermost portion and having a flat front vertical plane, wherein an outdoor case including the first door member, the second door member, and the third door member is fabricated at a time by performing press working on a single member in a single mold.

Here, the first door member, the second door member, and the third door member may be made of the same stainless material.

According to a third illustrative aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigerator including a refrigerator body having a refrigerating chamber and a freezing chamber, a refrigerating chamber door opening and closing the refrigerating chamber, and a freezing chamber door opening and closing the freezing chamber, wherein the freezing chamber door includes an upper door member formed with a metal plate having the exterior in a pre-set color; a lower door member formed with a metal plate having the same color as that of the upper door member; a dispenser housing formed with a metal plate having the same color as that of the upper door member; an upper connection member formed of a synthetic resin member and connecting the upper door member and the dispenser housing; and a lower connection member formed of a synthetic resin member and connecting the lower door member and the dispenser housing, wherein the upper door member, the lower door member, the dispenser housing, the upper connection member, and the lower connection member form an outdoor case, a door liner is coupled to an inner side of the outdoor case, and an insulator is charged in a space between the outdoor case and the door liner.

The upper door member, the lower door member, and the dispenser housing may be made of the same stainless material.

Further scope of applicability of the present application will become more apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention as definded in the claims will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description.

Description will now be given in detail of the exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings. For the sake of brief description with reference to the drawings, the same or equivalent components will be provided with the same reference numbers, and description thereof will not be repeated.

Hereinafter, a door for a refrigerator according to embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The terms and words used in the present specification and claims should not be interpreted as being limited to typical meanings or dictionary definitions, but should be construed as having meanings and concepts relevant to the technical scope of the present invention based on the rule according to which an inventor can appropriately define the concept of the term to describe most appropriately the best method he or she knows for carrying out the invention.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the case of the related art refrigerator door, in the freezing chamber door <NUM> of the refrigerator, a foaming agent is first charged between the outdoor case <NUM> and the inner case in the process of manufacturing, and tempered glass is attached to the front surface of the outdoor case <NUM>. The tempered glass is fabricated to have various colors and tempered glass having a corresponding color is selected to be attached according to consumers' demand.

The dispenser insertion hole <NUM> is formed in a middle portion of the outdoor case <NUM> of the freezing chamber door <NUM>, and the dispenser housing <NUM> is depressed and inserted to be integrally formed, so, preferably, the dispenser housing <NUM> has the same color as that of the outdoor case <NUM> made of steel.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the dispenser housing <NUM> is inserted into the dispenser insertion hole <NUM> and buried in the outdoor case <NUM> by a foaming agent or an adhesive (C).

As a result, in the related art refrigerator in which the outdoor case <NUM> of the freezing chamber door <NUM> is formed as a single member and the dispenser is provided, the outdoor case <NUM> is required to be separately punched, and in this case, the outdoor case <NUM> is required to be punched such that a size thereof is equal to that of the dispenser housing <NUM>, requesting precision of the punching operation.

Since the dispenser housing <NUM> is inserted in the dispenser insertion hole <NUM> and coupled by a foaming agent or an adhesive, a finishing process may not be neatly performed or the refrigerator door <NUM> may be contaminated by foreign objects, or the like.

In addition, after the refrigerator is used for a long period of time, the function of the foaming agent or the adhesive may be degraded so the dispenser housing <NUM> may be released from the outdoor case <NUM>.

Thus, in an embodiment of the present invention, the dispenser insertion hole <NUM> of the outdoor case <NUM> is eliminated, and a <NUM>-stage assembly including an upper door member, a lower door member, and a dispenser housing is assembled to improve an assembling structure of the freezing chamber door and implement a refrigerator door having a fine view in the exterior.

Hereinafter, a door for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a door for a refrigerator having a dispenser for dispensing water or ice kept therein without having to open the door according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an upper door member <NUM> forming an upper portion of a refrigerator door; a lower door member <NUM> forming a lower portion of the refrigerator door; a dispenser housing <NUM> positioned between the upper door member <NUM> and the lower door member <NUM> and inwardly depressed to allow a dispenser having a discharge duct <NUM> for discharging water or ice to be installed therein; and coupling members <NUM> and <NUM> fastening the dispenser housing <NUM> between the upper door member <NUM> and the lower door member <NUM>.

The coupling members <NUM> and <NUM> include an upper connection member <NUM> fastened between the upper door member <NUM> and the dispenser housing <NUM> and a lower connection member <NUM> fastened between the lower door member <NUM> and the dispenser housing <NUM>.

Also, the dispenser housing <NUM> includes a take-out pad <NUM> allowing a user to press or touch it to take out water or ice.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the dispenser for dispensing water or ice is installed in the dispenser housing <NUM>, and in general, the water/ice take-out pad <NUM> as an ice and water supply switch to be manipulated by the user is installed. When the user operates the take-out pad <NUM>, ice maker or a water storage tank installed in the refrigerator is opened and ice or purified water is dispensed from a dispensing hole connected to the ice maker and the water storage tank to the outside through the discharge duct <NUM>.

In general, the discharge duct <NUM> is formed on the ceiling of the depressed portion of the dispenser housing <NUM> in which the dispenser is installed, and the take-out pad <NUM>, not in accordance with the invention, may be formed to be protruded downwardly from an end portion of the dispensing hole connected to the ice maker or the water storage tank, or according to the invention is, formed in an inner surface of the depressed portion close to the dispensing hole. When the user inwardly pushes or presses the take-out pad <NUM> with a cup, water or ice is dispensed from the discharge duct <NUM>.

For example, in the case in which the take-out pad <NUM> is downwardly protruded from an upper surface of the depressed portion, if the user wants to drink water, the user may push or touch the water or ice take-out pad <NUM> with a cup. Then, water stored in the water storage tank or ice stored in an ice bank may be dispensed from the discharge duct <NUM> formed in front of an upper portion of the take-out pad <NUM> along a connection pipe, so as to be supplied into the cup.

Referring to <FIG>, the upper door member <NUM> and the lower door member <NUM> may be made of the same material as that of the outdoor case <NUM>. For example, the upper door member <NUM> is formed with a metal plate having the exterior in a pre-set color. The lower door member <NUM> may be formed by molding a metal plate formed to have the same color as that of the upper door member <NUM>. The upper door member <NUM> and the lower door member <NUM> may be fabricated at a time through press working in the same mold.

The dispenser housing <NUM> may be formed by molding a metal plate formed to have the same color as that of the upper door member <NUM>.

Namely, the upper door member <NUM>, the lower door member <NUM>, and the dispenser housing <NUM> may be fabricated at a time through press working, for example, in the same mold,.

The upper door member <NUM> and the lower door member <NUM> may have a flat vertical plane, and the dispenser housing <NUM> has a bent vertical plane. In particular, as illustrated in <FIG>, the dispenser housing <NUM> may have a backwardly cylindrically depressed stand surface. Thus, the outdoor case <NUM> of the refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention may be fabricated by performing press working on a single iron plate (preferably, stainless steel) in a single mold in which upper and lower portions have a planar shape and a middle portion is cylindrically bent, such that the three parts are operated at a time. Of course, the upper door member <NUM>, the lower door member <NUM>, and the dispenser housing <NUM> may also be separately fabricated.

In general, preferably, the upper door member <NUM>, the lower door member <NUM>, and the dispenser housing <NUM> are fabricated with stainless steel as the same material through press working. Accordingly, an integrated stainless texture may be implemented to enhance aesthetic touch. Also, the dispenser housing <NUM> may be restrained from being scratched or damaged, relative to an existing plastic material. Also, the dispenser housing <NUM> may have enhanced cleaning performance because it is prevented from being contaminated by foreign objects.

A process of forming the outdoor case <NUM> of the refrigerator by coupling the upper door member <NUM>, the lower door member <NUM>, and the dispenser housing <NUM> will be described. The upper connection member <NUM> is fastened between the upper door member <NUM> and the dispenser housing <NUM>, and the lower connection member <NUM> is fastened between the dispenser housing <NUM> and the lower door member <NUM> to fabricate a completed outdoor case <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the upper connection member <NUM> has a front surface portion <NUM> and a side wall portion <NUM> formed to correspond to a lower end of the upper door member <NUM>, and fastened to be assembled to the upper door member <NUM>. The upper connection member <NUM> has a first housing coupling portion <NUM> in a lower portion thereof. An upper end of the dispenser housing <NUM> may be coupled to the first housing coupling portion <NUM>.

The upper connection member <NUM> may include a display unit <NUM> displaying a dispensed state of water or ice and a dispensed amount; a button unit <NUM> allowing the user to manipulate a dispenser function to dispense water or ice; and the first housing coupling portion <NUM> coupled to the dispenser housing <NUM>.

The display unit <NUM> may variously display functions and states of the dispenser. For example, the display unit <NUM> may display various numeral values indicating whether to dispense water or ice, a temperature of water, a pre-set water dispensing amount, a pre-set dispensing number of ice, a current amount of stored water or ice, a current temperature, and the like, to enhance user convenience.

The button unit <NUM> may allow the user to set and input an operation function of the dispenser upon checking a value displayed on the display unit <NUM>. For example, the user may adjust and input a water or ice selection function, a temperature setting function, a dispensing amount setting function, or the like, through the button unit <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the first housing coupling portion <NUM> has a shape of a backwardly curved plate. The first housing coupling portion <NUM> may be assembled to correspond to the depressed stand surface of the dispenser housing <NUM> fastened from a lower side as illustrated in <FIG>. The discharge duct <NUM> may be installed on a lower surface of the first housing coupling portion <NUM> to dispense water or ice.

The first housing coupling portion <NUM> may have the discharge duct <NUM> forming an upper ceiling of the dispenser and downwardly protruded such that ice or water can be dispensed downwardly from an ice maker or a water storage tank positioned within the refrigerator.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, the lower connection member <NUM> may have a front surface portion <NUM> and a side wall portion <NUM> which correspond to an upper end of the lower door member <NUM>. The front surface portion <NUM> and the side wall portion <NUM> of the lower connection member <NUM> may be formed to be fastened and be assembled to the lower door member <NUM>. The lower connection member <NUM> has a second housing coupling portion <NUM> formed at an upper portion thereof. The second housing coupling portion <NUM> may be coupled to a lower end portion of the dispenser housing <NUM>.

Like the first housing coupling portion <NUM> of the upper connection member <NUM> as described above, the second housing coupling portion <NUM> may be provided as a plate formed to be backwardly curved.

The second housing coupling portion <NUM> may include a residual water receiving portion <NUM> formed to be downwardly depressed to keep residual water of the dispenser. The residual water receiving portion <NUM> may be formed as a water collecting portion formed to be concave in a lower portion of the dispenser.

The residual water receiving portion <NUM> serves to collect residual water flowing from a gap opened during a short period of time before the discharge duct <NUM> is completely closed when the cut is removed after using the dispenser. Namely, the residual water receiving portion <NUM> is formed to prevent residual water from flowing to the bottom of a place in which the refrigerator is installed.

Here, the upper connection member <NUM> is formed as a synthetic resin member.

The lower connection member <NUM> is formed as a synthetic resin member.

The upper connection member <NUM> may be fabricated, for example, by injection-molding a synthetic resin member.

The lower connection member <NUM> may be fabricated, for example, by injection-molding a synthetic resin.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a refrigerator having the door for a refrigerator including the upper door member <NUM>, the lower door member <NUM>, and the dispenser housing <NUM> as described above is provided.

A refrigerator <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention illustrated in <FIG> includes a refrigerator body <NUM> having a refrigerating chamber <NUM> and a freezing chamber <NUM>; a refrigerator chamber door <NUM> opening and closing the refrigerating chamber <NUM>, and a freezing chamber door <NUM> opening and closing the freezing chamber <NUM>, wherein the freezing chamber door <NUM> includes the upper door member <NUM> forming an upper portion; the lower door member <NUM> forming a lower portion; the upper connection member <NUM> fastened between the upper door member <NUM> and the dispenser housing <NUM>; and the lower connection member <NUM> fastened between the lower door member <NUM> and the dispenser housing <NUM>.

Assembling of the door of the refrigerator and vertical plane characteristics thereof according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG>. First, as illustrated in <FIG>, referring to a cross-section of the door <NUM> for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention, the door <NUM> for a refrigerator includes the upper door member <NUM>, the lower door member <NUM>, and the dispenser housing <NUM> each having a predetermined thickness and forming the outdoor case <NUM>, and an insulator <NUM> provided within the upper door member <NUM>, the lower door member <NUM>, and the dispenser housing <NUM>. The door <NUM> for a refrigerator includes a door liner (an inner door case) <NUM> formed to be in contact with the refrigerating chamber <NUM> or the freezing chamber <NUM>. Namely, the door <NUM> for a refrigerator includes the outdoor case <NUM> having the upper door member <NUM>, the lower door member <NUM>, and the dispenser housing <NUM>, the door liner <NUM> disposed at an inner side of the outdoor case <NUM> and spaced apart from the outdoor case <NUM>, and the insulator <NUM> charged between the outdoor case <NUM> and the door liner <NUM>.

The outdoor case <NUM> of the door for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention may be fabricated by assembling the upper door member <NUM>, the lower door member <NUM>, and the dispenser housing <NUM> with the upper connection member <NUM> and the lower connection member <NUM>.

As for portions assembled by the upper connection member <NUM>, the upper door member <NUM> includes a coupling step <NUM> formed on a lower end portion thereof and bent inwardly, and a coupling step <NUM> formed on an upper end portion of the dispenser housing <NUM> and bent inwardly, so that an upper edge and the first housing coupling portion <NUM> of the upper connection member <NUM> are inwardly inserted into the bent portions of the coupling steps <NUM> and <NUM> so as to be coupled. Namely, the coupling step <NUM> formed in a lower end of the upper door member <NUM> is inserted to be in contact with an inner surface of the upper end portion of the upper connection member <NUM>, and the coupling step <NUM> formed in an upper end portion of the dispenser housing <NUM> is insertedly coupled to be in contact with the edge of the first housing coupling portion <NUM>.

As for portions assembled by the lower connection member <NUM>, a coupling step <NUM> is formed in an upper end portion of the lower door member <NUM> and inwardly bent, and a coupling step <NUM> is formed in an lower end portion of the dispenser housing <NUM> and inwardly bent, so that a lower edge of the lower connection member <NUM> and the second housing coupling portion <NUM> are inwardly inserted into the bent portions of the coupling steps <NUM> and <NUM> so as to be coupled. Namely, the coupling step <NUM> of the lower end portion of the dispenser housing <NUM> may be inwardly inserted so as to be in contact with an inner edge of the second housing coupling portion <NUM> of the lower connection member <NUM>, and the lower door member <NUM> may be inserted such that a rear surface of a lower edge of the lower connection member <NUM> and the coupling step <NUM> of the lower door member <NUM> are in contact with each other. Here, the respective coupling steps <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may have horizontal sections 113a, 123a, 213a, and 223a bent to be protruded backwardly and vertical sections 113b, 123b, 213b, and 223b bent vertically from the horizontal sections 113a, 123a, 213a, and223a, respectively. The horizontal sections 113a, 123a, 213a, and 223a of the coupling steps <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may have, for example, a length corresponding to a thickness of the upper door member <NUM>, the lower door member <NUM>, and the dispenser housing <NUM>, respectively. Accordingly, when the upper door member <NUM>, the lower door member <NUM>, and the dispenser housing <NUM> are coupled by the upper connection member <NUM> and the lower connection member <NUM>, the respective outer surfaces thereof may be disposed in the same vertical plane and stably supported in a vertical direction. The length of the respective vertical sections 113b, 123b, 213b, and 223b may be appropriately adjusted.

Accordingly, the surfaces of the upper door member <NUM> and the upper connection member <NUM> and the surfaces of the lower door member <NUM> and the lower connection member <NUM> may be formed in the same vertical plane, and since the upper door member <NUM>, the lower door member <NUM>, and the dispenser housing <NUM> are formed of metal members having the same color, forming the fine exterior, and contamination by foreign objects is prevented to enhance cleaning characteristics.

Hereinafter, a door for a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG> is a perspective view illustrating a door for a refrigerator according to another embodiment of the present invention.

A door <NUM> for a refrigerator having a dispenser for dispensing water or ice kept therein without having to open the door according to another embodiment of the present invention includes a first door member <NUM> positioned in an upper portion and having a flat front vertical plane; a second door member <NUM> positioned in a middle portion and having an inwardly depressed and bent vertical plane and having a dispenser installed therein to dispense water or ice to serve as a dispenser housing; and a third door member <NUM> positioned in the lowermost portion and having a flat front vertical plane, wherein an outdoor case <NUM> including the first door member, the second door member, and the third door member is fabricated at a time by performing press working on a single member in a single mold.

Thus, the first door member <NUM>, the second door member <NUM>, and the third door member <NUM> are made of the same stainless material, implementing a unified texture and eliminating a possibility of being scratched or damaged.

As described above, according to embodiments of the present invention, in the door for a refrigerator having a dispenser for dispensing ice or water, the upper door member, the lower door member, and the dispenser housing may be separately fabricated, or the upper door member, the lower door member, and the dispenser housing may be fabricated through a single operation and assembled, thereby facilitating the fabrication and realizing a simple structure.

Also, since the upper door member, the lower door member, and the dispenser housing are made of the same material such as a stainless steel, or the like, and coupled with the upper connection member and the lower connection member such that they have the same vertical planar surface, unified texture can be implemented, aesthetic touch can be enhanced, the possibility of being scratched and damaged can be eliminated, and contamination by foreign objects can be prevented.

The foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be considered as limiting the present disclosure. The present teachings can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. This description is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims.

Claim 1:
A door (<NUM>) for a refrigerator (<NUM>) comprising:
an upper door member (<NUM>) formed with a metal plate having the exterior in a pre-set color;
a lower door member (<NUM>) formed with a metal plate having the same color as that of the upper door member (<NUM>);
a dispenser having a discharge duct (<NUM>) for discharging water or ice;
a dispenser housing (<NUM>) formed with a metal plate having the same color as that of the upper door member (<NUM>);
an upper connection member (<NUM>) formed of a synthetic resin member and connecting the upper door member (<NUM>) and the dispenser housing (<NUM>) and having a first housing coupling portion (<NUM>) provided at a lower portion of the upper connection member (<NUM>); and
a lower connection member (<NUM>) formed of a synthetic resin member and connecting the lower door member (<NUM>) and the dispenser housing (<NUM>) and having a second housing coupling portion (<NUM>) provided at an upper portion of the lower connection member (<NUM>),
wherein the upper door member (<NUM>), the lower door member (<NUM>), the dispenser housing (<NUM>), the upper connection member (<NUM>), and the lower connection member (<NUM>) form an outdoor case (<NUM>), a door liner (<NUM>) is coupled to an inner side of the outdoor case (<NUM>), and an insulator (<NUM>) is charged in a space between the outdoor case (<NUM>) and the door liner (<NUM>),
wherein the dispenser housing (<NUM>) comprises an inwardly depressed portion in which the dispenser is installed, and includes a take-out pad (<NUM>) configured to being pressed or touched for dispensing ice or water, wherein the discharge duct (<NUM>) is formed on a ceiling of the inwardly depressed portion, and wherein the take-out-pad (<NUM>) is formed in an inner surface of the depressed portion close to a dispensing hole.