Patent Description:
As refrigerators develop gradually in a more intelligent tendency, storage devices on the refrigerator door have increasing functions. To achieve these functions, a powering device for powering the storage devices needs to be mounted on the door body. Therefore, in a refrigerator door, opening processing needs to be performed on a door liner so that a power supply line passes through the hole and is electrically connected with a powering device to thereby provide electrical energy for a storage device. However, the opening processing is performed on the door liner, this causes likelihood of material overflow during a foaming process and greatly reduces the yield rate of products.

Relevant prior art is disclosed in <CIT>.

In view of the above problem, it is necessary to improve the conventional refrigerator door to solve the above problem.

An object of the present invention is to provide a more intelligent refrigerator door.

The present invention is directed to a refrigerator door according to claim <NUM>.

Further features of the present invention are described in claims <NUM> to <NUM>.

The advantageous effects of the present invention are as follows: in the present invention the pre-embedded component is disposed on the door liner so that the supply source line powers the storage device via the pre-embedded component. As such, the material overflow can be prevented during the foaming process.

In order to make those skilled in the art better understand the technical solutions of the present invention, the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to figures in the embodiments of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, an embodiment of a refrigerator door of the present invention is illustrated. The refrigerator door comprises a door housing <NUM>, a door liner <NUM>, a decorative strip <NUM> connecting the door liner <NUM> with the door housing <NUM>, a thermal insulation chamber formed between the door housing <NUM> and the door liner <NUM>, and a storage device <NUM> mounted on the door liner <NUM>, wherein the refrigerator door further comprises a power supply module for powering the storage device <NUM>, the power supply module has a pre-embedded component <NUM> fixed in the thermal insulation chamber and exposed from the door liner <NUM> to the outside, a power supply line <NUM> led from the thermal insulation chamber through the pre-embedded component <NUM>, and a connecting mechanism disposed between the pre-embedded component <NUM> and the storage device <NUM> and electrically connected to the power supply line <NUM>.

Specifically, as shown in <FIG>, the pre-embedded component <NUM> comprises a first fixing portion <NUM> fixed with the decorative strip <NUM>, a second fixing portion <NUM> fixed with a side wall of the door liner <NUM>, and a mounting mechanism protruding from the second fixing portion <NUM> for mounting the connecting mechanism, wherein the first fixing portion <NUM> and the second fixing portion <NUM> are connected by a plurality of connecting ribs <NUM> arranged at an interval in an up-down direction. As such, when the storage device <NUM> is mounted on a hanger <NUM>, the storage device <NUM> is borne by a side decorative strip <NUM>, thereby preventing the door liner <NUM> from being damaged, and thereby ensuring good electrical connection between the hanger <NUM> and the storage device <NUM>.

The side wall of the door liner <NUM> has a mounting hole <NUM> which runs through in the transverse direction. The mounting mechanism protrudes through the mounting hole <NUM> out of the side wall of the door liner to facilitate the mounting of the hanger <NUM>, the mounting mechanism comprises a pair of slide rails <NUM> arranged at an interval in a front-rear direction and extending in an up-down direction, and a bottom plate <NUM> located below the pair of slide rails <NUM>, and a snap <NUM> is protrudingly disposed on a side of the bottom plate <NUM> in the transverse direction.

In the present embodiment, the mounting mechanism further comprises a line through hole <NUM> located between the pair of slide rails <NUM> and configured to allow the power supply line <NUM> to pass therethrough, and the pair of slide rails <NUM> are disposed connected to the bottom plate <NUM>. As such, the structural strength of the slide rails <NUM> and the bottom plate <NUM> can be increased.

In the present embodiment, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the door liner <NUM> is formed by vacuum molding, and the door liner <NUM> is arranged in an inwardly opened U-shape. Specifically, the door liner has a recessed portion <NUM> on both sides of the door liner in the transverse direction, the recessed portions <NUM> are disposed gradually narrowed from front to rear, and the recessed portions <NUM> are side walls of the door liner <NUM> as viewed from outside.

The second fixing portion <NUM> has a fitting wall that is fitted to an inner wall on one side of the recessed portion <NUM> in the transverse direction, front and rear side walls located on front and rear sides of the fitting wall, and upper and lower side walls located on upper and lower sides of the fitting wall, the front and rear side walls and the upper and lower side walls are all fitted to the inner wall on the other side of the recessed portion <NUM> in the transverse direction, wherein the mounting mechanism is protrudingly formed from the fitting wall. As such, the periphery of the second fixing portion <NUM> can fit the recessed portion <NUM> seamlessly, thereby avoiding the occurrence of material overflow during the foaming process.

The second fixing portion <NUM> further has a limiting hole <NUM> penetrating the upper side wall of the second fixing portion <NUM> in the up-down direction to receive the power supply line <NUM>. As such, the power supply line <NUM> can be smoothly connected to the hanger <NUM>, and meanwhile, since the diameter of the limiting hole <NUM> is small, the occurrence of material overflow during the foaming process can be further avoided.

In the present embodiment, the decorative strip comprises side decorative strips <NUM> fixed on both sides of the door liner, the pre-embedded component <NUM> is fixed on a side of the side decorative strip <NUM> facing the thermal insulation chamber, the side decorative strip <NUM> is provided with a pre-positioning structure for pre-positioning the pre-embedded component <NUM> and a decorative strip fixing hole <NUM> located beside the pre-positioning structure, the first fixing portion <NUM> is provided with a retaining structure matching the pre-positioning structure and a fixing hole <NUM> in the pre-embedded component <NUM> corresponding to the decorative strip fixing hole <NUM>, and the refrigerator door further has a fixing pin for fixing the decorative strip fixing hole <NUM> and the fixing hole <NUM> in the pre-embedded component <NUM>.

Specifically, the pre-positioning structure is a pair of hooks <NUM> disposed on the side decorative strip <NUM> at an interval in the up-down direction, and the retaining structure is a snap-fitting groove <NUM> disposed in the first fixing portion <NUM>. Certainly, in other embodiments, when the hanger <NUM> is located at a higher position, the pre-embedded component <NUM> can also be fixed to the upper decorative strip, or fixed to other structures, such as a reinforcing member.

As shown in <FIG>, the storage device <NUM> has an engaging slot <NUM> for engaging with the hanger <NUM>. the power supply module comprises a first connector <NUM> disposed on the hanger <NUM>, and a second connector <NUM> disposed at the engaging slot <NUM>, wherein the first connector <NUM> and second connector <NUM> are docked with each other in cooperation after the storage device <NUM> is mounted. In the present embodiment, the connecting mechanism is the hanger <NUM>, and the engaging slot <NUM> disposed on the storage device <NUM> and configured to engage with the hanger <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the hanger <NUM> has a housing <NUM> fixed on a side wall of the door liner <NUM>, a circuit board <NUM> fixed in the housing <NUM>, and the first connector <NUM> is electrically connected to the circuit board <NUM> and disposed exposed out of the housing <NUM>.

The first connector <NUM> has a connection terminal electrically connected to the circuit board <NUM>, the housing <NUM> is provided with a through hole <NUM> for the connection terminal to pass therethrough, and the connection terminal has a connection portion <NUM> electrically connected to the second connector <NUM> and a welding portion <NUM> passing through the through hole <NUM> and welded with the circuit board <NUM>. In the present embodiment, the first connector <NUM> is the connection terminal.

In the present embodiment, the housing <NUM> has a support wall <NUM> located atop, a pair of first side walls <NUM> that are disposed spaced-apart in a front-rear direction and connected to the support wall <NUM>, and second side walls <NUM> disposed transversely and connected to the pair of first side walls <NUM> and the support wall <NUM>, the through hole <NUM> runs through the support wall <NUM> in a top-down direction, the connection portion <NUM> is exposed out of an upper surface of the support wall <NUM>, and the second connector <NUM> is disposed on an upper inner wall of the engaging slot <NUM>.

The first side walls <NUM> are arranged asymmetrically, and side edges of the circuit board <NUM> facing the inner walls of the first side walls <NUM> are also arranged asymmetrically. In the present embodiment, one of the first side walls <NUM> has a recess which is inwardly recessed and cooperates with a protrusion on the engaging slot <NUM> to fix the storage device <NUM>. As such, the hanger <NUM> and the circuit board <NUM> can be mounted conveniently to avoid a mounting error.

Certainly, in other embodiments, the through hole <NUM> can also be disposed on the first side wall <NUM> or the second side wall <NUM>, the connection portion <NUM> is exposed on an outer surface of the first side wall <NUM> or the second side wall <NUM>, and the second connector <NUM> only needs to be disposed in the engaging slot <NUM> at a position corresponding to the first side wall <NUM> or the second side wall <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> further has a shielding portion <NUM> formed on a side of the support wall <NUM> in a transverse direction and close to the storage device <NUM>, the support wall <NUM> is formed with an inner recess <NUM> that is recessed downward, and the connection portion <NUM> is located in a space formed by the inner recess <NUM> and the shielding portion <NUM>. As such, the first connector <NUM> is fixed more firmly, and furthermore, when the storage device <NUM> is mounted on the hanger <NUM>, the shielding portion <NUM> can shield the first connector <NUM> and the second connector <NUM> to increase the aesthetics.

An end of the power supply line <NUM> is provided with a socket, and the circuit board <NUM> is provided with a plug mated with the socket. As such, when the hanger <NUM> is damaged, it can be easily detached for replacement or maintenance.

Certainly, in other embodiments, the power supply line <NUM> can also be directly connected to the first connector <NUM> or the circuit board <NUM> to power the second connector <NUM>. For example, the first connector <NUM> is a socket disposed at the end of the power supply line <NUM>, and the second connector <NUM> is a plug mated with the socket. As such, the structure is very simple and the cost is low.

In the present embodiment, the second side wall <NUM> has a plurality of positioning posts <NUM> formed protruding from an inner wall thereof, the circuit board <NUM> has positioning holes <NUM> mated with the positioning posts <NUM>, and then the circuit board <NUM> is fixed on the housing <NUM> by gluing or in a snap-fitting manner. As such, more electrical components can be disposed on the circuit board <NUM> to meet more demands and realize more functions, for example, a function of preventing electric shock.

The housing <NUM> further has a pair of sliders <NUM> protruding from inner walls of the pair of first side walls <NUM>, opposed to each other and extending in an up-down direction, and a catching slot <NUM> recessed from an inner wall of the second side wall <NUM>. The inner wall of the second side wall <NUM> further has a guide portion <NUM> that is located below the catching slot <NUM> and disposed inclined.

The hanger <NUM> further has an indicator light <NUM> disposed on the circuit board <NUM>, and the side wall of the housing72 in the transverse direction has a hollowed portion <NUM> that matches the shape of the indicator light <NUM> to accommodate the indicator light <NUM>. The indicator light <NUM> can be used to indicate whether the hanger <NUM> is in a power-on state, that is, the indicator light <NUM> indicates that the hanger <NUM> is in the power-on state when it is on; the indicator light <NUM> can also indicates that the hanger <NUM> is in a power-off state, which can be set according to actual needs.

For example, the hanger <NUM> is set in the power-on state when the indicator light <NUM> is on, so that the user can be reminded to be careful that the hanger <NUM> is electrified when the storage device <NUM> is not mounted. Alternatively, the hanger <NUM> is set in the power-off state when the indicator light <NUM> is on. As such, when the storage device <NUM> is not mounted, the indicator light <NUM> can indicate to the user that the hanger <NUM> is in a safe state, and operations of the hanger <NUM> such as repair and replacement can be performed.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, the power supply line <NUM> can be led from a door body hinge to the line through hole <NUM> of a fixing member, and then the line through hole <NUM> is sealed by a sealing member, and the foaming is stated. After the completion of foaming, the power supply line <NUM> is exposed between the slide rails <NUM>. When the hanger <NUM> is mounted, the power supply line <NUM> is first plugged on the circuit board <NUM>, then the sliders <NUM> on the housing <NUM> are aligned with the slide rails <NUM> and slid from top to bottom, the catching slot <NUM> and the snap <NUM> are made smoothly snap-fitted with each other, and finally the storage device <NUM> is mounted on the hanger <NUM> to achieve electrical connection.

To conclude, in the refrigerator door of the present invention, the pre-embedded component <NUM> is disposed on the door liner <NUM>, so that the power supply line <NUM> powers the storage device <NUM> via the pre-embedded component <NUM>. As such, the occurrence of material overflow can be prevented during the foaming process; meanwhile, the pre-embedded component <NUM> is fixed on the side decorative strips <NUM>, and the weight of the storage device <NUM> is borne by the side decorative strips <NUM>, thereby avoiding damages to the door liner <NUM> and enhancing the stability of the electrical connection.

Claim 1:
A refrigerator door, comprising a door housing (<NUM>), a door liner (<NUM>), a thermal insulation chamber formed between the door housing (<NUM>) and the door liner (<NUM>), and a storage device (<NUM>) mounted on the door liner (<NUM>), wherein the refrigerator door further comprises a power supply module for powering the storage device (<NUM>), the power supply module has a pre-embedded component (<NUM>) fixed in the thermal insulation chamber and exposed from the door liner (<NUM>) to the outside, a power supply line (<NUM>) led from the thermal insulation chamber through the pre-embedded component (<NUM>), and a connecting mechanism disposed between the pre-embedded component (<NUM>) and the storage device (<NUM>) and electrically connected to the power supply line (<NUM>),
characterized in that the refrigerator door comprises a decorative strip (<NUM>) connecting the door liner (<NUM>) with the door housing (<NUM>), the pre-embedded component (<NUM>) comprises a first fixing portion (<NUM>) fixed with the decorative strip (<NUM>), a second fixing portion (<NUM>) fixed with the door liner (<NUM>), and a mounting mechanism protruding from the second fixing portion (<NUM>) for mounting the connecting mechanism, and wherein the first fixing portion (<NUM>) and the second fixing portion (<NUM>) are connected by a plurality of connecting ribs (<NUM>) arranged at an interval.