Patent Description:
A refrigeration appliance is provided with a lighting module configured to illuminate a storage compartment. In some existing technologies, a lighting module, with light from a light source in it distributed in a light guide plate, becomes a surface light source lighting module with more uniform light distribution. In some existing technologies, a light source, a light guide plate, a diffusion board, and other components are undetachably fastened together with glue.

In <CIT> is disclosed a panel lighting module including a light guide plate which is intended for the outcoupling of light on at least one of its plate large faces, a light source arrangement having at least one light source arranged adj acent to a first plate narrow face of the light guide plate for coupling light into the first plate narrow face, and a biasing arrangement that resiliently biases the light source in the direction towards the first plate narrow face.

In <CIT> is disclosed an electrical household appliance including an appliance body having a body interior, into which a shelf for storing objects is inserted, and an illumination device having a light source, and a light-directing structure which couples one portion of the light generated by the light source into a narrow side of the shelf, and directs another portion of the light generated by the light source into the body interior.

In <CIT> is disclosed a frame device including a first frame, a plurality of fasteners and a second frame. The first frame includes a base wall and a side wall extending transversely from one end of the base wall. The fasteners are disposed on the side wall opposite to the base wall. The second frame is assembled to and covers an upper end of the first frame and has a plurality of spaced-apart positioning holes. A portion of each fastener passes out of a respective positioning hole and presses against the second frame when the second frame is assembled to the first frame.

In <CIT> is disclosed a liquid crystal display device including an LED, an LED substrate having the LED disposed on a plate surface, a liquid crystal panel that uses light from the LED to perform display, and a light guide plate having a front face that is a light exiting surface.

In <CIT> is disclosed a double glazing for a refrigerator door having a transparent display, especially a double glazing for a refrigerator door having a transparent display for displaying an image in the background of a refrigerator interior.

In <CIT> is disclosed a lighting fixture including a light guide that distributes light from a major surface, a light assembly including light sources arranged linearly, and a frame including a means for providing a force that urges the light assembly against an edge of the light guide.

An objective of embodiments of the present invention is to provide an improved lighting module for a refrigeration appliance and a refrigeration appliance with such a lighting module.

Another objective of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a lighting module for a refrigeration appliance that helps to improve stability of lighting quality and a refrigeration appliance with such a lighting module.

The present invention defines a lighting module for a refrigeration appliance, including: a housing including a light outlet, where the housing includes a supporting edge surrounding the light outlet and an inner frame surrounding the supporting edge, and the inner frame protrudes from the supporting edge in a direction away from the light outlet; a light source located in the housing, where the light source includes a light emitting element and a substrate bearing the light emitting element; a light guide plate, where the light guide plate is supported on the supporting edge, and includes a first end surface facing the inner frame, the housing includes a mounting portion located in a space defined by the first end surface of the light guide plate, the supporting edge, and the inner frame, and the substrate is mounted on the mounting portion, so that the light emitting element and the first end surface of the light guide plate are disposed facing each other.

The substrate is mounted on the mounting portion located in the space defined by the supporting edge, the inner frame, and the first end surface, the substrate can be firmly fastened in the housing, and the light emitting element can emit light into the light guide plate accurately. Therefore, it may be expected that the stability of lighting quality can be improved without glue filling. It may be expected that the light source, the light guide plate, and other components can be detachably assembled in the housing.

According to the present invention, the housing includes a frame and a cover. The frame includes the light outlet, the supporting edge, and the inner frame. The cover is connected to the frame. In this way, the light source and the light guide plate are firmly and stably accommodated in the housing.

According to the present invention, a snap-fit connection structure is provided between the cover and the inner frame. The substrate is provided with an avoidance groove corresponding to the snap-fit connection structure, so that the snap-fit connection structure (<NUM>) passes through the substrate (<NUM>) to connect the cover (<NUM>) and the frame (<NUM>).

In some possible embodiments, the mounting portion includes an insertion groove configured to position the substrate. A part of an inner surface of the insertion groove is formed by the inner frame and/or the supporting edge. This further improves the stability of the substrate in the housing.

In some possible embodiments, the housing includes a protruding rib protruding from the supporting edge to position the substrate. The first end surface of the light guide plate is in contact with the protruding rib. This improves both the stability of the substrate and the reliability of light entering the light guide plate from the light emitting element.

In some possible embodiments, the cover includes an inner surface facing the light outlet and a positioning portion protruding from the inner surface in a direction toward the light outlet. The substrate is sandwiched between the positioning portion and the inner frame. The cover is also provided with a positioning structure for the substrate, which improves both the stability of the substrate and the convenience of mounting/demounting the substrate.

In some possible embodiments, a plurality of snap-fit connection structures are provided between the cover and the inner frame. In a direction perpendicular to the substrate, each snap-fit connection structure includes a hook located on the cover. A distance between the positioning portion and the substrate in the direction perpendicular to the substrate is greater than a distance between the hook and the substrate in the direction perpendicular to the substrate.

In some possible embodiments, the lighting module includes an elastic member. The elastic member is sandwiched between a second end surface of the light guide plate and the inner frame to apply a force toward the light source to the light guide plate, and the second end surface is opposite to the first end surface.

In another aspect, the embodiments of the present invention relate to a refrigeration appliance, characterized by comprising a storage compartment and the foregoing lighting module.

In still another aspect, the embodiments of the present invention relate to a lighting module for a refrigeration appliance and a refrigeration appliance. The lighting module includes: a housing including a light outlet; a light source located in the housing; a light guide plate adapted to guide light from the light source toward the light outlet; and an elastic member adapted to deform to maintain a position of the light guide plate with respect to the light source and/or the light outlet.

In yet another aspect, the embodiments of the present invention relate to a refrigeration appliance. The refrigeration appliance includes a storage compartment including a front opening, the storage compartment including a top wall and a mounting slot located in the top wall; and a lighting module fastened in the mounting slot. The lighting module includes a front wall facing the front opening in some possible embodiments. The front wall includes a main part and a decorative strip connected to the main part. An upper end of the decorative strip extends into the mounting slot.

The structures of the embodiments of the present invention and other inventive objectives and beneficial effects thereof will become more comprehensible from the description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The following accompanying drawings, as a part of the specification and provided to further understand the present invention, describe specific implementations of the present invention and are used to describe the principle of the present invention along with the specification, where:.

As shown in <FIG>, a refrigeration appliance <NUM> includes a main body <NUM>. The main body <NUM> may be provided with a storage compartment <NUM> having a front opening <NUM>. The storage compartment <NUM> may be selectively opened or closed by a door <NUM>.

The storage compartment <NUM> includes a top wall <NUM>, a pair of side walls (not marked), and a rear wall (not shown). The rear wall of the storage compartment <NUM> faces the front opening <NUM>. At least some of these inner walls may be defined by a liner <NUM> of the main body <NUM>.

The refrigeration appliance <NUM> includes a lighting module <NUM> configured to illuminate the storage compartment <NUM>. The lighting module <NUM> is reachable through the storage compartment <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the refrigeration appliance <NUM> includes a mounting slot <NUM> for mounting the lighting module <NUM>. In an implementation, the mounting slot <NUM> may be formed by a mounting shell mounted along a through hole of the liner <NUM> and joined to a thermal insulation material in the main body <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the mounting slot <NUM> is formed by the liner <NUM> denting in a direction away from the storage compartment <NUM>.

The lighting module <NUM> includes a housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> is provided with a first connection structure <NUM> for connecting to the mounting slot <NUM>, to detachably fasten the lighting module <NUM> on a box body <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the first connection structure <NUM> may be provided with a plurality of hooks <NUM> and <NUM>. The hooks <NUM> and <NUM> cooperate with a slot <NUM> in the mounting slot <NUM> to fasten the lighting module <NUM> on the main body <NUM>.

In an exemplary embodiment, the lighting module <NUM> may be disposed on the top wall <NUM>. It may be easily understood that, in another embodiment, the lighting module <NUM> may be alternatively disposed on the side wall or the rear wall of the storage compartment <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> is provided with a light outlet <NUM>. Light enters the storage compartment <NUM> through the light outlet <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the light outlet <NUM> may be substantially horizontally disposed at the top of the storage compartment <NUM>, and the light outlet <NUM> is located at the bottom of the housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> may include a front wall <NUM> facing the front opening <NUM>.

When mounted on the top wall <NUM> of the storage compartment <NUM>, the front wall <NUM> is inclined from top to bottom, and has a lower part closer to the rear than an upper part. This makes a front surface of the front wall <NUM> more easily visible to a user under the top wall <NUM>.

In an embodiment, the front wall <NUM> includes a main part <NUM> and a decorative strip <NUM> fastened on a front side of the main part <NUM>.

The decorative strip <NUM> may be bonded to the main part <NUM> by an adhesion apparatus <NUM>. The decorative strip <NUM> may be made of metal or a plastic base material provided with a metallic decorative layer thereon.

An upper end of the decorative strip <NUM> extends into the mounting slot <NUM>. The mounting slot <NUM> may be constructed with a step form at a position near the entrance, and therefore is provided with a relatively shallow concave portion <NUM>. The upper end of the decorative strip <NUM> extends into the concave portion <NUM>.

The main part <NUM> of the front wall <NUM> may be provided with a pit <NUM> for accommodating the decorative strip <NUM>, and the decorative strip <NUM> is located in the pit <NUM>. A connecting seam <NUM> exposed to the front surface of the front wall <NUM> is provided between upper ends of the main part <NUM> and the decorative strip <NUM>. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the connecting seam <NUM> is completely located in the mounting slot <NUM>, and is completely covered by a front inner wall surface of the mounting slot <NUM> in a longitudinal direction X of the storage compartment <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the connecting seam <NUM> is completely located in the mounting slot <NUM>, and is completely covered by a front inner wall surface of the mounting slot <NUM> in a longitudinal direction X of the storage compartment <NUM>. Therefore, there may be a better visual transition between a front side of the lighting module <NUM> and the liner <NUM>.

The decorative strip <NUM> may include an upper end portion <NUM> located at an upper end, a lower end portion <NUM> located at a lower end, and a decorative portion <NUM> located between the upper end portion <NUM> and the lower end portion <NUM>. A front surface of the decorative portion <NUM> is a bevel sloping from top to bottom. At least the front surface of the decorative portion <NUM> is mostly visible to a user.

An angle is formed between the upper end portion <NUM> and the decorative portion <NUM>. A front surface of the upper end portion <NUM> may extend in a vertical direction and/or may be parallel to the front inner wall surface of the mounting slot <NUM>. A ridge <NUM> between the upper end portion <NUM> and the decorative portion <NUM> may be located above an edge part <NUM>, surrounding the mounting slot <NUM>, of the liner <NUM>. This helps to obtain simple design.

The lower end portion <NUM> is connected to a lower end of the decorative portion <NUM>. The lower end portion <NUM> bends from the decorative portion <NUM> and extends backward, so that a connecting seam between the lower end portion <NUM> and the main part <NUM> is completely located behind a rear surface of the decorative portion <NUM> in the longitudinal direction X of the storage compartment <NUM>. At least a part of a lower surface of the front wall <NUM> is formed by the lower end portion <NUM>. This helps to improve a decorative effect.

A rear side of the decorative strip <NUM> may be provided with a positioning portion <NUM> protruding toward the main part <NUM>. The main part <NUM> includes a corresponding recess (not marked). The positioning portion <NUM> is located in the recess to position the decorative strip <NUM>.

The front hook <NUM> of the first connection structure <NUM> may be connected to the slot <NUM> above and behind the decorative strip <NUM>. In an embodiment, during mounting of the lighting module <NUM>, a rear end of the lighting module <NUM> may be placed in the mounting slot <NUM> first, to cause the rear hook <NUM> of the first connection structure <NUM> to abut against the rear slot in the mounting slot <NUM> to form a pivot. Then, the lighting module <NUM> is rotated around the pivot, to press the front hook <NUM> into the mounting slot <NUM> to connect to the slot <NUM> in a snap-fit manner, so as to complete mounting of the lighting module <NUM>. As the front hook <NUM> of the first connection structure <NUM> is connected to the slot <NUM> above and behind the decorative strip <NUM>, and the upper end of the decorative strip <NUM> is located in the relatively shallow concave portion <NUM>, a possibility that the decorative strip <NUM> severely interferes with the liner <NUM> and causes the liner to fall off during the mounting of the lighting module <NUM> is significantly reduced.

The following describes the specific structure of the lighting module <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to <FIG>, the housing <NUM> includes a frame <NUM> and a cover <NUM>. A light source <NUM> of the lighting module <NUM> is located in an accommodating space <NUM> defined by the frame <NUM> and the cover <NUM>.

The frame <NUM> may be made of opaque plastic. The frame <NUM> is provided with a light outlet <NUM> in a wall exposed to the storage compartment <NUM>. Light illuminates the storage compartment <NUM> through the light outlet <NUM>.

The lighting module <NUM> includes a light guide plate <NUM>. The light guide plate <NUM> is located between the light outlet <NUM> and the cover <NUM>. The light guide plate <NUM> is adapted to guide light from the light source <NUM> toward the light outlet <NUM>.

The light guide plate <NUM> may include a plurality of lattice points. Light in the light guide plate <NUM> may concentrate again at the lattice points. The lattice points may be formed through printing or by concave/convex point portions.

The light source <NUM> is located in the housing <NUM>. The light source <NUM> may include a plurality of light emitting elements <NUM> and a substrate <NUM> bearing the light emitting elements <NUM>. The light emitting elements <NUM> may be light-emitting diodes.

The light guide plate <NUM> may cover the light outlet <NUM> completely and may be basically parallel to the light outlet <NUM>. The light guide plate <NUM> includes a first end surface <NUM> facing the light source <NUM> and a second end surface <NUM> opposite to the first end surface <NUM>. Light emitted from the light source <NUM> enters the light guide plate <NUM> through the first end surface <NUM>.

The lighting module <NUM> may further include a diffusion board <NUM> located between the light guide plate <NUM> and the light outlet <NUM>, to diffuse light from the light guide plate <NUM> uniformly, so that light from the light outlet <NUM> is basically uniform.

The lighting module <NUM> may further include a reflecting layer <NUM> located between the light guide plate <NUM> and the cover <NUM>, to cause light to illuminate the diffusion board <NUM> in a manner as close to total reflection as possible.

The reflecting layer <NUM>, the light guide plate <NUM>, and the diffusion board <NUM> may be disposed adjacent to each other in sequence between the cover <NUM> and the light outlet <NUM>.

It is found that the light guide plate <NUM> is likely to expand in an environment with relatively high temperature or humidity and contract in an environment with relatively low temperature or humidity. Expansion caused by temperature change is reversible while expansion caused by humidity change is not. When the lighting module <NUM> is mounted in storage compartments of the refrigeration appliance <NUM> with different temperature or humidity, the light guide plate <NUM> may change in size to different degrees. As a result, lighting quality of the same lighting module <NUM> varies in the different storage compartments. For example, lighting quality of the lighting module in a refrigerating compartment and lighting quality of the lighting module in a freezing compartment are different after a particular period. Lighting quality of the lighting module <NUM> in the same storage compartment may also be unstable when temperature in the storage compartment is set to different temperature zones.

To resolve this problem, as shown in <FIG>, the lighting module <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a first elastic member <NUM>. The first elastic member <NUM> may be sandwiched between the second end surface <NUM> of the light guide plate <NUM> and the housing <NUM> to apply a force toward the light source <NUM> to the light guide plate <NUM>, so that regardless of a storage compartment in which the lighting module <NUM> is mounted or even though the lighting module <NUM> is mounted in a storage compartment with different temperature zones or humidity zones, the first end surface <NUM> of the light guide plate <NUM> may maintain a constant position with respect to the light source <NUM>, thereby improving compatibility of the lighting module <NUM> in the refrigeration appliance <NUM> and/or helping to obtain stable lighting quality.

The first elastic member <NUM> may be fastened at the housing <NUM>. In an embodiment, the first elastic member <NUM> may be made of elastic foam and bonded to the housing <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a second connection structure <NUM> is disposed between the cover <NUM> and the frame <NUM> to fasten the cover <NUM> and the frame <NUM> reliably. The second connection structure <NUM> may include a plurality of hooks <NUM> that are provided at one of the cover <NUM> and the frame <NUM> and are distanced from one another and first through holes <NUM> provided at the other of the cover <NUM> and the frame <NUM> for matching the corresponding hooks <NUM>.

The first connection structure <NUM> and the second connection structure <NUM> may be arranged in a staggered manner to prevent mutual interference.

As shown in <FIG>, and <FIG>, the light guide plate <NUM>, the diffusion board <NUM>, and the reflecting layer <NUM> are sandwiched between the cover <NUM> and the frame <NUM>. Specifically, the frame <NUM> includes a supporting edge <NUM> surrounding the light outlet <NUM>. An edge of the diffusion board <NUM> is supported on the supporting edge <NUM>. Therefore, the light guide plate <NUM> located on a rear side of the diffusion board <NUM> is indirectly supported by the supporting edge <NUM>.

After the cover <NUM> and the frame <NUM> are fastened, a distance between the cover and the frame is relatively fixed. The light guide plate <NUM> may expand or contract in a reversible or irreversible manner in different environmental conditions (such as temperature and humidity). In view of this, the lighting module <NUM> may include a second elastic member <NUM> located between the light guide plate <NUM> and the cover <NUM>. The second elastic member <NUM> is configured to apply a force toward the light outlet <NUM> to the light guide plate <NUM>, so that the light guide plate <NUM> maintains a relatively constant position with respect to the diffusion board <NUM> in a direction perpendicular to the light guide plate <NUM>.

The second elastic member <NUM> and the light guide plate <NUM> are clamped between the cover <NUM> and the frame <NUM>, to make the second elastic member <NUM> deform to apply the force toward the light outlet to the light guide plate <NUM>.

The second elastic member <NUM> is in contact with an inner surface <NUM> of the cover <NUM> facing the light guide plate <NUM>. The second elastic member <NUM> may be located between the reflecting layer <NUM> and the cover <NUM>. The second elastic member <NUM> may be in the form of a sheet, the light guide plate <NUM> bears the force more uniformly. The second elastic member <NUM> may be made of elastic foam.

After the cover <NUM> is fastened on the frame <NUM> by the second connection structure <NUM>, the second elastic member <NUM> is sandwiched between the light guide plate <NUM> and the cover <NUM> and deformed. Therefore, even though the light guide plate <NUM> expands or contracts to different degrees in different environments, the second elastic member <NUM> may still adjust a position of the light guide plate <NUM> with respect to the diffusion board <NUM> in the direction perpendicular to the light guide plate <NUM>. A size of the second elastic member <NUM> may be designed for the second elastic member <NUM> to remain deformed within a deformation range of the light guide plate <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> includes a supporting edge <NUM> surrounding the light outlet <NUM> and an inner frame <NUM> surrounding the supporting edge <NUM>. The inner frame <NUM> protrudes from the supporting edge <NUM> in a direction away from the light outlet <NUM>. An outer surface of the supporting edge <NUM> may form a lower surface of the housing <NUM> to be exposed to the storage compartment <NUM>. There may be a distance between the inner frame <NUM> and an outer circumferential surface of the housing <NUM>. The light guide plate <NUM> and the diffusion board <NUM> are supported on an inner side surface of the supporting edge <NUM>.

A mounting portion <NUM> is provided in a space defined by the first end surface <NUM>, the supporting edge <NUM>, and the inner frame <NUM> of the light guide plate <NUM>.

The substrate <NUM> of the light source <NUM> is mounted on the mounting portion <NUM>, so that the light emitting elements <NUM> and the first end surface <NUM> of the light guide plate <NUM> are disposed facing each other.

The substrate <NUM> is mounted on the frame <NUM> along an inner side of the inner frame <NUM>. The substrate <NUM> may be basically arranged perpendicular to the light guide plate <NUM>.

The supporting edge <NUM> and the inner frame <NUM> may be located on the frame <NUM>. The mounting portion <NUM> may include an insertion groove <NUM> that is located on the frame <NUM> and is used for positioning the substrate <NUM>. A part of an inner surface of the insertion groove <NUM> may be formed by the inner frame <NUM> and/or the supporting edge <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> may include a pair of first limit portions <NUM> located at both ends of the mounting portion <NUM>. Each of the first limit portions <NUM> may protrude inward a particular distance from an inner surface of the inner frame <NUM> and then extend toward the other limit portion <NUM>, so as to form end portions of the mounting portion <NUM> to limit both ends of the substrate <NUM>.

The housing <NUM> may further include a protruding rib <NUM> located between the pair of first limit portions <NUM>. There is a preset distance between the protruding rib <NUM> and the inner surface of the inner frame <NUM>, so as to limit the substrate <NUM> in the middle of the substrate <NUM>.

The first elastic member <NUM> is located between the second end surface <NUM> of the light guide plate <NUM> and the inner frame <NUM> to apply the force toward the light source <NUM> to the light guide plate <NUM>. The first elastic member <NUM> may be fastened on the inner frame <NUM>, for example, bonded to the inner frame <NUM>. Under the action of the first elastic member <NUM>, the first end surface <NUM> of the light guide plate <NUM> may remain abutting against the first limit portions <NUM> and/or the protruding rib <NUM>, so as to improve the reliability of emitting light into the light guide plate <NUM> by the light emitting elements <NUM>.

In a direction perpendicular to the light outlet <NUM>, a height of the inner frame <NUM> may be greater than a total thickness of the diffusion board <NUM>, the light guide plate <NUM>, the reflecting layer <NUM>, and the second elastic member <NUM> stacked together. In the direction perpendicular to the light outlet <NUM>, a height of the substrate <NUM> is also greater than the total thickness of the diffusion board <NUM>, the light guide plate <NUM>, the reflecting layer <NUM>, and the second elastic member <NUM> stacked together, and protrudes from the second elastic member <NUM> in the direction away from the light outlet <NUM>. This facilitates smooth placement of the substrate <NUM> in the mounting portion <NUM> even in a narrow space.

The cover <NUM> may include a second limit portion <NUM> protruding from an inner surface <NUM> facing the light outlet <NUM>. The second limit portion <NUM> and a side close to the cover <NUM> of the substrate <NUM> are in contact facing each other to limit the substrate <NUM>. The substrate <NUM> is sandwiched between the second limit portion <NUM> and the inner frame <NUM>, so that the mounting portion <NUM> can be configured to make the light emitting elements <NUM> exposed to the light guide plate <NUM> in a range as large as possible. In addition, the substrate <NUM> may still be firmly fastened in the housing <NUM> through the limiting of the second limit portion <NUM>.

The substrate <NUM> is provided with a plurality of avoidance holes <NUM>, so that the second connection structure <NUM> still passes s through the substrate <NUM> to connect the cover <NUM> and the frame <NUM> even though the height of the substrate <NUM> increases.

For example, at a position corresponding to the mounting portion <NUM>, the inner frame <NUM> may be provided with a plurality of first through holes <NUM> distanced from one another. The cover <NUM> is provided with a plurality of hooks <NUM> for extending into the first through holes <NUM> to be engaged with the first through holes. The avoidance holes <NUM> are provided corresponding to the first through holes <NUM>. The avoidance holes <NUM> may be closed holes or formed by notches at an edge of the substrate <NUM>.

The second limit portion <NUM> may be located between adjacent hooks <NUM> in a length direction of the substrate <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, in a direction perpendicular to the substrate <NUM>, the second limit portion <NUM> may be located on an inner side of the hooks <NUM>. That is, a distance between the second limit portion <NUM> and the substrate <NUM> in the direction perpendicular to the substrate <NUM> is greater than a distance between the hooks <NUM> and the substrate <NUM> in the direction perpendicular to the substrate <NUM>.

In the foregoing embodiment, through the adaptive adjustment of the first elastic member and/or the second elastic member in the housing, even though the light guide plate expands or contracts in the refrigeration appliance, the light guide plate can still maintain a relatively constant position with respect to the light source and/or the light outlet, so that the lighting module for a refrigeration appliance is likely to keep stable lighting quality in different environments with the light source, the light guide plate, the diffusion board, and other components thereof fastened together without glue.

In addition, the upper end of the decorative strip of the lighting module extends into the mounting slot. Therefore, the connecting seam between the decorative strip and the housing can be cleverly concealed in the mounting slot, and there may be a simple transition between the liner and the decorative strip, which helps to provide the refrigeration appliance with better quality.

Claim 1:
A lighting module (<NUM>) for a refrigeration appliance (<NUM>), comprising:
a housing (<NUM>) comprising a light outlet (<NUM>), wherein the housing (<NUM>) comprises a supporting edge (<NUM>) surrounding the light outlet and an inner frame (<NUM>) disposed along the supporting edge (<NUM>), and the inner frame (<NUM>) protrudes from the supporting edge (<NUM>) in a direction away from the light outlet (<NUM>);
a light source (<NUM>) located in the housing (<NUM>), wherein the light source (<NUM>) comprises a light emitting element (<NUM>) and a substrate (<NUM>) bearing the light emitting element (<NUM>); and
a light guide plate (<NUM>), wherein the light guide plate (<NUM>) is supported on the supporting edge (<NUM>) and comprises a first end surface (<NUM>) facing the inner frame (<NUM>),
the housing (<NUM>) comprises a mounting portion (<NUM>) located in a space defined by the first end surface (<NUM>) of the light guide plate (<NUM>), the supporting edge (<NUM>), and the inner frame (<NUM>), and the substrate (<NUM>) is mounted on the mounting portion (<NUM>), so that the light emitting element (<NUM>) and the first end surface (<NUM>) of the light guide plate (<NUM>) are disposed facing each other, the housing comprises a frame (<NUM>) and a cover (<NUM>), the frame (<NUM>) comprises the light outlet (<NUM>), the supporting edge (<NUM>), and the inner frame (<NUM>), and the cover (<NUM>) is connected to the frame, and a snap-fit connection structure is provided between the cover (<NUM>) and the inner frame (<NUM>), characterized in that the substrate (<NUM>) is provided with an avoidance groove (<NUM>) corresponding to the snap-fit connection structure, so that the snap-fit connection structure (<NUM>) passes through the substrate (<NUM>) to connect the cover (<NUM>) and the frame (<NUM>).