Patent Description:
Refrigerators are home appliances having a main body with storerooms and a cold air supply provided for supplying cold air into the storerooms, to keep food and groceries fresh. The storerooms include a fridge maintained at temperatures of about <NUM> to <NUM> degrees Celsius for keeping groceries cool, and a freezer maintained at temperatures of about <NUM> to -<NUM> degrees Celsius for keeping groceries frozen. The storeroom commonly has an open front through which to take out or put in food, and the open front is opened or closed by a door.

The door may include a door body with insulation, and a decoration panel coupled to the front side of the door body. As the decoration panel may be readily attachable to and/or detachable from the front side of the door body, the user may easily replace the decoration panel with another decoration panel having different texture, color, or design to his/her liking.

The documents <CIT> and <CIT> disclose refrigerators with door panels attached to the doors.

The disclosure provides a refrigerator with a door equipped with a decoration panel having a reduced number of parts and simple structure, thereby increasing productivity, lowering defect rates, and saving costs.

The disclosure also provides a refrigerator with a door equipped with a decoration panel giving an enhanced aesthetic sense and having firmness, and durability.

A refrigerator according to the invention is defined in claim <NUM>.

According to an aspect of the disclosure, a refrigerator includes a main body including a first storeroom and a second storeroom formed under the first storeroom; a first door including a first door body arranged to open or close the first storeroom, a first decoration panel coupled to a front side of the first door body, and a first fixer fixing the first door body and the first decoration panel; and a second door including a second door body arranged to open or close the second storeroom, a second decoration panel coupled to a front side of the second door body, and a second fixer fixing the second door body and the second decoration panel, wherein the first fixer is coupled to a top end of the first door body and the second fixer is coupled to a bottom end of the second door body.

A handle may be formed on each of a bottom side of the first door body and a top side of the second door body.

The first decoration panel includes a first panel body, a first upper trim arranged at top edges of a rear side of the first panel body, and a first lower trim arranged at bottom edges of the rear side of the first panel body, and the first fixer is coupled to the first upper trim.

The second decoration panel includes a second panel body, a second upper trim arranged at top edges of a rear side of the second panel body, and a second lower trim arranged at bottom edges of the rear side of the second panel body, and the second fixer is coupled to the second lower trim.

The first door body includes an upper cap and a lower cap, the first fixer being coupled to the upper cap of the first door body, and the first door body may have a handle formed at the lower cap.

The second door body includes an upper cap and a lower cap, the second door body may have a handle formed at the upper cap, wherein the second fixer is coupled to the lower cap of the second door body.

According to embodiments of the disclosure, a decoration panel on a door of a refrigerator is readily attached to or separated from a door body, making it easy to change a design of the door in a way of replacing the decoration panel.

According to embodiments of the disclosure, a front part defining the front side of the door body and side parts forming the sides of the door body may be integrally formed, thereby increasing productivity, lowering defect rates, and saving costs.

According to embodiments of the disclosure, the refrigerator may have the door that gives an enhanced aesthetic sense and has firmness and durability.

Embodiments of the disclosure are only the most preferred examples and provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of the disclosure as defined by the claims and their equivalents. Accordingly, those of ordinary skilled in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.

It is to be understood that the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The terms including ordinal numbers like "first" and "second" may be used to explain various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The terms are only for the purpose of distinguishing a component from another.

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout.

<FIG> illustrates a front view of a refrigerator, according to an embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> illustrates a perspective view of the refrigerator of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a refrigerator <NUM> includes a main body <NUM>, storerooms <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> formed inside the main body <NUM>, doors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to open or close the storerooms <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and a cold air supply (not shown) for supplying cold air to the storerooms <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The main body <NUM> may include an inner case <NUM> that defines the storerooms <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, an outer case <NUM> coupled onto the outer side of the inner case <NUM> to define the exterior, and insulation (not shown) provided between the inner case <NUM> and the outer case <NUM> for insulating the storerooms <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

There may be a horizontal partition wall <NUM> and a vertical partition wall <NUM> to separate the plurality of storerooms <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The storerooms <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be separated by the horizontal partition wall <NUM> into an upper storeroom <NUM> and the lower storerooms <NUM> and <NUM>, and by the vertical partition wall <NUM> into the lower left storeroom <NUM> and the lower right storeroom <NUM>.

The upper storeroom <NUM> may be used as a fridge, and the lower storerooms <NUM> and <NUM> may be used as freezers. How the storerooms <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are separated and used is not, however, limited thereto.

There may be shelves <NUM> on which to put groceries, and storage containers <NUM> for keeping groceries provided in the storerooms <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The cold air supply may produce cold air using a cooling cycle for compressing, condensing, and evaporating refrigerants, and supply the cold air to the storerooms <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The storeroom <NUM> may be opened or closed by a pair of upper doors <NUM> and <NUM>. The upper doors <NUM> and <NUM> may be rotatably coupled to the main body <NUM>. The storeroom <NUM> may be opened or closed by a door <NUM>, which may be rotatably coupled to the main body <NUM>. The storeroom <NUM> may be opened or closed by a lower right door <NUM>, which may be rotatably coupled to the main body <NUM>. The main body <NUM> may include hinges <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to couple the doors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to the main body <NUM>.

Door guards <NUM> for storing foods, and door gaskets <NUM> may be tight on the front side of the main body <NUM> to seal the storerooms <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be provided on the rear side of the doors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a door of the refrigerator of <FIG> broken down to a door body and a decoration panel. <FIG> illustrates an exploded view of a door body of a fridge door of the refrigerator of <FIG>. <FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view of a fridge door of the refrigerator of <FIG>. <FIG> illustrates an enlarged view of portion A of <FIG>. <FIG> illustrates an operation of coupling a decoration panel of a fridge door of the refrigerator of <FIG> to a door body. <FIG> illustrates a bottom coupling structure of a fridge door of the refrigerator of <FIG>. <FIG> illustrates a top coupling structure of a fridge door of the refrigerator of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a structure of the upper doors <NUM> and <NUM> to open or close the upper storeroom <NUM> will be described. The following description will be focused on a structure of the upper right door <NUM>, which may be equally applied to the upper left door <NUM>, so the description of the upper left door <NUM> will not be repeated.

The door <NUM> may include a door body <NUM>, and a decoration panel <NUM> coupled to the front side of the door body <NUM>.

The decoration panel <NUM> may include a panel body <NUM>, and trims <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> attached to the rear side of the panel body <NUM> to be coupled with the door body <NUM>. The panel body <NUM> may have a size corresponding to the door body <NUM>. Accordingly, the front side of the door body <NUM> may be hidden by the panel body <NUM> and not be exposed.

The panel body <NUM> may have any of various textures, colors and designs. The decoration panel <NUM> may be formed to be readily attachable to and detachable from the front side of the door body <NUM>. Accordingly, the door <NUM> may easily change the front texture, color, and design by replacing the decoration panel <NUM>.

The panel body <NUM> may be formed of glass or a resin. The decoration panel <NUM> may include a buffering member <NUM> attached onto the rear side of the panel body <NUM> to soften the impact when the decoration panel <NUM> is coupled to the door body <NUM>.

The trims <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may include an upper trim <NUM> attached to top edges of the rear side of the panel body <NUM>, side trims <NUM> attached to left and right edges of the rear side of the panel body <NUM>, and a lower trim <NUM> attached to bottom edges of the rear side of the panel body <NUM>. The upper trim <NUM> and the lower trim <NUM> may be formed to be long in the horizontal direction, and the side trims <NUM> may be formed to be long in the vertical direction.

The upper trim <NUM>, side trims <NUM>, and lower trim <NUM> may each be attached to the rear side of the panel body <NUM> through an adhesive <NUM>.

The lower trim <NUM> may include a lower trim body <NUM>, a lower trim projection <NUM>, and a lower trim groove <NUM>. The lower trim projection <NUM> may protrude from the lower trim body <NUM>. The lower trim projection <NUM> may have a shape that extends backwards by a certain distance from the lower trim body <NUM> and then extends vertically, to define the lower trim groove <NUM>. The lower trim groove <NUM> may be formed between the lower trim body <NUM> and the lower trim projection <NUM>.

A lower cap <NUM> of the door body <NUM> may include a lower cap body <NUM>, a lower cap projection <NUM>, a lower cap rib <NUM>, and a lower cap installation space <NUM>. The lower cap projection <NUM> may protrude upwards from the lower cap body <NUM>. The lower cap projection <NUM> may be formed to be put into the lower trim groove <NUM> of the lower trim <NUM>.

The lower cap rib <NUM> may protrude upwards from the lower cap body <NUM>. The lower cap rib <NUM> may be formed at a certain distance from the lower cap projection <NUM>. The lower cap rib <NUM> may be provided to guide the lower trim <NUM> of the decoration panel <NUM> into an installation position when the decoration panel <NUM> is installed on the door body <NUM>.

The lower cap installation space <NUM> may be formed between the lower cap projection <NUM> and the lower cap rib <NUM>. When the lower cap projection <NUM> is entering the lower trim groove <NUM>, the lower cap projection <NUM> may be fully inserted to the lower trim groove <NUM> while the lower trim projection <NUM> is rotating in the lower cap installation space <NUM>.

The lower cap <NUM> may include a handle <NUM> (see <FIG>) to be held by the hand to open or close the door <NUM>. The handle <NUM> may be formed to be sunken from the bottom side of the lower cap <NUM>.

The side trim <NUM> may include a side trim body <NUM> and a side trim projection <NUM>. The side trim projection <NUM> may protrude from the side trim body <NUM>, and may be elastically deformable.

A holder <NUM> mounted on the door body <NUM> may include a holder groove <NUM> and a holder projection <NUM>. The holder groove <NUM> may be formed for the side trim projection <NUM> of the side trim <NUM> to be inserted thereto. The side trim projection <NUM> may be elastically deformable to be caught by the holder projection <NUM> when inserted more than a certain depth to the holder groove <NUM>.

The upper trim <NUM> may include an upper trim body <NUM>, an upper trim projection <NUM>, and an upper trim hole <NUM>. The upper trim projection <NUM> may protrude from the upper trim body <NUM>. The upper trim hole <NUM> may be formed at the upper trim projection <NUM>.

An upper cap <NUM> of the door body <NUM> may include an upper cap body <NUM>, an insertion groove <NUM>, an upper cap hole <NUM>. The insertion groove <NUM> may be formed for the upper trim projection <NUM> of the upper trim <NUM> to be inserted thereto. When the upper trim projection <NUM> is inserted to the insertion groove <NUM>, a first fixer <NUM> may be coupled down to the upper cap hole <NUM> of the upper cap <NUM> and the upper trim hole <NUM> of the upper trim projection <NUM>, enabling the decoration panel <NUM> to be coupled to the door body <NUM>.

With this structure, a procedure of coupling the decoration panel <NUM> to the door body <NUM> will now be described below.

First, the decoration panel <NUM> is tilted for the lower cap projection <NUM> to be put into the lower trim groove <NUM>. Next, the decoration panel <NUM> may be turned to a standing position of the decoration panel <NUM>, the upper trim projection <NUM> may be inserted to the insertion groove <NUM> of the upper cap <NUM> while the lower cap projection <NUM> is fully inserted to the lower trim groove <NUM>. The first fixer <NUM> may then be coupled down to the upper cap hole <NUM> of the upper cap <NUM> and the upper trim hole <NUM> of the upper trim projection <NUM>.

With this structure, the decoration panel <NUM> may be easily coupled to the door body <NUM>, and easily separated from the door body <NUM> in the reverse order.

The door body <NUM> may be rotatably coupled to the main body <NUM>. The door body <NUM> may include a rear case <NUM> defining the rear surface of the door body <NUM>, a main case <NUM> defining the front and side surfaces of the door body <NUM>, the upper cap <NUM> coupled to the top ends of the main case <NUM> and the rear case <NUM>, and the lower cap <NUM> coupled to the bottom ends of the main case <NUM> and the rear case <NUM>.

An internal space may be formed between the main case <NUM>, the rear case <NUM>, the upper cap <NUM>, and the lower cap <NUM>, and insulation <NUM> may be filled in the internal space.

The main case <NUM> may include a front part <NUM> defining the front surface of the door body <NUM>, side parts <NUM> defining the side surfaces of the door body <NUM>, and a rear coupler <NUM> coupled to the rear case <NUM>.

An installation groove <NUM> in which to install the holder <NUM> may be formed at the front part <NUM>. The installation groove <NUM> may be formed to have an open front. The installation groove <NUM> may be formed to be long in the vertical direction at the left and right edges of the front part <NUM>.

The front part <NUM> may include a base <NUM> formed to be flat, and a bending portion <NUM> formed on the left and right sides of the base <NUM> to form the installation groove <NUM>.

The bending portion <NUM> may include an inner bending portion <NUM> forming an inner side of the installation groove <NUM>, a middle bending portion <NUM> forming a rear side of the installation groove <NUM>, and an outer bending portion <NUM> forming an outer side of the installation groove <NUM>.

This main case <NUM> may be formed by a press bending process of a single metal board <NUM> (see <FIG>). The single metal board <NUM> may be formed of an iron plate material. In this way, the main case <NUM> is integrally formed, making the door body <NUM> have a simple structure and easily assembled, thereby increasing productivity, lowering defect rates, and saving costs. Furthermore, the door body <NUM> has less assembled parts, thereby improving resistance to distortion and firmness.

During the press bending of the main case <NUM>, the outer bending portion <NUM> and the side parts <NUM> may substantially come into contact with each other through hemming processing. This may prevent a foam fluid from permeating between the outer bending portion <NUM> and the side parts <NUM>. From a different perspective, the outer bending portion <NUM> and the side parts <NUM> may be substantially parallel to each other.

In this way, the outer bending portion <NUM> and the side parts <NUM> are formed to be substantially in contact with and parallel to each other, so the installation groove <NUM> in which to install the holder <NUM> may be formed as closely as possible to the side edges of the decoration panel <NUM> and the outer bending portion <NUM> and the side parts <NUM> may support each other, thereby securing firmness and giving an enhanced aesthetic sense.

The outer bending portion <NUM> and the side parts <NUM> may protrude farther forward than the base <NUM>. Accordingly, when the door <NUM> is viewed from the side, no gap between the decoration panel <NUM> and the door body <NUM> is seen, thereby giving an enhanced aesthetic sense.

The middle bending portion <NUM> may be formed to be substantially perpendicular to the outer bending portion <NUM>, and the inner bending portion <NUM> may be formed to be tilted to the middle bending portion <NUM> and the base <NUM>.

The door <NUM> includes the holder <NUM> to be mounted in the installation groove <NUM> formed at the main case <NUM> to be coupled to the side trim <NUM> of the decoration panel <NUM>. The holder <NUM> may be inserted to the installation groove <NUM> and fixed to the installation groove <NUM> by an extra fastening member such as a rivet, a screw, a pin, etc..

The holder <NUM> may include a case supporter <NUM> supported on the bending portion <NUM> that forms the installation groove <NUM>. The case supporter <NUM> may include an inner supporter <NUM> supported on the inner bending portion <NUM>, a middle supporter <NUM> supported on the middle bending portion <NUM>, and an outer supporter <NUM> supported on the outer bending portion <NUM>.

The holder <NUM> may include a holder groove <NUM>, to which the side trim projection <NUM> of the side trim <NUM> is inserted. The holder <NUM> may include a holder projection <NUM> formed to be caught by the side trim projection <NUM> to prevent the side trim projection <NUM> from being deviated when inserted to the holder groove <NUM>. The holder projection <NUM> may protrude from the case supporter <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates a first process of manufacturing a main case of a fridge door of the refrigerator of <FIG>. <FIG> illustrates a second process of manufacturing a main case of a fridge door of the refrigerator of <FIG>. <FIG> illustrates a third process of manufacturing a main case of a fridge door of the refrigerator of <FIG>. <FIG> illustrates a fourth process of manufacturing a main case of a fridge door of the refrigerator of <FIG>. <FIG> illustrates a fifth process of manufacturing a main case of a fridge door of the refrigerator of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a method of manufacturing the main case <NUM> according to the disclosure will be briefly described.

The main case <NUM> may be formed by press-bending the single metal board <NUM>.

A process of manufacturing the main case <NUM> may include cutting the single metal board <NUM> along cutting lines <NUM> and <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The process of manufacturing the main case <NUM> may include a complex U bending process (see <FIG>). The complex U bending process performs Z bending and L bending to bend the single metal board <NUM> along bending lines <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. The side part <NUM> and the outer bending portion <NUM> may bend to form about <NUM> degrees.

The process of manufacturing the main case <NUM> may include a <NUM> degree bending process (see <FIG>). In the <NUM> degree bending process, the side part <NUM> and the outer bending portion <NUM> may bend to form about <NUM> degrees.

The process of manufacturing the main case <NUM> may include a hemming process (hemming, swing punches)(see <FIG>). In the hemming process, the side part <NUM> and the outer bending portion <NUM> may bend to be in substantially contact with and parallel to each other.

The process of manufacturing the main case <NUM> may include a restriking process (restriking, cam bend) (see <FIG>). In the restriking process, the side part <NUM> may bend along a bending line <NUM> to form the rear coupler <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrate an embodiment according to the invention.

<FIG> illustrates a freezer door of the refrigerator of <FIG> broken down to a decoration panel and a door body. <FIG> illustrates an operation of coupling a decoration panel of the freezer door of the refrigerator of <FIG> to a door body. <FIG> illustrates a top coupling structure of the freezer door of the refrigerator of <FIG>. <FIG> illustrates a bottom coupling structure of the freezer door of the refrigerator of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, a structure of the lower doors <NUM> and <NUM> to open or close the lower storerooms <NUM> and <NUM> will be described. The following description will be focused on a structure of the lower right door <NUM>, which may be equally applied to the lower left door <NUM>, so the description of the lower left door <NUM> will not be repeated.

The lower door <NUM> has an upper cap <NUM>, a lower cap <NUM>, an upper trim <NUM>, a lower trim <NUM>, and a second fixer <NUM>, each of which has a different structure as compared to the upper door <NUM> as described above. Hence, a method of coupling a decoration panel <NUM> to a door body <NUM> is also different than the coupling method for the upper right door <NUM>.

The same structures as in the aforementioned upper right door <NUM> will not be described again.

The lower right door <NUM> may include a door body <NUM>, and a decoration panel <NUM> coupled to the front side of the door body <NUM>.

The decoration panel <NUM> includes a panel body <NUM>, and trims <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> attached to the rear side of the panel body <NUM> to be coupled with the door body <NUM>. The decoration panel <NUM> may include a buffering member <NUM> attached onto the rear side of the panel body <NUM> to soften the impact when the decoration panel <NUM> is coupled to the door body <NUM>.

The trims include an upper trim <NUM> attached to top edges of the rear side of the panel body <NUM>, side trims <NUM> attached to left and right edges of the rear side of the panel body <NUM>, and a lower trim <NUM> attached to bottom edges of the rear side of the panel body <NUM>. The upper trim <NUM> and the lower trim <NUM> may be formed to be long in the horizontal direction, and the side trims <NUM> may be formed to be long in the vertical direction.

The upper trim <NUM> may include a upper trim body <NUM>, a upper trim projection <NUM>, and a upper trim groove <NUM>.

The upper trim projection <NUM> may protrude from the upper trim body <NUM>. The upper trim projection <NUM> may have a shape that extends backwards by a certain distance from the upper trim body <NUM> and then extends almost vertically, to define the upper trim groove <NUM>. The upper trim groove <NUM> may be formed between the upper trim body <NUM> and the upper trim projection <NUM>.

The upper cap <NUM> of the door body <NUM> may include an upper cap body <NUM>, an upper cap projection <NUM>, an upper cap rib <NUM>, and an upper cap installation space <NUM>. The upper cap projection <NUM> may protrude downwards from the upper cap projection <NUM>. The upper cap projection <NUM> may be formed to be put into the upper trim groove <NUM> of the upper trim <NUM>.

The upper cap rib <NUM> may protrude downwards from the upper cap body <NUM>. The upper cap rib <NUM> may be formed at a certain distance from the upper cap projection <NUM>. The upper cap rib <NUM> may be provided to guide the upper trim <NUM> of the decoration panel <NUM> into an installation position when the decoration panel <NUM> is installed on the door body <NUM>.

The upper cap <NUM> may include a handle <NUM> (see <FIG>) to be held by the hand to open or close the lower right door <NUM>. The handle <NUM> may be formed to be sunken from the top side of the upper cap <NUM>.

The upper cap installation space <NUM> may be formed between the upper cap projection <NUM> and the upper cap rib <NUM>. When the upper cap projection <NUM> is entering the upper trim groove <NUM>, the upper cap projection <NUM> may be fully inserted to the upper trim groove <NUM> while the upper trim projection <NUM> is rotating in the upper cap installation space <NUM>.

The lower trim <NUM> may include a lower trim body <NUM>, lower trim projection <NUM>, and a lower trim hole <NUM>. The lower trim projection <NUM> may protrude from the lower trim body <NUM>. The lower trim hole <NUM> may be formed at the lower trim projection <NUM>.

The lower cap <NUM> of the door body <NUM> may include a lower cap body <NUM>, an insertion groove <NUM>, a lower cap hole <NUM>. The insertion groove <NUM> may be formed for the lower trim projection <NUM> of the lower trim <NUM> to be inserted thereto. When the lower trim projection <NUM> is inserted to the insertion groove <NUM>, a second fixer <NUM> may be coupled up to the lower cap hole <NUM> of the lower cap <NUM> and the lower trim hole <NUM> of the lower trim projection <NUM>, enabling the decoration panel <NUM> coupled to the door body <NUM>.

First, the decoration panel <NUM> may be tilted for the upper cap projection <NUM> to be put into the upper trim groove <NUM>. Next, when the decoration panel <NUM> is turned to a standing position of the decoration panel <NUM>, the lower trim projection <NUM> may be inserted to the insertion groove <NUM> of the lower cap <NUM> while the upper cap projection <NUM> is fully inserted to the upper trim groove <NUM>. The second fixer <NUM> may then be coupled up to the lower cap hole <NUM> of the lower cap <NUM> and the lower trim hole <NUM> of the lower trim projection <NUM>.

In this way, while the upper doors <NUM> and <NUM> have the handle <NUM> formed at the bottom ends as shown in <FIG>, the lower doors <NUM> and <NUM> may have a handle <NUM> formed at the top ends.

Furthermore, while the first fixer <NUM> for fixing the door body <NUM> to the decoration panel <NUM> is coupled to the top ends of the upper doors <NUM> and <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, the second fixer <NUM> for fixing the door body <NUM> to the decoration panel <NUM> may be coupled to the bottom ends of the lower doors <NUM> and <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. Hence, the first fixer <NUM> and the second fixer <NUM> may be prevented from being exposed to the user, thereby giving an enhanced aesthetic sense.

<FIG> illustrates a door of a refrigerator, according to another embodiment of the disclosure. <FIG> illustrates a cross-sectional view of the door of the refrigerator of <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a refrigerator in accordance with another embodiment, which is not part of the invention, will now be described. The same features as in the aforementioned embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the overlapping description will not be repeated. Although <FIG> and <FIG> shows an upper door to open or close an upper storeroom, the disclosure is not limited thereto and the structure of the upper door may be equally applied to a lower door to open or close a lower storeroom.

In contrast to the decoration panel including a glass or resin panel body in the previous embodiment of the disclosure, a panel body <NUM> of a decoration panel <NUM> may be formed of an iron plate material in this embodiment of the disclosure.

The door <NUM> may include the door body <NUM>, and the decoration panel <NUM> coupled to the front side of the door body <NUM>.

The decoration panel <NUM> may include a panel body <NUM>, trims <NUM> and <NUM> attached to the rear side of the panel body <NUM> and a magnet <NUM> to be coupled with the door body <NUM>.

The panel body <NUM> may be formed of an iron plate material. Left and right ends <NUM> of the panel body <NUM> may be rounded to bend inwards.

The magnet <NUM> may be provided instead of the side trims <NUM> or <NUM> in the previous embodiment of the disclosure, to magnetically attract the main case <NUM> of the door body <NUM> when the decoration panel <NUM> is coupled to the door body <NUM> to prevent them from being separated. The main case <NUM> may be formed of an iron plate material to be drawn to the magnet <NUM>.

The holder <NUM> may include a panel supporter <NUM> formed to support the left and right ends <NUM> of the panel body <NUM>. As the holder <NUM> supports the left and right ends <NUM> of the panel body <NUM> and the main case <NUM> tightly contacts the decoration panel <NUM> according to magnetic force of the magnet <NUM>, the decoration panel <NUM> and the door body <NUM> may be coupled stably.

In this case that the panel body <NUM> of the decoration panel <NUM> is formed of a material such as an iron plate that is thin and easily deformable, e.g., swollen, the magnet <NUM> is applied instead of the side trim <NUM> or <NUM> to prevent deformation of the panel body <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A refrigerator (<NUM>) comprising:
a main body (<NUM>) having an upper storage compartment (<NUM>) and a lower storage compartment (<NUM>, <NUM>);
a first door (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to open and close the upper storage compartment (<NUM>); and
a second door (<NUM>, <NUM>) configured to open and close the lower storage compartment (<NUM>, <NUM>), the second door (<NUM>, <NUM>) including:
a door panel (<NUM>) including:
a panel body (<NUM>),
a door body (<NUM>) to which the door panel (<NUM>) is detachably coupled so that the door panel (<NUM>) is at a front side of the door body (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the door panel (<NUM>) further includes:
an upper trim (<NUM>) on a rear side of the panel body (<NUM>), and
a lower trim (<NUM>) on the rear side of the panel body (<NUM>) and including a first lower trim hole (<NUM>) and a second lower trim hole (<NUM>) spaced apart from each other along a lower edge of the panel body (<NUM>), and in that the door body (<NUM>) includes:
an upper cap (<NUM>) including an upper cap protrusion (<NUM>) protruding downward and coupled to the upper trim (<NUM>), and
a lower cap (<NUM>) including a first lower cap hole (<NUM>) and a second lower cap hole (<NUM>) spaced apart from each other and positioned to correspond to the first lower trim hole (<NUM>) and the second lower trim hole (<NUM>), respectively,
a first fixer (<NUM>) coupled to the lower cap (<NUM>) and inserted into the first lower cap hole (<NUM>) and the first lower trim hole (<NUM>) in an upward direction, and
a second fixer (<NUM>) coupled to the lower cap (<NUM>) and inserted into the second lower cap hole (<NUM>) and the second lower trim hole (<NUM>) in the upward direction.