Patent ID: 12188713

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, example embodiments of the disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. On the other hand, In the following detailed description, the terms of “front end”, “rear end”, “upper portion”, “lower portion”, “upper end”, “lower end” and the like may be defined by the drawings, but the shape and the location of the component is not limited by the term.

Hereinafter “X” refers to a front and rear direction of a refrigerator1, “Y” refers to a left and right direction of the refrigerator1, and “Z” refers to an up and down direction of the refrigerator1.

The disclosure is directed to providing a refrigerator including an improved structure to improve heat transfer efficiency.

Further, the disclosure is directed to providing a refrigerator including an improved structure to improve workability of installation of a heater.

By fixing a surface heater to at least one of an inner surface of a first case and an inner surface of a second case using a fixing unit without a separate adhesive, it is possible to prevent a foam liquid from leaking to between the surface heater and the at least one of the inner surface of the first case and the inner surface of the second case to which the surface heater is fixed, and it is possible to improve workability of installation of the surface heater.

FIG.1is a view illustrating a refrigerator according to one embodiment of the disclosure, andFIG.2is a view illustrating a state in which a second door is separated from a main body in the refrigerator according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

As illustrated inFIGS.1and2, the refrigerator1may include a main body10, a storage compartment20provided inside the main body10.

The main body10may include an inner case11forming the storage compartment20and an outer case12forming an exterior of the refrigerator1. Between the inner case11and the outer case12of the main body10, an insulating material (not shown) may be foamed to prevent cold air from leaking out of the storage compartment20.

The storage compartment20may include an open front surface.

The refrigerator1may further include a door30configured to open and close the storage compartment20. The door30may be configured to open and close the open front surface of the storage compartment20.

The refrigerator1may further include a cold air supply (not shown) configured to supply cold air to the storage compartment20. The cold air supply may include a compressor (not shown), a condenser (not shown), an expansion valve (not shown), an evaporator (not shown), a blowing fan (not shown), and a cold air duct (not shown).

A machine room (not shown) in which the compressor configured to compress the refrigerant and the condenser configured to condense the compressed refrigerant are installed may be provided at a rear lower side of the main body10.

The refrigerator1may further include a partition wall40provided to partition the storage compartment20. The storage compartment20may be divided into a plurality of spaces by the partition wall40. As an example, the storage compartment20may include a first storage compartment21, a second storage compartment22, and a third storage compartment23that are partitioned in the up and down direction Z of the refrigerator1by the partition wall40. The first storage compartment21, the second storage compartment22, and the third storage compartment23each may form an independent storage space, and a storage temperature of each storage compartment20may be regulated independently of each other according to an amount of cold air supplied to each storage compartment20. As an example, in a case in which the refrigerator1of the disclosure is a kimchi refrigerator configured to store kimchi, the first storage compartment21may be used as a refrigerating storage compartment configured to store kimchi in a refrigeration manner, and the second storage compartment22and the third storage compartment23may be used as a fermentation compartment configured to ferment kimchi. However, the use and arrangement of the first storage compartment21, the second storage compartment22, and the third storage compartment23are not limited thereto and may vary according to the type of the refrigerator.

The partition wall40may include a first partition wall41provided to define the first storage compartment21and the second storage compartment22, and a second partition wall42provided to define the second storage compartment22and the third storage compartment23. Any one of the first partition wall41and the second partition wall42may heat the storage compartment20while partitioning the storage compartment20. In other words, any one of the first partition wall41and the second partition wall42may be implemented as a heater assembly100to be described later. In a case in which the second storage compartment22and the third storage compartment23of the disclosure are used as fermentation compartments configured to ferment kimchi, the second partition wall42may be implemented as the heat assembly100so as to heat the second storage compartment22and the third storage compartment23while defining the second storage compartment22and the third storage compartment23.

A plurality of shelves25may be provided in the first storage compartment21to divide the first storage compartment21into a plurality of regions.

The door30may include a first door31configured to open and close the first storage compartment21, a second door32configured to open and close the second storage compartment22, and a third door33configured to open and close the third storage compartment23. The first door31may be rotatably installed on the main body10to open and close the first storage compartment21. The second door32may be slidably installed on the main body10to open and close the second storage compartment22. The third door33may be slidably installed on the main body10to open and close the third storage compartment23. That is, the first door31may be implemented as a rotatable door, and the second door32and the third door33may be implemented as a drawer-type door.

A plurality of door guards31amay be provided on a rear surface of the first door31to accommodate food.

A handle35may be provided at the first door31, the second door32, and the third door33to allow a user to easily open and close the storage compartment20.

The refrigerator1may further include the heater assembly100configured to heat the storage compartment20. The heater assembly100may be provided to partition the storage compartment20. Particularly, the heater assembly100may act as the second partition wall42. In the case in which the second storage compartment22and the third storage compartment23according to the disclosure are used as the fermentation compartment configured to ferment kimchi, the second partition wall42provided to define the second storage compartment22and the third storage compartment23may be implemented as the heater assembly100configured to heat the second storage compartment22and the third storage compartment23to allow the second storage compartment22and the third storage compartment23to have a temperature suitable for fermenting the kimchi. However, it is sufficient that the heater assembly100is disposed to heat the storage compartment used as the fermentation compartment, and thus the arrangement position of the heater assembly100is not limited thereto. As an example, the heater assembly100may be disposed to surround at least one surface of the storage compartment between inner and outer walls forming the storage compartment used as the fermentation compartment. Further, the heater assembly100may be disposed inside the partition wall defining the storage compartment used as the fermentation compartment.

The refrigerator1may include at least one heater assembly100. That is, the refrigerator1may include a single heater assembly or a plurality of heater assemblies.

Hereinafter a case in which the second partition wall42is implemented as the heater assembly100will be mainly described. That is, a case in which the heater assembly100heats the second storage compartment22and the third storage compartment23while defining the second storage compartment22and the third storage compartment23, acting as the second partition wall42will be mainly described.

FIG.3is a cross-sectional view illustrating a heater assembly of the refrigerator according to one embodiment of the disclosure, andFIG.4is a cross-sectional view illustrating a surface heater of the heater assembly of the refrigerator according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

As illustrated inFIGS.3and4, the heater assembly100may include a first case110and a second case120provided to form an exterior of the heater assembly100together with the first case110. The first case110and the second case120may be coupled to each other to form an accommodation space therein. Particularly, the first case110and the second case120may be coupled to each other by coupling between a coupling protrusion111formed on any one of the first case110and the second case120, and a coupling groove121formed on the other one of the first case110and the second case120. The coupling protrusion111may be integrally formed with any one of the first case110and the second case120, and the coupling groove121may be integrally formed with the other one of the first case110and the second case120. The coupling protrusion111may include a hollow111a. In a case in which the coupling protrusion111includes the hollow111a, the coupling protrusion111may be elastically deformable, and thus easily coupled to the coupling groove121.

The first case110may be provided to define one surface of the second storage compartment22. Particularly, the first case110may be provided to define a bottom surface of the second storage compartment22. The second case120may be provided to define one surface of the third storage compartment23adjacent to the second storage compartment22. Particularly, the second case120may be provided to define an upper surface of the third storage compartment23positioned below the second storage compartment22.

The first case110and the second case120may include an injection molded product.

The heater assembly100may further include a fixing unit150(refer toFIG.5) formed on at least one of an inner surface of the first case110and an inner surface of the second case120. The fixing unit150may be integrally formed with at least one of the first case110and the second case120. However, it is not required that the fixing unit150is integrally formed with at least one of the first case110and the second case120, and thus the fixing unit150may be formed separately from the first case110and the second case120and then coupled to at least one of the first case110and the second case120. It is appropriate that the heater assembly100includes a plurality of fixing units150. A detailed description of the fixing unit150will be described later.

The heater assembly100may further include a surface heater130fixed to at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120by the fixing unit150. The surface heater130may be fixed to at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120by being coupled to the fixing unit150. It is appropriate that the surface heater130includes a first surface heater fixed to the inner surface of the first case110by being coupled to the fixing unit150, and a second surface heater fixed to the inner surface of the second case120by being coupled to the fixing unit150.

The surface heater130may include a film. The film may be formed of a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material. The film may include a first film131and a second film132that form an outer surface of the surface heater130and are positioned on opposite sides of each other. Particularly, the film may include the first film131including a case-corresponding surface131bfacing at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120, and the second film132including an insulating material-corresponding surface132afacing an insulating material140filled in the accommodation space. The case-corresponding surface131bof the first film131may be in contact with at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120on which the first film131is seated. The insulating material-corresponding surface132aof the second film132may be in contact with the insulating material140.

The surface heater130may further include a heating wire133formed on the film. Particularly, the heating wire133may be printed on the first film131. More particularly, the first film131may further include a heating wire forming surface131apositioned on the opposite side of the case-corresponding surface131b, and the heating wire133may be printed on the heating wire forming surface131athrough gravure printing. The heating wire133may include a silver (Ag) material. The heating wire133may be configured to generate heat by receiving a current.

The surface heater130may further include an adhesive member135provided to bond the first film131, on which the heating wire133is printed, and the second film132to each other. As an example, the adhesive member135may include a double-sided tape.

The surface heater130may further include a terminal (not shown) configured to supply a current to the heating wire133from an external power source (not shown).

The heater assembly100may further include the insulating material140filled in the accommodation space to allow the surface heater130to be in close contact with at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120. The insulating material140may include expanded polystyrene (EPS). The insulating material140may be foamed in the accommodation space. In addition, the heat insulating material140may be manufactured to have a certain shape and then stacked in the accommodation space. Types of the insulating material140is not limited thereto, and thus types of the insulating material140may vary. As an example, the insulating material140may include polyurethane foam.

The surface heater130may be fixed to at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120by the fixing unit150. Particularly, the surface heater130may be fixed to at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120by being coupled to the fixing unit implemented in various forms. Accordingly, in a process of fixing the surface heater130to at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120, an adhesive such as a double-sided tape is not required.

In the case of using the cord heater including an aluminum foil, to which a heating wire is attached, as one component of the heater assembly100instead of using the surface heater130, it is required to remove a piece of release paper from the aluminum foil so as to allow an adhesive surface of the aluminum foil to be exposed in a process of attaching the cord heater to at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120. The aluminum foil is easy to deform due to the nature of the material, and when the deformed aluminum foil is attached to at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120, the aluminum foil is lifted and thus a foam liquid may leak to between the at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120, and the cord heater. When the foam liquid leaks to between the at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120, and the cord heater, the foam liquid may prevent heat, which is generated by the cord heater, from being transferred to the inside of the storage compartment through the at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120to which the cord heater is attached. Therefore, when the cord heater is attached to the at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120after removing the release paper from the aluminum foil, workers need to pay close attention. Particularly, the aluminum foil is easily folded or torn in the process of removing the release paper from the aluminum foil to allow the adhesive surface to be exposed. In order to prevent the aluminum foil of the cord heater from being deformed, at least two skilled workers and a relatively long working time are required. However, it is possible to reduce the difficulties, which is to be taken by using the cord heater, by replacing the cord heater with the surface heater130, and by fixing the surface heater130to at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120through the fixing unit instead of the adhesive. Hereinafter various methods of fixing the surface heater130to at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120using the fixing unit will be described in detail.

FIG.5is an exploded perspective view illustrating the heater assembly of the refrigerator according to one embodiment of the disclosure, andFIG.6is a view illustrating a process of assembling the surface heater to a first case by using a fixing unit according to a first embodiment, in the refrigerator according to one embodiment of the disclosure. For reference,FIG.5is an exploded perspective view of a part of the heater assembly100, that is, the first case110and the surface heater130. In addition,FIG.5illustrates a heater assembly100to which a fixing unit150according to the first embodiment is applied. By the fixing unit150, the surface heater130may be fixed not only to the inner surface of the first case110in which the coupling protrusion111is formed, but also to the inner surface of the second case120in which the coupling groove121is formed. Hereinafter a case in which the surface heater130is fixed to the inner surface of the first case110by the fixing unit150will be mainly described.

As illustrated inFIGS.5and6, the fixing unit150may include a plurality of fixing unit150. The coupling protrusion111may include a plurality of coupling protrusions111. The plurality of fixing units150may be located outside the plurality of coupling protrusions111in the left and right direction Y of the refrigerator1. For reference, the coupling groove121may include a plurality of coupling grooves121. The plurality of coupling grooves121may be provided to correspond to the plurality of coupling protrusions111.

The surface heater130may further include a plurality of fixing holes136formed in each corner of the surface heater130to be coupled to each of the plurality of fixing units150.

The surface heater130may further include a plurality of coupling holes138provided to be coupled to each of the plurality of coupling protrusions111. The plurality of coupling protrusions111may be through-coupled to the plurality of coupling holes138. In response to that the surface heater130is fixed to the inner surface of the second case120by the fixing unit150, the plurality of coupling grooves121may be through-coupled to the plurality of coupling holes138.

The surface heater130may be fixed to the inner surface of the first case110in a sliding manner. In other words, the plurality of fixing holes136of the surface heater130may be coupled to the plurality of fixing units150in the sliding manner.

Each of the plurality of fixing units150may include a body151provided to extend from at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120. The body151may be formed to extend in the up and down direction Z of the refrigerator1from at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120.

Each of the plurality of fixing units150may further include a first wing152provided to extend from the body151to face the outside of the accommodation space, and spaced apart from the at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120from which the body151extends.

Each of the plurality of fixing units150may further include a second wing153provided to extend from the body151to face the inside of the accommodation space, and spaced apart from the at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120from which the body151extends.

The first wing152may extend from the body151toward the outside of the accommodation space in the left and right direction Y of the refrigerator1. The second wing153may extend from the body151toward the inside of the accommodation space in the left and right direction Y of the refrigerator1.

A distance d1between the first wing152, and the at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120from which the body151extends may be different from a distance d2between the second wing153, and the at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120from which the body151extends. Particularly, the distance d1between the first wing152, and the at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120from which the body151extends may be less than the distance d2between the second wing153, and the at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120from which the body151extends.

The distance d1between the first wing152, and the at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120from which the body151extends may be gradually increased in the left and right direction Y from the body151toward the outside of the accommodation space. The distance d2between the second wing153, and the at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120from which the body151extends may be gradually increased in the left and right direction Y from the body151toward the inside of the accommodation space.

The surface heater130may further include a fixing hole edge137provided to define each of the plurality of fixing holes136. A separation of the surface heater130from the fixing unit150may be limited by interference between any one of the first wing152and the second wing153of the plurality of fixing units150, and the fixing hole edge137of the surface heater130.

Hereinafter a process of fixing the surface heater130to the inner surface of the first case110using the fixing unit150will be described.

As illustrated inFIG.6, part (a), the surface heater130is closed to the first case110to allow the plurality of fixing holes136formed in the surface heater130to be coupled to the plurality of fixing units150formed on the inner surface of the first case110.

As illustrated inFIG.6, part (b), some of the plurality of fixing holes136of the surface heater130are coupled to some of the plurality of fixing units150of the first case110. Particularly, the plurality of fixing holes136may include a first fixing hole136apositioned on the left side in the left and right direction Y of the refrigerator1and a second fixing hole136bpositioned on the right side in the left and right direction Y of the refrigerator1. The plurality of fixing units150may include a first fixing unit150apositioned on the left side in the left and right direction Y of the refrigerator1and a second fixing unit50bpositioned on the right side in the left and right direction Y of the refrigerator1. The first fixing hole136aof the surface heater130may be coupled to the first fixing unit150aof the first case110. At this time, the second fixing hole136bof the surface heater130may be not coupled to the second fixing unit150bof the first case110due to interference between the fixing hole edge137of the second fixing hole136bof the surface heater130and the first wing152of the second fixing unit150bof the first case110.

As illustrated inFIG.6, part (c), in a state in which the first fixing hole136aof the surface heater130is coupled to the first fixing unit150aof the first case110, the surface heater130is slid in the left and right direction Y of the refrigerator1. Particularly, in the state in which the first fixing hole136aof the surface heater130is coupled to the first fixing unit150aof the first case110, the surface heater130is slid in the left and right direction Y of the refrigerator1until the fixing hole edge137of the second fixing hole136bof the surface heater130and the first wing152of the second fixing unit150bof the first case110do not interfere with each other. In another aspect, in the state in which the first fixing hole136aof the surface heater130is coupled to the first fixing unit150aof the first case110, the surface heater130is slid in the left and right direction Y of the refrigerator1until the fixing hole edge137of the first fixing hole136ainterferes with the second wing153of the first fixing unit150aof the first case110. The fixing hole edge137of the first fixing hole136amay be caught in a gap between the second wing153of the first fixing unit150aand the first case110, thereby interfering with the second wing153of the first fixing unit150aof the first case110.

As illustrated inFIG.6, part (d), in the state in which the first fixing hole136aof the surface heater130is coupled to the first fixing unit150aof the first case110, when the surface heater130is slid in the left and right direction Y of the refrigerator1to allow the second fixing hole136bof the surface heater130to be in a position corresponding to the second fixing unit150bof the first case110, the second fixing hole136bof the surface heater130is coupled to the second fixing unit150b.

As illustrated inFIG.6, part (e), in response to that the first fixing hole136aof the surface heater130is coupled to the first fixing unit150aof the first case110and the second fixing hole136bof the surface heater130is coupled to the second fixing unit150bof the first case110, the surface heater130may be slid in the left and right direction Y of the refrigerator1to allow the fixing hole edge137of the first fixing hole136aof the surface heater130to interfere with the first fixing unit150aof the first case110and to allow the fixing hole edge137of the second fixing hole136bof the surface heater130to interfere with the second fixing unit150bof the first case110. It is appropriate that the surface heater130may be slid in the left and right direction Y of the refrigerator1to allow the fixing hole edge137of the first fixing hole136aof the surface heater130to interfere with the second wing153of the first fixing unit150aof the first case110and to allow the fixing hole edge137of the second fixing hole136bof the surface heater130to interfere with the first wing152of the second fixing unit150bof the first case110. Due to the interference between the plurality of fixing holes136and the plurality of fixing units150, the surface heater130may be fixed to the inner surface of the first case110without being separated from the inner surface of the first case110.

As illustrated inFIG.6, part (e), in response to that the surface heater130is fixed to the inner surface of the first case110, the plurality of fixing holes136may be coupled to the plurality of fixing units150, and the plurality of coupling holes138may be coupled to the plurality of coupling protrusions111.

FIG.7is a view illustrating a process of assembling the surface heater to the first case by using a fixing unit according to a second embodiment, in the refrigerator according to one embodiment of the disclosure. By a fixing unit250, the surface heater130may be fixed not only to the inner surface of the first case110in which the coupling protrusion111is formed but also to the inner surface of the second case120in which the coupling groove121is formed. Hereinafter a case in which the surface heater130is fixed to the inner surface of the first case110by the fixing unit250, will be mainly described. Hereinafter descriptions the same as those described with reference toFIGS.1to6will be omitted.

As illustrated inFIG.7, the plurality of fixing holes136of the surface heater130may be through-coupled to the plurality of fixing units250.

A width w1of the plurality of fixing holes136may be less than a width w2of the plurality of fixing units250to allow the plurality of fixing units250to be elastically deformed and to be through-coupled to the plurality of fixing holes136.

Each of the plurality of fixing units250may include a body251provided to extend from at least one of an inner surface of the first case110and an inner surface of the second case120. The body251may be formed to extend in the up and down direction Z of the refrigerator1from at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120.

Each of the plurality of fixing units250may further include a head252provided to extend from the body251to have a width wh greater than a width wb of the body251. The head252may extend from the body251in the up and down direction Z of the refrigerator1.

Each of the plurality of fixing units250may include a hollow253. The hollow253may be formed over the head252and the body251. The plurality of fixing units250may be easily elastically deformed due to the hollow253.

The surface heater130may further include the fixing hole edge137provided to define each of the plurality of fixing holes136.

A separation of the surface heater130from the fixing unit250may be limited by interference between the head252of the plurality of fixing units250and the fixing hole edge137of the surface heater130.

Hereinafter a process of fixing the surface heater130to the inner surface of the first case110using the fixing unit250will be described.

As illustrated inFIG.7, part (a), the surface heater130is closed to the first case110to allow the plurality of fixing holes136formed in the surface heater130to be coupled to the plurality of fixing units250formed on the inner surface of the first case110.

As illustrated inFIG.7, part (b), the plurality of fixing holes136of the surface heater130is coupled to the plurality of fixing units250of the first case110. The head252of the plurality of fixing units250of the first case110may be retracted in an inner direction of the heads252and pass through the plurality of fixing holes136of the surface heater130.

As illustrated inFIG.7, part (c), after passing through the plurality of fixing holes136of the surface heater130, the head252of the plurality of fixing units250of the first case110may be returned to its original state due to the elastic deformation. By the interference between the head252of the plurality of fixing units250and the fixing hole edge137of the surface heater130, the surface heater130may be fixed to the inner surface of the case110without being separated from the inner surface of the first case110.

In the above, the case in which the surface heater130is fixed to at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120by the fixing units150and250has been described. However, the surface heater130may be fixed to at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120without being coupled to the fixing units150and250. As an example, the surface heater130may be in close contact with at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120by the insulating material140filled in the accommodation space. In this case, the surface heater130may be fixed to at least one of the inner surface of the first case110and the inner surface of the second case120even without a separate adhesive or fixing units150and250.

In the above, the case in which the heater assembly100is installed to heat the storage compartment30has been described. However, the use of the heater assembly100is not limited to the above example. As an example, the heater assembly100may be installed in the refrigerator1not only for heating the storage compartment30, but also for various purposes such as preventing dew formation caused by opening and closing of the door.

While the disclosure has been particularly described with reference to example embodiments, it should be understood by those of skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.