Refrigerator and lighting apparatus thereof

Abstract

A lighting apparatus for a refrigerator according to an embodiment of the present invention uses a light emitting diode with small volume and low heat generation amount so that the storage space of the refrigerator is assured as well as a risk of the degradation in the storage state of foods stored in the refrigerator due to heat emitted from the lighting apparatus is minimized.

1 . A lighting apparatus for a refrigerator comprising:
 a printed circuit board formed by surface-treating a substrate of metal material;   a light emitting diode mounted on a front of the substrate and flickered in order to selectively light the storage space of the refrigerator; and   a mount bracket for fixing the printed circuit board to one side of the storage space.   
   
   
       2 . The lighting apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the light emitting diode outputs 1 W or more than 1 W. 
   
   
       3 . The lighting apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mount bracket is formed of metal material. 
   
   
       4 . The lighting apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mount bracket comprises:
 a bracket body provided with a seating groove in which the printed circuit board is firmly seated and at least one insert hole in which a lead wire connected to the printed circuit board is inserted; and   a flange part provided on both sides of the bracket body and provided with a through hole through which an engagement member is penetrated.   
   
   
       5 . The lighting apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the printed circuit board and the mount bracket is formed of aluminum material. 
   
   
       6 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a main body provided with a storage space for storing foods;   a door rotatably mounted to the main body and selectively shielding the storage space; and   a light emitting diode mounted to the inner side of the storage space and radiating light.   
   
   
       7 . The refrigerator as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the light apparatus further comprises a printed circuit board mounted with the light emitting diode and a lighting cover covering the light emitting diode. 
   
   
       8 . The refrigerator as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the lighting cover is formed of transparent or semitransparent material. 
   
   
       9 . The refrigerator as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the lighting cover is provided with a lighting opening allowing light radiated from the light emitting diode to radiate to the inside of the storage space. 
   
   
       10 . The refrigerator as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a door switch provided on one side of the front of the main body to sense the opening of the door, wherein the lighting apparatus is lightened by interlocking with the door switch. 
   
   
       11 . The refrigerator as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the storage space is a cold chamber or a cooling chamber.