Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet and a door. The door includes a door liner, a front plate, a first cap decor coupled to the door liner and the front plate, a second cap decor coupled to the door liner and the front plate at a position facing the first cap decor, an insulator filled into a space defined by coupling of the door liner, the front plate, and the cap decors, and a panel assembly disposed detachably in front of the front plate. The panel assembly includes a panel defining an outer appearance of a front surface of the door, a first bracket protruding from a rear surface of the panel and inserted into the first cap decor, and a second bracket provided on the rear surface of the panel and supported by the second cap decor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet that defines a storage space; and   a door comprising a door body configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage space and a panel assembly detachably disposed at the door body,   wherein the door comprises:
 a door liner that defines a rear surface of the door, 
 a front plate disposed forward relative to the door liner, 
 an upper cap decor configured to be coupled to the door liner and an upper end of the front plate, 
 a lower cap decor configured to be coupled to the door liner and a lower end of the front plate, the lower cap decor comprising a protrusion that protrudes upward, and 
 an insulator provided in a space defined by the door liner, the front plate, the upper cap decor, and the lower cap decor, 
   wherein the panel assembly comprises:
 a panel that defines an outer appearance of a front surface of the door, the panel being made of a metal material and comprising a lower bent portion at a lower end of the panel that is bent away from the front surface of the door, and 
 a lower bracket provided at the lower end of the panel at a rear surface of the panel, the lower bracket defining an insertion portion recessed bottom of the lower bracket, 
   wherein an opening is defined at the lower bent portion and provided below the insertion portion to overlap with the insertion portion, and   wherein, in a state in which the panel assembly is coupled, the protrusion passes through the opening and is inserted into the insertion portion.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion extends above the opening and is configured to restrain by the opening and insertion portion to secure the panel. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the lower bracket contacts the rear surface of the panel and the lower bent portion. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the lower bracket connects the rear surface of the panel and a rear portion of the opening at the lower bent portion. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the lower bracket supports from above both a front and rear of the lower bent portion based on the opening. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the lower bracket extends along a lower end of the panel, and the insertion portion is opened in a longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the lower bracket comprises:
 a first portion coupled on the rear surface of the panel; and   a second portion protruding rearward from the first portion, and   wherein the insertion portion is provided at the second portion and opened facing the opening.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 7 , wherein the second portion protrudes rearward relative to the opening and supports a rear end of the lower bent portion. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator according to  claim 7 , wherein an area of an opened bottom surface of the insertion portion is greater than an area of the opening. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower bracket is made of a plastic material. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the lower bracket is attached to the rear surface of the panel. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises an upper bent portion at the upper end of the panel that is bent rearward, the upper bent portion being configured to become fixed to the upper cap decor based on a fastening member being inserted through the upper cap decor. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , further comprising an upper bracket that is provided at the upper end of the panel at the rear surface of the panel, the upper bracket being configured to receive the fastening member. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the lower cap decor includes a handle that is recessed upward from a bottom surface of the lower cap decor. 
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises:
 a pair of side bent portions that are bent rearward from sides of the panel; and   a plurality of magnets coupled to the rear surface of the panel, at least one of the plurality of magnets being provided adjacent to each of the pair of side bent portions.   
     
     
         16 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the lower cap decor includes a lower support end extending forward and being configured to support a lower end of the panel assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , wherein the lower support end contacts the lower bent portion, and the protrusion upwardly protrudes from the lower support end. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the lower support end extends between a front end of the opening and a front surface of the panel. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 17 , wherein the protrusion is one of a plurality of protrusions that are arranged along the lower support end. 
     
     
         20 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the panel assembly is configured to, based on the lower end of the panel assembly being coupled to the lower cap decor by the protrusion, be rotated toward the front plate to thereby bring an upper end of the panel assembly into contact with the upper cap decor, and
 wherein the door further includes a fastening member that is inserted through the upper cap decor from an upper side of the upper cap decor to thereby couple the upper end of the panel assembly to the upper cap decor.