Refrigerator and manufacturing method of the same

Abstract

The present embodiment provides a refrigerator. The refrigerator according to the present embodimentA refrigerator includes a panel member forming at least a portion of the exterior of the refrigerator, an inner case of which at least portion is spaced from the panel, a display case provided at one side of the panel member, insulating material filled in space between the panel member and the inner case, and a display unit mounted on the display case after the filling of the insulating material is completed.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A refrigerator having a main body in which a storage chamber is formed and a door to open/close the storage chamber, the door comprising:
 a panel member forming at least a portion of a front exterior of the door, a pattern on a rear surface of the panel member;   a display case installed on a rear surface of the panel member and having a display mounting space;   an inner case, forming at least a portion of a rear exterior of the door;   a connecting member forming at least a portion of a side exterior of the door, the connecting member having a display insertion hole;   insulating material filled in a space defined by the panel member, the inner case, and the connecting member, the insulating material being in contact with the panel member, the inner case, the connecting member and the display case;   a display unit passing through the display insertion hole and mounted on the display mounting space after the filling of the insulating material is completed, the display unit having a display part, a sensing part and a unit guide, wherein the display part and the sensing part are installed on the unit guide;   at least one pressure part configured to pressurize the display unit toward the panel member and disposed within the display case; and   a cover coupled to the connecting member and configured to cover the display insertion hole,   wherein the sensing part of the display unit senses a touch of a user when the user touches the panel member.   
     
     
       2. The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the display case is coupled to the connecting member. 
     
     
       3. The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the display case is closely adhered to the panel member in a state where the display unit is mounted on the display case. 
     
     
       4. The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the panel member includes mounting guides coupled to the display unit, and
 wherein the display unit includes guide ribs coupled to the mounting guides.   
     
     
       5. The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the display unit is slidingly mounted on the display case,
 wherein the display unit includes guide parts guiding the mounting of the display unit, and   wherein the display case includes guide rails guiding the sliding of the guide parts.   
     
     
       6. The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the panel member includes a manipulating part guiding the position of the sensing part,
 wherein a display window is formed in the position corresponding to the display part, and   wherein the display window is formed to be transparent or translucent.   
     
     
       7. A refrigerator having a main body in which a storage chamber is formed and a door to open/close the storage chamber, the door comprising:
 a panel member that forms at least a portion of a front exterior of the door;   an inner case that forms at least a portion of a rear exterior of the door, at least a portion of the inner case being spaced from the panel member;   a deco member that forms at least one of a side, upper or lower exterior of the door;   a display case installed on a rear surface of the panel member;   insulating material filled in a space defined by the panel member, the deco member and the inner case;   a display inserting part formed on the deco member;   a display unit mounted on the display case after the filling of the insulating material is completed, the display unit penetrating through the display inserting part, the display unit having a display part, a sensing part and a unit guide, wherein the display part and the sensing part are installed on the unit guide;   at least one pressure part configured to pressurize the display unit toward the panel member and disposed within the display case; and   a cover coupled to the deco member and configured to cover the display inserting part,   wherein the sensing part senses a touch operation of the panel member.   
     
     
       8. A refrigerator, comprising:
 a cabinet having a storage space;   a door opening and closing the storage space, the door comprising:
 a panel member provided with a display window which is spaced apart from an edge of the panel member, and configured to form a front exterior of the door of the refrigerator, and a pattern on a rear surface of the panel member; 
 an inner case spaced apart from the panel member and configured to form a rear exterior of the door of the refrigerator; 
 a deco member that connects the panel member and the inner case to form at least a side, upper or lower exterior of the door and having an inserting part; 
 a display case disposed within a space defined by the panel member, the inner case, and the deco member, the display case being installed on a rear surface of the panel member, the display case including a first side wall, a second side wall that faces the first side wall, a rear wall that connects the first side wall and the second side wall to define a receiving space, a first opening facing a rear surface of the panel member, and a second opening communicating with the inserting part; and 
 insulating material filled in a space defined by the panel member, the inner case, the deco member and the display case so that the insulating material contacts with the panel member, the inner case, the deco member and the display case; 
   a display unit inserted into the receiving space of the display case through the inserting part and the second opening, the display unit being mounted on the display case, the display unit comprising:
 a sensing part to sense a touch manipulation of a user; 
 a display part mounted on a printed circuit board; 
 a unit guide on which the printed circuit board is mounted and has an elongated flat shape; and 
 guide ribs protruding from the unit guide; and 
   mounting guides spaced apart from each other and mounted on the rear surface of the panel member to guide a mounting location of the unit guide of the display unit and protruded toward a rear surface of the inner case,   wherein the mounting guides are separate components from the deco member and the display case,   wherein the printed circuit board is positioned between the guide ribs,   wherein the mounting guides are located within the receiving space of the display case to prevent the mounting guides from contacting the insulating material, and   wherein the guide ribs are coupled to the mounting guides when the display unit is inserted in the display case.   
     
     
       9. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the display window is formed to be transparent or translucent. 
     
     
       10. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the display part is a liquid crystal display. 
     
     
       11. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the unit guide is mounted on the display case. 
     
     
       12. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the panel member is formed of glass or plastic material. 
     
     
       13. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein a manipulation part to be touched by the user for manipulating is printed or formed in a rugged shape on the panel member corresponding to the sensing part. 
     
     
       14. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the deco member comprises cap decoes, and one of the cap decoes includes the inserting part. 
     
     
       15. The refrigerator of claim 8, further comprising a cover member to cover the inserting part after the display unit is inserted into the receiving space of the display case. 
     
     
       16. The refrigerator of claim 15, wherein the cover member comprises a shielding part to shield the inserting part and mount parts extended to both sides of the shielding part to be coupled to the deco member. 
     
     
       17. The refrigerator of claim 8, further comprising a pressure part configured to pressurize the unit guide toward the rear surface of the panel member. 
     
     
       18. The refrigerator of claim 17, wherein the pressure part is disposed on the display case. 
     
     
       19. The refrigerator of claim 18, wherein the pressure part includes an inclined surface inclined toward the rear surface of the panel member. 
     
     
       20. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the mounting guides are formed of plastic material to be attached to the rear surface of the panel member. 
     
     
       21. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the display case is coupled to an inner surface of the deco member. 
     
     
       22. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the display part faces the display window when the unit guide is inserted in the receiving space through the inserting part and the second opening. 
     
     
       23. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the insulating material is filled and foamed in the space defined by the panel member, the inner case, the deco member and the display case. 
     
     
       24. The refrigerator of claim 8, wherein the display case further comprises a bending part, and
 a front surface of the bending part is closely adhered to the rear surface of the panel member.   
     
     
       25. A refrigerator, comprising:
 a cabinet having a storage space;   a door opening and closing the storage space, the door comprising:
 a panel member provided with a display window which is spaced apart from an edge of the panel member, and configured to form a front exterior of the door of the refrigerator, and a pattern on a rear surface of the panel member; 
 an inner case spaced apart from the panel member and configured to form a rear exterior of the door of the refrigerator; 
 a deco member that connects the panel member and the inner case to form at least a side, upper or lower exterior of the door and having an inserting part; 
 a display case disposed within a space defined by the panel member, the inner case, and the deco member, the display case being installed on a rear surface of the panel member, the display case including a first side wall, a second side wall that faces the first side wall, a rear wall that connects the first side wall and the second side wall to define a receiving space, a first opening facing a rear surface of the panel member, and a second opening communicating with the inserting part; and 
 insulating material filled in a space defined by the panel member, the inner case, the deco member and the display case so that the insulating material contacts with the panel member, the inner case, the deco member and the display case; 
   a display unit inserted into the receiving space of the display case through the inserting part and the second opening, the display unit being mounted on the display case, the display unit comprising:
 a sensing part; 
 a display part mounted on a printed circuit board; 
 a unit guide on which the printed circuit board is mounted and has an elongated flat shape; and 
 guide ribs protruding from the unit guide; and 
   mounting guides spaced apart from each other and mounted on the rear surface of the panel member to guide a mounting location of the unit guide of the display unit and protruded toward a rear surface of the inner case,   wherein the printed circuit board is positioned between the guide ribs,   wherein the mounting guides are separate components from the deco member and the display case,   wherein the mounting guides are located within the receiving space of the display case to prevent the mounting guides from contacting the insulating material, and   wherein the guide ribs are coupled to the mounting guides when the display unit is inserted in the display case.