Refrigerator with drawer

Description

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a refrigerator with a drawer, and more particularly to a refrigerator with a drawer which is suitable for storing articles.

Related Art

[0002] When a large gap is formed between a drawer and a storage device located above the drawer, a user can directly hold an upper end of a front wall of the drawer to push or pull the drawer.

[0003] WO2009/080483 discloses a refrigerator, which includes a storage compartment, a drawer-type container movably provided in the storage compartment, and a handle bar provided on the drawer-type container and connected to a front wall of the container in a forced cooperation manner through groove and spring connection. A user can push and pull the drawer from the front of the drawer.

[0004] WO2011/026747 also discloses a refrigerator with a drawer, a handle piece is connected on a front wall of the drawer, and a grip portion is provided above the drawer.

[0005] DE 10 2009 029 142 A1 discloses a cooling appliance having a body and a door, forming a thermal insulated storage room, a pull-out drawer, a plate and a cover, which covers the pull-out drawer in an inserted position, wherein a gripping strip is provided on the front wall of the pull-out drawer and protrudes upwardly in front of the plate. The gripping strip has an engaging strip, which engages with the lower surface of the cover, when the pull-out drawer is in an inserted position. The cover seals the pull-out drawer, when the cover engages with the engaging strip.

SUMMARY

[0006] An object of the present invention is directed to provide a refrigerator capable of improving user experience and enhancing the cost efficiency.

[0007] The object can be achieved through features described in the independent claim. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention are the subject matters of the drawings, the specification and the dependent claims.

[0008] An aspect of the present invention relates to a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a storage compartment and a drawer provided in the storage compartment, the drawer includes a front wall and a decorative strip connected to the front wall, and the decorative strip includes a decorative portion provided on a front side of the front wall. The decorative strip includes a grip portion provided on a back side of the front wall and located inside the drawer, and the thickness of at least one part of the grip portion is greater than the thickness of a corresponding part of the decorative portion.

[0009] Since the grip portion with an increased thickness is provided on an inner side of the front wall of the drawer, user experience of holding the front wall of the drawer to push and pull the drawer can be greatly improved. Meanwhile, since the grip portion is directly provided on the decorative strip, the handle piece does not need to be additionally provided, and there is no need to provide a portion with an increased thickness and protruding inwardly or a protruding portion of other shapes on the front wall of the drawer, but instead the front wall can be remained as thin as other walls, which is advantageous for improving cost efficiency and fabrication of the drawer.

[0010] The decorative strip may extend along the entire width of the front wall or merely extend along a part of the width of the front wall.

[0011] The thickness of the grip portion and that of the decorative portion at a specific height indicate a distance between a front surface and a rear surface of the grip portion and a distance between a front surface and a rear surface of the decorative portion in a fore-and-aft direction at the height, respectively. For example, when the grip portion and/or decorative portion has only a single wall at a particular height, the thickness of the grip portion and/or decorative portion may be formed by the thickness of the wall of a corresponding portion. When the grip portion and/or decorative portion has, at a certain height, multiple walls overlapping in a fore-and-aft direction, the thickness of the grip portion and/or that of the decorative portion at least includes the thickness of the overlapping walls, and if the walls are spaced from each other in the fore-and-aft direction, the thickness of the grip portion and/or decorative portion should cover a gap(s) between the walls.

[0012] The thickness of the grip portion and that of the decorative portion may be substantially constant or variable. For example, the thickness of the decorative portion may be substantially constant in a longitudinal direction and/or a transverse direction, so that the front surface of the drawer is clean and neat, and the thickness of the grip portion may be variable in at least a part of the entire height or may also be constant.

[0013] The thickness of the grip portion may be greater than the thickness of the decorative portion at a corresponding height in the entire height range of the grip portion. Alternatively, the thickness of the grip portion may be greater than the thickness of the decorative portion at the same height in merely a part of the height range (particularly the part often held by the user).

[0014] In a possible embodiment, at least a section of the grip portion may have a thickness that gradually increases from the top down. This is especially convenient for a user to place fingers on the grip portion and improves user experience.

[0015] In a possible embodiment, at least one cavity may exist between the rear surface of the grip portion and a rear surface of the front wall. This is advantageous for increasing a distance between the rear surface of the grip portion and the rear surface of the front wall. The cavity may be closed or may be open on at least one side.

[0016] According to the invention, a cavity is provided within the grip portion. This is advantageous for significantly increasing the thickness of the grip portion, and by increasing the thickness of the grip portion through the cavity, a problem, that fabrication difficulty arises due to increase of the thickness of the wall of the grip portion to increase the thickness of the grip portion, can be avoided.

[0017] In a possible embodiment, the at least one cavity may be formed between the rear surface of the front wall and the front surface of the grip portion.

[0018] In a possible embodiment, the rear surface of the grip portion may be an oblique surface which is inclined backward from the top down. Therefore, it is convenient for a user to place fingers on the grip portion, and the user experience is improved.

[0019] In a possible embodiment, the oblique surface may be a curved surface depressed toward the front wall. Therefore, the user experience may be further improved.

[0020] According to the invention, the grip portion includes at least two walls, and the at least two walls are spaced from each other in a fore-and-aft direction. For example, the grip portion may include two or three walls that are spaced from each other in a fore-and-aft direction, and in addition to the thickness of the walls, the thickness of the grip portion may be further increased through a gap(s) between the walls.

[0021] In a possible embodiment, the at least two walls include a first wall obliquely extending along the entire height of the grip portion and a second wall connected to a lower surface of a middle area of the first wall and substantially extending downward vertically, and the second wall and a lower section of the first wall are spaced from each other.

[0022] In a possible embodiment, an acute angle is formed between the second wall and the lower section of the first wall.

[0023] In an alternative embodiment, the at least two walls may be parallel. For example, two walls may substantially extend in a vertical direction, upper ends and lower ends of the two walls may be connected by different horizontal walls respectively, and the grip portion may have a cross section in a substantially rectangular frame shape.

[0024] According to the invention, the grip portion includes a bottom wall connecting the lower ends of the at least two walls, and the bottom wall and the at least two walls define a cavity with two open ends.

[0025] According to the invention, the bottom wall is parallel with a horizontal plane, so that a user may place fingers on the bottom wall to push and pull the drawer.

[0026] In a possible embodiment, the decorative strip may be an extruded member.

[0027] The construction of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below for illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the disclosure, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional view of a drawer used in a refrigerator according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the drawer shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the I-I direction in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a drawer 1 may be mounted in a refrigerator (not shown). The refrigerator has a storage compartment defined by a thermal insulating wall. The drawer 1 may be mounted in the storage compartment (not shown) in a manner that the drawer 1 can be pushed into and pulled out of the storage compartment.

[0030] The drawer 1 includes a box 10 having a bottom wall 2, a pair of side walls 3, a rear wall 4, and a front wall 5, and the walls 2~ 5 together define a storage space 6 where articles can be placed. The box 10 may be integrally formed by injection molding, and it is also possible that at least one wall, as an independently fabricated member, of the box is assembled to other components, to form the box.

[0031] The drawer 1 includes a decorative strip 7 connected to the front wall 5. The decorative strip 7 extends along an entire width of the front wall 5. The decorative strip 7 is an extruded strip made of materials including plastics. An outer surface of the decorative strip 7 may be in a color apparently different from that of the box 10, to highlight the decorative effect. A desired color of the decorative strip 7 may be obtained by means of co-extrusion or spraying.

[0032] The decorative strip 7 sits on an upper end of the front wall 5, and includes a decorative portion 71 positioned in front of a front side (also referred to as an "outer side") of the front wall 5 and a grip portion 72 positioned behind a back side (also referred to as an "inner side") of the front wall 5. The decorative strip 7 may have a constant cross section.

[0033] The decorative portion 71 is in the shape of a plate, and has substantially constant thickness. The decorative portion 71 is closely attached to an outer surface of the front wall 5. A recess 51 for accommodating the decorative portion 71 may be provided on the front side of the front wall 5, and the depth of the recess 51 may be substantially equal to the thickness of the wall of the decorative portion 71, so that the decorative portion 71 may be substantially aligned with the other parts of the front wall 5.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 3, the decorative strip 7 may include a fixation portion 73 connected to a lower end of the decorative portion 71. The fixation portion 73 protrudes backward from an inner side of the lower end of the decorative portion 71, and correspondingly, the front wall 51 has a slot 52 corresponding to the fixing portion 73, and the fixing portion 73 is inserted in the slot 52. The fixation portion 73 extends along the entire width of the decorative portion 71. Correspondingly, the slot 52 also extends along the entire width of the front wall 5. The decorative portion 71 may be pre-deformed to be more firmly clamped on the front wall 5.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the cross section of the decorative strip 7 has a substantially inclined V-shaped outer contour line. The thickness of at least one part of the grip portion 72 is greater than the thickness of a corresponding part of the decorative portion 71. In this embodiment, the grip portion 72 has a thickness that is, at least in some height range, greater than the thickness of a corresponding part of the decorative portion 71, that is, in this height range, the thickness of the grip portion 72 is greater than the thickness of a corresponding part of the decorative portion 71 at the same height.

[0036] According to the invention, the grip portion 72 includes two walls that are spaced from each other in a fore-and-aft direction. The two walls include a first wall 721 continuously, smoothly, and obliquely extending along the entire height of the grip portion 72 and a second wall 722 connected to a lower surface of a middle area of the first wall 721 and extending downward substantially in a vertical direction, so that the thickness of the grip portion 72 gradually increases from top down. An angle between the second wall 722 and a lower section of the first wall 721 may be an acute angle.

[0037] A rear surface (that is, a surface away from the front wall 5) of the first wall 721 forms a rear surface of the grip portion 72, so that the rear surface of the grip portion 72 includes an oblique surface 726 inclined backward from top down. Preferably, the oblique surface includes a curved surface depressed toward the front wall 5.

[0038] The grip portion 72 includes a bottom wall 725 connecting lower ends of the first wall 721 and the second wall 722. The bottom wall 725 is parallel with a horizontal plane. The bottom wall 725, the first wall 721 and the second wall 722 define a first cavity 723 which extends in a transverse direction and has two open ends.

[0039] A second cavity 74 is formed between an upper section of the first wall 721 and a rear surface of the front wall 5. Therefore, multiple cavities 723 and 74 are provided between the rear surface of the grip portion 72 and the rear surface of the front wall 5, to increase the distance between the two surfaces.

[0040] The second wall 722 is close to the rear surface of the front wall 5. A protruding portion 724 is provided on one side of the second wall 722 facing the front wall 5, and the protruding portion 724 is pressed against the front wall 5, which prevents the decorative strip 7 from detaching from the box 10 when the user holds the decorative strip 7.

[0041] Various embodiments of single parts described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 can be combined in any predetermined manner, to achieve the advantages of the present invention. Further, the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiments, and means other than the described means can be used in normal conditions as long as the means can achieve the same effect.

Claims

1. A refrigerator, comprising a storage compartment and a drawer (1) in the storage compartment, the drawer comprising a front wall (5) and a decorative strip (7) connected to the front wall, and the decorative strip comprising a decorative portion (71) provided on a front side of the front wall, wherein the decorative strip further comprises a grip portion (72) extending into the drawer and provided on a back side of the front wall, and the thickness of at least a part of the grip portion is greater than the thickness of the decorative portion, characterized in that the grip portion comprises at least two walls (721, 722), and the at least two walls have a distance there-between in a fore-and-aft direction, a bottom wall (725) connecting lower ends of the at least two walls, and the bottom wall and the at least two walls define a cavity (723) with two open ends, wherein the bottom wall is parallel with a horizontal plane.

2. The refrigerator according to claim 1, characterized in that the grip portion comprises at least a section having a thickness which gradually increases from the top down.

3. The refrigerator according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one cavity (74) is located between a rear surface of the grip portion (72) and a rear surface of the front wall (5).

4. The refrigerator according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one cavity (74) is formed between the rear surface of the front wall 5 and a front surface of the grip portion.

5. The refrigerator according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear surface of the grip portion comprises an oblique surface (726) which is inclined backward from the top down.

6. The refrigerator according to claim 5, characterized in that the oblique surface comprises a curved surface which is depressed toward the front wall.

7. The refrigerator according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the at least two walls comprise a first wall (721) obliquely extending along the entire height of the grip portion and a second wall (722) connected to a lower surface of a middle area of the first wall and extending downward in a substantial vertical direction, and the second wall and a lower section of the first wall are spaced from each other.

8. The refrigerator according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that an acute angle is formed between the lower section of the first wall and the second wall.

9. The refrigerator according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the at least two walls are parallel.

10. The refrigerator according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the decorative strip is an extruded member.

Ansprüche

1. Kühlschrank mit einem Aufbewahrungsfach und einer Schublade (1) in dem Aufbewahrungsfach, wobei die Schublade eine Vorderwand (5) und eine mit der Vorderwand verbundene Zierleiste (7) und die Zierleiste an einer Vorderseite der Vorderwand einen Zierabschnitt (71) umfasst, wobei die Zierleiste ferner einen Griffabschnitt (72) umfasst, der in die Schublade hinein verläuft und an einer Rückseite der Vorderwand vorgesehen ist, und zumindest ein Teil des Griffabschnitts dicker ist als der Zierabschnitt, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Griffabschnitt mindestens zwei Wände (721, 722) umfasst und sich in Längsrichtung ein Abstand zwischen den mindestens zwei Wänden befindet, wobei eine Bodenwand (725) untere Enden der mindestens zwei Wände verbindet und die Bodenwand und die mindestens zwei Wände einen Hohlraum (723) mit zwei offenen Enden definieren, wobei die Bodenwand parallel zu einer horizontalen Ebene verläuft.

2. Kühlschrank nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Griffabschnitt zumindest einen Teilabschnitt mit einer sich von oben nach unten hin allmählich zunehmenden Dicke umfasst.

3. Kühlschrank nach einem der Ansprüche 1 und 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sich zwischen einer hinteren Fläche des Griffabschnitts (72) und einer hinteren Fläche der Vorderwand (5) mindestens ein Hohlraum (74) befindet.

4. Kühlschrank nach Anspruch 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der mindestens eine Hohlraum (74) zwischen der hinteren Fläche der Vorderwand und einer vorderen Fläche des Griffabschnitts ausgebildet ist.

5. Kühlschrank nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die hintere Fläche des Griffabschnitts eine schräge Fläche (726) umfasst, die von oben abwärts nach hinten hin geneigt ist.

6. Kühlschrank nach Anspruch 5, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die schräge Fläche eine gekrümmte Fläche umfasst, die zur Vorderwand hin vertieft ist.

7. Kühlschrank nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 6, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die mindestens zwei Wände eine über die gesamte Höhe des Griffabschnitts schräg verlaufende erste Wand (721) und eine zweite Wand (722) umfassen, die mit einer unteren Fläche eines mittleren Bereichs der ersten Wand verbunden ist und in im Wesentlichen vertikaler Richtung nach unten verläuft, und die zweite Wand und ein unterer Teilabschnitt der ersten Wand voneinander beabstandet sind.

8. Kühlschrank nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 7, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass zwischen dem unteren Teilabschnitt der ersten Wand und der zweiten Wand ein spitzer Winkel gebildet ist.

9. Kühlschrank nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die mindestens zwei Wände parallel sind.

10. Kühlschrank nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es sich bei der Zierleiste um ein extrudiertes Element handelt.

Revendications

1. Réfrigérateur, comprenant un compartiment de stockage et un tiroir (1) dans le compartiment de stockage, le tiroir comprenant une paroi frontale (5) et une bande décorative (7) raccordée à la paroi frontale, et la bande décorative comprenant une partie décorative (71) agencée sur un côté avant de la paroi frontale, dans lequel la bande décorative comprend en outre une partie de préhension (72) s'étendant jusque dans le tiroir et agencée sur un coté arrière de la paroi frontale, et l'épaisseur d'au moins une partie de la partie de préhension est supérieure à l'épaisseur de la partie décorative,
caractérisé en ce que la partie de préhension comprend au moins deux parois (721, 722) et les au moins deux parois présentent une certaine distance entre elles dans le sens d'avant en arrière, une paroi de fond (725) raccordant les extrémités inférieures des au moins deux parois, et la paroi de fond et les au moins deux parois définissent une cavité (723) comportant deux extrémités ouvertes, la paroi de fond étant parallèle à un plan horizontal.

2. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la partie de préhension comprend au moins une section ayant une épaisseur qui augmente progressivement de haut en bas.

3. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que la au moins une cavité (74) est située entre une surface arrière de la partie de préhension (72) et une surface arrière de la paroi frontale (5).

4. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que la au moins une cavité (74) est formée entre la surface arrière de la paroi frontale (5) et la surface frontale de la partie de préhension.

5. Réfrigérateur selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que la surface arrière de la partie de préhension comprend une surface oblique (726) qui est inclinée vers l'arrière de haut en bas.

6. Réfrigérateur selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que la surface oblique comprend une surface courbée qui est renfoncée vers la paroi frontale.

7. Réfrigérateur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 6, caractérisé en ce que les au moins deux parois comprennent une première paroi (721) s'étendant obliquement le long de la hauteur entière de la partie de préhension et une seconde paroi (722) raccordée à une surface inférieure d'une région centrale de la première paroi et s'étendant vers le bas dans une direction sensiblement verticale, et la seconde paroi et une section inférieure de la première paroi sont espacées l'une de l'autre.

8. Réfrigérateur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 7, caractérisé en ce qu'un angle aigu est formé entre la section inférieure de la première paroi et la seconde paroi.

9. Réfrigérateur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, caractérisé en ce que les au moins deux parois sont parallèles.

10. Réfrigérateur selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 9, caractérisé en ce que la bande décorative est un élément extrudé.

Drawing