CN218153791U - Household electrical appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model provides a household appliance. The household appliance (100) comprises a door (1, 1A) comprising a lighting device (4, 4A) and a strip-shaped light exit portion (31, 31A) extending along an edge (11, 11A) of a front surface (10, 10A) of the door, the light exit portion being configured to exit light of the lighting device at a front side of the door. An interval (D1) is arranged between the light emergent part and the edge, and the interval between the light emergent part and the edge is larger than the width (W) of the light emergent part.

Description

Household electrical appliance

[ technical field ]

The present invention relates to a household appliance, and more particularly, to a household appliance, such as a refrigerator, having a lighting device.

[ background Art ]

For the convenience of access to the articles, household appliances such as refrigerators, wine chests, dishwashers, ovens, steamers are often provided with lighting means to illuminate the interior of the compartment. For example, refrigerators are generally provided with a lighting device that can illuminate a storage room when a door is opened. There are also some home appliances that start to be provided with lighting devices located outside the home appliance. For example, a lighting device for atmosphere lighting or guide lighting is provided on a door of a refrigerator.

CN106288615B discloses a refrigerator having a lighting device for illuminating a handle slot arranged in the outside of a door.

CN209558754U discloses a household appliance, which includes a cabinet, at least one door for opening or closing the cabinet, and a lighting device disposed around an outer contour of the cabinet and/or the door, the lighting device being configured to illuminate an exterior of the cabinet and/or the door.

[ summary of the invention ]

It is an object of an embodiment of the present invention to provide an improved household appliance.

An aspect of the embodiments of the present invention relates to a household appliance. The household appliance comprises a door, the door comprises a lighting device and a strip-shaped light-emitting part extending along the edge of the front surface of the door, the light-emitting part is used for emitting light of the lighting device at the front side of the door, an interval is arranged between the light-emitting part and the edge, and the interval between the light-emitting part and the edge is larger than the width of the light-emitting part.

The light-emitting parts and the edge are distributed at intervals, and the interval between the light-emitting parts and the edge is larger than the width of the light-emitting parts, so that the light-emitting parts which are visually visible on the front surface of the door can be strictly separated from the edge area of the door, and the optical effect of the strip-shaped light-emitting parts on the door can be highlighted. The possibility of light leaking from the edges can be significantly reduced. The possibility of reducing the optical effect of the light exit portion due to contamination near the edge during use by a user may also be reduced.

The embodiment of the utility model provides a can be applicable to domestic appliance, for example can be used for refrigerator, gradevin, oven, steam ager, dish washer, sterilizer etc. to have the door and have the domestic appliance in handle groove on the door.

The door may be a rotatable door pivotally connected to the main body of the home appliance, or a drawer-type door slidably connected to the main body of the home appliance.

In a possible embodiment, the length of the light exit portion in a direction along the edge is greater than half the length of the edge; and/or the distance between the light-emitting part and the edge is between two times and six times of the width of the light-emitting part.

In a possible embodiment, the door comprises a single component, the light exit portion and the edge are located on the single component, and the component front surface, the component rear surface and the component side surface connecting the component front surface and the component rear surface of the single component are light-tight and form the outer surface of the door. Therefore, the texture and the optical decoration effect of the household appliance are remarkably improved.

In a possible embodiment, the door comprises a functional device located near the edge for user operation and/or user interaction, the functional device comprising at least one of a handle slot, a display and/or an input unit, the projection of the light exit portion and the functional device in the thickness direction of the door at least partially overlapping. Therefore, the position of the important user interaction function of the door can be guided through the light-emitting part, so that the user experience is improved.

In a possible embodiment, a second door is included adjacent to the door, the door including a side facing the second door, the edge and the side having a distance therebetween in a direction in which the first door is directed toward the second door and the edge being located between the light exit portion and the side.

In a possible embodiment, the side face is located behind the light exit section in a thickness direction of the door and a functional module for user operation and/or user interaction is provided between the side face and the light exit section, the functional module comprising at least one of a handle slot, a display and/or an input module.

In a possible embodiment, the light exit portion includes a through hole opened toward the front of the door.

In a possible embodiment, the door comprises a handle groove at one side of the door and a grip portion in front of the handle groove, the edge being at least partially located at the grip portion, the light exit portion being at least partially located at the grip portion and at least partially located directly in front of the handle groove, the handle groove comprising an entrance opening and a bottom wall facing the entrance opening, the light exit portion being located between the entrance opening and the bottom wall and being spaced from the entrance opening and the bottom wall, respectively, in the depth direction of the handle groove. The light-emitting portion is disposed in front of the handle groove and is disposed at the grip portion at a distance from the bottom wall and the entrance of the handle groove, so that the grip function region has an illumination indication and/or illumination decoration function, and at the same time, the disadvantage caused by the grip portion being frequently operated can be small in adverse effect on the illumination device, particularly the light-emitting portion.

In a possible embodiment, the grip is provided with a light exit portion at a location directly in front of the handle groove and the light exit portion is located between the entrance and the bottom wall in the depth direction of the handle groove and at a distance from the entrance and the bottom wall, respectively. The light-emitting portion is thus provided narrower than the depth of the grip groove, which is advantageous in that the light-emitting portion is projected by visual contrast between the light-emitting portion and other positions of the grip, thereby enhancing the indication effect and aesthetic effect, and also in that light leakage from the end surface of the grip is prevented.

In a possible embodiment, the light-emitting portion may be elongated and extend along the length of the grip portion. This is advantageous in improving the decorative effect of the light-emitting portion on the door.

In a possible embodiment, in the depth direction of the handle groove, the width of the light exit portion is smaller than the distance between the light exit portion and the end edge of the grip portion and smaller than the distance between the light exit portion and the bottom wall of the handle groove.

In a possible embodiment, the grip comprises a receiving cavity, a projection of which in the front-rear direction of the door is located in the handle slot, and the lighting device comprises a light guide assembly and/or a light emitting module located in the receiving cavity.

In a possible embodiment, the accommodating cavity extends along the length direction of the handle groove, the light guide assembly is located in the accommodating cavity, and the light emitting module is located at least partially outside the accommodating cavity.

In a possible embodiment, the light module is at least partially located in a mounting cavity spaced from the handle slot, the mounting cavity being adjacent to one end of the handle slot or located in the handle slot.

In a possible embodiment, the accommodating cavity extends along the length direction of the handle slot, and the light guide assembly or the light emitting module is inserted into the accommodating cavity along the length direction of the accommodating cavity.

In a possible embodiment, the housing chamber has an opening facing the rear wall of the handle slot facing the grip portion, the grip portion comprising a cover closing the opening.

In a possible embodiment, the opening is provided along the length of the gripper portion.

In a possible embodiment, the door comprises a door grip element, the door grip element being bonded to the heat insulating material of the door, the light outlet portion being provided in the door grip element.

In a possible embodiment, the handle piece comprises a front bar extending along the front face of the door and legs extending from the front bar to the sides of the door; and/or the lighting device comprises a light guide assembly and/or a light emitting module positioned in the handle piece.

In a possible embodiment, the door comprises a front panel and a strip extending along one side of the front panel, the front panel and the strip forming respective portions of a front surface of the door, the edge being located at the strip, the light exit portion being located at the strip.

In a possible embodiment, the strip portion is a metal strip, and the light emergent portion includes a through hole located in the metal strip.

In a possible embodiment, the metal strip comprises a receiving cavity, and the lighting device comprises a light guide assembly and/or a light emitting module at least partially located in the receiving cavity.

In a possible embodiment, the metal strip defines at least part of the front boundary of a handle slot.

In a possible embodiment, the lighting device comprises a light guide assembly comprising a hollow optical sleeve and a light guide strip inserted in the optical sleeve.

In a possible embodiment, the optical sleeve comprises a light diffusing portion located in front of the light guide bar and a light reflecting portion located behind the light guide bar.

In a possible embodiment, the lighting device comprises a light guide assembly located in an accommodating cavity of the door, wherein the light guide assembly has at least two spaced protrusions on an inner side facing away from the light exit portion, the protrusions protrude towards a rear cavity wall of the accommodating cavity, and the protrusions and the light exit portion are arranged offset from each other.

In a possible embodiment, the lighting device comprises a light guide member facing the light exit portion, the light guide member being located within a receiving cavity in the door, the front side of the light guide member may comprise a pair of ends opposite to a front cavity wall of the receiving cavity in which the light exit portion is located, and a recess located between the ends, the recess facing the light exit portion.

In a possible embodiment, the lighting device comprises a light guide assembly and a support member connected to one end of the light guide assembly, the light guide assembly is located in an accommodating cavity extending along the edge, the support member comprises a mounting portion accessible from the outside of the accommodating cavity, and the light emitting module is detachably mounted on the mounting portion.

The structure of the present invention and other objects and advantages thereof will be more apparent from the description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[ description of the drawings ]

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. Wherein,

fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a household appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a door of a household appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 isbase:Sub>A schematic cross-sectional view ofbase:Sub>A door ofbase:Sub>A home appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention, taken along the linebase:Sub>A-base:Sub>A in fig. 2;

fig. 4 is a schematic partially exploded view of a door of a household appliance in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the gripper portion of FIG. 3 shown in phantom;

fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a door of a home appliance according to an embodiment of the present invention, taken along the direction of line B-B in fig. 2;

fig. 7 is a schematic partially exploded view of a door of a household appliance in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 8 is a schematic exploded view of a lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9 isbase:Sub>A schematic sectional view ofbase:Sub>A door ofbase:Sub>A home appliance according to another embodiment of the present invention, taken along the linebase:Sub>A-base:Sub>A in fig. 2.

[ detailed description of the invention ]

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a household appliance 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 1, the home appliance 100 includes a main body 101 having a compartment (not shown) and a door 1 to close the compartment.

In fig. 1, a refrigerator is described as an example of the home appliance 100. The compartment may be used to store items to be cooled. The home appliance 100 may include a second door 1' adjacent to the door 1. In various embodiments, the door 1 may be adjacent to the second door 1' in a width direction X (left-right direction) of the home appliance 100 or adjacent in a vertical direction Y.

Referring to fig. 2 in conjunction with fig. 1, the door 1 includes a front surface 10. The front surface 10 may be formed of one or more components. For example, in one embodiment, the door 1 includes a front panel 7 and a strip portion 600 disposed along respective sides of the front panel 7, the front panel 7 and the strip portion 600 each forming a respective portion of the front surface 10 of the door 1.

The bar 600 may have a decorative and/or structural function. For example, the strip 600 can be connected to the door 1 as decorative only, or, for example, the strip 600 can be provided on the door as a structural function of the door 1.

The strip 600 and the front panel 7 may be of different materials and/or colors to highlight the decorative/indicating purpose of the strip 600.

It should be understood that the portion of the front surface 10 located at the front panel 7 and the portion of the strip 600 may comprise a plane and/or a curved surface, respectively, and if both are planar, they may be located at the same plane or at different planes.

The front surface 10 comprises an edge 11 adjacent to the second door 1'. The edge 11 is located at a free end of the front surface 10 and is visible on the front side of the door 1. In one exemplary embodiment, the edge 11 is located at the strip 600.

The door 1 comprises a lighting device 4 and an elongated light exit portion 31 extending along the edge 11. The light emitting portion 31 is for emitting light of the illumination device 4 to the front side of the door 1. The light emergent portion 31 has an elongated strip shape and extends along the edge 11 of the front surface 10. It is contemplated that the lighting device 4 may be made to function as ambience lighting and/or indication lighting, as desired.

In an exemplary embodiment, the door 1 may include functional modules located near the edge 11 for user operation and/or user interaction. The functional module may include at least one of a handle, a display and/or an input unit to open the door. The light exit portion 31 is located near the functional module, for example, the light exit portion 31 may at least partially overlap a projection of such a functional module in the thickness direction Z of the door.

As shown in fig. 2, the length of the light exit portion 31 in the direction along the edge 11 (for example, the X direction) is greater than half the length of the edge 11. The length of the light exit portion 31 may be between half and one time of the dimension of the door 1 in the corresponding direction (e.g., the width of the door in fig. 2). Both ends of the light emergent portion 31 may have a distance from the second edges 13 of the front surface 10 perpendicular to the edge 11, respectively. A letter and/or a pattern may be provided between one end of the light emitting portion 31 and the second edge 13.

As shown in fig. 2, the door 1 may include a side surface 12 facing the second door 1', the side surface 12 being located behind the light exit portion 31 in the thickness direction Z of the door 1. In a direction (vertical direction Y in fig. 1) in which the door 1 is directed to the second door 1', a distance D3 is provided between the edge 11 and the side 12 and the edge 11 is located between the light exit portion 31 and the side 12.

In an exemplary embodiment, the light emitting part 31 is provided at the bar 600 so that light is emitted from the bar 600.

The strip portion 600 may be a metal strip, and the light emergent portion 31 includes a through hole in the metal strip.

In the thickness direction Z of the door 1, a functional module for user operation and/or user interaction is provided between the side surface 12 and the light exit portion 31. The functional module may, for example, comprise at least one of a handle to open the door, a display unit and/or an input unit.

The door 1 may include a handle groove 2 at one side of the door 1 and a grip portion 3 at the front of the handle groove 2. The user's hand may be inserted into the handle slot 2 and operate (e.g., hold or pull) the hand grip 3 to open the door 1.

The handle groove 2 and the grip part 3 may be located at an upper side of the door 1. It will be readily appreciated that the present invention should not be limited thereto, but may be applied to a case where the handle groove 2 and the grip 3 are located at other sides, for example, the handle groove 2 and the grip 3 may be located at the lower side, left side or right side of the door 1.

The edge 11 is at least partially located at the grip portion 3. The light exit portion 31 may be located at least partially in the grip portion 3 and at least partially directly in front of the grip groove 2, whereby the grip portion 3 includes the light exit portion 31 located directly in front of the grip groove 2 to allow light of the illumination device 4 to exit from the front side of the grip portion 3.

Fig. 3 isbase:Sub>A schematic cross-sectional view ofbase:Sub>A door along the linebase:Sub>A-base:Sub>A in fig. 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to fig. 3 in conjunction with fig. 2, the edge 11 may be at least partially located at the end of the grip portion 3. The light exit portion 31 may be located between the entrance 21 of the grip portion 3 and the bottom wall 22 of the handle groove 2 facing the entrance 21, with a distance from the entrance 21 and the bottom wall 22 of the handle groove 2, respectively, in the depth direction D of the handle groove 2. Thus, the light exit portion 31 and the distal end of the hand grip 3 have a distance as viewed from the front of the door 1. The light emitting portion 31 is elongated and extends in the longitudinal direction of the grip 3.

The light exit portion 31 has a distance D1 from the edge 11. The distance D1 between the light exit portion 31 and the edge 11 is larger than the width W of the light exit portion 31.

The distance D1 between the light exit portion 31 and the edge 11 may be between two times and six times the width W of the light exit portion 11.

The distance D3 between the edge 11 and the side 12 may be smaller than the sum of the distance D1 between the light exit portion 31 and the edge 11 and the width W of the light exit portion 31.

As shown in fig. 3, the grip portion 3 includes a receiving cavity 33 for receiving at least a portion of the lighting device 4. The receiving space 33 is located in the handle groove 2 along the projection in the front-rear direction Z of the door 1 and is spaced apart from the bottom wall 22 of the handle groove 2 and the end of the grip 3 in the depth direction D of the handle groove 2. The lighting device 4 may include a bar-shaped member, such as a light guide assembly and/or a light emitting module, located in the receiving cavity 33.

Referring to fig. 4 to 7 in conjunction with fig. 3, the door 1 may have an insulation layer 15 therein. The heat insulating layer 15 may be formed by foaming a foaming agent injected into the heat insulating space 150 of the door 1 in one foaming process.

Accordingly, the door 1 includes a door cover 5 and a handle member 6 coupled to a front side of the door cover 5 to form at least a portion of the grip portion 3. The door cover 5 can be connected to the inner container 16 of the door 1.

The handle member 6 and the front panel 7 each form a respective portion of the front surface 10 of the door 1. In particular, the grip member 6 is provided along one side of the front panel 7, and the receiver 6 forms a strip extending along one side of the front panel 7.

The front panel 7 and the grip element 6 may be of different materials and/or colours, so that the grip element 6 has a decorative effect.

The front panel 7 may comprise glass or ceramic and the grip element 6 may be a light-impermeable metal strip.

The door cover 5 and the handle member 6 can be combined with the insulating layer 15 filled in the door 1 in a foaming process, respectively, so that the handle member 6 is undetachably provided to the door 1, which is advantageous in increasing the strength of the handle member 6 in the door 1 without making it possible to form a part of the grip portion 3 with the door cover 5. In particular, when the grip member 6 is made of metal, it is possible to improve the user experience by making the grip portion 3 at least mostly of metal also at the inner surface facing the grip groove 2.

The door cover 5 may have a step shape, and the bottom wall 22 of the handle groove 2 is located at the door cover 5. The front wall of the handle groove 2 is formed by a handle piece 6, the handle piece 6 being made of metal. This is advantageous to significantly enhance the texture of the door 1.

The handle member 6 may include a connection portion 63 horizontally extending to the inside of the door cover 5 to be connected with the door cover 5. The connecting portion 63 may extend rearwardly against the inner surface of the bottom wall 22. The connecting portion 63 may include a hook 631 to be hooked with the corresponding hook 59 of the door cover 5. This facilitates a precise positioning of the grip element 6 and the door cover 5 before the foaming process of the door 1 and also facilitates an increase of the strength of the grip element 6 on the door 1 after foaming.

The handle member 6 may have a rearwardly opening groove 60, and the front end of the bottom wall 22 of the door cover 5 is inserted into the groove 60.

The grip element 6 may comprise a connecting piece 64 connected to the side of the grip portion 3 adjacent to the front panel 7 and extending into the insulation space 150 for filling the insulation 5. The connecting sheet 64 and the insulating layer 15 are bonded together. With this, the strength of the grip piece 6 can be further enhanced. The connecting piece 64 may be substantially parallel to the front panel 7.

The attachment pieces 64 and the connection portions 63 extending in different directions are respectively fitted to the inner sides of the boundary walls on different parts defining the insulation space 150, which is advantageous not only in enhancing the stability of the assembly of the handle part 6 and other parts before the foaming process of the door 1 but also in enhancing the strength of the handle part 6 on the door 1.

The lighting device 4 may comprise a light guiding assembly 42 and/or a light emitting module 41 located within the grip element 6. The handle member 6 may have a hollow structure to form a receiving cavity 33 for receiving the light guide member 42 and/or the light emitting module 41.

In one embodiment, the grip member 6 may be substantially U-shaped. The handle member 6 may include a front bar 61 extending along a length direction of the door cover 5 and leg portions 62 bent and extending rearward from both ends of the front bar 61. The leg 62 may form part of a second side 13 of the door 1 substantially perpendicular to the side 12. Thus, the front bar 61 and the leg portions 62 decorate the door 1 along the front and both sides of the door cover 5. In one embodiment, the front bar 61 may define at least a portion of a front boundary of the handle slot 2, and the leg portion 62 may define a boundary of at least one end of the handle slot 2 therein.

As shown in fig. 4 and 6, in order to improve the positioning accuracy of the leg portion 62 and the door cover 5 in the longitudinal direction of the front bar 61, a positioning mechanism 55 adapted to be plug-connected in the thickness direction of the door 1 is included between the door cover 5 and the leg portion 62. The positioning mechanism 55 may include a projection 551 on one of the door cover 5 and the leg 62 and a receiver 552 on the other of the door cover 5 and the leg 62.

The end of the front bar 61 along the entrance 21 of the handle slot 2 forms one edge 11 of the front surface 10 of the door 1. The light emitting part 31 is provided on the front bar 61. Thus, the light exit portion 31 and the edge 11 are formed on a member that is opaque and is a single part as viewed from the outer surface thereof.

For example, the component front surface 6a, the component rear surface 6b of the handle member 6, and the component side surface 6c connecting the component front surface 6a and the component rear surface 6b form the outer surface of the door 1, and these surfaces may be seamless between the light exit portion 31 and the end of the handle portion 3. This is advantageous in preventing light from leaking from the door-side end near the edge 11. In addition, when the handle member 6 is made of metal, light and metal color transmitted from the light emitting portion 31 can form a remarkable visual contrast, thereby contributing to improvement of the texture of the door 1.

In one embodiment, the grip member 6 is a metal extrusion. The receiving chamber 33 is directly formed in the extrusion process. The light exiting portion 31 may be formed by milling a through hole 310 in the front cavity wall 330 of the accommodation cavity 33.

The opposite edge of the front opening of the through-hole 310 may include a first slope 312 connecting the front surface of the grip piece 6 and the inner surface of the through-hole 310. The first slope 312 helps prevent the front opening of the through-hole 310 from having a sharp edge.

In addition, the first slope 312 may be provided to have a higher light reflectivity than the front surface of the handle member 6, and the first slope 312 may have a brighter effect than other portions of the through-hole 310 as viewed from the front of the door 1.

The rear opening of the through-opening 310 may have a second inclined surface 315, and an edge of the second inclined surface 315 facing away from the receiving chamber 33 is spaced apart from the receiving chamber 33. The second slope 315 may be performed prior to the process of milling the through hole 310, so that when milling the through hole 310 from the front side of the grip member 6, the possibility of debris entering the accommodation chamber 33 may be reduced due to the presence of the second slope 315.

The handle member 6 may have a hollow structure and have a V-groove 65 exposed to the hollow structure. The V-shaped groove 65 may be formed together when the handle member 6 is extruded. The second slope 315 is a part of the inner wall surface of the V-groove 65. Thus, when the through-hole 310 is manufactured, the possibility of entering of debris into the housing chamber 33 can be reduced due to the V-shaped groove 65.

The lighting means 4 are at least partly located within the grip member 6. Specifically, the handle member 6 includes an accommodating chamber 33 for accommodating at least a part of the lighting device 4, and the handle member 6 includes a through hole 310 opened toward the front of the door 1 and communicating with the accommodating chamber 33 to form the light exit portion 31. In one embodiment, the elongated receiving cavity 33 extends along the length of the handle slot 2.

As shown in fig. 3, the grip portion 3 may include a main body portion 35 and a reduced thickness portion 36 located outside the main body portion 35 in the depth direction of the handle groove 2. The body portion 35 may have a substantially constant thickness. The thickness of the reduced thickness portion 36 in the front-rear direction is smaller than the thickness of the main body portion 35 in the front-rear direction. The thickness reducing portion 36 has an inclined surface on a side facing the handle groove 2 such that the thickness of the thickness reducing portion 36 is smaller as it gets closer to the tip of the grip portion 3.

The thickness reduction portion 36 and the main body portion 35 may be transitioned by a curved surface. The light exit portion 31 may be located at the main body portion 35, and the accommodating cavity 33 is also located at the main body portion 35 to accommodate at least a part of the lighting device 4.

The lighting device 4 may include a strip portion extending along the light exit portion 31 and located within the accommodation chamber 33. The strip-shaped portion may comprise a light guiding assembly and/or a strip-shaped light strip. For example, a light guide assembly and/or a light strip are located within the receiving cavity 33. The accommodating cavity 33 is configured to accommodate and limit the light guide assembly and/or the light emitting module at least in one direction.

Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described with the light guide member 42 as an example of the bar portion.

In one embodiment, the receiving cavity 33 has an insertion opening 331 for receiving the light guide element 42. When the light guide member 42 is installed, the first end 421 of the light guide member 42 is inserted into the accommodating chamber 33, and then is gradually inserted into the accommodating chamber 33 along the length direction thereof.

In some embodiments, the insertion opening may be located at one end of the receiving cavity. In other embodiments, the insertion opening is located between the two ends of the receiving cavity. As shown in fig. 7, the handle member 6 may have a cutout 332 communicating with the accommodating chamber 33 and extending in the length direction of the accommodating chamber 33 on the inner side thereof facing the handle groove. So that even a substantially U-shaped light guiding member 42 of the grip member 6 can be mounted to the receiving cavity 33 via the cut-out 332 with a slight inclination/bending.

The length of the cutout 332 in the length direction along the accommodating chamber 33 may be smaller than the length of the accommodating chamber 33, so that it becomes possible to form at least a section of the accommodating chamber 33 in cross section by a single member.

The cut-out 332 may extend from one end of the receiving cavity 33 toward the other end with a distance from the other end.

The door 1 includes a cover 38 to close the cutout 332. The cover 38 may be at least partially exposed to the handle well 3.

Referring to fig. 3, 5 and 8, the light guide assembly 42 may include a strip-shaped light guide strip 421.

The light guide strip 421 may be made of a colorless and transparent material, such as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or Polycarbonate (PC). The light guide strip 421 may have a smooth surface to guide light by using a total reflection mechanism of light. The total reflection of one side surface is destroyed by laser/hot pressing dotting/sawtooth patterns, so that the light is emitted to a specific direction. In this embodiment, the light can be made to exit toward the front side of the door 1.

Light guide assembly 42 may include a hollow optical sleeve 422. The light guide strip 421 is inserted within the optical sleeve 422. Since the light guide strip 421 may be surrounded by the optical sleeve 422, the likelihood of the light guide strip 421 being scratched by the inner walls of the receiving cavity 33 is significantly reduced.

The optical cover 422 may include a light diffusion portion 423 located at the front side of the light guide strip 421.

The light diffusion part 423 may be made of a scattering material, for example, PC, ABS, PS, PMMA, etc., and the light diffusion part 423 has a low transmittance and a high haze characteristic, and can scatter light to make the light transmitted through the light diffusion part 423 more uniform.

Optical sleeve 422 may include light reflector 424 on the backside of light guide strip 421. The reflection portion 424 is used to enhance the brightness of the light guide assembly 42, so that the light can be emitted toward the front of the door 1.

The light diffusion portion 423 and the light reflection portion 424 are formed of different materials to have different optical characteristics.

The light diffusion portion 423 and the light reflection portion 424 may be presented as a single member by a co-casting process from different materials.

The light guide member 42 may have a plurality of protrusions 425 spaced apart from each other on an inner side facing away from the light exit portion 31. The protrusion 425 protrudes toward the rear cavity wall 333 of the accommodation cavity 33. The protrusion 425 and the light emitting portion 31 are provided in a staggered manner. When mounted in the accommodation chamber 33, the portion of the back side of the light guide member 42 related to the optical effect can be prevented from being scratched by the height difference between the protruding portions 425 and the portion located between the pair of protruding portions 425. The protrusion 425 may be provided to the optical sleeve 422.

The front side of the light guide member 42 may include a pair of end portions 4231 opposite to the front cavity wall 330 of the accommodating cavity 33 provided with the light emergent portion 31 and a depression 4232 between the end portions 4231, the depression 4232 facing the light emergent portion 31. Thus, it is advantageous to prevent the portion exposed to the light exiting portion 31 from damaging the illumination quality due to scratching when the light guide member 42 is inserted into the accommodating chamber 33.

In some embodiments, at least a portion of the illumination device 4 may not be easily or even easily installed into the door 1 or removed from the door 1 after the foaming process of the door 1 due to the limited structure/space of the door 1.

For example, if the handle piece 6 and the insulating layer 15 are combined, the handle piece 6 needs to be assembled with other components before the foaming process of the door 1, and after the door 1 completes the foaming process, the handle piece 6 cannot be detached from the door 1 without damaging the door 1.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 3 and 7, the receiving cavity 33 is configured such that at least a portion of the light guide member 42 can be inserted into the receiving cavity 33 only along the length of the receiving cavity 33, and the light guide member 42 is not easily inserted into the receiving cavity 33 after the components provided with the receiving cavity 33 are fixed and the insulating layer 15 is fixed in the foaming process. If the light guide member 42 is installed after the handle piece 6 is installed to the door cover 5, the door 1 has a portion that may interfere with the light guide member 42 in the vicinity of the entrance of the receiving chamber 33, for example, the space between the door cover 5 and the handle piece 6 is limited to cause the light guide member 42 to be easily damaged.

In some embodiments, the light guide assembly 42 is inserted into the handle member 6 prior to the foaming process of the door 1, and then the handle member 6 and the door cover 5 are assembled and combined with the insulating layer 15 in the foaming process.

In one embodiment, the illumination device 4 includes a support 43 connected to the second end 422 of the light guide assembly 42. The supporting member 43 may include a mounting portion 432 for receiving the light emitting module 41. The mounting portion 432 is accessible from outside the accommodating chamber 33, and the light emitting module 41 including electric devices is detachably mounted to the support member 43.

Accordingly, the light emitting module 41 may be mounted on the support 43 after the light guide assembly 42 and the support 431 are mounted on the door 1, for example, after the foaming process of the door 1. This is advantageous in preventing the electric devices of the light emitting module 41 from being damaged during the foaming process. In this way, even if the light guide member 42 is not easily/non-detachably attached, the light emitting module 41 is possible to be detachable/replaceable.

The support 43 and the light guide member 42 may be fixed in such a manner as not to easily fall off. In one embodiment, the support 43 may have a slot 431 to receive the second end 422 of the light guide assembly 42. The second end 422 of the light guide member 42 is inserted into the slot 431 and is immovably fixed relative to the slot 431, which facilitates the positioning of the light guide member 42 in the receiving cavity 33.

Before mounting the light guide member 42 to the receiving chamber 33, the light guide member 42 and the support member 43 may be pre-assembled, and the pre-assembled member is placed in the receiving chamber 33.

The first end 421 of the light guide member 42 can abut against the end of the accommodating cavity 33, and the support 43 is positioned in the longitudinal direction along the light exit portion 31, so that the light guide member 42 can be restricted from moving in the longitudinal direction along the light exit portion 31.

The support 43 is at least partially out of the receiving cavity 33. In one embodiment, a portion of the support 43 is located inside the receiving cavity 33 and a portion is located outside the receiving cavity 33. The mounting portion 432 may include an inlet located outside the receiving cavity 33.

The door cover 5 may include a mounting cavity 56 that receives the support 43. The mounting cavity 56 may be located between the rear wall and the front wall of the handle slot 2 in the thickness direction of the door 1. Preferably, the mounting cavity 56 is adjacent to and isolated from the handle well 2.

Mounting cavity 56 is at a first opening 561 facing handle piece 6 and at a second opening 562 facing second door 2A. The support 43 enters the mounting chamber 56 through a first opening 561.

The light emitting module 41 may be mounted to the support 43 through the second opening 562. In one embodiment, the light emitting module 41 may be mounted to the support 43 by being carried by the connector 44. The household appliance 100 may comprise a cable 45 protruding through the insulation layer 15 in the door 1, the connector 44 being connected to the cable 45 for supplying power to the light emitting module 41.

As shown in fig. 7, the door 5 may include a positioning portion 57 located in the mounting chamber 56 to position the supporter 43. The lower portion of the support member 43 may be supported on the positioning portion 57, and the end surface of the positioning portion 57 contacting the support member 43 is higher than the bottom wall 22 of the handle groove 2. The positioning part 57 may be configured to limit the support 43 from shaking in a length direction of the light exit part 31.

The door 1 may include a cover 58 to cover the second opening 562 of the mounting cavity 56. The cover 58 may include a cover portion 581 substantially parallel to the side 12 for closing the second opening 562.

The cover 58 may include a connecting wall 582 bent from one end of the covering wall 581 and extending toward the bottom wall 22 of the handle groove 2. The ends of the connecting walls 582 may snap fit with the protrusions 583 on the bottom wall 22. The connecting wall 582 bounds one end of the handle slot 2.

The cover 58 includes a resilient catch 584 extending downward from the other end of the cover wall 581. The elastic hook 584 is snap-fitted into a bayonet 585 of the door cover 5. The bayonet 585 may be covered by a leg 62 extending along a side of the door cover 5.

The light emitting module 41 may include a circuit substrate 411 and a light emitting device 412 integrated on the circuit substrate 411. The light emitting element 411 may be, for example, an LED lamp.

When the light emitting module 41 is located on the supporting member 43, the light emitting element 412 faces one end of the light guide assembly 42. The circuit substrate 411 may be inserted into the connector 44 to be electrically conductively connected with the connector 44.

The support 43 may include a first inlet 433 to receive the connector 44. The light emitting module 41 may be assembled to the connector 44 and then assembled to the support 43 together with the connector 44. Alternatively, the light emitting module 41 may be separately mounted to the support 43 or detached from the support 43 from the connector 44 through the second inlet 434 at the other side.

The first inlet 433 and the second inlet 434 communicate with the receiving part 432, respectively. In the embodiment shown in fig. 8, the first inlet 433 is opened toward the rear of the door 1, the second inlet 434 is opened toward the edge 11 of the door 1, and the light emitting module 41 may be inserted into the receiving part 432 from the second inlet 434 and then moved toward the receiving chamber 33 up to the installation position. The support 43 may include a rotating cover 435 that may open or close the second inlet 434.

In the above embodiment, the light exit portion 31 is located on the grip member 6 formed in combination with the heat insulating layer 15. However, the present invention should not be limited thereto. Fig. 9 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a door according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in fig. 9, the door 1A includes a front panel 7A and a decorative strip portion 6A provided along one side of the front panel 7A. The front panel 7A and the strip portion 6A constitute respective portions of the front surface 10A of the door 1A. The door 1A having the bar-shaped portion 6A may have a similar visual effect as the door 1 shown in fig. 2 when viewed from the front. Therefore, this embodiment is described below in conjunction with fig. 2 and 9.

The front panel 7A and the strip 6A may have different materials and/or colors. For example, the front panel 7A may comprise glass or ceramic, and the strip 6A may be a metal strip that is opaque to light or have a metal coating.

The strip portion 6A is isolated from the insulating layer 15A of the door 1A, and therefore, the strip portion 6A can be attached to the door 1A after the foaming process of the door 1A to form the insulating layer 15A in the door 1A.

The bar portion 6A may be attached to the door cover 5A located behind the bar portion 6A. The strip portion 6A may be attached to the door cover 5A, for example, by means of gluing or snapping.

The front surface 10A of the door 1A has an edge 11A at the strip portion 6A. The elongated light exit portion 31A is located at the strip portion 6A to allow light of the illumination device 4A inside the door 1A to exit from the front side of the door 1A via the light exit portion 31A. The light exit portion 31 and the edge 11A have a spacing and extend parallel to the edge 11A.

The door 1A includes a handle groove 2A and a grip portion 3A located in front of the handle groove 2A. The strip portion 6A may form a part of the gripper portion 3A. In this embodiment, the strength of the hand grip 3A is mainly formed by the door cover 5A.

The door cover 5A has a side surface 12A located behind the handle groove 2A and facing the other door adjacent to the door 1A. The edge 11A is located between the side face 12A and the light exit portion 31A in a direction perpendicular to the edge 11A.

The door 1A has a housing chamber 33A for housing the lighting device 4A, and the housing chamber 33A is located in the door cover 5A. The housing chamber 33A has an entrance opening forward, and the lighting device 4A can be put into the housing chamber 33A from the front. The strip portion 6A may include a through hole communicating with the accommodating chamber 33A to form the light exit portion 31A, through which the light of the illumination device 4A exits.

The bar portion 6A may be attached to the door cover 5A after the lighting device 4A is placed in the accommodation chamber 33A.

The light exit portion 31A and the edge 11A have a distance D1 therebetween in the depth direction D of the handle groove 2A. Both the bottom wall 22A and the entrance 21A of the light exit portion 31A and the handle groove 2A have a space therebetween, respectively. The edge 11A is located between the light exit portion 31A and the side surface 12A.

In the above embodiments, the light emitting portions 31, 31A are disposed on the door in a through hole manner, it should be understood that the present invention may have other embodiments, for example, the light emitting portion may be formed by a slender light-transmitting window of a light-transmitting substrate (e.g., a glass plate).

The various embodiments of the individual components described in connection with fig. 1 to 9 may be combined with each other in any given way to achieve the advantages of the invention. The present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments, and other means than those shown may be used as long as the same effects can be achieved by the means.

Claims (28)

1. A household appliance (100) comprising a door (1, 1a), characterized in that the door comprises a lighting device (4, 4a) and a strip-shaped light exit portion (31, 31A) extending along an edge (11, 11A) of a front surface (10, 10A) of the door for letting out light of the lighting device at a front side of the door, the light exit portion and the edge having a spacing therebetween and the spacing therebetween being larger than a width (W) of the light exit portion.

2. A household appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the length of the light exit portion in a direction along the edge is greater than half the length of the edge; and/or the distance between the light emergent part and the edge is between two times and six times of the width of the light emergent part.

3. An electric household appliance as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the door comprises a single component, the light exit portion and the edge being located in the single component, and a component front surface (6 a), a component rear surface (6 b) and a component side surface (6 c) connecting the component front surface and the component rear surface of the single component forming the outer surface of the door.

4. The household appliance according to claim 1, wherein the door comprises a functional module located near the edge for user operation and/or user interaction, the functional module comprising at least one of a handle slot, a display and/or an input module, and a projection of the light exit portion and the functional module in a thickness direction of the door at least partially overlap.

5. A household appliance according to claim 1, comprising a second door (1') adjacent to the door, the door comprising a side (12, 12A) facing the second door, with a distance between the edge and the side in a direction in which the door points towards the second door and the edge being located between the light exit portion and the side.

6. Household appliance according to claim 5, characterized in that the side face is located behind the light exit section in the thickness direction (Z) of the door and between the side face and the light exit section there is a functional module for user operation and/or user interaction, which functional module comprises at least one of a handle slot, a display and/or an input module.

7. The household appliance according to claim 1, wherein the light exit portion includes a through hole (310) opened toward a front of the door.

8. An electric household appliance as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the door comprises a handle groove (2, 2A) and a grip (3, 3A) adjoining the handle groove, the edge being located at least partly at the grip, the light exit being located at least partly at the grip and at least partly directly in front of the handle groove, the handle groove comprising an entrance opening (21, 21A) and a bottom wall (22, 22A) facing the entrance opening, the light exit being located between the entrance opening and the bottom wall and being spaced from the entrance opening and the bottom wall, respectively, in a depth direction (D) of the handle groove.

9. The household appliance according to claim 8, wherein the light outlet portion is elongated and extends along a length direction of the grip portion.

10. The household appliance according to claim 8, wherein a width of the light emitting portion is smaller than a distance between the light emitting portion and an end surface of the grip portion and smaller than a distance between the light emitting portion and a bottom wall of the handle groove in a depth direction of the handle groove.

11. Household appliance according to claim 8, characterized in that the grip portion comprises a housing chamber (33, 33A) in which a projection in the thickness direction (Z) of the door is located, the housing chamber being located between the entrance and the bottom wall and being spaced from the entrance and the bottom wall, respectively, in the depth direction of the handle groove, the lighting means comprising a light guide assembly (42) and/or a light emitting module (41) located in the housing chamber.

12. The household appliance according to claim 11, wherein the receiving cavity extends along a length direction of the handle slot, the light guide assembly is located in the receiving cavity, and the light emitting module is at least partially located outside the receiving cavity.

13. The household appliance of claim 12, wherein the light module is at least partially located within a mounting cavity (56) spaced from the handle slot, the mounting cavity being adjacent to one end of the handle slot or located within the handle slot.

14. The household appliance according to claim 11, wherein the receiving cavity extends along a length direction of the handle slot, and the light guide assembly or the light emitting module is inserted into the receiving cavity along the length direction of the receiving cavity.

15. An electric household appliance as in claim 11, characterized in that the housing chamber has a cutout (332) facing the handle slot, the grip portion comprising a cover (38) closing the cutout.

16. The domestic appliance of claim 15 wherein said cut-out is disposed along a length of said grip portion.

17. An electric household appliance as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the door comprises a handle member (6) which is combined with a heat insulating layer (15) of the door, the light outlet portion being provided in the handle member.

18. The household appliance of claim 17, wherein the handle piece includes a front bar extending along a front face of the door and a leg portion extending from the front bar to a side face of the door; and/or the lighting device comprises a light guide assembly and/or a light emitting module positioned in the handle piece.

19. The household appliance according to claim 17, wherein the handle member comprises an insulating material bond projecting into an insulating space for filling the insulating layer, the insulating material bond extending in different directions within the insulating space.

20. A household appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the door comprises a front panel (7, 7a) and a strip (600, 6 a) extending along one side of the front panel, the front panel and the strip each forming a respective part of a front surface (10, 10A) of the door, the edge (11, 11A) being located in the strip, the light exit portion being provided in the strip.

21. A household appliance according to claim 20, wherein the strip portion is a metal strip, and the light exit portion comprises a through hole (310) in the metal strip.

22. The household appliance according to claim 20, wherein the strip-shaped portion has a hollow structure and comprises a housing cavity (33), and the lighting means comprise a light guide assembly (42) and/or a light emitting module (41) at least partially located in the housing cavity.

23. Household appliance according to claim 21, wherein said metal strip defines at least part of a front boundary of a handle slot (2).

24. Household appliance according to any of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the lighting means comprise a light guide assembly (42) comprising a hollow optical sleeve (422) and a light guide strip (421) inserted in the optical sleeve.

25. The household appliance according to claim 24, wherein the optical cover comprises a light diffusion portion (423) in front of the light guide bar and a light reflection portion (424) in back of the light guide bar.

26. A household appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the lighting device comprises a light guiding assembly located within the receiving cavity of the door, wherein the light guiding assembly has at least two spaced protrusions (425) on an inner side facing away from the light exit portion, the protrusions (425) protruding towards the rear cavity wall (333) of the receiving cavity (33), the protrusions (425) and the light exit portion (31) being arranged offset.

27. An electric household appliance as in any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the lighting means comprise a light guide member (42) facing said light exit portion, the light guide member being located in an accommodation chamber (33) inside the door, the front side of the light guide member comprising a pair of end portions (4231) opposite a front chamber wall (330) of the accommodation chamber provided with the light exit portion and a recess (4232) located between the end portions, the recess (4232) being opposite the light exit portion.

28. A household appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the lighting device comprises a light guide member (42) and a support member (43) connected to one end of the light guide member, the light guide member being located within a receiving cavity (33) extending along the edge, the support member comprising a mounting portion (432) accessible from outside the receiving cavity, the light emitting module being mounted to the mounting portion (432).

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