Frame of a wall-embedded refrigerator

Abstract

A frame of a wall-embedded refrigerator capable of providing a good appearance while simplifying its assembly process. The disclosed frame includes an outer case having a pair of side plates respectively forming opposite outer side surfaces, and a rear plate forming an outer rear surface, a pair of inner cases received in the outer case while being spaced apart from an inner surface of the outer case by a desired distance, the inner cases defining freezing and refrigerating chambers, respectively, and a cabinet flange to cover front surfaces of the outer and inner cases, and a front surface of a partition wall formed between the freezing and refrigerating chambers. The inner cases and the cabinet flange are integrally formed as an integrated inner case. The frame simplifies the assembly process, thereby achieving an improvement in productivity, a reduction in manufacturing costs, and a good refrigerator appearance.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A frame of a refrigerator embedded in a recessed wall, the frame comprising: 
 an outer case having a pair of side plates respectively forming opposite outer side surfaces, and a rear plate forming an outer rear surface;    a pair of inner cases received in the outer case while being spaced apart from an inner surface of the outer case by a desired distance, the inner cases being separated by a partition wall and defining freezing and refrigerating chambers, respectively; and    a front surface section to cover front surfaces of the outer and inner cases, and a front surface of the partition wall formed between the freezing and refrigerating chambers,    wherein the inner cases and the front surface section are integrally formed as an integrated inner case.    
     
     
         2 . The frame according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 extensions provided at respective front ends of the side plates of the outer case each extending from an associated one of the front ends toward the integral inner case while being bent, thereby maintaining a desired space between the extension and a front surface of the integral inner case such that the space receives at least one hot pipe to prevent a dewing phenomenon from occurring at a front end of the wall-embedded refrigerator.    
     
     
         3 . The frame according to  claim 2 , further comprising at least one magnet provided in the space to magnetically couple a magnet-attached door of the wall-embedded refrigerator to the front surface of the integrated inner case.  
     
     
         4 . The frame according to  claim 3 , further comprising a seal member provided in the space to sealably isolate the hot pipe and the magnet from the integrated inner case, thereby preventing urethane from being leaked from the space when the urethane is foamed in the space.  
     
     
         5 . The frame according to  claim 3 , further comprising: 
 a cabinet chassis to finish a front surface edge of the outer case and a front surface edge of the integrated inner case; and    a fixing unit to fix the cabinet chassis to the outer case.    
     
     
         6 . The frame according to  claim 5 , further comprising a bent portion provided at a front end of the cabinet chassis extending toward the front end of the wall-embedded refrigerator while being bent toward the wall, and adapted to hide a gap defined between the outer case and the wall.  
     
     
         7 . The frame according to  claim 5 , wherein the fixing unit comprises set screws.  
     
     
         8 . The frame according to  claim 5 , further comprising a support rim provided at the cabinet chassis to support the front surface edge of the integrated inner case.  
     
     
         9 . The frame according to  claim 1 , wherein the partition wall formed between the freezing and refrigerating chambers in the integrated inner case defines a space to receive at least one hot pipe to prevent a dewing phenomenon from occurring at a front end of the wall-embedded refrigerator, and at least one magnet to magnetically couple a magnet-attached door of the wall-embedded refrigerator to a front surface of the integrated inner case.  
     
     
         10 . The frame according to  claim 9 , further comprising a support member arranged in the space defined by the partition wall while being fixedly mounted to the outer case to make the hot pipe and the magnet be in dose contact with the front surface of the integrated inner case.  
     
     
         11 . A frame of a refrigerator to be embedded within a recessed wall, comprising: 
 an outer case;    an inner case received in the outer case and separated by a partition wall into a freezing chamber and a refrigerating chamber; and    a cabinet chassis to finish the front surface edges of the outer and inner cases.    
     
     
         12 . The frame according to  claim 11 , wherein the outer case further comprises: 
 a pair of side plates forming opposite outer side surfaces;    a rear plate forming an outer rear surface; and    a top plate forming an outer top surface;    a bottom plate forming an outer bottom surface.    
     
     
         13 . The frame according to  claim 12 , further comprising extensions provided at a front end of each side plate toward the inner case and having a double-bent structure to extend back toward the rear plate.  
     
     
         14 . The frame according to  claim 13 , wherein the inner case further comprises front surfaces to cover the respective extensions.  
     
     
         15 . The frame according to  claim 14 , further comprising urethane foamed between the outer case and the inner case.  
     
     
         16 . The frame according to  claim 14 , further comprising a pair of magnets and a hot pipe fitted between each extension and a respective covering inner case front surface such that the pair of magnets and hot pipe are surrounded by an extension, an inner front surface and a side of the cabinet chassis.  
     
     
         17 . The frame according to  claim 11 , wherein the inner case has an integrated structure.