Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator which includes a main body having a storage chamber and an evaporator mounted inside the main body. The main body includes an inner case defining the storage chamber, an outer case forming an exterior appearance, and a heat insulator filled between the inner case and the outer case. A reinforcement sheet having a shape corresponding to an outer surface of the inner case is mounted to the outer surface of the inner case adjacent to the evaporator to reinforce the inner case. Accordingly, noise generation due to deformation of the inner case can be minimized. And, the manufacturing process of the main body can be simplified, thereby increasing productivity.

1 . A refrigerator, comprising:
 a main body having a storage chamber and an evaporator mounted inside the main body, the main body including an inner case defining the storage chamber, an outer case forming an exterior appearance, and a heat insulator filled between the inner case and the outer case; and   a reinforcement sheet which comprises a shape corresponding to an outer surface of the inner case and is mounted to the outer surface of the inner case adjacent to the evaporator.   
   
   
       2 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement sheet is made of a material having a higher strength and a lower contraction deformation from a temperature change than a material of the inner case. 
   
   
       3 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcement sheet is made of a material different from the inner case, the material of the reinforcement sheet being acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) resin. 
   
   
       4 . The refrigerator according to  claim 2 , wherein the reinforcement sheet comprises a tensile strength greater than the inner case by approximately 1.5 times or more. 
   
   
       5 . The refrigerator according to  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcement sheet comprises a reinforcement bead. 
   
   
       6 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body comprising a storage chamber and a door hingedly mounted to the main body to access the storage chamber;   an evaporator disposed adjacent to a rear wall of the main body;   an inner case which defines a space of the storage chamber and an outer case which forms an exterior of the storage chamber and a foam heat insulator which fills the space between the outer case and the inner case; and
 a reinforcement sheet which comprises a shape corresponding to an outer surface of the inner case adjacent to the evaporator, and is mounted to the outer surface of the inner case to reinforce a stiffness of the inner case, and to thereby minimize deformation of the inner case. 
   
   
   
       7 . The refrigerator according to  claim 6 , wherein the reinforcement sheet is stuck to the outer surface of the inner case adjacent to the evaporator prior to pouring the foam heat insulator.