Sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator, and a refrigerator having the same

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator, and a refrigerator including the same. The sealing structure includes a refrigerating chamber inner case having a bent, angled or curved portion and a protrusion at one end; a freezer inner case having a bent, angled or curved portion and a protrusion at one end; a central wall which partitions the refrigerating chamber and freezer inner cases; a partition plate having bent, angled or curved portions at sides and/or a front surface thereof, seating grooves configured to receive the protrusions, and flanges at ends and/or a rear surface thereof, at or on a front surface of the central wall; a heat radiating pipe between the refrigerating chamber inner case and the freezer inner case; and a first supporting member on or in the bent, angled or curved portion of the refrigerating chamber inner case.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sealing structure for a central wall for a refrigerator, comprising:
 a refrigerating chamber inner case having a bent, angled or curved portion and a protrusion at one end or side;   a freezer inner case having a bent, angled or curved portion and a protrusion that are formed at one end of the freezer inner case;   a central wall which partitions the refrigerating chamber inner case and the freezer inner case;   a partition plate which has bent, angled or curved portions at sides and/or a front surface thereof, seating grooves configured to receive the protrusion of the refrigerating chamber inner case and the protrusion of the freezer inner case, and flanges at ends and/or a rear surface of the partition plate;   a heat radiating pipe between the refrigerating chamber inner case and the freezer inner case; and   a first supporting member on or in the bent, angled or curved portion of the refrigerating chamber inner case.   
     
     
         2 . The sealing structure of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerating chamber inner case forms one inner side or compartment of the refrigerator, and the freezer inner case forms another inner side or compartment of the refrigerator. 
     
     
         3 . The sealing structure of  claim 1 , wherein the partition plate is at or on a front surface of the central wall. 
     
     
         4 . The sealing structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first supporting member contacts one side surface of the flange, side surfaces of the bent, angled or curved portion of the refrigerating chamber inner case. 
     
     
         5 . The sealing structure of  claim 4 , wherein the first supporting member is supported at four points. 
     
     
         6 . The sealing structure of  claim 4 , further comprising a second supporting member in the bent, angled or curved portion of the freezer inner case. 
     
     
         7 . The sealing structure of  claim 6 , wherein the second supporting member contacts one side surface of the flange, and side surfaces of the bent, angled or curved portion of the freezer inner case. 
     
     
         8 . The sealing structure of  claim 7 , wherein the second supporting member is supported at four points. 
     
     
         9 . The sealing structure of  claim 4 , wherein the first supporting member extends up to about one-third of the way from an upper end to a lower end of the refrigerator. 
     
     
         10 . The sealing structure of  claim 4 , wherein the first supporting member extends from the upper end to the lower end of the refrigerator. 
     
     
         11 . The sealing structure of  claim 7 , wherein the second supporting member extends up to about one-third of the way from the upper end to the lower end of the refrigerator. 
     
     
         12 . The sealing structure of  claim 7 , wherein the second supporting member extends from the upper end to the lower end of the refrigerator. 
     
     
         13 . The sealing structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first supporting member comprises a material having a predetermined minimum stiffness. 
     
     
         14 . The sealing structure of  claim 6 , wherein the second supporting member comprises a material having a predetermined minimum stiffness. 
     
     
         15 . The sealing structure of  claim 1 , wherein the refrigerating chamber inner case has a thickness of from 0.6 to 1.0 units, the freezer inner case has a thickness of from 0.8 to 1.2 units, the bent, angled or curved portion of the refrigerating chamber inner case has a thickness of from 2.0 to 2.75 units, the bent, angled or curved portion of the freezer inner case has a thickness of from 2.5 to 3.5 units, the thickness of the freezer inner case is greater than the thickness of the refrigerating chamber inner case, and the thickness of the bent, angled or curved portion of the freezer inner case is greater than the thickness of the bent, angled or curved portion of the refrigerating chamber inner case. 
     
     
         16 . A refrigerator comprising the sealing structure as set forth in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , comprising a side by side type refrigerator. 
     
     
         18 . The refrigerator of  claim 16 , wherein the bent, angled or curved portion of the refrigerating chamber inner case has a thickness of from 2.0 to 2.75 units, the bent, angled or curved portion of the freezer inner case has a thickness of from 2.5 to 3.5 units, and the thickness of the bent, angled or curved portion of the freezer inner case is greater than the thickness of the bent, angled or curved portion of the refrigerating chamber inner case. 
     
     
         19 . The refrigerator of  claim 18 , wherein the refrigerating chamber inner case has a thickness of from 0.6 to 1.0, the freezer inner case has a thickness of from 0.8 to 1.2 units, and the thickness of the freezer inner case is greater than the thickness of the refrigerating chamber inner case.