Refrigerator and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A refrigerator may include an insulation panel including an inner shell, an outer shell, and insulation between the inner shell and the outer shell, wherein the insulation panel has a cutout portion forming a cutout groove in the insulation panel, and the insulation panel is folded about the cutout groove so that the insulation panel forms a main wall; a rear wall coupled to a rear side of the main wall, so that the rear wall and the main wall together form a main body having a storage room; a door to open and close the storage room; and an evaporator to cool the storage room.

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 an insulation panel including an inner shell, an outer shell, and insulation between the inner shell and the outer shell, wherein the insulation panel has a cutout portion forming a cutout groove in the insulation panel, and the insulation panel is folded about the cutout groove so that the insulation panel forms a main wall;   a rear wall coupled to a rear side of the main wall, so that the rear wall and the main wall together form a main body having a storage room;   a door to open and close the storage room; and   an evaporator to cool the storage room.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the cutout groove is formed through a portion of the inner shell and a portion of the insulation. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein insulation between the inner shell and the outer shell of a first portion of the insulation panel and insulation between the inner shell and the outer shell of a second portion of the insulation panel that are folded about the cutout groove are bonded together. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the inner shell of a first portion of the insulation panel and the inner shell of a second portion of the insulation panel that are folded about the cutout groove are bonded together. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell of a first portion of the insulation panel and the outer shell of a second portion of the insulation panel that are folded about the cutout groove are integrally formed. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein a first cut surface of a first portion of the insulation panel forms a first portion of the cutout groove and a second cut surface of a second portion of the insulation panel forms a second portion of the cutout groove, and the first portion and the second portion are folded about the cutout groove. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 6 , wherein
 the first cut surface includes:
 a first inner shell cut surface on the inner shell of the first portion of the insulation panel, and 
 a first insulation cut surface on the insulation between the inner shell and the outer shell of the first portion of the insulation panel, and the second cut surface includes: 
 a second inner shell cut surface on the inner shell of the second portion of the insulation panel, and 
 a second insulation cut surface on the insulation between the inner shell and the outer shell of the second portion of the insulation panel, the first inner shell cut surface and the second inner shell cut surface are bonded, and 
   the first insulation cut surface and the second insulation cut surface are bonded.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 the outer shell includes:
 a side portion forming at least one of an upper side, a lower side, a left side, and a right side of the main body, 
 a front portion forming at least a portion of a front edge of the main body, and 
 a rear portion coupled to the rear wall. 
   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the outer shell is formed of a metallic material, and the inner shell is formed of a non-woven material. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the insulation is a polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprises:
 a liner coupled to an inner side of the folded insulation panel and formed of a resin material.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein each of the outer shell and the inner shell are formed of a metallic material. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein a guide coupling hole is formed in the inner shell so that a shelf guide for supporting a shelf is couplable to the inner shell by the guide coupling hole. 
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a machine room unit coupled to a lower side of the main body and including a compressor and a condenser.   
     
     
         15 . The refrigerator of  claim 14 , wherein a refrigerant pipe connecting the machine room unit and the evaporator is on the rear wall.