Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator including a main body formed by an assembly of a plurality of insulation panels; a storage space in the main body; a door to open and close the storage space; and a cooling device to supply cold air to the storage space, wherein the plurality of insulation panels includes a first insulation panel coupled to a second insulation panel, the first insulation panel includes an inner case coupled to an outer case to thereby form an insulating space between the inner case and the outer case, and insulation in the insulating space, the inner case includes a space forming portion defining one side of the storage space, and a contact portion offset from the space forming portion and contacting an outer surface of the second insulation panel, and the contact portion includes an opening to reduce heat transfer between the first insulation panel and the second insulation panel.

1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a main body formed by an assembly of a plurality of insulation panels;   a storage space in the main body;   a door to open and close the storage space; and   a cooling device to supply cold air to the storage space,   wherein the plurality of insulation panels includes a first insulation panel and a second insulation panel coupled to the first insulation panel,   the first insulation panel includes:
 an inner case, 
 an outer case coupled to the inner case to thereby form an insulating space between the inner case and the outer case, and 
 an insulation in the insulating space, 
   the inner case includes:
 a space forming portion defining one side of the storage space, and 
 a contact portion offset from the space forming portion and contacting an outer surface of the second insulation panel, and 
   the contact portion includes at least one opening to reduce heat transfer through the contact portion between the first insulation panel and the second insulation panel.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 the contact portion includes a horizontal contact portion extending from the space forming portion in a horizontal direction, and a vertical contact portion extending from the horizontal contact portion in a vertical direction.   
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 the insulation of the first insulation panel is exposed through the at least one opening.   
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 the inner case includes a resin material.   
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 the insulation includes urethane foam.   
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 the inner case is a molded member, and   the at least one opening is formed integrally with the inner case.   
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one opening is a cutout portion of the inner case.   
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 the inner case includes a coupling portion coupled to the second insulation panel.   
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 8 , wherein
 the coupling portion includes a coupling protrusion that is inserted into the second insulation panel.   
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein
 the coupling protrusion protrudes to be coplanar with the space forming portion.   
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 9 , wherein
 the coupling portion includes a hook coupling portion on the coupling protrusion to be hook-coupled to the second insulation panel.   
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein
 the inner case includes a reinforcing rib protruding from an edge of the at least one opening of the contact portion to increase a rigidity of the first insulation panel.   
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein
 the contact portion includes a contact surface on a first side to contact the second insulation panel, and an opposing surface on a second side opposite the first side, and   the reinforcing rib protrudes from the opposing surface.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 12 , wherein
 the at least one opening has a quadrangular shape, and   the reinforcing rib includes:
 a first horizontal reinforcement portion protruding from an upper edge of the at least one opening, 
 a second horizontal reinforcement portion protruding from a lower edge of the at least one opening, 
 a first vertical reinforcement portion protruding from a first side edge of the at least one opening, and 
 a second vertical reinforcement portion protruding from a second side edge of the at least one opening.