Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet having a storage space, and a door configured to open and close the storage space, in which the door includes a frame assembly configured to open and close the storage space, and a panel assembly detachably coupled to the frame assembly and configured to form a front outer appearance of the door, the frame assembly includes an upper extension part extending forward and a first coupling part provided on the upper extension part, the panel assembly includes a front panel, and an upper bracket coupled to a rear upper part of the front panel and having a second coupling part coupled to the first coupling part, and the panel assembly moves upward in a state where the second coupling part of the panel assembly is positioned below the first coupling part, so that the second coupling part is coupled to the first coupling part.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 a cabinet that defines a storage space; and   a door configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage space, the door comprising:
 an upper frame portion that protrudes toward a front of the refrigerator, 
 a lower frame portion that protrudes toward the front of the refrigerator, and 
 a panel that is configured to be detachably coupled to the upper and lower frame portions and that defines an outer appearance of the door, the panel being made from metal and including (i) an upper bent portion that is bent rearward and defines an upper surface of the panel and (ii) a lower bent portion that is bent rearward and defines a lower surface of the panel, 
   wherein the upper frame portion is (i) configured, based on the panel being coupled to the upper frame portion, to cover at least a portion of the upper surface of the panel and (ii) includes a coupling protrusion that extends downward,   wherein the upper surface of the panel defines one or more upper panel openings configured to receive the coupling protrusion to thereby couple the upper bent portion to the upper frame portion,   wherein the lower frame portion is (i) configured, based on the panel being coupled to the lower frame portion, to cover at least a portion of the lower surface of the panel and (ii) defines a coupling hole configured to receive a fastening member, and   wherein the lower surface of the panel defines one or more lower panel openings configured to receive the fastening member to thereby couple the lower bent portion to the lower frame portion.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the panel is configured to be coupled to the upper and lower frame portions by sequentially (i) inserting the coupling protrusion into the one or more upper panel openings, (ii) rotating the panel toward the lower frame portion, and (iii) aligning the one or more lower panel openings with the coupling hole of the lower frame portion. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the panel is configured to become coupled to the upper frame portion at a predetermined angle before being rotated toward the lower frame portion. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the panel is configured to rotate toward the lower frame portion about the inserted coupling protrusion. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the upper frame portion is configured, based on the panel being coupled to the upper frame portion, to contact the upper surface of the panel. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the lower frame portion is configured, based on the panel being coupled to the lower frame portion, to contact the lower surface of the panel. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling protrusion of the upper frame portion is configured, based on the panel being coupled to the upper frame portion, to extend through the upper bent portion in a downward direction. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling hole of the lower frame portion is configured, based on the panel being coupled to the lower frame portion, to receive the fastening member that extends through the lower bent portion in an upward direction. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the lower frame portion defines a cavity that is recessed in the rearward direction, the cavity being configured to receive at least a portion of the lower bent portion of the panel. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the panel includes a pair of side extension parts that are bent rearward to extend in the rearward direction. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling protrusion of the upper frame portion includes a plurality of coupling protrusions, and wherein the one or more upper panel openings include a plurality of upper panel openings that are configured to correspondingly receive the plurality of coupling protrusions. 
     
     
         12 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the coupling hole of the lower frame portion includes a plurality of coupling holes, and wherein the one or more lower panel openings include a plurality of lower panel openings that are configured to correspondingly align with the plurality of coupling holes to thereby receive a plurality of fastening members. 
     
     
         13 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the upper bent portion includes:
 a first upper extension part that extends a first upper extension length in the rearward direction;   a second upper extension part that extends a second upper extension length in the rearward direction, the one or more upper panel openings being defined at the second upper extension part and the second upper extension length being greater than the first upper extension length; and   a third upper extension part that is positioned between the first upper extension part and the second upper extension part and that extends a third upper extension length in the rearward direction, the third upper extension length being greater than the first upper extension length and less than the second upper extension length.   
     
     
         14 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the lower bent portion includes:
 a first lower extension part having a first lower extension length in the rearward direction;   a second lower extension part having a second lower extension length in the rearward direction, the second lower extension length being greater than the first lower extension length, and the one or more lower panel openings being defined at the second lower extension part; and   a third lower extension part having a third lower extension length in the rearward direction, the third lower extension length being different from the first lower extension length and the second lower extension length.   
     
     
         15 . A door for an appliance, comprising:
 an upper frame including an upper coupling protrusion that extends in a downward direction;   a lower frame including a lower coupling protrusion that extends in an upward direction; and   a panel that is configured to be detachably coupled to the upper and lower frames to thereby define a front surface of the door, the panel being made from metal and including:
 (i) an upper extension part that defines an upper surface of the panel and that extends rearward away from the front surface of the door, 
 (ii) a lower extension part that defines a lower surface of the panel and that extends rearward away from the front surface of the door, and 
 (iii) a pair of side extension parts that are provided between the upper and lower extension parts and that extend rearward, 
   wherein the upper frame is configured, based on the upper extension part being coupled to the upper frame, to cover at least a portion of the upper surface of the panel,   wherein the upper surface of the panel defines one or more upper panel openings configured to receive the upper coupling protrusion to thereby couple the upper extension part to the upper frame,   wherein the lower frame is configured, based on the lower extension part being coupled to the lower frame, to cover at least a portion of the lower surface of the panel,   wherein the lower surface of the panel defines one or more lower panel openings configured to receive the lower coupling protrusion to thereby couple the lower extension part to the lower frame, and   wherein the upper extension part includes:
 a first upper extension part that extends a first upper extension length in a rearward direction, 
 a second upper extension part that extends a second upper extension length in the rearward direction, the one or more upper panel openings being defined at the second upper extension part and the second upper extension length being greater than the first upper extension length, and 
 a third upper extension part that is positioned between the first upper extension part and the second upper extension part and that extends a third upper extension length in the rearward direction, the third upper extension length being greater than the first upper extension length and less than the second upper extension length. 
   
     
     
         16 . The door of  claim 15 , wherein the lower coupling protrusion is a removable fastening member, and wherein the lower frame defines a coupling hole configured to receive the fastening member to thereby couple the lower extension part to the lower frame. 
     
     
         17 . The door of  claim 16 , wherein the panel is configured, based on the upper coupling protrusion being inserted into the one or more upper panel openings, to be rotated toward the lower frame to thereby align the one or more lower panel openings with the coupling hole of the lower frame, and/or
 wherein the coupling hole is configured, based on the panel being coupled to the lower frame, to receive the fastening member that extends through the lower extension part in the upward direction.   
     
     
         18 . The door of  claim 15 , wherein the upper coupling protrusion is configured, based on the panel being coupled to the upper frame, to extend through the upper extension part in the downward direction. 
     
     
         19 . A door for an appliance, comprising:
 an upper frame including an upper coupling protrusion that extends in a downward direction;   a lower frame including a lower coupling protrusion that extends in an upward direction; and   a panel that is configured to be detachably coupled to the upper and lower frames to thereby define a front surface of the door, the panel being made from metal and including:
 (i) an upper extension part that defines an upper surface of the panel and that extends rearward away from the front surface of the door, and 
 (ii) a lower extension part that defines a lower surface of the panel and that extends rearward away from the front surface of the door, 
   wherein the upper frame is configured, based on the upper extension part being coupled to the upper frame, to cover at least a portion of the upper surface of the panel,   wherein the upper surface of the panel defines one or more upper panel openings configured to receive the upper coupling protrusion to thereby couple the upper extension part to the upper frame,   wherein the lower frame is configured, based on the lower extension part being coupled to the lower frame, to cover at least a portion of the lower surface of the panel,   wherein the lower surface of the panel defines one or more lower panel openings configured to receive the lower coupling protrusion to thereby couple the lower extension part to the lower frame, and   wherein the lower frame defines a cavity that is recessed in a rearward direction, the cavity being configured to receive at least a portion of the lower extension part of the panel.   
     
     
         20 . The door of  claim 19 , wherein the lower extension part includes
 a first lower extension part having a first lower extension length in the rearward direction;   a second lower extension part having a second lower extension length in the rearward direction, the second lower extension length being greater than the first lower extension length, and the one or more lower panel openings being defined at the second lower extension part; and   a third lower extension part having a third lower extension length in the rearward direction, the third lower extension length being different from the first lower extension length and the second lower extension length.