Refrigerator

Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet, in which a storage space is defined, and a door configured to open and close the storage space. The door includes a door body and a panel assembly mounted in front of the door body. The panel assembly includes a lighting device configured to irradiate light, a panel which is configured to define a front surface of the door and through which light is transmitted, a light guide plate provided behind the panel to guide the light irradiated from the lighting device to the panel, and an upper bracket provided above the panel to define a top surface of the panel assembly. The light guide plate extends more upward than an upper end of the panel, and an extending upper end of the light guide plate is accommodated in the upper bracket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A panel assembly comprising:
 a panel that defines a front surface of the panel assembly and is made of a transparent material;   an upper bracket that defines an upper surface of the panel assembly;   a lower bracket that defines a lower surface of the panel assembly;   a back cover that defines a rear surface of the panel assembly, the back cover being coupled to the upper bracket and the lower bracket by one or more fasteners;   a mounting member that defines a side surface of the panel assembly and is coupled to the panel by an adhesive;   a lighting device disposed at the lower bracket and configured to emit light; and   a light guide plate disposed between the mounting member and the back cover and configured to guide the light emitted from the lighting device to the panel,   wherein an upper end of the light guide plate extends upward relative to an upper end of the panel, and   wherein the upper bracket defines a groove that accommodates the upper end of the light guide plate.   
     
     
         2 . The panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper bracket comprises:
 an upper bracket extension portion that is disposed at a rear surface of the upper end of the light guide plate; and   an upper protrusion that protrudes rearward from the upper bracket extension portion.   
     
     
         3 . The panel assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the upper bracket further comprises an upper bracket top surface portion that is disposed at an upper end of the upper bracket extension portion and that defines a top surface of the panel assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The panel assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the upper bracket top surface portion comprises:
 a horizontal portion that extends forward from the upper end of the upper bracket extension portion and is disposed in parallel to the light guide plate; and   an inclined portion that extends from a front end of the horizontal portion and is inclined downward as the inclined portion extends forward from the horizontal portion,   wherein a front end of the inclined portion is in contact with the upper end of the panel and covers the upper end of the panel such that the upper end of the panel is not exposed to an outside of the panel assembly.   
     
     
         5 . The panel assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the upper bracket comprises further a bracket protrusion that protrudes forward from a front end of the upper bracket top surface portion, and
 wherein the groove is defined by the upper bracket extension portion, the upper bracket top surface portion, and the bracket protrusion.   
     
     
         6 . The panel assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the upper bracket further comprises a cover supporter that protrudes rearward from a rear surface of the upper bracket extension portion, the cover supporter being configured to support an upper end of the back cover. 
     
     
         7 . The panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper bracket comprises a bracket protrusion that protrudes forward from a front end of the upper bracket, and
 wherein at least a portion of the bracket protrusion extends downward, and a lower end of the bracket protrusion is disposed below the upper end of the light guide plate.   
     
     
         8 . The panel assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the bracket protrusion extends toward the upper end of the panel and covers a front side of the upper end of the light guide plate. 
     
     
         9 . The panel assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a reflective layer disposed at a rear surface of the light guide plate and configured to direct light forward within the light guide plate. 
     
     
         10 . The panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the groove of the upper bracket comprises:
 a light guide plate accommodation portion that receives the upper end of the light guide plate; and   a mounting member accommodation portion that is provided forward relative to the light guide plate accommodation portion and receives an upper end of the mounting member.   
     
     
         11 . The panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the groove of the upper bracket is recessed upward relative to a front end of a bottom surface of the upper bracket. 
     
     
         12 . The panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the mounting member comprises:
 a front surface portion having a plate shape; and   a side surface portion that protrudes rearward from each of a right end and a left end of the front surface portion.   
     
     
         13 . The panel assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the side surface portion defines a bracket insertion space that receives a side portion of each of the upper bracket and the lower bracket. 
     
     
         14 . The panel assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the side surface portion defines a light guide plate insertion space that receives a side portion of the light guide plate. 
     
     
         15 . The panel assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein a lower end of the light guide plate is configured to face the lighting device based on the light guide plate being inserted into the light guide plate insertion space. 
     
     
         16 . The panel assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein a front surface of the light guide plate is in contact with a rear surface of the front surface portion. 
     
     
         17 . The panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fasteners comprise at least one screw. 
     
     
         18 . The panel assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the adhesive is made of a transparent material. 
     
     
         19 . The panel assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a light diffusing agent applied to the mounting member. 
     
     
         20 . The panel assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a light supporter disposed at the lower bracket and configured to support the lighting device.