US 12,235,036 B2
Panel assembly for a home appliance and home appliance therewith
Jaesung Park, Seoul (KR); Hyesun Jung, Seoul (KR); Doyoun Han, Seoul (KR); and Seongmin Song, Seoul (KR)
Assigned to LG Electronics Inc., Seoul (KR)
Filed by LG Electronics Inc., Seoul (KR)
Filed on Jul. 13, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/863,821.
Claims priority of application No. 10-2021-0091825 (KR), filed on Jul. 13, 2021; application No. 10-2021-0091832 (KR), filed on Jul. 13, 2021; and application No. 10-2021-0091835 (KR), filed on Jul. 13, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0018403 A1, Jan. 19, 2023
Int. Cl. F25D 23/02 (2006.01); F25D 27/00 (2006.01)
CPC F25D 23/028 (2013.01) [F25D 27/00 (2013.01); F25D 2327/001 (2013.01); F25D 2400/18 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
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 a door body that accommodates an insulator and a panel assembly disposed on the door body,
wherein the panel assembly comprises:
a lighting device configured to emit light,
a panel that defines a front surface of the door and is configured to transmit the light emitted from the lighting device,
a light guide plate disposed rearward relative to the panel and configured to guide the light emitted from the lighting device toward the panel, and
a member that is made of a material configured to transmit the light and that is disposed between the panel and the light guide plate, the member partitioning a space between a rear surface of the panel and a front surface of the light guide plate and being configured to transmit the light from the light guide plate to the panel.