Resin molded product, damper device and manufacturing method for resin molded product

Abstract

A resin molded product may include a first wall part, a second wall part integrally molded with the first wall part such that the second wall part is extended from the first wall part in a direction crossing the first wall part, and a plate-shaped rib which is formed at a tip end portion of the second wall part and is perpendicularly protruded from a face of the second wall part on a side of the first wall part. The rib is formed in a part in a widthwise direction of the second wall part. The rib may be formed at both end portions in the widthwise direction of the second wall part. The resin molded product may be used as a frame for a damper device in a refrigerator.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary, not limiting, and wherein like elements are numbered alike in several Figures, in which:

FIGS. 1(A) through 1(C) are respectively explanatory views showing a basic structure of a damper device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2(A) is a front view showing a frame which is used in a damper device in accordance with an embodiment, FIG. 2(B) is its rear view, FIG. 2(C) is its plan view in which a part of the frame is cut out, and FIG. 2(D) is its left side view.

FIG. 3(A) is a front view showing a frame 4 which is used in a damper device in accordance with an embodiment, FIG. 3(B) is its plan view, and FIG. 3(C) is its bottom view in which a part of the frame is cut out.

FIG. 4(A) is a perspective view showing a frame which is used in a damper device in accordance with an embodiment in which a part of the frame is cut out, and FIG. 4(B) is an explanatory view showing a manufacturing method for the frame.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a frame which is used in a conventional damper device in which a part of the frame is cut out.

FIG. 6(A) is a perspective view showing another frame 4 which is used in a conventional damper device in which a part of the frame is cut out, and FIG. 6(B) is an explanatory view showing a manufacturing method for the frame.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description below, portions common to the damper device described with reference to FIG. 5 and FIGS. 6(A) and 6(B) are shown and described by using the same notational symbols such that their corresponding relationships are easily understood.

FIGS. 1(A) through 1(C) are respectively explanatory views showing a basic structure of a damper device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1(A) shows a state that baffles open all three openings of partition walls, and FIGS. 1(B) and 1(C) show states that the baffles close one or two of three openings of the partition walls.

A damper device 1 shown in FIG. 1(A) is a device for controlling supply of cold air to a plurality of storage chambers in a refrigerator. The damper device 1 includes a frame 4, which is provided with a first partition wall 41 (first wall part) and a second partition wall 42 (second wall part) extended from an end part of the first partition wall 41 in a direction of an angle of 90° with respect to the first partition wall 41, and a first baffle 11 which is turned around a crossing part of the first partition wall 41 and the second with partition wall 42 between the first partition wall 41 and the second partition wall 42 for selectively opening or closing a first opening 31 formed in the first partition wall 41 and a second opening 32 formed in the second partition wall 42.

The frame 4 of the damper device 1 in this embodiment further includes a third partition wall 43 (third wall part), which is extended from the crossing part of the first partition wall 41 and the second with partition wall 42 in an opposite direction to the first partition wall 41, and a second baffle 11 which is turned around a crossing part of the second partition wall 42 and the third partition wall 43 between the second partition wall 42 and the third partition wall 43 for selectively opening or closing the second opening 32 formed in the second partition wall 42 and a third opening 33 formed in the third partition wall 43. In accordance with this embodiment, the first baffle 11 and the second baffle 12 are disposed at an angle of 90° (90 degrees) and are driven by a common drive device (not shown) in an integral manner.

In the damper device 1 described above, as shown in FIG. 1(A), cold air is supplied from a cold air supply passage as shown by the arrow “C0”, and a first flow path in which the cold air passes through the first opening 31 and the third opening 33 as shown by the arrow “C1” is structured and a second flow path in which the cold air passes through the second opening 32 as shown by the arrow “C2” is structured. In this embodiment, when the positions of the first baffle 11 and the second baffle 12 are changed by a drive device as shown in FIG. 1(B), the second opening 32 is closed by the first baffle 11 and the second baffle 12 and thus the first flow path “C1” shown in FIG. 1(A) is formed. In addition, when the positions of the first baffle 11 and the second baffle 12 are changed by the drive device as shown in FIG. 1(C), the first opening 31 is closed by the first baffle 11 and the third opening 33 is closed by the second baffle 12 and thus the second flow path “C2” shown in FIG. 1(A) is formed.

FIG. 2(A) is a front view showing the damper device 1 to which the present invention is applied and which is viewed from a side where the second partition wall is extended, FIG. 2(B) is its rear view, FIG. 2(C) is its plan view in which a part of a frame is cut out, and FIG. 2(D) is its left side view. In FIGS. 2(A) and 2(B), the baffles 11 and 12 are at positions shown in FIG. 1(C) and, in FIG. 2(C), the baffles 11 and 12 are at positions shown in FIG. 1(A). FIG. 3(A) is a front view showing the frame 4 which is used in a damper device 1 to which the present invention is applied, FIG. 3(B) is its plan view, and FIG. 3(C) is its bottom view in which a part of the frame is cut out.

As shown in FIGS. 2(A) through 2(D) and FIGS. 3(A) through 3(C), in the damper device 1 in accordance with this embodiment, a case 2 is fixed on a rectangular support plate part 45 which is extended backward from an upper face of the frame 4 by utilizing shaft parts 48, and the drive device (not shown) is provided within the case 2.

The frame 4 is a resin molded product which is structured of the first partition wall 41, the second partition wall 42 and the third partition wall 43 which are integrally formed in a “T” shape. A tubular frame-shaped projection 40 (first projection) for reinforcing the frame 4 is protruded on a side of the second partition wall 42 from an outer peripheral edge part of a main body portion comprised of the first partition wall 41 and the third partition wall 43. Further, the first opening 31 and the second opening 32 are surrounded by square-cylindrical frame-shaped projections 411 and 431 (second projection) on the front side of the first partition wall 41 and the third partition wall 43 (the second partition wall 42 side). In addition, the first opening 31 and the second opening 32 are surrounded by square-cylindrical frame-shaped projections 412 and 432 on a rear face side of the first partition wall 41 and the third partition wall 43. On the other hand, the second partition wall 42 is formed in a plate shape without such a tubular frame-shaped projection.

Triangular reinforcing plates 46 and 47 (forming parts of the first projection) are formed at respective upper end part and lower end part of the second plate-shaped partition wall 42 of the frame 4, and the reinforcing plates 46 and 47 are integrally formed with the frame-shaped projection 40. Therefore, the reinforcing plates 46, 47 and the frame-shaped projection 40 are formed on faces of the first partition wall 41 and the third partition wall 43 on the side of the second partition wall 42, and they are formed on both sides of the second partition wall 42 so as to interpose the second partition wall 42 therebetween. In this manner, the reinforcing plates 46 and 47 are formed such that they are opposite to each other so as to have the same width dimension as that of the second partition wall 42. In this embodiment, three ribs 421 are respectively formed at the root portion on both sides of the second partition wall 42.

As shown in FIGS. 1(A) through 1(C) and FIG. 2(A), a first drive shaft 71 of the drive device is extended into the frame 4 through a hole 710 (see FIG. 3(B)) of the frame 4 at the crossing part of the first partition wall 41 and the second partition wall 42, and an end part of the first baffle 11 is connected to the first drive shaft 71. Further, a second drive shaft 72 of the drive device is extended into the frame 4 through a hole 720 (see FIG. 3(B)) of the frame 4 at the crossing part of the second partition wall 42 and the third partition wall 43, and an end part of the second baffle 12 is connected to the second drive shaft 72. An elastic member 91 made of resin foam or the like for abutting with the frame-shaped projection 411 is stuck on a face of the first baffle 11 on a side of the first partition wall 41 (see FIG. 2(C)). An elastic member 92 made of resin foam or the like for abutting with the frame-shaped projection 431 is stuck on a face of the second baffle 12 on a side of the third partition wall 43 (see FIG. 2(C)). On the other hand, an elastic member 93 made of resin foam or the like is stuck on a face of the second partition wall 42 on a side of the first partition wall 41 along one side of the second opening 32 (see FIGS. 2(A) and 2(C)). Further, an elastic member 94 made of resin foam or the like is stuck on a face of the second partition wall 42 on a side of the third partition wall 43 at a periphery of the second opening 32 (see FIGS. 2(A) and 2(C)).

The frame 4 which is structured as described above is fixed at a position on the way of a cold air passage in a refrigerator to be used. In this case, a tip end portion of the second partition wall 42 is attached to a groove formed in a member which structures the cold air passage.

FIG. 4(A) is a perspective view showing the frame which is used in the damper device 1 in accordance with an embodiment in which a part of the frame 4 is cut out, and FIG. 4(B) is an explanatory view showing a manufacturing method for the frame 4.

In the damper device 1 in accordance with this embodiment, the above-mentioned reinforcement structure is utilized in the partition walls 41, 42 and 43 of the frame 4. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 2(A), 2(C), FIG. 3(C) and FIGS. 4(A), 4(B), plate-shaped ribs 426 and 427 which are perpendicularly protruded from a face on the side of the first partition wall 41 are formed at the tip end portion 420 of the second partition wall 42. The ribs 426 and 427 are integrally formed with rectangular portions of the tip end portion 420 of the second partition wall 42 which are both end portions in a widthwise direction of the second partition wall 42. The ribs 426 and 427 are not formed in the entire tip end portion 420 in the widthwise direction of the second partition wall 42 but formed at only both end portions in the widthwise direction. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 4(A) and 4(B), the ribs 426 and 427 are not formed at a center portion 425 in the widthwise direction of the tip end portion 420 of the second partition wall 42.

Further, in this embodiment, the ribs 426 and 427 at the tip end portion 420 of the second partition wall 42 include tapered parts 428 and 429, whose protruding dimension from the second partition wall 42 decreases gradually, at boundary portions with the center portion 425 where the ribs 426 and 427 are not formed.

As described above, the frame 4 used in the damper device 1 in accordance with this embodiment is provided with the ribs 426 and 427 having the structure as described above. Therefore, as described below with reference to FIG. 4(B), a molding die is hard to be damaged when the resin molded product is molded.

In accordance with this embodiment, when the frame 4 is manufactured, resin molding is performed in a die, and the ribs 426 and 427 are required to be formed on the face of the second partition wall 42 on the side of the first partition wall 41. Therefore, in order to mold the face of the second partition wall 42 on the side of the first partition wall 41, a slide die 8 which is movable in an outward direction that is perpendicular to this face is required to be used. Further, when the slide die 8 is used, the second opening 32 can be formed in the second partition wall 42 by forming the rectangular protruded part 81 in the molding face of the slide die 8.

In this embodiment, the frame-shaped projection 40 and the reinforcing plates 46 and 47 are formed on the face of the first partition wall 41 on the side of the second partition wall 42 and thus the slide die 8 is used whose width dimension is equal to that of the second partition wall 42. Further, the frame-shaped projection 411 is formed on the face of the first partition wall 41 on the side of the second partition wall 42 and thus, in order to structure the slide die 8 movable in the outward direction which is perpendicular to the second partition wall 42, the thickness of the slide die 8 is required to be made thinner.

According to this embodiment, the ribs 426 and 427 are formed at only both end portions in the widthwise direction of the tip end portion 420 of the second partition wall 42. Therefore, groove-shaped recessed parts 86 and 87 for forming the ribs 426 and 427 are formed at only both end portions in the widthwise direction of the slide die 8. Accordingly, different from the case that a recessed part is formed over the entire widthwise direction of the slide die 8 (see FIG. 6(B)), remarkable decreasing of strength of the slide die 8 is avoided.

Further, in this embodiment, the ribs 426 and 427 at the tip end portion 420 of the second partition wall 42 include tapered parts 428 and 429, whose protruding dimension from the second partition wall 42 decreases gradually, at boundary portions with the center portion 425 where the ribs 426 and 427 are not formed. Therefore, inner side end parts 861 and 871 of the recessed parts 86 and 87 of the slide die 8 for forming the ribs 426 and 427 are respectively formed in a tapered face. Therefore, even when the recessed parts 86 and 87 which are extended in the widthwise direction of the slide die 8 are formed, strength reduction of the slide die 8 can be minimized.

In addition, when the frame 4 is fixed at a position on the way of the cold air passage in a refrigerator, the tip end portion 420 of the second partition wall 42 is attached into a groove of a member which structures the cold air passage. In this case, the inner side end portions of the ribs 426 and 427 which are formed at the tip end portion 420 of the second partition wall 42 are formed in the tapered parts 428 and 429. Therefore, the tapered parts 428 and 429 can be utilized as a guide portion and thus the tip end portion 420 of the second partition wall 42 can be surely fitted into the groove. According to the structure as described above, a mounting malfunction such as riding of the tip end portion 420 of the second partition wall 42 on a mounting rail when the damper device 1 is mounted on a refrigerator can be eliminated.

While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.

The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims, rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A resin molded product comprising: a first wall part;a second wall part which is integrally molded with the first wall part such that the second wall part is formed in a plate-like shape having a predetermined width dimension and which is extended from the first wall part in a direction crossing the first wall part; anda plate-shaped rib which is formed at a tip end portion of the second wall part and is perpendicularly protruded from a face of the second wall part on a side of the first wall part;wherein the rib is formed in a part in a widthwise direction of the second wall part.

2. The resin molded product according to claim 1, wherein the rib is formed at both end portions in the widthwise direction of the tip end portion of the second wall part.

3. The resin molded product according to claim 1, wherein the rib is formed such that protruding dimension of the rib from the second wall part decreases gradually at a boundary portion between the rib and a portion where the rib is not formed.

4. The resin molded product according to claim 1, further comprising first projections which are formed on a face of the first wall part on a side of the second wall part at both side end positions of the second wall part such that the second wall part is sandwiched between the first projections which face each other through a same distance as a width dimension of the second wall part.

5. The resin molded product according to claim 1, further comprising a second projection which is formed on a face of the first wall part on a side of the second wall part.

6. A damper device comprising: a resin molded product comprising: a first wall part;a second wall part which is integrally molded with the first wall part such that the second wall part is formed in a plate-like shape having a predetermined width dimension and is extended from the first wall part in a direction crossing the first wall part; anda plate-shaped rib which is formed at a tip end portion of the second wall part and is perpendicularly protruded from a face of the second wall part on a side of the first wall part, wherein the rib is formed in a part in a widthwise direction of the second wall part;a baffle which is turnable between the first wall part and the second wall part around a crossing part of the first wall part and the second wall part to selectively open or close a first opening formed in the first wall part and a second opening formed in the second wall part.

7. The damper device according to claim 6, wherein the rib is formed at both end portions in the widthwise direction of the tip end portion of the second wall part, and the rib is formed such that protruding dimension of the rib from the second wall part decreases gradually at a boundary portion between the rib and a portion where the rib is not formed.

8. The damper device according to claim 6, further comprising first projections which are formed on a face of the first wall part on a side of the second wall part at both side end positions of the second wall part such that the second wall part is sandwiched between the first projections which face each other through a same distance as a width dimension of the second wall part.

9. The damper device according to claim 6, wherein the resin molded product is a frame for use in a refrigerator, andthe first opening formed in the first wall part is used as a flow path for cold air and the second opening formed in the second wall part is used as a flow path of the cold air, andthe baffle selectively opens or closes the first opening and the second opening for controlling flow of the cold air.

10. The damper device according to claim 9, wherein the rib is formed at both end portions in the widthwise direction of the tip end portion of the second wall part, and the rib is formed such that protruding dimension of the rib from the second wall part decreases gradually at a boundary portion between the rib and a portion where the rib is not formed.

11. The damper device according to claim 9, further comprising first projections which are formed on a face of the first wall part on a side of the second wall part at both side end positions of the second wall part such that the second wall part is sandwiched between the first projections which face each other through a same distance as a width dimension of the second wall part, andthe first projections are parallel plate parts which connect the first wall part with the second wall part for reinforcing the first wall part and the second wall part.

12. The damper device according to claim 9, further comprising a second projection for forming the first opening which is formed on a face of the first wall part on a side of the second wall part so as to surround around the first opening.

13. A manufacturing method for a resin molded product including a first wall part and a second wall part which is integrally molded with the first wall part and is extended from the first wall part in a direction crossing the first wall part, comprising: providing a slide die for molding a face of the second wall part on a side of the first wall part, the slide die being provided with a same width dimension as a width dimension of the second wall part, and the slide die being provided with a recessed part for forming a plate-shaped rib which is perpendicularly protruded from a tip end portion of the second wall part in a part in a widthwise direction of the second wall part; andmoving the slide die in an outward direction which is perpendicular to the face of the second wall part on the side of the first wall part; andthereby forming the plate-shaped rib in the part in the widthwise direction of the second wall part at the tip end portion of the second wall part such that the plate-shaped rib is perpendicularly protruded from the face of the second wall part on the side of the first wall part.

14. The manufacturing method for a resin molded product according to claim 13, wherein the recessed part, which is provided in the slide die for forming the plate-shaped rib in the part in the widthwise direction of the second wall part, is formed at two portions of both end portions in the widthwise direction, andthe rib is formed by the recessed part such that protruding dimension of the rib from the second wall part decreases gradually at a boundary portion between the rib and a portion where the rib is not formed.