Is it appropriate to apply for a design patent or a utility model for the new refrigerator designed by Haier Company?

It is appropriate to apply for a patent for the appearance design of the new refrigerator designed by Haier company. According to the relevant public information, it is concluded that the new refrigerator designed by Haier company has remarkable innovation and novelty in appearance modeling, pattern and color, which conforms to the appearance category that can be protected by patent law, and it is appropriate to apply for a design patent. However, the patent for utility model protects the technical characteristics of the new practical scheme, focusing on the practical application and functional innovation of the technology. As a household appliance, refrigerator needs to have high aesthetic value besides practicality, and its innovation in appearance, modeling, pattern and color also needs to be protected. Therefore, the new refrigerator designed by Haier company has obvious innovation and novelty in appearance design, but does not have obvious technical characteristics in new structure, technology and function innovation, so it is not suitable to apply for utility model patent.