Whirlpool Corporation

Brastemp S/a

Amilton F De Almeida

Michael H Fisher

Christopher G Schmidt

Edson Takayuki Tani

Yoji Nakano

An insulated door for a refrigerator or other appliance having an external panel of an open box configuration without integrally molded inwardly directed flange portions, a plurality of separately installed trim pieces arranged around an edge perimeter of the external panel, the trim pieces having a socket region for snap engagement with the edge of the external panel, and a flange portion extending therefrom inwardly. An inside liner is applied over the trim pieces and a gasket is applied around the edge of the inside liner captured between the inside liner and the trim pieces. The invention allows for the economical molding of the external panel and the assembly of the inside liner and gasket to the external panel before a foamed-in place operation to apply the inside insulation which will unitize the structure.

Refrigerator door construction

Self-locking panels connectable in a closed polygon in which each panel has opposing connecting edges and end edges with a plurality of first locking elements (1) spaced along one connecting edge and corresponding first locking element receivers (20) spaced along the other connecting edges to connect adjacent panels to prevent their separation in first and second directions orthogonal to their line of connection. Each panel also has a first backstop (30) along one connecting edge and a first backstop receiver (40) along the other connecting edge to prevent displacement of the connecting edge of one of the adjacent connected panels in the second direction. Further, each panel has a second locking element (50) adjacent one of the connecting edges and corresponding second locking element receiver (60) adjacent the other connecting edge to connect adjacent panels to prevent their relative displacement in a direction parallel to the line of connection. A third locking element (30, 70) along one of the connecting edges of one panel fits the connecting edge of the adjacent panel to prevent rotation of the adjacent panel inwardly of the polygon around the connection line. An elastically deformable member (80) is engaged between one of the connecting edges of one panel and the structure of the other of the adjacent panels to urge the latter in a direction orthogonal to the connection line and pushes the adjacent panels in a spaced apart relationship relative to the connection line.

Growing community of inventors

Sao Paulo, Brazil

Amilton F De Almeida