Whirlpool Corporation

John T Woods

Ralph Tate

Rexford W Cordill

Louis W Fellwock

George W Sisk

Shelby A Lynn

John P Keil

Joseph G Schapker

A refrigerator cabinet includes an outer shell having a transverse flange terminating in a channel generally parallel with the flange and opening transversely inwardly. A liner is disposed within the shell and defines a storage space which is divided into two compartments by a compartment separator. A center rail defines a forward wall for the separator. A pair of brackets each has a first portion shaped to conform to the channel and a second portion shaped to conform to ends of the center rail. An adhesive material is disposed in opposite sides of the channel adjacent the compartment separator and adheres the brackets to the cabinet. Fasteners are provided for securing brackets to the opposite ends of the center rail. Accordingly, a refrigerator cabinet is provided which utilizes an adhesive as the sole means for retaining the center rail brackets to the cabinet structure.

Method of making a refrigerator cabinet

Adhesive-bonded mullion bracket for household refrigerator

Conventional refrigerator/freezer cabinets are provided with an outer shell having fixed dimensions determined according to total width of inner liners, and thus storage capacity, of the cabinet. For a manufacturer assembling cabinets of varying capacity, it is therefore necessary to stock many different size outer shells. However, to minimize costs it is desirable to use standard parts with any size cabinets. Accordingly, a cabinet construction is disclosed adaptable to provide a plurality of different cabinet widths with one size outer shell section. Each cabinet includes a pair of outer shell sections with each section including a back wall having an inner forwardly turned flange and an inwardly extending end portion. The end portions of the two sections overlap a selected amount determined according to the width of the liners. The end portions are then spot welded to one another.

Built-in refrigerator cabinet

A cabinet structure wherein a deck member has deflectible side edge portions cooperating with the sidewalls of the cabinet structure to form a sealing cavity. A hot melt sealant is provided in the sealing cavity to form a barrier during the in situ formation of foamed insulation in the cabinet structure. The edge portions of the deck member are deflectible about hinge lines and are formed of sheet metal so as to define a facial engagement with the sidewalls of the cabinet without substantial bulging or deformation thereof, and permitting the sidewalls to be formed of prepainted sheet metal.

Method of manufacturing refrigeration apparatus cabinet construction

Refrigeration apparatus cabinet construction utilizing prepainted steel

Sealing structure for preventing air flow across exposed metal portions of a center rail assembly in a refrigeration apparatus. The air flow preventing seals include sealing pads mounted to the side edges of a divider wall received in channels in the cabinet liner for preventing air flow through a front end of the channel. A second air flow preventing seal is provided in the form of a rope extending about each of the opposite ends of a center rail bracket received in inwardly opening roll-formed flange channels defined by the metal outer shell. The third air flow preventing seal is provided in the form of a sealing strip compressed between the front face of the center rail bracket and the rear face of an overlying cover so as to isolate hinge mounting portions at opposite ends of the center rail mounting bracket. The different seals cooperate with each other in preventing undesirable air flow from one compartment to another across metal surfaces in heat transfer association with the outer metal shell.

Center rail assembly for refrigerator

A refrigeration apparatus having a cabinet including a divider mullion wall is provided with a mullion rail assembly mounted to the front outer edge of the mullion wall. The mullion rail assembly includes an insulating elongated member carrying a magnetically attractable strip for cooperation with the magnetic door gasket. The strip is spaced inwardly from the outer edges of the insulating elongated member so as to be thermally insulated from the refrigerated compartment of the apparatus. The strip may be secured at one end to the cabinet and the insulating elongated member may be secured at one end to another portion of the cabinet to permit relative displacement between the strip and elongated member for facilitated installation.

Growing community of inventors

Scott Township, Vanderburgh County, IN, United States of America

John T Woods