General Electric Company

Keith W Gerdes

Thomas E Jenkins

Donald S Cushing

Stephen C Lesmeister

Robert R Sisler

Samuel J Woolley

Louis A Welle, Sr

Douglas E Corts

A cabinet corner cap and method of assembly comprising forming metal sheet into a cabinet corner having an elongated space at the junction of two panels of the metal sheet forming the corner. A corner cap is molded from suitable plastic material and has an elongated horizontal top wall with a central longitudinal axis and a vertical wall projecting downwardly from the central longitudinal axis of the top wall and extending a major portion of the length of the horizontal top wall. The vertical wall includes a series of spaced apart ribs perpendicular to and on each side of the vertical wall and diverging away from the vertical wall in the direction of the top wall and joining the horizontal top wall. The vertical wall also has resilient fingers secured at one end to the vertical wall and free ends extending toward and spaced from the horizontal top wall a distance at least the thickness of the metal sheet forming the cabinet corner and the fingers diverge outwardly from the vertical wall a distance greater than the ribs and the width of the elongated space. The vertical wall of the corner cap is inserted into the elongated space at the junction of the two panels and the ribs center the corner cap in the space. Force is applied to the corner cap to pass the resilient fingers through the space to allow the fingers to spring back and span the width of the elongated space, thus retaining the corner cap in position to cover the elongated space in the cabinet corner.

Cabinet corner cap and method of assembly

A cabinet assembly for a refrigerator having a freezer compartment on top, a fresh food compartment on the bottom and a hot liquid anti-sweat loop. The cabinet assembly outer sheet metal shell has a top panel, side panels and a front face with the front face formed to provide a first U-shaped portion which includes a first outer wall perpendicular to the side panel to form a corner and a second inner wall spaced from the first outer wall and both walls being connected by a first reverse bend portion. The second inner wall being reversely bent to form a third wall and provide a second U-shaped portion formed between the second inner wall and the third wall. The first, second and third walls being in spaced parallel planes and the third wall being bent at a right angle to form a flange having a free edge. Braces are located at both of the top front corners of the cabinet and these braces have two formed sections at right angles to each other and each section is formed as an inwardly open U-shaped channel having a base, a first leg and a second leg spaced apart and integrally joined to the base. The base is adjacent the rear surface of the third wall of the front face with the first leg parallel to and abutting the side panel of the cabinet and the second leg parallel to and abutting the flange of the front face. The second leg of the corner brace is fastened to the flange of the third wall of the front face and the hot liquid anti-sweat loop is secured to the braces.

Refrigerator with anti-sweat hot liquid loop

A refrigerator having an outer case, an inner liner with thermal insulation therebetween, and a storage compartment having an access opening surrounded by a face portion of magnetic material. A door is hingedly mounted on said cabinet for closing and opening said access opening. The door comprises an outer panel and an inner panel with a peripheral edge portion and terminal end, said panels having thermal insulation therebetween. Elongated channel member sections having top, bottom and side walls are located adjacent the peripheral edges of the door on all four sides and have spaced screw openings in the bottom and top walls with the screw openings in the bottom wall being countersunk. An open slot in the top wall interconnects the screw openings along the length of the channel member sections. The channel member sections overlie the peripheral edge portion and terminal end of the door inner panel and are secured to the door by screws having a threaded body and countersink head by passing the threaded body of the screws through the peripheral edge portion and the inwardly turned flange of the outer metal panel. A sealing gasket is made of resilient material and is removably mounted on the elongated metal channel member sections and includes in lateral cross-section a base portion with a downwardly projecting winged dart having a body and two diverging arms projecting through the open slot in the top wall of the channel member sections and overlying the screws securing the channel member sections to the door. The sealing gasket also has a cabinet engaging portion and includes a magnet to be attracted to the area of magnetic material and provides the sole means for holding the door in a closed position.

Refrigerator and method of gasket assembly construction

Growing community of inventors

Louisville, KY, United States of America

Keith W Gerdes