Maytag Corporation

Larry Corbin

Jose G Avendano

John Phillip Myers

An in-turned annular flange of a refrigerator door panel is interconnected to an out-turned flange of a door liner through the use of individual seal and liner retainer elements which enable the liner to be snap connected to the door panel. More specifically, with one of the retainer elements initially attached to the door panel and the remaining elements are attached to respective side portion of the liner. One side of the liner is initially attached to the door panel and then the liner is pivoted until the remaining sides of the liner are snap-connected to the door panel. After the door panel, liner and retainer assembly are foamed during an insulation procedure, all the components are securely held in place. Finally, a door seal, which includes primary and secondary seal elements, is interengaged with first and second seal connecting structure defined by the retainer elements.

Push-in refrigerator door seal and retainer system

An appliance cabinet side wall is secured to a front frame member by a first mechanical fastening element of a fastening system. Subsequently, a trim piece is attached along the side wall through the use of a second mechanical fastening element which is threadably connected to the first fastening element. Most preferably, a blind-type rivnut is utilized to prevent any foam, used in insulating the cabinet, from leaking. Utilizing multi-functioning mechanical fastening elements minimizes the number of assembly components, eases assembly and enables the trim piece to be easily removed and/or replaced in case of damage, or even if the consumer desires to simply utilize a trim piece of another color or design.

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Cameron, IL, United States of America

Larry Corbin