Whirlpool Corporation

Ralph R Burin

Richard W Kruck

Steven John Kuehl

Douglas David Leclear

Omer N Cur

Kevin S Laundroche

Ronald F Iannelli

An insulated panel for a domestic or household appliance is formed by a process in which two sheets of plastic material are extruded from a co-extrusion die and moved directly into a die thermoforming fixture. When the open die members are closed, the edges of the two sheets are sealed together to form a hollow panel and the walls of the panel are forced outwardly to conform to the shape of the die members. After the hollow panel is trimmed it is moved to a foam machine preferably while still contained in the thermoforming fixture so that foam insulation is inserted into the hollow panel while the walls of the panel are supported by the die members so that these walls are not deformed while the foam insulation is added. The process provides integrally formed components on the walls of the panel in a single manufacturing operation and also provides in the same manufacturing operation integrally formed interlocking means in the edges of the panel which permits the assembly of panels together by unskilled personnel and without requiring separate fastening means.

Domestic appliance panels and method of forming same

An insulated panel for a domestic or household appliance is formed by a process in which two sheets of plastic material are extruded from a co-extrusion die and moved directly into a die thermoforming fixture. When the open die members are closed, the edges of the two sheets are sealed together to form a hollow panel and the walls of the panel are forced outwardly to conform to the shape of the die members. After the hollow panel is trimmed it is moved to a foam machine preferably while still contained in the thermoforming fixture so that foam insulation is inserted into the hollow panel while the walls of the panel are supported by the die members so that these walls are not deformed while the foam insulation is added. The process provides integrally formed components on the walls of the panel in a single manufacturing operation and also provides in the same manufacturing operation integrally formed interlocking members in the edges of the panel which permits the assembly of panels together by unskilled personnel and without requiring separate fastening elements.

Method of manufacturing a domestic appliance

A modular self-contained mechanical refrigeration unit adapted to form one wall of a refrigeration appliance is relatively thin and includes all of the electrical, mechanical and control components of the sealed refrigeration system.

Modular mechanical refrigeration unit

A domestic or household appliance is provided which includes a plurality of side panels and a base panel, each of the panels having cooperating integral interlocking means in the edges thereof so that the panels may be manufactured at one location and shipped in knockdown form to another location. The side panels may then be readily assembled on the base panel by unskilled personnel without the use of tools or separate fastening means by simple engagement of the interlocking means in the panel edges. This interlocking means includes a plurality of elongated slots in the base panel which extend inwardly and downwardly at an angle to the vertical and projecting tongues in the bottom edges of the side panels which extend at a similar angle to the vertical and are adapted to be inserted into the slots by movement of the side panel along the angle to the vertical. Cooperating interlocking shoulders on the base panel and the side panels are engaged as the tongues are inserted into the slots. Adjacent vertical edges of the side panels are also provided with cooperating tongue and groove means which extend inwardly and downwardly at the angle to the vertical and facilitate insertion of the tongues of the end panels into the slots in the front and rear panels. The adjacent vertical edges of the side panels also have cooperating interlocking shoulders which are engaged as the end panels are assembled on the front and rear panels.

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Milton, IL, United States of America

Ralph R Burin