Whirlpool Corporation

Ralph Tate

John T Woods

Stephen W Paddock

Robert H Kraemer

William J Linstromberg

William J Buchser

Charles W Haag

Joseph G Schapker

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

An ice maker assembly and method of assembling the same wherein the electrical connections between electrical structure carried by the mold and an intermediate support, and contacts carried by a control means also mounted to the support are made solely as an incident of the assembly of the mold, support and control means. In the illustrated embodiment, the assembly is effected along a single axle. Illustratively, the electrical components so connected include a heater carried by the mold, a thermostat carried by the support for thermal transfer association with the mold in the assembled arrangment of the structure, and a grounding pin carried by the mold. The support is provided with suitable openings for passing the electrical connection components therethrough to have automatic electrical connection with complementary contact elements carried by the control means. The assembled support and control mechanism may be removed as a unit from the mold to provide access to the mold heater and thermostat for facilitated replacement.

Ice maker assembly and method of assembly

An ice maker assembly and method of assembling the same wherein the electrical connections between electrical structure carried by the mold and an intermediate support, and contacts carried by a control means also mounted to the support are made solely as an incident of the assembly of the mold, support and control means. In the illustrated embodiment, the assembly is effected along a single axis. Illustratively, the electrical components so connected include a heater carried by the mold, a thermostat carried by the support for thermal transfer association with the mold in the assembled arrangement of the structure, and a grounding pin carried by the mold. The support is provided with suitable openings for passing the electrical connection components therethrough to have automatic electrical connection with complementary contact elements carried by the control means. The assembled support and control mechanism may be removed as a unit from the mold to provide access to the mold heater and thermostat for facilitated replacement.

In an ice maker having a mold defining at least one upwardly opening ice body forming cavity and a peripheral wall defining a top, structure for providing at least approximately 3 mm. clearance between components mounted to the mold and the mold wall top for preventing water which may be deposited on the mold wall top from being drawing by capillarity downwardly between the wall and mounted component. The structure further defines a drain for draining any liquid which may be deposited in the clearance space. The invention comprehends the provision of such a clearance spacing illustratively between the housing of a control mounted to the ice maker mold, the ice stripper mounted to the ice maker mold, and the water supply trough mounted to the ice maker mold.

Ice maker with anti-capillarity means

A retention system for supporting a device on a first stationary member to have biased abutment with a cooperating second stationary member removably secured to the first stationary member. The system includes at least one resilient clip carried by the first stationary member and having a portion resiliently frictionally engaging the device so as to effectively retain the device in association with the first stationary member prior to the mounting of the second stationary member thereto. The spring clip further includes an end portion biasing the device outwardly from the first stationary member to be engaged by the second stationary member when the second stationary member is mounted to the first stationary member. The clip is removably retained in a slotted portion of the first stationary member for facilitated installation.

Thermostat mounting

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 door mounted electronic control assembly for a refrigeration apparatus, including a housing, an electronic circuit, structure for preventing the condensation of moisture on the circuit, and structure for mounting electrical components such as a temperature sensor for exposure to air within the refrigeration apparatus. The housing defines a heat retaining space in which the electronic circuit having heat generating components is disposed. Structure is provided to prevent heat from the heat retaining space from adversely affecting the operation of a temperature sensor that is carried on a spaced portion of the housing.

Door mounted electronic housing assembly for a 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.

Plastic mullion rail assembly for refrigerator

A french door refrigerator seal having vertically extending seal elements on the juxtaposed edges of the french doors defining an air space therebetween. Closure seals are provided at the upper and lower ends of the edge seals to close the air space and thereby define an insulative dead air space between the french door edge portions when the doors are in the closed position. The closure seals illustratively may be formed as overlapping flexible flaps carried by the vertical edge seal elements which illustratively may form pairs of flexible flaps.

Growing community of inventors

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

Ralph Tate