Panel assemblies and methods for forming panel assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10113749-B2
Application number	US-201514837044-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2015
Priority date	Aug 27, 2015
Publication date	Oct 30, 2018
Grant date	Oct 30, 2018

Abstract

Panel assemblies, unformed panel assemblies, and methods for forming panel assemblies are provided. A panel assembly includes a main panel extending within a plane which defines an X-axis and a Y-axis, a first side panel extending from the main panel generally along a Z-axis, and a second side panel extending from the main panel generally along the Z-axis. The panel assembly further includes a first tab extending from the first side panel and including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extending from the first side panel generally along the X-axis, the second portion extending from the first portion generally along the Z-axis such that a slot is defined between the second portion and the first side panel. The panel assembly further includes a second tab extending from the second side panel generally along the Y-axis and through the slot.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A panel assembly, comprising:
a main panel extending within a plane which defines an X-axis and a Y-axis perpendicular to the X-axis;
a first side panel extending from the main panel generally along a Z-axis perpendicular to the X-axis and the Y-axis;
a second side panel extending from the main panel generally along the Z-axis, the second side panel generally perpendicular to the first side panel;
a first tab extending from the first side panel and comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion extending from the first side panel generally along the X-axis, the second portion extending from the first portion generally along the Z-axis such that a slot is defined between the second portion and the first side panel; and
a second tab extending from the second side panel generally along the Y-axis and through the slot,
wherein a side edge of the second tab defines a notched area, wherein the notched area is positioned between the second tab and the first portion of the first tab within the slot along the Z-axis, wherein the notched area is open toward the first portion along the Z-axis, and wherein the notched area provides an open clearance for the second tab over the first portion of the first tab through the slot.

2. The panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the first tab contacts the second tab.

3. The panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the main panel, first side panel, second side panel, first tab and second tab are integrally formed such that the panel assembly is a monolithic structure.

4. The panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the wherein the main panel, first side panel, second side panel, first tab and second tab are formed from a metal.

5. The panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the panel assembly is a front oven door panel assembly.

6. The panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the second tab comprises a radiused portion.

7. The panel assembly of claim 1 , wherein no secondary joining of the first side panel and the second side panel is performed.

8. An unformed panel assembly, comprising:
a main panel extending within a plane which defines an X-axis and a Y-axis perpendicular to the X-axis;
a first side panel extending generally within the plane from the main panel along the X-axis;
a second side panel extending generally within the plane from the main panel along the Y-axis;
a first tab extending from the first side panel, the first tab comprising a first portion extending from the first side panel generally along the X-axis and a second portion extending from the first portion; and
a second tab extending from the second side panel generally along the X-axis,
wherein the main panel, first side panel, second side panel, first tab and second tab are integrally formed such that the unformed panel assembly is a monolithic structure, wherein the unformed panel assembly is formed from a metal, wherein a side edge of the second tab defines a notched area parallel to the second tab within the plane from the main panel along the X-axis, wherein the notched area is open along the Y-axis in a direction opposite the second tab, and wherein the notched area provides an open clearance for the second tab over the first portion of the first tab through a slot.

9. The unformed panel assembly of claim 8 , wherein the second portion of the unformed panel assembly extends from the first portion generally along the Z-axis.

10. The unformed panel assembly of claim 8 , wherein the unformed panel assembly is an unformed front oven door panel assembly.

Assignees

• Gen Electric
• Haier Us Appliance Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Yancey Martin Alan

Classifications

• F24C15/028 Primary

  Stoves doors · CPC title

• B21D39/021 Primary

  for panels, e.g. vehicle doors · CPC title

• B21D39/032

  by fitting a projecting part integral with one plate in a hole of the other plate · CPC title

• F24C15/02

  Doors specially adapted for stoves or ranges · CPC title