Universal fixing system for a range of modular refrigerator components

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10215475-B2
Application number	US-201715683361-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2017
Priority date	Oct 27, 2014
Publication date	Feb 26, 2019
Grant date	Feb 26, 2019

Abstract

A modular component fixing system for an appliance including a refrigerating appliance having an inner liner defining a plurality of modular attachment slots, each having an upturned flange defining an angular recess. Each modular attachment slots includes a downwardly angled channel in communication with the angular recess. Each of a plurality of modular components includes an abutment surface and a supporting flange extending from the abutment surface at a predetermined angle, the predetermined angle of the supporting flange being substantially similar to a recess angle define by the angular recess, wherein each modular component is configured to be removably engaged with any one of the plurality of modular attachment slots by inserting the supporting flange into a corresponding angular recess of the one of the plurality of modular attachment slots such that the abutment surface is substantially flush with an interior surface of the inner liner.

First claim

The device claimed is:

1. A modular component fixing system for an appliance, the modular component fixing system comprising:
a refrigerating appliance having an outer wrapper and an inner liner defining an insulating cavity therebetween;
a plurality of modular attachment slots defined within the inner liner, each of the plurality of modular attachment slots having an upturned flange that defines an angular recess, and wherein each of the plurality of modular attachment slots includes at least one downwardly angled channel in communication with the angular recess; and
a plurality of modular components, wherein each of the plurality of modular components includes an abutment surface and a supporting flange extending from the abutment surface at a predetermined angle, the predetermined angle of the supporting flange being substantially similar to a recess angle defined by the angular recess, wherein each modular component is configured to be removably engaged with any one of the plurality of modular attachment slots by inserting the supporting flange into a corresponding angular recess of the plurality of modular attachment slots such that the abutment surface is substantially flush with an interior surface of the inner liner, wherein at least one modular component of the plurality of modular components is a drawer glide, wherein the drawer glide is adapted to receive a drawer that is operable within the drawer glide between extended and retracted positions.

2. The modular component fixing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a door of the refrigerating appliance having an outer door wrapper and an inner door liner that cooperatively define a door cavity therebetween, wherein the inner door liner includes at least a portion of the plurality of modular attachment slots that are configured to removably receive at least a portion of the plurality of modular components.

3. The modular component fixing system of claim 2 , wherein each modular attachment slot includes first and second ends, wherein each of the first and second ends includes one of the at least one downwardly angled channel.

4. The modular component fixing system of claim 1 , wherein the upturned flange of each corresponding modular attachment slot includes an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface at least partially defines the angular recess of the corresponding modular attachment slot, and wherein the outer surface is substantially coplanar with adjacent portions of the inner liner surrounding the corresponding modular attachment slot.

5. An insulated wall panel system for an appliance, the insulated wall panel system comprising:
an inner liner, the inner liner having an interior surface that defines an appliance compartment, the inner liner including a plurality of convex folds that extend outward from the appliance compartment, each of the convex folds defining an angular recess that extends outward from a recess aperture defined by the interior surface of the inner liner, the angular recess in communication with the appliance compartment through the recess aperture, each of the convex folds further including a downwardly extending surface that extends downward from an outermost portion of the angular recess toward the recess aperture;
an outer wrapper disposed around the inner liner and cooperatively defining an insulating cavity with the inner liner;
an insulation layer disposed within the insulating cavity, wherein each of the plurality of convex folds extend into the insulation layer; and
a plurality of modular components, wherein each of the plurality of modular components includes an abutment surface and a supporting flange extending from the abutment surface at a predetermined angle, the predetermined angle of the supporting flange being substantially similar to a recess angle define by the angular recess, wherein each modular component is configured to be removably engaged with any one of the plurality of convex folds by inserting the supporting flange into a corresponding angular recess of one of the plurality of convex folds such that the abutment surface is substantially flush with the interior surface of the inner liner, wherein at least one modular component of the plurality of modular components is a drawer glide, wherein the drawer glide is adapted to receive a drawer that is operable within the drawer glide between extended and retracted positions.

6. A modular component fixing system for an appliance, the modular component fixing system comprising:
a structural cabinet having an inner liner and a plurality of modular attachment slots defined within the inner liner, each modular attachment slot comprising:
an upturned flange that defines an angular recess; and
a downwardly angled channel disposed at an edge of the upturned flange, wherein the upturned flange and the angular recess are configured to receive a supporting flange to secure a modular component of a plurality of modular components, the modular component having the supporting flange to the inner liner, wherein the modular component is a drawer glide, wherein the drawer glide is adapted to receive a drawer that is operable within the drawer glide between extended and retracted positions.

7. The modular component fixing system of claim 6 ,
wherein each of the plurality of modular components includes an abutment surface and a corresponding supporting flange extending from the abutment surface at a predetermined angle, the predetermined angle of the corresponding supporting flange being substantially similar to a recess angle defined by the angular recess, wherein each modular component is configured to be removably engaged with any one of the plurality of modular attachment slots by inserting the corresponding supporting flange into a corresponding angular recess of the plurality of modular attachment slots such that the abutment surface is substantially flush with an interior surface of the inner liner.

8. The modular component fixing system of claim 6 , wherein each modular attachment slot includes first and second ends, wherein each of the first and second ends includes the downwardly angled channel.

9. The modular component fixing system of claim 6 , wherein the upturned flange of each corresponding modular attachment slot includes an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the inner surface at least partially defines the angular recess of the corresponding modular attachment slot, and wherein the outer surface is substantially coplanar with adjacent portions of the inner liner surrounding the corresponding modular attachment slot.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Chow Daniel
• Mendez Wesley
• Moreno Sergio
• Taboada Fabian
• Tippetts Jason W

Classifications

• F25D27/00

  Lighting arrangements (in general F21) · CPC title

• F25D23/066

  Liners · CPC title

• F25D2325/021

  Shelves with several possible configurations · CPC title

• F25D23/061

  with conduit means · CPC title

• F25D23/067 Primary

  Supporting elements · CPC title