Method for manufacturing an insulated structure for a refrigerator
US-10612834-B2 · Apr 7, 2020 · US
Polymer trim breaker having gas-blocking flakes and an epoxy coating
US10837697B2 · US · B2
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Publication number | US-10837697-B2 |
| Application number | US-201916520572-A |
| Country | US |
| Kind code | B2 |
| Filing date | Jul 24, 2019 |
| Priority date | Oct 31, 2018 |
| Publication date | Nov 17, 2020 |
| Grant date | Nov 17, 2020 |
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- Title
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- Abstract
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- Assignees and inventors
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Abstract
Official abstract text for this publication.
A refrigerator includes an inner liner, an outer wrapper and a trim breaker that extends between the inner liner and the outer wrapper to define an insulated structural cabinet. The trim breaker includes a plurality of gas-blocking flakes, wherein each gas-blocking flake includes a longitudinal axis that extends substantially parallel with an elongated surface of the respective gas-blocking flake. The longitudinal axis and the elongated surface of each corresponding gas-blocking flake is oriented to be substantially parallel with a portion of an outer surface of the trim breaker located near the respective gas-blocking flake.
First claim
Opening claim text (preview).
What is claimed is: 1. A refrigerator comprising: an inner liner; an outer wrapper; and a trim breaker that extends between the inner liner and the outer wrapper to define an insulated structural cabinet, wherein: the trim breaker includes a plurality of gas-blocking flakes that are disposed throughout the trim breaker, wherein each gas-blocking flake includes a longitudinal axis that extends substantially parallel with an elongated surface of the respective gas-blocking flake; and wherein the longitudinal axis and the elongated surface of each corresponding gas-blocking flake is oriented to be substantially parallel with a portion of an outer surface of the trim breaker located near the respective gas-blocking flake. 2. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of gas-blocking flakes are made of at least one of mica particles and glass particles. 3. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the trim breaker includes a substantially homogenous mixture formed from a base material and the plurality of gas-blocking flakes. 4. The refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein the substantially homogenous mixture includes an amount of gas-blocking flakes that is in a range of from approximately 10 percent to 40 percent by volume of the substantially homogenous mixture. 5. The refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein the base material includes a polymer material. 6. The refrigerator of claim 3 , wherein the base material includes at least one of a polymer network and a silica-based material. 7. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of gas-blocking flakes include a range of sizes measured along the longitudinal axis, wherein the range of sizes is from approximately 5 microns to approximately 800 microns. 8. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the trim breaker partially defines an interior cavity of the insulated structural cabinet that is maintained at an at least partial vacuum. 9. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein an aspect ratio of length to thickness for each respective gas-blocking flake is in a range of from approximately 100 to approximately 5,000. 10. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the trim breaker includes an epoxy coating that is disposed on the outer surface of the trim breaker.
Assignees
Inventors
Classifications
Strips · CPC title
- F25D23/067Primary
Supporting elements · CPC title
characterised by the choice of material · CPC title
Manufacturing moulds, e.g. shaping the mould surface by machining · CPC title
oriented · CPC title
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Frequently asked questions
Answers are generated from the same data shown on this page.
- What does patent US10837697B2 cover?
- A refrigerator includes an inner liner, an outer wrapper and a trim breaker that extends between the inner liner and the outer wrapper to define an insulated structural cabinet. The trim breaker includes a plurality of gas-blocking flakes, wherein each gas-blocking flake includes a longitudinal axis that extends substantially parallel with an elongated surface of the respective gas-blocking fla…
- Who is the assignee on this patent?
- Whirlpool Co
- What technology area does this patent fall under?
- Primary CPC classification F25D23/067. Mapped technology areas include Mechanical Engineering.
- When was this patent published?
- Publication date Tue Nov 17 2020 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
- What related patents are in patentsdb?
- We list 3 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).