Attachment arrangement for vacuum insulated door

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11243021-B2
Application number	US-201816192102-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2018
Priority date	Mar 5, 2015
Publication date	Feb 8, 2022
Grant date	Feb 8, 2022

Abstract

A refrigerator includes an insulated cabinet structure and a cooling system. A door assembly includes a perimeter structure that is movably mounted to the insulated cabinet structure and an outer door that is movably mounted to the perimeter structure whereby the outer door can be moved between open and closed positions relative to the perimeter structure when the perimeter structure is in its closed position The outer door may comprise a vacuum insulated structure including porous core material disposed in a cavity of the outer door.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A refrigerator, comprising:
an insulated cabinet structure defining a refrigerated interior space having an access opening that permits user access to the refrigerated interior space;
a cooling system that is configured to cool the refrigerated interior space;
a door assembly that selectively closes off at least a portion of the access opening, wherein the door assembly includes a door structure including an inner layer and an outer layer, the door structure further including transverse metal edge flanges extending between the inner and outer layers to define a peripheral edge of the door structure, wherein the door structure forms an airtight cavity, and having porous filler material disposed in the airtight cavity, and wherein the airtight cavity defines a vacuum tending to collapse the inner layer and the outer layer, and wherein the porous filler material supports the inner layer and the outer layer to prevent collapse thereof, the door assembly further comprising a first hinge structure having at least one cup-shaped metal inner member having a closed inner end and an open outer end, the open outer end including a transverse flange overlapping a portion of one of the transverse metal edge flanges of the door structure, wherein the transverse flange of the cup-shaped metal inner member is welded to said one of the transverse metal edge flanges and forms an airtight sealed connection;
a second hinge structure including a bracket secured to the insulated cabinet structure and a pin received in the open outer end of the at least one cup-shaped inner member to rotatably interconnect the door assembly to the insulated cabinet structure;
a low-friction insert disposed in the at least one cup-shaped inner member, and wherein the pin engages the low-friction insert;
the low-friction insert includes a plurality of flat surfaces configured to slidably engage the pin;
the low-friction insert comprises a low-friction polymer material;
the door structure includes four said transverse metal edge flanges including oppositely-facing upper and lower said transverse metal edge flanges;
the door assembly includes cup-shaped metal inner members welded to the upper and lower said transverse metal edge flanges;
one of the inner and outer layers includes a channel that receives an edge flange of the other of the inner and outer layers; and including:
adhesive sealant disposed in the channel and forming an airtight seal;
the door structure includes at least one projection that is secured to the outer layer without penetrating the airtight cavity formed by the inner layer and the outer layer such that gas cannot enter the airtight cavity, the door assembly further including a handle secured to the at least one projection;
wherein the door assembly further includes a perimeter structure having a ring-shaped cavity that is filled with closed-cell foam insulation, wherein the perimeter structure is movably mounted to the insulated cabinet structure and defines a door opening through a central portion of the perimeter structure;
and wherein the door structure is movably mounted to the perimeter structure to selectively close of the door opening of the perimeter structure.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein:
the perimeter structure includes at least one shelf extending across the door opening of the perimeter structure.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Naik Abhay
• Deka Lakshya
• Allard Paul B
• Visin Jerry M

Classifications

• F25D23/02

  Doors; Covers (F25D23/08 takes precedence {locks or fastenings E05B65/0042}) · CPC title

• F25D2201/14

  using subatmospheric pressure · CPC title

• F25D23/028 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• F25D2323/023

  Door in door constructions · CPC title

• F25D2323/021

  French doors · CPC title