Refrigeration appliance cabinet assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11486629-B2
Application number	US-202016911654-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2020
Priority date	Jun 25, 2020
Publication date	Nov 1, 2022
Grant date	Nov 1, 2022

Abstract

A cabinet assembly for a refrigerating appliance includes an inner liner having a forward liner edge. The forward liner edge defines an access opening. An outer wrapper is disposed around the inner liner and has a forward wrapper edge. The outer wrapper is spaced-apart from the inner liner to define an insulating cavity therebetween. A mullion assembly extends across the access opening. A trim breaker extends about the access opening and is coupled to the forward wrapper edge and the forward liner edge to seal the insulating cavity. The trim breaker includes a spacing flange positioned to contact the mullion assembly to define a receiving space between the trim breaker and the mullion assembly.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerating appliance, comprising:
a cabinet assembly having an outer wrapper with opposing first and second outer sidewalls and a forward wrapper edge, wherein the cabinet assembly further includes an inner liner having opposing first and second inner sidewalls and a forward liner edge, wherein the forward liner edge defines an access opening, and further wherein the inner liner is positioned interior of and spaced-apart from the outer wrapper to define an insulating cavity therebetween;
a mullion assembly extending across the access opening; and
a trim breaker extending about the access opening, wherein the trim breaker includes a body portion interconnecting the first and second outer sidewalls of the outer wrapper and the first and second inner sidewalls of the inner liner, respectively, and wherein the trim breaker further includes first and second connecting flanges extending outwardly from the body portion of the trim breaker in a first direction and operably coupled to the forward liner edge and the forward wrapper edge, respectively, such that the trim breaker seals the insulating cavity, and further wherein the trim breaker includes a forward spacing flange extending outwardly from the body portion of the trim breaker in a second direction that is opposed to the first direction of the first and second connecting flanges, and further wherein the forward spacing flange contacts the mullion assembly and at least partially defines a receiving space between the mullion assembly and the trim breaker.

2. The refrigerating appliance of claim 1 , further comprising:
a door hingedly coupled to the cabinet assembly by at least one hinge, wherein the at least one hinge is operably coupled to the mullion assembly by a plurality of fasteners.

3. The refrigerating appliance of claim 2 , wherein the mullion assembly includes a mounting plate configured to support the hinge and extending at least partially along the mullion assembly.

4. The refrigerating appliance of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of fasteners are at least partially received by the receiving space.

5. The refrigerating appliance of claim 1 , wherein the outer wrapper includes a recessed portion disposed on one of the opposing first and second outer sidewalls of the outer wrapper.

6. The refrigerating appliance of claim 5 , including:
a bracket disposed at least partially along the mullion assembly, wherein the bracket is received within the recessed portion of the outer wrapper.

7. The refrigerating appliance of claim 1 , wherein the forward spacing flange defines a first forward spacing flange positioned proximate the first outer sidewall, and further wherein the trim breaker includes a second forward spacing flange positioned proximate the second outer sidewall.

8. The refrigerating appliance of claim 1 , wherein the insulating cavity is an airtight cavity having an internal pressure of less than 50 kPa.

9. A refrigerating appliance, comprising:
an outer wrapper having a forward wrapper edge, wherein the outer wrapper includes a recessed portion in communication with a forward recess;
an inner liner defining first and second compartments and having a forward liner edge, wherein the forward liner edge defines an access opening in communication with the first and second compartments, and further wherein the inner liner is spaced-apart from the outer wrapper to define an insulating cavity therebetween;
a mullion assembly disposed between the first and second compartments of the inner liner and extending across the access opening of the inner liner; and
a trim breaker extending about the access opening and sealing the insulating cavity, wherein the trim breaker includes a connecting flange coupled to one of the forward liner edge and the forward wrapper edge, wherein the trim breaker further includes a spacing flange extending forward of the connecting flange to contact the mullion assembly and at least partially defines a receiving space between the mullion assembly and the trim breaker.

10. The refrigerating appliance of claim 9 , including:
a reinforcement bracket coupled with the outer wrapper and having a forward corner, wherein the reinforcement bracket is received in the recessed portion.

11. The refrigerating appliance of claim 10 , wherein the forward corner of the reinforcement bracket abuts the spacing flange and at least partially conceals the forward recess.

12. The refrigerating appliance of claim 10 , wherein the mullion assembly includes a mounting plate operably coupled with the forward corner of the reinforcement bracket.

13. A cabinet assembly for a refrigerating appliance, comprising:
an inner liner having a forward liner edge, wherein the forward liner edge defines an access opening;
an outer wrapper disposed around the inner liner and having a forward wrapper edge, wherein the outer wrapper is spaced-apart from the inner liner to define an insulating cavity therebetween;
a mullion assembly extending across the access opening, wherein the mullion assembly includes a mounting plate extending at least partially along the mullion assembly; and
a trim breaker extending about the access opening and coupled to the forward wrapper edge and the forward liner edge to seal the insulating cavity, wherein the trim breaker includes a spacing flange positioned to contact the mullion assembly to define a receiving space between the trim breaker and the mullion assembly, and further wherein the mounting plate contacts the spacing flange.

14. The cabinet assembly of claim 13 , wherein the insulating cavity is in communication with a forward opening defined by the forward wrapper edge and the forward liner edge.

15. The cabinet assembly of claim 14 , wherein the trim breaker includes a body portion positioned to cover the forward opening and seal the insulating cavity, wherein the trim breaker includes first and second connecting flanges extending outwardly from the body portion, and further wherein the first connecting flange is coupled to the forward liner edge and the second connecting flange is coupled to the forward wrapper edge.

16. The cabinet assembly of claim 15 , wherein the spacing flange extends in an opposed configuration relative to the first and second connecting flanges.

17. The cabinet assembly of claim 13 , wherein the spacing flange is one of a pair of spacing flanges positioned on opposing ends of the mullion assembly.

18. The cabinet assembly of claim 13 , wherein the cabinet assembly further includes a door configured to at least partially seal the access opening, wherein the door is operably coupled with the mullion assembly by a hinge, and further wherein the hinge is operably coupled with the mullion assembly by a plurality of fasteners extending at least partially into the receiving space.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Harikrishnasamy Arunkumar
• Hunter Lynne F
• Krishna Sai B
• Naik Abhay
• Phalak Sanket

Classifications

• F25D23/085 Primary

  Breaking strips · CPC title

• F25D23/066

  Liners · CPC title

• F25D23/062

  defining a cabinet · CPC title

• Y02B40/00

  Technologies aiming at improving the efficiency of home appliances, e.g. induction cooking or efficient technologies for refrigerators, freezers or dish washers · CPC title

• F25D11/02 Primary

  with cooling compartments at different temperatures · CPC title