Anti-rolling icebox gasket for refrigerator swing doors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11525621-B2
Application number	US-201916299629-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 12, 2019
Priority date	Mar 12, 2018
Publication date	Dec 13, 2022
Grant date	Dec 13, 2022

Abstract

A gasket is positioned on an icebox within a refrigerator appliance. The gasket includes a first lateral edge spaced apart from a second lateral edge. The first lateral edge has a first height and the second lateral edge has a second height. The first height is greater than the second height. A longitudinal edge extends between and is integrally formed with the first and second lateral edges. The longitudinal edge tapers from the first height to the second height. The second lateral edge is positioned proximate a hinge assembly of an appliance door.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A refrigerator appliance comprising:
a cabinet defining a refrigeration compartment;
a door operably coupled with the cabinet by a hinge assembly and movable between an open position and a closed position;
an icemaker positioned within the door, the icemaker including an icebox defining a first opening;
an air duct positioned within the refrigeration compartment and operably coupled with the cabinet, the air duct defining a second opening, wherein the first opening is configured to be positioned in engagement with the second opening when the door is in the closed position; and
a guide coupled with one of the icemaker and the air duct via a poka yoke feature of the guide, wherein the guide includes a plurality of connection posts; and
a gasket defining a plurality of connection wells that receive the plurality of connected posts of the guide, wherein the gasket is positioned about a periphery of one of the first opening and the second opening, the gasket comprising:
a first lateral edge having a first height; and
a second lateral edge having a second height, wherein the second height is less than the first height, and further wherein the second lateral edge is positioned proximate the hinge assembly.

2. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein the icebox includes a body portion and a front portion, and further wherein the front portion includes a first surface inclined upward toward a top edge of the door.

3. The refrigerator appliance of claim 2 , wherein the air duct includes a second surface inclined toward a front of the refrigerator appliance, the second surface configured to be proximate the first surface when the door is in the closed position.

4. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein the guide is shaped to be positioned about a periphery of one of the first and second openings, respectively.

5. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein the gasket further comprises a longitudinal edge extending between and integrally formed with the first and second lateral edges, wherein the longitudinal edge tapers from the first height to the second height.

6. The refrigerator appliance of claim 1 , wherein the second lateral edge is compressed by about 1 mm to about 4 mm when the door is in the closed position.

7. A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
a cabinet defining a refrigeration compartment;
a door operably coupled with the cabinet by a hinge assembly, the door including an inner surface;
an icebox operably coupled with the inner surface and including:
a front portion including a first sloped surface and defining a first opening;

an air duct positioned at least partially within the refrigeration compartment, the air duct including a second sloped surface positioned substantially parallel with the first sloped surface when the door is in a closed position, wherein the second sloped surface defines a second opening;
a guide coupled with one of the first sloped surface and the second sloped surface via a poka yoke feature of the guide, wherein the guide includes a plurality of connection posts; and
a gasket positioned about a periphery of one of the first opening and the second opening, the gasket including a longitudinal edge, wherein the longitudinal edge tapers toward the hinge assembly, and further wherein the guide defines a plurality of connection wells configured to receive the plurality of connection posts.

8. The refrigerator appliance of claim 7 , wherein the gasket further comprises:
a first lateral edge spaced apart from a second lateral edge, the first lateral edge having a first height and the second lateral edge having a second height, wherein the first height is greater than the second height, such that the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge simultaneously engage the other of the first sloped surface and the second sloped surface when the door is moved into the closed position.

9. The refrigerator appliance of claim 8 , wherein the second lateral edge is positioned proximate the hinge assembly.

10. The refrigerator appliance of claim 8 , wherein the second height provides about 1 mm to about 4 mm of compression when the door is in the closed position.

11. The refrigerator appliance of claim 8 , wherein the longitudinal edge is integrally formed with the first and second lateral edges, and further wherein the longitudinal edge tapers from the first height to the second height.

12. The refrigerator appliance of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of connection posts are included on at least one of the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge, and further wherein the poka yoke feature couples with the icebox opposite a periphery of the gasket.

13. The refrigerator appliance of claim 7 , wherein the guide is configured to engage with one of the first sloped surface and the second sloped surface.

14. The refrigerator appliance of claim 7 , wherein one of the first sloped surface and the second sloped surface defines a well configured to receive the guide.

15. The refrigerator appliance of claim 7 , wherein the first opening is aligned with the second opening when the door is in the closed position.

16. The refrigerator appliance of claim 7 , wherein the poka yoke feature of the guide includes a plurality of snaps, and further wherein the plurality of snaps couples with the icebox.

17. A gasket positioned on an icebox within a refrigerator appliance, the gasket comprising:
a first lateral edge spaced apart from a second lateral edge, the first lateral edge having a first height and the second lateral edge having a second height, wherein the first height is greater than the second height;
opposing longitudinal edges extending between and integrally formed with the first and second lateral edges, the opposing longitudinal edges tapered from the first height to the second height, wherein the second lateral edge is positioned proximate a hinge assembly of an appliance door, and further wherein the gasket is coupled with a guide via a poka yoke feature of the guide that extends away from each of the opposing longitudinal edges, the guide including connection posts that engage the first and second lateral edges.

18. The gasket of claim 17 , wherein the second height provides about 1 mm to about 4 mm of compression when the appliance door is in a closed position.

19. The gasket of claim 17 , wherein the first and second lateral edges and the opposing longitudinal edges define one or more connection wells configured to receive the connection posts, and further wherein the poka yoke feature includes one or more snaps that are configured to couple with an icebox.

20. The gasket of claim 17 , wherein the first lateral edge is substantially parallel with the second lateral edge.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Khekale Ishan Subhash

Classifications

• 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

• F25D2201/00

  Insulation · CPC title

• F25D23/028

  Details · CPC title

• F25C5/22 Primary

  particularly adapted for household refrigerators · CPC title

• F25D23/04

  with special compartments, e.g. butter conditioners · CPC title