Patent · US Expired

Refrigerator with hot liquid loop/case protection

US5000010A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
7References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 22, 1990
Grant dateMar 19, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 22, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25D21/04
  • WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

The combination of a refrigerator cabinet, a hot refrigerant loop conduit passing through an opening in a peripheral wall of the cabinet and a grommet shielding the conduit from the edge of metal around the opening. The grommet, formed by a pair of molded body elements joined by an integral hinge, includes a pair of passages receiving portions of the conduit. Resilient rings extend into the passages and engage the conduit to preclude escape of foam insulation through the passages. An outwardly diverging mandrel extends from the refrigerated compartment end of each passage. A sealing lip projects outwardly from the grommet body and inclines toward the housing wall. Resilient fingers extend from the grommet body and have distal ends which overlap the distal edge of the sealing lip. The distal ends of the fingers and distal edge of the sealing lip engage opposite sides of the peripheral wall so the lip seals against leakage of foam through the opening.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.