Thermal and reinforced refrigerator door
US6679006B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 4, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jan 20, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 4, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF25D2201/126
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A refrigerator door has reinforcing corner brackets that structurally complete the corners of the door. The corner brackets are located at the door corners adjacent vertical and horizontal side walls of the outer door skin of the door. At least one reinforcing member such as a sheet or rectangular collar, for example, or preferably reinforcing cross brace members are connected to the corner brackets. To achieve this connection and restrict heat transfer through the door and or adjacent the inner liner or in-turned flange of the outer door skin, the corner brackets have connecting tab portions that extend into the cavity of the door away from one of the side walls of the door and spaced from the other side wall of the door. The connecting tab portion is also spaced from the outer skin sheet and the inner door liner. As a result, the reinforcing member or members extend substantially across the width of the door spaced from the outer door skin wall and the inner door liner and are connected to the connecting bracket which is connected in heat transfer relation with side walls, horizontal or vertical, of the door. This reduces heat losses from the refrigerator cabinet conducted throug…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.