Including A Resilient Fastening Element (e.g., Clip) Patents (Class 220/592.08)
  • Patent number: 11725868
    Abstract: A standoff feature for an appliance includes a connecting member having a first end and a second end. A first side member extends in a first direction from the first end of the connecting member. A second side member is spaced from the first side member. The second side member extends in the first direction from the second end of the connecting member. A first flange extends from a first side edge of the connecting member. The first side edge extends between the first end and the second end. The first flange extends in a second direction from the connecting member. A second flange extends from a second side edge of the connecting member. The second side edge extends between the first end and the second end and opposes the first side edge. The second flange extends in the second direction from the connecting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jacob Charles Ickes, Dustin Michael Miller, Abhay Naik, Aaron Michael Stewart
  • Patent number: 11709013
    Abstract: A refrigerator appliance includes a cabinet having an inner liner spaced apart from an outer wrapper and a trim breaker extending between the inner liner and the outer wrapper to define an insulating cavity therebetween. The trim breaker includes first and second opposing vertical portions, a top portion, a bottom portion, and a central portion. The top portion is integrally formed with each vertical portion at a respective upper corner, and the bottom portion is integrally formed with each vertical portion at a respective lower corner. A first plurality of ribs extends from an outer rim of the trim breaker and at least partially along the central portion, and a second plurality of ribs extends from the outer rim of at least one of the first and second vertical portions and across at least one of the upper and lower corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Arunkumar Harikrishnasamy, Sai B. Krishna, Abhay Naik, Sanket V. Phalak
  • Patent number: 11493261
    Abstract: A vacuum adiabatic body includes a conductive resistance sheet which blocks heat conduction between plate members, and a sealing frame which covers the conductive resistance sheet. The sealing frame includes a side surface part, an outer surface part which is bent and extends from a side of the side surface part, and an inner surface part which is bent and extends from the other side of the side surface part. The sealing frame is provided as a configuration of a concave groove in which the width between the outer surface part and the inner surface part is smaller than the width of the side surface part. According to the present invention, a peripheral portion of the vacuum adiabatic body can be stably maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyeunsik Nam, Bongjin Kim
  • Patent number: 11486629
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Arunkumar Harikrishnasamy, Lynne F. Hunter, Sai B. Krishna, Abhay Naik, Sanket Phalak
  • Patent number: 11168934
    Abstract: A refrigerator front frame for a refrigerator appliance, includes: four extruded plastic profiles; four corner connecting pieces configured to join the four extruded plastic profiles to form the refrigerator front frame, wherein a co-extruded, thin metal strip is embedded within a wall of each of the four extruded plastic profiles so as to be near an outer surface of a corresponding extruded plastic profile as compared to an overall wall thickness of the corresponding extruded plastic profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignees: BSH Home Appliances Corporation, BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Cetin Abdullah Celik, Alexander Görz, Samuel Harward, Cemalettin Hasturk
  • Patent number: 11085691
    Abstract: A standoff assembly for an appliance includes a trim breaker that defines a channel. A standoff feature is disposed on a bottom surface within the channel. The standoff feature includes a base with at least one horizontal flange and at least one vertical tapered projection extending therefrom. An adhesive is disposed within the channel that is defined by the trim breaker. An outer wrapper has an outer edge. The outer edge is disposed within the channel that is defined by the trim breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jacob Charles Ickes, Dustin Michael Miller, Abhay Naik, Aaron Michael Stewart
  • Patent number: 10830527
    Abstract: A vacuum insulated cabinet structure includes an exterior wrapper with a front edge extending around an opening thereof. At least one liner includes a front edge extending around an opening of the liner, wherein the liner is disposed inside of the wrapper with the front edge of the wrapper disposed around the front edge of the liner in assembly. A thermal bridge includes an outer coupling portion and an inner coupling portion. In assembly, the outer coupling portion is overmolded to a portion of the front edge of the wrapper, and the inner coupling portion is overmolded to a portion of the front edge of the liner to form a sealed vacuum cavity between the wrapper and the liner. The thermal bridge is formed in a mold in which the preformed wrapper and liner are partially disposed to form a unitary composite structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Lakshya J. Deka, Dustin M. Miller, Tao Liu
  • Patent number: 10753669
    Abstract: An appliance includes a cabinet having an outer wrapper, an inner liner and a trim breaker defining a joint therebetween. The outer wrapper, inner liner and trim breaker define an insulating cavity. A vacuum insulated structure is disposed within the insulating cavity. A metallic frame is in communication with the outer wrapper and includes an upper hinge mount and a lower hinge mount that are connected by a vertical frame member. The metallic frame is at least partially disposed within the insulating cavity. A door panel is rotationally mounted to the cabinet via an upper hinge mounted to the upper hinge mount and a lower hinge mounted to the lower hinge mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Eric J. Dherde, Michael A. Fiori, Lynne F. Hunter
  • Patent number: 10563905
    Abstract: A refrigerating appliance includes a cabinet having an inner liner, an outer wrapper and a plastic trim breaker extending therebetween. A door panel is operable relative to the cabinet between open and closed positions. The door panel has a seal that magnetically engages a contact surface of the cabinet to define the closed position of the door panel. A ferromagnetic plate extends over a portion of the plastic trim breaker to define the contact surface. A heat loop is disposed between the trim breaker and the ferromagnetic plate, in thermal communication with the contact surface. The heat loop extends from the trim breaker to a machine compartment of the cabinet. The ferromagnetic plate includes a looped edge that defines a heating chase. The heat loop is positioned within the heating chase and extends to the machine compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Paul B. Allard, Lynne F. Hunter, Daniel Lottinville, Giulia Marinello, Dustin M. Miller, Sanjesh Kumar Pathak
  • Patent number: 10443921
    Abstract: It is an object to provide a refrigerator that suppresses heat intrusion from a heat radiation pipe for suppressing dew condensation with respect to a partition plate of a refrigerator. The refrigerator includes a partition plate that partitions a room into a plurality of rooms and a door that seals the plurality of rooms. The partition plate includes an upper plate that positions on upper side, a lower plate that positions on lower side, a design plate that positions between the upper plate and the lower plate, and a heat insulating material fixed between the design plate and the upper plate or the lower plate in a compressed state in which a compressed portion has a thickness smaller than a thickness of other portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Okazaki, Terutsugu Segawa, Yasuhiro Asaida
  • Patent number: 9841225
    Abstract: A flipper mullion for an appliance includes an outer cover coupled to a hinge, wherein the outer cover is rotationally operable between an extended position and a folded position relative to the hinge. A gasket engages at least a fastening portion of the outer cover, wherein the gasket and the outer cover cooperate to define an outer surface, and wherein an interior surface of a flexible portion of the gasket defines an insulating space that is positioned opposite a front surface of the outer cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Murilo P. Almeida, Joel Boeng, Darci Cavali, Christopher C. Cunningham, Vijaykumar Sathyamurthi