Refrigerator cabinet breaker assembly
View Patent ↗A refrigerator cabinet includes an interior liner, an exterior cabinet and a breaker assembly. The breaker assembly connects the interior liner and the exterior cabinet and maintains a space therebetween. The breaker assembly includes a first breaker strip. The first breaker strip has a forward leg, a side leg, and a clip portion. The side leg extends from the forward leg and is oriented substantially perpendicular to the forward leg. The clip portion is carried by the forward leg. An adjacent side surface of the exterior cabinet is defined by a sheet of cardboard. The cardboard is captured between the side leg and the clip portion.
1. A refrigerator cabinet comprising:
an interior liner;
an exterior cabinet; and
a breaker assembly connecting a portion of the interior liner and a portion of the exterior cabinet and maintaining a space therebetween, the breaker assembly having a first breaker strip, the first breaker strip including:
a forward leg;
a side leg extending from the forward leg and oriented substantially perpendicular to the forward leg;
a clip portion carried by the forward leg; and
a laterally extending tab depending from the forward leg of the first breaker strip, the tab being parallel to but offset from the forward leg of the first breaker strip;
wherein an adjacent side surface of the exterior cabinet is defined by a sheet, the sheet having an edge captured between the side leg and the clip portion.
2. The breaker for a refrigerator cabinet of claim 1 , wherein the edge of the sheet is folded over.
3. The breaker for a refrigerator cabinet of claim 1 , further comprising a foam disposed in the space.
4. The breaker for a refrigerator cabinet of claim 1 , wherein the forward leg, the side leg, and the clip portion are formed from a common sheet of metal.
5. The breaker for a refrigerator cabinet of claim 1 , wherein the breaker assembly further includes a second breaker strip having a forward leg and a side leg, the second breaker strip and the first breaker strip intersecting at a joint.
6. The breaker for a refrigerator cabinet of claim 1 , wherein the tab abuts a rear surface of the forward leg of the second breaker strip.
7. The breaker for a refrigerator cabinet of claim 1 , wherein the first breaker strip is a bottom breaker strip and the adjacent side surface is a bottom surface.
8. The breaker for a refrigerator cabinet of claim 5 , wherein the first breaker strip is a bottom breaker strip, the adjacent side surface is a bottom surface, and the second breaker strip is a lateral side breaker strip.
9. A method of manufacturing a refrigerator cabinet having an interior liner and an exterior cabinet, the method comprising the steps of:
inserting the interior liner into the exterior cabinet to define a space therebetween;
providing a breaker assembly for connecting the interior liner and the exterior cabinet and maintaining the space, the breaker assembly including a breaker strip having a forward leg, a side leg extending from the forward leg and oriented substantially perpendicular to the forward leg, and a clip portion carried by the forward leg; and
engaging a portion of the interior liner with the clip portion; and
capturing an edge of an adjacent side of the cabinet between the clip portion and the side leg.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of introducing a foam into the space.
11. A breaker assembly for a refrigerator having an interior liner and an exterior cabinet, the breaker assembly for connecting a portion of the interior liner and a portion of the exterior cabinet and maintaining a space therebetween, the breaker assembly comprising:
a first breaker strip, the first breaker strip including:
a forward leg;
a side leg extending from the forward leg and oriented substantially perpendicular to the forward leg; and
a clip portion integrally formed to include a first portion, a second portion and intermediate portion connecting the first and second portions, the first and second portions spaced apart to define an opening configured to receive the interior liner, the second portion carried by the forward leg;
the side leg and the intermediate portion of the clip portion defines means for capturing an edge of a planar member of an adjacent side surface of the exterior cabinet.
12. The breaker assembly for a refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein the first breaker strip is a bottom breaker strip and the adjacent side surface is a bottom surface.
13. The breaker assembly for a refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein the clip portion is integrally formed with the side leg.
14. The breaker for a refrigerator cabinet of claim 11 , further comprising a foam disposed in the space.
15. The breaker for a refrigerator cabinet of claim 11 , wherein the forward leg, the side leg, and the clip portion are formed from a common sheet of metal.
16. The breaker for a refrigerator cabinet of claim 11 , wherein the breaker assembly further includes a second breaker strip having a forward leg and a side leg, the second breaker strip and the first breaker strip intersecting at a joint.
17. The breaker for a refrigerator cabinet of claim 11 , wherein the first breaker strip is a bottom breaker strip, the adjacent side surface is a bottom surface, and the second breaker strip is a lateral side breaker strip.
18. The breaker for a refrigerator cabinet of claim 11 , in combination with a refrigerator.
19. The breaker assembly for a refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein the planar member is a sheet of cardboard.
20. The breaker for a refrigerator cabinet of claim 19 , wherein the edge of the sheet is folded over.
21. The breaker for a refrigerator of claim 11 , wherein the means for capturing and edge of a planar member includes a gap.