IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,725,869
Granted Patent B2
US 11,725,869 · App. 17/483,131 · Granted Aug 15, 2023

Cabinet reinforcing assembly

Inventors: Arunkumar Harikrishnasamy (Stevensville, MI); Lynne F. Hunter (Dorr, MI); Abhay Naik (Stevensville, MI); Sanket Vivek Phalak (Pune, IN); Aaron Michael Stewart (Buchanan, MI)
Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
F25D23/067F25D21/04F25D23/062F25D23/065F25D23/069F25D2201/14F25D2323/024F25D2323/06F25D2400/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,725,869
App. No.
17/483,131
Granted
Aug 15, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cabinet of an appliance includes an outer wrapper defining opposing first and second sidewalls, a rear wall coupling the first and second sidewalls and an access opening and an inner liner defining an interior. The outer wrapper and the inner liner may define a sealed insulating cavity therebetween that is under vacuum. A plurality of reinforcement brackets may be disposed on the outer wrapper. The plurality of reinforcement brackets are configured to prevent deformation of the cabinet during application of the vacuum to the insulating cavity.

Claims (11)

1. A refrigerating appliance comprising:

a cabinet comprising:

an outer wrapper defining opposing first and second sidewalls, a rear wall coupling the first and second sidewalls, and an access opening;

an inner liner defining an upper compartment and a lower compartment, wherein the outer wrapper and the inner liner define a sealed insulating cavity therebetween;

a mullion disposed between the upper compartment and the lower compartment and extending across the access opening; and

a mullion brace positioned at the mullion, the mullion brace including a first bracket and a second bracket having overlapping planar ends, the first bracket and the second bracket including first and second transverse ends, respectively, wherein the first and second transverse ends are at least partially disposed on the first and second sidewalls, respectively.

2. The refrigerating appliance of claim 1 , wherein one of the first and second brackets includes an angled portion such that one of the first and second planar ends corresponding to the one of the first and second brackets overlaps the other of the first and second planar ends.

3. The refrigerating appliance of claim 1 , wherein the mullion brace further comprises a raised portion, the raised portion proximate an access opening edge of one of the first and second sidewalls.

4. The refrigerating appliance of claim 3 , wherein at least one door hinge is coupled to the raised portion.

5. The refrigerating appliance of claim 1 , wherein the mullion brace further comprises:

a raised portion proximate an access opening edge of one of the first and second sidewalls.

Continuity (2)
Division 16744872 · Jan 16, 2020
Related Publication 20220011041A1 · Jan 13, 2022
Cited By (1)
US 12,704,318