IP Library Granted Patent US 11,585,592
Granted Patent B2
US 11,585,592 · App. 17/679,538 · Granted Feb 21, 2023

Wall panel for an appliance

Inventors: Julia B. Burke (Chicago, IL); Daniel Chow (St. Joseph, MI); Daniel V. Clements (St. Joseph, MI); Rebecca M. Goesling (Chicago, IL); Mark W. Schulz (Benton Harbor, MI)
Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
F25D23/066F25D23/028F25D27/005F25D2323/021F25D2323/06F25D2400/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,585,592
App. No.
17/679,538
Granted
Feb 21, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A refrigerator includes a cabinet with a plurality of walls and a compartment area for storing food within the cabinet. A door is configured to seal the compartment area. A refrigeration component is disposed within the cabinet. A wall panel is positioned within the cabinet and includes a three-dimensional molded surface with non-uniformly spaced peaks and valleys and a lighting structure. The wall panel extends from a lower end of the compartment area to an upper end of the compartment area. The wall panel separates the compartment area from the refrigeration component and is coextensive with one of the plurality of walls of the cabinet.

Claims (40)

1. A refrigerator comprising:

a cabinet including a plurality of walls;

a compartment area for storing food within the cabinet;

a door configured to seal the compartment area;

a refrigeration component disposed within the cabinet; and

a wall panel positioned within the cabinet and comprising a three-dimensional molded surface including non-uniformly spaced peaks and valleys and a lighting structure, wherein:

the wall panel extends from a lower end of the compartment area to an upper end of the compartment area; and

the wall panel separates the compartment area from the refrigeration component and is coextensive with one of the plurality of walls of the cabinet.

2. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional molded surface extends at least partially into the compartment area.

3. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the three-dimensional molded surface comprises a three-dimensional pattern extending from a first side end of the wall panel to a second side end of the wall panel.

4. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the lighting structure is positioned to provide light to the compartment area.

5. The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising:

control circuitry configured to activate the lighting structure based on user interaction with said refrigerator.

6. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein:

an interior surface of the cabinet comprises a back surface and a pair of side surfaces; and

the pair of side surfaces comprise a reflective material.

7. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein an interior surface of the door comprises a three-dimensional molded surface.

8. The refrigerator of claim 1 , further comprising:

a storage structure within the compartment area, wherein the wall panel is disposed between the storage structure and the cabinet.

9. The refrigerator of claim 8 , wherein the storage structure is one of a shelf and a drawer.

10. The refrigerator of claim 1 , wherein the wall panel is formed of a translucent material.

11. An appliance comprising:

a cabinet having a back wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, and a pair of side walls;

a compartment area for storing food within the cabinet;

a door configured to seal the compartment area;

a storage structure disposed within the compartment area; and

a wall panel, wherein the wall panel is co-extensive with the back wall of the cabinet and extends a full height and width of the back wall of the cabinet, and further wherein the wall panel includes a three-dimensional molded surface.

12. The appliance of claim 11 , wherein the three-dimensional molded surface includes irregular alternating peaks and valleys.

13. The appliance of claim 12 , wherein the three-dimensional molded surface comprises a three-dimensional pattern extending from a first side end of the wall panel to a second side end of the wall panel.

14. The appliance of claim 11 , wherein the wall panel further comprises a lighting structure.

15. The appliance of claim 14 , further comprising:

control circuitry configured to activate the lighting structure based on user interaction with said appliance.

16. An appliance comprising:

a cabinet defining a compartment area for storing food within the cabinet;

a door operably coupled with the cabinet; and

a wall panel disposed within the cabinet, wherein the wall panel is co-extensive with a back wall of the cabinet and extends a full height and width of the back wall of the cabinet, and further wherein the wall panel includes a three-dimensional molded surface having irregular alternating peaks and valleys extending from a first side end of the wall panel to a second side end of the wall panel.

17. The appliance of claim 16 , wherein the wall panel further comprises a lighting structure that back lights the wall panel.

18. The appliance of claim 17 , further comprising:

control circuitry configured to activate the lighting structure based on user interaction with said appliance.

19. The appliance of claim 16 , wherein the wall panel is formed of a material that is at least partially translucent.

Continuity (2)
Continuation 16766169
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