IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,607,395
Granted Patent B2
US 12,607,395 · App. 18/037,089 · Granted Apr 21, 2026

Heat insulating element

Inventors: Jochen Hiemeyer (Karlstadt, DE); Lukas Limbach (Veitshoechheim, DE); Michael Freitag (Thuengersheim, DE)
Assignee: LIEBHERR-HAUSGERÄTE OCHSENHAUSEN GMBH
F25D23/02F25D2201/14
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,607,395
App. No.
18/037,089
Granted
Apr 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a heat insulating element ( 1 ) comprising: a plate-type main part ( 2 ) with a first flat face and a second flat face and comprising a vacuum insulating body ( 3 ), in particular a foil-encased vacuum insulating body which is arranged between the first flat face and the second flat face, wherein the first flat face and the second flat face are made of a respective cover layer ( 4, 5 ), and on at least one of the two flat faces, the corresponding cover layer ( 4 ) is only partially connected to the vacuum insulating body ( 3 ), in particular in an adhered or melted manner. The invention is characterized in that the cover layer ( 4 ) which is only partially connected has a relief structure ( 6 ) in all of, a plurality of, or the majority of the regions which are not connected to the vacuum insulating body ( 3 ), said relief structure being designed to compensate for a thermal expansion or a thermal contraction.

Claims (24)

1 . A heat insulating element comprising:

a plate-like base body having a first planar side and a second planar side; and

a film covered vacuum insulation body that is arranged between the first planar side and the second planar side, wherein the first planar side and the second planar side are formed by a respective top layer, wherein

the corresponding top layer at at least one of the two planar sides is only partially connected, to the film covered vacuum insulation body,

the only partially connected top layer has a relief structure in all the regions, in a plurality of the regions, or the majority of the regions not connected to the film covered vacuum insulation body that is configured to compensate a thermal expansion or a thermal contraction, and

a surface ratio of non-connection regions between the top layer and the film covered vacuum insulation body is larger than the surface ratio of connection regions between the top layer and the film covered vacuum insulation body.

2 . The heat insulating element in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the film covered vacuum insulation body is received in a sandwich-like manner between a first top layer and a second top layer.

3 . The heat insulating element in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the top layer comprises plastic, steel, and/or aluminum or consists of one of these materials or of a combination thereof.

4 . The heat insulating element in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the top layer and the film covered vacuum insulation body are partially connected to one another via the connection regions that are spaced apart from one another.

5 . The heat insulating element in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the spacing of the connection regions is smaller than 100 mm.

6 . The heat insulating element in accordance with claim 4 , wherein all the connection regions, a plurality of the connection regions, or the majority of the connection regions are formed in a strip-like manner at the top layer.

7 . The heat insulating element in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the connection regions are arranged in a regular structure between the top layer and the film covered vacuum insulation body, with a spacing between the connection regions provided between the top layer and the film covered vacuum insulation body.

8 . The heat insulating element in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the relief structure is shaped as convex with respect to the film covered vacuum insulation body.

9 . The heat insulating element in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the spacing of the connection regions is smaller than 50 mm.

10 . The heat insulating element in accordance with claim 4 , wherein all the connection regions, a plurality of the connection regions, or the majority of the connection regions are formed in a strip-like manner at the top layer extend in parallel with one another.

11 . The heat insulating element in accordance with claim 8 , wherein the maximum spacing from an inner side of the relief structure rising from the film covered vacuum insulation body is smaller than five times the thickness of the top layer.

12 . The heat insulating element in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a gap is provided between the relief structure and the film covered vacuum insulation body.

13 . A door of a refrigerator unit and/or a freezer unit, wherein the door or the lid comprises a heat insulating element in accordance with claim 1 .

14 . The door in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the connection regions extend in a strip-like manner transversely to the longitudinal direction of the door.

15 . The door in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the relief structure of the heat insulating element are provided at a side of the door facing the interior of the refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit.

16 . The door in accordance with claim 13 , wherein a top layer of the heat insulating element that is not provided with the relief structure and that is produced from aluminum or a steel is arranged at an outer side of the door that faces an exterior of the refrigerator unit and/or freezer unit.

17 . The heat insulating element in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the corresponding top layer at at least one of the two planar sides is adhesively bonded or fused, to the film covered vacuum insulation body.

18 . The heat insulating element in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the film covered vacuum insulation body is received in a sandwich-like manner between a first top layer and a second top layer with the film covered vacuum insulation body being directly connected to both top layers.

19 . The heat insulating element in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the relief structure is shaped as convex with respect to the film covered vacuum insulation body and is designed as bell-shaped or hood-shaped in a sectional view.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 16, 2023
From: HIEMEYER, JOCHEN; LIMBACH, LUKAS; FREITAG, MICHAEL
To: LIEBHERR-HAUSGERAETE OCHSENHAUSEN GMBH
Reel/Frame 063648/0695 →
Priority Claims (2)
DE 10 2020 131 618.6 · Nov 30, 2020 · national
DE 10 2021 100 454.3 · Jan 13, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230417474A1 · Dec 28, 2023
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