# US 10,234,194 B2 · Door manufacturing method for a freezer drawer

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- Number: US 10,234,194 B2
- Document ID: US10234194B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/460,463
- Filed: 2017-03-16
- Published: 2018-09-20
- Granted: 2019-03-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-16
- Assignees: Sub-Zero, Inc.
- Applicants: Sub-Zero, Inc.
- Inventors: Philip Francis Hottmann
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10234194B2

## CPC

- F25D 25/025: {Drawers}
- B29C 65/08: using ultrasonic vibrations {(non-plastics element to plastics elements B29C65/645)}
- F25D 23/02: Doors; Covers (F25D23/08 takes precedence {locks or fastenings E05B65/0042})
- F25D 23/025: {Secondary closures}
- F25D 23/066: {Liners}
- F25D 23/087: {Sealing strips}
- B29C 66/54: {Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles}
- B29C 66/73921: {characterised by the materials of both parts being thermoplastics}
- B29K 2101/12: Thermoplastic materials
- B29L 2031/265: {Packings, Gaskets}
- B29L 2031/724: {Doors}
- B29L 2031/762: {Household appliances}
- B29L 2031/7622: {Refrigerators}
- F25D 23/021: {Sliding doors}
- Y10T 29/49872: Confining elastic part in socket
- Y10T 29/49876: by snap fit
- Y10T 29/49966: with supplemental joining
- Y10T 29/4998: Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material
- F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A method of making a gasket track for a gasket is provided. A first section of a c-shaped channel comprising from 50% to 75% of the c-shaped channel of a first plastic material is formed. A second section of a c-shaped channel comprising from 25% to 50% of the c-shaped channel of a second plastic material is formed. The first section is joined together with the second section to form all of the c-shaped channel. The c-shaped channel has a circular cross section that forms at least 65% of an ellipse.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of making a gasket track for a gasket comprising:
forming a first section of a c-shaped channel comprising from 50% to 75% of the c-shaped channel of a first plastic material;
forming a second section of a c-shaped channel comprising from 25% to 50% of the c-shaped channel of a second plastic material; and
joining the formed first section together with the formed second section to form all of the c-shaped channel,
wherein the c-shaped channel has a circular cross section that forms at least 65% of an ellipse.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first plastic material and the second plastic material comprise a thermoplastic polymer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the first plastic material is a same material as the second plastic material.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the formed first section and the formed second section are joined using an ultrasonic welding process.

### Claim 5

A method of making a drawer panel for a freezer drawer comprising:
forming a first section of a c-shaped channel comprising from 50% to 75% of the c-shaped channel of a first plastic material;
forming a second section of a c-shaped channel comprising from 25% to 50% of the c-shaped channel of a second plastic material;
joining the formed first section together with the formed second section to form all of the c-shaped channel, wherein the c-shaped channel has a circular cross section that forms at least 65% of an ellipse, wherein the joining attaches a liner shell to a ring wall;
attaching a panel face shell to the ring wall; and
inserting a gasket into the c-shaped channel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the first plastic material and the second plastic material comprise a thermoplastic polymer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the formed first section and the formed second section are joined using an ultrasonic welding process.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the panel face shell is attached to the ring wall using a snap fit.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the panel face shell is attached to the ring wall by compressing the ring wall to slide between a plurality of side walls of the panel face shell until a ledge that extends outward from the ring wall is inserted into a channel formed in an inner face of the plurality of side walls.

### Claim 10 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising, before attaching the panel face shell to the ring wall, attaching a handle piece to a front wall of the panel face shell.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the handle piece is attached to the front wall of the panel face shell by sliding the handle piece onto the front wall and mating a tab extending from the front wall with an indentation formed in the handle piece.

### Claim 12 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising injecting an insulating material into a cavity formed by a front wall of the panel face shell, a back wall of the liner shell, and a plurality of side walls of the liner shell.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The method of claim 12, wherein the insulating material is injected through a hole formed in a side wall of the panel face shell.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13, further comprising, after injecting the insulating material, sliding a cover plate between the side wall of the panel face shell and the ring wall to cover the hole.

### Claim 15

A method of making a freezer drawer comprising:
forming a first section of a c-shaped channel comprising from 50% to 75% of the c-shaped channel of a first plastic material;
forming a second section of a c-shaped channel comprising from 25% to 50% of the c-shaped channel of a second plastic material;
joining the formed first section together with the formed second section to form all of the c-shaped channel, wherein the c-shaped channel has a circular cross section that forms at least 65% of an ellipse, wherein the joining attaches a liner shell to a ring wall;
attaching a container to the liner shell;
attaching a panel face shell to the ring wall; and
inserting a gasket into the c-shaped channel.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein a left side wall, a right side wall, and a back wall of the container are formed of a wire mesh.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the container is attached to the liner shell before the panel face shell is attached to the ring wall.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein the container is attached to the liner shell after the liner shell is joined to the ring wall.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The method of claim 15, wherein attaching the container to the liner shell comprises:
attaching a left side wall of the container to a back wall of the liner shell;
attaching a right side wall of the container to the back wall of the liner shell; and
attaching a bottom wall of the container to a side wall of the liner shell.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The method of claim 19, wherein attaching the left side wall of the container to the back wall of the liner shell, attaching the right side wall of the container to the back wall of the liner shell, and attaching the bottom wall of the container to the side wall of the liner shell each use a fastener.