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US 11,686,525 B2Granted
Barrier layer for insulated structures
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsDevidas B. Raskar, Lorraine J. Westlake
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An insulating structure for an appliance includes a trim breaker, a wrapper, and a liner. The wrapper and liner coupled to the trim breaker and at least partially defining a structural cabinet. A barrier is positioned between the liner and the wrapper. The barrier is also coupled to the trim breaker. An inner compressible gasket is proximate the liner, and an outer gasket is proximate the wrapper. The inner gasket and the outer compressible gasket are coupled to the barrier.
Claims17
An insulating structure comprising:
- a trim breaker having an inner groove and an outer groove;
- a first panel coupled to the trim breaker within the inner groove;
- a second panel coupled to the trim breaker within the outer groove and proximate the first panel;
- a barrier having a first surface and a second surface, the barrier being positioned between the first and the second panels and coupled to the trim breaker via the second surface;
- a first film coupled to the first surface of the barrier;
- a second film coupled to the second surface of the barrier;
- and
- an outer gasket proximate the first panel and an inner gasket proximate the second panel, wherein the inner gasket is at least partially disposed within the inner groove and the outer gasket is at least partially disposed within the outer groove, the inner gasket and the outer gasket each disposed around edge portions of the barrier and including a first lip coupled to the first film of the first surface and a second lip coupled to the second film of the second surface, and wherein the inner gasket is partially disposed within the inner groove and the outer gasket is partially disposed within the outer groove.
5 more elements
A vacuum insulated structure, comprising:
- a trim breaker having an inner groove and an outer groove;
- a first panel coupled to the trim breaker within the inner groove;
- a second panel coupled to the trim breaker within the outer groove and proximate the first panel;
- and
- a barrier of a glass-type material positioned between the first and the second panels, the barrier having at least one surface coupled to the trim breaker and including a gasket assembly operably coupled to the first panel and the second panel, wherein the gasket assembly extends partially into the inner and outer grooves and engages the trim breaker, and wherein the gasket assembly extends around edge portions of the barrier and engages the at least one surface of the barrier and a side of the barrier that opposes the at least one surface.
2 more elements
An insulating structure comprising:
- a trim breaker coupled to first and second panels to define an insulating cavity therein;
- a barrier having an insulation surface and an adhering surface with edge portions between the insulation surface and the adhering surface, the barrier being positioned between the first panel and the second panel and coupled to the trim breaker via the adhering surface;
- an inner gasket proximate the second panel and coupled to the barrier;
- and
- an outer gasket proximate the first panel and coupled to the barrier, the inner gasket and the outer gasket each disposed around the edge portions of the barrier and including a first lip coupled to the insulation surface and a second lip coupled to the adhering surface, wherein the trim breaker further defines an inner groove, a central groove, and an outer groove, and wherein the inner gasket is at least partially disposed within the inner groove and the outer gasket is at least partially disposed within the outer groove.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.