Insulated door assembly
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorSunil S. Ekshinge
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vacuum insulated door for an appliance includes an outer wrapper that defines an evacuation port. An inner liner is coupled to the outer wrapper defining an insulating cavity therebetween. A base is coupled to the outer wrapper adjacent to the evacuation port. A servicing tube has a connecting end and a servicing end. The servicing tube is in fluid communication with the insulating cavity via the evacuation port. The connecting end is coupled to the base. A handle has first and second ends coupled to the outer wrapper and a center portion therebetween spaced-apart from the outer wrapper. The first end is coupled to the outer wrapper proximate the evacuation port. The servicing tube extends along an inner surface of the handle.
Claims20
A method of assembling an insulated appliance door, comprising:
- coupling an outer wrapper with an inner liner to define an insulating cavity therebetween;
- coupling an evacuation port assembly to the outer wrapper and in fluid communication with the insulating cavity;
- evacuating the insulating cavity via the evacuation port assembly to define a pressure differential between the insulating cavity and an area external to said insulated appliance door;
- and
- coupling a handle to the outer wrapper over the evacuation port assembly.
A method of assembling an insulated structure, comprising:
- providing a structural wrapper that defines an evacuation port in fluid communication with an insulating cavity;
- coupling an evacuation port assembly to the structural wrapper, wherein the evacuation port assembly is in fluid communication with the insulating cavity via the evacuation port;
- drawing an at least partial vacuum within the insulating cavity via a servicing tube of the evacuation port assembly;
- and
- coupling a handle to the structural wrapper over the evacuation port assembly.
A method of servicing an insulated door, comprising:
- providing a structural wrapper defining an insulating cavity in fluid communication with an evacuation port assembly;
- removing a handle from the structural wrapper to provide access to the evacuation port assembly;
- evacuating the insulating cavity of the structural wrapper via the evacuation port assembly to define a select pressure differential between the insulating cavity and an area external to the structural wrapper;
- and
- coupling the handle to the structural wrapper over the evacuation port assembly.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.