Vacuum insulated structure with sheet metal features to control vacuum bow

A refrigerator, comprising:

• a cabinet enclosing an insulating cavity and including:
• an outer wrapper having a first side wall defining:
• a perimeter;
• an outer frame portion defined radially inward of the perimeter;
• and
• an inner area surrounded and supported by the outer frame portion, the inner area initially defining a first planar level with at least a portion of the outer frame portion extending to a second planar level parallel to and spaced apart from the first planar level in an axially outward direction, the insulating cavity being sealed and having a vacuum drawn therefrom with the outer frame portion deformed such that the inner area is moved axially inward away from the second planar level under a force of the vacuum within the insulating cavity with at least the portion of the outer frame portion remaining at the second planar level;
• a first inner liner disposed inward of the outer wrapper and defining a first inner cavity having a first opening;
• and
• a thermal bridge interconnecting the outer wrapper and the first inner liner around the first opening;
• and
• a first door closeable over at least a portion of the first opening.

A method of making refrigerator comprising:

• sealing an outer wrapper having a first side wall to a first inner liner to define a vacuum-insulated cabinet structure enclosing an insulating cavity and including an outer wrapper, the first side wall defining:
• a perimeter;
• an outer frame portion defined radially inward of the perimeter;
• and
• an inner area surrounded and supported by the outer frame portion, the inner area initially defining a first planar level with at least a portion of the outer frame portion extending to a second planar level parallel to and spaced apart from the first planar level in an axially outward direction;
• and
• drawing a vacuum from the insulating cavity such that the outer frame portion deforms by movement of the inner area axially inward away from the second planar level with at least the portion of the outer frame portion remaining at the second planar level.