# US 11,906,379 B2 · Insulated structure for an appliance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,906,379 B2 - Document ID: US11906379B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/542,785 - Filed: 2021-12-06 - Published: 2023-06-08 - Granted: 2024-02-20 - Earliest claimed: 2021-12-06 - Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation - Applicants: Whirlpool Corporation - Inventors: Sunil Shivaji Ekshinge; Omkar Sunil Mithari; Caroline Paiva Torres; Sanjesh Kumar Pathak; Paul Bennett Allard - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11906379B2 ## CPC - F25D 23/06: Walls (F25D23/08 takes precedence; containers with thermal insulation B65D81/38) - G01L 19/149: {of immersion sensor, e.g. where the sensor is immersed in the measuring medium or for in vivo measurements, e.g. by using catheter tips} - F16L 59/065: using vacuum (F16L59/075 takes precedence) - F25D 23/065: {Details} - F25D 29/005: {Mounting of control devices} - F25D 2201/14: using subatmospheric pressure - F25D 2700/00: Means for sensing or measuring; Sensors therefor - 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) - G01L: MEASURING FORCE, STRESS, TORQUE, WORK, MECHANICAL POWER, MECHANICAL EFFICIENCY, OR FLUID PRESSURE (weighing G01G) - F16L: PIPES; JOINTS OR FITTINGS FOR PIPES; SUPPORTS FOR PIPES, CABLES OR PROTECTIVE TUBING; MEANS FOR THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL ## Abstract An insulated structure for an appliance includes a plurality of walls, a cavity defined by the plurality of walls, and an aperture defined by one of the plurality of walls. The aperture is employed in evacuating the cavity to establish a less-than-atmospheric pressure within the cavity. A base structure is coupled to an interior surface of the one of the plurality of walls that defines the aperture. The base structure is aligned with the aperture. A pressure sensor is received by the base structure. The base structure and the pressure sensor together define a pressure-sensing assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An insulated structure for an appliance, comprising: a plurality of walls; a cavity defined by the plurality of walls; an aperture defined by one of the plurality of walls; a base structure coupled to an interior surface of the one of the plurality of walls that defines the aperture, wherein the base structure is aligned with the aperture; a pressure sensor received by the base structure, wherein the base structure and the pressure sensor together define a pressure-sensing assembly; and a cover that is removably coupled to the aperture, wherein a position of the pressure-sensing assembly remains constant independent of whether the cover is in a coupled state or a decoupled state relative to the aperture. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The insulated structure for an appliance of claim 1, wherein the pressure-sensing assembly fits below the cover when the cover is in the coupled state. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The insulated structure for an appliance of claim 1, wherein the aperture is employed in evacuating the cavity to establish a less-than-atmospheric pressure within the cavity. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The insulated structure for an appliance of claim 1, wherein the base structure defines one or more channels. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The insulated structure for an appliance of claim 4, wherein at least one of the one or more channels is positioned over the aperture. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The insulated structure for an appliance of claim 5, wherein at least one of the one or more channels receives the pressure sensor. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The insulated structure for an appliance of claim 6, wherein the one or more channels comprises a plurality of diameters. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The insulated structure for an appliance of claim 6, wherein the pressure-sensing assembly further comprises: a first polymeric plate; and a second polymeric plate adhered to the first polymeric plate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The insulated structure for an appliance of claim 8, wherein electrical leads of the pressure sensor extend through the first polymeric plate and the second polymeric plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The insulated structure for an appliance of claim 9, wherein the one or more channels comprises a first channel and a second channel, and wherein the first channel is positioned over the aperture. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The insulated structure for an appliance of claim 10, wherein the second channel receives the pressure sensor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The insulated structure for an appliance of claim 11, wherein the first channel and the second channel are oriented perpendicular to one another. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The insulated structure for an appliance of claim 10, wherein the first channel and the second channel are in fluid communication with one another. ### Claim 14 An insulated structure for an appliance, comprising: a plurality of walls; a cavity defined by the plurality of walls; an aperture defined by one of the plurality of walls, wherein the aperture is employed in evacuating the cavity to establish a less-than-atmospheric pressure within the cavity; a base structure coupled to an interior surface of the one of the plurality of walls that defines the aperture, wherein the base structure is aligned with the aperture, wherein the base structure defines one or more channels, wherein at least one of the one or more channels is positioned over the aperture; a pressure sensor that is received by the base structure, wherein the base structure and the pressure sensor together define a pressure-sensing assembly, and wherein the pressure sensor is a microelectromechanical system; and a cover that is removably coupled to the aperture, wherein a position of the pressure-sensing assembly remains constant independent of whether the cover is in a coupled state or a decoupled state relative to the aperture, wherein the pressure-sensing assembly fits below the cover when the cover is in the coupled state. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The insulated structure for an appliance of claim 14, wherein at least one of the one or more channels receives the pressure sensor, and wherein the one or more channels comprises a plurality of diameters. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The insulated structure for an appliance of claim 14, further comprising: a first polymeric plate; and a second polymeric plate adhered to the first polymeric plate, wherein electrical leads of the pressure sensor extend through the first polymeric plate and the second polymeric plate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The insulated structure for an appliance of claim 16, wherein the one or more channels comprises a first channel and a second channel, and wherein the first channel is positioned over the aperture. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The insulated structure for an appliance of claim 17, wherein the second channel receives the pressure sensor, and wherein the first channel and the second channel are in fluid communication with one another. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The insulated structure for an appliance of claim 18, wherein the first channel and the second channel are oriented perpendicular to one another.