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 vacuum insulated appliance, comprising:
- a cabinet including:
- an outer wrapper;
- and
- an inner liner coupled to the outer wrapper;
- and
- a door operably coupled to the cabinet, wherein the door includes:
- an outer wrapper defining an evacuation port;
- an inner liner coupled to the outer wrapper of the door, wherein the outer wrapper of the door and the inner liner of the door define an insulating cavity therebetween;
- an evacuation port assembly coupled to the outer wrapper of the door, wherein the evacuation port assembly includes a servicing tube in fluid communication with the insulating cavity via the evacuation port for evacuating fluid from the insulating cavity;
- and
- a handle coupled to the outer wrapper of the door over the evacuation port assembly.
A refrigeration appliance, comprising:
- a cabinet;
- and
- a door operably coupled to the cabinet, wherein the door includes:
- an outer wrapper defining an evacuation port;
- an inner liner coupled to the outer wrapper, wherein an insulating cavity is defined between the outer wrapper and the inner liner;
- and
- an evacuation port assembly coupled to the outer wrapper, wherein the evacuation port assembly is in fluid communication with the insulating cavity via the evacuation port, and wherein the evacuation port assembly defines an evacuation path for evacuating fluid from the insulating cavity to define an at least partial vacuum therein;
- and
- a handle coupled to the outer wrapper over the evacuation port assembly.
An appliance, comprising:
- a cabinet;
- and
- a door operably coupled to the cabinet, wherein the door includes:
- a structural wrapper defining an insulating cavity therein, wherein the structural wrapper defines an evacuation port that is in fluid communication with the insulating cavity;
- an evacuation port assembly coupled to the structural wrapper adjacent to the evacuation port, wherein the evacuation port assembly includes a servicing tube in fluid communication with the insulating cavity via the evacuation port;
- and
- a handle coupled to the structural wrapper proximate to the evacuation port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.