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US 12,181,200 B2Granted
Refrigerator system
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorSemen Viktorovich Limanskiy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fixation system for use in a refrigerator, including an insulative member and a ventilation panel defining a number of vents, includes first and second straps. The second strap is spaced apart from the first strap. The first strap and the second strap are collectively configured to receive the insulative member. The first strap includes a main body having a rear side and a front side opposing the rear side. The rear side is configured to lie against a rear wall of the refrigerator and defines a first aperture configured to receive a first fastener to fix the main body to the rear wall of the refrigerator. The front side defines a second aperture configured to receive a second fastener to fix the ventilation panel to the main body.
Claims14
A fixation system for use in a refrigerator comprising:
- an insulative member;
- a ventilation panel defining a number of vents;
- a first strap;
- and
- a second strap spaced apart from the first strap, wherein the first strap and the second strap are collectively configured to receive the insulative member, wherein the first and second straps engage (i) first and second side edges of the insulative member, respectively, and (ii) a front surface of the insulative member to secure the insulative member to a rear wall of the refrigerator, wherein the first strap includes a main body having a rear side and a front side opposing the rear side, wherein the rear side lies against the rear wall of the refrigerator and defines a first aperture configured to receive a first fastener to fix the main body to the rear wall of the refrigerator, wherein the front side defines a second aperture receiving a second fastener to fix the ventilation panel to the main body, wherein the second fastener is a press-fit fastener extending from the ventilation panel, wherein the second aperture is configured to receive the press-fit fastener, wherein the second aperture (i) extends axially inward from the front side of the main body, (ii) is tapered radially inward along a first region that is (a) adjacent to the front side of the main body and (b) operable to guide the press-fit fastener into the second aperture, and (iii) is tapered radially outward along a second region that extends from the first region such that a protrusion is defined along a transition between the first region and the second region, and wherein the press-fit fastener engages the protrusion to within the second aperture to secure the ventilation panel to the second strap.
2 more elements
A refrigerator subcomponent fixation system comprising:
- a rear wall;
- an insulative member;
- a first strap and a second strap (i) each fixed to the rear wall, (ii) engaging first and second opposing side edges of the insulative member, respectively, and (iii) each engaging a front surface of the insulative member to secure the insulative member to the rear wall, wherein (a) the first and second straps include sidewalls and flanges extending laterally outward from the sidewalls, (b) the sidewalls of the first and second straps engage the first and second opposing side edges of the insulative member, respectively, (c) the flanges engage the front surface of insulative member to secure the insulative member to the rear wall, (d) the first and second straps define counterbore orifices adjacent to the flanges, (e) the counterbore orifices are configured to receive fasteners to fix the first and second straps to the rear wall, (f) the first and second straps define a second set of orifices that are spaced apart from the counterbore orifices, (g) the orifices of the second set of orifices (I) extend axially inward from front sides of the first and second straps, (II) and are tapered radially inward along first regions that are (A) adjacent to the front sides of the first and second straps and (B) operable to guide press-fit fasteners into the second set of orifices, and (III) are tapered radially outward along second regions that extend from the first regions such that protrusions are defined along transitions between the first regions and the second regions;
- and
- a ventilation panel secured to the first and second straps such that the insulative member is sandwiched between the rear wall and the ventilation panel, and wherein the press-fit fasteners extend from the ventilation panel and engage the protrusions within the second set of orifices to secure the ventilation panel to the first and second straps.
2 more elements
A refrigerator subcomponent mounting system comprising:
- a rear wall;
- a ventilation panel spaced apart from the rear wall;
- an insulative member disposed between the rear wall and the ventilation panel, the insulative member having opposing side edges and a front surface extending between the opposing side edges;
- first and second straps (i) disposed between the rear wall and the ventilation panel, (ii) fixed to the rear wall, (iii) engaging the opposing side edges and the front surface of the insulative member to secure the insulative member to the rear wall, and (iv) defining orifices;
- and
- press-fit fasteners extending from the ventilation panel, wherein the orifices (i) are tapered radially inward along first regions that are operable to guide the press-fit fasteners into the orifices and (ii) tapered radially outward along second regions that extend from the first regions such that protrusions are defined along transitions between the first regions and the second regions within each orifice, and wherein each press-fit fastener engages the protrusion within one of the orifices to secure the ventilation panel to the first and second straps.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.