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US 2022/0260100 A1Published application
Sheet metal corner hem interlock
AssigneeHaier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
InventorsCaleb Farrel, Joshua Adam Mayne
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A panel assembly including a main panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a first tab, a second tab, and an extension. The first tab defines a planar notch into which the extension is positioned to restrict movement of the first side panel and the second side panel.
Claims18
A panel assembly, comprising:
- a main panel extending within a plane which defines an X-axis and a Y-axis perpendicular to the X-axis;
- a first side panel extending from the main panel along a Z-axis perpendicular to the X-axis and the Y-axis;
- a second side panel extending from the main panel along the Z-axis, the second side panel perpendicular to the first side panel;
- a first tab extending from the first side panel along the X-axis and comprising a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the first, second, and third portions lying in the same plane and collectively defining a notch;
- a second tab extending from the second side panel along the Y-axis;
- and
- an extension extending from the second tab in the Y-axis direction, the extension interlocking with the notch.
4 more elements
A method of forming a panel assembly, the method comprising:
- receiving an unformed panel assembly, the unformed panel assembly comprising a main panel extending within a plane which defines an X-axis and a Y-axis perpendicular to the X-axis, a first side panel extending within the plane from the main panel along the X-axis, and a second side panel extending within the plane from the main panel along the Y-axis, the unformed panel assembly further comprising a first tab extending from the first side panel, the first tab comprising a first portion extending from the first side panel along the X-axis, a second portion extending from the first portion in the X-axis, and a third portion extending from the second portion in the Y-axis, the unformed panel assembly further comprising a second tab extending from the second side panel along the Y-axis, the second tab comprising an extension extending from the second tab along the Y-axis;
- bending the extension 180° such that the extension overlaps with the second tab;
- bending the first tab such that the first tab extends from the first side panel along a Z-axis perpendicular to the X-axis and the Y-axis;
- bending the second tab such that the second tab extends from the second side panel along the Z-axis;
- bending the first side panel such that the first side panel extends from the main panel along the Z-axis;
- and
- bending the second side panel such that the second side panel extends from the main panel along the Z-axis and the extension is positioned between the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion of the first tab.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.