US 2023/0417478 A1Published application

Refrigerator appliance subcomponent mounting system

AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation

InventorsLuiz Afranio ALVES FERREIRA, Vinicius BIANCHEZZI, Ualisson Ferreira DA SILVA, Francisco DE SENA, JR., Acácio DA SILVA, JR., Lucas F LONNI

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

patentgrep

Loading patent…

Abstract

An anchor assembly for securing a subcomponent to a refrigerator includes a receiving portion and a cover portion. The receiving portion has a first end configured to engage the subcomponent, a second end defining threads, and tabs extending radially outward at a position that is between the first and second ends. The cover portion has a hub and a skirt extending radially outward from the hub. The hub is configured to engage the second end of the receiving portion via the threads to secure the second portion to the first portion. The skirt is configured to engage a wall and extend about the keyed-orifice. The tabs and skirt are collectively configured to generate a compression force on the wall to secure the anchor assembly to the wall.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A refrigerator appliance comprising:

a cabinet having walls defining an internal cavity;
an inner liner (i) disposed within the internal cavity such that a gap is defined between the walls and the inner liner, (ii) having an external surface facing toward the gap, (iii) having an internal surface facing away from the gap on an opposing side of the inner liner relative to the external surface, and (iv) defining a keyed-orifice extending between the external and internal surfaces;
an anchor assembly secured to the inner liner, the anchor assembly having,
a receiving portion (i) disposed within the keyed-orifice, (ii) having a first axial end extending outward from the internal surface, (iii) having a second axial end extending outward from the external surface, and (iv) having tabs extending radially outward at a position that is between the first and second axial ends, wherein (a) the first axial end defines a fastener-receiving orifice, (b) the second axial end has threads, and (c) the tabs engage the internal surface, and
a cover portion (i) disposed within the gap, (ii) defining a tapped orifice, and (iii) having a skirt extending radially outward from the tapped orifice, wherein (a) the tapped orifice engages the threads to secure the cover portion to the receiving portion, (b) the skirt engages the external surface and extends about the keyed-orifice to isolate the keyed-orifice from the gap, and (c) the tabs and skirt collectively generate a compression force on the inner liner to secure the anchor assembly to the inner liner;
a subcomponent disposed within the internal cavity;
a fastener engaging the subcomponent and the fastener-receiving orifice to secure the subcomponent to the anchor assembly;
and
an insulating material (i) disposed within the gap, (ii) between the walls and the inner liner, and (iii) over the skirt.

6 more elements

A refrigerator appliance comprising:

a cabinet;
a liner (i) disposed within the cabinet such that a gap is defined between the cabinet and the liner, and such that a chamber is defined on an opposing side of the liner relative to the gap and (ii) defining a keyed-orifice extending between the gap and the chamber;
and
an anchor assembly secured to the liner, the anchor assembly having,
a first portion (i) disposed within the keyed-orifice, (ii) having a first end extending into the chamber, (iii) having a second end extending into the gap, and (iv) having tabs extending radially outward and engaging the liner within the chamber, wherein first end is configured to engage a subcomponent to secure the subcomponent within the chamber, and
a second portion (i) disposed within the gap, (ii) having a hub, and (iii) having a skirt extending radially outward from the hub, wherein (a) the hub engages the second end of the first portion via a threaded connection to secure the second portion to the first portion, (b) the skirt engages the liner and extends about the keyed-orifice to isolate the keyed-orifice from the gap, and (c) the tabs and skirt collectively generate a compression force on the liner to secure the anchor assembly to the liner.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.