Impact reinforcement and repair method for refrigerator cabinet liners
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorLeo Swerbinsky
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reinforcement for increasing the resistance of the bottom front portion of refrigerator cabinet liners subject to impact damage, including a reinforcing strip secured to the vulnerable liner surface area by means of an adhesive foam strip, securing the strip to the liner surface and acting as a shock-absorbing cushion. The reinforcement is added either to undamaged liners to increase resistance to impact damage or as a field repair method to repair liners which have been damaged.
Claims10
In combination with a refrigerator having a refrigerator cabinet and door, said cabinet including:
- a steel outer case;
- a refrigerator liner of a plastic material directly joined to said steel outer case;
- a liner impact reinforcement comprising a reinforcing strip secured to said refrigerator liner extending across the bottom front surface thereof exposed upon opening movement of said refrigerator door.
A method of repairing impact damage to refrigerator cabinets of the type having a one-piece plastic liner directly secured to an outer steel case, said impact damage being in the bottom front surface of said refrigerator liner, the method comprising the steps of:
- mounting a reinforcing strip configured to mate with the bottom front surface of said refrigerator liner extending across the front of said plastic liner and over the area of impact damage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.