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US-12624886-B2 - Vacuum port cover and aligner features

US12624886B2US 12624886 B2US12624886 B2US 12624886B2US-12624886-B2

Abstract

A vacuum-insulated door for a cooling appliance includes an outer skin defining a vacuum-insulated cavity. A vacuum port is in fluid communication with the vacuum-insulated cavity through the outer skin. A vacuum inlet housing is connected to the vacuum port and extends from the outer skin. A vacuum port cover assembly includes a bracket connected to the outer skin that includes a first pocket for locating the vacuum inlet housing. A cover is connected to the bracket.

Inventors

  • MARCEL BÖGGER LESSA

Assignees

  • WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20231101

Claims (19)

  1. 1 . A vacuum-insulated door for a cooling appliance comprising: an outer skin defining a vacuum-insulated cavity; a vacuum port in fluid communication with the vacuum-insulated cavity through the outer skin; a vacuum inlet housing connected to the vacuum port and extending from the outer skin; and a vacuum port cover assembly including: a bracket connected to the outer skin that includes a first pocket for locating the vacuum inlet housing, wherein the bracket defines a plurality of spring fingers that bias the bracket relative to the outer skin and facilitate alignment between the outer skin and the bracket; and a cover connected to the bracket.
  2. 2 . The vacuum-insulated door of claim 1 , further including a sensor in fluid communication with the vacuum-insulated cavity through the outer skin for measuring an internal pressure of the vacuum-insulated cavity.
  3. 3 . The vacuum-insulated door of claim 2 , wherein the bracket further includes a second pocket for locating the sensor.
  4. 4 . The vacuum-insulated door of claim 3 , wherein the bracket includes an outer perimeter frame defining an opening and a center support extends across the opening between opposite sides of the outer perimeter frame to divide the opening into the first pocket and the second pocket.
  5. 5 . The vacuum-insulated door of claim 4 , wherein the vacuum inlet housing and the sensor are horizontally aligned along a bottom edge of the outer skin.
  6. 6 . The vacuum-insulated door of claim 1 , further including a vacuum inlet tube connected to the vacuum inlet housing, the vacuum inlet tube includes a section that extends along the outer skin and the first pocket sized to accommodate the section.
  7. 7 . The vacuum-insulated door of claim 1 , further including a plurality of tabs coupled to the outer skin, and wherein the bracket defines a plurality of slots engaged with the tabs.
  8. 8 . The vacuum-insulated door of claim 7 , further including an outer rim extending along a bottom edge of the vacuum-insulated door, the outer rim defining the plurality of tabs.
  9. 9 . The vacuum-insulated door of claim 1 , further including a plurality of studs extending from the outer skin, and wherein the bracket defines a plurality of apertures for receiving the studs.
  10. 10 . The vacuum-insulated door of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of studs are welded to the outer skin.
  11. 11 . The vacuum-insulated door of claim 10 , further including a plurality of nuts, and wherein the plurality of studs each define a threaded body that receives one of the plurality of nuts that lock the bracket to the plurality of studs.
  12. 12 . The vacuum-insulated door of claim 1 , wherein the bracket defines a pair of wings located on diametrically opposite sides of the bracket and the plurality of spring fingers are located on the wings.
  13. 13 . The vacuum-insulated door of claim 1 , wherein the cover includes a plurality of hooks and the bracket defines a plurality of engagement portions that are configured to engage the hooks upon linear movement between the bracket and the cover.
  14. 14 . A vacuum-insulated door for a cooling appliance comprising: an outer skin defining a vacuum-insulated cavity; at least one of a tab or a stud coupled to the outer skin; a vacuum port in fluid communication with the vacuum-insulated cavity through the outer skin; a vacuum inlet housing connected to the vacuum port and extending from the outer skin; a sensor in fluid communication with the vacuum-insulated cavity through the outer skin for measuring an internal pressure of the vacuum-insulated cavity; and a vacuum port cover assembly including: a bracket connected to the outer skin that includes a first pocket for locating the vacuum inlet housing and a second pocket that is smaller than the first pocket for accommodating the sensor, the bracket further including at least one of a slot engaged with the tab or an aperture engaged with the stud.
  15. 15 . The vacuum-insulated door of claim 14 , further including a cover connected to the bracket, the cover including a projection engaged with the bracket to statically fix the position of the cover relative to the bracket.
  16. 16 . The vacuum-insulated door of claim 15 , further including a central guide that centers and aligns the cover relative to the bracket.
  17. 17 . The vacuum-insulated door of claim 15 , wherein the cover includes a plurality of hooks and the bracket defines a plurality of engagement portions that are configured to engage the hooks upon linear movement between the bracket and the cover.
  18. 18 . A vacuum-insulated door for a cooling appliance comprising: an outer skin defining a vacuum-insulated cavity; at least one stud coupled to the outer skin; a vacuum port in fluid communication with the vacuum-insulated cavity through the outer skin; a vacuum inlet housing connected to the vacuum port and extending from the outer skin; and a vacuum port cover assembly including: a bracket including at least one aperture receiving the at least one stud, the bracket further including a first pocket for locating the vacuum inlet housing; and a cover connected to the bracket such that the bracket is encased between the cover and the outer skin.
  19. 19 . The vacuum-insulated door of claim 18 , wherein the bracket defines a pair of wings located on diametrically opposite sides of the bracket and a plurality of spring fingers are located on the wings, wherein the plurality of spring fingers bias the bracket relative to the outer skin and facilitate alignment between the outer skin and the bracket.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure generally relates to a vacuum port cover assembly with aligner features for a cooling appliance. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a vacuum-insulated door for a cooling appliance includes an outer skin defining a vacuum-insulated cavity. A vacuum port is in fluid communication with the vacuum-insulated cavity through the outer skin. A vacuum inlet housing is connected to the vacuum port and extends from the outer skin. A vacuum port cover assembly includes a bracket connected to the outer skin that includes a first pocket for locating the vacuum inlet housing. A cover is connected to the bracket. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a vacuum-insulated door for a cooling appliance includes an outer skin defining a vacuum-insulated cavity and at least one of a tab or a stud is coupled to the outer skin. A vacuum port is in fluid communication with the vacuum-insulated cavity through the outer skin. A vacuum inlet housing is connected to the vacuum port and extends from the outer skin. A vacuum port cover assembly includes a bracket connected to the outer skin that includes a first pocket for locating the vacuum inlet housing. The bracket further includes at least one of a slot engaged with the tab or an aperture engaged with the stud. According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a vacuum-insulated door for a cooling appliance includes an outer skin defining a vacuum-insulated cavity. At least one stud is coupled to the outer skin. A vacuum port is in fluid communication with the vacuum-insulated cavity through the outer skin. A vacuum inlet housing is connected to the vacuum port and extends from the outer skin. A vacuum port cover assembly includes a bracket having at least one aperture receiving the at least one stud. The bracket further includes a first pocket for locating the vacuum inlet housing. A cover is connected to the bracket such that the bracket is encased between the cover and the outer skin. These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings: FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a cooling appliance, according to an aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a cooling appliance with an outer layer removed, according to an aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of an interior rear surface of a vacuum-insulated door with a vacuum port cover assembly, according to an aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 4 is a partial enlarged rear perspective view of an interior rear surface of a vacuum-insulated door with a vacuum port cover assembly removed, according to an aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a front bracket face of a bracket, according to an aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 6 is a back elevational view of a rear bracket face of a bracket with a front bracket face connected to an outer skin of a vacuum-insulated door, according to an aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of a front cover face of a cover, according to an aspect of the present disclosure; FIG. 8 is a back elevational view of a rear cover face of a cover with a front cover face connected to a bracket, according to an aspect of the present disclosure; and FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of a cover connected to a bracket with various portions of the cover enlarged or enlarged and shown in cross-section, according to an aspect of the disclosure. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles described herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatus components related to a vacuum port cover assembly with aligner features for a cooling appliance. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Further, like numerals in the description and drawings represent like elements. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in FIG. 1. Unless stated otherwise, the term “front” shall refer to the surface of the element closer to an intended viewer, and the term “rear” shall refer to the surface of the element furthe