US-20260126239-A1 - WALL PANEL ASSEMBLY FOR A VACUUM INSULATED APPLIANCE

Abstract

A vacuum insulated appliance, including a vacuum insulated cabinet including a plurality of walls at least partially defining a compartment. The vacuum insulated cabinet includes a trim breaker having an outer wall and a trim breaker cover abutting the outer wall and extending parallel to and away from the compartment. A wall panel assembly is removably coupled to at least one of the plurality of walls. The wall panel assembly includes a main body having a hemmed edge. The hemmed edge of the main body is positioned proximate the trim breaker cover. A magnetic coupler assembly operably coupled to the main body, wherein the magnetic coupler assembly is configured to operably couple the wall panel assembly to at least one of the plurality of walls.

Inventors

• Paul B. Allard

Assignees

• WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20241101

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A vacuum insulated appliance, comprising a vacuum insulated cabinet including a plurality of walls at least partially defining a compartment, wherein the vacuum insulated cabinet includes a trim breaker having an outer wall and a trim breaker cover abutting the outer wall and extending parallel to and away from the compartment; and a wall panel assembly removably coupled to at least one of the plurality of walls, wherein the wall panel assembly includes: a main body having a hemmed edge, wherein the hemmed edge of the main body is positioned proximate the trim breaker cover; and a magnetic coupler operably coupled to the main body, wherein the magnetic coupler is configured to operably couple the wall panel assembly to at least one of the plurality of walls.
2. 2 . The vacuum insulated appliance of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of walls includes a top wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall, and opposing sidewalls, and wherein the wall panel assembly is co-extensive with at least one of the plurality of walls.
3. 3 . The vacuum insulated appliance of claim 2 , wherein the bottom wall is coupled to a base and a curved wall, and wherein the curved wall and the base at least partially define a mechanical compartment configured to be partially covered when the wall panel assembly is operably coupled to at least one of the plurality of walls.
4. 4 . The vacuum insulated appliance of claim 3 , wherein the wall panel assembly includes a curved portion that is configured to align with the curved wall of the cabinet when the wall panel assembly is installed.
5. 5 . The vacuum insulated appliance of claim 1 , wherein the trim breaker cover includes an arcuate end defining a channel, and wherein the wall panel assembly is positioned proximate the arcuate end of the trim breaker cover.
6. 6 . The vacuum insulated appliance of claim 1 , wherein the main body of the wall panel assembly includes a first side facing an external environment of said vacuum insulated appliance and a second side facing the vacuum insulated cabinet.
7. 7 . The vacuum insulated appliance of claim 6 , wherein the first side of the main body includes a textured surface extending along a length of the first side of the wall panel assembly, and wherein the magnetic couplers are disposed along a length of the second side of the wall panel assembly.
8. 8 . The vacuum insulated appliance of claim 7 , wherein the magnetic couplers include magnetic coupler strips, and wherein the magnetic coupler strips are configured to extend along a periphery of the second side of the wall panel assembly.
9. 9 . The vacuum insulated appliance of claim 7 , wherein the magnetic couplers include magnetic coupler discs, and wherein the magnetic coupler discs are positioned in uniform rows along a length of the second side of the wall panel assembly.
10. 10 . The vacuum insulated appliance of claim 1 , wherein the hemmed edge of the wall panel assembly includes a protrusion and at least one of the plurality of walls includes a notch, and wherein the notch is configured to receive the protrusion to secure the wall panel assembly to at least one of the plurality of walls.
11. 11 . A refrigerated appliance, comprising: a cabinet including opposing sidewalls, wherein at least one of the opposing sidewalls includes a notch; and a wall panel assembly operably coupled to at least one of the opposing sidewalls of the cabinet, the wall panel assembly including: a main body having an edge with a protrusion, wherein the protrusion is configured to engage with the notch of at least one of the opposing sidewalls configured to assist in operably coupling the wall panel assembly to at least one of the opposing sidewalls; and a magnetic coupler assembly aligned along the main body, wherein the magnetic coupler assembly is configured to operably couple the wall panel assembly to at least one of the opposing sidewalls of the cabinet.
12. 12 . The refrigerated appliance of claim 11 , further comprising: a trim breaker extending along a periphery of the cabinet; and a trim breaker cover coupled to the trim breaker including an arcuate end, wherein the trim breaker is positioned between the cabinet and the trim breaker cover.
13. 13 . The refrigerated appliance of claim 12 , wherein the edge of the wall panel assembly abuts the arcuate end of the trim breaker cover.
14. 14 . The refrigerated appliance of claim 12 , wherein the edge of the main body is hemmed to reduce damage to the trim breaker cover when the wall panel assembly is installed.
15. 15 . The refrigerated appliance of claim 11 wherein the magnetic coupler assembly is disposed on at least one the opposing sidewalls of the cabinet, and wherein the wall panel assembly is removably coupled to the cabinet via the magnetic coupler assembly.
16. 16 . An appliance, comprising: a cabinet including a plurality of walls; a door operably coupled with the cabinet, wherein the vacuum insulated door is operable between an open position and a closed position; and a wall panel including a main body having a first side and a second side, wherein the second side of the wall panel includes a magnetic coupler configured to operably couple the wall panel to at least one of the plurality of walls of the cabinet.
17. 17 . The appliance of claim 16 , wherein the first side of the main body includes a textured surface extending along a length of the first side of the wall panel.
18. 18 . The appliance of claim 16 , wherein the wall panel defines a cavity between the first side and the second side, and wherein the magnetic coupler is disposed in the cavity.
19. 19 . The appliance of claim 16 , further comprising: a notch positioned along an edge of the cabinet and a protrusion positioned along an edge of the wall panel, wherein the protrusion is received by the notch when the wall panel is installed.
20. 20 . The appliance of claim 16 , wherein the wall panel and the plurality of walls each include a pair of upper corners and a pair of lower corners, and wherein the pair of upper corners and the pair of lower corners of the wall panel align with the pair of upper corners and lower corners of the plurality of walls, respectively, such that the wall panel is co-extensive with the plurality of walls.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure generally relates to a wall panel, and more specifically, to a wall panel for a vacuum insulated refrigerator. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a vacuum insulated appliance includes a vacuum insulated cabinet having a plurality of walls at least partially defining a compartment. The vacuum insulated cabinet includes a trim breaker having an outer wall and a trim breaker cover abutting the outer wall and extending parallel to and away from the compartment. A wall panel assembly removably coupled to at least one of the plurality of walls. The wall panel assembly includes a main body having a hemmed edge. The hemmed edge of the main body is positioned proximate the trim breaker cover. A magnetic coupler is operably coupled to the main body. The magnetic coupler is configured to operably couple the wall panel assembly to at least one of the plurality of walls. According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a refrigerated appliance includes a cabinet having opposing sidewalls. At least one of the opposing sidewalls includes a notch. A wall panel assembly is operably coupled to at least one of the opposing sidewalls of the cabinet. The wall panel assembly includes a main body having an edge with a protrusion, wherein the protrusion is configured to engage with the notch of at least one of the opposing sidewalls and is configured to assist in operably coupling the wall panel assembly to at least one of the opposing sidewalls. A magnetic coupler assembly is aligned along the main body. The magnetic coupler assembly is configured to operably couple the wall panel assembly to at least one of the opposing sidewalls of the cabinet. According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, an appliance includes a cabinet including a plurality of walls. A door is operably coupled with the cabinet. The vacuum insulated door is operable between an open position and a closed position. A wall panel including a main body has a first side and a second side. The second side of the wall panel includes a magnetic coupler configured to operably couple the wall panel to at least one of the plurality of walls of the cabinet. 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 refrigeration appliance, according to the present disclosure; FIG. 2 is a side perspective cross-sectional view of a refrigeration appliance with a vacuum insulated cabinet and vacuum insulated doors, according to the present disclosure; FIG. 3 is a side perspective exploded view of a cabinet for a refrigeration appliance with a wrapper, a liner, and trim breaker assembly of the cabinet, according to the present disclosure; FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of a refrigeration appliance without a wall panel assembly, according to the present disclosure; FIG. 5A is a side elevational view of a wall panel assembly including a magnetic coupler assembly having magnetic coupler discs positioned in uniform rows along a length of the wall panel assembly, according to the present disclosure; FIG. 5B is a side elevational view of a wall panel assembly including a magnetic coupler assembly having magnetic coupler strips positioned around a periphery of the wall panel assembly and along a length of the wall panel assembly, according to the present disclosure; FIG. 6 is a partial side perspective view of a wall panel assembly including a hemmed edge, according to the present disclosure; FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of a refrigeration appliance including a plurality of walls and a wall panel assembly configured to be removably coupled to at least one of the plurality of walls, according to the present disclosure; FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of a refrigeration appliance with an exploded view of a notch assembly for coupling a wall panel assembly to the refrigeration appliance, according to the present disclosure; and FIG. 9 is a top plan cross-sectional view of a corner of a refrigerator appliance illustrating a wall panel assembly positioned proximate a trim breaker assembly, according to the present 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 wall panel assembly for a vacuum insulated 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