초록 ▼

An appliance, such as a refrigerator or water heater construction, includes a first wall in surrounding spaced relationship to a second wall. An insulating and sealing device of insulation material, such as fiberglass or foamed material partially enclosed in an open-topped envelope of plastic or foi

An appliance, such as a refrigerator or water heater construction, includes a first wall in surrounding spaced relationship to a second wall. An insulating and sealing device of insulation material, such as fiberglass or foamed material partially enclosed in an open-topped envelope of plastic or foil material is circumferentially located in the space between the first wall and outer wall at a preselected location within the space. The insulating and sealing device which is of a radial thickness greater than the radial width of the space is radially compressed between the first wall surface and second wall surface. An expanded foam thermal insulation material fills the space to one side of the insulating and sealing device. A method of making the appliance having two spaced apart walls includes the steps of positioning an insulating and sealing device of resilient, flexible insulation material on and in contact with one of the walls, the insulating and sealing device having a radial thickness greater than the radial width of the space, and positioning the two walls into transverse spaced apart relationship radially compressing the collar between the two walls. In another embodiment, the method of making the appliance includes the steps of positioning the two walls in transverse spaced apart relationship, and positioning an insulating and sealing device of resilient, flexible insulation material within the space in contact with the facing surfaces of the two walls, the insulating and sealing device having a radial thickness greater than the width of the space.

대표청구항 ▼

A method of assembling an appliance having a first wall surface spaced from a second wall surface defining a space therebetween comprising the steps of: providing a wedge-shaped insulation and sealing device having a first end and a second opposite end and including a pair of walls converging togeth

A method of assembling an appliance having a first wall surface spaced from a second wall surface defining a space therebetween comprising the steps of: providing a wedge-shaped insulation and sealing device having a first end and a second opposite end and including a pair of walls converging together at said first end and spaced apart at said opposite end, the direction of taper being from said opposite end to said first end, said pair of walls being fabricated of a flexible material, the width of spacing of said walls at said opposite end being at least approximately equal to the space between the first and second walls of the appliance, and a resilient insulating material disposed within the trough formed by the converging walls of said insulation and sealing device; positioning the insulation and sealing device in contact with the first wall of said appliance; and moving the first wall of said appliance in the direction of taper to a position overlaying the second wall in spaced apart juxtaposition with the second wall such that the insulation and sealing device is in contact with the second wall creating a seal across the space.