초록 ▼

A refrigerator cabinet assembly includes a shell formed by opposed, upright side walls and a top wall, all of which have in-turned front and rear face portions with each of the front face portions terminating in a return flange defining a liner receiving cavity opening forwardly of the shell. Each l

A refrigerator cabinet assembly includes a shell formed by opposed, upright side walls and a top wall, all of which have in-turned front and rear face portions with each of the front face portions terminating in a return flange defining a liner receiving cavity opening forwardly of the shell. Each liner receiving cavity is spaced inwardly of a respective side and top wall such that a channel, which is readily accessible from within the shell, is defined. A rear wall is interconnected to the side and top walls by being arranged between and forced to intimately contact a pair of spaced layers defining the rear face portions of each of these walls. A plurality of reinforcement members, including a pair of upper corner plates and a pair of side reinforcement bars adapted to be arranged in the channel, as well as upper and lower crossbars in one preferred embodiment that interconnect the side reinforcement members, are attached to the shell, along with a mullion plate and a faceplate. Since the return flanges open forwardly of the shell, a liner can be front loaded therein in a quick and easy fashion with an inwardly extending flange provided on the liner projecting into the liner receiving cavity. The side reinforcement members and their associated brackets are provided with structure defining hinge locations for both refrigerator door hinges, as well as one hinge for a freezer compartment, to assure proper alignment and spacing of the hinges.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A refrigerator cabinet assembly comprising:a shell including first and second laterally spaced upstanding side walls that are interconnected by a top wall, each of said first and second side walls and said top wall including front edge portions being in-turned to form respective fr

[ We claim:] [1.] A refrigerator cabinet assembly comprising:a shell including first and second laterally spaced upstanding side walls that are interconnected by a top wall, each of said first and second side walls and said top wall including front edge portions being in-turned to form respective front face portions of said shell, each of said front face portions terminating in a return flange that defines a liner receiving cavity section opening forwardly of said shell and being spaced from said side and top walls by a channel, said channel extending about a periphery of said shell, behind the front face portions of said side and top walls, and unobstructively opening into an interior of said cabinet;a reinforcement assembly including a plurality of reinforcement members positioned at predetermined locations within said channel between a respective return flange and an inner wall portion of a respective one of said side and top walls; andmeans for securing said plurality of reinforcement members within said channel.