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A refrigerator door for use in a refrigerator appliance has an outer door panel, an inner door liner, a metal reinforcing collar and a paper sheet. The collar has a generally rectangular frame that extends over a peripheral border of a central portion of the door liner. The collar also includes side

A refrigerator door for use in a refrigerator appliance has an outer door panel, an inner door liner, a metal reinforcing collar and a paper sheet. The collar has a generally rectangular frame that extends over a peripheral border of a central portion of the door liner. The collar also includes sidewall flanges which extend rearwardly from the frame around a corner at the peripheral border of the central liner portion and over an inner wall of a dyke sidewall of the liner. The collar provides localized support for shelves carried by the door liner and improves door rigidity. The sheet of paper extends across an opening in the middle of the frame of the collar to further improve door rigidity.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [8.] A door for a refrigerator appliance comprising:an outer metal door panel having a generally flat metal sheet with rearwardly extending side walls and in-turned flanges extending generally parallel to the flat sheet;an unipartite plastic inner door liner comprising a centr

[ What is claimed is:] [8.] A door for a refrigerator appliance comprising:an outer metal door panel having a generally flat metal sheet with rearwardly extending side walls and in-turned flanges extending generally parallel to the flat sheet;an unipartite plastic inner door liner comprising a central liner portion spaced from the outer door panel, the central liner portion having a peripheral border region surrounded by a recessed dyke, the recessed dyke having a first inner wall defining a peripheral corner with the peripheral border region, the first inner wall of the recessed dyke including shelf supports, the recessed dyke including a second wall extending from the first inner wall to a peripheral flange secured with the in-turned flanges of the outer door panel;a reinforcing collar having a generally rectangular frame and central opening, the frame extending over and supporting the peripheral border region of the central liner portion, the collar including side wall flanges extending rearwardly from the frame around the peripheral corner and in contact over the first inner walls of the recessed dyke;a sheet of paper having a rigidity less than the rigidity of the liner secured to the frame and covering the central opening; andfoam insulation between the inner door liner and the outer door panel.