초록 ▼

A panel for appliances includes an inner shell and an outer shell that engage one another to define a hollow interior region. An interior divider or intermediate close-out is disposed between the inner and outer shells, and has at least an outwardly-extending portion that extends into the hollow int

A panel for appliances includes an inner shell and an outer shell that engage one another to define a hollow interior region. An interior divider or intermediate close-out is disposed between the inner and outer shells, and has at least an outwardly-extending portion that extends into the hollow interior region. A foam core is bonded to interior surfaces of the shells and to the divider or close-out. The foam core may be formed or established by injecting an uncured or partially-cured liquid into the hollow interior region. Optionally, the panel is a movable door attached to an appliance, and may include a window portion in a central region thereof.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A panel for appliances, said panel comprising: an inner shell and an outer shell configured to engage said inner shell, wherein said inner shell and said outer shell have respective interior surfaces that cooperate to define a hollow interior region;an interior divider disposed between said inter

1. A panel for appliances, said panel comprising: an inner shell and an outer shell configured to engage said inner shell, wherein said inner shell and said outer shell have respective interior surfaces that cooperate to define a hollow interior region;an interior divider disposed between said interior surfaces of said inner shell and said outer shell, said interior divider including a central portion and at least one outwardly-extending portion projecting into said hollow interior region, wherein said outwardly-extending portion of said interior divider comprises at least one dividing arm that spans from said interior surface of said inner shell to said interior surface of said outer shell; anda foam core disposed in said hollow interior region, wherein said foam core is bonded to said interior surfaces of both said inner shell and said outer shell, and to at least a portion of said interior divider;wherein at least one of said central portion and said outwardly-extending portion of said interior divider comprises a divider surface configured to divide said foam core into at least two core portions on respective opposite sides of said divider surface. 2. The panel of claim 1, wherein said central portion of said interior divider defines a central opening. 3. The panel of claim 1, wherein said at least one dividing arm comprises a distal end portion that extends outwardly into contact with an interior perimeter surface of at least one of said interior and exterior panels. 4. The panel of claim 3, wherein said at least one dividing arm comprises a first dividing arm and a second dividing arm, and wherein said first and second dividing arms are configured to prevent an uncured foam material of said foam core from entering into a portion of said hollow interior region that is defined between said first and second dividing arms and said inner and outer shells. 5. The panel of claim 4, wherein said central portion of said interior divider defines a central opening. 6. The panel of claim 1, further comprising a central panel, wherein each of said inner shell, said outer shell, and said central portion of said interior divider defines a respective opening through which said central panel is visible. 7. The panel of claim 6, wherein said central panel comprises at least one translucent window. 8. The panel of claim 7, wherein said interior divider is unitarily formed with at least one of said inner shell, said outer shell, and said at least one translucent window. 9. The panel of claim 1, further comprising a hinge for pivotably coupling said panel to an appliance, and a latch piece for releasably securing said panel in a closed position, wherein each of said hinge and said latch piece are coupled to said inner shell. 10. The panel of claim 9, further comprising a hinge cover disposed in a hinge region of said hollow interior region and securable to said hinge through said inner shell, wherein said inner shell, said outer shell, and said interior divider cooperate to prevent an uncured foam material of said foam core from entering into said hinge region of said hollow interior region. 11. A panel for appliances, said panel comprising: an inner shell and an outer shell configured to engage said inner shell, wherein said inner shell and said outer shell have respective interior surfaces that cooperate to define a hollow interior region;an interior divider disposed between said interior surfaces of said inner shell and said outer shell, said interior divider including a central portion and at least one outwardly-extending portion projecting into said hollow interior region, wherein said central portion of said interior divider defines a central opening and said outwardly-extending portion of said interior divider comprises a flange that is spaced from said interior surfaces of both said inner shell and said outer shell; anda foam core disposed in said hollow interior region, wherein said foam core is bonded to said interior surfaces of both said inner shell and said outer shell, and to at least a portion of said interior divider;wherein at least one of said central portion and said outwardly-extending portion of said interior divider comprises a divider surface configured to divide said foam core into at least two core portions on respective opposite sides of said divider surface. 12. The panel of claim 11, further comprising a hinge for pivotably coupling said panel to an appliance, and a latch piece for releasably securing said panel in a closed position, wherein each of said hinge and said latch piece are coupled to said inner shell. 13. The panel of claim 12, further comprising a hinge cover disposed in a hinge region of said hollow interior region and securable to said hinge through said inner shell, wherein said inner shell, said outer shell, and said interior divider cooperate to prevent an uncured foam material of said foam core from entering into said hinge region of said hollow interior region. 14. A panel for appliances, said panel comprising: an inner shell configured to cooperate with an outer shell to define a hollow interior region that encircles an open central region;an intermediate close-out including a central portion encircling said open central region and at least one outwardly-extending portion extending into said hollow interior region;a foam core disposed in said hollow interior region, wherein said foam core is bonded to said inner shell, said outer shell, and said intermediate close-out; anda inner window panel associated with said inner shell and an outer window panel associated with said outer shell, wherein said inner and outer window panels are disposed in said central region;wherein said intermediate close-out cooperates with said inner and outer shells to divide said foam core into separate portions within said hollow interior region, and wherein said outwardly-extending portion of said intermediate close-out comprises at least one dividing arm that spans from an interior surface of said inner shell to an interior surface of said outer shell, and from said central portion to an interior perimeter surface of at least one of said inner and outer shells. 15. The panel of claim 14, wherein said intermediate close-out is unitarily formed with at least one of said inner shell, said outer shell, said inner window panel, and said outer window panel. 16. The panel of claim 15, wherein said intermediate close-out is unitarily formed with said inner shell and said inner window panel. 17. The panel of claim 14, wherein said at least one dividing arm comprises a first dividing arm and a second dividing arm, and wherein said first and second dividing arms are configured to prevent an uncured foam material of said foam core from entering into a portion of said hollow interior region that is defined between said first and second dividing arms and said inner and outer shells. 18. The panel of claim 14, further comprising a hinge and a hinge cover for pivotably coupling said panel to an appliance, wherein said hinge cover is disposed in a hinge region of said hollow interior region and is securable to said hinge through said inner shell, wherein said inner shell, said outer shell, and said intermediate close-out cooperate to prevent an uncured foam material of said foam core from entering into said hinge region. 19. A panel for appliances, said panel comprising: an inner shell configured to cooperate with an outer shell to define a hollow interior region that encircles an open central region;an intermediate close-out including a central portion encircling said open central region and at least one outwardly-extending portion extending into said hollow interior region;a foam core disposed in said hollow interior region, wherein said foam core is bonded to said inner shell, said outer shell, and said intermediate close-out; anda inner window panel associated with said inner shell and an outer window panel associated with said outer shell, wherein said inner and outer window panels are disposed in said central region;wherein said intermediate close-out cooperates with said inner and outer shells to divide said foam core into separate portions within said hollow interior region, and wherein said outwardly-extending portion of said intermediate close-out comprises a flange that is spaced from both said inner shell and said outer shell. 20. The panel of claim 19, further comprising a hinge and a hinge cover for pivotably coupling said panel to an appliance, wherein said hinge cover is disposed in a hinge region of said hollow interior region and is securable to said hinge through said inner shell, wherein said inner shell, said outer shell, and said intermediate close-out cooperate to prevent an uncured foam material of said foam core from entering into said hinge region.