Refrigerator cabinet sealing assembly having a bellows-seal gasket

• US 7,219,471 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2001
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Industrie Ilpea S.p.A (Ilpea Parent Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Industrie Ilpea S.p.A (Ilpea Parent Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cittadini, Paolo, Merla, Adriano
• Primary Examiner(s): Strimbu; Gregory J.
• Application Number:
  US10/467,746
• Publication Number:
  US 20040051427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,146 Days
• Field of Search: 494/781, 494/891, 494/901, 494/921, 494/981
• US Class Current: 49/478.1
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/082 Strips

Abstract

A sealing assembly for a refrigerator which comprises a bellows-seal gasket and a profile as a single piece or as multiple pieces where the profile has a base having at opposite ends, sealing strips and has a groove for replacement of the bellows-seal gasket. The profile is provided with a side branch that terminates in a grooved seat having a C-shaped cross-section for receiving an edge of an inner door panel and having a sealing strip that is provided at the end of the grooved seat. The inner door panel is bent to ensure optimal contact with the sealing strip of the side branch.

Claims

1. A sealing assembly in combination with a door (30) for a refrigerator cabinet (32), said door having an inner door panel (31) with a curved surface (29), said sealing assembly having a bellows gasket for sealing between the door and the cabinet (32) and having a profile made of a plastic material, said bellows gasket and said profile being co-extruded together, said profile having a means for receiving a replacement bellows gasket, said profile also having a base and at least one elastically compliant side branch which provides a snap-action connection between the profile and the inner door panel, said side branch terminating with a grooved seat which has a substantially C-shaped cross-section which receives an edge of said inner door panel, wherein said base includes first and second sealing strips, said first and second sealing strips sealing between said door (30) and said base, wherein said grooved seat has a third sealing strip, wherein the elastically compliant side branch causes said third sealing strip to be compressed against the curved surface (29) of the inner door panel (31), and wherein said curved surface of the inner door panel has a radius of curvature of 3 to 6 mm so as to ensure an effective seal with said third sealing strip.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said third sealing strip is co-extruded with said profile.

3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said third sealing strip is disposed along a distal end portion of said grooved seat.

4. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said second sealing strip is made of a material co-extruded with a material of said base of said profile.

5. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said means for receiving a replacement gasket comprises a pair of walls that extend from said base.

6. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said side branch includes an insert which is made of a material which is more compliant than said plastic material of said profile and enables said side branch to pivot relative to said base.

7. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said bellows gasket overlaps an outer end portion of said profile along the entire length of the profile.

8. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said base is generally contained in a single plane.

9. The combination according to claim 1, wherein said base is contained in generally parallel planes that are slightly staggered with respect to one another.