Patent ID: 11946689
Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Field: Other consumer goods (Other fields)
Classification: CPC F  B | IPC B  F

Claim 15:
16. A method of making a vacuum insulated refrigerator structure, the method comprising:
forming a wrapper having a first opening and a first edge extending around the first opening;
forming a liner having a second opening and a second edge extending around the second opening;
positioning the liner inside the wrapper with the first and second edges being spaced apart to form a gap therebetween, and to form a cavity between the wrapper and the liner;
positioning a thermal bridge across the gap, wherein the theiiiial bridge includes elongated first and second channels, wherein at least one of the first and second channels includes a base surface and spaced-apart side surfaces extending transversely from the base surface, and wherein at least one of the side surfaces includes a plurality of locating structures protruding into the channel, and wherein at least one of the first and second channels includes a plurality of locating structures protruding into the channel from both side surfaces;
inserting the first and second edges into the first and second channels, respectively;
positioning curable sealant in the first and second channels;
curing the curable sealant in the first and second channels to fotin airtight seals along the first and second edges;
causing porous material to at least partially fill the cavity between the wrapper and the liner;
forming a vacuum in the cavity;
sealing the cavity to maintain the vacuum;
and including:
causing at least one of the first and second edges to contact at least one locating structure as the first and second edges are inserted into the first and second channels, respectively.