Patent ID: 11867451
Assignee: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Field: Other consumer goods (Other fields)
Classification: CPC F | IPC F

Claim 7:
8. A refrigerator comprising:
a vacuum insulated cabinet having a food storage space and an enlarged access opening permitting items to be placed in the food storage space and removed from the food storage space, the vacuum insulated cabinet including a sidewall having an inner liner on an inner side, an outer wrapper on an outer side, and a transverse wall extending between the inner and outer sides to form a passthrough opening, the transverse wall having a transverse passthrough surface extending around and facing the passthrough opening, wherein the inner liner, the outer liner, and the transverse wall form an airtight vacuum space;
porous filler material disposed in the airtight vacuum space;
a resilient insulating member comprising a resilient material, wherein the resilient insulating member is disposed in the passthrough opening, the resilient insulating member including a plurality of outwardly-projecting flexible flaps engaging the transverse passthrough surface of the passthrough opening and forming an airtight seal between the resilient insulating member and the transverse passthrough surface of the passthrough opening, the resilient insulating member further including an aperture extending through the resilient insulating member;
an evaporator assembly disposed inside of the sidewall;
a condenser assembly disposed outside of the sidewall;
at least one fluid conduit having an inner end fluidly connected to the evaporator assembly and extending through the aperture of the resilient insulating member, the fluid conduit having an outer end fluidly connected to the condenser assembly;
and wherein the transverse passthrough surface of the passthrough opening includes a first portion having a first dimension, a second portion having a second dimension, and an annular step surface extending between the first and second portions; and
the resilient insulating member includes a first portion including a first plurality of outwardly-projecting flexible flaps engaging the first portion of the passthrough surface, and a second portion including a second plurality of outwardly-projecting flexible flaps engaging the second portion of the passthrough surface.