Patent ID: 6560998
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: D06F

Abstract:
A sealing system for an appliance comprising:a cabinet enclosing an appliance cavity; an access opening in the appliance having an opening perimeter, the access opening providing access from the exterior of the cabinet to the appliance cavity; a door boot extending around the perimeter of the access opening; a door movably mounted to the cabinet for movement from an open position exposing the access opening for access to the appliance cavity to a closed position in covering position over the access opening; the door having a door sealing surface and the door boot having a boot sealing surface which engage one another and provide a seal between the door and the cabinet when the door is in the closed position whereby the seal causes a resistance force opposing the movement of the door from the closed position to the open position; and a relief groove in the door boot permitting the door boot to flex in response to initial movement of the door from the closed position to the open position, whereby the flexing of the door boot reduces the magnitude of the opening force necessary to overcome the resistance force.