Patent ID: 6122879
Filing Date: 2000-09-26
Classification: E04C,E04F,F25D

Abstract:
A refrigerator panel system comprising:a first panel and second panel, each of said panels having an insulation core, said first panel having a groove in a first end of said insulation core, said groove having a first ledge and a second ledge, and said second panel having a tongue formed on a second end of said insulation core, said tongue having a first surface and a second surface, said groove being adapted to receive and surround said tongue; andcooperating resilient engagement means disposed inside said groove and along said tongue for releasably locking said tongue and said groove together when said tongue enters said groove, said engagement means providing a biasing force that resiliently holds said first end and said second end together in a manner that prevents play between said first panel and said second panel once joined, and provides a heat seal between said first end and said second end after said tongue is inserted into said groove past a predetermined point;said engagement means comprising:a top metal skin and a bottom metal skin attached to said insulation core of said first panel and wrapped around said insulation core of said first panel into said groove, said top and bottom metal skin being bent to form a space between said skin of the surface of said groove to form a first part of said resilient engagement means; anda top metal skin and a bottom metal skin attached to said insulation core of said second panel and wrapped around said insulation core of said tongue said top and bottom metal skin being bent to form a space between said skin and said first surface and said second surface of said tongue to form a second part of said resilient engagement means for cooperating with said first part of said resilient engagement means to resiliently compress the respective skins into the respective spaces.