Refrigerator door construction and method of forming the same

Claim 2

An insulated door construction comprising: an outer panel having an inturned peripheral flange means defining an insulation space adjacent said panel; insulation within said space; means on said flange defining a retaining shoulder overlying a peripheral portion of said space; an inner liner having a resilient peripheral lip portion defining an inwardly opening channel resiliently snapped under said shoulder, said inner liner covering said first space and retained in place by said snapped under relationship with said shoulder, said channel being disposed adjacent said shoulder; and door gasket means having a portion received in said channel with an edge thereof underlying said shoulder to be retained by said shoulder for sealing said liner to said outer panel.

Claim 3

The insulated door construction of claim 1 wherein said liner lip portion is pressed into said insulation.

Claim 4

The insulated door construction of claim 1 wherein said liner lip portion comprises an outturned flange portion having a reversely turned distal portion engaging said shoulder.

Claim 5

The insulated door construction of claim 1 wherein said liner lip portion comprises an outturned flange portion having a reversely turned distal portion engaging said shoulder, said lip portion flange portion and distal portion defining a channel structure projecting outwardly into said insulation and inwardly defining said channel.

Claim 6

The insulated door construction of claim 1 wherein said liner lip portion comprises an outturned flange portion having a reversely turned distal portion engaging said shoulder, said lip portion flange portion and distal portion defining a channel structure projecting outwardly into said insulation.

Claim 7

The insulated door construction of claim 1 wherein said insulation comprises foamed-in-place insulation.

Claim 8

The insulated door construction of claim 1 wherein said insulation comprises fiberous insulation.

Claim 9

The insulated door construction of cLaim 1 wherein said liner lip portion comprises an outturned flange portion having a reversely turned distal portion engaging said shoulder, said reversely turned distal portion comprising a flat wall extending angularly toward said shoulder from the outer end of said liner outward flange portion.

Claim 10

An insulated door construction comprising: an outer panel having an inturned peripheral flange means defining an insulation space adjacent said panel, said panel defining a rectangular door means having four corners; insulation within said space; means on said flange defining a retaining shoulder overlying the peripheral portion of said space; an inner liner having a resilient peripheral lip portion defining an inwardly opening channel resiliently snapped under said shoulder, said inner liner covering said first space and retained in place by said snapped under relationship with said shoulder, said channel being disposed adjacent said shoulder; and door gasket means having a portion received in said channel with an edge thereof underlying said shoulder to be retained by said shoulder for sealing said liner to said outer panel; and bracket means disposed at each of said door means corners defining means for retaining said liner lip portion in snapped under relationship with said shoulder.

Claim 11

An insulated door construction comprising: an outer panel having an inturned peripheral flange means defining an insulation space adjacent said panel, said panel defining a rectangular door means having four corners; insulation within said space; means on said flange defining a retaining shoulder overlying the peripheral portion of said space; an inner liner having a resilient peripheral lip portion defining an inwardly opening channel resiliently snapped under said shoulder, said inner liner covering said first space and retained in place by said snapped under relationship with said shoulder, said channel being disposed adjacent said shoulder; and door gasket means having a portion received in said channel with an edge thereof underlying said shoulder to be retained by said shoulder for sealing said liner to said outer panel; and bracket means disposed at each of said door means corners defining means for retaining said liner lip portion in snapped under relationship with said shoulder.

Claim 12

The insulated door construction of claim 9 wherein said bracket means extend inwardly of said insulation and include an edge portion underlying said retaining shoulder.

Claim 13

The insulated door construction of claim 9 wherein said bracket means defines inwardly opening recesses receiving a portion of said door gasket means and retaining said portion in underlying, retained association with said shoulder means.

Claim 14

The insulated door construction of claim 9 wherein cross braces are connected between said bracket means for further rigidifying said door construction.

Claim 15

The insulated door construction of claim 9 wherein cross braces are adjustably connected between said bracket means for further rigidifying said door construction.

Claim 16

The insulated door construction of claim 9 wherein said inner liner defines corner portions provided with notches extending inwardly through said lip portion to permit concurrent flexing of adjacent side portions of said liner for facilitated snapping-under installation.

Claim 19

The method of constructing a refrigerator door of claim 15 further including the step of preforming a recess in said insulation for receiving said liner lip portion.

Claim 20

The method of constructing a refrigerator door of claim 15 further including the step of providing adhesive means between said inner liner and insulation.

Claim 21

The method of constructing a refrigerator door of claim 15 further including the step of notching the corners of said liner to permit flexing of the lip portion along the intersecting edges of the liner adjacent the corners.

Claim 22

The method of constructing a refrigerator door of claim 15 wherein said insulation is yieldable and said lip portion is forced into the insulation by a pressure element.