MXPA00002356A - A cabinet, parts thereof and associated methods - Google Patents

Abstract

A cabinet for a refrigerator is formed from a twin sheet thermoformed panel (1) divided into a plurality of wall sections (8, 9, 10) by seams (6) where the twin sheets (2, 3) contact. The panel is folded to form the rear (10) and two side walls (8, 9) of a refrigerator cabinet, and top end cap and a base plinth are fitted to retain the walls in position. Refrigeration system components are carried on the base plinth. The walls (8, 9) and back (10) are secured by having their upper and lower edges (25, 30) fitted within peripheral channels (28, 29) on the top end cap (20) and the base plinth (21). Additionally they may be further secured by fusing contacting portions (65, 76) of the inner sheet of the panel in the region adjacent folded seams (6). The panel is preferably filled with rigid insulating foam while still supported on the thermoforming mould. The seams (6) are preferably provided on the back face (61) of the cabinet, spaced from the corners between side and rear faces, providing improved aesthetics with the fold lines hidden. An improved heater for softening seams between wall sections is disclosed.

Description

CABINET, PARTS THEREOF AND ASSOCIATED METHODS TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to cabinets, cabinet parts before final assembly and to methods for forming cabinets and, particularly, to insulated refrigerator cabinets and methods for forming them. BACKGROUND OF THE ART At present the construction of domestic refrigerators, particularly the cabinets, is usually carried out from an external part of formed steel that is either previously painted or subsequently painted, in which an internal part of plastic is placed. thermoformed, locating in a laminated edge. A steel or plastic base is fixed on the bottom and top of this assembly together with a back panel of similar materials to create a closed cavity between the outside and the inside. This assembly is placed in a structure that supports the walls of the cabinet while injecting and expanding the insulation in the cavity. In connection with this type of construction, additional processes are known for sealing the joints between the individual parts in order to prevent the expanded foam from coming out. U.S. Patent No. 4,580,852 shows a refrigerator incorporating such a cabinet. The main drawbacks with this type of construction and manufacturing process are the number of individual parts and processes, and their associated costs. In addition, these processes require a significant investment in terms of time and labor. U.S. Patent No. 5,374,118 assigned to Whirlpool Corporation shows a refrigerator cabinet where the side walls and top are formed by thermoforming double walls as a unitary part. They are folded and a back is placed on the cabinet to keep them in position. The back of the cabinet incorporates the cooling system. While this system offers a significant improvement compared to the prior art, difficulties are perceived related to the overall cabinet space occupied by the subsequent unit carrying the refrigeration system and with difficulties in connecting and sealing the subsequent unit on, the rest of the refrigerator cabinet. PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cabinet and / or parts thereof and / or a method for forming same that overcomes to some extent the above disadvantages or that provides at least the public with a useful option. . In one aspect, the invention consists of a refrigerator cabinet comprising: a divided double wall insulated plastic member, by a plurality of elongated seams in which said double walls come into contact, in three or more sequentially placed wall sections side by side, said member is bent in said seams in such a way that said sequence of wall sections form three or more sides of a cabinet connected in said elongated seams, said sides defining a cooling space therebetween, a top end cap connected to the upper edge of said wall member retaining said wall member in said bent configuration, said top end cap encloses the upper end of said cooling space, a base plate connected to the bottom edge of said wall member which retains said wall member in said bent configuration, said base plate supports, directly or indirectly, com mechanical speakers of said cooling system, and floor means, formed integrally with said base plate or separated from said base plate, to enclose the bottom end of said cooling compartment. In still another aspect the invention consists of a refrigerator including a refrigerator cabinet in accordance with what is described above, a door mounted on said cooling cabinet to enclose the front side of said cooling space and thereby completely close said space of refrigeration, and a cooling system to cool said space. cooling, at least a part of said cooling system is mounted on said base plate. In a further aspect the present invention consists of a method for forming a refrigerator cabinet comprising the steps of (a) thermoforming a double-walled insulated plastic member divided by a plurality of elongated seams wherein said double walls make contact, in three or more wall sections sequentially placed in a side-to-side relationship, (b) folding said plastic wall member along each of said seams to form three or more sides of a cabinet connected in said elongated seams said sides define a cooling space therebetween, and (c) adjust an upper end cap d on said cabinet to retain said wall member in said bent configuration and enclose the upper end of said cooling space, and (d) install a base plate on the lower edge of said wall member for retaining the upper edge of said wall member in said double configuration lada In a further aspect the present invention consists of a refrigeration cabinet formed by a method according to one or more of the preceding paragraphs. A further aspect of the present invention is a cabinet including: a double-walled plastic member divided, by a plurality of elongated seams in which said double walls come into contact, in three or more wall sections sequentially placed in a relationship from side to side, said member is folded into said seams in such a manner that said sequence of wall sections forms three or more sides of a cabinet connected in said elongated seams, and a top and / or bottom end cover, having generally an inner face and an outer face and having on the inner side along at least two sides thereof in or adjacent to the periphery, a recessed channel, the upper and / or lower edge respectively of said member of folded plastic wall placed in said channel or channels, said channel or channels retaining said wall member in said bent configuration. In a further aspect, the present invention consists of a cabinet for an apparatus that includes a wall member formed by the thermoforming of double sheets, said wall member incorporating a plurality of panels, said panels being connected to each other through one or several joined edges where said double sheets are in contact to form a seam, and in said apparatus said wall member is in a folded condition along one or more seams in such a way that several panels form several walls of said seam. apparatus being, as a group, of a different configuration than when said wall member was initially thermoformed, where one or more of said folded seams do not coincide with the corner between walls of said apparatus corresponding to the panels joined by the respective folded seams. In a further aspect, the invention consists of a cabinet for an apparatus that includes a wall member formed by the thermoforming of double sheets, said wall member incorporating a plurality of panels, said panels being connected to each other by one or several joined edges wherein said double sheets come into contact to form a seam, and in said apparatus said wall member is in a condition folded along one or more of said seams such that said plurality of panels forms a plurality of walls of said seams. said apparatus, being, as a group, configured differently from when said wall member was initially thermoformed, in at least one of said seams, said double-walled plastic member essentially has an inward facing sheet and a facing sheet outwardly, and said member is formed adjacent to said seam in such a way that in said bent condition said sheet making e inwardly in contact with itself, said contact between two portions thereof on opposite sides of said seam and spaced from said seam, said contact portions fuse together. In another aspect the present invention consists of a wall member formed by the thermoforming of double sheets that includes one or more seams where said double sheets come into contact, said wall member being adapted to be bent in one or more of said seams to form a plurality of walls, characterized in that at least one of said seams is provided to be bent at an established angle, and because at least one of said sheets of said double sheets includes, in said seam or substantially in said seam , a transition between surfaces of the same that is the complement of said established angle, in such a way that if said seam is bent at said established angle, said surfaces will be substantially continuous in said seam. In an additional aspect, the invention consists of an apparatus for preparing a thermoformed wall member from double sheets, including one or more seams in which said wall member must be formed by joining the included faces of said wall member in said seam, for bending, comprising a heat-conducting head having a heating face configured to be in contact along said beams to be bent, and a device for heating said heat-conducting head, said head being supported on a support device which, together with a support device associated with said wall member is adapted to contact said head heating face with said seam and through this contact allows the transfer of heat from said head to said seam and thus softening said seam for bending. In a further aspect, the invention consists of a refrigerator cabinet substantially in accordance with that described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings. In a further aspect, the invention consists of a cabinet for a refrigerator substantially in accordance with that described with reference to Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings. In a further aspect, the invention consists of a method for forming a refrigerator cabinet substantially in accordance with that described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. In a further aspect, the invention consists of a cabinet for and an apparatus that includes a corner arrangement substantially in accordance with that described herein with reference to Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings. For those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates, many changes in construction and very different embodiments as well as different applications of the invention will be apparent without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and description of the present document are illustrative only and are not intended to limit the invention in any way. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Next we will describe embodiments of the present invention with details with reference to the attached drawings in which: Figure 1 is an end elevational view in cross section through a thermoforming mto form the wall of double sheet forming the panel of the present invention, in a closed configuration, figure 2 is a cross-sectional side elevation view in AA of the mof figure 1 during a foaming operation, figure 3 is a view in perspective of the double sheet panel of a first embodiment of the present invention after its removal from the m figure 4 is a partial perspective view in cross section of an end edge of the panel immediately after removal of the m the Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of a refrigerator cabinet assembly in accordance with the present invention, Figure 6 is a view In cross section perspective of a double sheet panel in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention, Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of a refrigerator cabinet assembly in accordance with said alternative embodiment, Figure 8 is a cross-sectional plan elevation view through the portion of a double sheet panel in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention which, when bent to form a refrigerator cabinet assembly forms a corner between the rear part and one side thereof and further showing a tool for heating and softening parts of one or both of the double sheets, and Figure 9 is a cross-sectional plan view through the refrigerator cabinet corner formed from the panel portion of Figure 8. PREFERRED MODALITIES OF THE INVENTION With reference to Figure 5, a cabinet for a refrigerator having side walls 8, 9, and a rear wall 10 integrally connected in articulation regions 6 is shown. Side walls 8, 9 and rear wall 10 are folded into the articulated regions to form the sides 8, 9 and the rear wall 10 as shown. The walls 8, 9, 10 are maintained in the bent condition by an upper cover 20 and by a base plate 21. The upper cover also serves to close the upper end of the cooling chamber defined by the side walls 8, 9 and the rear wall 10. A 16th floor partition is placed inside the chamber to enclose the bottom side of the cooling chamber. The base plate 21 is placed with connections 22 for mounting elements of the cooling system, notably the compressor, control system, and expansion valve. The base plate 21 can remain otherwise substantially open. In the case of refrigerator configurations incorporating a refrigeration compartment for fresh food and a freezer compartment, a compartment division 17 is provided. Referring to Figure 7, an alternative embodiment is shown where the bottom division is incorporated into the refrigerator compartment. the base plate in integrated form as a floor member 50. The floor member 50 defines a space below bordered by side bases 52. The mechanical components of the cooling system are located in connections 54 of a sliding tray 53 slidably installed within the space below the floor member 50 and supported by the side bases 52. The method of forming the rear side walls 8, 9, 10 will be described below as reference to figures 1-4 and with the overall assembly of the refrigerator. With reference to Figures 5 and 7, the top cover 20 of the cooler includes both the upper end of the cooler space and also preserves the upper edge 25 of the walls 8-10 within a channel formed in the underside. The upper edge 25 of the walls 8-10 is preferably formed with a recess 26, thus forming a tongue-like projection, such that when installed, the outer side faces and the end faces 27 of the top cover 20 are flush with the outer surfaces of the side walls and rear 8-10. Similarly, the base plate 21 is provided with channels 28 and 29 adjacent to the lateral ends thereof. The channels 28, 29 accommodate tongue portions 30 of the lower edge of the side walls 8 and 10. Once again the tongue-like or recessed configuration allows the side faces of the base plate to be flush with the side surfaces of the tongue. refrigerator cabinet. As can be seen from Figure 5 in combination with Figure 3j the rear wall 10 of the cabinet preferably ends at a point above the lower edge of the side walls 8 and 9. This leaves an opening in the back of the refrigerator to access the components of the cooling system (mounted on the base plate connections 22 in FIG. 5 and in a support tray 51 in FIG. 7), and allows the air flow around as necessary. The base plate 21 also preferably includes leg portions 33 that extend slightly downward therefrom to support the refrigerator cabinet on a support surface. The adjustable legs as known in the prior art can be installed as required. With reference to Figure 5, a floor partition 16 is preferably placed with the side edges 31, 32 thereof placed within channels 13, 15 formed in the internal side walls of the refrigerator cabinet and the trailing edge 34 placed in the interior. a recessed channel 14 along the lower edge of the rear wall. The floor preferably includes a transition from a substantially horizontal front portion 35 to a substantially horizontal rear portion 36 through an included transition region and curve 37. The floor division may also include internal details such as, for example, a floor tray. drip 38. With reference to figures 6 and 7, in the alternative embodiment, the floor preferably includes a similar transition between a front plate 55 and a rear plate 56. The internal faces of the side walls of the refrigerator cabinet are formed with a recess 57, 58, the upper edge of said recess generally follows the contour of the upper side edges of said floor member, with the raised part of said base plate being located within the recess 57, 58. With reference to figures 5 and 7, the walls 8, 9 and the wall rear 10 of the cabinet may have their internal faces formed with details such as for example tray rail rails 39 formed integrally. Other ways of applying said details on these walls may also be apparent to those skilled in the art such as, for example, by plastic welding of panels on flat surfaces, however, this is considered as a relatively inefficient way of forming these details. Similarly, division 17 may contain additional details for door articulation, air ducts, as well as internal styling. With reference to Figures 1 and 3, the side walls 8, 9 and the rear wall 10 of the cabinet are formed by the simultaneous thermoforming of the outer part and the inner part of the cabinet in the form of a single flat panel 1 from two plastic sheets 2, 3 which may be of different thicknesses, different colors, or different compositions of material. The sheets 2, 3 are heated and initially maintained at their periphery by support flanges 12. Air is injected between the sheets 2, 3 as the molds, inner mold 4 and outer mold 5, are closed on the sheets 2, 3 helping in the process of thermoforming. The above aspects of the double sheet thermoforming process itself is known in the art and will not be described in detail here. The corresponding shaped panel 1 has two bending / articulation regions 6 placed thereon by means of projections 7 in the profile of the inner mold 4. The articulation regions 6 divide the panel into three cavities, two side walls 8, 9 and a wall 10. In the articulation region, the inner sheet 4 is fixed on the outer sheet 5 to form the folding line. With reference to Figure 4, after thermoforming the panel remains in the mold and an insulating foam 40 is injected into the three cavities through injection orifices 11 from the thermoforming process. The thermoforming mold 4, 5 then acts as a foaming template, supporting the walls while the foam expands and sets. After a sufficient time for the curing of the foam, the panel already with foam is removed from the molding 4, 5 and the support flanges 12. With reference to figure 4, during the removal of the mold or some time after and before of the assembly, excess material 40 is cut from the molded member 1. The material is preferably trimmed flush with the joint 41 between internal and external sheets, to leave a clean exterior finish. The exposed joints can be finely polished in order to provide an aesthetic finish. With reference to Figure 8, a profitable configuration of the corner area of a thermoformed panel is shown. The corner area is between a side wall 8 and the rear wall 10 of the refrigerator, with the two sheets essentially assigned either as an inner sheet or as an outer sheet, depending on whether they form the internal faces of the corner or the outer faces . The corner has the purpose of being formed by bending the panel through an angle set in the seam 6 where the inner and outer sheets come into contact, the angle corresponds to the angle provided between the walls when they are assembled. For this purpose, the regions 64, 68 of the inner sheet that approach the seam include an angle substantially equal to the angle established, such that when the panel is folded at the seam these regions will be substantially adjacent and there will be no significant opening or crack between them. Configurations are obviously possible in which this included angle is pushed towards one sheet or another, with a seam with a width approximately equal to the thickness of the panel being an extreme possibility. However, in the preferred embodiment, for a better overall strength and for ease of formation, the included angle is incorporated as a pair of faces 64, 68 which are at a general angle of 45 degrees relative to the general plane of the sheet, thus mutually including an angle of approximately 90 degrees. The outer sheet is configured with a transition in the seam of the thermoformed panel, between the outer face 61 of the panel section 8 that will form in the rear wall, and the minor external face 62 of the panel section 10 that will form the side wall , which is basically the complement of the established angle through which the panel must be folded in the seam 6. With the outer sheet configured in this way, when the sheet is folded through the set angle, face 61 and face 62 will be aligned through the seam to form a substantially continuous plane, the rear wall surface. Obviously there is a further transition in the outer sheet, falling in this part of the panel that will form the side wall, and the transition being between the smaller face 62 and the main face 63 of this panel section, with this transition, in bent state, forming the corner of the cabinet. In this way the seam between the side and rear panels of the cabinet is provided along a line that is parallel with the corner and close to it, but not in the corner, and thus can be hidden in the back of the refrigerator , that in almost all the facilities will be hidden. This is shown in Figure 9 which shows the panel in its bent configuration, the seam 6 being placed clearly on the rear face of the refrigerator cabinet. Other configurations of these transitions are obviously possible according to the angles through which the panel must be bent, possible global curves of the panel sections and possible corner curve itself, without departing from the general intention of this aspect of the invention. With continuous reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, aspects of the preferred bending process are represented. In prior art systems that have a suggested fold of double sheet panels in a seam, the seam has been heated by placing a radiant heater, such as a high strength electrical wire in close proximity to the seam immediately. before bending, in order to soften the seam. However, with a panel the size needed to form the walls of a refrigerator cabinet, it has been found that such techniques are inappropriate, for example, due to wire buckling, and the ability to keep the heater close enough to heat the seam. without heating also the adjacent leaf and thus facilitating its deformation. Accordingly, in the preferred assembly method a heater is provided in which a highly conductive heater head 74 is supported on a heater support member 72, which can be moved relative to the panel to carry a heating face 77 in contact with the seam 6 of the panel. The heater head and the heating face are preferably substantially coextensive with the seam 6. To facilitate contact the seam region can be formed with a significant width and can include a larger heat receiving surface, such as by inclusion of a chamfer 69 on the inner side. This heating operation can be profitably provided while the panel is still supported in the lower moldhowever, it can also be carried out with the panel supported on another support surface to the extent that it is positioned with reasonable accuracy relative to the heater head 74 and head support member 72. It will be readily apparent that the use of a conductive heater head will allow more localized heating, particularly since the conductive head is more easily formed from a solid and rigid material, such as for example aluminum block. This decreases the adverse heating caused in adjacent areas of the sheet and reduces the heating time. The heat conducting block preferably includes a coating that aids the release of the block of the heated plastic material without deforming the plastic material. A PTFE coating is suitable for this purpose. As already described, the inner panel sheet includes an angle between the faces 68 and 64 that must eventually be almost in the assembled construction. This similar angle also exists between at least the regions of the faces 65 and 76 which are adjacent to the faces 68 and 64, but far from the seam 6. Due to the step that is profitably incorporated in the outer sheet (for reasons described above), these regions of faces 65 and 76 will also be aligned and close. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the closeness and alignment of the faces 68 and 64 and / or 65 and 76, is employed to provide an additional fused connection between the panel sections, spaced in the seam 6, to permanently block This forms the panels in your bent consideration. To assist the melting process, nodes 66, 67 of the plastics material are raised from the surrounding general surfaces 76, 65. The nodes may comprise localized raised areas or they may comprise projections substantially coextensive with the seam 6. The conductive heating head 74 it is equipped with additional heating faces 61 and 73 and the heater holder 72 is configured to bring these heating faces in contact with the nodes 66 and 67, respectively, simultaneously with the contact face 77 against the seam 6. With the panel subsequently bent while the nodes are substantially melted, the nodes come into contact and coalesce together to form a weld 75 between the faces 65 and 76 of the inner panel sheet. In use, the weld provides not only a significant increase in the rigidity of the cabinet, but also serves to seal the crack between the faces 68, 64 of the inner sheet at a location close to the surface of the crack. The corner is shown between the walls of the left side 8 and rear 10 of the refrigerator cabinet but obviously can be applied to other seams between sections of a thermoformed panel intended to be bent in the formation of an article such as a cabinet, particularly when a The external faces of said cabinet will probably be substantially hidden from view when in use. In the embodiment of Figure 5, a floor division 16 is introduced into the assembly prior to bending and is locked in place through a recess 13, 14, 15 formed in the rear side walls of the folded panel once the Side walls 8, 9 have been fully bent in position. The floor 16 is preferably of a sandwich structure with a foam core with external plastic coatings. With reference to Figures 5 and 6 for double temperature refrigerators, a compartment partition 17 of similar construction to the floor 16 is inserted into the channels 18, 19 formed in the side walls, as recesses 20 extending through the panel (see figure). 3) to create the division between the controller compartment and the refrigerator. This partition 17 engages the sides 8, 9 of the folded panel 1 and is in turn locked in place through the restraining sides of the folded panel. Division 17 contains additional details for the door joint, air conduction, as well as interior style. The division can be provided with a dovetail connection, box-and-pin connection on said side walls or it can be provided with simple rectangular side edges. With the divider and / or floor division in place, the top cap 20 is placed over the top edge 25 of the folded panel. The tongue portion formed by the recess 26 fits into a channel in the underside of the top cap 20, to remain there in bent consideration.

The folded panel is then equipped with a base plate 21 at the bottom edge thereof with the lower edge 30 of the side walls 8 and 9, which have the tongue portion fitting into the channels 28, 29 formed in the face upper along the sides of the base plate. The base plate 21 as the top cover 20 retains the panel forming the walls 1 in the folded configuration illustrated in Figures 5 and 7. With reference to Figure 7, additional details are shown which demonstrate how a cooling system can be incorporated in the refrigerator. Particularly, the refrigerator includes a diverter panel 801 81 in each of the freezer and refrigerator compartments respectively, and each diverter panel forms the rear wall of its respective compartment. Air recirculation ducts that can be partially formed (for example, channel 82) in the thermoformed panel of two sheets, are hidden behind the deviators. The derailleur for the comforter compartment is considered to be spaced forwardly of the inner face of the thermoformed panel, with its edges fixed in grooves 83 in the side walls of the compartment, in order to provide a sub-compartment behind. This subcompartment is used to house the evaporator of the cooling system. One or several fans are placed in the ducts in which they push the recirculation of the air on the external surface of the evaporator, with the cooled air passing either in the freezer compartment or in the refrigeration compartment, as desired through the openings 85, 86 in the respective diverter 80, 81. A channel 84 may be provided in the thermoformed panel to facilitate the exit of condensation that may be formed from time to time in the evaporator and for its removal during a thawing process. The channel 84 leads to a position just above the refrigerator compressor, where the condensation can fall on a tray mounted on the compressor head in order to absorb the heat from the compressor head and for evaporation. Cooling systems of this form of general configuration in the art and do not form a significant part of the present invention. A cooling system as is known in the art, such as for example a standard vapor compression refrigeration system can be installed in the cabinet. In such a system, the compressor, condenser, and any control system can be cut by the base plate with the evaporator inside the cooling space, in the manner described above with reference to figures 6 and 7. A door or several doors are mounted on the front of the refrigerator, supported between joint parts on the front edges of the top cover and base plate and on the compartment divider panel. The doors are also preferably formed by thermoforming double sheets with insulation foam injected into the cavity, as is known in the art. The above description has been provided with reference to cabinets for refrigerators. The process is sufficiently versatile to be suitable also for other types of cabinets, especially cabinets that require a double-walled insulated structure. It is also readily apparent that while the previous cabinet has been described as a pair of side walls and a rear wall, it would be a simple modification to incorporate any number of walls, with a corresponding change in the included angle between transition faces being side by side. It is readily apparent that the refrigerator cabinet in accordance with the present invention, and in accordance with that described above, includes significant advantages compared to the prior art. The refrigerator cabinet has a simple construction with few parts, and these parts are adjusted together in such a way that they block each other, offering the cabinet strength and rigidity. Cabinet divisions are hooked into the cabinet in an interlaced manner which provides good seals both in terms of thermal and moisture characteristics, as does the hooking of the top cover with the top edge of the bent-walled assembly. The base plate provided with the mechanical elements of the refrigerator system is placed below the bottom partition, easily accessible from the back of the refrigerator, and minimizes the potential refrigeration space wasted inside the refrigerator cabinet. It will be noted that smooth curves and exterior lines will be easily possible molded into the outer shape of the top cover, and on the outer sheet of the folded panel. It will also be readily appreciated that thanks to the simplicity of the assembly device, the refrigerator cabinet of the present invention can be shipped in a disassembled form, with a final assembly being carried out in a totally separate location and potentially distant from the place of production of the products. components. This will provide important benefits in terms of shipping cost, where costs in the case of low density products (such as refrigerators) are usually based on volume and not weight.

Claims (43)

1. CLAIMS A refrigerator cabinet comprising: a divided double wall insulated plastic member, by a plurality of elongated seams wherein said double walls make contact, in three or more wall sections sequentially placed in a side-to-side relationship, said member is bent in said seams in such a manner that said sequence of wall sections forms three or more sides of a cabinet connected in said elongated seams, said sides defining a cooling space therebetween, an upper end cap connected to the upper edge of said wall member retaining said wall member in said bent configuration, said top end cap enclosing the upper end of said cooling space, a base plate connected to the lower edge of said wall member retaining said wall member in said bent configuration, said base plate supporting, directly or indirectly, mechanical components of said cooling system, and floor means, integrated with said base plate or separated from said base plate to enclose the lower end of said cooling compartment.
2. A refrigerator cabinet according to claim 1 wherein said upper end cap generally has an inner face and an outer face and has on the inner side, along at least two sides thereof, at the periphery thereof or in a location adjacent to the periphery thereof, a channel in recess, the upper edge of said folded plastic wall member fits into said upper end cap channel, said upper end cap channel retains the edge top of said wall member in said folded configuration.
3. A refrigerator cabinet according to claim 2 wherein the parts of said upper and lower edges of said wall member that fit into said channels of said upper end cap and / or base plate channels, are formed as a tab that extends from there, said tongue has a thickness less than the general thickness of said wall member, the tongue is adjusted in the channel in such a way that the faces facing towards the sides and toward the back of the lid of the upper end and of the base plate are flush with the cabinet sides formed by the bent member of plastic walls.
4. A refrigerator cabinet according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein said double walled insulated plastic member is generally configured with a plastic sheet facing the inner part and a plastic sheet facing the outer part , said sheet of plastic facing towards the inner part is formed including interior details such as for example tray supports or the like in the side wall and / or rear wall portions, said inner wall is spaced from said outer wall by a filled space of insulating material, but is in contact with said outer wall in said seam and along said seam, and said inner wall includes along each side of said seam a transition face extending between said seam and the general part which forms the interior of the cabinet of said interior wall, opposite said transition faces resting on said wall member bent.
5. A refrigerator cabinet according to claim 4 wherein said double wall insulated plastic member is divided into three wall sections, forming, in a folded state, the left, rear and right side walls sequentially, and said faces of Transition of said inner wall of said plastic member includes an angle of approximately 90 °.
6. A refrigerator cabinet according to any of claims 4 or 5 wherein at least one of said transition faces of said opposite pair of transition faces in each seam includes a longitudinally formed channel., so as to form a vertical well enclosed by the support of said transition faces with said bent wall member, said well can enclose cooling system components and / or auxiliary components and / or include means to block said faces from transition in a state of support in that supported condition or be empty.
7. A refrigerator cabinet according to any of claims 1 6 wherein said double wall insulated plastic member is divided into three panels, sequentially forming a left side wall, rear wall and right side wall of said refrigerator, said rear wall panel of said wall member is preferably formed shorter than said left and right side wall panels of said wall member, said wall member consequently having a notch formed in the lower edge thereof, said notch extending between said seams elongated, said notch preferably allows the existence of an open space in the rear part of said refrigerator adjacent to said base plate, said base plate includes said channels that retain the walls along two opposite sides thereof, said channels retain the lower edge of each of said left and right side walls to connect d This form and retaining said plastic wall member in said bent configuration.
8. A refrigerator cabinet for double temperature refrigerators as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7 wherein said cabinet includes a partition that divides said cabinet into a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment, the side edges of said panel of division are embedded within the recesses formed in at least the internal faces of said left and right side walls of said cabinet.
9. A refrigerator cabinet according to any of claims 1 to 8 wherein a floor means is separated from said base plate, said floor means comprises a bottom partition that spans the space between three or more sides of said floor member. folded plastic, within the space included there, said division alone or in combination with said base plate encloses the end of bottoms of said cooling space.
10. A refrigerator cabinet according to claim 9 wherein said base plate includes on the upper face, along at least two sides at the periphery thereof or adjacent to said periphery, a recessed channel, the lower edge of said Bent plastic wall member is inserted into said base plate channel, said channel retains the lower edge of said wall member in said bent configuration.
11. A refrigerator cabinet according to any of claims 9 or 10 wherein said bottom division is substantially independent of said base plate, and is inserted into a complementary recess or channel formed in the left and right side walls that make facing inwardly of said bent wall member, said division has the leading edge substantially higher than the leading edge.
12. A refrigerator cabinet according to any of claims 9 to 11 wherein said partition includes a substantially horizontal rearward portion, a substantially horizontal forward portion, and a transmission therebetween, said left and right wall members having a channel to accommodate the left and right edges of said division, said channel is formed to correspond to the profile of said division.
13. 13. A refrigerator cabinet according to any of claims 9 to 12 wherein the interior face of the bottom edge of said rear wall includes a recess therein for receiving the trailing edge of said bottom partition.
14. 14. A refrigerator cabinet according to any of claims 1 to 8 wherein the flooring means is integrated with the base plate, said base plate includes a raised floor member that spans the space between three or more sides of said folded plastic member and encloses the bottom end of said cooling space, there being a space below said floor member and between Cooler support members extended downwardly of said base plate, said space is adapted to receive mechanical and / or electrical components of said refrigerator.
15. 15. A refrigerator cabinet according to claim 14 wherein said downwardly extending refrigerator support members include devices for connecting the bottom edge of at least the left and right sides of said cabinet.
16. 16. A refrigerator cabinet according to any of claims 14 or 15 wherein said downwardly extending refrigerator support members include a lateral extension having an upward facing channel formed therein where the edge fits. of a left or right side wall of said cabinet. .
17. A cabinet . of refrigerator according to any of claims 14 to 15 wherein said base plate includes a removable tray adapted to carry said mechanical components of refrigerator, said tray is supported by said extensions downwards, below said floor member. .
18. A refrigerator cabinet according to any of claims 1 to 8 wherein a tray adapted to carry mechanical refrigerator components is formed integrally with said base plate below said floor means. .
19. A refrigerator cabinet according to any of claims 14 to 17 wherein at least the top face of said floor member includes a back plateau, a front plateau and a transition therebetween, and the internal surfaces of said sides cabinet walls left and right include recesses in the bottom edges where the lateral ends of said floor member are housed. .
20. A refrigerator including a refrigerator cabinet according to any of claims 1 to 19, a door mounted in said cooling cabinet for enclosing the front side of said cooling space and thereby completely closing said cooling space, and a cooling system for cooling said cooling space, at least a part of said cooling system is mounted on said base plate.
21. A method for forming a refrigerator cabinet, comprising the steps of: (a) thermoforming an insulated split-wall plastic member, by a plurality of elongated seams wherein said double walls come into contact, in three or more sections of wall sequentially placed in a side-to-side relationship, (b) folding said plastic wall member along each of said seams to form three or more sides of a cabinet connected in said elongated seams, said sides defining a space cooling between them, and (c) fitting an upper end cap on said cabinet to retain said wall member in said bent configuration and enclose the upper end of said cooling space, and (d) adjusting a base plate on the bottom edge of said wall member to retain the bottom edge of said wall member in said bent configuration. .
22. A method for forming a refrigerator cabinet as claimed in claim 21 which includes, before step (b), the steps of: (i) while said plastic member is still retained in its thermoforming mold, introducing a foaming material in the cavity of each wall section, said foaming material expands in the form of a foam and fills said cavities and solidifies there, and (j) then removing said plastic member from its mold of thermoforming. .
23. A method for forming a refrigerator cabinet according to claim 21 or according to claim 22 including, before bending said plastic wall member, the removal of an internal side mold half, and with said a wall member still supported on the outer half of said thermoforming mold, heating said wall member in the region of said seams to substantially soften the material in said seams before bending. .
24. A method for the formation of a refrigerator cabinet according to claim 23 which includes, after removing said mold half from inner side and before said bending, the step of applying a wiring harness and / or mechanical components of refrigerator in channels formed in the internal face of said wall member. .
25. A method for forming a refrigerator cabinet according to any of claims 21 to 24, wherein said wall member includes recess channels in at least the left and right side forming portions near the bottom edge and said method includes, when said plastic wall member is bent to form said cabinet, the retention of a bottom partition in position such that the left and right lateral edges of said bottom division are retained in said recesses of said sides forming portions of wall member when bending. .
26. A method for forming a refrigerator cabinet according to any of claims 21 to 25 including the sliding fit of a partition in channels formed in said left and right lateral wall forming portions of said wall member in an intermediate position of said upper end cover and said bottom forming partition to form a panel of refrigerator / freezer division. .
27. A cabinet including: a divided double wall plastic member, by a plurality of elongated seams wherein said double walls come into contact, in three or more wall sections sequentially placed in a side-to-side relationship, said member bent into said seams in such a manner that said sequence of wall sections forms three or more sides of a cabinet connected in said elongated seams, and a top and / or bottom end cover, which generally has an interior face and an exterior face and which has on the inner side along two sides thereof or adjacent to the periphery thereof a recessed channel, the upper and / or bottom edge respectively of said folded plastic wall member fits into said channel or in said channels, said channel or said channels retain said wall member in said bent configuration.
28. 28. A cabinet according to claim 27 wherein one or more of said folded seams do not coincide with the corner between sides of said cabinet corresponding to said wall sections joined by said respective folded seam.
29. 29. A cabinet according to claim 27 wherein said double-walled plastic member has essentially an inwardly facing sheet and a facing sheet facing out, and said member is formed adjacent to at least one of said stitches. such that said sheet facing inwardly comes in contact with itself, said contact is between portions thereof on opposite sides of said seam and spaced from said seam, said contact portions are fused together.
30. 30. A cabinet for an apparatus that includes a wall member formed by the thermoforming of double sheets, said wall member incorporating several panels, said panels being connected to each other through one or more joined edges where said double sheets come into contact to form a seam, and in said apparatus said wall member is in the condition folded along one or more of these seams such that said plurality of panels forms a plurality of walls of said apparatus being, as a group, configured differently from when said wall member was initially thermoformed, where one or more of said folded seams do not coincide with the corner between walls of said apparatus corresponding to the combs joined by the respective folded seam.
31. A cabinet according to claim 30 wherein said respective folded seam lies between an edge of a panel forming an edge of the surface contributing to at least one of said walls of said corner of said panel, and the edge of the other panel forming an edge of a surface at an angle in relation to the surface of said other panel that contributes at least to the other wall of said corner, said wall member being bent in said seam, through said angle, of such that said surface at an angle of said other panel contributes to said other wall of said corner, and separates said bent seam from said corner. .
32. A cabinet for an apparatus, which includes a wall member formed by the thermoforming of double sheets, said wall member incorporates several panels, said walls being connected to each other by one or several joining edges where said double sheets come into contact to form a seam, and in said apparatus said wall member is in a condition folded along one or more of said seams in such a way that said several panels form several walls of said apparatus being, as a group, configured differently from when said The wall member was initially thermoformed, in at least one of said seams said double-walled plastic member has essentially an inward facing sheet and an outward facing sheet, and said member is formed adjacent to said seam in such a manner. so that in said bent condition said leaf facing inwardly is in contact with itself, said contact is in portions on opposite sides of said seam and spaced from said seam, said contact portions are fused together. .
33. A cabinet according to claim 32 wherein said contact between said portions of said inner sheet occur along a line substantially coextensive with said rib and parallel with said rib. .
34. A wall member formed by the thermoforming of double sheets that includes one or more seams where said double sheets come into contact, said wall member is adapted to be bent in one or several of said seams to form a plurality of walls, characterized in that at least one of said seams is intended to be bent through an established angle and that at least one of said sheets of said double sheets includes, in said seam or substantially in said seam, a transition between surfaces that is the complement of said established angle, such that if said seam is bent through said set angle, said surfaces will be substantially continuous through said seam.
35. A wall member according to claim 34 wherein one of said surfaces has another transition substantially parallel to said seam but spaced therefrom through said set angle such that said surface after said additional transition, moving away from said seam, is substantially coplanar with said surface before said first transition. .
36. A wall member according to claim 35 including a pair of said parallel and spaced seams, dividing said wall member into three panels side by side, a sheet of said wall member having a substantially planar main surface associated with each panel, the three main surfaces are substantially parallel, with said pair of seams being at opposite edges of the main surface of said middle panel, and there being a smaller surface extending perpendicularly from each of the outer panels, each extending to Starting from the edge towards the seam of the main surface of the respective panel towards the respective seam, said set angle is approximately 90 degrees such that if said seam is bent through said set angle, said smaller surfaces of said external panels will be align with said main surface of said middle panel, said panels exte The edges will extend perpendicularly from the edges of said middle panel and the folded seams will be completely placed on the outer face of said middle panel. .
37. An apparatus for preparing a double-walled thermoformed wall member, including one or more seams wherein said wall member must be folded by joining the included faces of said wall member to said seam, for bending comprising a heat conducting head having a heating face configured to be in contact along said seams to be bent, means for heating said thermoconductive head, said head is supported on a support device which, together with a support means associated with said wall member is adapted to bring said head heating face in contact with said seam and through this contact allow heat transfer from said head to said seam and thereby soften said bead seam.
38. An apparatus according to claim 37 wherein said heating head includes one or more additional heating faces configured to contact points or segments on one or more of said included faces of said wall member when the head heating face associated with said seam is brought into contact with said seam, said additional heating faces allow the transfer of heat to soften or locally melt the plastic in said points or segments, in such a way that if said included faces are joined immediately after said operation of bending, the points or segments will form a point of connection between said included surfaces as they come into contact.
39. 39. A cabinet for a refrigerator substantially in accordance with that described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 5 and illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.
40. 40. A method for forming a refrigerator cabinet substantially in accordance with that described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
41. 41. A cabinet for an apparatus that includes a corner arrangement substantially in accordance with that described herein with reference to Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings and in accordance with that illustrated in said figure 9.
42. 42. A cabinet for a refrigerator substantially of according to what is described herein with reference to figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings and in accordance with that illustrated by said figures 6 and 7.
43. 43. A refrigeration cabinet formed by a method according to any of claims 21 to 26. 10 15 20 25