US 12,264,866 B2
Door vent sealing assembly
Chethan Shivappa Thenehalli, Cedar Rapids, IA (US)
Assigned to Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed by WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed on May 3, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/654,276.
Application 18/654,276 is a continuation of application No. 18/136,380, filed on Apr. 19, 2023, granted, now 12,007,156.
Application 18/136,380 is a continuation of application No. 17/005,476, filed on Aug. 28, 2020, granted, now 11,662,130, issued on May 30, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0280310 A1, Aug. 22, 2024
Int. Cl. F25C 5/20 (2018.01); F25D 11/02 (2006.01)
CPC F25C 5/22 (2018.01) [F25D 11/02 (2013.01); F25C 2400/10 (2013.01); F25D 2317/062 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A refrigerator, comprising:
a cabinet defining a cabinet inlet and a cabinet outlet; and
a door assembly operably coupled to the cabinet, wherein the door assembly includes:
a door having a side panel defining a door inlet and a door outlet;
an air duct in fluid communication with the door inlet; and
a return duct in fluid communication with the door outlet;
a first retainer operably coupled with the air duct;
a second retainer operably coupled to the return duct, wherein each of the first and second retainers includes a rim disposed adjacent to the side panel and defining an opening, and wherein each of the first and second retainers includes elongated ribs arranged on an outer surface of the rim about the opening, the elongated ribs having a rounded engagement surface;
a first sealing gasket coupled to the first retainer; and
a second sealing gasket coupled to the second retainer, wherein each of the first and second sealing gaskets includes a coupling portion coupled to the rim and extending over the outer surface and a sealing member defining an inner channel, and wherein the first and second sealing gaskets compress against the elongated ribs when the door assembly is in a closed position to seal airflow passages between the cabinet and the door assembly, the elongated ribs maintaining space between the coupling portion and the outer surface of the rim to reduce a vacuum suction effect and allow the first and second sealing gaskets to expand when the door assembly is in an opened position.