US 12,410,970 B2
Encapsulation system for a thermal bridge breaker-to-metal liner
Paul B. Allard, Coloma, MI (US); Lakshya J. Deka, Mishawaka, IN (US); Gustavo Frattini, St. Joseph, MI (US); Lynne F. Hunter, Dorr, MI (US); Hua Liu, St. Joseph, MI (US); Abhay Naik, Stevensville, MI (US); Eric J. Vasko, St. Joseph, MI (US); and Jerry M. Visin, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Assigned to Whirlpool Corporation, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed by WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION, Benton Harbor, MI (US)
Filed on Jul. 15, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/772,927.
Application 17/835,018 is a division of application No. 16/309,734, granted, now 11,402,149, issued on Aug. 2, 2022, previously published as PCT/US2016/055161, filed on Oct. 3, 2016.
Application 18/772,927 is a continuation of application No. 17/835,018, filed on Jun. 8, 2022, granted, now 12,055,344.
Prior Publication US 2024/0369290 A1, Nov. 7, 2024
Int. Cl. F25D 23/08 (2006.01)
CPC F25D 23/082 (2013.01) [F25D 23/085 (2013.01); F25D 2201/14 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A trim breaker assembly for an appliance, the trim breaker assembly comprising:
a trim breaker having a wrapper channel configured to receive a wrapper edge of an outer wrapper and a liner channel configured to receive a liner edge of an inner liner;
a multi-component thermal encapsulation material defining a pre-mix state, an application state and a sealing state, the pre-mix state defined by distinct components of the multi-component thermal encapsulation material being separated from one another, the application state defined by the distinct components combined together into an uncured state of the multi-component thermal encapsulation material, and the sealing state defined by the multi-component thermal encapsulation material disposed within the wrapper and liner channels and surrounding the wrapper and liner edges, respectively, in the sealing state that is configured to define a seal between the trim breaker and the wrapper edge and the liner edge; and
a centering assembly that is configured to centrally position the wrapper edge within wrapper channel sidewalls of the wrapper channel of the trim breaker and to centrally position the liner edge within liner channel sidewalls of the liner channel of the trim breaker.