Refrigerator and method of gasket assembly construction

摘要

A refrigerator having an outer case, an inner liner with thermal insulation therebetween, and a storage compartment having an access opening surrounded by a face portion of magnetic material. A door is hingedly mounted on said cabinet for closing and opening said access opening. The door comprises an outer panel and an inner panel with a peripheral edge portion and terminal end, said panels having thermal insulation therebetween. Elongated channel member sections having top, bottom and side walls are located adjacent the peripheral edges of the door on all four sides and have spaced screw openings in the bottom and top walls with the screw openings in the bottom wall being countersunk. An open slot in the top wall interconnects the screw openings along the length of the channel member sections. The channel member sections overlie the peripheral edge portion and terminal end of the door inner panel and are secured to the door by screws having a threaded body and countersink head by passing the threaded body of the screws through the peripheral edge portion and the inwardly turned flange of the outer metal panel. A sealing gasket is made of resilient material and is removably mounted on the elongated metal channel member sections and includes in lateral cross-section a base portion with a downwardly projecting winged dart having a body and two diverging arms projecting through the open slot in the top wall of the channel member sections and overlying the screws securing the channel member sections to the door. The sealing gasket also has a cabinet engaging portion and includes a magnet to be attracted to the area of magnetic material and provides the sole means for holding the door in a closed position.