Folded vacuum insulated structure

摘要

A vacuum insulated cabinet structure for refrigerators and the like includes a plurality of vacuum insulated panels. The cabinet structure may include an “O” or “U” structure that is formed by folding a large panel assembly. The panels may comprise side walls that are heat-sealed together around the perimeters of the panels to form air-tight spaces having a vacuum.

主权项

1. A method of forming a vacuum insulated cabinet structure, the method comprising:
forming a generally rectangular first blank from a sheet of material that includes a metal layer and a thermoplastic polymer layer; forming a generally rectangular second blank from a sheet of material that includes a layer of thermoplastic polymer material and a layer of material that is substantially impermeable, wherein the second blank includes a plurality of shallow pockets that open towards a first side of the second blank, the second blank including at least one groove extending between opposite side edges of the second blank to form a divider between adjacent shallow pockets; positioning the first and second blanks directly adjacent one another such that the first blank substantially closes off the shallow pockets; providing a porous filler material in the pockets; positioning the first and second blanks in a vacuum chamber; sealing the second blank to the thermoplastic layer of the first blank such that the shallow pockets form sealed vacuum spaces; folding the first and second blanks along the groove.