PLASTIC REFRIGERATOR DOOR AND METHOD OF THERMOFORMING THE SAME

摘要

A unitary plastic refrigerator door is produced by simultaneously thermoforming an outer refrigerator door panel with an inner refrigerator do or liner. During production, an annular flange portion of the inner, refrigerat or door liner is joined with an annular sidewall portion of the outer refrigerator d oor panel at an attachment location positioned inwardly of the annular side wall porti on. The inner refrigerator door liner is also formed with either an annular rece ss or a plurality of spaced recesses in its annular flange portion adjacent the atta chment location of the inner refrigerator door liner and the outer refrigerator doo r panel that is adapted to press-fittingly receive a door gasket. Preferably, the ou ter refrigerator door panel includes a thickened portion that is formed with a h andle defining recess. A method of thermoforming the refrigerator door is also pro vided and advantageously enables the inner refrigerator door liner to be produced on amale mold member.