Reinforced refrigerator door assembly and method of assembling the same

摘要

A pair of cross brace members are diagonally positioned within an internal cavity of a refrigerator door shell that is defined by an outer front panel, side walls and in-turned, return flanges. The cross brace members are generally L-shaped in cross-section and are interengaged at central portions thereof which are specifically configured with respective cut-out connection portions to aid in assembly and positioning of the cross brace members. The cross brace members have tabs at terminal ends thereof which extend above planes defined by generally horizontally extending upper sections of the cross brace members. These tabs are adapted to rest upon respective ones of the return flanges to initially mount the cross brace members within the door shell. Once the cross brace members are appropriately positioned within the door shell, insulation foam is supplied into the internal cavity. The foam flows through longitudinally spaced holes provided in generally upright sections of the cross brace members and around the cross brace members. Once the insulation foam hardens, the cross brace members become fixed to the door shell such that a reinforced refrigerator door assembly is defined. An inner door finer can then be attached to the return flanges.