AIR DUCT ATTACHMENT HOOK SYSTEM

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to an appliance such as a refrigerator.

BACKGROUND

To keep food fresh, a low temperature must be maintained within a refrigerator to reduce the reproduction rate of harmful bacteria. Refrigerators circulate refrigerant and change the refrigerant from a liquid state to a gas state by an evaporation process to cool the air within the refrigerator. During the evaporation process, heat is transferred to the refrigerant. After evaporating, a compressor increases the pressure, and in turn, the temperature of the refrigerant. The gas refrigerant is then condensed into a liquid and the excess heat is rejected to the ambient surroundings. The process then repeats.

SUMMARY

A refrigerator includes a cabinet having a liner positioned within and defining an internal cavity. At least one air duct may be disposed between the cabinet and the liner, the air duct may be secured to the liner along an exterior of the liner, and the air duct includes a flange protruding radially outward therefrom and proximate to an end of the air duct. The flange may include at least one hook and at least one snap that extend axially from the flange in an arrangement around a periphery of the end of the air duct. The at least one hook may slidingly engage an orifice defined by the liner to secure the air duct to the liner.

A refrigerator including a liner defining a fresh food cavity and an air duct secured to an exterior surface of the liner. The air duct may include a flange protruding radially outward therefrom and proximate to an end of the air duct. The flange may include a first hook, and a second hook, extending axially from a first end of the flange. The first hook may be positioned adjacent the second hook at a predetermined distance apart from each other and at least one snap may be extending axially from a second end of the flange. The second end of the flange may be positioned opposite the first end of the flange. The first hook, the second hook and the at least one snap may be configured to engage a corresponding orifice defined by the liner to secure the air duct to the liner A refrigerator having a liner and an air duct. The air duct having a radially extending flange with a hook protruding axially from the flange and a snap spaced a predetermined distance from the hook and protruding axially from the flange. The refrigerator may also have a first orifice and a second orifice positioned adjacent a liner air duct opening with the air duct opening positioned on the liner. The hook may slidingly engage at least one of the first orifice and the second orifice while the snap may engage the other of the at least one first orifice and the second orifice to secure the air duct to the liner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top front perspective view of a refrigerator;

FIG. 2 is a top rear perspective view of the refrigerator of FIG. 1 with an exterior wrapper removed to reveal a refrigerator liner assembly coupled to an air duct assembly;

FIG. 3 is a top front interior perspective view of the refrigerator liner assembly of FIG. 2 with the air duct assembly extending into a refrigerator cavity;

FIG. 4 is a detail side section view of FIG. 2 with the first side liner wall removed and the air duct assembly couple to the refrigerator liner with exterior wrapper removed;

FIG. 5 is a side top perspective view of the first air duct assembly of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top exploded perspective view of the first air duct assembly of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a detail top perspective view of the first air duct assembly of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation detail view of the first air duct assembly of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a detail side view of FIG. 2 with the second air duct assembly couple to the refrigerator liner with exterior wrapper removed;

FIG. 10 is a side top perspective view of the second air duct assembly of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a top exploded perspective view of the second air duct assembly of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a detail top perspective view of the second air duct assembly of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a side elevation detail view of the second air duct assembly of FIG. 12.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples and other embodiments may take various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the embodiments. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand, various features illustrated and described with reference to any one of the figures may be combined with features illustrated in one or more other figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustrated or described. The combinations of features illustrated provide representative embodiments for typical applications. Various combinations and modifications of the features consistent with the teachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particular applications or implementations.

For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in FIG. 1. Unless stated otherwise, the term “front” shall refer to the surface of the element closer to an intended viewer, and the term “rear” shall refer to the surface of the element further from the intended viewer. However, it is to be understood that the disclosure may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

The terms “including,” “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises a. ” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

Referring to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 generally designates a refrigerator having a cabinet structure 13 with a front surface 14 opening into a refrigerator compartment 12. The cabinet structure 13 may include a vacuum insulated cabinet structure, a foam insulated cabinet structure, a vacuum insulated panel cabinet structure or any known combination thereof, as further described below. The refrigerator compartment 12 is contemplated to be an insulated portion of the cabinet structure 13 for storing fresh food items. Merely by way of example, first and second doors 18, 20 are rotatably coupled to the cabinet structure 13 near the front surface 14 thereof for selectively providing access to the refrigerator compartment 12 by pivoting movement between open and closed positions. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a freezer door 22 is configured to selectively provide access to a freezer compartment 16 disposed below the refrigerator compartment 12. The refrigerator 10 shown in FIG. 1 is an exemplary embodiment of a refrigerator for use with the present concept and is not meant to limit the scope of the present concept in any manner as other refrigerator door layouts may be used such as a single door with drawer, a quad-door or any other known door layout that enables access to the refrigerator cavity 12 or freezer compartment 16.

As further shown in FIG. 1, the first door 18 includes a dispensing station 2 which may include one or more paddles 4, which are configured to initiate the dispensing of water and/or ice from outlets disposed within the dispensing station 2. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the dispensing station 2 is shown as being accessible from outside of the refrigerator 10 on an exterior portion of the first door 18 but may also be provided along any portion of the refrigerator 10, including an interior of the refrigerator compartment 12, for dispensing ice and/or water. The dispensing station 2 is contemplated to be coupled to an ice maker (not illustrated) positioned inside the refrigerator. As further shown in FIG. 1, the cabinet structure 13 of the refrigerator 10 may be made up of an exterior wrapper 32 which includes first and second sidewalls 34, 36, a top wall 38 and a rear wall 40. The exterior wrapper 32 is contemplated to be a metal component formed of a sheet metal material. The cabinet structure 13, or more specifically the exterior wrapper 32 of the cabinet structure 13, is configured to receive a liner assembly or liner 24. The liner assembly 24 may include a refrigerator liner 26 and a freezer liner 28, however other configurations such as a refrigerator or freezer having the liner 24 with a single cavity is also contemplated. The liner assembly 24 may be inserted within a cavity (not illustrated) of the exterior wrapper 32 as a single piece or as two pieces defining the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 16, these compartments 12, 16 provide a space for fresh food to be placed and stored in the refrigerator 10.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the refrigerator 10 is shown with the cabinet structure 13 removed to reveal an exterior of the liner assembly 24 and more specifically with the refrigerator liner 26 disposed over the freezer liner 28. It should be understood that the refrigerator liner 26 and the freezer liner 28 may be inserted separately or as a single liner unit to aid in an assembly process (not illustrated). The elements illustrated in FIG. 2, other than the exterior facing portions such as the doors 18, 20, 22 are disposed within the internal cavity (not illustrated) of the cabinet structure 13. The refrigerator compartment 12 is generally defined by the refrigerator liner 26 including a refrigerator liner first sidewall 42, a refrigerator liner second sidewall 44, a refrigerator liner top wall 46, a refrigerator liner rear wall 48 and a refrigerator liner bottom wall 50. The freezer compartment 16 is also generally defined by the freezer liner 26 having a freezer liner first sidewall 52, a freezer liner second sidewall 54, a freezer liner top wall 56, a freezer liner rear wall 58 and a freezer liner bottom wall 60. The liner assembly 24 may be comprised of a sheet metal material or a polymeric material. As encapsulated by the exterior wrapper 32, the liner 24 is spaced-apart from the exterior wrapper 32 to define an insulating space 30 therebetween, for the installation of refrigerator components and insulation. Merely by way of example, the refrigerator components may include, but are not limited to wiring, water lines, cold air supply and return air ducting and other components required to cool and control the refrigerator 10. The exterior wrapper 32 and the liner 24 may be interconnected by a trim breaker or other known connection method at the front surface 14 to define the overall cabinet structure 13 of the refrigerator 10.

With further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the liner assembly 24 is illustrated having a plurality of air ducts 62 coupled to the refrigerator liner 26, the freezer liner 28 and a cooling system (not illustrated) to transfer cold air between at least the refrigerator compartment 12, the freezer compartment 16 and the cooling system. The air ducts 62 may include one of a cold air duct 64, a first air duct 66 and a second air duct 68. It should be understood that the cold air duct 64, the first air duct 66 and the second air duct 68 may be either supply or return air ducts and in are no way are limited by the terms supply or return as to a specific air duct. The cold air duct 64 includes a cold air duct outlet 70 and cold air duct inlet 72, which is at least fluidly connected to the cooling system having a refrigerator evaporator circuit (not illustrated) positioned in a machine compartment 74, which may be configured on a portion of the cabinet structure 13 and beneath the machine compartment cutout 76 or at the freezer liner rear wall 58. Additionally, the cold air duct 64 may be fluidly connected to an air tower 78 at the cold air duct outlet 70. The air tower 78 may be configured to introduce the cold air from the evaporator into at least one of the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 16. Once the cold air is distributed into the compartments 12, 16 the air flows into at least one of the first air duct 66 and the second air duct 68, which are fluidly connected between the compartments 12, 16 and the evaporator circuit.

As used herein, the terms “fluidly connected”, “fluidly coupled”, or “fluidly interconnected” indicates that two or more structures are connected to one another in such a way as to provide for fluid airflow between the two or more structures, as the plurality of air ducts 62 and the refrigerator evaporator (not illustrated) as well as the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 16.

The air ducts 62 are disposed within the insulation space 30 configured between the liner assembly 24 and the exterior cabinet wrapper 32. The air ducts 62 may be positioned adjacent and coupled to one of the refrigerator liner bottom walls 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, the freezer liner walls 52, 54, 56, 58, 60, and the refrigerator cooling system, as discussed above. More specifically and as illustrated, the first air duct 66 includes a first air duct inlet 80 and a first air duct outlet 82. Similarly, the second air duct 68 includes a second air duct inlet 84 and a second air duct outlet 86. The first air duct inlet 80 and the second air duct inlet 84 may extend at least partially through at least one of the refrigerator liner 26 and the freezer liner 28 and into at least one of the refrigerator compartment 12 and the freezer compartment 16. A grate 88 may be used within the compartments 12, 16 to cover the first air duct inlet 80 and/or the second air duct inlet 84 to prevent debris and/or the food items stored in the refrigerator 10 from dropping into the plurality air ducts 62.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the first air duct 66 is coupled to the refrigerator liner 26 using at least one air duct hook 90 and at least one air duct snap 92. The refrigerator liner 26 may include an air duct opening 94 that may be cut or molded into at least one of the walls 42, 44, 46, 48, 50 to allow the air ducts 62 to be inserted through the liner 24. As an example, FIG. 4 illustrates the air duct opening 94 as a cutout in the refrigerator liner bottom wall 50 to allow the first air duct inlet 80 to be inserted through the air duct opening 94. Additionally, the refrigerator liner 26 may also include a plurality of hook slots 96 and a plurality of snap orifice 98 positioned through the refrigerator liner bottom wall 50. Each of the plurality of hook slots 96 are configured to receive a corresponding air duct hook 90 while each of the plurality of snap orifice 98 are configured to receive a corresponding air duct snap 92. It should be understood that the liner 24 may be configured to deflect allowing the liner 24 to snap against the air duct hook 90 and the air duct snap 92 when they are inserted into the hook slots 96 and the snap orifice 98. It should be understood that the deflection of the liner 24 may be determined based on the cross-sectional thickness of the liner 24, such that a thicker liner will deflect less than a thin liner.

Turning to FIG. 5, the first air duct 66 is illustrated as having a flange 100 extending radially around the first air duct inlet 80. The flange 100 may be offset axially from a top edge 102 that extends around the first air duct inlet 80, such that the top edge 102 rises above the flange 100. A pair of air duct hooks 90 and a pair of air duct snaps 92 extend axially from flange 100 and are positioned around the periphery 104 of the first air duct inlet 80. Additionally, a hook lip 106 is illustrated as extending radially from a portion of the top edge 102 of the air duct inlet 80 and extending at an arc 108 above the flange 100. Thus, the hook lip 106 may be offset a predetermined distance and slopes away from the flange 100. The predetermined distance may be determined by the size of the air duct inlet opening 94 configured in the liner 24 as compared to the size of the first air duct inlet 80. It should be understood that the arc 108 may also be substantially curved and substantially sloped in various configurations to allow the first air duct inlet 80 to be positioned in the air duct opening 94 and the terms slope, arc and curve may be used interchangeably as the result may include both a curved shape and a sloped shape combined into one surface, the arc 108. More specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8, the arc 108 includes an arced section 110 and a sloped section 112. It should be understood that the illustration of having both the arced section 110 and the sloped section 112 is by no means limiting, as the arc 108 may include just the arced section 110 across the whole surface or just the sloped section 112 across the whole surface, this versatility allows for better insertion depending on opening size of the hook slots 96.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary first air duct 66. The first air duct 66 may be a single piece design or it may be constructed of multiple pieces mechanically fastened together, mechanical fasteners may include, but are not limited to fasteners, snaps, clips adhesives or any other known fastener. As illustrated, the first air duct 66 includes a rear section 114 and a front section 116, the front section 116 may include the first air duct outlet 82 positioned at a first air duct bottom end 124 opposite the flange 100 where the at least one air duct snap 92 is positioned. The rear section 114 may include the at least one air duct hook 90. While the first air duct inlet 80 is formed once the rear section 114 and the front section 116 are joined together when the two-piece design is used. Additionally, the figures illustrate that the flange 100 includes a curved rear surface 118 that is arced up axially to conform with a curved edge 120 that transitions between the refrigerator liner rear wall 48 and the refrigerator liner bottom wall 50. The curved rear surface 118 allows the flange 100 to mate to the refrigerator liners bottom wall 50 and curved edge 120 to minimize any cold air loss or insulation intrusion during an insulation fill process.

Additionally, a first gasket 122 may be included between the flange 100, the refrigerator liner bottom wall 50 and the curved edge 120 providing an additional seal between the flange 100 and the refrigerator liner 26 to further prevent losses and/or intrusion, as discussed above. To further aid in sealing the first air duct bottom end 124 to the refrigerator liner 26 a second gasket 126 may be provided. As illustrated, the first air duct bottom end 124 includes at least one through hole 125 that may be configured to receive a bolt or clip to secure it to the liner 26. Alternatively, the first air duct bottom end 124 may also include at least one air duct hook 90 and one air duct snap 92 positioned on at least one of an outlet flange 128 and the liner 26 to secure the two together. It should be understood that the elements discussed above related to the air duct hook 90 and the air duct snap 92 and related slots and apertures may be required at the first air duct outlet 82 but are not illustrated for the first air duct bottom end 124 as the elements are exemplified above and, in the figures, related to the first air duct inlet 82.

Turning now to FIGS. 7 and 8, a detail view of the first air duct inlet 80 flange 100 is illustrated. The flange 100 may include the protruding air duct hook 90 and air duct snap 92 positioned on the periphery 104 with the top edge 102 and corresponding hook lip 106 offset above a top surface 130 of the flange 100, as previously discussed above. Additionally, the air duct hook 90 may include a vertical friction surface 132 protruding axially from the top surface 130 in the direction away from the flange 100, and a sloped friction surface 134. The sloped friction surface 134 may extend from a transition point 136 of the vertical friction surface 132 at a hook slope 138 in an upward direction relative to the top surface 130. The sloped friction surface 134 may extend at least one of below, above, and even with the top edge 102 of the first air duct inlet 82. A hook rib 140 may extend along an exterior 142 of the sloped friction surface 134 at a substantially 90-degree angle and terminating into a wall of the sloped friction surface 134. It should be understood that air duct hook 90 may have a thickness 144 that extends at least between the exterior 142 and the sloped friction surface 134. This thickness 144, along with the hook rib 140, may provide rigidity and support to the sloped friction surface 134. Additionally, it should be understood that the hook slope 138 and the sloped section 112 may have substantially the same angular slope relative to the top surface 130 of the flange 100. This same slope allows for a smooth transition when the air duct hook 90 is assembled onto the liner 24.

FIGS. 7 and 8 further illustrate an exemplary air duct snap 92, the air duct snap 92 may include a friction wall 146 having a thickness 154 and protruding axially upward from the top surface 130. The friction wall 146 may also include at least one support rib 148 extending from a back surface 150 of the friction wall 146 down to the top surface 130. The friction wall thickness 154 along with the at least one support rib 148 may provide strength and rigidity to the friction wall 146 to prevent the friction wall 146 from flexing when inserted into the snap aperture 98. Additionally, the at least one support rib 148 may be triangular in shape to provide a ramp 152, the ramp 152 may create a surface for the snap aperture 98 to slide on when one of the plurality of air ducts 62 is mated to the liner 24. It should be understood that an axial height 156 of the vertical friction surface 132 and an axial height 158 of the friction wall 146 may be a height that is configured to protrude above the top surface 130 at least a thickness of the gasket and a thickness of the liner 24.

With additional reference back to FIG. 4 and continued reference to at least FIGS. 7 and 8 it should be understood that an aperture distance 158 extending between a hook slot front edge 160 a snap aperture rear edge 162 may be substantially the same as a hook snap distance 164 extending between a portion of the vertical friction surface 132 and the friction wall 146, thereby allowing a substantially friction engagement therebetween when the air duct 62 and the liner 24 are mated together. Alternatively, at least one of the air duct hooks 90, the air duct snaps 92, corresponding hook slots 96, and snap apertures 98 may be offset from at least one of each other and from one side of the flange to an opposite side of the flange allowing alternative alignment as long as the distances apart provide the substantially friction engagement between the duct hooks 90, duct snaps 92 and the corresponding hook slots 96 and snap apertures 98. As discussed above, the liner 24 will deflect to deform the aperture distance 158 allowing the duct hooks 90 and duct snaps 92 slide into place and once in position the aperture distance 158 will snap back into its original position or distance allowing the friction engagement.

Turning to FIGS. 9 and 10, the exemplary second air duct 68, is illustrated as discussed above, with FIG. 9 illustrating the second air duct 68 connected between the refrigerator liner bottom wall 50 and at least one of the freezer liner second side wall 54 and a cooling system housing 268. While FIG. 10 illustrates the second air duct 68 may include a substantially planar flange 200 extending radially around the second air duct inlet 84. The substantially planar flange 200 may be offset axially down from a top edge 202 of the second air duct inlet 84, such that the top edge 202 extends above the substantially planar flange 200. A pair of air duct hooks 190 and a pair of air duct snaps 192 may extend axially from the substantially planar flange 200 and may be positioned around the periphery 204 of the second air duct inlet 84. A hook lip 206 may be included and is illustrated as extending radially from a portion of the top edge 202 of the second air duct inlet 84 and extending at a slope 208 above the substantially planar flange 200. Thus, the hook lip 206 may be offset a predetermined distance and sloping away from the substantially planar flange 200 and the top edge 202. It should be understood that the predetermined distance may be determined by the size of the air duct inlet opening 194 (illustrated in FIG. 4 as element 94) as compared to the size of the second air duct inlet 84. It should be understood that the slope 208 may also be substantially linear to allow the second air duct inlet 84 to be positioned in the air duct opening 194 and the terms slope and arc may be used interchangeably as the slope 208 may include both a rounded shape and a linear shape combined into one surface, the slope 208.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exploded view of the exemplary second air duct 68. The second air duct 68 may be a single piece design as illustrated in FIG. 10, or it may be constructed of multiple pieces mechanically fastened together, mechanical fasteners may include, but are not limited to fasteners, snaps, clips adhesives or any other known fastener, as discussed above. As illustrated, the second air duct 68 includes a rear section 214 and a front section 216, the front section 216 may include the second air duct outlet 86 positioned at a second air duct bottom end 224, an opposite end to the substantially planar flange 200. The front section 216 and the rear section 214 may include the at least one air duct hook 190 and the at least one air duct snap 192.

As specifically illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the front section 216 and the rear section 214 both include a first end 210 and a second end 212. The first end 210 may include at least one of the at least one air duct snap 192 and the at least one air duct hook 190 where the at least one air duct snap 192 may be positioned substantially adjacent the hook lip 206. The at least one air duct hook 190 may be positioned at an opposite side of the hook lip 206. When the two-piece design is used, it should be understood that the second air duct inlet 84 may be formed once the rear section 214 and the front section 216 are joined together. Additionally, a first gasket 222 may be included between the substantially planar flange 200 and the refrigerator liner bottom wall 50 providing an additional seal between the substantially planar flange 200 and the refrigerator liner 26 to further prevent losses and/or intrusion, as discussed above. To further aid in sealing the second air duct bottom end 224 to the refrigerator liner 26 a second gasket 226 may be provided.

As illustrated, the second air duct bottom end 224 includes at least one through hole 225 that may be configured to receive a fastener 227, such as, but not limited to a threaded bolt or pin and clip to secure it to the liner 26. Alternatively, the second air duct bottom end 224 may also include at least one air duct hook 190 and one air duct snap 192 (not illustrated) positioned on at least one of an outlet flange 228 and the liner 26 to secure the two together. It should be understood that the elements discussed above related to the air duct hook 90 and the air duct snap 92 and related slots and apertures may be required at the second air duct outlet 86 but are not illustrated for the second air duct bottom end 224 as the elements are exemplified above and, in the figures, related to the second air duct inlet 84.

Turning now to FIGS. 12 and 13, a detail view of the second air duct inlet 84 substantially planar flange 200 is illustrated. The substantially planar flange 200 may include the protruding air duct hook 190 and the air duct snap 192 positioned on the periphery 204 with the top edge 202 and corresponding hook lip 206 offset above a top surface 230 of the substantially planar flange 200, as previously discussed above. Additionally, the air duct hook 190 may include a vertical friction surface 232 protruding axially from the top surface 230 in the direction away from the substantially planar flange 200, and a sloped friction surface 234. The sloped friction surface 234 may extend from a transition point 236 of the vertical friction surface 232 at a hook slope 238 in an upward direction relative to the top surface 230. The sloped friction surface 234 may extend at least one of below, above, and even with the top edge 202 of the second air duct inlet 84. At least one hook rib 240 may extend along an exterior 242 of the sloped friction surface 234 at a substantially 90 degree angle and terminating into the sloped friction surface 234. It should be understood that the sloped friction surface 234 may have a thickness 244 that along with the hook rib 240 may provide rigidity and support to the sloped friction surface 234. Additionally, it should be understood that the hook slope 238 and the sloped section 212 may have substantially the same slope.

FIGS. 12 and 13 further illustrate an exemplary air duct snap 192, the air duct snap 192 may include a friction wall 246 having a thickness 254 and protruding axially upward from the top surface 230. The friction wall 246 may also include at least one support rib 248 extending from a back surface 250 of the friction wall 246 down to the top surface 230. The friction wall thickness 254 along with the at least one support rib 248 may provide strength and rigidity to the friction wall 246 to prevent the friction wall 246 from flexing when inserted into the snap aperture 198 (illustrated in FIG. 4 and discussed above as element 98). Additionally, the at least one support rib 248 may be triangular in shape providing a ramp 252, the ramp 252 may create a surface for the snap aperture 198 to slide on when one of the plurality of air ducts 62 may be mated to the liner 24. It should be understood that an axial height 256 of the vertical friction surface 232 and an axial height 258 of the friction wall 246 may be a height that is configured to protrude above the top surface 230 at least a thickness of the first gasket 222 and a thickness of the liner 24.

With additional reference back to FIG. 4 and continued reference to at least FIGS. 7 and 8 it should be understood that an aperture distance 258 extending between a hook slot front edge 260 a snap aperture rear edge 262 (Illustrated in FIG. 4 and discussed above related to elements 160, 162) may be substantially the same as a hook snap distance 264 extending between a portion of the vertical friction surface 232 and the friction wall 246. Thereby, allowing a substantially friction engagement therebetween when the air duct 62 and the liner 24 are mated together. Alternatively, at least one of the air duct hooks 190, the air duct snaps 192, corresponding hook slots 196, and snap apertures 198 may be offset from at least one of each other and from one side of the substantially planar flange 200 to an opposite side of the substantially planar flange 200. This allows for alternative alignment as long as the distances apart provide the substantially friction engagement between the duct hooks 190, duct snaps 192 and the corresponding hook slots 196 and snap apertures 198.

Assembly may include that prior to insertion of the liner 24 into the cabinet structure 13, the plurality of air ducts 62 are attached to the liner 24. With specific reference to the first air duct 66, the first gasket 122 may be placed on the flange 100 and the first air duct 64 may be positioned adjacent the air duct opening 94 at substantially the same angle as the hook lip arc 108 and the hook slope 138. While inserting the hook lip 106 into the air duct opening 94 and simultaneously rotating the first air duct 64 upward thereby engaging the air duct hook 90 sloped friction surface 134 with the hook slots 96. Then sliding the first air duct 64 toward the front surface 14 while slidingly engaging the air duct hook 90 sloped friction surface 134 with the hook slots 96. Additionally, the air duct snap 92 ramp 152 may start to engage the snap aperture 98 with the same sliding movement toward the front surface 14. Once the first air duct 64 can no longer be pushed toward the front surface 14, the air duct hook 90 vertical friction surface 132 and the air duct snap 92 friction wall 146 will engage the hook slot front edge 160 and the snap aperture rear edge 162 deforming the liner 24 to form a friction fit therebetween once the liner 24 snaps back into place and is no longer deformed. Additionally, at least a portion of the hook lip 106 and an air duct opening wall 166 may also engage an air duct opening front wall 168 to create an additional friction engagement there between. Finally, once the friction engagement is complete the second gasket 126 may be positioned on the outlet flange 128 and the outlet flange 128 may be fastened to the liner 24. It should be understood that the second air duct 68 includes similar engagement features and may attach in a similar manner.

The air ducts described herein are merely exemplary embodiments of the hook snap mounting system. It should be understood that the mounting system may be used on a variety of other items needing to be attached to a liner or other such element. Other applications contemplated include, but are not limited to HMI mounting, light fixture mounting, and ice and water dispenser housing mounting.

While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments.