Refrigerator appliance and a door for an appliance

Abstract

A door for an appliance is provided. The door of the appliance includes an outer panel with a rear surface. The door also includes a vacuum insulation panel and a barrier layer. The barrier layer is positioned between the rear surface of the outer panel and the vacuum insulation panel within the door.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet defining a chilled chamber;   a door positioned adjacent the cabinet when the door is in a closed position, the door comprising
 an outer panel having a front surface and a rear surface positioned opposite each other on the outer panel; 
 a vacuum insulation panel; 
 a barrier layer positioned between the rear surface of the outer panel and the vacuum insulation panel within the door. 
   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein a shape of the barrier layer is complementary to a shape of the vacuum insulation panel. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the shape of the barrier layer is substantially rectangular and the shape of the vacuum insulation panel is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum insulation panel comprises an outer conductive film, the barrier layer positioned on the outer conductive film of the vacuum insulation panel and the rear surface of the outer panel such that the barrier layer extends between the outer conductive film of the vacuum insulation panel and the rear surface of the outer panel. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer comprises a plastic foam or a low density fiber material. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the barrier layer is less than about one half of an inch. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 6 , wherein a density of the barrier layer is less than about one tenth of a gram per centimeter cubed. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 6 , wherein a thermal conductivity of the barrier layer is less than about one watt per meter kelvin. 
     
     
         9 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein further comprising an insulating foam positioned within the door, the insulating foam and the barrier layer positioned opposite each other on the vacuum insulation panel. 
     
     
         10 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the vacuum insulation panel is positioned between the insulating foam and the barrier layer within the door. 
     
     
         11 . The refrigerator appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the outer panel comprises steel. 
     
     
         12 . A door for an appliance, comprising:
 an outer panel having a front surface and a rear surface positioned opposite each other on the outer panel;   an inner liner mounted to the outer panel, the outer panel and the inner liner defining an interior volume therebetween;   a vacuum insulation panel positioned within the interior volume; and   a barrier layer positioned between the rear surface of the outer panel and the vacuum insulation panel.   
     
     
         13 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein a shape of the barrier layer is substantially rectangular and a shape of the vacuum insulation panel is substantially rectangular. 
     
     
         14 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein the vacuum insulation panel comprises an outer conductive film, the barrier layer positioned on the outer conductive film of the vacuum insulation panel and the rear surface of the outer panel such that the barrier layer extends between the outer conductive film of the vacuum insulation panel and the rear surface of the outer panel. 
     
     
         15 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein the barrier layer comprises a plastic foam or a low density fiber material. 
     
     
         16 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein a thickness of the barrier layer is less than about one half of an inch. 
     
     
         17 . The door of  claim 16 , wherein a density of the barrier layer is less than about one tenth of a gram per centimeter cubed. 
     
     
         18 . The door of  claim 16 , wherein a thermal conductivity of the barrier layer is less than about one watt per meter kelvin. 
     
     
         19 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein further comprising an insulating foam positioned within the interior volume, the vacuum insulation panel positioned between the insulating foam and the barrier layer within the interior volume. 
     
     
         20 . The door of  claim 12 , wherein the outer panel comprises steel.