Appliance mounting assembly

Abstract

An appliance mounting assembly includes a mounting bracket with first and second distal arms that flare outward in opposing directions from an attachment body and couple to a panel. The mounting bracket includes a pair of coupling members that extend from the attachment body toward the panel surface and distal ends that curve inward toward one another. A self-clinching nut has an undercut, serrated clinching ring, and base. The undercut and the serrated clinching ring are disposed within an aperture defined by the attachment body. A ladder rack has first and second sides coupled via an attachment wall. The first and second sides define protrusions that engage the pair of coupling members in an interference fit. The attachment wall defines a receiving hole that aligns with the aperture. A threaded fastener extends through the receiving hole and engages the self-clinching nut to fasten the ladder rack to the mounting bracket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of installing a mounting assembly in a vacuum insulated appliance, comprising:
 welding distal arms of a first mounting bracket to a panel surface;   welding distal arms of a second mounting bracket to the panel surface, each of the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket having an attachment body spaced from the panel surface and coupling members extending from the attachment body and toward the panel surface;   positioning a first nut to abut the attachment body of the first mounting bracket, wherein the first nut is positioned between the attachment body of the first mounting bracket and the panel surface;   positioning a ladder rack over the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket, wherein the ladder rack engages the coupling members of the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket; and   inserting a first fastener through the ladder rack and the first mounting bracket to engage the first nut.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 positioning a second nut to abut the attachment body of the second mounting bracket, wherein the second nut is positioned between the attachment body of the second mounting bracket and the panel surface; and   inserting a second fastener through the ladder rack and the second mounting bracket to engage the second nut.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 coupling the first nut to the attachment body of the first mounting bracket via a serrated clinching ring of the first nut being positioned within an aperture of the attachment body of the first mounting bracket.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 snap engaging inward protrusions on sides of the ladder rack over curved distal ends of the coupling members of the first mounting bracket and the coupling members of the second mounting.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a cabinet with the panel surface, a top panel surface, a bottom panel surface, and a side panel surface at least partially defining a compartment, wherein the step of welding the distal arms of the first mounting bracket includes welding the distal arms of the first mounting bracket proximate to the side panel surface and the top panel surface, and wherein the step of welding the distal arms of the second mounting bracket includes welding the distal arms of the second mounting bracket proximate to the side panel surface and the bottom panel surface.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 drawing an at least partial vacuum in an insulating cavity defined by the cabinet.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of positioning the ladder rack includes positioning an attachment wall of the ladder rack to abut the attachment body of the first mounting bracket and the attachment body of the second mounting bracket. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of positioning the ladder rack includes positioning sides of the ladder rack to abut the panel surface. 
     
     
         9 . A method of installing a mounting assembly in an appliance, comprising:
 providing a mounting bracket with coupling members, wherein the mounting bracket includes distal arms each having a flange;   coupling the mounting bracket to a panel surface;   providing a ladder rack having sides that each include a protrusion; and   snap-engaging the ladder rack over the mounting bracket in an interference fit, wherein the protrusions are configured to engage ends of the coupling members to retain the ladder rack on the mounting bracket.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of coupling the mounting bracket includes welding the flanges of the distal arms of the mounting bracket to the panel surface. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 positioning a nut at least partially within an aperture defined by the mounting bracket.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the nut is a self-clinching nut, and wherein the step of positioning the nut includes positioning a serrated clinching ring of the self-clinching nut in the aperture. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 inserting a fastener through the ladder rack to engage the nut to fasten the ladder rack to the mounting bracket.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the step of snap-engaging the ladder rack includes positioning the ladder rack such that a rim extending therefrom abuts an adjacent panel surface of said appliance. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 aligning a planar surface of an attachment wall of the ladder rack with an attachment body of the mounting bracket.   
     
     
         16 . A method for supporting a storage structure within an appliance, comprising:
 providing a panel for a liner;   coupling a first mounting bracket to an upper portion of the panel, wherein distal arms of the first mounting bracket are vertically aligned;   coupling a second mounting bracket to a lower portion of the panel, wherein the second mounting bracket is vertically aligned with the first mounting bracket, and wherein distal arms of the second mounting bracket are vertically aligned;   aligning a ladder rack with the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket;   engaging the ladder rack over the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket with protrusions of the ladder rack engaging coupling members of each of the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket; and   coupling a storage feature to the ladder rack.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , the step of coupling the storage feature includes positioning hooks of the storage feature through at least one opening defined by the ladder rack. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 coupling a first self-clinching nut with the first mounting bracket; and   coupling a second self-clinching nut with the second mounting bracket.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 inserting fasteners through the ladder rack to engage the first self-clinching nut and the second self-clinching nut to fasten the ladder rack to the first mounting bracket and the second mounting bracket.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of coupling the first mounting bracket includes welding the distal arms of the first mounting bracket to the panel, and wherein the step of coupling the second mounting bracket includes welding the distal arms of the second mounting bracket to the panel.