Snap-in panel design for a refrigeration cooler

Abstract

An insulated refrigeration panel has a first skin and a second skin. The second skin is spaced generally parallel to the first skin. A first insulating body is sandwiched by the first skin and the second skin. The first skin, the second skin and the insulating body form a panel unit. A first snap fit connector and a second snap fit connector is integrally formed with the panel unit. The first snap-fit connector allows engagement of a mating connector along the first direction while the second snap-fit connector allows flexible engagement of a second mating connector along the second direction transfers to the first direction.

1 . An insulated refrigeration panel assembly comprising: 
 a first skin;    a second skin spaced generally parallel to said first skin;    a first insulating body sandwiched between said first skin and said second skin, said first skin, said second skin and said first insulating body forming a first panel unit;    a first snap fit connector for flexibly engaging a first mating connector along a first direction, said first snap fit connector attached to said first panel unit; and    a second snap fit connector for flexibly engaging a second mating connector along a second direction transverse to said first direction, said second snap fit connector attached to said first panel unit wherein said first snap fit connector and said second snap fit connector comprise at least one of said first skin, said second skin, and said first insulating body.    
   
   
       2 . The insulated refrigeration panel assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first snap fit connector and said first mating connector flexes between a first dimension and a second dimension, said first dimension larger than said second dimension and said first snap fit connector engaged to said mating connector when in said second dimension.  
   
   
       3 . The insulated refrigeration panel assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first mating connector comprises a second insulating body.  
   
   
       4 . The insulated refrigeration panel assembly of  claim 3  wherein said second insulating body has a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion comprising said first mating connector and said second end portion comprising a third mating connector.  
   
   
       5 . The insulated refrigeration panel assembly of  claim 3  including a flange attached to said second insulating body, said flange having a first portion for receiving said first panel unit and a second portion for covering a joint.  
   
   
       6 . The insulated refrigeration panel assembly of  claim 5  wherein said second portion is curved.  
   
   
       7 . The insulated refrigeration panel assembly of  claim 1  including a second panel unit comprising said first mating connector, a third skin, a fourth skin and a second insulating body, said third skin spaced generally parallel to said fourth skin and said second insulating body sandwiched between said third skin and said fourth skin.  
   
   
       8 . The insulated refrigeration panel assembly of  claim 7  wherein said first mating connector comprises at least one of said third skin, said fourth skin and said second insulating body.  
   
   
       9 . The insulated refrigeration panel assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first direction is a vertical direction and said second direction is a horizontal direction.  
   
   
       10 . The insulated refrigeration panel assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first panel unit comprises a first body and a second body, said first body defining a first part of said first snap fit connector and said second body defining a second part of said second snap fit connector.  
   
   
       11 . The insulated refrigeration panel assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first snap fit connector comprises a female member and said first mating connector comprises a male member insertable into said female member.  
   
   
       12 . The insulated refrigeration panel assembly of  claim 11  wherein said female member flexes between a first female member dimension larger than a second female member dimension to receive said male member, said male member engaged to said female member in said second female member dimension.  
   
   
       13 . An insulated refrigeration panel assembly, comprising: 
 a first panel unit comprising a first skin, a second skin spaced generally parallel to said first skin, and a first insulating body sandwiched between said first skin and said second skin;    a second panel unit comprising a third skin, a fourth skin spaced generally parallel to said third skin and a second insulating body sandwiched between said third skin and said fourth skin;    a third panel unit comprising a fifth skin, a sixth skin spaced generally parallel to said fifth skin and a third insulating body sandwiched between said fifth skin and said sixth skin;    wherein said first panel unit comprises a first snap fit connector and said second panel unit comprises a first mating connector, said first snap fit connector for flexibly engaging said first mating connector along a first direction; and    wherein said first panel unit comprises a second snap fit connector and said third panel unit comprises a second mating connector, said second snap fit connector for flexibly engaging said second mating connector along a second direction transverse to said first direction.    
   
   
       14 . The insulated refrigeration panel assembly of  claim 13  wherein said first snap fit connector and said second snap fit connector comprise at least one of said first skin, said second skin, and said first insulating body.  
   
   
       15 . The insulated refrigeration panel assembly of  claim 14  wherein said second mating connector comprises at least one of said third skin, said fourth skin, and said second insulating body and said third mating connector comprises at least one of said fifth skin, said sixth skin, and said third insulating body.  
   
   
       16 . The insulated refrigeration panel assembly of  claim 13  wherein said second insulating body has a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion comprising said first mating connector and said second end portion comprising a third mating connector.  
   
   
       17 . The insulated refrigeration panel assembly of  claim 13  wherein said first panel unit and said second panel unit form a seam, said seam covered by a curved flange supported by said first panel unit.  
   
   
       18 . The insulated refrigeration panel assembly of  claim 13  wherein said first direction is a vertical direction and said second direction is a horizontal direction.  
   
   
       19 . The insulated refrigeration panel assembly of  claim 13  wherein said first panel unit comprises a first body and a second body, said first portion defining said first snap fit connector and said second portion defining said second snap fit connector.  
   
   
       20 . An insulated refrigeration panel assembly comprising: 
 at least one skin;    an insulating body spaced next to said at least one skin, said insulating body extending generally parallel along a first axis; and    a snap fit connector for flexibly engaging a mating connector along a second axis transverse to said first axis, said snap fit connector comprising said at least one skin and said insulating body.