Systems and methods for a vacuum insulated panel

Abstract

A vacuum insulated panel is disclosed herein. According to an embodiment, the vacuum insulated panel may include a frame having a first side and a second side. The vacuum insulated panel also may include a first convex sheet positioned about the first side of the frame and a second convex sheet positioned about the second side of the frame. Moreover, the vacuum insulated panel may include a cavity formed between the first convex sheet and the second convex sheet. Further, the vacuum insulated panel may include a vacuum formed within the cavity. The vacuum may be configured to at least partially flatten the first convex sheet and the second convex sheet into a substantially parallel planar configuration.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum insulated door for a cooler assembly, comprising:
 a frame comprising a first side and a second side;   a first pre-formed convex glass sheet positioned about the first side of the frame;   a second pre-formed convex glass sheet positioned about the second side of the frame;   a cavity formed between the first pre-formed convex glass sheet and the second pre-formed convex glass sheet; and   a vacuum formed within the cavity, wherein the vacuum is configured to at least partially flatten the first pre-formed convex glass sheet and the second pre-formed convex glass sheet into a substantially parallel planar configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum insulated door of  claim 1 , wherein the frame, the first pre-formed convex glass sheet, and the second pre-formed convex glass sheet collectively form a hermetic seal about the cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum insulated door of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one access port associated with at least one of the frame, the first pre-formed convex glass sheet, the second pre-formed convex glass sheet, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum insulated door of  claim 3 , further comprising a pump in communication with the at least one access port, wherein the pump is configured to create the vacuum within the cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum insulated door of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one spacer disposed within the cavity between the first pre-formed convex glass sheet and the second pre-formed convex glass sheet. 
     
     
         6 . A vacuum insulated panel, comprising:
 a frame comprising a first side and a second side;   a first convex sheet positioned about the first side of the frame;   a second convex sheet positioned about the second side of the frame;   a cavity formed between the first convex sheet and the second convex sheet; and   a vacuum formed within the cavity, wherein the vacuum is configured to at least partially flatten the first convex sheet and the second convex sheet into a substantially parallel planar configuration.   
     
     
         7 . The vacuum insulated panel of  claim 6 , wherein the first convex sheet and the second convex sheet are pre-formed. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum insulated panel of  claim 6 , wherein the first convex sheet comprises at least one of a glass sheet, a plastic sheet, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum insulated panel of  claim 6 , wherein the second convex sheet comprises at least one of a glass sheet, a plastic sheet, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum insulated panel of  claim 6 , wherein the vacuum insulated panel comprises a door of a cooler assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The vacuum insulated panel of  claim 10 , wherein the door is at least partially transparent. 
     
     
         12 . The vacuum insulated panel of  claim 6 , wherein the frame, the first convex sheet, and the second convex sheet collectively form a hermetic seal about the cavity. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum insulated panel of  claim 6 , further comprising at least one access port associated with at least one of the frame, the first convex sheet, the second convex sheet, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum insulated panel of  claim 13 , further comprising a pump in communication with the at least one access port, wherein the pump is configured to create the vacuum within the cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum insulated panel of  claim 6 , further comprising at least one spacer disposed within the cavity between the first convex sheet and the second convex sheet. 
     
     
         16 . A method for assembling a vacuum insulated panel, the method comprising:
 positioning a first pre-formed convex sheet about a first side of a frame;   positioning a second pre-formed convex sheet positioned about a second side of the frame;   forming a cavity between the first pre-formed convex sheet and the second pre-formed convex sheet;   forming a vacuum within the cavity between the first pre-formed convex sheet and the second pre-formed convex sheet; and   flattening, at least partially, the first pre-formed convex sheet and the second pre-formed convex sheet into a substantially parallel planar configuration.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising forming a hermetic seal about the cavity. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising associating at least one access port with at least one of the frame, the first convex sheet, the second convex sheet, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising providing a pump in communication with the at least one access port, wherein the pump is configured to create the vacuum within the cavity. 
     
     
         20 . The method  claim 16 , further comprising positioning at least one spacer within the cavity between the first pre-formed convex sheet and the second pre-formed convex sheet. 
     
     
         21 . A vacuum insulated door for a cooler assembly, comprising:
 a first sheet;   a second sheet positioned opposite the first sheet;   a cavity formed between the first sheet and the second sheet; and   at least one spacer disposed within the cavity, wherein the at least one spacer comprises at least one rounded side.   
     
     
         22 . The vacuum insulated door of  claim 21 , further comprising a gap formed between the at least one rounded side of the spacer and at least one of the first sheet or the second sheet. 
     
     
         23 . The vacuum insulated door of  claim 21 , further comprising a vacuum formed within the cavity. 
     
     
         24 . The vacuum insulated door of  claim 21 , wherein the at least one rounded side comprises two rounded sides. 
     
     
         25 . A vacuum insulated door for a cooler assembly, comprising:
 a first sheet;   a second sheet positioned opposite the first sheet;   a cavity formed between the first sheet and the second sheet; and   at least one spacer disposed within the cavity, wherein the at least one spacer comprises a spacer assembly comprising one or more sheets of alternating pyramid structures, each pyramid structure comprising contact points with the first convex sheet and the second convex sheet.   
     
     
         26 . The vacuum insulated panel of  claim 25 , wherein the contact points comprise a recessed portion. 
     
     
         27 . The vacuum insulated panel of  claim 25 , wherein each pyramid structure comprise an angled wall between the contact points.