Door assembly for an appliance

Abstract

An appliance includes a cabinet with an interior processing chamber. A door assembly is operable relative to the cabinet between open and closed positions. The door assembly includes a first door panel with a front portion. A second door panel with a rear section is coupled to the front portion of the first door panel. A snap feature is defined along an outer edge of the second door panel. A trim element is coupled to the snap feature. The trim element includes a rear segment with a lip defined on the rear segment. The lip extends along an outer periphery of the first door panel and engages a rear portion of the first door panel to secure the trim element to the outer periphery of the first door panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet having an interior processing chamber; and   a door assembly operable relative to the cabinet between open and closed positions, the door assembly comprising:
 a first door panel having a front portion; 
 a second door panel having a rear section coupled to the front portion of the first door panel; 
 a snap feature positioned along an outer edge of the second door panel; and 
 a trim element coupled to the snap feature, wherein the trim element includes a rear segment with a lip defined on the rear segment, and wherein the lip is positioned along and engages an outer periphery of the first door to secure the trim element to the outer periphery of the first door panel. 
   
     
     
         2 . The appliance of  claim 1 , the first door panel defines an annular channel that extends along the outer periphery of the first door panel, and wherein the lip engages the annular channel to provide a secure interface between the trim element and the first door panel. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the annular channel includes a first portion and a second portion offset from the first portion, and wherein the lip engages the first portion to define the secure interface. 
     
     
         4 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the trim element includes a plurality of tabs extending outward from an inner surface of the trim element, and wherein the snap feature comprises a plurality of tab receivers defined along the outer edge of the second door panel, and wherein the plurality of tab receivers operably engage with the plurality of tabs to secure the trim element to the second door panel. 
     
     
         5 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the second door panel includes an outer section and an abutment edge defined on the outer section, the abutment edge abutting a front segment of the trim element and at least partially securing the trim element relative to the second door panel. 
     
     
         6 . The appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising a screen proximate a front section of the second door panel, wherein the screen defines the snap feature. 
     
     
         7 . The appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the screen includes an outer region and a screen rim defined along the outer region, the screen rim abutting a front segment of the trim element and at least partially securing the trim element to the screen. 
     
     
         8 . The appliance of  claim 6 , wherein the trim element includes a plurality of tabs extending outward from an inner surface of the trim element, and wherein the screen forms the snap feature along the outer edge of the second door panel, and wherein the snap feature operably engages with the plurality of tabs to secure the second door panel between the screen and the first door panel via the trim element. 
     
     
         9 . The appliance of  claim 8 , wherein the snap feature extends towards the first door panel and encircles the outer edge of the second door panel. 
     
     
         10 . The appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the first door panel defines a first aperture and the second door panel defines a second aperture, and wherein the first aperture aligns with the second aperture, and wherein a porthole window is disposed proximate the first aperture and the second aperture, the porthole window being recessed through the first aperture and towards the interior processing chamber. 
     
     
         11 . An appliance, comprising:
 a cabinet having an interior processing chamber; and   a door assembly operable relative to the cabinet between open and closed positions, the door assembly comprising:
 a first door panel having a front portion; 
 a second door panel having a rear section coupled to the front portion of the first door panel; 
 a trim element that includes a rear portion with a lip defined on the rear portion, and wherein the lip extends along an outer periphery of the first door panel and engages a rear portion of the first door panel; and 
 a screen proximate a front section of the second door panel, wherein the screen includes an outer region and a screen rim extending along the outer region that receives the trim element, the screen rim abutting a front segment of the trim element, wherein the second panel is secured between the screen and the first door panel via the trim element. 
   
     
     
         12 . The appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the trim element includes a plurality of tabs extending outward from an inner surface of the trim element, and wherein the screen includes a snap feature that is positioned along an outer edge of the second door panel, and wherein the snap feature operably engages with the plurality of tabs to secure the trim element to the screen. 
     
     
         13 . The appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the snap feature extends towards the first door panel and encircles the outer edge of the second door panel. 
     
     
         14 . The appliance of  claim 11 , the first door panel defines an annular channel that extends along the outer periphery of the first door panel, and wherein the lip engages the annular channel to provide a secure interface between the trim element and the first door panel. 
     
     
         15 . The appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the annular channel includes a first portion and a second portion offset from the first portion, and wherein the lip engages the first portion to define the secure interface. 
     
     
         16 . The appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the first door panel defines a first aperture and the second door panel defines a second aperture, and wherein the first aperture aligns with the second aperture, and wherein a porthole window is proximate the first aperture and the second aperture, the porthole window being recessed towards the interior processing chamber and through the first aperture. 
     
     
         17 . A door assembly for an appliance, comprising:
 a first door panel having a front portion and a rear portion opposing the front portion, wherein an annular channel is defined on the rear portion and extends along an outer periphery of the first door panel, and wherein a first aperture extends from the front portion to the rear portion;   a second door panel having a front section and a rear section coupled to the front portion of the first door panel, wherein a second aperture extends from the front section to the rear section, and wherein the second aperture aligns with the first aperture;   a porthole window proximate the first aperture and the second aperture;   a snap feature positioned along an outer edge of the second door panel; and   a trim element coupled to the snap feature, wherein the trim element includes a rear segment with a lip defined on the rear segment, and wherein the lip extends along the outer periphery of the first door panel and engages the annular channel of the first door panel to provide a secure interface between the trim element and the first door panel, and wherein engagement of the snap feature and the trim element secures the second door panel to the first door panel.   
     
     
         18 . The door assembly of  claim 17 , comprising a screen proximate a front section of the second door panel, wherein the screen includes the snap feature, that is defined along an outer perimeter of the screen, and wherein the trim element includes a plurality of tabs extending outward from an inner surface of the trim element, and wherein the plurality of tabs operably engage with the snap feature to secure the trim element to the screen. 
     
     
         19 . The appliance of  claim 17 , wherein the snap feature is defined within an outer edge of the second door panel and extends towards the first door panel. 
     
     
         20 . The appliance of  claim 17 , wherein the annular channel includes a first portion and a second portion offset from the first portion, and wherein the lip engages the first portion.