Refrigerator with separately formed cooling system and insulated cabinet

Abstract

A refrigerator has an insulated cabinet, a cooling system formed separately from the insulated cabinet, and a clamping arrangement including first and second clamping elements sealing a refrigerated compartment of the cabinet from the cooling system. The cooling system is functionally attached to the insulated cabinet after manufacture of the insulated cabinet and the cooling system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A refrigerator comprising:
 an insulated cabinet;   a cooling system formed separately from the insulated cabinet; and   a clamping arrangement for securing the cooling system to the insulated cabinet and sealing a refrigerated compartment of the insulated cabinet from the cooling system,   wherein all components of the cooling system are functionally attached to the insulated cabinet after manufacture of the insulated cabinet and the cooling system,   characterized by wherein the clamping arrangement includes a first clamping element disposed on an interior side of a wall of the refrigerator compartment, a portion of the cooling system extends into the refrigerator compartment, and the first clamping element is secured to the refrigerated compartment, wherein the clamping arrangement further includes a second clamping element carried by the cooling system, and   wherein the first clamping element is disposed on the interior a first side of the refrigerated compartment and the second clamping element is disposed on an exterior a second side of the wall of the refrigerated compartment and the first clamping element is connected to the second clamping element.   
     
     
         2 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the wall of the refrigerated compartment defines a first opening and the first clamping element defines a second opening, and wherein an evaporation portion of the cooling system extends through the first and second openings, into the refrigerator compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the first clamping element extends completely around a first perimeter of the cooling system. 
     
     
         4 . The refrigerator of  claim 2 , wherein the first clamping element extends completely around a first perimeter of the cooling system. 
     
     
         5 . The refrigerator of  claim 3 , wherein the second clamping element extends completely around a second perimeter of the cooling system. 
     
     
         6 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the first clamping element includes electronics for controlling the refrigerator. 
     
     
         7 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the clamping arrangement further includes a cover for covering the first clamping element. 
     
     
         8 . The refrigerator of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling system is further supported by a bracket spaced from the insulated cabinet. 
     
     
         9 . A method of manufacturing a refrigerator comprising:
 forming the insulated cabinet;   separately forming a cooling system; and   clamping the cooling system to the insulated cabinet with a clamping arrangement including a first clamping element secured to the insulated cabinet and a second clamping element to seal a refrigerated compartment of the cabinet from the cooling system to functionally attach the cooling system to the insulated cabinet.