Dishwashing appliance sound insulation

Abstract

A method of assembling a dishwashing appliance includes applying a sheet of sound insulation material to a panel of the dishwashing appliance and bending the sheet of sound insulation material after applying the sheet of sound insulation material to the panel of the dishwashing appliance. The method also includes baking the sheet of sound insulation material, such that the sheet of sound insulation material conforms to and adheres to the panel of the dishwashing appliance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of assembling a dishwashing appliance, the method comprising:
 applying a sheet of sound insulation material to a panel of the dishwashing appliance;   bending the sheet of sound insulation material after applying the sheet of sound insulation material to the panel of the dishwashing appliance; and   baking the sheet of sound insulation material, whereby the sheet of sound insulation material conforms to and adheres to the panel of the dishwashing appliance.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein bending the sheet of sound insulation material comprises bending the sheet of sound insulation material along a hinge defined in the sheet of sound insulation material. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the hinge comprises a slot formed through the sheet of sound insulation material and a tab extending across the slot. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein bending the sheet of sound insulation material comprises bending the sheet of sound insulation material at a first location to form a first bend in the sheet of sound insulation material, further comprising bending the sheet of sound insulation material at a second location to form a second bend in the sheet of sound insulation material. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the second bend is generally parallel to the first bend. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein bending the sheet of sound insulation material at the second location to form the second bend in the sheet of sound insulation material is performed after applying the sheet of sound insulation material to the panel of the dishwashing appliance and before baking the sheet of sound insulation material. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein bending the sheet of sound insulation material at the first location to form the first bend in the sheet of sound insulation material comprises bending the sheet of sound insulation material along a first hinge defined in the sheet of sound insulation material, and wherein bending the sheet of sound insulation material at the second location to form the second bend in the sheet of sound insulation material comprises bending the sheet of sound insulation material along a second hinge defined in the sheet of sound insulation material. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the first hinge comprises a first slot formed through the sheet of sound insulation material and a first tab extending across the first slot, and wherein the second hinge comprises a second slot formed through the sheet of sound insulation material and a second tab extending across the second slot. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the panel comprises an inner panel of a door of the dishwashing appliance. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sound insulation material comprises a mastic material. 
     
     
         11 . A dishwashing appliance comprising:
 a panel; and   a sheet of sound insulation material adhered to the panel, the sheet of sound insulation material comprising a bend formed in the sheet of sound insulation material whereby the sheet of sound insulation material conforms to the panel of the dishwashing appliance.   
     
     
         12 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the bend formed in the sheet of sound insulation material is formed along a hinge defined in the sheet of sound insulation material. 
     
     
         13 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 12 , wherein the hinge comprises a slot formed through the sheet of sound insulation material and a tab extending across the slot. 
     
     
         14 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the bend formed in the sheet of sound insulation material is a first bend at a first location, further comprising a second bend at a second location in the sheet of sound insulation material. 
     
     
         15 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the second bend is generally parallel to the first bend. 
     
     
         16 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 14 , wherein the first bend formed in the sheet of sound insulation material is formed along a first hinge defined in the sheet of sound insulation material, and wherein the second bend formed in the sheet of sound insulation material is formed along a second hinge defined in the sheet of sound insulation material. 
     
     
         17 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 16 , wherein the first hinge comprises a first slot formed through the sheet of sound insulation material and a first tab extending across the first slot, and wherein the second hinge comprises a second slot formed through the sheet of sound insulation material and a second tab extending across the second slot. 
     
     
         18 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the panel comprises an inner panel of a door of the dishwashing appliance. 
     
     
         19 . The dishwashing appliance of  claim 11 , wherein the sound insulation material comprises a mastic material.