Molded pulp external packing member for a dishwasher appliance

Abstract

A pack member for a dishwasher appliance including a door having an inner door panel and an outer door panel includes a main panel defining a first face facing a first direction and a second face facing a second direction opposite the first face; a first wing panel extending from the main panel along a third direction, the first wing panel being offset from the main panel along the second direction; and a second wing panel extending from the main panel along a fourth direction opposite the third direction, the second wing panel being offset from the main panel along the second direction, the pack member being formed from a recyclable molded pulp material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dishwasher appliance defining a vertical direction, a lateral direction, and a transverse direction, the dishwasher appliance comprising:
 a tub defining a receiving chamber;   a door attached to the tub and movable between an open position and a closed position to provide selective access to the receiving chamber, wherein the door comprises an inner door panel and an outer door panel; and   a pack member positioned between the inner door and the outer door, the pack member comprising:
 a main panel defining a first face facing a first direction and a second face facing a second direction opposite the first face; 
 a first wing panel extending from the main panel along a third direction, the first wing panel being offset from the main panel along the second direction; and 
 a second wing panel extending from the main panel along a fourth direction opposite the third direction, the second wing panel being offset from the main panel along the second direction, wherein the pack member is formed from a recyclable molded pulp material. 
   
     
     
         2 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the first wing panel defines an upper surface facing the first direction and a lower surface facing the second direction, and wherein the second wing panel defines a top surface facing the first direction and a bottom surface facing the second direction. 
     
     
         3 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 2 , wherein each of the lower surface of the first wing panel and the bottom surface of the second wing panel is positioned below the second surface of the main panel along the second direction. 
     
     
         4 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the lower surface of the first wing panel is positioned below the bottom surface of the second wing panel along the second direction. 
     
     
         5 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the pack member further comprises:
 a plurality of first protrusions protruding from the upper surface of the first wing panel along the first direction; and   a plurality of second protrusions protruding from the top surface of the second wing panel along the first direction.   
     
     
         6 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 2 , wherein the pack member further comprises:
 at least one first cavity formed into the lower surface of the first wing panel along the first direction; and   at least one second cavity formed into the bottom surface of the second wing panel along the first direction.   
     
     
         7 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the second wing panel along the fourth direction is greater than a length of the first wing panel along the third direction. 
     
     
         8 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first tab extending from the lower surface of the first wing panel along the third direction; and   a second tab extending from the bottom surface of the second wing panel along the fourth direction.   
     
     
         9 . The dishwasher appliance of  claim 1 , wherein the pack member comprises a wax coating. 
     
     
         10 . A pack member for a dishwasher appliance, the dishwasher appliance comprising a door, the door comprising an inner door panel and an outer door panel, the pack member comprising:
 a main panel defining a first face facing a first direction and a second face facing a second direction opposite the first face;   a first wing panel extending from the main panel along a third direction, the first wing panel being offset from the main panel along the second direction; and   a second wing panel extending from the main panel along a fourth direction opposite the third direction, the second wing panel being offset from the main panel along the second direction, wherein the pack member is formed from a recyclable molded pulp material.   
     
     
         11 . The pack member of  claim 10 , wherein the first wing panel defines an upper surface facing the first direction and a lower surface facing the second direction, and wherein the second wing panel defines a top surface facing the first direction and a bottom surface facing the second direction. 
     
     
         12 . The pack member of  claim 11 , wherein each of the lower surface of the first wing panel and the bottom surface of the second wing panel is positioned below the second surface of the main panel along the second direction. 
     
     
         13 . The pack member of  claim 11 , wherein the lower surface of the first wing panel is positioned below the bottom surface of the second wing panel along the second direction. 
     
     
         14 . The pack member of  claim 11 , wherein the pack member further comprises:
 a plurality of first protrusions protruding from the upper surface of the first wing panel along the first direction; and   a plurality of second protrusions protruding from the top surface of the second wing panel along the first direction.   
     
     
         15 . The pack member of  claim 11 , wherein the pack member further comprises:
 at least one first cavity formed into the lower surface of the first wing panel along the first direction; and   at least one second cavity formed into the bottom surface of the second wing panel along the first direction.   
     
     
         16 . The pack member of  claim 10 , wherein a length of the second wing panel along the fourth direction is greater than a length of the first wing panel along the third direction. 
     
     
         17 . The pack member of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first tab extending from the lower surface of the first wing panel along the third direction; and   a second tab extending from the bottom surface of the second wing panel along the fourth direction.   
     
     
         18 . The pack member of  claim 10 , wherein the pack member comprises a wax coating.