U.S. patent application number 12/417443 was filed with the patent office on 2009-08-06 for upright rear wall extension for refrigerator shelves.
This patent application is currently assigned to MAYTAG CORPORATION. Invention is credited to MICHAEL J. EVELAND, TODD E. KNIFFEN, TIMOTHY MARK NUGENT, JOHN J. PINK, RAVI K. SAWHNEY, ERIC S. SVENBY, FORREST F. WING, JOHN FRANK ZINNI.
Application Number | 20090195136 12/417443 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26890803 |
Filed Date | 2009-08-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090195136 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
WING; FORREST F. ; et
al. |
August 6, 2009 |
UPRIGHT REAR WALL EXTENSION FOR REFRIGERATOR SHELVES
Abstract
An extending vertical wall is provided that secures to the rear
edge of a shelf assembly inside a refrigerator compartment. The
vertical wall comprises a vertical panel with two downwardly
protruding legs. The legs removably reside within sockets included
in the rear edge of the refrigerator shelf assembly. When the
vertical wall is attached to the refrigerator shelf assembly, the
vertical wall prevents items placed on the shelf from toppling off
the back edge of the shelf assembly. At the user's discretion, the
vertical wall may be quickly and easily removed from the shelf
assembly. In an alternative embodiment, the wall is a formed
retainer having an inserted U-shape such that the legs are received
in the shelf sockets.
Inventors: |
WING; FORREST F.; (DES
MOINES, IA) ; PINK; JOHN J.; (CEDAR RAPIDS, IA)
; SVENBY; ERIC S.; (SIGOURNEY, IA) ; EVELAND;
MICHAEL J.; (CEDAR RAPIDS, IA) ; KNIFFEN; TODD
E.; (WILLIAMSBURG, IA) ; SAWHNEY; RAVI K.;
(CALABASAS, CA) ; NUGENT; TIMOTHY MARK; (VENICE,
CA) ; ZINNI; JOHN FRANK; (CAPISTRANO BEACH,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MCKEE, VOORHEES & SEASE, P.L.C.;ATTN: MAYTAG
801 GRAND AVENUE, SUITE 3200
DES MOINES
IA
50309-2721
US
|
Assignee: |
MAYTAG CORPORATION
NEWTON
IA
|
Family ID: |
26890803 |
Appl. No.: |
12/417443 |
Filed: |
April 2, 2009 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10195217 |
Jul 15, 2002 |
|
|
|
12417443 |
|
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|
60305669 |
Jul 16, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
312/408 ;
211/90.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 96/025 20130101;
F25D 2325/022 20130101; F25D 25/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/408 ;
211/90.01 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/00 20060101
F25D023/00; A47F 5/08 20060101 A47F005/08 |
Claims
1. A shelf for use in a refrigerator having a refrigerated
compartment with opposite side walls, a rear wall, a top wall, and
a bottom wall, the shelf comprising: a pair of support brackets
extending forwardly from the rear wall; a shelf member slidably
mounted on the brackets for forward and rearward movement between
extended and retracted positions; the shelf member having a molded
perimeter edge with a pair of sockets in a rear portion of the
perimeter edge; and a wall member having a pair of legs adapted for
receipt in the sockets such that the wall member extends upwardly
from the rear portion of the shelf member.
2. The shelf of claim 1 wherein the wall member is molded.
3. The shelf of claim 1 wherein the wall member is a formed
wire.
4. The shelf of claim 1 wherein the legs of the wall member are
slidably received in the sockets of the shelf member.
5. The shelf of claim 1 wherein the wall member is at least 11/2
inches tall.
6. The shelf of claim 1 wherein the wall member extends
substantially vertically.
7. A refrigerator shelf, comprising: a pair of support brackets
adapted to be mounted in the refrigerator; a shelf member mounted
on the brackets and having at least one socket formed therein; and
a wall member having at least one leg for mating receipt in the
socket such that the wall member extends upwardly from the shelf
member.
8. The refrigerator shelf of claim 7 wherein the shelf member is
slidably mounted on the brackets.
9. The refrigerator shelf of claim 7 wherein the sockets are formed
in a rear portion of the shelf member such that the wall member is
located at the rear portion of the shelf member.
10. The refrigerator shelf of claim 7 wherein the wall member is
molded.
11. The refrigerator shelf of claim 7 wherein the wall member is a
formed wire.
12. The refrigerator shelf of claim 7 wherein the legs of the wall
member are slidably received in the sockets of the shelf
member.
13. The refrigerator shelf of claim 7 wherein the wall member is at
least 11/2 inches tall.
14. The refrigerator shelf of claim 7 wherein the wall member
extends substantially vertically.
15. A two-piece shelf for a refrigerator, comprising: a shelf
member adapted to be mounted within the refrigerator; and a wall
extension adapted to mount onto the shelf member without spring
clip action.
16. The two-piece shelf of claim 15 wherein the wall extension and
the shelf member having mating male and female members.
17. The two-piece shelf of claim 15 wherein the shelf member
includes a socket, and the wall extension includes a leg adapted
for mating receipt in the socket.
18. The two-piece shelf of claim 15 wherein the wall extension is
located at a rearward edge of the shelf member.
19. The two-piece shelf of claim 15 wherein the wall extension is
molded.
20. The two-piece shelf of claim 15 wherein the wall extension is a
formed wire.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to the U.S. provisional
patent application Ser. No. 60/305,669 entitled "Extending Vertical
Wall for Refrigerator Shelves" filed on Jul. 16, 2001 and from U.S.
application Ser. No. 10/195,217 filed Jul. 15, 2002, which
applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates generally to refrigerators and, more
particularly, relates to an upright rear vertical wall extension
for slide out refrigerator shelves, wherein the upright wall
extension secures to the rear of a refrigerator shelf to prevent
items stored on the refrigerator shelf from falling off the back
side of the shelf as the shelf slides.
[0003] Typical refrigerator shelves include a glass plate with
steel side support plates, overmolded with plastic, such as
polypropylene. The molded perimeter shelf edge is a signature
feature of the shelf, which may require separate, and costly, shelf
molds, or sacrifice distinctiveness.
[0004] Refrigerator shelves are known to include an extended rear
vertical wall. Such extended vertical walls may be molded or
otherwise incorporated into the shelf design. Alternatively, the
extended vertical walls may be separate pieces that clip or snap
fit to the shelf assemblies.
[0005] Mold walls are short in height, due to molding limitations.
More particularly, wall height affects manufacturing by
complicating the design of the tooling and the process of molding
shelves. Design of injection molds anticipates the cooling
characteristics (shrink) of the molded part; unanticipated shrink
distorts the expected final geometry. Influenced by the
non-shrinking glass and the non-shrinking steel components and by
their opposing orientations, the front and rear edges shrink
differently than the sides of the injection-molded shelf.
Consequently, the shrink characteristics of the molded shelf edges
are inherently difficult to predict. Increasing the edge (wall)
height exacerbates the difficulty of predicting and controlling the
shrink (final geometry) of the molded shelf. Greater height affects
the shelf cost, adding volume to the molds and adding time and
variability to the process.
[0006] Another disadvantage of many of the prior art refrigerator
shelf assemblies is that the extended vertical wall is not
sufficiently tall enough to prevent items placed on the shelf from
toppling over the back edge. U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,520 to Jun
discloses a refrigerator shelf with a short molded back bracket.
This molded back bracket only rises a small distance in height and
will not restrain an item placed on the shelf, particularly a
larger item, from toppling off the back edge of the shelf. U.S.
Pat. No. 5,406,894 to Herrmann discloses an optional rear trim
piece that also only rises a fraction of an inch in height and does
not prevent items placed on the shelf from toppling off the back
edge of the shelf.
[0007] Another disadvantage of many of the prior art refrigerator
shelf assemblies is that the extended vertical wall is not a
separate piece or is integral to the shelf brackets such that the
extended vertical wall cannot be removed by the user. The molded
back bracket disclosed in Jun primarily serves the function of
securing the shelf to the back wall of the refrigerator. This
molded back bracket is essential to the structure of the shelf
assembly and cannot be removed or separated from the shelf. U.S.
Pat. No. 4,923,260 to Poulsen discloses a rear retainer that clips
onto the shelf brackets and retains the glass shelf. This rear
retainer is integral to the shelf design and cannot be removed from
the shelf assembly without compromising the structural integrity of
the design. U.S. Pat. No. 3,912,085 to Cooke discloses a retaining
clip with a vertical flange. The primary function of the retaining
clip is to maintain the shelf in the frame. The retaining clip
cannot be removed from the shelf assembly without compromising the
structural integrity of the design.
[0008] Still another disadvantage of many of the prior art
refrigerator shelf assemblies is that the extended vertical wall
does not detach easily from the shelf. U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,997 to
Besore discloses a reflector that snap fits onto the rear edge of
the shelf. This reflector snaps tightly over the rear horizontal
support member and cannot be easily removed. Further, because the
primary function of this reflector is to hold the components at the
rear of the shelf assembly together, the reflector cannot be
removed without compromising the structural integrity of the shelf
design.
[0009] Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is
the provision of an upright rear wall extension for a slide-out
refrigerator shelf that is separate and independent of the shelf
and can be quickly and easily installed and removed.
[0010] Another objective of the present invention is the provision
of an upright rear wall extension for a slide-out refrigerator
shelf that is sufficiently tall and strong enough to prevent items
placed on the shelf from toppling off the back of the shelf as the
shelf slides.
[0011] Another objective of the present invention is the provision
of an extended upright wall for the rear of a refrigerator shelf
wherein the wall is injection molded.
[0012] A further objective of the present invention is the
provision of an upright rear wall extension for a refrigerator
shelf that utilizes a minimum of parts and is easy and inexpensive
to manufacture, and durable in use.
[0013] These and other objectives will become apparent from the
following specification and claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The present invention is directed towards an upright rear
wall extension for a slide-out refrigerator shelf. The extension
generally comprises a removable wall panel or retainer that secures
to the rear edge of a refrigerator shelf assembly. When the user
slides the refrigerator shelf forward, the present invention
restrains items placed on the shelf from toppling off the back edge
of the shelf.
[0015] The removable wall extension features a vertical panel
portion or retainer sufficiently tall to restrain items placed on
the shelf. The removable wall panel or retainer includes two legs
that allow the wall panel or retainer to be quickly and easily
attached to or detached from the shelf assembly. Sockets are
provided in the rear edge of the shelf assembly that mate with and
receive the legs on the removable wall panel or retainer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator shelf having
the upright rear wall extension of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the wall extension.
[0018] FIG. 3 is a side sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of
FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing another
embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] The present invention will be described as it applies to its
preferred embodiment. It is not intended that the present invention
be limited to the preferred embodiment. It is intended that the
invention cover all modifications and alternatives that may be
included within the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a shelf assembly 10 constructed in
accordance with the present invention and of the type used in the
main compartment of a refrigerator. The shelf assembly 10 has a
clear glass panel 12 that is retained within a rectangular frame
14. The rectangular frame 14 is typically constructed of metal or
plastic. The lateral sides 16 of the frame 14 are disposed upon
support brackets 18. The brackets 18 have hook-type fasteners 20 at
their rear ends for engaging matching recesses in the rear wall of
a refrigerator's main compartment. It is noted that the shelf frame
14 and glass panel 12 of the shelf assembly 10 are typically
capable of sliding forwardly and rearwardly upon the brackets 18 so
that items placed on the glass panel 12 may be more easily
accessed. The rear side 22 of the frame 14 has an enlarged
ridge.
[0022] The enlarged ridge of the rear edge 22 is desirable since,
when the shelf frame 14 and glass panel 12 are slid forwardly upon
the brackets 18, items placed on the glass panel 12 may tend to
topple off the back of the shelf assembly 10. The inventors have
found, however, that the enlarged ridge of the rear edge 22 may not
always be sufficient to prevent items placed upon the glass panel
12 from toppling off the back of the shelf assembly 10. Thus, in
accordance with the invention, the rear edge 22 is provided with a
pair of sockets 24 toward either lateral end, as best seen in FIGS.
1 and 3.
[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates a removable wall extension or member 26.
The wall member 26 has a vertical panel portion 28 and two
downwardly protruding legs 30. With reference to FIG. 3, the legs
30 are shaped and sized to removably reside within the sockets 24
of the rear edge 22 of the shelf frame 14. When the wall panel 26
is secured to the shelf frame 14, the vertical panel portion 28
extends upwardly a sufficient distance so as to prevent items
placed upon the glass panel 12 from falling off the rear portion of
the shelf assembly 10 when the shelf frame 14 and glass panel 12
are slid forwardly.
[0024] Preferably, the wall member 26 is at least 11/2 inches tall,
excluding the legs 30. The wall member 26 is typically formed of
injection molded plastic separately from other components of the
shelf assembly 10. This provides an advantage over a system wherein
a rear panel might be formed integrally with the rear of the frame
by minimizing or eliminating shrinkage problems during
manufacturing, and allows a user to quickly and easily install or
remove the wall member 26 as desired.
[0025] An alternative embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG.
4 wherein a formed retainer 32 includes legs 34 adapted to fit into
the sockets 24 of the shelf frame 14. This wire retainer 32 acts as
a rear wall member and functions similarly to the wall member 26.
Preferably the retainer 32 is made of metal wire, which may be
coated with vinyl, plastic or other rust-inhibiting material. The
retainer 26 may also be molded plastic.
[0026] Whereas the invention has been shown and described in
connection with the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be
understood that many modifications, substitutions, and additions
may be made which are within the intended broad scope of the
following claims. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the
present invention accomplishes at least all of the stated
objectives.
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