U.S. patent application number 12/511317 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-04 for shelf for refrigeration units.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE. Invention is credited to Jean-Gerard LECONTE, Francois Vardon.
Application Number | 20100026156 12/511317 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40589580 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100026156 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LECONTE; Jean-Gerard ; et
al. |
February 4, 2010 |
SHELF FOR REFRIGERATION UNITS
Abstract
A shelf for a cabinet, for a refrigerator or the like, includes
a glass plate for holding items which is supported along its side
edges by track or rail type brackets suitable for fastening or
mounting in said cabinet and aligned with a support structure
formed or held by said cabinet. The brackets are joined by at least
one crosspiece and with said crosspiece(s) form a cradle to hold
said plate that is suitable for supporting the mechanical strength
of the shelf.
Inventors: |
LECONTE; Jean-Gerard;
(Courbevoie, FR) ; Vardon; Francois; (Queretaro,
MX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND MAIER & NEUSTADT, L.L.P.
1940 DUKE STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
Courbevoie
FR
|
Family ID: |
40589580 |
Appl. No.: |
12/511317 |
Filed: |
July 29, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/408 ;
211/134; 248/213.2; 312/352 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B 96/021 20130101;
F25D 2325/022 20130101; F25D 25/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
312/408 ;
211/134; 248/213.2; 312/352 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/00 20060101
F25D023/00; A47F 5/00 20060101 A47F005/00; A47B 96/06 20060101
A47B096/06; A47B 97/00 20060101 A47B097/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 30, 2008 |
FR |
0855260 |
Claims
1. A shelf for a cabinet, comprising: a glass plate for holding
items supported along its side edges by brackets of a track or rail
type and configured for attachment or mounting in said cabinet and
aligned with a support structure formed or held by said cabinet,
wherein the brackets are joined by at least one crosspiece and
include with said at least one crosspiece a cradle for holding said
plate, the cradle configured to support a mechanical strength of
the shelf.
2. The shelf as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate for holding
items has a curved shape of a drip pan or basin type, with the at
least one crosspiece having a corresponding curved shape.
3. The shelf as claimed in either of claim 1, wherein the track or
rail type brackets are joined by a central crosspiece.
4. The shelf as claimed in either of claim 1, wherein the brackets
are joined by crosspieces arranged under a front transverse edge or
under a rear transverse edge of the plate when the shelf is in a
usage position.
5. The shelf as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cradle includes a
means for guiding the plate during installation of the plate in
said cradle.
6. The shelf as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cradle includes a
means for centering the plate on the cradle.
7. The shelf as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate is mounted to
be removable from the cradle, and the at least one crosspiece of
the cradle includes a means for maintaining said plate in the
cradle in a usage position, said means for maintaining comprising:
anti-slide stops associated with holes formed in the at least one
crosspiece, and a means for fitting into said holes of a dowel
type, a spherical, or a semi-spherical head type.
8. The shelf as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the
crosspieces includes a means for joining the at least one of the
crosspieces to the plate, said means for joining including an
adhesive.
9. The shelf as claimed in claim 1, wherein components configured
to laterally support the plate include brackets or rails configured
to align with rack bars supported by the walls of the cabinet or
include brackets configured to slide on rails fastened to a back of
the cabinet.
10. A cabinet comprising at least one shelf as claimed in claim
1.
11. The shelf as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shelf is made of
polycarbonate or methyl polymethacrylate glass.
12. The shelf as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shelf is
transparent, translucent, or opaque.
13. The cabinet as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cabinet is a
reach-in freezer, refrigeration unit, or refrigerator.
14. The shelf as claimed in either of claim 1, wherein the brackets
are joined by crosspieces arranged under a front transverse edge
and under a rear transverse edge of the plate when the shelf is in
a usage position.
15. The shelf as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shelf comprises
two crosspieces which intersect at a center of the cradle.
16. The shelf as claimed in claim 14, wherein the plate is mounted
to be removable from the cradle, and the two crosspieces include a
means for maintaining said plate in the cradle in a usage position,
said means for maintaining comprising: anti-slide stops associated
with holes formed in the at least one crosspiece, and a means for
fitting into said holes of a dowel type, a spherical, or a
semi-spherical head type.
17. The shelf as claimed in claim 15, wherein the plate is mounted
to be removable from the cradle, and the two crosspieces include a
means for maintaining said plate in the cradle in a usage position,
said means for maintaining comprising: anti-slide stops associated
with holes formed in the at least one crosspiece, and a means for
fitting into said holes of a dowel type, a spherical, or a
semi-spherical head type.
Description
REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to French patent
application 08 55260, filed Jul. 30, 2008, the contents of which
are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] I. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a shelf or rack for holding items,
configured to be fastened or mounted advantageously in a removable
manner in the frame of a cabinet. In particular, it relates to a
shelf suitable for use in refrigerated compartments, such as
reach-in coolers, refrigeration units, and refrigerators, for
holding items, especially food items, and it more particularly
relates to a shelf with a curved shape, especially at its edges,
for example a drip pan shape.
[0004] II. Description of Related Art
[0005] A similar shelf of the prior art includes an essentially
transparent panel with a curved shape, usually made of glass, which
is supported along its side edges by brackets or tracks or rails
suitable for being fastened or mounted on a support structure, such
as a rack bar, inside the refrigerator. The lower side of the panel
is glued to said brackets or tracks or rails on the sloped part of
the brackets and the panel, respectively.
[0006] A major disadvantage of this type of shelf is that it is
solely the glue on the brackets or tracks or rails of the curved
glass panel which bears all the load applied to the shelf,
including the weight of the glass panel and the objects it holds,
ultimately destroying the glue with the risk of the glass panel
breaking, allowing the objects the shelf holds to fall, and
damaging the shelves located below.
[0007] Thus, in particular the tracks, which support the glass
plate and are fastened to the refrigeration unit by rear rack bars
or are supported by ribs in the side walls of the unit, do not form
a solid structure. Their connection to the glass panel is even more
problematic when the panel is not flat.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The object of this invention is to resolve these problems.
In this connection, it is proposed according to the invention that
the two side brackets or tracks or rails or the like, which in the
past were independent of each other, be joined by at least one
crosspiece, thus forming a mechanically strong carrier or cradle,
without the need for glass and glue to support that strength.
[0009] Therefore, the first object of this invention is a shelf for
a cabinet, in particular a refrigerator or the like, comprising a
glass panel or plate for holding items which is supported along its
side edges by track or rail type brackets suitable for fastening or
mounting in said cabinet and working together for this purpose with
a support structure formed or held by said cabinet, wherein the
track or rail type brackets are joined by at least one crosspiece
and form with said crosspiece(s) a cradle to hold said plate for
holding items that is suitable for supporting the mechanical
strength of the shelf, in particular without applying loads to said
track or rail type brackets or to their connections with the panel
or plate for holding items.
[0010] The plate for holding items advantageously has a general
curved shape, of a drip pan or basin type, with the crosspiece(s)
having a shape that is correspondingly curved.
[0011] According to a first variant, the track or rail type
brackets are joined by a central crosspiece.
[0012] According to a second variant, the track or rail type
brackets are joined by crosspieces arranged under the front
transverse edge and/or under the rear transverse edge of the plate
for holding items if considering the shelf when oriented in its
usage position.
[0013] The cradle may advantageously comprise means for guiding the
plate for holding items at the time it is installed in said cradle.
It may also advantageously comprise means for centering in its
cradle the plate for holding items.
[0014] In addition, the plate for holding items may be mounted so
as to be removable from its cradle, the crosspiece(s) of this
cradle having means for maintaining said plate in its cradle in the
usage position, said maintaining means including, for example, of
anti-slide stops associated with holes formed in the crosspieces(s)
and having means of a dowel type or a spherical or semi-spherical
head type suitable for fitting into said holes.
[0015] Thus, the maintaining means may, for example, include
anti-slide stops set in holes formed in the crosspiece(s) and
having, for this purpose, adhesive or non-adhesive blocks suitable
for softly and silently being pressed against the outer wall of
said plate, and also having maintaining means of a dowel type or a
spherical or semi-spherical head type designed to fit into holes in
the crosspieces.
[0016] The crosspiece(s) may also comprise means for being joined
to the plate for holding items, said means including, for example,
of spots of adhesive.
[0017] The components that laterally support the plate for holding
items may, for example, include brackets or rails designed to work
together with rack bars supported by the walls of the cabinet
and/or by brackets designed to slide in rails fastened to the back
of the cabinet.
[0018] The components that laterally support the plate for holding
items may therefore, for example, include brackets such as tracks,
rails designed to work together with rack bars supported by the
side walls or the back of the cabinet and hooking onto these rack
bars or to work with projecting ribs or rods on the side walls of
the cabinet.
[0019] Another object of the invention is a cabinet, such as a
reach-in freezer, refrigeration unit, or refrigerator, comprising
at least one shelf as defined above.
[0020] To better illustrate the shelf according to this invention,
several particular embodiments are described below with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a refrigerator shelf
according to a first embodiment of this invention, showing the
upper side of the shelf in its usage position.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a partial cutaway view on a larger scale of II-II
of FIG. 1.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a refrigerator shelf
according to a second embodiment of the invention.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of refrigerator shelf
according to a third embodiment of the invention.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a partial cutaway view on a larger scale of the
shelf in FIG. 3 in the areas of an anti-slide block and a spot of
adhesive, respectively, between the glass plate and a crosspiece
joining the two side brackets of the shelf.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a partial cutaway view on a larger scale of the
shelf in FIG. 4 in the areas of an anti-slide block and a spot of
adhesive, respectively, between the glass plate and a crosspiece
joining the two side brackets of the shelf.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a refrigerator shelf
according to a fourth embodiment of this invention.
[0028] FIG. 8 is a partial cutaway view on a larger scale of
VIII-VIII of FIG. 7.
[0029] FIG. 9 is a partial perspective view of a refrigerator shelf
according to a fifth embodiment of this invention, showing the
upper side of the shelf in its usage position, with said shelf
represented in its mid-course position during its placement on side
brackets forming tracks designed to hook to the back of the
refrigeration cabinet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] In the following description of the shelves according to the
invention, the terms "front" and "back," "left" and "right,"
"vertical" and "horizontal," and the equivalent expressions, will
be used in reference to their position in a refrigerator with the
user facing the shelf in question.
[0031] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a shelf assembly 1 for a refrigerator,
including a plate 2 for holding food items and a cradle 3 for
holding the plate 2.
[0032] The plate 2 includes a solid rectangular or square plate
having four edges raised to form an indentation, for example,
similar to a drip pan. The indentation makes it possible to store
food items that can spill or slide, interfering with the proper use
of the refrigerator. In accordance with the variants of the plate
2, the plate 2 could have a conventional flat shape or it could be
a plate in which the part for holding food items has a curved
basin-like shape.
[0033] The plate 2 is made of mineral or organic glass such as
polycarbonate or methyl polymethacrylate, which can be solid or
laminated, and transparent, translucent, or opaque.
[0034] The cradle 3 holding the plate 2 includes two side brackets
4 designed to hook at the back to rack bars or to fit between
projecting ribs or rods each supported or formed on an internal
side wall of the refrigeration cabinet. Each bracket 4 includes a
formed part with a general L-shape having a vertical arm 5 and an
arm 6 that extends in a generally horizontal manner while sloping
toward the inside so as to follow the curvature of the
corresponding side edge of the plate 2.
[0035] The vertical arm 5 presses against the corresponding rack
bar in an assembled position and includes, for example, a taller
portion at the back forming a hook 7 designed, in the assembled
position, to fit into a corresponding hole in the area of the back
end of the rack bar in order to hook the shelf 1 into its
cabinet.
[0036] The two horizontal arms 6 that hold the plate 2 are joined
by a central crosspiece 8 including a flat strip of material, of
which the two edges are raised to form a concavity, making it
possible to follow the curve of the glass plate 2.
[0037] Furthermore, vertical cuts 9 are made starting from the
lower edges of each of the vertical arms 5 in the area of the
crosspiece 8, making it possible to cut out a tongue 10 folded
upward and projecting over the glass plate 2 in the assembled
position.
[0038] The cradle 3 can be made of a metal, such as aluminum or
steel, and/or a plastic material. The crosspiece 8 has been shown
in FIG. 1 as being all of one piece with the side brackets.
However, the crosspiece 8 could be in the form of an independent
piece fastened to the brackets 4 as soon as a cradle 3 for holding
the glass plate 2 is constructed, making it possible to avoid
having the strength of the unit dependent on only one connection by
gluing the glass onto the upper sloped part of the brackets 4.
[0039] In addition, in the assembled position, spots of adhesive 11
join the plate 2 and the cradle 3 at the crosspiece 8.
[0040] To assemble the shelf 1, the glass plate 2 is slid onto the
cradle 3, the curved tabs 10 acting as a guide, and when the plate
2 is in its final position, it rests on the crosspiece 8 to which
the spots of adhesive 11 were applied. These spots of adhesive then
ensure that the bottom part of the plate 2 is joined to the cradle
3, keeping the plate 2 centered on the cradle 3.
[0041] It therefore can be seen that the cradle 3 provides a
mechanically strong support on which the glass plate 2 rests and
which alone supports the strength of the shelf 1. This strength is
therefore not based on an adhesive connection of the side edges of
the glass plate 2 to the brackets or tracks 4.
[0042] With reference now to FIGS. 3, 4, 7, and 9, a shelf 101,
201, 301, 401 is shown, according to the second through fifth
embodiments, respectively, with parts that are identical or similar
to those of the shelf 1 being designated by reference numbers
greater by 100, 200, 300, and 400, respectively, than those used to
describe the shelf 1. In the following, therefore, only the
differences with respect to the shelf 1 will be described.
[0043] The shelf 101 of the second embodiment does not include the
central crosspiece 8 as the shelf 1 does, but rather two
crosspieces 108 arranged under each of the front and back edges,
respectively, of the glass plate 2. The cradle 103 includes a frame
of which the L-shaped side arms form the brackets 104 with their
hooks 107 and the transverse arms are formed by a single L-shaped
piece of which the horizontal parts form the crosspieces 208 and of
which the vertical arms are folded upward to form folds 112 that
project over the glass plate 102. Spots of adhesive 111 are placed
in the same manner as previously on the two crosspieces 108.
[0044] The second embodiment is assembled in the same manner as the
first embodiment, with the glass plate fitting laterally onto the
cradle 103, the folds 112 acting as a guide during this fitting,
then as a safety device, preventing the glass plate 102 from
sliding when the shelf 101 is removed from its cabinet for
cleaning, for example, and when it is put back in.
[0045] The shelf 201 of the third embodiment does not include the
central crosspiece 8 of the shelf 1, but rather two crosspieces 208
which intersect at the center of the cradle 203. Tabs 210 similar
to the tabs 10 of the shelf 1 are formed by cuts 213 in the part
206 of each bracket 204 starting from the inner edge, making it
possible to cut out a band of material that is lifted and curved
inward. Spots of adhesive 211 are placed near each end of the
crosspieces 208.
[0046] The shelf 201 of the third embodiment is assembled in the
same manner as the shelf 1.
[0047] Spots of adhesive 111, 211 are shown in FIG. 6, but as can
be seen in FIG. 5, a hole 114, 214 can instead be provided in a
crosspiece 108, 208 for the passage of a plastic stop including a
central body 115a, 215a having a semi-spherical head 115b, 215b on
one side and a block 115c, 215c on the other side. Such a stop is
placed in each hole by insertion from below, such that its block
protrudes from the inner surface of the crosspiece 108, 208. The
blocks 115c, 215c prevent the glass plate from sliding out of the
cradle 103, 203 and also reduce noise. In addition, the blocks
115c, 215c could be coated with an adhesive on their flat upper
face if a complete adherence of the glass plate 102, 202 to its
cradle 103, 203 is desired. These stops can also be formed from the
block 115c, 215c equipped with a dowel on the lower side suitable
for fitting into a hole 114, 214 in the crosspiece 108, 208 or in a
component of the carrier. The upper face of the block 115c, 215c
may possibly be glued under the glass plate 102, 202. If there is
no such gluing, the glass plate 102, 202 can be removed from its
cradle 103, 203, for example for complete cleaning of the shelf
101, 201.
[0048] The shelf 301 of the fourth embodiment includes, instead of
the bracket 4 of the shelf 1, a hollow lateral bar 304 including a
section formed of a band of material (metal, for example) folded to
form an inner vertical wall 316, a lower horizontal wall 317, an
outer vertical wall 305, and a sloped upper wall 306 following the
curve of the glass plate 302. The lateral bar 304 is designed to be
fastened with the rear hook formed on the wall 305 in order to act
as a bracket against the back of the refrigerator cabinet. The two
sloped upper walls are joined by a central crosspiece 308
equivalent to the crosspiece 8 of the shelf 1 and having spots of
adhesive 311 to join it to the glass plate 302.
[0049] The shelf 401 of the fifth embodiment differs from the shelf
301 by the fact that the bar 404 does not include the hook 407.
That hook 407 is on a bar 418 and allows fastening the bar 418 to
the back of the refrigeration cabinet to form the supporting
bracket. The hollow bar 404 forms a track suitable for accepting
the bar-bracket 418. The hollow bar 404 is shorter than the side
edge of the plate 402, leaving room in the back to provide the
space required for the hook 407 when the shelf 401 is completely
pushed in, i.e., in the usage position. Tracks of another type may
also be provided, in particular of another shape and/or equipped
with ball bearing sliding systems.
[0050] It is clearly understood that the embodiments just described
were given as illustrations and are not exhaustive and that
modifications may be made without departing from the scope of this
invention.
* * * * *