U.S. patent application number 13/847690 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-25 for appliance shelving system.
This patent application is currently assigned to General Electric Company. The applicant listed for this patent is GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY. Invention is credited to James Lee Armstrong.
Application Number | 20140283814 13/847690 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51568204 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140283814 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Armstrong; James Lee |
September 25, 2014 |
APPLIANCE SHELVING SYSTEM
Abstract
An appliance shelving system is provided that has multiple
different positions along the vertical direction for receipt of a
shelf or rack. The construction of the features for supporting the
shelf or rack allows for an increased number of vertical positions
as compared to certain conventional constructions. The shelving
system may be used in a variety of different appliance types
including, for example, ovens and refrigerators.
Inventors: |
Armstrong; James Lee;
(Louisville, KY) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY |
Schenectady |
NY |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
General Electric Company
Schenectady
NY
|
Family ID: |
51568204 |
Appl. No.: |
13/847690 |
Filed: |
March 20, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/339 ;
312/410 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C 15/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/339 ;
312/410 |
International
Class: |
F24C 15/16 20060101
F24C015/16 |
Claims
1. An appliance, comprising: a cabinet having a cavity defined in
part by a pair of opposing side walls, each opposing side wall
comprising a metal sheet forming a plurality of shelf supports
extending longitudinally along a transverse direction, the shelf
supports parallel to each other and formed integrally from the
metal sheet, the shelf supports spaced apart from each other along
a vertical direction; and a shelf extending between the opposing
side walls, the shelf suspended upon a pair of the shelf
supports.
2. An appliance as in claim 1, wherein each shelf support comprises
a flange portion extending upwardly along a vertical direction.
3. An appliance as in claim 2, wherein the shelf further comprises
a pair of hangers, each hanger positioned at opposing sides of the
shelf near one of the opposing side walls of the cabinet, each
hanger forming a channel opening downwardly along the vertical
direction, each channel in receipt of the flange portion of one of
the shelf supports so as to suspend the shelf between the pair of
shelf supports.
4. An appliance as in claim 3, wherein each of the shelf supports
defines an aperture, and wherein at least one hanger defines a
protrusion that extends downwardly along a vertical direction and
is received into one of the apertures of the shelf supports so as
to limit movement of the at least one hanger along a transverse
direction.
5. An appliance as in claim 4, wherein each hanger extends
longitudinally between a pair of distal ends, and wherein at least
one of the distal ends includes a finger along a lateral direction
that is configured to engage the flange portion of one of the shelf
supports so as to limit the movement of the shelf along a
transverse direction.
6. An appliance as in claim 5, further comprising a pair of slide
assemblies, each slide assembly positioned along one of the
opposing sides of the shelf, each slide having a stationary portion
connected with one of the hangers, each slide having a movable
portion connected with one of the opposing sides of the shelf
7. An appliance as in claim 1, wherein the shelf comprises an
expanded metal.
8. A shelf support assembly for an appliance, the appliance having
a cooking chamber, the shelf support assembly comprising: a pair of
frames positioned on opposing sides of the cooking chamber, each
frame comprising a metal sheet forming a plurality of shelf
supports, each shelf support formed by bending a portion of the
sheet to create a vertically-extending flange portion positioned
beside a slot; a shelf extending between a pair of opposing sides;
a pair of slide assemblies, each slide assembly attached to one of
the opposing sides of the shelf; and a pair of hangers, each hanger
attached to one of the slide assemblies along one of the opposing
sides of the shelf, each hanger received onto one of the shelf
supports in a complementary manner so that the shelf is supported
between the pair of frames.
9. A shelf support assembly for an appliance as in claim 8, wherein
each hanger forms a channel opening downwardly along the vertical
direction, each channel in receipt of the flange portion of one of
the shelf supports so as to suspend the shelf between the pair of
shelf supports.
10. A shelf support assembly for an appliance as in claim 8,
wherein each of the shelf supports defines an aperture, and wherein
each hanger defines a protrusion that extends downwardly along a
vertical direction and is received into one of the apertures of the
shelf supports so as to limit movement of the shelf along a
transverse direction.
11. A shelf support assembly for an appliance as in claim 8,
wherein each hanger extends longitudinally between a pair of distal
ends, and wherein at least one of the distal ends includes a finger
extending along a lateral direction and configured to engage the
flange portion of one of the shelf supports so as to limit the
movement of the shelf along a transverse direction.
12. A shelf support assembly for an appliance as in claim 8,
wherein the shelf has a pair of opposing sides, and wherein the
shelf support assembly further comprising a pair of slide
assemblies, each slide assembly positioned along one of the
opposing sides of the shelf, each slide having a stationary portion
connected with one of the hangers, each slide having a movable
portion connected with one of the opposing sides of the shelf.
13. A shelf support assembly for an appliance as in claim 8,
wherein the shelf comprises a plurality of elongated metal
rods.
14. An oven appliance, comprising: a cabinet that includes a
cooking chamber having side walls; a pair of frames positioned on
side walls of the cooking chamber, each frame comprising a metal
sheet forming a plurality of shelf supports, each shelf support
formed by bending a portion of the sheet to create a
vertically-extending flange portion; a shelf extending between a
pair of opposing sides; a pair of slide assemblies, each slide
assembly attached to one of the opposing sides of the shelf; and a
pair of hangers, each hanger attached to one of the slide
assemblies along one of the opposing sides of the shelf, each
hanger received onto a pair of the shelf supports in a
complementary manner so that the shelf is supported between the
pair of frames.
15. An oven appliance as in claim 14, wherein each hanger comprises
a channel opening downwardly along the vertical direction, each
channel in receipt of the flange portion of one of the shelf
supports so as to suspend the shelf between the pair of shelf
supports.
16. An oven appliance as in claim 15, wherein each flange portion
defines an inside surface facing one of the opposing sides of the
cooking chamber, and where hanger further comprises a foot
extending towards one of the opposing sides of the cooking chamber
and supported upon the inside surface of one of the flange
portions.
17. An oven appliance as in claim 16, wherein one or more of the
shelf supports defines an aperture, and wherein each foot of the
hangers defines a protrusion that extends downwardly along a
vertical direction and is received into one of the apertures of the
shelf supports so as to limit movement of the shelf along a
transverse direction.
18. An oven appliance as in claim 14, wherein each hanger extends
longitudinally between a pair of distal ends, and wherein at least
one of the distal ends includes a finger extending along a lateral
direction and configured to engage the flange portion of one of the
shelf supports so as to limit the movement of the shelf along a
transverse direction.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The subject matter of the present disclosure relates to an
appliance with one or more features providing for the adjustability
of the vertical position of one or more shelves or racks.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Appliances such as refrigerators and ovens typically include
one or more shelves or racks for the support of food items and
containers having food items. For example, oven appliances
conventionally include one or more racks whereby multiple food
items can be placed into the oven for cooking operations. In order
to accommodate food items and cooking utensils of different sizes,
a typical construction includes horizontal protrusions formed
directly into the side walls of the oven cavity on which the racks
can be slid in and out of the oven cavity. The racks and
protrusions are designed so that the user can remove the rack from
the protrusions at one vertical level and reinstall the rack at a
different vertical level, which the user may select based on e.g.,
the height of the food items or utensils, the number of items being
cooked, the type of food being cooked, and/or other factors.
Refrigerators may have shelves that e.g., include tabs or hooks at
the rear of the shelves. The shelves can be unhooked and moved to
another vertical location.
[0003] Such conventional designs may present challenges to some
users of these appliances, however. For example, some users may
find the removal and reinstallation of the rack or shelf so as to
adjust the vertical height to be cumbersome or difficult.
Additionally, with oven appliances, the protrusions are commonly
formed by stamping metal sheets to form the side walls of the oven
cavity. The number of vertical levels may be limited to e.g., only
four or five within the oven cavity. Thus, the amount of vertical
adjustability can be quite limited and, therefore, unsatisfactory
to some users. Similar problems can exist with shelving systems in
refrigerator appliances.
[0004] Other systems have been proposed to provide vertical
adjustability for the racks or shelves within an appliance.
Typically, however, these constructions are also limited to fixed
number of a relatively few locations at which the racks or shelves
can be placed within the appliance. Some constructions may also be
limited in the amount of weight that can be supported.
[0005] Accordingly, an appliance having vertically adjustable racks
or shelves would be useful. An appliance also having features that
allow for an increased selection of vertical locations to which the
racks or shelves can be adjusted would also be useful.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention provides an appliance shelving system
having multiple different positions along the vertical direction
for receipt of a shelf or rack. The construction of the features
for supporting the shelf or rack allows for an increased number of
vertical positions as compared to certain conventional
constructions. The shelving system may be used in a variety of
different appliance types including, for example, ovens and
refrigerators. Additional aspects and advantages of the invention
will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be
apparent from the description, or may be learned through practice
of the invention.
[0007] In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides
an appliance that includes a cabinet having a cavity defined in
part by a pair of opposing side walls. Each opposing side wall is
constructed with a metal sheet forming a plurality of shelf
supports extending longitudinally along a transverse direction. The
shelf supports are parallel to each other and are formed integrally
from the metal sheet. The shelf supports are spaced apart from each
other along a vertical direction. A shelf extends between the
opposing side walls. The shelf is suspended upon a pair of the
shelf supports.
[0008] In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention
provides a shelf support assembly for an appliance having a cooking
chamber. The shelf support assembly includes a pair of frames
positioned on opposing sides of the cooking chamber. Each frame
includes a metal sheet forming a plurality of shelf supports. Each
shelf support is formed by bending a portion of the sheet to create
a vertically-extending flange portion positioned beside a slot. A
shelf extends between a pair of opposing sides. A pair of slide
assemblies are provided with each slide assembly attached to one of
the opposing sides of the shelf. A pair of hangers is also
provided. Each hanger is attached to one of the slide assemblies
along one of the opposing sides of the shelf. Each hanger is
received onto one of the shelf supports in a complementary manner
so that the shelf is supported between the pair of frames.
[0009] In still another exemplary embodiment, the present provides
an oven appliance that includes a cabinet having a cooking chamber
with side walls. A pair of frames are positioned on the side walls
of the cooking chamber. Each frame includes a metal sheet forming a
plurality of shelf supports. Each shelf support is formed by
bending a portion of the sheet to create a vertically-extending
flange portion. A shelf extends between a pair of opposing sides. A
pair of slide assemblies are provided with each slide assembly
attached to one of the opposing sides of the shelf. A pair of
hangers are provided with each hanger attached to one of the slide
assemblies along one of the opposing sides of the shelf. Each
hanger is received onto a pair of the shelf supports in a
complementary manner so that the shelf is supported between the
pair of frames.
[0010] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with reference to
the following description and appended claims. The accompanying
drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this
specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,
together with the description, serve to explain the principles of
the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention,
including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill
in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes
reference to the appended figures, in which:
[0012] FIG. 1 provides a front view of an exemplary embodiment of
an oven appliance of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary oven cabinet of
the present invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a
metal sheet forming exemplary shelf supports of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a front distal end of an
exemplary hanger and metal sheet of the present invention while
FIG. 5 is a side view of the same.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an
exemplary hanger and slide assembly of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a rear distal end of an
exemplary hanger and metal sheet of the present invention while
FIG. 7 is a side view of the same.
[0018] FIG. 9 provides a perspective view of an exemplary hanger of
the present invention as used in FIGS. 2 through 8.
[0019] FIG. 10 provides a side view of the front end of another
exemplary embodiment of a hanger and metal sheet of the present
invention while FIG. 11 is perspective view of the same.
[0020] FIG. 12 provides a side view of the rear end of another
exemplary embodiment of a hanger and metal sheet of the present
invention while FIG. 13 is perspective view of the same.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the
invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the
drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the
invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be
apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and
variations can be made in the present invention without departing
from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features
illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with
another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is
intended that the present invention covers such modifications and
variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and
their equivalents.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 1, an exemplary embodiment of an oven 100
according to the present invention is shown. FIG. 1 provides a
front view of oven 100 while FIG. 2 provides a front perspective
view into the cabinet 102 of oven 100, which defines an exemplary
cooking chamber or cavity 104 into which a vertically adjustable
shelf (or rack) support assembly 106 with shelf 120 has been
installed. As used herein, "rack" is not limited to an assembly of
elongated wire structures 98 as shown with shelf 120 and, instead,
includes shelves constructed from other materials such as expanded
metal and others. Accordingly, "rack" and "shelf" (and the plural
forms thereof) are used interchangeably herein. Also, as will be
understood by one of skill in the art using the teachings disclosed
herein, support assembly 106 can be used with shelves or racks in
other appliances such as e.g., refrigerators as well. As such, oven
100 is provided by way of example of an appliance only. Different
embodiments of cavity 104 with a different number of vertical
positions for shelf 120 may be used as well.
[0023] Oven 100 includes a door 108 with handle 110 that provides
for opening and closing access to oven cavity 104 through an
opening at the front of cavity 104. A user of the appliance 100 can
place a variety of different items to be cooked in oven cavity 104,
which is defined in part by a pair of opposing side walls 112,
bottom wall 114, top wall 116, and rear wall 118 that extends
laterally between opposing side walls 112. Multiple oven shelves or
racks 120 can be positioned within cavity 104 (only one shelf 120
is shown) on rack support assembly 106. The support and height
adjustability of shelf 120 using assembly 106 will be further
described.
[0024] One or more heating elements (not shown) can be positioned
e.g., at the top 116 of chamber 104 to provide heat for cooking and
cleaning. Such heating element(s) can be e.g., gas, electric,
microwave, or a combination thereof Other heating elements can be
located at the bottom 114 of chamber 104 as well. A window 122 on
door 108 allows the user to view e.g., food items during the
cooking process. For purposes of cooling, inlet 124 allows for an
inflow of ambient air into a ventilation system while vent 126
allows for the outflow of such air after it has been heated by oven
100.
[0025] Oven 100 includes a user interface 128 having a display 130
positioned on top panel 132 with a variety of controls 134.
Interface 128 allows the user to select various options for the
operation of oven 100 including e.g., temperature, time, and/or
various cooking and cleaning cycles. Operation of oven appliance
100 can be regulated by a controller (not shown) that is
operatively coupled i.e., in communication with, user interface
panel 128, heating element(s), and other components of oven 100 as
will be further described.
[0026] For example, in response to user manipulation of the user
interface panel 128, the controller can operate one or more heating
element(s). The controller can receive measurements from a
temperature sensor (not shown) placed in oven cavity 104 to e.g.,
provide a temperature indication to the user with display 130. By
way of example, the controller may include a memory and one or more
processing devices such as microprocessors, CPUs or the like, such
as general or special purpose microprocessors operable to execute
programming instructions or micro-control code associated with
operation of appliance 100. The memory may represent random access
memory such as DRAM, or read only memory such as ROM or FLASH. In
one embodiment, the processor executes programming instructions
stored in memory. The memory may be a separate component from the
processor or may be included onboard within the processor.
[0027] The controller may be positioned in a variety of locations
throughout appliance 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the
controller may be located under or next to the user interface 128
or otherwise within top panel 132. In such an embodiment,
input/output ("I/O") signals are routed between the controller and
various operational components of appliance 100 such as heating
element(s), controls 134, display 130, sensor(s), alarms, and/or
other components as may be provided. In one embodiment, the user
interface panel 182 may represent a general purpose I/O ("GPIO")
device or functional block.
[0028] Although shown with touch type controls 134, it should be
understood that controls 134 and the configuration of appliance 100
shown in FIG. 1 is provided by way of example only. More
specifically, user interface 128 may include various input
components, such as one or more of a variety of electrical,
mechanical or electro-mechanical input devices including rotary
dials, push buttons, and touch pads. The user interface 128 may
include other display components, such as a digital or analog
display device designed to provide operational feedback to a user.
The user interface 128 may be in communication with the controller
via one or more signal lines or shared communication busses. Also,
oven 100 is shown as a wall oven but the present invention could
also be used with other appliances such as e.g., a stand-alone
oven, an oven with a stove-top, and non-oven appliances as well.
For example, the adjustable shelf support assembly 106 could also
be used within a refrigerator appliance.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the opposing side walls 112 of
oven 100 each include a metal sheet 136 from which a plurality of
shelf supports 138 are formed. Shelf supports 138 extend
longitudinally along transverse direction T or, stated
alternatively, have a longitudinal axis L that extends along
transverse direction T. Shelf supports 138 are substantially
parallel to one another and are spaced apart from each other along
vertical direction V.
[0030] One or more shelves 120 extend between the opposing side
walls 112 as shown in FIG. 1. Each shelf 120 is supported upon a
pair of shelf supports 138. Although only two shelves 120 are
shown, any number of shelves 120 may be used. Furthermore, by
providing shelf supports 138 at multiple different locations along
the vertical direction, each shelf 120 is vertically adjustable as
may be desired by the user to accommodate different sizes for food
items and/or utensils. In addition, multiple food items may be
cooked or heated at the same time on different levels through the
use of multiple shelves 120.
[0031] Referring now to FIGS. 3, 4, 6, and 8, each shelf support
138 is formed integrally from metal sheet 136 by e.g., bending,
stamping, and/or cutting. Each shelf support 138 includes a flange
portion 140 that extends upwardly along vertical direction V. For
the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6, and 8, flange
portion 140 is parallel to vertical direction V. However, in other
embodiments of the invention, flange portion 140 can form acute
angles with vertical direction V as well. Flange portion 140
includes a distal tip 142 at which metal sheet 136 is curled to
provide a more blunted edge. Flange portion 140 is located adjacent
to a slot 170 that results when flange portion 140 is punched,
bent, and/or stamped from metal sheet 136.
[0032] Shelf support assembly 106 also includes a pair of hangers
144. Each hanger 144 is positioned at one of the opposing sides 146
(FIG. 2) of shelf 120 near one of the opposing side walls 112 when
shelf 120 is not extended from oven cavity 104. For this exemplary
embodiment, each hanger 144 is received onto one of the shelf
supports 138 in complementary manner. More particularly, each
hanger 144 forms a channel 148 that opens downwardly along vertical
direction V. As shown in FIGS. 4, 8, and 9, each channel 148 is in
receipt of the flange portion 140 of one of the shelf supports 138
so as to suspend shelf 120 between a pair of shelf supports 138.
For this exemplary embodiment, each channel 148 includes an inside
surface 150 (FIG. 4 and FIG. 8) that rests upon shelf support
138.
[0033] Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 6, shelf support assembly 106
also includes a pair of slide assemblies 152. Each slide assembly
152 includes a movable portion 154 attached to one of the opposing
sides 146 of shelf 120 and a stationary or non-extendable portion
156 attached to hanger 144. By way of example, slide assemblies 152
can be fashioned from e.g., drawer slides and can include ball
bearings or features to facilitate sliding movement. Accordingly
slide assemblies 152 allow shelf 120 to be extended out of cavity
104 for convenient access by the user. Shelf 120 can be slid back
into cavity 104 once the user has e.g., placed or removed an item
from shelf 120. Other constructions for slide assemblies 152 may be
used as well.
[0034] For this exemplary embodiment, hanger 144 is equipped with
features that help secure shelf 120 in cavity 104 when a user pulls
on shelf 120 to extend it. Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 9, each
hanger 144 extends longitudinally between a pair of distal ends 162
and 164. On front distal end 162, each hanger 144 defines a
protrusion 158 that extends downwardly along a vertical direction
V. Protrusion 158 is received into an aperture 160 (FIG. 5) defined
by one of the shelf supports 138. Accordingly, when a user pulls on
shelf 120 to remove it from cavity 104, protrusions 158 on each
hanger 144 limit the movement of hangers 144 along the transverse
direction so that shelf 120 can slide forward without removing
hangers 144 from shelf supports 138. A protrusion may be provided
on one or both of the hangers 144 supporting shelf 120. If the user
wishes to e.g., relocate shelf support assembly 106 to a different
pair of shelf supports at a different vertical position or remove
assembly 106 for cleaning, the user can lift up on the front 96 of
shelf 120. This will cause protrusion 158 to disengage from the
aperture 160 of shelf support 138 and allow assembly 106 to be
moved along transverse direction T.
[0035] In order to prevent tipping when shelf 120 is fully
extended, hanger 144 is provided with a tab 168 at the rear distal
end 164 as shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 9. Tab 168 extends along
lateral direction L to engage a flange portion 140 of one of the
shelf supports and prevent shelf 120 from tipping. One or both
hangers 144 provided with shelf 120 can be equipped with tab
168.
[0036] One or more elements of shelf support assembly 106 can be
coated with materials that provide protection during the extreme
temperatures that can be experienced during cooking operations in
oven 100. For example, shelf 120, hanger 144, and/or slide
assemblies 152 can be coated with ceramic materials, Teflon.RTM.,
or other protective materials.
[0037] In order to prevent damage to such protective materials
during oven use, hanger 144 is provided with a finger 166 along
front distal end 162. Finger 166 extends along a lateral direction
L and is configured to engage flange portion 140 of shelf support
138 when shelf 120 is pushed back into oven cavity 104. As such,
flange portion 140 limits the movement of shelf 120 along
transverse direction T to prevent contact between rear wall 118 and
the back 94 (FIG. 2) of shelf 120.
[0038] The present invention is not limited to the particular shape
of hanger 144 or shelf supports 138 shown in FIGS. 1 through 9.
Other shapes and configurations may be used as well. For example,
FIGS. 10, 11, 12, and 13 illustrate additional exemplary
embodiments of the present invention. More particularly, for this
exemplary embodiment, hangers 144 are still positioned at opposing
sides of shelf 120 as previously described in FIGS. 1 through 9.
However, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in this exemplary embodiment
each hanger 144 is received onto a pair of shelf supports 138.
[0039] Each hanger 144 includes a foot 172 extending towards one of
the opposing side walls 112 of cooking chamber 104 and next to slot
170. Foot 172 is supported on the inside surface 174 of one of the
flange portions 140 of a shelf support 138. More particularly, for
hanger 144 rests on an upper flange portion 140 and a lower flange
portion 140 with foot 172 on the lower flange portion 140.
Accordingly, for this exemplary embodiment, each hanger 144
received onto a pair of shelf supports 138 that are immediately
adjacent to each other vertical direction V. Other features as
previously described, such as protrusion 158 and fingers 166 can be
used as well.
[0040] As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, in order to prevent tipping
when shelf 120 is fully extended, hanger 144 is provided with a tab
176 at the rear distal end 164. Tab 176 extends along lateral
direction L to engage a flange portion 140 of one of the shelf
supports and prevent shelf 120 from tipping. One or both hangers
144 provided with a shelf 120 can be equipped with tab 168.
[0041] As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art from the
teachings disclosed herein, the construction of shelf supports 138
from metal sheets 136 that are placed on (or form part of) the
walls of the oven chamber, as described in the above embodiments,
provides strength for the support of shelf 120 as well as food or
utensils placed thereon. Additionally, such construction is
relatively compact and allows for numerous locations along the
vertical direction at which shelf support assembly 106 with shelf
120 can be located. Increased flexibility is provided particularly
as compared to conventional constructions using stamped protrusions
or projections formed in vertical walls, which traditionally
provide only a limited number of heights at which shelves or racks
may be placed.
[0042] This written description uses examples to disclose the
invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person
skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and
using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated
methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the
claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled
in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope
of the claims if they include structural elements that do not
differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include
equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from
the literal languages of the claims.
* * * * *