U.S. patent application number 14/536715 was filed with the patent office on 2016-05-12 for liner shelf support structures for refrigerators and freezers.
This patent application is currently assigned to WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is Whirlpool Corporation. Invention is credited to BASAVRAJ ISHWAR SANKHGOND.
Application Number | 20160131416 14/536715 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55911972 |
Filed Date | 2016-05-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160131416 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SANKHGOND; BASAVRAJ ISHWAR |
May 12, 2016 |
LINER SHELF SUPPORT STRUCTURES FOR REFRIGERATORS AND FREEZERS
Abstract
An example shelf support structure integral to a refrigerator or
freezer liner includes a first feature defined in a liner and
extending inward from the liner, the first feature having a first
portion at a first height, and a second portion at a second height
different from the first height; and a second feature defined in
the liner and extending inward from the liner, the second feature
spaced-apart from the first feature along a front to back direction
and together with the first feature providing support for a shelf,
the second feature having a third portion at a third height and a
fourth portion at a fourth height different from the third
height.
Inventors: |
SANKHGOND; BASAVRAJ ISHWAR;
(Pune, IN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Whirlpool Corporation |
Benton Harbor |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
Benton Harbor
MI
|
Family ID: |
55911972 |
Appl. No.: |
14/536715 |
Filed: |
November 10, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
312/408 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2325/023 20130101;
F25D 23/067 20130101; F25D 2325/022 20130101; F25D 25/02 20130101;
F25D 23/066 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/06 20060101
F25D023/06; F25D 25/02 20060101 F25D025/02 |
Claims
1. A shelf support structure integral to a refrigerator or freezer
liner, comprising: a U-shaped first feature integrally defined in a
liner and extending inward from the liner, the first feature having
a generally horizontal first portion at a first height, a generally
horizontal second portion at a second height below the first
height, a third portion at a third height extending above the first
height wherein the second, first, and third portions form the
U-shaped first feature; a second feature integrally defined in the
liner and extending inward from the liner, the second feature
spaced-apart from the first feature along a front to back direction
and together with the first feature providing support for a shelf
with the first feature providing support for a front end portion of
the shelf and the second feature providing support for a rear end
portion of the shelf, the second feature having a generally
horizontal fourth portion at a fourth height and a generally
horizontal fifth portion at a fifth height below the fourth height;
a first shelf mounting location comprising the first portion and
the fourth portion; a second shelf mounting location comprising the
second portion and the fifth portion, and wherein the third portion
impedes the forward movement of a shelf when placed in the first
shelf mounting location and when placed in the second shelf
mounting location.
2. The shelf support structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the
first height is selected relative to the second height so, when a
shelf rests on the first shelf mounting location, the shelf does
not rest on the second mounting location.
3. (canceled)
4. (canceled)
5. The shelf support structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the
fourth height is selected relative to the fifth height so, when a
shelf rests on the first shelf mounting location, the second shelf
mounting location is not accessible for placement of a second
shelf.
6. The shelf support structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the
first portion and the fourth portions define a first line, and the
second portion and the fifth portion define a second line below the
first line.
7. The shelf support structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the
second portion is rearward from the first portion, and the fifth
portion is forward from the fourth portion.
8. The shelf support structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the
fourth portion and the fifth portions form an L-shaped second
feature.
9. The shelf support structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the
second feature further has a sixth portion at a sixth height above
the fourth height to impede backward movement of the shelf.
10. The shelf support structure as defined in claim 2, wherein the
fourth height is selected relative to the fifth height so, when a
shelf rests on the fourth portion, the shelf does not rest on the
fifth portion.
11. The shelf support structure as defined in claim 1, further
comprising a third feature integrally defined in the liner and
extending inward from the liner, the third feature spaced-apart
from and positioned between the first feature and the second
features.
12. The shelf support structure as defined in claim 11, wherein the
third feature is U-shaped to receive a wire support rod of a wire
shelf.
13. The shelf support structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the
second shelf mounting location is configured to support a a wire
shelf, and a support member of the shelf comprises a wire support
rod.
14. The shelf support structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the
first height is selected relative to the second height so, when a
shelf rests on the second shelf mounting location, the shelf does
not rest on the first shelf mounting location.
15. (canceled)
16. (canceled)
17. The shelf support structure as defined in claim 13, wherein the
first shelf mounting location is configured to support a glass
shelf, and a support member of the shelf comprises trim.
18. The shelf support structure as defined in claim 17, wherein
placement of a shelf in the first shelf mounting location prevents
insertion of a second shelf into the second shelf mounting
location.
19. The shelf support structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the
first portion and the fourth portion are configured to support a
shelf comprising a planar panel, and a shelf support member
comprises a portion of the planar panel.
20. The shelf support structure as defined in claim 1, wherein the
first portion and the fourth portion are configured to support a
shelf comprising a planar panel with a trim piece, and a shelf
support member comprises a portion of the trim piece.
21. A refrigerator cabinet liner with an integral shelf support
structure, comprising: a U-shaped first feature integrally defined
in a liner and extending inward from the liner, the first feature
having a generally horizontal first portion at a first height, a
generally horizontal second portion at a second height below the
first height, a third portion at a third height extending above the
first height wherein the second portion, the first portion, and the
third portion form the U-shaped first feature; a second feature
integrally defined in the liner and extending inward from the
liner, the second feature spaced-apart from the first feature along
a front to back direction, the second feature having a generally
horizontal fourth portion at a fourth height and a generally
horizontal fifth portion at a fifth height below the fourth height;
a third feature integrally defined in the liner and extending
inward from the liner, the third feature spaced-apart from and
located between the first feature and the second feature along a
front to back direction, the third feature having a generally
horizontal sixth portion at a sixth height and a generally
horizontal seventh portion at a seventh height below the sixth
height; and whereby the first, second, and third features together
provide support for a shelf in a first shelf mounting position and
a second shelf mounting position with the first feature providing
support for a front end portion of the shelf, the second feature
providing support for a rear end portion of the shelf, and the
third feature providing support for a central edge region of the
shelf; the first shelf mounting position comprising the first
portion, the fourth portion, and the sixth portion; the second
shelf mounting position comprising the second portion, the fifth
portion, and the seventh portion; and the third portion impeding
the forward movement of a shelf when placed in the first shelf
mounting position and when placed in the second shelf mounting
portion.
22. The refrigerator cabinet liner as defined in claim 21, wherein
the second feature further has an eighth portion at an eighth
height above the sixth height to impede backward movement of a
shelf when the shelf is placed in the first shelf mounting
position.
23. A refrigerator cabinet liner with an integral shelf support
structure, comprising: a refrigerator cabinet liner having a
U-shaped first feature integrally formed in the liner and extending
inward from the liner for supporting a first end portion of a shelf
in a first shelf mounting location and in a second shelf mounting
location, the first feature having a generally horizontal first
portion at a first height, a generally horizontal second portion at
a second height below the first height, a third portion at a third
height above to the first height to impede forward movement of a
shelf, the first portion providing support for the first shelf
mounting location, the second portion providing support for the
second shelf mounting location, and wherein the second, first, and
third portions form the U-shaped first feature; and an L-shaped
second feature integrally formed in the liner and extending inward
from the liner for supporting a rear portion of a shelf in the
first shelf mounting location and in the second shelf mounting
location, the second feature spaced-apart from the first feature
along a front to back direction and together with the first feature
providing support for a shelf, the second feature having a
generally horizontal fourth portion at a fourth height and a
generally horizontal fifth portion at a fifth height below the
fourth height and positioned rearward of the fourth portion, the
fourth portion providing support for the first shelf mounting
location, and the fifth portion providing support for the second
shelf mounting location, wherein the fourth portion and the fifth
portion form the L-shaped second feature; and wherein placing a
shelf in the first shelf mounting location blocks the placement of
a second shelf in the second shelf mounting location.
24. The refrigerator cabinet liner as defined in claim 23, wherein
the second feature further has a sixth portion at a sixth height
above the fourth height to impede backward movement of a shelf when
the shelf is placed in the first shelf mounting location.
Description
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0001] This disclosure relates generally to refrigerators and
freezers, and more particularly, to liner shelf support structures
for refrigerators and freezers.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Most refrigerators and freezers have one or more shelves or
baskets that facilitate the storage of items, such as food items.
The shelves may be made of materials such as glass, acrylic, and
wire rod.
SUMMARY
[0003] An example shelf support structure integral to a
refrigerator or freezer liner includes a first feature defined in a
liner and extending inward from the liner, the first feature having
a first portion at a first height, and a second portion at a second
height different from the first height; and a second feature
defined in the liner and extending inward from the liner, the
second feature spaced-apart from the first feature along a front to
back direction and together with the first feature providing
support for a shelf, the second feature having a third portion at a
third height and a fourth portion at a fourth height different from
the third height.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of an example
refrigerator having liner shelf support structures constructed in
accordance with the teachings of this disclosure.
[0005] FIG. 2 is an isometric perspective view showing an example
liner shelf support structure for a wire shelf for the example
refrigerator of FIG. 1.
[0006] FIG. 3 is an isometric perspective view showing another
example liner shelf support structure for a wire shelf for the
example refrigerator of FIG. 1.
[0007] FIG. 4 is a side view of the example liner shelf support
structure of FIG. 3.
[0008] FIG. 5 is an isometric perspective view showing an example
liner shelf support structure for a glass shelf for the example
refrigerator of FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 6 is an isometric perspective view showing another
example liner shelf support structure for a glass shelf for the
example refrigerator of FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 7 is an isometric perspective view showing another
example liner shelf support structure of a wire shelf for the
example refrigerator of FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 8 is a side view of the example liner shelf support
structure of FIG. 7.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] In conventional refrigerators and freezers, liner shelf
supports extend along the entire depth of the shelf, which
unnecessarily reduces the internal volume of conventional
refrigerators and freezers. Moreover, many conventional liner shelf
supports do not include features that support the entire depth of
the shelf and/or prevent inadvertent shelf movement.
[0013] To overcome at least these problems, liner shelf support
structures comprising a plurality of spaced-apart liner features
are disclosed. In disclosed examples, the spaced-apart liner
features have portions, segments, sections, etc. of different
dimensions or at different heights to provide shelf support along a
greater portion of the depth of a shelf. Additionally or
alternatively, the disclosed spaced-apart liner features may have
portions, segments, sections, etc. of different dimensions or at
different heights to reduce inadvertent shelf movement.
[0014] The shelf support structures disclosed herein are an
integral part of a refrigerator or freezer liner. That is, they are
not separate or distinct from the liner. Instead, they are defined
in, a part of, and/or are formed together with and of the same
material(s) as the rest of the liner during liner manufacturing.
Being integral to the liner, the disclosed shelf support structures
are not distinct structures affixed, inserted, mounted, etc. to a
liner subsequent to liner manufacture. Moreover, because they are
an integral part of the liner, the disclosed shelf support
structures cannot be removed without substantial damage to the
liner.
[0015] In view of the instant application, persons of ordinary
skill in the art will readily understand the meaning of terms such
as spaced-apart in the appended claims to be, at least, that two
elements have at least some practical and visually discernable
intervening space between them, are distinct, non-abutting,
non-adjacent, and non-adjoining, and do not share a common
boundary.
[0016] As used herein, terms such as up, down, top, bottom, side,
end, front, back, etc. are used with reference to the normal
orientation of an appliance, a compartment in an appliance, a liner
shelf support structure, and a shelf. If any of these is considered
with respect to another orientation, it should be understood that
such terms need to be correspondingly modified.
[0017] FIG. 1 illustrates an example refrigerator or freezer 100
having a single compartment 105 and door 110, and having liner
shelf support structures (one of which is designated at reference
numeral 115) defined on sidewalls 117 of the compartment 105, the
liner shelf support structures 115 constructed in accordance with
the teachings of this disclosure. The liner shelf support
structures 115 extend inward from a respective sidewall 117, that
is, toward the interior of the compartment 105.
[0018] For ease of discussion, the appliance 100 of FIG. 1 will
subsequently be referred to herein as refrigerator 100. While
example liner shelf support structures 115 are described in
connection with the single compartment refrigerator 100 of FIG. 1,
they may be implemented in other refrigerators and/or freezers
having other type(s) and/or number of compartments, drawers, doors,
etc. Other example refrigerator configurations include, but are not
limited to, a side-by-side refrigerator, a top-freezer
refrigerator, a French-door refrigerator, a bottom-freezer
refrigerator, etc. The disclosed liner shelf support structures
may, additional and/or alternatively, be used in any other
appliance including, but not limited to, an oven, a microwave, a
dishwasher, a refresher, etc. having interior compartment walls or
liners, and shelves.
[0019] The example refrigerator 100 of FIG. 1 includes a liner 120
that at least partially defines an open face 125 that provides
access to items present in the compartment 105, and the door 110
moveably mounted for movement between opened and closed positions
to selectively open and close the open face 125 of the refrigerator
100.
[0020] To facilitate storages of items in the compartment 105, the
example compartment 105 of FIG. 1 includes one or more shelves, one
of which is designated at reference numeral 130. In the example of
FIG. 1, the shelves 130 are moveably positionable within the
compartment 105 to allow for flexible storage of items in the
compartment 105. However, some or all of the shelves 130 may not be
moveably positionable. The example shelves 130 of FIG. 1 may be,
for example, glass, acrylic or wire shelves.
[0021] The example integral liner shelf support structures shown
herein may be used to support both wire shelves and glass shelves,
see FIGS. 2-6. However, it should be understood that the example
liner shelf support structures may be modified so they only support
wire shelves or only support glass shelves, as a matter of design
preference, without deviating from the teachings of this
disclosure. Moreover, the number of features may be modified to
support shelves having different dimensions, see FIGS. 7 and 8.
[0022] Consider first wire shelves. FIGS. 2-4 show portions of the
liner 120, the integral liner shelf support structures 115, and the
shelves 130 of FIG. 1 in more detail. As shown, ends of the shelves
130 engage a respective shelf support structure 115 that is
integral to the liner 120. The shelf support structures 115 provide
support, and/or impede the shelves 130 from being inadvertently
moved out of place. In the examples of FIGS. 2-4, the shelves 130
are conventional wire shelves having two or more wire support rods
132, and a field 134 of relatively closely spaced wire rods
supported by the support rods 132.
[0023] Each of the integral liner shelf support structures 115
includes two or more spaced-apart features, four of which are
designated at reference numerals 201, 202, 203, and 204. As shown
in FIGS. 2-4, the features 201-204 have two or more portions of
differing or same height. Height having its common meaning as being
with reference to, for example, a floor, a bottom interior surface
of the compartment 105, etc. The example feature 201 has a first
portion 201A designed to receive a wire support rod 132, a second
portion 201B, and a third portion 201C to impede forward movement,
e.g., provide shelf retention for the shelf 130. In some examples,
the third portion 201C is higher than the second portion 201B,
which is higher than the first portion 201A, thus, forming a
U-shaped feature with one side lower than the other, as more
clearly seen in FIG. 4.
[0024] The example feature 202 has a first portion 202A designed to
receive a wire support rod 132, and second and third portions 202B
and 202C. In some examples, the second and third portions 202B-C
are generally the same height, and are higher than the first
portion 202A, thus, forming a U-shaped feature.
[0025] The example feature 203 has a first portion 203A designed to
receive a wire support rod 132, a second portion 203B, and a third
portion 203C to impede rearward movement of the shelf 130. In some
examples, the third portion 203C is higher than the second portion
203B, which is higher than the first portion 203A, thus, forming a
U-shaped feature with one side lower than the other.
[0026] The example feature 204 has a first portion 204A designed to
receive a wire support rod 132, and a second portion 204B. In
contrast to the feature 203, the feature 204 does not include the
portion 203C when, for example, other structures in the
refrigerator 100 would impede rearward movement of the shelf 130.
Thus, the feature 204 can be an L-shaped feature. In some examples,
rearward movement is additionally or alternatively impeded by the
third portion 202C, as shown in FIG. 4. In such examples, the wire
shelf 130 may be designed so a middle rod 132A is adjacent to the
third portion 202C.
[0027] Consider now glass shelves. FIGS. 5 and 6 show portions of
the liner 120, the integral liner shelf support structures 115, and
the shelves 130 of FIG. 1 in more detail. In the examples of FIGS.
5 and 6, the shelves 130 are conventional glass or acrylic shelves
having trim 136, and a sheet of glass or acrylic 138. The example
shelf support structures 115 of FIGS. 5 and 6 are substantially
identical to those shown in and discussed in connection with FIGS.
2-4. Accordingly, the descriptions of the features 201-204 are not
repeated here. Instead, the interested reader is referred to the
description of FIGS. 2-4 and the identically numbered structures.
In general, the portions 201A, 203A and 204A of FIGS. 5 and 6
provide space to accommodate the trim 136, and the portions 201B,
202B, 202C, 203B and 204B of FIGS. 5 and 6 support the sheet of
glass or acrylic 138. The portions 201C and 203C of FIG. 5 impede,
respectively, forward and rearward movement, e.g., provide shelf
retention for the shelf 130. In some examples, the 201B, 202B,
202C, 203B and 204B provide support for the trim 136. Additionally
or alternatively, the trim 136 may contact the side of the portion
201B to prevent rearward movement of the shelf 130.
[0028] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate example integral liner shelf
support structures 705 that may be used to support a larger, e.g.,
wider or deeper (e.g., 20 inches) wire shelf 710. In comparison to
FIGS. 2-4, the example shelf 710 of FIGS. 7 and 8 has four support
rods 712. Each of the example integral liner shelf support
structures 705 includes two spaced-apart features 720, 722. As
shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the features 720, 722 have two or more
portions of differing or same height. The example features 720, 722
have portions 720A, 720B designed to receive respective wire
support rods 132, an intervening portion 720C, and portions 720D,
720E to respectively impede forward and rearward movement, e.g.,
provide shelf retention for the shelf 710. In some examples, the
portions 720A-E have heights that form U-shaped regions for
respective ones of the wire rods 132.
[0029] Although certain example methods, apparatus and articles of
manufacture have been described herein, the scope of coverage of
this patent is not limited thereto. On the contrary, this patent
covers all methods, apparatus and articles of manufacture fairly
falling within the scope of the claims of this patent.
* * * * *