Shelf assembly for a refrigerator compartment

Abstract

A sliding or vertically step-adjustable shelf includes a panel of tempered glass and two open frames. A peripheral edge of the glass panel is sandwiched between the two open frames and the latter are staked together. Alternatively, a pair of metal shelf brackets can be staked to the frames to provide vertical step-adjustment of the shelf. The vertically step-adjustable shelf can be further simplified by eliminating one of the open frame members and staking the metal shelf brackets to side frame portions of but a single outer / uppermost open frame member. In each of the shelves various components utilized in the assembly thereof, such as stake projections, heads and openings are hidden from view when the shelves are in their horizontal in-use position. Hence, each shelf presents a highly desirable aesthetic appearance, yet is strong and can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable price.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] Adjustable shelves are conventionally associated with both the freezer compartment and the fresh food compartment of conventional refrigerators. Such shelves or shelf assemblies are normally constructed as cantilevered step-adjustable shelving or as a slidable shelf which slides along channels or ledges in opposite side walls of the freezer or fresh food compartment. Typical of such shelves and shelving, both sliding and cantilevered, are disclosed in the following patents. [0002] U.S. Pat. No. 1,119,982 issued to Ohnstrand discloses a glass slab 3 which sits upon “a filler 7 of suitable material, as cement” (page 1, lines 52-53). A ledge 1 of an annular frame or “truss flange 2” (page 1, line 40) supports the entire shelf. The glass slab 3 is basically “dropped-in” from above. [0003] In lieu of bonding a piece of glass to a frame, several patents to Bienick (U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,422,673 and 6,679,573) provide a sliding shelf in which a piece of temper...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] In further accordance with the present invention, both in the case of a sliding shelf and a vertically step-adjusting shelf, two polymeric / copolymeric plastic frames are utilized and are stake-assembled to each other to impart additional strength / reinforcement to the shelf assemblies.

[0010] In accordance with the present invention, in the case of a shelf assembly made of a single piece of tempered glass and two frame members, one of the frame members is provided with stake projections and the other frame member is provided with openings for receipt therein of the stake projections. A peripheral edge of the tempered glass panel is sandwiched between the two frame members and upon staking of the axial ends of the stake projections, the three components of the shelf are securely and rigidly assembled to each other absent the addition of adhesive, bonding material, sealants or the like.

[0011] In the case of a vertically step-adjustable shelf, preferably at least one of a pair of frame members includes depending vertical flanges which carry stake projections which are inserted into and through openings of shelf brackets and are thereafter staked or headed to retain the shelf components in a rigid, unitized, aesthetic shelf assembly.

Problems solved by technology

As total wholesale / retail prices become more competitive, particularly toward mid-line and lower cost refrigerators, more expensive shelves, such as encapsulated shelves, can prove competitively disadvantageous, irrespective of the quality of the products and the aesthetics thereof.

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